Pivoted Pawl Patents (Class 81/61)
  • Patent number: 6220123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the structure of a ratchet wrench, and in particular, to a ratchet wrench which can provides high torque engagement in application, wherein a ratchet wheel is inserted into a circular opening on the wrench head of a common ratchet wrench, and a cavity is provided to the circular opening adjacent to one side of the rod body of the wrench for mounting a restrictive teeth structure, the end terminal of the cavity is provided with a ball hole to contain a spring and a steel ball, and the restrictive teeth structure is urged by the steel ball, thereby the high torque movement of the ratchet wheel is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Yu-Tang Chen
  • Patent number: 6155140
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a head formed on a handle and having a notch, a gear rotatably engaged in the head and having an opening for receiving fasteners, and a pair of pawls pivotally secured in the head and biased to engage with the gear and to control an active driving direction of the gear. One of the pawls may engage with the gear when the other pawl is engaged in the opening of the gear, and the other pawl is arranged to be engaged with the gear when the previous pawl is engaged in the opening of the gear, such that the gear may be continuously driven by the handle via the pawls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Tzen Chang Tsai
  • Patent number: 6151994
    Abstract: A ratchet screwdriver includes a handle defining a ratchet shaft receiving hole therethrough, and a ratchet shaft disposed therein. The ratchet shaft has a ratchet wheel mounted securely between first and second end portions, and an engaging unit between the ratchet shaft and a drive shaft inserted in the first or second end portions to prevent axial displacement and permit co-rotation thereof. A ratchet housing includes a coupling portion sleeved on the ratchet shaft and coupled to the handle for co-rotation therewith, a wheel confining portion defining a cavity enclosing the ratchet wheel, and a shoulder between the coupling and wheel confining portions. The wheel confining portion is formed with a pawl retaining groove in communication with the cavity to receive a pawl member which is mounted pivotally on the shoulder and which extends radially into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Hsuan-Sen Shiao
  • Patent number: 6145413
    Abstract: A tool includes a handle having a bore for slidably receiving a stop and a link. The link has one end pivotally coupled to the stop for allowing the link to be rotated relative to the stop when the link is extended outward of the handle. A driving stem is pivotally coupled to the link for allowing the driving stem to be rotated relative to the link when the link is extended outward of the handle. A ratchet mechanism is disposed in the handle and is selectively engaged with the stop for controlling the driving direction of the driving stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Ching Chou Lin
  • Patent number: 6082226
    Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a shaft and a handle to which a direction selection collar is mounted and a ratchet member is received in the handle. The ratchet member has inner toothed periphery and two pawl members engaged with the inner toothed periphery. The ratchet member has three dents defined in one of two ends thereof and the direction selection collar has a positioning member embedded therein which is movably received in one of the dents when rotating the collar. The collar has a rod extending between the two pawl members, the rod pivoting one of the pawl member to disengage from the inner toothed periphery by rotating the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Jack Lin
  • Patent number: 6076432
    Abstract: A reversible ratchet screwdriver, which includes a top handle shell and a bottom handle shell fastened together, a ratchet mechanism mounted inside the handle shells, the ratchet mechanism including a substantially triangular flat block, a long tube and a short tube formed integral with top and bottom sides of the triangular flat block and longitudinally communicated with each other, three pawls respectively coupled between the triangular flat block and a toothed portion at the bottom handle shell, and three spring elements respectively connected between the triangular flat block and the pawls to force the pawls into engagement with the toothed portion at the bottom handle shell, and a double-head socket for mounting with either of two ends thereof in the long tube or short tube to hold a double-head screwdriver tip outside the handle shells for turning screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Yueh Chang
  • Patent number: 5927158
    Abstract: A combination ratchet wrench includes a work end at one end of a handle, a ratchet wheel mounted in the work end, a stop block forced by a spring and a ball into engagement with the ratchet wheel to limit the turning direction of the ratchet wheel for permitting the ratchet wheel to be turned with the handle in one direction to fasten up or loosen a workpiece, wherein the work end has a recessed polygonal hole remote from the handle, the recessed polygonal hole having two angled lateral side walls, and two smoothly arched side walls respectively extended from the angled lateral sides toward the handle; the ratchet wheel has an eccentric coupling rod at one side; a crank pivoted to one side of the ratchet wheel and partially projecting into the recessed polygonal hole for stopping an inserted workpiece in the recessed polygonal hole for turning with the wrench, the crank having a constraint block at one end moved with the crank in the recessed polygonal hole for stopping the inserted workpiece in the recessed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Yuan-Ho Lin
  • Patent number: 5924341
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel means for connecting and disconnecting fluid line couplings usually encountered in the automotive, refrigeration, and plumbing industries. The present invention comprises a common ratcheting handle adapted to receive a plurality of standard sized cogwheels. Independently, a cogwheel, having peripheral radially extending gear teeth and a central polygonal aperture intersected by a free opening is slidably positioned along a tubular conduit and onto a nut. The handle, having a cradle, is mated to the cogwheel and worked ratchet fashion to achieve a desired task. Said cradle has a set of oppositely situated spring biased pawls which simultaneously work the flats of the cogwheel teeth and intermittently collapse into a chamber thereby assuring that at least one pawl is in contact with the cogwheel to apply rotational force and to prevent accidental separation of the cogwheel from the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventor: Eugene M. Brooks
  • Patent number: 5921158
    Abstract: A reversible ratchet wrench includes a ratchet body having a round head portion with a cylindrical, internally toothed opening therethrough forming a ratchet gear and defining a cavity. A ratchet mechanism, including a drive body, a pawl assembly and a reversing member, is disposed in the cavity, with the reversing member secured to the drive body for confining the pawl assembly therebetween. The head of the ratchet body has annular shoulder surfaces thereon respectively at opposite ends of and coaxial with the cavity, and respectively facing annular shoulder surfaces on the drive body and reversing member, for cooperation therewith to define first and second annular spaces, in which are respectively disposed annular seal members, each having a pair of radially inwardly extending and axially diverging flexible and resilient lips, respectively engageable with the shoulder surfaces defining the associated space for cooperation therewith to seal the cavity and center the ratchet mechanism on the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Company
    Inventors: Randall J. Slusar, Jeffrey H. Hoff
  • Patent number: 5910197
    Abstract: A plurality of circumferentially-spaced driving lugs are formed on the improved square-drive tang of a wrench, such as a ratchet wrench; and these driving lugs cooperate with a corresponding plurality of recesses or pockets formed in the top portion of an improved interchangeable square-drive socket, thereby providing for improved torque transmission which is supplemental to, and not a substitute for, the square drive. The improved wrench is compatible with conventional sockets, and the improved socket is compatible with conventional wrenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Hand Tool Design Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Constantine Chaconas
  • Patent number: 5878635
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench having an annular wheel mounted within one box end thereof, the annular wheel having a plurality of longitudinal teeth equiangularly spaced around the inside for grasping and turning nuts, bolts, etc., and two symmetrical pairs of grooves longitudinally disposed on the outside at two oppoiste locations, two pairs of stop plates respectively mounted in the grooves within the box end, and four springs respectively connected between the stop plates and the grooves to forced into engagement with the teeth of the box end when the wrench is turned in one direction, causing the annular wheel to be turned with the box end; the stop plates are forced backwards into the V-grooves when the wrench is turned in the reversed direction, causing the wrench to run idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5873286
    Abstract: A pawl for a ratchet wrench to be engaged with a ratchet gear. The pawl has a slot formed on each side of the pawl. The slot extends between the top and the bottom of the pawl near the teeth on the front of the pawl. The pawl flexes to compress the slot when torque is applied to the wrench and engagement between the teeth on the pawl and teeth on the ratchet gear is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hand Tool Design Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Van Lenten
  • Patent number: 5794496
    Abstract: A low profile ratchet wrench has an opening formed through the head of the wrench. A pawl module having a body, a detent mechanism, a reversing lever and a pawl is received in a portion of the opening. A socket having a first portion with circumferential gear teeth and an integral second portion having an axially formed opening, is removably received in the opening in the head adjacent to the pawl module. Teeth on the pawl in the pawl module cooperate with the gear teeth on the socket. The socket is removably retained in the opening in the head. A method of assembling and using the low profile ratchet wrench is described. The pawl module is used in a breaker bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Hand Tool Design Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Arnold
  • Patent number: 5713251
    Abstract: A double-ended ratcheting box end wrench includes a body formed entirely of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic material with box-type ratcheting inserts molded at opposite ends of the body. The body includes layers of random discontinuous glass-fiber-reinforced plastic material and a band of unidirectional continuous glass-fiber-reinforced plastic material. The body is subjected to a compression molding process embedded within which are the ratcheting inserts to form a composite wrench structure. Each insert includes a two-part housing in which are disposed a ratchet gear, a pawl and a bias spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Snap-on Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Zurbuchen, Dean J. Iwinski, George Ulics
  • Patent number: 5605079
    Abstract: A tool for applying rotational force to a coiled torsion spring of a door counterbalancing mechanism in order to wind the spring storing energy within the body of the spring. The tool includes a splittable housing which is fixedly mounted onto the winding cone of the torsion spring. The housing has a sprocket mounted thereon. On either side of the sprocket are annular grooves. Within one annular groove is to be located a right hand operated ratchet tool with a left hand ratchet tool connecting with the other annular groove. These ratchet tools are to be used sequentially in unison to create stored energy within the torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Inventor: Robert L. Way
  • Patent number: 5461950
    Abstract: A generally T-shaped ratchet tool includes an oblong handle containing ratchet mechanism and a shaft engageable with the ratchet mechanism and extending axially therefrom transversely of the handle for coupling to a driven member. The handle housing is formed of two identical plastic halves ultrasonically welded together for cooperation to define therein a cavity formation in which is disposed a ratchet wheel and a pawl, with the ratchet wheel being rotatable relative to the housing in only one direction about an axis. In a first embodiment a shaft is matingly engaged in a passage through the ratchet wheel and is retained therein for axial movement between first and second use positions, respectively projecting through openings at opposite sides of the housing. Detent means holds the shaft in each of its use positions and retains the shaft in engagement with the driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Snap-on Incorporated
    Inventor: Dean J. Iwinski
  • Patent number: 5393036
    Abstract: Wrench for continuous driving engagement with a rotatively driven element such as a screw, bolt or nut, which is particularly suitable for use where the ends of the driven element are not accessible and in applications where space for manipulation of the tool is limited such as in spinal fusion surgery. The wrench has a peripheral driving element which can be engaged from the side with the driven element, and in some embodiments an articulating handle which enables the wrench to rotate the driven element through a substantial angle with only a few degrees of handle movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Inventor: Thomas L. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 5325743
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a ratchet wrench which has a pawl and spring arrangement such that the pawl's rotational movement is limited when out of engagement with the ratchet wheel so as to assure that the spring does not become disengaged from the pawl to render the wrench inoperative. The spring is provided with a pivotal action which eliminates loading on the end of the spring and provides more desirable spring action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Universal Tool & Stamping Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Darryl L. Engel
  • Patent number: 5094490
    Abstract: A rotational power coupling consists of drive shaft couplings and stationary housings within which the shafts rotate. One housing has a flange with external threads; the other has a plain flange. A threaded nut engages the threaded flange and draws the two flanges together, locking the housings. The nut is surrounded by a collar which can rotate about it. A handle extends from the collar. The nut has external teeth, and the collar has oppositely directed pawls. When the pawls engage the teeth, the handle may be used to turn the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Walter F. Shirey
  • Patent number: 5012705
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench is described which includes a cap-surmounted core having a rotatable body sleeved in a drive ring. A shiftable pawl intercouples the drive ring and the core for driving the core selectively in each of opposed annular driving modes. A shaft projecting axially from the core terminates in a stud for carrying a tool element. The wrench is characterized in that there is provided a washer-like locking plate having a central opening and positionable axially over the shaft of the core to overlie the body of the core. The plate is configured at its central opening for lockingly keying with the shaft releasably to couple the locking plate with the shaft and to secure the core in the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: National Hand Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Kirk K. Chow
  • Patent number: 5007311
    Abstract: The slidable driving stud of present invention is usually maintained in position by means of a pin carried by the ratchet wheel and engaging within a longitudinal groove on the slidable driving stud for limiting the movement of the slidable driving stud with respect to the ratchet wheel, the improvement which comprises the longitudinal groove extending from one end to another end of the driving stud; and a pair of spring biased ball detents being mounted on the vertical groove and near each end of the driving stud respectively to block the vertical groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Inventor: Clark J. Lee
  • Patent number: 4993288
    Abstract: A power driven socket holding ratchet wrench which has a socket made so that it has a central opening that may be used for receiving a long stud or member, which passes through the socket. The wrench acts much like a box end wrench. The wrench is made so that it can be relatively compact in axial height, that is, along the length of the sprocket and the frame is small in diameter relative to the socket size to permit it to fit into tight places. The power drive is capable of being positioned at an angle relative to the wrench head, and the wrench includes a unique ratcheting and quick release mechanism that facilitates the operation of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Circle A Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Anderson, Gerald O. Irvine, Christopher A. Lindenberger
  • Patent number: 4926720
    Abstract: A ratchet spanner includes a handle; an arcuate jaw-like head connected with the handle, the jaw-like head including a side wall defining a space therein, an upper wall, a lower wall, a plurality of first apertures in the upper wall and a plurality of second apertures in the lower wall in alignment with the first apertures; a plurality of pawls; a plurality of posts, each secured to a respective one of the pawls for pivotally mounting the respective pawl in a first aperture and second aperture in the jaw-like head adjacent the side wall; a ratchet insert member positioned with the space and rotatable with respect to the jaw-like head, the ratchet insert member including a plurality of teeth engageable by the pawls, and spaced gripping surfaces; and a sheet-like arcuate strip of sheet metal positioned against the side wall and a plurality of leaf spring members partially cut-out from the arcuate strip and biased into engagement with the pawls to pivot the pawls into engagement with the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Peter Wolter
    Inventor: Kurt Srzanna
  • Patent number: 4770070
    Abstract: A tool having a pair of open-ended jaws with spaced confronting jaw faces and a support for the jaws, wherein each jaw comprises a continuous loop of chained links movably mounted on a plurality of rotatable rollers, said rollers being floatingly mounted on said support, each of said loops having a substantially straight segment that is spaced from and confronts the straight segment of the other of said loops, each link having a tread on the outer side of said loop, which tread aligns with the treads of the other links in said straight segments to constitute the confronting face of said jaw, and a ratchet means mounted on said support and adapted to push one of said loops to move in only one direction around its supporting rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Inventor: David A. Sowers
  • Patent number: 4744271
    Abstract: A ratcheting hydraulic torque wrench in which the lever arm is provided with a tracking arm guided within a channel in a wrench body. The tool head is divided into a ratcheting portion containing roller drive pins, and a notched portion to allow access to pipe flange nuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Inventor: Bobby W. Collins
  • Patent number: 4735119
    Abstract: A manually operated gear wrench having a fixed hand plate and a wrench plate rotatably mounted thereon. The wrench plate carries a ring gear which meshes with a pinion gear rotatably mounted on the hand plate. Studs adapted to selectively receive socketed handles and tools are connected to the pinion gear and wrench plate. By connecting an operating handle to the pinion stud and a tool to the wrench plate stud, an input to output ratio of 3:1 is obtained. By connecting the operating handle to the wrench plate stud and the socketed tool to the pinion stud, an input to output ratio of 1:3 is obtained. A releasable locking mechanism is provided between the hand plate and pinion gear to prevent relative rotation between the pinion gear and ring gear to thereby provide an input to output ratio of 1:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Inventor: Alfred B. Riley
  • Patent number: 4604919
    Abstract: An open end ratchet socket wrench has sockets with a slot in the side wall. Teeth on the circumference of the socket engage and cooperate with pawls on the wrench head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Inventor: Richard P. Rollo
  • Patent number: 4515044
    Abstract: A cylinder is rotatably located in a head of a wrench. Ratchet teeth located in a groove around the periphery of the cylinder acts in conjunction with a pawl to secure the cylinder in position and to provide ratchet action. An insert with axially located socket rotates with the cylinder to act on a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Larry V. Harstad
  • Patent number: 4455897
    Abstract: A socket wrench device is provided as including a wrench handle having a drive head which circumferentially engages a socket having a plurality of circumferentially spaced side openings facilitating use in a minimum amount of vertical space. In an advantageous form of the invention, the drive head of the wrench handle includes a ratchet drive mechanism having a plurality of pawl fingers which engage corresponding side openings in the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventor: Adrian D. Jones
  • Patent number: 4441387
    Abstract: An open ended ratchet wrench comprising a wrenching disc having a radially disposed open ended nut recess, carrying pivoting tongue ratchet pawls, the disc held between two jaws with ratchet teeth engaged by the pawls. One of the jaws is pivotally retractable for installation and removal of the interchangeable wrenching disc. The handle carrying the jaws may be installed upon or removed from the disc regardless of the position of the nut recess and either laterally or longitudinally in respect to the nut. According to one aspect of the invention, a retractable jaw is pivotally connected to the handle and retained by matching notches in the jaw and the handle. The jaw pivot pin carries an eccentric cam which acts against an appropriately shaped perforation in the retractable jaw to disengage the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Inventor: Bacel G. Hendricks
  • Patent number: 4336637
    Abstract: A clamp used on pipe comprises a clamp having a body adapted to be positioned around the pipe having first and second ends, gripping members for engaging the pipe connected to the body and a screw member pivotally connected to the first end of the body for extending through a passageway in a member connected to the other end of the body. A wrench is used with the clamp for tightening the clamp portion around the pipe having a nut matingly engaging the threaded member to move the threaded member relative thereto, a handle for transferring a torque to the nut and apparatus connecting the nut to the handle, which has a ratchet for transferring the torque to the nut when the handle is turned in a first direction while permitting movement of the handle in an opposite direction without applying a torque to the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Inventor: Robert E. Patterson
  • Patent number: 4258595
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench usable where limited access normally requires an open end wrench, but which has the high torque capacity of a closed end socket wrench is disclosed. A pair of semicircular socket holders are releasably coupled to each other by a straight ratchet bar assembly for movement from a fully retracted, closed position to an extended, open position. A curved, semiconductor bore is formed transversely through each socket holder, with a recessed counterbore forming a semicircular guide chanel in each holder concentric with the transverse bore. First and second socket segments are received in rotational engagement with the guide channels of the first and second socket holders, respectively. Each socket segment includes a curved head having lands which in combination define a polygonal wrench opening. A curved ratchet carried by each socket segment is received in overlapping engagement with an exterior planar face of each socket holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Inventor: Marvin L. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 4080851
    Abstract: A rachet wrench fitted with a rotatable wrench lug that completely encloses a non-circular wrench opening, when installed, with the wrench lug formed of two assembled units, one of which is detachable to permit the wrench lug to be installed sidewise about a fitting on a tube, pipe or cable. A handle joins a circular open wrench section formed of two fixed arcuate shaped jaws in which a first wrench unit is rotatably mounted, with the first wrench unit in the form of a split ring, of a profile similar to that of the two fixed jaws, with the opening of the split periphery section of the first wrench formed as the same size as that of the opening between the ends of the two fixed jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Rogers