This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 102105433, filed Feb. 8, 2013, which is herein incorporated by reference.
Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a ratchet structure, a ratchet wrench and a method for changing a direction thereof. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a bidirectional ratchet structure, a bidirectional ratchet wrench and a method for changing a direction thereof.
Description of Related Art
A ratchet wrench is a kind of widely used hand tool. The ratchet wrench allows the user to tighten or loosen a screw by using a back-and-forth motion without removing the ratchet wrench from the screw. Therefore, the ratchet wrench simplifies the tightening and loosening process and thus enhances the work efficiency apparently. Furthermore, the ratchet wrench can be used in a confined space. As a result, the ratchet wrench has become an indispensable product nowadays.
A conventional bidirectional ratchet wrench is provided, which allows a user to change a direction thereof via a switching button. However, the conventional bidirectional ratchet wrench has a lot of disadvantages. For example, the structure of the bidirectional ratchet wrench is not stable due to a bidirectional ratchet structure. Furthermore, the conventional bidirectional ratchet structure is usually controlled by a small switching button, which is unreliable, easily damaged, and difficulty operated. As a result, a conventional bidirectional ratchet wrench has a certain degree of operation inconvenience.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a bidirectional ratchet structure includes a base, a first pawl element, a second pawl element, two reset elements, a direction controller and a driving element. The first pawl element includes a first engaging portion, and is pivotally disposed at the base. The second pawl element includes a second engaging portion, and is pivotally disposed at the base. The first engaging portion of the first pawl element and the second engaging portion of the second pawl element are pushed to protrude from the base alternatively, fine of the reset elements disposed between the base and the first pawl element is for pushing the first engaging portion of the first pawl element to protrude from the base, and the other one of the reset elements disposed between the base and the second pawl element is for pushing the second engaging portion of the second pawl element to protrude from the base. The direction controller is pivotally and coaxially disposed at the base. The first pawl element and the second pawl element are surrounded by the direction controller. The direction controller includes a pressing portion for pressing the first pawl element or the second pawl element toward the base. The driving element is pivotally and coaxially disposed at the base. The first pawl element and the second pawl element are rotatably surrounded by the driving element. The driving element includes an inner tooth portion, and the inner tooth portion engages with the first engaging portion of the first pawl element or the second engaging portion of the second pawl element which is pushed to protrude from the base.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a bidirectional ratchet wrench includes a handle and a bidirectional ratchet structure. The bidirectional ratchet structure includes a base, a first pawl element, a second pawl element, two reset elements, a direction controller and a driving element. The handle is for being held by a user. The base is connected with the handle. The first pawl element includes a first engaging portion, and is pivotally disposed at the base. The second pawl element includes a second engaging portion, and is pivotally disposed at the base. The first engaging portion of the first pawl element and the second engaging portion of the second pawl element are pushed to protrude from the base alternatively. One of the reset elements disposed between the base and the first pawl element is for pushing the first engaging portion of the first pawl element to protrude from the base, and the other one of the reset elements disposed between the base and the second pawl element is for pushing the second engaging portion of the second pawl element to protrude from the base. The direction controller is pivotally and coaxially disposed at the base. The first pawl element and the second pawl element are surrounded by the direction controller. The direction controller includes a pressing portion for pressing the first pawl element or the second pawl element toward the base. The driving element is pivotally and coaxially disposed at the base. The first pawl element and the second pawl element are rotatably surrounded by the driving element. The driving element includes an inner tooth portion, and the inner tooth portion engages with the first engaging portion of the first pawl element or the second engaging portion of the second pawl element which is pushed to protrude from the base.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for changing a direction of the aforementioned bidirectional ratchet structure includes steps as follows. The first pawl element and the second pawl element are disposed pivotally at the base. Each of the first pawl element and the second pawl element is provided with a reset force for protruding from the base. The first pawl element is pressed toward the base. The second pawl element is pushed to protrude from the base via the reset force. The inner tooth portion of the driving element engages with the second pawl element so as to make the driving element rotate unidirectionally.
The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
In
All the first pawl elements 210 are pushed to protrude from the base 100 or pressed toward the base 100 at the same time. All the second pawl elements 220 are pushed to protrude from the base 100 or pressed toward the base 100 at the same time. The first pawl elements 210 and the second pawl elements 220 are pushed to protrude from the base 100 alternatively, and the first pawl elements 210 and the second pawl elements 220 are for changing a rotating direction of the bidirectional ratchet structure 101.
One of the first pawl elements 210 and one of the reset elements 300 are accommodated in one of the recess portions 110. The first pawl element 210 includes a first engaging portion 212 and is pivotally disposed at the base 100. The reset element 300 disposed between the base 100 and the first pawl element 210 is for pushing the first engaging portion 212 of the first pawl element 210 to protrude from the base 100. One the second pawl elements 220 and another one of the reset elements 300 are accommodated in another one of the recess portions 110. The second pawl element 220 includes a second engaging portion 222 and is pivotally disposed at the base 100. The reset element 300 disposed between the base 100 and the second pawl element 220 is for pushing the second engaging portion 222 of the second pawl element 220 to protrude from the base 100. The first engaging portion 212 of the first pawl element 210 and the second engaging portion 222 of the second pawl element 220 are pushed to protrude from the base 100 alternatively. A number of the reset element 300 depend on the sum of the number of the first pawl elements 210 and the number of the second pawl elements 220.
The direction controller 400 is pivotally and coaxially disposed at the base 100, and the first pawl elements 210 and the second pawl elements 220 are surrounded by the direction controller 400. The direction controller 400 includes six pressing portions 410 for pressing the first pawl elements 210 or the second pawl elements 220 toward the base 100. The driving element 500 is pivotally and coaxially disposed at the base 100, and the first pawl elements 210 and the second pawl elements 220 are rotatably surrounded by the driving element 500. The driving element 500 includes an inner tooth portion 510, and the inner tooth portion 510 engages with the first engaging portions 212 of the first pawl elements 210 or the second engaging portions 222 of the second pawl elements 220 which are pushed to produce from the base 100.
The pivoting element 600 pivotally and coaxially connects the base 100 and the driving element 500. The gasket 700 is disposed between the base 100 and the driving element 500.
The reset element 300 can be a spring, an elastic sheet or an elastomer. The driving element 500 can further includes a driving head disposed at an end of the driving element 500, and the driving head is a square wrench head, a hex wrench head, a socket wrench head or an adapter head for wrenches.
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According to the aforementioned description, the bidirectional ratchet structure has advantages as follows. First, the bidirectional ratchet structure is stable. A force bore by the bidirectional ratchet structure can be distributed to the plurality of the first pawl elements and the plurality of the second pawl elements, so that the bidirectional ratchet structure is stable. Furthermore, the direction controller and the base have larger mounting surfaces than a conventional bidirectional ratchet structure, so that the direction controller can be mounted on the base more steadily. Second, a direction of the bidirectional ratchet structure can be changed stably. The direction of the bidirectional ratchet structure can be changed by rotating the direction controller. A force generated during the direction changing process can be distributed to the plurality of the first pawl elements and the plurality of the second pawl elements via the direction controller. The uniformly arrangement of the first pawl elements and the second pawl elements can further enhance the stability of the direction changing process. Third, the direction of the bidirectional ratchet structure can be changed easily. The direction of the bidirectional ratchet structure can be changed by rotating the direction controller. The base is surrounded by the direction controller. That means the direction controller provides a larger arm than a conventional bidirectional ratchet structure. Furthermore, a direction controller of a conventional bidirectional ratchet structure usually formed in a little button provides a small operation area, while the direction controller according to the prevent disclosure provides a larger operation area, which enhances the operation convenience.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102105433 A | Feb 2013 | TW | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2744432 | Rueb | May 1956 | A |
6976409 | Shu | Dec 2005 | B2 |
7055410 | Hu | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7066054 | Liu | Jun 2006 | B2 |
9186781 | Wang | Nov 2015 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20140224078 A1 | Aug 2014 | US |