US3272037A

US3272037A - Mechanical turning tool unit

Info

Publication number: US3272037A
Application number: US368934A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jerome J Bruehl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-05-20
Filing date: 1964-05-20
Publication date: 1966-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1983-09-13

Description

Sept. 13, 1966 J. J. BRUEHL 3,272,037

MECHANICAL TURNING TOOL UNIT Filed May 20, 1964 f Z3 INVENTOR. 25' Jmou; BRUEHL L L BY 1 dyndr' us Slat-k2 Affarnevs United States Patent Ofifice 3,272,537 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 3,272,037 NECHANICAL TURNING TOOL UNIT Jerome J. Bruehl, 726 Vailey Road, Menasha, Wis. Filed May 20, 1964, Ser. No. 368,934 7 Claims. (CI. 81-57) This invention relates to a mechanical turning tool and particularly to such a tool which is adapted to be employed in an area of limited working space and which has a high speed, low torque characteristic and low speed, high torque characteristic.

In the connection of parts by screws, bolts and the like, a wrench, screwdriver or similar tool is generally employed to provide a firm interconnection or tightening of the element. In connection with machinery subject to vibration and environmental changes of temperature and the like such as in automobile and other commercial devices or machines, attachments must be particularly firmly made with a substantial force to assure an adequate and reliable connection. In limited spaces, the problem becomes particularly acute because the usual tool cannot at times be employed conveniently. United States Patent 1,698,618 discloses a tool for use in such limited areas and includes a worm and gear connection between an actuating shaft and an output unit. The tool may then be connected to a work element in a limited space while disposing the actuating member in spaced relation thereto and particularly in an area where another tool or force can be applied and transmitted through the worm and gear arrangemnt. A rack and pinion uni-t for actuating a screwdriver or the like is shown in United States Patent 2,406,149.

Although such tools have been suggested, they are relatively slow acting and thus increase the time and expense of maintenance and repair work or do not provide adequate force transmission to produce a firm engagement.

The present invention is particularly directed to a rugged and reliable three-way mechanical turning tool which can be employed in limited spaces. The tool of this invention will provide a very rapid actuation of a connecting device or the like during the initial in-terengaging action when a relatively low torque input is required while permitting application of a high tightening force or torque during the terminal portion thereof, all without removal of the tool.

A limited space output tool connector is coupled by a worm and gear arrangement to an actuating shaft. The worm is secured to the shaft which is slidably mounted within a support for reciprocation with respect to the gear forming a part of the tool connector. A ratchet connects the gear to a tool or tool coupling member. Thus, the tool work engaging element is preferably releasably connected to the tool connector through a socket arrangement or the like. A stop member is also provided to prevent longitudinal movement of the actuating shaft in one direction from a normal position. The actuating rod can be reciprocated with respect to such stop to provide rapid turning of the drive gear and the attached mechanism. However, the rod can also be turned about its own axis to rotate the worm and thereby drive the gear with a relatively high force. Further, the actuating rod may serve as a lever to turn the tool as such about the axis of the tool.

The present invention thus provides an improved turning tool which can be employed in a limited space area to selectively provide a great tightening force or a rapid, lesser tightening force to a work member.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates a preferred construction for carrying out the present invention and clearly discloses the advantages and features heretofore discussed as well as others which will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the turning tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 with the internal components generally shown in elevation for clarity of illustration; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 through the worm and gear shown in FIGS. 13 and more clearly illustrating the mounting and connection of the components.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the turning tool of the present invention is illustrated having a conventional socket wrench, shown in phantom in FIG. 2, releasably secured thereto for receiving the head of a bolt or other suitable work element, not shown. The socket wrench 1 is coupled to a drive gear 2 forming a part of a tool connector unit 3 which is adapted to be disposed within a limited and narrow work area. The drive gear 2 and the socket 1 are interconnected through a ratchet unit 4, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, such that rotation of the drive gear in the one direction will effect a turning of the socket 1 whereas rotation of the drive gear to the opposite direction maintains the socket in the original position, as more fully described hereinafter. The connector unit 3 is secured to an actuating unit 5 and particularly a tubular housing 6 which extends generally tangentially of the drive gear 2. An actuating shaft or rod 7 is slidably and rotatably mounted within the housing 6 and carries a worm 8 on the innermost end operatively meshing with the drive gear 2. The end of the housing 6 adjacent the connector unit 3 and drive gear 2 is open to allow free passage of shaft 7 and worm 8 therethrough. The opposite or outer end of the housing 6 is closed by a suitable cap 9 which is shown secured to the outer end by a threaded connection. A stop 10 is secured to the rod 7 within the housing 6 and located to engage the inner surface of the cap 9 in the standby position of the tool with the gear 2 mating with the lower end of worm 8, as shown in FIG. 3.

Generally, the actuating rod 7 can be reciprocated within housing 6 to provide a corresponding rotation or angular oscillation of the gear 2 within the connector unit 3. The connection through the ratchet unit 4 causes the transfer of the rotation in one direction, clockwise in FIG. 3, to the socket wrench 1 while the opposite counterclockwise rotation accompanying the return of the actuating rod 8 to the standby position does not move the socket wrench 1. This permits rapid actuation of the socket wrench 1 and therefore the element associated therewith. However, this does not provide convenient means of applying a large turning torque on the socket wrench 1 and therefore on the element. In accordance with the present invention, however, the rod 7 can be turned about its own axis to transmit a force of very substantial magnitude through the worm 8 to gear 2 as a result of the action of the stop 10. When the rod 7 is turned in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the interaction of the worm and the drive gear will tend to cause the shaft to move longitudinally outwardly through the cap. The stop will engage the inner surface of the cap however and prevent the longitudinal movement of the rod such that the turning forces will cause the drive gear to rotate. The only limitation on the torque which can be transmitted will be on the actual material strength and mechanical strengths of the stop connection. Further, the housing 6 or rod 7 can be employed as a lever to turn the tool about the axis of socket wrench 1 in the principal plane of the connector unit 3 and housing 6.

The invention thus provides a tool which can provide either a high force or a high speed actuation without removal of'the tool from the work element.

More particularly, the illustrated embodiment of the invention is described as follows.

The outer end of the actuating rod 7 is threaded with a cross pin or handle 11 extending through an opening generally centrally of the threaded portion and a pair of

hex nuts

12 and 13 which are threaded onto the shaft immediately .to the opposite side of the handle 11. A return coil spring 14 encircles the actuating rod 8 between the inner hex nut 13 and the outer face of the cap 9. The force of the coil spring 14 continuously biases the actuating rod 7 outwardly to the standby position with the outer end of the worm 8 meshing with the adjacent gear 2 and with the stop 10 engaging the inner surface of the cap 9.

The stop 10 is shown as a collar or ring member interconnected to the shaft by a set screw 15 which threads through the collar and into a small recess in the surface of the actuating rod. This provides a firm interengagement. If desired, an integral construction of the rod 7 and the stop 10 can be provided.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the threaded cap 9 is similarly locked in place by a set screw 17 which threads through the side wall of the cap and moves into bearing engagement with the adjacent end portion of the housing 6. The base of the cap 9 includes a top opening 18 through which the actuating rod 7 extends and is radially supported.

The worm 8 is rotatably secured to the outer end of the rod 7 by a key 16 such that all turning forces applied to the rod 7 are transmitted to the worm 8. A collar 19 is secured to the innermost end of the rod 7 by a set screw 20 in the same manner as collar stop .10 and prevents the worm 8 from moving longitudinally therefrom. A similar collar 21 is similarly secured to rod 7 at the opposite end of worm 8. Additionally, spacer 22 is concentrically disposed on the rod 7 between the collar 21 and the collar stop 10 to support the components against movement axially of the actuating rod 7 The outer extension of the actuating rod 7 is related to the length of the worm 8 to maintain interengagement between the gear 2 and the worm 8 for all longitudinal positions of the actuating rod 7 with respect to housing 6 and gear '2.

A metal bearing tube or liner 23 is secured to the inner surface of the housing 6 in the area of the worm 8. The liner 23 provides an accurate sliding and turning fit for the worm 8 and minimizes tolerance requirements in manufacturing. If housing 6 is formed of a suitable material, liner 23 may obviously be integrally formed with the housing.

The portion of the housing 6 and attached liner 23 is removed in the area of the gear 2 and the worm 8 to define a gear opening 24 through which the gear 2 passes into operating meshing engagement with the worm 8. The gear 2 is rotatably supported within the connector unit 3 which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a multiple part housing connected to hous ing 6.

Generally, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the housing of connector unit 3 includes a pair of complementing

side wall members

25 and 26. As the members are similarly formed, member 25 will be described and corresponding portions of member 26 similarly numbered with a prime added to distinguish therebetween.

Thus, side wall member 25 includes a coupling or attachment portion 27 curved in accordance with the circumfercnce of the housing 6 and extending from opening 24 for about The side coupling portion 27 is secured to the housing 6 in any suitable manner; for example, by a plurality of attachment screws 28 which pass through suitable openings in the coupling portion 27 and thread into correspondingly tapped openings in the adjacent portion of the housing 5. A flat enclosure plate portion 29 extends generally radially from the edge of the coupling portion 27 adjacent opening '24.

The side wall 26 is similarly secured to the opposite side of the housing with the gear enclosure plate portions 29 and 29' laterally spaced in superposed relation to each other generally in accordance with the thickness of the drive gear 2 which is housed therebetween. An outer curved end wall 30 is clamped between the enclosure plate portions 29 and 29' by a plurality of clamping bolt and nut units 31 which extend through the outer peripheral portions thereof. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, the ends of the end wall 30 may be curved outwardly about the adjacent clamping units 31 to lock the wall in place. The end wall 30 also properly spaces the

enclosure plate portions

29 and 29 to properly support the gear 2 therebetween.

Gear hubs

32 and 33 are bolted or otherwise secured to the opposite side of the drive gear 2 and extend outwardly through bearing openings 34 and 34' in enclosure plate portions 29 and 29'.

Hubs

32 and 33 provide a free floating bearing support for the gear 2 which will eliminate the necessity for close tolerances of the assembly while holding the gear 2 in the desired meshing relation with the worm 8. The

drive gear hubs

32 and 33 also clamp the ratchet unit 4 in proper relation within the drive gear 2 as follows.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the gear 2 is provided with a recess 35 in the one face thereof to receive a ratchet gear 36 which is clamped therein by the adjacent drive gear hub 33. The ratchet gear 36 is provided with a central hex opening 37 aligned with somewhat larger

cylindrical openings

38 and 39 in the

hubs

32 and 33 for releasable interconnection of a suitable socket wrench 1, screwdriver or other turning tool, having a correspondingly shaped shank. A ratchet recess 40 is provided as a part of and extending outwardly as an enlargement of the ratchet gear recess 35. A pair of ratchets 41 is disposed therein with one end engaging the outer tooth portion of the ratchet gear 36 and the opposite ends pivotally mounted by a pin 42. A pair of coil springs 43 acts between the back side of the ratchets 41 and the adjacent portion or side wall of the ratchet recess 40 to continuously urge the coupling end of the ratches 41 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet gear 36.

As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, clockwise rotation of the drive gear 2 will be transmitted through the pair of ratchets 41 and the ratchet gear 36 to the attached tool or wrench 1, with the illustrated ratchet assembly or unit 4. The clockwise rotation of the drive gear 2 is effected by pushing inwardly on the actuating rod 7, turning of the actuating rod 7 about its own axis in a counterclockwise direction with the stop 19 engaging the cap 9, or turning of the novel tool clockwise about the axis of the socket opening 37.

In summary, the invention as shown in the drawing permits the rod 7 to be reciprocated in a longitudinal direction in accordance with the positioning of the stop 10 and the extension of the rod 7. During reciprocating movement the worm 8 functions as a rack and rotates gear 2,

ratchet unit 4 and the wrench 1 in a clockwise direction during downward movement of rod 7, as viewed in FIG. 3. Return or upward movement of rod 7 turns only gear 2 in the counterclockwise direction.

Rotating of the rod 7 about its own axis, by directly turning handle 11 or by using a wrench on nut 12, with the rod retracted such that the stop engages the inner surface of the cap 9 rotates worm 8 to drive the gear 2 in a clockwise direction and thereby similarly actuate tool 1. The turning force which can be applied in the latter manner is greater than that of the former, although generally not as rapid. Additionally, if the working area permits the tool may be employed as a more or less conventional ratchet tool with the force applied to rod 7 or housing 6 to oscillate the complete tool about the axis of the opening 37.

The socket opening 37 extends through the unit 3 to allow insertion of the wrench 1 or the like from either side for selective rotation thereof.

Although the embodiment of the invention has been illustrated with a substantial number of components, the several interconnected components may be integrally connected if desired. Thus, the three piece housing of unit 3 or the several components attached to rod 7 may be formed as integrated members. Further, if desired, finger grips or wings may be applied to small tools of this construction for holding the tool with the thumb or palm of the hand on the end of the tool for rapid and convenient reciprocation of the operating rod or shaft. Such changes and modifications will be clear to those skilled in the art and no further description thereof is given.

The present invention thus provides an improved and novel turning tool having high speed and torque characteristics. The three-way operation permits the use of the tool in practically any minimum working area while assuring the obtaining of a firm and positive turning of the work.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being Within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A multiple action turning tool unit comprising,

an elongated support adapted to be manually manipulated,

a gear rotatably mounted in one end of the support and having ratchet means for coupling a turning tool means thereto,

an operating shaft slidably and rotatably mounted to the support for limited reciprocating movement,

a worm secured to the shaft and mating with said gear,

said worm projecting from the gear for a length permitting said worm to serve as a rack to turn the gear upon reciprocal movement of the shaft, and

stop means on the shaft and support limiting movement of the operating shaft in both directions to thereby permit limited reciprocation and providing a reacting stop upon turning of the shaft to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft and thereby transmitting shaft rotation to the gear.

2. The tool unit of claim 1 wherein the support is a tubular housing having an end closure for said stop means with the shaft journaled therein and having a cooperating stop secured to an intermediate portion of the shaft and located within the housing,

a turning means secured to the outer end of the shaft,

and

a resilient means acting between the closure and the turning means and resiliently holding the shaft outwardly of the housing with the cooperating stop engaging the end closure in the absence of a positive inward force applied to the shaft.

3. The tool unit of claim 2 having,

a cylindrical bearing means in the housing to slidably and rotatably support the worm and having an opening through which the gears extend into mating engagement with the worm 4. The tool unit of claim 3 having a generally flat gear enclosure connected with the housing at the bearing means opening and extending radially therefrom with the gear disposed therein, said enclosure having side Wall openings aligned with the gear axis, and

hubs secured to the gear and extending outwardly through the openings to support the gear.

5. A multiple action turning tool unit, comprising an elongated support having a stop member at one end and a bearing member at the opposite end,

a gear rotatably supported on the support with the gear axis normal to the bearing member and having the periphery partially projecting into the bearing member,

a ratchet secured to the gear and having an attachment means for selective and releasable attachment of a turning tool thereto,

an operating shaft slidably and rotatably mounted to said support and projecting through the bearing member and outwardly of the stop member,

a worm secured to the shaft and slidably journaled within the bearing member in mating engagement with the gear,

cooperating stop means secured to the shaft and engaging the stop member with the worm meshing with the gear and with the shaft projecting outwardly of the stop member,

resilient means coupled to the shaft and support and urging the shaft in the axial direction to hold the stop means engaging the stop member, and

said worm extending to at least one side of the gear whereby said gear turns in response to reciprocation of the shaft, rotation of the shaft about its own axis and rotation of the shaft and handle about the axis of the gear.

6. A multiple action turning tool unit for turning of a tool member, comprising a hollow cylindrical housing having a stop member adjacent one end and terminating at its forward end in a laterally projecting case,

a gear journaled within the case with the gear axis normal to the handle axis and having a central aperture,

a ratchet mounted within the aperture and having a socket opening for selective and releasable attachment of a tool member from either side thereof,

an operating shaft mounted within said handle and projecting past the stop member,

resilient means coupled to the shaft and engaging the stop member and urging the shaft outwardly,

a stop secured to the shaft within the housing and engaging the stop member with the forward end of the shaft and housing aligned and with the opposite end of the shaft extending outwardly of the stop member, and

a worm secured to the forward end of the shaft and slidably jo-urnaled within the forward end of the housing in mating engagement with the gear, said worm being of a length substantially corresponding to the outward extension of the operating shaft whereby said gear turns in response to reciprocation of the shaft rotation of the shaft about its own axis and rotation of the shaft and housing about the axis of the gear.

7. A multiple action turning tool for turning of a tool member in a limited space, comprising a hollow cylindrical housing having an outer end closure member and terminating at its forward end in a laterally projecting case,

a gear journaled within the case with the gear axis normal to the housing axis and having a central aperture,

an operating shaft mounted within said housing and projecting through the closure member at the outer end, said shaft having a smaller diameter than said housan operating handle secured to the outer end of the shaft,

a coil spring encircling the shaft between the handle and the closure member and urging the shaft outwardy,

a stop secured to the shaft within the housing and engaging the closure member With the forward end of the shaft and housing aligned and with the shaft extended outwardly of the closure member and the coil spring extended, and

a worm secured to the forward end of the shaft and slidably journaled within the forward end of the housing in mating engagement With the gear, said worm being of a length substantially corresponding to the outward extension of the operating shaft where- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1922 Terry 8l57 12/1961 Abraham 74425 X 7/ 1964 Dixon 74425 FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1914 France.

1903 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Examiner.

Claims

1. A MULTIPLE ACTION TURNING TOOL UNIT COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY MANIPULATED, A GEAR ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN ONE END OF THE SUPPORT AND HAVING RATCHET MEANS FOR COUPLING A TURNING TOOL MEANS THERETO, AN OPERATING SHIFT SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED TO THE SUPPORT FOR LIMITED RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT, A WORM SECURED TO THE SHAFT AND MATING WITH SAID GEAR, SAID WORM PROJECTING FROM THE GEAR FOR A LENGTH PERMITTING SAID WORM TO SERVE AS A RACK TO TURN THE GEAR UPON RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT, AND STOP MEANS ON THE SHAFT AND SUPPORT LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE OPERATING SHAFT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS TO THEREBY PERMIT LIMITED RECIPROCATION AND PROVIDING A REACTING STOP UPON TURNING OF THE SHAFT TO PREVENT LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT AND THEREBY TRANSMITTING SHAFT ROTATION OF THE GEAR.