Wrench in the form of an open-end wrench for ratcheting increments of 30°

Abstract

An open-end wrench for ratcheting increments of 30 has a short clamping jaw supported on a wrench handle so as to be pivotable about a first pivot point. A long clamping jaw is supported on the wrench handle so as to be pivotable about a second pivot point. The short clamping jaw and the long clamping jaw are each pressed into a clamping position by a spring load and can be pivoted into a receiving position against the spring load. In the clamping position, the short clamping jaw and the long clamping jaw reach around a hexagonal object. To pivot into the receiving position, the short clamping jaw is pressed against a sliding surface of the long clamping jaw by the spring load. In the clamping position, an opening width the clamping jaws is more than 55% of the distance between two opposite lateral edges of the hexagonal object.

Claims

1. A wrench (1) in the form of an open-end wrench for ratcheting increments of 30 with a short clamping jaw (5), which is supported on a wrench handle (3) so as to be pivotable about a first pivot point (4) and a long clamping jaw (7) which is supported on the wrench handle (3) so as to be pivotable about a second pivot point (6), wherein the first pivot point (4) is arranged spaced apart from the second pivot point (6) in a longitudinal direction of the handle, wherein the short clamping jaw (5) and the long clamping jaw (7) are each pressed into a clamping position by a spring load and can be pivoted into an open receiving position against the spring load, wherein the spring load acts on the long clamping jaw (7) below the second pivot point in all possible pivot positions of the long clamping jaw (7), wherein in the clamping position, the short clamping jaw (5) and the long clamping jaw (7) reach around a hexagonal object (8) respectively at five lateral edges (14) of the hexagonal object (8) in a first engagement position and in a second engagement position pivoted by 30, wherein during the pivoting into the receiving position, a distance between a first clamping surface (9) of the short clamping jaw (5) and a second clamping surface (10) of the long clamping jaw (7) becomes larger and the hexagonal object (8) can be inserted between the short clamping jaw (5) and the long clamping jaw (7), wherein during the pivoting into the receiving position, the short clamping jaw (5) is pressed against a sliding surface (21) of the long clamping jaw (7) by the spring load and performs a pivoting motion in the same direction of rotation, wherein the long clamping jaw (7) has an actuating device (16) extending longitudinally below the second pivot point with which the long clamping jaw (7) can be manually pivoted into the receiving position, wherein in the fully opened receiving position, the long clamping jaw (7) projects laterally over the wrench handle (3) in the direction of the width of the wrench handle (3) for a distance of less than double the width of the wrench handle (3) while being pushed by the spring load towards the clamping position, and wherein in the clamping position, an opening width between ends of the short clamping jaw (5) and of the long clamping jaw (7) facing away from each other is more than 55% of the distance between two opposite lateral edges (14) of the hexagonal object (8).

2. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that in the clamping position, an opening width between ends of the short clamping jaw (5) and of the long clamping jaw (7) facing away from each other is more than 70% of the distance between two opposite lateral edges (14) of the hexagonal object (8).

3. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that the first clamping surface (9) of the short clamping jaw (5) and the second clamping surface (10) of the long clamping jaw (7) each have a number of recesses (11) for receiving in each case a corner (13) of the hexagonal object (8), wherein in the first engagement position and in the second engagement position, in each case lateral faces (12) of the recesses (11) bear against sections of the lateral edges (14) of the hexagonal object (8) that are adjacent to four corners (13) of the hexagonal object (8) in both directions.

4. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that on its end facing away from the short clamping jaw (5), the long clamping jaw (7) has a gripping tooth (15) that faces the hexagonal object (8).

5. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that the long clamping jaw (7) has a stop face (22) against which the short clamping jaw (5) bears in the clamping position.

6. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that a spring device is in operative connection with the short clamping jaw (5) and with the long clamping jaw (7).

7. The wrench (1) as in claim 6, characterized in that the spring device has a leg spring (18) fixed on the wrench handle (3), the first spring leg (19) of which leg spring is in operative connection with the short clamping jaw (5) and the second spring leg (20) of which is in operative connection with the long clamping jaw (7).

8. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that in the receiving position, a distance between opposite outer surface sections (23, 24) of the short clamping jaw (5) and the long clamping jaw (7) is less than 2.9 times the width of the wrench handle (3).

9. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that on a side facing away from the long clamping jaw (7), the short clamping jaw (5) when pivoted towards the long clamping jaw does not project laterally over the wrench handle (3).

10. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device (16) is formed by a shaping of the long clamping jaw (7) that forms an actuating lever (17, 25) that extends past the second pivot point (6) on an end of the long clamping jaw (7) that opposes the second clamping surface (10), which actuating lever projects laterally over the wrench handle (3) in the clamping position.

11. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that in the clamping position, an opening width between ends of the short clamping jaw (5) and of the long clamping jaw (7) facing away from each other is more than 80% of the distance between two opposite lateral edges (14) of the hexagonal object (8).

12. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that in the receiving position, a distance between opposite outer surface sections (23, 24) of the short clamping jaw (5) and the long clamping jaw (7) is less than 2.3 times the width of the wrench handle (3).

13. The wrench (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that in the receiving position, a distance between opposite outer surface sections (23, 24) of the short clamping jaw (5) and the long clamping jaw (7) is less than double the width of the wrench handle (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept that is shown in the drawings is explained below in more detail. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a wrench according to the invention, wherein a wrench handle of the wrench is not shown in its full length and wherein a short clamping jaw and a long clamping jaw of the wrench are gripping a hexagonal object.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a partial view of the wrench depicted in FIG. 1 that is limited to the two clamping jaws, wherein the two clamping jaws are partially opened and the hexagonal object has been slightly released for the purpose of a ratcheting movement.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of the wrench according to FIG. 2, wherein the two clamping jaws are gripping the hexagonal object in a clamping position, wherein the hexagonal object is shown in a different engagement position to the one depicted in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 shows the wrench depicted in FIGS. 1-3, wherein the two pivoting jaws are pivoted into a maximum open receiving position.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a partial view of a wrench with an alternatively configured actuating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) A wrench 1 depicted by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 5 and in a partially cut representation respectively has an elongated handle grip 3 that is provided with a handle part 2 not shown in more detail. A short clamping jaw 5 is mounted on the wrench handle 3 so as to be pivotable about a first pivot point 4 and a long clamping jaw 7 is mounted on the wrench handle 3 so as to be pivotable about a second pivot point 6. The two pivot points 4 and 6 are arranged spaced apart from each other both in a longitudinal direction of the handle and in a transverse direction aligned transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle. In this case, the first pivot point 4 of the short clamping jaw 5 is arranged toward the top left and the second pivot point 6 of the long clamping jaw 7 is arranged toward the bottom in the direction of the handle part 2 and toward the right in FIG. 1.

(8) The two clamping jaws 5 and 7 grip a hexagonal object 8 that can be for example a nut or a screw. The short clamping jaw 5 has a first clamping surface 9 and the long clamping jaw 7 has a second clamping surface 10 in the profile of which three or four successively arranged recesses 11 are formed respectively. Each recess 11 has a base area of an isosceles triangle with an opening angle of 120 that faces the hexagonal object 8, wherein in each case two lateral faces 12 aligned at an angle of 120 to each other delimit a recess 11 and form a section of the relevant clamping surface 9 or 10.

(9) In a first engagement position of the hexagonal object 8 between the clamping jaws 5 and 7, which position is shown in FIG. 1, and in a second engagement position of the hexagonal object 8, which position is pivoted through 30 in relation to the first engagement position and is shown in FIG. 3, in each case four corners 13 of the hexagonal object 8 are received in an allocated recess 11 on the clamping surfaces 9 and 10 of the clamping jaws 5 and 7. For each corner 13, the lateral faces 12 of the recesses 11 closely abut sections of lateral edges 14 of the hexagonal object 8 that are adjacent to a corner 13 in both directions and create a form-fitting receiving point for the hexagonal object 8. The first engagement position and the second engagement position, which are shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 3, each correspond to a clamping position of the clamping jaws 5 and 7 of the wrench 1.

(10) A gripping tooth 15 that faces the hexagonal object 8 is formed on an end of the long clamping jaw 7 that faces away from the short clamping jaw 5. In the first engagement position, the gripping tooth 15 creates a further form-fitting engagement with the hexagonal object 8. Since the gripping tooth 15 has a large distance from a center axis and from the pivot points 4 and 6 of the pivotably mounted clamping jaws 5 and 7, this distance being measured in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle, torques and forces can be exerted on and transmitted to the hexagonal object 8 especially effectively with this gripping tooth 15. Furthermore, the gripping tooth 15 facilitates a self-locking clamping action of the clamping jaws 5 and 7 that are pivoted into the clamping position.

(11) An opening width between ends of the short clamping jaw 5 and of the long clamping jaw 7 facing away from each other, marked with e in FIG. 1, is prescribed and delimited by the gripping tooth 15. Consequently, this opening width e is smaller than the distance marked as d in FIG. 1 between two opposite lateral edges 14 of the hexagonal object 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown by way of example in the figures, the opening width e is approximately 90% of the distance d between the opposite lateral edges 14, wherein this distance represents a width of the hexagonal object 8.

(12) With a suitable configuration and shaping of the gripping tooth 15, it is possible to ensure that the gripping tooth 15 need project only slightly in the direction of the hexagonal object 8 and, therefore, the opening width e need only be specified slightly smaller than the distance d or the width of the hexagonal object 8, while it is still possible for large torques to be reliably transmitted to the hexagonal object 8 that is held at four corners 13 in a form-fitting manner and for the hexagonal object 8 to be retained between the clamping jaws 5 and 7 in such a manner that it is secured against slipping out.

(13) In order to insert the hexagonal object between the two clamping jaws 5 and 7 or to loosen and disconnect the wrench 1 from a hexagonal object 8 held in a form-fitting manner between the clamping jaws 5 and 7, it is therefore necessary for the two clamping jaws 5 and 7 to be pivoted into an open receiving position, which is shown in FIG. 4.

(14) For this purpose, the wrench 1 has an actuating device 16 with an actuating lever 17 that projects laterally over the wrench handle 3. The actuating device 16 is formed on the long clamping jaw 7 or is in operative connection with the latter, so that when the actuating lever 17 is actuated by a user of the wrench 1, the long clamping jaw 7 can be manually pivoted into an open receiving position.

(15) A leg spring 18 is also pivotably mounted on the wrench handle 3 such that a first spring leg 19 laterally abuts the short clamping jaw 5 and a second spring leg 20 laterally abuts the long clamping jaw 7. The leg spring 18 establishes an operative connection between the two clamping jaws 5 and 7 and presses both clamping jaws 5 and 7 into their clamping position. In the case of manual deflection of the long clamping jaw 7 into the open receiving position using the actuating device 16, the short clamping jaw 5 is likewise pivoted by the leg spring 18.

(16) An end of the short clamping jaw 5 facing the long clamping jaw 7 is pressed against a sliding surface 21 formed on the long clamping jaw 7 by the spring force of the leg spring 18 and slides along the sliding surface 21 during a pivoting movement, by means of which a guide is formed for the short clamping jaw 5. The long clamping jaw 7 has, at one end of the sliding surface 21, a stop face 22, against which the short clamping jaw 5 bears in the clamping position. The position and arrangement of the two clamping jaws 5 and 7 relative to one another in the clamping position are prescribed by the stop face 22 and undesired tilting of the clamping jaws 5 and 7 is prevented, even in the case of large mechanical loads and/or in the case of large torques being exerted on the hexagonal object 8.

(17) In the open receiving position that is shown in FIG. 4, the two clamping jaws 5 and 7 must have a sufficient spacing between them so that the opening width thereby prescribed between the end regions of the clamping jaws 5 and 7 is larger than the distance between two opposite lateral edges 14 or larger than the width of the hexagonal object 8. Upon pivoting of the clamping jaws 5 and 7, a distance between opposite outer surface sections 23 and 24 of the clamping jaws 5 and 7, which distance is measured transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle, increases. In addition, at least the long clamping jaw 7 necessarily projects laterally over the wrench handle 3 of the wrench 1. The lateral protrusion of the long clamping jaw 7 is identified with b in FIG. 4. In conjunction with a width of the wrench handle 3 that is identified as a in this section, the distance between the outer surface sections 23 and 24 results as the sum of a and b. In the exemplary embodiment shown by way of example in FIG. 4, this distance is slightly less than double the width a of the wrench handle 3.

(18) FIG. 5 shows merely by way of example an alternative configuration of the actuating device 16 with an actuating lever 25 that projects on an opposite side of the wrench handle 3 and can be actuated from this side. While the actuating lever 17 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be actuated by the palm of a user's hand or by being gripped by the user's index finger, the actuating lever 25 arranged on the opposite handle side enables convenient operation with the fingers during normal handling of the wrench 1 without the user having to grip around it.

(19) The features according to the invention of the wrench 1 enable, on the one hand, reliable holding of the hexagonal object 8 between the clamping jaws 5 and 7 such that it is secured against slipping out, as well as a ratcheting function of the wrench, and on the other hand, the achievement of a wrench mouth width, more specifically the distance between the outer surface sections 23 and 24 of the clamping jaws 5 and 7 in the fully opened receiving position, that is small and that does not negatively affect the handling and actuation of the wrench 1.