RATCHET WHEEL AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME

Abstract

A ratchet wheel includes an outer surface multiple ratchet teeth formed thereon, an inner surface having a polygonal hole defined therein, a first end and a second end. An electro-plating process is applied to the ratchet wheel to form a protective layer plated on the whole ratchet wheel. The protective layer is a durable and high stiffness metal layer or an alloy layer. An isolation layer is coated to the outer surface of the ratchet wheel, and a recognition layer is formed on the protective layer on the inner surface, the first end and the second end of the ratchet wheel.

Claims

1. A method for making a ratchet wheel, comprising: a step of first plating: the ratchet wheel having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end, the first and second end surfaces respectively connected to two ends of the outer surface and the inner surface, the outer surface including multiple ratchet teeth formed thereon, the inner surface having a polygonal hole defined therein, the ratchet wheel being put into a plating liquid and an electro-plating process being applied to the ratchet wheel to form a protective layer plated on the whole ratchet wheel, the protective layer being a durable and high stiffness metal layer or an alloy layer, the protective layer being plated to the outer surface including surfaces of the ratchet teeth on the outer surface, the inner surface including a surface of the polygonal hole, and the first and second ends; a step of applying an isolation layer: removing the ratchet wheel from the plating liquid and drying the ratchet wheel, an isolation layer being coated to the outer surface of the ratchet wheel; a step of secondary plating: an electro-plating process being applied to the ratchet wheel with the isolation layer, a recognition layer being formed on the protective layer on the inner surface, the first end and the second end of the ratchet wheel, the recognition layer having a color, and a step of removing the isolation layer: removing the ratchet wheel from the plating liquid of the secondary plating and drying the ratchet wheel, removing the isolation layer from the ratchet wheel.

2. A ratchet wheel comprising: an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end and a second end, the first and second surfaces respectively connected to two ends of the outer surface and the inner surface, the outer surface including multiple ratchet teeth formed thereon, the inner surface including a polygonal hole defined therein, a protective layer plated on the whole ratchet wheel, the protective layer being a durable and high stiffness metal layer or an alloy layer, the protective layer being plated to the outer surface including surfaces of the ratchet teeth on the outer surface, the inner surface including a surface of a polygonal hole, and the first and second ends, a recognition layer formed on the protective layer on the inner surface, the first end and the second end of the ratchet wheel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the ratchet wheel of the present invention having the protective layer;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show the ratchet wheel of the present invention disclosed in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the circled A in FIG. 2 of the ratchet wheel of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view to show the ratchet wheel of the present invention having the isolation layer;

[0020] FIG. 5 shows that the ratchet wheel in FIG. 4 receives the secondary electro-plating process;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to show the ratchet wheel of the present invention having both of the protective layer and the isolation layer;

[0022] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the circled B in FIG. 6 of the ratchet wheel of the present invention, and

[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view to show the ratchet wheel of the present invention having both of the protective layer and the isolation layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, the method for making the ratchet wheel 10 of the present invention comprises the following steps:

[0025] A step of first plating: The ratchet wheel 10 includes an outer surface 11, an inner surface 12, a first end 13 and a second end 14. The first and second end surfaces 13, 14 are respectively connected to two ends of the outer surface 11 and the inner surface 12. The outer surface 11 has multiple ratchet teeth formed thereon, and the inner surface 12 has a polygonal hole defined therein. The ratchet wheel 10 is put into a plating liquid and an electro-plating process is applied to the ratchet wheel 10 to form a protective layer 20 plated on the whole ratchet wheel 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The protective layer 20 is a durable and high stiffness metal layer or an alloy layer. The protective layer 20 is plated to the outer surface 11 including the surfaces of the ratchet teeth on the outer surface 11, the inner surface 12 including the surface of the polygonal hole, and the first and second ends 13, 14.

[0026] A step of applying an isolation layer: The ratchet wheel 10 is removed from the plating liquid in the previous step, and dried. An isolation layer 30 is coated to the outer surface of the ratchet wheel as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0027] A step of secondary plating: Another electro-plating process is applied to the ratchet wheel 10 with the isolation layer 30 so as to form a recognition layer 40 on the protective layer 20 on the inner surface 11, the first end 13 and the second end 14 of the ratchet wheel 10 as shown in FIG. 5. The recognition layer 40 has a color.

[0028] A step of removing the isolation layer: The ratchet wheel 10 is removed from the plating liquid of the secondary plating and dried, and the isolation layer 30 is then removed from the ratchet wheel 10 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the ratchet wheel 10 has the protective layer 20 and the recognition layer 40, wherein protective layer 20 is plated to the whole ratchet wheel 10, and the recognition layer 40 is plated on the protective layer 20 of the inner surface 12, the first end 13 and the second end 14.

[0030] The protective layer 20 is plated to the whole surface of the whole ratchet wheel 10, and the recognition layer 40 is coated to the protective layer 20 to provide information or features of the ratchet wheel. The protective layer 20 is tightly plated to the whole surface of the ratchet wheel 10, and the protective layer 20 is smooth and is not peeled off. The protective layer 20 enhances the durability of the ratchet wheel 10 and prevents the ratchet wheel 10 from being oxidized. The protective layer 20 also is plated to the surface of the ratchet teeth to enhance stiffness, durability and stability of the ratchet teeth 10. The recognition layer 40 allows the users to quickly recognize the specification and size of the ratchet wheel 10 by the color of the recognition layer 40. The recognition layer 40 is plated onto the protective layer 20, and the recognition layer 40 is not peeled off.

[0031] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.