Slogging wrench

Abstract

A slogging wrench (10) comprising: a ring socket (36) for receiving a nut or a bolt head (NBH, NBH); an elongate body (20) for receiving blows from a mass to transmit torque to the ring socket; and a tool-free locking mechanism (22,24,26,26,28,30) for retaining a nut or a bolt head in the ring socket. The locking mechanism comprises a slider (22) operable to engage a nut or a bolt head in the ring socket; a channel (24) for guiding movement of the slider towards and away from the ring socket; and an actuator (30,74) manually operable to move the slider with respect to the ring socket. The channel (24) opens into the ring socket (36) via an internal periphery (40) of the ring socket. The locking mechanism comprises a resilient member (34) biasing the slider (22) towards a nut or a bolt head (NBH, NBH) in the ring socket (36).

Claims

1. A slogging wrench (10) comprising: a ring socket (36) for receiving a nut or a bolt head (NBH, NBH); an elongate body (20) for receiving blows from a mass to transmit torque to the ring socket; and a tool-free locking mechanism (22,24,26,26,28,30) for retaining a nut or a bolt head in the ring socket, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises: a slider (22) operable to engage a nut or a bolt head in the ring socket; a channel (24) inclined in relation to a central longitudinal axis (21) of the body (20) for guiding movement of the slider towards and away from the ring socket; a resilient member (34) and wherein the resilient member biases the slider (22) to engage a nut or a bolt head (NBH, NBH) in the ring socket (36); and an actuator (30,74) operable to cause movement of the slider with respect to the ring socket, and wherein the actuator (30, 74) is rotatably coupled to the slider (22); wherein the actuator (30,74) is rotatable about a fulcrum (F1,F2) on the slogging wrench and wherein the fulcrum is arranged to provide operation of the actuator by rotation with a mechanical advantage over operation of the actuator by linear translation.

2. A slogging wrench (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator (30,74) comprises an elongate handle (72) for operation of the actuator, wherein the handle is arranged for one-handed operation of the actuator.

3. A slogging wrench (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fulcrum (F1,F2) is transferrable to any one of a plurality of locations (90) on the slogging wrench.

Description

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reference to the following description, which is given by way of example and in association with the accompanying drawings of which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a slogging wrench with a locking mechanism according to the present invention with the locking mechanism in an engaged position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1 with the locking mechanism in a disengaged position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view A-A of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1 with the locking mechanism in the position of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail A of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1 with the locking mechanism in the position of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a detail A of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1 with the locking mechanism in the position of FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a side elevation view of a control rod of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a front elevation view of a slider of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a top view of the slider of FIG. 4;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view B-B of the slider of FIG. 4;

(11) FIG. 10 shows the slogging wrench of FIG. 1 absent the locking mechanism;

(12) FIG. 11 shows the cross-sectional view C-C of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1 absent the locking mechanism;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view D-D of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1 absent the locking mechanism

(14) FIG. 13 shows a side elevation view of a lever of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1;

(15) FIG. 14 shows a cowl of detail A absent of all other features of the slogging wrench;

(16) FIG. 15 shows a side elevation view of a spring of the slogging wrench of FIG. 1;

(17) FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the slogging wrench with a flexible boot shielding the components of the locking mechanism; and

(18) FIG. 17 shows detail A of the slogging wrench like that shown in FIG. 4 with an alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism.

(19) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 15, there is shown a slogging wrench 10 which comprises a wrench body 20, a slider 22 accommodated in a channel 24 in the body, a control rod 26 coupled by a pin 28 to the slider, a lever 30 coupled to the control rod, a cowl 32 which supports the control rod 26 and a compression spring 34 coiled about the control rod 26.

(20) The wrench body 20 is an elongate forged body of steel. Grade 31CrV3 steel is preferred, although other suitable grades of steel may be used. The wrench body has a twelve point ring socket 36 at a first front end thereof and an anvil 38 at a second rear end thereof opposite the first end. The ring socket has an internal periphery 40 with a hardness of 39 to 44 HRc. The internal periphery has an array of twelve V-shaped notches 40a to 40l arranged at equiangular intervals of 30 degrees about the internal periphery. A first set of V-shaped notches 40a, 40c, 40e, 40g, 40i, 40k are adapted to engage a six-sided nut or bolt head having flat-to-flat diameter D of between 20 and 200 millimeters. A second set of V-shaped notches 40b, 40d, 40f, 40h, 40j, 42l are adapted to engage a six-sided nut or bolt head, albeit at 30 degrees clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation in relation to the first set of V-shaped notches. The anvil has an enlarged bulbous shape in relation to the middle of the wrench body. The anvil has rounded edges to help it withstand blows from a hammer, or other large mass, without resulting in fractures in the wrench body. A typical hammer used to strike the slogging wrench 10 may have a weight of about 2.8 kg. Optionally, the anvil may be equipped with a hook for suspending the slogging wrench during storage.

(21) The slogging wrench 10 comprises a locking mechanism which is adapted to releasably engage with a nut or a bolt head located within the ring socket 26 and, in doing so, hold the slogging wrench on the nut or a bolt head until the locking mechanism is disengaged from the nut or a bolt head. The locking-mechanism is tool-free in the sense that it can be manually operated without recourse to a tool. The locking mechanism comprises the slider 22, the channel 24, the control rod 26, the pin 28, the lever 30 and the cowl 32 as is described in more detail below.

(22) Referring to FIG. 6 in particular, the control rod 26 is a metal elongate cylinder with a head 42 having an enlarged diameter at a first end thereof and a hole 44 passing through a portion of the control rod near a second end thereof opposite to the first end. The hole is located approximately 10% of the length CRL of the control rod from the second end of the control rod.

(23) Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9 in particular, the slider 22 is a solid metal block with a cylindrical blind hole 46 in a first rear end thereof and a profiled face 48 at a second front end thereof opposite the rear end. The rear end of the slider is narrower than the front end.

(24) A transition between front and rear ends of the slider 22 is defined by a pair of shoulders of a shoulder section 50. The shoulder section 50 are traversed by a hole 52 that intersects the blind hole 46 at 90 degrees. The axes of the blind hole 46 and the hole 52 are coplanar in a plane generally parallel to and midway between top 54 and bottom 56 faces of the slider 22. The inner diameter of the blind hole 26 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the second end of the control rod 26.

(25) The front end of the slider 22 is flanked on either side by a bottom rail 58, 60 protruding outwardly from the bottom face 56 of the slider 22. The bottom rails are generally parallel to the axis of the blind hole 46. The profiled face 48 is inclined rearward towards the first end of the slider by an angle of approximately 84 (eighty four) degrees measured from the bottom face 56 of the slider 22. The profiled face has a V-shaped notch which is an upper portion the V-shaped notch 40a of the ring socket's internal periphery 40. The V-shaped notch 40a in the profiled face 48 subtends an angle of 120 degrees as is the case with all the other V-shaped notches 40b to 40l. The V-shaped notch 40a of the profiled face is flanked on either side by a pair of parallel flats 40bb, 40ll. One flat 40ll is an upper portion of the clockwise half of the V-shaped notch 40l of the ring socket's internal periphery 40 and the other flat 40bb is an upper portion of the anti-clockwise half of the V-shaped notch 40b of the ring socket's internal periphery 40 as shown by the top views of the slogging wrench.

(26) Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12 in particular, the channel 24 extends from approximately the midpoint of the wrench body 20 towards the front end of the wrench body 20 and opens into a side of ring socket's internal periphery 40 between the V-shaped notches 40b and 40l. A central longitudinal axis 25 of the channel 24 is inclined towards the rear end of the wrench body 20 by an angle of approximately 6 (six) degrees measured from a central longitudinal axis 21 of the wrench body. The sum of angles and is 90 (ninety) degrees so that the profiled face 48 is parallel to the central axis of the internal periphery 40 of the ring socket 36. As such, the profiled face 48 may make flush engagement with the flat side or corner of a nut or bolt head in the internal periphery 40

(27) The channel 24 has a front portion 62 which opens into the ring socket's internal periphery 40, a rear portion 64 which meets the top face of the wrench body 20 and a middle portion 66 between the rear and the front portions. Each side of the front portion has a top rail 68, 70 protruding outwardly from the top of the channel. The top rails begin at the ring socket's internal periphery 40 and end at the middle portion 66. The top rails are generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis 25 of the channel 24. The front portion 62 accommodates the slider 22 within the channel. A complementary mating arrangement between the slider's bottom rails 58,60 and the channel's top rails 68,70 retains the slider in the channel. The top and bottom rails guide linear sliding movement of the slider back and forth along the front portion 62 of the channel.

(28) The channel 24 narrows at a transition between the middle portion 66 and the rear portion 64. This blocks the slider 22, or at least the front end of the slider, from sliding rearward beyond the middle portion of the channel. The rear portion 64 of the channel accommodates the control rod 26 and the compression spring 34 as is explained in more detail below.

(29) Referring to FIG. 13 in particular, the lever 30 is a solid metal plate with a handle 72 for manipulation by an operator and an actuator 74 bent by an angle of approximately 60 degrees in relation to the handle 72. The actuator has a hole 76 with an internal diameter which is sufficiently greater than the diameter of the control rod 26 to permit articulation between the lever 30 and the control rod 26. The hole 76 is smaller than the diameter of the head 42 of the control rod.

(30) Referring to FIG. 14 in particular, the cowl 32 is a solid forged or machined metal block with an internal cavity 78 which opens into a bottom face 80 and a first front end 82 thereof. A second rear end of the cowl 32 opposite the front end thereof has a cylindrical hole which acts as a bearing 84 for the control rod 26. A central longitudinal axis 86 of the control rod bearing 84 is inclined by an angle of approximately 6 (six) degrees measured from the bottom face 80 of the cowl 32. A curved shoulder located at a transition between the cowl's top face 88 and the rear end of the cowl acts as a bearing 90 for the lever 30.

(31) Referring to FIG. 15 in particular, the compression spring 34 has a length SL when not compressed. The compression spring 34 has an outer diameter SD which is greater than the inner diameter of the control rod bearing 84 of the cowl 32.

(32) Returning to FIGS. 1 to 5, the bottom face 80 of the cowl 32 is connected to the top face of the wrench body 20 so that the cowl covers and protects the space around the rear 64 and middle 66 portions of the channel 24.

(33) The front end of the control rod 26 is seated in the blind hole 46 of the slider 22. The pin 28 passes through the holes 52, 44 in the slider 22 and the control rod 26, respectively. The pin 28 is connected to slider 22 by an interference fit with the inside periphery of the hole 52, although other suitable connection means may be used such as glue or welding. A small amount of movement between the control rod 26 and the pin 28 is permitted by the blind hole 46 which has slightly greater inner diameter than the outer diameter of the control rod 26. This introduces a small amount of play between the control rod and the blind hole.

(34) The first end of the control rod 26 is supported for sliding movement relative to the cowl 32 by the control rod bearing 84. The head 42 of the control rod 26 is located outside the rear end of the cowl 32. The lever's actuator 74 is located between the head 42 and the cowl 32. The control rod 26 passes through the actuator hole 76 and the control rod bearing 84. The small amount of play between the control rod 26 and the blind hole 46 compensates for any slight misalignment between the control rod bearing 84 and the blind hole. The compression spring 34 is held in compression between the control rod bearing and the slider 22. The compression spring biases the slider 22 to protrude from the channel 24 in to the ring socket 36 ready for engagement with a nut or bolt head, as is most clearly shown in FIG. 4. The small amount of play between the control rod 26 and the blind hole 46 also helps to absorb sudden movement of the slider 22 caused by impacts from hammer blows transmitted to the nut or bolt head without damaging the control rod 26.

(35) The head 42 of the control rod 26 cannot pass through the actuator hole 76. The head 42 remains in abutment with the actuator 74 when the lever 30 is manipulated by an operator. The lever and actuator may be pulled backward towards the anvil 38 in the direction of arrow P to overcome the bias of the compression spring 34 and cause the slider 22 to recede from the ring socket 36 into the channel 24. The same result may be achieved when the lever's handle 72 is rotated in the direction of arrow R about a fulcrum F1 at a point of contact between the lever 30 and the lever bearing 90. The same result may also be achieved by rotation of the lever's handle 72 in an opposite direction to arrow R about a fulcrum F2 at a point of contact between the bottom of the actuator 74 and the cowl 32. The lever 30 may be turned about the central longitudinal axis 86 of the control rod bearing 84 to relocate fulcrum F1 to a point of contact between the lever 30 and a side face of the cowl. Here, rotation of the lever 30 in the direction of arrow R towards the cowl's side face may also overcome the bias of the compression spring 34 and cause the slider 22 to recede from the ring socket 36 into the channel 24. The slider disengages a nut or bolt head in the ring socket 36 when it recedes into the channel.

(36) The fulcrum F1,F2 is always closer to the head 42 of the control rod 26 than the tip, or even the midpoint, of the handle 72 of the lever 30. Rotation of the lever either in the direction of arrow R, or in the opposite direction, provides a mechanical advantage which reduces the effort required to disengage the slider 22. This is a particular benefit for medium and large diameter slogging wrenches having a large compression spring 34 the bias of which may be difficult or tiresome to overcome by pulling in direction P.

(37) The twelve point ring socket 36 can hold a nut or bolt head at twelve different equiangular spaced intervals of 30 (thirty) degrees. This provides additional flexibility in the use of the slogging wrench 10, especially in cramped locations where manoeuvrability may be limited. As is best shown in FIG. 2, the profiled face 48 is aligned with the ring socket's internal periphery 40 when the slider 22 is disengaged from a nut or bolt head and receded within the channel 24. As mentioned above, the profiled face provides a portion of V-shaped notch 40a and a portions 40bb, 40ll of the adjacent V-shaped notches 40b, 40l. When the locking mechanism is released, the slider may engage a flat side of the nut or bolt with the portions 40bb, 40ll (as is shown by the nut or bolt head NBH in continuous lines) or it may engage a corner of the nut or bolt head with the V-shaped notch 40a (as is shown by the nut or bolt head NBH in dashed lines).

(38) The slogging wrench 10 has a flexible design of locking mechanism. Normally, the compression spring 34 biases the slider 22 and the rest of the ring socket 36 into engagement with a nut or bolt head located therein. Engagement of the slider prevents the slogging wrench from falling from the nut or bolt head, even when inverted. There are several different ways to manipulate the handle 72 of the lever 30 to overcome the bias of the compression spring, disengage the slider 22 from the nut or bolt head and remove the ring socket 36. The choice of manipulation depends on operator preferences and operating conditions.

(39) The slider 22, the control rod 26, the pin 28, the lever 30 and the cowl 32 of the locking mechanism are individual components which may be removed and replaced for maintenance or repair when required.

(40) Referring to FIG. 16, there is shown the slogging wrench 10 with a flexible rubber boot 92 that covers a portion of the wrench body 20 and components of locking mechanism such as the channel 24, the control rod 26, the pin 28, the lever 30 and the cowl 32. The boot also covers the slider 22 except for the front part of the slider and the profiled face 47 when they protrude from the channel 24 into the internal periphery 40 of the ring socket 36. The flexibility of the rubber permits manual operation of the lever through the boot. The boot shields the components of the locking mechanism from ingress of dirt which may cause damage and impair movement.

(41) Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism with a modification to the control rod of a medium or large diameter slogging wrench 10 used to tighten, or loosen, nuts or bolts having a flat-to-flat dimension of 36 mm or more. With the modified control rod 26, the hole 44 has been substituted for an annular channel 44 circumscribing a portion of the control rod 26 near the second end thereof. The annular channel 44 is located approximately 10% of the length CRL of the control rod 26 from the second end of the control rod. The annular channel 44 is sized to accommodate the pin 28 as it passes through the annular channel 44 substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation of the control rod 26. The hole 52 though the slider 22 is relocated a small distance either towards the top face 54 of the slider 22 (as is shown in FIG. 17) or towards the bottom face 56 of the slider 22 (when the pin 28 passes under the axis of elongation of the control pin 26) to compensate for the pin 28 being eccentric to the plane containing the axis of the blind hole 46 in the slider 22. The annular channel 44 acts as a collar around the pin 28 which couples the control rod 26 to the slider 22.

(42) During assembly of the alternative embodiment of the locking mechanism, the control rod 26 is positioned in the blind hole 46 where the annular channel 44 is in line the hole 52 through the slider 22. The pin 28 may engage the annular channel 44 irrespective of the rotational position of the control rod 26 about its axis of elongation. This facilitates assembly of the locking mechanism because the hole 52 through the slider 22 does not need to be aligned precisely with a hole though the control rod 26. The annular channel 44 introduces a small amount of play between the control rod 26 and the pin 28 which helps to absorb any stack-up of tolerances in the locking mechanism components.

(43) The reference numbers used in the following claims are for convenience only and do not limit the scope of the claims in any way.