Force relieving mechanism and ratchet clamp having force relieving mechanism

Abstract

The present invention discloses a force relieving mechanism and a ratchet clamp having a force relieving mechanism. The force relieving mechanism includes a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, a locking member, an actuating member and a restoring member. A first clamp arm of the ratchet clamp is fixedly arranged with a first ratchet member having a first set of ratchets, and a second ratchet member having a second set of ratchets is coupled to the second clamp arm. The second ratchet member is provided with a first hole, the locking member passing through the first hole and being rotatable and translationally movable in the first hole. The actuating member applied a first actuation and a second actuation in turn to the locking member so as to cause the second set of ratchets to be detached from the first set of ratchets.

Claims

1. A force relieving mechanism, which is arranged on a tool and used for at least partly releasing a clamping force applied by the tool to an object, comprising a locking member, an actuating member, a first ratchet member having a first set of ratchets and a second ratchet member having a second set of ratchets, one end of the first ratchet member fixedly arranged on the tool, the second ratchet member coupled to the tool, the first set of ratchets engaged with the second set of ratchets, characterized in that, the second ratchet member is provided with a first hole comprising a first hole portion and a second hole portion; the locking member being arranged passing through the first hole; the actuating member connecting the locking member, the actuating member applying a first actuation to the locking member; the first actuation causing the locking member to rotate from a first position to a second position in the first hole portion, the first ratchet member driving the second ratchet member by the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets that are engaged with each other, the locking member entering the second hole portion through the first hole portion, the clamping force being at least partly released; wherein the locking member comprises a first column whose cross-section is an arch, the first column rotating in the first hole portion and the first column moving translationally in the second hole portion, a non-smoothly connected portion being provided between the first hole portion and the second hole portion.

2. The force relieving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, after the first actuation, the actuating member also applies a second actuation to the locking member, the second actuation causing separation between the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets.

3. The force relieving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the non-smoothly connected portion is a step, when the first column is in the first position in the first hole portion, the step being engaged against a curved sidewall portion of the first column to prevent the locking member from entering the second hole portion from the first hole portion; when the first column is in the second position in the first hole portion, the step not coming into contact with the curved sidewall portion of the first column and the locking member being able to enter the second hole portion from the first hole portion.

4. The force relieving mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a first end of the actuating member connects the locking member so as to drive the locking member, the actuating member having a handle part extending from the first end thereof.

5. The force relieving mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the second ratchet member is provided with a blocking part, the blocking part protruding from the second ratchet member; the blocking part being arranged on a path of the handle part swinging toward an end part of the first ratchet member that is fixed to the tool.

6. The force relieving mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the mechanism also comprises a restoring member comprising a first elastic element arranged at the second hole portion, the first elastic element engaged against a sidewall of the first column; wherein the restoring member also comprises a second elastic element engaged against a sidewall of the handle part that is away from the blocking part.

7. A ratchet clamp, used for clamping an object, comprising a first clamp arm, a second clamp arm, a locking member, an actuating member, a first ratchet member having a first set of ratchets and a second ratchet member having a second set of ratchets, the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm being rotatable around a first shaft connecting the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm; one end of the first ratchet member fixedly arranged on the first clamp arm, the second ratchet member coupled to the second clamp arm, the first set of ratchets engaged with the second set of ratchets, characterized in that, the second ratchet member is coupled to the second clamp arm by a second shaft arranged on the second clamp arm, the second ratchet member being rotatable in relation to the first ratchet member; the second ratchet member being provided with a first hole comprising a first hole portion and a second hole portion, the locking member being arranged passing through the first hole; the actuating member connecting the locking member, the actuating member applying a first actuation to the locking member; the first actuation causing the locking member to rotate from a first position to a second position in the first hole portion, the first ratchet member driving the second ratchet member by the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets that are engaged with each other, the locking member entering the second hole portion through the first hole portion, a clamping force being at least partly released; wherein the locking member comprises a first column whose cross-section is an arch, the first column rotating in the first hole portion and the first column moving translationally in the second hole portion, a non-smoothly connected portion being provided between the first hole portion and the second hole portion.

8. The ratchet clamp according to claim 7, wherein, after the first actuation, the actuating member also applies a second actuation to the locking member, the second actuation causing separation between the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets.

9. The ratchet clamp according to claim 7, wherein the non-smoothly connected portion is a step, when the first column is in the first position in the first hole portion, the step being engaged against a curved sidewall portion of the first column to prevent the locking member from entering the second hole portion from the first hole portion; when the first column is in the second position in the first hole portion, the step not coming into contact with the curved sidewall portion of the first column and the locking member being able to enter the second hole portion from the first hole portion.

10. The ratchet clamp according to claim 9, wherein the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets are arranged such that the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets allow a movement of the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm toward each other and obstruct the movement of the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm away from each other.

11. The ratchet clamp according to claim 10, wherein a first end of the first ratchet member is fixed to the first clamp arm, a second end of the first ratchet member pointing toward the second clamp arm; a first end of the second ratchet member pointing toward the first clamp arm, a second end of the second ratchet member pointing toward the second clamp arm; the second set of ratchets starting from the first end of the second ratchet member to be distributed on a side part of the second ratchet member toward the first shaft; the first set of ratchets distributed on a side part of the first ratchet member away from the first shaft.

12. The ratchet clamp according to claim 10, wherein a first end of the actuating member connects the locking member so as to drive the locking member, the actuating member having a handle part extending from the first end thereof.

13. The ratchet clamp according to claim 12, wherein the second ratchet member is also provided with a blocking part, the blocking part being a portion protruding from the second ratchet member along a direction parallel to the first shaft; the blocking part being arranged on a path of the handle part swinging toward a first end of the first ratchet member.

14. The ratchet clamp according to claim 13, wherein the clamp also comprises a restoring member comprising a first elastic element arranged at the second hole portion, the first elastic element engaged against a sidewall of the first column; wherein the restoring member also comprises a second elastic element engaged against a sidewall of the handle part that is away from the blocking part.

15. The ratchet clamp according to claim 14, wherein the first end of the actuating member comprises a first wall and a second wall in parallel arrangement, the second ratchet member partly sandwiched between the first wall and second wall; the first end of the actuating member comprising a first pair of holes respectively on the first wall and the second wall, the locking member arranged passing through the first pair of holes and not rotatable in the first pair of holes.

16. The ratchet clamp according to claim 15, wherein the clamp also comprises a connecting member comprising a third wall and a fourth wall in parallel arrangement, a barrier wall connected between the third wall and the fourth wall; the second ratchet member partly sandwiched between the third wall and the fourth wall; the connecting member partly sandwiched between the first wall and the second wall; the barrier wall arranged on a path of the handle part swinging toward the second clamp arm.

17. The ratchet clamp according to claim 16, wherein the locking member also comprises a second column adjacent to the first column, the second column being a cylinder; a third column connected between the third wall and the fourth wall, the third column longitudinally arranged in the second hole and being closer to the second clamp arm than the second shaft.

18. The ratchet clamp according to claim 17, wherein the connecting member is provided with a second pair of holes fitting with the second shaft and a third pair of holes fitting with the locking member, the third pair of holes being respectively on the third wall and the fourth wall; the second shaft passing through the second pair of holes, the locking member passing through the third pair of holes and being rotatable in the third pair of holes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front view of the ratchet clamp of the present invention in a preferred embodiment;

(2) FIG. 2 is a back view of the ratchet clamp shown in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows an exploded structural view including a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member, a locking member, an actuating member and a restoring member of the ratchet clamp shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 shows the shape of the first hole of the second ratchet member, a cross-section thereof as shown;

(5) FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship of the first ratchet member, the second ratchet member, the locking member, the actuating member, a connecting member and the restoring member of the ratchet clamp shown in FIG. 1 when a force is not applied to the actuating member;

(6) FIG. 6 shows the positional relationship of the second ratchet member, the locking member, a first elastic element and a second shaft shown in FIG. 5;

(7) FIG. 7 shows the positional relationship of the first ratchet member, the second ratchet member, the locking member, the actuating member, the connecting member and the restoring member of the ratchet clamp shown in FIG. 1 after a force is applied to the actuating member to drive the locking member to rotate;

(8) FIG. 8 shows the positional relationship of the second ratchet member, the locking member, the first elastic element and the second shaft shown in FIG. 7;

(9) FIG. 9 shows the positional relationship of the first ratchet member, the second ratchet member, the locking member, the actuating member, the connecting member and the restoring member of the ratchet clamp shown in FIG. 1 after a force is applied to the actuating member to drive the locking member to move;

(10) FIG. 10 shows the positional relationship of the second ratchet member, the locking member, the first elastic element and the second shaft shown in FIG. 9;

(11) FIG. 11 shows the positional relationship of the first ratchet member, the second ratchet member, the locking member, the actuating member, the connecting member and the restoring member of the ratchet clamp shown in FIG. 1 after a force is applied to the actuating member and drives the locking member to rotate; and

(12) FIG. 12 shows the positional relationship of the second ratchet member, the locking member, the first elastic element and the second shaft shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(13) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a ratchet clamp having a force relieving mechanism of the present invention in a preferred embodiment. A first clamp arm 101 and a second clamp arm 102 thereof are connected through a first shaft 100, and are rotatable about the first shaft 100 to control the closing or opening of a first clamp tip portion 11 and a second clamp tip portion 12. In particular, when the user applies forces to the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm 102 to make them close in to each other (i.e. the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm move toward each other), the first clamp tip portion 11 and the second clamp tip portion 12 also close in to each other, thereby clamping the object such as a workpiece; when the user applied forces to the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm 102 to make them away from each other (i.e. the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm 102 moves away from each other), the first clamp tip portion 11 and the second clamp tip portion 12 also moves away from each other, thereby releasing the workpiece.

(14) A force relieving mechanism is arranged between the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm 102, used for at least partly releasing the clamping force applied by the ratchet clamp to the workpiece when the ratchet clamp releases the workpiece. The force relieving mechanism includes a first ratchet member 110, a second ratchet member 120, a locking member 300, a connecting member 400, an actuating member 500 and a restoring member, and FIG. 3 shows the exploded structural view of them.

(15) One end of the first ratchet member 110 is fixedly connected to the first clamp arm 101, and it is enabled to be more reliably fixedly connected to the first clamp arm 101 by an embedded member 111; the other end thereof is pointing toward the second clamp arm 102. A first set of ratchets are distributed on the side part of the first ratchet member 110 away from the first shaft 100.

(16) An elongated second hole 121 is provided at one end of the second ratchet member 120. In the present embodiment, the second hole 121 is an open hole having an opening facing the second clamp arm 102. In other embodiments, the second hole 121 may also be a closed hole. A second shaft 200 arranged on the second clamp arm 102 longitudinally passing through the second hole 121. The extending direction of the second shaft 200 is the same as the first shaft 100, and, in the second hole 121, it is arranged perpendicular to the cross-section of the second hole 121 (perpendicular to the section of the first shaft, and the unspecified cross-sections in the present Specification all perpendicular to the section of the first shaft), thereby the second ratchet member 120 being rotatable about the second shaft 200. The second hole 121 is transversely arranged, thereby allowing the first ratchet member 110 to drive the second ratchet member 120 to move transversely by the engaged first and second sets of ratchets. The transversely in the Specification refers to along the direction extending from the first clamp arm 101 to the second clamp arm 102 or along the direction extending from the second clamp arm 102 to the first clamp arm 101.

(17) The other end of the second ratchet member 120 points toward the first clamp arm 101. A second set of ratchets engaged with the first set of ratchets are distributed on the second ratchet member 120 at the side part toward the first shaft 100, and, preferably, the second set of ratchets starts distribution from the end of the second ratchet member 120 pointing toward the first clamp arm 101.

(18) The tooth surfaces of each ratchets of the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets are arranged such that the movement of the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm 102 toward each other is allowed while that away from each other is obstructed.

(19) In the present embodiment, the locking member 300 includes a first column 301 and a second column 302 that are connected. The second column 302 is a cylinder, and the cross-section thereof is the first circle; the first column 301 is an incomplete cylinder, the cross-section thereof is an arch, the arc of the arch being a part of circumference of a circle which is a second circle. The arc length of the arch is larger than half of the circumference of the second circle. Preferably, the positional relationship of the first column 301 and the second column 302 is that the first circle and the second circle are arranged concentric on the cross-sections of them, as shown in FIG. 5. The locking member 300 may be integrally formed, and may also be formed by fixedly connecting the respectively formed first column 301 and second column 302.

(20) The first column 301 is arranged passing through in the first hole 122 of the second ratchet member 120, and is rotatable in the hole and is transversely movable when rotated to a certain angle. Preferably, the first hole 122 is arranged in the middle part of the second ratchet member 120, and FIG. 4 shows its cross-section. It can be seen in FIG. 4 that the first hole 122 includes a circular first hole portion 1221 and an irregular elongated second hole portion 1222; the first hole portion 1221 is adjacent to the first clamp arm 101, and the second hole portion 1222 is adjacent to the second clamp arm. A non-smoothly connected portion is provided between the two, which is a step 1223. The shape of the first hole 122 is arranged such that the first column 301 is rotatable but not translationally movable in the first hole portion 1221, and is translationally movable but not rotatable in the second hole portion 1223. Specifically, the step 1223 engages against the curved sidewall portion of the first column 301 when the first column 301 is in the first position (for example, the position as shown in FIG. 6) in the first hole portion 1221, thereby limiting the first column 301 in the first hole portion 1221, and the locking member 300 cannot move into the second hole portion 1222 from the first hole portion 1221; the step 1223 does not come into contact with the curved sidewall portion of the first column 301 when the first column 301 is in the second position (for example, the position as shown in FIG. 8) in the first hole portion 1221, thereby not limiting the movement of the first column 301, and the locking member 300 can move into the second hole portion 1222 from the first hole portion 1221.

(21) The connecting member 400 is a slide block, which includes two plate-shaped walls (the third wall and the fourth wall) in parallel arrangement for containing part of the second ratchet member 120. A third column 410 and a barrier wall 420 are connected between the first wall and the fourth wall. Preferably, the third column 410 is a cylinder, which is perpendicular to the third wall and the fourth wall; the barrier wall 420 is a section of wall perpendicular to the third wall and the fourth wall. A second pair of holes 421, 422 for fitting with the second shaft 200 and a third pair of holes for fitting with the locking member 300 are provided on the third wall and the fourth wall, a hole 431 of the third pair of holes shown in FIG. 3 and the other hole not shown, in which, the hole 421 and the hole 431 are on the third wall, and the hole 422 and the other hole of the third pair of holes are on the fourth wall.

(22) The second ratchet member 120 is sandwiched between the third wall and the fourth wall, and is slidable in relation to the connecting member 400. Preferably, the second ratchet member 120 has a protruded portion on each of the two surfaces thereof toward the third wall and the fourth wall, such as the protruded portion 124. These protruded portions protrude out from the above surfaces of the second ratchet member 120, used for coming into contact with the second ratchet member 120. They are of elongated shape, extending along the direction of the movement of the second ratchet member 120 in relation to the connecting member 400, thereby reducing the friction to which the second ratchet member 120 is subjected during the movement thereof in relation to the connecting member 400.

(23) One end of the actuating member 500 is used for being engaged with the locking member 300. In the present embodiment, the end includes two plate-shaped walls (the first wall and the second wall) in parallel arrangement. A first pair of holes 531, 532 for fitting with the locking member 300 are provided on the first wall and the second wall, in which, the hole 531 is on the first wall and the hole 532 is on the second wall. The actuating member 500 also includes a portion extending along the direction from the above end away from the first shaft 100. In the present embodiment, the portion is a trigger-like handle portion 510 used for the user to apply force thereto to switch the engaged/separated state between the first set of ratchets and the second set of ratchets.

(24) On the path of the handle part 510 swinging toward the first clamp arm 101, a blocking part 123 is arranged on the second ratchet member 120. In the present embodiment, the second ratchet member 120 is provided with two blocking parts, both of which are a portion protruding out of the second ratchet member 120 along the direction parallel to the first shaft. The blocking parts are used for limiting the degree of swing of the handle part 510 toward the first clamp arm 101. The barrier wall 420 of the connecting member 400 is arranged on the path of swing of the handle part toward the second clamp arm 102, used for limiting the degree of swing of the handle part 510 toward the second clamp arm 102.

(25) The restoring member includes a first elastic element 610 (see FIG. 6) and a second elastic element 620. The first elastic element 610 is a compression spring, which is transversely arranged in the second hole portion 1222, one end of it being engaged against (i.e. contacting and compressing) the first column 301 of the locking member 300 so that the first column 301 is held in the first hole portion 1221. The second elastic element 620 is a torsion spring, the spring coil thereof being surroundingly arranged on the second shaft 200 and one end 621 thereof being engaged against the sidewall of the handle part 501 that is away from the second ratchets. Preferably, the sidewall is provided with a slot 540 fitting with the end part 621; the other end 622 engages against the inner wall of the second clamp arm 102. Due to being subjected to the engagement against it by the end part 621 of the second elastic element 620, the actuating member 500 keeps being engaged against the blocking part 123.

(26) When assembling the second ratchet member 120, the locking member 300, the connecting member 400, the actuating member 500 and the restoring member, the second ratchet member 120 is partly sandwiched between the third wall and the fourth wall of the connecting member 400, and the third column 410 is arranged at the opening of the second hole 121 and thereby outside the second shaft (i.e. the side closer to the second clamp arm 102). The second ratchet member 120 and the connecting member 400 are partly sandwiched between the first wall and the second wall, and the locking member 300 is passed in turn through the hole 532, the other hole of the third pair of holes, the first hole 122, the hole 431 and the hole 531, in which, the first column 301 passes through the hole 532, the other hole of the third pair of holes and the first hole 122, the second column 302 passes through the hole 431 and the hole 531, and the locking member 300 cannot rotate in relation to the hole 532, the other hole of the third pair of holes, the first hole 122, the hole 431 and the hole 531. In addition, the second shaft 200 is passed in turn through one spring coil of the second elastic element 620, the hole 422, the second hole 121, the hole 421 and the other spring coil of the second elastic element 620.

(27) The two sets of ratchets of a ratchet clamp clamping the workpiece keep being engaged with each other, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6. When separating the engaged two sets of ratchets of the ratchet clamp clamping the workpiece, the actuating member 500 applies in turn to the locking member 300 a first actuation and a second actuation, in which the process of the first actuation (FIGS. 7-10) specifically is described as follows:

(28) When the user applies a force F toward the second clamp arm to the handle part 510, as shown in FIG. 7, the actuating member 500 can conquer the friction and the restoring force of the second elastic element 620 and rotate, driving the locking member 300 and rotating it to the position as shown in FIGS. 7, 8. In the position, the first column 301 of the locking member 300 can pass over the step 1223 and enters the second hole portion 1222. Since the clamped workpiece is simultaneously applying a pair of forces in opposite directions away from each other to the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm 102, the first clamp arm 101 and the second clamp arm 102 are enabled to have the tendency of moving away from each other, thereby the first clamp arm 101 driving the second ratchet member 120 by the first ratchet member 110; in relation to the second ratchet member 120, the locking member 300 will conquer the restoring force of the first elastic element 610 of the restoring member and moves from the first hole portion 1221 of the first hole 122 to the second hole portion 1222, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10. Thus, the distance between the first clamp tip portion 11 and the second clamp tip portion 12 will increase a little, releasing at least part of the clamping force applied to the clamped workpiece; the acting force between the engaged two sets of ratchets is correspondingly reduced.

(29) The process of the second actuation (FIGS. 11, 12) is specifically described as follows: the user continues to apply a force F toward the second clamp arm to the handle part 510. The actuating member 500 enables the second ratchet member 120 to rotate around the second shaft 200, so that the second set of ratchets is detached from the first set of ratchets. Because the detachment is processed when the acting force between the two sets of ratchets is rather small, it is more smooth and causing less damage to the ratchets. After the detachment of the second set of ratchets from the first set of ratchets, the restoring force of the first elastic element 610 of the restoring member will cause the second ratchet member 120 to have a small displacement in the direction toward the second clamp arm 102, so that the first column 301 of the locking member 300 is enabled to return to the first hole portion 1221, as shown in FIG. 12.

(30) After the user withdraws the force F applied to the handle part 510, the restoring force of the second elastic element 620 causes the handle part 510 to rotate in the direction toward the second set of ratchets and engage against the blocking part 123. The handle part 510 drives the locking member 300 to rotate, causing the first column 301 of it to restore (the position as shown in FIGS. 5, 6), where the step 1223 causes the two sets of ratchets to keep being engaged with each other by the locking member 300.

(31) The foregoing described the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that an ordinary person skilled in the art can make many modifications and variations according to the concept of the present invention without creative work. Therefore, any person skilled in the art can get any technical solution through logical analyses, deductions and limited experiments, which should fall in the protection scope defined by the claims.