Torque wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11565389-B2
Application number	US-202016896922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2020
Priority date	Oct 7, 2016
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A torque wrench including a head, a handle, a primary beam, a secondary beam, and a torque adjustment mechanism. The primary beam couples the head and the handle for co-rotation about the rotational axis and the primary beam includes a first end adjacent the head and a second end adjacent the handle. The secondary beam is coupled to the head for rotation with the head about the rotational axis and the secondary beam is movable relative to the primary beam and the handle. The torque adjustment mechanism adjusts a torque setting of the primary beam relative to the secondary beam. The torque adjustment mechanism includes a thumb adjustment wheel that a user rotates about a first axis to adjust the torque setting by moving the second end of the primary beam relative to the handle along a second axis offset from the first axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque wrench, comprising:
a head configured to engage a fastener;
a handle extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by a user;
a primary beam coupled to the handle and the head;
a secondary beam coupled to the head and selectively coupled to the primary beam;
a display comprising an indicator arrow and markings on a side of the handle, the indicator arrow moves parallel to the markings along the longitudinal axis of the handle; and
a torque adjustment mechanism that moves the primary beam relative to the secondary beam, the torque adjustment mechanism comprising:
a rack gear coupled to the indicator arrow; and
a gear coupled to the rack gear, wherein the gear rotates on the rack gear and moves the indicator arrow.

2. The torque wrench of claim 1 , wherein the markings are indicated on a sticker on the side of the handle.

3. The torque wrench of claim 1 , wherein the markings are engraved on the side of the handle.

4. The torque wrench of claim 1 , further comprising a worm gear coupled to the gear that engages the primary beam and rotates to move the primary beam and adjust a torque setting, wherein rotation of the gear moves the worm gear and the primary beam.

5. The torque wrench of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator with overlapping tongues between the primary beam and the secondary beam, wherein when a set amount of torque is applied to the handle, the overlapping tongues disengage to create an audible clicking noise that indicates that a set torque has been applied to a workpiece.

6. The torque wrench of claim 1 , further comprising a worm gear coupled to a thumb adjustment wheel; wherein, when the thumb adjustment wheel is rotated, the worm gear and the gear rotate and move the rack gear and the indicator arrow.

7. The torque wrench of claim 1 , wherein the torque adjustment mechanism further comprises a thumb adjustment wheel that is coupled to the gear, wherein, when actuated, the thumb adjustment wheel moves the primary beam relative to the handle to adjust a torque setting.

8. The torque wrench of claim 7 , wherein the thumb adjustment wheel is located on a face of the handle, wherein the face is defined between a first side and a second side of the handle.

9. A torque wrench, comprising:
a head configured to engage a fastener;
a handle extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by a user, the handle comprising a face between a first side and a second side of the handle;
a primary beam coupled to the handle and the head;
a secondary beam coupled to the head and selectively coupled to the primary beam; and
a torque adjustment mechanism that moves the primary beam relative to the secondary beam, the torque adjustment mechanism comprising:
a thumb adjustment wheel located on the face of the handle;
a rack gear;
a gear coupled to the thumb adjustment wheel and to the rack gear, wherein the rack gear moves an indicator arrow in response to rotation of the thumb adjustment wheel.

10. The torque wrench of claim 9 , further comprising a marking on a side of the handle, wherein the indicator arrow is coupled to the rack gear.

11. The torque wrench of claim 9 , wherein the thumb adjustment wheel rotates about a first axis and the gear rotates about a second axis, and wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel and offset from each other along the longitudinal axis.

12. The torque wrench of claim 9 , further comprising a drive arbor that extends along a drive axis of a bore in the head, wherein the drive arbor has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is exposed, wherein the user pushes the first end of the drive arbor along the drive axis to expose the second end.

13. The torque wrench of claim 12 , wherein, when the first end is exposed, the drive arbor rotates in a first direction about a rotational axis relative to the handle, and wherein, when the second end is exposed, the drive arbor rotates in a second direction, opposite the first direction, about the rotational axis.

14. The torque wrench of claim 9 , further comprising an adjustment locking mechanism selectively coupled to the thumb adjustment wheel, wherein the adjustment locking mechanism couples to the thumb adjustment wheel to lock further adjustment of a torque setting.

15. The torque wrench of claim 14 , further comprising a cover coupled to the adjustment locking mechanism, wherein when the user slides the cover along the handle to cover the thumb adjustment wheel, the adjustment locking mechanism engages the thumb adjustment wheel to lock the torque adjustment mechanism.

16. The torque wrench of claim 14 , further comprising fingers and detents on opposite sides of the adjustment locking mechanism, wherein the fingers align the adjustment locking mechanism relative to the thumb adjustment wheel and a compressive force of the fingers and detents on the thumb adjustment wheel locks the torque adjustment mechanism.

17. A torque wrench, comprising:
a head configured to engage a fastener;
a handle configured to be grasped by a user;
a primary beam coupled to the handle and to the head;
a secondary beam coupled to the head and selectively coupled to the primary beam;
a torque adjustment mechanism that moves the primary beam relative to the secondary beam, the torque adjustment mechanism, comprising:
a thumb adjustment wheel located on a face of the handle;
a rack gear coupled to an indicator arrow;
a gear coupled to the thumb adjustment wheel and the rack gear; wherein movement of the thumb adjustment wheel moves the rack gear and the indicator arrow; and
an adjustment locking mechanism comprising fingers configured to lock the thumb adjustment wheel and prevent rotation of the torque adjustment mechanism.

18. The torque wrench of claim 17 , further comprising a display on the handle, and wherein the thumb adjustment wheel is located on the face of the handle, wherein the face is defined between a first side and a second side of the handle, wherein the display comprises the indicator arrow that moves laterally and parallel to a longitudinal axis to a marking on the first side of the handle.

19. The torque wrench of claim 17 , further comprising a cover and a locking member both coupled to the adjustment locking mechanism, wherein the locking member slides with the cover along the handle to engage the thumb adjustment wheel.

20. The torque wrench of claim 19 , further comprising detents between the fingers on the locking member, wherein the fingers align the locking member relative to the thumb adjustment wheel and the detents move over a ridge on a side of the thumb adjustment wheel to lock the thumb adjustment wheel.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Reeder Kyle
• Williams Aaron M
• Hoppe Christopher S

Classifications

• B25B13/465

  a pawl engaging an internally toothed ring · CPC title

• B25B23/141

  Mechanical overload release couplings · CPC title

• B25B23/1427 Primary

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• B25B23/142 Primary

  specially adapted for hand operated wrenches or screwdrivers · CPC title