Powered ratcheting wrench

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11897094-B2
Application number	US-202016736162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2020
Priority date	Jan 7, 2019
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A powered ratcheting wrench includes a main housing defining a grip portion, a motor having a motor drive shaft, a drive assembly coupled to the motor drive shaft and driven by the motor, and an output assembly coupled to the drive assembly. The output assembly includes an output member that receives torque from the drive assembly, causing the output member to rotate about an axis. The powered ratcheting wrench further includes a head housing coupled to the main housing and supporting at least a portion of the drive assembly. The head housing is composed of an aluminum alloy resulting in a center of gravity for the power tool to be proximate the grip portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A powered ratcheting wrench comprising:
a main housing defining a grip portion;
a motor having a motor drive shaft;
a drive assembly coupled to the motor drive shaft and driven by the motor about a first axis;
an output assembly coupled to the drive assembly, wherein the output assembly includes a ratchet mechanism and an output member, both of which receive torque from the drive assembly, causing the output member to rotate about a second axis;
a head housing coupled to the main housing and surrounding at least a portion of the drive assembly and at least a portion of the motor, wherein the head housing defines a first end of the wrench and the main housing defines an opposite, second end of the wrench; and
a battery pack selectively coupled to the main housing at the second end for providing power to the motor when activated,
wherein the head housing is composed of an A380 aluminum alloy resulting in a center of gravity of the wrench to be proximate the grip portion,
wherein the center of gravity is between 170 millimeters and 185 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is coupled to the main housing.

2. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , wherein the head housing is coupled to the main housing with a series of fasteners extending through the main housing and the head housing.

3. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 2 , wherein the series of fasteners each extend toward the first axis in a direction perpendicular to the first axis.

4. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity is 175 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is coupled to the main housing.

5. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity is between 102 millimeters and 112 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is removed from the main housing.

6. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity is 107 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is removed from the main housing.

7. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

8. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a yoke, and wherein the drive assembly includes a crankshaft for providing an oscillating input to the yoke for intermittently rotating the output member in a first rotational direction about the second axis.

9. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 8 , wherein the ratchet mechanism is adjustable for intermittently rotating the output member in a second rotational direction about the second axis in response to the oscillating input provided to the yoke.

10. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 8 , wherein the output member is rotationally locked by the yoke when the motor is deactivated and when the power tool is manually rotated about the second axis.

11. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , wherein the head housing encases a planetary geartrain, a crankshaft, and a majority of the motor.

12. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 1 , further comprising a paddle to selectively activate the motor, wherein the paddle is disposed rearwardly of the center of gravity relative to the first axis when the battery pack is coupled to the main housing.

13. A powered ratcheting wrench comprising:
a main housing defining a grip portion;
a motor having a motor drive shaft rotatable about a first axis;
a drive assembly coupled to the motor drive shaft and driven by the motor, and an output assembly coupled to the drive assembly, wherein the output assembly includes a ratcheting mechanism and an output member, both of which receive torque from the drive assembly, causing the output member to rotate about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis;
a head housing coupled to the main housing and surrounding at least a portion of the drive assembly and at least a portion of the motor, wherein the head housing defines a first end of the wrench and the main housing defines an opposite, second end of the wrench; and
a battery pack selectively coupled to the main housing at the second end for providing power to the motor when activated,
wherein the head housing is composed of an A380 aluminum alloy resulting in a center of gravity of the wrench that is enveloped by the hand of a user when being grasped by a user,
wherein the center of gravity is between 170 millimeters and 185 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is coupled to the main housing.

14. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 13 , wherein the head housing is coupled to the main housing with a fastener extending through the main housing and the head housing.

15. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 14 , wherein the fastener extends toward the first axis in a direction perpendicular to the first axis.

16. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 13 , wherein the center of gravity is 175 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is coupled to the main housing.

17. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 13 , wherein the center of gravity is between 102 millimeters and 112 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is removed from the main housing.

18. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 13 , wherein the center of gravity is 107 millimeters away from the first end when the battery pack is removed from the main housing.

19. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 13 , wherein the ratchet mechanism includes a yoke, wherein the drive assembly includes a crankshaft for providing an oscillating input to the yoke for intermittently rotating the output member in a first rotational direction about the second axis, wherein the ratchet mechanism is adjustable for intermittently rotating the output member in a second rotational direction about the second axis in response to the oscillating input provided to the yoke, and wherein the output member is rotationally locked by the yoke when the motor is deactivated and when the power tool is manually rotated about the second axis.

20. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 13 , wherein the head housing encases a planetary geartrain, a crankshaft, and a majority of the motor.

21. The powered ratcheting wrench of claim 13 , further comprising a paddle to selectively activate the motor, wherein the paddle is disposed rearwardly of the center of gravity relative to the first axis when the battery pack is coupled to the main housing.

22. A powered ratcheting wrench comprising:
a main housing defining a grip portion;
a motor having a motor drive shaft;
a drive assembly coupled to the motor drive shaft and driven by the motor about a first axis;
an output assembly coupled to the drive assembly, wherein the output assembly includes a ratchet mechanism and an output member, both of which receive torque from the drive assembly, causing the output member to rotate about a second axis;
a head housing coupled to the main housing via a fastener extending through the head housing and the main housing, the head housing surrounding at least a portion of the drive assembly and at least a portion of the motor, wherein the head housing defines a first end of the wrench and the main housing defines an opposite, second end of the wrench; and
a battery pack selectively coupled to the main housing at the second end for providing power to the motor when activated,
wherein the head housing is composed of an A380 aluminum alloy resulting

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Schultz Kyle W

Classifications

• B25B21/004 Primary

  of the ratchet type · CPC title

• B25B13/465

  a pawl engaging an internally toothed ring · CPC title

• B25B23/16

  Handles (in general B25G) · CPC title