Ratchet Mechanism Spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016138668-A1
Application number	US-201514919012-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A spring component for a ratcheting mechanism, such as a ratchet wrench. The spring component is shaped to be retained in a recess without any special machining. For example, the spring component can be retained at three abutment points. A leaf of the spring component can abut a pawl, and a base portion opposite the leaf can abut the drive gear. Support arms can abut the sidewall of the recess to retain the spring component within the recess without the need for special machining or tooling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A spring component for a ratchet mechanism having a drive gear and a pawl disposed in a recess having a wall, comprising:
a base portion; a leaf opposite the base portion and adapted to contact a pawl; and a support arm extending from the base portion and adapted to abut the wall to retain the spring component within the recess.

2 . The spring component of claim 1 , wherein the support arm extends perpendicular from the base portion to an edge, wherein the edge abuts the wall.

3 . The spring component of claim 1 , wherein the base portion and the leaf extend in a same plane when in an undistorted configuration.

4 . The spring component of claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a base width and the leaf has a leaf width, wherein the base width is larger than the leaf width.

5 . The spring component of claim 2 , wherein the edge is arcuate and adapted to engage the wall in a rocking motion.

6 . The spring component of claim 1 , further comprising a gap disposed between the leaf and the support arm.

7 . A ratchet mechanism comprising:
a drive gear; a pawl adapted to engage the drive gear when the drive gear is rotated in a drive direction, and disengage and slip against the drive gear when the drive gear is rotated in a ratcheting direction opposite the drive direction; a recess with a wall; and a spring component including:
a base portion;
a leaf opposite the base portion and adapted to abut and bias the pawl into engagement with the drive gear; and
a support arm extending from the base portion and adapted to abut the wall.

8 . The tool of claim 7 , wherein the support arm extends perpendicular from the base portion to an edge, and wherein the edge abuts the wall.

9 . The tool of claim 7 , wherein the base portion extends at an angle relative to the leaf.

10 . The tool of claim 9 , wherein the angle is larger when the pawl engages the drive gear, and the angle is smaller when the pawl disengages the drive gear to allow rotation of the drive gear in the ratcheting direction.

11 . The tool of claim 7 , wherein the base portion has a base width and the leaf has a leaf width, wherein the base width is larger than the leaf width.

12 . The tool of claim 8 , wherein the edge is arcuate and is adapted to engage the wall in a rocking motion.

13 . The tool of claim 7 , further comprising a gap disposed between the leaf and the support arm.

14 . A spring component for a ratchet mechanism having a drive gear and a pawl disposed in a recess having a wall, comprising:
a base portion; a leaf extending from the base portion in a first direction and in a same plane as the base portion, the leaf adapted to bias the pawl into engagement with the drive gear; a first support arm extending from a first side of the base portion in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base portion; and a second support arm extending from a second side of the base portion opposite the first side, wherein the first and second support arms are adapted to retain the spring component in the recess and cause the pawl to engage the drive gear and allow the drive gear to transmit a torque when rotated in a drive direction, and to allow the pawl to disengage and slip against the drive gear when the drive gear is rotated in a ratchet direction opposite the drive direction.

15 . The spring component of claim 14 , wherein the base portion has a base width and the leaf has a leaf width, wherein the base width is larger than the leaf width.

16 . The spring component of claim 14 , wherein the first and second support arms respectively include first and second edges.

17 . The spring component of claim 14 , wherein the first and second edges are arcuate and are adapted to engage the wall in a rocking motion.

18 . The spring component of claim 14 , further comprising first and second gaps respectively disposed between the leaf and the first and second support arms.

19 . A ratcheting tool comprising:
a drive gear; a pawl adapted to engage the drive gear when the drive gear is rotated in a drive direction, and disengage and slip against the drive gear when the drive gear is rotated in a ratcheting direction opposite the drive direction; a head having a recess with a wall; and a spring component including:
a base portion having a base width;
a leaf opposite the base portion and extending at an angle relative to the base portion, and adapted to abut and bias the pawl into engagement with the drive gear, wherein the angle is larger when the pawl engages the drive gear, and the angle is smaller when the pawl disengages the drive gear to allow rotation of the drive gear in the ratcheting direction, the leaf having a leaf width smaller than the base width;
a support arm extending perpendicular from the base portion to an arcuate edge that is adapted to abut the wall; and
a gap disposed between the leaf and the support arm.

Assignees

• Snap On Tools Corp

Inventors

• Ross David T

Classifications

• F16D2041/0605

  Spring details · CPC title

• F16D41/18

  with non-hinged detent (F16D41/02, F16D41/24 take precedence) · CPC title

• B25B13/463 Primary

  a pawl engaging an externally toothed wheel · CPC title

• F16H31/005

  with pawls driven by a reciprocating or oscillating transmission member (F16H31/002, F16H31/004 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16F1/26 Primary

  Attachments or mountings ({F16F1/182, F16F1/22} B60G11/10 take precedence) · CPC title