Patent ID: 6450312
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
An easily direction-convertible ratchet assembly adapted for use in a hand tool which has a handle and a drive shaft, said ratchet assembly comprising:a mounting body including front and rear portions opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween, said rear portion being adapted to be secured to and being rotatable with the handle when the handle is turned by a torque force, said front portion including a front end wall extending in a first plane facing toward the longitudinal direction, and having an inner tubular hole extending rearwards into said intermediate portion so as to form an inner surrounding wall surface which surrounds a rotating axis parallel to the longitudinal direction, said inner surrounding wall surface having upper and lower areas opposite to each other in a first transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, said inner tubular hole being divided by a central plane, which passes through the rotating axis and which is parallel to both the longitudinal direction and the first transverse direction, into right and left chambers; a rotating shaft adapted to be rotated with the drive shaft about the rotating axis, and including proximate and distal portions relative to the drive shaft, said distal portion being disposed to be inserted in said inner tubular hole along the rotating axis; a ratchet wheel mounted on said distal portion so as to be rotated about the rotating axis, said ratchet wheel including right and left half tooth portions respectively located in said right and left chambers; right and left pawl members respectively disposed in said right and left chambers, each of said right and left pawl members including a pushed stem having an actuated end movably extending upwardly and into said upper area and outwardly of said intermediate portion, and a coupling end extending downwardly from said actuated end in the first transverse direction, and a pawl body disposed on said coupling end, and including a pawl engaging surface disposed to face upwards and in the first transverse direction and movable toward and away from a respective one of said right and left tooth portions, thereby engaging and disengaging the same, and an abutting surface opposite to said pawl engaging surface in the first transverse direction; an actuator mounted on and shiftable relative to said mounting body between a normal position, where said actuator releases one of said actuated ends of said pushed stems of said right and left pawl members to permit said pawl engaging surface of a respective one of said pawl bodies to move upwards so as to engage a respective one of said right and left tooth portions, thereby transmitting the torque force from said rear portion to the respective one of said right and left tooth portions so as to turn said rotating shaft in a clockwise direction, while said actuator depresses the other one of said actuated ends of said pushed stems to move the respective one of said pawl engaging surfaces to disengage the other one of said right and left tooth portions so as not to interfere with the transmission of the torque force via the engagement of said one of said actuated ends, and a reverse position, where said actuator releases the other one of said actuated ends of said pushed stems of said right and left pawl members to permit the respective one of said pawl engaging surfaces to move upwards so as to engage the other one of said right and left tooth portions, thereby transmitting the torque force from said rear portion to said other one of said right and left tooth portions so as to turn said rotating shaft in a counterclockwise direction, while said one of said actuated ends is depressed by said actuator; and a first biasing member disposed to bias a respective one of said abutting surfaces to move a respective one of said pushed stems against the depressing force of said actuator.