Patent ID: 6301999
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
A ratchet wrench for selectively applying torque to a fastener, said wrench comprising:a wrench body having a handle portion configured to be manually grasped and a pawl engaging surface;a ratchet gear constructed and arranged to be removably engaged with the fastener such that torque applied to said gear is transmitted to the fastener to effect rotation thereof, said ratchet gear being mounted to said wrench body such that said gear and said body are rotatable relative to one another about a gear axis, said ratchet gear having a plurality of gear teeth arranged on a radially outer peripheral surface thereof in circumferential relation with respect to said gear axis, each of said teeth having opposing tooth surfaces;a pawl having first and second spaced apart tooth engaging surfaces and a load receiving surface opposite said first and second tooth engaging surfaces, said pawl being mounted to said wrench body for pivotal movement about a pawl axis with said load receiving surface thereof engaging said pawl engaging surface of said wrench body, said pawl being movable to a gear driving position wherein said first and second tooth engaging surfaces of said pawl is positioned for driving engagement with respective tooth surfaces of a pair of said gear teeth such that a manual force applied in a torque applying direction to the handle portion of said wrench body is transmitted from said wrench body to said pawl via the engagement between said pawl engaging surface and said load receiving surface and from said pawl to said ratchet gear via the engagement between said tooth engaging surfaces and the aforesaid tooth surfaces of the pair of said gear teeth so as to apply torque to said gear;said pawl being constructed and arranged with respect to said gear teeth and said pawl engaging surface such that in said gear driving position thereof a first portion of the manual force is transmitted through said pawl from said load receiving surface thereof to said first tooth engaging surface thereof for application to one of the gear teeth and a second portion of the manual force is transmitted through said pawl from said load receiving surface to said second tooth engaging surface thereof for application to the other of the gear teeth with the first and second portions of the manual force being in a balanced relation with respect to said pawl axis so that said first and second portions of said manual force offset each other about the pawl axis and said pawl is compressed between said pawl engaging surface and said first and second tooth engaging surfaces; anda biasing element engaged with said pawl and biasing said pawl to said gear driving position, said pawl being constructed and arranged with respect to said gear teeth such that a manual force applied in a ratcheting direction to said handle portion opposite said torque applying direction causes rotation of said wrench body relative to said ratchet gear with said pawl repeatedly ratcheting over said gear teeth against the biasing of said biasing element.