Tool coupling device

A tool coupling device including a seat body, a ratchet locating mechanism and a transmission member disposed in the seat body. The ratchet locating mechanism has a controlling disc and a working stem projecting from the controlling disc. One end of the working stem has a first stopper block. A second stopper block is connected with the working stem next to the first stopper block. A pair of radially symmetric controlling keys are connected with the working stem next to the second stopper block. The controlling keys serve to drive two chucking pins disposed in the transmission member to move up and down so as to achieve ratchet effect. Therefore, the rotational direction of the tool can be changed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a hand tool, and more particularly to a tool coupling device applicable to a splined wrench to provide ratchet effect.

FIG. 9shows a conventional tool-coupling device. The tool-coupling device includes a connecting member7having a chucking section71, a polygonal connecting section72and an arresting section73. The connecting section72is formed with an annular chucking groove74. A fast unplugging unit75is disposed at the center of the connecting member7. The fast unplugging unit75serves to control a steel ball76to protrude from one side of the arresting section73or retract into the arresting section73. A C-shaped retainer8is inlaid in the chucking groove74. The retainer8is bent to form multiple engaging sections82and restricting sections81.

When assembled with a splined wrench6, the polygonal connecting section72is inserted in the splined hole61of the splined wrench6. The chucking section71abuts against top face of the wall of the splined hole61. The restricting sections81and engaging sections82of the retainer8abut against the wall faces of the connecting member7and the splined hole61. Accordingly, the connecting member7is coupled with the splined wrench6. A the connecting member7is coupled with the splined wrench6. A socket can be fitted on the arresting section73.

The above chucking device only provides a fixing effect. In use, the chucking device can be only one-way rotated. The rotational direction of the splined wrench cannot be changed. As a result, when the splined wrench is turned to a limit, it is necessary to take up the splined wrench and then re-wrench the work piece. This is quite inconvenient and troublesome to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a tool coupling device which can provide ratchet effect for the tool and change the wrenching direction of the tool.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above tool coupling device which has fast unplugging effect for quickly replacing the tool.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above tool coupling device in which a first steel ball and a first spring are inlaid in a dent formed on one face of a polygonal column. The diameter of the first steel ball is larger than the diameter of the opening of the dent, whereby the first steel ball can partially protrude from the dent or retract into the dent for locating the tool coupling device in a splined hole of a splined wrench without loosening and shaking.

According to the above objects, the tool coupling device of the present invention includes:a seat body having a chucking flange at one end and a polygonal column at the other end for fitting with a wrench, the seat body being formed with an axial receiving space including a first receiving room and a ratchet section sequentially arranged from the chucking flange to the polygonal column;a ratchet locating mechanism received in the receiving space of the seat body, the ratchet locating mechanism having a controlling disc and a working stem projecting from the controlling disc, a second stopper block and a pair of radially symmetric controlling keys being connected with the working stem, a third resilient member being fitted on one end of the working stem near the controlling disc; anda transmission member, one end of the transmission member being defined as a coupling section for fitting into the receiving space of the seat body, the other end of the transmission member being a connecting section, the coupling section being formed with a left receiving room and a right receiving room in parallel to a diameter of the coupling section, a first chucking pin and a fourth resilient member being inlaid in the left receiving room, a second chucking pin and a fifth resilient member being inlaid in the right receiving room, the controlling keys of the working stem being respectively engaged with the first and second chucking pins, the transmission member being formed with an axial second receiving tunnel having a large diameter section adjacent to the coupling section, the third resilient member being received in the large diameter section, a shoulder section being formed between the large diameter section and the second receiving tunnel for controlling the third resilient member, an end face of the coupling section being formed with several locating holes arranged at equal intervals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIGS. 1 and 2. The tool coupling device of the present invention includes a seat body2having a chucking flange21at one end and a polygonal column22at the other end. The polygonal column22can be fitted with a splined wrench. One face of the polygonal column22is formed with a dent23in which a first spring231and a first steel ball232are inlaid. The first steel ball232can abut against the wall of the splined hole of the splined wrench. The seat body2is formed with an axial receiving space24including a first receiving room241, a C-shaped latch groove242and a ratchet section243sequentially arranged from the chucking flange21to the polygonal column22.

The tool coupling device of the present invention further includes a ratchet locating mechanism3having a controlling disc31. A working stem32projects from the controlling disc31. One end of the working stem32has a first stopper block321. A second stopper block322is connected with the working stem32next to the first stopper block321. A pair of radially symmetric controlling keys323,324are connected with the working stem32next to the second stopper block322. A third spring325is fitted on the other end of the working stem32near the controlling disc31. The controlling disc31is formed with an axial second receiving room311in which a locating pin312and a second spring313are accommodated.

The tool coupling device of the present invention further includes a transmission member4. One end of the transmission member4is defined as a coupling section41for fitting into the receiving space24of the seat body2. The other end of the transmission member4is a connecting section42. The coupling sect ion41is formed with a left receiving room411and a right receiving room412in parallel to a diameter of the coupling section41. A first chucking pin413and a fourth spring414are inlaid in the left receiving room411. A second chucking pin415and a fifth spring416are inlaid in the right receiving room412. The left and right controlling keys323,324of the working stem32are respectively engaged with the first and second chucking pins413,415. The connecting section42is formed with a radial first receiving tunnel421in which a second steel ball422is plugged. The second steel ball422attaches to the first stopper block321. The coupling section41is formed with an annular groove43. The annular groove43and the C-shaped latch groove242of the seat body2together form an annular passage in which a C-shaped ring5is inlaid. The transmission member4is further formed with an axial second receiving tunnel44having a large diameter section adjacent to the coupling section41. The third spring325is received in the large diameter section. A shoulder section441is formed between the large diameter section and the second receiving tunnel44for controlling the third spring325. In addition, the end face of the coupling section41is formed with a middle locating hole442, a left locating hole443and a right locating hole444arranged at equal intervals. The locating pin312can be located in any of the locating holes.

When applied to a splined wrench6having a splined hole61, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the tool coupling device1is fitted into the splined hole61. The first spring231resiliently forces the first steel ball232to abut against the wall of the splined hole61, whereby the polygonal column22is chucked in the opposite corners of the splined hole61. The chucking flange21abuts against the end face of the circumference of the splined hole61to more firmly and tightly locate the tool coupling device1in the splined wrench6without slippage.

Referring toFIG. 5, when co-used with the splined wrench6, the ratchet locating mechanism3is mounted in the second receiving tunnel44. In normal state, the locating pin312of the controlling disc31extends into the middle locating hole442of the coupling section41. The left and right controlling keys323,324of the working stem32are respectively engaged with the first and second chucking pins413,415of the coupling section41. By means of the fourth and fifth springs414,416, the first and second chucking pins413,415protrude from the top of the coupling section41to engage with the ratchet section243of the receiving space24of the seat body2. Under such circumstance, the splined wrench6can be clockwise or counterclockwise rotated via the tool coupling device1.

When the controlling disc31is clockwise rotated as shown inFIG. 6, the locating pin312of the controlling disc31is clockwise rotated to extend into the right locating hole444of the coupling section41. In addition, the second chucking pin415in the right receiving room412of the coupling section41is pressed down by the rotating right controlling key324to compress the fifth spring416. The left controlling key323is simultaneously rotated so that the fourth spring414bounds up, whereby the first chucking pin413in the left receiving room411moves upward to engage with the ratchet section243of the receiving space24so as to achieve a ratchet effect. Accordingly, the rotational direction of the splined wrench6can be changed.

When the controlling disc31is counterclockwise rotated as shown inFIG. 7, the locating pin312of the controlling disc31is also counterclockwise rotated to extend into the left locating hole443of the coupling section41. In addition, the first chucking pin413in the left receiving room411of the coupling section41is pressed down by the rotating left controlling key324to compress the fourth spring414. The right controlling key324is simultaneously rotated so that the fifth spring416bounds up, whereby the second chucking pin415in the right receiving room412moves upward to engage with the ratchet section243of the receiving space24so as to achieve a ratchet effect. Accordingly, the rotational direction of the splined wrench6can be changed.

When replacing the tool, as shown inFIG. 8, the controlling disc31is pressed down, whereby the third spring325is compressed between the shoulder section441of the second receiving tunnel44and the controlling disc31. At this time, the second steel ball422drops into the space between the first stopper block321and the second stopper block322. Under such circumstance, the connecting section42loses its chucking effect and the tool can be fast replaced.

According to the above arrangement, the present invention has the following advantages:1. The wrenching direction can be changed. By means of rotating the controlling disc, the two controlling keys and the two chucking pins can be driven to engage the ratchet section so as to achieve ratchet effect. Therefore, the splined wrench has ratchet effect and the wrenching direction of the splined wrench can be freely changed in operation.2. The tool coupling device of the present invention has fast unplugging effect. By means of pressing down the controlling disc, the steel ball of the connecting section can be retracted for quickly replacing the tool. Therefore, the tool coupling device of the present invention not only has better locating effect than the conventional device, but also has fast unplugging effect so that the socket can be quickly replaced.