Ring ratchet spanner

The invention relates to a ring ratchet spanner comprising a ratchet head (1) that is closed all the way round, a lever arm (2) that is seated on the ratchet head (1) and is intended for actuating the spanner, a spanner part (3) that is rotatably mounted in the ratchet head (1), a serrated ring (4) that is provided on the outer circumference of the spanner part (3), and a locking element (5) that interacts with the serrated ring (4). The object of the invention is to create a ring ratchet spanner that can be comfortably placed on any nut and easily actuated when working on a wide variety of pipelines. This object is solved by the closed ratchet head (1) consisting of two halves (6, 7) that can be separated from each other, by one of the two halves (6, 7) of the ratchet head (1) being connected to the lever arm (2), by the spanner part (3) that is rotatably mounted on the ratchet head (1) likewise consisting of two halves that can be separated from each other, and by the two halves (6, 7) of the ratchet head (1) being able to be joined together again in a fixed manner after they have been separated and subsequently placed against the nut to be loosened or tightened.

The invention relates to a ring ratchet spanner comprising a ratchet head that is closed all the way round, a lever arm that is seated on the ratchet head and is intended for actuating the spanner, a spanner part that is rotatably mounted in the ratchet head, a serrated ring that is provided on the outer circumference of the spanner part, and a locking element that interacts with the serrated ring.

DE 10 2005 017 855 B4 discloses a ring ratchet spanner that is closed all the way round and can be placed on a nut or a bolt head from above. On this ring ratchet spanner, the locking element is located in a recess of the lever arm and can be switched from counterclockwise to clockwise action. Use of this ring ratchet spanner on pipelines is not possible.

DE 20 2010 001 662 U1 discloses a ring ratchet spanner where the ratchet head displays a narrow lateral opening. This lateral opening makes it possible to slide the ratchet head over a pipe of a pipeline, for example, and then place it on a nut provided on the pipeline. In this context, the opening of the ring ratchet spanner cannot exceed a certain angular range, as its function would otherwise not be guaranteed, meaning that it can only be used on pipelines that have a small diameter relative to the width across flats of the nut to be actuated. A ring ratchet spanner of this kind moreover has the disadvantage that the ratchet head does not contact the nut to be actuated all the way round. Moreover, relatively wide locking elements have to be provided that bridge the gap in the rotatable spanner part.

The object of the invention is thus to create a ring ratchet spanner that can be comfortably placed on any nut and easily actuated when working on a wide variety of pipelines.

According to the invention, this object is solved by the closed ratchet head consisting of two halves that can be separated from each other, by one of the two halves of the ratchet head being connected to the lever arm, by the spanner part that is rotatably mounted on the ratchet head likewise consisting of two halves that can be separated from each other, and by the two halves of the ratchet head being able to be joined together again in a fixed manner after they have been separated and subsequently placed against the nut to be loosened or tightened.

The ring ratchet spanner according to the invention can thus be opened into two halves and, regardless of the environment of the nut to be actuated, placed laterally against said nut. The ring ratchet spanner according to the invention can then be actuated without difficulty after locking the ratchet head.

Utility model DE 9109523 discloses ratchet pliers where the front jaw halves are each provided with a semicircular spanner part. When the ratchet pliers are closed, the two jaw halves form a ratchet head that, like the ring ratchet spanner according to the invention, can be laterally placed on a nut of a pipeline. Compared to a ring ratchet spanner, ratchet pliers of this kind, which can in each case only be used for a single width across flats, are relatively elaborate and expensive, and also of considerable weight, meaning that a fitter cannot reasonably be expected to carry a large number of ratchet pliers for different widths across flats in his toolbox. Ratchet pliers of this kind are thus not a model for the ring ratchet spanner according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the ring ratchet spanner according to the invention that offers very convenient handling, the two halves of the ratchet head are coupled to each other via a pivoting joint. This results in the advantage that the two halves of the ratchet head are captively connected to each other, and can easily be opened and closed on one side and placed on a nut.

The axis of the pivoting joint is expediently perpendicular to the spanner plane, meaning that laterally placing the ring ratchet spanner against a nut presents no problem whatsoever.

A retaining ring is provided to connect the two halves of the ratchet head. Said retaining ring is expediently of split design, comprising two halves, has an undercut all the way round and is rotatably guided on the ratchet head. This connection constitutes a very elegant locking capability that fits in with an attractive design.

The retaining ring can be rotatable relative to the ratchet head by means of a small hand lever, such that actuation to open and close the ratchet head is very simple and easily possible even for inexperienced persons.

The ratchet head halves can be separated from each other in a first relative position of the retaining ring, in which its two halves coincide with the ratchet head halves, while the ratchet head halves are locked together in a second relative position of the retaining ring, in which the retaining ring halves are offset relative to the ratchet head halves.

To improve the stability of the spanner when the ratchet head is closed, the two halves of the ratchet head can be connectable by means of positively interlocking centring elements.

The centring elements of the one half of the ratchet head are preferably designed as projecting hemispheres that engage hemispherical recesses in the other half of the ratchet head. This centring ensures that the two halves of the ratchet head are exactly aligned relative to each other, such that, for example, the retaining ring that securely holds the ratchet head halves together can be rotated without difficulty.

The locking element that engages the serrated ring of the rotatably mounted spanner part is preferably located in a recess of the lever arm.

The locking element can also be easily switchable from counterclockwise action to clockwise action and vice versa, such that the ring ratchet spanner according to the invention can be used for both left-handed threads and right-handed threads, and for both loosening and tightening a nut.

Pursuant to the drawing, the ring ratchet spanner according to the invention comprises a ratchet head1, a lever arm2that is seated on ratchet head1and intended for actuating the ring ratchet spanner, a spanner part3that is rotatably mounted in ratchet head1, a serrated ring4that is provided on the outer circumference of spanner part3, and a locking element5that interacts with serrated ring4.

As can particularly be seen fromFIG. 1of the drawing, ratchet head1consists of two halves6,7that can be separated from each other and are connected via a pivoting joint8.

Pivoting joint8displays two bearing ears9, a distance apart, that are integrally moulded on the ratchet head half6connected to lever arm2. A bearing pad10, provided on ratchet head half7, is inserted between the two bearing ears9. Both bearing ears9and bearing pad10are provided with through-holes11,12, through which a common journal13passes, such that ratchet head half7is fastened in pivoting fashion on ratchet head half6, which is connected to lever arm2.

Like ratchet head1, spanner part3, which is rotatably mounted on ratchet head1, also consists of two halves14and15, which are rotatably mounted in ratchet head halves6and7.

Serrated ring4, provided on outer circumference of spanner part3, likewise consists of two halves16and17that are each integrally moulded on spanner part halves14and15.

Locking element5is located in a recess18of lever arm2. It is provided with two serrated segments19and20, which can optionally be engaged with serrated ring4of spanner part3. To ensure the optional engagement of serrated segments19and20, locking element5is mounted in recess18of lever arm2in pivoting fashion about a shaft21, arranged perpendicularly to the spanner plane. Shaft21can be pivoted by means of a hand lever22, mounted rigidly on shaft21, such that locking element5, which sits tightly on shaft21, can be pivoted in order to optionally engage serrated segments19and20with serrated ring4of spanner part3. Pivoting of locking element5allows setting of both counterclockwise and clockwise action, such that the ratchet spanner can be used both for left-handed threads and for right-handed threads, and both for loosening and for tightening a nut.

The two halves14and15of spanner part3are each rotatably mounted and fixed in the axial direction in relation to halves6and7of ratchet head1.

Serrated ring halves16and17are axially fixed in halves6and7of ratchet head1in that the underside of serrated ring4, shown inFIG. 1, rests on an edge23running all the way round on ratchet head halves6and7. A split locking ring24is fitted from above, having an edge25that runs all the way round and rests on the upper edge of serrated ring4, shown inFIG. 1, such that serrated ring4is fixed in the axial direction by the two edges23and25, shown inFIG. 1, running all the way round ratchet head halves6and7or split locking ring24.

Halves26and27of locking ring24are fastened on the respective halves6and7of ratchet head1. Half26is fastened by means of screws28to half6of ratchet head1, connected to lever arm2, where screws28reach through corresponding holes29, provided in locking ring half26, and are screwed into threaded holes30in ratchet head half6, connected to lever arm2. Locking ring half27is fastened on pivotable ratchet head half7, e.g. by means of screws not shown in the drawing.

In order to slide the ring ratchet spanner according to the invention over a pipeline and place it on a nut, pivotable half7of ratchet head1is swung open, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 6. Ratchet head half7is then swung back against half6of ratchet head1, connected to lever arm2, and fixed in position on it.

A retaining ring31serves to connect the two halves6and7of ratchet head1. This retaining ring31is divided into two halves32and33, where the two halves32,33are rotatably guided on ratchet head1. The two halves32,33of retaining ring31are provided with an undercut34that runs all the way round and reaches around a projection35provided all the way round on ratchet head1.

Retaining ring half32can be pivoted by means of a small hand lever36and, when ratchet head1is closed, also moves the other half33of retaining ring31, since the ends of retaining ring halves32and33are then in direct contact with each other. In a first relative position of retaining ring31, in which its two halves32and33coincide with ratchet head halves6and7, there is no locking action, meaning that ratchet head halves6and7can be separated from each other. To permit easy location of this relative position, a resilient projection39, pressed inwards on retaining ring half33, snaps into a recess provided on ratchet head half7.

In another relative position of retaining ring31, in which retaining ring halves32and33are offset relative to ratchet head halves6and7, the latter are firmly locked together. In this locked position, the ring ratchet spanner according to the invention can be used like a conventional ring ratchet spanner with closed spanner part, in which context the direction of the ratchet action can be specified by setting locking element5accordingly.

To stably fix the two operating positions, a projection40is additionally provided on the inner side of hand lever36, snapping into a recess41, provided on lever arm2, when the respective operating position is reached, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 4.

To ensure reliable and accurate joining of ratchet head halves6and7, centring elements are provided on the surfaces lying against each other in closed state of the ratchet head, interlocking positively in joined state of ratchet head1. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, particularly inFIG. 1, the centring elements are located on the ends of halves14,15of spanner part3that come into contact with each other, and designed as hemispheres37that engage hemispherical recesses38in the other half of spanner part3.

Projecting hemispheres37can be produced in a very simple way by fitting full spheres in correspondingly prepared hemispherical recesses by adhesive bonding.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1Ratchet head2Lever arm3Spanner part4Serrated ring5Locking element6Half of ratchet head17Half of ratchet head18Pivoting joint9Bearing ears10Bearing pad11Through-holes12Through-hole13Journal14Half of spanner part315Half of spanner part316Half of serrated ring417Half of serrated ring418Recess19Serrated segment20Serrated segment21Shaft of locking element522Hand lever23Edge running all the way round ratchet head halves6,724Split locking ring25Edge running all the way round locking ring2426Half of locking ring2427Half of locking ring2428Screws29Holes30Threaded holes31Retaining ring32Half of retaining ring3133Half of retaining ring3134Undercut35Projection running all the way round36Hand lever37Hemisphere38Hemispherical recesses39Resilient projection40Projection41Recess