Torque wrench with overload warning mechanism

A torque wrench includes a wrench body, a deformable rod, a torque adjustment mechanism, a switch and an alarm. The wrench body includes a working section and a gripping section. Two ends of the deformable rod are fixed to the working section and the gripping section respectively, and a middle section is formed in-between. The torque adjustment mechanism is installed in the gripping section and includes a knob and an abutting member. The knob adjusts the abutting member to be proximate to or away from the middle section. The switch is disposed between the middle section and the torque adjustment mechanism. The alarm is electrically connected to the switch, and the middle section is in a bending deformation toward the abutting member, when load of the working section is greater than a set torque, to touch the switch and trigger the alarm to generate a warning signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Technical Field

The technical field relates to a torque wrench, and more particularly relates to a torque wrench with an overload warning mechanism.

Description of Related Art

Torque wrench is commonly used in the manufacturing industry and other related fields. Since each locking action has strict requirements on the torque value when high-strength bolts or high-strength nuts are locked, therefore the torque wrench is designed to be used by users with a set torque value.

Among the torque wrenches, a manual torque wrench needs to be set to the required torque value before use, and then to lock the bolt or nut until the torque wrench makes a clicking sound, indicating that the torque value has reached the set value. However, most occasions of using the torque wrench take place in a noisy and high-decibel environment, so that the clicking sound is often ignored and the users continue the lock operation, which in turn causes the failure of the locked bolt or nut to meet the required torque requirements.

In view of the aforementioned problems, the discloser proposed this disclosure based on his expert knowledge and elaborated researches to overcome the problems of the related art.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Therefore, it is a primary object of this disclosure to provide a torque wrench that the alarm may be triggered when the load of the torque wrench reaches the set torque, and the alarm may still achieve the effect of warning the users in a noisy and high decibel environment.

In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the present disclosure provides a torque wrench with an overload warning mechanism including a wrench body, a deformable rod, a torque adjustment mechanism, a switch and an alarm. The wrench body includes a working section and a gripping section connected to the working section. The deformable rod has two ends fixed to the working section and the gripping section respectively, and a middle section is defined in-between. The torque adjustment mechanism is installed on the gripping section and includes a knob and an abutting member. The knob is provided for adjusting the abutting member to be proximate to or away from the middle section. The switch is installed on the gripping section and disposed between the middle section and the torque adjustment mechanism. The alarm is installed on the gripping section and electrically connected to the switch. The middle section is in a bending deformation toward the abutting member, when the load of the working section is greater than a set torque, to touch the switch and trigger the alarm to generate a warning signal.

This disclosure has the following effects. At least a portion of the abutting member protrudes from the passive member to ensure that the abutting member is abutted by the switch. Through the adjusting inner thread of the passive member and the adjusting outer thread of the abutting member, the abutting member may be adjusted for the amount of protrusion relative to the passive member. The C-shaped limit slot of the fastener and the positioning column of the knob may limit the rotation stroke of the knob. With the elastic bump of the positioning elastic plate being snapped into one of the corresponding positioning grooves, users may know the completion of setting the torque through hand feel. By the pulling force applied by the elastic element, the deformable rod may restore its position when the working section is separated from the load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS.1to4for a torque wrench with an overload warning mechanism in accordance with this disclosure, the torque wrench includes a wrench body10, a deformable rod20, a switch30, a torque adjustment mechanism40and an alarm50.

The wrench body10includes a working section11and a gripping section12, and the working section11is connected to the gripping section12. Specifically, the working section11includes an exposed part111and a buried part112which are connected to each other, and the gripping section12includes a first casing121and a second casing122which are engaged with each other. The buried part112is movably clamped between the first casing121and the second casing122of the gripping section12, and the exposed part111is exposed from the gripping section12. In addition, the exposed part111has a tool slot111A provided for the torque wrench being engaged onto a workpiece A for use. In this embodiment, the buried part112has a pivot13passing therethrough, and two ends of the pivot13are fixed to the first casing121and the second casing122respectively, so that the buried part112is pivotally connected to the gripping section12, but this disclosure is not limited to such arrangement only.

The deformable rod20is rod-shaped and capable of being bent by external forces, and its two ends are fixed to the working section11and the gripping section12respectively. Specifically, the buried part112has a fixing hole112A, a side of the interior of the gripping section12away from the buried part112has an abutting part123. The deformable rod20has one end snapped and fixed into the fixing hole112A, and another end abutting against the abutting part123, so that the two ends of the deformable rod20are fixed by fulcrum, and a deformable and bendable middle section21is formed between the two ends of the deformable rod20. In this way, when the working section11is swung by the load using the pivot13as a fulcrum, the buried part112may drive the deformable rod20to swing. Since an end of the deformable rod20abuts against the abutting part123, the middle section21of the deformable rod20is deformed and bent. In addition, the buried part112further has a screw hole112B communicating with the fixing hole112A, so that a stop screw113may be used and screwed into the screw hole112B to securely fix the deformable rod20into the fixing hole112A without the risk of separation.

The torque adjustment mechanism40is installed to the gripping section12and includes a knob41and an abutting member42, and the knob41is provided for adjusting the position of the abutting member42corresponding to different torque values. Specifically, the knob41adjusts the position of the abutting member42corresponding to different torque values, so as to move the abutting member42to a position near or away from the middle section21of the deformable rod20.

The switch30is installed in the gripping section12and disposed between the middle section21of the deformable rod20and the torque adjustment mechanism40. In this embodiment, a contact distance d is formed between the switch30and the abutting member42, and the knob41may adjust the contact distance d between the abutting member42and the switch30corresponding to different torque values. In this embodiment, the switch30is a press-button switch or a touch switch, but this disclosure is not limited to such arrangements only, and any contact type trigger switch30may be used. The alarm50is installed on the gripping section12and electrically connected to the switch30. In this embodiment, alarm50includes a vibration motor51and a warning light52provided for visually and tactilely alerting the users, but this disclosure is not limited to such arrangement only. For example, the alarm50may also include the vibration motor51, the warning light52and a buzzer (not shown in the figures), or any one of the above as long as it may achieve the effect of effectively alerting the users. Specifically, the torque wrench of this disclosure further includes a power supply assembly60electrically connected to the switch30and the alarm50for supplying electric power to the alarm50, so as to form a loop after it is electrically conducted to the switch30.

When the working section11is swung by the load using the pivot13as a fulcrum, the middle section21of the deformable rod20is deformed and bent toward the abutting member42. When the load of the working section11is greater than a set torque, the bending and deformation of the middle section21of the deformable rod20toward the abutting member42may squeeze and press the switch30to touch the switch30and trigger the alarm50to generate a warning signal, so as to achieve the effect of alerting the users. Specifically, when the middle section21of the deformable rod20of this embodiment is gradually deformed and bent toward the abutting member42, the contact distance d between the switch30and the abutting member42may gradually become smaller. When the load at the working section11of this embodiment is greater than a torque value set by the torque adjustment mechanism40, the bending deformation produced by the middle section21of the deformable rod20may make the contact distance d between the switch30and the abutting member42to become zero, so as to abut the switch30against the abutting member42and trigger the alarm50to generate a warning signal and achieve the effect of alerting the users as shown inFIG.6.

In addition, the torque adjustment mechanism40further includes a fastener43and a passive member44. The fastener43is snapped and fixed into the gripping section12, and the knob41is rotatably arranged corresponding to the fastener43and clamped between the gripping section12and the fastener43, and the passive member44is movably embedded into the knob41and screwed to the fastener43, and the abutting member42is fixed to the passive member44. Specifically, the fastener43has an inner thread431, and the passive member44has an outer thread441screwed with the corresponding inner thread431, so that the passive member44may be screwed in or out relative to the fastener43. In this way, when the knob41is rotated, it drives the passive member44to rotate, and since the knob41is clamped between the gripping section12and the fastener43, therefore, the passive member44may be moved to a position in the knob41near or away from the fastener43to adjust the contact distance d between the abutting member42and the switch30.

The first casing121and the second casing122of the gripping section12jointly have a fixing slot124formed at a position corresponding to the fastener43and provided for snapping and fixing the fastener43. In this embodiment, the fixing slot124is a non-circular slot, and the outer periphery of the fastener43is also in a non-circular shape and in a shape corresponding to the shape of the fixing slot124, so that the fastener43may be fixed effectively without the risk of being rotated. In addition, the first casing121and the second casing122of the gripping section12jointly form a snap slot125at the outer periphery of the fixing slot124, and an end of the knob41disposed in the fastener43is accommodated in the snap slot125and has a stop part411formed at a position corresponding to the snap slot125, and the stop part411has a gripping section12sapped into the corresponding snap slot125to prevent the knob41from being detached.

Further, the knob41has a transmission slot412for embedding the passive member44, and the transmission slot412of this embodiment is a non-circular slot, and the outer periphery of the passive member44is also in a non-circular shape and has a shape corresponding to the shape of the transmission slot412, so that the knob41may effectively drive the passive member44to rotate without slipping. In addition, at least a portion of the abutting member42protrudes from an end surface of the passive member44proximate to the switch30to ensure that the abutting member42is abutted and contacted by the switch30. In this embodiment, the passive member44has an adjusting inner thread442, and the outer periphery of the abutting member42has an adjusting outer thread421screwed with the corresponding adjusting inner thread442to adjust the amount of protrusion of the abutting member42relative to the passive member44. The fixing manner between the abutting member42and the passive member44is not limited to the manner of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the torque wrench further includes a stop bolt45screwed to the adjusting inner thread442and tightly press and fix the abutting member42, so that the abutting member42does not move after it is adjusted to the required amount of protrusion.

It is noteworthy that the amount of deformation of the middle section21of each deformable rod20may be slightly different, the manufacturer may test it before the product exits the factory and adjust the distance between the abutting member42and the middle section21of the deformable rod20. After the torque wrench conforms to the standard torque value, the abutting member42is fixed by the stop bolt45to avoid the displacement of the abutting member42. In this way, each torque wrench is ensured to reach the torque value standard, thereby effectively reducing errors, and allowing the user to ensure that the torque value is corresponding to the correct torque value when adjusting the knob41to the required torque value.

The torque wrench of this disclosure further includes a calibration disc70and a positioning elastic plate80. The top of the knob41is concavely provided with an embedding slot413, and the calibration disc70is embedded into the embedding slot413of at the top of the knob41, and the calibration disc70is labeled with a plurality of different torque values71which are provided for users to know the torque value71of the current rotation of the knob41. In addition, the fastener43is provided with a C-shaped limit slot432on a side facing the knob41, and an end surface of the knob41facing the faster43is convexly provided with a positioning column414. The positioning column414is accommodated in the C-shaped limit slot432and its movement is limited in the C-shaped limit slot432, so as to restrict the rotation stroke of the knob41as shown inFIG.5. The positioning elastic plate80is installed to a side of the snap slot125and has an elastic bump81, and the knob41is accommodated into one of a plurality of positioning grooves415concavely formed at the outer periphery of the snap slot, and the elastic bump81is engaged with one of the positioning grooves415, and when the knob41rotates, the elastic bump81is switched into a different positioning groove415. It is noteworthy that each positioning groove415of the knob41is arranged to be the position corresponding to each torque value71on the calibration disc70, so that when the user turns to a position corresponding to each torque value71on the calibration disc70, the elastic bump81of the positioning elastic plate80is snapped into the corresponding positioning groove415, the user may clearly know the setting of the torque value71is completed through hand feel.

In addition, the torque wrench of this disclosure further includes an elastic element90installed in the gripping section12and buckled to the middle section21of the deformable rod20to apply a pulling force to the middle section21of the deformable rod20in a direction opposite to the bending deformation, so that when the working section11is separated from the load, the middle section21of the deformable rod20restores its position by the pulling force of the elastic element90. In this embodiment, the elastic element90is a tension spring installed to a side proximate to the working section11and capable of restoring the position of the middle section21of deformable rod20by a smaller pulling force, but this disclosure is not limited to such arrangement only.

With reference toFIG.7for another embodiment of this disclosure, the main difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is that the switch30is installed onto the abutting member42. Specifically, the switch30is installed to the bottom of the abutting member42and faces the middle section21of the deformable rod20. In this way, when the middle section21of the deformable rod20of this embodiment is deformed and bent toward the abutting member42, the distance between the middle section21of the deformable rod20and the switch30on the abutting member42gradually becomes smaller; and when the load of the working section11is greater than the torque value set by the torque adjustment mechanism40, bending deformation produced by the middle section21of the deformable rod20may make the distance between the middle section21of the deformable rod20and the switch30to become zero, so that the middle section21of the deformable rod20presses against the switch30, and the switch30is pressed to trigger the alarm50to generate a warning signal, thereby achieving the effect of alerting the users.

In summation of the description above, this disclosure achieves the expected effects, overcomes the drawbacks of the related art.