Hand wrench with torque augmenting means

A hand held torque wrench with augmenting means is provided which includes a linkage assembly to join a drive input with an output wrench socket. The linkage assembly consists of a drive link extending from the input socket and coacting with a conversion link extending to a ratchet disposed about the output socket of the device. Rotation of the drive link pivots the conversion link to transfer torque from the input to the output socket. A pawl on the driven link is provided to coact with a ratchet which encircles the output socket. A guide means is disposed in the interior of the housing of the device to coact with the linkage assembly to maintain proper alignment during a torque operation, such that stress and force are substantially reduced or dissipated, if not eliminated, during the operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to torquing apparatus and in particular, to 
hand operated apparatus adapted to transmit and/or augment torque from an 
input through to an output of the apparatus. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Wrenches are among the most useful handtools and their design often has 
conflicting objects. The primary purpose of a wrench is to apply torque to 
a nut or other fastening device to seat or unseat the device in threaded 
engagement with a mating object. In order to apply large amounts of 
torque, wrenches normally have to be either very large in size or use 
auxiliary mechanisms such as hydraulic or mechanical apparatus to increase 
the torque provided by the wrench. This tends to make the wrench bulky and 
large and limit its effectiveness for normal everyday use where the object 
is to provide a wrench that is relatively small, can fit into tight places 
and is easy and convenient to use. Examples of torque augmenting devices 
are known and disclosed in the prior art as follows: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) 
1,522,839 Rogers 
2,204,800 Freeborn 
2,235,192 Bailey 
2,238,125 Murray 
2,292,079 Joyce 
2,296,532 Mekeel, Jr. 
2,653,489 Charpentier 
2,655,015 Linder 
2,742,797 Perham 
2,783,657 Kohlhagen 
2,882,757 Edsall 
3,363,482 Case 
3,364,794 Ishoika 
3,722,325 Rogers 
4,041,835 Isler 
______________________________________ 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,296,532 to Mekeel, Jr. discloses a torque 
control transmission having a reaction brake which includes a ratchet 
wheel and latch, and a reversing brake with oppositely facing ratchet 
wheel and latch. Connector arms support the latches and are pivotally 
operated by a lever. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,657 to Kohlhagen discloses a constant torque drive 
having a plurality of gears arranged between a pair of plates, and a pawl 
pivotally mounted on one of the gears and urged by a spring into operative 
engagement with a disc-shaped head of a stud to lock the gears against 
counterclockwise rotation, but permit their rotation in a clockwise 
direction. The gears are supported by an arm which is connected to a 
spring to urge the arm in a certain direction. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,794 to Ishoika discloses a spring torque converter 
having a plurality of rocking levers, pairs of which are connected with 
links for coaction with the drive shaft and driven shaft to apply torque. 
Another embodiment discloses a plurality of crank pins, and a helical 
spring having one end attached to the respective crank pin and another end 
attached to an anchoring pin on a carrier portion of the device. 
The remaining patents also disclose other torquing devices. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a simple, efficient and light weight wrench 
With torque augmenting means. Disclosed is a socket wrench which utilizes 
a rachet arrangement commonly used in wrenches and which includes 
additional features within the handle of the wrench that enable an 
auxiliary unit to be connected to the wrench to augment the torque 
provided by the wrench when situations requiring high torque are 
encountered. The apparatus is constructed in a manner to facilitate 
effective coaction of the various components without placing undue stress 
on the housing and handle of the wrench which enables the wrench to be 
relatively small for the job it can perform and relatively light and easy 
to use. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an augmenter which can 
be used in confined spaces, and has an envelope sized approximately the 
same as a standard wrench socket to fit in an area between adjacent nuts. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
augmenter which can operate as a hand wrench or as a plain wrench without 
any force augmentation. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
having means to enable additional torque to be transmitted to the hand 
wrench, which in turn is converted to torque at the wrench engaging 
portion of the apparatus to augment the total torque that can be exerted 
by the wrench. 
It is another object to the present invention to provide a hand wrench with 
torque augmenting means which can function either as a hand wrench or as a 
high torque tightening apparatus of limited travel independently of each 
other. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
augmenter which can be augmented in multiple positions and from either 
side. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench which is 
adapted for use with a separate input drive to transmit torque to an 
output drive such as a socket. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
which is of simple construction, easy to maintain and repair, and adapted 
to receive differently sized input drives to transmit torque to the output 
drive. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
constructed with linkage to transmit and convert the torque at the input 
receptacle to the output drive. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
which is operable without external gears or hydraulics. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
constructed with a housing in which a guide means is disposed to 
substantially reduce, if not eliminate, forces at an interior portion of 
the housing and the linkage within the housing, such that the structural 
integrity of the housing is maintained. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
constructed with a housing having side walls arranged to absorb the force 
of the internal linkage during an operation of the apparatus. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
having a housing in which a biasing means is arranged to automatically 
urge the linkage to reset for a subsequent torque transmission/converter 
operation. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench 
having indicia disposed at an exterior of the housing to indicate to a 
user when the linkage has reached the extent of its "throw" for the 
torquing operation, and is to recoil for a subsequent torquing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hand wrench having torque augmenting means of 
the present invention is shown generally at 10. The augmenter 10 is 
constructed to receive an external drive input A and transmit or augment 
the torque from the input A to an output B, such as a hex-sided stud or 
bolt. 
The augmenter 10 consists of a housing 12 which is constructed from a pair 
of halves 14,16. The halves 14,16 can be held together by conventional 
mechanical fasteners such as screws, or with a friction fit. Each one of 
the halves 14,16 is provided with a continuous side wall 18,20 in which a 
corresponding detent or cutout 22,24 is formed. When the halves 14,16 are 
brought together to form the housing 12, the cutouts 22,24 formed in the 
respective side walls 18,20 are aligned in registration with each other to 
provide a space S at which force can be exerted to part the halves 14,16. 
The half 14 has an exterior surface 26 upon which printed indicia can be 
displayed. The indicia can be instructions for operating the tool, logos, 
safety notices, etc. The half 16 has an exterior surface also for printed 
indicia which is not shown due to the perspective of the drawing Figures. 
The half 14 is constructed with a small aperture 28 at one end thereof, the 
aperture 28 extending from the surface 26 completely through the half 14. 
An opposite end of the half 14 is formed with a larger aperture 30 which 
similarly extends from the surface 26 completely through the half 14. 
Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, additional elements of the augmenter 10 
are also disclosed. 
The half 16 includes an interior floor 32 from which the continuous side 
wall 20 extends upward therefrom. The side wall 20 is provided with an 
inner surface 34. An arcuate guide bar 36 extends upward from the floor 
32. The guide bar 36 extends across the floor 32 such that each one of the 
opposed ends of the guide bar 36 is connected to a corresponding portion 
of the inner surface 34 of the continuous side wall 20 at opposite sides 
of the floor 32. 
In FIG. 3, the augmenter 10 of the present invention is shown at rest ready 
to commence a torque operation. The elements of the augmenter 10 which 
enable the transmission and augmenting of torque are as follows. 
A linkage assembly shown generally at 38 is constructed and arranged for 
operation when the halves 14,16 are joined together. The linkage assembly 
38 includes a drive finger 40 and a driven arm 42. 
The drive finger 40 has a first end from which an upstanding cylindrical 
portion 44 extends. The cylindrical portion 44 extends through both halves 
14,16 when joined together. The drive finger 40 rotates about the 
cylindrical portion 44. The cylindrical portion 44 is provided with a hex 
or other multi-sided aperture 46 (FIG. 2) extending completely 
therethrough. The aperture 46 is adapted to act as an engaging receptacle 
for a multi-sided male drive member A. The aperture 46 is constructed and 
arranged in the drive finger 40 to be in registration with the aperture 28 
of the half 14. The half 16 is similarly provided with an aperture which 
is in registration with the aperture 28 of the half 14, such that when the 
halves 14,16 are joined to each other with the linkage assembly 38 
disposed therebetween, the multi-sided aperture 46 of the drive plate 40 
is accessible at the smaller aperture 28 of the half 14 or at the 
corresponding aperture (not shown) in the other half 16. This permits the 
user to extend the drive input A completely through the housing 12, or to 
enable access to the engaging receptacle from either side of the housing. 
Therefore, the receptacle will always be accessible even if necessary to 
turn the augmenter 10 over for an operation. 
The drive finger 40 is constructed with a side wall generally shown at 48 
which substantially conforms to the tapered shape of the inner surface 34 
of the side wall 20 of the half 16. As shown in FIG. 3, an arcuate portion 
of the side wall 48 is constructed to rest against and be received by the 
complimentary tapered inner surface 34. This permits the drive finger 40 
to pivot in position and rest against the side wall 20. However, as will 
be discussed hereinafter, the drive finger 40 does not exert a pressure 
load against the side wall 20 which would be sufficient to weaken the side 
wall 20. 
The opposite, free end of the drive finger 40 is formed with an 
oblong-shaped aperture 50 extending completely therethrough. A 
longitudinal axis of the oblong-shaped aperture 50 bisects a central axis 
of the multi-sided aperture 46. 
The driven arm 42 includes at one end a pin 52 extending therefrom. The pin 
52 is constructed and arranged to be in registration with and received by 
the oblong-shaped aperture 50 of the drive finger 40. The pin 52 is 
similarly oblong-shaped and is of a height that preferably is at least 
equal to the depth of the oblong-shaped aperture 50, and does not exceed 
the greatest height of the driven arm 42. The pin 52 is rotatably mounted 
to the driven arm 42. Alternatively, the pin 52 may be circularly shaped 
and fixed to the driven arm 42. 
The driven arm 42 widens as it extends to assume a circular shape. As also 
shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, a larger, circular shaped portion 
of the driven arm 42 is shown generally at 54. 
The driven arm 42 is provided with side walls 56 and 57 which are shaped to 
engage along their entire length or to engage substantially along their 
entire length the inner surface of the continuous wall 20 of the housing 
when the driven arm is at the end of its travel. This tends to distribute 
the forces produced by the side wall of the driven arm 42 along the entire 
housing, minimizing the stress at any one point. 
The shape of the side wall 56 permits the driven arm 42 to pivot freely 
within the half 16 when the driven arm 42 coacts with the drive finger 40. 
An arcuate boss 62 or ridge extends upward from the driven arm 42 to coact 
with the drive finger 40. The height of the boss 62 substantially 
corresponds to the thickness of the drive finger 40 for a purpose to be 
described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 
Grooves 58 and 60 respectively are machined in the driven arm leaving 
ridges 62 and 66, and 64 and 67 respectively. The grooves 58, 60 are 
adapted to mate with a pair of arcuate ridges. The arcuate ridge on the 
floor of the top plate is not shown. The arcuate ridge on the bottom half 
being designated as 36. The coaction of the grooves 60 on the driven arm 
with the arcuate ridge 36 on the back half of the housing provides a guide 
for movement of the driven arm and also provides for structural support of 
the driven arm as it is moved by the drive finger. The top of the ridges 
62 and 66 and the front side, and the ridges 64 and 67 on the rear extend 
to the inner surface of the housing when the halves 14,16 are assembled. 
As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the arcuate guide bar 36 is sized and 
shaped to be received in the groove 60, while another arcuate guide bar 
(not shown due to the perspective view of the Figures) of half 14 is 
received in the groove 58. This construction permits the driven arm 42 to 
ride along the arcuate guide bar 36 and the prescribed angle of arc of the 
guide bar 36. 
The driven arm 42 widens generally at 66 into a circular portion having an 
aperture 68 extending completely therethrough and in registration with the 
large aperture 30 of the plate 14 and the aperture 27 of the plate 16. The 
circular portion 66 of the driven arm 42 is formed with a recess 70 in 
communication with the aperture 68. A pair of bores 72,74 are formed in 
the circular portion 66 of the driven arm 42 and open into the recess 70. 
A pawl 76 is disposed in the recess 70. The pawl 76 is formed with a pair 
of bores 78,80, each of which is in registration with a corresponding one 
of the bores 72,74 of the driven arm 42. Springs 82,84 are disposed in the 
recess 70, each one having its opposed ends terminating in a corresponding 
one of the bores 72,78 and 74,80, respectively. The springs 82,84 
resiliently bias the pawl 76 to float in the recess 70 so that inclined 
teeth 77 of the pawl 76 are urged to engage corresponding inclined teeth 
86 of a ratchet 88 disposed in the large aperture 30. 
The ratchet 88 fits in a stepped portion of the aperture 68. The aperture 
68 has a larger diameter and a smaller diameter. The larger diameter will 
accommodate the teeth of the rachet and the small diameter will support 
the teeth and enclose the entire ratchet mechanism. 
The ratchet 88 is circular in shape and is received in the large circular 
end 54 of the driven plate 42 to surround a hex socket 88. The ratchet 88 
is connected to and preferably an integral part of the hex socket 90. 
A circular shaped wear collar 92 is constructed and arranged to extend 
around the hex socket 90 above the ratchet teeth 86. The wear collar 92 is 
made from bronze or other soft alloy to reduce friction during a torque 
operation when the halves 14,16 are joined to form the housing 12. 
The starting position of the torquing operation is shown for example in 
FIGS. 1 and 3. First, the housing 12 of the augmenter 10 is grasped and 
the large hex will be engaged with the item to be tightened such as the 
output shaft B. The handle of the wrench 12 is then manually turned much 
as a standard socket head wrench until the output shaft is tight and 
further movement of the handle manually is no longer possible. If 
augmented torque is required, then an augmenting drive shaft A is entered 
into the augmenting receptacle aperture 46. The input shaft A can then be 
rotated. This can either be a long lever, or it can be a power type of 
unit. However, even a 12 inch additional lever rotating the augmenting 
receptacle will be sufficient to produce substantial augmenting torque 
since the lever can be substantially longer than the length of the handle. 
Additionally, since the handle must be located in a fixed position in a 
specific location with respect to the output shaft to be tightened, there 
may not be sufficient room to obtain proper purchase for rotating the 
handle of the augmenter, whereas an auxiliary lever or rotating bar can 
extend to an area of greater freedom when using the augmenting feature. 
The input A is turned as indicated by the arrow 94 shown in FIG. 4. The 
rotation is in, for example, a counter clockwise direction. Accordingly, 
the drive finger 40 is also urged to pivot in a counter clockwise 
direction. The driven arm 42 is urged to move in a direction of arrow 96, 
while the pin 52 moves along the oblong-shaped aperture 50 of the drive 
finger 40. 
The arcuate guide bar 36 extending upward from the bottom 32 of the plate 
16 provides a stress point for the drive finger 40 and the driven arm 42. 
That is, as the finger and arm 40,42 respectively, are pivoted, there is a 
tendency for the finger 40 and arm 42 to be forced away from each other 
which would, but for presence of the guide bar 36, cause a detrimental 
amount of force to be incurred by the continuous side wall 20 of the plate 
16. The guide bar 36 restricts the "parting" of the linkage assembly 38 
and channels the stress and forces which occur during the torque operation 
to a more central location of the plate 16. Such forces are disbursed so 
that the structural integrity of the halves 14,16, and therefore the 
housing 12, is not compromised. 
As the linkage assembly 38 is pivoted, the inclined teeth 77 of the pawl 76 
engage the corresponding inclined teeth 86 of the ratchet 88. This motion 
forces the hex socket 90 to pivot as indicated by arrow 98 in FIG. 5 to 
tighten down the bolt B. The springs 82,84 as shown in FIGS. 4-5, bias the 
pawl 76 toward the ratchet 88 for engagement of the teeth 77,86. The 
motion of the linkage assembly 38 is therefore imported to the hex socket 
90 to allow effective motion only in the direction as indicated by the 
arrow 98. 
When the "throw" of the linkage assembly 38 is complete, as shown in FIG. 
5, the input A is moved in the opposite direction, i.e. clockwise, to 
return the linkage assembly 38 for another torque operation. This movement 
permits the inclined teeth 77 of the pawl 76 to ride over the inclined 
teeth 86 of the ratchet so that the mechanism can be reset as in FIG. 3 
for another torque cycle. 
Another embodiment of an augmenter 110 constructed in accordance with the 
present invention is illustrated at FIG. 6. Elements illustrated in FIG. 6 
which correspond to elements described above with respect to FIGS. 1-5 
have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by 100. 
The embodiment of FIG. 6 is designed for use in a manner similar to that 
shown with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, unless otherwise 
stated. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, an additional biasing element 93 is shown. The 
biasing element 93 can be an extension spring, as shown in FIG. 6, or a 
torsion spring. In the example shown, the extension spring 93 has one end 
95 connected to the driven arm 142, and an opposite end 97 connected to 
the continuous side wall 120 of the plate 116. The spring 93 inherently 
biases the linkage assembly 138 in a direction of arrow 99 to facilitate 
the return of the linkage assembly 138 to the starting position after the 
"throw" of the linkage assembly 138 is complete. 
The construction and coaction of the drive finger 140 and the driven arm 
142 of the linkage assembly 138 is such that a pair of springs 93 can be 
employed. That is, in addition to the spring 93, another spring (not 
shown), or a plurality of springs can be attached to the driven arm 142 at 
an opposite side to which the spring 93 is attached, and then to a 
corresponding portion of the side wall 120 to facilitate movement of the 
linkage assembly 138 in either direction. 
The augmenter 110 is not limited to having only an extension spring such as 
that shown in FIG. 6. The device can be constructed with a combination of 
extension springs and torsion springs to operate as the biasing element 
93. 
It is preferred to mount the biasing element 93 as shown, as this position 
is proximate to the region of pivotal coaction between the drive finger 
140 and the driven arm 142, thereby most effectively using the biasing 
force of the spring 93. 
Another embodiment of an augmenter 210 constructed in accordance with the 
present invention is illustrated at FIG. 7. Elements illustrated in FIG. 7 
which correspond to elements described above with respect FIGS. 1-5 have 
been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by 200. The 
embodiment of FIG. 7 is designed for use in a manner similar to that shown 
with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, unless otherwise stated. 
In FIG. 7, a drive finger 211 has a first end from which a cylindrical 
portion 244 extends. The cylindrical portion 244 is provided with a hex or 
other multi-sided aperture extending completely therethrough. The half 216 
is similarly provided with an aperture which is in registration with the 
aperture 246 of the half 214, such that when the halves 214, 216 are 
mated, the multi-sided aperture 246 of the drive finger 211 is accessible 
from an exterior of the half 214. This permits the user to extend the 
drive input A completely through the housing regardless of the length of 
the input A. The drive finger 211 is constructed with a side wall 
generally shown at 13 which substantially conforms to the shape of the 
upstanding side wall 220 of the half 216. 
As shown in FIG. 7, a side wall 215 of the drive finger 211 is constructed 
to rest against the complimentary shaped side wall 220 extending from the 
half 216. This permits the drive finger 211 to pivot in position and rest 
against an inner surface 234 of the side wall 220. 
An opposite end of the drive finger 211 is formed with a rack of teeth 
shown generally at 217. The rack 217 extends completely along this end of 
the drive finger 211 and is of a particular thickness and pitch for 
coaction with other elements of this embodiment as discussed below. 
A transfer gear 19 is disposed for pivotal movement between the halves 214, 
216. The transfer gear 219 is mounted to the half 216 by a pin 221. A 
plurality of teeth 223 extend along a peripheral edge of the gear 219, 
which teeth 223 are constructed and arranged for releasable mating 
engagement and contact between corresponding teeth 217 on the drive finger 
211. During a torque operation, at least three or four, and preferably 
five of the teeth 217,223 on the drive finger 211 and the transfer gear 
219, respectively, are in contact to provide strength and stability during 
the torque operation. 
The driven arm 225 in FIG. 7 is provided with a rack of teeth 227 extending 
along a peripheral edge of a portion thereof. The pitch of the teeth on 
the rack 227 of the driven arm 225 is equal to the pitch on the teeth 217 
on the driven arm 211. The rack of teeth 227 is of a thickness and pitch 
to facilitate releasable mating contact with the teeth 223 of the transfer 
gear 219. At least three or four, and preferably five teeth of the 
transfer gear 219 and driven arm 225 mesh during a torque operation to 
facilitate strength and stability of the device during the operation. 
Springs (not shown) can also be used with the embodiment of FIG. 7 to bias 
the drive finger 211 and driven arm 225 to their selective positions. 
The embodiment of FIG. 7 operates as follows. 
The drive input A is inserted into the aperture 246 and turned in the 
direction of arrow 294. The drive finger 211 is moved in a 
counter-clockwise direction with the teeth 217 thereof in engagement with 
the teeth 223 of the transfer gear 219. The transfer gear 219 in turn 
rotates in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow 229. This motion of 
the transfer gear 219 causes the conversion plate 225 to move in a 
clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 298 to impart a rotational 
movement to the teeth 286 of the ratchet 288. The hex socket 290 is also 
moved in a clockwise direction to turn the bolt or stud being tensioned. 
When the hexnut 290 has been turned down on the bolt or stud through a 
complete "throw" of the turning operation, the device is returned by the 
user in an opposite direction for the conversion plate to ride over the 
teeth 286 to prepare for a subsequent torquing operation during which the 
teeth 286 of the ratchet 288 are engaged to subsequently cause the hexnut 
290 to tighten down the bolt. 
The height of drive finger 211 and driven arm 225, in combination with 
locking means (not shown) for the housing function as a guide for 211,225. 
The construction of the teeth used for the drive plate 211, transfer gear 
219 and driven arm 225, are selected for gear backlash to be within 
tolerable limits so that slippage is reduced as much as possible upon 
reversal of the gear rotation. 
As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the wrench with augmenting device can be used as a 
simple hand wrench tool to either tighten or loosen nuts to another 
fastener. The socket of the wrench is fitted over the item to be loosened 
or tightened in the same manner that a ratchet type socket wrench would be 
fitted over any standard item to be wrenched. Note that nesting sockets 
(not shown but well known in the art) could be used to modify the size of 
the engaging socket in order to give the tool a wider range of operative 
use. The tool also has a relatively narrow rim between the socket and the 
outer edge of the tool surrounding the socket. This enables the tool to be 
placed into relatively narrow areas which is often the case with bolting 
circles and other areas which provide limited access for the worker. The 
tool is then operated as a standard ratchet socket wrench. The handle is 
rotated about the socket to loosen or tighten the item that is to be 
wrenched. In an instance where a high torque is necessary; either to 
"break" or dislodge a nut or other fastener which tends to become frozen 
in place, or to "snug up" the item to be tightened when it is no longer 
possible to easily move the handle of the wrench, then the augmenting 
feature of the wrench is employed. A mating drive fits into the drive 
socket or receptacle in the bottom of the handle. This drive implement can 
be a relatively long bar or it can be connected to the output drive of a 
mechanical or pneumatic device. The auxiliary drive member is then 
actuated to rotate the driven socket in the handle, which actuates the 
linkage in the handle of the wrench to rotate the socket through a limited 
angle as discussed. This limited angle will be sufficient to tighten or 
loosen the item that is being acted upon by the wrench. If it turns out 
that the linkage in the handle of the wrench has "stopped out" or run its 
full travel without reaching the desired level of torque being applied by 
the actuating socket of the wrench then the auxiliary torque apparatus can 
be reversed. The rachet feature of the wrench, will allow the linkage 
within the handle to return to the initial position. The auxiliary torque 
apparatus does not have to be removed from the drive socket at the bottom 
of the handle, but merely rotated in a direction opposite to the force 
applying direction because the ratchet feature will allow the linkage 
within the handle to return to its initial position. 
The wrench of course can be used to tighten or loosen, merely by turning 
the wrench over, and using one face for turning in a clockwise direction 
and the other face for turning in a counter clock-wise direction. As shown 
in FIGS. 2-5, the front and back halves of the housing have ridges which 
coact with and guide the grooves in the driven arm of the linkage over a 
relatively wide area. Additionally, the sides of the driven arm are shaped 
to conform with or abut the interior side walls of the linkage along a 
long length of the driven arm. This will tend to dissipate the force that 
will be applied to the housing by the linkage when the linkage is "stopped 
out" at the end of its travel. Similarly, the pin arrangement and slotted 
drive finger allow for relatively wide contact surfaces to minimize wear. 
The ridges or raised portions on the driven arm which surround the rachet 
at the lower end which form the groove for the ridges from the housing act 
as a stiffening member when the halves are assembled to provide strength 
for the handle making the tool relatively rugged but still operable. 
The ratchet and socket arrangement is relatively simple and reliable, and 
the wear features of the construction insure not only that the life of the 
tool will be relatively long, but its operation will be relatively easy. 
Shown in FIG. 6 are a variety of springs which can also be used to bias the 
driven arm of the apparatus. The springs can be compression springs or 
torsion springs. 
As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus can also be built in a variety of ways 
such as by use of an idler gear between two gear racks, which replaces the 
linkage. 
It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely 
exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations 
and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. All such modification and variations are intended to be 
included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended 
claims.