A TRANSMISSION DEVICE

Abstract: A transmission device comprising a transmission mechanism accommodated in a housing (1), an output shaft (7) arranged on one side (3) of the housing, and adjustable anchoring means (11) arranged on the same side, and an input shaft (31) arranged on the opposite side (5) of the housing. The anchoring means includes a pin (17) mounted on a slide (15) which can be moved axially along a guide-rail (13) in shape-bound sliding engagement therewith.

Description: A transmission device. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a transmission device of the kind which includes a preferably sub¬ stantially elongated and plate-like housing having two mutually opposite, preferably planar sides and a trans¬ mission mechanism arranged within " the housing, said trans mission mechanism having an input shaft which projects from the housing on one side thereof and which is inten¬ ded for engagement with a crank means or the like, and which has an output shaft projecting from the other side of the housing at one end thereof for engagement, such as via a sleeve, with an element to which torque is to be applied, for example a wheel nut to be loosened or tighte¬ ned, and in which device an anchoring element is arranged to project from sai other side of the housing at the opposite end thereof, for external anchoring of the trans¬ mission device, such as through a sleeve attached to another wheel nut, said anchoring element being movable into various positions relative to said housing so as to enable the element to be adjusted to different desired distances between the output shaft and the anchoring element. BACKGROUND ART Transmission arrangements of this kind are known, for example from German Offenlegungsschrift 27 10 130 and Swiss Patent Spec fication 596 959. In the known arrangements, an anchoring element is arranged on a plate which is journalled excentr cally on the housing so as to be pivotable relative there¬ to. The position of the anchoring element can herewith be adjusted to a limited extent. In the arrangement according , to the Swiss patent specification, the anchoring element can be locked firmly in the position to which it is adjus¬ ted, with the aid of a locking screw. This feature has no correspondence in the arrangement according to the German specification. As a result of this pivotal mounting of the anchoring element in the two known arrangements, they are less resistant to heavy stresses and are expensive to manufacture. The use of a locking screw to lock the ancho- ring element in its correct position means a more trouble¬ some handling of ' the arrangement according to the Swiss patent specification. On the other hand, the absence of this possibility to lock the arrangement, as with the case of the arrangement according to the German patent specification, involves the risk of the pivotal plate moving out of its desired position, which can prove proble matic. The aforesaid two known arrangements also employ transmission mechanisms of the gear-transmission type, whi places high requirements on respective arrangements and in volves high costs " therefor, if an " operationally reliable and robust construction is to be obtained. Another example of known transmission arrangements i disclosed in FR-A-2 183 517. In. this known arrangement an anchoring element capable of being moved to different loca tions is mounted on a plate which projects outwardly in on direction from the housing accommodating the transmission mechanism. The plane of the plate coincides substantially with the centre ls^e of the housing and the plate is pro¬ vided with a slot which extends along a centre line toward the housing and along which the anchoring element can be moved and locked firmly by means of a screw passing throug the slot, and an associated ring nut on the opposite side of the plate in relation to the actual anchoring element. Thus, this known arrangement incorporates a constru tion comprising an anchoring element which is mounted exte nally of the housing itself and which must be locked mecha nically in its de ' sired * position with the aid of a screw- fastener means. This presents a considerable disadvantage, as will be readily understood. In addition, the mechanical strength of the construction is particularly unsatisfactor since the thin plate is.highly liable to be deformed as so it is subjected to heavy loads, i.e. in just those cases i which the arrangement can be expected to be used. Finally, this known arrangement also utilizes a transmission mechanism of the gear-transmission type, whic as beforementioned is encumbered with serious disadvantage OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a novel device of the kind mentioned in the introduction wit which the aforedescribed disadvantages are substantially eliminated and which provides a simple, robust, readily- handled and inexpensive construction enabling it to be use more generally. Another object of the present invention is to provid a novel device of the kind mentioned in the introduction which can be supplemented readily so as to have dual func¬ tions enabling it to be used to loosen or tighten nuts or bolts as discussed above and also as a winch. These two functions are of a particular advantage to motorists, who often have separate devices as accessories for carrying ou these two functions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are achieved by the device according t the invention having the characterizing features set forth in the accompanying claims. Thus, the device according to the invention is main¬ ly characterized in that the anchoring means includes an element which can be moved in a stepless way along the outer surface of said other side of the housing and which incorporates a slide having an upstanding anchoring pin or the like arranged thereon, the slide being in shape-boun or interlocked sliding engagement with a guide-rail means or the like extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing and fixed thereon, so that the anchoring pin can be brought to a desired location on the housing, by moving the slide along the guide-rail means. The guide-rail means preferably extends axially or along a centre line of the housing, in a direction towards the outward shaft. The aforesaid shape-bound sliding engagement imparts a self-locking action to the anchoring means immediately upon applying thereto, subsequent to having moved the anchoring means to its desired location, a lateral force relative to the direction in which the anchoring means is moved. The axial "journalling" in line between the ancho¬ ring pin and the output shaft affords a particularly good load-absorption and force-transmission effect, particularly when the slide has a certain extension providing a corres¬ ponding extension to the slide engagement. The guide-rail means can be produced as a separate component and readily attached to an-outer surface of the housing, for example by means of a weld. Both the guide-rail means and the slide with associated anchoring pin can be of particularly simple construction while, at the same time, being robust and capable of withstanding large forces without being deformed. The extension of the slide in its axial direc- tion results in advantageous distribution of the load on the housing. One important aspect of the device according to the invention is that the guide-rail means and the slide do not occupy, or need not occupy any of the space within the housing, despite the fact that the guide-rail means can have a considerable extension. This enables the space within the housing to be utilized fully for accommodation of the transmission mechanism used. Consequently, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the transmis¬ sion mechanism- ay comprise drive wheels mounted on respec tive shafts and interconnected by means of a chain or the like. Such a mechanism has many advantages in comparison with gear, transmissions, since it is less expensive, more durable etc,. Because of the advantageous use. of the whole of the housing interior, the transmission mechanism may also inckide, in accordance with the invention, a second input shaft beside the firstmentioned input shaft on said one side of the housing, this second input shaft affording additional transmission and having a drive wheel which is connected to a further drive wheel mounted on the first input shaft, by means of a chain or the like. It is emphasized that the design of the device according t the invention has been ound to provide an optimal constru tion from many aspects, with respect to possible housing sizes desired greatest and smallest distances between out put shaft and anchoring pin, the thickness of the housing and the material from which it is made, etc.. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the device, according to the invention, the guide-rail means defines an undercut guide channel in which the slide is received, the anchoring pin extending up through the slot-like channel opening which faces away from the housin An advantage is afforded when the channel has a square cross-section, preferably a rectangular cross- section. The slide advantageously comprises an elongated or strip-like plate element of corresponding cross-section. The guide-rail means may also extend beyond the housing itself, so that the anchoring pin can be placed beyond the confines of the actual housing while retaining good force- transmission thereto. The slide can be readily removable from its sliding engagement with the guide-rail means, for example quite simply by being pushable out of or from the guide-rail means. This enables the slide and anchoring pin or the like to be readily replaced. According to one advantageous embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the length of the slide coincides substantially with the length of the guide- rail means, the anchoring pin being located at one end of the slide, in this case, the slide can be slid outwardly from the guide-rail means, at least in one direction, and also into " total disengagement with said guide-rail means. The slide and the guide-rail means are also, arranged for shape-bound sliding engagement, irrespective of which end of the slide body is first brought into engagement with the guide-rail means when applying the slide thereto from said direction. This enables the location of the anchoring pin to be varied between positions far in across the housing (optionally inwardly of the end of the guide- rail means) and far out from the housing (and optionally also far out from the guide-rail means, particularly when said guide-rail means does not extend to any appreciable ■ extent from the housing) , while retaining satisfactory engagement and in dependence on which end of the slide is first brought into engagement with the guide-rail means. According to one important aspect of the invention, the device also can be given the function of a winch. In this respect, the device - includes a belt or cable drum which can be firmly mounted on the output shaft and which is provided with a ratchet-wheel on the side thereof facing the housing; a pawl mechanism capable of being firm¬ ly mounted on the anchoring pin in a position displaced towards the output shaft for co-action with said ratchet- wheel; means for locking the slide and the guide-rail means together, to prevent relative movement therebetween; and means provided at the end of the housing opposite to the belt or cable drum, for connection of an anchoring element, for example a strap or a cable. A protective casing or the like is suitably arranged to be placed over the drum in a manner to secure the drum firmly on the output shaft, said casing being provided at the drum end thereof with holding means, hich engage around the opposite side of the housing, and at the opposite end with a downwardly extending peg or the like which secures the slide firmly to the guide-rail means, by extending through corresponding holes i the end part of the slide positioned in this loca¬ tion,and in the guide«rail means. The guide-rail means extends herewith' beyond the confines of the housing and th associated hole is loeated in the part extending beyond the housing. The downwardly extending peg may form the aforesaid means for connecting an anchoring element, particularly a strap. The invention will now be described in more detail by exemplary embodiments while referring to the accompany- ing drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a first embodi¬ ment of a device according to the invention, the view being taken from the side of the device including the output shaft and adjustable anchoring means * of the devi Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the device according to Figure 1. Figure 3 is a schematic end view of the device " according to Figs. 1 and 2, seen towards the end having the anchoring means. Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of the device according to Figs. 1-3, seen from the opposite side in comparison with Fig. 1. Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a second embodi¬ ment of a device . according to the invention, the device . being modified so as to enable it to function as a winch. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, which comprises an elongated, relativel thin plate-like housing 1 having rounded end portions. The housing has a first planar side 3 and a secon planar side 5 parallel therewith. Extending from one end or _.half of the first planar side 3 is an output shaft 7 which incorporates a relatively long cylindrical base part 8 and a free end-section 9 of square cross-section, which is intended to cooperate with a conventional wrench socket or the like. An anchoring means 11 is mounted firml on the housing, at the other end or half " of said first side 3. The anchoring means 11 embodies a guide-rail 13, a slide 15 arranged for movement along the guide-rail 13 , an an anchoring pin 17 firmly mounted on the slide. The guide rail is of U ^ shavpe cross-section and has leg end-portions 19,20 bent inwardly towards one another, to form therebetween an open gap 21. The base part 23 of the rail 13 is firmly welded to the housing 3, along its long edges. The rail 3 extends along the centre line or symmetry line of the housing and is consequently directed towards the output shaft 7, The rail extends from roughly the centre of the housing to a location somewhat beyond one end there of. . In the end part of the rail extending beyond the hou¬ sing there is located in the base part 23 a hole 25 whose diameter is equal to or somewhat larger than the width of the gap .21. The slide 15 inserted in the rail 13 for sliding engagement therewith comprises a plate-like element of rectangular " cross-section, which fits snugly within the inner cross-section of the rail 3. The slide 15 is thus in shape-bound engagement with the rail 13. The length of the slide is roughly equal to the length of the guide-rail. Located at one end of the slide is a hole 27 whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the hole 25 and the location of which in relation to the end of the slide corresponds to the location of the hole 25 relative to the free end of the guide-rail 13. The anchoring pin 17 is attached to the other end of the slide 15 in a manner to project through the gap 21 at right angles to the plane of the slide. The diameter of the pin is adapted to the width of the gap 21, i.e. is substantially equal thereto, and is such as to enable a wrench socκer (not shown) to be fitted onto the pin for free rotation thereon. The pin 17 extends from the housing to roughly the same extent as the output shaft 7. It will be seen that the pin 17 can be moved readily to any selected position on the housing , or to selected position beyond the confines of said housing, by simply displacing slide 15 along the rail 13 and by choosing which end of the slide shall be inserted first into the open free end thereof. The slide 15 can namely be removed readily from the rail 13 and reversed, if necessary. As will be seen, whe the slide is inserted in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the slide can, when required, be moved to the right to an extent which brings the pin 25 to a position well beyond the confines of both the housing 1 and the rail 13, without losing satisfactory engagement between the slide and the rail 13 (and therewith the housing) . It will also be seen that in the reverse case, the pin 17 can be brought to a location very close to the output shaft 7, Consequently, the position of the pin 17 can be adjusted as necessary (for example to correspond with the distance between two wheel nuts) within a very wide range of distances. Because of the shape-bound engage ment between the slide 15/the pin 17 and the rail 13 there is obtained an immediate sel -locking effect, as soon as the pin is subjected to a laterally acting force. Projecting outwardly from the second planar side of the housing 1 are two input shafts 31 and 33, each of whic presents a respective squareend 32 and 34 intended for co- action with a conventional crank wrench or like tool. The input shafts are arranged in the same half of the housing 1 as the anchoring means 11, and on either side thereof. The input shafts 31,33 are journalled on the side 3 of the housing 1 at 35 and 36 respectively. The output shaft 7 is journalled correspondingly at 37, on the side 5 of the housing 1 (Fig. 4) . The transmission mechanism connecting the output shaft 7 to the input shafts 31,33. is illustra¬ ted schematically in Fig. 4. A first large sprocket wheel 41 is mounted firmly on the output shaft 7 and is connec¬ ted through a drive chain 43 to a small sprocket wheel 45 mounted on the input shaft 31. A sprocket wheel 47 of intermediate size is also mounted on the input shaft 31, although in another plane. The sprocket wheel 47 is connec- ted through a second drive chain 49 to a small' • sprocket wheel 51 mounted on the second input shaft 33. In other words this affords an increased transmission. 10 Fig. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of a device according to the invention. In this further embodiment, a device according to Figs. 1-4 is modified so as to obtain winch arrangement. Thus, mounted on the output shaft 7 and in driving engagement therewith is a belt drum 53. The dru has, accordingly, a centrally located axial extending spac conforming to the output shaft 7, the aforesaid driving engagement being ensured by co-action with the shaft-end 9 of square cross-section. A winch belt 55 is wound onto the drum 53. Mounted on the end of the drum 53 facing the housing 1 is a ratchet-wheel 57 which lies parallel to and at a small distance from the side 3 of said housing. This dis¬ tance can be achieved through the journalling boss 59 of the drum 53, this boss sliding on the side 3 of the housin To this end, the boss may be suitably arranged around the output shaft 7. Alternatively the belt drum 53 and the ratchet-wheel 57 may be held at a slight distance from the housing 1 as a result of the engagement with the output shaft 7. The ratchet-wheel 57 is arranged to co-act with a pawl 61, which lies in the plane of the ratchet-wheel 57. The pawl is resiliently spring loaded in a ratchet body 63 in a manner not shown in detail. The body 63 is placed on the anchoring pin 17, which is located at the end of the guide-rail 13 adjacent the ratchet-wheel. The body 63, whi presents accordingly a throughpassing bore for accommo¬ dating the pin 17 has a lower part 65 which presents a downwardly extending projection 67 which enters the gap 21 in the rail 13 and holds the body 63 against rotation, and an upper part 69 having an extension corresponding to that of the pin 17. The. winch arrangement is held together and secured b means of a casing 71, which incorporates a cover plate 73 whose extension corresponds substantially to that of the housing 1. A hook-and-hold element 75 extends from the drum end on both sides, downwardly from the cover plate 73 for engagement with the housing. The element 75 presents at the bottom thereof an inwardly facing hook projection 77 whieh connects with the side 5 of the housing, and an inwardly facing hook projection 79 which connects with the side 3 of the housing. The hooked projections engage aroun the curved end portions of the housing and impart to the cover plate 73 a given position over the housing 1, when the casing 71 is fitted " from left to right in Fig. 5. When fitted in position, the cover plate 73 is close to the free ends of the belt drum 53 and the shaft 7, and also the free ends of the pin 17 and the upper body part 69. This secures the position of the drum 53 on the shaft 7, and the position of the ratchet-body 63 on the pin 17. For the purpose of improving the stability of the winch arrangement, the outwardly facing end of the belt drum 53 may be arranged to co-act in journalling fashion with the cover plate 73, which may be provided to this end with a suitable recess or opening. For the purpose of securing the casing 71 in its fitted position, while at the same time holding the slide 15 in position in the guide-rail 13, a downwardly exten¬ ding peg 81 is provided at the end of the-cover plate 71 opposite the holding elements 75. The peg 81 extends into the rail 13 and the slide 15, through respective mutually registering holes 25 and 27. Located in the free end of the peg 81 is a hole 83 into which a split-pin or like device can be inserted. In order to facilitate introduction of the peg 81 into the holes.25,27, the cover plate 73 is suitably made slightly flexible at the peg-end thereof, i.e. so that when fitting the casing 71 from right to left, the peg 81 can be "lifted up" to an extent sufficient to enable the peg to pass into the holes 25,27. The peg 81 forms an advantageous attachment for a strap or the like for example, with which to anchor the winch arrangement when in use. When an anchoring strap is used, its plane and line will coin- . cide at least substantially with the plane and line of the winch belt 55 extending in the opposite direction, which is advantageous from, inter alia, the aspect of stress. In order to enable the pawl 61 to relinquish its engagement with the ratchet-wheel 57, the pawl is provided with a laterally projecting lever or the like, indicated at 85 in Fig.5. It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the illustrated and described embodiments, and that changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A transmission device comprising a preferably substantially elongated and plate-like housing having two mutually opposing, preferably planar sides and a transmis¬ sion mechanism which is accommodated within the housing and which has an input shaft projecting outwardly from one side of the housing for engagement with a crank wrench or corresponding tool, and an output shaft which projects out¬ wardly from the other side of the housing at one end of sai side for engagement, such as via a socket, with an element to which torque is to be applied, for example a wheel nut which is to be loosened or tightened, and in which arrange¬ ment an anchoring means is also arranged to project from said other side of the housing at the opposite end thereof for anchoring the transmission arrangement externally, for example through a socket attached to another wheel nut, said anchoring means being arranged for movement to diffe¬ rent locations in relation to the housing in order to adjust the anchoring means to different desired distances between the output shaft and said anchoring means, charac- terized in that the anchoring means comprises an element which can be movedin a stepless way in an axial direction along the outer surface of said other side of the housing, and which includes a slide having an anchoring pin or the like upstanding therefrom, said slide being in shape-bound sliding engagement with a guide-rail means or the like firmly mounted to the housing and extending in the longi¬ tudinal direction thereof, such that the anchoring pin can be brought to a desired location on the housing by dis¬ placing the slide along said guide-rail means, and such that a self-locking effect is obtained immediately the anchoring pin or the like is subjected to a laterally acting force in relation to the direction of movement of the slide. 2. A device according to Claim 1, or 2, characterized in that the guide-rail means defines an undercut guide channel, in which the slide is received, the anchoring pin projecting through a slot-like opening in the guide channel. 3. A device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the channel has a square, preferably elongated rectangular cross-section; and in that the slide comprises a preferably elongated or strip-like plate element of corresponding cross-section. 4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide-rail means also extends beyond the confines of the actual housing. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the slide corresponds substantially to the length of the guide-rail means; that the anchoring pin is arranged on one end of the slide; that the slide can be displaced away from the guide- rail means at least in one direction and also disengaged completely from the guide-rail means; and in that the slide and the guide-rail means are arranged for shape-bound sliding engagement irrespective of which end of the slide i first brought into engagement with the guide-rail means in conjunction with inserting the slide from said direction. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a belt or cable drum capable of being mounted firmly on the output shaft and having a ratchet-wheel located on the side of said drum facing the housing; a ratchet-pawl mechanism capable of being firmly mounted on the anchoring pin in a position displaced towards the output shaft, for co-action with said ratchet-wheel; means for locking the slide and the guide- rail means against relative movement; and means pro¬ vided at the end of the housing opposite to said belt or cable drum for connecting an anchoring element, for example a strap or a cable, thereby enabling the device to be used as a winch. 7. A device according to Claim 6, characteri¬ zed in that it includes a protective casing or the like arranged to be fitted over the drum and to secure the same firmly on the output shaft, the casing having holding means located at the drum end or engagement aroundthe opposide sid of the housing, and at the opposite end a downwardly exten- ding peg or the like which locks the slide firmly to the guide-rail means, by extending through corresponding holes in the end part of the slide found at this location and in the guide-rail means, the guide-rail means extending beyond the confines of the housing and associated hole being located in the part located beyond the confines of the housing; and in that the downwardly projecting peg can form said means for connecting an anchoring element. 8. A device . according to any one of the pre¬ ceding claims, characterized in that the transmission mechanism includes drive wheels mounted on respective shafts and interconnected by means of a chain or the like. 9. A. • device according to Claim 8, characteri¬ zed in that it incorporates a second input shaft on said one side of the housing, said second shaft providing additional transmission and having a drive wheel which is connected, through a chain or the like, to a further drive wheel mounted on the first input shaft.

Inventors: ILYES IVAN, ILYES, IVAN
Applicants: ILYES IVAN, ILYES, IVAN
Application year: 1985
Main classification: B25B17
IPC codes: B25B17