Abstract:
A torque-indicating socket wrench control mechanism to provide safe, high efficient, and high strength torque operation by preventing accidental falling off or out of control due to improperly use of external force is essentially by having a primary control to plunge a the socket at a proper angle by dialing a rotation part to drive the primary control to displace by rotation when an auxiliary positioning lever being pushed in by a spring to lock to an end of a wing retainer for assuring of an effective positioning of one-way retaining thus to select the torque direction desired for transmission for the handle of the wrench.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Technical Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is related to a torque-indicating socket wrench control mechanism, and more particularly to one gives safe, high efficiency, and high strength torque control.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Socket wrenches generally available in the market are generally classified into two types, ratchet and roller. The ratchet type operates on having an inner rotor having a serrated surface adapted with a control mechanism comprised of left and right retainers, spring and rotor, primary control and box of the wrench. However, the major flaw of the ratchet type socket wrench is that it is prevented from operating in a very limited space for being subject to the angle of the serration. As for the roller type socket wrench operates on a simple construction of socket, roller and inner rotor. Wherein, pits and steel beads are provided on the rotor and pressure spring being provided to work with those pits. However, the roller type socket wrench is vulnerable to become out of control thus to cause injury to the user when subject to improperly or excessively applied external force. Furthermore, the simple construction often results in poor torque and strength to fail the exact control of torque. Therefore, either the ratchet or the roller type of socket wrench fails to meet the design requirements of high torque, high strength, and minute working space today.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an effective control mechanism for a torque-indicating socket wrench that is capable of safe, high efficiency, high strength torque control while eliminating the problem of losing control due to improperly applied external force. To achieve the purpose, a rotor when dialed drives a primary control to displace by rotation for the primary control to plunge against the socket to revolve at a proper angle; an auxiliary positioning lever at the same time is locked to the end of a wing retainer as pushed in by a spring to ensure of effective positioning of one-way retaining; and the user may firmly select the torque direction of transmission desired for the handle of the socket wrench.  
         [0006]     Another primary purpose of the present invention is to provide an effective control mechanism for a torque-indicating socket wrench that achieves the force application on the socket wrench without being restricted by the angle, displacement by rotation, and distance of the torque indication. To achieve the purpose, a resistance interface device comprised of socket, roller and elastic member is held in position to link the operation of the inner rotor and the handle.  
         [0007]     Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide an effective control mechanism for a torque-indicating socket wrench that prevents failure of the torque control. To achieve the purpose, the auxiliary positioning lever effectively contains the socket after the socket rotates to fend off abnormal falling off position by the spring compressed due to improper application of force or vibration from external source to ensure the solid control of the direction and positioning of the force applied.  
         [0008]     Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide an effective control mechanism for a torque-indicating socket wrench that prevents skid to secure effective transmission of torque. To achieve the purpose, a segment channel is provided in the box to facilitate the slide of the roller.  
         [0009]     The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.  
         [0010]     Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing operation of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in its normal positioning status.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing a post control in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention indicating a deflection for approximately fifteen degrees.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the post control in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention indicating a deflection for approximately thirty degrees.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing operation of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention in its normal positioning status.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing a post control in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention indicates a deflection for approximately fifteen degrees.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing the post control in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention indicates a deflection for approximately thirty degrees.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing the arrangement of members of the present invention in use.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
         [0021]     Referring to the accompanying drawings, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is essentially comprised of a handle  2 , a socket  3 , an inner rotor  4 , a C-washer, a ring spacer  5 , a dialer  6 , an auxiliary positioning lever  7 , a control  8 , a spring S, a lid  9 , a roller B and an elastic member R. Wherein, one or multiple segment channel  21  is provided to one box of the handle  2  to accommodate the socket  3  and the inner rotor  4 . One or multiple resilient member R and one or multiple roller B is fixed to the socket  3  in relation to the operation of the segment channel  21 . A fillister  22  disposed at the bottom of the box of the handle  2  including the C-washer A and the ring spacer  5  contains the rotation of the inner rotor  4 . On larger locking hole  23  and multiple smaller locking holes  25  are provided on a recessed surface  23  below the fillister  22  of the box of the handle  2  to house the control  9 , a left and a right auxiliary positioning levers  7 , and the spring S. The bottom of the control  8  is fixed to the dialer and locked in position by means of the lid  9  in a contour similar to that of the recessed surface  23 . One or multiple segregation channel  31  is provided on the lower section of the socket and multiple ribs are arranged vertically into a ring adapted at their lower ends a reinforced ring  35 , and at their upper ends a ring comprised of two serrated sections  32  facing each other and each provided with a tip, and another two wing retainers  33  facing to each other. The control  8  has a plate  81  provided at it upper end and a graded gap  82  on the distal end of the plate  81  in corresponding to the tip of the serrated section  32 . Both of the left and the right auxiliary positioning levers  7  are pushed by the spring S to produce a force to compress in so that the tip of each auxiliary positioning lever  7  merely rests upon the outer edge of the wing retainer  33  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4  in normal positioning status. Accordingly, the socket  3 , the roller B, and the elastic member R execute the resistance interface linkage between the inner rotor  4  and the segment channel  21  as illustrated in  FIG. 9  so to provide effective linkage of high torque and torque indication operation for the segment channel  21  to rotate and travel along with the inner rotor  4  as driven by the externally applied force.  
         [0022]     When the handle  2  is desired to rotate clockwise, the dialer  6  is pushed in opposition direction for the plate  81  of the control  8  to deflect for approximately fifteen degrees to push away the auxiliary positioning lever  7  on the right as illustrated in  FIG. 3  until the plate  81  deflects for approximately thirty degrees, the graded gap  82  of the plate  81  dials the socket  3  to rotate. Meanwhile the left auxiliary positioning lever  7  merely prevents the socket  3  to travel in opposite direction when the spring S forces to push and secure in the socket  3  by locking to the end of the wing retainer  33  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Wherein, the socket is forced to only rotate clockwise to free from falling off due to improper application of external force. The roller B and the elastic member R are tightly contained by the segment channel  21  for the inner rotor  4  and incorporated into one piece with the handle to prevent relative motion between the segment channel  21  and the inner rotor  4 . Accordingly, the handle  2  achieves its purpose of transmitting the torque as the inner rotor  4  rotates. The operation in reverse direction provides the handle  2  to execute the rotation in opposite direction. The return travel by the handle  2  is completed with the rotation of the inner rotor  4  in opposite direction to drive the roller B and the elastic member R to disengage from the segment channel  21 . Accordingly, the inner rotor  4  is disengaged from the handle  2  to quit the synchronous rotation between the inner rotor  4  and the handle  2 . Whereas the return travel will cause the wrench to idle, the effective transmission of torque is delivered.  
         [0023]     Furthermore, in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the outer circumference  34  of the socket  3  is serrated to engage with a serrated inner circumference  101  of a horseshoe shape spacer  10 . Two retainers  103  extending from one side of the spacer  10  define a gap  102 . The larger hole  24  in the first preferred embodiment is changed to a locking hole  26  in arc adapted with another type of control  8 . The control has a trapezoid top plate  83  and the body of the control  8  is provided with a hole  84  containing a smaller spring S 1  and a steel bead R 1  to provide powerful positioning result. Accordingly, the control  8  produces compression upon both retainers  103  in relation to the rotation by the dialer  6 ; and finally, the spacer  10  provides the its positioning feature when the center of the spacer  10  through the retainer  103 , the trapezoid plate  83  of the control  8  to the center of the control  8  define the optimal positioning location of ninety degrees as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Wherein, a clearance is reserved between the peripheral of the plate  83  and the gap  102  in normal status. When the handle  2  is desired to rotate clockwise, the dialer  6  must be first pushed in opposite direction for the control  8  when deflected for approximately fifteen degrees will have the front end of its top plate  83  to contact the retainers  103  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; and when the control  8  is deflected for approximately thirty degrees, the tip of the plate  83  while dialing to move the spacer  10  drives the socket  3  to rotate for achieving the optimal location at ninety degrees. Meanwhile, the smaller spring S 1  and steel beard R 1  provide their positioning feature to merely maintain effective positioning and stopping the socket to rotate in opposite direction for displacement, thus to prevent from losing control due to the improperly applied external force as illustrated in  FIG. 8  since the socket is allowed to rotate in positive direction only.  
         [0024]     The roller B and the elastic member R are tightly contained by the segment channel  21  for the inner rotor  4  and incorporated into one piece with the handle to prevent relative motion between the segment channel  21  and the inner rotor  4 . Accordingly, the handle  2  achieves its purpose of transmitting the torque as the inner rotor  4  rotates. The operation in reverse direction provides the handle  2  to execute the rotation in opposite direction. The return travel by the handle  2  is completed with the rotation of the inner rotor  4  in opposite direction to drive the roller B and the elastic member R to disengage from the segment channel  21 . Accordingly, the inner rotor  4  is disengaged from the handle  2  to quit the synchronous rotation between the inner rotor  4  and the handle  2 . Whereas the return travel will cause the wrench to idle, the effective transmission of torque is delivered.  
         [0025]     Furthermore, a dice on the upper part of the inner rotor  4  containing a spring  41 , a steel bead  43 , and an escape switch  42  is removed and replaced with another inner rotor  44  containing a channel  441  in a geometric form of an arc segment, tetragon, hexagon, octagon, or dodecagon to meet the insertion of various types of parts for the torque control.  
         [0026]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.  
         [0027]     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.