Abstract:
A pneumatic ratchet wrench that has a shift linkage system that allows the user to visually discern which direction the rotating anvil of the wrench will rotate without using the throttle. The shift linkage system is also configured conveniently so that the user can both use the wrench throttle and the linkage system via one hand. The shifting linkage, a linkage system, and method of shifting the rotational direction of the anvil is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     The invention relates generally to a pneumatic ratchet with a forward/reverse actuator that allows for one-handed changes between forward and reverse rotations of the anvil.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     In the art of ratchets and pneumatic ratchets, there is a need for an improved pneumatic ratchet that offers easier rotational direction switching, and to allow for one handed operation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention offers an improved pneumatic ratchet with a forward/reverse actuator that inter alia allows for one handed operation/direction switching.  
         [0006]     In a first general aspect, the present invention provides a shifting linkage for switching the rotational direction of a rotating anvil of a pneumatic ratchet wrench, said shifting linkage comprising: 
        a first end functionally attached to a switch configured for user activation; and     a second end that operatively engages a ratchet and pawl system of said pneumatic ratchet wrench.        
 
         [0009]     In a second general aspect, the present invention provides a system adapted for one handed rotational direction operation of a rotating anvil on a pneumatic ratchet comprising: 
        an elongate shift linkage that includes a first and a second end; and     an actuator that engages with said second end and further engages with a ratchet and pawl system of said ratchet, thereby causing change in rotational direction of said anvil upon activation of said first end.        
 
         [0012]     In a third general aspect, the present invention provides a pneumatic ratchet wrench including a housing, a connector to an air source, a motor, a throttle, and a rotatable anvil, said tool further comprising: 
        a shift linkage system, wherein the shift linkage system is adapted to allow the user to visually discern the rotational direction of said anvil without an activation of said throttle; and     wherein said shift linkage system is further adapted to allow activation of said throttle and activation of said shift linkage system to be done by a user with the same hand.        
 
         [0015]     In a fourth general aspect, the present invention provides a method for shifting the rotational direction of a rotating anvil of a pneumatic ratchet wrench, said method comprising: 
        providing a shifting linkage having a first end functionally attached to a switch configured for user activation, said linkage further having a second end that operatively engages a ratchet and pawl system of said pneumatic ratchet wrench; and     activating said switch, thereby causing said rotation direction of said rotating anvil to change.        
 
         [0018]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     Some of the embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts a side sectional view of a pneumatic ratchet, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  depicts a top view of a pneumatic ratchet with partial removal, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3 . depicts a top view of a pneumatic ratchet with partial removal, with a shift linkage in a first and a second position, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a top, diagrammatic view of a pneumatic ratchet while an anvil is in the forward rotational direction, in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a top, diagrammatic view of a pneumatic ratchet while an anvil is in the reverse rotational direction, in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of an embodiment. The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.  
         [0026]     As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.  
         [0027]     The present invention offers a pneumatic ratchet with a forward/reverse actuator that inter alia allows for one handed reversal of rotational direction of an anvil, further wherein the user can visually discern the rotational direction of the anvil, concurrently while either engaging, or not engaging, the throttle. The present invention may further allow for the switching between forward and reverse rotational direction of the anvil with the concurrent engagement of the throttle without having to reposition the user&#39;s hand.  
         [0028]     Thus, the present invention offers greater flexibility, greater ease of use, greater safety, and more options, than current pneumatic ratchets do. The term pneumatic ratchet as used herein denotes an air powered hand tool to be used in conjunction with at least one rotatable anvil.  
         [0029]     The present invention provides for one handed operation of a pneumatic ratchet with the ability to change the direction of rotation of the anvil as well as the ability to discern the direction of rotation upon visual inspection of the position of the actuator mechanism with or without simultaneously engaging the throttle.  
         [0030]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a side sectional view of an embodiment of a pneumatic ratchet in accordance with the present invention. As depicted, a pneumatic ratchet wrench  100  has an outer housing  95 , a connector  90  to an air source (e.g., air compressor) (not shown), a motor  85 , a plurality of offset gears  80 , a rotatable anvil  10 , and a throttle  60  shown in an unengaged position  60 A, and the throttle  60  shown in phantom in an engaged position  60 B. A shift linkage system  20  is comprised of a forward-reverse switch  40  and a shift linkage  30 . A forward-reverse actuator  25  operatively engages both with a portion of the shift linkage system  20  and the offset gears  80 .  
         [0031]     A throttle pin  50 , acts as a safety mechanism, by not allowing for the throttle  60  to go into the engaged position  60 B when the forward-reverse actuator switch  40  is in neither a first position  32 A or a second position  32 B (see  FIG. 2 ). This is because engagement of the throttle  60 B when the switch  40  is not properly placed may cause damage to the tool  100 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  depicts a top view of an embodiment of the pneumatic ratchet  100  with partial removal of the housing  95  to facilitate viewing of aspects of the invention. The pneumatic ratchet wrench  100  has an outer housing  95 , a connector  90  to an air source, such as an air compressor (not shown), a shift linkage system  20 , a forward -reverse actuator  25 , and an anvil  10 .  
         [0033]     The shift linkage system  20  includes an elongate shift linkage  30 . At one end of the shift linkage  30  is an engagement end  31 , while at the second end is a forward-reverse switch  40 . Also located on the shift linkage  30  are a pair of detents  33  (i.e., a first detent  33 A and a second detent  33 B) which allow for the engagement of a spring-biased ball  71  with the shift linkage  30 . The shift linkage  30  has two general positions. In a first position, which is shown in phantom, the switch  40 , is slid forward to a first position  40 A (shown in phantom); the engagement end  31  is a first position  31 A; and, the ball  71  is engaged with a first detent  33 A. Conversely, the shift linkage  30  has a second position (shown in solid). In the second position, the switch  40  is slid backwards to a second position  40 B; the engagement end  31  is in the second position  31 B; and, the ball  71  is engaged with the second detent  33 B.  
         [0034]     Thus, the sliding of the switch  40  from its first position  40 A to its second position  40 B causes the engagement end  31  to move from its first position  31 A to its second position  31 B, between which the engagement end  31  engages, and rotates the actuator  25  via its teeth  26 . Similarly, the sliding of the switch  40  from its second position  40 B to its first position  40 A causes the engagement end  31  to move from its second position  31 B to its first position  31 A, between which the engagement end  31  engages, and rotates the actuator  25  via its teeth  26 . Depending on which of the two positions that the switch  40  is moved from, will result in rotation of the actuator  25  in a opposite rotational directions.  
         [0035]      FIG. 3 . depicts a similar view as in  FIG. 2 , but with more portions of the tool  100  removed for clarity&#39;s sake. As can be seen, the engagement end  31  is shown in a first position  31 A (in phantom) and in a second position  31 B. Correspondingly, the forward-reverse switch  40  is shown in phantom in the first position  40 A and in the second position  40 B.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a top, schematic, or diagrammatic, view of the tool  100  with a users&#39;s hand  220  and eye  200  during the use thereof.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4A  shows the user&#39;s hand  220  holding an embodiment with the switch in the first position  40 A where the user can visually ascertain from their eye  200  the forward rotational direction of the anvil  10  without engaging the throttle  60 . The shift linkage system  20  is oriented with the switch  40  is in the first position  40 A. When the switch  40  is moved from the second position  40 B (See e.g.,  FIG. 4B ) to the first position  40 A, the switch  40  causes the shift linkage  30  to interact with the forward-reverse actuator  25  (via the engagement of the engagement end  31  with the teeth  26  of the actuator  25 ) which in turn acts upon a ratchet and pawl system to allow rotation motion of the anvil  10 , in the forward (i.e., tightening) direction as denoted by directional arrow “F”. Thus, the user can visually discern  200  what the rotational direction of the anvil  10  will be with, or without, engaging the throttle  60 . Further, the invention allows for the ability to engage the throttle  60  (i.e., move throttle to position  60 B as in  FIG. 1 ) as well as change the rotational direction of the anvil  10  with only the use of one hand  220 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 4B  is the same view as in  FIG. 4A , but conversely, showing the user&#39;s hand  240  engaging the switch  40  in a second position  40 B. Similarly, the user can see from the user eye  200  what rotational direction of the anvil  10  will be without engaging the throttle  60 B. With the switch  40  in the second position  40 B, the shift linkage system  20  is moved rearward along the tool  100  so that the engagement end  31  is the second position  31 B. So, when the switch  40  is moved from the first position  40 A (See  FIG. 4A ) to the second position  40 B, the engagement end  31  interacts with the gear teeth  26  of the forward-reverse actuator  25  which in turn acts upon a ratchet and pawl system so that the rotational direction of the anvil  10  is switched to the reverse (i.e., loosening) direction, as depicted by directional arrow “R”.  
         [0039]     Various modifications and variations of the described apparatus and methods of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, outlined above, it should be understood that the invention should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.