Abstract:
Wrenches, apparatus, devices and methods of using a T handle with a torque wrench with adjustable torque setting controls having an automated slip function for applications such as for motorcycles, automotive, machinery and the like. The wrench allows for a user to pull up a lock feature which allows the user to selectively set a torque value by rotating the handle. Once a torque setting is made, the lock is pushed down and the wrench can be used to tighten fasteners, such as bolts, nuts, and the like. While tightening, the fastener, the wrench goes into a slip function when the setting has been reached, so that the fasteners, cannot be stripped.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to wrenches, and in particular to wrenches, apparatus, devices and methods of adjusting torque settings on a T handle torque wrench with a slip function when a selected torque setting is reached. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Tightening fasteners, such as bolt heads and nuts in various applications such for motorcycle repairs have often relied on socket wrenches, which do not allow the operator to supply necessary torque by just rotating the lever handle on the socket wrench. Additionally, gripping the traditional socket wrench is difficult with one hand. 
     Still furthermore, traditional socket wrenches generally rely on the operator having to feel when the proper torque amount has been achieved. As a result the operator can under tighten the fastener, or the operator can bear the risk of stripping the fastener if too much torque rotation is applied. 
     T type torque wrenches have been proposed over the years, but generally do not allow for easy adjusting to different torque settings, and generally have similar problems. For example, T torque wrenches generally require the operator have to fee the amount of pounds being applied so that the fastener can be under tightened, or the operator can bear the risk of stripping the fasteners by over rotating the T shaped handle on the torque wrench. 
     Both types of wrenches also do not allow for the operator to easily adjust torque settings in the wrench nor allow for the operator to visually see the selected torque settings that are desired. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide wrenches, apparatus, devices and methods of using a T handle with a torque wrench having a slip function. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide T handle torque wrenches, apparatus, devices and methods having adjustable torque setting controls with a slip function for motorcycles. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide T handle torque wrenches, apparatus, devices and methods having adjustable torque setting controls with a slip function for bicycles. 
     A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide T handle torque wrenches, apparatus, devices and methods having adjustable torque setting controls with a slip function for automotive applications. 
     A fifth objective of the present invention is to provide T handle torque wrenches, apparatus, devices and methods having adjustable torque setting controls with a slip function for machinery applications. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the torque wrench. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is rear view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a right side view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5B  is an enlarged view of the torque adjustment graduate scale of  FIG. 5A   
         FIG. 6  is a left side view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top side view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom side view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9A  is an exploded view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10A  is another exploded view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail of  FIG. 10A   
         FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the wrench of  FIG. 1  with different drive accessories. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench of  FIG. 12  with lock component pulled upward adjacent T handle. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench of  FIG. 13  with T handle rotated to a selected torque setting. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench of  FIG. 14  with lock component pushed down to selected torque setting. 
         FIG. 16A  is a perspective view of the torque wrench of  FIG. 1  with clutch detail shown. 
         FIG. 16B  is an enlarged view of clutch detail in  FIG. 16A . 
         FIG. 17A  is another perspective view of the wrench of  FIG. 16A  rotating slightly clockwise. 
         FIG. 17B  is an enlarged view of the clutch of  FIG. 17A . 
         FIG. 18A  is another perspective view of the turning wrench of  FIG. 17A  where the output shaft is no longer rotating. 
         FIG. 18B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail of  FIG. 18A . 
         FIG. 19A  is another perspective view of the rotating wrench of  FIG. 18A  with the bearings transitioning from their nests. 
         FIG. 19B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail of  FIG. 19A . 
         FIG. 20A  is another perspective view of the rotating wrench of  FIG. 19A  where bearings have fallen off off top of slip plate. 
         FIG. 20B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 21A  is another perspective view of the rotating wrench of  FIG. 20A  where wrench is in full slip function. 
         FIG. 21B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail of  FIG. 21A . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
     A list of components will now be described.
       10  Torque wrench.     20  T-handle for drive and torque adjustment.     30  Hex form on t-handle.     40  Input lock for torque adjustment.     42  upper cap end with overhanging edge     50  Body of wrench.     60  Set pin.     70  Barrel end cap.     80  Torque output shaft.     90  drive, such as ⅜″ square drive for drive accessories.     100  Torque set indicator slot/window.     110  Spacer plate.     115  Torque adjust indicator line on spacer plate.     120  Torque adjustment thread on t-handle.     130  Ball bearing on t-handle contacts and presses dimple on spacer plate.     135  Dimple in spacer plate.     140  Radial grooves on the input lock index to the spring clip fixed inside the wrench body to lock and unlock the adjustment feature of the assembly.     145  spring clip     150  Hex form on the inside of the input lock mates to the hex form on the outside of the t-handle.     160  Hex form on the outside of the input lock mates to the hex form on the inside of the wrench body and when the torque adjustment is locked. When the input lock is pulled up, the hex forms disengage and the torque can be adjusted.     165  Hex form inside wrench body     168  threaded neck inside body  50       170  Groove inside the wrench body holds the spring clip.     180  Clutch spring provides clutch resistance to torque.     190  Bearing holding plate holds the ball bearings and transfers the radial movement of the output shaft to linear movement which compress the torque spring.     200  Ball bearings.     210  Cavities in the bearing holding plate hold the ball bearings.     220  Slot in the bearing holding plate engages the set pin and prevents rotation of the plate.     230  Slip plate is part of the output shaft and, when the shaft attempts to rotate, provides cam-action resistance to the ball bearings being held by the bearing holding plate. As this resistance is overcome, the bearing holding plate is lifted compressing the clutch spring. It is the tension of this clutch spring (which has been adjusted by the t-handle/input lock feature) which determines the torque setting of the assembly.     235  Bearing nests on the slip plate with sloping/inclined inner sides     240  Standard drive socket     250  Oil filter drive accessory     260  Hex drive accessory     270  Square cavity in drive accessories mates to ⅜″ square drive on output shaft.     280  Torque adjustment graduated scale.     290  Knurled grip.     300  T-handle retaining pin prevents the handle from spinning out of the threaded body.   

       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the torque wrench  10 .  FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is rear view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a front view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5A  is a right side view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5B  is an enlarged view of the torque adjustment graduate scale  280  in the torque set indicator slot/window  100  of  FIG. 5A   FIG. 6  is a left side view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a top side view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a bottom side view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the torque wrench  10  can include a T-handle  20  for drive and torque adjustment having a stem with a hex form  30  that passes into a input lock  40  that is used for torque adjustment, which is described in more detail later. The input lock  40  is on the upper end of an elongated generally cylindrical body  50  of the wrench  10 . Along a perimeter of a lower surface of the wrench  10  can be a knurled grip surface  290  to allow for a user to more easily grip the wrench  10  with a set pin  60  in one side of the body  50 . Knurled surface or gripping surface  290  can be on part of or on all the body  50  surface for enhancing grip. 
     On the lower end of the body  50  can be a barrel end cap  70 . The end cap  70  can be screwed on the bottom of body  50  or alternatively, press-fit on the bottom. Extending below the barrel end cap  70  of the body  50  can be a torque output shaft  80  with an exposed drive end  90 , such as but not limited to a ⅜ inch square drive for use with drive accessories, and the like. Other sized drive ends can also be used. Drive  90  can have a head with a spring biased detent to better lock into a drive accessory such as a socket, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3, 5A, 5B , the torque set indicator slot/window  100  can have next to it a torque adjustment graduated scale  280 , with a spacer plate  110  visible in the slot/window  100 . The spacer plate  110  which will be described in more detail later, can have a torque adjustment indicator line  115  visible from outside of the slot/window  100  that can line up with a graduation line on the outside scale  280  to indicate the torque setting. The torque adjustment graduated scale can be shown in various units, such as but not limited to foot pounds (Ft-Lb), newton-meters (N-M), and the like., and in any other torque measurement units. For example, the scale  280  can have readings of anywhere between 0 and 40 Foot Pounds, and the like. Other ranges and the like, can also be used. 
     Input lock  40  can have a vertical line on an exterior surface, and the top of body  50  can have a horizontal scale similar to scale  280 . Rotating handle  20  when setting the torque setting causes lock  40  to rotate and the exterior vertical line on lock  40  is moved to a selected torque setting. For example, moving the vertical line on lock  40  to scale setting # 10  will also result in moving the spacer plate  110  and line  115  visible through slot/window  100  to # 10  torque setting on scale  280 . The user when adjusting the torque setting can easily see the selected torque setting that is desired. Also, the horizontal scale can be on the bottom edge of lock  40  and the visible vertical line can be on top of body  50 . 
       FIG. 9A  is an exploded view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail  190 - 235  of  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 10A  is another exploded view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail  190 - 235  of  FIG. 10A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9A-10B , extending below the hex form  30  on the T-handle  20  can be a torque adjustment thread  120  with an end having a ball bearing  130  that presses into the dimple  135  on the spacer plate  110 . A T-handle retaining pin  300  can extend out from the threaded  120  portion of the T-handle  20  which can prevent the T-handle  20  from spinning out of the threaded neck  168  (shown more clearly in  FIGS. 12-15 ). Alternatively, pin  300  can be pinned together with spacer plate  110  with threads. 
     The input lock  40  can have an upper cap end  42  with overhanging edge  42 , that can be gripped by the user to adjust the torque settings which will be described in more detail later. Input lock  40  can have radial grooves  140  which index to the spring clip  145  which is held by a groove  170  inside of wrench body  50 . 
     The hex form  150  on the inside of the input lock  40  is used to mate to the hex form  30  on the outside of the T-handle  20 . The hex form  160  on the outside of the input lock  40  is used to mate to the hex form  165  (shown in  FIGS. 12-15 ) on the inside of the wrench body  50  when the torque adjustment is to be locked. When the input lock  40  is pulled up (shown if  FIG. 13 ), the hex forms  160  and  165  disengage from one another, and the torque setting can be adjusted as desired by the user. 
     The spacer plate  110  sits between the ball bearing  130  underneath the torque adjustment threads  120 , and an upper end of the clutch spring  180 , the latter of which provides clutch resistance to torque. Underneath spring  180  can be a bearing holding plate  190  which holds ball bearings  200  in generally circular cavities  210  under the plate  190 . A slot  220  in the bearing holding plate  190  engages the set pin  60 , which can pass through a side opening in the wrench body  50 . The set pin  60  can be used to prevent rotation of plate  190 . Pin  60  can be partially or fully threaded or be press fit in through the side of body  50 . 
     The selected torque setting creates the spring tension (in spring  180 ) controlling how high the plate  190  can rise inside of body  50 . Pin  60  prevents plate  190  from going down inside of body  50 . However, pin  60  does not stop plate  190  from rising inside of body  50 . 
     Below the ball bearings  200  can be a slip plate  230  which is the upper part of the output shaft  80 . Bearing nests  235  in the upper surface of slip plate  230  allow for supporting the bearings. The bearing nests can have sloping/inclined inner side surfaces, for use with a slip function which will be described in more detail later. The slip plate  230  is part of the output shaft  80  when shaft  80  attempts to be rotated, and can provide a cam action resistance to the ball bearings  200  being held by the bearing holding plate  190 . As this resistance is overcome, the bearing holding plate  190  is lifted compressing the clutch spring  180 . It is the tension of this clutch spring  180  (which has been adjusted by the T-handle  20  and input lock  40  feature) which determines the torque setting of the assembly. The features of which are further shown and described in later figures. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 10A , a barrel end cap  70  can be used to cover the drive  90  so 
       FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1  with different drive accessories, that can fit over the square drive  90 . As shown in  FIGS. 9A, 10A and 11 , a square cavity from different drive accessories can be slipped over the drive  90 . Such accessories can include but are not limited to a standard drive socket  240 , an oil filter drive accessory  250 , or hex drive accessory  260 . Additionally a barrel end cap  70  can be used to cover the drive  90  so 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 12  with input lock  40  pulled upward in the direction of arrow V 1  by pulling on cap end  42  with overhanging edge so that the hollow center of hex form  150  on input lock  40  rises up about hex form  30  on adjacent T handle  20 .  FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench of  FIG. 13  with T handle rotated clockwise in the direction of arrow R 1  to a selected torque setting.  FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 14  with input lock  40  pushed down in the direction of arrow V 2  to selected torque setting. 
     Adjusting the torque settings will be described in reference to  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 12-15 . The torque setting is initially changed by pulling up the input lock  40  in the direction of arrow V 1 , followed by turning the T-handle either clockwise in the direction of arrow R 1  or counter-clockwise in an opposite direction to increase or decrease compression on the clutch spring  180 . 
     In  FIG. 12  the input lock  40  is depressed which locks the torque adjustment.  FIG. 13  is similar to  FIG. 12  except the input lock  40  is pulled up as indicated by the motion arrows V 1 . This disengages the hex form  160  on the outside of the input lock  40  from the hex form  165  on the inside of the body  50  and thus allows the T-handle  20  to be rotated independent of the body  50  allowing the clutch spring  180  tension to be adjusted. It is the adjustment of the clutch spring  180  tension which changes the torque setting of the tool wrench  10 . 
       FIG. 14  is similar to  FIG. 13  except the T-handle  20  has been rotated in the direction of arrow R 1 . Rotation of the T-handle feeds the threaded portion  120  of the T-handle  20  down which, in turn, presses down by bearing  130  on the spacer plate  110  as indicated by the motion arrow S 1 . This increases the compression on the clutch spring  180  increasing the torque setting of the tool wrench  10 . The input lock  40  remains pulled up so further adjustment is possible in this configuration. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A, 5B and 14 , the indicator line  115  on the spacer plate  110  is visible through the slot/window  100  so that the user can select and determine which torque setting such as but not limited to Foot Pounds or Newton Meters, and the like to be used. 
       FIG. 15  is similar to  FIG. 14  except the input lock  40  has been depressed in the direction of arrow V 2 . This engages the hex form  160  on the outside of the input lock  40  with the hex form  165  on the inside of the body  50 . Since the input lock  40  is always radially locked to the T-handle  40  via the hex forms  160 ,  165  on the outside of the T-handle  20  and the inside of the input lock  40  (with hex form  30 ), engaging the input lock  40  to the body  50  means that the body  50  must rotate when the T-handle  20  is rotated. So pushing down on the input lock  40  locks the adjustment made in clutch spring  180  tension made at  FIG. 14 . Tool wrench  10  torque has now increased from  FIG. 12  and is ready to use. 
       FIG. 16A  is a perspective view of the torque wrench  10  of  FIG. 1  with clutch detail  190 - 235  shown.  FIG. 16B  is an enlarged view of clutch detail  190 - 235  in  FIG. 16A . 
     In  FIGS. 16A-16B , the T-handle  20  is being rotated clockwise with the input lock  40  depressed. The T-handle  20  rotation in this configuration rotates the body  50  and the output shaft  80  as a unit. The output shaft  80  can have a drive accessory affixed in actual use (such as  240 ,  250 ,  260  shown  FIG. 11 ). This view assumes no resistance on the output shaft  80  to rotation. 
       FIG. 17A  is another perspective view of the wrench  10  of  FIG. 16A  rotating slightly clockwise.  FIG. 17B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail  190 - 235  of  FIG. 17A .  FIGS. 17A-17B  is similar to  FIGS. 16A-16B  as  FIG. 16  except the assembly has been rotated slightly counterclockwise (viewed from the bottom of the page) to expose more clutch detail  190 - 235 . Plates  190  and  230  are continuing to both rotate in unison with one another, and the slip function is just staring to occur. 
       FIG. 18A  is another perspective view of the turning wrench  10  of  FIG. 17A  where the output shaft  80  is no longer rotating and the slip function is starting to go to a full slip mode.  FIG. 18B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail  190 - 235  of  FIG. 18A . 
       FIGS. 18A-18B  are similar to  FIGS. 17A-17B , except resistance to counterclockwise rotation (viewed from the bottom of the page) has been encountered by the output shaft  80  (such as when a bolt is being tightened and has reached a torque limit). The output shaft  80  is no longer turning with the body  50  and T-handle  20 . In the clutch area  190 - 235 , the ball bearings  200  have started riding up the inclines that form the sides of the bearing nests  235 . This action wants to push the bearing holding plate  190  and the slip plate  230  apart. This separating action is resisted by the clutch spring  180  pushing down on plate  190 . The strength of the resistance to separation is determined by the amount of spring  180  compression set as described and shown in  FIGS. 12-14  above. If the resistance to this climb by the bearings  200  out of the bearing nests  235  is high, the slipping torque of the tool wrench  10  is high. If the resistance is low, the slipping torque is low. 
       FIG. 19A  is another perspective view of the rotating wrench  10  of  FIG. 18A  with the bearings  200  transitioning from their nests  235  with the torque wrench  10  in a full slip function.  FIG. 19B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail  190 - 235  of  FIG. 19A . 
       FIGS. 19A-19B  are similar to  FIGS. 18A-18B  except the bearings  200  have made the transition out of the bearing nests  235  and are now on top of the slip plate  230 . 
       FIG. 20A  is another perspective view of the rotating wrench  10  of  FIG. 19A  where bearings  200  have fallen off of top of plate  230 .  FIG. 20B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail  190 - 235  of  FIG. 20A . 
       FIGS. 20A-20B  are similar to  FIGS. 19A-19B , except the bearings  200  have fallen off of the top of the slip plate and are on their way down the nest side inclines back into the bearing nests  235 . 
       FIG. 21A  is another perspective view of the rotating wrench  10  of  FIG. 20A  where wrench  10  is in full slip function.  FIG. 21B  is an enlarged view of the clutch detail  190 - 235  of  FIG. 21A . 
       FIGS. 21A-21B  is similar to  FIGS. 20A-2B . Here, the slip cycle is complete and the bearings  200  are all seated in the bearing nests  235  on the slip plate  230 . This “slip cycle” shown and described in  FIGS. 17A to 21B  provides a tactile and audible feedback to the user that indicates that the target preset torque value setting has been reached. At this point the user would stop turning the T-handle  20  of the torque wrench  10 . 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.