Patent Publication Number: US-9902049-B2

Title: Combination wrench with a reversible roller clutch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/077,545 filed on Nov. 10, 2014, and entitled “Combination Wrench with a Reversible Roller Clutch,” the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Combination wrenches are used to tighten or loosen fasteners. The industry standard for this type of tool is a single handle with a box-end shape on one end of the handle and an open-end shape on the opposite side of the handle. The original box-end shape was a solid unit with no moving parts. Such a design required the operator to lift, rotate and reset the wrench for each stroke of the tool. This is a time consuming process and the solid unit was replaced with a ratchet gear system that utilizes a driving gear with a spring loaded pawl. The pawl enables the operator to apply toque in one direction and to slip in the opposite direction. The reciprocal motion of the handle allows the wrench to maintain continuous contact with the fastener during the tightening or loosening process. The ability to maintain constant contact with the fastener is a major advantage over a traditional wrench because labor is significantly reduced. 
     The ratchet mechanism has drawbacks including friction between the pawl and the driving gear. Both have a set of teeth which engage and lock during the torque stroke. Additionally, the pawl teeth rub against the driving gear during the slip or back throw process. Such rubbing action creates friction and deteriorates the efficiency of the wrench. Over time the teeth can wear down and will require replacement. In addition, ratcheting mechanisms are indexed and require a large back throw between handle swings, which creates a problem with there is insufficient room for the handle to operate. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of a force transfer wrench apparatus are described. In one embodiment, a force transfer mechanism includes a housing assembly and a handle attached to the housing assembly. The housing assembly includes a housing, a spindle, and wedging element. The spindle is disposed within the housing. The housing includes an outer race. The outer race is annular. The spindle includes an opening at a center of the spindle and at least one protrusion around an outer circumference of the spindle. The protrusion forms a ramp including a ramp surface. The ramp surface slopes from the outer circumference of the spindle to a larger outer circumference of the spindle. The wedging element is disposed between the spindle and the outer race. The wedging element is a cylinder comprising an outer surface. The wedging element is disposed between the spindle and the outer race such that the outer surface of the wedging element contacts the ramp surface. Other embodiments of a force transfer wrench apparatus are described. 
     Other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrated by way of example of the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of a force transfer mechanism or box wrench with a reversible roller clutch. 
         FIG. 2A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a spindle of a force transfer mechanism. 
         FIG. 2B  depicts a top view of an embodiment of a spindle of a force transfer mechanism. 
         FIG. 2C  depicts a cross-sectional side view of a cut-away at the vertical line of the spindle of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 2D  depicts a cross-sectional side view of a cut-away at the horizontal line of the spindle of  FIG. 2B . 
         FIG. 2E  depicts an embodiment of a cut-away view of a spindle of a force transfer mechanism as well as a wedging element. 
         FIG. 3A  depicts an embodiment of a spindle and wedging elements disposed within a housing, the wedging elements disposed between the housing and the spindle. 
         FIG. 3B  depicts an embodiment of a spindle and wedging elements disposed within a housing, the wedging elements disposed between the housing and the spindle. 
         FIG. 4A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a wedging element. 
         FIG. 4B  depicts side view of the wedging element of  FIG. 4A   
         FIG. 4C  depicts a top view of the wedging element of  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 4D  depicts a top view of another embodiment of a wedging element in the shape of an elliptical cylinder. 
         FIG. 5A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing with an outer race. 
         FIG. 5B  depicts another perspective view of an embodiment of the housing of  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  depicts a top view of an embodiment of a housing with an outer race. 
         FIG. 6A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a cap. 
         FIG. 6B  depicts a perspective view of the bottom side of the cap of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  depicts a bottom view of the cap of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6D  depicts a side cutaway cross-sectional view of the cap at the horizontal line shown in  FIG. 6C . 
         FIG. 6E  depicts a side cutaway cross-sectional view of the cap at the vertical line shown in  FIG. 6C . 
         FIG. 6F  depicts an enlarged view of an upper portion of the cap in  FIG. 6E . 
     
    
    
     It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The embodiments shown accomplish various aspects and objects of the invention. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element and aspect of the invention in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the invention in greater clarity. Similarly, not every embodiment need accomplish all advantages of the present invention. 
     While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity. 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following description of various embodiments, and as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the description and claims are to be embraced within their scope. 
     Reference throughout to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
     Reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     While many embodiments are described herein, at least some of the described embodiments allow for a box wrench that does not require a user to lift, rotate, and reset the wrench for each stroke while also eliminating or reducing friction. Embodiments allow for less deterioration of parts of the clutch. Some embodiments allow for the resumption of a torque at any angle, which is critical in tight compartment applications. Some embodiments allow for a wrench that is not susceptible to the degradations of friction or shear force. Additionally, some embodiments allow a wrench to function with zero back throw. Some embodiments allow for a wrench that is stronger, safer, and easier to operate. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of a roller clutch wrench apparatus  100 . The illustrated embodiment depicts a hexagonal box wrench with a reversible roller clutch. Although the apparatus  100  is shown and described with certain components and functionality, other embodiments of the apparatus  100  may include fewer or more components to implement less or more functionality. 
     The illustrated embodiment includes a spindle  200  housed within a housing  500  and partially covered by a cap  600 . In the illustrated embodiment the housing  500  includes a handle. In some embodiments, the handle may be detachable from the housing. In such embodiments, a single handle could be used and attached to various spindle housing sizes. In such embodiments, a user may have multiple housings  500  with various size spindles  200 , and various shaped spindles. The illustrated embodiment depicts a hexagonal spindle. However, the spindle  200  may be manufactured to mate with fasteners and bolts of various shapes and sizes. The features, structure, characteristics, and functions of the various components are described more fully in the figures and description that follow. 
       FIG. 2A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a spindle  200  of a force transfer wrench apparatus  100 . Although the spindle  200  is shown and described with certain components and functionality, other embodiments of the spindle  200  may include fewer or more components to implement less or more functionality.  FIG. 2B  depicts a top view of an embodiment of a spindle of a force transfer mechanism.  FIG. 2C  depicts a cross-sectional side view of a cut-away of the spindle.  FIG. 2D  depicts another cross-sectional side view of a cut-away of the spindle.  FIG. 2E  depicts an embodiment of a cut-away view of a spindle as well as a wedging element which is described more fully in  FIGS. 4A-4C . 
     In some embodiments, the spindle  200  is made of a single material. In some embodiment, the spindle  200  is rigid. The illustrated embodiment includes an opening  202  through the center of the spindle  200 . In some embodiments, the opening is offset from the center of the spindle  200 . The opening  202  may comprise of various shapes and sizes. While the illustrated embodiment depicts a hexagonal opening  202 , the spindle  200  may be manufactured with an opening to fit the size and shape of various fasteners and bolts. The opening  202  may be of shapes including but not limited to 12 sided, 6 sided, and other numbers of sides. Additionally, the opening  202  may be configured to interface with fasteners that are flat faced, convex faced, concave faced, or other various shapes. The illustrated opening  202  includes concave faces  204 . 
     In some embodiments, the spindle  200  includes a series of protrusions  206  that extend radially out around an outer circumference of the spindle  200 . In some embodiments, the protrusions  206  are evenly spaced around the outer circumference of the spindle  200 . The illustrated embodiment depicts ten protrusions  206  evenly spaced around the outer circumference of the spindle  200 . The spindle  200  may include various numbers of protrusions fewer or more than what is depicted in  FIG. 2A . In some embodiments, the protrusions may align with the opening faces  204  (e.g., 12 protrusions aligned with the opening faces of a 12-sided wrench). 
     In some embodiments, the protrusions  206  form a ramp including a ramp surface  208  that is configured to be a sloped shape that slopes from an outer circumference  210  to a greater outer circumference  212 . In some embodiments, the ramp surface  208  is concave to better interface with the wedging elements and provide more contact surface area for the wedging elements to contact. By maximizing the contact surface, brinelling and slipping are eliminated when the spindle is in a torqued condition (a torqued condition is illustrated and described more fully in conjunction with  FIG. 3A ). Additionally, handle back swing is minimized in the non-torqued condition (a non-torqued condition is illustrated and described more fully in conjunction with  FIG. 3B ). In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusions  206 , in addition to extending radially from the center of the spindle opening  202 , extend slightly in the axial direction from the spindle face  216 . 
       FIG. 2B  depicts a top view of an embodiment of a spindle  200  of a force transfer wrench apparatus  100 . The illustrated view depicts the protrusions  206  and depicts the ramp surface  208  as well as the back surface  214  of the protrusions  206 . As depicted, the ramp surface is not flat but slightly concave to better interface with the wedging elements and increasing the contact surface between the wedging elements and the ramp surface  208 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the axial direction extends into and out of the page and the radial direction extends from the intersection of vertical line  230  and horizontal line  240  outward. 
       FIG. 2C  depicts a cross-sectional side view of a cut-away of the spindle of  FIG. 2B  at vertical line  230 . The illustrated cross-sectional view depicts how the protrusion  206  extends in the axial direction from the spindle face  216 . The axial direction is shown by line  222 , while the radial direction is shown by line  224 . In addition, protrusions  206  are depicted including ramp surface  208  and back surface  214 . 
       FIG. 2D  depicts a cross-sectional side view of a cut-away of the spindle of  FIG. 2B  at the horizontal line  240 . In addition, protrusions  206  are depicted including ramp surface  208  and back surface  214 . 
       FIG. 2E  depicts an embodiment of a cut-away view of a spindle  200  of a force transfer wrench apparatus. The illustrated embodiment depicts protrusions  206  and ramp surface  208  and back surface  214 . In some embodiments, the ramp surface comprises a curved portion  226  and a flat portion  228 . As is described herein, the curved portion is slightly concave to better interface with the wedging elements and increases the contact surface between the wedging elements and the ramp surface  208 . 
       FIG. 3A  depicts an embodiment of a spindle  200  and wedging elements  400  disposed within a housing  500 , the wedging elements  400  disposed between the housing  500  and the spindle  200 . In the illustrated embodiment, the spindle  200  is shown in a torqued position as the spindle  200  is restricted from rotating in a clockwise motion relative to the housing  500 . The wedging elements  400  wedge between ramp surface of the protrusions and the outer race  502  of the housing  500 . 
       FIG. 3B  depicts an embodiment of a spindle  200  and wedging elements  400  disposed within a housing  500 , the wedging elements  400  disposed between the housing  500  and the spindle  200 . In the illustrated embodiment, the spindle  200  is shown in a non-torqued position as the spindle  200  freely rotates in a counter-clockwise motion relative to the housing  500 . The wedging elements  400  are not compressed in between the outer race  502  of the housing  500  and the ramp surfaces of the protrusions  206 . The ramp surfaces  208  are a sloped shape such that when the spindle  200  rotates counter clockwise, the wedging elements are free in the cavity between the ramp surfaces  208  and the outer race  502 . The cavity increases in cross-sectional area as wedging elements come closer to the back surface  214  of the protrusions  206 . With such a roller clutch, the spindle  200 , shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  restrict motion of the spindle  200  in a clockwise direction but allow for free motion in a counter-clockwise direction. 
       FIG. 4A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a wedging element  400 .  FIG. 4B  depicts side view of the wedging element  400  of  FIG. 4A .  FIG. 4C  depicts a top view of the wedging element  400  of  FIG. 4A . Although the wedging element  400  is shown and described with certain components and functionality, other embodiments of the wedging element  400  may include fewer or more components to implement less or more functionality. 
     The illustrated embodiment of the wedging element  400  is primarily cylindrical in shape.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show the top surface  402  of the wedging elements  400 . In some embodiments, the wedging elements  400  are rounded  406  or chamfered on the edges of the primarily cylindrical shape. The wedging elements may be of various shapes such that they will wedge and compress between the spindle and the outer race on a particular rotation of the spindle and will freely allow movement in an opposite rotation. In some embodiments, the wedging elements include a height  408  approximately the size of the cavity between the housing cavity back (described in more detail in conjunction with  FIGS. 5A-5C ) and the cap (described in more detail in conjunction with  FIGS. 6A-6F ). The side surface  404  of the wedging element  400  contact the ramp surface  208  and the outer race  502  when the wedging element  400  is placed within the force transfer wrench apparatus. In some embodiments, the wedging element  400  includes a diameter  410  optimized to fit within the cavity between the spindle  200  and the outer race  502 . 
     The wedging elements  400  are not restricted to a circular cylinder as depicted in  FIGS. 4A-4C .  FIG. 4D  depicts a top view of another embodiment of a wedging element in the shape of an elliptical cylinder  415 . The wedging element may be manufactured to another shape to better conform to the concavity of the ramp surface. The wedging element may be (but is not limited to) a circular cylinder, an elliptical cylinder, a curvilinear cylinder, a polyhedral prism, a combination of a curvilinear cylinder and a polyhedral prism. The shape of the wedging element can be designed to increase the contact surface between the wedging element and the ramp surface as well as the contact surface between the wedging element and the outer race. For example, an elliptical cylinder may have an outer surface that more closely mates to the concave ramp surface. 
       FIG. 5A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a housing  500  with an outer race  502 . The illustrated embodiment includes a cavity which holds the spindle  200  and the wedging elements  400 . The housing  500  includes a cavity back  504  upon which the spindle  200  and the wedging elements  400  would rest. The housing  500  includes an opening  506 . The opening  506  has a diameter (shown in  FIG. 5B ) greater that the largest cross dimension of the spindle opening  202 . After the spindle  200  and wedging elements  400  are set in the cavity of the housing  500 , a cap  600  is secured or attached to the housing  500  creating a cage for the spindle  200  and wedging elements  400  such that the spindle  200  and the wedging elements  400  are secured within the cage. The spindle opening  202  is accessible from the housing opening  506  and an opening in the cap  600 . In some embodiments, the outer race  502  is circular in shape. 
       FIG. 5B  depicts another perspective view of an embodiment of the housing  500  of  FIG. 5A  showing the back of the housing  500 . The opening  506  has a diameter  508 . The housing  500  also depicts various tapped holes that allow for the cap  600  to be secured to the housing  500 . In the illustrated embodiment, the housing  500  includes a handle portion  510 . In some embodiment, the handle is separate from the housing  500  and can be attached to and detached from various housing assemblies (the housing, spindle, wedging elements, and cap) each with a uniquely sized or shaped spindle  200 . In such an embodiment, a user would only need a single handle to go with a set of housing assemblies.  FIG. 5C  depicts a top view of an embodiment of a housing  500  with an outer race  502  and further depicting the opening  506  and cavity back  504 . 
       FIG. 6A  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a cap  600 .  FIG. 6A  depicts the outer portion of the cap  600 .  FIG. 6B  depicts a perspective view of the inner portion of the cap  600 . The inner portion mates directly with the housing  500 . The cap  600  includes a cap opening  602  with a diameter  604 . The cap  600  also includes a cap cavity back  606 . The cap cavity back  606  will cover the outer portion of the spindle  200  and the wedging elements  400  when cap is attached to the housing  500 . The cap opening  602  will give access to the spindle opening as is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6C  depicts a bottom view of the cap  600  showing the inner portion of the cap and depicts the cap opening  602  and the cap cavity back  606 .  FIG. 6D  depicts a side cutaway cross-sectional view of the cap at the horizontal line shown in  FIG. 6C .  FIG. 6E  depicts a side cutaway cross-sectional view of the cap at the vertical line shown in  FIG. 6C .  FIG. 6F  depicts an enlarged view of an upper portion of the cap in  FIG. 6E . In some embodiments, the cap includes an outer race  608  that may interface with the spindle  200  and the wedging elements  400 . 
     In the above description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity. 
     Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 
     Although various embodiments have been shown and described, the present disclosure is not so limited and will be understood to include all such modifications and variations are would be apparent to one skilled in the art.