Patent Publication Number: US-2023137124-A1

Title: Torque Wrench

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/896,922, filed on Jun. 9, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/725,399, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,688,635, filed Oct. 5, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/405,444, filed on Oct. 7, 2016, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to torque wrenches. Torque wrenches are used to tighten fasteners and the like to a predetermined amount of torque. Torque wrenches can include an adjustment mechanism that sets a torque value. The wrench is then used to tighten the fastener and when the set torque value is reached the wrench indicates to the user that the set torque has been reach so that the user can stop torqueing or tightening the fastener. The indication can be a visual or audible indication. In other embodiments, torque wrenches include a gauge that indicates to the user the amount of torque currently being applied by the user and the user then stops torqueing the fastener when they reach the desired torque setting displayed on the gauge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a torque wrench including a head, a handle, a primary beam, a secondary beam, and a torque adjustment mechanism. The head is configured to rotate a fastener about a rotational axis. The handle is operable to rotate the head about the rotational axis. The primary beam couples the head and the handle for co-rotation about the rotational axis and the primary beam includes a first end adjacent the head and a second end adjacent the handle. The secondary beam is coupled to the head for rotation with the head about the rotational axis and the secondary beam is movable relative to the primary beam and the handle. The torque adjustment mechanism is operable to move the primary beam relative to the secondary beam to adjust a torque setting. The torque adjustment mechanism includes a thumb adjustment wheel that a user rotates about a first axis to adjust the torque setting by moving the second end of the primary beam relative to the handle along a second axis that is offset from the first axis. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a torque wrench including a head configured to rotate a fastener about a rotational axis, the head including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A handle is operable to rotate the head about the rotational axis. The wrench further includes a ratchet mechanism including a through bore, the rotational axis extends through the through bore. The wrench further includes a drive arbor that extends through the through bore, the drive arbor movable relative to the head within the through bore and along the rotational axis between a first position and a second position. In the first position the drive arbor extends out from the first side of the head and the ratchet mechanism couples the drive arbor and the handle for rotation about the rotational axis in a first direction and the handle is able to rotate relative to the drive arbor about the rotational axis is a second direction opposite the first direction, in the second position the drive arbor extends out from the second side of the head and the ratchet mechanism couples the drive arbor and the handle for rotation about the rotational axis in the second direction and the handle is able to rotate relative to the drive arbor about the rotational axis in the first direction. The wrench further includes a primary beam, a secondary beam, and a torque adjustment mechanism. The primary beam couples the head and the handle for rotation about the rotational axis and the primary beam includes a first end adjacent the head and a second end adjacent the handle. The secondary beam is coupled to the head for rotation with the head about the rotational axis and the secondary beam is movable relative to the primary beam and the handle. The torque adjustment mechanism is operable to move the primary beam relative to the secondary beam to adjust a torque setting. 
     Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a torque wrench according to one embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1    with a handle removed. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of a head of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1    through line  3 - 3  in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the head assembly of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1    through line  4 - 4  in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a side view of a torque adjustment assembly of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the torque adjustment assembly of  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  7    is a side view of a portion of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1    with a portion of the handle remove. 
         FIG.  8    is a side view of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1    illustrating an adjustment locking member in an unlocked position. 
         FIG.  9    is a side view of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1    illustrating the adjustment locking member in the locked position. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of a portion of the torque wrench of  FIG.  1    illustrating the adjustment locking member in the locked position. 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a torque wrench  10  for applying a predetermined amount of torque to a fastener or the like. The torque wrench  10  includes a head  14 , a handle  18  defining a longitudinal axis A, and a torque adjustment assembly  22 . Referring to  FIG.  2   , the torque wrench  10  further includes a primary beam  30  and a secondary beam  34 , both located within the handle  18  and fixed to the head  14  for rotation with the head  14 . As will be discussed in more detail below, the primary and secondary beams  30 ,  34  are releasably connected by a trigger  42  that is biased by a spring  47 . A trigger actuator  46  is coupled to the handle  18  adjacent the trigger  42 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the head  14  supports a ratchet mechanism  54 . The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet wheel  55  and pawls  56  that engage the ratchet wheel  55 . The ratchet wheel  55  defines a through bore  58  that receives a drive arbor  62 . Referring to  FIG.  3   , the bore  58  defines a rotation or drive axis B extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A of the handle  18 . The head  14  and drive arbor  62  can rotate about the axis B via the handle  18  to torque or tighten a fastener. Note, a socket or the like can be attached to the drive arbor to facilitate rotation of the fastener (e.g., nut, bolt, screw, etc.). 
     The drive arbor  62  has opposing first and second ends  64 A,  64 B. The drive arbor  62  may be pushed along the axis B through the bore  58  so that the first and second ends  64 A,  64 B selectively extend from either a first side  150  or a second side  151  of the head  14  (i.e., first and second positions of the drive arbor  62 ). In the first position, the drive arbor  62  extends out from the first side  150  of the head  14  and the ratchet mechanism  54  couples the drive arbor  62  and the handle  18  for rotation about the rotational axis B in a first direction and the handle  18  is able to rotate relative to the drive arbor B about the rotational axis B is a second direction opposite the first direction. In the second position, the drive arbor  62  extends out from the second side  151  of the head  14  and the ratchet mechanism  54  couples the drive arbor  62  and the handle  18  for rotation about the rotational axis B in the second direction and the handle  18  is able to rotate relative to the drive arbor  62  about the rotational axis B in the first direction. This allows a user to switch the direction that torque is applied. The drive arbor  62  has two end detent mechanisms  70 A,  70 B, one at each end  64 A,  64 B of the drive arbor  62 , and a central detent mechanism  70 C centrally located on the drive arbor  62 . Each of the illustrated detents  70  includes a ball detent  78  outwardly biased by a spring  82 . The detent  78 C of the central detent mechanism  70 C is selectively received in one of two recesses  86 A,  86 B defined in the ratchet wheel  54  to secure the drive arbor  62  depending on which side of the head assembly  14  that the drive arbor  62  is extending from (i.e., the first and second drive positions). Various drive sockets (not shown) or other tool attachments may be coupled to the end  64 A,  64 B of the drive arbor  62  that extends from the head assembly  14  via the corresponding end detent mechanism  70 A,  70 B. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  5 - 6   , the torque adjustment assembly  22  includes a thumb adjustment wheel  94  that is accessible through an opening  96  defined in a face of the handle  18  (see  FIG.  8   ). The face defining the opening  96  is in a plane orthogonal to the drive axis B. The torque adjustment assembly  22  further includes a first gear  98 , a second gear  102 , and a worm gear  106  threaded to an end of the primary beam  30 . The thumb adjustment wheel  94  is rotatable about axis  152  to rotate the first gear  98  about axis  153  to drive the second gear  102 . The second gear  102  rotates drives the worm gear  106  about axis  154  to laterally move the end of the primary beam  30  along the axis  154  of the worm gear  106  to bend the primary beam  30  more or less. 
     The torque wrench  10  includes a display  155  ( FIGS.  8  and  9   ) on the side of the handle  18  to indicate the torque setting of the torque wrench  10  based on a location of the worm gear  106 . An indicator arrow  108  is connected to a gear rack  110  that moves laterally and parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the handle driven by the worm gear  106  as the thumb adjustment wheel  94  is rotated. In the illustrated embodiment, the indicator arrow  108  points at markings corresponding to various torque values within a range of torque values that may be applied to the fastener by the torque wrench  10 . In some embodiments, the markings may be one or more stickers, pad printed, laser engraved, etc. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  6  and  10 - 9   , the torque adjustment assembly  22  further includes an adjustment locking mechanism  114  including a cover  118  ( FIG.  1   ) and a locking member  122 . The cover  118  and the locking member  122  are coupled together so as to move parallel to the axis A between a locked position ( FIG.  9   ) and an unlocked position ( FIG.  8   ). In the locked position, the locking member  122  engages the thumb adjustment wheel  94  to prevent further torque adjustment and the cover  118  covers the adjustment wheel  94 . In the unlocked position, the locking member  122  is disengaged from the thumb adjustment wheel  94  and the thumb adjustment wheel  94  is uncovered and accessible. A user may move the adjustment locking mechanism into the locked position, once the predetermined torque has been set by the user via the thumb adjustment wheel  94 . 
     In operation of the torque wrench  10 , when the adjustment locking mechanism  114  is in the unlocked position, a user first sets a predetermined torque via the adjustment wheel  94  of the torque adjustment assembly  22 . The predetermined torque may be adjusted by the user by rotating the adjustment wheel  94  about the axis  153 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   , both the primary and secondary beams  30 ,  34  are anchored at first end  160  to the head  14  of the torque wrench  10 . At a second end  161  of the primary beam  30 , the primary beam  30  is fixed to the handle  18  via the adjustment  22 . Referring to  FIG.  7   , when a torqueing force is applied to the handle  18  (e.g., in direction of arrow  162  in  FIG.  7   ), the primary beam  30  moves away from the secondary beam  34 . Because the primary beam  30  and the handle  18  are connected/fixed at the end  161  of the primary beam  30 , the actuator screw  46  is mostly fixed in position relative to the primary beam  30 . Thus, when the torqueing force is applied in the in the direction of arrow  162  in  FIG.  7   , the primary beam  30 , the trigger  42  (which is attached to the primary beam  30  via a pin  163 ), and the actuator  46  moves in the direction of arrow  162  while the secondary beam  34  remains stationary (e.g., stationary respect to the head  14  of the torque wrench  10 ). Overlapping tongues  165 A,  165 B ( FIG.  7   ) eventually engage and, when a set amount of torque is applied, the actuator  46  presses against a tang  166  on the trigger  42  which disengages the overlapping tongues  165 A,  165 B, thereby creating an audible clicking noise and indicating that the set torque has been applied to the workpiece. 
     To increase the torque setting, the thumb adjustment wheel  94  is rotated in a first direction, thereby moving the primary beam  30  and the trigger  42  in a first direction D 1  ( FIG.  5   ) away from the trigger actuator  46 . The predetermined torque may be decreased by rotating the adjustment wheel  94  in a second direction opposite the first direction, thereby moving the primary beam  30  and the trigger  42  in a second direction D 2  ( FIG.  5   ) toward the trigger actuator  46 . Once the desired predetermined torque is set, the user may move the adjustment locking mechanism  114  to the locked position to prevent accidentally adjusting the predetermined torque setting during operation. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8 - 10   , to move the locking mechanism from the unlocked position ( FIG.  8   ) to the locked position ( FIGS.  9  and  10   ), the user slide the cover  118  relative to the handle  18  to cover the thumb adjustment wheel  94 . Meanwhile, the locking member  122 , connected to the cover  118  to slide with the cover  118 , engages the thumb adjustment wheel  94  to inhibit rotation of the wheel  94 . The locking member  122  includes fingers  176  and detents  177 . The fingers  176  keep the locking member  122  in alignment and prevent the detents  177  from moving (e.g., from riding an outer surface of the thumb wheel rather than over the ridge of the thumb wheel). When the locking member  122  is moved toward the thumb wheel, the detents  177  are moved over the ridge on the side of the thumb wheel  94 , and a compressive force between the two detents  177  prevents the thumb wheel  94  from rotating. 
     In order to switch the torqueing direction of the torque wrench  10 , when the drive arbor  62  is in the first drive position ( FIG.  4   ), one simply pushes the exposed, first end  64 A of the drive arbor  62  axially along the drive axis B into the bore  58  causing the other, second end  64 B of the drive arbor  62  to extend from the opposite side of the head assembly  14 . In particular, pushing the exposed, first end  64 A of the drive arbor  62  causes the first recess  86 A nearest the exposed, first end  64 A of the drive arbor  62  receiving the detent  78 C of the central detent mechanism  70 C to urge the detent  78 C against the biasing force of the spring  82 C and out of the first recess  86 A. Further pushing the drive arbor  62  causes the opposite, second end  64 B of the drive arbor  62  to extend from the bore  58  and the central detent mechanism  70 C to align with the other, second recess  86 B such that the detent  78 C is biased into the second recess  86 B to secure the drive arbor  62  in the second drive position. The same process is repeated in reverse to switch the torqueing direction back. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described.