Improvements in Clutch or Ratchet Devices, chiefly designed for Ratchet Braces and similar Tools.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clutch or Ratchet Devices, chiefly designed for
Ratchet Braces and similar Tools.
1, BIRGER LJUNGSTRÖM, of No. 44 Grefgatau Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to cause the instantaneous action of a clutch or
ratchet device which consists of rollers or balls located in a wedge-shaped or conical
interspace between the two parts which have to be connected to one another.
As in the wedge-shaped interspace it is necessary to provide a certain play for
the rollers or balls, in order that the clutch or ratchet shall not move except in one
direction, the ratchets hitherto constructed does not act instantaneously, on account
of the rollers or balls not being immediately pinched between the sides of the
wedge-shaped interspace.
This invention therefore comprises an arrangement by which the rollers or balls
are always caused to rest against the surfaces, upon which they are to act, without
the ratchet acting in more than one direction, and the improved device can be
arranged in such a way, that the ratchet can be moved out of gear or caused to act
in one or the other direction and the motion be made rotatory or rectilinear.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1 and 2 represent the arrangement in its simplest form.
In Figures 1 and 2 the shaft a fits into a sleeve b and is so arranged that one may
be turned round by giving the other an oscillating motion as for instance as in the
common ratchet-drill. The wedge-shaped interspaces are formed by the curved
surface of the shaft or sleeve and the bevels or planes c of the sleeve or shaft.
These interspaces may be wedge-shaped in both directions round the shaft and
contain the rollers d. The planes can, as shown in Figure 2, be made either on the
inner side of the sleeve or on the shaft, and the same can further be somewhat
CODcave as shown at e Figure 2, or somewhat convex as shown at f, Figure 2, or
the interspace may consist of the curved surface of the sleeve and two planes
forming an obtuse angle having the aperture directed towards the said surface, as
shown at g, Figure 2.
In order that the ratchet device shall act instantaneously, there are arranged
between the rollers, springs h which push the rollers, all in the same direction,
between the sides of the wedge-shaped interspaces so far as their diameter will
permit. If the sleeve b is turned in the direction shown by the arrow Figure 2 or
in other words, in the same direction as the rollers are pressed by the springs, the
ratchet device acts instantaneously so that the shaft a follows the sleeve b. The
turning back of the sleeve b is not thereby prevented, as the rollers retained in
their position by the springs will then be drawn against the shaft, or, if turning a
little, against the one shaft and the springs. The resistance caused, when turning
back the sleeve b, is hardly noticeable. The rollers will thus constantly be kept in
such a position as to act instantaneously, when the shaft or sleeve is turned, so that
the ratchet, device can act and there will be no lost motion. The springs are fixed
to a ring i firmly united with the shaft, which has plane surfaces. In lieu of a ring
a flange turned on the shaft or a shoulder resembling such flange may be used, as
shown at k in Figure 1.
It is evident that instead of a metal spring an elastic bed or cushion may be used,
located behind the roller in such a way, that the roller is actuated thereby. Such
a bed 'can, as shown in Figure 3* be fixed to a short vertical arm h³, the bed
consisting of india-rubber or other suitable material which acts as a spring upon

page_text: the roller, against which it rests one of such cushions being arranged in each space
between the rollers. It is not necessary to have a particular fastening for the
springs or the rubber cushions. If the wedge-shaped interspaces are arranged in
the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2^, the springs can be located in the inter-
spaces and be supported by the walls of the same. Each interspace forms a recess a¹
and is wedge-shaped in one direction. The bent spring ht is of the same length as
the roller and rests against this at its ends while at the middle it rests against the
- wall of the recess. In the same way, an elastic packing ³ can be placed behind
the roller. If balls are used, the spring is reversed, so that the middle of the
same will rest against the ball and its ends against the wall of the recess.
-
The arrangement by means of which the ratchet device can be caused to act in
the one or the other direction or not to act at all consists therein, that double
springs are located between the rollers and that the spring carrying piece is
adjustable. This is represented in Figures 3 and 4. Between the rollers there are
fixed two springs h' to the ring i and the ring can be turned and fixed in the
desired position on the shaft provided with the planes c. In the position occupied
by the ring shown in Figure 3, the springs are acting upon the rollers as
previously described and the ratchet device acts immediately, when the sleeve is
turned in the direction of the arrow 1, Figure 4.
If the ring is turned in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3, the pressure of
the springs will be released from the rollers and the springs h¹ will press upon
the opposite side of the rollers with relation to the springs h.
When the pressure
of the springs h equals the pressure of the springs the rollers can by means of
the ring be placed in the widest part of the wedge-shaped interspaces, or so that
they do not stop in whichever direction the shaft or sleeve is turned. If the ring i is
turned still further in the direction of the arrow Figure 3, the pressure of the
springs will be greater than the pressure of the springs h, and eventually the
latter springs will cease to act upon the rollers, the ratchet, device acting then in
the opposite direction to that above described.
Between two adjacent rollers there can also be located only one spring as shown
in Figure 4A, or a support as shown Figure 3A, if a cushion h² is applied on each
side of the arm ³, but the ratchet device cannot then be thrown out of action, but
it may be reversed. The ring i may be fixed in any desired position to the shaft
by means of a key m traversing the ring i, and for this key the shaft with which
the ring is to be united, is provided with slots m³, m², m³ corresponding to the above
positions of the ring i.
For
Such a re-adjustment as just described is of a great value. By means thereof
the ratchet device in question can for instance be used in connection with a common
screw driver, in causing the ratchet to act in the one or the other direction,.
according as the driver is to be used for screwing in or screwing out a screw.
a rapid re-adjusting however, a more convenient device than the above mentioned
key should be used, and such a device can be constructed in many different
manners, for instance as shown Figure 4³.
From the ring i projects an extension surrounding the handle and by means of
which the ring may be turned. The handle is further provided with a hook i²
engaging into a corresponding hole in the said extension. The latter is provided
with three holes for the adjustment of the ring as explained above, and the hook
can be brought out of its engagement by pressing the button 3.
In certain cases it is only necessary to use a greater or a smaller segment of the
shaft which is provided with the springs and planes, and in these cases the ratchet
device will consist of a cylinder and a circular segment movable with relation to
the cylinder, with the appertaining springs and rollers. Figures 5 and 6 represent
such a segment in side elevation and cross section. According to these figures, it
is the sleeve that has the shape of a segment, but it can also be arranged so that
the inner shaft constitutes a segment, while the sleeve shaft constitutes a cylinder.
The disconnection can also be effected by making the shaft and sleeve conical,
as shown Figure 7. The shaft is provided with plane surfaces and the spring

page_text: carrying piece consists of a pivotted disk n fixed to the end of the shaft. In order
to maintain the rollers in their position along the shaft the same may at the middle
be provided with a slot n', into which the fork-shaped spring engages. This spring
is particularly represented in Figure 7. By separating the shafts a little the
ratchet device is thrown out of action. The ratchet device above described can
also be used for a rectilinear feeding motion. Figure 8 represents this arrange-
ment in longitudinal section and Figure 9 the same in cross section. According as
balls or rollers are used in the device either part p or p' is provided with a ring
shaped or a rectangular compartment, having in both instances the cross section
shown Figure 8. Over the balls there is a ring shaped plate 9 pressed against the
balls by the springs 7. The effect will be the same as previously stated, the
ratchet device will act instantaneously when the one part is moved with relation to
the other, so as to pinch the balls between both parts.
According to this invention the device can also be adapted for rectilinear motion.
This is illustrated in Figure 10. On the bar s, which is to be displaced in its
longitudinal direction, is arranged a ring s¹ which by means of a lever is moved
longitudinally. Into the ring, which is provided with two planes s² s³ for the balls
to act against, are screwed two collars and one at each end of the ring, which
collars constitute supports for the plates 7, similar to the above mentioned
plate g. By screwing out the one collar a little and screwing in the other, so that
one of the spring plates 6, 7 is pressing against the balls the direction of effective
motion is determined. If as shown in the figure the collars is screwed in, the bar
is fed in the direction of the arrow 2, but if the-coliars is screwed in and the
collar is screwed out, the balls will act against the plane, 3 and the bar be fed
in the direction of the arrow 1. By means of the two collars the balls can
evidently be also put into an intermediate position, so that the ratchet device does
not act at all. In lieu of the represented spring plates, cushions may be employed
as shown at h Figure 2ª.
If it is desired to employ rollers for a rectilinear movement, a re-adjusting of the
ratchet device can be effected, so that it acts in either direction, by a device
resembling that in Figs. 3 and 4. This is represented in Figs. 11 and 12. In the
casing u which can be displaced on the bar u but which is in one direction stopped
against the same by the rollers u² are arranged compartments wedge-shaped in two
directions. The casing is longitudinally traversed by a small sliding bar u carrying
the springs us, us, which pass through a slot in the casing and reach to the rollers.
When displacing the bar u³ the springs act in the same manner as the springs h
Figures 3 and 4. By a re-adjustment by means of the bar u³ the ratchet device
can thus be put out of action or be caused to act in either direction. For longi-
tudinal motion and with the ratchet device so arranged as to act only in one
direction, the wedge-shaped compartments for the rollers can also have the shape
represented in Figures 1 and 24, and springs or packings similar to those in the
said figures may be employed. This is illustrated in the Figures 13 and 14.
The principal part in all the constructions shown and the characteristic feature
of the invention is thus the pressing of the balls or rollers against the surfaces
of the ratchet and the adjustment effected by means of the parts which keep
the balls or the rollers in their right place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The hereindescribed arrangement for a roller or ball ratchet or clutch
device by which the same is made to act instantaneously, said device comprising
rollers or balls acted on by springs or elastic cushions which are pressed upon
them and which are fixed at and supported by one of the two parts a or b
which are to be connected to or disconnected from each other, all the said balls
being pushed in the same direction, between the sides of wedge-shaped or conical
compartments, in which said rollers or balls are placed, so that the said rollers

page_text: or the balls may be kept close to the ratchet surfaces the ratchet device never-
theless being capable of acting in more than one direction.
2. In a roller or ball clutch or ratchet device as above specified the arrange-
ment in which the spring carrying piece or the support for the elastic plates is
adjustably fixed to one of the two parts, which are to be connected to each
other, so that the rings or plates between the rollers may be caused to press
the rollers in the one or other of two opposite directions between the sides of
the interspaces tapering in both these directions whereby the ratchet device may
be caused to act in one or other direction.
3. In a roller or ball clutch or ratchet device as above specified the arrange-
ment in which the adjustable piece, to which the springs are fixed or the support
for the plates are provided with two springs or plates in each space between
the rollers, so that the springs or plates, by adjusting the spring carrying piece
or the support for the plates, may be caused to clasp the rollers from two
opposite sides and the rollers therefore be brought into such a position that the
ratchet device does not act.
4. In a roller- or ball clutch or ratchet device as above specified the modifi-
cation in which there is placed against the balls a plate acted upon by springs
for keeping the balls against the sides of the wedge-shaped or conical compartment
as shown in Figure 8.
5. In a roller- or ball clutch or ratchet device as above specified; the arrange-
ment in which a spring plate is placed at each side of all the balls, which
plates by means of collars Figure 10, which are adjustably fixed to one of the
two parts intended to be connected together, may be caused to press both
simultaneously or only the one at a time against the balls, so that the ratchet
device may be thrown out of action or caused to act in one or the other direction.
Dated this 4th day of January 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.