Improvements in Ratchet Tools.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ratchet Tools.
I, FRANCIS GORDON BATES, of 2005 North College Avenue, in the City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
One object of this invention is to construct a noiseless and powerful ratchet tool
which can be readily changed from a right handed tool to a left handed tool, a
further object being to provide for the use of such a tool in a device for bending
bars of metal, such as railroad rails or the like.
In the accompanying drawings:
-
Figure 1, is a view, partly in longitudinal section, of a ratchet tool constructed
in accordance with the invention.
Figures 2 and 3, are sectional views illustrating the operation of the tool;
Figure 4, is a perspective view showing the parts of the tool detached from each
other; and
Figure 5, is a view of the bending device of which the ratchet tool forms part.
In Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, A, represents the stem of the tool which may form the
socket of a wrench, may be adapted for receiving the stem of a boring or drilling
bit, or may form part of any other tool to which an intermittent rotating motion in
one direction or the other has to be imparted.
At one end of this stem is a collar a, and at the opposite end is a nut b, and
between this collar and nut is hung a swinging frame B, which has an opening d,
for the reception of the stem A, and another opening f, communicating with the
opening d, and adapted for the reception of the hub or trunnion D, of the operating
lever F, of the tool, the latter being free to swing to right and left to. a limited
extent in a recess in the frame B.
For convenience, the said frame B, is made in two parts, and the recess for the
reception of the lever F, is formed by cutting away the inner face of each part, as
shown in the perspective view, Figure 4.
The hub D, of the lever F, is cut away on the side next to the stem A, so as to
form two joints or pawls x, x¹, and when the lever is moved in either direction so as
to bring either one or other of these pawls into contact with the stem -the lever is
thereby clutched or locked to the stem and further movement of the lever in the
same direction causes a corresponding movement of the stem, the frame B, swinging
around said stem.
If the lever F, was free to swing in both directions, however, so as to bring one
pawl into contact with the stem on the forward movement and the other on the
backward movement, the latter movement of the lever would simply effect a move-
ment of the stem the reverse of that effected on the forward movement, but if the
swinging of the lever is stopped on the backward movement before the pawl can
come in contact with the stem A, the backward movement will be effected without
any movement of said stem and an intermittent forward movement only will be
imparted thereto.
In order, therefore, to provide a stop which will limit the backward movement
of the lever either in one direction or the other, I mount in one-half of the frame B,
a spindle i, which has at its outer end a suitable arm or handle m, by which it may
be readily turned, and at its inner end a projecting pin or lug n, disposed eccen-
trically in respect to the axis of the spindle and projecting into an opening w,
formed in one side of the lever F.

page_text: When, therefore, this spindle i, is turned to the position shown in Figure 2, the
eccentric pin or lug n, will permit such forward movement of the lever F, as will
cause the point x, of its pawl to engage with the stem A, and turn the latter as
shown in said Figure 2, but on the backward movement of the lever the pin n, will
come into contact with the wall of the opening w, of the lever before the point x',
of the pawl comes in contact with the stem A, hence the backward movement of
the lever swings the frame B, on the stem A, without imparting any movement to
said stem.
By turning the spindle i, to a position the reverse of that shown in Figure 2,
a reverse action of the tool is provided for, that is to say, the point ', of the pawl
will engage with the stem and turn the same when the lever F, is moved in a
direction the reverse of that represented in Figure 2, said lever on the backward
movement being stopped before the point x, of the pawl comes into contact with
the stem.
Owing to the great leverage exerted, such a firm hold of the pawl upon the
stem A, is insured, as will effectually prevent the pawl from slipping on said stem
when it should impart movement thereto, and the operation of the tool is perfectly
noiseless.
In Figure 5, I have shown the application of my improved ratchet tool to a
device for bending railroad rails or other metal bars, such device consisting of a
U-shaped frame G, having a socket p, near each end of each of its legs, and the
stem A, of the tool in this case is internally threaded, the thread at one end being
right-handed and at the other end left-handed, and one end of the stem receiving
a screw stud t, projecting from the centre of the frame G, while the other end of
the stem receives the threaded shank t', of a slotted bending head J. The parts
are in the first place so adjusted that the slotted head J, is in line with the sockets,
of the U-shaped frame G, and after the bar has been applied, the ratchet tool is
operated so as to turn the stem A, in one direction or the other so as to bend the
bar either inward or outward.
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. A ratchet tool consisting of a stem, a swinging frame thereon, a lever hung to
said frame, and free to swing to a limited extent in a recess therein, a double pawl
on said lever, and an eccentric stop by the adjustment of which the swinging of
the lever in one direction or the other may be restricted so as to govern the bite of
the pawl and the movement of the stem, substantially as herein before specified.
2. The device for bending rails or other metal bars consisting of the U-shaped
frame having sockets at the ends of its opposite legs, and having also a central
screw stud, a bending head having a screw stem, and the ratchet tool having a stem
with right and left threads, one for receiving the screw stud of the frame, and the
other for receiving the screw stem of the bending head, substantially as hereinbefore
specified.
Dated this 10th day of November 1891.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.