Patent ID: 7478577

Claim:
An adjustable ratchet wrench with cam actuated clamping comprising a handle secured to a housing, the housing having an axis, an annular control disc concentrically mounted in the housing and rotatable around the housing axis, having a set of ratchet teeth on the periphery of the control disc and a plurality of cam features in the plane of the control disc and on the inner edge of the control disc each cam feature having a symmetrical arch like form being comprised of two mirror image arch-shaped working profiles meeting at the top of the arch with the top of each cam feature being disposed towards the periphery of the control disc and centered on the housing axis radius, a pawl in the handle disposed to selectively engage the teeth of the control disk and cause the control disc to rotate in the corresponding rotational direction with the housing and the handle, a removable annular adjusting disc concentrically mounted in the housing next to the control disc having a width and rotatable around the housing axis having a plurality of radial positioned guide slots, each having a length and longitudinal axis, each being disposed so as to permit alignment with each cam feature of the control disc, on the radius of the housing and perpendicular to the housing axis, wherein the guide slots are designed on the surface of the adjusting disc surface facing the control disc, each guide slot being limited by features of the adjusting disc at the guide slot end nearest the housing axis and being open at the opposing guide slot end at the periphery of the adjusting disc, and a plurality of jaws disposed in the housing, each having a slider positioned in said guide slots of the annular adjusting disc on the longitudinal axis with one degree of freedom so as to be free to slide radially on the housing radius, and perpendicular to the housing axis along the length of each slot, an arch shaped cam follower facing outwardly from the housing axis and disposed to interact with and be in contact with the cam features of the control disc, a compression spring disposed in each guide slot between the limiting feature of the slot and the jaw element slider providing a force to maintain the jaw cam follower in contact with a working profile of the control disc cam features, and a V-shaped grip surface positioned parallel to the housing axis for securing a work piece, whereby a user selectable rotation of the adjusting disc relative to the control disc determines the contact location between the disc cam feature and the jaw cam follower so as to position the jaw V-shaped grip surfaces relative to the housing axis and independently of torque applied to the housing handle relative to a work piece that produces the cam actuated clamping.