Ratchet wrenches

A ratchet wrench comprising:

• a wrench head comprising a housing having an outer sidewall and a housing aperture defined a by an inner sidewall provided with a plurality of housing teeth;
• a handle having a first end connected with said wrench head;
• a clutch ring disposed in said housing aperture, said clutch ring having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a clutch aperture, at least a portion of said outer surface being provided with clutch teeth and at least a portion of said inner surface being provided with a plurality of clutch transmission ramps that each have having a shoulder and an abutment surface;
• and
• a drive element disposed in said clutch ring, said drive element having an outer surface provided with a plurality of drive ramps and an inner surface defining a drive aperture provided with fastener engaging surfaces, said drive element outer surface further comprising at least one recess containing a resilient member that biases said clutch ring away from said drive element;
• wherein rotation of said handle in a first direction causes said clutch teeth to initially, engage said housing teeth thereby causing said clutch transmission ramps to move in a first direction along said drive ramps, causing said clutch ring to expand against said housing thereby locking said housing, clutch ring, and drive element together, and rotation of said handle in a second direction opposite said first direction causes said clutch transmission ramps to move in a second direction along said drive ramps that is opposite said first direction along said drive ramps to release said wrench head for rotation relative to said drive element;
• and
• wherein said clutch ring is a split ring having a first end and a second end opposing said first end, a first said end having a clutch protrusion, said clutch teeth being provided at said second end and facing said housing teeth and said outer surface between said clutch teeth and said first end being a smooth surface.