Shaft ratchet release and sealing mechanism
AssigneeLomak Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorBrian James Cutler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque wrench having a handle and an output shaft is disclosed. The output shaft may be constrained to turn only unidirectionally due to a ratchet. Rotation of the output shaft may be permanently disabled by an internal mechanism. Torque imposed on the output shaft may be limited by a torque responsive cam clutch. The handle forms or is part of an enclosure enclosing internal components such as the ratchet, the internal disablement mechanism, and the torque responsive cam clutch. A seal between the body and the output shaft prevents ingress and egress of lubricants and contamination between the inside of the body and the output shaft.
Claims20
A torque wrench having a feature for permanently discontinuing ability to transmit torque, comprising:
- a handle;
- an output shaft coupled to, and driven by rotation of, the handle, the output shaft having an axis of rotation about which the output shaft rotates when the handle rotates;
- a torque control responsive to torques imposed on the output shaft from the handle;
- and
- a disengagement feature which becomes operable to permanently disconnect the handle from the output shaft.
A torque wrench having a unidirectional output regardless of direction of rotation of the torque wrench, comprising:
- a handle;
- an output shaft coupled to, and driven by rotation of, the handle, the output shaft having an axis of rotation about which the output shaft rotates when the handle rotates;
- a torque control responsive to torques imposed on the output shaft from the handle;
- and
- a unidirectional ratchet selectively enabling the output shaft to rotate relative to the handle in a first direction when the handle is turned in the first direction about the axis of rotation, and constraining the output shaft against rotating relative to the handle when the handle is turned in a second direction about the axis of rotation opposite the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.