US 4,048,874 A · Hand tool

Abstract

A hand tool having a handle and an output member mounted for rotation relative to the handle. An actuating member is mounted for rotation on the handle, and a reduction gear couples the actuating member to the output member. The reduction gear comprises a driving pinion, a restraint member permitting gyration of the pinion relative to the handle but preventing rotation thereof about its own axis, and an internally toothed annulus coaxial with and affixed to the output member and driven by said pinion. The actuating member is coupled to the pinion to cause gyration of the pinion and rotation of the output member when the actuating member is rotated relative to the handle. The tool can be used for making either coarse or fine adjustments.

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Drawings

Claims9

Dependent claims

A clutchless hand tool, adaptable for use for manipulation with but one hand, for selectively making coarse and fine adjustments comprising:

a handle;
an output member coupled to said handle for axial rotation relative to said handle;
an actuating member mounted on said handle for axial rotation relative to said handle;
and
a reduction gear means coupling said actuating member to said output member,
said output member including a coaxial shaft which extends from the output member through a bore in said gear means and through a bore in said handle where it is restrained,
whereby coarse adjustments of said hand tool can be performed by rotating said tool with said one hand, and
whereby fine adjustments of said hand tool can be performed by holding said handle, against rotation, with said one hand, while simultaneously rotating said actuating member with at least one finger of said one hand.

5 more elements

A clutchless hand tool, adaptable for use for manipulation with but one hand, for selectively making coarse and fine adjustments comprising:

a handle;
an output member coupled to said handle for axial rotation relative to said handle;
an actuating member mounted on said handle for axial rotation relative to said handle;
and
a reduction gear means coupling said actuating member to said output member,
whereby coarse adjustments of said hand tool can be performed by rotating said tool with said one hand, and whereby fine adjustments of said hand tool can be performed by holding said handle, against rotation, with said one hand, while simultaneously rotating said actuating member with at least one finger of said one hand,
said reduction gear means comprising
a driving pinion,
a restraining means coupled to said pinion and permitting gyration of said pinion relative to the axis of said handle but preventing rotation of said pinion about its own axis, and
an internally toothed annulus affixed coaxially to said output member and driven by said pinion, said annulus having more teeth than said pinion;
and said actuating member being coupled to said pinion so that rotation of said actuating member relative to said handle causes gyration of said pinion thereby progressively rotating said output member at a lower rate than does rotation of said handle.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,320 words

Summary1,096 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to hand tools, such as those used to make coarse and fine adjustments on electrical or mechanical apparatus, for example, trimming potentiometers or the carburetor of an internal combustion engine.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings4 figures

#The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the invention, in the form of a screwdriver;

#FIG. 2 shows to an enlarged scale an expanded view of reduction gear in the hand tool of FIG. 1;

Detailed description1,137 words

#With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hand tool shown includes a handle 10, an actuating member 11 and an output member 12. Affixed coaxially to the output member 12 is a driven, internally-toothed annulus 13 which surrounds and is in mesh with a driving pinion 14 which has fewer teeth than the annulus. Located between the driving pinion and the handle is a restraining member 15. Shown passing rearwardly from the output member 12 through the actuating member 11 and a bore in the pinion 14, is a shaft 16 which also passes, on assembling the parts of FIG. 2, through a bore in the restraining member 15 and the handle 10.

#Also shown in FIG. 2 is a boss 17 on the front end of the handle 10 with pegs 18 projecting therefrom. The restraining member 15 has on one side a transverse slot 19 and, on the other side, projecting pegs 20. Projecting rearwardly from the pinion 14 is a boss 21 in which there is a further transverse slot 22.

#The way in which the parts of the reduction gear of FIG. 2 fit together will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. The internally toothed annulus 13 fits into a bore 23 in the actuating member 11. The pinion 14 is located eccentrically within the annulus by means of its boss 21 which is received by an eccentric bore 24 in the actuating member. The restraining member 15 is located between the pinion and the handle within a further, coaxial bore 25 in the actuating member. The pegs 18 projecting from the handle engage the transverse slot 19 in the restraining member and the projecting pegs 20 on the restraining member engage the transverse slot 22 in the boss 21 on the pinion 14. The engagement of the slots with the pegs is such that, when the two transverse slots are viewed in the axial direction of the shaft 16, the axes of the slots intersect at right angles to one another. The actuating member surrounds all the reduction gear, its rear being borne by the boss 17 projecting from the handle. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the teeth of the pinion and the annulus are shown meshing at 26.

Facts

Application

05/542,141Filed 20 Jan 1975

Priority

UK 02752/7421 Jan 1974

Granted

20 Sep 1977

Term ended

20 Sep 1994

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

B25B 15/00
Screwdrivers
B25B 17/00
Hand-driven gear-operated wrenches or screwdrivers
B25B
Tools or bench devices not otherwise provided for, for fastening, connecting, disengaging

Hand tool

Life of this patent

Hand tool

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims9

Description2,320 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description2,320 words