Wrench adapter
AssigneeRussell, Burdsall & Ward Corporation
InventorEdward J. Rebish
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wrench adapter is disclosed which can be inserted into and removed from standard size wrenches. The adapter includes a plurality of pins interconnected by a resilient retainer which operates to position the pins in an array arranged to fit into the corners of a mating wrench opening. The adapter permits the conversion of wrenches between inch and metric sizes, and also allows a wrench to be used with a damaged fastener or with cylindrical elements such as studs.
Claims22
A wrench adapter for wrenches having a regular polygonal wrenching opening therein which provides flats and corners at the intersection of adjacent flats, comprising a plurality of generally cylindrical rigid pins, and a retainer connecting said pins, said retainer positioning said pins in an array in which said pins are substantially parallel and are symmetrically positioned about a central axis, said adapter being insertable into and removable from such wrenching opening with said pins positioned in said corners thereof, said adapter permitting use of a wrench on fasteners having a size different from the size of the wrenching opening therein, said pins being operable to engage associated flats of such an opening and adjacent surfaces of such a fastener and upon such engagement being operable to transfer substantial torque applied to such wrench to such fastener.
A wrenching system comprising a wrench formed with a wrench opening therein providing a plurality of flats and a plurality of corners at the intersections of adjacent flats, an adapter in said opening providing a plurality of rigid cylindrical pins positioned at said corners, said pins operating to grip the surface of a fastener when torque is applied to said wrench and providing a driving connection between said wrench and fastener.
A wrench adapter for socket wrenches or the like, wherein the wrench provides a wrench opening having at least six corners formed by intersecting flats, said adapter comprising six pins and a retainer interconnecting said pins and positioning them in a parallel array symmetrical about an axis, said pins providing grooves substantially adjacent one end thereof, a retainer fitting said grooves and being sufficiently resilient to allow radial movement of said pins, said adapter being insertable into and removable from said wrenching opening with said pins located in said corners and providing sufficient friction to normally retain said adapter in said wrench opening, said socket providing a radially extending end wall limiting inward movement of said adapter to an installed position in which the outer ends of said pins are substantially adjacent to the outer ends of said socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.