Method and apparatus for applying torque
One example of the present disclosure relates to a method of applying torque to an object, which threadably engages a part. The torque is applied with a wrench, comprising a first handle, a second handle, a planetary gear mechanism, a drive that comprises an internal gear and an external gear, and a first pawl, movably coupled to the first handle and biased to contact the external gear of the drive. When the drive is coupled to the object, the method comprises transmitting an input torque to the drive by rotating at least one of the first handle and the second handle relative to the part. The first pawl is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first handle may or may not operatively engage the external gear of the drive.
1. A method of applying torque to an object that threadably engages a part, the method comprising:
using a wrench, comprising a first handle, a second handle, a planetary gear mechanism, a drive that comprises an internal gear and an external gear, a first pawl, movably coupled to the first handle and biased to contact the external gear of the drive, and a second pawl, movably coupled to a sun-gear component and biased to contact the internal gear of the drive, to transmit an input torque to the drive by rotating at least one of the first handle and the second handle relative to the part when the drive is coupled to the object,
wherein the first pawl is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first handle, and
wherein:
the drive rotates in a first direction relative to the part when the first handle is rotated in the first direction relative to the part, the first pawl is in the first position, and the first pawl operatively engages the external gear of the drive;
the drive rotates in the first direction relative to the part when the first handle is rotated in a second direction relative to the part opposite to the first direction, the first pawl is in the first position, and the first pawl does not operatively engage the external gear of the drive;
the drive rotates in the second direction relative to the part when the first handle is rotated in the second direction relative to the part, the first pawl is in the second position, and the first pawl operatively engages the external gear of the drive; and
the drive rotates in the second direction relative to the part when the first handle is rotated in the first direction relative to the part, the first pawl is in the second position, and the first pawl does not operatively engage the external gear of the drive.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the input torque to the drive further comprises rotating the first handle and the second handle relative to the part but not relative to each other.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the input torque to the drive comprises applying a force to the first handle only.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the input torque to the drive comprises applying a force to both the first handle and the second handle.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the input torque to the drive further comprises rotating the first handle and the second handle relative to the part and rotating the first handle and the second handle relative to each other.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein transmitting the input torque to the drive comprises rotating the first handle and the second handle with different rotational speeds in a common direction.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein transmitting the input torque to the drive comprises rotating the first handle and the second handle in opposite directions.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein rotating the first handle and the second handle relative to each other in the first direction causes a first torque to be transmitted to the drive in a first torque direction and wherein rotating the first handle and the second handle relative to each other in the second direction opposite to the first direction causes a second torque to be transmitted to the drive in a second torque direction co-directional with the first torque direction.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting an input torque to the drive further comprises rotating one of the first handle and the second handle relative to the part.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein rotating one of the first handle and the second handle relative to the part in the first direction causes a first torque to be transmitted to the drive in a first torque direction and wherein rotating one of the first handle and the second handle relative to the part in the second direction opposite to the first direction causes a second torque to be transmitted to the drive in a second torque direction co-directional with the first torque direction.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the planetary gear mechanism comprises a ring gear, the sun-gear component comprising a sun gear, and a planetary carrier comprising a pinion gear in mesh with the ring gear and the sun gear,
the first handle is coupled to the ring gear, and
the second handle is coupled to the planetary carrier.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ring gear of the planetary gear mechanism is fixed to the first handle.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second handle is tiltably coupled to the planetary carrier.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the planetary carrier is rotatably coupled to the first handle.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wrench further comprises at least one second pawl movably coupled to the sun-gear component and biased to contact the internal gear of the drive.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one second pawl is movable between a third position and a fourth position relative to the sun-gear component, and wherein:
when the sun-gear component is rotated in the first direction relative to the part, the at least one second pawl is in the third position, and the at least one second pawl operatively engages the internal gear of the drive, the drive rotates in the first direction relative to the part;
when the sun-gear component is rotated in the second direction relative to the part, the at least one second pawl is in the third position; and the at least one second pawl does not operatively engage the internal gear of the drive, the drive rotates in the first direction relative to the part,
when the sun-gear component is rotated in the second direction relative to the part, the at least one second pawl is in the fourth position, and the at least one second pawl operatively engages the internal gear of the drive, the drive rotates in the second direction relative to the part, and
when the sun-gear component is rotated in the first direction relative to the part, the at least one second pawl is in the fourth position, and the at least one second pawl does not operatively engage the internal gear of the drive, the drive rotates in the second direction relative to the part.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the wrench further comprises a rotary switch member, movable between a first rotary-switch position relative to the sun-gear component and a second rotary-switch position relative to the sun-gear component,
the first rotary-switch position is associated with the third position of the at least one second pawl,
the second rotary-switch position is associated with the fourth position of the least one second pawl, and
the rotary switch member protrudes through the sun-gear component and the planetary carrier.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the second handle is rotatably coupled to the first handle,
the first handle has a first longitudinal axis,
the second handle has a second longitudinal axis,
and the first longitudinal axis is not collinear with the second longitudinal axis.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second handle is rotatably coupled to the first handle by the planetary gear mechanism.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the input torque to the drive comprises rotating the first handle while the second handle is disengaged from the drive.