Ratcheting spanner
View Patent ↗A ratcheting spanner which can be installed on a rotatable body along a vector substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation. The ratcheting spanner comprising a spanner body, a ratchet ring, and a plurality of pawls. The pawls can rotationally couple the spanner body to the ratchet ring in one or both directions relative to the axis of rotation. The ratcheting spanner can have a home key to facilitate the alignment of the openings in the spanner body and the ratchet ring. The direction of rotational coupling of the pawls and the action of the home key can be controlled by one or more selector controls. A driven ratcheting spanner can be constructed to further allow transmission of torque to the ratchet ring without movement of the spanner body. A method of using a ratcheting spanner to rotate a rotatable body.
1. A ratcheting spanner wherein the ratcheting spanner comprises:
a spanner body comprising:
an opening wherein said opening allows said spanner body to be installed onto a rotatable body along a vector substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation
a ratchet ring disposed within said spanner body comprising:
an opening wherein said opening allows said ratchet ring to be installed onto said rotatable body along a vector substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation
an engagement boss disposed on the inner perimeter of said ratchet ring and extending towards said axis of rotation said boss being aligned such that it is substantially parallel to said opening in said ratchet ring and configured for engagement with one or more spanner engagement features recessed in an outer surface of said rotatable body
a plurality of pawls disposed within said spanner body and adjacent to said ratchet ring wherein said pawls allow rotational coupling of said ratchet ring to said spanner body relative to said axis of rotation.
2. The ratcheting spanner of claim 1 wherein said ratcheting spanner further comprises a selector adjacent to the pawls such that the action of said pawls can be selectively controlled to produce rotational coupling between the spanner body and the ratchet ring in either direction about the axis of rotation.
3. The ratcheting spanner of claim 1 wherein said ratcheting spanner further comprises a selector adjacent to the pawls such that the action of said pawls can be disabled to allow uncoupled rotation of the spanner body relative to the ratchet ring about the axis of rotation.
4. The ratcheting spanner of claim 1 wherein said ratcheting spanner further comprises a selector adjacent to the pawls such that the action of said pawls can be controlled to produce bidirectional rotational coupling between the spanner body and the ratchet ring about the axis of rotation.
5. The ratcheting spanner of claim 1 wherein the disposition of the spanner body, the ratchet ring, and the pawls causes a home position to coincide with one of a plurality of ratchet engagement positions.
6. The ratcheting spanner of claim 1 further comprising a ratchet ring home geometry disposed along the perimeter of the ratchet ring and a home key disposed between the spanner body and said ratchet ring said home key comprising a home key engagement surface disposed adjacent to the perimeter of said ratchet ring said home key engagement surface being biased into contact with said ratchet ring home geometry the engagement of said ratchet ring home geometry and said home key engagement surface configured such that the resistance to continuing rotation of said ratchet ring about the axis of rotation increases in the home position defining a mechanical detent indicating the alignment of the openings in the spanner body and said ratchet ring.
7. The ratcheting spanner of claim 6 further comprising a selector control comprising a selector profile geometry adjacent to the home key which selectively contacts said home key to prevent the engagement of said home key with the ratchet ring.
8. The ratcheting spanner of claim 7 wherein the selector control comprises one or more selector profile geometries adjacent to the home key and the selector such that contact between one or more said selector profile geometries and said home key and one or more said selector profiles and said selector allows said selector control to both selectively allow contact of said home key with the ratchet ring and selectively allow contact of one or more of the pawls with said ratchet ring.
9. The ratcheting spanner of claim 6 further comprising a home key engagement surface disposed on the perimeter of the home key adjacent to the ratchet ring comprising an outside contact surface which engages with a ratchet ring end at an angle such that the resistance to continuing rotation of said ratchet ring about the axis of rotation from said contact is less than that of the detent between the spanner body and the ratchet ring in the home position.