JP7207745B2 - Articulated wrench - Google Patents

Description

This invention has a handle in which a plurality of parts are sequentially connected by a pin serving as a fulcrum and can be bent at a plurality of points. The present invention relates to a wrench provided with a bolt/nut operating portion for transmitting force. The spanner referred to in the present invention is a tightening tool for bolts and nuts, including a wrench. In the present invention, a tightening tool having a handle that can be bent at a plurality of points is called an articulated wrench.

The multi-joint wrench mentioned above was developed for the purpose of tightening and loosening bolts and nuts installed in hard-to-work places such as the lower part of the car body, narrow places, or complicated places. It is.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 below disclose conventional techniques for multi-joint spanners. In the spanner (multi-pronged spanner) described in Patent Document 1, connecting blocks of the same shape are arranged in tandem, and the convex tip end and concave rear part of the adjacent connecting blocks are fitted to each other, and the fitting portion is formed by a hinge pin. A grip is provided at the end of the handle (spanner head portion referred to as a bolt/nut operating portion in the present application).

In addition, the wrench (dual-head drive tool) described in Patent Document 2 has a spanner head portion (work turning element) attached to both ends of a single elongated handle (driving tool main body) by hinges.

The hinge connection of the head portion to the handle is achieved by cutting out a predetermined length of side portions on opposite sides of the region where the handle and the head portion The attachment part) is inserted into the notch of the head part, and the uncut part of the connection area of the head part is inserted into the notch part of the end of the handle, and the uncut part of the end of the handle and the head are aligned in parallel. In this method, the uncut portion of the connection area between the two parts is connected by a hinge pin penetrating through both of them.

Utility Model Registration No. 3084647 JP 2006-192538 A

The spanner of Patent Document 1 has the following problems. That is, in the document, a multi-node wrench in which two types of holding bodies of different sizes are provided at both ends of a flat handle, and a multi-node wrench in which a plurality of spanner elements of different sizes are connected by a hinge pin and integrated. , but the former multi-node wrench can only handle two sizes of bolts and nuts.

In addition, the latter multi-node wrench has a structure in which the wrench elements are arranged in two rows in parallel when the wrench elements are folded, so it is clear that the whole is bulky and difficult to handle. is.

In addition, when any one spanner element is bent and used, it is conceivable that one of the other spanner elements protrudes in a direction different from the direction of the spanner element used and interferes with surrounding objects. When operating bolts and nuts in a narrow space or a complicated place, it is easy to be subject to use restrictions.

Furthermore, the wrench of Patent Document 2 has a weak point that it can only be used for tightening and loosening bolts and nuts of two different sizes, because only the head portions at both ends of the handle serve as transmission portions for rotational operation force with respect to bolts and nuts. be.

In addition, since the handle and the head part are in a cantilevered state, when the handle is operated with the head part engaged with the bolt or nut to transmit the rotational operation force to the head part, the hinge pin There is also concern that the wrench may break (the head part may come off) due to a large load.

An object of the present invention is to provide an articulated wrench that eliminates the above problems.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a plurality of parts are sequentially connected by a hinge pin that serves as a fulcrum of rotation, and has a handle that can be bent at a plurality of points, and bolts and nuts are attached to both ends of the handle. A multi-joint wrench provided with a bolt/nut operation part that receives and transmits a rotational operation force to the bolt and nut,
Left and right link plates in which the parts are arranged in parallel, and a rectangular bridge piece with parallel and flat upper and lower surfaces, which is incorporated in the longitudinal center of the left and right link plates and fixed to each of the left and right link plates. a first link comprising
Consists of two flat mass second links whose top and bottom surfaces are parallel and flat and which are spliced between the adjacent first links,
one end and the other end of the second link are arranged inside the longitudinal ends of the left and right link plates of the adjacent first links introducing the second link therebetween;
One end of the left and right link plates of the first link and the other end of the second link and one end of the second link and the other end of the left and right link plates of the first link are supported by the left and right link plates of the first link. a handle having the first links at both ends thereof connected via hinge pins;
Between the left and right link plates at both ends of the handle, the base end sides of the bolt/nut operation portions having different sizes are inserted respectively, and the respective bolt/nut operation portions are connected to the base end portion of the bolt/nut operation portion and the above-described bolt/nut operation portion. connected to the first link via the hinge pin supported by the left and right link plates of the first link;
Further, there is provided a multi-joint wrench in which the second link is formed with an operation hole for engaging a bolt and nut that is different in size from the bolt and nut operation portions at both ends of the handle.

The bolt/nut operation part is a part that engages with the head of the square bolt and the square nut so as not to rotate relative to each other and transmits a rotational operation force from the handle to the square bolt and the square nut. The bolt and nut operating part is a wrench head provided with an opening for receiving a part or nut, or a wrench head provided with an operating hole similar to the operating hole of the second link instead of the opening.

This articulated wrench has two or more second links, each of which has the operation hole, and bolt/nut operation portions at both ends of the handle and the operation hole of the second link. A preferred embodiment is one in which all of are compatible with bolts and nuts of different sizes.

An operation hole similar to the operation hole of the second link is also provided on the base end side of the bolt/nut operation portion, or a connecting portion of the first link and the second link, and the first link and the bolt/nut operation. An adjustment mechanism is provided in the connection part of the part to increase the holding force of the connection angle after the change by gradually changing the connection angle of the two connected parts, or the bolt / nut operation part at both ends of the handle It is also preferable that at least one of is constituted by the head portion of a ratchet wrench.

The head portion of the ratchet wrench includes a socket having an operation hole, a non-return pawl that engages teeth of a ratchet gear integral with the socket, and the reverse gear that can be retracted to a position where engagement with the teeth is released. A combination of springs biasing the pawl into engagement with the tooth permits rotation of the socket in only one direction. Its structure is well known.

In the multi-joint wrench of the present invention, in addition to the bolt/nut operation portions at both ends of the handle, the operation hole formed in the second link also functions as a transmission portion for rotating the bolt/nut. Therefore, if the number of second links to be installed is n, a single multi-joint wrench can be used to tighten and loosen the number of bolts and nuts of different sizes determined by the formula (2+n).

In addition, since the bolt and nut operating parts are connected with hinge pins to both ends of the handle, which is constructed by connecting the first link and the second link with hinge pins, the overall size is compact and there is no part that interferes with work. , difficult to be subject to usage regulations.

Furthermore, since all the hinge pins are supported by the left and right link plates of the first link, the rotational operation force is transmitted between the first link and the second link, and from the first link to the bolt/nut operation section. The transmission of the rotational operation force of (1) is also performed at the location where the second link contacts the left and right link plates of the first link and at the location where the bolt/nut operating portion contacts.

As a result, the load applied to the hinge pin is reduced, the breaking resistance of the wrench is increased, and the connection between the links and the connection between the first link and the bolt/nut operating portion is maintained without being loosened.

In addition, if the bolt/nut operation portion is provided with an operation hole also on the base end side, bolts/nuts of various sizes can be tightened and loosened with a single multi-joint wrench.

In addition, by providing a connection angle adjustment mechanism at the connecting portion between the first link and the second link and the connecting portion between the first link and the bolt/nut operation portion, the stability of holding the adjusted connection angle is enhanced, and the intended The wrench engaged with the bolt and nut is less likely to come off due to fluctuations in the connection angle.

In addition, at least one of the bolt and nut operating parts on both ends of the handle is composed of the head part of a ratchet wrench. can be

1 is a plan view showing an example of an articulated wrench according to the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of the articulated wrench of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first link included in the articulated wrench of FIG. 1; 2 is a perspective view of an example of a second link included in the articulated wrench of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of a second link included in the articulated wrench of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bolt/nut operating portion at the end of a handle included in the articulated wrench of FIG. 1; It is a top view which shows the modification of a bolt nut operation part. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing another modification of the bolt/nut operating portion;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an articulated wrench according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The articulated wrench 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a handle 5 made up of a plurality of first links 2, a plurality of second links 3 and a plurality of hinge pins 4, and both ends of the handle 5. The bolt/nut operating portions 6 and 7 respectively connected to the connecting portions of the first link 2 and the second link 3 and the connecting portions of the first link 2 and the bolt/nut operating portions 6 and 7 respectively. and an angle adjustment mechanism 8.

The first link 2 includes left and right link plates 2a, 2a arranged in parallel (see FIG. 3 at the same time), and left and right link plates 2a, 2a incorporated in the longitudinal center of the left and right link plates 2a, 2a. It is a combination of a bridge piece 2b (also see FIG. 3 at the same time) fixed to the .

The bridge piece 2b is a rectangular member having parallel and flat upper and lower surfaces, and is sandwiched between the left and right link plates 2a, 2a and fixed to the link plates 2a, 2a.

For fixing the bridge piece 2b to the left and right link plates 2a, 2a, in the illustrated multi-joint wrench, two setscrews 2c are passed through the left and right link plates 2a, 2a on one side, and the setscrews 2c are inserted into the bridge pieces. 2b is screwed into screw holes provided at both ends in the width direction, but it may be fixed by other methods such as welding.

The second link 3 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 at the same time) is a flat mass member with parallel and flat upper and lower surfaces, and one end of the second link 3 introduces the second link 3 therebetween. Of the two adjacent first links 2, the other end of one of the first links 2 is connected to the other end of the second link 3, and the other end of the first link 2 is connected to one end of the other first link 2 using a hinge pin 4. ing.

One end and the other end of the second link 3 are sandwiched between the left and right link plates 2a, 2a of the adjacent first link 2 introducing the second link 3 therebetween.

The hinge pin 4 is a pair of left and right hinge pins. The hinge pin 4 is passed through pin holes penetrating near both ends of the left and right link plates 2a, 2a of the first link 2, and the tip portions passing through the pin holes are crimped to form the left and right link plates 2a, It is fixed to 2a so as not to come off.

The first link 2 and the second link 3 are connected by the hinge pin 4 to all the links, and the connection constitutes a handle 5 which is provided with the first link 2 at both ends and which can be bent at a plurality of points. ing.

Bolt/nut operating portions 6 and 7 are connected to the first links 2 at both ends of the handle 5 . FIG. 6 shows the appearance of one bolt/nut operating portion 6 .

The bolt and nut operating portions 6 and 7 are inserted between the left and right link plates 2a, 2a of the first link 2 at their base end sides, and protrude from both side surfaces of the base end side. The bolt/nut operation parts 6 and 7 are connected to the handle 5 by crimping the tip of the hinge pin 4 that penetrates the hinge pin 2a.

The hinge pin 4 in the illustrated articulated wrench 1 is a pin integrated with the second link 3 and the base portions of the bolt/nut operating portions 6 and 7. The nut is inserted through holes provided through the bases of the nut operating portions 6 and 7 and the left and right link plates 2a and 2a, and the end portion on the side without the flange is fixed to one of the link plates 2a in a manner that prevents it from coming off. There may be.

The bolt and nut operation parts 6 and 7 receive a bolt and nut to be tightened and loosened, engage with the bolt and nut so as not to rotate relative to each other, and transmit a rotational operation force. Both of the bolt/nut operation parts 6 and 7 are wrench head parts. The head of the wrench has a U-shaped open mouth to hold the bolt and nut.

However, at least one of the bolt/nut operation portions 6 and 7 may be a wrench head portion provided with an operation hole for receiving the bolt head or nut as shown in FIG. It may be a ratchet wrench head as shown.

The head portion of the ratchet wrench is known, and the illustrated one comprises a socket 6a (7a) having an operation hole, a ratchet gear integral with the socket 6a (7a), and engaging teeth on the outer periphery of the ratchet gear. and a spring that biases the non-return pawl retractable to a position where the engagement with the teeth is released in the direction of engagement with the teeth. Since the ratchet gear, non-return pawl, and spring are incorporated in the case of the head portion and are not shown in the figure, only the socket is denoted by reference numerals.

A general ratchet wrench operates a switching lever to switch the rotation direction of the socket, but the illustrated head does not have a switching lever. Even with that structure, you can switch between tightening and untightening bolts and nuts by turning the wrench over.

The connection angle adjustment mechanism 8 is provided on the side surface of the connecting portion between the spherical concave portion 8a (see FIG. 3) provided on the inner surfaces of the left and right link plates 2a of the first link 2 and the first link 2 of the second link 3 and the It is composed of a small spherical projection 8b (see FIGS. 4 to 6) provided on the side surface of the connecting portion of the bolt/nut operating portions 6 and 7 to the first link 2. As shown in FIG.

A recess 8a is present on each side of the connection. A plurality of recesses 8a are provided at predetermined intervals in a virtual semicircular shape around the hinge pin 4, which serves as a fulcrum of rotation. A total of seven concave portions 8a are provided on one imaginary semicircle at a pitch of 30°.

One protrusion 8b is provided at a position where it engages with the recess 8a at the intermediate point in the circumferential direction when the connection angle between the first link 2 and the second link 3 is 0°. The connection angle of the second link 3 can be changed within a range of 90° upward and 90° downward from the position where the connection angle is 0°. Then, the convex portion 8b enters the concave portion 8a, and the resistance applied to the rotation therefrom increases.

As a result, unintended fluctuations in the connection angles of the first link 2 and the second link 3 after adjustment are suppressed, and deterioration in usability of the wrench does not occur.

Each of the second links 3 has an operation hole 9 for engaging a bolt/nut to be tightened or loosened.

The operation hole 9 vertically penetrating the second link 3 is a hole corresponding to a bolt/nut having a different size from the bolt/nut to be tightened/unfastened using the bolt/nut operation parts 6 and 7. - 特許庁The sizes of the operation holes 9 provided in each of the plurality of second links 3 are all different.

In the illustrated articulated wrench, the longitudinal central portion of the second link 3 arranged in the longitudinal intermediate portion bulges sideways, and the width of the bulging portion is made larger than the width of the connecting portions at both ends. By doing so, it is possible to provide an operation hole 9 larger than the width of the connecting portions at both ends of the second link 3 in the second link 3 in the longitudinal intermediate portion.

In this manner, the articulated wrench 1 illustrated also has the operation hole 9 for tightening and loosening the bolt/nut in the second link 3 as well. Further, an operation hole 10 having a size different from that of the other operation holes is also provided on the base end side of the bolt/nut operation portions 6 and 7. Therefore, the number n of the second links to be installed is three. In the case of the wrench 1, it is possible to tighten and loosen bolts and nuts of seven different sizes.

In addition to the above, the articulated wrench 1 illustrated has the thickness of the bolt/nut operating portions 6 and 7, the thickness of the bridge piece 2b, and the thickness of the second link 3 equal to the height of the link plate 2a.

As a result, the overall thickness of the wrench is constant and does not become bulky, and even if the handle 5 is bent at one or several locations along its length, there are portions that protrude outside the handle 5 and interfere with wrench operation. Therefore, even when the bolt/nut operation part is inserted into a narrow place or a complicated place to tighten and loosen the bolt/nut, the interference with surrounding members is prevented, and the usage regulation is not imposed.

As described above, the exemplary articulated wrench can be used for tightening and loosening three or more sizes of bolts and nuts.

Both ends of the second link 3 and the proximal ends of the bolt/nut operating portions 6 and 7 are sandwiched between the left and right link plates 2a, 2a of the first link 2, and both ends are supported by the left and right link plates 2a, 2a. Since the spanner is connected to the first link 2 by the hinge pin 4, the load applied to the hinge pin 4 is reduced when the handle is operated, and the breaking resistance of the wrench is increased.

Furthermore, since the whole is not bulky and it is not subject to usage restrictions due to interference with surrounding objects, it can be suitably used as a tool for tightening and loosening bolts and nuts in places where work is difficult, such as the underside of an automobile body. can do.

1 Articulated wrench 2 First link 2a Link plate 2b Bridge piece 2c Set screw 3 Second link 4 Hinge pin 5 Handle 6, 7 Bolt/nut operation part 6a, 7a Socket 8 Connection angle adjustment mechanism 8a Concave part 8b Convex part 9, 10 operation hole

Claims (4)

It has a handle (5) in which a plurality of parts are sequentially connected by a hinge pin (4) serving as a fulcrum of rotation and can be bent at a plurality of points, and bolts and nuts are received at both ends of the handle (5). , a multi-joint wrench provided with a bolt/nut operation part (6, 7) for transmitting a rotational operation force to the nut,
The parts are arranged in parallel with left and right link plates (2a, 2a), and are incorporated into the longitudinal center portions of the left and right link plates (2a, 2a) and fixed to each of the left and right link plates (2a, 2a). a first link (2) having a rectangular bridge piece (2b) in plan view with parallel and flat upper and lower surfaces;
Consists of two flat second links (3) with parallel and flat upper and lower surfaces that are added between the adjacent first links (2, 2),
Said second link (3) has longitudinal ends of left and right link plates (2a, 2a) of adjacent first links (2) with one end and the other end respectively introducing said second link (3) therebetween. It is arranged inside the part with a gap from the bridge piece (2b) ,
One end of the left and right link plates (2a, 2a) of the first link (2) and the other end of the second link (3) and one end of the second link (3) and the left and right link plates of the first link (2) The other ends of (2a, 2a) are respectively connected via the hinge pins (4) supported by the left and right link plates (2a, 2a) of the first link (2), and the first link (2) is attached to both ends. ) is configured with the handle (5),
Between the left and right link plates (2a, 2a) at both ends of the handle (5), the base end sides of the bolt/nut operation portions (6, 7) having different sizes are inserted respectively, and the respective bolt/nut operation portions ( 6, 7) are connected to the first link through the hinge pin (4) supported by the base ends of the bolt/nut operating portions (6, 7) and the left and right link plates (2a, 2a) of the first link. connected to 1 link (2),
Further, the second link (3) is formed with an operation hole (9) for engagement of a bolt and nut which is different in size from the bolt/nut operation portions (6, 7) at both ends of the handle (5). Multi-joint wrench.
There are two or more second links (3), each of the second links (3) has the operation hole (9), and bolt/nut operation portions (6, 7) The multi-joint wrench according to claim 1, wherein all of said operating holes of said second link (3) are adapted to bolts and nuts of different sizes. The bolt/nut operation portions (6, 7) are provided at both ends of the handle (5) and the operation hole (9) provided in the second link (3). 3. The articulated wrench according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an operation hole (10) for engaging a bolt and nut having a size different from that of the wrench is formed. The multi-joint wrench according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the bolt/nut operating portions (6, 7) is constituted by the head portion of a ratchet wrench.

Images