Torque wrench with sleeve for locking rotatable handle
US6948410B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/592
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A torque wrench is provided having body and a handle that is rotatably mounted to the body for adjusting the torque setting, and an axially movable sleeve operable to selectively lock the handle. The sleeve includes a rigid member and an elastomeric member, such as an O-ring, and the sleeve is configured to act against a locking ball held in a bore of the handle. The sleeve is selectively movable between two positions: (a) a locked position wherein the rigid member firmly retains the locking ball seated in one of several detents in the body, thereby preventing rotation of the handle; and (b) an unlocked position wherein the elastomeric member biases the locking ball inwardly, deflecting when the locking ball unseats from the detent to permit handle rotation. When the sleeve is in the unlocked position, the locking ball can incrementally “click” over the detents during handle rotation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.