US3088338A - Driver for rotary tools - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1963 N. DUCHESNE DRIVER FORROTARY TOOLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1960 /2 1/ m a M INVENTORY Normand Dual BY ESNE PATENT AGENT y 7, 1963 N. DUCHESNE 3,088,338

DRIVER FOR ROTARY TOOLS Filed Aug. 15, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOE Normand DUCfi/ESWE BYQILIUv-EW BQTENT AGENT 3,088,338 DRIVER FOR ROTARY TGOLS Normand Duchesne, 332 Tessier St., La Tuque, Quebec, Canada Filed Aug. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 49,754 2 Claims. (Cl. 74-757) The present invention relates to rotary tools such as screw driver, socket wrench and the like, and more particularly to manually operated driving means for such tools.

The main object of the present invention resides in the provision of a handle for rotary tools which incorporates gearing to vary the speed of rotation of the tool itself with respect to the handle.

Yet another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a driving handle of the character described in which the tool may he attached to either end of the handle for either increasing or decreasing the speed of rotation of the tool with respect to the handle.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a handle of the character described in which the gears are arranged in a symmetrical manner and the transmission torque is equally balanced resulting in smooth operation of the tool with a minimum of friction in the gearing assembly.

Yet another important object of the present invention resides in the driving handle of the character described which is of relatively simple, inexpensive and yet very sturdy construction.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section of a first embodiment, some of the parts being shown in elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a complete longitudinal section of the same embodiment;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment some of the parts being shown in elevation; and

FIGURE 4 is a complete longitudinal section of the embodiment of FIGURE 3.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

The first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES l and 2. The driving handle comprises acentral shaft 1 surrounded by a coaxial cylindrical shell made of three :parts, namely,outer shell parts 2 and 3 andcenter shell part 4. A cross shaft 5' extends throughcenter shaft 1 at the level of theouter shell 2 and carries freely rotatablebevelled pinions 6 meshing with a bevelledcrown gear 7 freely rotatable on thecentral shaft 1 and to the outer surface of which thecenter shell part 4 is secured by any means desired. Thepinions 6 also mesh at diametrically opposed points fromcrown gear 7 with asecond crown gear 8 freely rotatable onshaft 1 and provided with a coaxialcylindrical extension 9 having a rounded outer end face I10 provided with an axially directedsquare hole 11 for receiving the square end of the stern of a screw driver, socket Wrench or the like, which is secured to the driving handle withinhole 11 by setscrew 12.

Thecylindrical extension 9 has at the periphery thereof 3,988,338 Patented May 7, 1963 a plurality ofratchet holes 13 engageable by a spring pressedpawl 14 extending within a radial bore made in a bushing 15 surroundingcylindrical extension 9 and secured to theouter shell part 2. Bushing 15 is freely rotatable with respect to cylindrical extension 9 :but is prevented from longitudinal movement with respect to the same :by means of apin 16 extending through bushing 15 and slidably engaging aperipheral groove 17 ofcylindrical extension 9. Theshaft 1 is provided near its outer end With agroove 18 engaged by alocking pin 19 inserted within a hole made in the inner cylindrical face ofextension 9, thus the shaft is freely rotatable with respect tocrown gear 8 and itscylindrical extension 9, but is prevented from longitudinal displacement with respect to the same. Thus, thepinions 6 are positively maintained in meshing engagement withcrown gear 8.

Acylindrical bushing 20 freely surrounds the other end of central shaft '1, but is prevented from longitudinal displacement with respect to the same by means of apin 21 passing through bushing 20 and slidably engaging agroove 22 made inshaft 1. Theouter shell part 3 is secured to the outer face of 'bushing 20 and abutscentral shell part 4, such that the threeshell parts 2, 3 and 4 are maintained in edge to edge abutment and thatcrown gear 7 is positively maintained in meshing engagement withpinions 6.

The outer end of shaft '1adjacent groove 22 is provided withperipheral ratchet holes 23 engageable with a spring pressedpawl 24 radially extending throughhushing 20. The outer end ofshaft 1 adjacent itsgroove 22 is provided with asquare hole 25 for removably receiving the square end of the stem of the screw driver, socket wrench or the like, which is maintained in position by means of a set screw (not shown) similar to setscrew 12 at the opposite end of the driving handle. Thepawls 14 and 24 are of the type which are reversible.

In the use of the device, when the stem of a nail driver, socket wrench or the like, is fitted withinhole 25, and thatpawl 14 locks bushing 15 tocylindrical extension 9 ofcrown gear 8, whilepawl 14 allows free rotation of theshaft 1 with respect to bushing 20 in the same direction of rotation, it will be understood that, by grasping thecenter shell part 4 and also if desired, theshell part 3 and holding them stationary while effecting rotation of theouter shell part 2,crown gear 8 will rotate thepinions 6 against the reaction member constituted bystationary crown gear 7. Thepinions 8 will rotateshaft 1 throughcross shaft 5 and consequently the tool stem directly secured toshaft 1. During this movement, a demultiplication of the rotational speed will take place, that is the tool will rotate at a lesser speed than theouter shell part 2, thus obtaining a greater torque at the tool itself.

It will be noted that the torque exerted oncentral shaft 1 is completely balanced on each side of said shaft due to the cross shaft and pinion arrangement which are symmetrically mounted on each side of the shaft. Moreover due to the fact that the teeth of the crown gears are inwardly inclined towards the axis of said gears, the pinions will tend to move radially inwardly on theircross shaft 5 thereby resulting in a minimum of friction in the transmission mechanism.

If thelower pawl 24 is engaged withshaft 1 the same results would be obtained as above, except that onlycentral shell part 4 will be maintained stationary, and will have to be grasped.

If the tool stem is fitted withinhole 11 at end face and that both pawls are engaged to prevent rotation of the engaged elements in the same direction and that theshell parts 3 and 4 are grasped, the latter being held stationary, rotation ofshell part 3 will result in an increased rotation ofcrown gear 8, and the tool stem secured thereto. If thepawl 14 is free of engagement withcylindrical extension 9, then theouter shell part 2 as well ascentral part 4 will be grasped to be maintained stationary, but with the same results, that is an increase in the speed of rotation of the tool with respect to theactuator shell part 3. Thus, the driver handle in accordance with the first embodiment can beusedto obtain a lower or a higher speed ratio.

The second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 is based on the same principle as the first embodiment, except that it provides for a still greater difference in the speeds of rotation of the input and output ends of the driving handle. The second embodiment comprises acentral shaft 30 coaxially mounted within a cylindrical shell consisting ofouter shell parts 31 and 32 andcenter shell part 33. Afirst cross shaft 36 and asecond cross shaft 37 are inserted across shaft and are rigid therewith, said cross shafts being longitudinally spaced alongshaft 30. A pair of double bevelledpinions 38 are freely rotatably mounted on thefirst cross shaft 36 while a pair of simple bevelledpinions 39 are pivotally mounted on thesecond cross shaft 37 on each side ofcentral shaft 30. The radially outer set of gear teeth 38' of double bevelledpinions 38 together with the gear teeth ofpinions 39 are radially inwardly inclined in a direction away fromcentral shaft 30 to mesh with one set of gear teeth of adouble crown gear 40 disposedintermediate pinions 38 and 39 and the sets of gear teeth of which are inwardly inclined towardscentral shaft 30. Crowngear 40 is freely rotatable oncentral shaft 30 and is disposed opposite and issecured tocenter shell part 33. The inner set ofgear teeth 38" of the double bevelled pinions 38are radially inwardly inclined towardsshaft 30 and are in meshing engagement with the end bevelledgear teeth 41 of a cylindrical body orcrown gear 42 which is freely rotatably mounted onshaft 1, the latter entering anaxial bore made inbody 42. The latter is provided with acurved end face 43 provided with an axialsquare hole 44 for receiving the square end of the stem of a tool, such as a screw driver, socket wrench, or the like.

Body 42 is surrounded byannular bushing 45 secured itspin 48. The outer end of thebushing 56 is provided with an axially directedsquare hole 59 for removably fitting thereinto, the square end of the stem of a tool such as a screw driver, socket wrench, or the like. Means such as setscrew 12 in the first embodiment are preferably provided for the twosquare holes 59 and 44 of the second embodiment.

In the use of the invention, supposing the driven tool is secured withinsquare hole 59 and the twopawls 49 and 55 are in locking engagement withbody 42 andcrown gear 52 respectively, the driving handle is grasped bycentral shell part 33 to be maintained stationary and byouter shell part 31 which is rotated with the other hand whereby rotation ofbody 42 causes rotation of central shaft through the intermediary of double bevelledpinions 38" andfirst cross shaft 36. The outer set ofpinions 38 meshes with the reaction member constituted by the stationarydouble crown gear 40. Thecentral shaft 30 rotates thesecond cross shaft 37 and itsbevelled pinions 39, which mesh with the reaction member constituted bydouble crown gear 40, drivecrown gear 52 at an increased speed which rotate bushing 56 through the locking of pawl'55 and consequently drive the tool secured to bushing 56 at a smaller speed than the speed of rotation ofouter shell part 31. Thepawls 47 and 55 allow free return movement of theouter shell 31 while the tool itself remains stationary. The pawls being reversible, it is understood that the tool may be used for driving in any one of the two directions of rotation.

If the tool to be driven is secured to the opposite end of the driving handle, that is fitted withinsquare hole 44, and that the twopawls 47 and 55 remain in locking engagement, the tool to be driven will be rotated at a much greater speed thanouter shell part 32, the latter being rotated whilecentral shell part 33 is held stationary. If desired, thepawl 47 can be released in which case bothouter shell part 31 andcenter shell part 33 may be held stationary. As in the first embodiment, the torque transmitted to central shaft is dynamically balanced on each side thereof due to the arrangement of thecross shafts 36 and 37 and their symmetrical pinions. It will be understood that the gear ratios may be varied so as to obtain the desired speed difierence between the input and output ends of the driving handle.

While preferred embodiments in accordance with the a present invention have been illustrated and described, it

within the outer end ofouter shell 31 and provided at its periphery with a series ofratchet notches 46 engageable with a spring pressedpawl 47 radially extending throughbushing 45. Longitudinal movement ofshaft 30 with respect tobody 42 is prevented bypin 48 engaging a hole within the bore ofbody 42 and slidably engaged with aperipheral groove 49 made in the end ofshaft 30. Longitudinal movement of bushing 45 with respect tobody 42 is prevented by means of apin 50 radially inserted within bushing 45 and slidably engaging anannular groove 51 made in the outer surface ofbody 42.

'Pinions 39 on thesecond cross shaft 37 are in meshing engagement with acrown gear 52 freely rotatable oncentral shaft 30 and having its gear teeth inwardly inclined in the direction ofshaft 30.Crown gear 52 is provided opposite its gear teeth with acylindrical boss 53 havingratchet notches 54 engageable by a spring pressedpawl 55 radially mounted within a bore of bushing 56 secured toouter shell part 32 and freely rotatable oncentral shaft 30. Apin 57 radially inserted within bushing 56 and engaging agroove 58 made incentral shaft 30 prevents longitudinal'displacement of the bushing with respect to the shaft and positively maintains the various gears in meshing engagement together withbody 42 and is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A driving handle for rotary tools comprising a cylindrical shell made of at least first and second separate parts of substantially equal diameter and in end to end relationship, a central shaft coaxial with said shell and mounted therein, a cross shaft secured to said central shaft and extending on opposite sides of the latter, pinions freely rotatably mounted on said cross shaft on opposite sides of said central shaft, 21 first crown gear freely rotatably mounted on said central shaft and meshing with said pinions, means connecting said first crown gear with said first shell part, a second crown gear freely rotatably mounted on said central shaft and meshing with said pinions, the teeth of said crown gears being inwardly inclined towards the axis thereof, means connecting said second shell part to said second crown gear whereby rotation of said second shell art relative to said first shell part will cause rotation of said central shaft at a reduced speed, means at the ends of said handle for removably connecting a rotary tool, a third shell part opposite to said second shell part with respect to said first shell part, a bushing fitted within and secured to said third shell part, said bushing freely rotatably mounted on said central shaft, said first crown gear being a double crown gear, a second cross shaft secured to said central shaft and extending on opposite sides of the latter, second pinions freely rotatably mounted on said second cross shaft on opposite sides of said central shaft and meshing with said first double crown gear, a third crown gear freely rotatably mounted on said central shaft and meshing with 5 said second pinions, and pawl and ratchet means between said bushing and said third crown gear.

2. A driving handle as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said means for removably connecting a rotary tool include non-circular holes made in said bushing and in said 10 second crown gear, axially of said central shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Menzies et a1. Jan. 10, 1911 Nolan June 30, 1925 Stoll Oct. 9, 1934 Johnson Apr. 14, 1953 Ondeck Feb. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 12, 1929

Claims (1)

1. A DRIVING HANDLE FOR ROTARY TOOLS COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL SHELL MADE OF AT LEAST FIRST AND SECOND SEPARATE PARTS OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL DIAMETER AND IN END TO END RELATIONSHIP, A CENTRAL SHAFT COAXIAL WITH SAID SHELL AND MOUNTED THEREIN, A CROSS SHAFT SECURED TO SAID CENTRAL SHAFT AND EXTENDING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LATTER, PINIONS FREELY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CROSS SHAFT ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTRAL SHAFT, A FIRST CROWN GEAR FREELY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL SHAFT AND MESHING WITH SAID PINIONS, MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST CROWN GEAR WITH SAID FIRST SHELL PART, A SECOND CROWN GEAR FREELY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CENTRAL SHAFT AND MESHING WITH SAID PINIONS, THE TEETH OF SAID CROWN GEARS BEING INWARDLY INCLINED TOWARDS THE AXIS THEREOF, MEANS CONNECTING SAID SECOND SHELL PART TO SAID SECOND CROWN GEAR WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID SECOND SHELL PART RALATIVE TO SAID FIRST SHELL PART WILL CAUSE ROTATION OF SAID CENTRAL SHAFT AT A REDUCED

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