US1896645A - Coupling for socket wrenches - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD M. PI'AUSEB, OI MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BLAGKHAWK MANU- IACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN OOUPLING FOB SOCKET WRENCHES I R S S U E D Application filed August 24, 1929. Serial No. 888,201.

My invention refers to wrenches of the interchangeable socket type and particularly to heavy-duty wrenches. Under ordinary conditions, the heavy-duty sockets,

when locked in connection with the wrench stem, are exceedin ly difiicult to disconnect by some manual re ease means.

My present invention, therefore, is particularly directed to a simple, effective and economical manually controlled lock and release mechanism for the wrench-head proper, whereby the interchangeable heads are readily attached or removed as the case may require.

With the above objects in view, the invention consists in certain pecularities of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully set forth with reference to the accompanying drawing and subsequenting claim.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a wrench equipped with a wrench-head or socket, embodying the features of my invention, the socket head being in section, as indicated by line l1 of Figure 2; and I Figure 2 is an enlarged cross section of the same, the section being indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring by character to the drawing, 1 indicates an actuating bar and 2 the stem of a wrench. The stem terminates with a reduced polygonal shank 3, the shank in this 5 particular instance being rectangular in form.

As best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the squared shank 3 is provided with axially aligned recesses 4-4. Loosely mounted in each recess is a locking plunger 5 which plunger is reduced intermediate of its ends to form a shoulder 6, whereby said plunger is permanently held within the recess by an upset at the mouth of the recess, which upset forms a flange 7 for engagement with the shoulder. The outer end of the plunger normally projects beyond the face of the plunger for locking purposes, and the inner end of said plunger is cupped for the reception of a coil spring 8, which spring is interposed between the base of the plunger cup and recess 4.

Fitted to the wrench shank is an interchangeable wrench-head 9, which head in this exemplification of my invention is of the socket kind. The head is of perfectly circular contour and it is formed with a reduced circular neck 10, which neck is provided with a polygonal socket 11 which corresponds in shape to the shank which, as previously stated, in this instance is rectangular in cross section.-

The wrench-head neck is provided with a pair of circular openings 1212 extending therethrough, which openings are disposed radially and at an angle of 90 degrees, as best shown in Figure 2. The inner ends of the openlngs correspond in diameter to the plunger 5, one of which is always in actual alignment with the plunger. These openings 12 for a predetermined distance are enlarged to receive collar portions 13 of push buttons 13, and said push buttons are thus loosely mounted and adapted to reciprocate back and forth in the openings, but are permanently confined by downturned flanges 14, formed in the outer wall of the head neck. Hence, the movements of said plunger are limited in both directions and, owing to the shouldered enlarged portions of the openings 12, the inner ends of the buttons will at no time project beyond the face or faces of the female neck socket.

Hence, when the wrench shank enters the socketed neck, it is impossible for either plunger to abut the face of a button, until the plunger is aligned with the button opening. It will also be observed by reference to Fig- 'ure 2 that when a plunger 5 is in locking engagement with the wrench-head, owing to the spring associated with the plunger 5, the aligned button will be forced out in such a position that the outer end of the button is extended beyond the outer wall of the neck. It will also be observed that owing to the fact the head is of greater diameter than the neck, the button is more or less protected to prevent injury to parties handling the wrench-head in a turning operation. This is due particularly to the fact that parties 2 aeeaeu guidin the wrench will, under all conditions,

grasp t e larger end of the head.

Attention is also directed to the fact that, owing to the peculiar arrangement of the 5 pair of plungers with reference to the releasin buttons, a coupling operation can be eficted without any attention to alignment between a plunger and a releasing button.

Furthermore, it will be observed from the foregoing description that when it is desired to release a wrench-head, the operator simply presses the extended button whereby pressure is exerted upon its associated plunger 5 to release it from the locking 0 enm 4 into which it was previously seate Briefly, it will be understood that in this device each interchan eable wrench-head carries one or more pus buttons for releasing the blind lockin mechanism. Q

Wh1le I have shown and described one particular exemplification of my invention in all of its details, it is understood that I may vary such detalls within the knowledge of the skilled mechanic and as interpreted by the language of the claim.

I claim:

In a tool connection, a shank of polygonal shape in cross section, a member havmg a socket similarly shaped for releasabl receiving the shank, a sprin -pressed atch plunger carried by the sha the member aving a keeper opening for receiving the latch plunger, said opening extendin entirely through the member and having 'ting shoulders adjacent to its 0 posite ends, and a release button for the p unger latch slidably mounted in the opening having an annular enlargement intermediate its ends 1 for engaging the limiting shoulders at the 40 ends of its movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsln.

EDWARD M. PFAUSER.

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