US 12,390,907 B2
Ratcheting tool with clutch
Daniel Hegarty, Baltimore, MD (US); Michael Justis, Towson, MD (US); Andy Birkel, Baltimore, MD (US); and Gabrielle Benson, Sparrows Point, MD (US)
Assigned to STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC., New Britain, CT (US)
Appl. No. 17/260,187
Filed by STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC., New Britain, CT (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 13, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/042117
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 13, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/013864, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0268630 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B25B 21/00 (2006.01); B25B 23/14 (2006.01); B25F 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 21/004 (2013.01) [B25B 23/141 (2013.01); B25F 5/001 (2013.01)] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ratchet, comprising:
a housing;
a motor in the housing;
an output drive mechanism coupled to the housing;
a torque selector coupled to the housing, the torque selector being rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the torque selector is rotatable to a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of torque settings, so as to provide for selection of a maximum output torque of the ratchet; and
a clutch assembly, wherein the clutch assembly comprises:
a planetary gear set coupled to an output shaft of the motor;
a ring gear having a ramped surface on an axial end portion thereof, a plurality of ramps defined along the ramped surface, and an inner circumferential surface configured to selectively engage the planetary gear set;
a pin cage having a plurality of openings formed therein;
a clutch washer;
a plurality of clutch pins respectively received in the plurality of openings in the pin cage for contact with the plurality of ramps, each of the plurality of clutch pins having a first end thereof in contact with a first side of the clutch washer, and a second end thereof in contact with the axial end portion of the ring gear for movement guided by the ramped surface;
a spring cage having a plurality of recesses formed in a first side thereof;
a plurality of springs each having a first end thereof received in a respective recess of the plurality of recesses in the spring cage, and a second end thereof in contact with a second side of the clutch washer in a manner that positions the clutch washer between the plurality of springs and the plurality of clutch pins; and
a pressing plate positioned proximate a second side of the spring cage, and is selectively coupled to the motor and the output drive mechanism.