Torque wrench

Claim 2

A torque wrench including: a casing; input drive means in said casing receiving an operating input; first planetary gear means in said casing drivingly connected to said input drive means; rotatable output means connected to and driven by said first planetary gear means, said output means being adapted to engage an element to be torqued; second planetary gear means in said casing drivingly connected to said input drive means; said first and second planetary gear means having different gear ratios and common sun gear means; reaction means coupled to said second planetary gear means; load resisting means in said casing coooperating with said reaction means, said reaction means being movable within a limited range of movement against said load resisting means; and indicating means operatively connected to said reaction means to indicate the torque output of the wrench as a function of the movement of said reaction means.

Claim 3

A torque wrench as in claim 1 wherein: corresponding planet gears of each planetary gear means are on a common shaft and are rotatably mounted in a movable race.

Claim 4

A torque wrench as in claim 2 wherein: each of said planetary gear means includes a ring gear, said output means being integral with the ring gear of said first planetary gear means, and said reaction means being integral with the ring gear of said second planetary gear means.

Claim 5

A torque wrench as in claim 3 wherein: the difference in gear ratio between said first and second planetary gear means is obtained by having an equal number of teeth on the ring gears of each planetary gear means and different numbers of teeth on the planetary gears of each gear means.

Claim 6

A torque wrench as in claim 3 wherein: the difference in gear ratio between said first and second planetary gear means is obtained by having an equal number of teeth on the planetary gears of each planetary gear means and different numbers of teeth on the ring gears of each gear means.

Claim 7

A torque wrench as in claim 1 wherein: said second planetary gear means includes a first ring gear; and said reaction means is integral with said first ring gear.

Claim 8

A torque wrench as in claim 6 wherein: said reaction means is a reaction arm having an opening therein; and said load resisting means includes spring means positioned in said reaction arm opening, said reaction arm compressing said spring means between said casing and the reaction arm in response to torque imposed by the wrench on an element being torqued.

Claim 9

A torque wrench as in claim 7 wherein: said reaction arm is movable in opposite directions depending on the direction of rotation of said output means.

Claim 10

A torque wrench as in claim 7 wherein said indicating means includes: segment gear means on said reaction arm; and an indicating pointer operatively connected to said segment gear means.

Claim 11

A torque wrench as in claim 1 including: power means for driving said input drive means.

Claim 12

A torque wrench as in claim 10 including: shutoff means for terminating the operation of the torque wrench when a predetermined torque level has been reached.

Claim 13

A torque wrench as in claim 11 wherein said shutoff means includes: switching means operably connected to said reaction means.

Claim 14

A torque wrench as in claim 12 wherein: said power means is pneumatic fluid operated; and said switching means includes valve means to block the flow of fluid to said power means.

Claim 15

A torque wrench as in claim 13 wherein said shutoff means includes: cam means operably connected to said reaction means, said cam means cooperating with said valve means to operate said valve means.

Claim 16

A torque wrench as in claim 11 including: means for selecting the torque level at which said shutoff means operates.

Claim 17

A torque wrench as in claim 1 including: means to prevent drive back through the wrench from said output means to said input drive means.

Claim 18

A torque wrench including: a casing; input drive means in said casing receiving an operating input; first planetary gear means in said casing drivingly connected to said input drive means; rotatable output means connected to and driven by said first planetary gear means, said output means being adapted to engage an element to be torqued; second planetary gear means in said casing drivingly connected to said input drive means, said second planetary gear means including a ring gear; reaction arm means integral with said ring gear of said second planetary gear means, said reaction arm means having an opening therein, and said reaction arm means being movable in opposite directions depending on the direction of rotation of said output means; spring means in said casing positioned in said reaction arm means opening, said reaction arm means being movable within a limited range of movement against said spring means and compressing said spring means between said casing and said reaction arm means in response to torque imposed by the wrench on an element being torqued; and indicating means operatively connected to said reaction arm means to indicate the torque output of the wrench as a function of the movement of said reaction arm means.

Claim 19

A torque wrench including: a casing; input drive means in said casing receiving an operating input; first planetary gear means in said casing drivingly connected to said input drive means; rotatable output means connected to and driven by said first planetary gear means, said output means being adapted to engage an element to be torqued; second planetary gear means in said casing drivingly connected to said input drive means, said second planetary gear means including a ring gear; reaction arm means integral with said ring gear of said second planetary gear means, said reaction arm means having an opening therein, and said reaction arm means being movable in opposite directions depending on the direction of rotation of said output means; spring means in said casing positioned in said reaction arm means opening, said reaction arm means being movable within a limited range of movement against said spring means and compressing said spring means between said casing and said reaction arm means in response to torque imposed by the wrench on an element being torqued; and indicating means operatively connected to said reaction arm means to indicate the torque output of the wrench as a function of the movement of said reaction arm means.

Claim 20

A torque wrench as in claim 17 wherein: corresponding planet gears of each planetary gear means are on a common shaft and are rotatably mounted in a movable race.

Claim 21

A torque wrench as in claim 17 wherein said indicating means includes: segment gear means on said reaction arm; and an indicating pointer operatively connected to said segment gear means.

Claim 22

A torque wrench as in claim 17 including: power means for driving said input drive means.

Claim 23

A torque wrench as in claim 17 including: shutoff means for terminating the operation of the torque wrench when a predetermined torque level has been reached.

Claim 24

A torque wrench as in claim 21 wherein said shutoff means includes: switching means operably connected to said reaction means.

Claim 25

A torque wrench as in claim 22 wherein: said power means is pneumatic fluid operated; and said switching means includes valve means to block the flow of fluid to said power means.

Claim 26

A torque wrench as in claim 23 wherein said shutoff means includes: cam means operably connected to said reaction means, said cam means cooperating with said valve means to operate said valve means.

Claim 27

A torque wrench as in claim 21 including: means for selecting the torque level at which said shutoff means operates.

Claim 28

A torque wrench as in claim 17 including: means to prevent drive back through the wrench from said output means to said input drive means.

Claim 29

A torque wrench as in claim 17 wherein: each of said planetary gear means includes a ring gear, said output means being integral with the ring gear of said first planetary gear means, and said reaction means being integral with the ring gear of said second planetary gear means; the gear ratio of said first planetary gear means being different from the gear ratio of said second planetary gear means.

Claim 30

A torque wrench as in claim 27 wherein: the difference in gear ratio between said first and second planetary gear means is obtained by having an equal number of teeth on the ring gears of each planetary gear means and different numbers of teeth on the planetary gears of each gear means.

Claim 31

A torque wrench as in claim 27 wherein: the difference in gear ratio between said first and second planetary gear means is obtained by having an equal number of teeth on the planetary gears of each planetary gear means and different numbers of teeth on the ring gears of each gear means.