Screw tool

Abstract

A screw tool has a direction-reversible catch including clamping members disposed within wedge-shaped clamping spaces between an outer drive ring part (5) and an inner driven core part (8) of approximately triangular shape in cross section, the clamping members are displaceable by a rotatable switch member which is lockable in its switch positions into release with respect to the wedge walls of the corresponding clamping space by drivers acting on the clamping members and blocking the passage of the clamping members into, in each case one of their two clamping positions, and it proposes, in provide for a structurally simple friction-minimized construction wherein each clamping member lies loosely in a clamping space and is displaceable into its clamping position by the rotation of the drive ring part.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a screw tool with direction-reversible catch, the tool comprising an outer drive ring part, and an inner driven core part of approximately triangular cross section; a rotatable switch member having a plurality of drivers extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially around said core part;   clamping members in wedge-shaped clamping spaces between said outer drive ring part and said inner driven core part, which clamping members are displaceable by said rotatable switch member which is lockable in its switch positions, each of said wedge-shaped clamping spaces having two clamping positions at opposite ends of a clamping space for receiving and clamping one of the clamping members; and wherein said drivers act on the clamping members and block passage of the clamping members into respectively one of their two clamping positions and wherein;   in two switch positions of the switch member, each of said clamping members is loosely disposed in a separate of said clamping spaces and is displaceable into a clamping position therein exclusively by rotation of the drive ring part;   in a central switch position of said switch member, each of said clamping bodies is located substantially centrally to a corresponding side of said driven core part;   vertices of said core part are arranged concentrically about said core part to separate said clamping spaces, said drivers being located at respective ones of said vertices and being translatable in circumferential direction relative to said vertices upon rotation of said switch member about said core part; and   said drivers extend in circumferential direction into said clamping spaces to limit movement of said clamping members in said clamping spaces to a predetermined region of unobstructed movement, a circumferentiakl length of said predetermined region of unobstructed movement being approximately equal to a circumferential length of a driver.   
     
     
       2. A screw tool according to claim 1, wherein said driven core part has said sides formed with barreled shape with a smaller degree of curvature than that of said drive ring part.   
     
     
       3. A screw tool according to claim 1, wherein said driven core part carries a spring-loaded detent ball on one of its angle bisectors in a blind bore, detent depressions opposite said ball, said detent depressions being formed on an inner wall of said switch member, the latter having said drivers in the form of axially protruding fingers, said switch member being cup-shaped.   
     
     
       4. A screw tool according to claim 3, wherein said driven core part forms concentrically extending guide surfaces disposed transverse to said angle bisectors and which rest against said cup inner wall.   
     
     
       5. A screw tool according to claim 3, wherein said driven core part has a central guide collar adapted to enter into a bore within a cup bottom of said switch member.   
     
     
       6. A screw tool according to claim 5, wherein said driven core part has, opposite the guide collar, a guide sleeve which protrudes into a screwdriver handle inner member, said sleeve having a wall surface provided with bearing ribs bearing against said inner member, and said inner member is one-piece with said drive ring part.   
     
     
       7. A screw tool according to claim 1, wherein said clamping members are shaped as rollers and rest only with a part of one of their end surfaces on bottom surfaces formed in the region of said clamping spaces by protrusions of said driven core part.   
     
     
       8. A screw tool according to claim 7, wherein outer edges of the bottom surfaces and guide surfaces of said driven core part supplement each other to form a circle.   
     
     
       9. A screw tool according to claim 7, wherein said drivers extend to the bottom surfaces and said clamping members have axial lengths corresponding to that of the drivers so that another end surface of the clamping members is gripped by a cup rim surface of said switch member, said switch member being cup-shaped.   
     
     
       10. A screw tool according to claim 3, wherein said detent depressions provided three switch positions and comprise a central one of said detent depressions corresponding to said central switch position which is operative in both directions of rotation and has a shape complementary to said detent ball, and two of said detent depressions directly adjacent said central detent depression which are each enlarged in shape in the directions of rotation and each provided with a concave bottom.   
     
     
       11. A screw tool according to claim 1, wherein said switch member in said switch positions is lockable in different relative positions to said driven core part.   
     
     
       12. A screw tool according to claim 11, wherein said drive ring part and said driven core part are relatively rotatably mounted.   
     
     
       13. A screw tool according to claim 1, wherein in said central switch position said drivers are adjacent lateral ends of said sides of said driven core part and spaced apart from said clamping members.   
     
     
       14. A screw tool according to claim 1, wherein in said two switch positions of said switch member said drivers are adjacent said clamping members.   
     
     
       15. A screw tool according to claim 8, wherein said guide surfaces of said driven core part relatively rotatably engage on an inner wall of said switch member. .Iadd.   
     
     
       16.  In a screw tool with direction-reversible catch, the tool comprising an outer ring part, and an inner core part of approximately polygonal cross section; a rotatable switch member having a plurality of drivers extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially around said core part, said switch member being lockable in a plurality of switch positions;   plural clamping members disposed around said core part, said clamping members being located in wedge-shaped clamping spaces between said outer ring part and said inner core part, said clamping members being displaceable by said rotatable switch member, each of said wedge-shaped clamping spaces having two clamping positions at opposite ends of a clamping space for receiving and clamping one of the clamping members; and   wherein said drivers act on the clamping members to limit passage of each clamping member within one of its two clamping positions;   in two switch positions of the switch member, each of said clamping members is loosely disposed in a separate one of said clamping spaces and is displaceable into a clamping position therein by rotation of the ring part;   in a central switch position of said switch member, each of said clamping bodies is located substantially centrally of a corresponding side of said core part;   vertices of said core part are arranged concentrically about said core part to define said clamping spaces, said drivers being located at respective ones of said vertices and being translatable in circumferential direction relative to said vertices upon rotation of said switch member about said core part; and   said drivers limit movement in circumferential direction within each of said clamping spaces of said clamping members to a predetermined region of unobstructed movement, a circumferential length of said predetermined region of unobstructed movement being greater than approximately twice the diameter of a clamping member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. In a screw tool with direction-reversible catch, the tool comprising an outer ring part, and an inner core part of approximately polygonal cross section;   a rotatable switch member having a plurality of drivers extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially around said core part, said switch member being lockable in a plurality of switch positions;   plural clamping members disposed around said core part, said clamping members being located in wedge-shaped clamping spaces between said outer ring part and said inner core part, said clamping members being displaceable by said rotatable switch member, each of said wedge-shaped clamping spaces having two clamping positions at opposite ends of a clamping space for receiving and clamping one of the clamping members; and   wherein said drivers act on the clamping members to limit passage of each clamping member within one of its two clamping positions;   in two switch positions of the switch member, each of said clamping members is loosely disposed in a separate one of said clamping spaces and is displaceable into a clamping position therein by rotation of the ring part;   in a central switch position of said switch member, each of said clamping bodies is located substantially centrally of a corresponding side of said core part;   vertices of said core part are arranged concentrically about said core part to define said clamping spaces, said drivers being located at respective ones of said vertices and being translatable in circumferential direction relative to said vertices upon rotation of said switch member about said core part;   said core part carries a spring-loaded detent ball, and three detent depressions are formed on a wall of said switch member for providing three of said switch positions; and   said detent depressions include a central detent depression corresponding to said central switch position which is operative in both directions of rotation of said switch member and has a shape complementary to said detent ball, said detent depressions further comprising two further detent depressions disposed on opposite sides of said central detent depression, the two further detent depressions being enlarged relative to the central depression in the directions of rotation of said switch member. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.18.  A screw tool according to claim 17, wherein said polygonal cross section is a triangular cross section. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A screw tool according to claim 17, wherein   each of said further detent depressions is formed with a curved concave   
     
     
        surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  A screw tool according to claim 19, wherein a radius of curvature of the concave surface of each of said further detent depressions is larger than a radius of curvature of said detent ball. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A screw tool according to claim 17, wherein   a cross-sectional dimension of each of said further detent depressions is larger than a cross-sectional dimension of said detent ball. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A screw tool according to claim 17, wherein   an enlargement of each of said further detent depressions relative to said central depression is sufficient to allow for movement of the detent ball in either of said further detent depressions in a direction of rotation of   
     
     
        said switch member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  In a screw tool with direction-reversible catch, the tool comprising an outer ring part, and an inner core part of generally polygonal cross section; a rotatable switch member having a plurality of drivers extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially around said core part, said switch member being lockable in a plurality of switch positions;   plural clamping members disposed around said core part, said clamping members being located in wedge-shaped clamping spaces between said outer ring part and said inner core part, said clamping member being displaceable by said rotatable switch member, each of said wedge-shaped clamping spaces having two clamping positions at opposite ends of a clamping space for receiving and clamping one of the clamping members; and   wherein said drivers act on the clamping members to limit passage of each clamping member within one of its two clamping positions;   in two switch positions of the switch member, each of said clamping members is loosely disposed in a separate one of said clamping spaces and is displaceable into a clamping position therein by rotation of the ring part;   in a central switch position of said switch member, each of said clamping bodies is located substantially centrally of a corresponding side of said core part;   vertices of said core part are arranged concentrically about said core part to define said clamping spaces, said drivers being located at respective ones of said vertices and being translatable in circumferential direction relative to said vertices upon rotation of said switch member about said core part;   said core part carries a spring-loaded detent element having a curved surface, and three detent depressions are formed on a wall of said switch member for providing three of said switch positions; and   said detent depressions include a central detent depression corresponding to said central switch position which is operative in both directions of rotation of said switch member and has a shape complementary to said detent element, said detent depressions further comprising two further detent depressions disposed on opposite sides of said central detent depression, the two further detent depressions being enlarged relative to the central depression in the directions of rotation of said switch member to permit movement of said detent element within either of said further detent depressions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A screw tool with direction-reversible catch, the tool comprising   an outer ring part, and an inner core part of approximately polygonal cross section;   a rotatable switch member having a plurality of drivers extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially around said core part, said switch member being lockable in a plurality of switch positions;   plural clamping members disposed around said core part, said clamping members being located in wedge-shaped clamping spaces between said outer drive ring part and said core part, said clamping members being displaceable by said rotatable switch member, each of said wedge-shaped clamping spaces having two clamping positions at opposite ends of a clamping space for receiving and clamping one of the clamping members; and   wherein said drivers act on the clamping members to limit passage of each clamping member within one of its two clamping positions;   in two switch positions of the switch member, each of said clamping members is disposed in a separate one of said clamping spaces and is displaceable into a clamping position therein by rotation of said ring part relative to said core part;   constrictions of said clamping spaces are arranged concentrically about said core part, said drivers being located at respective ones of said constrictions and being translatable in circumferential direction through respective ones of said constrictions upon rotation of said switch member about said core part;   said screw tool further comprises detent means for positioning said switch member relative to the constrictions of said clamping spaces, said detent means including a detent element movable in radial direction and fixed in circumferential direction relative to said constrictions, said detent means including an arrangement of detent depressions disposed on said switch member for receiving said detent element; and   a first and a second of said detent depressions are disposed on opposite sides of a center of said arrangement of detent depressions, said first and said second detent depressions being enlarged relative to said detent element in the directions of rotation of said switch member to permit movement of said detent element within either of said first and said   
     
     
        second detent depressions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  A screw tool with direction-reversible catch, the tool comprising an outer ring part, and an inner core part of generally polygonal cross section;   a rotatable switch member having a plurality of drivers extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially around said core part, said switch member being lockable in a plurality of switch positions;   plural clamping members disposed around said core part, said clamping members being located in wedge-shaped clamping spaces between said ring part and said core part, said clamping members being displaceable by said rotatable switch member, each of said wedge-shaped clamping spaces having two clamping positions at opposite ends of a clamping space for receiving and clamping one of the clamping members; and   wherein said drivers act on the clamping members to limit passage of each clamping member within one of its two clamping positions;   in two switch positions of the switch member, each of said clamping members is disposed in a separate one of said clamping spaces and is displaceable into a clamping position therein by rotation of said ring part relative to said core part;   constrictions of said clamping spaces are arranged concentrically about said core part, said drivers being located at respective ones of said constrictions and being translatable in circumferential direction through respective ones of said constrictions upon rotation of said switch member about said core part; and   said screw tool further comprises a spring-loaded detent element having a curved surface, and an arrangement of plural detent depressions are formed on a wall of said switch member for receiving said detent element to provide said switch positions; and   a first and a second of said detent depressions are disposed on opposite sides of a center of said arrangement of detent depressions, said first and said second detent depressions being enlarged relative to said detent element in the direction of rotation of said switch member to permit movement of said detent element within either of said first and said   
     
     
        second detent depressions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  A screw tool with direction-reversible catch, the tool comprising an outer ring part, and an inner core part of approximately polygonal cross section;   a rotatable switch member having a plurality of drivers extending therefrom and arranged circumferentially around said core part, said switch member being lockable in a plurality of switch positions;   plural clamping members disposed around said core part, said clamping members being located in wedge-shaped clamping spaces between said ring part and said core part, each of said wedge-shaped clamping spaced having two clamping positions at opposite ends of a clamping space for receiving and clamping one of said clamping members;   wherein said clamping members are displaceable by said switch member into a clamping position of a respective clamping space and provide a clamping upon rotation of said ring part relative to said core part;   said drivers are operable to limit passage of each clamping member within its clamping space to one of its two clamping positions;   constrictions of said clamping spaces are arranged concentrically about said core part, said drivers being located at respective ones of said constrictions and being translatable in circumferential direction through respective ones of said constrictions upon rotation of said switch member about said core part; and   said drivers limit movement in circumferential direction within each of said clamping spaces of said clamping members to a predetermined region of unobstructed movement, a circumferential length of said predetermined region of unobstructed movement being greater than approximately twice the diameter of a clamping member. .Iaddend.