Socket wrench

The ratchet or wrench is a tool for generating a revolving rotary motion within a limited working space, mostly for loosening or tightening of bolted connections. Typically, a rotary angle of at least 10 to 15 degrees is required, depending on the fineness of the toothing in the interior of the gun in order to achieve a rotation of the drive four- cornered bar. Special fine tooth ratchet, however, have such a fine set of teeth that even a rotation angle of about 5 degrees is sufficient, which can be moved even under extremely crowded conditions bolts and nuts. " Friction ratchet " come entirely from without latching.

Principle of operation

There must be present next to the opening defining a device for reversing the direction of rotation, to which there are various solutions:

• A combination of two latches, which transmits a pivoting movement of a lever in one direction, while a motion is automatically locked in the opposite direction. The operating principle is similar to the freewheel (about the bike).
• In addition to the version with two pawls and such is widely used with a spring loaded gridded rocker.
• The push-through ratchet with universal 4- sided hole, however, comes from a single (closed ) jack, the effective rotational direction by By plugging a 4- socket stub is achieved on one or the other side of the ratchet.

Applications and Examples

Ratchets have a great importance, as in assembly (assembly) in machine and tool. In addition to the purely mechanically operated gun, there are also versions that are driven hydraulically to make work easier with compressed air or electric, for special applications ( limited space, very high power use ).