HK1197901B - Ratcheting torque wrench - Google Patents

Description

Ratchet effect torque wrench

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to ratcheting wrenches, and more particularly to ratcheting torque wrenches commonly used in the aircraft and automotive industries.

Background

In many industrial applications, it is critical to tighten a threaded fastener to a particular degree or torque. In the assembly of automobiles or aircraft, it is extremely important that nuts, bolts, screws, ears, etc. (which are collectively referred to as "bolts" for simplicity) be tightened sufficiently to ensure that the final assembly functions properly, not only in initial use, but also over an extended period of time. However, over-tightening may damage the threads or cause vibration problems in the assembly.

The use of torque wrenches to tighten bolts has long been known. Such wrenches not only enable a user to rotate and tighten a bolt, but also provide the user with a visual, audible, or tactile indication of the amount of torque applied. Some known devices include skid-type, beam-type, deflection beam-type, click-type, and electronic strain gauge-type indicators. Click-type torque indicators are often used in wrenches designed for automotive applications and typically include a calibrated clutch mechanism disposed in the handle or lever arm of the wrench. The clutch mechanism clicks when the user has applied the preselected torque force, thereby providing the user with an audible and tactile sensation that the preselected torque force has been applied. One type of torque indicator is described in detail in U.S. patent No. 4,655,104 to brattner, and this disclosure is incorporated into the present disclosure by reference.

The head of the torque wrench may be configured as a ratchet wrench. However, the amount of play provided in some ratchet wrenches may affect the accuracy of the torque indicator, so not all ratchet assemblies are always suitable for use in a torque wrench.

Ratchet wrenches have ratchet assemblies that engage and drive the bolt when the wrench is rotated in one selected direction and disengage when the wrench is rotated in the opposite direction, enabling the user to move the wrench without reversing the previous motion, thereby enabling the user to avoid the need to remove and reposition the wrench when further rotation of the wrench in one direction is prevented or inconvenient. A sliding gear ratchet assembly of the type shown in U.S. patent No. 6,341,543 has a ratchet, a sliding gear with sets of opposing teeth, and a ball and spring assembly that releasably biases the teeth on the push rod against the teeth on the ratchet. The user can selectively toggle the wrench so that one or the other of the sets of opposing teeth on the push rod engages the teeth on the ratchet, thereby configuring the ratchet assembly so that it is driven when rotated in a clockwise direction and released when rotated in a counterclockwise direction, or vice versa.

To enable a user to easily switch between one operating mode and another, the sliding gears on prior ratchet wrenches are slidably disposed within apertures extending laterally through the head. The sliding gear is wider than the head and in one mode of operation one side end protrudes out of one side of the head and in another mode of operation the other side end protrudes out of the other side of the head. The user toggles the ratchet assembly between the operating modes by pressing the protruding end of the sliding gear into the hole. The operation switching causes one part of the slide gear to be disengaged from the ratchet wheel, causes the other part of the slide gear to be engaged with the other part of the ratchet wheel, and pushes the other end of the slide gear out of the other side of the head.

While the extension of the end of the sliding gear makes it easy for the user to switch the wrench between the two operating modes, it also creates problems. First, the layout of the lateral bores requires multiple fits (set-ups) on a computer controlled vertical milling machine, making it more time to machine the head of the wrench. Secondly, the protruding end of the sliding gear creates a risk of an undesired switching of the wrench between operating modes. Because the ratchet wrench generates a single-ended moment couple, the worker places the palm of one hand on the head of the wrench to resist the side force, and the hand can apply sufficient force on the projecting end of the sliding gear to move it out of position. Third, the exposure of the holes and sliding gear to the environment creates a risk that dust, metal dust, or other material will enter between the two moving parts and eventually damage the wrench.

The sliding gear on existing wrenches has a circular profile that enables it to fit easily in the lateral bore and can provide some tolerance for debris in the slideway. However, axial oscillation of the sliding gear within the bore can result in point contact between the teeth on the ratchet wheel and the teeth on the sliding gear, and such contact significantly increases the stress on the teeth and can lead to quicker breakage.

Disclosure of Invention

A new ratcheting torque wrench has been developed. It is easier to manufacture (only requiring a single fit on a vertical milling machine), less prone to accidental mode changes, and is better protected against conditions that lead to premature failure.

Similar to the wrench disclosed in the' 6,341,543 patent, the new wrench has a head with a working face and an opposite rear face. The slide gear slides laterally in a slide channel in the head and has a first (upper) side facing the ratchet. The biasing element is arranged to laterally urge the sliding gear into operative engagement with the ratchet gear in either of the two ratcheting positions. In those positions, the ratcheting effect occurs when rotation of the wrench causes a portion of the sliding gear to engage the engaging teeth on the ratchet gear and urge the sliding gear toward the centerline of the wrench until the engaged portion of the sliding gear disengages from the engaging teeth. The biasing element then urges the sliding gear away from the centerline of the wrench where the sliding gear engages the new engaged tooth.

Unlike existing wrenches, the sliding gear in the new wrench fits in a channel that is cut only from the working face of the wrench. A closed end on the head covers and seals the end of the sliding gear from the environment.

To move the wrench between the two ratcheting positions, a pin is used to selectively slide the sliding gear laterally within the sliding channel. The pin protrudes from a slot in the rear face of the wrench and can be protected from inadvertent removal by recessing it into the rear face.

The sliding gear has a generally rectangular configuration with a rounded shoulder that engages the teeth on the ratchet wheel. Preferably, each shoulder is curved and has a single recess on its outside, the radial distance from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the recess being no more than half the difference between the outer diameter of the tooth on the ratchet and the root circle diameter. The teeth on the ratchet preferably have a substantially flat face, a crest that spans at least one-quarter pitch, and a root floor that extends continuously from the face, has a substantially constant radius, and spans at least one-quarter pitch.

The ratchet is located in a ratchet recess which can be machined in the same machining operation used to cut the slide channel. The ratchet is preferably supported on a central journal on the ratchet recess. The central journal may have a gapped wall that leaves a small gap between the ratchet and the journal.

Other aspects and forms of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the drawings, the following detailed description, and the appended claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one example of a torque wrench utilizing the ratcheting of the new invention.

Fig. 2-4 are front, side and rear views of the head of the wrench shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a partially exploded isometric view of the head of the ratchet wrench.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged axial cross-sectional view of the head taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

Fig. 7 and 8 are enlarged views of the teeth and shoulders in two different embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description

The illustrated ratcheting torque wrench 10 has a lever arm 12, a grip portion 14 at a first end of the lever arm 12, and a head portion 16 at a second end of the lever arm 12. A ratchet assembly 20 is carried in the head 16.

As best seen in fig. 2-4, the head 16 of the wrench 10 has a front or working surface 22 opposite the rear surface 24, a left outer side 26, a right outer side 28, a distal side 30, and a shank 32. (all directional descriptors, such as top, bottom, left, right, etc., are used for convenience in referring to the drawings and are not intended to be limiting). The left lateral side 26, right lateral side 28, and distal side 30 are formed by one or more sidewall sections extending along and connecting the outer peripheries of the working face 22 and the rear face 24. A handle 32 extends outwardly from the body opposite the distal side 30 and is operatively connected to the lever arm 12.

As best seen in fig. 6, a ratchet cavity 34 is provided in the head 16 adjacent one side of the slide channel 36 and a spring cavity 38 is provided adjacent an opposite side of the slide channel 36. The ratchet cavity 34, slide channel 36 and spring cavity 38 are all recessed into the working face 22 of the head 16 in a layout that enables each cavity/channel to be cut or formed in a single set-up on a computer controlled vertical milling machine.

Ratchet assembly 20 includes a double acting pawl or slide gear 40, a ratchet gear such as ratchet 42 and a biasing element such as a spring 44 and ball 46 assembly that resiliently and operatively engages slide gear 40 against the ratchet gear.

Ratchet cavity and ratchet

Ratchet cavity 34 is a disc-shaped recess sized to receive ratchet 42. Having a central journal 45 on which the ratchet wheel 42 is mounted.

The ratchet wheel 42 has a generally disc-shaped body with a blind bore 47 (fig. 6) centrally disposed behind it. The blind bore fits onto a central journal 45 in the ratchet cavity 34 to enable the ratchet to be mounted for rotation within the ratchet cavity 34. In precision torque wrenches, a tight fit is required. To accommodate this, it is preferred that at least a portion of the center journal 45 have a radius slightly smaller than the blind bore of the ratchet 42, thereby forming a dividing wall leaving an opening 48 (FIG. 6) between the inner diameter of the ratchet 42 and the center journal 45. The opening contains a lubricant such as oil.

A drive rod 50 is centrally disposed on the front face of ratchet wheel 42 and extends outwardly from working face 22 of head 16. The drive rod may be a screwdriver or a wrench head such as a socket, but is preferably a conventional fitting having a spring-loaded ball detent mechanism (spring-loaded ball detent mechanism) that can be used to hold interchangeable sockets.

Ratchet wheel 42 has teeth 52 on a peripheral wall extending around the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel between the front and rear faces. As explained in more detail below, these teeth provide a ratcheting engagement with the sliding gear 40. Since the teeth cooperate with elements of the sliding gear, the configuration of the teeth may influence the configuration of the shoulder and vice versa. As best seen in the example illustrated in fig. 7 and 8, the teeth preferably have a substantially flat land 53, a tooth crest 54 that spans at least a quarter of the pitch P, and a tooth trough land 55 that extends continuously from the land, has a substantially constant radius, and spans at least a quarter of the pitch. Other arrangements may be suitable in these or other embodiments.

Slide channel and slide gear

The slide channel 36 slidably receives the slide gear 40. The slide channel 36 is an elongated rectangular recess immediately adjacent and substantially tangential to the ratchet cavity 34. The slide channel 36 is laterally aligned, preferably perpendicular, to the radius of the ratchet cavity 34. As best seen in fig. 6, the slide channel 36 has a first side 56 facing the ratchet cavity 34, a second side 58 opposite the first side 56, a left end 60, and a right end 62. A central portion of the first side 56 of the slide channel 36 intersects the arcuate section of the ratchet cavity 34 forming an opening, such as a window 66, connecting the slide channel 36 and the ratchet cavity 34. The left end 60 of the slide channel 36 is closed by the left outer side 26 of the head 16 and the right end 62 of the slide channel 36 is closed by the right outer side 28 of the head 16. In use, the left and right outer sides 26, 28 of the head prevent lateral access to the left and right ends 60, 62 of the slide channel 36 from outside the head 16.

The sliding gear 40 is preferably formed from a straight, elongated rectangular bar having a top side 72, a bottom side 74, a front side 76, a rear side 78, and a generally rectangular left end 80 and a generally rectangular right end 82. The sliding gear is sized and shaped to fit closely within the sliding channel 36 and should slide laterally relative to the radius of the ratchet wheel 42. The illustrated sliding gear 40 is arranged to slide laterally to the left and right in the sliding channel 36 and thereby also laterally relative to the axis of the lever arm 12. In other arrangements, the path of the sliding gear may rotate clockwise or counterclockwise about the ratchet gear 42, angularly offsetting it from the handle 32.

To minimize wobble of the sliding gear 40 within the slide channel 36, the intersection of the bottom side 74 with each of the front and rear sides 76, 78 defines an angled or sharp edge 75, rather than a rounded edge. This helps reduce wobble of the sliding gear within the sliding channel 36 and thereby helps reduce wear and extreme fatigue of the teeth 52 by helping to maintain line contact rather than point contact with the teeth 52 on the ratchet wheel 42.

The top (or upper) side 72 of the slide gear 40 has opposing first and second shoulders 84 that engage the teeth 52 on the ratchet wheel 42. One shoulder 84 is disposed at or adjacent the left end 80 of the sliding gear and a second shoulder 84 is disposed at or adjacent the right end 82 of the sliding gear. The outside of each illustrated shoulder has a recess 85, such as seen in the example arrangement shown in fig. 7 and 8. The bottom 83 of the recess is laterally spaced from the top of the shoulder by a distance of about one-half of the pitch of the teeth on the ratchet wheel. Preferably, each shoulder is curved and the radial distance R from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the recess is no more than half the difference between the outer diameter OD of the teeth 52 on the ratchet wheel 42 and the root circle diameter RD. The recess is for receiving a tooth on the ratchet wheel.

The sliding gear 40 also has an engagement member, such as a pin 86, that projects outwardly from the rear side 78 of the sliding gear. The pin 86 is centrally located on the rear side 78 and the user can contact the pin 86 through a slot 88 on the rear face 24 of the head 16. The pin 86 and slot 88 enable the slide gear 40 to be selectively transitioned between the clockwise ratcheting position and the counterclockwise ratcheting position without exposing the side ends 80, 82 of the slide gear to the environment. The area of the slot is smaller than the cross section of the ends of the sliding gear, and the perimeter of the slot (which forms a boundary where dust or debris may enter the head) is not significantly larger than the perimeter of each side end of the sliding gear. Thus, this arrangement not only reduces the risk of undesired switching of the sliding gear between the two positions, but also the moving perimeter exposed to the environment is less than would be exposed in a comparative arrangement in which the end of the sliding gear protrudes beyond the side of the head.

Spring cavity and spring and ball assembly

The illustrated wrench 10 uses a conventional spring 44 and ball 46 assembly to bias the sliding gear 40, although other biasing arrangements are possible. The illustrated spring cavity 38 is an elongated recess that opens onto the second side 58 of the slide channel, opposite the window 66, and is preferably radially aligned with the ratchet cavity 34 and perpendicular to the slide channel 36. The illustrated spring cavity is also axially aligned with the shank 32, although this may not always be the case. The spring cavity receives the spring 44 and ball 46 assembly. The spring pushes the balls upwards into the slide channel 36, where the balls cooperate with the inclined recesses 89, 90 on the bottom side of the slide gear 36. The interior of the recesses are moderately sloped so that the pressure of the ball biases the sliding gear away from a central position within the sliding channel, but can be overcome by sufficient force so that the sliding gear can move laterally far enough to move the ball out of one recess and into the other. The outer portion of the recess is steep and thus provides an effective outer limit to the travel range of the sliding gear.

An optional spring cover 92 (fig. 5) covers the spring cavity 38 on the side facing the working surface 22, retaining the spring 44 and the ball 46 within the spring cavity 38. The spring cover 92 may be press-fit or loosely fit into a recess 94 adjacent the spring cavity 38 and the slide channel 36.

Other elements

The illustrated wrench has a face plate 96, the face plate 96 being disposed on the working surface 22 of the head 16, covering the ratchet cavity 34, the slide channel 36, and the spring cover 92, and retaining the ratchet assembly 20 inside the head 16. The illustrated panel 96 is locked in place by a locking collar 98, the locking collar 98 resiliently engaging an undercut, such as one or more slots 100, extending around a portion of the inner periphery of the side wall of the head 16 adjacent the working face 22.

The illustrated ratchet wrench 10 may have a torque indicator assembly (not shown) in the lever arm 12. For example, a click-type indicator that provides a tactile click and/or audible sensation when a predetermined torque is achieved when tightening a bolt may be used. In many cases, any type of torque indicator currently known in the art or that may be developed in the future may be used.

In the illustrated wrench, the shank 32 extends from the head 16 into the lever arm 12. The handle 36 is pivotally connected to the second end of the lever arm 12 with the pivot pin 104 in an arrangement that causes the ratchet head 16 to pivot about the pivot pin 104 when a predetermined torque force is reached. Further details are omitted here, but may be found, for example, in U.S. patent No. 4,655,104. Other arrangements for operatively connecting the ratchet head 16 to the lever arm 12 may also or alternatively be used.

Ratcheting and drive

Fig. 6 shows the slide gear 40 in a counterclockwise ratcheting position, wherein the slide gear 40 is positioned toward the right end 62 of the slide channel 36, the right end 68 of the slide gear 40 is disposed proximate the right end 62 of the slide channel 36, and there is a gap or space between the left end 66 of the slide gear 40 and the left end 60 of the slide channel 36. The ball 46 engages in a slanted recess 89 on the left side of the sliding gear. A shoulder 84 on the left side of the sliding gear is provided to the ratchet cavity 34 at the left end of the window 66 and engages between two teeth 52 on the ratchet wheel 42 to the left of the centerline of the wrench. The top of the left tooth is received by the recess 85.

As the head is rotated in the clockwise direction CW, the shoulder 84 engages the adjacent tooth 52 to its left, away from the centerline of the wrench. The movement of the slider gear to the right within the slide channel is substantially limited by the engagement of the ball 46 with the opposed vertical outer side walls on the ramped recess 89 and, in some embodiments, by the bottoming of the shoulder in the tooth space floor 55 between adjacent teeth on the ratchet wheel 42. The rotational force will then be transmitted to the ratchet and drive bar 50 through the engaged teeth and shoulders, thereby enabling the user to drive the bolt.

When the head 16 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction CCW, the shoulder 84 on the left side of the sliding gear 40 engages the adjacent tooth 52 to its right, toward the centerline of the wrench. Movement of the sliding gear to the left is only moderately restricted by the engagement of the balls 46 with the inclined inner walls on the inclined recesses 82, allowing the sliding gear to move to the left in the sliding channel 36 (as viewed in the figures) as the wrench rotates about the ratchet wheel 42 until the shoulders disengage the teeth. After the shoulder disengages the teeth, the force of the spring 44 pressing the ball 46 against the sloped inner wall of the sloped recess 89 will urge the sliding gear back to the right in the sliding channel, where it will engage another (preferably the next) tooth on the ratchet wheel 42. Thus, head 16 of the wrench rotates about drive rod 50, providing a ratcheting action that enables drive rod 50 to remain in place while the remainder of the wrench rotates about it.

When the sliding gear 40 is pushed to the left to a position where the ball 46 engages in the right angled recess 90, the wrench is set for driving when rotating in the counterclockwise direction CCW and for producing a ratcheting effect when rotating in the clockwise direction CW. As described above, the shoulder 84 on the right side of the sliding gear engages the teeth 52 on the ratchet wheel 42 on the right side of the centerline of the wrench, but in the opposite direction. The shoulder 84 on the left side remains clear of the ratchet.

Changing operating modes

As described above, the pin 86 projects outwardly through the lateral slot 88 in the rear face 24 of the head 16 and is engageable by a user's thumb or finger to selectively slide the slide gear 40 laterally leftward and/or rightward within the slide channel 36 between the clockwise ratcheting position and the counterclockwise ratcheting position.

As best seen in fig. 4, the recess 110 surrounding the slot 88 forms a depression or concave bowl in the rear face 24 of the head 16. The outer or distal end of the pin 86 is preferably located at or below the outermost surface of the posterior face 24 such that the distal end of the pin 86 does not extend beyond the outer surface of the posterior face 24. The recess 110 enables contact of the side of the pin 86, such as by a user's thumb or finger, to facilitate lateral pushing of the pin 86 along the slot 88. Having the distal end of the pin 86 flush with or below the outermost surface of the rear face 24, rather than extending it outwardly beyond the outermost surface, can help prevent the sliding gear 40 from being accidentally switched between the clockwise and counterclockwise ratcheting positions during use.

Other variations to the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the following claims are reserved.

Claims (20)

1. A ratcheting torque tightening tool having:

a sliding gear sliding laterally within a sliding channel in a head having a closed side preventing access to a lateral end of the sliding channel;

a ratchet mounted for rotation within a ratchet recess in the head and having a drive rod protruding from a face of the head;

two opposing shoulders on the sliding gear and facing the ratchet;

a biasing element selectively positionable in either a clockwise ratcheting position or a counterclockwise ratcheting position, in each position said biasing element laterally biasing said slide gear to a position where one of said opposing shoulders engages an engaging tooth on said ratchet gear but allowing sufficient rotational force to drive said engaging tooth and said slide gear away from a centerline of said tool until said shoulder disengages said engaging tooth, said biasing element subsequently driving a previously engaged shoulder back toward said centerline of said tool after which said shoulder engages a new engaging tooth;

a pin extending from the slide gear and protruding from a rear face of the head such that a user can slide the slide gear laterally in the slide channel and thereby can selectively place the tool in the clockwise ratcheting position or the counterclockwise ratcheting position.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein all cavities required for the ratchet recess, the slide channel and the biasing element are recessed from the face of the head in a layout that can be cut in a single fit on a computer controlled vertical milling machine.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the pin protrudes from the recessed portion of the rear face and has an outer end portion that remains flush with or recessed below the surrounding portion of the rear face.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the sliding gear is generally rectangular with a sharp edge on an opposite side facing away from the ratchet.

5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the shoulder on the biasing element is curved and the teeth on the ratchet wheel have a substantially flat face.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein:

each shoulder on the biasing element is curved and has a single recess outboard of each shoulder, the radial distance between the top of the shoulder and the bottom of the recess being no more than half the difference between the outer diameter and root circle diameter of the teeth on the ratchet wheel;

and the teeth on the ratchet wheel have a substantially flat face.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the teeth on the ratchet have:

a substantially flat face;

a tooth top land spanning at least one-quarter pitch; and

a tooth space floor extending continuously from the floor, having a substantially constant radius, and spanning at least one-quarter pitch.

8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the ratchet is supported on a center journal in the ratchet recess.

9. The tool of claim 6, wherein the central journal has a dividing wall forming an opening between the ratchet and the journal.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the drive rod is adapted to receive a replaceable sleeve.

11. The tool of claim 1, wherein:

each shoulder on the biasing element is curved and has a single recess outboard of each shoulder, the radial distance between the top of the shoulder and the bottom of the recess being no more than half the difference between the outer diameter and root circle diameter of the teeth on the ratchet wheel;

and the teeth on the ratchet wheel have a substantially flat face, a top land that spans at least one-quarter pitch, and a bottom land that extends continuously from the face and has a substantially constant radius and that spans at least one-quarter pitch.

12. A ratchet wrench, comprising:

a sliding gear that slides laterally inside a sliding channel in a head having a closed side that prevents access to lateral ends of the sliding channel;

a ratchet mounted for rotation within a ratchet recess in the head and having a drive rod projecting from a working face of the head;

two opposite shoulders of the sliding gear on the ratchet wheel side, the two opposite shoulders facing the ratchet wheel;

a biasing element selectively positionable in either a clockwise ratcheting position or a counterclockwise ratcheting position, in each position said biasing element laterally biasing said sliding gear to a position where one of said opposing shoulders engages an engaging tooth on said ratchet gear but allowing sufficient rotational force to drive said engaging tooth and said sliding gear away from a centerline of said wrench until said shoulder disengages said engaging tooth, said biasing element subsequently driving a previously engaged shoulder back toward said centerline of said wrench, said shoulder engaging a new engaging tooth upon return;

a pin extending from the sliding gear and protruding from an opposite rear face of the wrench to enable a user to slide the sliding gear laterally and thereby to selectively place the wrench in either the clockwise ratcheting position or the counterclockwise ratcheting position.

13. The ratchet wrench of claim 12, wherein all cavities required for the ratchet recess, the slide channel, and the biasing element are recessed from the working face in a layout that can be machined in a single set-up on a computer controlled vertical milling machine.

14. The ratchet wrench of claim 12, wherein the pin protrudes from the rearward recessed portion and has an outer end portion that remains recessed below the rearward peripheral portion.

15. The ratchet wrench of claim 12, wherein the sliding gear is generally rectangular with a sharp edge on an opposite side facing away from the ratchet.

16. The ratchet wrench of claim 12, wherein the ratchet is a close fit on a central journal in the ratchet recess.

17. The ratchet wrench of claim 16, wherein the central journal has a dividing wall forming an opening between the ratchet and the journal.

18. The ratchet wrench of claim 12, wherein the drive rod has a socket.

19. The ratchet wrench of claim 12, wherein the drive bar has a replaceable sleeve.

20. A ratcheting torque wrench, comprising:

a sliding gear sliding laterally within a sliding channel in a head operatively connected to a torque indicator assembly, the head having a closed side preventing access to a lateral end of the sliding channel;

a ratchet mounted for rotation within a ratchet recess in the head and having a drive rod protruding from a face of the head;

two opposing shoulders on the sliding gear and facing the ratchet;

a biasing element selectively positionable in either a clockwise ratcheting position or a counterclockwise ratcheting position, in each position said biasing element laterally biasing said sliding gear to a position where one of said opposing shoulders engages an engaging tooth on said ratchet gear but allowing sufficient rotational force to drive said engaging tooth and said sliding gear away from a centerline of said wrench until said shoulder disengages said engaging tooth, said biasing element subsequently driving a previously engaged shoulder back toward said centerline of said wrench, said shoulder engaging a new engaging tooth upon return;

a pin extending from the sliding gear and protruding from a rear face of the head such that a user can slide the sliding gear laterally in the sliding channel and thereby can selectively place the wrench in the clockwise ratcheting position or the counterclockwise ratcheting position.