Reversible ratcheting tool with gear wheel/pawl engagement

摘要

A ratcheting tool includes a handle (101; 101') and a head (10; 10') in which a gear wheel (20; 20') is rotatably mounted. A pawl (30; 30') is mounted in the head and includes a toothed first side (31; 31') engaged with the gear wheel and a second side (32; 32') facing away the gear wheel, the second side of the pawl including two spaced operative sections (34; 34'). A ball (41; 41') is biased to engage with one of the operative sections of the pawl, thereby biasing the pawl teeth to mesh with the gear wheel teeth and biasing the pawl to bear against a wall of the head. A switch member (60; 60') is pivotally mounted to the head and includes a first end engaged with the pawl to move therewith and a second end (65; 65') for manual operation. The switch member is pivotally movable between two positions to optionally cause the ball to engage with one of the operative sections of the pawl, thereby allowing change in ratcheting direction of the ratcheting tool. <IMAGE>