TWI844263B - Quick release structure of the connecting rod - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting rod includes: a rocker, a joint, a pin, a spindle and a steel ball. Two expansion holes are formed inside a ball head of the rocker, and the narrow ends of the two expansion holes are connected to form a long hole in the center of the ball head. The spindle and the steel ball are arranged inside the joint, and the spindle pushes a part of the steel ball to expose the joint. The pin passes through the long hole of the rocker and the joint, so that the ball head is placed in a circular groove of the joint and can swing relative to each other. The pin is kept at a distance from one end of the long hole, allowing the rocker to move a stroke in a straight line, so that the spindle no longer drives the steel ball to be exposed outside the joint, thereby helping the connecting rod to quickly connect with a spark plug sleeve and be detachable.

Description

Quick release structure of the connecting rod

The present invention relates to the field of hand tools, and more particularly to a connecting rod suitable for installing a spark plug on a general vehicle, or removing the spark plug from the vehicle.

A vehicle that generates kinetic energy using fuel (such as gasoline, diesel or liquefied petroleum gas, etc.) usually has an engine. The engine is equipped with one or more spark plugs by screwing. A hand tool is used to tighten or loosen the spark plug, so the hand tool is called a spark plug socket wrench, or a socket wrench.

China's Utility Model Patent Case No. 2618731Y discloses that the spark plug socket wrench is a T-shaped structure consisting of a horizontal handle combined with one end of an operating rod, the other end of which is connected to a socket, and the socket is dedicated to a single specification of spark plugs. Spark plugs of different sizes must be replaced with appropriate sockets. The socket and the operating rod are integrated, and a user often needs to prepare more than two spark plug socket wrenches to replace the appropriate hand tools at any time to deal with the installation or removal of the spark plug. However, in addition to increasing the manufacturing cost, multiple spark plug socket wrenches will also increase the load and are not easy to carry.

China's utility model patent case No. 2707436Y, published in the China Patent Publication, discloses that the socket wrench has an upper pivot and a lower pivot, the lower pivot connects a socket and a universal connecting rod, and the upper pivot connects the universal connecting rod and a handle. The upper and lower pivots are implemented with rivets, which are not easy to replace, so the socket, universal connecting rod and handle are not easy to replace. There is a limitation that the socket is dedicated to a single specification of spark plugs, and multiple socket wrenches must be prepared to cope with the installation or removal of spark plugs of different specifications. Therefore, the manufacturing cost is still expensive, and the load is not reduced, which is not convenient for carrying.

Therefore, how to reduce the burden of carrying and improve the disadvantages of high manufacturing cost has become an urgent problem to be solved in the present invention.

Based on the installation or removal of the spark plug, the inventor of this case studied a new connecting rod, the main purpose of which is to adopt a modular structure. In addition to the rocker being connected to the connector and being able to swing relative to each other, the rocker also has the function of quick removal, helping the connector to combine with the required spark plug socket, effectively solving the long-standing drawbacks of the conventional technology, such as heavy load, inconvenience in carrying, and high manufacturing cost.

In order to achieve the purpose of quick release, the connecting rod of the present invention includes: a rocker, a joint, a pin, a spindle and a steel ball. Two expansion holes are formed inside a ball head of the rocker, and the narrow ends of the two expansion holes are connected to form a long hole in the center of the ball head. The spindle and the steel ball are arranged inside the joint, and the spindle pushes a part of the steel ball to expose the joint. The pin passes through the long hole of the rocker and the joint, so that the ball head is placed in a circular groove of the joint and can swing relative to each other. The pin is kept at a distance from one end of the long hole, allowing the rocker to move a stroke in a straight line, so that the spindle no longer drives the steel ball to be exposed outside the joint, thereby helping the connecting rod to quickly connect with a spark plug sleeve and be detachable.

In order to make the purpose, features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, one or more preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Next, the embodiments of the present invention are described in conjunction with the attached drawings. In the attached drawings, the same reference numerals are used to represent the same or similar structures or units. It is foreseeable that the embodiments described are only examples of part of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Other embodiments can be derived based on the examples described, or structures that are modified or changed as needed are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

In the following description, directional terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back", "inner", "outer" and "side" are only used for reference to the directions in the attached drawings. The use of directional terms is for better and clearer description and understanding of the present invention, and does not express or imply that the device or component described must have a specific orientation, structure and operation, so it should not be understood as a limitation on the technical content of the present invention.

Unless otherwise specified and clearly defined, in the following description, "installed", "connected", "connected" or "provided on" should be understood in a broad sense, such as fixed connection, detachable connection, integral connection, mechanical connection, direct connection, indirect connection or connection between two components. For those skilled in the art, the above terms in various embodiments and even the specific meanings of this case can be understood by ordinary knowledge or experience.

Unless otherwise specified, in the following description, "plurality" means two or more.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of a connecting rod 20 of the present invention is combined with a hand tool 10 and a spark plug sleeve 11 .

The hand tool 10 described here refers to a wrench. The wrench has a head 15 at one end and a grip 16 at the other end. The head 15 is equipped with a drive assembly 17, and a ratchet (not shown) of the drive assembly 17 can idly rotate in the head 15 and work in the reverse direction. For example, in the clockwise direction, the grip 16 idly rotates around the drive assembly 17. In the counterclockwise direction, the grip 16 drives the drive assembly 17 to rotate in the same direction, transmitting a torque of the hand tool 10. Therefore, the hand tool 10 is also called a ratchet wrench.

As for the specific structure of the driving assembly 17, it is not a technical feature of the present invention and will not be described in detail.

Secondly, one end of the spark plug sleeve 11 (see FIG. 2) is sunk into a square hole 12, and each of the four planes of the square hole 12 has a bead hole 13. The other end of the spark plug sleeve 11 forms a hexagonal hole 14, which is connected to the square hole 12 and can hold a spark plug (not shown) of the same size.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the connecting rod 20 of this embodiment includes: a rocker 21, a joint 30, a pin 40, a ring 41, a rolling member 42, a core shaft 45, a fastener 47, a compression spring 48, a steel ball 49 and a supporting member 56.

The top of the joystick 21 is provided with another square hole 23 to form a sleeve portion 22. The bottom of the joystick 21 is provided with a ball head 24, and a neck portion 25 is formed between the ball head 24 and the joystick 21. Two expansion holes 27 are formed inside the ball head 24, and each expansion hole 27 has a wide end 63 and a narrow end 64. The two narrow ends 64 are connected to form a long hole 29, and the long hole 29 is located in the center of the inner part of the ball head 24. The two wide ends 63 are located on the circumferential surface outside the ball head 24, and a plurality of bevels 65 extend from the outer surface of the ball head 24 to the long hole 29.

Secondly, a square column 34 protrudes from one end of the connector 30, and from the square column 34 to the other end of the connector 30 are a straight hole 33, a main hole 32 and a circular groove 31 connected. The circular groove 31 has the largest diameter, and a shoulder 38 is at the bottom of the circular groove 31 and surrounds the outlet of the main hole 32. The straight hole 33 has the smallest diameter, so a bottom surface 37 of the main hole 32 surrounds the outlet of the straight hole 33. In addition, a hole 51 (see FIG. 6 ) is formed on the side of the square column 34 and intersects with the straight hole 33.

In this embodiment, the pin 40 fixes the wall of the circular groove 31 formed by the joint 30 and passes through the long hole 29 and the expansion hole 27 of the ball head 24. With the pin 40 as the center, the ball head 24 is placed in the circular groove 31 and rotates with the joint 30. In other words, the rocker 21 is connected to the joint 30 and can swing with each other. The diameter of the neck 25 is smaller than the diameter of the rocker 21, so the swing range of the rocker 21 and the joint 30 is relatively enlarged.

In the swinging position, the long hole 29 moves in a circle around the pin 40, so the rocker 21 swings back and forth relative to the joint 30. The bevel 65 of the expansion hole 27 forms an angle with the pin 40, allowing the rocker 21 to swing back and forth along the direction of the arrow 28 toward the two ends of the pin 40.

In this embodiment, the support member 56 is a conical spring, which is inserted into the circular groove 31, and its two ends contact the outer surface of the ball head 24 and the shoulder 38 of the circular groove 31 respectively. Therefore, the support member 56 pushes the ball head 24 and the joint 30 to separate. The pin 40 blocks the lowest point of the long hole 29, so that the rocker 21 and the joint 30 pull each other to maintain a tension.

In some embodiments, the support member 56 is a plurality of stacked spring leaves, a compression spring, or other elastic element.

In addition, the ring 41 tightens the outer wall of the joint 30 to prevent the pin 40 from detaching from the joint 30, thereby preventing the connecting rod 20 from disassembling.

Furthermore, the fastener 47 is embedded in one end of the spindle 45. The other end of the spindle 45 passes through the compression spring 48 and enters the straight hole 33 through the main hole 32. The two ends of the compression spring 48 contact the bottom surface 37 of the main hole 32 and the fastener 47 respectively, which can squeeze the compression spring 48 to accumulate a force 53. Therefore, the force 53 is proportional to a deformation amount of the compression spring 48.

The side of the core shaft 45 forms a step portion 46, which can push the steel ball 49 into the hole 51 of the square column 34 (see Figure 6). The steel ball 49 partially exposes the surface of the square column 34 and at the same time clamps the step portion 46, so that the core shaft 45 counteracts the force 53 of the compression spring 48.

In this embodiment, the rolling member 42 is a rigid sphere, which rolls and contacts the end surface of the core shaft 45. With the force 53 of the compression spring 48, the core shaft 45 pushes the rolling member 42 to move toward the circular groove 31 of the joint 30. A diameter reduction end 36 is formed at the outlet of the main hole 32 through the circular groove 31. The diameter of the diameter reduction end 36 is smaller than the diameter of the rolling member 42, so the rolling member 42 is blocked by the diameter reduction end 36 of the main hole 32, allowing a part of the rolling member 42 to exceed the shoulder 38 and expose the circular groove 31. At the same time, the distance 67 between the roller 42 and the outer surface of the ball head 24 is shorter than the distance 66 between the pin 40 and the highest point of the long hole 29.

As can be understood from FIG. 5 , an external force 54 is applied to the rocker 21, shortening the distance between the rocker 21 and the joint 30. The highest point of the long hole 29 resists the pin 40, and a stroke 69 from the pin 40 to the lowest point of the long hole 29 is equivalent to the distance of the straight line movement of the rocker 21. The ball head 24 enters the depth of the circular groove 31 and approaches the shoulder 38, compressing the volume of the support member 56 and forming a contact point 68 with the outer surface of the rolling member 42. The rolling member 42 retreats into the main hole 32, continuously driving the spindle 45 to displace in the same direction relative to the joint 30. At this moment, the fastener 47 is close to the bottom surface 37 of the main hole 32 and squeezes the compression spring 48, which relatively increases the deformation of the compression spring 48.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 , the mandrel 45 extends out of the end face of the square column 34, so that the lower step portion of the step portion 46 faces the hole 51. At this moment, the steel ball 49 is free and can be withdrawn into the lower step portion of the step portion 46 toward the mandrel 45, so there is no steel ball 49 on the outer surface of the square column 34.

After the square column 34 is inserted into the square hole 12, the rocker 21 is actively pulled up by manpower. Alternatively, the rocker 21 and the connector 30 are passively pushed apart by the force of the support member 56 returning to its original state. At the same time, the compression spring 48 returning to its original state releases the force 53 (see FIG. 3 ), and indirectly pushes the spindle 45 through the fastener 47, causing the roller 42 to partially exceed the shoulder 38, thereby exposing the circular groove 31. Because the upper portion of the step portion 46 faces the hole 51 (see FIG. 7 ), the steel ball 49 is pushed out of the square column 34 again by the upper portion, and engages the corresponding ball hole 13, completing the action of the connector 20 being coupled to the spark plug sleeve 11.

Looking back at Figures 1 and 2, below the head 15 is a protruding part of the drive assembly 17, which can be inserted into the square hole 23 of the socket 22. In this way, the connecting rod 20 transmits the torque of the hand tool 10 to the spark plug sleeve 11, locking the spark plug for installation, or loosening it for removal.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the connecting rod 20, which has a structure substantially the same as the first embodiment, except that: first, there is no roller and fastener. The core shaft 45 has an additional large diameter portion 70. The large diameter portion 70 is formed at the end of the core shaft 45 and has a convex surface 71 and a resisting surface 72. The resisting surface 72 is an annular surface surrounding the core shaft 45. The annular surface is inside the main hole 32 and contacts the two ends of the compression spring 48 with the bottom surface 37, respectively, to change the deformation amount and the acting force 53 of the compression spring 48. The large diameter portion 70 of the second embodiment replaces the fastener of the first embodiment without compromising the effectiveness of the connecting rod 20.

Furthermore, the force 53 of the compression spring 48 pushes the convex surface 71 of the large diameter portion 70 to directly press against the reduced diameter end 36 , causing the local convex surface 71 to exceed the shoulder 38 , thereby being exposed from the circular groove 31 .

As shown in FIG. 8 , the distance 67 from the convex surface 71 to the outer surface of the ball head 24 is shorter than the distance 66 from the pin 40 to the highest point of the long hole 29. In FIG. 9 , after the rocker 21 receives the external force 54, it generates a contact point 68 with the convex surface 71 of the large diameter portion 70, and the distance of the two moving in a straight line is equivalent to the stroke 69 from the pin 40 to the lowest point of the long hole 29. Therefore, the large diameter portion 70 of the second embodiment replaces the rolling element of the first embodiment without damaging the function of the connecting rod 20.

Without departing from the broad concept of this case, those skilled in the art can understand and make changes to the above embodiments. Therefore, this case is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, and all modifications made according to the spirit and technical scope of this case should be covered and protected by the text content defined in the scope of the patent application.

10:Hand Tools

11: Spark plug sleeve

12, 23: Square hole

13: Pearl Cave

14: Hexagonal hole

15: Head

16: Grip

17:Drive assembly

20: Receiver

21: Joystick

22: socket part

24: Ball head

25: Neck

27: Expansion hole

28: Arrow

29: Long hole

30: Connector

31: Round groove

32: Main hole

33: Straight hole

34: Square Column

36: Diameter reduction end

37: Bottom

38: Shoulders

40: Pin

41: Ring

42: Rolling parts

45: spindle

46: Hierarchy

47: Fasteners

48:Compression spring

49:Steel Ball

51: Hole

53: Force

54: External Force

56: Support

63: Wide end

64: Narrow end

65: Bevel

66, 67: Distance

68: Contact point

69: Itinerary

70: Large diameter

71: Convex surface

72: Boycott

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the connecting rod of the present invention that can be combined with a spark plug sleeve and a hand tool. FIG. 2 cuts open the corresponding connecting rod and spark plug sleeve. FIG. 3 enlarges a partial connector of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 depicts the internal structure of the connecting rod of FIG. 3 from another angle. FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the connecting rod of FIG. 4 after the action. FIG. 6 shows the state of the connecting rod of FIG. 5 before the combination with the spark plug sleeve. FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the connecting rod of the present invention and combines it with a spark plug sleeve. FIG. 8 enlarges a partial internal structure of the connector of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 shows the internal structure of the connector of FIG. 8 after the action.

20: Receiving rod

21: Joystick

24: Ball head

25: Neck

27: Dilation hole

29: Long hole

30:Connection

31: Round groove

32: Main hole

33: Straight hole

36: Diameter reduction end

37: Bottom

38: Shoulders

40: Sales

41: Ring piece

42: Rolling parts

45: spindle

47: Fasteners

48: Compression spring

54: External force

56: Support parts

63: Wide end

64: Narrow end

68: Contact point

69: Itinerary

Claims (9)

A quick-release structure of a connecting rod comprises: a connecting head (30), one end of which protrudes a square column (34), and a straight hole (33), a main hole (32) and a circular groove (31) are formed from the square column (34) to the other end of the connecting head (30). The circular groove (31) has the largest diameter and the straight hole (33) has the smallest diameter, so that a shoulder (38) is formed on the bottom surface of the circular groove (31) so that the main hole (32) has a A bottom surface (37), a hole (51) extending from the side of the square column (34) and intersecting the straight hole (33); a core shaft (45) having a step portion (46), the core shaft (45) reciprocating from the main hole (32) to the straight hole (33); a steel ball (49) disposed in the hole (51) of the square column (34), the step portion (46) of the core shaft (45) pushing the steel ball (49) to partially expose the straight hole (33); The square column (34) is in a normal state on the outside; a joystick (21) having a ball head (24) with a long hole (29) inside the ball head (24); and a pin (40) fixed to the joint (30), the ball head (24) being inserted into the circular groove (31), and the pin (40) passing through the long hole (29); when one of the two ends of the long hole (29) is adjacent to the pin (40), the core shaft (45) and the ball head (2 4) The outside maintains a distance (67), and the rocker (21) and the joint (30) swing relative to each other; the rocker (21) moves linearly and penetrates into the circular groove (31), so that the pin (40) is adjacent to the other end of the long hole (29), and the ball head (24) directly or indirectly drives the spindle (45) to move relative to the joint (30), and the step portion (46) no longer drives the steel ball (49) to be exposed outside the square column (34). The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 1, wherein two expansion holes (27) are formed inside the ball head (24), and the two ends of the expansion hole (27) are respectively a wide end (63) and a narrow end (64), and the two narrow ends (64) are connected to form a long hole (29) in the center of the ball head (24), and the two wide ends (63) are located on the circumferential surface outside the ball head (24), and a plurality of bevels (65) extend from the outer surface of the ball head (24) to the long hole (29). The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 1 further includes: a supporting member (56) disposed between the shoulder (38) of the circular groove (31) and the ball head (24). The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 3, wherein the support member (56) can be a conical spring, a leaf spring, a compression spring or other elastic element. The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 1, wherein a rolling member (42) is inserted into the main hole (32) of the connecting head (30), and the core shaft (45) pushes the rolling member (42) to press against a diameter-reduced end (36) of the outlet of the main hole (32), so that a part of the rolling member (42) exceeds the shoulder (38) and exposes the circular groove (31). The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 5, wherein the rolling member (42) is a sphere, and the ball head (24) indirectly drives the core shaft (45) to move via the sphere. The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 1, wherein the outside of the core shaft (45) is a compression spring (48), and one end of the compression spring (48) resists the bottom surface (37) of the main hole (32) and can provide a force (53) to the core shaft (45). The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 7, wherein the other end of the compression spring (48) is supported by a fastener (47) embedded in the core shaft (45). The quick-release structure of the connecting rod as described in claim 7, wherein the other end of the compression spring (48) presses against a resisting surface (72) of a large diameter portion (70) of the core shaft (45), and an action force (53) of the compression spring (48) causes a convex surface (71) of the large diameter portion (70) to press against a diameter reduction end (36) of the outlet of the main hole (32), so that a portion of the convex surface (71) exceeds the shoulder (38) to expose the circular groove (31).

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