Ratchet

From Team 449 Wiki

Socket Wrench
[[File:{{{image}}}|{{{sizeImage}}}]]
{{{caption}}}
Tool Information
Material: Chromium, vanadium, molybdenum steel
Uses: Tightening and loosening nuts and bolts.
Other Names: Ratchet

The ratchet is actually a tool called the socket wrench and is used to loosen nuts and bolts. It is especially helpful in tight places when one has little mobility. They may come in many sizes and are typically used on hex head bolts and hex nuts.

Parts

A ratchet is a gear mechanism that only allows movement in one direction, and prevents motion in another direction. A ratchet has a gear and a spring loaded mechanism called a pawl. When the gear is moving in the "forward" direction the pawl is able to slide up the slope gear teeth. However, when the gear moves in the opposite direction, the pawl locks against the tooth.

A simple ratchet.

This allows one to loosen or tighten a nut on a bolt by moving the ratchet in one direction. The ratchet can be moved in the opposite direction for repositioning, without actually turning the nut. This makes tightening and loosening nuts significantly easier in places with limited mobility.

Many ratchets have switches that allow the "forward" and "backward" directions to be changed.

The distinction between the socket wrench and a ratchet, is that a socket wrench uses a ratcheting mechanism. A ratchet itself simply describes the gear system. In robotics it is ok and common to simply refer to a socket wrench as a ratchet.

Operation

Tightening a Nut or Bolt

Get a ratchet and another wrench. Place the nut on the bolt and tighten as much as possible by hand. Place the ratchet on the nut, and place the other wrench on the head of the bolt. Use the wrench to prevent the bolt from turning by placed pressure on the bolt head with the wrench. Turn the ratchet in the forward direction as far as you wish to go. This should be the right. In order to effectively use the ratchet, do not turn it too far. Turn it back to the starting position. Repeat this until the nut is as tight as necessary.

Loosening a Nut or Bolt

Get a ratchet and another wrench. Place the ratchet on the nut, and place the other wrench on the head of the bolt. Use the wrench to prevent the bolt from turning by placed pressure on the bolt head with the wrench. Turn the ratchet in the forward direction as far as you wish to go. This should be the left. In order to effectively use the ratchet, do not turn it too far. Turn it back to the starting position. Repeat this until the nut is as loose as necessary.

Safety and Other Tips

Use a ratchet whenever possible. It makes life a lot easier, due to the fact that it does not have to be removed from the nut or bolt at all during the entire tightening process.