Zero Degree Socket Wrench Goes Pro

Zero Degree Socket Wrench Goes Pro The Zero Degree (ratchetless) socket wrench has already made life easier for mechanics of all types. A new version will be even better. Designed for professional mechanics, it’s made with higher-grade steel and a magnetic drive, unlike the spring-drive version currently manufactured in China. “Our consumer version is sold in big-box stores and online, and it’s ideal for the homeowner who only needs a Zero Degree wrench on occasion,” says Bob Albertson of Albertson Enterprises. “Our new pro version, the ZeroDrive, is designed for full-time mechanics who need a tougher wrench for daily use.” At 88, when many people slow down, serial inventor Albertson (with more than 300 patents) is defying the norm. Inventing Mr. Coffee, the precursor to refrigerator ice dispensers, a car cassette tape player, a mini gyroscope for missiles, and more than 40 other products on the market isn’t enough. He has at least another half-dozen projects underway. Some, like his magnetic transmission for electric-powered cars (Vol. 34, No. 4), may never make it to market, at least in that form. Others, like the Zero Degree socket wrench, can take a decade or more. “We introduced it in 2004, licensing it for a year to a company that soon went into bankruptcy,” says Albertson. “It was tied up in court as a company asset until about 5 years ago.” A new licensee has made the wrench widely available. It’s also sold directly on the company’s website. The wrench is designed for tight spaces, thanks to its zero-degree and free-turning ratchetless drives. “You don’t have to put resistance on the socket with our wrench,” explains Albertson. “There’s no drag. The wrench turns the socket with less than one degree of arc. Standard ratchet gear socket wrenches average a 5 to 12-degree swing arc.” The ZeroDrive wrench uses a hexagonal inner cam/driver surrounded by six cylindrical rollers. The rollers, in turn, are enclosed by a hardened cylindrical race machined into the handle. The roller clutch design, with cam rollers instead of teeth, provides a zero-degree swing arc and back drive. It engages immediately in the drive direction, providing instant grip. The free-wheeling movement provides greater control and a more precise feel. It also eliminates the need to hold the socket when starting or working with loose bolts. Zero Degree socket wrenches are available online and at major retailers, priced between $23 and $29. The U.S.-made professional line is priced between $150 and $200. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, ZeroDrive, 4100 Market St., Suite 100, Huntsville, Ala. 35808 (ph 256-203-4334; info@getZeroDrive.com; www.getzerodrive.com; www.albertsonenterprises.com).

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