Ratchet wrench

A ratchet wrench imparts rotational movement to a relatively large workpiece such as the stem of a water main valve or a fire hydrant. The wrench includes an annular driver member, a housing having an elongated recess, a pawl element and a bias element. The annular driver member is adapted to detachably engage the workpiece and includes a plurality of driver teeth disposed circumferentially around its outer periphery. The housing receives the annular driver member so that rotational movement can be imparted to it within the housing and the handle structure extends from the housing to provide mechanical advantage for imparting the rotational movement. The elongated recess extends into the housing along a longitudinal access. The elongated recess is positioned with respect to an imaginary line tangent to a selected radius of the annular driver member such that the longitudinal axis is disposed substantially parallel to or coextensive with the selected radius. The pawl element is slideably disposed within the elongated recess and configured to sequentially register with the driver teeth as the annular driver member relatively rotates within the housing. The bias element resiliently urges the pawl element into contact with the annular driver member.