IMPROVED PIPE WRENCH
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William John McCormack
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1880.
WILLIAM JOHN MCCORMACK, of Paignton, in the County of Devon.
IMPROVED PIPE WRENCH."
" AN
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of pipe wrenches,,
whereby they are rendered easily adjustable to pipes or other round bodies of
different sizes, are strong, little liable to get out of order, at the same time they are
adapted for use in confined spaces.
In carrying out my Invention the stock or handle of the wrench is provided
with the usual curved jaw at its upper end; the sliding jaw or dog, serrated at its
upper end, works in a slot in the stock or handle and is operated by a screw collar
and screw thread on the handle. A spring is suitably adapted to the lower end
of the sliding jaw in such a manner that while it serves to connect the sliding jaw
to the screw collar it also allows of the play of the jaw, so as to prevent it gripping
the pipe in the backward movement of the wrench.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William John McCormack in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th September 1880.
WILLIAM JOHN MCCORMACK, of Paignton, in the County of Devon.
IMPROVED PIPE WRENCH."
"AN
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of pipe wrenches,
whereby they are rendered easily adjustable to pipes or other round bodies of
different sizes, are strong, little liable to get out of order, at the same time they are
adapted for use in confined spaces.
In carrying out my Invention the stock or handle of the wrench is provided
with the usual curved jaw at its upper end and is all in one piece; the sliding jaw
or dog, serrated at its upper end, works in a slot in the stock or handle, and is
operated by a screw collar and screw thread on the handle. A spring is suitably
adapted to the lower end of the sliding jaw in such a manner that while it serves
to connect the sliding jaw to the screw collar it also allows of the play of the jaw,
so as to prevent it gripping the pipe in the backward movement of the wrench.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side
elevation partly in section of my improved pipe wrench; Figure 2 is a plan of the
underside of the same; Figures 3, 4, and 5, detached views of the loose collar, the
screw collar, and the spring. Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar
parts.
A is the stock or handle provided with the usual jaw B at its upper end; C is
the sliding jaw or dog serrated at its upper end at D; the said sliding jaw or dog
works in a slot in the stock or handle A, as shewn by the dotted lines, Figure 1;
E is the screw collar (shewn in detached sectional and end views at Figure 4);
F is a female screw thread in the collar E, which works on the male screw thread G
on the stock A; H is a loose collar (shewn in sectional and end views at Figure 3)
placed between the upper end of the screw collar E and the shoulder I of the sliding
jaw C, the end of the screw collar E being reduced so as to fit in the shouldered
part J of the loose collar H; K is a spring, shewn detached in plan and side views
at Figure 5, such spring being provided at the back with a pivot L, which takes
into a hole or slot M in the tail end or tang N of the sliding jaw or dog C; or the
spring may be rivetted or screwed to the tang N; O is a shoulder on the spring K,
which fits against the shoulder P in the screw collar E. The tail Q of the spring
rests and slides against the flat surface R of the stock.
By this construction it will be seen that if the screw collar E be turned to the
right it will move upwards the sliding jaw or dog C, and vice versa, so that by this
means the jaw can be adjusted with great facility to pipes or other round bodies
of different sizes, and the spring K serves to connect the screw collar E to the
sliding jaw or dog C and to keep the latter in its working position against the
stock or handle, at the same time it allows of the play of the jaw or dog C so as
to prevent it gripping the pipe in the backward movement of the wrench, the bite
taking place only while the tool is moved in the direction for turning the pipe ;
the amount of the said play of the jaw C is limited by the space between the inner
surface of the loose collar H and the upper part of the tang N.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the Drawing,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention; but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The construction and employment of the improved pipe wrench, arranged

page_text: and operating substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and represented
in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification thereof.
Secondly. In a pipe wrench I claim the combination with the sliding jaw or dog
and screw collar of a spring, as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William John McCormack, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this 27th day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witnessed by
W. B. BEYNON,
Torbay Iron Works,
Torquay.
WILLIAM JOHN MCCORMACK. (L.S.)