Improvements in Pipe and Rod Wrenches.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 25th May, 1894
Improvements in Pipe and Rod Wrenches.
We, ABRAM SCHRYVER KING and ROSWELL BEARDSLEY, of Ashby, in the
County of Grant, and State of Minnesota, United States of America, Gentlemen,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention relates to Improvements in Pipe and Rod Wrenches, and the objects
in view are to provide a wrench of cheap and simple construction that may be
conveniently operated and will automatically adjust itself and grip upon in a
secure manner a rod or pipe.
With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain features
of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pipe or rod wrench embodying our invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same, the wrench being
applied to a pipe.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a modification of the invention.
Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
In the practice of our invention we employ a stock 1, which at its inner end is
shaped to form a handle 2, while its outer end is disposed laterally at an angle
to the stock to form a fixed jaw 3, whose outer edge or face is provided with a
series of inclined teeth or serrations disposed towards the toe or outer end of
the jaw. The movable jaw 5 is U-shaped, is formed of a blank doubled upon
itself, and comprises curved terminals 6 which embrace and are pivoted to the
heel of the fixed jaw by a transverse pin 7, and the outer or bent end 8 which
is disposed at an angle to the terminals. The terminals 6 are provided at their
inner faces with opposite grooves 9 and in these grooves engages the transverse
head 10 of a lever 11, said lever being mounted upon the back of the stock
and having inwardly disposed bearing ears 12 which are pivoted at 13 to said
stock about midway the same. In rear of the ears the lever shaped to form a
handle 14.
Interposed between the stock and the handle portion of the lever is a steel
spring 15 which has one end free and which may have its other end secured
either to the stock or to the handle portion of the lever. It is preferably secured
to the stock, and its free end loosely engages the inner face of the handle portion
of the lever, and it is adapted to move on the same to permit the lever to be
moved inward. The spring 15 serves to spread the lever and the stock in rear
of their pivotal point. It will be seen that by compressing the two handles of
the stock and the lever the outer ends thereof are separated against the tension
of the spring, and inasmuch as the curved grooves or ways of the movable jaw
are eccentrically located with relation to the point of pivot of said movable jaw,
the latter will be swung outward or away from the fixed jaw. In this manner
and when in this position the two jaws are introduced over the pipe or rod,
and immediately upon release thereof by the hand of the operator the springs
separate the inner ends of the lever and stock, and swing their upper ends
together. The head of the lever moving in the curved grooves or guides 9
to press the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw so that any object
therein is securely gripped and can only be removed by an opening of the jaws.
serves

page_text: Attempts to remove the wrench only serves to cause the latter to bind more
securely upon the object.
In Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated a modification of
the invention the handle lever 16 being located on the underside of the stock for
greater convenience in certain classes of work.
The movable jaw is provided with upward extending arms 17 located above the
pivot 18 and connected by a pair of links 19 with the adjacent end of the handle
lever, the links being disposed at opposite sides of the stock.
Loosely pivoted in the stock in rear of the ears of the handle lever, is a guide
pin 20, the outer end of which projects through an opening 21 formed in the lever,
and a coiled spring 22 is interposed between the stock and the lever and surrounds
the pin, so that the lever and the stock are spread in rear of their point of pivot.
From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings,
it will be seen that we have provided a very simple construction of wrench that may
be operated by one hand and will automatically adjust itself to pipes or rods of
different diameters, and also will grip upon the same in such a manner as to obviate
any slipping or accidental renoval whatever.
We do not limit our invention to the precise details of construction herein shown
and described, but hold that we may vary the same to any degree and extent
within the knowledge of the skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or
sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In a wrench, the combination with a stock terminating at its upper end in a
fixed jaw, of a swinging jaw pivoted to and embracing the fixed jaw, a lever fulcrummed
on the stock and connected with the swinging jaw, and a spring for normally
pressing the outer end of the lever towards the stock, substantially as described.
2. In a wrench, the combination with a stock terminating at its upper end in a
fixed jaw, of a swinging jaw pivoted to and embracing the fixed jaw, and provided
with curved guides arranged eccentrically with relation to the pivot of the jaw,
and a lever fulcrummed on the stock and engaging the guides, substantially as
described.
3. In a wrench, the combination with a stock terminating at its upper end in a
fixed jaw, of a swinging jaw pivoted to and embracing the fixed jaw, and provided
with curved guides arranged eccentrically with relation to the pivot and located
on the inner faces of the sides of the jaw, a lever fulcrummed on the stock and
engaging the guides, and a spring for normally pressing the outer ends of the lever
towards the stock, substantially as described.
4. In a wrench, the combination with a stock having the serrated fixed jaw, of
the U-shaped movable jaw having its terminals embracing and pivoted to the heel
of the fixed jaw and its cuter end abruptly bent, said movable jaw being provided
with curved guide grooves, the lever having the bearing ears pivoted to the stock,
and provided at its front end with a transverse head engaging said grooves
and a spring for normally pressing the front end of the lever toward the stock,
substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of April 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.