An Improved Pipe-wrench.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pipe-wrench.
I, RALPH ATKIN, of Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, U.S.A. Gun Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This my invention has reference to an improved pipe wrench, whereby a rigid
adjustment may be made and a better grip be taken of a pipe than has hitherto
been possible with wrenches of this class at present in use.
My improved wrench comprises a handle-bar which is flattened at its forward
end, and is provided with a longitudinal slot. At the end of the bar is a fixed jaw,
and pivoted within the slot is one end of a movable jaw, which is curved to coincide
with a fixed jaw upon the bar. Within the slot suitable teeth are formed which
engage a spring-pawl mounted upon the pivot-pin which supports the movable jaw,
and retains the two jaws in any position relative to each other to which the movable
jaw may be adjusted.
1 1000
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pipe-wrench.
I, RALPH ATKIN, of Painesville Lake County, Ohio, U.S.A. Gun. Manu-
facturer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in pipe-wrenches; and it consists in certain
features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described and
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pipe-wrench embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of member A detached.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section of the movable jaw and connected
spring.
Fig. 4 is a plan.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation in detail of the dog.
A represents the stationary jaw of the wrench, and A' the shank that connects
jaw A with the handle A. Shank A¹ is rectangular in cross-section and is
provided with a transverse longitudinal slot a, the lower wall of the slot being
provided with ratchet-teeth presenting rearward, or toward the handle, as at a'.
B represents the movable jaw, the shank B3 whereof is bifurcated so that the
prongs thereof embrace with an easy fit shank A¹.
C is a dog pivoted at c to and between the prongs of shank B', this dog operating
in slot a and the point of the dog being adapted to engage teeth a', during which
engagement the other end of the dog bears against the upper or opposing wall of
slot a.
The dog has a lateral thumb-piece C projecting laterally, so that the free
end thereof protrudes from slot a to where it is easily operated by the thumb or
finger of the operator. By depressing this thumb-piece the dog is tilted to dis-
engage the dog from teeth a', in which position of parts dog B can be moved
forward by hand so as to open the wrench. In reversing jaw B by hand it is
necessary to manipulate the dog, as this member will be snubbed back by its

page_text: engagement with the ratchet-teeth. In operating the wrench the tendency is to
draw the jaws apart by their engagement with the work-that is, to move jaw B
forward, and such forward movement of the jaw is of course prevented by the
action of the dog. Teeth a' are usually arranged that is, located and spaced-so
that the jaws will accommodate themselves to different standard sizes of pipe; but
of course for special work these teeth may be arranged as required. From the fact
that the draft on the fulcrum of the dog is approximately in line with the points of
contact as between the pipe and the respective jaws there is much less liability of
bending or straining the parts than when the ratchet-teeth are at the external top
or bottom of shank A, as heretofore commonly arranged. A flat spring D is
secured to shank B¹ between the prongs of the latter, this spring extending rear-
ward and engaging the under side of shank A1, this spring acting in the direction
-to close the jaws upon the work. As this spring is attached to and mores with the
movable jaw, its leverage and action on the jaw is always the same, regardless the
position forward or back of the jaw. Heretofore this spring has usually been
fastened to shank A', and hence when the jaws are opened wide for receiving a
large pipe this spring, by acting on a short leverage of the movable jaw, closed the
jaw with less force than it would on a small pipe, in which latter case the movable
jaw, being moved rearward, the spring would overlap the jaw and engage it at a
greater distance from the fulcrum of the jaw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In a pipe-wrench, in combination, stationary and movable jaws, the shank of
the latter being forked so as to embrace the shank of the former, the shank of the
stationary jaw being slotted, the under wall of such slot having ratchet-teeth, and a
dog pivoted to and between the prongs of the movable jaw, such dog being
operated within the slot of the shank of the stationary jaw, substantially as set
forth.
2. In a pipe-wrench, in combination, a movable jaw having prongs for embracing
the shank of the stationary jaw, the latter having a slot with ratchet-teeth, a dog
pivoted between the prongs of the movable jaw, such dog operating in such slot,
and a spring fastened to the movable jaw, such spring extending rearward, the free
end of the spring engaging the underside of the shank of the stationary jaw, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1892.
W. H. MUNNS,
Applicant's Agent.