Improvements in Wrenches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application. 19th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
DOMI DIN DT BUTTALION
Improvements in Wrenches.
We, ELBERT HENRY SMITH and WILLIAM OREN VAN SCHAICK of Canisteo,
in the County of Steuben and State of New York, 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 an ascertained in an 1 by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to combined nut and pipe wrenches, and it has for its
object to effect certain improvements in the jaws or gripping part of that class of
wrenches adapted to grip either a nut or pipe. To this end the invention
primarily contemplates a construction of wrench jaw to make provision for not
only gripping either nut or pipe, but especially for gripping pipes in such a manner
as to make it practically impossible for the wrench to become accidentally
disengaged from the pipe after being closed thereon.
With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of
the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated
and claimed.
In the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying the hereindescribed
improvement.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the wrench jaw having two working faces for gripping
a nut or a pipe especially.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a wrench essentially
consisting of the shank 2, having at one end the handle 3, and at its opposite end a
fixed jaw 4, provided with a flat working face, and opposite to which works the
moval le jaw 5, adjusted in the usual manner by the screw 6.
In the present invention, the jaw 5, is provided with two working faces 7 and 8,
respectively, which faces are opposed to the flat face of the jaw 4, to provide for
gripping either a nut or a pipe. The gripping face or surface 7, is serrated or
toothed and is curved on the arc of a circle, and leads from a point near the outer
edge of the gripping face of the jaw 5, up to the shank 2, of the wrench, whereby
the pipe gripping surface or portion of the wrench will be located next to and
directly at one side of the shank of the wrench. The outer gripping surfaces of
the wrench jaws are disposed closer together than the surfaces next to the shank
by reason of the fact that the gripping face or surface 7, lies in the arc of the
circle whose centre is disposed substantially in the same longitudinal plane as the
inner side of the shank 2, and it is also due to this disposition of the centre of said
circle that the gripping face or surface 7, lies in the best possible plane for insuring
a firm grip on the pipe.
The gripping face 8, is plain and is disposed parallel with the flat face of the
jaw 4, to combine with such jaw for gripping squared objects, such as nuts, and
the said face or surface 8, is formed on the jaw 5 between the outer end of the
gripping face or surface 7, and the outer edge of the face of the jaw 5. In
connection with the curved gripping face or surface 7, for pipes, an important
feature of the invention is to provide the shank 2, with a curved friction surface 9,
located at the inner end of the flat face of the jaw 4, and merging into the flat
face of said jaw to form a jocket to receive one side of a pipe when the wrench is
gripped and turned thereon.

page_text: The manner of using the wrench for gripping squared objects between the
jaw 4, and the flat face 8, will be readily apparent, but at this point it will be
observed that when the jaws of the wrench are closed on a pipe, the outer gripping
surface of the wrench jaws will be disposed closer together than the surfaces next
to the shank between which the pipe is gripped, thereby absolutely preventing the
wrench from accidentally falling off of or disengaging the pipe. It will be further
observed that the fact of having the curved face 7, lead at its inner end directly
up to one side of the shank 2. of the wrench is very important, because it will be
obvious that when a pipe is being grippel between the jaws and the wrench is
turned in a direction for turning the pipe, the latter will be force against the
shank 2, and within the curved friction surface 9, so that practically all sides of
the pipe will be embrace exepting the sile opposite the shank. This necessarily
provides for a firm gripping of the pipe and insures the attainment of the object-
sought for.
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 :
In a combined nut and pipe wrench, the combination of the shank having a fixed
jaw and a curved friction surface 9, located at the inner end of and merging into
the flat face of said fixed jaw, and the movable jaw provided on its working face
with an outer flat nut gripping surface 8 parallel with the opposing face of the
opposite jaw, and an inner curved pipe gripping surface 7, leading from a point at
the inner edge of the nut gripping surface directly up to the shank of the wrench
and lying within the arc of a circle whose centre is disposed in substantially the
same longitudinal plane as at inner side of the shank, whereby the curved pipe
gripping surface will lie in a plane farther from the opposite jaw than the flat nut
gripping surface, the particular disposition and curvature of the pipe gripping
surface insuring the wedging of the pipe between the two jaws and directly against
the inner side of the shank and within the curved friction surface 9 thereof,
substantially as set forth."
Dated this 19th day of May 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.