Improvements in and relating to Pipe-wrenches.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pipe-wrenches.
I, MORGAN WILLIAMS, residing at the intersection of Bleeker and Hunter
Streets, at Aspen, in the County of Pitkin, State of Colorado, United States of
America, Inventor, 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:-
This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in pipe-
wrenches.
The objects are, first, to provide for the quick opening and closing of the jaws;
second, to insure a firm grip of the jaws against the surface with which they
are placed in engagement; third, to enable the wrench to be worked on flat
surfaces in operating on short nipples or stud bolts, etc.; and, fourth, a wrench
composed of a minimum number of parts.
The adjusting screw for the arm of one of the jaws is mounted in a bearing
for such arm, which bearing has a limited axial movement at right angles to
that of the screw. The housing in which the bearing is located is open at both
The engaging
sides of the wrench and is of greater width than the screw.
edges of the two jaws are set diagonally across the jaw-faces.
The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, the inner jaw and the lever arm being
shown in dotted lines out of position. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on
line 22, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3, Figure 1. Figure 4
is a view of the outer jaw and its arm. Figure 5 is a view of the screw and
its barrel. Figure 6 shows the engaging end of the inner jaw.
Referring to the drawing, A designates the outer jaw and a the arm thereof.
In the inner end of this arm, the thickness of which is slightly increased, is
formed a transverse circular hole a' which opens into two corresponding slots a³,
of approximately dove-tail shape, said slots being in the sides a³ of the arm a.
These sides are extended some distance and are connected at their outer ends
by a cross-piece a', the surface of which is preferably milled.
B designates the inner jaw formed on the end of the lever arm b. The latter
is located within the space between the sides a³, and on the edge adjacent to
the edge of the arm a is formed with a thread bi
C is a screw in engagement with the thread b¹, and by the turning of which
the lever arm may be adjusted longitudinally. This screw is axially mounted
on a pin in a barrel D. This barrel is fitted within the hole a and has an
It forms the bearing for
axial movement at right angles to that of the screw.
the lever arm b, and its axial centre being below the adjacent edges of the two
arms, the jaws can be quickly moved into and out of position. This barrel is
of circular form, corresponding to the bore of hole a¹, and its sides are elongated
and connected together to form a tongue which travels within the slots a²,
the ends of the latter forming steps to limit the axial movements of the barrel.

page_text: A
square shaped opening d¹ extends transversely through the barrel and at its
top is intersected by a second opening which accommodates the lever arm b
and a portion of the thread of the screw. The pin 6 of the latter fits within
opposite holes in the barrel and is prevented from falling out by the wall of
the hole a. Both sides of the barrel are depressed or hollowed out, as at e, to
enable the screw to be freely engaged by the fingers of the operator, and at the
same time the outer planes of the barrel and housing are outside of the sides
of the screw. By thus positioning the screw the wrench may be worked on a flat
surface.
The opposite faces of the two jaws are formed with gripping edges of which
are set at an angle of about ten degrees or fifteen degrees to the planes of the end-
faces of the jaws. This insures a firm grip of the jaws, preventing slipping,
and avoiding the necessity of placing the wrench at an angle, as is often necessary
where the edges are set straight across the jaw faces.
The advantages of my invention are apparent to those skilled in the art. It
will be observed, in the first place, that at most the wrench embodies but five
parts, none of which is liable to be readily deranged. It will also be observed
that the screw always maintains its engagement with the thread of the lever
arın, and that the axial movement of the latter is limited by the stops with which
the tongue of the barrel engages. The movement of the lever arm being on the
axis of the barrel, the two jaws can be readily thrown into or out of operative
position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. A wrench comprising two arms having jaws, means for adjusting one of
said arms longitudinally, a bearing for such arm mounted in the arm of the
other jaw and having an axial movement, and stops for limiting the movement
of such bearing, as set forth.
2. A wrench comprising two jaws having arms, one of which arms is formed
with a thread, a bearing for such arm comprising a barrel mounted in the arm
of the other jaw, a screw engaging such thread carried by said barrel, and a
stop to limit the axial movements of the barrel, substantially as set forth.
3. A wrench comprising two jaws having arms, one arm being formed with a
housing through which the other arm is passed, a barrel also located within such
housing, a screw carried by the barrel for engaging a thread on the last
mentioned arm, and a stop for limiting the axial movements of such barrel, as
set forth.
4. A wrench comprising an outer jaw having its arm formed with a housing,
a barrel located in such housing, a stop to limit the axial movements of the
barrel, a screw carried by the barrel, and an inner jaw having its arm provided
with a screw-thread designed to be engaged by said screw, substantially as set
forth.
5. A wrench comprising an outer jaw the arm of which is formed with a housing
having a circular bore and an opening transverse thereto, an inner jaw having
its arm provided with a screw-thread and extended through such opening, a
barrel fitted in the circular bore and having an opening into which such screw-
thread projects, and a screw carried by the barrel and engaging such screw-
thread, substantially as set forth.
6. A wrench comprising a jaw having its arm formed with a housing, a second
jaw having its arm formed with a screw-thread, a bearing for the latter arm
mounted in such housing, a stop to limit the movements of such bearing, and a
screw carried by the bearing for engaging said thread, said screw being located
between the outer planes of said housing, as set forth.
7. A wrench comprising a jaw having its arm formed with a housing, a
second jaw having an arm formed with a thread, a barrel fitted in such housing

page_text: and having two intersecting openings therein, the arm of the second jaw fitting
in one of said openings, a screw mounted in the other opening for engaging such
thread, and stops for limiting the axial movements of the barrel, as set forth.
8. The combination with the jaw having its arm formed with a housing, such
housing having a circular bore and a slot opening thereinto, of the barrel fitted
in such bore having a tongue extended into said slot, a screw mounted in said
barrel, and a second jaw having an arm formed with a thread and extended
through said housing, as set forth.
9. A wrench having the opposite faces of its jaws provided with engaging
edges extended diagonally across such faces, as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of July 1899.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.