Improvements in Pipe Wrenches.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pipe Wrenches.
I, JAMES ROBERT SMITH, of Beaumont, in the County of Jefferson and State of
Texas, United States of America, gentleman, 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 has relation to pipe-wrenches and among the objects in view are to
provide an excessively strong serviceable wrench adapted to assume a number of
adjustments without removing or changing any part whereby it is designed for use
with pipes of varying diameters and this in a simple and easy manner.
Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wrench constructed in
accordance with my invention the pivoted jaw being dotted in one of the positions
which it is adapted to assume.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the handle bar or lever and Fig. 3 an edge view of the
pivoted jaw.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are plan views showing the different adjustments of the wrench to
accommodate various sizes of pipes.
In practicing my invention, I provide a lever 1, the rear end of which terminates
in a suitable operating handle 2, and forward of said handle the stock is flattened so
as to be oblong in cross section and is gradually tapered from its point of juncture
with the handle to its heel 3, at which point there is formed a right-angularly
projecting foot 4 which forms the rigid jaw of the wrench, the upper surface of which
is toothed as at 5, the disposition of the teeth being toward the point or toe. The
engaging toothed face of the foot or jaw is horizontal when the wrench is in its
normal position. The edge of the handle or shank 1 for a portion of its length in rear
of the beel 3 is also toothed as at 6, the disposition of the teeth being toward the heel.
In the stock of the lever and slightly below the foot portion or jaw 4 is provided an
opening 7. 8 represents the C-shaped swinging jaw of the wrench and the same
consists of two opposite substantially C-shaped curved plates 9 spaced apart at their
upper ends by means of a tie-bolt 10 and having their lower ends perforated as at 11,
which perforation is adapted to register with the perforation 7 formed in the stock i
and through the perforations is passed a set-bolt 12 having a nut 13.
It will be observed that the space bolt 10 thus adapts the lower ends of the two
plates 9 to brace the stock 1 and by reason of their being pivoted as described, the
jaw 8 may be swung upon its pivot so as to bring its inner periphery or edge, which
I tooth as at 14, into different relation with the several contact-surfaces of the stock
as hereinafter mentioned.
The disposition of the teeth 14 is from the free ends of the jaws rearwardly or
toward their pivot and the entire inner surface of each plate 9 forming the swinging
jaws, is toothed. It will thus be observed that notwithstanding the position of the
jaw with relation to the stock the teeth of the two will be oppositely disposed. By
swinging the jaw 8 to the different positions with relation to the upper edge of the
rigid jaw or foot 4, said jaw 8 is adapted to receive the smallest rod or tube up to a
pipe of considerable size. Now, by swinging the jaw to the rear or away from its
heel the teeth of said jaw will form a continuation of the teeth 6 formed upon the
edge of the stock below its heel 3 and thus the jaw will be open to receive a pipe of
greatly increased diameter.
If desired the jaw may be swung to a directly opposite position so that its teeth
co-operate with the opposite edge of the stock 1, and the wrench thus adapted for
gripping pipes the location of which or other surrounding obstructions would not
permit the wrench to be used in the other position. If desired, also, this edge of the
stock may be toothed in a direction agreeing with those at the opposite edge as shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

page_text: When in the position shown in Fig. 6, the inner curved edge of the foot 4 forms a
bearing point for the pipe and the teeth at this point (see dotted lines Fig. 2) will
assist in holding the pipe tight.
The essential feature of novelty in my wrench resides principally in the fact that
the wrench may be adjusted to accommodate three widely-different sizes of pipes
without removing.or changing any of the parts but simply by swinging the C-shaped
jaw so as to engage either the teeth on the foot or jaw 4, the teeth 6 on the outside
of the shank, or the teeth on the curved inner side of the jaw 4 on the opposite side of
the wrench. So far as I am aware there is no other wrench that will secure as many
different adjustments as my wrench without removing bolts or working adjusting-
screws and in as short a time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. In a wrench, the handle having the integral L-shaped foot at its end forming
the rigid jaw of the wrench, said foot or jaw having its inner face curved so as to
receive and provide a bearing for the pipe, and its outer face at right angles to the
handle and said face being serrated, combined with the C-shaped swinging jaw
pivoted at one end to the handle by a single bolt, and having its entire inner face
serrated from the pivot point to the outer end and the teeth 6 along the outer edge of
the handle in close proximity to the rigid foot, as set forth.
2. In a wrench, the handle having the integral L-shaped foot at its end forming
the rigid jaw of the wrench, said foot or jaw having its engaging face at right angles
to the stock or handle, and said face being serrated, combined with the C-shaped
swinging jaw pivotel at one end to the handle by a single bolt and having its entire
inner face serrated from the pivot point to the outer end, the teeth 6 on the outer
straight side edge of the handle in close proximity to the rigid jaw and the teeth on
the inner straight edge of the stock whereby the C-shaped jaw may be swung around
so as to engage the pipe with either of the three different series of teeth and this
without any adjustment or changing of the parts, as set forth.
Dated this 17th of April 1890
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.