Improved Adjustable Pipe Wrench.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Adjustable Pipe Wrench.
I. WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster,
and Lowar Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
This invention relates to adjustable pipe wrenches adapted to suit pipes of
various sizes; and the improvements consist in certain means and devices for
accomplishing the objects of the invention, which are, first, to produce a pipe
wrench that can be adjusted and used in corners and like places where the pipe
is near a wall or other object; second, to provide means for easily and quickly
adjusting the wrench to suit pipes of various sizes; third, to make the wrench
adaptable to convenient use on objects other than pipes, as square or hexagonal
nuts, and as a hook for handling beams and like material incident to pipe fitting
work, thus greatly increasing the capacity and usefulness of the wrench; fourth,
to provide a wrench simple in construction and having few working parts, with
means for easily and quickly renewing any part subject to wear.
The wrench consists essentially of three principal parts. A bar or handle pre-
ferably rectangular in section, with teeth or notches on its upper edge, and a
head or end having teeth on its face to firmly grip the pipe.
A link, substantially rectangular or of equivalent form, in outline, having a
transverse slot through which the bar slides. The upper end of this slot is pro-
vided with a tooth or teeth either integral with the link or pivoted thereto,
adapted to engage the teeth on the upper edge of the bar.
Transversely through the lower end of the link and below the bar passes a
pivot or pin from which is suspended a hook or jaw. This jaw may be swung
into position for clamping the pipe-its shank extending along the under side
of the bar, the curved end or hook being in front of the head or end of the bar.
The action of the parts in clamping a pipe is as follows:-
The jaw being hooked at the back of the pipe, the bar is pushed forward
through the slot of the link until the notched head of the bar bears against the
pipe.
The link, which is pivoted to the shank of the hook as above described, is then
tipped back until the tooth or catch of the link engages the teeth of the bar.
The pipe is then automatically clamped between the curved hook and the head.
of the bar by slightly rotating the bar as in screwing up the pipe.
If the toothed face of the head is slightly bevelled, adjustments intermediate
between those afforded by the teeth of the bar may be readily secured.

page_text: By swinging the jaw open and pushing the bar sufficiently through the slot
the wrench is adapted to many purposes for which a cant hook is commonly
used, an advantage of importance in practical pipe fitting.
The jaw or hook may be of any suitable shape, as rectangular instead of curved
but is preferably formed from a single flat piece, enabling the wrench to be easily
used on pipes that are close to walls or in other positions where wrenches of the
usual form cannot be used.
Wear on the notches of the head may be corrected by deepening them by filing
or otherwise.
It is thus seen that by means of the devices above described there is produced
a simple, strong, and inexpensive pipe wrench adapted to a variety of uses not
possible with many forms of wrenches heretofore produced.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent
Agents.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster,
and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, 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 adjustable pipe wrenches adapted to suit pipes of
various sizes; and the improvements consist in certain means and devices for
accomplishing the objects of our invention, which are, first, to produce a pipe
wrench that can be adjusted and used in corners and like places where the pipe
is near a wall or other obstacle; second, to provide means for easily and quickly
adjusting the wrench to suit pipes of various sizes; third, to make the wrench
adaptable to convenient use on objects other than pipes, as square or hexagonal
nuts; and as a hook for handling beanis and like material incident to pipe
fitting work, thus greatly increasing the capacity and usefulness of the wrench;
fourth, to provide a pipe wrench simple in construction and having few working
parts, with means for easily and quickly renewing any part subject to wear.
I attain these objects by means of the devices shown in the accompanying
drawings, throughout the several views of which similar letters and figures of
reference designate similar parts.
Figure 1 is a side view of a complete wrench, partly in section.
Figure 2 is a side view of a modified form of our wrench.
As is plainly indicated in the drawings the wrench consists essentially of three
principal parts.
A bar (1) is provided on its upper edge with teeth or notches (1ª) and has at
one end an enlargement or head (1b), the face of which is slightly beveled and
provided with grooves or notches (1°).
A link (2) having a transverse slit (3) to admit of the link sliding over the bar (1)
is provided at its upper part with one or more teeth (2"), preferably formed as
shown in Figure (1), and so placed as to be readily filed true in case of wear.
is evident that the object of the tooth is also accomplished by the modified
It

page_text: means shown in Figure (2), which consists in substituting for the fixed tooth
shown in Figure 1, a catch or pivoted tooth (2b).
This catch is suspended loosely from a pivot or pin (2) in the link in such a
manner as to allow the teeth of the catch to override or engage the teeth of the
bar according as the bar is pushed toward or away from the pipe.
It is evident that with the wrench in position as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
slightly raising the bar will engage the teeth of the link in the teeth of the bar
and rigidly clamp the pipe.
In the modified form shown in Figure 2, the hole in the pivoted tooth or catch
is preferably larger than the pin (2), and the pivoted end of the tooth is pre-
ferably rounded to form a bearing surface against the solid part of the link thus
transferring the thrust of the bar (1) direct to the body of the link (2) and avoid-
ing wear or stress on the pin. In this form, I prefer to provide a projection at
the back end of the catch, by which the catch may be disengaged with the teeth
of the bar while adjusting the wrench.
The pipe being clamped, a slight reverse motion of the bar (1) turns the link
about the pivot (2d) sufficiently to immedately release the pipe when the wrench
is to be removed.
By swinging the jaw (4) open and pushing the bar sufficiently through the
slit (3) the wrench is adapted to many purposes for which a cant hook is com-
monly used, an advantage of importance in practical pipe fitting. The hook or
jaw (4) may be of any suitable shape, as rectangular instead of curved, as shown
in the drawings, but is preferably formed from a single flat piece, enabling the
wrench to be easily used on pipes that are close to walls or in other positions
where wrenches of the usual forms cannot be used.
Wear on the notches (1) of the head may be corrected by deepening them by.
filing or otherwise.
a
It is thus seen that by means of the devices above described we produce
simple, strong and inexpensive pipe wrench adapted to a variety of uses not
possible with many forms of wrenches heretofore produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign corespondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
I. In a pipe wrench the combination with a bar having teeth on one edge; of
a link having a transverse opening to receive said bar and provided inside one
end of said opening with teeth adapted to engage the teeth of the bar; and a
hook pivoted to the lower end of said link, for the purpose described.
II. In a pipe wrench the combination with a bar having teeth on the upper
side thereof and an enlarged head; of a link having transverse opening to receive
said bar and provided at the upperside of said opening with a movable catch
having teeth adapted to engage the teeth of the bar; and a hook pivoted to the
lower end of said link, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
III. In a pipe wrench the combination of a bar having teeth on one edge
thereof and an enlarged head; of a link having a transverse opening to receive
said bar and provided at the upper side of said opening with a movable catch
pivoted to the link, and having teeth adapted to engage the teeth of the bar; and
a hook pivoted to the lower end of said link substantially as described and for
the purpose set forth.
IV. In combination with a pipe wrench having a toothed bar and an adjust-
able link; a movable locking catch pivoted within the link, said catch having teeth
adapted to engage the teeth of the bar, substantially as described.
V. In a pipe wrench of the kind described, the combination of a link having a
tooth or catch within the link above the toothed bar, said catch having a pivot
hole larger than the pivot to allow the catch to thrust against the thrust resisting
portion of the link; and a projection integral with the catch and extending

page_text: beyond the edge of the link, by which the catch may be raised, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
VI. In a pipe wrench, the combination of a toothed bar having an enlarged
end, a link slotted to receive said bar and provided with a thrust resisting portion,
a catch loosely pivoted inside said slot, and having teeth adapted to engage the
teeth of the bar; and a hook pivoted to the lower end of said link, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
VII. The improved pipe wrench, substantially as described with reference to
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
VIII. The improved pipe wrench substantially as described, with reference to
Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 6th day of December 1898.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.