AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING PIPE TONGS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Reuben Rignall, Engineer, of Spring Street, Hull, in the
County of Yorkshire, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING PIPE
TONGS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Reuben Rignall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1877.
:
REUBEN RIGNALL, Engineer, of Spring Street, Hull, in the County of Yorkshire.
"AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING PIPE TONGS."
G
My Invention consists of an improved form of adjustable pipe tongs, by the use
of which an exceptionably firm and secure hold upon the pipe can be obtained,
and from its capability of adjustment one of my improved pipe tongs will answer
the purpose of several different sizes of the ordinary tongs.
The said improved tongs consists of two arms moving upon a centre pin close to
one end, somewhat similar to the ordinary pipe or smith's tongs, in which the clasp
of the band upon the double arms is particularly advantageous in giving a very
secure grip upon the pipe. In my Invention however the centre pin is placed
through an open fork in the one arm, and in the middle of this fork the pin is
swelled out to form a boss, which is drilled and tapped with a fine thread; the
other arm is screwed into this tapped boss. The two arms will thus open and
close similar to the ordinary tongs, but one of them can rotate on its own axis in
the swivel boss, and by reason of the screw thread tapped therein it will lengthen
or shorten the under jaw by rotation from left to right or from right to left respec-
tively. This enables the width of the jaw to be altered to suit a variety of different
sized pipes. The end of the fixed arın terminates in a bent hook to clasp the pipe,
but the end of the under movable or adjustable jaw terminates in a flat toothed
face, which seizes the surface of the pipe with its serrated teeth and prevents
slipping.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Reuben Rignall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th August
1877.
REUBEN RIGNALL, Engineer, of Spring Street, Hull, in the County of Yorkshire.
"AN IMPROVED ADJUSTING PIPE TONGS."
My Invention consists of an improved form of adjustable pipe tongs, by the use
of which an exceptionably firm and secure hold upon the pipe can be obtained, and
from its capability of adjustment one of my improved pipe tongs will answer the
purpose of several different sizes of the ordinary tongs.
The said improved tongs consists of two arms moving upon a centre pin close to
one end, somewhat similar to the ordinary pipe or smith's tongs, in which the clasp
of the hand upon the double arms is particularly advantageous in giving a very
secure grip upon the pipe. In my Invention however the centre pin is placed in
through an open fork in the one arm, and in the middle of this fork the pin is
swelled out to form a boss, which is drilled and tapped with a fine thread, and
the other arm is screwed into this tapped boss. The two arms thus open and
close, similar to the ordinary tongs, but one of them can rotate on its own axis in
the swivel boss, and by reason of the screw thread tapped therein it will lengthen
or shorten the under jaw by rotation from left to right or from right to left
respectively. This enables the width of the jaws to be altered to suit a variety of
different sized pipes. The end of the fixed arm terminates in a bent hook to clasp
the pipe, but the end of the under moveable or adjustable jaw terminates in a flat
toothed face, which seizes the surface of the pipe with its serrated teeth and
prevents slipping.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tongs, and
Fig. 2 is a front elevation. A is the fixed arm of the tongs, terminating in the
hooked jaw; E, an opening into a throat G, which admits the swivel boss C.
This boss C is drilled and tapped to the same thread D, as that upon the straight
adjustable arm B of the tongs terminates in a serrated face E, which grips the under
side of the pipe. By rotation from left to right, or from right to left, the straight
arm B may have its serrated face brought nearer to or further from the inside
of the hooked jaw F, and thus be rendered suitable for different sizes of pipes
or nuts.
Having now described my Invention, and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as my Invention, the adaptation to a doubled
armed pair of gas tongs of a thread cut on the one arm passing through a swivel
nut held in the other, and thus permitting the adjustment of the screwed arm to
different sizes of pipes or nuts by rotation on its axis from right to left, or vice
versâ.
In witness whereof, I, the said Reuben Rignall, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
CHARLES ROBINSON.
REUBEN RIGNALL. (L.S.)