GB2166992A - Universal wrench - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to grip connecting elements, such as bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, which are only radially accessible, wrench elements 2, 3, which are provided with polygonal gripping apertures 4, 5 each have, on a side which swings over a pressure nose 10, 11 formed at a respective end of a handle 1, a jaw for locating over the connecting element 33 which is to be tightened or loosened. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Universal wrench This invention relates to a universal wrench for tightening or loosening bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements.

Universal wrenches of this kind, as disclosed, for example in German Gebrauchsmuster (Utility Model) No. 74 03 522, are equipped with a closed wrench element for receiving and gripping various sizes of bolt heads, nuts, and similar connecting elements. This angular, polygonal wrench element is secured pivotably to one end of a handle by means of a pin running at right angles to its gripping plane and to grip a connecting element a pressure nose formed at the end of the handle interacts with the wrench element. Such a universal wrenches can, however, only be used to grip a connecting element which is axially accessible.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved universal wrench of the type mentioned at the beginning hereof, which may be used not only for connecting elements which are built-in, but also for those which are only radially accessible.

According to the invention there is provided a universal wrench for tightening and/or loosening bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements, comprising at least one wrench element adapted to pivot at one end of a handle, in the plane thereof, the or each wrench element having a polygonal gripping aperture for accommodating the connecting element to be gripped and the handle having, at said one end, a pressure nose including a pressure edge which enters into the gripping aperture when the wrench element is swungin, characterised in that the or each wrench element is provided, on its side which swings over the pressure nose, with a jaw which is locatable over the connecting element to be gripped.

The jaw in the wrench element of the invention makes it possible to fit this universal wrench to a built-in connecting element, for example, a pipe nipple or a pipeline, to grasp it firmly, and to turn it. The jaw may be relatively wide, to accommodate all connecting elements acceptable to the gripping aperture of the wrench element. The universal wrench so designed may therefore also be used as a pipe wrench for connecting elements which are only radially accessible and even cylindrical connecting elements and lengths of pipe may be gripped and turned.

It is desirable for the pivot axis of the wrench element to be adjustable in an arcuate bearing slot.

This not only allows the width of the gripping aperture to be varied, but also allows the jaw to be set further away from the pressure edge to facilitate the accommodation of a connecting element.

The invention will be descibed further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred practical embodiment of a universal wrench of the invention having wrench elements at each end of the handle, shown in the open position; Figurre 2 shows the upper part of the universal wrench of Figure 1 in the gripping position; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of the wrench part illustrated in Figure 2.

With reference to the drawings a preferred embodiment of the universal wrench of the invention consists of a handle 1 having angular wrench elements 2 and 3 of different sizes fitted to opposite ends thereof.

The wrench elements 2 and 3 have polygonal gripping apertures 4 and 5 respectively. The elements 2 and 3 are adapted to pivot about the ends of the handle 1 on respective pins 6 and 7 which are fitted in repective pressure noses 10 and 11 having respective pressure edges 12 and 13. Each wrench element 2, 3 has a bearing flange which, in the case of element 2, is a forked flange 15 flanking the pressure nose 10 on both sides, whereas the flange 16 of the wrench element 3 is mounted between forks of forked pressure nose 11. The gripping apertures 4, 5 are defined by irregularly bent peripheral legs. A proximal leg 18 extending from the respective flange 15, 16 merges into a gripping angle 20 which in term merges into a distal or outer leg 21.

A jaw 24 is provided between a defining edge 22 on the end of the distal leg 21 and a base edge 25 bearing flange 15. The base edge 25 is preferably arranged in such a manner that, when the wrench element 2, 3 is swung out, (Figure 1), the base edge 25 coincides approximately with the respective pressure edge 12, 13. The defining edge 22 may be so far away from the base edge 25 as to provide the widest possible jaw 24, although full use may still be made of gripping angle 20.

With this universal wrench both large and small connecting elements, such as bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and the like may be tightened or loosened, regardless of whether the connecting elements are axially or radially accessible. The jaw 24 is preferably made wide enough to accommodate the largest of the connecting elements which can be gripped by the respective gripping aperture 4 or 5. The internal surfaces of the gripping apertures 4, 5 (at least the gripping angle 20) and preferablythe pressure edges 12, 13 also, may be roughened or ribbed, in order to provide a better grip in the case of circular heads or cylindrical profiles, for example of pipes.

The wrench elements 2, 3 may also be adapted to tilt laterally, in known fashion, about a transverse axis 30.

According to a further development of this universal wrench, a pivot pin 6 of the wrench element 2 is mounted in an arcuate bearing slot 31 (shown in dotted lines) and can therefore assume two different positions. This allows the gripping aperture 4 to be made larger or smaller in its active or operative position, as required. The jaw 24 may also be moved further away from the pressure edge 12, and may thus be made more accessible.

As may be gathered from the drawings, the wrench element 2 as shown, is particularly suitable for the accommodation of a hexagonal connecting element 33 over which the jaw 24 can be located.

In Figure 2, the connecting element 33 is shown in the gripped or clamped position.

The invention is not restricted to wrench elements 2, 3 as shown in the drawing with their trapezoidal gripping angles 20, which may also have legs of different lengths and unequal angles. If the gripping angle is in the form of an acute angle, square and octangonal connecting elements may also be gripped satisfactorily.

The pressure nose 10 may also be designed with a reinforcement 14 of the same thickness as the wrench element 2 in order to obtain a pressure edge 12 of equal area to grip flat connecting elements.

Claims (10)

1. A universal wrench for tightening andlor loosening bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements, comprising at least one wrench element adapted to pivot at one end of a handle, in the plane thereof, the or each wrench element having a polygonal gripping aperture for accommodating the connecting element to be gripped and the handle having, at said one end, a pressure nose including a pressure edge which enters into the gripping aperture when the wrench element is swung-in, characterised in that the or each wrench element is provided, on its side which swings over the pressure nose, with a jaw which is locatable over the connecting element to be gripped.

2. A universal wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein first and second wrench elements are pivotally mounted at opposed ends of the handle.

3. A universal wrench as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the jaw of the or each wrench element extends from a base edge, which, when the or each wrench element is swung out, is almost flush with the pressure edge of the respective pressure nose, as far as an outer defining edge at the end of an outer leg of a gripping angle of the or each wrench element.

4. A universal wrench as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the gripping aperture of the or each wrench element is in the form of a polygon having sides of different lengths.

5. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim including a reinforcement provided on the pressure nose, corresponding to the thickness of the respective wrench element.

6. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein rough or ribbed surfaces are provided on internal edges of the gripping aperture or on the pressure edge of the pressure nose, for the or each wrench element.

7. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a wrench element is mounted rotatably at each end of the handle.

8. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one wrench element is adapted to tilt laterally about a transverse axis.

9. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a pivot axis of at least one wrench element is adjustable in an arcuate bearing slot.

10. A universal wrench substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.