US1028243A - Wrench. - Google Patents

Description

CHARLES '1. MELI-IORN, OF AIVISBRY, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1912.

Application filed March 18, 1912. Serial No. 684,543.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES T. MEL- I-IORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amsbry, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches and more particularly to a quick adjustable wrence of that type wherein a sliding jaw is provided which carries a pivotally mounted pawl for engagement with teeth formed upon the shank of the wrench.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of simple, efficient and durable means for holding the pivoted dog in engagement with the teeth on the shank to secure the jaw in its adjusted position and quickly effect the release of said jaw so that the same can be moved longitudinally on the shank.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a simple combination and arrangement of parts which may be easily and quickly assembled into operative position, are all of extreme simple form and may therefore be inexpensively manufactured.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel'features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one end of the wrench. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3, 30f Fig. 2; and Fig. 1 is a detail perspective View ,Of the sliding guide block which is mounted in the wrench shank.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the shank of a wrench to one end of which a handle 6 is attached in any approved manner. Upon the other end of the wrench shank, the stationary jaw 7 is integrally formed. The shank 5 is provided with a longitudinal slot 8 which extends sub stantially the entire length of said shank, and in the opposed walls of which the longitudinal grooves 9 are formed. One edge of the shank on opposite sides of the slot 8 is provided with the teeth 10. A pawl 11 is pivotally mounted at one end between the ears 12 which are formed upon the adjustable jaw 13 loosely mounted for longitudina-l movement on the wrench shank. The other end of this pawl is adapted to engage the teeth 10 of the shank.

The opposed walls of the slotted shank 5 have entrance grooves or channels 14: formed therein adjacent to the outer end of the shank which open into the longitudinally extending grooves 9. A guide block 15 is arranged in the slot 8 of the shank and is provided upon opposite faces with the studs 16 which are moved through the channels 14- into the grooves 9. This guide block is provided with an opening 17 through which the rod or stem 18 is longitudinally movable. One end of this rod or stem is pivotally connected to the free end of the pawl 11, as indicated at 19, while the other end of said stem is provided with screw threads and is loosely disposed through an aperture formed in the end of a plate 20 which is rigidly fixed t0 the sliding jaw 13. A coil spring 21 is arranged upon the rod or stem 18 between the plate 20 and the shank 5 and has one of its ends fixed to said plate and its other end secured to the movable stem. A nut 22 is threaded 011 the stem 18 and engages the face of the plate 20.

From the foregoing description of, the arrangement of elements constituting my improved wrench, its operation will be understood as follows :1Vhen it is desired to adjust the jaw 13 upon the wrench so that said jaw and the stationary jaw 7 may be engaged with an object, the nut 22 is thread ed outwardly upon the end of the stem 18 so that the spring 21 will act to move said stein through the guide block 15 and force the end of the pawl 11 out of engagement with the teeth 10 of the wrench shank. The operator now moves the jaw 13 to the desired position on the shank, the studs 16 of the guide block sliding freely in the grooves 9 of the shank 5. When properly positioned, it will be seen that as the nut 22 is turned upon the end of the stem 18, to draw said stem through the plate 20, the end of the pivoted pawl 11 will move into engagement with the teeth 10 and at the same time, the spring 21 is placed under compression so that the nut 22 is at all times maintained in engagement with said plate. As the nut 22 prevents any longitudinal movement of i the stem through its guide block 15, the dog 11 will be securely held in engagement with the teeth of the shank, when pressure is brought to bear upon the adjustable jaw 13 in the turning movement of the wrench.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of use of my improved wrench will be fully understood. The arrangement of the various elements is such that the same can be easily and quickly assembled or any part removed in the event the same becomes broken and replaced by a new part. The jaw 13 may be easily and quickly adjusted on the wrench shank and is rigidly and securely held in its adjusted position in the use of the wrench.

While I have shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the parts, it will be obvious that the same is susceptible of considerable modification in form and proportion without departing from the essential feature or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is 1. In a wrench, the combination with a longitudinallyslotted shank provided with teeth on one face and having a stationary head formed on one end, the opposed walls of said shank having longitudinal grooves formed therein and entrance channels to the grooves at one end, an adjustable jaw on the shank, a guide block movable in the slot of said shank and provided with studs projecting into said longitudinal grooves, a pawl pivotally mounted on the adjustable jaw to engage the teeth of the shank, a stem connected to said pawl and movable through the opening in the guide block, and means for moving said stem to engage and diseir gage the pawl with the teeth upon the shank.

2. In a wrench, the combination with a longitudinally slotted shank provided with teeth upon one edge and having a stationary jaw formed on one end, the opposed walls of said slot having longitudinal grooves formed therein, a guide block movable in the slot of the shank and having studs projecting into said grooves, an adjustable jaw on the shank, a pawl pivotally mounted on the jaw to engage said teeth, a stem movably mounted in the guide block and pivotally connected to the free end of said pawl, a plate fixed to the adjustable-jaw provided with an aperture through which said stem is freely movable, and a nut threaded upon the end of said stem and co-acting with the plate to move the stem and engage or disengage the pawl with the teeth on the shank.

3. In a wrench, the combination with a longitudinally slotted shank having teeth on one face and a jaw formed on one end, the opposed walls of the slot in said shank being provided with longitudinal grooves and entrance channels opening into the grooves at one end, a guide block provided with studs movable through said channels into the grooves, said block being longitudinally movable in the slot in the shank, an adjustable jaw on the shank, a pawl pivotally mounted on the jaw to engage the teeth on the shank and hold the jaw in its adjusted position, said guide block being provided with an opening, a stem pivotally engaged with one end of the pawl, a plate fixed to the adjustable jaw and provided with an aperture through which said stem is freely movable, a spring arranged 011 the stem and fixed at one end thereto, the other end of said stem being fixed to the plate, said spring normally acting to force the "stem through the opening in the guide block and move the pawl out of engagement with the teeth on the shank, and a nut threaded on the end of the stem co-acting with said plate to move the stem and engage the pawl with said teeth and to place said spring under COHIPIQSSlOD.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES T; MELHORN. \Vitnesses G. A. CUNNINGHAM, BLAIR C. Scans.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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