US1179249A - Wrench. - Google Patents

Description

b zmm I I Attorneys W. R. WELLER.

' WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 31, 1915- 1,179,249. v Patented Apr. 11,1916. 27 .17 if IIHI Witnesses Inventor WILLIAM R. WELLER, OF MILLSTONE, MARYLAND.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 31, 1916. Serial No. 75,413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. WELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Millstone, in the county of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Wrench, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to wrenches, and aims to provide a novel and improved wrench for removing or applying the nut of an axle spindle which holds the hub of a vehicle wheel upon the spindle, the device being applicable to the wheel and nut, whereby the wheel can be used as a lever or prize for loosening or tightening the nut in a convenient and effective manner.

It is the object of the invention to provide a wrench of the nature indicated having novel means for attaching it to the spokes of a vehicle wheel, to hold the wrench in place, and whereby the nut can be held by the wheel when it is removed or applied, rendering it convenient to remove the wheel from or place it upon the axle spindle.

Another object of the invention is to provide the wrench with a ratchet device to enhance the utility and efliciency thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein v Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench. Fig. 2 is a median section of the wrench taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, portions being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View illustrating one of the spoke engaging devices in position to pass between the spokes. Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail of the handle part of the wrench illustrating the stop plate in position so that the ratchet device is efl'ective.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a sheet metal plate or member 1 havmg diverging tapered arms or prongs 2 adapted to be inserted between the spokes of a vehicle wheel, and the plate 1 also has a collar or boss 3 projecting away from the arms 2. A tubular member 4 is journaled for rotation through the collar 3, and a detachable socket member 5 is threaded or otherwise attached to one end of the member 4 between the arms 2 and is adapted to rest against the plate 1. Various sizes of socket members 5 can be interchangeably employed, so as to accommodate various nuts. A pin or rivet 6 is engaged diametrically through the tubular member 4 adjacent the other end thereof, and a wooden or equivalent handle 7 has a reduced end 8 fitting within the last mentioned end of the member 4. A longitudinal pin 9 is engaged through the handle 7 and has an eye 10 at its inner end embracing the transverse pin 6, to anchor the handle to the member 4, the outer end of the pin 9 being provided with means 11- for holding the handle 7 upon said pin. A collar 12 is slidable upon the tubular member 4 between the ends thereof, and another collar 13 is slidable and rotatable upon said member between the collars 3 and 12. A diametrical pin 14 has its ends engaging the collar 12 and works within diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 15 with which the tubular member 4 is provided between its ends, a. coiled wire expansion spring 16 being disposed within the member 4 and being confined between the pins 6 and 14, so as to normallymove the collar 12 toward the plate 1, so that the collars 3, 13 and 12 are brought together.

The collars3 and 13 have interengageable ratchet teeth 17, and the collars 13 and 12 Patented Apr. 11, 1916;

have reversed interengageable ratchet teeth 1 18, the advantages of which will be pointed out hereinafter. The ratchet device is effective when the collar 12 is free to move toward the handle 7, and when it is desired to lock the tubular member 4 rigidly to the plate or body member 1, a stop plate 19 is moved against the collar 12 to prevent it from moving away from the collar 3, to thus hold the three collars in engagement until the stop plate is removed from the collar 12. This stop plate 19 is ofarcuate cross section so as to snugly fit the member 4: betweenthe handle 7 and collar 12, and is provided with a longitudinal slot 20 having angular or lateral notches 21 and 22 in its inner and outer ends, respectively. The pin 6 projects through the slot 20 and a coiled wire expansion spring 23 is disposed upon the protruding end of the pin 6 between a washer 23 upon said pin and bearing against the plate 19 and the head 24: of the projecting end of the pin 6. The washer 23 is thus pressed against the plate 19, holding it against the member 4 and also preventing the accidental movement of the stop plate 19. lVhen the stop plate 19 is moved toward the handle 7, as seen in Fig. 4, it can be turned slightly to engage the notch 21 with the pin 6, thus holding the plate. 19 in idle position, spaced from the collar 12, so that said collar can move longitudinally upon the member 4. By turning the plate 19 back slightly, it can be shifted longitudinally against the collar 12, and by turning the plate farther its notch 22 will be engaged to the pin 6, to hold the plate 19 in place, thus preventing the collar 12 from moving away from the collar 3. In this position of the plate 19, the collars 3, 13 and.

12, are held in engagement, and conse- .quently, the member or plate 1 and member 4 cannot rotate relative to one another.

The free ends of the arms 2 are equipped with means for holding said arms assembled with the spokes of the wheel, and to this end, a pair of fingers 25' have their side pieces overlapping and pivoted to the free end of each arm 2, a pin 26 being engaged to the free end of sa1d arm upon WhlCll the fingers 25 are pivotally mounted. A palr of "toggle links 27 is provided for each pair of fingers 25 and have their remote-ends pivotally engaging pins 28 carried by the free ends of the fingers 25, and the adjacent ends of the links 27 are pivotally engaged upon a pin 29 outstanding from the free end of a rod 30, there being one of said rods for each of the arms 2. The rods 30 are disposed upon the outer sides of the arms 2 approximately parallel therewith, and said'rods 30 -have longitudinal slots 31 through which the pins 26 project, so that the rods are guided for longitudinal reciprocation. The arms 2 are provided between their ends with outstanding apertured ears 32 through which the rods 30 pass loosely, and the adjacent ends of the rods 30 have inwardly projecting ofiset's 33 at opposite sides of the tubular member 4. Coiled wire expansion springs 34 are disposed upon the rods 30 between the 7 ofisets33 thereof and the ears 32, and'normally move the rods 30 toward the handle 7, to thereby move the joints of the toggle links 27 toward the ends of the arms 2. This separates the remote ends of the links 27, to thus swing the fingers 25 apart to approximately right angles with the arms 2, as seen in Fig.1. The free portions of the arms 2 which pass between the spokes, are preferably covered or faced, as at 35, with leather, rubber, or other equivalent material for preventing the device from marring or scratching the spokes, and the fingers 25 are also preferably covered or faced with similar material, as at 36.

As a means for moving the rods 30 against the tension of the springs 34, a pair of levers 37 of channel-shape, have certain ends hinged or pivoted, as at 38, to the opposite side edges of the plate 1 between the arms 2, and the levers 37 diverge from one another and project in directions opposite to the directions in which the arms 2 project. Pivoted to the flanges of the levers 37, are toggle links 39, there being two pairs of them, and the adjacent ends of the links 39 are pivotally engaged, as at 40, to the offsets 33. The links 39 are normally arranged at an obtuse angle relative to one another, whereby when the levers 37 are swung toward one another manually, the joints of the links 39 are forced away from the handle 7, thus moving the rods 30 outwardly, and this will move the joints of the. toggle links 27 likewise. Consequently, the fingers 25 will be swung together, as seenin Fig. 3, in order that they .can pass between the spokes readily.

In using the wrench to remove the nut from the spindle, the levers 37 are pressed together,.thus swinging the fingers 25 toward one another, which enables the arms 2 to be readily inserted between opposite spokes of the wheel, the socket member 5 being simultaneously applied to the nut. Then,when the levers 37 are released, the fingers 25 are swung apart under the influence of the springs 34, and they bear against the inner sides of the spokes, thus holding the arms 2,fiXed to the wheel. The wheel is now turned, either by moving the entire vehicle. or by jacking up the wheel and-rotating it manually, and this provides considerable leverage or purchase for loosening the nut in an easy manner. The wheel can thus be spun or rotated for unscrewing the nut. In the meantime, the stop plate 19 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, to hold the collars 12, 13 and 3 in engagement, whereby the socket member 5 will rotate with the wheel. When the nut is unscrewed, the wheel can be removed, and the nut will be carried with the wheel, so that when the wheel is again-applied, the

plate 1, the ratchet teeth snapping past one another, and the collar 12 being forced ahead with the collar 13. When the wheel is rotated in the other direction, the collar 13 is rotated with the collar 3, but the collar 12 is forced away from the collar 13 by the ratchet teeth 18, the ratchet teeth 18 snapping past one another.

The present wrench provides a convenient and eflicient device for removing and applying the nuts of axle spindles, and has a number of advantages which will be obvious to those versed in the art.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new is:

1. A wrench embodying a wheel engaging member, a rotatable member carried thereby and having a nut socket, a ratchet device between said members for allowing them to rotate relative to one another, and means operable for positively connecting said members so that they rotate together.

2. A wrench embodying a wheel engaging member, a member journaled therethrough and having a nut socket, a collar slidable and rotatable upon the second mentioned member, said collar and first mentioned member having interengageable ratchet teeth, a second collar slidable only upon the second mentioned member, the two collars having reversed interengageable ratchet teefih, the first mentioned collar being disposed between the first mentioned member and second mentioned collar, spring means for moving the second mentioned collar toward the first mentioned member, and means for preventing the movement of the second mentioned collar away from the first mentioned member.

3. A wrench embodying a wheel engaging member having a collar, a tubular member journaled through said collar, and having a nut socket and diametrically opposite slots between its ends, a collar slidable upon the tubular member and having a diametrical pin projecting through said slots, a third collar between the aforesaid collars. the first mentioned and third mentioned collars having interengageable ratchet teeth, the second and third mentioned collars having reversed interengageable ratchet teeth, a spring within the tubular member bearing against said pin to ,move the second mentioned collar toward the first mentioned one, and an adjustable stop upon the tubular member for preventing the movement of the second mentioned collar away from the first mentioned one. u

4. A wrench embodyinga member hav: ing arms extending therefrom to pass between the spokes of a wheel, a socket member carried by said member between said arms, fingers pivoted to said arms adjacent the free ends thereof and spring pressed to swing behind the spokes.

5. A wrench embodyingamember having arms extending therefrom to pass between the spokes of a wheel, a socket member carried by said member between said arms, fingers pivoted to said arms adjacent the free ends thereof and spring pressed to swing behind the spokes, and manually operable means carried by the first mentioned member and operatively connected to said fingers for swinging them so that they can pass between the spokes.

6. A wrench embodying amember having diverging arms to pass between the spokes of a wheel, a socket member carried by said member between said arms, a pair of fingers pivoted to each arm adjacent the free end thereof, a pair of toggle links pivoted to each pair of fingers, a pair of reciprocable rods extending along said arms and connected to the joints of said links, and means for operating said rods.

7 A wrench embodyinga member having diverging arms to pass between the spokes of a wheel, a socket member carried by said member between said arms, a pair of fingers pivotedto each arm adjacent the free end thereof, a pair of toggle links pivoted e0 each pair of fingers, a pair of reciprocable rods extending along said arms and connected to the joints of said links, springs for normally moving said rods inwardly, and manually operable means carried by the first mentioned member for moving said rods outwardly.

8. A wrench embodyingamember having diverging arms to pass between the spokes of a wheel, means carried by the free ends of said arms for engaging behind the spokes,

'reciprocatory rods extending along said arms and connected at their outer ends to sald means, a pair of opposite levers pivoted to said member, toggle links connecting said pivoted to each pair of fingers, reciprocab'le rods extending along said arms and having their outer ends connected to the joints of said links, springs for normally moving said rods inwardly, a pair of opposite levers pivoted to said member, toggle links connecting said levers and inner ends of the rods whereby the rods are moved outwardly when the levers are swung together, and a socket member carried by the "first men- 10 tioned member between the arms thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM R. WELLER. Witnesses:

JEssE O. GARVIN, C. 'E. SENSEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each,'by addressing the Commissioner of "Patents, Washington, J). G.

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