US2051755A

US2051755A - Pipe wrench

Info

Publication number: US2051755A
Application number: US750179A
Authority: US
Inventors: William O Thewes
Original assignee: Ridge Tool Co
Current assignee: Ridge Tool Co
Priority date: 1934-10-26
Filing date: 1934-10-26
Publication date: 1936-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1953-08-18

Description

18, 6- w. o. THEWES 2,051,755

PIPE WRENCH Filed 0ct 26, 1934 Ihwentor W/lZ/A/V 0. THEM/5 Bu Gttornegs Patented Aug. 18, 1936 {UNITED STATES P I PE WRENCH giWilliam 0. ThewesyNorthRidgeville, Ohio, as-

signor. to The Ridge Tool Company, North Ridgeville Ohio, a corporation of Ohio i I Application October'ZG, 1934, Serial No. 750,17'9' 4 Claims.

This invention relates to pipe wrenches, and the primary object of the same is to provide a wrench of this type which .may be manufactured and assembled at a relatively low costjandwh ich at the same time embodies improved features as regards strength, 'working action and neatness in appearance and design. I v g .J'The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the follow:

ing description taken in conjunctionjwith the drawing, wherein: f

Figural is a view in side elevation of a wrench embodying the'feature's of the invention;

2 isasection taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Figs. '3 and 4 are sectional views substantially similar to Fig. 2 but showing different types of jaw-housing springs and anchoring members therefor; and Figs. 3a and 4a are detail views of parts used in the forms shown in. Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 5 designates the handle portion of the wrench and 6 the fixed jaw portion having fixed thereon a jaw plate I. The movable jaw is indicated at 8 and is formed with the usual threaded shank 9 adapted for longitudinal movement in a longitudinal opening Illa formed in a yoke member or housing In and is provided with an adjusting nut II. The housing is provided with a front portion through which the fixed jaw portion 6 extends and a rear portion which houses the shank of the movable jaw.

The present invention is centered around the construction and cooperative arrangement of the housing I, springs l2 and fixed jaw portion 6.

The housing In is pivoted at lOb to the fixed jaw portion 6 and is provided with a transverse opening or recess 13 in which the adjusting nut II is mounted. The springs I2 are of the coil or compression type, and in the form of the wrench shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said springs are substantially cone-shaped with the reduced end of each seated in through-bores or recesses I4 and [4a formed in opposed walls of the longitudinal opening [5 of the housing It, and the free ends thereof bearing against opposed sides or edges of the fixed jaw portion 6 and resiliently maintaining the housing Ill and through the latter the movable jaw 8 in a neutral or floating position with respect to the fixed jaw 1.

There are certain important advantages provided by the foregoing construction, among which may be mentioned the following:

The handle 5 and its integral fixed jaw portion 6 may be formed free of holes or recesses such as are generally necessary in certain other types PATENT OFFICE of pipe wrenches to accommodate the attachment of leaf springs or other parts, which holes or recesses have a tendency to weaken a wrench at the point where the greatest stress is applied in service. The "springs l2 exert their neutralizing 5 or .jaW-fioatingpressure at diametrically opposed points on'the housing llland do not have the tendency to become unequalized or displaced ofttimes present in wrenches embodying springs of the leaf type orlother types of differently located 10 springs, and this combined with the fact that the springs lZmay be relatively strong while at the same time' the movablejaw may have a fairly snug fitand yet' be free for unhindered adjustinent inthe opening 'lBa formed in the rear por- 15 tion of the housing I!) results in a highly improved working action with more pep throughout the life of the wrench. The springs I2 may be easily replaced at a negligible cost, and the wrench as a whole may be manufactured and 20 assembled at a relatively lowcost without sacrificing quality. There are no protruding parts to scratch the hands or otherwise annoy the user of the wrench, and the latter has a generally neat appearance. 25

In Figs. 3 and 3a, the arrangement is such as to produce the same advantageous results found in the wrench shown in Fig. 1, but in this instance the springs l2a are carried by a holder I6 which, as shown, is formed of a strip of resilient 3o sheet metal which is snapped in place in the opening l5 of the housing I00. If desired, the walls of said opening may be formed with a shallow recess in which the holder l6 may be seated to insure against displacement thereof. 35 The holder I6 is preferably formed with ears 5a in which the one end of each of the springs |2a is inserted, said ears preferably being formed simply by punching the metal of the holder l6 inwardly. With this construction it is not neces- 40 sary to form holes l4 and Na in the housing as in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 4 and 4a a further modified type of spring construction is shown. In this instance the spring I 21) may be made in one piece, as 45 shown in detail in Fig. 4a, preferably consisting of a single piece spring wire which is bent into the form of coil springs at opposite extremities thereof and having side portions which normally bear against the side walls of the housing. In 50 this instance also it may be desired to form a shallow recess in which to seat the spring or the side portions thereof. In Figs. 3 and 4, the fixed jaw portion is indicated at Go and the shank of the movable jaw at 9a. 7 1 55 It will be noted that in each of the forms shown, the neutralizing springs are located in substantially the same positions and are of substantially the same type and in conjunction with the construction and mounting of the housing l0 effect the same advantageous results.

It will be understood that certain minor changes in structure and design may be adopted within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. s

I claim:

1. A pipe wrench comprising a handle and a fixed jaw portion formed integrally therewithand having a fixed jaw thereon, a movable jaw having a shank, a jaw housing pivotally connected to the fixed jaw portion and having a front portion through which the fixed jaw portion extends and a rear portion through which the shank of the movable jaw extends, a pair of opposed coil springs mounted in the front portion of said housing, and means for retaining said springs in position in said housing, said means comprising a sheet metal holder which is 'moun'ted in the front portion of said housing and is provided with ears in which the one end of each of said springs is inserted. v

2. A pipe wrench comprising a handle and a fixed jaw portion formed integrally therewith and having a fixed jaw thereon, a movable jaw having a shank, a housing for the movable jaw pivotally connected to the fixed jaw portion, and coil springs disposed in opposed relation in the front portion of said housing and bearing against opposed sides of the fixed jaw portion .to thereby n maintain the housing and the movable jaw car-' ried thereby in a floated position with respect to the fixed jaw, said springs being formed of a single piece of wire which has its opposite extremities bent into the form of coil springs and its central portion connecting said springs and bearing against the side walls of the housing to thereby retain the spring in position in said housing.

3. In a pipe wrench, a floating jaw, a housing therefor, a support for the housing, said housing being pivoted at one extremity to said support and at its opposite extremity having a portion which encompasses said support, coacting coil springs disposed on opposite sides of said support and bearing against said portion of the housing to thereby maintain the housing and the jaw carried thereby in a floating position, and means for holding said springs in frictional engagement with said portion to thereby avoid the formation of weakening spring-seating recesses in either the housing or support.

. 4. A pipe wrench comprising a handle and a fixed jaw portion thereon, a movable jaw having a shank, a jaw housing pivotally connected to the fixed jaw portion and having a front portion through which the fixed jaw portion extends and a rear portion through which the shank of the movable jaw extends, a pair of opposed coil' springs mounted in the front portion of said housing, and means for retaining said spring in position in said housing comprising a sheet metal holder which is mounted in the front portion of said housing and having means for holding the springs in position. v

. WILLIAM O. THEWES.