US2405462A - Wrench - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1946. I 52mm 0 I WRENCH Filed April 14, 1944 .49. .L, .10 J5 Z 9/ U414 f? H g V a I, i g hf" L l I i I N VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 6, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRENCH Carlyle B. Stair, Downers Grove, Ill.

Application April 14, 1944, Serial No. 531,101

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to Wrenches and more particularly to a wrench socket which is light in weight and inexpensive to manufacture.

In aircraft, particularly combat aircraft, it frequently is necessary to remove the landing wheels from the craft. Since landings are made on landing strips or air fields which are not necessarily equipped with all types of tools for the various types of aircraft, it is necessary to carry in the aircraft certain tools to facilitate servicing of the craft. One of the tools thus required is a socket wrench for the nuts which retain landing wheels on their spindles. One of the chief objections heretofore has been that such wrenches are so heavy that considerable weight is added to an airplane which otherwise might be used for other purposes.

In accordance with the present invention certain of the above mentioned disadvantages are overcome by providing a relatively light weight socket wrench which is strong and yet occupies little space. Such wrench, therefore, permits an airplane to use the saving in weight for carrying a greater load.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide an improved light weight and relatively strong wrench socket.

It is another object of the present invention to provide animproved method of manufacturing light weight wrench sockets or socket wrenches.

Other and further objects of the present invention subsequently will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 shows one step in the manufacture of a wrench socket in accordance with the present invention;

Figures '2 and 3 are side and top views respectively illustrating another step in the manufacture of a socket wrench;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a complete wrench socket made in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a socket wrench about to be placed upon a nut such as is used on aircraft for retaining landing wheels on their spindles.

In the manufacture of socket wrenches in accordance with the present invention a piece of pipe or tube I0 is cut in short lengths such as l2 shown in Figure 1. A short length of tubing I2 is then placed upon the bed of a milling machine which has a narrow cutter l4 positioned so as to make a cut across the top of the tubing or pipe section l2. This cut of the milling cutter I4 is made so that the outer edge of the cut is in a plane substantially tangential to the inner diameter of the pipe or tubing l2. For a hexagonal wrench socket six cuts are made displaced at angles of sixty degrees as is apparent from Figure 3. These cuts therefore form a plurality of notches l6 about the periphery of the pipe section l2 on one end of the section. After six notches l6 have been formed, a pair of ears l8 arranged diametrically opposite each other are secured to the pipe section l2 by welding, brazing or other satisfactory manner. The ears I8 preferably are provided with apertures 20 for receiving a pipe or rod 22 which serves as a handle for the wrench socket. Figure 5 shows a wrench socket and handle 22 comprising a socket wrench assembly about to be positioned in engagement with a nut 24 of the type used to retain a wheel on a spindle, as is the case in aircraft.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that there has been provided in a relatively simple and easy manner a light weight socket wrench particularly suited for the purpose mentioned in connection with aircraft. While the ears l8 have been shown in Figure 4 as being attached to the exterior of the pipe section I2, they might be secured at the end or on the inside dependent upon other factors which determine the preferable position. Obviously of course in place of the circular openings 23 in the ears l8, other types of openings or notches might be utilized.

While for the purpose of describing and explaining the present invention a certain specific embodiment has been shown, it is to be understood that certain variations thereof may be made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention as are apparent from the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

The present invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. The method of manufacturing a wrench socket which comprises cutting pipe into short lengths, and producing a plurality of cuts successively across one end of one of said lengths of pipe, said cuts each being in a different plane substantially tangent to the inside face of said pipe, said planes being angularly displaced from each other to form a regular polygon.

2. The method of manufacturing a wrench socket comprising cutting tubing into short lengths, and milling one end of one of said lengths of tubing successively in a plurality of planes angularly displaced from .each other so as to form an equiangular polygon, each plane being substantially tangential to the inside circumference of said tubing.

CARLYLE B. STAIR.

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