US2543824A - Slidable inner jaw wrench having a pivoted rack catch - Google Patents

Description

SLEY ET AL 2,543,824 JAW H HAVING n RACK CATCH March 6, 1951 a. M. BEE

SLIDABLE'INNER WRENC A PIVOTE Filed Se IN V EN TORS.

ATTORNEY.

BENJAMIN M BEE'SLEY, By BARBARA Bess/.5),

Patented Mar; 6, 1951 SLIDABLE INNER'J AW WRENCH'HAVI'NG A PI'VO IED RACKUATCH eltenjanmin.M. Beesley.amilBarbara Beasley,

- Ventura, Calif.

jApplication September 14, 1946,-Serial*-No. 697,084

1 Claim. (01. 81-434) corning clogged, distorted, or 'otherwiseirendered difficult to operate or :evencompletely inoperative.

'It is a generalobject of '"the pres'ent invention to provide a pipe wrench which is "very simple and inexpensive of construction and which is simpleand'convenient :to operate. "Inthe construction of the present invention: there same-"two cooperating .jaws, one of "which is pivoted. "while the other slides and fthesliding jaw is zprovided with setting :means that can be easily "and quickly'operated. The construction of the present' invention is free ofiscrewsiorlike devices that are tedious to operate or are fsubject to ibiecoming "fouled.

It is a further object of 'tl ieapresent invention to provide a wrench of the character mentioned involving various features of construction which make the device exceedingly simple and iinexpensive of manufacture .and'yet practical and durable. The device of "the present Iinvention involves few "simple working parts and is :such that theseveral parts can :bereadily assembled or placed "together and in the final assembly the several parts are all permanently joined or held assembled by theapplication of a single' pivot pin which serves as the means ifor coupling the shank of the tool with one'o'f the jaws.

The various objects. and featuresof Iour invention will be fully understood from thefollowing detailed description of a typical preferred .form and application of the invention, throughout which description ireference'is :made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of :the wrench showing it 'applied'to'a :pipe. Fig. 2is an enlarged view of the wrench showing the :body construction withparts broken away to show-"the details of construction. 'Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed-'sec- Fig.1. Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional'viewtaken as indicated by :line 4-4 on Fig. '2. Fig.5 is a detailed rsec'tional view taken as indicated by line 2 5-5 'on Fig. 2 and Fig. Bis a detailed sectional view taken-as indicated by line'6-6 onFig. 2. The device of the present invention involves, generally-abody A carrying a pair-of jaws, one a pivoted jaw B, the other asliding jaw C, means D pivotally connecting jawB to the body, means Eslidably connecting the jawC tothe body, .detent means F normally yieldingly holding the jaw B in normal working position-and ratchet means G acting toreleasably setthe jaw C on the body A.

The body A is an elongate element characterized by two parts, a shank!!! and a handle H. The shank and handle are preferably integrally connectedor joined-end to end and are preferabl-y'in alignment witheach other, as shown in the drawings The jaw B is the outer jaw, in that it is connected to the outer end of shank Ill, and in its preferred form it is an L-shaped part involving amounting arm [3 and a gripping arm l4. 'The gripping arm M has a suitably shaped and finished gripping face I5 and the parts are normally arranged and related so that the face [5 normally extends in adirection generally lateral'to the longitudinal axis of thebody A and faces inward-or toward the inner jaw 'C.

The mounting arm 13 of jaw B is angularly related to the gripping arm and may extend at right "angles thereto, as shown in'thedrawings, it being arranged to extend 'from the jaw l4 towardthe outer end of the body A.

The means D serves to pivotally connect the jaw B with the body 'Aand involves, generally, a hinge connection between thejaw and the body, the axis of which is transverse of the longitudinal axis of the body. In practice the construction and formation of means D may vary'wi'clely. In

.- and ther'is a pair of spaced'fianges 2'! on the end of mounting arm t3 of jaw 13. The flange I 20 extends or enters'between th'e fianges'Z I. The

' tional "View taken as indicated by line 3- 3on flanges 2B and?! have openings 23 which register when thefianges are properly engaged and the pin 22 isacarried in the openings 23,theaxis of the openings and pin being transverse to the longitudinal axis ofthe body A. In practicethe pin may be 'made secure or 'fast inanysuitame manner. For example it may be made to have 'a'press -fit either into flange =2 tier into the flanges 2|, in which case it will remain in place unless deliberately dislodged, there being no tendency for it to become dislodged in normal operation of the tool.

The inner jaw C is in the nature of an adjustable abutment member or block. As shown in the drawings the jaw C may include a body 25 having a forward gripping face 26 which is disposed to oppose the face l5 f the jaw B. In the preferred arrangement the face 26 is normal to or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body A and it is formed or finished to have the desired gripping action. It is to be understood that in practice the gripping faces 15 and 26 of the jaws may be shaped, formed, or finished to have suitable gripping action and, in practice, we may follow constructions found in devices of this kind. For example, if desired these faces may be on parts known as inserts which are applied to the jaws rather than being formed directly on the jaws as we have shown in the drawings. In the form of jaw body 25 shown in the drawings the body has an inner side of substantial length opposing or adjoining the shank ll! of body A while the rear outer portion is beveled away asat 28.

The means E slidably connecting the inner jaw C and the shank preferably involves cheek plates 30 projecting from the body 25 of jaw C to overlie the sides 3! of the shank Iii and ribs 32 on the inner sides of the cheek plates extending parallel with the shank l0 and slidably engaged in guideways 33 extending lengthwise in the sides 3| of the shank II). In accordance with our invention the cheek plates 30 are rigidly formed or joined with the body 25 of jaw C to be an integral continuation of the jaw and the ribs 30 are integrally formed on the inner sides of the plates.

In accordance with our invention we extend the guideways 33 to occur opposite each other in the outer sides 3! of the shank H] to the forward end of the shank It where they are open so that the jaw C can be assembled onto the shank when the pin 22 is removed and the jaw B is not in place. When the jaw B is in place and the pin 22 is in operating position the edge portions 36 of flanges 2| close the forward ends of the guideways 33 and thus positively prevent displacement of the jaw C from the shank. At the inner end portion of the shank the guideways terminate at end walls 31 which positively prevent displacement of the jaw C from the inner end of the shank.

The means F is a detent means provided to normally yieldingly hold the jaw B on the end of shank It so that the arm M of the jaw extends laterally of the shank causing the gripping face l to face the gripping face 26 of the jaw C.

a The detent means may vary widely in practice;

However, in the preferred form of our invention it involves merely a detent ball 49 carried in a socket 4| in the jaw B to cooperate with a notch 42 in the outer end portion of flange 28. The socket 4! is deep enough to accommodate and hold an helical compression spring 43 which seats in the bottom of the socket and bears on the ball 40 to normally yieldingly urge the ball outward in the socket. The notch 42 in the flange 26 has divergent or beveled side walls which act to wedge the ball 48 back or into the socket ll against the resistance of spring 43 when sufiicient pressure is applied tending to turn the jaw B.

In the construction that we have shown the ends of the shank I0 and the arm l3 of jaw B cooperates to form stops to limit pivotal movement of the jaw B on or relative to the shank. We may proportion or relate the parts so that when the jaw B is in the normal position where it is held by the detent means F shoulders 50 and 5| on the arm l3 and shank [0, respectively, cooperate to positively stop movement of the jaw B toward the jaw C. Shoulders 52 and 53 on the shank I0 and arm I3, respectively, are apart when the jaw B is positioned as just described but serve to positively stop or limit movement of the jaw B in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Fig. 1.

The ratchet means G is provided as a means for releasably setting the jaw C in the desired position opposing the jaw B and in the form that we have provided it is an easily operated means providing quick convenient means for adjusting the jaw C along the shank A.

In accordance with our present construction the means G involves, generally, a rack on the shank l0 and a pawl carried by the jaw C cooperating with the rack. In the construction shown a rib 60 projects from the edge of the jaw shank l0 which faces jaw C and a plurality of ratchet teeth 6| are provided on the rib, the teeth being in the form of ratchet teeth faced toward the outer end of the shank. A pawl 62 is carried in a recess 63 provided in the body 25 of jaw C from the side opposing the shank ID of body A. In the construction illustrated the pawl is pivotally supported so that its active or outer end is movable into and out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 6|. We have shown trunnions 64 projecting from opposite sides of the pawl 62 and rotatably held in bearing sockets 65 provided at the inner portion of the recess 63. The recess 63 and the socket 65 are shaped and related so that the trunnions are effectively rotatably supported in the sockets in a manner to support the pawl so that its outer end can be moved into and out of engagement with the teeth 6 I.

A spring HI, preferably a helical compression spring, normally yieldingly urges the pawl 82 into active position where it engages teeth of the rack. In the arrangement illustrated we show the spring 1!! carried in a recess or socket H provided in the body 25 of the jaw C so that it carries the spring in a manner to bear on the top of the pawl. H

The pawl 62 is provided with a projection in the form of a finger whichprojects from the pawl outward through an extension 8| of recess 63. The extension 8| of the recess opens at the inclined back corner 28 of the body 25 and the finger 80 is proportioned to project somewhat outward from or beyond the recess extension 8| so that it projects from the exterior of the jaw C in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The recess extension 8] is proportioned to allow movement of the finger 80 so that it can be swung in the direction indicated by the arrow Y in Fig. 1, causing the pawl 62 to be moved so that it is lifted out of engagement with the teeth 6|.

It will be apparent that with the construction just described the ratchet mechanism is such that the jaw C can be rapidly and easily slid forward on the shank Ill to any desired position for operation and through the action of the spring Hi the pawl immediately sets itself or engages a tooth 6| setting the jaw C in position on the shank II]. To release or move the jaw back along the shank or toward the inner end of the shank it is merely necessary to swing the finger 80 in the direction indicated by the arrow Y in Fig. 1,

whereupon the jaw is freed and can be slid to any desired position along the shank.

It is to be observed that the recess 63 in the body 25 ofrjaw C is widened to facilitate entrance of the trunnions into the bearing sockets 85 and through the construction that we have provided the pawl with its operating finger 80 can be arranged and positioned in the body 25 of the jaw only from the inner side of the jaw, that is, only from the side of the jaw opposing the body shank I0, and when the jaw C is in place on the shank It as shown throughout the drawings the shank l0 positively prevents displacement of the pawl from its operating position in the body 25 of jaw C.

Through the construction that we have provided the tool is assembled by placing the pawl in the body 25 of jaw C from the inner side of the body with a spring 70 behind the pawl and then sliding the jaw C onto the shank l0 while the finger 80 is depressed, causing the pawl to be out of engagement with the teeth of the rack on the shank. When the jaw C is in place the jaw B is arranged in place and the pin 22 applied, which operation completes assembly of the tool and with the application of the pin 22 all parts of the tool are assembled and coupled without the aid of any other fastening means. It is to be understood, of course, that as the jaw B is applied the detent spring and ball are applied so that the detent means is in place when the final assembly is made.

From the foregoing description and from the drawings it will be apparent that the tool that we have provided operates substantially the same as the usual type of pipe wrench in that it provides flexibility between the jaws enabling the wrench to be ratcheted around a pipe or rod. However, it is to be noted that through our construction the adjustable jaw, that is the jaw C; is so mounted and related to the means G that the operator can very quickly slide the body into the desired position, and Whenever he wishes the jaw C can be easily released by simply manipulating the finger 80 as above described.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, we do not wish 6 to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claim.

Having described our invention, we claim:

A Wrench including an elongate shank, an outer jaw, means pivotally connecting the said jaw and the outer end portion of the shank, means normally yieldingly holding the outer jaw in a predetermined rotative position relative to the shank, an inner jaw having a recess in its inner side facing the shank and an opening in its outer side communicating with the recess and opening.

away from the shank, means slidably mounting the inner jaw on the shank including opposed ribs on the jaw and longitudinally disposed guideways in opposite sides of the shank slidably carrying the ribs, the guideways being open only at the forward end of the shank and being closed by the other jaw on the forward end of the shank, and ratchet means holding the inner jaw in position on the shank including a rack on the shank, and a pawl held in the recess in the inner jaw, and having a handle projection extending through said opening, the pawl having trunnions projecting from it and rotatably supported in sockets in the sides of the recess.

BENJAMIN M. BEESLEY.

BARBARA BEESLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 35,123 Winslow Apr. 29, 1862 218,195 Rhyn Aug. 5, 1879 552,106 Dinkelacker, Jr. Dec. 31, 1895 599,334 Humphrey et al. Feb. 22, 1898 665,031 Paulson Jan. '1, 1901 685,273 Grubbs Oct. 29, 1901 777,238 Briscol Dec. 13, 1904 859,020 Smith July 2, 1907 1,101,900 Betten June 30, 1914 1,380,643 Eagle June 7, 1921

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