US758035A - Wrench. - Google Patents

Description

f UNrrnn STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

1 WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,035, dated April 19, 1904. Application led March 19, 1902. Serial No. 98,951. (No model.)

` `IO wrenches ordinarilyhaving diverging jaws,

one of which is provided with asliding gripping-piece designed to move toward the narrower part of the space between the jaws when under the wrenching force, thus approaching l I5 theopposing jaw to increase the gripping pressure on the object to be turned and to 2 vprevent the wrench from slipping. In such devices as heretofore made the. gripping force is without positive limit, depending on the 2O resistance of the object to turning, the length of the wrench-handle, and the force applied to it. Vifhen the resistance to turning is very great, butrmust be overcome, the gripping force of such wrenches increases with the force 2S applied to the wrench-handle, and to a degree unnecessary for a tirm grip, often becoming destructive ,to the object by denting, crushing,

or bending before the resistance to turning is overcome. p

It is an important object of this invention to positively'limit the gripping force, irrespective of the turning force and resistance,A

and to furnish means lfor limiting the gripping force so as to make 1t accord to the uses towhich the wrench is to be put.

The invention consists in certain features of l i Y.construction and operation by which the strength of the wrench and its readiness and l eiiiciency in use are improved, and especially 4Q any denting, crushing, or bending of the objectgripped prevented', as is hereinafter set th i, the accompanying drawings is shown a euch embodying the improvement in its referred form; but it will be understood that .such fieri-n may be varied in many details with- `outdeparting from theessential features of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wrench embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the movable gripping part removed. Fig. 3 is ya longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the wrench on line 3 3, Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4., Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a Jfront view of 55 the head ot' the wrench. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the gripping or sliding jaw-piece.

Referring to the drawings, C is a handlelever, and A and B the jaws of the wrench. The operative faces of the jaws are inclined toward each other at any suitable angle, the median line of which may be at any desired angle to the median line of the handle C. The jaws are preferably made of steel, and the jaw A is formed with teeth a. Formed longitudinally in the inner face of the jaw B is an undercut recess or groove D, the cross-section of which is preferably the greater part of a circle, as shown in Fig. 5. The sliding gripping-piece is composed of a grip-piece F and 7o a rib Gr, which is formed with or attached to said piece, is longitudinal to the same, and is oi' the same cross-section as the groove D. The grip-piece F is mounted on the jaw B to slide inward and outward within certain limits in directions inclined toward and frorn'the opposing jaw and is guided and heldin place by the rib G, which has a neat sliding it in the groove D. A f

E is an aperture which passes through the jaw B at an angle with the groove D and preferably in a plane that longitudinally bisects said groove. Said aperture is screw-threaded to admit the screw N, which turns into and out from the groove D. To accommodate said screw, the rib G is cut away to leave an opening or recess H, which is large enough to allow slight longitudinall movements to the sliding gripping-piece in directions inclined toward and from the opposing jaw, which movements may be shortened or lengthened by turning said screw. This arrangement prevents the rib G from being disengaged from the groove. i

It is evident that shortening the motions or' 95 the sliding gripping piece diminishes the amount of gripping force possible under any wrenching force that may be applied. Stops for the gripping movement may be formed in several ways, provided they be properly adjustable or adjusted, though it will be understood that some features of the invention are independent of such adjustment. To limit the outward movement of the grip-piece F and determine the normal or initial position of the same, 1 prefer to use the screw N, which forms an adjustable stop by which the play of the sliding gripping-piece may easily be regulated. The inward movement of the grippiece F is arrested by a positive stop L on the wrench-body or .on the jaw B, situated close to the inner end of the piece when the latter is in its extreme outer position, so as to be within operative stopping distance of the same, the movement of which should be Very slight.

The screw is so mounted and related' tothe other parts thatt can be adjusted inward and upward far enough to hold the sliding piece F firmly in its inner position, and the tool can in suchacase be employed when it is desired to have no outward yielding of the sliding piece. The screw is of such length as to permit it to be used to press the sliding piece into the last point of its inward travel when desired. 1t will also be seen that by having the adjustable stop arranged as it is--namely, on lines inclined to the travel of the sliding piecemthe necessity of entirely withdrawing the screw or adjustable stop when it is desired to detach or remove the sliding piece is avoided.

vWhile the plate F may he caused to drop to its outer .position by gravity or may he moved by hand before applying the wrench to its woriz, it is preferable to provide a spring for this purpose, which is shown at S,

'fitted in the inner part of the groove l) and operates in a well-known manner.

The inner end portion or edge of the piece F is shaped, as shown at f, to conform with the shape of the stop L, such shape of L bcing the best for strength. i

lt will be observed that the means for mounting and adjusting the gripping-plate are all within the wrench in such manner as not to form projections or increase its thickness or interfere with its insertion into and use in narrow spaces or confined situations.

1t will be understood that many matters of construction Iherein shown, however-'suitable or advisable, are not absolutely essential, such as the degree of angle'between the jaw'sfthe angle at which the handle lstands relative to the jaws, the mode of connecting the jaws and handle, (which may be by forging, casting, welding, or by attachment, fixed, movable or adjustable,) the position of space H, screw N, and of aperture E, and the shape of .groove D, rib G, and space H.

In using the Wrench a slight movement of the handle will bring the sliding gripping piece to its final holding position with a firm grip on the object to be turned, which grip however, is not increased in force or converted into any destructive pressure by the further movement of the handle. The wrench is released with equal facility by a little movement ofthe handle in the opposite direction.l

1. In a wrench, the combination of the two opposing jaws, a handle for turning the jaws, 'a gripping-piece mounted on one of said jaws and movable along the same on lines inclined to the opposing jaw, an adjustable stop for l said movable gripping-piece mounted in its jaw and adapted, while so mounted, to permit the detachment of the movable gri pping-piece and ad justablc to either of several active positions to vary the limit of travel of the movable gripping-piece, substantially as set forth. 2Q In a wrench, the combination ofgtwo opposing jaws, a handle for turning the same, a gripping-piece movably mounted on one of said jaws and having a stop-shoulder situated at an angle to the lines of movement of the gripping-piece, and a stop-screw mounted in the last said jaw and movable longitudinally on lines inclined to the path of the movable vgripping-piece, and adapted, while in mounted position, either to stop the sliding piece at one or another point in its path or t'o permit the detachment of said sliding piece, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of two opposing jaws, a handle for turning the same, a movable gripping-piece mounted on one of the said jaws, an adjustable stop mounted in the last said jaw. and movable on lines inclined to the path of the said sliding piece, and shoulders on the sliding piece, one inside and the other outside of the adjustable stop, substantially as set forth. f 4. ln a wrench, the combination of two opposingl jaws, a handle for turningr the-same, a sliding gripping-piece mounted on one of said jaws, a iixed stop for the inward movement of the sliding gripping-piece, and an adjusting-screw for said gripping-piece mounted in its jaw and adapted, while so mounted, to per- TOO IOS

mit the detachment of the said gripping-piece and adjustable to move said gripping-piece to the iixed stop and there secure it, substantially as set forth. 7 v

5. 1n a wrench, the combination of the two opposing jaws', a handlefor the same, a sliding, gripping-piece having a depending rib seated in a groovein one of said jaws and movable longitudinally therein, said rib having a recess H, and an adjustable stop mounted in said -jaw and adapted to be adjusted relative y. to the said nbtch H to vary the limit ot' travel of the moving gri pping-piece, su hstantially as (3. ln a. Wrench, the combination of the two notch H to vary the limit of travel of the gripoppi'ising jaws, one of the same being provided ping-piece, substantially as set forth. IO with a groove, a handle for turning the jaws, In testimony wner-eofl ax mysignature in a gippingpiece having a rib seated in the presence of two witnesses.

.groove in the said jaw and removable longitu- ALTER H. W. BEECHER.

dinally therefrom, said rib having a recess H, VitnesseS: and an adjustable stop mounted in the said jaw (ino. EVANS, and adapted to beadjusted relaiive to said B. '.l`-. ENOS, Jr.

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