US2388580A - Wrench - Google Patents

Description

F. A.. SNELL WRENCH Nov. 6, 1945.

Filed Nov. 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor F. A. SNELL Noy. 6, 1945.

WRENCH Filed Nov. 1', 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I uventor Patented Nov. ti, 1945 WRENCH Francis A. Snell, Chenango Forks. N. Y., assignmto Botnick Motor Corporation. Binghamton,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 1, 1944, Serial No. 561,429

Claims.

This invention relates to a wrench, and more particularly to an adjustable wrench, adapted for operation upon nuts, bolts, pipes, or the like.

The primary object of this'invention is the provision of an improved wrench, provided with an improved jaw means, the arrangement being such that the wrench may be readily fitted to clamp upon any object such as a nut, or the like, and the jaws so arranged that, when the wrench is in closed or clamped position, they remain in parallel relationship with respect to each other.

An additional important object of this invention is the provision of sucha wrench, which may be readily adjusted to fit any desired size of nut or the like, and which, due to a pivotal action of one jaw thereof, may be readily released from the said nut without the necessity of operating the adjustment means, whereby to change the adjustment of the wrench.

Still another object is the provision of an improved wrench, s arranged that when once setto a desired type or size of nut or the like, the same may be repeatedly utilized on said size of nut without the necessity of varying the adjustment. A'still further object is the provision of such wrench adapted to accommodate a variety of I sizes of nuts, or the like, the arrangement being such that regardless of the size upon which the wrench is adapted to act, the jaws, when in clamped position, remain in parallel relationship.

Still another object is the provision of an improved wrench which will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and which may be manufactured comparatively inexpensively and simply with a relative minimum of parts.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter andshown in the accompanying drawings, wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of wrench constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1. but showing the parts in a difierent position of adjustment.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the center line of the wrench, disclosing the same in one position of adjustment, an additional operative position being indicated by dotted lines,

and v Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, there is generally indicated at [0 a frame member comprised of two side portions 1 l, oppositely disposed and terminating in extending members l2 spaced apart and having positioned therebetween a spacer I3, or the like, secured thereto, as by bolts or rivets 14, to form a handle. 7

The opposite extremity of member In is provided with a spacer block constructed ofmetal, or the like, l5 secured between the side plates II, as by rivets l6, and having a lower face ll provided with corrugations, or the like, to form a fixed jaw, a space of substantial extent being left between the side plates H, and between the spacers l3 and i5.

A movable jaw, generall indicated at 20 and provided with a jaw portion H which may be toothed or serrated, is pivotally secured at its extremity 22, as on a pivot pin 23, positioned between the side walls ll of the frame I0. The jaw 20 is generally triangular in form and is provided at the third angle of the triangle with a second pivot 24, to which is secured an operating handle 25 preferably comprised of a, channelshaped member adapted to move in the same plane as the handle 12 of the fixed jaw.

As best shown in Figure 3, a link 26 is pivotally secured at one extremity to a pivot 21 extending between the side walls H, and at the other extremity to a pivot 28 secured within the handle 25. Thus, it will be seen that when the handle 25 is moved outwardly to the dotted line position disclosed in Figure 3, the movement of the link 26, and the corresponding movement of the jaw 20 about the pivot pin 23, will cause the jaw 20 to drop away at an angle with respect to the jaw l5. Conversely, upon compression of the handle 25 toward the handle l2, a parallel linkage system will be formed, causing the face 2| to assume parallel relation to the face ll.

Positioned within the space above mentioned between side walls .I l is a main link 30 of arcuate configuration, having one extremity engageable with the pivot 22, and secured at its opposite extremity'to a pivot 3|, positioned between the side walls II. An extension 32 beyond pivot 3| is secured, to one end of a coil spring 33 positioned within a recess 34 in the handle member I3, and having its outer end 35 secured at an extremity thereof, the spring serving normally to bias the jaw 20 toward open position,

Means are provided for varying the position i of link 30, and hence the pivot pin 23, to correspondingly vary the respective spacing of the jaw faces I! and 2| when in closed position. Such means take the form of a screw 35 having a rotatable knurled nut 36 thereon, and terminating in a T-shaped crosshead 31 positioned between the side walls II. The nut 36 is of a dimension to extend outwardly through apertures 38 in the side walls II to permit the periphery thereof to be grasped whereby to rotate the same, while the ends of the head 31 extend outwardly and are contained in longitudinally extending slots 39, oppositely disposed. The crosshead 31 is adapted to abut against the inner arcuate surface of the link 30, the arrangement being such that as the crosshead is moved towards the extremity of the slot 39 adjacent the jaws, the member 30 is moved upwardly, correspondingly moving the pivot pin 23 and hence the jaw 20 closer to the jaw l5. This is best shown in Figure 2, wherein the jaw faces I I and 2| are juxtaposed. Conversely, as the screw 38 is moved in the opposite direction by means of rotation of nut 36, the crosshead 31 is moved towards the opposite extremity of the slot 39 and the jaws are moved correspondinglya relatively greater distance apart.

From the foregoing the operation of the'device should now be readily understandable.

It will be readily seen that the link 30 and the link 26, when taken in conjunction with the handle member 25 and the jaw 20, form a parallel linkage system, the arrangement being such that when the handle 25 is moved towards the handle l2, the jaw 2| assumes a parallel relationship to the jaw [1, a clamping action being effected when the link 26 passes its over-center position, to lock the parts in close clamping assembly with any object to be grasped. It will correspondingly be seen that this eiTect is maintained, regardless of the position of the jaws, relative to each other, as determined by the positioning of 'the T-head 31 in the slot 39 when adjusted in the manner previously described. It will thus be seen that the wrench may be readily adjusted to any size nut, or other object, within its range of normal operation according to the size of the parts thereof, and that when once adjusted, the device or object to be held may be firmly grasped, and the jaws locked thereon, by compressing the handle 25 towards the handle I2. It will also be seen that when it is desired to release the object so grasped, the nut 35 need not be adjusted, but merely by releasing the handle 25, the jaw 20 is permitted to swing away from the jaw l5 about the pivot 23, whereby the object is readily released. Thus, it will be seen that when the wrench is once set for a particular size of object, it may be repeatedly utilized to grasp and release the same or a plurality of similar sized objects. It will likewise be seen that the wrench may be readily adjusted to accommodate any given size object within its range of action.

Now, from the foregoing, it will be seen that there is herein provided a device accomplishing all the objects of this invention and others, in-

cluding many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinafter shown and described; it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted solely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a handle having a recess therein, a jaw aifixed to said handle, a second jaw, a second handle pivotally secured to said second-mentioned jaw, a link having one end pivotally secured in said recess and having its opposite end pivotally secured to said second .iaw, a second link having one end pivotally secured insaid recess and having its opposite end secured to said handle to form a parallel linkage, and means associated with said first link adapted to vary the relative position of its pivotal connection with said second jaw, with respect to said first jaw.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a handle having a recess therein, a jaw affixed to said handle, a second jaw, a sec ond handle pivotally secured to said second-mentioned jaw, a link having one end pivotally secured in said recess and having its opposite end pivotally secured to said second jaw, a second link having one end pivotally secured in said recess and having its opposite end-secured to said handle to form a parallel linkage, spring means associated with said first-mentioned link adapted to bias said second jaw about its pivotal securing means to bias said first link pivotally in a direction away from said first jaw, and means associated with said first link adapted to vary the relative position of its pivotal connection with said second jaw, with respect to said first jaw.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a handle having a recess therein, a jaw afiixed to said handle, a second jaw; a second handle pivotally secured to said secondmentioned jaw, a link having one end pivotally secured in said recess and having its opposite end pivotally secured to said second jaw, a second link having one end pivotally secured in said recess and having its opposite end secured to said handle to form a parallel linkage, and means associated with said first link adapted to vary the relative position of its pivotal connection with said second jaw, with respect to said first jaw, saidmeans comprising a T-headed screw movably secured in said first handle, and means for moving the same.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a handle having a recess therein, a jaw afiixed to said handle, a second jaw, a second handle pivotally secured to said second-mentioned jaw, a, link having one end pivotally secured in said recess and having its opposite end pivotally secured to said second jaw, a second link having one end pivotally secured in said recess and having its opposite end secured to said handle to form a parallel linkage, spring means associated with the said first-{mentioned link adapted to bias said first link pivotally in a direction away from said first jaw, and through said link movement to bias said second jaw about its pivotal securing means, and means associated with said first link adapted to vary the relative position of its pivotal connection with said second jaw, with respect to said first jaw, said means comprising a T-headed screw movably secured in said recess in said first-mentioned handle, and nut means for moving the same to move said first-mentioned link.

5. A tool comprising, in combination, a frame having slots therein, a stationary jaw, an adjustable jaw, a link pivoted at one end to the adjustable jaw and at the other end to said frame, an adjusting screw guided by said slots, a nut adapted to actuate said screw, the head of said screw bearing against one edge of said link at an angle to act as a wedge and swing said link 5 about its pivot when said adjusting nut is turned.

a spring extending from one end of said link to said frame serving to bias said jaws towards open position, a toggle pivoted at one end to said adjustable jaw and at the other end to said frame, said toggle consisting of an actuating handle and a link pivoted thereto, said toggle and said first-mentioned link, together with the adjustable jaw, forming a parallel linkage system .whereby the adjustable jaw is maintained always

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