US1362867A - Wrench - Google Patents

Description

W. A. HUMPHREY.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2. 1919.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Q witness atfoznu a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WRENCH. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed September a, 1919. Serial No. 321,023.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HUM- rrrnnr, a citizen of the Unitet States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Monroe and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful VVrench, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to an automatic gripping and adjusting device of this character.

An object of this invention is to provide a wrench having a spring-pressed movable jaw cooperating with a fixed jaw, and these components being so disposed that pipes, rods or other stock of various sizes may be automatically gripped and rotated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wrench of generally improved construction, whereby the device will be simple, durable, and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable and eiiicient in its use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved automatic wrench.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device, parts appearing in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a composite handle, comprising spaced bars or handle members 5, between which is disposed a spacing strip 6. Screws or other securing devices extend transversely through the bars 5 and strip 6 thereby rigidly securing these members to each other. Laterally curved jaws 7 are formed at one end of the composite handle by extending the bars 5, and a curvedmovable jaw 8 is pivotally secured at the outer ends of the jaw 7. Adjacent faces of the movable jaw and the stationary jaws 7 have teeth 9 and 10 formed therein, and the pivoted end of the curved movable jaw is reduced to define an attaching ear 11 which is pivotally secured between the outer ends of the jaw 7 by a screw or other securing device 12. The spacing strip 6 terminates adjacent the inner ends of the fixed jaw 7, and this strip has a longr tudinally disposed slot 13 formed therein for the reception of one end of a leaf spring 14. The opposed terminal of the spring 14 is recelved in a recess 15 formed in the reduced car 11, and that face of the spring 14 which is remote from the movable jaw 8 engages a shoulder 16 extending from the car 11. By securing the inner end of the spring 14 within the longitudinally disposed slot 13 and with its opposed terminal engaging the shoulder 16 this obviously causes the spring to normally urge the movable jaw 8 toward the stationary jaws 7 In use, a pipe, rod or other device may be positioned between the movable and stationary jaws by simply gripping the movable jaw 8 and moving it away from the stationary jaws 7, and when the pipe P has been positioned between the jaws the movable jaw is then released, which permits the spring 14 to automatically adjust the jaws to the pipe P. Now by moving that end of the handle which is remote from the jaws in the direction indicated by the arrow A the pipe P is automatically gripped and rotated in this direction. When the handle has been moved a convenient distance in this direction it may be withdrawn or moved in the opposite direction and during this movement the movable jaw automatically releases the pipe and allows the wrench to be returned to its original position without turning the pipe P. Thus t is obvious'that this wrench will automatically grip and turn a pipe or other stock in the desired direction by simply oscillating the outer end of the handle member.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed is A wrench including a composite handle member comprising spaced bars, a spacing strip secured between the said bars and having a longitudinally disposed slot formed therein, said slot being closed at its inner end and open at its outer end, spaced fixed jaws extending from the said bars beyond the outer end of the spacing strip, the inter mediate portions of the fixed jaws being laterally curved and the outer end of the fixed jaws having relatively short straight portions extending in the same general direction as the said handle member, a curved movable jaw having a reduced attaching ear formed at the outer end thereof, said ear having a notch formed therein, a shoulder extending from the ear and forming a wall of the notch, a pivot element extending through the outer terminals of the fixed jaws and the said ear thereby pivotally securing the movable jaw between the fixed jaws, the movable jaw being curved and extending inwardly from its pivotal point toward the handle member; and a spring positioned between the spaced jaws and having one-terminal positioned within the longitudinal slot formed in the spacing strip and its opposed terminal received within the said notch with one face engaging the said shoulder therebynormally urging the movable jaw toward the fixed jaws, said spring being held against longitudinal movement by means of the closed end of the said slot and the said notch.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A." HUMPHREY.

Witnesses:

SUE CANNEY, CLARENOE A. JENSEN.

Images