Pipe wrench

Application filed March 21, 1930. Serial No. 437,719.

nally threaded and is disposed on the shank 6 of the movable jaw. The nut is adapted to abut the frame on one side and the abutment 7 on the other side and when rotated, moves the jaw longitudinally. 55

The adjustable jaw as previously stated includes the usual threaded shank 6, and the inverted L-shaped head 5 and is provided with a gripping surface 18 adapted to co-operate with the gripping surface 9 of the fixed ₆₀j aw 10 to hold round work or the like.

The aperture 4 which extends through the frame is sufficiently large to permit a spring steel guide 11, better illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, to be inserted therein between the jaw ₆₅shank and the surrounding frame. The guide is of channel-shaped cross section and is provided with a pair of Outwardly extending spring tongues 12 adapted to engage the narrow sides of the frame in the aperture 4. jq A recess 13 may be provided in the aperture 4 in one of the narrow walls, into which one of the spring tongues 12 may rest to prevent the guide being displaced from the aperture when the jaw is reciprocated. The walls of 75 the aperture converge toward the lower portion thereof, thus preventing the guide from reciprocating downward; as viewed in the figures, when the shank is. moved downward. The oppositely disposed spring tongues 12 ₈₀are adapted to hold the spring steel guide in a centrally located position with the parallel walls 15 of the guide confining the shank of the movable j aw in such a manner that the jaw guided in a relatively centered position 85 through the aperture 4, with the jaw surface 8 in the proper relation to the surface 9 of the fixed j aw, to best grip the work. It may be observed that ;a guide of this character has the movable jaw which is go capable of lateral movement in both directions thus facilitating the gripping action, and providing an efficient ratchet action in places where it is desired to alternately grip _:and turn the article and then move the 95 wrench to gain a fresh grip.

In Figs. 3 and 4, there has been shown a modified form of guide which includes a substantially tubular member 20, having a pair of tongues 21 which extend from the sides 100

This invention relates to wrenches and .more particularly to pipe wrenches wherein 'one of the jaws is adjustable longitudinally relative to the other.

•5 ' An object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench in which the longitudinally adjustable jaw may so move relatively to the stationary jaw, as to permit the jaw to better bite or grip the pipe or round work objects to which the wrench may be applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench which may be easily released from the object gripped.

. Another object of the invention relates to an improved manner in holding a longitudinally adjustable jaw within the body of the wrench.

Another object of the invention is to pro. vide an improved guiding sleeve for the 20 shank of the longitudinally adjustable jaw.

Still another object of the invention, and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying ²³ drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a wrench embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical medial sectional view of the wrench of Fig. 1 showing the relative pb³⁰ sition of the various parts;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan and side elevational views of a modified form of spring steel guide adapted to be used in the wrench to guide the movable jaw shank;

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and side elevational views respectively of the guide illustrated in section in Fig. 2.

Referring now particularly to the drawings throughout which like parts are desig¹⁰ nated by like reference characters, there is illustrated a wrench which includes an upper frame 2 provided with an integral handle 3. The frame is provided with an aper·. ture 4 which extends longitudinally through the upper end thereof through which the shank 6 of a movable jaw may be disposed.

A pair of opposed bosses 7 extend from the handle spaced from the upper frame portions and provide abutments for an adjust^J ing nut 8. The adjustment nut 8 is inter,187 gage said projection, a guide for said shank within the aperture, said guide including a pair of guiding Avails and a pair of integral tongues adapted to retain the guide in a predetermined aligned position within the aper- ⁷⁰ture, one of the tongues engaging a recess in the aperture to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and the other tongue being free to slide upon the wall of the aperture, said guide being arcuately movable within the ⁷⁶aperture and guiding said jaw shank.

3. A wrench with an integral handle formed with an apertured projection, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a pair of abutments formed on the handle adjacent said projec- ⁸⁰tion, a shank upon the movable jaw adapted to extend through the aperture in said projection and between said abutments, said shank being threaded and an adjusting nut adapted to be threaded upon said shank and ⁸⁵positioned between said projection and said abutments, the aperture in said projection being sufficiently, large to receive therein a guiding member for said jaw, a recess at one side of said aperture, said guiding member includ- ⁹⁰ing a sheet metal guide of substantially Ushaped cross section, having a pair of integral outwardly extending tongues adapted to engage the sides of the aperture to hold the guide in a centralized position and said shank ⁹⁵being guided by said guide.

4. A wrench having an integral handle, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a projection upon the handle formed with a longitudinal aperture, a pair of abutments formed on the han- ¹⁰⁰die adjacent said projection, a shank upon the movable jaw adapted to extend through the aperture and between said last mentioned abutments, said shank being threaded ancl an adjusting nut adapted to be threaded upon ¹⁰⁵said shank and positioned between said projection and said abutments, said aperture and said projection being sufficiently large, to receive therein a guiding member for said jaw, tile handle being formed with a recess at one ¹¹⁰side of said aperture, said guiding member including a sheet metal guide of substantially U-shaped cross section, having a pair of integral outwardly extending tongues adapted to engage the sides of the aperture to hole! the ¹¹⁵guide in a centralized position and said shank being guided by said guide, said guide engaging the shank of the movable jaw on all : sides.:., '

5. A wrench having an integral, handle, a ¹²⁰fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a projection formed on the handle and having a longitudinal disposed aperture therethrough, a pair of abutments formed on the handle adjacent said projection, a shank upon the movable jaw ¹²⁵adapted to extend through the aperture, and between said abutments, said shank being threaded and an adjusting nut adapted to be threaded upon said shank and positioned between said projection and said abutments, ¹³⁰

1,850 and which tongues are adapted to engage the walls of the frame in the apertures 4 in substantially the same manner as the insert of Figs. 5 and 6.

However, in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the sides of the guide extend entirely around the shank with the edges 22 of the insert abutting each other in order that the guide will guide but not bind the shank of 10 the jaw.

The normal position of the movable-jaw relative to the fixed jaw when the wrench is not in use, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Upon applying the wrench to a pipe or round ob15 ject it will be found that the jaw will move laterally as viewed in the figures. This lateral movement of the jaw is accompanied by an arcuate movement of the shank with the center of the guide as the pivot. The guide 20 being immovable on one side, that is the tongue 12 being seated in the recess 13, the opposite tongue is free to slide upward and downward upon the opposite wall in the aperture allowing the guide to move slightly, 25 which allows the arcuate movement to the ends of the movable jaw and shank resulting in an arcuate or lateral movement of the jaw.

It may readily be seen that in an improved construction of this type, the operations re30 quired to manufacture a guide such as shown and described are relatively few and inexpensive. As the guide may be formed out of pressed steel and made the proper shape by suitable dies.

With a guide constructed as disclosed, the shank may be removed from the wrench and none of the difficulties of assembly experienced when it is desired to put the same back together or to insert a new shank.