US1291421A - Adjustable wrench-head. - Google Patents

Description

C. I. COULTER- ADJUSTABLE WRENCH HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23, ms.

Patented Jan. 14,1919.

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PAT OFFICE.

CHARLES J". COULTER, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE. WRENCH-HEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent- Patented J an. 14, 1919.

Application filed August 23, 1918. Serial No. 251,089.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. OoUUrER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Adjustable VVrench- Head, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to wrench heads of the adjustable type and one that is especlally useful as an element of a machine wrench. A machine of the type capable of employing this improved Wrench head is disclosed 1n my patent for combined machine wrench and clamp, No. 871382, dated November 19, 1907.

An object of the invention is to produce an adjustable wrench head of comparatively great simplicity combined with strength.

Another object is to effect ease of adjustment of the wrench head to fit various sizes of nuts.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detailed description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

. Figure 1 is a side elevation of a -wrench head constructed in accordance with the provisions of this invention, the jaws being 1n their expanded positions. p

Fig. 2 is an end view from the left of Fig. 1. j

Fig. 3 is an end view analogous to Fig. 2, excepting that the adjusting ring and body are relatively turned through an angle of et5 of circular measurement.

Fig. 4: is a ectional elevation 011 hne indicated by 00 -00, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal mid section on line indicated by $0 -00, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on line ma2, Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ad usting ring.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings there is provided a body 1 having a shank 2, preferably of angular cross section so that it can be inserted in a suitable socket for turning of the wrench head. In the above identified patent a suitable socket for holding the shank 2 is formed by the hub of a wheel by which power is applied to turn the shank. This wrench head is especially designed to be used in conjunction with a machine of the type dlsclosed 1n the above identified patent, but it is understood that it may be used with any machine suitable for effecting the turning of the wrench head.

The body 1 is provided with any suitable number of longitudinally extending recesses 3 in its peripheral face, the body being other wise of cylindrical form. The recesses 3 are deeper at the outer end of the body 1 than at the base and are gradually reduced from the outer end toward the base asclearly shown in Fig. 5. Within each of the recesses 8 is a spring 1, flat in the instance shown and fastened by screws 5 or their equivalents to the body 1. The free ends of the springs 4 are naturally sprung outward and engage the inner faces of jaws 6, respectively, which are inserted in and closely fit the sides of the recesses 3. The fit of the jaws in the recesse is just sufficiently tight to prevent Side play of the jaws but not sufficiently tightto prevent radial movement of the jaws. The peripheral faces of the jaws 6 are curved and substantially fit the inner face of an adjusting ring ;7 between peripherally arranged wedges 8. These wedges 8 are spaced from one another and equal in number the jaws 6. The ring 7 is 'journaled on the body 1 and When the ring is turnedin the directionof the arrow a, Fig. 2, the wedges 8 function toforce the jaws 6 inward against the pressure of the springs l. The turning movement of the ring-7 is limited and the ring is held in place by a screw or screws 9, or their equivalents, projecting from the body 1 and passing through a peripherally extending slot 01' slots 10 in the ring. The screw 9 and slots 10 in this instance are arranged at opposite sides of the ring and only one of the slots can be seen in Fig. 1 owing to the nature of the view.

Though not absolutely necessary it is advisable to loosely pivot the inner ends of the jaws 6 to the body 1 and to effect this the innor ends of the jaws 6 are provided with screws 11, the heads of which are accommodated in outwardly expanding holes 12 in a band 13 that surrounds the base portion of the body 1 and that is fastened to the body by screws 14, or their equivalents. The wedges 8 need not be the full width of the ring 7 and they bear against the peripheral faces of the jaws 6 just below the gripping heads 15 of said jaws which project beyond the outer end of the body 1 so that they may be readily brought into engagement with a nut, not shown, for turning the nut on and oil of a bolt.

' identified patent. The jaws 6 will be adjusted to the size of the nut, which is to be manipulated, by turning the adjusting ring 7 sufficiently to close the jaws 6 against the sides of the nut. The shank 2 will then be rotated to turn the body 1, thus rotating the jaws 6 about the axis of the tool and turning the nut to which the jaws 6 have been applied. The wedges 8, during the turning of the tool, prevent the jaws 6 from being forced outward away from the sides of the nut. Y r

The wrench head disclosed in the above identified patent is non-adjustable and therefore it was necessary for the user of the machine to have on hand several different sizes of the wrench heads to fit different sizes of nuts. By this invention but one wrench head is necessary to fit different sizes of nuts and the adjustment to different sizes is readily made.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited'to the exact construction shown in the drawings and above described, but also embraces such changes and modifications as lie within the spirit and scope of the ap- @opice of this patent may be obtained for pended claims.

I claim:

1. A wrench head comprising a body having recesses in its periphery, jaws in the recesses projecting beyond the outer end of the body, a band surrounding the base portion inner faces of the jaws to press the jaws outward, and a ring surrounding the outer end portion of the body and provided with peripherally arranged wedges on'its inner face bearing against the outer faces of the jaws.

2. A wrench head comprising a body having recesses in its periphery, jaws in the recesses projecting beyond the outer end of the body, a band surrounding the base ortion of the body and provided with outwardly expanding holes,screws projecting outward from the inner end portions of the jaws and the heads of said screws extending into the holes in the band and loosely fitting said holes, means fastening the band to the body,

fiat springs fastened to the inner walls of the recesses and bearlng against the inner faces of the jaws to press the jaws outward, and a ring surrounding the outer end pore tion of the body and provided with peripherally arranged wedges on its inner faces bearing against the outer faces of the jaws. Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 15th .day of August, 1918.

CHARLES J. GOULTER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. HILES, L. BELLE WEAVER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, D. 6.

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