US2557342A - Pipe wrench - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1951 D. COLE 2,557,342

PIPE WRENCH Filed Jan; 22, 1949 3m entor (Ittorneg Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a pipe wrench, generally, and more particularly, deals with a wrench "or tongs adapted to handledrill pipe, well casing 'in the well-drilling field.

' 'In well-drilling, drill and casing pipe varies in outside diameter between a present minimum of 2% inches and a maximum of 8% inches. In my two earlier patents, Nos. 2,224,142 and 2,243,272, I provided a pipe wrench or pipe tongs that would handle pipes varying considerably in size but which, however, could not have universal use because the limit of variation was in the nature of some three inches. Consequently, the range of pipes in the smaller sizes were handled by one wrench and those in the larger sizes by another.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pipe wrench of novel form that is adapted to handle all sizes of pipes conventionally used in well-drilling and in the maintenance of flowing wells. 7 Another object of the invention isto provide a pipe wrench structure that embodies two selective pipe-gripping positions, the smaller thereof being adapted to handle a range of small pipes and the larger thereof a range of larger pipes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pipe wrench, as indicated, in which the larger station is additionally adjustable for greater flexibility in use.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnectedtherefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a face view of a wrench according to the present invention, with the handle thereof broken away, and showing the same applied to a pipe in the smaller range of pipe sizes.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the elements of the wrench and showing the same applied to a pipe in the larger range of pi sizes.

The pipe wrench that is illustrated comprises,

generally, a handle 5, a jaw link 6 pivotally connected to the handle and associated with a wedge cam l formed on said handle, a latch link 8 pivotally connected to the free end of the jaw link 6,

a keeper link 9 having adjustable engagement with the latch link 8, a link it pivotally'con- 'necting the handle 5 and the keeper link 9, and

resilient means H for urging the latter link into operative latched position. The handle and links above provided, in all operative positions of the wrench, comprise an articulate pipe-encircling structure that, with easy facility, can be applied to handle pipes varying up to three and one-half to four times the size of a minimum pipe size.

The handle 5, at the end where it carries links is and it and on the side toward which link 6 is directed, is provided with the wedge cam I. The latter comprises a convex edge on the handle that is provided with teeth or like pipe-gripping means to obviate slippage.-

The pivots for links 6 and I0, designated [2 and 53, respectively, are arranged longitudinally of the handle with the latter at the inner end of the handle and the former immediately adjacent thereto. 1

The jaw link 6 is formed with a recess [4 for receiving a pipe in the smaller range of sizes, said recess being defined by a toothed gripping face i5 and a relatively angularly related face l6 which,-if desired, may be similarly roughened. The pipe p is adapted to reside in said recess against faces l5 and l 6 and to be wedged therein by wedge cam '1 upon rotation, in a clockwise direction, of the handle about pivot l2.

The jaw link 5, at its free end, carries a pivot 11 that connects it with link 8 and, between said pivot'and wall !5, there is provided a convexly curved toothed wall 18 which forms one of the jaws for engaging a pipe P in the larger range of sizes.

The latch link 8, at its outer free end, is provided with three abutment steps 19, 20 and 2|, that are successively nearer to pivot ll. Two or more than three such steps may be provided, as desired. Said steps have selective engagement with keeper link 9 and eachis provided with a shoulder 22 that limits the position of the latter link when engaged with each respective step.

The step [9 defines one edge of a curved projection 23 that forms the outermost end of link 8, said projection, in a direction toward the pivot [1, having a concavely curved face at 24, said face being approximately transversely across from step 2| on the opposite side of said link. Be-

tween pivot l1 and curved face 24, said link is provided with obtusely angularly related toothed gripping walls 25 that cooperate with wall 18 of link 6 to grip a pipe 1?.

The keeper link 9 is connected to link H] by a pivot 26. Said keeper link, at its free end, is provided with an elongated outwardly curved handle part 21 and between said part and the pivot, with a longitudinal slot .28, said slot, between link=lil and a shoulder 29 defining the handle part," being of such extent that the'same is receptive of link 8 when face 24 is engaged with link 8 and step 2| is engaged with said shoulder 29. When so engaged (Fig. l), projection-23 protrudes through slot 28 and any force seeking to withdraw link 8 from the slot is counteracted by the convexly curved edge. 300i said projection. In other words, linktcannot"be"withdrawn from engagement with link 9 by afipull in the direction of pivot l7, but the keeper link 9 can be rotated on its. pivot 26 to effect separation from the latch link.

The keeper link, on' the inner sidethereof, is provided with a-pair of stoplugs 3Ladjacent pivot 26 and with an abutment 32 opposite to said 'stop 1ug's.

Thelink' 10, on its-inner side, is provided with obtusely angularly related. gripping faces. 33. that complete the encirclementiof a pipe? andcooperate with faces 18 and' 25. On the opposite side, said link is formed with aseat'34 for a compressionspring '35 that is confined by abutm'ent'32 of link 9. 'Said spring-exerts. its force in a direction to rotate link 9 inward about its pivot '26. 'To limit such rotation, link 10- is provided with abutment shoulders 36 that engage stop lugs"3l. It canbeseen therefore, that the means II which comprises spring 35-and related elements, actsat all timesto urge link 9 into engaged cooperation with-latch link 8.

When being applied to pipes in the small range of sizes, links 8 and- 9 aredisengaged and link 6 swung out on its-pivot I2 to admit-the-pipe'between wedge cant I and the-inner end-oi face 8 into recess 1 4. Links 8 and 9-are then re-engaged as in" Fig. 1. Movement of handle 5 in a clockwise direction will cause relative movement of pivots l2 and I3, resulting in link-'6 exerting a pan onlinkfl, and link l exertingapull on link 9. Links Band Bare, therefore, held interlocked as thewedge cam and-wall I grip pipep. Continued 'clockwise-movement-of handle 5 will rotate saidpipe inaclockwise direction. Atop-forbottom reversal of: the wrench will rotate said pipe in the opposite direction.

-For pipes which'will not comfortably-enter recess 14,- the arrangement oi-Fig, 3 is used. "For the largest of the larger pipes P, step l9 .is.engaged with shoulder 29. Now, as -the pivots I2 and 13 are moved relativelybyclockwise:movement of handle 5, the same opposed pulls on:links Band 9 holdthemengagedso that the gripping faces I8, and 33 can efiect rotation of the pipe.

A slight counter-clockwise movement of the handle 5 will permit separation of links 8 and 9.

For sizes of pipes between pipes p and P, step 5 2B or 2| may be engaged with shoulder 29 with like results.

While the invention that has been illustrated and described is now regarded as the preferred embodiment, the construction is, of course, sub- 0 jGCtZ-tOlImOdifiCatiOIIS withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is; therefore, not desired to restrict the invention to the par- :ticular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may {5 fall within the scope of the appended claims.

' 'l laving thus described my invention, what I .olaimanddesire to. secure by Letters Patent is: "1.In a pipe wrench, a series of four pivotally connected links arranged to encircle a pipe, at

0 handle pivotally connecting two of the links and vmovable to articulate. saidcircleofi links three of said links having pipe-gripping walls. directe'dtoward each other, means. separably and...adjust- 3..In aspipe 'w-rench :having;alhandleaandaa series; or pivotally connected linksypivota lycarried by an end of said handle, said links bein arranged to encircle a piperand "the-handlebeing movable to articulate; said links .toggrip a pipe encircled thereby, the improvement that comprises wedge cam and jaw means:.on saidiendvofs-the handleand one of said 'links for gripping a pipe of smaller size than can beigripped by. :the, mentioned oircleof links.

JDELBERT ,COLE.

.REFERENCES ,CITED "The following references are -of recordrinnhe file 1 oi this p'atent UNITED STATESPATENT Number Name 3 Date Re.,1.7-,597 Adams :-Feb.. ;l8,. 1930 1,483,486 :Scott. Feb..1 2,,1924 2,329,196 pHambly 1- Sept. 14,;4943

to 2,406,520 Wilson -.A g.-,2 7, 19 16 v 2,446,410 Couse -Aug;. 3, v1948 2,466,032 ,Lundeen. -Apr.1 .5',-;l949

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