AU596789B2

AU596789B2 - Universal wrench

Info

Publication number: AU596789B2
Application number: AU49923/85A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Max Pasbrig
Original assignee: Lacrex Brevetti SA
Current assignee: Lacrex Brevetti SA
Priority date: 1984-11-15
Filing date: 1985-11-14
Publication date: 1990-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2005-11-14
Also published as: IL76873A0; IT8522812A0; GB8527099D0; IT1186063B; BE904127A; SE8504894L; IN166297B; PT79966A; CA1261655A; BR8505610A; HK6889A; KR860003882A; SE8504894D0; AU4992385A; ZA858324B; PT79966B; IL76873A; JPS61125778A; GB2166992B; GB2166992A

Description

5 96 789wi COMMONWEALTH OF AUST,9ALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-69 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class I nt. Class Application Number: Lodged: 4- -1 2 S57 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Y"dneiits ril-de b 1 1C~i~l49 and is correct for6 prning.

Published: 0t 0 0 Related Ar' Nlpaof Applicant: LACREX BREVETTf SA Addr,.ess of Applicant: O 0 0 Address for Service Via Eco 53-OH 6644 Orselina, Switzerlanid MAX PASBRTG EDWD. WATERS SONS, 50 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNIE- AUSTRALIA, 3000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: UNIVERSAL WRE'NCH The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to :-US I1.

-L1 The invention relates to a universal wrench for tightening or loosening bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements.

Universal wrenches of this kind (German Gebrauchsmuster (Utility Model) 74 03 522,a.ustral Patent 466565) are equipped with a closed wrench element for gripping various sizes of bolt heads, nuts, and similar connecting elements. This angular, polygonal wrench element is secured pivotably to one end of the handle by :0 means of a pin running at right angles to its gripping plane.

In order to grip the connecting element to be gripped, a pressure nose formed at the end of the handle interacts with the wrench element. These universal wrenches, however, So can be used only to grip connecting elements which are axially accessible.

The present invention seeks t) provide an improved universal wrench of the type mentioned at the beginning o.o hereof, which may be used not only for connecting elements which are built-in, but also for those which are only radially accessible.

According to th i.nt th here i pro 1 'idced a uni- Ceral i.rcnch for tightoning ?n ilsing nblz PanL n -ip- nirr 1 g A ciCil(rM-perg Qlp-;C5Qn comnpn inng- I Ib According to the present invention there is provided a universal wrench for tightening and/or loosening bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements, said wrench comprising a handle, a wrench element adapted to pivot about a pivot axis located at one end of said handle such that the wrench element moves in the plane of the handle, said wrench element having a polygonal gripping aperture for accommodating the connecting element to be gripped and the handle having, at said one end, a pressure nose rigidly connected to or integral with said handle located on an opposite side of said pivot axis relative to said handle, said pressure nose including a pressure edge which enters into the gripping aperture when .o the wrench element is swung-in into a tightening/loosening So position to contact the connecting element, characterised in that the wrench element is provided, on its side which "0 o° swings over the pressure nose, with a gap or mouth defined oby edges forming the polygonal gripping aperture, said gap .o or mouth being locatable over the connecting element to be gripped, said edges forming the polygonal gripping aperture extending from a base edge located adjacent to the pivot axis to an outer edge located at an end of said wrench element distant from said pivot axis, said universal wrench being characterized by said base edge being almost flush ,o -V e r es -S U r e c e OSoes no t oit-etucK C3 r uv't k1 with said pressure edge of the pressure nose when-_.h? ar wretch Zrh e re.r\c e-\emen+s..

Se-lemen.t-swung out about said pivot axis to a fully open position adapted to receive the connecting element to be gripped.

The open mouthed gripping aperture in the wrench element of the invention I I 3- -A one end of a handle, in the plane thereof; said at east one wrench element having a polygonal gripping a rture for the connecting element to be gripped, and so having a pressure nose at said one end o said handle; said pressure nose having a pressure-ed entering, when the said wrenchelement is swung-i into the said gripping aperture; the at least one wr ch element comprising on a side which swings over s d pressure nose, a jaw for the acccrmmodation of the o 10 ancecting lement to be gripped.

-Th ja.' in the rnch clment oF t h-irnnion makes it possible to fit this universal wrench also to a built-in connecting element, for example, a pipe nipple or p roa a n a pipeline, to grasp it firmly, and to turn it. The j-imay be relatively wide, to accommodate all connecting elements acceptable to the gripping aperture of the wrench element.

o The universal wrench so designed may therefore also be o used as a pipe wrench for connecting elements which are only radially accessible, and even cylindrical connecting elements and lengths of pipe may be gripped and turned.

It is desirable for the pivot axis of the wrench element to be adjustable in an arcuate bearing slot. This not only varies the\width of the gripping aperture, but the jaw canalso be set further away from the pressure edge, in order to facilitate the accommodation of a connecting element.

IPLC

The innovation is described hereinafter in greater detail, in conjunction with a particular embodiment by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a universal wrench with wrench elements at each end of the handle, shown in the open position; FIGURE 2 shows a part of this universal wrench of Figure 1 in the gripping position; and FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment -0i0 illustrated in Figure 2.

With further reference to the drawings the universal wrench illustrated consists of a handle 1 having approximately annular wrench elements 2 and 3 of dif- 0 ferent sizes, fitted to opposite ends thereof.

The wrench elements 2 and 3 have polygonal gripping apertures 4 and 5 respectively. The elements 2 and 3 0 are adapted to pivot about the ends of the handle 1 on pins 6 and 7 respectively fitted in pressure noses 10 and 11 respectively, having pressure edges 12 and 13 respectively.

Each wrench element 2,3 has a bearing flange which, in the case of element 2, is a forked flange 15 flanking the pressure nose 10 on both sides, whereas flange 16 of wrench element 3 is mounted between forked pressure nose 11.

Gripping apertures 4,5 are defined by irregularly bent 4 peripheral legs, leg 18, remote from pressure edges 12,13 merging into a gripping angle 20 and terminating in a free leg 21.

From a defining edge 22, jaw 24 extends as far as a basr edge 25 on bearing flange 15. The base edge is preferably arranged in such a manner that, when the wrench element 2,3 is swung out, (Figure the base edge 25 coincides approximately with pressure edge 12,13. On the other hand, defining edge 22 may be so far away as to provide the widest possible jaw 24, although full use may still be made of gripping angle With this universal wrench, therefore, both large and small bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and the like may be tightened or loosened, regardless of whether the connecting elements are axially or only radially accessible. The jaw 24 is preferably made wide enough to accommodate the largest v 0 of the connecting elements which can be gripped by the gripping aperture. The internal surfaces of the gripping apertures at least the gripping angle 20 of the wrench ring, and preferably the pressure edges 12,13 also, may be roughened or ribbed, in order to provide a better grip in the case of circular heads or cylindrical profiles, for example of pipes.

_a 5 -5- The wrench elements 2,3 may also be adapted to tilt laterally, in known fashion, about a transverse axis According to a further development of this universal wrench, pivot pin 6 of the wrench element 2 is mounted in a bearing slot 31 (shown in dotted lines) and can therefore assume two different positions. This allows the)gripping aperture 4 to be made larger or smaller in its active or operative position, as required.

The jaw 24 may also be moved further away from the pressure edge 12, and may thus be made r:ore accessible.

As may be gathered from the drawings, wrench element 2 as shown, is particularly suitable for the accommodation of a hexagonal connecting element 33 which can be gripped through jaw 24. In Figure 2, connecting element 33 is shown in the gripped or clamped position.

o The invention is not restricted to wrench elements 2,3 as shown in the drawing with their trapezoidal gripping angles 20, which may also have legs of different lengths and 0 o -unequal angles. If the gripping angle is in the form of an acute angle, square and octagonal connecting elements may also be gripped satisfactorily.

Pressure nose 10 may also be designed with a reinforcement 14 of the same thickness as wrench element 2, in order to obtain a pressure edge 12 of equal area to grip flat connecting elements.

1

Claims

1. A universal wrench for tightening and/or loosening bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements, said wrench comprising a handle, a wrench element adapted to pivot about a pivot axis located at one end of said handle such that the wrench element moves in the plane of the handle, said wrench element having a polygonal gripping aperture for accommodating the connecting element to be gripped and the handle having, at said one end, a pressure nose rigidly connected to or integral with said handle located on an opposite side of said pivot axis relative to said handle, said pressure nose including a pressure edge which enters into the gripping aperture when the wrench element is swung-in into a tightening/loosening position to contact the connecting element, characterised in that the wrench element is provided, on its side which swings over the pressure nose, with a gap or mouth defined by edges forming the polygonal gripping aperture, said gap or mouth being locatable over the connecting element to be gripped, said edges forming the polygonal gripping aperture extending from a base edge located adjacent to the pivot o" axis to an outer edge located at an end of said wrench element distant from said pivot axis, said universal wrench being characterized by said base ,edge being almost flush 'WRe~-v\ t\e p ~reas ure e_ oes t Tuc2c 1-ye o with said pressure edge of the pressure nose\ehn\the .r.n.h e omAP4 \swung out about said pivot axis to a fully open position adapted to receive the connecting element to be oo gripped. o

2. A universal wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein two said wrench elements are provided, a first one of said wrench elements being pivotally mounted at one end of the handle and a second one of said wrench elements being pivotally mounted at the other end of said handle. -7-

3. A universal wrench as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the gripping aperture of the or each said wrench element is in the form of a polygon having sides of different lengths.

4. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim including a reinforcement provided on the pressure nose, corresponding to the thickness of the respective wrench element.

A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein rough or ribbed surfaces are provided on internal edges of the gripping aperture or on the pressure edge of the pressure nose, for the or each said wrench element.

6. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least one transverse pivot axis is located S in said handle adjacent to the wrench element pivot axis. 4 11

7. A universal wrench as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wrench element pivot axis of at least one said wrench element is adjustable in an arcuate bearing o slot. 9 0 0 S

8. A universal wrench substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the S accompanying drawing. DATED this 22nd day of February, 1990. LACREX BREVETTI S.A. WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS THE ATRIUM, 290 BURWOOD ROAD, HAWTHORN, VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP:jI(9.8)