CLE UNIVERSELLE

UNIVERSAL WRENCH

Abrégé anglais

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A universal wrench for tightening or loosening
bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, or the like connecting
elements includes wrench elements provided with polygonal
gripping apertures having on a side which swings over a
pressure nose, a jaw for the accommodation of the connecting
element to be tightened or loosened, in order to make it
possible to grip not only connecting elements which are
built-in, but also those which are only radially accessible.

Revendications

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A universal wrench for tightening and loosening
bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements,
comprising:
at least one wrench element adapted to
pivot, at one end of a handle, in the plane thereof,
said at least one wrench element having a polygonal
gripping aperture for the connecting element to be gripped,
and also having a pressure nose at said one end of said
handle,
said pressure nose having a pressure edge entering,
when the said wrench element is swung-in, into the said
gripping aperture,
the at least one wrench element comprising, on
a side which swings over said pressure nose, a jaw for the
accommodation of the connecting element to be gripped.
2. A universal wrench according to claim 1, wherein
said at least one wrench element comprises first and second
wrench elements pivotally mounted at opposed ends of said
handle.
3. A universal wrench according to claim 1, in which
said jaw has a base edge which, when the wrench element

is swung out, is almost flush with said pressure edge,
as far as an outer defining edge at the end of an adjacent
leg of a gripping angle of the wrench element.
4. A universal wrench according to claim 2, wherein
the gripping aperture of each wrench element is in the form
of a polygon having sides of different lengths.
5. A universal wrench according to claim 1 including
a reinforcement provided on the pressure nose, corresponding
to the thickness of the wrench element.
6. A universal wrench according to claim 1, 2 or
3, wherein rough or ribbed surfaces, or like holding means,
are provided on internal edges of the gripping angle or on
the pressure edge of the pressure nose.
7. A universal wrench according to claim 1, wherein
a wrench element is mounted rotatably at each end of the
handle.
8. A universal wrench according to claim 1, 2 or 7,
wherein the at least one wrench element is adapted to tilt
laterally about a transverse axis.
9. A universal wrench according to claim 2, wherein a
pivot axis of said first wrench element is adjustable in an
arcuate bearing slot.

10. A universal wrench for tightening and loosening
screws, bolt heads, nuts, pipe nipples, and similar connecting
elements, comprising;
a handle,
at least one arcuate, jaw-like wrench element
adapted to pivot, near one end of said handle, substantially
in the plane of said handle,
said wrench element having a polygonal gripping
aperture for a connecting element to be gripped,
cam means disposed near said one end of said
handle including a pressure edge which enters into said
gripping aperture when the said wrench element is
swung-in,
said wrench element being swingable relative to
said cam means from an open position to selected closed posi-
tions for engaging a connecting element therein and against
said cam means thereby to grip it.
11. A universal wrench according to claim 10, compris-
ing first and second wrench elements pivotally mounted near
opposed ends of said handle.

12. A universal wrench according to claim 10, in
which said jaw has a base edge which, when the wrench
element is swung out, is almost flush with said pressure
edge of the pressure nose, as far as an outer defining edge
at the end of an adjacent leg of a gripping angle of the
wrench element.
13. A universal wrench according to claim 10, wherein
said gripping aperture is substantially hexagonal.
14. A universal wrench according to claim 10 wherein
said wrench element has a given thickness and a reinforcement
is provided on said cam means, corresponding to the thickness
of said wrench element.
15. A universal wrench according to claim 10,
wherein knurling including rough or ribbed surfaces, or
like holding means, are provided on internal edges of the
gripping aperture or on the pressure edge of said cam means.
16. A universal wrench according to claim 10 wherein
said wrench element is mounted rotatably near each end of the
handle.
17. A universal wrench according to claim 10,
wherein said one wrench element is furthermore adapted to tilt
laterally about a transverse axis.

18. A universal wrench according to claim 10,
wherein a pivot axis of said wrench element is adjustable along
a continuous series of positions.
19. A universal wrench according to claim 18, wherein
said wrench element includes a bearing flange, and said cam
means are bifurcated, said bearing flange having bifurcations
flanking said cam means on both side.
20. A universal wrench according to claim 10, wherein
said handle is bifurcated and said wrench element includes a
bearing flange pivotally mounted therein.
21. A universal wrench according to claim 10, wherein
said wrench element and said cam means are arranged to pivot
in different planes relative to said handle.
22. A universal wrench according to claim 10, wherein
said cam means comprises a pressure nose having a pressure
edge including an upper extremity remote from said handle and
curved away from said gripping element.
23. A universal wrench according to claim 11 having
a pair of gripping elements both pivoted to said handle
so as to tilt in the same plane.

24. The wrench of claim 23, wherein one of said
gripping elements is mounted on said handle so as to also
pivot in a plane perpendicular to said same plane.
25. A universal wrench according to claim 18,
wherein a pivot axis of said wrench element is adjustable
along an arcuate bearing slot in said cam means.
11

Description

e~ 1 ~
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, Canadian Patent
935,677) are equipped with a closed wrench element for
gripping various size~ of bolt heads, nuts, and similar
connecting elements. This angular, polygonal wrench
element is secured pivotably to one end of the handle by
means o~ 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,
can ~e used only to grip connecting elemen*s which are
axially accessible.
The present invention seeks to provide an improved
universal wrench of the type mentioned at the beginning
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 the invention there is provided a uni-
versal wrench for tightening and loosening bolt heads, nuts,
pipe nipples, and similar connecting elements, comprising;

~ z -~
at least one annular wrench element adapted to pivot~ at
one end of a handle, in the plane thereof; said at least one
wrench element having a polygonal gripping aperture for the
connecting element to be gripped, and also having a
pressure nose at said one end of said handle; said pressure
nose having a pressure-edge entering, when the said wrench-
element is swung-in, into the said gripping aperture; the at
least one wrench element comprising on a side which swings
over said pressure nose, a jaw for the acccmmodation of the
connecting element to be gripped.
The jaw in the wrench element of the invention
makes it possible to fit this uni.versal wrench also to a
built-in connecting element, for exampleJ a p:ipe nipple or
a pipeline, to grasp it firmly, and to turn it. The jaw may
be relatively wide, to accommodate all connecting elements
acceptable to the gripping aperture o the wrench element.
The universal wrench so designed may the~efore also be
used as a pipe wrench or connecting elements which are
only radially accessible, and even cylindrical connecting
elements and lengths o 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 can also be set further away from the pressure edge, in
order to facilitate the accommodation of a connecting eiement.

~ 3 ~ 6~
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
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--
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
are adapted to pivot about the ends of the handle 1 on
pins 6 and 7 respectively itted in pressure noses l0 and 11
respectively, having pressure edges 12 and 13 respectively.
20 ~ Each wrench element 2,3 has a bearing flange which, in
the case of element 2, is a orked 1ange 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

6~
~ 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 base edge 25 on bearing flange 15. The base edge 25
is preferably arranged in such a manner that, when the wrench
element 2,3 is swung out, (Figure 1)~ the base edge 25 coincides
appro~imately 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 20.
With this universal wrench, therefore, both large
and small bolt heads, nutsJ pipe nipples, and the like may
be tightened or loosenedJ regardless of whether the connecting
elements are axially or only radially accessible. The jaw 24
is preferably made wide enough to accommodate the largest
of the connecting elements which can be gripped by the gripping
aperture. The internal surfaces of the gripping apertures
4J5 at least the gripping angle 2a of the wrench ring, and
preferably the pressure edges 12,13 alsoJ may be roughened
or ribbed, in order to proYide a better grip in the case of
circular heads or cylindrical profiles, for example of pipes.

~ 5
The wrench elements 2,3 may also be adapted to tilt
laterally, in known fashion, about a transverse axis 30.
According to a further development of this universal
wrench, pivot pin 6 of the wrench element 2 is mounted in a
bearing slot 31 Cshown in dotted lines) and can therefore
assume two different positions. This allows the gripping
aperture 4 to be made larger or smaller in its ac~ive or
operative position, as required.
The jaw 24 may also be moved further away from the
pressure edge 12, and may thus be made more 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.
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
unequal angles. If the gripping angle is in the orm of an
acute angle, square and octagonal connecting element~ may
also be gripped satisfactorily.
Pressure nose lQ may also be designed with a
reinforcement 14 of the same thickness as wrench elemen* 2,
in order to obtain a pressure edge 12 of equal area to grip
flat connecting elements.