Carroll Patent Shifting Spanner and Pipe Wrench.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 March 1906, Page 111

Carroll Patent Shifting Spanner and Pipe Wrench.

A large number of tools designed to fulfil the dual purpose of spanner and pipe wrench have been invented from time to time, but none are likely to become so popular as the Carroll patent shifting spanner and pipe wrench. This tool is the invention of Mr. Carroll, and arises from his knowledge of engineers' requirements derived from a long period of practical experience. The tool, as shown m our illustration, is constructed with one of the jaws (3) secured in a frame (20) upon a handle (1) the opposing jaw (6) is upon the stem (5) of another handle (8), which slides through the frame and has teeth (9) upon one edge. These teeth engage in a semi-circular rockmg-piece (10) which fits m a corresponding recess m a frame. By this arrangement,

when the tool is used as a pipe wrench, the pipe is released by the jaws when the grip of the hand upon the handles is released. An important advantage of the tool is the ease of adjustment which can be effected when the tool is held in one hand — the tool being turned with its back edge down. When pressure is placed upon the edge of the handle stem at 21 it brings the teeth thereon out of engagement with the teeth in the rocking-piece against the pressure of the spring (18) which spring bears against the slidable wedge-piece (17). The handle stem can then be moved through the frame by the thumb in either direction to adjust the distance apart of the jaws (6) and (3). The tool has been patented m all the chief manufacturing countries of the world, and arrangements are now being made for placing it upon the market.

Municipalities have a right to insist upon the abatement of black smoke by all users of steam boilers, without regard to the purposes for which the steam is used, or the means to be adopted for abatement. This, because smoke is a public nuisance, and because it can be abated without hardship to the owner of the plant. Nevertheless, when the evil is present, and has been present for a period of years, it is not good policy to be too radical in the enforcement of the statutes. The law should be definite and stringent, and the penalties adequate, but they should be enforced with discretion by officials who have some technical and practical knowledge of smoke abatement, It is absurd to talk of putting this matter into the hands of the police or of the health officer. The official having charge of this work should be a trained engineer, if possible, a technically educated man, and he should be entirely above influence in any of its guises.