Cross-Hatch Pyramidal Teeth Pliers Torque Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heavy-duty pliers fail to provide sufficient torque grip without slippage on seized or tightly bound cylindrical workpieces like pipes and bars, and are often complex and costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
The development of slip-joint pliers with opposed parallel jaws featuring a specific cross-hatch pyramidal teeth construction, which allows for a high torque grip slip force without slippage, achieved through a tongue in groove type slip-joint construction and a 130° angular array of pyramidal teeth spaced at less than 10 teeth/inch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If parallel facing jaws are used in pliers, then the design is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the torque grip capability is insufficient and slippage occurs on seized pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw faces are equipped with pyramidal teeth arranged in a cross-hatch pattern at 130° angles, creating localized high-friction contact points. This local quality enhancement at the jaw-face level provides superior grip on seized pipes without requiring complex overall tool design, resolving the contradiction between simple manufacturing and high torque grip capability.
2Reliability
If V-shaped or curved opposed jaw faces are used to provide sufficient torque grip, then the torque grip capability is improved, but the design becomes complex and costly to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex curved or V-shaped jaw face, the invention segments the jaw surface into multiple pyramidal teeth arranged in a cross-hatch pattern. This segmentation provides enhanced torque grip through multiple contact points while maintaining simple parallel jaw geometry, avoiding the complexity of curved or V-shaped designs.
3Reliability
If curvatures or V-shaped angular constructions are provided in jaws, then torque grip is improved, but the jaws do not operably fit differently sized pipes and bars
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-hatch pyramidal teeth pattern on parallel jaw faces creates a universal gripping surface that adapts to differently sized cylindrical workpieces. The angular arrangement and spacing of teeth provide effective engagement across various pipe diameters without requiring adjustable or specialized jaw constructions for each size, achieving both high torque grip and versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pliers achieve a torque grip slip force 200 to 300% greater than similarly sized prior art pliers, while maintaining a compact design that is easy to manufacture and use safely.
Implementation Method 1
each jaw face has first and second pluralities of pyramidal teeth in angular disposition... a 200 to 300 lb. torque is developed without slippage of the jaws on the cylindrical workpiece
Data Source
AI summary
A slip-joint pliers having opposed parallel jaws with a specific cross-hatch pyramidal teeth construction develops a high torque grip slip force on a seized or overly tightened cylindrical workpiece such as a pipe or bar. The pliers includes a tongue in groove type slip-joint construction. The cross-hatch teeth are disposed at between 110° and 150°, and the rows of cross-hatch teeth are spaced at less than about 10 teeth/inch on each jaw face. The pliers are a compact yet heavy-duty use tool that develops a torque grip slip force greater than similarly sized prior art pliers.