"Vice Grip" redirects here. For the Parkway Drive song, see Ire (album).
Locking pliers (also called Vise-Grips, Mole wrench or Mole grips) are pliers that can be locked into position, using an "over-center" cam action. Locking pliers are available with many different jaw styles, such as needle-nose pliers, wrenches, clamps and various shapes to fix metal parts for welding. They also come in many sizes.
A historic version of the Vise-Grip brand locking pliers
Later, in 1955, in the United Kingdom, M K Mole and Son, a hand tool manufacturing company, under the managing direction of Thomas Coughtrie, began making nearly identical pliers.
Etymologyedit
In the United States, the brand name "Vise-Grips" is close to a generic name for this type of pliers. The same is true in the United Kingdom of the brand name "Mole Wrench".
The spelling "vise" is mentioned in Samuel Johnson's 1755 dictionary.[3] This spelling is orthodox in the United States.
The spelling "vice" can be traced back to 1584, for the clamping sense of the word.[4] This is the current spelling in the English speaking world except for the United States.
Mechanismedit
Locking pliers remain clamped to an object without requiring continuous pressure on the handles based on the "over-center" principle. After being properly adjusted using a threaded screw, the pliers are brought to bear by cam action. In the process of being closed on an object the mechanism passes through a point of maximum tightest clamping and as the handle levers are closed further, the jaws release slightly. This means that to open the jaws have to be tightened, thus maintaining the clamping pressure. The inherent flexibility of the pliers maintains a spring pressure on the jaws such that the handle needs to be pulled open to release the clamping pressure. In many modern versions an additional inner lever aids release.
Operationedit
Locking pliers being used as a substitute knob on an espresso machine.
The bolt is used to set the jaws to a size slightly smaller than what is to be gripped. The jaws are then closed on the gripped object.
Because of the lever action the jaws move only slightly but with much force. Locking pliers have four advantages:
Their lever action is stronger than that of ordinary pliers, so they can apply much more force;
Even though they can apply more force, they do so in a very controlled manner; this is because the jaws will never close beyond the set point;
The closing point and with it the force that is applied on the gripped object can be finely controlled;
When they are closed they remain closed on their own until manually released, in many modern versions using a supplementary lever on the lower handle.
A typical use would be to hold metal parts in place for welding. Other uses include holding a nut or bolt that has been 'rounded', helping pull out nails, holding pipes without squeezing them, and acting as temporary substitute levers or knobs on equipment and machinery.
Referencesedit
^"Vise Grip". Living History Farm, York, Nebraska.
^(Oxford English Dictionary, Quote from F. Collins Wills & Admin. Knaresborough Court Rolls (1902) I. 145 "...one vice, all my naile tooles and all my hammers".
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Locking pliers.
History of the Vise-Grip
"New Tool Is Both Pliers and Wrench" Popular Science, December 1935, page 42
"Wrench with Vise Like Grip Keeps Work from Slipping", Popular Mechanics, September 1935, page 326
Last Day Cover Newport Mon The Home Of The Mole Wrench at newportpast.com
January 01, 1970
locking, pliers, vice, grip, redirects, here, parkway, drive, song, album, also, called, vise, grips, mole, wrench, mole, grips, pliers, that, locked, into, position, using, over, center, action, available, with, many, different, styles, such, needle, nose, pl. Vice Grip redirects here For the Parkway Drive song see Ire album Locking pliers also called Vise Grips Mole wrench or Mole grips are pliers that can be locked into position using an over center cam action Locking pliers are available with many different jaw styles such as needle nose pliers wrenches clamps and various shapes to fix metal parts for welding They also come in many sizes A historic version of the Vise Grip brand locking pliers Contents 1 History 2 Etymology 3 Mechanism 4 Operation 5 References 6 External linksHistory edit nbsp Some locking pliers have a lever on lower arm right to aid release from the locked position The first locking pliers with the trade name Vise Grip were invented by William S Petersen in De Witt Nebraska United States in 1924 1 2 Later in 1955 in the United Kingdom M K Mole and Son a hand tool manufacturing company under the managing direction of Thomas Coughtrie began making nearly identical pliers Etymology editIn the United States the brand name Vise Grips is close to a generic name for this type of pliers The same is true in the United Kingdom of the brand name Mole Wrench The spelling vise is mentioned in Samuel Johnson s 1755 dictionary 3 This spelling is orthodox in the United States The spelling vice can be traced back to 1584 for the clamping sense of the word 4 This is the current spelling in the English speaking world except for the United States Mechanism editLocking pliers remain clamped to an object without requiring continuous pressure on the handles based on the over center principle After being properly adjusted using a threaded screw the pliers are brought to bear by cam action In the process of being closed on an object the mechanism passes through a point of maximum tightest clamping and as the handle levers are closed further the jaws release slightly This means that to open the jaws have to be tightened thus maintaining the clamping pressure The inherent flexibility of the pliers maintains a spring pressure on the jaws such that the handle needs to be pulled open to release the clamping pressure In many modern versions an additional inner lever aids release Operation edit nbsp Locking pliers being used as a substitute knob on an espresso machine The bolt is used to set the jaws to a size slightly smaller than what is to be gripped The jaws are then closed on the gripped object Because of the lever action the jaws move only slightly but with much force Locking pliers have four advantages Their lever action is stronger than that of ordinary pliers so they can apply much more force Even though they can apply more force they do so in a very controlled manner this is because the jaws will never close beyond the set point The closing point and with it the force that is applied on the gripped object can be finely controlled When they are closed they remain closed on their own until manually released in many modern versions using a supplementary lever on the lower handle A typical use would be to hold metal parts in place for welding Other uses include holding a nut or bolt that has been rounded helping pull out nails holding pipes without squeezing them and acting as temporary substitute levers or knobs on equipment and machinery References edit Vise Grip Living History Farm York Nebraska https www irwin com tools brands vise grip Vise Grip at Irwin Brands Johnson s Dictionary Online Oxford English Dictionary Quote from F Collins Wills amp Admin Knaresborough Court Rolls 1902 I 145 one vice all my naile tooles and all my hammers External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Locking pliers History of the Vise Grip New Tool Is Both Pliers and Wrench Popular Science December 1935 page 42 Wrench with Vise Like Grip Keeps Work from Slipping Popular Mechanics September 1935 page 326 Last Day Cover Newport Mon The Home Of The Mole Wrench at newportpast com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Locking pliers amp oldid 1210576411, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
