Self-aligning tap and die wrench and universal threading tool

Abstract

A tap and die wrench for threading flat and round workpieces and, formed of hardened steel or a softer material with hardened steel inserts at those points sustaining torque and tensile forces during operation, provides a body member adapted for receiving and retaining taps and a base adapted for receiving and holding round or hex dies, and the body member and base are mounted upon parallel alignment rods and held apart by a spring bias effected through springs mounted on each of the rods. A tap retained within the body member is tensioned away from the workpiece for simultaneous self-aligning during the tapping process. A die guide insertable into the centralized opening of the body member surrounds and guides the workpiece during the external threading process. Meanwhile, the body member and base are adapted for slidable movement toward and away from each other upon the rods and may be secured at any desired position along the rods by means of a body lock or base lock in order to accommodate variously sized workpieces. The tap and die wrench may be used as a hand tool or in conjunction with a lathe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.