Improvements in or in connection with Adjustable Spanners or Wrenches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 21st Jan. 1897-Accented. 27th Feb.. 1897
Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 21st Jan. 1897-Accented. 27th Feb.. 1897
Improvements in or in connection with Adjustable Spanners or
Wrenches.
A communication by FREDERICK L. ELLIS, of Milldale, in the County of
Hartford and State of Connecticut, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for.
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of wrenches in which are comprised a fixed
jaw and a movable jaw connected with a screw or similar contrivance for opening
and closing it relatively to the fixed jaw, to adapt the wrench to catch nuts, bolt
heads, etcetera of different sizes.
The object of the invention is, first to produce a strong, durable and economical
wrench for general purposes, but which shall be particularly adapted for use where
the space for manipulating the tool is limited, as for example, is the case in
bicycles, and small machinery generally; second to construct the inovable parts and
the connections between the same and the fixed parts in such a manner that the
setting of the jaws to catch the object to be turned or held can be quickly accom-
plished by a slight movement of the contrivance for adjusting the movable jaws;
third to brace the sliding and adjusting parts of the movable jaws so that when a
nut, bolt head or other object to be held or turned is caught by the wrench, any
reasonable degree of strain put upon the wrench to hold or turn the object will
not open the jaws, or overcome the resistance of the bracing to any practical
extent; fourth, to combine in one tool a double wrench, having adjustable jaws for
accommodating different sizes of nuts, bolt heads, &c., an adjustable spanner for
screwing on and off discs, plates etcetera having differently spaced holes to receive
the spanner pins, and a screw driver which shall be adapted to be moved in and out
of a receptacle provided for it in the wrench by the slide carrying the movable jaws
of the wrench.
The improved tool comprises a bar or handle, fixed jaws at opposite ends of the
said bar or handle, adjustable jaws, a slide carrying the movable jaws which is
placed in the har or handle between the fixed jaws, so as to be moved readily
back and forth by means of a nut, and a screw shaft connected with the slide
for the purpose of adjusting the movable jaws relatively with the fixed jaws
respectively. The fixed jaws, and the bar are composed of two outside sections
and intermediate jaw sections. Each of the sections is stamped out of sheet or
plate metal (steel for example) in the precise outline of the fixed jaws, and the
bar, each of the outside sections thus comprising in one piece a part or section
of the bar and parts or sections of the jaws respectively. In both of the
outside sections there is also stamped a concavo-convex rib extending lengthwise

page_text: of the section and forming rounded out projection on the outside of the section,
and grooves in the inside thereof, and midway of the length of the rib, a
rectangular slot is stamped through the sections. The intermediate jaw sections
are also stamped out of sheet or plate metal (steel for example) in the precise
outline of the jaws respectively. All the sections aforesaid have coincident
rivet holes etcetera, made through them. The slide and the movable jaws are
composed of sections, each of which is made out of sheet or plate metal, the
two outside sections stamped to the exact shape of the jaws respectively, and the
bar which connects the jaws, while the middle section is made deeper than
the side sections-the upper edge being formed to the exact shape of the jaws
and bar and its extended part forming a tongue has a straight bottom edge
with pins or studs projecting from it. The outside sections of the slide are of
the same thickness as the two outer sections of which the wrench is made up,
and the middle section of the slide with its tongue is of about the same thickness
as the jaw sections. A flange plate is fastened to the bottom edge of the
tongue by passing the pins or studs through holes in the said plate and upsetting
them against its underside. Through the middle of the tongue is stamped a
rectangular opening with small rectangular notches in the ends thereof, and in
this opening is placed lengthwise the screw shaft with squared ends which are
inserted in the notches and wedged therein so as to hold the screw shaft
immovable. On the screw shaft is the thumb nut. The outside sections of the
slide and the middle section thereof have coincident rivet holes made through
them transversely.
In a form of the invention in which the wrench, spanner and screw driver
are combined in one, the sections of the fixed jaws and bar and the outside sections of
the slide and the upper part of the middle section of the slide are constructed in
the same manner as the similar parts previously described, but the lower part or
tongue of the middle section aforesaid and the jaw section of the fixed jaw are
constructed with a view to the addition of the screwdriver, which forms part of the
tool. To this end, the end edge of the tongue next to the jaw is made with a
transversely stamped-out dovetail notch, and the jaw section is made in two parts,
between which is a groove in line with the dovetail notch, the sides of this groove
being formed by the jaw parts of the outside sections when the parts are put
together. A screw-driver blade has its butt end formed into a dovetail which is
inserted in the dovetail notch, thus connecting the serew-driver blade with the
slide tongue, while the blade of the screw-driver, lies in the groove-the edges of
the blade for the greater part of its length being parallel with the edges of the
parts of the jaw section, so that the blade will be guided and braced by the said
edges.
In the points of the jaws are inserted pins or studs which are called spanner-
studs or pins, as they are intended to be used for screwing on or off disks, plates etc.,
which have holes made in them to accommodate said pins or studs instead of sides
that can be caught by the jaws of a wrench, as is the case with nuts, bolt-heads etc.
The spanner is constructed by drilling holes in the points of the jaws and driving
the pins tightly in the said holes.
One of the spanner pins or studs being connected with the jaw is fixed, but the
other pin or stud being connected with the movable jaws can be adjusted to
accommodate differently spaced holes in the disks or plates to the same extent as
the jaws can be adjusted.
The several sections or parts of which this tool is composed are put together in
the following manner :-The slide is first made by putting three sections together
so that their upper edges will be flush with each other and the tongue will project
below the underneath edges of the outside sections of slide, and when so arranged
they are fastened together by rivets placed in the holes. The two outside sections
are then placed together with the jaw sections between the parts, and the tongue of
the slide between the parts of the outside sections, and the sections are fastened
together by rivets passed transversely through the holes, while the slide with the

page_text: movable jaws is secured in connection with the bar by the tongue, which is held in
the groove between the parts of the bar, by edges of sections resting on the top
edges of the parts of the bar, and the flange nlate resting against the underneath
edges of the same parts, and the nut projects into the slots while the grooves
afford spaces on each side for the screw-shaft. To put in the screw-driver blade
its dovetail butt is placed in the dovetail notch and its blade in the groove before
one or the other of the outside sections is put in place, and the rivetting together
of the parts is done.
The screw-driver blade being connected with the tongue of the slide, when the
slide is moved to the opposite end of the wrench to close the jaws it is drawn in by
the slide until its point is telescoped wholly within the groove.
Instead of making the section of the slide with its tongue and the flange plate of
separate pieces of metal, they may be made in one piece, by stamping the section
double out of a thin sheet of metal and then by means of dies bringing the two
outer, edges together to form the upper or jaw- and bar-parts of the section, and
forming a T head on the lower edge to take the place of the plate. The opening
and notches and dovetail slot for the screw-driver blade can also be stamped out.
This tool, in which is combined a double ended wrench, a screw driver and
spanner being constructed with the fixed jaws, bar and slide and movable jaws of
the wrench made or built up of thin sections stamped out from sheet or plate
metal, is strong and light, and on account of its thinness it is serviceable in many
places where the limited space would preclude the use of a thick wrench. And
the sheet metal of which it is constructed and the method of manufacturing it by
stamping out its component parts, makes the tool very economical without taking
anything from its efficiency or durability.
By means of the thumb screw nut, which when turned cannot advance because
it is held in the slots, the screw shaft is moved longitudinally, and thereby the
slide is also moved carrying the jaws towards or from the fixed jaws. It will
be observed that the wrench is so constructed that when the slide has been moved
as far as it can be towards the fixed jaw of the wrench, that there will then be a
space between the pair of jaws, at both ends of the wrench. When so adjusted
the jaws are adapted to catch say a " nut, and the jaws a "nut. By moving the
slide to the position, that is with the jaw closed, the jaws will be adjusted to catch
say a 13" nut, so that by a very slight movement of the slide the jaws can be made
to accommodate nuts of two different sizes, without further adjustinent.
By the long bearing which is given the slide on the bar by the peculiar
construction of the sections whereby their underneath edges rest for their entire
length on the upper edges of the bar and the flange plate bears against the
underneath edges of the bar, great firmness is given to the movable jaws, so that
when adjusted to catch a nut or bolt head they will not yield or lose their grip,
as the long leverage or bracing produced by the bearings will resist the strain put
on the jaws in turning or holding the object.
The screw-driver blade is entirely concealed within the sides of the tool when
the slide is moved until the jaws are closed, but can be quickly thrust out for use
by moving the slide in the opposite direction, when the bar of the wrench serves as
a handle for the screw-driver. The spanner pins or studs are capable of as quick
adjustment as the jaws of the wrench, and by the same means.
Dated this 7th day of December 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or in connection with Adjustable Spanners or
Wrenches.
A communication by FREDERICK L. ELLIS, of Milldale, in the County of
Hartford and State of Connecticut, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick and 322, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to that class of wrenches in which are comprised a fixed
jaw and a movable jaw connected with a screw or similar contrivance for opening
and closing it relatively to the fixed jaw, to adapt the wrench to catch nuts, bolt
heads, &c., of different sizes.
The object of the invention is, first to produce a strong, durable and economical
wrench for general purposes, but which shall be particularly adapted for use where
the space for manipulating the tool is limited as for example, is the case in bicycles,
and small machinery generally; second to construct the movable parts and the
connections between the same and the fixed parts in such a manner that the setting
of the jaws to catch the object to be turned or held can be quickly accomplished
by a slight movement of the contrivance for adjusting the movable jaws; third to
brace the sliding and adjusting parts of the movable jaws so that when a nut, bolt
head or other object to be held or turned is caught by the wrench, any reasonable
degree of strain put upon the wrench to hold or turn the object will not open the
jaws, or overcome the resistance of the bracing to any practical extent; fourth, to
combine in one tool a double wrench, having adjustable jaws for accommodating
different sizes of nuts, bolt heads, &c., an adjustable epanner for screwing on and
off disks, plates, &c., having differently spaced holes to receive the spanner pins,
and a screw driver which shall be adapted to be moved in and out of a
receptacle provided for it in the wrench by the slide carrying the movable jaws of
the wrench.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this improved wrench;
Fig. 2 a side elevation of the wrench with one of the outside sections removed
to expose the interior construction;
Fig. 3 a vertical transverse section of the wrench taken on line a x of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 a side elevation of the combined wrench spanner and screw driver with
one of the side sections removed and exposing the interior construction;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the middle section of the slide
which carries the adjustable jaws of the wrench.
Referring to the drawing Figures 1 and 2 the letter A designates the bar or
handle of the wrench, B B the fixed jaws of the wrench at opposite ends of the
said bar or handle, C C¹ the adjustable jaws of the wrench; D, is the slide
carrying the movable jaws C C which is placed in the bar or handle A between
the fixed jaws B B', so as to be moved readily back and forth by means of a nut E,
and a screw shaft F, connected with the slide D for the purpose of adjusting the
movable jaws C C relatively with the fixed jaws B B₁ respectively. The fixed

page_text: jaws B B, and the bar A, are composed of two outside sections 1 and 2 and inter-
mediate jaw sections 3 and 4. Each of the sections 1 and 2 is stamped out of sheet
or plate metal (steel for example) in the precise outline of the fixed jaws B B
and the bar A, each of the sections thus comprising in one piece a part or section a
of the bar A and parts or sections of the jaws B B' respectively. In both of
the sections 1 & 2 there is also stamped a concavo-convex rib extending lengthwise
of the section and forming rounded out projections on the outside of the section,
and groovest in the inside thereof and midway of the length of the rib, a
rectangular slot u is stamped through the sections 1 and 2. The intermediate jaw
sections 3 and 4 are also stamped out of sheet or plate metal (steel for example) in
the precise outline of the jaws B B respectively. All the sections 1, 2, 3, 4, have
coincident rivet holes d d'ete., made through them. The slide D and the movable
jaws C C are composed of sections 5, 6 and 7, each of which is made out of sheet
or plate metal, the two cutside sections 5 and 7 stamped to the exact shape of the
jaws C C respectively, and the bar H which connects the jaws C C, while the
middle section 6 is made deeper than the side sections 5 and 7-the upper edge
being formed to the exact shape of the jaws C C and bar H and its extended part
forming a tongue 1 has a straight bottom edge with pins or studs o oo o projecting
from it. The sections 5-7 are of the same thickness as the sections 1, 2 and
section 6 with its tongue I is of about the same thickness as the jaw sections 3-4.
A flange plate K is fastened to the bottom edge of the tongue I by passing the
pins or studs oo &c., through holes in the said plate and upsetting them against its
underside. Through the middle of the tongue I is stamped a rectangular
opening L with small rectangular notches q q in the ends thereof, and in this
opening L is placed lengthwise the screw shaft F with squared ends which are
inserted in the notches g g and wedged therein so as to hold the screw shaft
immovable. On the screw shaft F is the thumb nut E. The sections 5, 6, 7 have
coincident rivet holes rr etc., made through them transversely. The several parts
of this wrench are more fully illustrated and described in my Patent for
Improvements in adjustable spanners or wrenches No. 28054 dated
8 December 1896.
Figure 4 shows the combined wrench, spanner and screw-driver. In this form
of this invention the sections 1, 2, 3 of the fixed jaws B B and bar A and the
sections 5 and 7 and the upper part of section 6 of the slide D, are constructed
in the same manner as the similar parts in Figs. 1 and 2, previously described but
the lower part or tongue I of the section 6 and the jaw section 4 of the fixed jaw B¹
are constructed with a view to the addition of the screw-driver, which forms part
of the tool. To this end the end edge of the tongue I, next to the jaw B' is made
with a transversely stamped-out dovetail notch and the jaw section 4 is made in
two parts between which is a groove z in line with the dovetail notch v, the
sides of this groove z being formed by the jaw parts bb of the outside sections 1-2
when the parts are put together. A screw-driver blade P has its butt end formed
into a dovetail which is inserted in the dovetail notch v, thus connecting the screw-
driver blade with the slide tongue I, while the blade of the screw-driver lies in the
groove the edges of the blade for the greater part of its length being parallel
with the edges of the parts a al of the jaw section 4 so that the blade will be guided
and braced by the said edges.
In the points of the jaws B1 C' are inserted pins or studs ww which are called
spanner-studs or pins as they are intended to be used for screwing on or off, disks,
plates etc., which have holes made in them to accommcdate said pins or studs.
instead of sides that can be caught by the jaws of a wrench, as is the case
with nuts, bolt-heads etc. The spanner is constructed by drilling holes in the
points of the jaws B C¹ and driving the pins w w¹ tightly in the said holes.
One of the spanner pins or studs (w') being connected with the jaw B¹ is fixed,
but the other pin or stud (w) being connected with the movable jaws C¹ can be
adjusted to accommodate differently spaced holes in the disks or plates to the same
extent as the jaws C¹ B' can be adjusted.

page_text: The several sections or parts of which this tool is composed are put together in
the following manner: The slide D is first made by putting the three sections 5, 6, 7
together so that their upper edges will be flush with each other and the tongue!
will project below the underneath edges of the sections 5-7, and when so arranged,
they are fastened together by rivets placed in the holes r r etc. The sections 1-21
are then placed together with the jaw sections 3-4 between the parts 66 and the
tongue 1 of the slide between the parts a a of the sections 1-2, and the sections 1, 2,
3, 4 are fastened together by rivets passed transversely through the holes dd etc.,
while the slide D with the movable jaws CC is secured in connection with the
bar A by the tongue I, which is held in the groove m between the parts a a of the
bar A, by the edges of the sections 5-7 resting on the top edges of the parts a a
of the bar A, and the flange plate K resting against the underneath edges of the
same parts a a, and the nut E projects into the slots u while the grooves tt afford
spaces on each side for the screw-shaft F. To put in the screw-driver blade P its
dovetail butt is placed in the dovetail notch and its blade in the groove before
one or the other of the outside sections (1 and 2) is put in place and the riveting
together of the parts is done.
The screw-driver blade P being connected with the tongue I of the slide D,
when the slide is moved to the oppo-ite end of the wrench to close the jaws B. C.
it is drawn in by the slide until its point is telescoped wholly within the groove =
as indicated by the broken lines.
Instead of making the section 6 of the slide D with its tongue 1, and the flange
plate K of separate pieces of metal, they may be made in one piece as shown in
Fig. 5 by stamping the section double out of a thin sheet of metal and then by
means of dies bringing the two outer edges 8-9 together to form the upper or
jaw- and bar-parts of the section, and forming a T head K' on the lower edge to
take the place of the plate K. The opening L and notches qq and dovetail slot
for the screw-driver blade can also be stamped out.
This tool in which is combined a double ended wrench, a screw driver and
spanner, being constructed with the fixed jaws, bar and slide and movable jaws of
the wrench made or built up of thin sections stamped out from sheet or plate metal
is strong and light, and on account of its thinness it is serviceable in many places
where the limited space would preclude the use of a thick wrench. And the sheet
metal of which it is constructed and the method of manufacturing it by stamping
out its component parts, makes the tool very economical without taking anything
from its efficiency or durability.
By means of the thumb screw nut E, which when turned cannot advance because
it is held in the slots w, the screw shaft is moved longitudinally, and thereby the
slide D is also moved carrying the jaws C C' towards or from the fixed jaws B B'.
It will be observed that the wrench is so constructed that when the slide D has
been moved as far as it can be towards the fixed jaw B₁ of the wrench, that there
will then be a space between the pair of jaws, at both ends of the wrench as shown
in Fig. 1. When so adjusted the jaws B C, are adapted to catch say a "nut, and
the jaws B'Canut. By moving the slide D to the position indicated by the
broken lines in Fig. 1, that is with the jaw BC closed, the jaws BC will be
adjusted to catch say a 18" nut so that by a very slight movement of the slide the
jaws can be made to accommodate nuts of two different sizes, without further
adjustment.
By the long bearing which is given the slide D on the bar A by the peculiar
construction of the sections 5, 7 whereby their underneath edges rest for their
entire length on the upper edges of the bar A and the flange plate K bears against
the underneath edges of the bur great firmness is given to the movable jaws, so
that when adjusted to catch a nut or bolt head they will not yield or lose their
grip, as the long leverage or bracing produced by the bearings will resist the strain
put on the jaws in turning or holding the object.
The screw driver blade is entirely concealed within the sides of the tool when
the slide is moved until the jaws B, C are closed, but can be quickly thrust out for

page_text: use by moving the slide in the opposite direction, when the bar of the wrench.
serves as a handle for the screw driver. The spanner pins or studs w w' are
capable of as quick adjustment as the jaws of the wrench, and by the same-
neaus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by-
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In an adjustable spanner or wrench in which an adjustable jaw or jaws are-
provided capable of sliding longitudinally, relatively to a fixed jaw or jaws,
mounting a screwdriver within a hole or groove in the fixed jaw and securing
the butt end thereof to the adjustable jaw, whereby if the adjustable jaw be moved
in one direction, the screw-driver will be projected through the hole, or if moved
in the other direction, it will be retracted until its point is telescoped wholly
within the hole in the fixed jaw substantially as described.
2. The manufacture of wrenches or spanners by making the fixed jaws and bar,.
and adjustable jaws and slide of the wrench of sections stamped out of sheet (or
plate) steel and the sections rivetted together, the middle sections of the fixed jaws.
being made of the shape and size of the jaws, and the outside sections of the shape and
size of the fixed jaws and bar, the outside sections of the slide made of the shape of the
movable jaws and slides and the middle section made with a tongue and with its.
underneath edge rivetted to a flanged plate or stamped in one piece with the
flanged plate, the said tongue having a slot made through it and a screw shaft with
a nut inserted therein, in combination with a screw driver blade having its butt.
end dovetailed into a dovetailed slot in the slide, and its blade held in a groove
made through the middle sections of the adjacent jaw of the wrench, substantially
as described.
3. In a wrench of the kind described, providing the points of the jaws with.
projecting pins or studs adapted for screwing on or off discs, plates etcetera which
have holes made in them to accommodate said pins or studs, substantially as.
described.
4. The general combined arrangement and combination of parts, substantially
as herein described and shewn so far as they differ from the invention set forth in,
the Specification and drawings of Patent No. 28054 of 1896.
Dated this 20th day of January 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,.
Agents.