Improvements in Adjustable Spanners.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1891-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1891
Improvements in Adjustable Spanners.
We, CHARLES ALBERT MILLER and FREDERICK JOHN MILLER trading as
H. Miller and Company of Miller Street in the City of Birmingham, Manufac-
turers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in adjustable and two-part spanners, the
one part consisting essentially of a stem, terminated by a jaw, and the other part,
of a hollow handle or long box frame, likewise terminated by a jaw, and wherein
the first named part, works and slides longitudinally.
In carrying out our invention, the upper jaw is mounted at the summit of a
rectangular shaped stem or stalk, screwed partly up its middle, from its lower end,
and adapted to slide longitudinally within the middle of a hollow or box handle
part, terminated at top with the lower jaw, and at bottom by a foot or closed-in
end, centrally pierced, and wherethrough the screwed stem of an adjustment
screw, upwardly passes, in taking into the centrally screwed stem of the
upper jaw.
The head of this adjustment is of a like diameter as, and is contiguous to, and forms
an extension of the foot, in manner, that when rotated, the stem of the upper jaw
is caused to slide in and out of the box handle, and so increase or decrease the
distance between the jaws, hence adjustment.
Thus, by rotating the head of the adjustment screw from left to right, the jaws
are contracted, and on rotating the same from right to left, they are opened out, by
an interposed spring, disposed between the lower end of the stem of the upper
jaw, and the hollow of the box handle part, which is compressed in the act of
contracting the jaws.
Instead of the employment of a spring, for the taking of the upper jaw back, on
the rotation of the head of the adjustment screw in one direction, a swivelling
screw, or a screw nut may be employed.
In the case of a screw, the same is swivelled to the lower extremity of the
handle, by a pin of the one part, taking into an annular groove or collar of the
other part, whilst in the case of a screw nut, the same is swivelly connected to
the said handle part, and with the lower and screwed part of the stem of the top
jaw, taking into it.
By our invention of the 1st part, an extended purchase on the thread of the
screw is obtained.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1890.
CHARLES ALBERT MILLER.
FREDERICK JOHN MILLER.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicauts.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Spanners.
We, CHARLES ALBERT MILLER and FREDERICK JOHN MILLER trading as
H. Miller and Company of Miller Street in the City of Birmingham, Manufac-
turers, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in adjustable spanners, and consists
primarily in the employment of a spring, for opening out, or propelling the movable
jaw, on the same being freed by the rotation of a loose screw, when rotated in one
direction, whilst repelling, or closing of the said jaw, is performed by the direct
action of the said loose screw, when rotated in a reverse direction.
Thus, in our invention, the top and movable jaw, is carried at the free end of a
long stem, which slides longitudinally within a box-handle, having at its fore part,
a fixed jaw, and at its back end, a hole, wherethrough the stem of a loose screw
passes, and takes into a screwed hole, directed up the rear end of the moveable
jaw-stem as aforesaid.
Surrounding the stem of the screw, and enclosed within the interior of the box-
handle, is a coiled spring, whose ends abut against the inner end of the handle, and
the back end of the stem of the movable jaws respectively.
By rotating an outside head of the screw, in one direction, the movable jaw is
propelled or opened out, by the expanding of the spring, which was compressed by
a former repelling action, on the rotation of the head of the said screw in a reverse
direction.
In a modified form of our invention, the screw is carried at the end of the
movable jaw-stem, instead of being loose.
By our invention, an extended bearing to the movable jaw-stem is obtained, and
an increased purchase on the thread of the screw also obtained.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in side elevation, an adjustable
spanner, constructed, arranged and fitted, according to our invention.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the same, showing how the
movable jaw, or the combined head and jaw, is, or are carried, by a long stem, which
slides within a box, or hollow handle part. The bottom of the said handle part, is
fitted with a loose screw, which takes up the screwed hole, or into a screwed box,
formed up the inner end of the said stem.
Figure 3 is an underside edge view of the spanner Fig. 1; while
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the said spanner, Figure 2, upon the dotted
lines A B.
Figure 5 is a cross section upon the dotted lines C D Figure 2, and
Figure 6 a head-end view of Figure 1, showing how the stem of the said head-end,
takes and fits within the hollow of the handle part.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 represent parts of the spanner separately, and with portions
of them in section.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
a is a movable jaw, or a combined jaw and head, carried by, or disposed at the
outer end of an angular sectioned and long stem a², which is adapted to slide, or
traverse longitudinally within the hollow or interior box part 2, of a hollow
handle b, whose inner end 63, carries a fixed jaw, with an open end, and a
forward extension 66, with abutments, so that when the said jaw is fully closed,
the said abutments, comes against shoulder a', of the fixed jaw, as a stop.
The other end of the box handle part, has a central hole or opening 68, where-
through the stem c², of a headed screw pin c, freely passes, and takes up the screwed
hole a³, directed axially up the inner end of the said stem a².

page_text: Encircling the stem of the screw, is a coiled spring d, with ends abuting against
the shoulder b, of the handle b, and the end a', of the stem a³, of the combined stem
and movable jaw a. a².
The opening and closing of the jaw is performed by the rotation of the milled head
of the screw c, in either one or other direction; thus the rotation of the milled
head from right to left, propels the jaw, by the unscrewing of the screw, and the
sliding of the stem, with its jaw, outwardly, by the tension, or stored up energy of
the spring d.
The rotation of the milled head aforesaid, from left to right, repels the jaw, by
the screwing of the said screw c, within the stem, hence the sliding inwards, and
contracting the distance between, the fixed and movable jaws, so that the propelling
is performed, by the expansion of a compressed spring when released, by unscrewing,
while the repelling is performed, directly by the worming in of the screw, into the
screw box into the stem.
Figure 10 represents a modified form of our invention.
In this form of adjustable spanner, the screw is carried at the inner end of the
long stem of the movable jaw, with a nut taking upon a part of the said screwed
end, which protrudes beyond the end of the hollow handle part.
a is a movable jaw, a² its stem, ca reduced and screwed extension of the said
stem, upon the terminal end of which, a nut c², takes. is a hollow handle, with
fixed jaw, extension 60, and choked and shouldered part 6. d is a coiled spring,
encircling the inner end of the stem c, and with its ends abuting against the end a*,
of the stem a², and the inner shoulder of the choked part, respectively.
The rotation of the mute, from left to right, draws the screwed stem into the
hollow handle, whilst the rotation of the said nut from right to left, releases the
stem, by the unworming of the screw, and which stem is then forced outwardly by
the spring, hence the propelling and repelling action.
Figure 11, represents in longitudinal vertical section, another form of our inven-
tion, in which propelling and repelling is performed through the aid of a screw
only, instead of by means of a screw and spring.
The wormed stem of the said swivelling screw, takes up an axial screw hole,
directed up the inner end of the stem of the movable jaw.
Figure 12 is a top side plan of the said spanner Figure 11, and
Figure 13 is the swivelling screw, detached.
a is a movable jaw, with a flat and extended stem a², taking within the interior
box body part 2 of a box handle b, having at one end, a fixed jaw *, and at the
other end, an inside collar 68. is the screwed stem of a swivelling and connected
screw c, having a head c', and an annular grooved collar, within the groove of
which, the end of a pin or stud d, passing through the metal of the back end of the
handle part of the spanner, takes.
The stem part of the said swivelling screw, worms within a screw box, or axially
hole a, directed up the middle of the end of the stem of the movable jaw..
By rotating the milled head in one or other. direction, the movable jaw is made
to approach or recede from the fixed jaw, by the propelling and repelling action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First In an adjustable spanner, propelling and repelling, or repelling only, of
the movable jaw, or the stem carrying the movable jaw, by a swivelling or loose
screw, whose stem takes into, or worms through, a screwed hole, directed up the
end of the stem of the said jaw, in manner, substantially as described and set forth
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12 and 13.
Secondly-In an adjustable spanner, propelling or opening out, the movable
jaw, or a combined movable jaw and head, by a spring, or a coiled spring, arranged
and acting, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly-In an adjustable spanner, opening and closing, or propelling and

page_text: repelling themovable jaw,by a spring and loose-screw; arranged with respect to
the other parts, and acting in the way, substantially as, described; and set forth in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
:-
Fourthly The general construction and arrangement of the parts of.adjustable
spanners, as described and set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Eifthly In an adjustable spanner, the construction, and arrangement, of the
parts, as set forth in Figure 10.
Sixthly In an adjustable spanner, the general construction, arrangement and
combination of the parts, as herein described and set forth in Figures 11 and 12.
Dated this 17th day of July 1891.
CHARLES ALBERT MILLER.
FREDERICK JOHN MILLER.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.