A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN WRENCHES OR SPANNERS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WILLIAMS, of Norway Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Tenth day of December, in the ninth year of Her reign, did;
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Williams, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas Williams, my
exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Williams,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no, others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN WRENCHES OR SPANNERS;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Thomas Williams,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters, Patent, aš
in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said

page_text: Thomas Williams, hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described in and by
the present Specification thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say :-
My said invented improvements not being applicable to all wrenches or
spanners alike, but requiring to be modified according to the particular pur-
poses to which such wrenches or spanners are to be applied, I have in the
said Drawings given such exemplifications of my improved modes of con-
struction as will make the nature and operation and operation of the same in
all the principal varieties fully and clearly understood.
Figure 1 represents a shifting spanner constructed according to my said
Invention. A and B are the two jaws of the instrument. The jaw A is
moveable and slides upon a stem C, the lower end of which is firmly fixed to
the handle D, while the upper end of it is rivetted or otherwise securely
attached to the jaw B. E is a wedge-shaped bar fixed to the under side of
the jaw B, and upon which also slides the moveable jaw A. F is a screw
which passes through the back end of the jaw A, and pressing upon the bar F
prevents the sliding of the jaw A upon the stem C. By means of the screw
the jaw A can also be fixed at any required distance from the jaw B.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of an instrument similar to that last described,
only that the jaws A and B, instead of being at right angles to the handle D,
are in a line with the handle, and also act in a line of direction parallel to the
handle.
Figure 3 represents a modification of the spanner shewn in Figure 1.
The wedge-shaped bar E in this case is fixed to the moveable jaw A, and
passes through a stay I, forged in one piece with the handle D, and it is acted
upon by a screw F passing through the front of the stay-piece I.
instead of being at the back of the spanner as before, is placed
immediately beneath the jaws.
The bar E,
in front and
Figure 4 is a modification of the spanner last described. Here the
wedge-shaped bar, instead of being attached to the jaw A, and passing through
a stay-piece I, is attached to the stay-piece I, and passed through the
moveable jaw A, the bar E being acted upon by a screw F, which works
through the back of the jaw A, as before. Instead also of the bar E
being in front of the spanner, it is, for sake of convenience, placed at the
back, in the same way as in the wrench represented in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is another form of shifting spanner, in which the wedge-shaped
bar E, as before described, is dispensed with. The edges of the stem C, upon
which the moveable jaw A slides, are in this case not made parallel to each

page_text: other, the back one being inclined or sloped towards the top or fixed jaw B;
and the moveable jaw A is retained at any required distance from the jaw B
by means of a screw F, which passes through the back part of it, and acts upon
the inclined edge of the stem C.
Figure 6 represents another variety of spanner similar to the one last
described. In this the edges of the stem C, instead of being inclined from
are parallel to each other, and the moveable jaw A is retained at any required
distance from the fixed jaw B by means of the screw F which passes through
the back of the lug D attached to the under side of the moveable jaw A, and
takes into small notches or hollows shewn by dotted lines a, a, made in the
front edge of the stem C, the end of the screw F being made sharper than
usual in order. that it may take more surely into the notches; or instead of the
lug D, the screw F may be passed through the back of the moveable
jaw, and take into similar notches or hollows in the back of the stem c.
Figure 7 shews a shifting spanner differing from the others before described
in this respect, that to keep the moveable jaw A in any required position, a
double or other threaded screw H is employed, which is passed through a stay I,
forged in the same piece with the handle D, and then stepped in the moveable
jaw A, the screw being turned by means of a nut L rivetted to the lower end
of it. By this means the jaw A can be moved to and fixed at any required
distance from the fixed jaw B. To prevent the screw from suffering any
torsion consequent upon the force that is applied between the jaws of the
instrument, and also to render the moveable jaw A more secure, I attach to
it on the under side, but in front, as shewn in Figure 8) a separate stay-piece
or key K, which is acted on by a screw M taking into the moveable jaw A. In
the moveable jaw A there is a wedge-shaped recess cut, corresponding to the
wedge N of the stay-piece K. To use this instrument, the wedge N of the
stay-piece K must first be slackened by turning the screw M, which leaves the
jaw A at liberty to be shifted by unscrewing the screw H to any degree
required. When this is done, and the jaws are fitted to the nut or other
object to be moved or held fast, the jaw A is retained in its position by tightly
fixing the wedge N in the corresponding recess of the jaw, and forming the
screw or key M of the stay-piece K.
Figure 9 represents another variety of shifting spanner. In this case the
screw H, in passing through a lug o, cast or forged upon the wedged-shape
bar E, acts immediately upon the moveable jaw A by being also passed
through it. The back edge of the stem C is bevilled off towards the fixed
jaw B, in order that it may correspond with the slope of the wedge-shaped
bar F, and thus prevent any slipping of the moveable jaw A.

page_text: Figure 10 is a side elevation of a shifting spanner, which differs from all the
preceding in the means employed to raise or lower the moveable jaw A. B is
the fixed jaw, which is rivetted to the top end of a stem C, the lower end being
securely attached to the handle D as before. Upon the upper part of the
handle D is cut a square or other threaded screw E. In order to raise or
lower the moveable jaw A, there are firmly rivetted to it two lug pieces b, b,
having at their lower ends two prongs or forks c, c, which take into a recess or
groove a in a nut F on the screwed part of the handle D.
.
Figure 11 is another shifting spanner, in which, in order to retain the
moveable jaw A at any required distance from the fixed jaw B, the back
edge of the stem C' is cut into teeth resembling a rack, into which a
stopper D takes, which is fastened to the moveable jaw A (by a pin b), and
has teeth cut upon the face of it corresponding to the recesses of the rack on
the stem C. The shaft D is kept in close contact with the stem C by means
of a piece of metal E attached to, by turning upon a pin a at the back of the
moveable jaw A. In using this instrument the jaw A is shifted by first loosening
the metal piece E, and then disengaging the stopper D from the rack on
the stem C, the jaw A having also a recess cut in the under side of it, so as to
allow of the stopper D falling the required distance. To render the stopper D
more secure, the back part of it is bevilled off, while the face of the metal
piece is bevilled the reverse way to correspond to the slope of the stopper D.
Instead of employing the metal piece E for tightening the stretcher D, a
screw may be made use of, passing through a stay attached to the moveable
jaw A, as indicated by the dotted lines.
Figure 12 represents a spanner constructed on the same principle as that
last described, with this exception, that instead of cutting the rack on the edge
of the stem C, I attach to the under side of the moveable jaw A a separate
rack G, which takes into a stopper forged upon the stem C of the instrument.
To render the whole secure I pass through a stay piece I, rivetted to the
handle D, a screw F, which acts upon the rack G, and presses the teeth of it
into the recesses out in the stopper for the purpose.
Figure 13 is a side elevation of a spanner, in which the moveable jaw A is
acted upon on a key D, similar to that employed in Figure 8.
In all the instruments before described (Figure 1 to Figure 18 both
inclusive) they are represented with jaws at one end only, but, if necessary,
two sets may be employed in every case, one at each end of the handle, as
exemplified in Figure 14. The inner faces of the jaws are also represented in
all these instruments as perfectly flat, but in some cases (as, for example, in
wrenches used by coachmakers) it may be expedient to have them of a

page_text: different form, as square, hexagonal, &c. In Figure 15 a pair of jaws is
shewn of a hexagonal form.
Figure 16 represents a bedwrench, constructed on the same principle as the
spanner Figure 1. Here the wedge-shaped bar E, instead of being fixed to
the upper jaw B, is attached to the handle D...
Figures 17 and 18 are side and front elevations of another improved
description of bedwrench. In this case the jaws A and B are both moveable
as they advance to or recede from one another in the act of turning the instru-
ment. C is a winch handle, which carries at its upper end a pivot D, upon
which the three links F, G, and H turn. The link F is connected to the
jaw B by a joint f, and the link H is attached to the back of the same jaw by
a pin h. To the link G is attached, by means of a pin g, the lower end of a
bar I, upon which the lower jaw B slides, the upper end being fastened to the
upper jaw A.
On turning the wrench in either direction by means of the
handle, the links F and H thrust the jaw B forward, and the link G at the
same time falling the bar I, and' with it the jaw A, also in the downward
direction, the two jaws thus collapse and grip the head of the screw.between
them with a force proportionate to the resistance to the power applied.
"¡
Figure 19 is another sort of bedwrench, in which, instead of both jaws being
moveable, the under one alone is so. The lower jaw A is in this case attached
to the fixed one B by means of a piece of metal forged upon the upper face of it,
and fastened by a pin a in a recess cut in the lower part of the jaw B. The
recess in the jaw B is made of sufficient size to admit of the jaw A falling the
distance required. C and D are two links which turn upon a pivot at the
end of the winch handle E. The link is attached to but turns upon a pivot e,
passed through a step in the lower end of a piece of metal F, cast upon or
otherwise attached to the back of the fixed jaw B. The upper end of the
link D is made of the wedge form, as shewn, and acts
the moveable jaw A with a force proportionate to the
the instrument. In front of the upper part of the link D is a stopper G,
which has a slot cut in it, which passes over a pin 6 in the moveable jaw A
for the purpose of pulling it down when required.
upon the back part of
power applied to turn
The upper jaw is in
to it, and working in a.
The moveable jaw is
Figure 20 is a side elevation of a spanner, differing from the others before
described in the means employed for moving the jaw.
this case moveable, having a piece of metal attached
recess in the fixed jaw similar to that last described.
acted upon and made to fit the head of a nut or other object to be spanned by
means of a screw c, the end of which is made of a wedge form, and passes
through a stay piece D rivetted to the back of the winch handle E.

page_text: A modification of the links in Figures 17 and 18, applicable to a gas-
fitter's wrench, is represented in Figures 21, where its application to two
different sizes of gas tubing is shewn. A and B are the two jaws of the instru-
ment, which are respectively forged or cast in a piece, with two levers a and b
connected to the handle H at different points c and d by pins or joints, upon
which they are free to turn. The action of the instrument is as follows:-The
tube to be turned being inserted between the jaws A and B, the handle is
depressed in the direction of the arrow, and all the parts of the instrument
acting together as one system of levers, grip the tube between the jaws, and
turn it in the direction required. On raising the handle the jaws are
slackened, and the tube is released or the grip renewed.
Figure 22 is an elevation of another modification of a gasfitter's shifting
wrench. A is a curved jaw that moves upon a joint f in the jaw B fixed to
the handle C. To the lower end of the curved jaw A a rod d is attached by
means of a pin e. This rod passes down into a case D, the lower end of
which case is connected to the handle C by a pin g. Inside the case D, and
sliding upon the rod d, is a helical spring E, the lower end of which presses
upon a stud at the bottom of the rod a, while the top part presses upon the
upper end of the case D, as shewn in the Drawing, bringing down the jaw A
in the direction of the arrow upon the jaw B, which is grooved or toothed, in
order to effect a firmer grip.
Figure 23 is an elevation of a spanner, in which, instead of using a helical
spring as last described, I employ a common steel spring S, one end being
fastened to the curved jaw A, and the other to the handle D, as before.
Instead of one of the jaws only being toothed both of them may be so if
required.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as
of my Invention is, the improvement or improvements in wrenchers or spanners,
represented and exemplified in the Drawings hereunto annexed and before
described, each consisting in the peculiar arrangement and combination of
parts on which the efficiency of the instrument represented depends, as has
been in each case herein-before fully explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Williams, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
THOMAS (L.S.) WILLIAMS.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Tenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid Thomas Williams came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-six.