Improvements in Wrenches.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept.; 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wrenches.
I, CHARLES ALEXANDER MAYNARD, of Herstal, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to an adjustable wrench which is extremely simple, and
which, like other wrenches of the same class is designed to be used more especially
in erecting shops and places where it would be very inconvenient to carry about
and keep a large number of wrenches and even those for the adjustment of which it
is necessary to use both hands.
•
Now the essential difference between the improved wrench and the adjustable
wrenches heretofore employed is that it is adjusted automatically to fit all sizes of
nuts according as it is held vertically in one or the other direction.
I have represented the improved wrench in the accompanying drawing, in
which
Figure 1 is a diagram showing one form or arrangement.
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show modifications of the same.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 show sections of the handle of the wrenches.
The principal part, that is to say the handle or shank of the wrench, consists of a
simple bar B one extremity of which is bent so that it forms an angle with the bar
in order to be applied to two adjacent sides of the nut. Upon the bar B slides
freely the adjustable branch C, the hole in the sliding part of which forms with the
branch an angle equal to that of the sides. In this manner the branch C adapted
to slide upon the bar B is placed parallel to the bent branch B', and according as
the branch B is held downwards or upwards the branch C approaches or recedes
from the same, thus creating an opening corresponding to the dimensions of any nut.
The arrangement possesses moreover the advantage of enabling the movement of
the branch C upwards towards the branch B¹ by the aid of the thumb while the
bar B is held with the same hand. The sliding part of the branch C may be
lengthened or simply provided with feet for enabling it to offer greater opposition
to the pressure and not to become deformed.
In the case of very large nuts I may complete the wrench by an auxiliary
branch S, Figure 2, the extremity of which bears against the fourth side of the nut,
but this adjunction is quite optional and is only a complement of this automatically
adjustable wrench.
Figure 3 represents a modification which consists in that the surface S extends
directly from the branch C, thus constituting practically a wrench constructed for
gripping four sides of the nut.
Figures 4 and 5 show a modified arrangement of a wrench designed to engage
from the top with the nuts, which cannot be reached in the attempt to put the
wrench on to the same from the side as usual. It differs from the arrangements
above described solely by the position of the branches B₁ C placed so as to project
from the flat part of the bar or handle B. Each of these branches have two straight
surfaces meeting in the middle at such an angle as to grip the nut on four opposite
sides, two and two of which are adjacent.
Instead of constructing the two fixed branches B B' of the wrench for gripping
the nut on two adjacent sides, as in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, I may also construct the
wrench with advantage so that the said branches can be applied to the nut E by
two alternate sides a b c as shown in Figure 6. With this wrench the nut E is held
by a kind of wedge action, and the movable branch C is applied against the third
side c, in other words the nut E is gripped on three sides, alternating with the other

page_text: three sides left free, instead of being gripped on two parallel sides as in the arrange-
ments hereinbefore described. This arrangement possesses an important advantage.
One wrench of large dimensions could not be employed for gripping small nuts e,
but in order to adapt the same for gripping parallel sides it is sufficient to prolong
the sliding branch C beyond the bent branch, the extremity m n of which is made
parallel to the extremity M of the sliding branch C. Thus the wrench can grip at
this point even the smallest nuts as shown in the drawing.
For taking the strain upon the whole part of the handle B rather than upon the
two sides above and below the slide the handle is made so as to form a trapezium in
cross section as shown in Figure 7. When screwing from left to right the power is
exerted upon three sides of the shank, whilst if the wrench is turned in the opposite
direction wedging takes place upon the two sides as usual.
With the object of enabling the power to be exerted upon three sides for both
directions in which the tightening takes place, the handle is made of the form of a
double trapezium as shown in Figure 8, which may also take the form of an oval
flattened at the two extremities, as illustrated in Figure 9. Of course, any other
suitable section may be employed for realizing the same advantages.
Having now. particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. An automatically adjustable wrench for bolts and nuts, characterized by
the lower jaw C being adapted to slide freely upon the handle or shank B of
suitable section, the said lower jaw being for this purpose simply provided with a
hole or slot in the appropriate direction, and lengthened or not by a guide sleeve,
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Second. The modification which consists in constructing the branches B and C
so that their bearing surfaces meet at an angle in the middle to grip the nut on four
opposite sides, two and two of which are adjacent, the said branches projecting from
the face of the handle or shank B for taking the nuts in front, substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Third. A wrench having fixed branches B and B₁, the branch B¹ being parallel
at its extremity with the lower jaw C so that the wrench will grip large nuts by a
wedge action upon three alternating sides and small nuts upon two parallel sides,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 24th dow of Contombo 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.