Improvements in Wrenches.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wrenches.
1, GUSTAF FERDINAND JOHNSON, of West Superior, in the County of Douglas
and State of Wisconsin, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 wrenches, and particularly to that class known as
ratchet wrenches, the objects in view being to provide a wrench having adjusting
devices and interchangeable parts whereby it is adapted for various uses and for
engaging different kinds and sizes of objects, and furthermore to provide simple
means for mounting and dismounting the interchangeable parts.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
In the drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a side view of a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same.
Fig. 3 is an edge view showing the jaw-actuating spring deflected in dotted
lines.
Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite edge showing the jaws deflected from the line
of the handle.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the jaws and enclosed head on the plane indicated
by the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a detail view of the rotary head. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the
adjustable gage-plate arranged in the cavity of the head.
Fig. 8 is a detail view of the head showing a gage or reducing block arranged
therein in lieu of the adjustable gage-plate.
Fig. 9 is a detail view in perspective of said gage or reducing block detached.
Fig. 10 is a side view of the wrench showing a modified form of head arranged
between the jaws thereof, the jaws being shown separated to indicate the manner
of arranging the head there between.
Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the head shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a detail view of one of the ratchet-arms shown in Fig. 11 detached.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of
the drawings.
1 and 2 represent opposite similar jaws forming parts of pivotally connected
members 3 and 4, said members being pivotally connected by means of a bolt 5,
whereby the jaws may be separated to provide for the insertion or removal of a
rotary head 6. A spring 7 is adjustably secured at one end to the jaw 2 and bears
at its free end against the shank of the jaw 1 whereby the jaws are normally held
in the closed position shown in Fig. 1. Said spring is longitudinally slotted as
shown at 8 for the reception of a bolt 9, and the extremity of the spring adjacent
to the bolt is beveled to engage a beveled shoulder 10 on the jaw 2 to assist the
bolt in holding the spring in its operative position. When it is desired to swing
the spring laterally as shown in Fig. 3 to provide for opening the jaws to adjust a
different head, as shown in Fig. 10, the nut on the extremity of the bolt must be
loosened and the spring moved longitudinally to disengage its extremities from the
shoulder 10.
The shank of the member 3 is adapted to fit in a groove 11 in the shank of

page_text: the member 4 whereby when the jaws are in their normal position the shank of
the member 3 is approximately concealed by the shank of the member 4.
In addition to the pivotal joint between the members 3 and 4 of the wrench the
jaws 1 and 2 are hinged respectively to their respective shanks to form the joints 12
and 13. The pivot 14 of the joint 13 is extended to form the bolt 9 by which the
spring 7 is held in place, and the pivot 15 of the joint 12 is extended beyond the
edge of the jaw 1 and is provided with a thumb-hold 16 said pivot being threaded
in one of the members of the joint whereby it is capable of adjustment to serve as
a limiting pin to regulate the relative positions of the jaws. By adjusting said pin
toward the jaw 2, the jaws may be held at a greater interval than when allowed to
close until their contiguous parts are in contact and by thus limiting the movement
of the jaws toward each other the rotary movement of the head may be allowed
without unnecessary friction or jamming.
In order to secure the jaws in the desired positions with relation to their shanks
I employ locking devices consisting of spring latches 17 on the jaws provided with
spurs to engage the notches of segmental racks 18 on the shanks by engaging the
latches with different notches of the racks the jaws may be locked at the desired
angular position or in the plane of the shanks.
The rotary head is provided with parallel flanges 19 to bear against opposite
side surfaces of the jaws and the groove 20 between said flanges encloses a ratchet
for engagement by the ratchet teeth upon the inner surfaces of the jaws. The
actuating spring 7 whereby the jaws are held in their normal position provides for
turning the jaws loosely upon the head during the backward movement of the
wrench, and causes the teeth of the jaws to engage those of the head during
the forward movement of the wrench in order to impart rotary motion to
the head.
In Figs. 1 to 9 the form of head which I have illustrated is provided with a
parallel-sided opening 21 for the reception of a nut or bolt-head, the inner end of
the opening being V-shaped or angular in construction. The sides of this opening
are serrated or roughened to properly engage the surfaces of a nut or bolt-head,
and parallel guide grooves 22 are formed in said sides for the reception of
projections 23 formed at the opposite edges of a gage-plate 24 adapted to fit
slidably between the sides of the opening in the head to form a space of greater
or less size between the plane of its inner surface and the inner end of the opening
to accommodate nuts and bolt-heads of different sizes. This gage-plate is secured
at the desired adjustment to fit the nut or bolt-head to be operated by means of a
pivotal button 25 mounted upon the outer surface of the plate and provided at its
extremities with inclined ribs or threads 26 to engage mutilated threads 27 on the
sides of the opening in the head between the guide grooves 22. Thus, when the
opening in the head has been fitted upon a nut or bolt-head and the gage-plate has
been pushed inward to bring it in contact with the outer side of the nut or bolt-
head, said adjusting button should be turned to engage the mutilated threads at
the sides of the opening and thereby secure the plate in its position. By reason
of the inclination of the threads on the extremities of the button and upon the
sides of the opening, the operation of turning the button into engagement with the
last-named threads forces it more firmly against the outer side of the nut or bolt-
head and thus prevents looseness during the operation of the wrench. The button
is preferably provided upon opposite sides of its center with sockets 28 for the
reception of studs on a suitable wrench to facilitate the turning of the buttou
into engagement with the mutilated threads on the sides of the openings of
the head.
In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a reducing gage or block adapted to be fitted in
the opening in the head in lieu of the above described gage-plate said reducing
gage or block having parallel side arms 29 provided upon their outer surfaces with
rounded ribs 30 to fit in the concave surfaces in which are located the mutilated
threads 27, said side arms being connected at their inner ends by an angular or
V-shaped portion 31 which fits in the angular or V-shaped inner end of the

page_text: opening in the head. This reducing gage or block is held in place when in use by
means of a catch 32 consisting of a bail provided at its lower end with a projection
to fit in a socket 33 in the head. The inner surfaces of the arms of this gage or
block are roughened or serrated to insure engagement with a nut or bolt-head.
In addition to the above described construction I also employ an interchangeable
head 34 adapted for engaging rods, pipes, and similar objects, said head being
illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 and being in construction substantially like the head
shown in the former figures of the drawings, with the exception that the inner end
of the opening 35 therein is rounded, and the entire surface of said opening is
toothed or serrated. In addition to this the head is slotted for the reception of
swinging toothed arms 36 and 37 adapted to be swung at their free ends into the
opening 35 to engage rods or tubes of smaller diameter than can be engaged by the
teeth of the opening. These toothed arms are adjusted and held at the desired
adjustment by means of screws 38. The operation of the wrench when this
interchangeable form of head is employed is the same as that described in connection
with the form adapted for engaging nuts and bolt-heads.
From the above description it will be seen that the angular adjustment of the
jaws with relation to the shanks by which they are carried provides for the use of
the tool in angles and in awkward positions where a straight wrench is useless, and
more or less adjustment of the jaws may be attained without modifying the
operativeness of the device.
It is obvious that the wrench may be used independently of the heads to engage
a round object such as a pipe or rod of larger size than that which is adapted to be
engaged by the interchangeable head shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally connected members comprising
shanks and jaws carried thereby, the jaws being hinged to the shanks, and means
for securing the jaws at any angular adjustment with relation to the shanks,
substantially as specified.
2. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally connected members having shanks
and jaws carried thereby, the jaws being hinged respectively to the shanks and
means for locking the jaws at the desired angular adjustment, such means consisting
of latches carried by the shanks, and racks carried by the jaws and engaged by the
latches, substantially as specified.
3. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally connected members having shanks
and jaws carried thereby, one of the shanks being fitted in a groove in the other
shank and the jaws being hinged respectively to the shanks and adapted to be
arranged in angular positions with relation to the shanks, a pivot pin for one of the
hinges extending beyond the lateral edge of the member, a plate spring bearing at
its free end against the shank of the other member and slotted to receive the
projecting end of said pin, the extremity of the spring adjacent to the pin being
beveled to engage a beveled shoulder on the member by which the spring is
carried, and a nut for locking the spring in the desired position, substantially as
specified.
4. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally connected members having shanks
and jaws carried thereby, the jaws being hinged to the shanks and adapted to
occupy an angular position with relation thereto, a spring pivotally mounted upon
one of the members to engage the other and hold the members in their normal
positions, and a limiting screw forming the pivot of the hinge between one of the
jaws and its shank and adapted to be adjusted to limit the movement of the jaws
under the pressure of said spring, substantially as specified.

page_text: 5. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally connected members having shanks
and jaws carried thereby, the jaws being interiorly toothed, a spring for maintaining
the jaws in their normal positions, a rotary head having a groove for the reception
of the jaws, the bottom of the groove being toothed for engagement by the teeth
of the jaws, said head having an opening provided with oppositely-disposed
roughened or serrated sides, substantially as specified.
6. In a wrench, the combination of pivotally connected spring-actuated members
having shanks and jaws carried thereby, the jaws being interiorly toothed, a
rotary head engaged by the jaws and provided with teeth to interlock with those
on the jaws, said head having an opening which extends to one side thereof and
adjustable means for varying the operative space of the opening to fit objects of
different sizes, substantially as specified.
7. In a wrench, the combination with pivotally connected spring-actuated
members having interiorly toothed jaws, of a rotary head arranged between the
jaws and toothed for engagement thereby, said head having an opening extending
to the side thereof, and a reducing gage fitted in said opening to contract the same
for the reception of objects of reduced size, substantially as specified.
8. In a wrench, the combination with pivotally connected spring-actuated
members having interiorly toothed jaws, of a rotary head arranged between the
jaws and toothed for engagement by the teeth thereof said head having a parallel-
sided opening extending to one side of the head, a gage-plate mounted to slide in
said opening, and means for locking said plate at the desired adjustment, sub-
stantially as specified.
9. In a wrench the combination with pivotally connected spring actuated
members having interiorly toothed jaws of a rotary head arranged between the
jaws and toothed for engagement by the same, the head being provided with a
parallel-sided opening extending to one side thereof, a gage-plate mounted to slide
in said opening and provided with projections engaging grooves in the parallel
sides of the opening and means for locking the gage-plate at the desired
adjustment, substantially as specified.
10. In a wrench, the combination with pivotally connected members having
interiorly toothed jaws, of a rotary head arranged between the jaws and toothed
for engagement thereby, said head having a parallel-sided opening, a gage-plate
mounted to slide in the opening in the head, mutilated threads at opposite sides of
the opening, and a button provided with threads or ribs to engage said mutilated
threads, the gage-plate being adapted to be forced inward upon an object when
the button is turned to engage the mutilated threads, substantially as specified.
Dated this 12th day of March 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.