IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE SPANNERS AND OTHER SIMILAR IMPLEMENTS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bentley Godfrey and Frederick Brittain, both of Sheffield,
in the County of York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE
SPANNERS AND OTHER SIMILAR IMPLEMENTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bentley Godfrey and
Frederick Brittain at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
10th December 1881.
BENTLEY GODFREY and FREDERICK BRITTAIN both of Sheffield in the County
of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE SPANNERS AND OTHER SIMILAR
IMPLEMENTS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of adjustable spanners
and other similar implements such as pipe tongs and cutters and in the method
of actuating the sliding jaws or other equivalent moving parts of such implements.
In the manufacture of a spanner for example we construct the implement in
three principal parts the body and fast jaw the sliding jaw and the handle.
The handle screws into the body and can be turned by the hand. The loose jaw
also is fitted into the body and slides to and from the fast jaw at an angle of about
thirty degrees but we do not bind ourselves to any particular angle. The sliding
jaw is provided with a shoulder or projection against which the end of the screwed
handle bears and it is of sufficient breadth to allow for all changes in position as it
is moved forward by the action of the screw which is turned round by hand.
A spring conveniently placed in the inside of the head of the spanner acts
against the opposite side of the shoulder or projection and forces the jaws apart
when the handle is drawn back.
Pipe grips and cutters may be attached to the jaws of the spanner as above
described or the same movement may be used for special pipe gripping and cutting
tools,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bentley Godfrey and Frederick Brittain in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th June 1882.
BENTLEY GODFREY and FREDERICK BRITTAIN both of Sheffield in the County
of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE SPANNERS AND OTHER SIMILAR
IMPLEMENTS."
Our Invention relates to improvements in adjustable spanners and in other
similar implements such as pipe tongs and pipe cutters and in the method of
actuating the sliding jaws or other equivalent moving parts of such implements.
In carrying out our Invention in the manufacture of an adjustable spanner for
example we construct the implement in three principal parts namely the body with
the fast jaw the loose or sliding jaw and the handle.
The loose or sliding jaw is fitted into an opening in the body of the spanner so
that it may be moved to and from the fast jaw the bandle is made to screw
into an elongated portion of the spanner and by preferenco at an angle of about
thirty degrees to the face of the jaws this being found to be the best position for
the relative parts of a spanner for general utility. The underside of the sliding
jaw is provided with a projecting shoulder against which the screwed end of the
handle finds a bearing and it is made sufficiently broad to afford a bearing surface
for the end of the handle as it alters in position while being moved forward
through the extent of its range. A spring is conveniently placed in the bead of the
spanner under and parallel with the loose or sliding jaw which acting against the
inside of the projecting shoulder forces the jaws apart as the handle is withdrawn.
Removeable pipe grips and cutters may be attached to the jaws of a spanner as
above described or special pipe gripping and cutting tools may be made with the
adjustable movement as above described and various modifications may be made in
the manner of fitting the handle to the spanner and in order that our Invention
may be clearly understood we will now refer to the illustrations of samo on the
annexed Sheet of Drawings in which the same letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in any of the Figures.
Figure 1 represents in section an adjustable spanner made according to our
Invention.
Figure 2 represents the loose jaw with a section of same taken through the
line ab.
Figure 3 represents a combined spanner pipe tongs and cutter.
The removeable grips are provided with shanks i and j which fit into corre-
sponding recesses formed in the jaws and are secured by pins; the circular cutter K
can also be placed in one of the recesses and will revolve on a similar pin. A is
the body of the spanner made in one piece with the fast jaw B. C is the loose jaw,
D is the projection for the spring E to act against, d being the face against which
the handle acts. F is the handle with a portion of smaller diameter G screwed and
fitting into a similarly screwed portion of the body; this arrangement may be
modified by screwing the larger portion of the handle and leaving the smaller
portion plain, H is a groove in the loose jaw into which a projecting part of the
spanner fits to retain the loose jaw in position. I and J in Fig. 3 are the removeable
grips for holding round bars or pipes. and j are the shanks of the grips; K is a
circular cutter which can be used in the same implement.
Having now described and fully ascertained the nature of the said Invention and
the manner in which it may be carried into practice,
We would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is―
First, The adjustable spanner as herein before described and illustrated in Fig. 1.
Second, Tho use in spanners and other similar implements of a diagonally placed
sliding jaw C in conjunction with and operated by a screwed handle F and a
spring E substantially as described and illustrated or any mere modification
thereof.
Third, The before described adjustable movement or parts applied to pipe tongs
and other similar implements substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 3.
In witness whereof we the said Bentley Godfrey and Frederick Brittain
have hereunto set our hands and seals this Sixth day of June in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.