Year: 1895

page_text: FRANCIS LEWIS SANDERS 11 Bright Street Old Radford Nottingham Wood
Working Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An improved wrench in two parts the back parallel the front part taper with
moveable rack and tapered box cover sliding up the handle thereby enabling the
grasp or claws to extend or contract so as to fit large or small nuts or pipes.
In carrying out the invention two parts namely back and front are arranged
together and held in position by means of a cover or slide, the said slide being
taper to suit the taper of the front part aforesaid. The cover or slide when drawn
or pressed in opposite direction to the jaws of the wrench allows the same being
adjusted to suit any size nut or pipe that the wrench is capable of taking and
when pressed in the same direction as the jaws holds the back and front firmly
together. A number of teeth to form a rack are cut on the edge of the front or
back part. For operating the wrench a worm or screw is arranged at the middle
or other suitable part of the wrench so as to work in unison with the teeth thus
by turning the screw or worm the jaws of the wrench are moved to any
suitable size.
This wrench has three advantages; by the screw rack and slide as described
the parts of the wrench are locked until the slide is moved, it is also lighter and
stronger.
Dated this 12th day of August 1895.
An improved wrench.
FRANCIS LEWIS SANDERS 11 Bright Street Ilkesten Road Nottingham Wood
Machinist 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved wrench which may be adjusted to fit
different sized nuts, bolts and screws, and may also be used as a pipe wrench if the
jaws are provided with teeth. The improved wrench is however particularly
suitable for the smaller sized bolts and nuts, such as are used on cycles.
In adjustable wrenches as at present made, the movable part of the jaw is
generally fitted to slide in parallel guides which soon wear, so that after the wrench
has been adjusted there is a movement of the movable jaw with regard to the fixed
jaw when pressure is applied. This allows the wrench to partially turn on the nut
or screw head, and the pressure acting on the corners of the nut or screw head,
damages the same.
Now the object of this invention is the provision of means for enabling the
movable part of the jaw to be rigidly fixed with regard to the stationary part of
the jaw, after the wrench has been adjusted to the required size.

page_text: According to this invention the wrench is in two parts, which are of the same
thickness, and may be of increased thickness at the jaw. These two parts when
together are wider at the jaw end than at the other end, and they are fitted with a
sliding wedge shaped cover or slide, so arranged that when moved towards the jaw
the two parts of the wrench are locked together, and when moved in the opposite
direction the two parts of the wrench are released, and the size of the jaw may be
altered.
Two wrenches made according to this invention are shown in the accompanying
sheet of drawings and they are referred to in the following detailed description.
In the wrench shown in Fig. 1, the main part a, carrying the stationary jaw, has
parallel sides, and is recessed at a¹ to fit the largest sized nut for which the wrench
is designed. At the opposite end to the jaw there is a recess bc for a screw d
which is fitted to revolve on an axle e, and is preferably milled on the top of
the threads for turning the same. The other part of the wrench is wider at the
jaw end than at the other end f¹, and has a number of teeth g which act as a
nut for the screw d. The cover or slide his tapered to correspond with the
taper of the two parts of the wrench when placed side by side, and the movement
of the slide in one direction is limited by a pin p. When adapted as a cycle
wrench the end I may be used for removing the tyre cover, the end m as a screw-
driver, and the upper part of the wrench be provided with pins k for a cone key.
In a modified arrangement the screw d is placed nearer the centre of the wrench
between the cross bars of the slide h, the axle e being let into recessed grooves
and fastened therein.
In the wrench shown in Fig. 2, the parts a, a', f, ƒ¼, h, k, l, and p correspond to
the parts similarly lettered in Fig. 1. In this wrench the end n of the part ff1
is circular and screwed to fit a nut o which may be a rack nut as shown, or an
ordinary milled nut fitting a recess in the part a.
The wrenches may be of steel, wrought, or malleable cast iron, or other suitable
material which may be hardened or otherwise treated by well known methods. The
construction may be modified by tapering the part a instead of the part ffl, or
both parts may be tapered, and the screw d Fig. 1 may be attached to either
part. In wrenches for larger sized nuts and bolts, the slide may be provided with
a screw or other mechanical device for moving the same. When the wrench is to
be used for pipes and the like, the jaws are provided with teeth and they may be
taper instead of parallel.
To adjust the relative position of the two jaws, the slide or cover is moved from
the jaws so as to release the two parts of the wrench. The screw d Fig. 1, or nut o
Fig. 2 is then turned to increase or decrease the size of the jaw, after which the
two parts of the wrench are locked together by moving the slide towards the jaw.
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. An adjustable wrench or spanner in which the parts forming or carrying the
two sides of the jaw, are when placed side by side, wider at the jaw end of the
wrench than at the other end, and in conjunction with the same a sliding wedge
shaped cover or slide for locking the two parts together, and a screw or the like for
adjusting the size of the jaw as herein set forth and for the purpose declared.
2. An adjustable wrench constructed substantially as described in the accom-
panying Specification with reference to Fig. 1.
3. An adjustable wrench constructed substantially as described in the accom-
panying Specification with reference to Fig. 2.
Dated this 1st day of November 1895.
W. H. POTTER,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.