Improvements in Adjustable Spanners and Wrenches.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Spanners and Wrenches.
We GEORGE Joseph Haden, of 39 Harford Street, in the City of Birmingham
Manufacturer of Cycle Fittings, HENRY GRAINGER of 223 Balsall Heath Road,
Birmingham aforesaid Tool Maker, and THOMAS FEENEY, of Vittoria Street,
Birmingham aforesaid, Tool Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in adjustable spanners and wrenches, and.
has for its object, a spanner or wrench easily adjusted and simply made, without
the employment of a number of component parts which are liable on wear to become
deranged, when the said spanner or wrench is rendered useless thereby.
In carrying out my invention, I make the body and handle part of the spanner
from a parallel strip of metal, or from a bar having parallel sides, and with the top
end provided or fitted with a fixed jaw or head, which is preferably inclined to a
small angle. The inner edge of the said bar, body part or strip, is cut to a desirable
distance with a series of fine rack teeth, raking upwardly, and with which an
adjustable jaw, with like rack teeth upon its opposed edge engages, and which jaw
is carried by a sliding strap or carrier, which has a slight lateral play, to admit of
the engagement and disengagement of the rack teeth of the adjustable jaw with or
clear of the rack teeth of the stem or body part. The adjustable jaw is jointed by
a pin to forward ears of the strap, so as to admit of the said jaw turning or rocking
upon the said ears as a centre.
The jaw lower portion is made alike unto a bracket, so as to give an extended.
bearing to the same whilst the rack teeth upon its acting edge are made only at top
and bottom parts, leaving a clearance at the middle.
Located within the hollow back of the strap, and disposed between the said back.
and the plain rear side of the body or shank of the handle part, is a flat spring,
which when free presses the strap away from the shank or body, and pulls the
jaw inwards, and takes the said jaw into tooth with the rack on the said stem or
body part.
The said jaw, whose grip is above the line of its joint, slightly rocks with the
strap when the said jaw is being taken into or out of tooth with the rack of the fixed
part.
By sliding the adjustable jaw upwards with the strap, the said teeth of the jaw
wipe pawl-like over the teeth of the fixed part, but when the said jaw is required
to be adjusted downwards or in the reverse direction, then pressure is applied to the
back of the strap which impresses the spring, and takes the teeth of the jaw clear
of the rack on the fixed part, so that the said adjustable part is capable of moving
longitudinally down the shank or body.
Dated this 25th day of April 1893.
GEORGE JOSEPH HADEN,
HENRY GRAINGER,
THOMAS FEENEY,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Adjustable Spanners and Wrenches.
We, GEORGE JOSEPH HADEN, of 39 Harford Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer of Cycle Fittings, HENRY GRAINGER, of 223 Balsall Heath Road,
Birmingham aforesaid, Tool Maker, and THOMAS FEENEY, of Vittoria Street,
Birmingham aforesaid, Tool Maker, 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 improvements in adjustable spanners and wrenches, and
has for its object, a spanner or wrench easily adjusted and simply made, without.
the employment of a number of component parts which are liable on wear to
become deranged, when the said spanner or wrench is rendered useless thereby.
In carrying out my invention, I make the body and handle part of the spanner
from a parallel strip of metal, or from a bar having parallel sides, and with the top
end provided or fitted with a fixed jaw or head, which is preferably inclined to a
small angle. The inner edge of the said bar, body part or strip is cut to a desirable
distance with a series of fine rack teeth raking upwardly, and with which an
adjustable jaw, with like rack teeth upon its opposed edge, engages, and which jaw
is carried by a sliding strap or carrier, which has a slight lateral play, to admit of
the engagement and disengagement of the rack teeth of the adjustable jaw with or
clear of the rack teeth of the stem or body part. The adjustable jaw is jointed by.
a pin to forward ears of the strap, so as to admit of the said jaw turning or rocking
upon the said pin as a centre.
The jaw lower portion is made alike unto a bracket, so as to give an extended
bearing to the same, whilst the rack teeth upon its acting edge may be made only
at top and bottom parts, leaving a clearance at the middle, or they may be made
continuous.
Located within the hollow back of the strap, and disposed between the said back,
and the plain rear side of the body or shank of the handle part, is a flat spring,
which when free presses the strap away from the shank or body, and pulls the jaw.
inwards, and takes the said jaw into tooth with the rack on the said stem or body
part.
The said jaw, whose grip is above the line of its joint slightly rocks with the
strap when the said jaw is being taken into or out of tooth with the rack of the
fixed part.
By sliding the adjustable jaw upwards with the strap the said teeth of the jaw
wipe pawl-like over the teeth of the fixed part, but when the said jaw is required
to be adjusted downwards or in the reverse direction, then pressure is applied to
the back of the strap, which compresses the spring, and takes the teeth of the jaw
clear of the rack on the fixed part, so that the said adjustable part is capable of
moving longitudinally down the shank or body.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents an adjustable spanner made or
provided with improvements according to our invention. The adjustable jaw in
this view is shown in tooth with the fine rack teeth on the opposed edge of the
shank or stock of the handle, whose sides are parallel.
*Figure 2 represents, partly in longitudinal vertical section and partly in elevation,
the said adjustable spanner but. with the rack teeth of the adjustable jaw out of
tooth with the rack teeth on the shank or stock.
Figure 3 represents a front elevation of Figure 1 showing how the movable jaw
and strap carrying it slides longitudinally over the upper part of the shank of the
stock,

page_text: of the same,
Figure 7 is a topside plan of the adjustable and rocking jaw and Figure 8.
represents a side elevation of Figure 7.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
à is the handle or stock, having parallel sides, with the front edge of the upper
or shank part a', cut with upwardly raking fine ratchet teeth a', and having its
upper end surmounted by a fixed head or jaw b.. c is a sliding strap or bracket,
carrying a movable jaw d, which rocks or turns upon the cross pin or fulcrum e,
The said jaw d, has upon its
passing laterally through the ears c', of the strap c.
inner edge or face d, like ratchet teeth d², as are upon the front face of the shank.
The rear part of the strap c, is-shallow chambered at c, and receives a flat or other
spring f, which, when free, presses the strap and movable jaw in the direction of the
dotted arrow, and takes the ratchet teeth of the movable jaw into tooth with the
shank of the handle after adjustment.
OPERATION.
Assuming that the movable jaw requires to be adjusted, then force the same up
by the thumb or finger in the direction of the full arrow, when the ratchet teeth of
the said jaw wipe over the teeth of the shank or handle, whilst the jaw remains in
any position in which the same may have been placed by the opposed teeth of the
adjacent parts remaining in tooth with each other through the lateral pressure
exerted by the spring.
On the adjustable jaw requiring to be pushed down or moved away from the
fixed head, then the strap is pressed forward in a reverse direction to that
indicated by the dotted arrow, when the teeth of the opposed parts become clear of
each other and the strap and jaw carried by it can be moved into the required lower
position.
Instead of employing a flat spring for keeping the teeth in tooth, we may substitute
a coiled spring therefor.
It will be seen that the movable jaw forms as it were a double-armed lever, so
that the greater the pressure exerted for turning a nut, the firmer the jaw is locked
to the stem consequent upon the lower part d' being turned or forced inwards,
whilst the gripping part d', is turned outwards.
Instead of the teeth of the adjustable jaw extending from top to bottom of the
inner edge, a tooth or teeth only may be located at the lower part only of it.
It is understood that in order to move the strap laterally, for taking the jaw out
of tooth, there is sufficient clearance left between the ratchet face of the said jaw,
and the back walls of the strap, to admit of the necessary movement.
The application of our invention to wrenches differs in no essential respect from
its application to spanners as herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
First. In an adjustable spanner, pivotedly mounting the movable jaw, which
has ratchet teeth upon its inner edge, adapted to engage with like ratchet teeth
upon the opposed edge of the shank of the fixed handle or stock part, upon a sliding
strap or carrier, which has both a longitudinal and transverse movement upon the
said shank, substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth.
Secondly. An adjustable spanner consisting of a fixed head and handle part,
with a longitudinally sliding and cross working strap or carrier fitted at one side
with a spring, for taking the ratchet teeth of a pivotedly mounted movable jaw
carried at the other side of the said strap into tooth with the ratchet teeth on the

page_text: opposed edge of the shank of the handle part, and which parts are arranged, com-
bined, operate and co-operate in manner and for the purpose as set forth.
Thirdly. In an adjustable spanner or wrench, the general construction,
arrangement combination and fitting of the parts as described and set forth.
Dated this 27th day of January 1894.
GEORGE JOSEPH HADEN,
HENRY GRAINGER,
THOMAS FEENEY,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.