Improvements in Wrenches and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1898
2000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wrenches and the like.
We, CHARLES LEWIS HENDERSON, Farmer, of 24, Foundry Street, and Moses
ERB SHANTZ, Gentleman, of Frederick Street, both of the Town of Berlin, in the
County of Waterloo, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in wrenches and the object of the
invention is to design a simple and cheaply manufactured wrench by which the
jaws may be readily adjusted to the nut by the gripping hand alone and will
tighten the grip on the nut and not loosen it as is commonly the case in most
wrenches and it consists essentially of an upper jaw and bar and a lower jaw
and socket bar within which the upper bar fits, such upper bar being provided
with ratchet teeth and straddled by a U-shaped compression bar within which
the dog is journalled, which co-acts with the teeth on the bar, such bar being
pivoted at the jaw end on the lower jaw and supported at the opposite end by
a suitable spring, the parts being otherwise constructed and arranged in detail
as hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of our wrench complete, portion of the straddle-
bar being broken away to exhibit the construction.
Fig. 2, is a cross section through the wrench at the bearing point of the dog.
Fig. 3, is a detail of the upper jaw and bar.
Fig. 4, is a detail of the lower jaw and bar.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the upper bar, which is provided with an end jaw A¹ having a finger
notch a.
We form ratchet teeth on the upper edge of the bar. We also provide
a groove a² in the lower edge of the bar from end to end. B is the lower bar,
which is provided with the end jaw B¹, the upper tongue b, the jaw socket B³
and the end socket B3 at the opposite end. The bar A is inserted through the
sockets B2 and 133, the tongue b fitting into the groove a².
C is a straddle bar U-shaped in cross section provided with depending lips cat
the jaw through which passes the pin c¹ by which the straddle-bar is pivoted
to the lower jaw.
D is a spring preferably secured on the top of the socket B³ and designed to
normally force the straddle-bar outwardly at the free end. E is a dog pivoted
on trunnions e forming part of same, in the straddle bar C. The short end of
the dog E is spring-pressed upwardly by a flat spring e¹ secured in the top of
the straddle-bar.
F is a spring secured to the side of the socket B3 and having a pin f, which
normally fits within the groove a³ in the side of the bar A. It will thus be
seen that the length of the groove will limit the movement of the jaws from each
other. The end of the groove next the end of the bar is preferably inclined so
that upon sufficient pressure being brought to bear the outer bar may be with-

page_text: drawn entirely out of the sockets of the lower bar. Under ordinary circum-
stances, however, there will be no danger of the upper bar and jaw slipping
out of position.
G is a link, which is pivoted in the straddle bar at the free end thereof fitting
in a notch d. When the wrench is not in use the straddle bar C may be
pressed down at this end and the link G thrown over the end of the bar B, so
as to hold the wrench in compact shape for packing.
The operation of our wrench is as follows. In the position in which the
wrench is shown in Fig. 1, by putting the thumb in the notch a, the jaw A¹
may be drawn out to any desired distance and the nut placed between the jaws
as indicated in Fig. 1. By squeezing the straddle-bar towards the bar B the
dog E is brought, so that the point engages with one of the ratchet teeth a¹.
By releasing the straddle-bar the spring forces it upwardly and causes the dog
to pass over the teeth towards the jaw, the spring e holding it down,,so as to
press into the teeth. By pressing the straddle-bar down in squeezing the ends
of the wrench together, the jaw is fed inwardly. This upward and downward
movement of the straddle-bar can be repeated until the jaw has been brought
into the desired position to grasp the nut. Then by squeezing the bar together
and the back of the dog coming up against the top of the straddle bar, such
jaws will be forced to grip the nut very firmly and not be at all liable to let the
jaws loosen and thereby spoil the corners, of the nut when turning it. The
spring D of course throws the straddle-bar away from the jaws and we find in
practice that by releasing the straddle-bar slightly with the hand it throws the
jaws slightly apart, so that in gripping small nuts especially, the distance
between the jaws is sufficient to allow of the wrench being turned completely
on the nut before applying power thereto to turn it.
When the straddle bar is squeezed towards the jaws of course the grip is then
80 tight that the dog engaging the teeth and being held thereto by the upper
inner end of the straddle-bar will render the grip so tight that it will be
impossible for the jaws of the wrench to be loosened on the nut and thereby the
nut is ensured of being turned without being spoilt.
Although we describe our invention as applied to an ordinary rectangular
jawed wrench it will of course be understood that other wrenches, of suitable
form necessary for turning pipes in plumber's use and several other articles may
be constructed and adjusted similarly to that shown and described. Such a
wrench as we describe it will be seen is very quickly actuated.
TI
L
1
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.
We, CHARLES LEWIS HENDERSON, Farmer, of 24, Foundry Street, and MOSES
ERB SHANTZ, Gentleman, of Frederick Street, both of the Town of Berlin, in the
County of Waterloo, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in wrenches and the object of the
invention is to design a simple and cheaply manufactured wrench by which the
jaws may be readily adjusted to the nut by the gripping hand alone and will

page_text: tighten the grip on the nut and not loosen it as is commonly the case in most
wrenches and it consists essentially of an upper jaw and bar and a lower jaw
and socket bar within which the bar of the upper jaw fits,, such upper bar being
provided with ratchet teeth and straddled by a U-shaped compression bar within
which the dog is journalled, which co-acts with the teeth on the, bar, such bar
being pivoted at the jaw and on the lower jaw and supported at the opposite end
by a suitable spring, the parts being otherwise constructed and arranged in
detail, as hereinafter more particularly explained with reference to the drawings
filed with our Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of our wrench complete, portion of the straddle-
bar being broken away to exhibit the construction.
Fig. 2, is a cross section through the wrench at the bearing point of the dog.
Fig. 3, is a detail of the upper jaw and bar.
Fig. 4, is a detail of the lower jaw and bar.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the upper bar, which is provided with an end jaw A¹ having a finger
notch a.
We form ratchet teeth a¹ on the upper edge of the bar. We also provide
a groove a² in the lower edge of the bar from end to end. B is the lower bar,
which is provided with the end jaw B', the upper tongue b, the jaw socket B
and the end socket B3 at the opposite end. The bar A is inserted through the
sockets 12 and B³, the tongue b fitting into the groove a².
C is a straddle-bar U-shaped in cross section provided with depending lips cat
the jaw through which passes the pin c¹ by which the straddle-bar is pivoted
to the lower jaw.
D is a spring preferably secured on the top of the socket B³ and designed to
normally force the straddle-bar outwardly at the free end. E is a dog pivoted
on trunnions e forming part of same in the straddle-bar C. The short end of
the dog E is spring-pressed upwardly by a flat spring e¹ secured in the top of
the straddle-bar.
F is a spring secured to the side of the socket B3 and having a pin f, which
normally fits within the groove a³ in the side of the bar A. It will thus be
seen that the length of the groove will limit the movement of the jaws from each
other. The end of the groove next the end of the bar is preferably, inclined so
that upon sufficient pressure being brought to bear the outer bar may be with-
drawn entirely out of the sockets of the lower bar. Under ordinary circum-
stances, however, there will be no danger of the upper bar and jaw slipping
out of position.
G is a link, which is pivoted in the straddle-bar at the free end thereof fitting
in a notch d. When the wrench is not in use the straddle bar D may be
pressed down at this end and the link G thrown over the ends of the bar B, so
as to hold the wrench in compact shape for packing.
The operation of my wrench is as follows. In the position in which the
wrench is shown in Fig. 1, by putting the thumb in the notch a, the jaw A¹
may be drawn out to any desired distance and the nut placed between the jaws
as indicated in Fig. 1. By squeezing the straddle-bar, towards the bar B the
dog E is brought, so that the point engages with one of the ratchet teeth a'.
By releasing the straddle-bar the spring forces it upwardly and causes the dog
to pass over the teeth towards the jaw, the spring el holding it down, so as to
press into the teeth. By pressing the straddle-bar down in squeezing the ends
of the wrench together, the jaw is fed inwardly. This upward and downward
movement of the, straddle-bar can be repeated until the jaw has been brought
into the desired position to grasp the nut. Then by squeezing the bar together
and the back of the dog coming up against the top of the straddle bar, such
jaws will be forced to grip the nut very firmly and not be at all liable to let the
jaws loosen and thereby spoil the corners, of the nut when turning it. The
spring D of course throws the straddle-bar away from the jaws and we find in

page_text: practice that by releasing the straddle-bar slightly with the hand it throws the
jaws slightly apart, so that in gripping small nuts especially, the distance
between the jaws is sufficient to allow of the wrench being turned completely
on the nut before applying power thereto to turn it.
When the straddle bar is squeezed towards the jaws of course the grip is then
so tight that the dog engaging the teeth and being held thereto by the upper
inner end of the straddie-bar will, render the grip so tight that it will be
impossible for the jaws of the wrench to be loosened on the nut and thereby the
nut, is ensured of being turned without being spoilt.
Although we describe our invention as applied to an ordinary rectangular
jawed wrench it will of course be understood that other wrenches of suitable
form necessary for turning pipes in plumber's use and several other articles may
be constructed and adjusted similarly to that shown and described. Such a
wrench as we describe it will be seen is very quickly actuated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In combination, the upper toothed bar having a jaw, the lower bar having
the jaw and sockets, a pawl for engaging said toothed bar and straddle-bar
carrying said pawl, said straddle-bar being pivoted to the lower bar and forming
a complete enclosing casing for the upper bar and mechanism operating thereon,
substantially as described.
2. In a wrench, the combination with the upper bar having a jaw and ratchet
teeth, formed on the upper edge thereof, of the lower jaw and sockets, the
straddle-bar pivoted on the lower jaw, and a spring-pressed dog or pawl suitably
journalled in the interior of the straddle-bar and engaging the teeth of the
ratchet bar on the jaw and a spring situated between the bar of the lower jaw
and the free end of the straddle-bar as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a wrench, the combination with the upper bar having a jaw and ratchet
teeth formed on the upper edge thereof, of the lower jaw and sockets, the
straddle-bar pivoted on the lower jaw, a spring pressed dog suitably journalled
in the interior of the straddle-bar and engaging the teeth of the ratchet bar
of the jaw, a spring pressed pin attached to the lower bar and a suitable limiting
groove in the upper bar into which it fits, as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a wrench, the combination with the upper bar having a jaw and ratchet
teeth formed on the upper edge thereof, of the lower jaw and sockets, the
straddle bar pivoted on the lower jaw, a spring pressed dog suitably journalled
in the interior of the straddle-bar and engaging the teeth of the ratchet bar of
the jaw, and a link pivoted in the straddle bar and designed to hold the free end
of the straddle bar and lower jaw together as and for the purpose specified.
Dated the 8th day of December 1898
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.