Improvements in Vices
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
Improvements in Vices,
I, WILLIAM EDUARD SNEDIKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at
Number 35 Ewing Street, in the City of Trenton, County of Mercer, and State of
New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 Improvements in Vices, and has for its object to obtain
a quick-acting vice having a shorter casing, and a stronger slide-bar than have
heretofore been used in devices of this character. This object I attain by a
construction which lessens the strong wedging action or strain exercised upon the
casing by the toothed clamping block and reciprocating nut, and which diminishes
the extent to which the sliding bar has heretofore been weakened by slotting.
In the drawings, I have shown two modifications of my invention, both having
in view the same general purposes, but differing somewhat in details of
construction.
Figure 1 represents in elevation a partial central longitudinal section of one form
of my improved vice;
Fig. 2 represents a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 represents an alternative way of adjusting the reciprocating nut.
In this form of the invention, A is the movable jaw of the vice, and B the fixed
jaw; C is the sliding-bar to which the jaw A is attached; and D is the case in
which the sliding bar C moves. The sliding bar C is preferably, but not necessarily,
made rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 2, and is cored rectangularly
nearly throughout its entire length. E is the screw of the vice, and is threaded
as shown in Fig. 1. Upon the threaded portion of the screw E is fitted the nut F
which is threaded internally to fit and work upon the screw E, and corresponds
in cross-section to the core of the sliding-bar C within which it reciprocates.
The forward lower part of the screw-nut F presents an inclined plane broken
preferably by two lugs or shoulders a b, though the number of such shoulders may
be varied; onę or several answering the same purpose. Below the screw E and
resting upon the lower member of the sliding-bar C is the clamping-block G. The
clamping-block is provided with serrations or teeth located along the middle of
its lower side. The teeth on the block are arranged to take into the teeth of the
rack H, which rack is attached firmly to the base of the vice, the lower member of
the sliding-bar C being slotted longitudinally to permit the teeth of the clamping-
block to contact with the rack. The rear face of the clamping-block is oppositely
inclined to the forward face of the screw-nut F, and is provided preferably with
two shoulders cd, the number of shoulders on the clamping-block and screw-nut
being the same. The shoulders a b and c d are oppositely squared so as to abut
against each other at the instant of clamping. The wall at the rear end of the slot
in which the toothed portion of the clamping-block plays is inclined as shown at e
in Fig. 1, and the toe of the clamping-block is bevelled so as to enable the block
to ride easily up the inclined wall of the slot when the screw-nut F is out of
contact with the clamping-block, the block being pushed rearwardly by the force of
a spring or springs g attached to the front face of the block and seated upon a
shoulder or shoulders h cast on the inside of the sliding-bar near the lower face
thereof..
In operating the vice, the screw E is first turned to loose the jaws and drive
back the screw-nut F far enough to permit the clamping-block to rise from its seat

page_text: in the teeth of the rack, which action of the clamping-block is enforced by the
spring g.
As soon as the teeth of the clamping-block are out of contact with the
rack, the sliding-bar is free to move within the case, and is drawn forward by
the operator the proper distance to separate the jaws sufficiently to receive between
them the object to be held by them. This object is then placed between the jaws,
the sliding bar is pushed back as far as may be, and the screw is then turned to
the right, thus bringing the nut F into contact with the clamping-block which is
forced over the slot in the bottom of the sliding-bar, and is driven downward by
the opposing inclined face of the screw-nut until its teeth take into the teeth of
the rack which occurs instantly with the abutting of the shoulders ab against the
shoulders cd, when a very slight further turn of the screw tightly clamps the jaws
upon the object between them.
It will be readily seen that there is no strain thrown upon either the case or
the sliding-bar by any wedging action of the screw-nut and clamping-block, but
that a locking action of the parts is induced, and that there is a straight longi-
tudinal draft upon the screw which obviates all change of torsion.
In my device as here shown, I have introduced the elliptical spring i attached,
as shown, to the top of the screw-nut, and I have also provided the screw-nut with
a recess in its lower side into which fits the pin k controlled by a spiral spring.
These are not essential adjuncts to my device, but by using them I am enabled to
fit the parts with less precision and nicety than would otherwise be necessary.
When the spring and pin are used, some play is allowed between the threads of
the screw and the nut F, and when the nut in its forward movement contacts with
the clamping-block, the power of the spring i promptly forces the clamping-block
to its seat on the rack, and insures a perfect locking action between the nut and
clamping-block. Adjustable set-screws or pins may be used with the nut in place
of the springs and pin, as will be seen in Fig. 3.
Figure 4 represents a vertical longitudinal section on the line x-x of Fig. 5, of
another form of my improved vice; Fig. 5 is a rear view;
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the sliding bar taken on the line y-y of Fig. 4; and.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clamping-block.
In this form of the invention, the movable jaw, fixed jaw, and case are
substantially identical with the same parts in the form just described.
E is the operating screw; C' is the sliding-bar; Fi is the reciprocating nut;
G' is the clamping-block; and I is the abutment sleeve. g' is a spiral spring placed
upon a small button or stud 7 on the depending lug of the abutment sleeve 1, and
fixed at its other end in an opening in the front end of the clamping-block G'.
H' is a rack attached to the upper face of the lower wall or base of the case D.
The bottom or lower wall of the sliding-bar C₁ is longitudinally slotted
throughout its length, as shown in Fig. 6, the lines m-m, m-m representing the
inner sides of the side walls of the sliding bar. At s, t, there are off-sets in the
slotted lower walls, and these off-sets are bevelled as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.
The clamping-block G' is bevelled on its upper face to contact with the reverse
bevel on the front of the reciprocating nut F¹. The clamping-block G' is also
provided with two bevelled wings e¹ e', the bevelled portions of which contact with
the bevelled portions st of the bottom wall of the sliding bar, as shown in Figs. 4
and 5. The metal plate M is fixed in the portion of the slot in the sliding bar
lying towards the outer jaw A of the vice. This plate M is maintained in its
position by being slightly bevelled at its edges and lying on the bevelled edges of
the walls surrounding this portion of the slot in the sliding bar, or it may be
otherwise supported and made fast to the sliding bar. The abutment sleeve I is
cored to fit loosely upon the operating screw E, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and
its depending lug abuts against the end of the plate M. The reciprocating nut F
has a bevelled forward end to contact with the bevelled face of the clamping
block G. This nut is also provided in its upper portion with a longitudinal
threaded aperture through which passes the operating screw E. The lower portion
of the nut is bifurcated longitudinally, as shown at f, fin Fig. 2. These bifurcations

page_text: eciprocate in longitudinal grooves formed in the lower portion of the case, as
ppears in Fig. 5, and, receiving the strain of any upward thrust of the reciprocating
ut, retain the nut in its proper plane of action, and prevent its being forced upward
o as to bind upon the operating screw.
In operating this form of vice, the operating handle is given a slight turn to the
eft, and the operating screw rotating drives the reciprocating nut back from the
clamping-block. The clamping-block being released from downward pressure due
o contact with the bevelled face of the reciprocating nut, is forced backward by
the spring g'. The action of this spring causes the bevelled wings e e¹ to slide up
the bevelled portions s, t, of the slotted lower wall of the sliding bar until the
forward ends of the bevelled set-off portions of the wall contact with the small
and 7. The
stops shown at b¹¹ in the clamping-block which appear in Figs.
serrations of the under face of the clamping-block are thus removed from contact
with the serrations on the rack H', and the sliding bar is free to be drawn out so
as to enable the jaws to grip the object to be operated upon. To close the jaws
firmly upon the object, the sliding bar is first pushed back as far as it will go, and
the operating handle is then turned to the right. This rotates the operating screw
and the reciprocating nut is driven forward, and the bevelled face thereof contacting
with the opposing bevelled face of the clamping block, the clamping block is forced
forward and downward until the serrations on its lower face take into the serrations
on the rack, and a very slight further turn of the handle induces a strong wedging
action between the reciprocating nut and the clamping-block, and the jaws are
firmly fixed upon the object held between them. The clamping-block is prevented
from rising too great a distance from its seat on the rack by guides on both of its
These guides contact with the under
sides, one of which is shown at in Fig. 7.
side of the slotted lower wall of the sliding bar, as will be readily understood.
If it be desired to convert this form of quick-acting vice into a slow-acting
screw-vice of ordinary form, the reciprocating nut F is removed from the operating
screw, and the plate M is removed from the sliding bar. The abutment sleeve I
and the clamping block Gare thrown forward on the operating screw until the
abutment sleeve contacts with the collar n on the front end of the screw. The
reciprocating nut F' is again placed upon the operating screw and drawn forward
until it contacts with the clamping-block. A piu is then set in the base of the vice
back of and in the track of the reciprocating nut and in the place usual for such
pin in a slow-acting screw-vice, and this completes the transformation of the vice
into the slow-acting form.
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 vice, the combination of the operating screw, a reciprocating nut having
an inclined face and a shoulder on said face, a toothed clamping block having an
inclined face and a shoulder on said face, and a rack; substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a vice, the combination of the operating screw, a reciprocating nut having
5 an inclined face and a shoulder on said face, a movable toothed clamping block
baving an inclined face and a shoulder on said face, an actuating spring bearing upon
said clamping block, and a rack; substantially as shown and described.
3. In a vice, the combination of the screw, a reciprocating nut having an inclined
face and a shoulder on such face, a movable toothed clamping-block provided
0 with an inclined face and a shoulder on such face, an actuating spring between the
clamping block and the sliding-bar, the sliding-bar, and the rack; substantially as
shown and described.
4. In a vice, the combination of the screw, a reciprocating nut having an inclined
face and a shoulder on such face and provided with adjusting devices, a movable
55 toothed clamping-block having an inclined face and a shoulder on said face, an
actuating spring fixed between the clamping-block and the sliding-bar, the sliding

page_text: bar provided with a slot to receive the clamping-block, and a rack; substantially as
shown and described.
5. In a vice, the combination of the operating screw; a reciprocating nut having
a threaded portion contacting with said screw; the case, said nut and case having
interlocking guides and guide-ways; a clamping-block having one face bevelled
and another serrated; a spring bearing against the clamping-block, and a rack
constructed to engage the serrated face of said clamping-block; substantially as
shown and described.
6. In a vice, the combination of the operating screw; a reciprocating nut having
a threaded portion contacting with said screw; the case, said nut and case having
interlocking guides and guide-ways; a clamping-block having one face bevelled
and another serrated; a spring bearing against the clamping-block; a rack
constructed to engage the serrated face of said clamping-block, and the sliding bar
slotted to permit of the clamping-block operating therethrough; substantially as
shown and described.
7. In a vice, the combination of the operating screw, a reciprocating out having
a bevelled face, a threaded longitudinal aperture and a guide; a case having a
guide in which the guide on said nut reciprocates; a bevelled face clamping-block
provided with serrations on its opposite face; a spring bearing against the
clamping-block; a rack; a slotted sliding bar, and an adjustable abutment sleeve;
substantially as shown and described.
8. In a vice, the combination of the operating screw; a reciprocating nut
controlled by the operating screw, and having a bevelled face; a clamping-block
having a face bevelled oppositely to the bevelled face of the reciprocating nut,
and provided with serrations on its opposite face, and having bevelled guides on its
sides; an abutment sleeve, and a spring supported thereby and bearing against the
clamping-block; a rack, the serrations of which contact with the serrations of
the clamping-block; the sliding bar having a longitudinal slot through which the
clamping-block operates, the walls of said slot being off-set and bevelled at points
where they contact with the bevelled guides of the clamping-block; and the case,
said case and said reciprocating nut being constructed with interlocking guides and
guide-ways; substantially as shown and described.
9. In a vice, the combination of a slotted sliding bar; a plate adjustable to fit
in a portion of said slot in said sliding bar; and an adjustable abutment sleeve ;
substantially as shown and described.
Dated him to f Ioni
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.