IMPROVEMENTS IN WRENCHES, PLIERS, AND
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Williams, of 14, Red Lion Street, Clerken-
well, in the County of Middlesex, Tool Manufacturer, and John Hobson
Fuller, of New Brentford, in the County of Middlesex aforesaid, Gentle-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WRENCHES, PLIERS, AND
Sealed the 30th October 1855, and dated the 8th May 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Williams and
John Hobson Fuller at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 8th May 1855.
We, THOMAS WILLIAMS and JOHN HOBSON FULLER, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WRENCHES, PLIERS, AND
SPANNERS," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in rendering wrenches, pliers, and spanners of
various forms and sizes capable of being readily adjusted to their work by
means of the adjusting mechanism of screws, springs, and wedges, or any of
them; thus, for instance, by the application of a shifting joint to a tubing
wrench to enable it to grasp any sized tube, the joint being secured in any
requisite position by a wedge or set screw; or by the addition to the above
of a screw and nuts for the more easy and exact regulation of the joint; or
by the combination of a wedge or set screw, with a spiral screw to the same

page_text: kind of wrench, applied in such a manner as to enable the joint to be shifted
quickly by being lifted out of gear, but securing at the same time more
minute and exact regulation by the spiral screw; or by the application of
the three foregoing improvements, for the purpose of grasping any sized cap
of an union joint or other article requiring a wrench or spanner to turn it; or
by the application of a screw and nuts, or a wedge or set screw, with spiral
screw, as above stated, to move the lower jar of wrenches commonly called
coach wrenches; or by the use of a wedgo and tumbler with teeth to either
of the tools before specified in the place of the wedge or set screw; or by the
application of a screw and nut, or a slide and wedge (with or without a spring
or set screw) to a moving spanner, providing also for greater strength in the
jaws by their crossing one another; or by the application of a wedge to adjust
the "bits" of wrenches commonly called bed wrenches, formed for securing
four or more different sizes, so disposed that each bit forms a handle whilst
using one of the others; or by various combinations and modifications of the
above.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, file
by the said Thomas Williams and John Hobson Fuller in the Great Seal
Patent Offico on the 8th November 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
WILLIAMS, of 14, Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex,
Tool Manufacturer, and JOHN HOBSON FULLER, late of New Brentford, but
now of 83, Hatton Garden, both in the County of Middlesex, Tool Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Thomas Williams and John Hobson Fuller, Her special licence that we,
the said Thomas Williams and John Hobson Fuller, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Thomas Williams and John
Hobson Fuller, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN WRENCHES,

page_text: PLIERS, AND SPANNERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Thomas Williams and John Hobson Fuller, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Williams and John Hobson
Fuller, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The nature of the said Invention, which has already been intimated generally
by the Provisional Specification filed on application for the said Letters Patent,
is hereby, in compliance with the said condition in the aforesaid Letters Patent
contained, particularly described and ascertained, as also in what manner the
same is to be performed, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
by the words, figures, and letters marked thereon, and herein-after alluded to.
Figure 1 represents a tubing wrench. A is the upper jaw, and 13 the lower;
C is a collar, sliding over the lever or handle of the jaw A; D is a wedge, by
which its position is regulated. The jaw B works upon a pin or pivot attached
to the opposite side of the collar C to that shewn in the Drawing. This
wrench may be adjusted to any sized tubing shifting the wedge D. Figure 2
represents another tubing wrench, in which the lever or handle of the upper
jaw A passes through a slot in the lower jaw B, having a sliding collar C,
adjusted by the wedge D in a similar manner to Figure 1. More minute
adjustment is secured by the screwed bolt E, attached by a pin to the lower
jaw B, and regulated by the nuts F, F, which are brought into contact with
the collar C. In some cases we prefer to make the collar C a fixture, dis-
pensing with the wedge, still retaining the screwed bolt E and nuts F, F.
Figure 8 represents a tubing wrench, in all respects similar to Figure 1, except
that the collar C is regulated in its position upon the lever or handle of the
upper jaw A, by means of the screwed bolt and nuts E and F, F, passing
through the fixed collar or stud G. Figure 4 represents a tubing wrench,
which is a slight variation of Figure 8, the screwed bolt being attached to
a stud upon the side of the collar opposite to that on which is the pin or pivot
forming the hinge. Figure 5 represents a tubing wrench of a somewhat
different construction, working by one lever A. B is a bit forming the lower
jaw, connected by a hinge with the collar C; D is a flat steel spring, which
forces the bit B nearly into an upright position, rendering it self-acting; E is

page_text: a trigger, by which the jaw is opened to receive the tube. The position of the
collar C is regulated by the screwed bolt and nuts, as before. Figure 6 repre-
sents a tubing wrench, similar to Figure 5, but in which a second lever G is
substituted for the spring D to work the bit B. Fig. 7 is a tubing wrench
similar in construction to Fig. 1; but instead of the wedge we use a wedge
connecting piece D, the inner surface of which is provided with teeth, corre-
sponding with similar teeth on the inner edge of the upper jaw or handle A,
and secured in its position by the sliding collar E. Fig. 8 is similar in all
respects, excepting that the connecting piece D is attached to the outer edge
of the lever of the upper jaw A. Fig. 9 is a tubing wrench. C and E are
collars, sliding upon the lever of the upper jaw A, connected together and
furnished with a flat threaded screw, which is termed in the trade a "spiral "
screw F, working in square teeth on the edge of the lever or handle A.
These may be thrown out of gear for adjustment by the removal of the
wedge D, the more minute adjustment being accomplished by the said screw F.
Fig. 10 represents another form of wrench, in which the upper jaw A is pro-
vided with a slot, through which the pin or pivot forming the hinge works.
C is a stud fixed to the handle A. The opening of the jaws is regulated by
the screwed bolt and nuts F, F. In Figures 11 and 12 are represented
wrenches or pliers, the jaws of which are similar to Fig. 10, whilst the joints
are fixed instead of moveable, shewing that the jaws of the same kind to those
represented at said Fig. 10 may be usefully applied to such wrenches. In the
foregoing Figures we have shewn different shaped jaws in different Figures,
but any one of these jaws might be adopted in any of the tools shewn in these
Figures. Fig. 13 represents a coach wrench. A is the handle or lever, with
a fixed upper jaw; B is the lower jaw, sliding upon the handle A; C is a fixed
collar with a projecting stud, through which passes a screwed bolt E with
nuts F, F, regulating the distance between the upper and lower jaw. Fig. 14
represents a similar coach wrench; but in this instance the lower jaw and
collar C are attached to each other, and the movement is regulated by the
"spiral" screw D working in the teeth of the handle. In the slot of the lower
jaw and collar B and C, sufficient room is left to allow the screw to be thrown
out of gear by releasing the set screw E at the back. Fig. 15 represents a
conch wrench, of similar construction to that shewn by Fig. 14, excepting that
the screw D is kept in gear by the wedge E instead of by a set screw.
wedge is released or kept in place by the action of the nut G.
Fig. 16
represents a coach wrench of similar construction to that last described; but
in this case the wedge is released and tightened alternately by the action of
a tumbler F, with teeth corresponding with teeth in the wedge. The tumbler
The

page_text: and wedge are snewn separately in Figures Toa and r
a coach wrench. A is the lever or handle, with a fixed upper jaw; B is the
lower jaw, sliding upon the lever or handle A. This is worked up and down
by means of a "spiral "screw D at the back, working in teeth, as in the
three last instances. E is a wedge; G is a pin upon which the "spiral" screw
turns; C is a square nut, sliding (not screwing) upon the pin; F is a nut
screwing upon the pin. When the wrench is in use the wedge E is pushed
down into the slot of the lower jaw B, as shewn in Fig. 17; the square nut C
is pushed up into the slot and the nut F tightened. By unscrewing the nut
sufficiently to let the larger part of the wedge E slip out of the slot, the screw
is thrown out of gear, and the bottom jaw may be quickly removed up or
down at pleasure. Fig. 18 represents a coach wrench of different construction.
A is the upper jaw; B, the lower jaw; D is a strap (in one piece with the
lower jaw), the bottom end of which fits in a groove F, cut round the large
nut E; G is the lever or handle, which is attached to the upper jaw A, the
joint being shown by the dotted lines. The collar C serves to secure this
joint, being strongly rivetted over it. The strap D passes through one end of
the collar C. The end of the strap D is prevented from coming out of the
groove in the nut by a ring, which passes round the groove, and is screwed or
rivetted to the tail of the strap; the lower jaw is then worked up or down
by turning the nut F. Fig. 19 represents a moving spanner. A and B are
the two jaws, crossing one another; C is a sliding collar which opens or
closes the jaws, inside of which is a solid piece receiving the pressure when
the spanner is in use; D is a flat spring, provided with teeth, catching on the
edge of the jaw B, to prevent the two sides from springing together when force
is applied. Fig. 20 represents a moving spanner, differing from Fig. 19 in
the method of opening and closing the jaws. This is accomplished by the
screwed bolt or pin D, which turns freely in the side or jaw A, and screws into
the side or jaw B. The nut or stud C is a fixture upon the bolt or pin, and
presents the means of turning it with the finger and thumb; the nut E being
screwed close up to the side or jaw B, relieves the screw of part of the pressure
when force is applied. Fig. 21 represents a bed wrench with six bits. These
bits slide upon the circular ring G, and are secured in their position by a small
wedge (Fig. 23), which slides through a groove cut in the edge of the ring.
When in use the two opposite bits are turned at right angles with the ring on
opposite sides, as in Fig. 22, one forming a handle for the other, A for D,
F for C, E for B, and vice versa. The circular groove in wedge, Fig. 23, allows
the bit to slide upon the ring when required without taking the wedge out.

page_text: His an union joint, by means of which the bits can be removed from th
ring. This wrench can be made with either two, four, six, or more bits, a
may be convenient. In Fig. 24 is represented a bed key. Each of the bit
A, B, C, D, is at right angles with the middle bar E, A being on the opposite
side to D, and B to C, so that each one forms a handle for another. The end
pieces C and D are fixtures upon the middle bar E, but the end pieces A and
B (made in one) can be taken off by removing the nut F, and any other piece
substituted. This adjustment may also be accomplished by bringing the end
of the middle bar through the bit, and securing it by a wedge fitting in a slot
in the end of the said bar. We may here remark that we could make both
ends fixtures upon the middle bar, and thereby produce a useful instrument
without the adjusting mechanism. Fig. 25 represents a screwing wrench for
cutting a female screw. D is a square bolt with a stud F on each side. Upon
these studs slide the two sides A and B. C is a wedge, a section of which is
given in Fig. 25 a, ending in a screwed pin, which passes through the square
bolt D. When this wedge is drawn down, by turning the nut E the two
sides A and B are expanded. It may be made capable of greater or less ex-
pansion by making the wedge more or less taper, and lengthening or shortening
the studs F. The band G may be used to prevent the wrench from twisting
when great force is used. Instead of two sides, as shewn, four may sometimes
be used, altering the shape of the wedge accordingly, and putting two more
studs on the two vacant sides of the bolt. The handle or lever of this wrench
may be a common spanner, fitting over the bolt D. Fig. 26 represents a
screwing and cutting wrench, for cutting a male screw and for cutting off
tubing of any size. A is the stock and handles; B is what may be called a
V die, screwed on the face towards C; C is a die, with the screw on the face
towards B, so made as to cut a thread in two or moro sizes of bolts or tubes;
D is a cutter for cutting tubes, the point of which may be either triangular,
as the tool of a planing machine, or of any other shape that may be thought
desirable. The cutter itself can be removed and changed. The screw D
regulates the dies, as in the tools of the same sort now in use, but with this
difference, that the screw is placed within the stock in a line with the handles,
but not forming part of them, and so weakening either of them. The piece F
which holds the screw G can be removed by turning the eccentric screw H,
Fig. 26 a. The construction of the piece F is shewn in section Fig. 26 b.
The screwing dies and the cutting dies may be made as separate instruments,
if preferred. In making the stocks for large sizes, we should sometimes
lengthen the handles by screwing on iron tube to gain greater leverage for

page_text: And Dare two pieces,
the largest sizes. Fig. 27 is a screwing wrench.
the top parts of which form dies of the same construction as B and C in
Fig. 26. Although shewn in the Drawing for cutting only two different sizes,
we can make them to cut 3, 4, 5, or more different sizes, by making so many
different steps in the dies; and this will also apply to the die C in the tool
represented at Fig. 26. C is a deep ring, with two square bolts or studs E,
attached on which the two side pieces A and B slide. Fig. 28 represents a
cutting wrench, similar in construction to the screwing wrench just described,
the only difference being in the placing of a cutter on the side piece A, and
leaving the circular front of B plain to receive the back of the tube. We
should sometimes make the deep ring in both these wrenches to open with
a hinge, and secured by screws passing through a flange, as shown in the said
Fig. 28. Fig. 29 represents a ring or band, which is intended to go over the
wrenches at about the spot marked D, D, the screws at each end presenting
the means of sliding the sides A and B to the required distance apart. This
may be used either with the two screws, as shewn, or be screwed close to one
of the side pieces, and regulated solely by the screw at the other end. Fig. 30
represents a cutting wrench or plier for cutting wire or bolts. A and B arc
the two jaws, which lap over one another (as is shewn more plainly in Fig. 31).
On the jaw B is fixed a stud C, which may be fixed in a vicc. D is the lever,
with a side piece E, from which a pin or bolt passes through the slot in the
jaw A. As the lever is depressed the pin or bolt travels along the slot and
closes the jaws. This plier may be adjusted to its work, that is, the power of
leverage regulated as required by removing F to either of the other orifices,
shown by the small circles in the jaw B. The bolt F may be screwed, and,
being brought through any of the orifices, secured in position by a nut, or,
We may
not being screwed, by a wedge passing through a slot in its end.
here remark that this would be found a very useful tool even when unprovided
with the means of adjustment afforded by the additional orifices, shewn by
the small circles in jaw B, as aforesaid; and further, that the same shaped
jaw may be usefully applied to common hand pliers, as shown in Fig. 31.
Having thus far particularly described and ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we now
further state, that although we have herein-before described and exemplified
by the accompanying Drawings various kinds of wrenches, pliers, and spanners,
yet we do not claim all and every part and portion thereof, as within the limits
of the said Invention secured to us by the said Letters Patent; what we claim
being, the improvements in wrenches, pliers, and spanners, effected by the

page_text: peculiar adjusting mechanism of screws, of springs, of wedges, singly or
combined, applied and adapted as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hobson Fuller, on behalf of myself
and the said Thomas Williams, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Eighth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-five.
Signed and sealed in my presence,
F. W. CAMPIN,
156, Strand,
Patent Agent.
J. H. FULLER. (L.B.)