IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES
Year: 1885

page_text: We THOMAS CROSSLEY of Catterall in the County of Lancaster Roller maker
and JAMES MCGREGOR of Southport in the County of Lancaster Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES to be as
follows:
Our improvements have reference to Instantaneous Grip Vices, whereby we get
increased strength in the working parts and can use them either as instantaneous
grip, or as ordinary vices as may be most convenient.
We cast to the fixed jaw of the vice two projections which make the slide for
the moveable jaw, on the inside of each of those projections we cast or fix a rack or
series of notches, the two racks facing and right opposite to each other. The teeth
of those racks or notches may be made of different shapes, but we prefer to make
them the shape of a ratchet wheel tooth.
The moveable jaw we make with two arms to alide in the two projections of the
fixed jaw, these two arms are cast to the jaw, and at the opposite end from the jaw
they are connected together by a piece (which may be cast to the arms) going from
arm to arm across the slide of the fixed jaw, from this piece a snug projects
upwards betwixt the two projections of the fixed jaw, this piece carries the end of
a screw the other end of which goes through the head of the moveable jaw, and
where is placed the handle for working the screw.
The position of the screw is in a line with the two racks of the fixed jaw and
equidistant from both, on this screw we place a loose nut fitted with two wings or
projections on its outer periphery, those projections being made the shape of the
teeth or notches of the racks. This nut is made to revolve with the screw (when
there is no strain upon it) by friction caused by a spring attached to the nut and
clipping the screw or otherwise-The nut is prevented from going too far in either
direction by a projection cast on one of the racks and which catches the projections
on the periphery of the nut.
When an article is to be fixed in the vice the screw is turned till the projections
on the periphery of the nut are free of the racks or notches, the loose jaw can then
be pulled out to admit the article, the handle of the screw is then turned in
the opposite direction and the screw by the friction of the spring carries the nut
with it and gears the projections on the nut into the racks or notches which are

page_text: prevented going too far by the projection on one of the racks, thus holding the nut
fast, the screw at once takes forward the loose jaw and fastens the article in
the vice.
To work the vice as an ordinary vice we place a flat rod from end to end of the
loose or moveable jaw, which can be slided on end, this rod has two notches.cut
out in the parts which slide in the ends of the loose jaw one end of each notch
being inclined so that the rod can rise or fall when pushed endways, the rod is
placed under the screw and when lying in the notches clears the wings or
projections of the nut on the screw and is left in this position when the vice is used
as an instantaneous grip vice-When used as an ordinary vice and an article is
fixed in it, the projection on the periphery of the nut is made, that it just clears
the rod or bar, the bar is then pushed endways up the inclines, raising the bar
in front of the projection on the nut, and thus preventing the nut from being
moved―The vice can only then, when the bar is in this position, he worked as an
ordinary vice.

page_text: Wе THOMAS CROSSLEY of Catterall in the County of Lancaster Roller-maker
and JAMES MCGREGOR of Southport in the County of Lancaster Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our improvements have reference to instantaneous grip vices whereby we get
increased strength in the working parts and can use them either as instantaneous
grip or as ordinary vices as may be most convenient.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Figure 1 represents in elevation a
section of the vice at the dotted line x x fig. 2. Figure 2 is an end view at the
end farthest from the jaws and shews the nut with projections free from the racks
and in the position for pulling out the loose jaw.
Figure 3 is a plan looking from below. Figure 4 is a section of the fixed jaw at
the dotted line fig. 3 and shewing the nut with projections in its position in the
racks or notches and the bar in its position to keep the projections of the nut in
the racks and thus suitable for working as an ordinary vice.
The same letters refer to similar parts as shewn in the different figures.
We cast to the fixed jaw a. of the vice two projections b b which make the slide
for the moveable jaw, on the inside of each of those projections we cast or fix the
racks or series of notches c c*, the two racks facing each other. The teeth of those
racks or notches may be made of different shapes but we prefer to make them the
shape of a ratchet wheel tooth.
The moveable jaw d we make with two arms ee to slide in the two projections b b
of the fixed jaw. These two arms are cast to the jaw and at the opposite end from
the jaw they are connected together by the piece f (which may be cast to the arms)
going from arm to arm accross the slide of the fixed jaw, from this piece the snug g
projects upwards betwixt the two projections of the fixed jaw, this piece carries the
end of the screw h the other end of which goes through the head of the moveable
jaw and where is placed the handle i for working the screw.
The position of the screw h is in a line with the two racks c c* of the fixed jaw
and equidistant from both, on this screw h we place the loose nut ; fitted with the
wings or projections k k* on its outer periphery, those projections being made the
shape of the teeth or notches of the racks. This nut j is made to revolve with
the screw (when there is no strain upon it) by friction caused by the spring
attached to the nut ; and clipping the screw h. The nut is prevented from going
too far in either direction by the flange m cast on the one side of the rack o* and
which catches the projections k k* on the periphery of the nut j.
When an article is to be fixed in the vice, the screw h is turned until the
projection k on the periphery of the nut j comes against the outside of the flange m
the projections are then free of the racks or notches c c* (as shewn at fig. 2), the
moveable jaw d can then be pulled out to admit the article, the handle i of the
screw is then turned in the opposite direction and the screw h by the friction of
the spring carries the nut j with it and gears the projections k k* on the nut into

page_text: the racks or notches (as shewn at fig. 4) and which are prevented going too far
by the projection * coming against the inside of the flange m of the rack c* thus
holding the nut fast, the screw at once takes forward the loose jaw and fastens the
article in the vice.
To work the vice as an ordinary vice we place the flat rod n from end to end of
the loose or moveable jaw which can be slided on end, this rod has two notches cut
out in the parts which slide in the ends of the loose jaw one end of each notch
being inclined so that the rod can rise or fall when pushed end ways, the rod n is
placed under the screw h and when lying in the notches (as shewn at figures 1
and 2) clears the projection k* of the nut ; on the screw h and is left in this
position when the vice is used as an instantaneous grip vice-When used as an
ordinary vice and an article is fixed in it, the projection k* on the periphery of
the nut is made that when in complete hold of the rack c* and against the inside
of the flange m the other end of the projection kx is clear of the rod or bar n the
bar can then be pushed forward and raised by the inclines thus bringing the bar in
front of the projection k* on the nut (as shewn at fig. 4) and thus preventing the
nut from being moved. The vice can only then, when the bar is in this position
be worked as an ordinary vice.
The vice can also be used as a German cramp vice.
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:-
First. The double racks or notches c c* as shewn and described.
Second. The loose nut j with the wings or projections k k* as shewn and
described.
Third. The flat longitudinal bar n for catching or keeping the nut j in position
for the purpose as shewn and described.
Fourth. The combination and arrangement of the double racks c c* loose nut j
with its projections ke k* and bar or rod n for the purpose described and shewn in
the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of June 1886.
PETER MCGREGOR,
Agent for Applicants.