IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO RATCHETS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Brown, Engineer, George Rodger, Engineer, and
William James Cordner, Accountant, all of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County
of Lancaster, and of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, also in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO RATCHETS."
Sealed the 27th May 1879, and dated the 30th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Brown, George Rodger,
and William James Cordner at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 30th November 1878.
JAMES BROWN, Engineer, GEORGE RODGER, Engineer, and WILLIAM JAMES
CORDNER, Accountant, all of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, and of
15, Water Street, Liverpool, also in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO RATCHETS."
Our Invention relates to a certain novel construction of ratchet to be applied to
braces, jacks, and to numerous other purposes where ratchet actions are used, and
consists of two ratchet toothed wheels connected by a circular shaft or journal, upon
which works an ordinary spanner, the spanner being provided with a cross pin,
which takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheels. A duplex arrangement for con-
tinuous working consists of three ratchet wheels, joined by two journal pieces or
shafts onto which take duplex spanners, thus providing a double handed arrangement
for continuous working.
The ratchet wheels and the journals may be formed out of one piece of metal, or
the wheels may be keyed or otherwise fixed onto the shaft.
By constructing a ratchet arrangement according to our Invention we dispense
with numerous necessary parts in ordinary ratchets, namely, the pawls and their
hinges and the springs, and we obtain a simple ratchet consisting of two parts, the
spanner (which is also applicable as an ordinary spanner) and the ratchet wheel
block.
It will be evident that our Invention is applicable to most purposes for which
ratchets are used, and is particularly applicable for ratchet braces.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Brown, George Rodger, and William James Cordner in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th May 1879.
JAMES BROWN, Engineer, GEORGE RODGER, Engineer, and WILLIAM JAMES
CORDNER, Accountant, all of Barrow in Furness, in the County of Lancaster, and
of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, also in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO RATCHETS."
Our Invention relates to a certain novel construction of ratchet to be applied to
braces, jacks, and to numerous other purposes where ratchet actions are used, and
consists of two ratchet toothed wheels connected by a circular shaft or journal, upon
which works an ordinary spanner, the spanner being provided with a cross pin
which takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheels. A duplex arrangement for con-
tinuous working consists of three ratchet wheels, joined by two journal pieces or
shafts, onto which take duplex spanners, thus providing a double handed arrange-
ment for continuous working.
The ratchet wheels and the journals may be formed out of one piece of metal, or
the wheels may be keyed or otherwise fixed onto the shaft.
By constructing a ratchet arrangement according to our Invention we dispense
with numerous necessary parts in ordinary ratchets, namely, the pawls and their
hinges and the springs, and we obtain a simple ratchet consisting of two parts, the
spanner (which is also applicable as an ordinary spanner) and the ratchet wheel
block.
It will be evident that our Invention is applicable to most purposes for which
ratchets are used, and is particularly applicable for ratchet braces.
That our Invention may be clearly understood we have hereunto annexed a
Sheet of Drawings, illustrative thereof, marked with letters and figures of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation. In all the Figures the same
letters of reference, where they occur, indicate the same or corresponding parts.
Figure of the annexed Sheet of Drawings is a front elevation of a ratchet
constructed according to our Invention, as applied to a ratchet brace.
Figure 2 is a section through A, B, Figure 3.
Figure 3 is a side view of Figures 1 and 2, showing spanners in position.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a spanner such as may be used with our Invention.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a punching bear, fitted with a ratchet
according to our Invention.
Figure 7 is a plan of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a side view of ratchet wheels as applied to Figure 6.
Upon reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 it will be seen that A, B, C are ratchet
wheels connected together and formed on and in one piece with the shaft or journal
D. The ratchet wheels are worked by the spanners E, which fit onto the journals
D', and are provided with pins F, which take into the teeth of the ratchet wheels
A, B, C; H is the nut and screw for lengthening the brace and feeding the tool; J
is the tool holder. In the Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3, we have shown our
Invention applied to a double handle ratchet brace, but it will be evident that a
single action or handle brace can be obtained by dispensing with the wheels A or
C. We have also shown the wheels A, B, and C formed in one piece with the shaft
or journal D. It will be evident that the wheels can be made separately and keyed
onto or otherwise attached to the shaft or journal if desired.. In the case of a
ratchet brace, as Figures 1, 2, and 3, the teeth of the wheels A, B, and C are all
one hand, as the ratchet has to be turned in one direction only. In the case of a
punching bear, as shown at Figures 6, 7, and 8, the teeth of the wheel A are right
hand; the teeth of the wheel B are left hand, or vice versa, and the spanner used
for turning has a pin projecting on one side only, so that it can be reversed to work
into the wheel A or into the wheel B, as may be desired, for raising or lowering

page_text: the punching tool K. The spanner shown at Figures 4 and 5 is a spanner such
as may be used for working our improved ratchet, and may be provided with a
double pin, as shown in the Drawings, when required for working in one direction
only, or with a pin on one side only when required for reversing. Although we
have shown our Invention only as applied to a ratchet brace and a punch, we would
have it understood that a ratchet according to our Invention may also be applied
to lifting jacks, the turning gear (hand) of marine and other engines, and any other
purpose for which ordinary ratchets are now used. Also in addition to the spanner
now shown in the Drawings, a hook spanner may be used, especially when the
ratchet is in a higher position than the person using it.
The reverse action can be given to the punch, such as shown at Figures 6, 7, and
8, by having a loose reversible ratchet wheel of the type shown at Figure 1, in lieu
of the right and left hand wheels shown at Figure 8. The reversible wheel may be
secured by a key or be on a square or like shaft.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, we would cbserve in conclusion that
what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The arrangement and construction of ratchet consisting of toothed ratchet
wheels such as A, B, and C, fixed upon a shaft or journal, such as D, and operated
by a spanner or spanners, such as E, as shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
accompanying Drawings, or any modification thereof.
Secondly. The arrangement and construction of ratchet, having right and left
action, such as shown at Figures 6 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings, or any
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Brown, George Rodger, and William
James Cordner, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty seventh
day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy nine
JAMES
GEORGE
(L.S.) BROWN.
(L.S.) RODGER.
WILLIAM JAMES (L.S.) CORDNER.