Improvements in Adjustable Spanners or Wrenches.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Spanners or Wrenches.
I, JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH, of 14, Molesworth Street, Dublin, Co. Dublin,
Ireland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in adjustable spanners or wrenches, and
it consists in fulcrating to the adjustable jaw of the spanner or wrench a cam lever
adapted to pinch or bind the said adjustable jaw on to the stem carrying the fixed
jaw of the spanner or wrench, the object being to facilitate the adjustment of the
spanner or wrench and to render the jaws thereof rigid in use.
I attain this end in the following manner :-—
The fixed jaw of the spanner or wrench has a parallel stem on which is mounted,
to slide thereon, an adjustable jaw. To the adjustable jaw-preferably on the front
thereof is pivotted a lever, having its face adjacent to the face of the stem carrying
the fixed jaw made in the shape of a cam.
The free end of this lever and also the
extension of the stem carrying the fixed jaw are shaped to form by and between
them a handle for the spanner or wrench. After the position of the adjustable jaw
on the stem carrying the fixed jaw has been determined, it is firmly locked thereto
by clasping the end of the cam lever and the end of the stem together which
causes the cam carried by the lever to firmly pinch or jamb the adjustable jaw
on to the stem carrying the fixed jaw. In order to ensure the firm interlocking of
the adjustable jaw and the stem carrying the fixed jaw, I prefer to make on one of
the faces of the stem, and either on the operating face of the cam or on the back
end of the slot in the adjustable jaw through which the stem slides, teeth or
serrations to engage with each other, but this is not obligatory and if the inter-
locking faces are made without such teeth or serrations they are preferably shaped
to give the greatest possible area of frictional surface.
I prefer to make the stem of the spanner or wrench and the cam lever of an
"I" section, and to perforate the web of the said section with holes to secure the
greatest rigidity combined with lightness, and in the ends of the said stem and
lever I make holes to form turn screws or spanners. I also form a recess in the
top of the fixed jaw to receive a shaped piece to form a screw-driver, the said piece
being so shaped as to be reversible, and it is fixed in position by a transverse pin.
To release the adjustable jaw the cam lever is pulled outwards from the stem
carrying the fixed jaw.
Dated this 5th day of September 1893.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Spanners or Wrenches.
1, JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH, of 14, Molesworth Street, Dublin, Co. Dublin,
Ireland, Land Agent, 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 adjustable spanners or wrenches, and it consists essentially
of a grip lever pivotted to the adjustable jaw and adapted to engage with the shank
carrying the fixed jaw, the object being to facilitate the adjustment of the movable
jaw of a spanner or wrench in a more ready and efficient manner than is at present
known.
-
I attain this end in the manner shown in the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved adjustable spanner or wrench
with the gripping lever closed to lock the adjustable jaw to the shank carrying the
fixed jaw, and
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the gripping lever open.
Figure 3 is a view in back elevation of the said spanner or wrench.
Figure 4 is a broken view in cross section on line x, x, Figure 2, and
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are broken views in elevation showing another form my
invention may assume.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The fixed jaw A of the spanner or wrench is formed on or attached to a shank B
which is made of a rectangular shape in cross section with parallel faces for the
adjustable jaw to slide on. The adjustable jaw A¹ is slotted to adapt it to slide
on the shank B and it has in the underside of its front part a recess a in which is
pivotted a gripping lever C, the gripping face c of which is toothed or serrated to
engage with similar teeth or serrations on the adjacent face b of the shank B.
These teeth or serrations are very fine so as to give the greatest possible nicety of
adjustment. The lever C has a suitably shaped handle C, and the shank B
carrying the fixed jaw A has an extension forming a handle B'.
To prevent the front edge of the slot in the adjustable jaw A¹ from catching in
the teeth or serrations on the face of the shank B, a small guide piece a² is
screwed or otherwise fixed to the inner side of the slot in the adjustable jaw A¹
to engage with one side of a slot or recess 6¹ formed in the shank B and so keep
the front edge of the slot clear of the teeth or serrations on the face of the
shank B, as shown more clearly by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing.
As a modification of this construction the lever C may be pivotted to an
extension A' on the back of the adjustable jaw A' as shown by Figures 5, 6 and 7,
the handles B and C¹ being shaped accordingly, which construction leaves the
jaws clear and thus makes the spanner or wrench more handy for use in confined
spaces.
The gripping face c of the lever C may be either slightly curved as shown by
Figures 1 and 2, or flat as shown by Figures 5 and 6.
To adjust the jaw A' of the spanner or wrench the gripping face of the lever C
is first disengaged from the adjacent face of the shank B, and then the said jaw
is moved on the said shank until the nut or bolt is gripped between it and the fixed
jaw. The handles C¹ and B¹ of the gripping lever C and the shank B respectively
are then clasped by the hand bringing the teeth or serrations on the locking face c
of the lever C into contact and engagement with the teeth or serrations on the
face of the shank B thereby firmly interlocking the one with the other.
1 prefer to shape the back end of the fixed jaw A to form a hammer and also to
I also
form a projection a on the top part of the said jaw to form a turn-screw.
utilize the ends of the handles B' and C' by forming holes D in them to fit smal
nuts or screw heads.

page_text: I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanyin
drawing, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as
fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
I am aware that the adjustable jaws of adjustable spanners and wrenches have
been locked to the shanks carrying the fixed jaws of such spanners and wrenches by
means of cam levers and I do not therefore claim such as my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The hereinbefore described combination of parts forming an improved adjust-
able spanner or wrench.
2. An adjustable spanner or wrench consisting essentially of a shank carrying a
fixed jaw and having an extension forming a handle, of an adjustable jaw mounted
to slide on the shank carrying the fixed jaw, of a gripping lever pivotted to the
front of the adjustable jaw and having a curved or cam shape gripping face pro-
vided with teeth or serrations adapted to engage with similar teeth or serrations on
the shank carrying the fixed jaw and having an extension forming a gripping handle,
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an adjustable spanner or wrench, the combination of a shank carrying a
suitably shaped jaw at one end and a handle at the other end and having teeth or
serrations formed on one of its edges, of an adjustable jaw adapted to slide on the
said shank and provided with means for retaining its parallel motion thereon and
prevent the front edge of its slot coming in contact with the teeth or serrations
on the edge of the shank, of a gripping lever pivotted to the adjustable jaw and
having a suitable handle the gripping face of the said lever having teeth or
serrations to engage with the teeth or serrations on the adjacent face of the shank
carrying the fixed jaw, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In an adjustable spanner or wrench, the combination of a shank carrying a
suitably shaped jaw at one end and a handle at the other end and having teeth
or serrations formed on one of its edges, of an adjustable jaw having a rear
extension and adapted to slide on the said shank and provided with means for
retaining its parallel motion thereon and prevent the front edge of its slot coming
in contact with the teeth or serrations on the edge of the shank, of a gripping lever
pivotted to the rear extension of the adjustable jaw and having a suitable handle
the gripping face of the said lever having teeth or serrations to engage with the
teeth or serrations on the adjacent face of the shank carrying the fixed jaw, as and
for the purpose set forth.
5. In an adjustable spanner or wrench, the combination of the shank B carrying
the fixed jaw A at one end and a handle B' at the other end and having teeth
or serrations formed on one of its faces b; of the turn screw a formed on or fixed
to the jaw A of the adjustable jaw A¹ adapted to slide on the shank B and
guided to retain its parallel motion thereon and prevent the front edge of its slot
coming in contact with the teeth or serrations on the face b of the shank by means
of the guide piece a fixed to the adjustable jaw A' and adapted to engage with
one side of the slot 6' in the shank B; of the gripping lever C pivotted to the
adjustable jaw A' and having a suitable handle C', the gripping face c of the said
lever having teeth or serrations to engage with the teeth or serrations on the face b
of the shank B; and of the holes D in the ends of the handles B' and C¹, all
combined arranged and operating, as and for the purpose set forth.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant..