Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1888
1, OSCAR BANKS, of 37 Foley Street, Wednesbury in the County of Stafford,
engineer and machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object a simple and inexpensive construction of adjustable,
or "moving" spanner, in which the adjustable or moving jaw may be readily moved
along the shank or bar and be self-holding thereon, in any position to which it may
have been moved, when the spanner is brought into operation.
An adjustable spanner constructed according to this invention has a stationary jaw
and shank of the usual character, the shank being, preferably, of a plain rectangular
section. The moving jaw is passed over and may be slid along the shank as is usual
in this class of spanners.
A block, preferably of steel, having a V-d edge is fixed
within the part of the moving jaw which is around the shank, either in the back or
outer side and near to the forward end (that is, the end which is towards the fixed
jaw) or in the inner side and near to the hinder end, and with the V-d edge in a
backwardly slanting direction towards the outer or inner edge or side of the shank, as
the case may be, and in such position as to bear against the shank when the part of
the jaw within which it is fixed is pressed towards the shank. The hole through
which the shank passes in the moving jaw is made just an easy fit at the opposite end
to that in which the V-d-edged block is fixed, and enlarges from thence to the other
end so as to allow sufficient clearance for the jaw to be tilted, at the end containing
the V-d-edged block, to move the V-d edge clear of the shank. It will be seen that
the moving jaw may thus be readily moved into any position along the shank, and that
pressure against the horn of the jaw, or the jaw proper, will tend to twist or tilt the
jaw so as to cause the V-d edge io bear against the outer or inner edge or side of the
shank and thus prevent the moving jaw from slipping back. In order, however, to
ensure that the V-d edge shall always bear firmly against the shank so as to retain
the jaw in any position in which it may be placed and prevent its slipping as the
spanner is being placed around a nut or corresponding part, a recess is formed in the

page_text: a
part of the opening through the moving jaw which is opposite to the V-d-edged block
and a spring is fixed therein and bears against the shank and thus draws the V-d edge
against the opposite edge of the shank with sufficient firmness to prevent the jaw
being easily moved accidentally. It is preferred to form ratchet teeth, having
forward set, along the slank for the V-d edge to gear with as a security against
slipping back when in use, in case of the edge becoming dull, or otherwise. The
moving jaw may be moved towards the fixed jaw by simply pushing it along the
shank, as the set of the teeth permits of the V-d edge rising over them and compressing
the spring, and the moving jaw may be moved from the fixed jaw by first twisting or
tilting it against the pressure of the spring so as to draw the V-d edge from contact
with the shank and holding it in such twisted or tilted position whilst it is pulled
back. Immediately the force which holds it in its tilted position is withdrawn the
reaction of the spring returns it to its normal position with the V-d edge pressing
against the shank or within one of the teeth formed thereon.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1887.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Adjustable or Moving" Spanner.
I, OSCAR BANKS, of 37 Foley Street, Wednesbury in the County of Stafford,
engineer and machinist, 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 :-
"
This invention has for its object a simple and inexpensive construction of adjustable
or moving" spanner, in which the adjustable or moving jaw may be readily moved
along the shank or bar and be self-holding thereon, in any position to which it may
have been moved, when the spanner is brought into operation.
An adjustable spanner constructed according to one modification of this invention
is illustrated by the drawings herewith, of which figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical
section, figure 2 a side elevation, figure 3 a plan, and figure 4 an end view looking in
the direction of the arrow a', figure 1.
The spanner has a stationary jaw A and shank B of the usual or any convenient
description. The moving jaw is passed over the shank and may be slid along a
part D thereof, formed, preferably, of a rectangular shape in section, around which it
is an easy sliding fit sideways. A block a, preferably of steel, having a V-d edge,
as shewn, turned in a backwardly and downwardly (or inwardly) direction is fixed
within the upper (or outer) side of the moving jaw, and near to the forward end
thereof, in such position as to bear against the shank when the part of the jaw within
which it is fixed is pressed towards the shank. The hole through the moving jaw is
made deeper than the part D of the shank along which the jaw slides, and is of such
a depth at its forward end, as shewn, as will allow the necessary clearance for tilting
the moving jaw in the manner hereinafter described, and a spring e is fitted within
the lower side of such hole and is fixed at its back end to the jaw, or to an extension d
formed out at the back of the jaw, and is free at its forward end which, when the jaw
is in place upon the shank, bears up against the under (or inner) side of the shank
and tends to maintain the jaw in position with the V- block a bearing upon the top
(or outer side) of the shank. The back end of the spring may be conveniently fixed
by being dovetailed into the extension d of the moving jaw, as shewn by figure 4, and
riveted thereto by a rivet e, as shewn.
It will be seen that when the spanner is being used the pressure, resulting from
such use, against the inner face of the horn of the moving jaw causes the back or
fixed end of the spring to bear up hard against the under (or inner) edge of the part D
of the shank and also causes considerable pressure of the V-d edge of the block a
against the upper (or outer) edge of the part D around which it is fitted and thus
prevents the jaw from yielding backwards. The moving jaw may be readily moved
in towards the fixed jaw by simply pushing it forwards, or if in any case it is found
that the bearing of the block a causes an inconvenient frictional obstruction to the
pushing forwards of the jaw this may readily be obviated by tilting up the forward
end of the jaw against the pressure of the spring c, whereby the block a is raised clear

page_text: of the shank, and holding it in such position while it is pushed forwards. The moving
jaw may be readily drawn back along the part D of the shank around which it is
fitted, by tilting it up in the manner described and holding it in such position while
it is being moved. Immediately the force which may have been used to hold the jaw
in its tilted position has been withdrawn the reaction of the spring c returns it to its
normal position with the V-d edge of the block a pressing against the shank.
It is preferred to form ratchet teeth f, having a forward set as shewn, along the
part D of the shank for the V-d edge to gear with, as a security against slipping back
when the spanner is in use, in case of the V-d edge becoming dull, or otherwise, but
the employment of the teeth is not essential.
The employment of a spring c is not essential, but, in the modification above
described, is much preferred as ensuring that the V-d edge will always bear firmly
against the shank (except when the moving jaw is tilted as described) and retain the
jaw in any position in which it may be placed and prevent its slipping as the spanner
is being placed around a nut or corresponding part. If a spring is not employed the
inner or back end of the hole through the moving jaw should, of course, be made to
bear against the under (or inner) side of the part D of the slank or such part of the
hole may in such case be fitted with a V-d block setting backwards in the manner
hereinafter described with reference to a further modification; but the moving jaw
must still be capable of being tilted in the manner described.
After the moving jaw has been passed on to the part D of the shank, a stud g is
screwed into such part (or other means are employed) to prevent the jaw from sliding
off accidentally.
It will readily be understood that when one V-d block only is employed with the
moving jaw the position of such block and of the clearance in the hole through the
moving jaw may be the reverse of that above described, that is to say, the V-d block
may be fixed in the lower (or inner) side of the jaw near the hinder end so as to bear
against the under (or inner) side of the part D of the shank, and the clearance be at
the upper (or outer) side of the hole, enlarging backwards. In this case also the
V-d block is, of course, set backwards, and the position of the spring (when
employed, as preferred) is reversed.
The spanner may be conveniently made of malleable cast iron or steel, and when
the moving jaw is so made the hole for the V-l block a may be chilled or cored out.
The V-d block may be fixed by being driven into the hole, and it may be slightly
riveted also, if desired. It is preferred to make the V-d block of steel and to temper
it to any required degree of hardness.
Further modifications of this invention are shewn by figures 5 and 6, which are
similar views to figure 1 but with the outer end of the shank or handle broken away.
In each modification two V-d blocks a a are shewn fitted into the moving jaw C, and
both incline backwards and, preferably, engage, respectively, with teeth at the upper
and under side of the shank. The edges of the blocks securely prevent the jaw slipping
backwards when in actual use; but, to maintain the jaw in its desired position as the
spanner is shifted from one position on a nut to another, or from one nut to another,
the moving jaw is held by a wedge entering within the hole therethrough and
bearing against the shank B, as in figure 5, or by a set-screw i screwed through part
of the jaw and bearing upon the shank, as shewn by figure 6. When it is desired to
move the jaw C along the shank the wedge or screw, as the case may be, is of course
first slackened. In order to prevent the wedge dropping out and becoming lost, it is
formed with a slight projection which passes up into a clearance cavity k formed in
the jaw to receive it. While, therefore, the wedge can be put in place before the jaw
is slipped over the part of the shank on which it is fitted to slide, such wedge cannot
slip out while the jaw is upon such part of the shank. When the moving jaw is to
be moved along the shank it is tilted as in the modification before described, whereby
both the blocks a are brought out of contact with the shank, and for this purpose
clearance is of course formed in both the upper and lower or outer and inner sides
of the hole through the moving jaw. It is preferred to form the opening through
the jaw so as to leave points m n in the jaw which act, alternatively, as fulcrums

page_text: whereon the moving jaw is tilted, and thus both the blocks a are drawn out of contact
with the shank; but for these points m n, or one of them, there is a liability, in
tilting the jaw, of throwing only one of the blocks out of contact with the shank.
Of course the points m n are clear of the shank when the blocks are bearing against
the shank. One only of the points m or n would answer the purpose, but the employ-
ment of both ensures that one will always operate.
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. An adjustable or "
moving" spanner in which a V-d edged block or blocks
fitted within the moving jaw bears or bear against the shank or part upon which such
jaw is fitted, and prevents or prevent the jaw being moved back when the spanner is
being used, but in which such jaw may be tilted, when not in actual use, to bring the
edge or edges of the block or blocks clear of the shank or part upon which the jaw is
fitted, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
2. In an adjustable or moving" spanner a V-d edged block or blocks fitted into
the moving jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. An adjustable or "moving" spanner having a moving jaw carrying a V-d edge
and fitted with a spring concealed or mainly concealed within the hole through
such jaw, said jaw being formed to be capable of being tilted against the pressure of
the spring, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
4. An adjustable or "moving" spanner having a moving jaw fitted with a V-d
edged block or blocks, teeth being formed upon the shank or part upon which such
jaw is fitted so as to catch the edge or edges of the block or blocks, said jaw being
formed to be capable of being tilted to move the V-d edged block or blocks clear of
the shank or part upon which such jaw is fitted, and provided with means by which
such block or blocks may be caused to bear tightly against the shank so as to prevent
the moving jaw sliding along the shank whilst the spanner is moved from one position
to another on a nut, or from one nut to another, substantially as described, for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1888.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicant.