IMPROVE- MENTS IN RATCHET DRILLING BRACES AND SCREW KEYS OR WRENCHES
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Alley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
September 1864.
I, STEPHEN ALLEY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RATCHET DRILLING BRACES AND SCREW KEYS OR WRENCHES," to be
as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for object the constructing of ratchet drilling braces and
screw keys or wrenches in a simpler and superior manner, and so as to be
more efficient than hitherto, and it consists principally in the application of an
eccentric action, whereby the braces are made double-acting, and the wrenches
self-adjusting.

page_text: In a modification of brace embodying the improvements, the drill spindle
has on it the usual ratchet wheel, but the lever which actuates the propelling
catch is centred eccentrically, and has two catches jointed to it; one of which
propels the ratchet forward when the lever is moved in one direction, the
other propelling it (forward also) when the lever is moved in the other
direction.
In a modification of the improved wrench, one jaw piece, which may be
-called-the-outer-one-has-its-head-grooved-across-to-receive-the-narrowed_head
of the other or inner jaw piece. The lever is connected to the outer jaw piece
by a joint pin, and has formed on it a round boss, disposed eccentrically as
regards the joint pin; and this eccentric boss works in a recess cut for it in
the head of the inner jaw piece. When the lever is moved in one direction,
the eccentric action causes the jaws to approach, and so grip the nut or bolt,
to turn which the wrench is applied. The range of the tool may be increased
by making the boss elliptical or curved otherwise than circularly.
In another modification, two jaws are fitted in V-grooves in one head, the
grooves being inclined so as to approach at the outer or front parts, and the
eccentric boss on the lever acts on the inner L-ends of the jaws, in such a way
that when the lever is turned in one direction it forces the jaws outwards, and
thereby causes them to approach each other and, grip the nut or bolt that may
be acted on by the tool.
Patent, bearing date, the Twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, given and grant unto
me, the said Stephen Alley, Her special licence that I, the said Stephen
Alley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Stephen Alley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
.

page_text: agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RATCHET DRILLING BRACES AND SCREW KEYS OR WRENCHES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Stephen Alley. my execn-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Leiters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stephen Alley, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say:-
"
My said Invention has for its object the constructing of ratchet drilling
braces and screw keys or wrenches in a simpler and superior manner, and so
as to be more efficient than hitherto, and it consists principally in the applica-
tion of an eccentric action, whereby the braces are made double-acting and
the wrenches self-adjusting.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of
explanatory Drawings. to be herein-after referred to, and representing modifi-
cations of my improved braces and keys. The saine reference nuinerals mark
the same or like parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 2 is a sectional plan of one
modification of my improved double-acting ratchet. drilling braces. In this
example the drill spindle or holder is fitted to turn inside of a box 2, the
upper end of which is formed with flanges, for clamping the tool by means
of a pinching screw, 4, upon a frame piece or bracket. The upper part of the
spindle is screwed tubularly to work upon a feeding screw 5. which bears.
against a steel centre-piece 6, fitted into the upper part of the box. 2, and 10
which access is obtained for turning it to feed down the tool as the drilling
progresses by openings in the sides of the box. The drill spindle 1 has on it the
usual ratchet wheel 7. but fitted to it with a groove and feather, so that the
spindle can work down through the wheel whilst being turned by it. The

page_text: lever 8 for acting on the ratchet wheel is centred eccentrically on a pin 9.
fixed in projecting cheeks 10, formed upon the box 2. The head of the
lever 8 has two catches 11. 12, jointed to it, one of which, 11 propels the
ratchet wheel 7 forward, when the lever 8 is thrust away, whilst the other
catch 12 propels the ratchet wheel (also forward) when the lever 8 is pulled
back in the other direction. The catches 11, 12, are pressed against the
ratchet wheel 7 by springs, and they are made double-pointed, as shown, to
insure their keeping properly in gear with the ratchet teeth throughout their
strokes. The-head-of-the-lever-8-is-slotted-for-the passage of a pin 13, fixed
in the cheeks 10, and which limits the play of the lever, and thereby prevents
the parts from getting out of gear.
Figure 3 is an elevation, and Figure 4 is a plan of a modification in which
instead of the box 2 being clamped to a frame or bracket, it is fitted with a
handle 14, to be held in the left hand, or to be attached by a cord to some
fixed object, this being for the purpose of preventing the box from turning
as it would do by the action of the lever 8 if not held. The arrangement for
feeding is as in common braces, whilst the propelling catches (indicated by
dotted lines in Figure 4) are arranged and work as in the modification first.
herein-before described. It being understood that the box 2 must be held so
as not to turn, it will be obvious that it may be arranged in various ways;
thus it might form part of or be attached to an arm parallel to the plate to be
drilled, and capable of adjustment in various positions upon a bracket capable
of being bolted or clamped to the plate, in which case the feeding must be
jirovided for within the tool, as in Figure 1. In any modification of the tool
it is essential that the actuating lever 8 be centred eccentrically as regards
the drill spindle 1, it being in consequence of this disposition of the parts that
the propelling catches 11, 12, can be arranged so as to give a double or
continuous action, as shown in thé, Drawing, and as herein-before described.
Figures 5 and 6 are sections, at right angles to each other, of one modifi-
cation of my improved wrench, screw key, or spanner. In this example one
jaw piece 15, which may be called the outer one, has its head 16 grooved
across, or it may be said to be formed with two cheeks 16, between which
there is fitted and works the narrowed head 17 of the other or inner moving
jaw piece 18. In Figure one of the checks 16 is supposed to be cut away,
as is the moving jaw piece 18. in Figure 6. The lever 19 is connected to the
checks 16 of the outer jaw piece by a joint pin 20, and it has formed on it a
round boss 21, disposed eccentrically as regards the joint pin 20; and this
eccentric boss 21 works in a recess cut for it in the head 17 of the moving

page_text: jaw piece. The eccentric boss 21 has the side which is further from the jaws
formed by slotting the lever head crosswise, so as to leave checks which
connect the boss to the lever; and the sides of the head 17 opposite the cheeks
of the lever are cut away obliquely to allow of the lever being turned to one
side or the other, but still so as to act as stops or limits to such movements.
When the lever 19 is moved in one direction, downwards in Figure 5. the
eccentric action causes the jaws to approach and so grip the nut 22 or bolt, to
turn which the wrench is applied. A groove 23 is formed on each side (or it
might be on one side only) of the head 17 of the moving jaw piece, and
pins 24 are screwed through the outer cheeks 16 to enter the groove or
grooves 23, and so guide the moving jaw piece and keep it in its place.
Figures and 8 are sections at right angles to each other of a modification
which differs from that just described merely in having the eccentric boss 21
formed on each side of the head of the lever 19, the head 17 of the moving
jaw piece being of course shaped to correspond. As the eccentric boss 21
may be regarded as an enlarged joint pin. so may the joint pin 20 be regarded
as a small eccentric relatively to the boss 21, and one may be substituted for
the other, as shown in face view in Figure 9. The dotted lines in this Figure
show the parts in the positions due to the lever, being turned to one side.
When the eccentric 21 is made a small pin as in Figure 9, it is advantageous
to fit upon it a small square block 25, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, which
are sections at right angles to each other; this block 25 working in an
opening cut for it in the head 17 of the moving jaw piece. By this means
the strain on the pin is distributed over larger bearing surfaces. whereby the
wear will be reduced. Figure 12 is an edge view. corresponding to Figures
9, 10, and 11.
With reference to certain other modifications described in my Provisional
Specification lodged on applying for the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, have to observe that not having found them of practical utility,
I do not herein make any special claim respecting them. At the same
time I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described and
delineated; but I claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent, believing the same to be novel and original,-
First, the constructing of a ratchet drilling brace with a lever centred
eccentrically and operating with two catches, one acting during the forward
stroke, and the other acting during the backward stroke, substantially as
herein-before described.
And, second, the constructing of an adjustable screw key or wrench, the

page_text: movable jaw piece of which is acted upon directly by an eccentric boss or
pin on the lever, substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Alley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT.
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
STEPHEN ALLEY. (L.S.)