IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS
Year: 1862

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th January 1862.
I, PATRICK BENIGNUS O'NEILL, of Hart Street, Bloomsbury, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in spanners or screw
wrenches. For this purpose in constructing a wrench I employ a suitable
rod or metal bar, one end of which is formed as a handle and the other end
is forked. To the ends of the two prongs of the forked bar one jaw of the
wrench is fixed firmly, the other or moveable jaw has a slot formed in it,
through which the prongs of the fork pass, so that the moveable jaw may be
capable of sliding on the forked bar towards or from the fixed jaw. For the
purpose of securing the moveable jaw two spring catches turning on a pin or
pins are fitted into the slot through the said jaw so that they stand in the
space between the prongs of the forked bar, and teeth are formed on the
inner sides of each prong of the fork for these catches to take into. Hence,
in order to shift the moveable jaw from one position to another it is only
necessary to free the spring catches from the teeth on the forked bar to slide
the jaw to the position required, and allow the catches again to drop into the
teeth; or in place of forming teeth on both the prongs of the forked bar, they
may be formed on one prong only, a single catch being then employed, and this

page_text: is connected with a slide working stiffly on the prongs of the fork by moving
it transversely to the length of the prongs; the catch may be secured either
when locking into the teeth on the prong or when lifted out of the same; the
slide traverses longitudinally on the prongs of the fork with the moveable jaw.
Or in place of employing but one moveable jaw, two such jaws may be used,
each sliding on one of the prongs of the forked bar and being furnished with
its own spring catch to retain it in any required position. The upper or fixed
jaw in this case is made double, so that it may be used at either end with one
or other of the moveable jaws, as required. And in order to increase the
utility of these wrenches their upper jaws and the lower end or other portions
of their bandles can or may be so made to suit or fit different sized nuts or
other suitable objects requiring to be screwed or unscrewed, that is to say, a
single spanner or screw wrench may, by this combination, be made with one
or two moveable jaws, and two or four, or more or less, fixed jaws. For the
spring catches employed to retain the moveable jaws screws may be substi-
tuted; each jaw in this case carries its own screw, which is mounted so that it
will turn easily; the threads of the screw are of a pitch to correspond with
the teeth of the prong of the fork, and they take into and work with these
teeth. The screw threads are or may be milled on the top that they may be
turned more readily. It will be seen that when either of the screws is thus
turned the corresponding moveable jaw will be traversed along its prong of
the forked bar, and it may thus be brought to any desired position. If desired,
one of the moveable jaws can be made to move up or down its prong of the
forked bar by employing a semi-internally threaded nut or a spring catch, and
in this latter case suitable teeth must be cut on it for that purpose. It is not
essential that the teeth with which the screws work should be formed on the
prongs of the forked bar; these prongs may be made plain, and a rod with
rack or other suitable teeth on either side of it may be fixed in the middle of,
the space between the prongs and parallel to them; the toothed rod will thus
pass between the two screws the threads of which will enter and work with
the teeth on the rod. Wrenches with but one moveable jaw may be made to
work with screws in a similar manner; in this case the teeth are formed on
the prongs of the forked bar and a single screw is employed; it is mounted,
by preference, on an axis under the jaw, and is of sufficient size to take into
the teeth of both the prongs, which are suitably spaced for the purpose. It is
not necessary, in the arrangements above described, that the bar which I have
called the forked bar should be divided as far up as the fixed jaw. In some of
the arrangements the bar may conveniently be made solid for some distance
down from the fixed jaw, and an intermediate part of the bar beyond is then.

page_text: slotted out; in this manner an increase of strength is obtained, the maximum
strain on the bar being close to the head, or thereabouts. In the arrangement
last described indeed the bar may be made solid for a considerable portion of
its length, the moveable jaw being connected with the axis of its screw by
straps passing down each side of the solid part of bar. If desired, the two
straps may be connected together to strengthen them by a narrow connecting
piece passing through the bar in a slot, which can be made so small as not
seriously to weaken the bar. In some wrenches, consisting of a forked or
slotted bar having the fixed jaw secured to its extremity and the moveable jaw
sliding upon it, I make the prongs of the fork without teeth and employ a
screw for actuating and retaining the moveable jaw; the screw is connected
with the moveable jaw, but is capable of turning freely; it lays between the
two prongs of the fork, and at a point on the bar beyond the course over
which the moveable jaw is capable of sliding; it passes through a collar or
lump on the bar, within which a thread is cut, so that the screw works in the
said collar or lump as in a nut; or instead of said collar or lump, or
conjointly with either, an internally-threaded nut can be used, the said nut
being made with two grooves, the one opposite the other, in order to prevent
its having any other than a longitudinal motion; or in lieu of the said grooves
any other suitable means may be employed for the same purpose, and when
the screw is turned (and it has a suitable head for the purpose) the moveable
jaw is caused to traverse and the screw also holds it firmly in any position in
which it may be left. Wrenches may also be constructed with a forked bar
carrying the fixed jaw at the extremity of its prongs, the moveable jaw.slides.
on the prongs and also on a screw fixed between them, so as in fact to form a
third prong to the fork. Immediately under the moveable jaw a washer is,
or two or more washers may be placed on the screw, and below this or these
a nut is placed on the screw, by means of which the moveable jaw may be
locked at any required distance from the fixed jaw. In some cases, in place-
of making the thread of the screw complete, I form the thread or teeth only
on two opposite quadrants of the centre prong of the fork, and in place of the
washer or washers before made use of I employ a nut, which is also threaded;
but only on two opposite quadrants, and which is attached to the moveable.
jaw in such a manner that it can turn freely.
In another arrangement the said nut need not, although it may or can be
attached to the moveable jaw, and I prefer a nut made with two projecting.
thumb pieces or wings, in order thereby to facilitate the working or adjusting
of the same, but more especially when the said nut is not attached to the
moveablo jaw. By placing this nut so that its threads or teeth may corre--

page_text: spond with the blank spaces in the central prong of the forked bar the move-
able jaw is set free and may then be slid to any required position, in which it
may afterwards be locked by turning the nut a quarter round. In order to
make the moveable jaw more secure when the wrench has to be used for
heavy work, a complete nut may be placed on the screw under the semi-
threaded nut above mentioned, and the former may be screwed up to support
the latter when required. Or this arrangement may be modified by making
the screw between the two prongs of the forked bar capable of rotating, but
not of longitudinal movement, and causing it to pass through a hole in the
moveable jaw, in which a worm is cut, or an internally-threaded nut may be
inserted instead and firmly fixed therein, so that by turning the screw by
means of a head provided for the purpose, the moveable jaw may be traversed
and secured in any desired position. In this arrangement I usually make the
thread on the screw and within the hole in the moveable bar complete, but
this may be varied so as to give a quicker sliding motion to the moveable jaw.
Or in place of fixing the stationary jaw to a forked bar it may be fixed to two
separate bars, the screw laying between the two; the lower end of the screw
has a head fixed to it, and is so arranged that it can turn freely on the extre-
mities of the two side bars, but it is retained from longitudinal motion.
Another form of wrench consists of a suitable main arm or rod, or metal
bar, flat on two opposite sides; to one end of this bar the fixed jaw of the
wrench is secured, the moveable jaw slides upon the bar, and it has two straps
connected to it, one on each side of the bar carrying the fixed jaw; these straps
have screw threads cut upon them, and they, together with the bar between
them, pass through a nut which turns freely on the central bar, but is prevented
from sliding thereon by a shoulder on one side or both sides of it, and stops on
the other; by turning the screw nut the moveable jaw is worked up or down
on the central bar. If desired, the two threaded straps may be united by a
suitable connecting piece, to receive which a suitable slot is made in the main
bar or rod, in which slot it moves up or down according as the screw nut may
be turned either to the right or the left. And the metal bar or main rod instead
of being made flat on both its sides, may be made oval or otherwise, in which
case, but particularly when oval, I prefer a suitable groove being made on both
sides or surfaces of the main bar, and large enough to receive the said straps,
and whenever required, sufficiently deep to protect in some measure the threads
thereof from external injury. In place of making the two side straps entirely
separate the one from the other, they may be connected by a web passing
through the central slotted bar, and they may be made to pass down into and
out of a tubular internally-threaded handle, which is capable of turning on the

page_text: central slotted bar, and serves as a nut; I need not, however, form a complete
screw within the tubular handle, but instead I form teeth only on two opposite
sides thereof, so that it may be turned into such a position as to free the screw
straps and allow the moveable jaw to be more freely or quickly moved up or
down as may be required, and then by again turning the tubular handle partly
round, the moveable jaw will become locked or held in the new position. When
the side straps are connected by a web, the web may either be made separately
from either one or both of said side straps, and be subsequently attached or
fixed thereto, that is to say, to either both or but one of the side straps as may
be necessary, or the side straps and web may be made in one piece, so as to
form in fact a double-grooved stem in one piece instead of a double-grooved
stem formed of two or three separate pieces, and united or attached together
as above set forth.
In place of cutting the teeth within the tubular handle, I prefer to fix
therein by screws, dovetails, or otherwise two strips of metal with suitable teeth
cut upon them. The same result may be obtained by forming two slots in the
internally-threaded tubular handle, the one opposite the other, whereby threads
or teeth are left only on two opposite quadrants of the inside of said handle.
Or in place of forming screw threads on the exterior of the side straps, they
may be connected together at their upper end or in the manner before described,
and then continued as a tube, within which a screw thread is cut. The
tubular continuation of the said side straps or double grooved and partly
tubular stem is beyond the extremity of the central bar, which is made shorter
than before and in place of itself serving as the handle of the wrench, a tube
is screwed or fixed on to it to serve as the handle, and the side straps with
their tubular continuation pass down into this handle, and a screw entering
the bottom of the handle screws into the tubular continuation of the side straps.
The head of the screw, which is made of such a form that it may be grasped
conveniently in the hand is secured to the handle, but in such a manner that
it can turn independently thereof. On turning this head the moveable jaw will
be worked up or down. This wrench can be made without the tubular bandle
just described simply by using as a handle the lower end of the central bar,
which must be made sufficiently long for that purpose, and be suitably slotted
to receive the said side straps or partly tubular and double-grooved stem, as
also the spindle or screw that works into the tubular continuation of said side
straps or stem.
Another arrangement consists of a suitable main arm or metal bar with a
handle at one end and a fixed jaw on the other; below the fixed jaw is a move-
able jaw capable of sliding on the bar, and this has attached to it underneath

page_text: a straight stem or spindle, which lays in a slot formed for it in the bar, and its
lower end descends into the handle, which is made tubular to receive it. On the
stem or spindle a screw thread is cut, but this is not completely round the
spindle, but on two opposite quadrants of it; the stem passes through a nut
fitted into a recess formed for it immediately above the handle, and the nut
can turn freely in this recess, but cannot move longitudinally; the screw thread
is formed only on two opposite quadrants of the nut, hence this may be placed
in such a position that the stem or spindle of the under jaw can slide freely
through the nut, the threads of the one being brought to correspond with the
blank part of the other; the under jaw may then be placed in any required
position, and it may be there locked and held fast by turning the nut partly
round, so as to cause the threads within it to engage with the threads on the
stem or spindle, or in place of this arrangement the stem or spindle with the
portions of the screw thread upon it may be stationary, and secured both to the
fixed jaw and to the handle, and the nut may be placed immediately under the
moveable jaw or jaws, so as to travel up and down with it, then, as before, by
turning the nut partly round the moveable jaw will be set free, so that it may
be placed in any required position, and then by turning the nut back the
moveable jaw will be secured in this new position.
Or a wrench may be constructed of a forked bar, having a fixed jaw at the
end of its prongs, and a moveable jaw sliding upon them, the said moveable
jaw having a stem fixed to it, and projecting from it, passing down between
the prongs of the forked bar into a tubular handle with which the same is
furnished, the stem is made tubular, and has a worm within it, and there is a
screw passing up through the tubular handle, which enters the hollow stem
and works with the worm therein; the screw is secured to the tubular handle,
but can turn freely independently thereof, and it is furnished with a bead, by
turning which the moveable jaw is traversed and secured where required. In
this arrangement a slotted bar may be substituted for the forked bar, that is
to say, it is not essential that the opening in the bar should extend up to the s
fixed head.
Another method of constructing a screw wrench is as follows:-The
stationary jaw is fixed at the extremity of a bar on which the moveable jaw
slides, and attached to the under side of the moveable jaw is a tube or sleeve
exactly fitting the bar; at the lower end of the bar is a head, which is secured a
to the end of the said bar, but is capable of turning freely thereon. Fixed to
the head is a rod or spindle passing up through the end of the bar, and laying
in a slot formed in the same; at the upper end of this rod or spindle is a
screw, and a screw is cut within the moveable jaw and its sleeve, with which

page_text: the screw on the rod gears, so that by turning the head at the extremity of
the bar or handle the moveable jaw can be traversed as required. Or, in
place of this arrangement, I employ a bar, with a fixed jaw at its extremity,
and another jaw, with a sleeve sliding thereon, as before, and to the lower end
of the sleeve I connect a tube, with a worm within it. This tube is capable
of rotating freely, but it cannot move longitudinally independently of the
moveable jaw to which it is connected. It takes into a screw thread cut on
the bar, so that by turning the tube connected with the sleeve and jaw these.
parts will be traversed as required. By leaving teeth only on the two
opposite quadrants of the inside, or a part of the inside of said tube or nut,
the moveable jaw can be moved up or down more freely upon the bar or main
arm of the wrench.
Another method of constructing a wrench consists in mounting or forming
the lower jaw at the extremity of an oval-shaped tube (and on one side or on.
two sides thereof.) The upper jaw, which also can be made double, is also.
mounted on the end of an oval-shaped tube. This tube, which has a screw
thread cut within it, fits into and is able to slide up and down in the first tube.
This motion is given to it by means of a rod, having a head at one end; this
is attached to the lower end of the tube of the lower jaw, but so as to be able.
to turn freely thereon; and it has fixed to it a rod passing up within this tube
until it enters the tube of the upper jaw; here a screw is formed upon it cor-.
responding with the thread within the said tube, so that by turning the head,
on the screwed rod the upper jaw or jaws, as the case may be, can be worked
up or down, and set and held at any required distance from the lower jaw or
jaws. The tube of the lower jaw or jaws need not be complete. The weight
of the tool may be reduced by cutting holes or slots in this tube, as also in the.
tube carrying the upper jaw.
Another arrangement consists in mounting the lower jaws, as before, on a.
tube, but with the upper jaw on a rod or main bar sliding through the tube;
on the lower end of the rod a screw is cut, and this enters a tubular handle,
attached to the lower end of
with a corresponding thread within it, which is
the tube of the lower jaw, but so that it can turn freely the tubular handle.
in this case serves to move the upper jaw either towards or from the lower
jaw, and to secure it in any desired position.
Another arrangement is as follows:-The upper jaw is fixed to or formed
on a bar, which at its lower end is forked or slotted. A head capable of
turning freely is mounted at the extremity of the forked bar, and to it a screw
is attached which passes upwards, laying between the prongs of the fork, the
lower or moveable jaw slides on the bar which carries the upper jaw, and to

page_text: its under side a tube or nut is attached, which also lays between the prongs
of the fork; a worm is cut within this tube, and the screw works into it, so
that by turning the head at the lower end of the apparatus the moveable jaw
may be moved to and secured at any desired distance from the fixed jaw.
The tube or nut of this wrench is made with two grooves, the one opposite the
other, and the projections formed by the flanges of said groves slide or move
up or down and upon the parallel bars forming the prongs of the forked
portion of the bar, and the grooved parts of said tube or nut may be so made
as to completely or partially encase the said parallel bars, or such portions
only thereof as the size of said tube or nut may require.
A wrench may be formed in the following manner:-The upper jaw is
mounted on a bar, which in transverse section is longer in one direction than
the other. At the lower end of this bar a screw thread is cut, but the threads
penetrate only into the bar on two opposite sides; the lower jaw has connected
to it, underneath, a case entirely enclosing the bar carrying the upper jaw.
On the case, at a point near the middle of its length, a nut is mounted, so that
it can turn freely, but cannot slide, and slots are cut through, or suitable
holes or openings are made in the case underneath the nut on two sides, so
that the nut can gear with the screw teeth beneath, so that by turning the
nut the jaws may be set to and secured at any desired distance apart. Instead
of the said case a stem or bar, with two grooves cut on it opposite each other,"
can be attached to the lower jaw. And in order to allow of the flanges of
said grooves to embrace and move up or down upon the main bar carrying
the upper jaw, the said main bar is suitably slotted to receive the connecting
web; or that portion of the said double groove's stem or bar, which necessarily
is placed and moves up or down between the paralled bars forming the afore-
said slotted part of the main bar. Two independent suitable side straps may
also be used in lieu of either the said case or the said double-grooved stem or
bar, and along the whole or a portion of the whole length of the under surface
of each of the said straps. I prefer, in order to strengthen them, to place
longitudinally and in the centre thereof a web or tongue of sufficient pro-
jection to fit into and move up or down in a suitable groove longitudinally
made for that purpose on both sides of the main bar.