Improvements in Brace and similar Gauges.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brace and similar Gauges.
I, CHARLES WHITUS of Chester in the State of South Carolina, United
States of America, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is designed for attachment to a brace or similar tool for the
purpose of regulating the depth to which a hole or series of holes shall be bored.
It consists of a gauge or stop preferably formed as a ring to surround the tool or
bit the distance of the gauge from the end of the tool being capable of adjustment.
The gauge proper may be stamped out of a piece of sheet metal with the ring
turned up at right angles to the rest of the gauge which is carried in a suitable
clip, bracket or attachment connected in any suitable manner with the brace stock.
Surrounding the gauge and the clip or bracket I prefer to have a yoke in which
is a set screw, wing nut or equivalent so that when the screw is tightened the
yoke secures the gauge to the clip. The yoke may be made in one or more
pieces according to circumstances, but as the clip must have a socket or jaws or
the like through which the gauge can pass the yoke may conveniently be made
in two pieces rivetted or otherwise fastened together after it has been placed upon
the clip.
For braces terminating in a chuck of the usual American pattern I prefer to
form the clip with a circular spring or other socket which may pass over the
movable end of the chuck so that the whole gauge attachment may be readily
secured to or removed from the brace. It will be understood however that the
clip, or clip and gauge may be a permanent attachment to the brace if desired.
Instead of the form above described the gauge attachment may be modified by
providing a longitudinal slot in the gauge body and also in the clip, and through
this passing a thumb-screw engaging in a portion of the yoke the action being
the same as before.
Dated this 12th day of December 1892
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brace and similar Gauges.
I, CHARLES WHITUS, of Chester, in the State of South Carolina, United
States of America, Farmer, 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 is designed for attachment to a brace or similar tool for the
purpose of regulating the depth to which a tool or series of tools shall be bored.
It consists of a gauge or stop preferably formed as a ring to surround the tool or
bit, the distance of the gauge from the end of the tool being capable of adjustment.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the gauge constructed
according to this invention, applied to a brace of the usual American pattern.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are detail views of the separated parts of the gauge shown in
Figure 1 and
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of parts of another form of the gange.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

page_text: A is the gauge proper which may conveniently be stamped out of a piece of
sheet metal with the ring A' turned up at right angles to A in the manner shown
in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The part A is carried in a suitable clip, yoke or screw
bracket B which also attaches the part A to the clip or socket C. The clip C
consists of a split socket or sleeve C¹ mounted rigidly on one end of an arın C²
whose opposite end is provided with arms or branches C³ which are bent over the
outer face of C2 so that they may constitute a guide for the part A to slide between
them and the outer face of the arm C².
In the example shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the parts A and C2 are provided.
with slots A² C respectively. The yoke or bracket B is provided with outwardly
extending lugs B' between which the parts A and C are suitably guided and also
with a thumb screw B2 on which is preferably mounted a washer B³. When the
parts shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 are fitted together A and C2 fit between the
lugs B' of the bracket B, the part A also passing between the outer face of C2 and
the guides C³ of the clip C and the screw B2 passes through the slots A² and C.
The bracket B is preferably provided with an opening B through which is passed
the stem D¹ of the bit D as shown in Figure 1 from which view it may be seen
that when the before described gauge is attached to the brace the split socket C is
passed over the smaller end E' of the jaw-tightening sleeve E which for this
purpose has been previously removed from the brace, and the bracket B is moved
up against the end E² of the sleeve E, the thumb serew B² having been released to
admit of this adjustment of B. The bit D is then placed in the holder or chuck F
which is tightened up by means of the sleeve E and then the gauge A' is adjusted
at the proper distance from the point of the bit D to allow of the boring of a hole
of the required depth after which the thumb-screw B2 is tightened so that the
bracket B is secured in position by being clamped to C2 which itself is held in
position by the split socket C and the gauge A A' is also secured by being
clamped by the screw B2 against C².
The only substantial difference in a gauge constructed in the manner shown as
regards two of its parts in Figs. 5 and 6 and that previously described is that instead
of the parts A and C² (the latter in its modified form not being shown in the
accompanying drawings) being slotted they are formed solid and the bracket B is
bridged over as at B³, the thumb-screw 132 being screwed through this part B³ so
as to bear firmly upon the part A and through it upon the arm C G is a block
which may be conveniently mounted in the bracket B so as to slide in the direction
of the axial motion of the screw B2 but at the same time be prevented moving
laterally out of position in the bracket. This block G will serve to prevent the
part A becoming damaged by the direct action of the screw B2 upon it as it would
be if G were not provided.
It will be readily understood that when it is desired to adjust the position of A'
or B or C in relation to each other or to the sleeve E of the brace this may be
readily done by first loosening the screw B² the three said parts being subsequently
locked in any desired relative position by tightening the screw B². The arm C is
preferably bent so as to clear the part of largest diameter of the sleeve E as
shown clearly in Fig. 1.
In using a brace and bit fitted with the before-described gauge the hole is
bored in the usual manner and when the ring A¹ abuts against the surface of the
wood the brace is still turned in the same direction as it is while the boring
proper is taking place the result of this being that since A' is incapable of moving
in the axial direction of the bit D the thread formed in the wood by the screwed
point D² is stripped and the bit thereby released from the wood.
The bit may then be drawn out of the bole while still being turned in the
same direction so that the hole is left clear of chips, these being drawn out along
with the bit. While the stripping of the thread takes place the gauge A A¹
remains stationary the friction of the part A. upon the surface of the wood being
sufficient to hold it against rotation and the parts C and B B being sufficiently
loose upon E and D' to enable the brace and bit to be rotated, while the gauge is

page_text: secured against rotation. This is a distinct advantage over gauges as hitherto
constructed because they are adapted to fit upon the bit so as to rotate with it the
result of which is that by continuing to turn when the proper depth of hole has
been reached they mark and deface the surface of the wood and moreover it has
been necessary also in order to withdraw the bit from the wood to turn it back-
wards so as to disengage it from the thread formed in the wood this causing some
of the chips to be left in the hole.
In the bracket shown in Figure 6 of the drawings it may be necessary to rivet in
the central part B after the clip C has been placed in position therein, otherwise
by reason of the space taken up by the guides C³ the end of arm C2 of clip C could
not be passed through the bracket B, which may however if desired be constructed
in any other suitable manner.
If desired the bracket need not be provided with the opening 134 for encircling
the bit stem D¹.
The socket C¹ by being slit in the manner shown in the accompanying drawings
may readily be adapted to fit sleeves E of different diameter by being expanded or
contracted.
The before-described gauge by being mounted on the brace instead of on the bit
as has been the practice hitherto admits of its application to very small and
short bits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is;
1. The bit gauge consisting of the adjustable arm A provided with the ring A'
arm C2 provided with guides C³ said arms A and C adapted to be adjustably
secured together split socket C secured to the end of arm C2 and adapted to
encircle and clasp the brace sleeve E substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The bit gauge consisting of the adjustable arm A provided with the ring A¹
arm C2 provided with guides C³ for overlapping and guiding arm A. said arms A
and C2 adjustably secured together by means of a bracket B and screw B² the
bracket B having an opening B for the bit to pass through split socket C' secured
to the end of arm C2 and adapted to encircle and clasp the brace sleeve E sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a device such as described the combination with a clip or socket such as C
mounted on to the brace of a gauge such as A A¹ adjustable therein substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a device such as described the combination with a clip or socket such as C
consisting of a split socket or sleeve C¹ slotted arm C2C and guides C3 of a slotted
gauge bar such as A A A² substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
5. In a device such as described the combination with the two parts claimed in
the last preceding claiming clause of a screw bracket such as B substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a device such as described the combination with the two parts claimed in
the last preceding claiming clause of a screw bracket such as B having an
opening B for fitting over the bit lugs B for guiding A and C within the bracket
and thumb screw B2 for securing A and C substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a device such as described the combination with a non-slotted clip or socket
such as C and a non-slotted gauge such as A A' of a bracket such as BB'
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete brace
gauge substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: 9. The gauge fittings substantially as described and illustrated in Figures
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of September 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.