IM- PROVEMENTS IN SHIFTING WRENCHES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SHIFTING WRENCHES."-A communication from abroad
by Pierre Augustin Samuël, Civil Engineer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Sealed the 4th August 1865, and dated the 17th February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th February
1865.
.I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIFTING WRENCHES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in screw wrenches in which there
is a movable jaw brought up to the fixed jaw by the action of a link or link
connected either to the handle or to a suitable point inside the handle. This
Invention is illustrated in the annexed Drawings, which show several arrange-
ments of the improved wrenches actuated by two links.

page_text: Figs. 1 and 2 show front and side views of a wrench actuated by two links;
Fig. 3 a horizontal section of the handle of this wrench on line 1, 2, Fig. 1;
Figs. 4 and 5 show detached front and side views of the fixed jaw forming a
piece with the handle of the wrench; Fig. 6 shows a horizontal section of
the handle on line 3, 4, Fig. 4; Fig. 7 detached front and side views of the
movable jaw; Fig. 8 side view and section of a nut or socket grooved on the
exterior for actuating the movable jaw; Fig. 9 plan of same; lastly, Fig. 10
shows detached front and side views of one of the links. The letters serve
for all the Figures.
a, handle of the wrench, having a long slot b, and terminated by a fixed
jaw c, of a piece with same; d, inclined edge forming a surface against which
the movable jaw e, Fig. 7, bears; f, forked end of screw g, rivetted at h to
the handle a at the bottom of slot 6; i, slide running freely up and down in
slot b, and having at its lower part a screw j threaded inversely to screw g.
The two screws g and j are placed in slot 6 one above the other; k, Figs. 8
and 9, nut enclosing screws g and j, being furnished for this purpose with a
right and left hand screw thread corresponding with said screws; l, links
shown separately at Fig. 10, jointed at the one end to the sliding piece i by
means of screw m, and at the other end to the movable jaw e by pins n with
heads rivitted to said links. The whole being arranged as described, if nut k
be rotated by the fingers and thumb in either direction, the screws 9 and j
will tend to approach or separate from each other, but as the screw g is pre-
vented from moving in either direction by being rivetted at h, the nut k only
will rise in slot on its being rotated; it results from this that screw j will
rise and descend in slot b with double speed derived first from screw g and
nut k, and have at same time an equal motion due to the rotation of said nut.
The slide rises and falls in slot b, and by the aid of links 1, 1, opens or closes
the movable jaw e on the fixed jaw c.
Figs. 11 and 12 show front and side views of another arrangement of
wrench constructed according to this Invention, in which the movable jaw is
set in motion by two links actuated by the handle of the wrench.
a, body or frame baving a slot b; c, handle actuating a screw d, turning in
the interior of a part e, which rises and falls in slot b; f, links jointed at one
end to part e by a screw g, and at the other to the movable jaw h, which is
caused to approach or separate from the fixed jaw i, according as handle c is
turned one way or the other.
Fig. 13 shows a front elevation, partly in section, of a third arrangement of
wrench constructed according to this Invention, in which the movable jaw is

page_text: set in motion by two links regulated by a nut and screw mounted on one side
of the handle; Fig. 14 shows a sectional plan of this wrench on line 1, 2,
Fig. 13.
a, handle and frame of the wrench; b, fixed jaw forming part of the
handle a; c, movable jaw; d, strap sliding up and down on the frame a, and
furnished with a lateral extension e, in which turns a screw f, regulated
by a nut g; on one side of the frame of the wrench is formed a semi-
circular screw thread h, in which the screw f works up and down, carrying
with it strap d; i, link connecting strap d to the movable jaw e.
Fig. 15 shows a sectional elevation of a fourth arrangement of wrench
constructed according to this Invention, in which the movable jaw is regulated
by a single link working in the interior of the wrench. a, body of frame; b,
fixed jaw forming part of the frame a; c, movable jaw sliding in a groove d,
made in fixed jaw 6 for the reception of link e actuating said jaw; the upper
end of link e is jointed in mortise d, and the lower end to a socket f, having
an internal screw thread, and rising and falling in the hollow part a of the
wrench; g, handle of the wrench screwed to frame a; h, knob working a
screw i, for effecting the rise and descent of socket
jaw c is closed on or separated from the fixed jaw b.
Figs. 17 and 18 show front and side views of a modification of the means
employed for producing the motion of the movable jaw on the inclined edge
of the fixed jaw. a, handle having a fixed jaw b, and carrying an endless
screw c; d, movable jaw mounted on the incline e, the two cheeks gearing
with the endless screw c for the purpose of opening or closing the movable
jaw. The endless screw c is grooved or roughened in order that it may be
readily turned with the fingers.
whereby the movable
The Invention thus consists in the improvements in wrenches whereby the
fixed jaw is brought up to or opens from the fixed jaw by the action of a link
or links set in motion by the handle, either direct or by the aid of screws or
nuts, to be turned with the fingers, and mounted either at the side, in the
interior, or in other position on the frame of the wrench.
The arrangement of wrench first herein described, in which by the aid of
screws suitably disposed I obtain double speed in opening and closing, the
movable jaw may also be applied to the other forms of wrenches herein
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer. and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SHIFTING WRENCHES," a communication to me from abroad by
Pierre Augustin Samuel, Civil Engineer, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my
executors 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
performed, 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
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the three Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in screw wrenches in which the
movable jaw is brought up to the fixed jaw by the action of a link or links,
connected either to the handle or at a suitable point inside the handle. This
Invention is illustrated in the annexed Drawings, which show several arrange-
ments of the improved wrenches.
Figs. 1 and 2 show front and side views of a wrench actuated by two links;
Fig. 3 a horizontal section of the handle of this wrench on line 1, 2,

page_text: Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 show detached front and side views of the fixed jaw
forming a piece with the handle of the wrench; Fig. 6 shows a horizontal
section of the handle on line 3, 4, Fig. 4; Fig. 7, detached front and
side views of the movable jaw; Fig. 8 side view and section of the nut or
socket grooved on the exterior for actuating the movable jaw; Fig. 9 plan of
same; lastly, Fig. 10 shows detached front and side views of one of the links.
The same letters serve for all the Figures.
a, handle of the wrench having a long slot b, and terminated by a fixed
jaw c of a piece with same; d, inclined edge forming a surface against which
the movable jaw e, Fig. 7, closes; f, forked end of screw 9, rivetted at h to
the handle a at the bottom of slot b; i, slide running freely up and down in
slot b, and having at its lower part a screw j, threaded inversely to screw g.
The two screws g and j are placed in slot 6 one above the other; k, Figs. 8
and 9 nut for working, screws g and j, being furnished for this purpose with
a right and left-hand screw thread corresponding with said screws; l, links
shown separately at Fig. 10, jointed at the one end to the sliding piece i by
means of screw m, and at the other end to the movable jaw e by pins n, with
rivet heads fixed to said links. The whole being arranged as described, if
nut & be rotated by the finger and thumb in either direction the screws gandj
will tend to approach or separate from each other, but as the screw g is pre-
vented from moving in either direction by being rivetted at h, the nut k only
will rise in slot b on its being rotated. It results from this that screw j will
rise and descend in slot b with double speed derived from screw g and nut k,
and at same time have an equal motion produced by the rotation of said nut.
The slide i rises and falls in slot b, and by the aid of links 1, 1, opens or closes
the movable jaw e on the fixed jaw c.
Figs. 11 and 12 show front and side views of another arrangement of
wrench constructed according to this Invention, in which the movable.jaw is
set in motion by two links actuated by the handle of the wrench.
a, body or frame having a slot b; c, handle actuating a screw d, turning in
the interior of a part e, which rises and falls in slot b; f, links jointed at the
one end to part e by a screw g, and at the other to the movable jaw h, which
is caused to approach or separate from the fixed jaw i according as handle c
is turned one way or the other.
Fig. 13 shows a front elevation partly in section of a third arrangement of
wrench constructed according to this Invention in which the movable jaw is
set in motion by two links regulated by a nut and screw mounted on one side
of the handle.

page_text: Fig. 14 shows a sectional plan of this wrench on line 1, 2, Fig 13. a, handle
and frame of the wrench; b, fixed jaw forming part of handle a; c, movable
jaw; d, strap working up and down on the frame a, and furnished with a
lateral extension e, in which turns a screw f regulated by a nut g. On
one side of the frame of the wrench is formed a semicircular screw thread h,
in which the screw f works up and down, carrying with it strap d; i, link
connecting strap d to the movable jaw e.
Fig. 15 shows a sectional elevation of a fourth arrangement of wrench
constructed according to this Invention, in which the movable jaw is regulated
by a single link working in the interior of the wrench; a, body or frame; b
fixed jaw forming part of the frame a; c, movable jaw sliding in a groove d,
made in fixed jaw b for the reception of link e, actuating said jaw, the
upper end of link e is jointed in mortise d, and the lower end of a socket f
having an internal screw thread and working up and down in the hollow
part a of the wrench; g, handle of the wrench screwed to frame a; h, knob
working a screw i, for effecting the rise and descent of socket f, whereby
the movable jaw c is brought towards or separated from the fixed jaw b.
Figs. 16 and 17 show front and side views of a modification of the means
employed for producing the motion of the movable jaw on the inclined edge
of the fixed jaw. a, handle, having a fixed jaw b, and carrying an endless
screw c; d, movable jaw mounted on the incline e, the two cheeks gearing
with the endless screw c for the purpose of opening or closing the movable
jaw by means of the latter. The endless screw c is grooved or roughened in
order that it may be readily turned with the fingers.
Lastly, Figs. 18 and 19 show a modified arrangement of the wrench last
mentioned, according to which I dispense with the grooving or roughened
surface of screw c, and fix on its axis at back of the wrench a knob f, whereby
to turn it as desired.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be pro-
tected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improvements
in wrenches whereby the movable jaw is brought up to or separated from
the fixed jaw by the action of a link or links set in motion by the handle
either direct or by the aid of screws or nuts to be turned with the fingers,
and mounted either at the side, in the interior, or in other position on the
frame of the wrench, all as herein-before described and illustrated in the
Drawings annexed, and further, I particularly claim the arrangement of
wrench first herein described, in which by the aid of screws suitably disposed

page_text: I obtain double speed in the opening and closing of the movable jaw, I also
claim the application of the improvement last mentioned to the other forms
of wrenches herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JMS. DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.8.)