Im- PROVEMENTS IN RATCHET LEVERS FOR ACTUATING DRILLS, SCREWDRIVERS, HOTHAR ALLID, AND OTHER LIKE ANSTRUMENTS. PROVISIONAL SPATION
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Aldridge Weston, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN RATCHET LEVERS FOR ACTUATING DRILLS, SCREWDRIVERS,
HOTHAR
ALLID, AND OTHER LIKE ANSTRUMENTS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Aldridge Weston'
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th May 1867.
I, THOMAS ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RATCHET LEVERS FOR ACTUATING DRILLS, SCREWDRIVERS, WATCH
KEYS, AND OTHER LIKE INSTRUMENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a new form of ratchet drilling brace or lever;
and, secondly, to certain modifications of the ratchet brace and lever, for which
I obtained Letters Patent, bearing date the 27th April 1866, No. 1196.
In making a ratchet brace according to the first part of my Invention [
place upon the lever of the brace at the end next the ratchet wheel a sliding
pall pusbed towards the ratchet wheel by a spring as now used in a well known
form of brace, but I combine therewith a pall vibrating upon a stud, and
engaging with the said ratchet wheel alternately with the sliding pall, so that
double the number of engagements are obtained than would occur with a

page_text: single pall, and the ratchet teeth may be correspondingly larger and stronger.
By thus combining in the same brace a pall of each kind named, that is, a
sliding and a vibrating pall, each pall may enter the teeth of the ratchet
wheel without backlash, and a much smaller diameter given to the ratchet
wheel than by other means, making a brace to work in confined situations
with smaller diametrical space.
In making
a ratchet screw driver or tool holder according to the second
part of my Invention, I take the carpenters' brace described in the Specification
of my Patent, No. 1196, April 27th 1866, and thus modify it. The short
cylinder carrying a set of sliding palls at one end I now provide with another
similar set of palls at the other end. The nozzle or bit holder at the outer
end is provided with ratchet teeth on its inner face next the pall cylinder, and
it has also a spindle passing through a central hole or bearing in the pall
cylinder. At its other end there is another. ratchet wheel facing the other set
of palls and working therewith. This last named ratchet wheel turns freely
upon the shank or stud of the first-named ratchet wheel, and either one of the
ratchet wheels is locked to the pall cylinder by a sliding bolt in the pall cylinder
which engagés alternately with either ratchet wheel so as to connect it firmly
to the pall cylinder. The ratchet wheels are made right and left hand in order
to give reverse motions to the tool or screwdriver. The upper ratchet wheel
which turns loosely on the spindle of the lower one is formed so as to fit the
hole or bit socket of 'a common swing brace or to fit a pad handle like that of
A common-screwdriver.
This arrangement may be modified to form a ratchet watch key, turning
key or other instrument to which such ratchet action is applicable.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of, an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Thomas Aldridge
Weston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th December 1867..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALDRIDGE WESTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said

page_text: Thomas Aldridge Weston, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Aldridge Weston, my executors, adininistrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, my executors, administrators, or:
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;
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RATCHET LEVERS. FOR ACTUATING DRILLS, SCREWDRIVERS,
WATCH KEYS, AND OTHER LIKE INSTRUMENTS," upon the condition (amongst
others), that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in. writing under my. hand. and seal, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent. And whereas by an Order.
under the hand of the Lord High Chancellor bearing date the Twenty-second.
day of November, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, it was ordered
that the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, should be allowed further time for the
filing of the said Specification, such further time being. fourteen days from the
date of the said Order...
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 accompanying Sheet of:
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates, firstly, to a new form of patent drilling brace or
lever; and, secondly, to certain modifications of the ratchet brace and lever,
for which I obtained Letters Patent, bearing, date .the. Twenty-seventh of
April, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, No. 1196..
In making a ratchet according to the first part of my Invention I place
upon, the lever of the brace at the end next the ratchet wheel a sliding pall,
pushed towards. the ratchet wheel by a spring, as. now used in a well-known
form of brace; but I combine therewith a pall vibrating upon a stud and
engaging with the said ratchet wheel alternately with the sliding pall, so that
double the number of engagements are obtained than would occur with a
single pall, and the ratchet teeth may, be correspondingly larger and stronger.
By thus combining in the same brace a pall of each kind named, that is, a
sliding and a vibrating pall, each pall may enter the teeth of the ratchet wheel

page_text: without backlash, and a much smaller diameter is given to the ratchet wheel
than by other means, making a brace to work in confined situations with
small diametrical space.
In making a ratchet screwdriver or tool holder according to the second
part of my Invention I take the carpenter's brace described in the Specification
of my Patent, No. 1196, April Twenty-seventh, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-six, and thus modify it; the short cylinder carrying a set of sliding
palls at one end I now provide with another set of palls at the other end.
The nozzle or bit holder at the outer end is provided with ratchet teeth on its
inner face next the pall cylinder, and it lias also a spindle passing through a
central hole or. bearing in the pall cylinder; at its other end there is another
ratchet wheel facing the other set of palls and working therewith; this last-
named ratchet wheel turns freely upon the shank or stud of the first-named
ratchet wheel, and either one of the ratchet wheels is locked to the pall cylinder
by a sliding bolt in the pall. cylinder, which engages alternately with either
ratchet-wheel, so as to connect it firmly to the pall cylinder. The ratchet wheels
are made right and left hand in order to give reverse motions to the tool or
screwdriver. The upper ratchet wheel, which turns loosely on the spindle of
the lower one, is formed so as to fit the hole or bit socket of a common swing
brace, or to fit a pad handle like that of a common screwdriver. This
arrangement may be modified to form a ratchet watch key, turning key, or
other instrument to which such ratchet action is applicable,
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures,
:.
Figures 1, 2, 3,. represent a ratchet brace constructed according to the first
part of my Invention; Figure 1 being a plan, partly in section; Figure 2 is
a longitudinal section of the same; and Figure 3 is a transverse section
through a, a, in Figure 1. The same letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts in all the corresponding Figures, a is a ratchet wheel
of the common form with the ordinary "feed screw" at its upper end;
c, c, are annular steel washers attached to and covering the ends of the
ratchet teeth to prevent their cutting into the adjacent parts of the brace
in which the ratchet wheel turns; dis. the lever, the end of which is
bored out to embrace the ratchet wheel; d is a cap, the end of which is
similarly bored out to receive the ratchet wheel al; the cap d is recessed to

page_text: receive and contain tlie palls e, e; the cap d is firmly attached to the lever d
by the screws d³, d, thus retaining the several working parts of the brace
securely in their places. The sliding palle is pushed against the ratchet
teeth by a spiral spring e similarly to the sliding pall in "Fenns" and other
ratchet levers; but I combine with the sliding pall e the alternate action of
the vibrating palle, which is pressed into contact with the ratchet teeth by
the spring contained within it. The pall e turns upon the pin e, and also
abuts against the back of the mortise formed for it within the cap d, by which
arrangement the pin e' is secured from any excessive strain. The spiral
spring is protected from excessive pressure by the face of the pall, from
which it slightly projects coming into contact with the adjacent face of the
mortisé containing the said pall. Each of the said palls e, e², enter the ratchet
teeth without "backlash," acting alternately, giving as many engagements
between the palls and teeth during one revolution as would be obtained with a
ratchet wheel having twice as many teeth, but only one pall. The ratchet
wheel of a brace or lever made according to the first part of my Invention
inay therefore have only half the usual number of' teeth, thus reducing the
diaineter of the said ratchet wheel by one-half, enabling the brace to be used
in confined situations where there is limited space around the axis of the brace.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 shew a ratchet screw driver or tool holder constructed
according to the second part of my Invention, Figure 4 being an elevation,
Figure 5 a vertical section, and Figure 6 a transverse section. Figure 7
shews the face of one of the ratchet wheels. f is a pall cylinder containing at
one end the three sliding palls f acting upon and engaging with the four
teeth of the ratchet wheel 9; the palls f are kept in contact with the ratchet
wheel g by spiral springs f³, one spring to each pall; thus far the cylinder f,
with palls and the ratchet wheel g; are identical with the corresponding parts
of the carpenter's ratchet brace described in the Specification of my Patent
No. 1196, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, which said parts I thus
modify The pall cylinder f has, in addition to the three palls f¹, three other
similar palls working outwards from its other end, and engaging with the
ratchet wheel h, the face of which is similar to that of the wheel g, except that
its teeth are sloped in an opposite direction. The ratchet wheel g is formed
with a spindle g' passing through the cylinder f; and into the ratchet wheel h,
where it is retained by the collar 9 and ping. The pall cylinder f has a
sliding bolt f, by means of which it may be locked firmly to either of the
ratchet wheels g, h, a recess or notch h¹ being formed in each ratchet wheel to
receive the same. 9 is a mortise or socket to receive the shank of a screw-

page_text: driver or other tool; and h³ is a shank to enter the socket of an ordinary swing
brace or pad handle. In situations where there is insufficient space for the
ordinary carpenter's bit stock or swing brace to be revolved this improved
form of ratchet brace may be combined therewith, and by giving a vibratory or
partial rotatory motion to the swing brace the desired rotation will be imparted
to the bit or boring tool. When the bolt is engaged with the right-hand
ratchet wheel g, as shewn in Figure 4, a left-hand motion is imparted to tho
boring bit, but a right-hand motion may be obtained by locking the ratchet
wheel h.
:
Figure 8 is an elevation, partly in section, of a modification of the second
part of my Invention. i is a pall cylinder with a tool socket i formed on its
under side, and on its upper face a shank or short shaft to which another
pall cylinder k is firmly fixed by the pin k¹. is a double ratchet wheel having
right-hand teeth on its lower face, and left-hand teeth on its upper face nearest
to the pall cylinder k. m is a short hollow cylinder open at one end and
attached to the ratchet wheel/ by screws m¹; m² is a spiral spring, its lower
end bearing upon the pall cylinder k, and its upper end pushing against the
closed end of the cylinder m, and thereby keeping the upper face of the ratchet
wheel engaged with the palls of the cylinder k. The cylinder m may be
grasped as a pad handle, and sufficient pressure being applied to compress the
spring m the cylinder m will slide downwards, carrying with it the ratchet
wheel, and bringing the teeth on its under side into action with the palls of
the cylinder i; in this manner the operator may at pleasure apply a "right" or
a "left hand " rotatory motion to the bit or tool in the socket i, accordingly as
the upper or lower face of the double ratchet wheel is engaged with the
corresponding set of sliding palls in the cylinders i and k. Figure 8 shews
the implement in a position to impart a left-hand rotation to the boring or
other bit. The "differential" or "vernier "action of the palls and teeth and
the advantages are fully explained in the Specification of my Patent No. 974,
1863. In this modification the inner end of each sliding pall next its spring
has screwed into it a small screw to prevent the pall from sliding outwards too
far when the ratchet wheel is withdrawn therefrom by reason of the screw
head coming into contact with a, collar on the inner surface of the hole con
taining the pall, as shown dotted lines in Figure 8, but any other convenient
means may be adopted to limit the outward motion of the palls. This arrange-
ment, when 'suitably reduced in size, forms a convenient "right" and "left
hand ratchet watch key, and is also applicable to tuning keys and other tools
where a rotatory ratchet motion is advantageous.

page_text: Figure 9 is a vertical section of another modification of the second part of
iny Invention. The pall cylinder n, with its palls and the ratchet wheel o, are'
similar to the corresponding parts of Figures 4 to 8. The pall cylinder n has
attached to it a tool socket or "pipe" n' on its lower side, and projecting from
its upper side a spindle n², at the extreme end of which is attached a nozzle n³
similar to n. The ratchet wheel o has the teeth on its under side, and
projecting from its upper face a hollow shaft o', square on the outside and
cylindrical within, to turn upon the spindle n². Upon the square exterior of
the hollow shaft o' is placed the frictional coupling described in my Patent
No. 263, 1863, p being the dises of the said coupling fitting to the hollow
shaft o' and q, the other series of dises fitted to the skeleton drum or cage
formed by the parts q, q, q, q' and q² being annular discs, and rods uniting
the said annular discs q', q. The series of coupling dises q have notches or
slots at their outer edges to engage with the rods q². The action of the said
double series of dises p and q forming the friction coupling is fully explained
in the Specification of the said Patent, No. 263, 1863. o is a short hollow
shaft or bush fitted tightly to the hollow shaft o', and is screwed externally to
fit the screw nut o" and also the "jamb nut" o'; the said nuts o³ and o* are
for the purpose of applying and retaining the necessary pressure upon the
discs p and q. When it is desired to transmit but a moderate degree of force
with this frictional ratchet brace a slight pressure only need be applied by the
screw nut o3, and the operator may grasp the frictional coupling in bis hand
when imparting the usual vibratory ratchet motion. For transmitting greater
force a lever may be attached in any convenient manner to the drum or cage,
and thus arranged an effective "frictional spanner" or wrench is obtained,
useful for screwing up a series of screw nuts or screw bolts uniformly to any
desired pressure. This arrangement suitably reduced in size forms a convenient
watch key, the frictional coupling preventing overwinding.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the saine is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the constructing a ratchet brace with a sliding and a vibrating pall
combined, as herein-before described.
Second, the construction of double-acting ratchet braces for the purposes
herein-before described by the combination and employment of the pall
cylinder, double set of palls, right and left hand ratchet wheels, and sliding or

page_text: locking bolt arranged substantially as herein-before described, by which
combination and arrangement a reversible ratchet motion is obtained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Aldridge Weston, have to this my
Specification set my band and seal, this Sixth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
THO. A. WESTON. (L.S.)