Improvements in Wrenches for Nuts or other articles.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wrenches for Nuts or other articles.
A communication by ALFRED KINGMAN LOVELL, of 200, Main Street, Jackson,
in the State of Michigan, United States of America, Lock Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 relates to wrenches of the kind in which a fixed jaw and a
novable jaw are used, the movable jaw being adapted to be adjusted to and from
the fixed jaw so as to change the width of the opening between the jaws and permit
of the use of the wrench with various sizes of nuts.
The object of the invention is to provide improved means for quickly adjusting
and securely holding in its adjusted position the movable jaw.
A frame work employed, consisting of two bars made fast to the fixed jaw and
to the handle, on the two bars the movable jaw is mounted, and between them is a
spirally grooved shaft passing through the movable jaw which is provided with
interior threads that engage the spiral groove of the shaft. The rotation of the
shaft forces the movable jaw toward or away from the fixed jaw and adjusts
the parts.
In the drawing :-
Figure 1 shows the wrench in perspective.
Figure 2 shows the frame part of the wrench in section and the shaft in
perspective.
Figure 3 shows, in cross section, the means of locking the parts when in proper
adjustment.
A and B are the side bars of the frame work; C, the fixed jaw; D, the handle
to which the side bars A and B are fixed. E is a socket in the handle to receive
the rounded end of the shaft; S, is the shaft provided with spiral groove ss.
J represents a movable jaw tapped and provided with interior threads to fit the
spiral grooves s on the shaft S. The shaft S terminates at either end in curved or
conical bearings e d, of which c is received within a cavity in the fixed jaw C and
the bearing d is received in a similar cavity in the socket E.
At the base of the shaft S, near the handle, and within a ferrule upon the
handle, is a ratchet wheel R and fixed to the ferrule is a spring pawl p, with a
thumb piece T. The base of the shaft next to the ratchet wheel R is roughened
to enable the workman to turn the shaft with his thumb and finger. The pitch of
the spiral grooving is long enough to permit the workman to move the movable
jaw backward and forward by pushing it with his finger or hand, and all that is
necessary to adjust it to any desired position is to lift the pawl p out of engagement
with the ratchet wheel R and move the jaw J to the desired place. If the wrench
be held vertically, the jaw J will move by gravity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a wrench, the combination of a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a spirally
grooved shaft engaged with and adapted to be rotated by said movable jaw, and
means for locking said shaft whereby the movable jaw is held in any desired
position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 2. In a wrench, a fixed jaw, a revoluble spirally grooved shaft, traversing a
movable jaw, a frame work holding the shaft and the fixed jaw and adapted to
guide the movable jaw; the grooving on said shaft having a long pitch,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a wrench, the combination of a fixed jaw, a frame work, a movable jaw,
a spirally grooved shaft engaged with and adapted to be rotated by said movable
jaw, a ratchet wheel fixed to said shaft and a pawl adapted to engage therewith,
substantially as described.
4. In a wrench, the combination of a frame consisting of a fixed jaw, a handle
and two side-bars, a movable jaw, movable along the side bars, a shaft journalled
in the fixed jaw and the handle and provided with spiral grooves of long pitch and
traversing the movable jaw and adapted to be rotated thereby, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.