IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE SPANNERS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Joseph Crownshaw, of Sheffield, in the County
of York, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE
SPANNERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Joseph Crownshaw
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1878.
WILLIAM JOSEPH CROWNSHAW, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE SPANNERS."
This Invention relates to the construction of adjustable spanners, and has for its
object the production of a strong, simple, and effective mode of adjusting and
securing the loose jaws of such spanners, at the same time reducing the cost of
manufacture.
In carrying out my Invention, as applied to the manufacture of the adjustable
spanner known as the "Clyburn spanner" (for example), I make the loose or
adjustable jaw of the usual shape or configuration, but instead of the worm teeth,
which are usually cut on the under side with a worm or screwed roller to work
therein, I use a wedge-shaped "slide" placed under the loose jaw, and bearing on
the bottom of the slot, which is an incline, and corresponds or thereabouts to the
taper of the wedge, and I may, if desirable, use one or more friction rollers for the
wedge to slide upon.
I form the top side of the wedge and the under side of the jaw serrations or teeth
or other equivalent means for securely gripping when the face of the wedge is in
contact with the jaw, but they may be left plain if desirable.
I retain the slide in the slot by means of a pin or stud passing through it near the
centre, and working in a short slot formed through one or both sides of the spanner
head; the pin or stud enables the operator to move the slide, so as to release the loose
|jaw, and also to secure it in the desired position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Joseph Crownshaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th February 1879.
WILLIAM JOSEPH CROWNSHAW, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE SPANNERS."
The said Invention relates to the construction of adjustable spanners, or those
spanners having a loose traversing jaw, and more particularly to the spanner known
as the "Clyburn" spanner, and it consists chiefly in the use of a tapered wedge
acting upon the moveable jaw, for the purpose of securing the jaw at any given
point, in place of the usual screws, worms, or spring catches, the object being to
produce an adjustable spanner of great strength, simplicity of construction, and of
quick adjustment.
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 Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a "Clyburn" spanner constructed according
to my Invention, a portion of the handle being omitted, the dotted lines indicating
those parts which otherwise could not be seen.
Figure 2 is an edge view of the same.
Figure 3 is a modification of my Invention, part of the outside being removed to
show the working parts more clearly.
A is the head of the spanner; B, the "fast" jaw; C, the handle; these three
parts are usually formed in one solid piece. D is the loose or moveable jaw, with
its slide D'; E is the wedge, which slides upon and bears against the incline F. The
top side of the wedge may be left plain, or it may be roughed with a file, but by
preference I form serrations or teeth, both on the under side of the moveable jaw,
and upon the top side of the wedge, as shown at H.
In Fig. 1 the wedge is shown with a quicker taper than that in Fig. 3, the teeth
are more easily disengaged, a spring I is introduced, which acts against a shoulder
formed in the wedge, and keeps it in contact with the loose jaw D. To prevent the
wedge from falling out a pin G is passed through it, and projects through a slot or
slots formed in either one or both sides of the head of the spanner; the pin is useful
in adjusting and releasing the jaw. A small pin K prevents the loose jaw being
drawn out too far.
The modification Fig. 3 has neither spring nor pin, the wedge being made with a
lip J or an equivalent stop, sufficient space being left in the recess L to allow of the
teeth being disengaged.
Various minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of
my Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same 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, the application and use of a wedge, either with or without
serrations, working on an inclined plane, and bearing against the loose jaw of

page_text: "
Clyburn" shaped adjustable spanners for the purpose of securing the same, sub-
stantially as above described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Joseph Crownshaw, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
WILLIAM JOSEPH CROWNSHAW. (L.S.)