Improvements in Wrenches.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wrenches.
I, SIMON WILLARD WARDWELL Junior, of 40 Rutland Square, in the City
of Boston, County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of
America, Machinist, 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 that class of wrenches in which there is a stationary
head, and a jaw sliding between the head and the handle, and more especially to
such wrenches when the head, stem and handle consist of two plates rivetted
together or otherwise secured, with an intermediate piece at the head; and the
invention consists in certain improvements in the construction, some of which
are adapted to wrenches of other forms, whereby to facilitate and reduce the cost
of manufacture and improve the operation of the wrench.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved wrench;
Figures 2 and 3 inside face views of the side plates;
Fi
figure 4 a side view of the distance piece ;
Figures 5 and 6 side and edge views of the movable jaw;
Figure 7 a side view of the detached screw plate ;
Figure 8 a longitudinal section of the wrench;
Figure 9 a cross-section on the line 8-8 Figure 8;
Figure 10 a cross-section illustrating a modification.
A represents the handle and head of the wrench, which consists of two plates
and an intermediate distance piece.
The said plates are cut or stamped so as to form the stem portions 11, the head
portions 22 and the handle portions 3 3 and at each side edge of the latter are
formed ribs 44 projecting sufficiently above the inner faces of the plates that when
in contact a space will be formed between the plates, and in the said space between
the head portions 22 is fitted a distance piece 5 of corresponding shape, these
parts all being firmly riveted together, or if desired, they may be secured together
by electric welding. The opposite parallel edges 1" of the stem portion intermediate
the head and handle portions are formed perfectly straight and serve as bearing
surfaces upon which the movable jaw B moves.
This movable jaw B consists of a single plate pressed or cut away at both sides
to form an intermediate thinner or web portion 7 leaving the ends of greater
thickness than the said web portion to form shoulders 7" on each face of the jaw.
The web 7 has a dove-tailed or circular socket r at one edge to receive the corre-
sponding smaller head 8 of a separate screw plate 9 having upon the opposite edges
teeth constituting parts of threads upon which turns the hollow sleeve nut 10
occupying a position in openings y y of the side plates of the handle. At the
extreme end of the screw plate 9 is a turned-up tail or lip 12, which extends into
a groove 13 in one of the plates of the handle.
The wrench formed as above described not only has great strength, inasmuch as
the jaw and stem are formed in great part of the two plates riveted together without
joints, but also can be made very cheaply, as every one of the parts described
except the nut may be formed by means of dies of proper shape cutting said parts
from strips or sheets without any welding or subsequent operations, except those

page_text: necessary to cut the teeth in the opposite edges of the screw plate 9 and stamp or
cut away the opposite sides of the jaw B to form the web 7 the internally threaded
sleeve nut, of course, being cut in the usual way.
Great advantage results from making the screw shank 9 separable from the
movable jaw B, not only because it can be stamped out from a thin sheet, thus
permitting a thicker sheet or strip of metal to be used in making the jaw B, but
also because when thus formed the milling of the opposite faces of the screw plate
may be dispensed with. By forming the ribs 4 4 on the plates 1 1 constituting the
side plates of the wrench, which can be done by rolling or stamping, the necessity
of employing an intermediate distance piece between the handle portions of the
said plates, and the expense of cutting the distance piece and the waste of metal
from such cutting are all avoided.
be.
After the parts described are separately formed as above described, the side
plates may be put together with the distance piece 5 and the jaw B in position, and
then rivetting the parts in place, after which the parts thus put together may
externally polished and finished before the nut is put in place. After the polishing,
the nut is placed in the openings y y the screw plate 9 is inserted in the end and
passed through the nut into the socket & the head being just large enough to pass
endwise into the socket, after which a suitable tool is introduced through an
opening w in both of the side plates and is forced into the metal in such manner as
to spread the head 8 so that it will be dove-tailed or secured in the socket. The
lug 12 sliding in the groove 13 tends to keep the shank and the nut central with
the openings y y and prevent friction by the rubbing of the nut against the side
of the opening.
Instead of guiding the screw plate by means of the lug on the plate and making
the channel in the handle portion, the channel might be in the screw plate and the
lug upon the handle, as shown in cross-section Figure 10.
It will be evident that the head, shank and handle may be of different forms
from those shown, and that the jaw B may also be differently constructed, while
embodying the other features of the invention, and that different means may be
employed for moving the plate 9 or the movable jaw, as for instance, any of the
means heretofore devised for moving the jaws of wrenches.
Instead of forming each side plate with side ribs 4, one plate may have said ribs
and the other may be flat, or one plate may have a rib at one side and the other a
rib at the opposite side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wrench consisting of two plates riveted together and each formed to
constitute a part of the head, stem, and handle of the wrench and an intervening
movable jaw and its operating means, the plates being held separate by a distance
piece secured between them to form part of the head, and by intermediate ribs at
the edges of the handle portion substantially as described.
2. A wrench consisting of two similar plates of metal each formed to constitute
part of the head, stem and handle the stem portions of each plate being provided
with bearing surfaces and the handle portions with side ribs arranged to maintain
the plates separate to form a space between them, a distance piece interposed
between the head portions of the plates, a movable jaw working in the space
between the plates, and means for adjusting the movable jaw, substantially as
described.
3. A wrench consisting of two similar side plates of metal, each formed to
constitute part of the head, stem and handle, the stem portions of each plate being
provided with bearing surfaces and the handle portions with side ribs arranged to
maintain the plates separate to form a space between them, a distance piece inter-
posed between the head portions of the plates, a movable jaw working in the space
between the plates, said jaw being provided with shoulders which engage the

page_text: opposite bearing surfaces of the stem portions, and means for adjusting the movable-
jaw, substantially as described.
4. The combination in a wrench of the separated side pieces connected together,.
a jaw having a web extending between said side pieces and provided with a recess x,
a plate 9 for operating the jaw having a head spread within the said recess,
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination in a wrench of a stationary jaw, stem and handle, a recess w
formed in the stem at both sides a sliding jaw having a web and recess a plate 9
having a head extending into said recess x and means for operating said plate,.
substantially as set forth.
6. In a wrench the combination with a stationary jaw, of a sliding jaw or head
provided with a recess, a plate having a head spread or distended within said recess
to form a jointed connection, and means for moving the said plate substantially as
described.
7. The combination in a wrench of the stationary head or jaw, stem, handle,.
openings y y movable jaw, screw plate 9 a nut adapted to said plate, and turning in
said openings y y and a projection upon the plate extending into a groove in the
handle substantially as set forth.
8. In a wrench the combination with a handle provided with a groove of a stem
and stationary head or jaw a movable jaw having a plate with a lug adapted to-
engage the groove in the handle, and means for operating the plate substantially as.
described.
1
11005
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant..