A UNIVERSAL WRENCH FOR AXLE CAPS AND NUTS
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 6th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 7th Apr., 1888
I WILLIAM MARCH of 32 St. Mary Axe London Mechanical Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for A UNIVERSAL WRENCH FOR AXLE CAPS AND
NUTS to be as follows:-
-
A short iron rod has two claws forged upon it at right angles to the rod, one claw
being on one side of the rod & the other claw upon the other. The faces of the claws
are half an inch out of line with each other. A corresponding double claw equally
out of line, slides upon the rod & faces the fixed claws. The end of the rod upon which
the claw slides is slotted.
Another short rod, flattened & cambed at its end, enters this slot & is jointed
by a pin. To meet the various sizes of caps & nuts a graduated wedge is inserted
between the sliding claw & the cambed rod. By this arrangement the least
variation from the straight line in the two rods, advances the claw. Instead of two
short rods there may be one continuous rod & a shoulder left on it behind the sliding
block for advancing it by a screw in the manner of Engineers' Stocks & dies.
That side of the rod upon which the claws are farthest from each other grips the caps,
while the opposite side grips the nuts.

page_text: I, WILLIAM MARCH of 32 Saint Mary Axe in the City of London, Mechanical
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 :-
My invention consists of a universal wrench for axle caps & nuts, for the explanation
of which I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings in which reference letters are
used to indicate the various parts.
A short iron or steel rod A of Figures 1 & 2 has two claws B forged or cast upon
it at right angles to the rod, one claw being on one side of the rod & the other claw
being on the other side. The faces of the fixed claws are out of line with each other.
A corresponding double claw B¹ slides upon the rod & outside the slot of same.
Another short rod D flattened & cambed at its end, enters this slot & is jointed to it
by a pin E.
To meet the various sizes of caps & nuts a graduated wedge F is inserted between
the sliding claw & the cambed rod. By this arrangement the least variation from the
straight line in the two rods advances the sliding claw & clips the caps or nuts.
When desired to dispense with the wedge F there is only one rod G as in
Figures 3 & 4, & a tapped end or shoulder upon the rod behind the sliding claw. The
sliding claw is moved backwards & forwards by means of a thumb screw H, the
inner end of which has a collar which enters a slot in the sliding claw & thus
controls its movement. Figures 5. 6 & 7 show different views of this claw. The
tapped end of the rod in which the screw enters is made of a separate piece & is
riveted into the slotted end of the rod, so that when worn out by the screw it & the
screw can be renewed. The upper ends of the claws which are farther apart than
the lower ends; grip the caps, while the lower ends grip the nuts. As shown at K in
plans of Figures 2. 4 & 7 the angular concavity of the face of the upper ends of the
claws fits the octagon shaped caps, while the angular concavity of the lower ends of
the 'claws fits the hexagon shaped nuts. By this means four sides of either the cap
or the nut are clipped at the same time. This system of universal wrench is intended
to be equally applicable to square nuts, in which case the angular concavity of
the claws would be made square. If quicker movement be desired the slot in the rod
may be lengthened & both claws be made to slide at the same time.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. A universal wrench which shall clip & operate on any cap or nut & which
shall be constructed & arranged substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2nd. A double sliding claw facing a fixed claw & moveable backwards or forwards
upon a rod by a screw or other means.
3rd. Concaving the opposite ends of both fixed & moveable claws in different
angles.
4th. The employment of a detachable nut or shoulder piece at the end of the slotted
rod for removal when worn.
5th. The making of both claws moveable at the same time if desired.
6th. A hole at the end of the rod.