Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 20th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 28th Oct., 1887
I HENRY WILLIAM TONKS of Hockley Hill, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a simple contrivance for gripping or holding articles or
tools, to operate or to be operated upon, such as holding drills or other cutting tools,
in a lathe headstock spindle, or for holding in such spindles, material out of which
articles are to be made, and consists of a wedge action, closing a conical surface
upon two or more pieces or jaws, having also a corresponding conical surface.
In constructing this my improved chuck, I proceed after the following manner :-
I provide a central block or piece, forming the base so to speak of this my chuck.
This central block is screwed or otherwise formed to fit the end of the spindle of
lathe &c.
Axially in the central block I cut a slot to receive a wedge. Between this wedge
slot, and the end or nose of the tool, 1 drill a hole transversely to its axis; From
this hole I cut a slit extending through to the front of the nose. Upon the outside
of the nose, I form a conical surface. I then form a case or slide to pass externally
upon the block, and having at its front end, an internally shaped conical surface,
corresponding to the conical shaped surface upon the front end of the split block.
Also I cut a wedge slot through this outer case or slide to correspond with the
wedge slot in the block.. I then form a wedge to suit the slots named.
Axially in the front of the split nose I make a hole circular or otherwise, to suit
the shanks of drills or the diameter (say of the wire &c.) of the material from which
the articles are to be made.
Its action would now be understood to be as follows:-Upon the wedge being
knocked back, the coned nose (inner) is free, when the drill shank &c. would be
inserted, then the wedge driven in, thus drawing the outer conical sleeve upon the
inner conical split nose, and closing the latter firmly thereon, and thereby securing it.
One great advantage in this form of chuck, would be particularly in its application
to the production of "repeats" or similar small articles, would be, that with a light
blow of a hammer or mallet, the wire or shank would be firmly gripped or released,
thus saving considerable time over the present methods in use.

page_text: Instead of the split inner nose being formed upon, and part of the block I may
make such part in two or more loose pieces, so that a series of different sized holes
may be used in one general tool.
For making articles out of wire &c. I may provide a slotted hole in the centre of
the wedge so that such wire may pass right through the chuck, and spindle of the
headstock if desired.
When the inner nose is of two or more loose pieces they may be kept apart by
means of springs so as to readily keep open, when the wedge is withdrawn.
Dated this 21st day of February 1887.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chucks for Lathes or other Machines.
I HENRY WILLIAM TONKS, of Hockley Hill, Birmingham in the county of Warwick,
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 a simple contrivance for gripping or holding articles or
tools to operate or to be operated upon, such as holding drills or other cutting tools
in a lathe headstock spindle, or for holding in, or to, such spindles, material out of
which articles are to be made, and generally known as chucks, and the objects of my
improvements are first, to provide a quick and ready method of closing or opening
the jaws or gripping parts of such chucks, by means of a wedge, in combination
with a loose case or sleeve, with a fixed or loose jaw or jaws, secondly a modification
of the same, but with the case or sleeve fixed, and in one with the body of the chuck,
and the jaw or jaws, operated upon direct, by the wedge, and which may or may not
be further kept open by means of a spring.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing
in which
Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section of the chuck having a loose case or sleeve.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1, upon line A-B.
Fig. 3, is a cross section of Fig. 1, upon line C-D.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the chuck fitted with loose jaws.
Fig. 5 is a cross section of Fig. 4 upon line E-F.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the chuck, having a fixed case or sleeve.
Fig. 7, is a cross section of Fig. 6 upon line G-H.
Fig. 8, is a cross section of Fig. 6 upon line I-J.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The block or piece a, with the shank b, (which latter may be an external screw,
or internal screw, or, of a plain tapered form) constitutes the body of the chuck.
I will now first explain Figs. 1, 2 & 3.
The block or piece a in this case is
extended on to the front part of the chuck, and there formed into the jaw or jaws c,
having on their external front end a conical surface. From the front end of the
jaws, slits d are made therethrough into a hole or opening e, for the purpose of giving
elasticity to the said jaws, whereby they may be made to open or close. f is a case
or sleeve made to slide upon the exterior of the jaws or extension part g, and having
an internal conical surface at its fore end, to coincide with the external conical
surface upon the jaws c. Through this case or sleeve f, and on through the extension
part g, and again on through the other side of the case or sleeve f, I provide a slot
hole to receive the wedge h.. At i, I may after having passed the wedge h into its

page_text: position, insert a peg, in order to prevent the entire withdrawal of the wedge from
the chuck.
Its action will now be understood to be thus :-Upon driving in the wedge h, the
case or sleeve f, is drawn on to the jaws c, and by reason of the mutual action of the
conical surfaces the said jaws c, are closed, and the article therein is gripped, when by
driving back the said wedge, the jaws are again set free and the gripping action
relieved. Instead however of forming the jaws upon the end of the extension part g,
as in Fig. 1, 1 may in some instances form such jaws separate and distinct therefrom
as seen at j, Figs. 4 & 5. This arrangement enables me to readily change such jaws
for others having larger or smaller, or differently shaped gripping holes or parts k,
while still retaining the same body and other principle parts of the chuck. These
loose jaws j, may consists of two or more parts; three being shewn in the view
Fig. 5. In other respects it will be seen that the mechanism is similar to that shewn
in Fig. 1.
In Figs. 6, 7 & 8, I have illustrated this my invention somewhat modified in detail.
It will be here seen that the extension of the block or body serves to form the case
or sleeve, having at its front end an internal conical surface similar as before,
except in the reverse direction. In this case it will be further noticed that the rear
part of the jaws j³, are carried on beyond the wedge h, and slotted or grooved at
such part for the wedge to act upon them. In this case two or more jaws may be
used, three being illustrated as seen in Fig. 7 & 8.
If desirable I may place between the rear end of the jaws and the body of the
chuck, a spring for the purpose of always tending to keep open the jaws, when the
wedge is released.
Although I have shewn the case or sleeve fl in the shape illustrated, still I do not
confine myself to the precise shape or shapes, as I may modify such shape to suit
convenience or taste, as for instance in some cases in order to protect the revolving
projections of each end of the wedge, I may enlarge the said case at such part,
leaving just a gap for ready access to the wedge, similar as shewn in dotted lines.
For the purpose of using material such as wire, or such tools that may require to
pass very far into, or right through the chuck, may make a hole m right through
the body of the chuck, and also cut a slot or hole n in the wedge itself about the line
of the centre of the chuck.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The combination in a chuck of a wedge h, with a loose case or sleeve fhaving
an internal conical surface, and a split conical jaw or jaws, which latter may or may
not be formed in one with the body or block A, of the chuck, substantially as and
for the purposes hereindescribed and illustrated upon the drawings in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
4, & 5.
2nd. The combination in a chuck of a wedge h, a fixed case f¹, having an internal
conical surface, with a jaw or jaws, which said jaws are operated upon direct by a
wedge h, and with or without the spring 1, to keep the jaws open as and for the
purposes hereindescribed and illustrated upon the drawings in Figs. 6, 7 & 8.
Dated this 19th day of September 1887.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.