Improvements in Gripping and Turning Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gripping and Turning Instruments.
A communication from abroad by ABBOT AUGUSTUS Low, of Brooklyn, New York,
United States of America, Gentleman:
..
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 implements for grasping and rotating clock spindles and
similar articles requiring winding or tightening, and is designed to afford a simple,
compact and effective device adapted to compensate for variations in the size of
the spindles or other objects operated upon.
The leading feature of the invention consists in so arranging the parts of the device
that the strain thereon in use, tends constantly to tighten the gripping jaws upon
anything introduced between them, that is to say the mere act of rotating the device
secures it upon the article to be operated upon in such manner that the greater the
force employed to rotate the device the more rigid and effective will be its connection
therewith.
The invention consists broadly in two levers pivotally connected, the short arms of
which are formed into gripping jaws, while the long arms are formed the one with
an inclined plane extending diagonally across the longitudinal axis of the implement,
and the other lever with an actuating screw the axis of which coincides with or is
substantially parallel to the said longitudinal axis of the implement in such manner
that the rotation of the screw forward tends constantly to close the jaws.
The head or handle of the actuating screw may thus be used practically as the
handle of the implement during its rotation, insuring a continuous firm hold upon the
article operated upon, which increases in effectiveness in proportion to the require-
ments or necessity, in other words in proportion to the amount of resistance
encountered and the consequent increase of power applied.
An important advantage arising from the special construction and arrangement of
parts consists in the ease and rapidity with which the implement may be applied to
or disengaged from an object, the pitch of the inclined bearing surface against
which the actuating screw rests rendering a partial turn of the latter sufficient to
tighten or loosen the jaws to the requisite degree.
Owing to the comparatively great degree of power that can be obtained in practice
by thus arranging the inclined plane and the actuating screw to act in conjunction
with each other in applying pressure it is found that the long arms of the levers are
liable to become bent or distorted in use by reason of the unequal distribution of
strain throughout the implement, and it is one object of the invention to obviate
this difficulty and to thereby render the device more accurate and uniform in con-
struction and operation.
The invention in this respect consists in so constructing the ends of the long arms
or levers that they interlock or lap one over the other concentrically with relation to
the fulcrum of the implement, thereby relieving the lever upon which the inclined
plane is formed from excess of pressure in use, and counteracting the natural
tendency of these ends of the levers to spread apart under strain.
.
Another feature of the invention consists in the employment of a locking screw
which engages the actuating or power screw in such manner that the latter may be
set or held in a prescribed position for the purpose of enabling it to be used either as
a right hand or as a left hand turning implement, or to lock the jaws upon an object
or set them to a particular use.
In the accompanying drawings I show implements embodying the improvements

page_text: construction of parts shown, since it is obvious that various modifications may be
resorted to without deviating materially from the essential features of my
invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved rotating implement, showing the
actuating screw partially retracted and the gripping jaws opened to a corresponding
.degree.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the screw advanced and the gripping jaws closed
upon the end of a spindle.
Figure 3 is an edge or top view of the device.
Figure 4 represents a side elevation of the improved form of implement of an
ordinary size; the remaining figures being shown as enlarged for convenience of
illustration.
Figure 5 is a view with the ends of the levers partially broken away and shown in
central section.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the inner end of the actuating screw.
Figure 7 a view of the inner side of the end of the upper lever, and
Figure 8 a view of the opposed face of the end of the lower lever, and the actuating
screw beyond.
The levers A and B cross each other at the pivot or fulcrum C, so that the gripping
jaws a and b approach or recede from each other simultaneously with the drawing
together or separation of the levers A and B.
Of course it is obvious that the improvements in construction may be applied to
any ordinary form of pliers, nippers or clamping device having flat, round or other
special form of jaws, although they have been designed more especially for the
production of a substitute device for the ordinary clock key, and for rotating or
tightening articles that are square in cross section; and I have consequently in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 indicated the jaws a, b as formed to conform to the angular head d
of the spindle D as shown in Figure 2, although I make no claim, nor limit myself
to, such shape of gripping surfaces.
A spring E attached to the inner side of one lever and bearing against the inner
side of the opposite lever, tends constantly to separate the levers A and B, and
consequently the gripping jaws a and b in like proportion.
The action of the spring E is limited and controlled by the bearing of the inner
end f, of the actuating screw F, against the inclined surface a² of the diagonally
projecting spur or abutment a¹ forming part of the lever A from the inner side of
which it projects diagonally across the longitudinal axis of the said actuating screw F
as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings.
The forcible impingement of the end of the screw F against the bearing
surface a² of the abutment a¹ causes the levers A and B and the jaws a and b to
close more or less rapidly according to the pitch or inclination given to the said
inclined bearing surface a². In like manner the power of the device may be
increased or diminished by varying the angle of lateral projection of the inclined
plane a² with relation to the path or longitudinal axis of the actuating screw F.
In fact it will be seen that all the advantages of the inclined plane and screw
are combined in the arrangement, and at the same time the device is rendered
almost instantaneous in action, so that no loss of time or inconvenience is experienced
in the use of the implement, while it adapts itself readily and automatically to any
variations in the size of the several articles to which it may be applied.
The cross-head f¹ of the actuating screw F is made sufficiently broad and large
to afford a convenient hold for the fingers, and is designed to be used as before
indicated, as the handle of the implement during operation, the application of the
power to effect the rotary movement through the screw itself ensuring a close fit of
the jaws a and b and a tenacious hold upon the article operated upon.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the end of the lever B is preferably turned up to form a
bearing 6 which is tapped with a female screw thread for the reception and engage-
ment of the screw F, which latter may be either of the right hand or left hand

page_text: variety according to the circumstances of use for which a particular implement may
be designed.
In Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the outer ends of the levers A and B are formed
with inwardly projecting members a³ ³ which approach each other and interlock
in such manner as to permit of the necessary but limited degree of motion between
the jaws.
It is obvious that this interlocking or engagement of the opposed ends a³, 63 of
the levers A B may be effected by various mechanical means other than the
identical form of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, in which latter the
lever A is formed with projecting shoulders a which engage with corresponding
shoulders 6 formed upon the lever B. The surfaces constituting the joint j between
these shoulders are concentric with the fulcrum C so as to ensure contact of the
shoulders under all circumstances of adjustment.
The end a³ of the lever A is also provided with a screw S the inner ends of
which is adapted to engage suitable grooves or recesses ³ formed in the periphery
of the actuating screw F, as illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 8 of the drawings.
By this means the actuating screw may be locked in a prescribed position
adapting the device to be used as a right and left hand turning or winding
implement; or to be "set" for any particular purpose or use, or to be locked upon
an object.
The shoulders a, b, both take up and neutralize the longitudinal strain upon the
levers, distributing it uniformly between them and rendering the device more perfect
and durable in use.
It will be noticed that the shoulders a, b, are formed to prevent both lateral and
longitudinal deflection or displacement between the levers, and it is obviously
immaterial what form is imparted to said interlocking shoulders, the essential feature
of the invention in this respect consisting in coupling the ends of the levers together
without interfering with their motion with relation to each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me and in what manner the same is to be performed
I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination in an implement substantially such as described, of the
pivotally connected levers, A, B, having the gripping jaws, a, b, the laterally
projecting rigid spur a¹ having the inclined plane a², and the actuating screw F
arranged to impinge against the said inclined plane, substantially in the manner and
for the purpose described.
2. In an implement substantially such as described, the combination of the levers A
and B and jaws a, b, the inclined plane a², the actuating screw F, and the
overlapping shoulders a, b, the whole arranged and operating substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
3. In an implement substantially such as described, the combination of the levers A
and B and jaws a, b, the inclined plane a², the actuating screw F having the
peripheral recesses f³, and the screw S for engaging therewith, the whole arranged
and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
4. In an implement substantially such as described, the combination of the
levers A, B, jaws a, b, inclined plane a², actuating screw F having peripheral
recesses, locking screw S for engaging with said recesses f³, and the over-
lapping shoulders a b', the whole arranged and operating substantially in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 7th day of January 1890