IMPROVE- MENTS IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS, AND IN SCREWING THE COTTERS OF CONNECTING ROD AND OTHER BEARINGS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ferrabee, of the Phoenix Iron Works, Stroud,
in the County of Gloucester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS, AND IN SCREWING THE COTTERS OF
CONNECTING ROD AND OTHER BEARINGS."
Sealed the 19th June 1860, and dated the 20th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ferrabee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th December 1859.
I, JAMES FERRABEE, of the Phoenix Iron Works, Stroud, in the County of
Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS, AND IN SECURING THE COTTERS
OF CONNECTING ROD AND OTHER BEARINGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in screw wrenches or
spanners, and in securing the cotters of connecting rods and other bearings.
In constructing screw wrenches or spanners according to this Invention, the.
moveable jaw is made to slide freely on the bar or stem of the handle, and it
is fixed to or retained at any part thereof by means of a sliding wedge, which
is introduced between the back of the bar or stem and the sliding jaw. The
wedge is carried by a strap from a sliding piece, which slides readily on the
bar or stem, and the sliding piece can be moved to and fro thereon by means
of a worm or screw carried by the sliding piece taking into a toothed rack
:

page_text: formed on the bar or stem. The screw or worm may be so mounted in the
sliding piece that it may readily be thrown in and out of gear with the worm
so as to be able to adjust the screw wrench or spanner with greater rapidity.
In place of the sliding jaw being held by a wedge, as above described, the
sliding jaw may be connected by a strap to a sliding piece, carrying a worm or
screw, which takes into a rack in the bar or stem. In some cases the wedge is
formed with a toothed rack, and the screw or worm works in the teeth thereof,
the screw or worm being carried by the moveable jaw. In constructing
spanners in addition to the use of a screw or worm to act with the wedge so
as to move the moveable jaw to and from the fixed jaw, the spanner is
mounted on an axis or pin joint on the stem or handle in such manner that
the spanner may be moved on such axis or pin joint, and be retained in any
desired position by a ratchet and catch or other convenient means.
structing some descriptions of spanners, I make both jaws capable of moving
to and from each other, each jaw being moved by a wedge or instrument and
screw or worm, or both jaws of the spanner may be fixed, and each jaw fitted
with sliding filling pieces, by changing which the spanner may be made to
embrace differct sized nuts. In securing cotters a toothed rack of screw teeth
is formed on the cotter or on the gibb, and a screw or worm is applied in such
manner that the cotter may be set up or slackened as may be desired by
rotating the screw or worm.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ferrabee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FERRABEE, of the Phoenix Iron Works, Stroud, in the County of Gloucester,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Ferrabee, Her special licence that I, the said James Ferrabce,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Ferrabee, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,

page_text: exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS, AND IN SECURING THE COTTERS OF CONNECTING ROD
AND OTHER BEARINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Ferrabee, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Ferrabee, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
and by the
This Invention has for its object improvements in screw wrenches or
spanners, and in securing the cotters of connecting rod and other bearings.
In constructing screw wrenches or spanners according to this Invention, the
moveable jaw is made to slide freely on the bar or stem of the handle, and it
is fixed to or retained at any part thereof by means of a sliding wedge, which
is introduced between the back of the bar or stem and the sliding jaw. The
wedge is carried by a strap from a sliding piece, which slides readily on the
bar or stem, and the sliding piece can be moved to and fro thereon by means
of a worm or screw carried by the sliding piece taking into a toothed rack
formed on the bar or stem. The screw or worm may be so mounted in the
sliding piece, that it may readily be thrown in and out of gear with the worm,
so as to be able to adjust the screw wrench or spanner with greater rapidity.
In place of the sliding jaw being held by a wedge, as above described, the
sliding jaw may be connected by a strap to a sliding piece carrying a worm or
screw, which takes into a rack in the bar or stem. In some cases the wedge
is formed with a toothed rack, and the screw or worm works in the teeth
thereof, the screw or worm being carried by the moveable jaw. In con-
structing spanners in addition to the use of a screw or worin to act with a
wedge so as to move the moveable jaw to and from the fixed jaw, the spanner
is mounted on an axis or pin point on the stem or handle, in such manner that
the spanner may be moved on such axis or pin point, and be retained in any
desired position by a ratchet and catch, or other convenient means.
constructing some descriptions of spanners, I make both jaws capable of
moving to and from each other, each jaw being moved by a wedge or instru-
ment and screw or worm, or both jaws of the spanner may be fixed, and each
In

page_text: jaw fitted with sliding. filling pieces by changing which the spanner may be
made to embrace different sized nuts.. In securing cotters a toothed rack of
screw teeth is formed on the cotter or on the gibb, and a screw or worm is
applied in such manner that the cotter may be set up or slackened as may be
desired, by rotating the screw or worm.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe
the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Figures 1, 2, 2*, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the same. letters refer to the same
parts. Figures 1, 3, 5, and 7, are side elevations, and Figures 2, 4, 6, and 8,
back elevations of several modifications of the improved screw wrench. In
Figures 1 and 2, A is the main bar or stem, to which the fixed jaw B, is
attached; C the moveable jaw, sliding on the stem A; D sliding piece, carrying
the worm E, working into the screw rack formed on the edge of the stem A ;
F wedge, attached to the sliding piece D, and fitting between the back of the
stem A, and the moveable jaw C. This wedge is made sufficiently taper to
prevent the jaw from sticking fast when the strain is applied, and to carry the
moveable jaw with it towards the fixed jaw, as the worm E, is turned in one
direction, and is suitably formed at the upper end to separate it from the fixed
jaw when the worm is turned in the other direction. By this arrangement the
moveable jaw is held with great firmness without straining the worm and rack,
giving the wrench all the strength of a solid one; to protect the rack the
sliding piece D may be extended below, as shown in Figure 3. Instead of
the wedge F, a shouldered strap a, Figure 2*, attached to the sliding piece,
may be used.
Figures 5 and 6, shew the moveable jaw attached to side
straps a, a, which fit into the revolving sliding piece D, having a thread inside
it, working into the threaded rack cut on the edges of the stem A, by turning
the piece D in one direction or the other, the moveable jaw is separated from,
or advanced towards, the fixed jaw.
Figures 3 and 4 shew a modification of improved wrench with a disengaging
worm for more readily adjusting the moveable jaw. The pin b, Figure 3*,
carrying the worm E, is made flat on two sides; c a small handle attached to
the end of it; the sliding piece D, has slots d, formed in it; e spring, pressing
against the pin b. By turning the handle c, the flat sides of the pin b, are
brought opposite the slots d, when the spring e will push the worm E out of gear
with the rack cut on the edge of the stem A, when the moveable jaw may be
slid to or from the fixed jaw, and secured by returning the worm E to its
original position.

page_text: Figures 7 and 8 shew a modification of improved wrench having a sliding
wedge with a toothed rack and worm working in the teeth thereof. The piece D,
is attached to or forms part of the stem A, and carries the worm E, which
works into the teeth formed on the wedge F, which is connected to the move-
able jaw in the same way as described under Figures 1 and 2; by turning the
worm E, in one direction or the other, the moveable jaw is advanced to or
separated from the upper jaw. The teeth of the wedge F, are protected by the
pieco D, and if desirable the teeth of the wedge may be placed towards the
stem A, and slide on it, and the worm E be fixed in the stem. Instead of the
wedge F, a shouldered strap may be used as shewn at a, Figure 2*.
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, are modifications of wrench mounted on an
axis or pin joint, with a ratchet and catch; the same letters refer to the same
parts in each figure. Figure 9 shews the wrench fitted with a moveable
filling piece, by changing which it may be made to embrace different sized
nuts. Figure 12 shews a wrench fitted with a sliding filling piece and toothed
wedge piece. In Figures 9, 10, and 11, A, jointed stem, mounted on an axis
or pin C, passing through the head of the spanner B; D, ratchet, formed on the
head B; E, catch, jointed on the stem A, and taking in the teeth of the ratchet D;
F, moveable filling piece held in by the screw pin G; H, socket handle for
lengthening the stem A. In Figures 12 and 13, in addition to the parts
referred to above, the head B is fitted with a sliding filling piece F, which fits
into a slot a, formed in the head B, to receive it, at the back of this filling
piece is the toothed wedge K; L worm, carried on the head B, and working
into the toothed wedge K, by turning this worn in one direction or the other,
the space between the moveable filling pieces is increased or diminished, instead
of the moveable filling pieces, one or both of the jaws of the spanner head may
be made to move to and from each other, each jaw being moved by a wedge and
screw or worm. These forms of spanners will be found convenient in confined
situations, as by means of the jointed stem, ratchet, and catch, the handle can
be moved through a limited space at a time, until the nut is turned into a
convenient position for shifting the spanner.
Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, are modifications of improved method of
securing cotters by means of a toothed rack of screw teeth formed on the cotter
or on the gibb, and by a screw or worm by which the cotter may be set up or
slackened as desired by rotating the worm or screw, the same letters refer to
the same parts in each Figure. In Figure 14 the screwed rack is formed on
the edge of the cotter A, the worm B rotates on the end of the gibb C, turned
to receive it; a portion of the thread on the worm B, under the spring D, is
cut away leaving a flat surface, and the worm has sufficient play endways to

page_text: allow of its being turned half way round without affecting the cotter A. To
tighten or slacken the cotter or withdraw it, turn the worm round till the flat
part referred to is brought opposite the teeth on the cotter, when the cotter
may be tightened or slackened by a blow with a hammer in the usual way,
and then secured by turning the worm till the spring catches on the flat part.
Figure 15 shews the worm mounted on a hinged pin attached to the end of
the gibb, and capable of being lifted out of gear with the cotter. Figure 16
shews the worm attached to a separate piece screwed to the strap and capable
of being turned round on the pin that holds it to relieve it from the cotter.
Figure 18 shews the worm mounted on a separate piece and sliding on the
gibb which has teeth formed on it; the cotter itself may be made to receive
the worm, which may work on teeth cut in the gibb, on a separate threaded
piece.
In witness whereof I, the said James Ferrabec, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
JAMES FERRABEE. (L.S.)