Improvements in and relating to Shifting Spanners, Callipers, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Shifting Spanners, Callipers,
and the like.
FRANK MITCHELL "Sun Mount" Tatsfield in the County of Surrey Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a shifting spanner that can be rapidly
adjusted and capable at the same time of giving a firm grip on the nut, also that
can be adopted for use in place of callipers or slide rule for measuring diameters &c.
The principle of my invention is as follows:-
I form two arms or levers of steel or any suitable metal or metals by casting
or otherwise. These I hinge or link together at one end in such a manner as to
permit of their being folded-the one against or over the other.
At each of the two free ends I shape or form one half or jaw of a spanner head,
or I so shape them that by closing or opening them a larger or smaller nut may be
gripped or an article measured between the said free ends of the arms as hereinafter
described.
In forming the spanner head. I prefer to form or shape it at the angle useually
adopted in ordinary cast iron spanners, or about 20 degrees with the centre line
of the spanner.
I sometimes make one of the arms with one or more slots either at the point or
points of fulcration or at any other part so that corresponding parts or projections
from the other arm may pass through or inside the said slot or slots for steadying
purposes.
I next fit a clamp or guide piece on the arms so as to press against or be in
contact with both arins at one time and capable of being moved along them.
arms.
When it is required to add strength or greater accuracy to the adjustment I move
the said guide piece by means of a screw otherwise it is simply adapted to slide on the
For all ordinary purposes I prefer to shape the said arms or levers so that
the intermediate part of their length, between the point or points of fulcration
and the free ends or spanner head shall slightly cross each other somewhat similar
to the arms of a letter X but in a much lesser degree.
That point at which they cross being the place at which the guide piece may be at
the time, and its position lengthwise of course variable with the latteral opening at the
free ends or jaws of the spanner.
In order to alter the size of the spanner head or the distance apart of the free ends
of the said arms or levers to grip a nut or measure an article, it is only necessary to
move the said guide piece along the arms :-The said arms converging or diverging
will thus be drawn together or forced apart according to the direction in which the
guide piece is moved.
I sometimes have a graduated scale on the side of the spanner so that by noting the
position of the guide piece on the said scale a magnified view of the size gripped at
the free ends may be obtained.
That part or end of the complete spanner where the ends of the two arms or levers
are joined together will of course form the handle.
Deted this Twant fifth day of March 1806

page_text: COME DEL DECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Shifting Spanners, Callipers,
and the like.
I, FRANK MITCHELL, of Sun Mount, Tatsfield, in the County of Surrey, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a shifting or adjustable spanner or wrench
capable of exerting a firm grip on the nut or other article to which it is applied, and
of such a nature that, in certain cases, it may, if desired, be used in place of
callipers or rule, as for instance in measuring small diameters.
In carrying out my said invention, I construct the spanner or wrench as follows.
Two arms or levers of steel or other suitable metal are stamped out, cast, or formed
of the same size and shape, or nearly. so, as to their main bodies and lower
extremities, the upper extremities or heads being differently shaped so as to form
the opposite jaws of the spanner. The edges of each arm are parallel and straight,
or nearly so, or may be slightly curved, from the head to about half their length,
when they curve inwardly and are tapered to the lower extremity, which is rounded
for convenience. I now take the shorter arm, or that which carries the lower jaw,
and, turning it over or reversing the flat portion, lay it upon the other or longer
arm, and hinge or pivot the two together at the lower extremity. The two arms
being now folded one over the other, I place over them a clamp, strap or guide,
sliding-up-and-down when moved by the hand, and which may be kept in any
position, if desired, by means of a set screw or like device, the latter, however,
not being essential except when using the wrench as callipers. When the collar strap
or clamp is close under the jaws, they are open to their fullest extent, and, on
drawing the collar downwards, the jaws approach one another.
It will be seen that, by moving the collar clamp, or guide piece upwards or
downwards, the lever arms will by reason of their shape, be brought more immediately
over each other at the point at which said collar, clamp, or guide is; and that as
it nears the centre, the jaws are. wide open, the arms being drawn together or forced
apart according to the position of the collar.
I may make several modifications embodying the above principle, and in order to
more fully explain my invention, I shall refer to the sheet of drawings accompanying
this specification, and to the figures and letters thereon.
Figure 1. is an elevation of one of my wrenches constructed as above described,
A being the shorter and B the longer arm. C is the pivot or hinge, and D the
collar, clamp, or guide piece, which is shown close up to the jaws, the latter being
open to their full extent."
Figure 2. is a view of the same wrench, showing the collar drawn downwards and
the jaws nearly closed.
Figure 3. shows a wrench having, one pivot hole E in the short arm A and two
holes E and F in the longer arm B, a loose pivot pin G being provided. The
wrench is shown in the wide open position, the pivot pin G being in the upper
pivot hole E. If, however, it be placed in the lower hole F, the jaws may be
opened wider still, as shown by dotted lines.
Figure 4. is a part edge or end view, and
Figure 5. an elevation of another modification, in which one central arm A works
between two side portions of a double arm B, the arms being slotted as at H, and
a loose pin J, with bosses or the like at each end, being passed into or through
slots H. In this modification, the collar is dispensed with.

page_text: In place of the double pivot shown in Figure 3, I may find it convenient to
employ a screw at the base, pushing against a pin on one arm working in a
vertical or other slot in the other arm, in order to adjust the pivotting point and so
increase or decrease the normal width of the jaws, as shown in Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An adjustable spanner or wrench consisting of two flat arms or levers lying
one on the other of such shape that their outlines or edges are only coincident
at any desired point said arms being pivotted at one end and each carrying a jaw
at the other, the point of coincidence being determined by a collar or clamp.
which may be moved by hand along the length of the arms substantially as.
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1. and 2.
2. The modification of the above substantially as described in the foregoing
specification with reference to Figure 3.
3. The modification substantially as described in the foregoing specification with
reference to Figures 4. and 5.
4. The adjustable spanner or wrench arranged and constructed in accordance-
with the foregoing specification and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings or
any mere equivalent thereof.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896.
STANLEY POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
7 & 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.