AN IMPROVED ADJUSTABLE WRENCH OR SPANNER
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Byron Levi Atwood, of Goswell Road, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of “AN IMPROVED ADJUSTABLE WRENCH OR
SPANNER."
Sealed the 11th June 1880, and dated the 15th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Byron Levi Atwood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1879.
BYRON LEVI ATWOOD, of Coswell Road, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVED ADJUSTABLE WRENCH OR SPANNER."
" AN
My Invention relates to an improved adjustable wrench for holding and screwing
together or unscrewing pipes or tubes, which wrench may also be used as a spanner
for screwing and unscrewing nuts.
•
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a bar of steel or iron,
which I bend over at its upper extremity in a suitable manner to form the upper
jaw of the wrench; at its other extremity the bar is screw threaded for a short
distance. The said bar is preferably square or rectangular in transverse section,
and passes through a tubular piece or sleeve of the same shape whose upper end
extends inwardly to form the lower jaw of the wrench. The said tubular piece is
long enough to enclose about one half of the bar longitudinally, and its lower end
is extended slightly outward on two opposite sides; recesses are formed in the
extended portions, within which the upper ends of two levers are pivotted, that is
to say, one on each side. Two corresponding levers are pivotted in a similar
manner to a sliding piece fitted upon the aforesaid bar near the lower end thereof;
there are therefore four of such levers, namely, two upper, and two lower ones.
The two levers on each side of the bar are connected by a joint, that is to say, the
lower extremity of the upper lever on one side of the bar is connected to the upper
extremity of the lower lever on the same side, two toggle joints being thus pro-
vided, the upper extremity of each of which is attached to the lower end of the
tubular piece, while the lower extremity of each toggle joint is attached to the
aforesaid sliding piece near the lower part of the bar. This sliding piece has a
recess at its lower end within which the upper portion of a round nut works. An
annular recess is cut in the said nut just below the portion of the latter which
works in the recess of the sliding piece. Two flanges forming the lowest part of the
aforesaid sliding piece enter the annular recess in the nut and prevent the latter
from becoming detached from the sliding piece, so that when the nut is screwed
downward the sliding piece is pulled with it. The lower portion of the nut, that
is to say, the portion below the annular recess is roughened so that it may be easily

page_text: turned upon the screw threaded portion of the bar by the hand. If the said nut is
turned to the right it causes the tubular piece or slceve to rise, consequently the
lower jaw formed on this piece approaches nearer to the upper jaw. When the nut
is turned in the opposite direction the sleeve and lower jaw are caused to descend,
and the lower they descend the greater is the distance between the two jaws of the
wrench. I am thereby enabled by very simple and convenient means to quickly
adjust the position of the two jaws relatively to each other, so that the same wrench
may be used for tubes of widely different diameter.
A suitable spring is provided in connection with one or more of the joints of each
of the aforesaid levers, and acts to cause the said levers or toggle joints to project
outward on each side of the bar in such a manner as to form two sides of a triangle,
the apex of which is at the point where the levers are united together; the bar
forms the base of the triangle in both cases. This arrangement allows of sufficient
play between the two jaws to permit them to be placed over the tube when com-
mencing to operate, and to be removed therefrom when the operation is completed
or when it may be desired to relax the hold for any reason.
The levers forming the toggle joints are made of convenient dimensions to be
grasped by the hand of the operator, and are rounded upon their outer edges.
In using the said improved wrench the operator, by means of the aforesaid nut,
adjusts the jaws to the required distance apart for the tube upon which he is about
to operate, but the said levers extending outward, as above explained, have the
effect of drawing down the tubular piece or sleeve a slight distance by their action
on the nut through the medium of the sliding piece. A sufficient space is therefore
provided between the two jaws to allow the latter to be placed over the tube.
This having been done the operator grasps the said extending levers by one hand
and presses them closely to the bar on both sides, so that they no longer form parts
of triangles, but lie parallel with the said bar. The effect of this action is to cause
the upper jaw to descend and press tightly upon the tube, which is thus firmly
griped between the two jaws. So long as the operator by keeping his hand over
the levers maintains them in the position parallel with the bar the pressure of the
jaws upon the tube will remain, and the desired operations of screwing or other-.
wise may be performed without any danger of the hold upon the tube being relaxed.
The strain upon the levers caused by the tendency of the jaws to separate operates
in a direct line between the points where the levers are united to the tubular piece,
and the points where they are united to the sliding piece, and it is impossible for
the jaws to open until the levers are released. The strain has no tendency to push
the levers outwards when they lie parallel with the bar; therefore the operator is
not required to use any more force to keep them in this position than that required
to overcome the springs employed to cause the levers to project outward when not
compressed by the hand. The force of these springs is almost imperceptible.
Whenever the operator desires to cause the gripe of the jaws upon the tube to be
relaxed he has only to release his grasp upon the levers, whereupon they immediately
project outward and cause the upper jaw to rise.
I provide the inner face of both jaws with teeth, so that the tube may be firmly
held thereby. When the tubular piece is made of iron I prefer to use a piece of
steel suitably attached thereto to form the holding or griping portion of the
lower jaw.
When using the said wrench as a spanner for screwing or unscrewing nuts, suitable
jaws will be employed instead of those above described. The slight modification
required will be readily understood without further description.
I have described the tubular piece or sleeve as rising and descending in the
operation of adjusting the jaws, but it will be obvious that the effect will be the
same whether the sleeve moves over the bar, the latter remaining stationary, or
the bar moves through the sleeve when the sleeve is stationary.
I may in some cases use a flat or rounded curved metal spring on each side of
the bar instead of the levers above describo.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Byron Levi Atwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
June 1880.
BYRON LEVI ATWOOD, of Goswell Road, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVED ADJUSTABLE WRENCH OR SPANNER."
" AN
My Invention relates to an improved adjustable wrench for holding and screwing
together or unscrewing pipes or tubes, and has for its principal object the pro-
duction of a wrench whose movable jaw may be readily and easily moved to clamp
the tube or other article firmly between it and the stationary or fixed jaw; the
said wrench is also applicable as a spanner for tightening up and unscrewing
nuts.
My improved wrench is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is a side view, and
Figure 2 an edge view of the said wrench.
Figure 3 is an interior view of the toggle levers, shewing the central joint or
pivot of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I employ a bar a of steel, iron, or
other suitable metal bent or turned over at one extremity to form the fixed jaw a'
of the wrench, as shewn; at its other extremity the said bir is screw-threaded, as
shewn at a², for the purpose hereinafter described. The bar a is preferably square
or rectangular in transverse section, and passes through a correspondingly shaped
aperture in the tubular piece or sleeve b. To one end of this sleeve is connected
the movable jaw c which moves forward or backward with the sleeve b, and is
thereby caused to clamp or release the tube as desired. The said sleeve b is of
sufficient length to enclose about one half of the bar a longitudinally, and at the
end other than that to which the movable jaw c is secured is provided with cars or
lugs b', 6', between which are pivotted the toggle levers d, d, one on each side of
the bar a. Two corresponding levers c, e, are pivotted in a similar manner to a
sliding piece or head fitted upon the bar a. These levers d, d, and e, e, are con-
nected to each other by a joint or pivot, as shewn at g, two toggle joints being thus
provided. The sliding piece f is provided with projecting ears or extensions, as
shewn at f, f', within which the collar h¹ on the nut his fitted to turn; the said
extensions or flanges fit into an annular groove or recess h² in the said nut, as
shewn, and prevent any endwise movement of the said sliding piece f irrespective
of that imparted to it by turning the nut h upon the screw threaded portion a³ of
the bar a.
The parts of the said nut is preferably milled or roughened, so that it
may be readily turned upon the screw threaded portion a² of the bar a by hand
If the said nut is turned in one direction it will force the tubular piece or sleeve b
forward, and consequently cause the movable jaw c to approach nearer to the fixed
jaw a¹. When the nut is turned in the opposite direction the sleeve 6 and the jaw c
will be drawn away from the said fixed jaw, the distance between the said jaws
becoming greater as the number of revolutions imparted to the said nut increases.
I am thereby enabled by very simple and convenient means to quickly adjust the
position of the two jaws relatively to each other, so that the same wrench may be
used for tubes of widely different diameter.
A suitable spring is provided in connection with one or more of the joints of each
of the toggle levers d, e, and tends to force the said levers or toggle joints outwards
automatically on each side of the bar a, as shewn in Figure 1. This arrangement
allows of sufficient play between the two jaws to permit them to be placed over the

page_text: tube to be clamped when commencing to operate, and to be removed therefrom
when the operation is completed or when it may be desired to relax the hold for
any reason.
One convenient method of effecting this automatic or spring action of the said
levers outwards is shewn in Figure 3 of the Drawing, in which i represents a spring
wire or rod which passes through the lug or boss d' on the lever d, and also through
the boss e¹ of the lever e. This spring rod or wire, when the levers d, e, are pressed
inwards, is sprung out of its normal position, and when the said levers are
released returns the same to their normal position by reason of its spring action or
elasticity.
The levers d, e, are made of convenient dimensions to be grasped by the hand of
the operator, and are preferably rounded upon their outer edges.
In using the said improved wrench or spanner the operator by means of the
nut hadjusts the jaws a¹, c, to the required distance apart for the tube upon which
he is about to operate, but the levers d, e, being forced outward by the spring, as
above explained, tend to separate the said jaws through the medium of the sliding
piece b. A sufficient space is therefore provided between the two jaws to allow the
latter to be placed over the tube. This having been done the operator grasps the
toggle levers d, e, by one hand, and presses them inward on both sides. The effect
of this action is to cause the jaws to approach and clamp the tube, which is thus
firmly griped between the two jaws. So long as the operator maintains the inward
pressure upon the said levers the clamping or griping action of the jaws upon the
tube will continue, and the desired operations of screwing up or otherwise may be
performed without any danger of the hold upon the tube being relaxed. The strain
upon the levers d, e, caused by the tendency of the jaws to separate occurs in a
direct line between the points where the levers are united to the tubular piece b
and the sliding piece f, and for this reason it is impossible for the jaws to opon
until the levers d, e, are released. The strain thus has no tendency to push the
levers outwards when they are pressed inward, therefore the operator is not
required to use any more force to keep them in this position than that required to;
overcome the springs employed to cause the levers to project outward when not
compressed by the hand. The force of these springs is almost imperceptible.
Whenever the operator desires to cause the gripe of the jaws upon the tube to be
relaxed he has only to release his grasp upon the levers d, e, whereupon they are
immediately projected outward by the springs and cause the jaws to separate.
I provide the inner face of both jaws with teeth, as shewn, so that the tube may
be firmly held thereby. When the tubular piece b is made of iron I prefer to use a
piece of steel for the movable jaw, suitably attached thereto to form the holding or
gripping portion of the same, as shewn.
When using the said wrench for screwing or unscrewing nuts suitable jaws will
be employed instead of those above described. The slight modification required
will be readily understood without further description.
I have described the tubular piece or sleeve bas rising and descending in the
operations of adjusting the jaws, but it will be obvious that the effect will be the
same whether the sleeve moves over the bar, the latter remaining stationary, or the
bar moves through the sleeve when the sleeve is stationary.
I may in some cases use a flat or rounded curved or arched metal spring on each
side of the bar a instead of the levers d, e, above described.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A wrench having an adjustable or movable jaw connected with and
operated by jointed or toggle levers, substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Second. The combination of the bar screw-threaded at one end and provided with
E

page_text: a fixed jaw at the other end, the nut, the head, the jointed or toggle levers, and the
sleeve carrying the movable jaw, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Byron Levi Atwood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.