Improvements in or relating to Ratchet Braces or Force Braces.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Ratchet Braces or Force Braces.
1, THOMAS HAGGART, of 23, Rickman Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
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 ratchet brace or force brace that will be more rigid and
true in its action than the ordinary brace.
In conjunction with boring or like braces hitherto used, a force brace with double
centre bits or pivots has been employed to prevent the cutter bar, reamer or other too!
from cutting too rapidly or too deep and jamming itself, the screw of said force brace
being slacked away as the tool is fed up to its work by the feeding screw of the. ratchet
brace. The use of this force brace involves trouble and the expenditure of time, and
besides, does not always fulfil what is required of it, as it is often difficult to keep the
centres in proper alignment.
Now the object of my invention is (inter alia) to provide a combined ratchet and
force brace, in which the force bits and feed screw are substituted by a spindle or two
or more spindles held accurately in alignment, and a tool stock or barrel capable of being
fed longitudinally on the said spindle or spindles, the whole being capable of rotation
about the two opposite ends. The necessity of a separate force brace is thus dispensed
with, the brace works more rapidly, and the tool is guided in the direction required.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my ratchet brace in its simplest form,
Figure 2, a similar view of the same brace improved for heavy work by having a
long sliding socket on the tool barrel,
Figure 3, a similar view of a device for coupling a reamer or other tool to the
ratchet brace,
Figure 4, a longitudinal section of my ratchet brace with single feed screw and
hollow tool barrel driven by a spindle on which the brace lever is mounted,
Figure 5, a section of a device for boring a taper hole,
Figure 6, a longitudinal section of a ratchet brace constructed on a somewhat
similar plan to that shown in Figure 4, but having right and left hand feeding screws.
Referring first to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings
if
A, is the brace handle, B the ratchet wheel having a square hole or socket running
right through it, and a a spring pawl or pallet fastened to the said hand lever A, and
adapted to fall in the interdental spaces of the ratchet wheel aforesaid, riding over the
teeth as the hand lever is revolved in one direction, and rotating the said wheel when
revolved in the other direction. Cis a tubular stock or barrel, having a square at one
end so formed as to receive the square socket in the ratchet wheel B, which may,
desired, have a spring stud to hold it in position on the said square. The said barrel
is threaded internally at one end to receive the feeding screw D, and bored at the
other for the bit E which is pointed to form a bottom centre or pivot, and is provided
with a longitudinal groove engaging a set pin in the tool barrel. The centre bit may
be of such a length as to enable it to reach deep seated parts, if desired. A rose-bit,
reamer, boring bit, screw cutting tool or other device is mounted on and secured by a
screw to the barrel aforesaid, or a drill may be fitted in the manner hereafter described
if it is desired to employ the apparatus for drilling holes. The feeding screw D
has a head e in one piece therewith. The top centre bit or pivot F is screwed
into the head e and is in alignment with the centre of the bit E.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The bit E of the brace is placed in its seating, and, when the bit F has been
adjusted so as to engage the other seating the device will be capable of rotation

page_text: about its two opposite ends. The movement of the tool is intermittent, the spring
pawl engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel thereby rotating the barrel C and feed
screw when the lever is pushed in one direction, and riding over the teeth when
drawn back. The barrel C with its bit E rotates synchronously with the feed-screw D
and top bit F, and, in order to put on feed so as to keep the tool up to its work, the
operator has only to rotate the head of the screw a trifle while holding the barrel, or
hold it momentarily stationary while the barrel is rotated by the brace lever A.
The apparatus shown in Figure 1 can be improved for heavy work by having a long
sliding socket G (Figure 2) on the barrel C, the said socket being provided with an
internal groove running the greater part of its length which receives a feather gon
the exterior periphery of the barrel. The said socket is coupled to the screw D by a
set screw d, the point of which engages a circumferential groove, and enables tho
socket to rotate freely while preventing any movement in the direction of its length
independently of the screw D. By this arrangement, the ratchet handle A does
not move in the longitudinal direction of the barrel when the tool is fed up to its
work, but the said barrel moves independently, the groove and feather aforesaid
permitting it a sliding movement in the socket G while preventing it rotating except
in conjunction with the socket.
By combining the barrel with a socket in this way, the top and bottom bits E and F
aro maintained in alignment, even if the feeding screw D becomes slack in the barrel
through wear. The bottom bit E is kept from turning by a set screw mounted in
proximity to the bottom of the barrel, and engaging a long V groove in the bit. The
screw D may have a countersunk hole d' at its centre, to cause a little friction
between it and the pointed end of the bit E, so as to prevent the screw accidentally
feeding itself if the top bit F happen to work in a non-lubricated seating, or one
which prevents the apparatus from easily rotating.
Instead of securing the operating tool, such as a reamer I, (Figure 3) in the
manner already referred to, it may be made tubular and secured in a socket H on
the end of the barrel A' by set screw h. The bit E in that case passes through
the hole in the tool I and forms a guide or support therefor.
When a common
drill is used, the bit E is removed, and the fang of the drill mounted and secured
in the socket H.
In the brace illustrated by Figure 4, the barrel C is threaded externally, and bored
to receive the driving spindle D and bottom bit. The said driving spindle D is
provided with a feather adapted to engage a longitudinal slot in the barrel C, which,
while forming no obstacle to the sliding movement of the barrel prevents it rotating
except in conjunction with the spindle.
I is the bit forming the bottoin centre having a longitudinal slot receiving a stud
in the barrel whereby it is prevented from rotating except in conjunction with the
barrel. The driving spindle D is provided with a countersunk hole in its centre
adapted to receive the pointed end of the bit E, whereby the said bit is kept in
alignment. d is a square formed to receive the socket in the ratchet wheel of the
brace lever. The adjustable top bit is composed of a centered spindle F, and an
internally threaded nut f, in which the centered spindle is loosely held by a set pin
engaging an annular groove 2. It is also supported in said nut by the shoulder 3.
The spindle D is bored to receive the aforesaid centered spindle F, and has a stud
engaging a longitudinal groove in the said spindle. The nut f is screwed onto the
end of the spindle D. By rotating the said nut, the bit F is adjusted longitudinally.
and may be made to reach deep seated parts when required. The internally
threaded elongated nut or socket G is screwed onto the barrel C, and is provided with
a box at one end, adapted to receive a collar d' on the spindle D. A collar g²,
screwed into the box g, prevents the spindle D from moving vertically.
By making the bits E and F to rotate with the barrel and spindle as before
described, a hole is less liable to be inaccurately bored or reamered, as any inaccuracy
in the alignment of the centres of the bits E and F will not be reproduced to the same
extent as is the case when the bits are free to rotate independently of the barrel
and spindle.

page_text: In operation, the device receives an intermittent rotary movement. To put on the
feed, the nat G is preferably held momentarily stationary, while the spindle D and the
barrel Care rotated by the hand lever of the brace.
To hore a taper hole, the device shown in Figure 5 mounted at either end of the
apparatus may be employed. This is composed of an eccentric A, mounted on one of
the bits F above described and secured thereio by means of a feather and groove or
other device, by which it is rotated with the bit, but by which it can be easily slipped
on or off. On the eccentric A is mounted the circular thimble B having a centre
point or pivot B. On loosening the pin B2, the thimble can be rotated and the
pivot B adjusted in the required position relatively to the axis of the bit F. At
the end of half a revolution, the pivot B' and bit F would coincide. During
fractions of half a revolution of the thimble, the distance between the said pivot
and bit will be reduced a given amount, while, after passing the point of coincidenco,
the distance will be gradually increased in the same ratio. A hole of any desired
taper (within reasonable limits) may thus be bored.
Figure 5 of the drawings shows the device adjusted to bore a hole of the greatest
taper possible with an eccentric of the throw indicated.
The brace shown in Figure 6 is somewhat similar to that illustrated in Figure 4,
but it is constructed with a right and left handed screw, whereby a long feed is given
in a short space. The collar on the spindle of the brace, shown in Figure 4, and a
box on the nut for engaging the collar are not required when the brace is constructed
in the manner shown in Figure 6.
In this figure, is the barrel, a portion of which is screwed externally with a right
hand thread, and is bored to receive the spindle D. The said spindle has a feather
engaging a longitudinal groove in the bore of the barrel C. which prevents either
rotating without the other. G is a collar attached by a pin g³ to a socket H which is
screwed internally to receive the barrel Cand externally to be received by the thimble I
which is screwed with a left hand thread. The spindle D (on which the said thimble
is mounted and secured by a pin with a head flush with its surface) is provided with a
square d for the socket in the ratchet wheel of the brace. The top bit is mounted and
adjusted in the same manner as that described with reference to Figure 4. The
bottom bit is formed in one with the spindle D. Both the screws (namely, the
screw on the barrel and that on the thimble I) are operative simultaneously by
rotating the collar G¹ with its socket H, or by momentarily holding the said collar
stationary while the apparatus is rotated. In this apparatus (as well as the apparatus
described with reference to Figure 4) the ratchet handle does not move in a longitu-
dinal direction when the tool is fed up to its work.
Any of my ratchet braces may also be adapted for surfacing, screw cutting and
cutting holes in plates or the like, and may be provided with any suitable arrangement
for automatically feeding the tool up to its work.
For screw cutting, the feed screw (Figures 1 and 2) or the feed nuts G (Figure 4)
and G (Figure 6) are held stationary while the tool barrel is rotated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is =
i. A combined ratchet and force brace baving a central spindle with centres or two
or more such spindles held accurately in alignment as described, and having a tool
stock or barrel capable of being fed longitudinally on the said spindle or spindles, the
whole being rotable about the said centres, substantially as described.
2. In a ratchet brace, the combination with the feed screw D, the centre bits E
and Fand the tool stock or barrel C, of a socket G mounted on said barrel and
feed screw extension as described and within which the barrel is capable of being
longitudinally fed by the feed screw substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. A ratchet or force brace comprising a driving spindle D operated by the ratchet
lever, an adjustable centre bit F, a tool stock or barrel adapted to slide longitudinally
on and be rotated by the said driving spindle, a centre bit E, and an operating nut G

page_text: screwed upon the tool barrel aforesaid and so mounted on the driving spindle as
to be incapable of longitudinal movement therein, while being capable, when
rotated, of imparting a longitudinal sliding feed to the tool barrel, substantially as
described.
4. In a ratchet brace, the combination with the driving spindle D, the centre bits E
and F, and the tool stock or barrel C, of an internally threaded thimble 1 mounted on
the driving spindle, a socket H screwel internally and externally with right and left
handed threads, said threads being adapted to receive the screw threads on the barrel C
and thimble I respectively, and both of said threads being operative simultaneously to
feed the tool barrel up to its work when the collar G is rotated; substantially as
described.
Dated this 21st day of June 1890
THOMAS HAGGART.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.