IMPROVEMENTS IN QUICK ADJUSTING PARALLEL SCREW OR BENCH VICES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, PHINEAS LAWRENCE, of Farringdon Street, in the City of London, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN QUICK
ADJUSTING PARALLEL SCREW OR BENCH VICES, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in quick adjusting parallel screw or bench
vices, and particularly to that class described in the specification of my patent,
N° 2592, dated 1st June 1882.
The present invention relates; first, to simple means for restricting the amplitude
of action of the screw; secondly, to an improved nut; thirdly, to an improved
disengaging device; fourthly, to an improved construction or means for locking the
ratchet-rod against the back thrust of the screw; and fifthly, to an improved
self-adjusting attachment for clamping irregular shaped parts.
In
In the specification of the patent herein before referred to, the means, shewn and
described, for restricting the outward movement of the ratchet-shaft is a spline,
held in the front jaw by a screw, operating in a longitudinal groove formed in the
shaft, said groove having a solid terminus against which the spline impinges.
the present instance, I simply flatten a portion of the ratchet shaft, leaving a
cylindrical portion thereon, in proper relative position with respect to the nut, and
insert a flattened pin, transversely through the jaw, the said pin serving to prevent
the ratchet-shaft from turning with the nut, when the latter is rotated by the hand
lever, and also preventing the threaded end of the ratchet-shaft from being worked
out of the nut, or beyond a proper amount of bearing surface of the threads of the
shaft and nut, by impinging against the end of said cylindrical portion of said
ratchet-shaft. The chief advantage of this arrangement is its cheapness of
construction, requiring but a single bore and pin to effect the desired result.
To obviate the objections in forming the thread in the nut, as now practised,
I construct the nut in two parts, the main body and hub being formed of, say, cast
or malleable iron, having a chamber cored out roughly. I then counter bore, and
"face up" the edge. In this bore a bushing is snugly fitted, having a projecting
shoulder of the same outside diameter as the body of the nut. This bushing is
threaded to the desired standard, and being of short length, and open at both ends,

page_text: will, in its manufacture, involve less labor, besides possessing the advantage of easy
renewal. After being tapped, this bushing is forced to its seat in the body of the
nut, and as the entire direct strain upon the thread is borne by the shoulder of the
bushing, it is therefore only necessary to provide for the torsional strain in turning
the nut. To effectually prevent the two parts slipping upon each other, the bushing
is pinned or keyed to the body of the nut.
To save the time and movement, hitherto lost in effecting a disengagement of the
locking mechanism, prior to the quick adjustment of the jaw, I obtain, by my
Invention, a disengagement and adjustment of the jaw of the vice in practically one.
and the same instant, in the following manner. Through the pawl and pawl-shaft
passes a disengaging rod fitted to slide freely through its bearing, and projecting
back and out between the ratchet-shaft and tail-piece. This disengaging rod also
passes forward through a cored recess formed in the front jaw, and ending as a.
slightly curved hook projecting beyond the cored opening under the nut. In the
recess of the front jaw a circular "well" is formed, for receiving a spiral spring.
One end of this spring rests upon the rod, and the other end thrusts upward against
the nut; thus, the spring acts through the rod to hold the pawl in proper
engagement while the spring itself is also securely held in position. The disengaging
rod is prevented from slipping backward by a knee" on the rod impinging
against the wall of the jaw, and from being drawn forward by a pin thereon. But
the pin might be placed to act within the "well" formed for the spring and thus
secure the rod against movement in either or both directions.
In reversing the action of the screw to unclamp the work, the thrust is transmitted
to the inclined sides of the ratchet teeth. Heretofore, the means for holding the
ratchet-shaft against this thrust that the jaw may be forced back, has been the
spring which throws the pawl into engagement, hence requiring it to be sufficiently
stiff to overcome the inertia of the jaw and tail-piece. In heavy vices this, for
obvious reasons, has been an objectionable feature. I obviate it in the following
manner.
After boring the bearings for the upper and lower shafts to their exact diameter
and distance apart, I then simply "sweep out" the front and lower portion of the
lower bearing beneath the tail-piece, tapering backward. In consequence of this,
the tail-piece is relieved, and the weight of the front jaw is then, in a good measure,
borne by the ratchet shaft, and results in slightly cramping and holding the said
shaft firmly in position. This, in no wise interferes with the proper action of the
vice, as, when the shafts are strained in clamping, the trifle of lost motion necessary
to effect the result described, is at once taken up, the deflection being, in most
instances, entirely downward. Therefore, a very light spring may be used, or be
dispensed with, the rod acting by gravity to reset the pawl. The tail piece referred
to above is rigidly attached to the front or moveable jaw, and consequently moves
therewith.
In order to effect the clamping of irregular shaped work, I employ a ball and
socket. To the stationary socket piece is fitted a swivelled jaw, a part of which is
formed into a ball or rounded projection fitting in the concave socket piece. At the
crown of the ball, a circular recess is formed, sufficiently deep to pass well beyond
the centre of the sphere. The head of the retaining bolt is also of spherical.form
next to the body of the bolt. The bearing of the keeper is also countersunk to
conform to the shape of the bolt-head. The retaining bolt and keeper being placed
one within the other, the keeper is then forced tightly into the bore of the ball to
such a depth that the centre of the ball and of the bolt-head coincide, when the
threaded end of the bolt is slipped into its bearing formed in the bottom of the
socket and secured at the opposite side of the stationary piece by a nut bringing
the surfaces of the ball and socket into easy contact. The retaining bolt is
considerably less in diameter than the recess in which it is secured. Thus, any
angle which may be presented to the jaw, or a combination of two angles in a
single part will be properly conformed to by the jaw, and the conditions under
compressive strain are the same in whatever position the jaw may be set.

page_text: The "keeper" is made of spring metal, and by means of the nut, permits of
ample adjustment for wear of bearing surfaces. To lock the "keeper" against the
possibility of withdrawal, a groove or hub is formed, into or over which its outer
edges are forced.
To apply the apparatus to the jaw of a vice, I fit two dowel pins to the stationary
socket piece, and bore two bearings in the jaw of the vice, corresponding in size to
the dowel-pins. The pins are of sufficient length to prevent the device from dropping
out, hence its attachment or detachment is but the work of an instant, while, under
strain, it is perfectly solid and rigid.

page_text: To obviate these objections I construct the nut in two parts, the main body and
hub m of said nut being formed of, say, cast or malleable iron having the chamber m¹
cored out roughly. I then counterbore, as to 1, and "face-up" the edge 1. In
this bore a bushing k is snugly fitted having a projecting shoulder k¹ of the same
outside diameter as the main body of the nut. The bushing is preferably formed
from the best quality of bearing metal for the duty required. Before inserting
this bushing it is threaded to the desired standard, and being comparatively of short
length and open at both ends, it will be seen that this, the most important element
of manufacture, involves the minimum of labour. After being tapped, this bushing
is forced to its seat in the body of the nut, and as the entire direct strain upon the
thread is borne by the shoulder of the bushing, it is therefore only necessary further
to provide for the torsional strain in turning the nut. To effectually prevent the
two parts slipping upon each other; the bushing is pinned, or keyed to the body of
the nut, as at g.
The only wear of consequence upon the nut being that of the thread, and the
bearing face of shoulder, it will be seen that to renew the part simply involves a
duplication of the bushing. Therefore, the advantages of this construction are:
cheapness of manufacture, strength, durability and convenience of renewal.
In vices of this class as hitherto made, it has required the use of both hands, or a
certain amount of time and movement to effect a disengagement of the locking
mechanism, prior to the quick adjustment of the jaw. In the present invention
I obtain a disengagement and adjustment of the jaw of the vice in practically
one and the same instant, in the following manner. Through the pawl b and paw!
shaft 61, passes a disengaging rod s fitted to slide freely through its bearing, and
projecting back and out between the ratchet-shaft and tail-piece. This rod also
passes forward through a cored recess formed in the front jaw, and terminating as a
slightly curved hook projecting beyond the cored opening under the nut. In the
recess of the front jaw a circular "well" is formed for receiving a spiral spring i.
One end of this spring rests upon the rod and the other end thrusts upward against
the nut; thus the spring acts through the rod to hold the pawl in proper
engagement while the spring itself is also securely held in position. The disengaging
rod is prevented from slipping backward by a "knee" on the rod impinging
against the wall d' of the jaw, and from being drawn forward by a pin n. But in
the instance of a straight rod being used, or crooked as shewn, the pin n might be
placed to act within the "well" formed for the spring and thus secure the rod
against movement in either or both directions.
To put together these parts of the vice, the pawl is first placed in position, then
the disengaging rod, then the spring and finally the nut, which latter keys the
whole.
Now to adjust the jaw of the vice, it is simply necessary to grasp the hub of the
nut and the hand lever, and with the finger raise the rod 8, as in grasping and
firing a pistol or gun.
This, as will be apparent, instantly disengages the teeth of the pawl from the
ratchet-shaft, (the pawl-shaft being the fulcrum upon which the rod vibrates) and
the jaw is then free to be slidden in either or both directions. When set to the
desired position, the disengaging rod is relieved from the finger and it is instantly
snapped back by the spring and again carries the pawl into engagement with the
ratchet-shaft. The hand is next slidden outward upon the hand lever at the same
time changing the direct into a rotary movement, and the work is instantly
clamped by the action of the screw.
When the pawl is disengaged, and the jaw slidden backwards and forwards, the
pawl necessarily vibrates up and down with the changing angle of the rod; hence in
the normal position shewn in the figures, it is necessary for the proper action of the
vice that that portion of the rod which slides through the pawl should be parallel
with the face of the ratchet-shaft, otherwise when clamping the work the rod
would be "cramped" in its bearing or the pawl be disengaged.

page_text: In reversing the action of the screw to unclamp the work, the thrust is
transmitted to the inclined sides of the ratchet teeth. Heretofore the means for
holding the ratchet-shaft against this thrust that the jaw may be forced back, has
been the spring which throws the pawl into engagement, hence requiring it to be
sufficiently stiff to overcome the inertia of the jaw and tail piece. In heavy vices,
this, for obvious reasons, has been an objectionable feature. I obviate it in the
following manner.
After boring the bearings for the upper and lower shafts to their exact diameters
and distance apart, I then simply "sweep out" the front and lower portions of the
lower bearing beneath the tail-piece, tapering backward, as shewn in exaggerated
form at t. Figs. 2 and 3. In consequence of this, the tail-piece is relieved, and the
weight of the front jaw is then, in a good measure, borne by the ratchet-shaft, and
results in slightly cramping and holding the said shaft firmly in position. This, in
no wise, interferes with the proper action of the vice, as when the shafts are
strained in clamping, the trifle of lost motion necessary to effect the result described,
is at once taken up, the deflection being, in most instances, entirely downward.
Therefore, a very light spring may be used, or be dispensed with, the rod acting by
gravity to reset the pawl. It will be understood that the tail-piece referred to
above is rigidly attached to the front or moveable jaw, and consequently moves
therewith.
In many of the "taper" devices made hitherto for clamping irregularly shaped
work, the adjustinent obtained in any single device has been but in a single plane.
It is apparent that to meet every requirement of practice such a device should be
universal in its adaptability, conforming automatically to any plane in which the
inclined surface may be presented.
To effect this, I employ the well known ball and socket. To the stationary
socket piece is fitted a swivelled jaw v, a part of which is formed into a ball or
rounded projection fitting in the concave socket in the piece r. At the crown of
the ball a circular recess v1 is formed, sufficiently deep to pass well beyond the
centre of the sphere. The head x of the retaining bolt x is also of spherical form
next to the body of the bolt. The bearing y of the keeper y¹ is also counter-
sunk to conform to the shape of the bolt-head. The retaining bolt and keeper
being placed one within the other, the keeper is then forced tightly into the bore v¹
of the ball to such a depth that the centre of the ball and of the bolt head coincide,
when the threaded end of the bolt is slipped into its bearing o formed in the bottom
of the socket and secured at the opposite side of the stationary piece by the nut o¹
bringing the surface of the ball and socket into easy contact. The retaining bolt,
as shewn, is considerably less in diameter than the recess in which it is secured.
It is now apparent from the illustration of the figures, that any angle which may
be presented to the jaw, as Z, Z, or a combination of the two angles in a single
part will be properly conformed to by the jaw, and that the conditions under
compressive strain are the same in whatever position the jaw may be set.
The "keeper" y¹, is made of spring metal, and by means of the nut o¹, permits
of ample adjustment for wear of bearing surfaces. To lock the "keeper" against
the possibility of withdrawal, a groove w, or hub is formed, into or over which its
outer edges are forced.
To apply the apparatus to the jaw of a vice, I fit two dowel pins p, p, to the
stationary socket piece, and bore two bearings p¹, p¹, Fig. 5, in the jaw of the vice,
corresponding in size to the dowel-pins. The pins are of sufficient length to prevent
the device from dropping out, hence its attachment or detachment is but the work
of an instant, while under strain it is perfectly solid and rigid.
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. In a quick adjusting parallel bench vice, the combination with the ratchet-
haft hai A
1°

page_text: adapted to engage with the flattened portion of said shaft, and thus to prevent the
rotation thereof and to impinge against the end of the cylindrical portion of said
shaft, and thus limit its longitudinal movement; substantially as described.
2. The nut m, having the interiorly arranged threaded bushing k, substantially
as described.
3. In a vice, the combination with the stationary and moveable jaws thereof,
of the ratchet shaft h, pawl b, and disengaging rod 8, substantially as described.
4. In a vice, the combination with the stationary and moveable jaws, and means
for operating the latter, of the ratchet shaft h, pawl b, disengaging rod 8, and
spring i, substantially as described.
5. In a quick-adjusting, parallel bench vice having a tail piece rigidly attached
to the front jaw and sliding in the back jaw, and a ratchet shaft as having a
sliding bearing in both jaws, and means for operating the same, the relieved or
tapered bearing t, for the purpose of throwing the weight of the front jaw mainly
upon the ratchet shaft, thereby cramping said ratchet shaft and holding it in
position against the back thrust of the screw.
6. The combination with the piece r, having a concave socket, and the swiveling
jaw v, having a ball or rounded projection adapted to said socket, of the retaining
bolt xl, and the keeper y¹, substantially as described.
7. The combination with the socket piece r and swiveling jaw v, having a ball
and socket connection, of the retaining bolt c¹, the keeper y¹ for said bolt, the
dowel pins p, p, secured to said socket piece and a jaw of a vice having holes or
bearings p, p', adapted to receive said pins, substantially as described.
Dated this 18 day of October 1884