Improvements in Vices.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1890-Accepted. 24th Jan., 1891
Improvements in Vices.
We, JAMES KENYON, JONATHAN BARNES, and RICHARD WALTON KENYON, all of
Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Machinists, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates chiefly to that class of vice known as a parallel vice, but may
also, in part, be applied or adapted to bench vices of the ordinary type, and is designed
with the object of providing a vice with one or both jaws capable of swivelling about a
vertical axis.
It consists essentially in constructing the vice with one jaw (preferably the front
jaw) pivoted at or near the base in a supporting slide or base plate, with an elongated
or slotted hole through which the tightening screw passes, and having a supporting
piece or bracket against which the tightening screw engages, and a pin, finger, or
catch, to retain the jaw in a square or straight position when required.
In carrying out the invention as applied to the front jaw of a parallel vice, the back
jaw is constructed of ordinary form with a bracket or base plate by which it is secured
to the bench, and a sliding arm or bar passing through it in the usual way to carry
the front jaw. This arm or bar may be of L, or other convenient shape (preferably
L-shape) and is provided in its lower member with a socket to receive a pin or pivot
on the bottom of the jaw. This arrangement can be reversed and the pin can be cast
on the bar, while the hole can be made up the bottom end of the loose jaw. In the
upper part the jaw is provided with a hole through which the spindle of the tightening
screw passes, and against the outside of which the head or collar of the screw presses.
Where a straight instead of an L shaped sliding arm or rod is used, the socket or
bearing in which the jaw is pivoted, is formed at or near the end or within a short
distance thereof and the head or collar on the tightening screw bears directly against
the jaw.
The lower end of the jaw is preferably turned or provided with a pivot or stud which
fits into the socket in the sliding arm or bar, and the back of the jaw-where the arm
is of L-shape, is turned or formed to the are of a circle and fitted to rest against the
arm with a lug or tongue projecting into a groove, by this means the greater part of
the strain falls upon the sliding arm.
The movable jaw is provided with a pin or catch which engages with a slot or hole in
the sliding arm to retain the jaw when required, square or parallel with the fixed jaw.
The form we prefer is a pivoted catch which falls into a slot cut longitudinally through
both the sliding arm and pivoted jaw, though a lug in each with a pin hole, through
which a pin is passed, or a catch pivoted at or near the top of the jaw which will
engage with a lug on the sliding arm, or a catch on the top of the arm engaging with
the jaw, or other similar arrangement may be employed.
When applied to the back jaw, the jaw is pivoted to the base plate in a manner
similar to that already described with reference to the other jaw, and the sliding arm
and front jaw are made in one piece, the sliding arm passing through or below the
swivelling jaw. The nut to receive the tightening screw may bear against the back of
the jaw, but it preferably forms part of or is made to bear against an upright fixed
bracket with which the jaw comes in contact.
In an ordinary bench vice with hinged front jaw, the back jaw may be caused to
swivel and be fitted to a base plate as above described.
By constructing vices as described with a swivelling jaw, a tapered or inclined piece
of work can be firmly gripped therein with equal pressure extending throughout the

page_text: length of the jaws, while at the same time no undue strain or pressure is put upon the
pivot or socket on which the jaw swivels.
Dated this 10th day of March 1800
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Vices.
We, JAMES KENYON, JONATHAN BARNES, and RICHARD WALTON KENYON, all of
Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Machinists, 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 chiefly to that class of vice known as a parallel vice, but may
also, in part, be applied or adapted to bench vices of the ordinary type, and is designed
with the object of providing a vice with one or both jaws capable of swivelling or
turning about a vertical axis.
It consists essentially in constructing the vice with one jaw (preferably the front
jaw) pivoted at or near the base in a supporting slide or base plate, with a elongated
or slotted hole through which the tightening screw passes, and having a supporting
piece or bracket against which the tightening screw engages, and a pin, finger, or
catch, to retain the jaw in a square or straight position when required.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, as
an example, is shown a parallel vice with the front jaw made to turn or swivel.
Fig. 1, side elevation."
Fig. 2, sectional elevation.
Fig. 3, plan.
Fig. 4, plan with jaws and tightening screw removed.
Fig. 5, end elevation.
Fig. 6, transverse sectional elevation looking in opposite direction.
In these figs. the back jaw A of the vice is constructed of ordinary form with a
bracket or base plate B by which it is affixed to the bench and with the usual holes or
openings c and d through one of which the tightening screw passes and through
the other the sliding bar D which carries or supports the front jaw E. The bar Dis
preferably of shape and is provided in its lower member with a socket d to receive
a pin or pivote on the bottom of the jaw E and the other member stands up against
the back of the jaw E and supports it.
The top part of the jaw is made of the ordinary shape and upon its lower end is
formed a pivot, or stud which fits into the socket in the sliding bar D. The back
of the jaw E where it comes in contact with the sliding bar D is turned or formed to
the are of a circle and fitted to rest against the upper member of the har. It is also
provided with a lug or tongue el which fits into a groove formed in the upright pari
of the bar D by this means the greater part of the strain is thrown upon the sliding
bar which is preferably made of steel.
Instead of the socket d' being formed in the sliding bar D and the pivot e upon the
movable jaw E the socket may be formed in the jaw and the pivot upon the bar,
and similarly the tongue e¹ may be formed on the arm D to fit into a groove in
the jaw.
upright member of the sliding bar D
in the fixed jaw A. To the back of
nut a with which the threads of the
The tightening screw passes through the
and through the movable jaw E into the hole
the fixed jaw is attached a screwed sleeve or
screw () engage. The spindle of the screw has a close fit in the hole c in the
bar D and is held therein by a pin or screw F in a groove f, but in the hole cin
the movable jaw E the spindle passes loosely through, the hole being made of oval
shape towards the back to allow of the turning or swivelling of the jaw. The head of

page_text: the screw C bears against the upright member of the bar D and the turning of the
screw moves it either in or out, the jaw E being carried with it.
The bar D may if desired be made straight or flat in which case the socket in
which the jaw is pivoted is placed near the end or within a short distance thereof and
the head or preferably a collar placed upon the spindle of the tightening screw bears
directly against the back of the jaw the collar being formed concave on that side to
correspond with the curved or convex surface at the back of the jaw.
The pivoted jaw is provided with a pin or catch which engages with a slot or hole
in the sliding arm to retain the jaw when required, square or parallel with the fixed
jaw. The form we prefer is a pivoted catch G which falls into a slot or groove g cut
in the pivoted jaw E, and a similar groove g' cut in the sliding bar D, through a lug
in each with a pin hole, through which a pin is passed, or a catch pivoted at or near
the top of the jaw which will engage with a lug on the sliding arm, or a catch on the
top of the arm engaging with the jaw, or other similar arrangement may be
employed.
In Fig. 7 (which is a longitudinal sectional elevation) the invention is shown
applied to the hack jaw of a vice. In this case the jaw A is provided with a pivot a'
which fits into a socket in the base plate B in a manner similar to that already
described with reference to the other jaw, and the sliding bar D and the jaw E will
be made in one piece in the ordinary way. The nut a to receive the tightening screw
may bear against the back of the jaw A, but it is preferably formed as part of or is
made to bear against an upright fixed bracket D with which the jaw comes in
contact in the manner herein shown with reference to the jaw E and upright member
of bar D.
In an ordinary bench vice with hinged front jaw, the back jaw may be caused
to swivel and be fitted to a base plate as above described with reference to Fig. 7.
By constructing vices as described with a swivelling jaw, a tapered or inclined
piece of work can be firmly gapped therein with equal pressure extending throughout
the length of the jaws, while at the same time no undue strain or pressure is put upon
the pivot or socket on which the jaw swivels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A vice having one jaw pivoted at or near the bottom in a supporting slide-bar
or base plate with an elongated or slotted hole through which the tightening screw
passes the pivoted jaw being supported above its pivot by the tightening screw or by
a bracket against which the screw bears substantially as described.
2. A parallel vice having a fixed jaw A and base plate B. a sliding bar D with or
without the upright supporting member which carries the second jaw and a jaw E
through which the tightening screw passes pivoted thereto by pivot e in a socket d²
substantially as described.
3. A vice having the several parts constructed and arranged substantially as shown
and described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 or with reference to Fig. 7.
D1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.