IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Benignus: O'Neill, Gentleman; of Warwick
Street; Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS."
+
Sealed the 30th December 1862, and dated the 5th July. 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th July 1862.
I, PATRICK BENIGNUS O'NEILL, Gentleman, of Warwick Street, Regent
Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREW WRENCHES OR SPANNERS," to be as
follows:
.
This Invention has for its object improvements in spanners or screw
wrenchers. For this purpose, in constructing a wrench, I employ a suitable
rod or metál bar, one end of which is formed as a handle and the other end is
forked. To the ends of the two prongs of the forked bar one jaw of the
wrench is fixed firmly; the other, or moveable jaw, has a slot formed in it
through which the prongs of the fork pass, so that the moveable jaw may be
capable of sliding on the forked bar towards or from the fixed jaw. For the
purpose of securing the moveable jaw, two spring catches turning on a pin
or pins are fitted into the slot through the 'said jaw so that they stand in the

page_text: space between the prongs of the forked bar, and teeth are formed on the
inner sides of each prong of the fork for these catches to take into. Hence,
in order to shift the moveable jaw from one position to another, it is only
necessary to free the spring catches from the teeth on the forked bar to slide
the jaw to the position required, and allow the catches again to drop into the
teeth; or in place of forming teeth on both the prongs of the forked bar, they
may be formed on one prong only, a single catch being then employed, and
this is connected with a slide working stiffly on the prongs of the fork by
moving it transversely to the length of the prongs. The catch may be
secured either when locking into the teeth on the prong, or when lifted
out of the same; the slide traverses longitudinally on the prongs of the fork
with the moveable jaw; or, in place of employing but one moveable jaw, two
such jaws may be used, each sliding on one of the prongs of the forked bar,
and being furnished with its own spring catch to retain it in any required
position. The upper or fixed jaw in this case is made double, so that it may
be used at either end with one or other of the moveable jaws, as required.
And in order to increase the utility of these wrenches, their upper jaws and
the lower end or other positions of their handles can or may be so made to
suit or fit different sized nuts or other suitable objects requiring to be screwed
or unscrewed, that is to say, a single spanner or screw wrench may by this
combination be made with one or two moveable jaws, and two, four, or more
or less fixed jaws.
For the spring catches employed to retain the moveable jaws, screws may
be substituted; each jaw in this case carries it own screw, which is mounted
so that it will turn easily. The threads of the screw are of a pitch to
correspond with the teeth of the prong of the fork, and they take into and
work with these teeth. The screw threads are or may be milled on the top
that they may be turned more readily. It will be seen that when either of
the screws is thus, the corresponding moveable jaw will be traversed along
its prong of the forked bar, and it may thus be brought to any desired
position. If desired, one of the moveable jaws can be made to move up or
down its prong of the forked beer by employing a sluice, internally threaded nut,
or a spring catch; and in this latter case suitable teeth must be cut on its face
for that purpose. It is not essential that the teeth with which the screws work
should be formed on the prongs of the forked bar; these prongs may be made
plain, and a rod, with rack or other suitable teenth on either side of it, may
be fixed in the middle of the space between the prongs, and parrallel to them,
the toothed rod will thus pass between the two screws, the threads of which
will enter and work with the teeth on the rod. Wrenches with but one

page_text: moveable jaw may be made to work with screws in a similar manner; in
this case the teeth are formed on the prongs of the forked bar, and a single
screw is employed; it is mounted, by preference, on an axis under the jaw,
and is of sufficient size to take into the teeth of both the prongs, which are
suitably spaced for the purpose.
. It is not necessary, in the arrangement above described, that the bar. which
I have called the forked bar should be divided as far up as the fixed jaw; in
some of the arrangements the bar may conveniently be made solid for some
distance down from the fixed jaw, and an intermediate part of the bar beyond
is then slotted out. In this manner an increase of strength is obtained, the
maximum strain on the bar being close to the head or thereabouts in the
arrangement last described; indeed, the bar may be made solid for a consi-
derable portion of its length, the moveable jaw. being connected with the axis
of its screw by straps passing down each side of the solid, part of bar... If
desired the two straps may be connected together to strengthen them by a
narrow. connecting piece passing through.the bar in a slot which can be made
so small as not seriously to weaken the bar...
.:
In some wrenches consisting of a forked or slotted bar having the fixed
jaw secured to, its extremity, and the moveable jaw sliding upon it, I make
the prongs of the fork without teeth, and employ a screw for actuating and
retaining the moveable jaw; the screw is connected with the moveable jaw,
but is capable of turning freely; it lays between the two prongs of the fork
and at a point on the bar beyond the course over which the moveable jaw
is capable of sliding, it passes through a collar or lump on the bar within
which a thread is cut, so that the screw works in the said collar or lump as in
a nut, or instead of said collar or lump, or conjointly with either, an internally
threaded nut can be used, the said nut being made with two grooves, the one
opposite the other; in order to prevent its having any other than a longitudinal
motion, or in lieu of the said grooves, any other suitable means may be
employed for the same purposes, and when the screw is turned (and it has a
suitable head for the purpose) the moveable jaw is caused to traverse,
and the screw also holds it firmly in which it may be left. Wrenches
may also be constructed with a forked bar carrying the fixed jaw at the
extremity of its prongs, the moveable jaw slides on the prongs and also
on a screw fixed between them, so that in fact to form a third prong to
the fork. Immediately under the moveable jaw or washer is, or two or more
washers may be placed on the screw, and below this or these a nut is placed
on the screw, by means of which the moveable jaw may be locked at any -
required distance from the fixed jaw. In some cases, in place of making the
"

page_text: thread of the screw complete, 1 form; the thread or teeth only on two opposite
quadrants of the centre prong of the fork, and in the place' of the washer or
washers before made use of, I employ the put, which is also threaded, but only
on two opposite quadrants, and which is attached to the moveable jaw in such
a manner that it can turn freely.
In another arrangement the said nut need not, although it may or can be
attached to the moveable jaw, and I prefer a nut made with two projecting
thumb-pieces or wings, in order thereby to facilitate the working or adjusting
of the same, but more, especially when the said nut is not attached to.the
moveable jaw. By placing this nut so that its threads or teeth may cor-
respond with the blank spaces in the central prong of the fourt bar, the
moveable jaw is set free and may then, be slid to any required position; in
which it may afterwards be locked by turning the nut a quarter round! In
order to make the moveable jaw more secure, when the wrench has to be
used for heavy work, a complete nut may be placed on the screw under the
semi-threaded nut above-mentioned, and the former may be screwed up to
support the latter when required. . Or this arrangement may be modified by
making the screw between two prongs of the fourth bar capable of rotating,
but not of longitudinal movement, and causing it to pass through a hole in
the moveable jaw in which a worm is cut, or; internally threaded nut may be
inserted instead and firmly fixed therein, so that by turning the screw by
means of a head provided for the purpose, the moveable. jaw may be traversed
and secured in any desired position. In this arrangement I usually make
the thread on the screw and within the hole in the moveable bar complete,
but this may be varied so as to give a quicker sliding motion to the moveable
jaw, to a fourth bar; it may be fixed to two separate bars, the screw laying
between the two... The lower end of the screw has a head fixed to it and is
so arranged that it can turn freely on the extremities of the two side bars, but
it is retained from longitudinal motion.
Another form of wrench consists of a suitable main arm, or rod, or metal
bar, flat on two opposite sides, to one end of this bar the fixed jaw of the
wrench is secured,; the moveable jaw slides upon the bar, and it has two
straps connected to it, one on each side of the bar carrying the fixed jaw.
These straps have screw threads cut upon them, and they, together with the
bar between them, pass through a nut which turns freely on the central bar, but
is prevented from sliding thereon by a shoulder on one side, or both sides, and
stops on the other, by turning the screw nut the moveable jaw is worked up
or down the central bar. If desired the two threaded straps may be united
by a suitable connecting piece, to receive which a suitable slot is made in the

page_text: main bar or rod, in which slot it moves up or down according as the screw
nut may be turned either up or down.. 'And the metal bar or main rod,
instead of being made flat on both its sides, may be made oval or otherwise,
in which case, but particularly when oval, I prefer a suitable groove being
made on both sides or surface of the main bar, and large enough to receive
the said straps, and wherever required sufficiently deep to protect in some
measure the threads thereof from external injury. In place of making the
two side straps entirely separate the one from the other, they may be connected
by a web passing through the central slotted bar, and they may be made
to pass down, into, and out of a tubular internally threaded handle which
is capable of turning on the central slotted bar and serves as a nut. I need
not, however, form a complete screw within the tubular handle, but instead I
form teeth only on two opposite sides thereof, so that it may be turned into
such a position as to free the screw straps and allow the moveable jaw to be
more freely or quickly moved up or down as may be required, and then by
again turning the tubular handle partly round, the moveable jaw will become
locked or held in the new position; when the side straps are connected by a
web, the web may either be made separately from either one or both of said
side straps, and be subsequently attached or fixed thereto, that is to say, to
either; both, or but one of the side straps may be necessary, or the side
straps and web may be made in one piece, so as to form in fact a
double grooved stem in one piece, instead of a double grooved stem.
formed of two or three separate pieces and united or attached together
as above set forth. In place of cutting the teeth within the tubular handle
I prefer to fix therein by screws, dovetails, or otherwise, two strips of metal
with suitable teeth cut upon them. The same result may be obtained by
forming two slots in internally threaded tubular handle, the one opposite the
other, whereby threads or teeth are left only on two opposite quadrants of the
inside of said handle; or in place of forming screw threads on the exterior of
the side straps, they may be connected together at their upper end or in
manner before described, and then continued as a tube, within which a screw
thread is cut. The tubular continuation of the said side straps, or double
grooved and partly tubular stem, is beyond the extremity of the central bar,
which is made shorter than before, and in place of itself serving as the handle of
the wrench a tube is screwed or fixed on to.it to serve as a handle, and the side
straps with their tubular continuation pass down into this handle, and a screw
entering the bottom of the handle screws into the tubular continuation of
the side straps. The head of the screw, which is made of such a form that it
may be grasped, conveniently in the hand, is secured to the handle, but in

page_text: such a manner that it can turn independently thereof. On turning this head
the moveable jaw will be worked up or down. This wrench can be made
without tubular handle just described simply by using a handle, the lower end
of the central bar, which must be made sufficiently long for that purpose, and
be suitably slotted to receive the said side straps, partly tubular and double
grooved stem, as also the spindle or screw that works into the tubular con-
tinuation of the said straps or stem.
Another arrangement consists of a suitable main arm or metal bar with a
handle at one end, and a fixed jaw on the other; below the fixed jaw is a
movéable jaw capable of sliding on the bar, and this has attached to it, under-
neath, a straight stem or spindle, which lays in a slot formed for it in the
bar, and its lower end descends into the handle, which is made tubular to
receive it; on the stem or spindle a screw thread is cut, but this is not com-
pletely round the spindle, but on two opposite gradients of it; the stem passes
through a nut fitted into a recess formed for it immediately above the handle,
and the nut can turn freely in this recess, but cannot move longitudinally; the
screw thread is formed only on two opposite quadrants of the nut, hence this
may be placed in such a position that the stem or spindle of the under jaw
can slide freely through the nut, the threads of the one being brought to
correspond with the blank part of the other, the under jaw may then be
placed in any required position, and it may be there locked and held fast by
turning the nut partly round, so as to cause the threads within it to engage
with the threads on the stem or spindle; or in place of this arrangement the
stem or spindle with the portions of the screw thread upon it may be
stationary, and secured both to the fixed jaw and to the handle, and the nut may
be placed immediately under the moveable jaw or jaws, so as to travel up and
down with it, then, as before, by turning the nut partly round the moveable
jaw will be set free, so that it may be placed in any required position, and
then by turning the nut back the moveable jaw will bé secured in this new
position. Or a wrench may be constructed of a forked bar having a fixed
jaw at the end of its prongs, and a moveable jaw sliding upon them, the said
moveable jaw having å stem fixed to it and projecting from it passing down
between the prongs of the forked bar into a tubular handle, with which the
same is furnished; the stem is made tubular and has a worm within it, and
there is a screw passing up through the tubular handle, which enters the
hollow stem and works with the worm therein; the screw is secured to the
tubular handle, but can turn freely and independently thereof, and it is furnished
with a head, by turning which the moveable jaw is traversed and secured
where required. In this arrangement a slotted bar may be substituted for the

page_text: forked bar, that is to say, it is not essential that the opening in the war should
extend up to the fixed head.
Another method of constructing a screw wrench is as follows:-The
stationary jaw is fixed at the extremity of a bar, on which the moveable jaw
slides, and attached to the 'under side of the moveable jaw is a tube or sleeve
exactly fitting the bar; at the lower end of the bar is a head, which is secured
to the end of the said bar, but is capable of turning freely thereon. Fixed to
the head is a rod or spindle passing up through the end of the bar, and laying
in a slot formed in the same; at the upper end of this rod or spindle is a
screw, and a screw is cut within the moveable jaw and its sleeve with which
the screw on the rod gears, so that by turning the head at the extremity of
the bar or handle the moveable jaw can be traversed as required. Or, in
place of this arrangement, I employ a bar with a fixed jaw at its extremity,
and another jaw with a sleeve sliding thereon, as before, and. to the lower end.
of the sleeve I connect a tube with a worm within it; this tube is capable
of rotating freely, but it cannot move longitudinally; independently of the
moveable jaw, to which it is connected, it takes into a screw thread cut on
the bar, so that by turning the tube connected with the sleeve and jaw these
parts will be traversed, as required. By leaving teeth only on 2 opposite
quadrant of the inside, or a part of the inside of the said tube or nuts, the
moveable jaw can be moved up or down more freely upon the bar or main
arm of the wrench.
..
Another method of constructing a wrench consists in mounting or forming
the lower jaw at the extremity of an oval-shaped tube (and on one side or
on 2 sides thereof. The upper jaw, which also can be made double, is also
mounting on the end of an oval-shaped tube; this tube, which has a screw
thread cut within it, fits into and is able to slide up and down in the first tube;
this motion is given to it by means of a rod having a head at one end, this
is attached to the lower end of the tube of the lower jaw, but so as to be able
to turn freely thereon, and it has fixed to it a rod passing up within this tube
until it enters the tube of the upper jaw, here a screw is formed upon it
corresponding with a thread within the said tube, so that by turning the
head on the screw rod the upper jaw or jaws, as the case may be, can be
worked up or down, and set and held at any required distance from the lower
5 jaw or jaws. The tube of the lower jaw or jaws need not be complete, the
slots in this tube, as
weight of the tool may be reduced by cutting holes or
also in the tube carrying the upper jaw.
Another arrangement consists in mounting the lower jaws as before on a
tube, but with the upper jaw on a rod or main bar sliding through the tube;

page_text: on the lower end of the rod a screw is cut, and this enters a tubular handle
with a corresponding thread within it, which is attached to the lower end of
the tube of the lower jaw, but so that it can turn freely, the tubular handle
in this case serves to move the upper jaw either towards or from the lower
jaw, and to receive it in any desired position.
prongs
Another arrangement is as follows:-The upper jaw is fixed to or formed
on a bar, which at its lower end is forked or slotted. A head capable of
turning freely is mounted at the extremity of the forked bar, and to it a screw
is attached, which passes upwards laying between the prongs of the fork, the
lower or moveable jaw slides on the bar which carries the upper jaw, and to
its under side a tube or nut is attached, which also lays between the
of the fork, a worm is cut. within this tube, and the screw works into it, so
that by turning the head at the lower end of the 'apparatus the moveable jaw
may be moved to and secured at any desired distance from the fixed jaw.
The tube or nut of this wrench is made with two grooves, the one opposite
the other, and the projections formed by the flanges of said grooves -slide or
move up and down, and upon the parallel bars forming the prongs of the
forked portion of the bar. And the grooved parts of said tube or nut may be
so made as to completely or partially encase the said parralel bars, or such
portions only thereof as the size. of said tube or nut.may' require.
A wrench may be formed in the following: manner:-The upper jaw is
mounted on a bar, which in transverse section is longer in one direction than
the other. At the lower end of this bar a screw thread is cut, but the threads
penetrate only into the bar on two opposite sides; the lower jaw has con-
nected to it underneath a case entirely enclosing the bar carrying the upper
jaw. On the case at a point near the; middle of its length a nut is mounted,
so that it can turn freely, but cannot slide, and-slots are cut through, or suitable
holes or openings are made in the case, underneath the nut on two sides; so.
,that the nut can gear with the screw teeth beneath, so that by turning the
nut the jaws may be set to and secured at any desired distance apart. Instead
of the said case a stem or bar with two grooves cut on it opposite each other
can be attached to the lower jaw, and in order to allow of the flanges of said
grooves to embrace and move up or down upon the main bar carrying the
upper jaw, the said main bar is suitably slotted, to receive the connecting web,
or that portion of the said double-grooved stem or bar which necessarily is
placed and moves up or down between the parralel bars forming the afore-
said slotted part of the main bar. Two independent suitable side straps may
also be used in lieu of either the said case or the said double-grooved stem
or bar, and along the whole or a portion of the whole length of the under

page_text: surface of each of the said straps, I prefer, in order to strengthen them, to
place longitudinally and in the centre thereof a web or tongue of sufficient
projection to fit into and move up or down'in a suitable groove longitudinally
made for that purpose on both sides of the main bär.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th January 1863.
1
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PATRICK
BENIGNUS O'NEILL, Gentleman, of Warwick Street; Regent Street; in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by. Her.Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said. Patrick Benignus O'Neill, Her special licence that I, the said Patrick
Benignus O'Neill, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill; my executors, administrators, and assigns,.
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN SCREW WRENCHERS OR SPANNERS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
66
་་
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement; that is to say :--
..
This Invention has for its object improvements in screw wrenchers or
spanners; as particularly. described in my Provisional Specification, dated
Fifth July One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.

page_text: For this purpose in constructing a wrench, I employ a suitable rod or bar
of metal, one end of which, made solid or hollow, and fixed or moveable, forms
the handle, and the other end being forked or divided into prongs, and fitted
with straps carries the jaws, one of the said jaws being solid and firmly fixed
thereto, and the other slotted and moveable thereon, or having both jaws
moveable, the principle of construction is shown upon the accompanying
Drawings lettered A, B, C, and D, respectively.
Drawings lettered A, B, C, and D, respectively.
EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS.
DRAWING. A.
Fig. 1 shews a spanner formed upon my said principle; the internal edges
of the prongs a, a, are toothed or notched to receive the ends of suitably
formed pawls b, b, or the external threads of screws fitted in the slot of the
moveable jaws.
Fig. 2 shews a modification of the spanner, in which the upper jaw is made
double, and the lower being divided into two parts so that the jaw on one
prong can be moved independently of the other, the media for fixing and
releasing the moveable jaws being as above described; in order to increase the
sides of this nut, two grooves c, c, are cut, and when the nut is turned until
these grooves come opposite to the sides of the bar, the internal threads being
out of gear with those on the side straps, the moveable jaw is liberated, and
can then be moved, and again fixed in any position by turning the nut a into
gear.
Fig. 11 is a spanner with a screwed centre bar having jaws at both ends,
arranged so as to take different sized nuts, the centre bar a is screwed at both
ends, and is turned by the nut b, the centre bar b screws into the two moveable
jaws c, c, or into rotating collars with a right hand screw at one end, and left
hand at the other, the nut may be either fixed to the centre bar or to turn
thereon, in the latter case the centre bar is reduced and threaded, and the
nut threaded externally and internally, the external threads work into female
threads then cut in the inside of the bars at c, c, the nut is slotted for quick
adjustment as before described.
Figs. 12 and 13, shew another modification of double spanner with round
prongs at the side and centre, especially designed for agricultural machinery.
Fig. 14 shews a spanner with flattened bar and tubular handle, in which the
centre prong or bar a is fitted with an outer case, and is turned with a milled
head at the bottom, (the lower end of the centre. bar or prong may be enlarged,
made solid, and itself form the handle without the outer case if desired,) the
upper end of the centre bar is screwed and side grooved as shewn at a,

page_text: in the socket or slot of the moveable jaw two strips of metal are fitted of such
a with that they will move freely in the grooves of the bar when opposite
thereto, and tapped on their inner edges to receive the screwed portion of the
rotating bar, the grooves in which give a quick adjustment to the jaw, while
the screwed surfaces gearing with the metal strips in the slot of the jaw
become the fixing media. The jaw may be made to adjust still further
upon the straps, if necessary, the latter being movable. This side strap and
quick acting screw principle may be applied also in the construction of what
are commonly denominated end spanners, that is to say, where the line of
motion of the jaw or jaws is at an angle with the centre line of the bar. A-
spanner of this kind is shewn at Fig. 14, which represents the side view,
and 14b, which represents a sectional end view. This side strap and quick
acting screw principle may be applied also in the construction of what are
commonly denominated end spanners, i.e. where the motion of the jaw or jaws
is at an angle with the centre line of the bar. A spanner of this kind is
shewn at Figs. 14%, which represents a side view, and Fig. 14b, which
represents a sectional end view. a, a, a, is the solid jaw bar to which one jaw is
firmly fixed; in the side of this bar two grooves b, b, are sunk. The moveable
jaw is formed with saddle flanges, and straps c, c, fixed to the moveable jaw;
these straps work in the dovetailed or rebaited grooves b, b. The inner
surfaces of these straps are concave, and are notched, screw tapped, as shewn
at e, e; an externally notched cylinder or threaded nut of a pitch corresponding
with e, e, is let into a cavity in the fixed jaw bar at f, which is bored longi-
tudinally to receive a spindle g, by which it is traversed, and which passes
through and turns the nut h by the thumb-piece k; this nut has the threads
on two opposite sides cut away so that when it is turned a quarter round it
will be out of gear with the two side bars, when the moveable jaw can be
adjusted as required, and screwed into position by turning the nut h into gear
with the tapped inner surface e, e, of the side bars or strap. The same result
can be obtained by a rack, and spring pawl adjustment. The jaw bar may
be forged with the handle i, or be fitted thereto; this handle may incline to
the jaw bar at any required angle, or run parallel therewith, as shewn by the
spanner with solid jaw bar and double tubular handle. The outer tube a,
(which may be perforated or slotted to tighten it,) the solid jaw bar b and fixed
jaw c being in one; the inner tube d terminates in the side straps d', (also

page_text: perforated or slotted), which are fixed to and actuate the moving jaw e at the
bottom of the outer tube; an externally milled closing collar f is fitted rising
from the utility of a spanner of this construction I cut in the head and in the
handle (the latter being spread at the end for that purpose) a convenient
number of nut gauges or openings to take nuts of various sizes, a double headed
spanner may be formed as shewn at Fig. 5, and in this spanner a double jaw
being entire can be made to take different sized nuts by forming the double
headed as shewn by the dotted lines.
Fig. 6 is another modification of doubled jawed spanner in which an
intermediate or third
prong is introduced, in this case the entire bar is used
as the rack and the jaws are made to support each other at the back; the
centre bar also enables the backs of these jaws to be made solid. across the
inside of the bars at a, a, and b, b.
Fig. 7 shews another modification of a three-pronged 'spanner in which case
the centre bar a, is screwed. threaded, the thread being cut away on two
opposite sides, round this partially screwed bar an adjusting nut b, is fitted,
the internal threads of which are also cut away: on two opposite sides, and
under this adjusting nut a fixed nut e (the internal threads of which are
entrie) is also fitted upon the screwed bar, the adjusting nut is collared into and
actuates the moveable jaw, which may be simple or double as required; the
adjusting nut is fitted with a stop to indicate its proper position when in and
out of gear; to adjust the jaws of this spanner to any sized nut within its
capacity, the fixing nut which is made to move very freely is run back; the
adjusting nut is then turned a quarter round, or until the screwed surfaces of
the nut are brought opposite to the plain surfaces of the bar, when the adjust-
ing nut being out of gear, both it and the moveable jaw to which it is attached
can be freely moved as required, and when the latter is in proper position the
adjusting nut is again turned back into gear with the bar and the running
nut screwed up to it or not according as the strain upon the jaws may require,
the running nut may be used for fixing the jaw without gearing the adjusting
nut if desired; the centre bar may be fixed at d, 'd, or made to rotate and be
fitted with an elongated stem passing down through a hollow handle and
turned by a milled projecting head or nut at the bottom or elsewhere.
Another modification of the three pronged spanner is shewn at Fig. 3. a is
the centre bar or third prong; b, b, two intermediate sliding prongs or straps
fixed to and moving with the under jaw; these sliding prongs are screwed on
the two edges c, c, pass down through openings in the neck of the bar into.a
hollow handle d; the handle may be partially screwed internally be fitted with
a nut at the bottom or inside thereof; the screwed portion of the handle or

page_text: the nut fitted as just described will then serve for adjusting the moveable jaw
as required.
It will be seen that this principle of construction effectually protects the
threads of the adjusting screw from injury; when the screwed handle or nut
is used the upper part of the centre bar a is fixed and the intermediate sliding
side prongs or straps are made plain on all sides at the shoulders of the bar,
when the hollow handle is fixed the lower portion of the centre bar (or the
whole of it if desired) is made to turn from the bottom and the shape of the side
straps being adapted thereto, the former being threaded externally and the
latter internally on two opposite sides becomes the adjusting medium.
Fig. 4 shews a simple modification of a spanner with a pronged jaw bar and
side straps; in this case the latter are joined by a crossed web which works in
the space between the prongs; the adjustment of this.spanner is by the nut
a, in which there are two slots b, b, enabling it to be turned out of gear for
quick adjustment.
Fig. 8 is another modification of the side strap principle without the con-
necting cross web and slotted bar at the shoulder, the web and slot being here
formed at the lower end of the bar to keep the shoulder or jaw bar
solid.
Figs. 9 and 10 are a side and back view of another modification of a side
strap, solid jaw barred spanner in which the externally milled. and internally
wholly or partially threaded nut is let into a narrow or flattened bar at 6 in c¹, e¹,
are flush with the sides of the under jaw; and this sleeve or the jaw (or both)
is tapped or notched internally; the fixed jaw bar is bored or made hollow to
receive the rod or spindle e which terminates or is fitted with a notched or
screwed head f which works in the notches or thread in the sleeve or socket of
the under jaw; this rod or spindle is turned by the milled nut 9, and thereby
the jaws are adjusted as required.
Figs. 35 and 36 shew another form of split or pronged bar and slide strap
principle; in this case the internal edges of the side prongs a, a, are formed
with segmented notches, and the screws b, b', being one solid and the other
hollow, or male and female, and the latter having its two opposite sides reduced
or flattened to the width of the space between the prongs; when the screw.head
6 is turned to the position shewn by the dotted lines the under jaw can be
moved at pleasure and when adjusted to the required position by turning it
forward to the position shewn by the solid line the jaw is fixed; the action
here is double, the notch being effected by the clamping effect of the two.
screws.
The side bars may be plain and the clamping adjustment only applied when

page_text: the spanner is required for light work. Fig. 36ª shews the shape of the bars
in transverse section.
DRAWING C.
Figs. 37 and 38 shew a spanner. with screwed side prongs or straps, or
attached to the moveable jar, worked by an internally threaded externally
milled nut b. This nut is recessed on to the jaw bar, as shewn at c, c,
Fig. 38, to prevent it from moving longitudinally. Figs. 41 and 42 are trans-
verse sections at the points numbered with corresponding numbers above.
Fig. 39 shews another modification of this mode of construction. a is the
side strap; b, the nut, and c, notches at the edge of the bar; this nut has two
grooves internally, and when turned till these grooves come opposite the edges
of the bar the jaw is released, and can be moved up or down the jaw bar at
pleasure. By cutting away the portions of the screwed straps a, Fig. 37, and
grooving the nut, this spanner can also be made quick acting.
Fig. 40 shews another modification of this kind of spanner. a is the jaw
bar, to which the upper jaw is fixed; b, a hollow handle screwed and split, or
divided at the top to receive the upper jaw bar, the shape of which is shewn
in transverse section at Fig. 45.
Fig. 46 shews the opening or slot in the under jaw; the nut C is grooved in-
ternally, as before described, and recessed on to the bar at d, d, see also Fig. 44. 2
Fig. 47 shews a three barred winged nut quick-acting spanner for the
purpose of a pipe wrench, and Figs. 50 and 51 are sections at A, B, and C, D,
respectively.
.
Fig. 48 shews a pipe wrench with hollow handle. The head a is fastened to
the bar b, and the fulcrum d to the hollow handle; and the bar bis screwed 2
to the lower end, and is worked by a grooved nut e let into the handle at f.-
Fig. 49 shows another modification of a pipe wrench spanner, having an
articulated fulcrum a and clamping side straps b, to which the screwed rod c
is hinged, worked by a nut at d.
Fig. 52 is another modification of an adjusting pipe wrench spanner. a is 3
the head and bar upon which a sliding collar b. is fitted adjustable in any
suitable way, and having a projecting limb, upon which a moveable fulcrum c
adjustable by the grooved screw d is fitted. The moveable fulcrum is fitted
with side straps e, e, or may be made entire, as shewn in section at Fig. 52".
Fig. 53 shews another design of pipe wrench, having an articulate fulcrum, 3
as above described, and side straps, and is actuated by the milled head
screw b. Fig. 54 is also a pipe wrench, having an articulating spring side
rack strap a, and a double-acting eccentric wheel fulcrum. By making this
notched eccentric wheel nearly entire, the wrench is capable of being used for

page_text: screwing and unscrewing pipes forwards or backwards. The spring side rack
straps may be fitted at the sides of the bar at c, if desired; the centre of which
a screwed stem g rises, working into the tapped end of the inner tube. The
screened and tapped surfaces may be either entire or cut away on opposite sides,
or the screwed, spindle may be grooved, and the tube fitted with metal strips,
as before described. The male and female threads in all cases under the
grooved spindle principle of improvement, may be cut at right angles to the
axis of motion.
Figs. 19, 20, 21, and 22, respectively shew transverse section of this
spanner at the points indicated by corresponding numbers Figs. 15 and 16.
Fig. 17 shews another mode of applying the principle of forked jaw bar,
the fixed jaw or bar 6 and hollow handle c being also in one; did is a centre
bar, to which the moveable jaw, and, by the key e, a winged nut fis let into a
cavity in the jaw bar above the handle; through this nut, a portion of the
threads of which are cut away, the centre bar 9 (also having a portion of its
thread cut away) is fitted and passes down nearly through a hollow; the
handle c, when the nut f is turned until the surface of the wing to rest against
the surface of the bar h, the centre bar g and jaw.d can be moved up or down
at pleasure; and when adjusted in the proper position, the nut being again
turned back, as shewn in the Drawing, the moveable jaw is thereby fixed in
the required position. A modification of this principle of construction consists
in tapping or notching the two inner surfaces of the prongs i, i, and screwing
or notching the centre bar g to gear therewith, the notches being cut away on
two opposite sides; the centre bar is, in this case, fitted to the moveable jaw
so as to turn therein, the two being connected so as to move together. In the
plain sides of the centre bar groves are cut, while inside of the nut two tongue
pieces fitting into these groves are fixed. The handle is made hollow, as
above described, and the nut or winged short cylinder is made with a plain
surface inside, so that the centre bar can traverse it freely, the tongue piece in
the nut sliding in the groves of the bar. From this description the mode of
adjustment will be readily understood.
Another modification of a spanner of this construction consists in placing
the centre bar in a groove and forming the jaw bar entire on one side, so as
to increase the strength of the prongs, the moveable jaw can then be actuated
by any of the media above described.
Figs. 23 and 25 shew a side view and section of a notched or threaded and
grooved spindle; and Figs. 24 and 26, side view and section of a modification
with the centre web removed.
Fig. 18 shews a tubed spanner, the fixed jaw (a) of which is fastened to

page_text: the outer tube b, in which one or two slots e are cut out, and through which
a tongue or key f, which secures the moveable. jaw to the inner tube (or solid
rod) passes,.and in which slot or slots the said key or tongue traverses as the
jaw is moved. The mode of adjustment is similar to that shewn at Fig. 16,
.which has been before explained. Fig. 27 is a section at A, Fig. 18.. Figs. 28
and 29 are side and back views, and Fig. 32, 33, and 34, are sections at
A, B, C, respectively. (Figs. 28 and 29), shewing the aforesaid improved
principle of adjustment in the construction of a spanner in which the fixed
jaw bar a, terminating in the slotted, screw d is moveable in a sleeve (ter-
minating. in a. tubular handle), to the top of which sleeve the under jaw is
fixed. The handle e is collared into a socket at the bottom of the sleeve,
and is fitted internally with tongue. pieces, notched; or screwed, as before
described. By turning this handle. from right to left, or vice versa,, to, the
extent allowed by the stop f, the upper and lower jaws can be adjusted and
fixed at pleasure.
Figs. 30 and 31 illustrate another. modification of sleeved and grooved screw
principle of construction. a is the fixed jaw bar, upon which the under jaw b
and sleeve c are fitted so as to slide thereon the sides of the sleeve within
the dotted lines.
Fig. 55 shews a hollow-handled double pipe wrench with forked and centre
bars, the latter being traversed with a screw worked by the handle a, as
shewn in section at Fig. 56.
Fig. 57 is a spanner in which the side strap a are connected by a centre-
web which works in the slot b; c is a tubular handle, in which a flat bar.is
fitted terminating with the milled end d; this bar is threaded on the two edges,
as shewn at Fig. 58. The side straps; where they continue in the handle, are
notched or tapped, as shewn at d, d, (Fig. 58); and when the bar b is turned
across, as shewn by the dotted lines, the under jaw can be adjusted at plea-
sure, and again. fixed in. position by turning the bar back, as shewn in the
Drawing.
Fig. 59 shews another modification of edge or side rack strap. . a is the
strap, which is screwed eccentrically, as shewn at Fig. 60, and this screwed
portion fits into a groove in the bar b, where.it is protected from injury; this
bar also receives the nut c, which is notched and shouldered into it; by turning
this nut the inclined jaw d can be adjusted at pleasure. This spanner, may be 3
modified by continuing the webbed side straps a to the lower part. of .the
tubular handle, where they may be notched or threaded and grooved, and the
interior of handle being similarly notched or tapped, or fitted with a nut or metal
strip or strips, also notched or threaded, for continuous or quick action..

page_text: Fig. 61 shews a wrench, in which the under jaw is moved by an internally-
threaded cylinder (a) working upon a screwed portion of the fixed jaw bar b,
the lower end of which forms the handle, may be encased in a tube.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
improvements, and illustrated the principle of construction by the respective
Drawings, in as full and perfect a manner as I am at present able, I hereby
further declare that I do not absolutely restrict myself to the precise appli-
cations of the said principle and improvements hereby describes, nor to the
exact form and dimensions shewn upon the Drawings, as the details may be
modified in various ways in carrying out the said Invention and improvements
in practice. I would also here further observe, that wherever the written
description of the form of any of the said spanners differs on the body of this
Specification from that shewn upon the Drawings, such written explanation is
to be taken also as descriptive of part of my said improvements, although the
same may not be illustrated by Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Patrick Benignus O'Neill, have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Fifth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
P. B. O'NEILL. (L.S.)