IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES
Year: 1854

page_text: Sealed the 21st July 1854, and dated the 18th May 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Colley March at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th May 1854.
I, JAMES COLLEY MARCH, of Barnstaple, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VICES" to be as follows:-
The object of these improvements is to construct.vices in such manner that
the jaws shall with greater advantage than heretofore move parallel to each
other. For this purpose, each vice is constructed with two jaws, which are
respectively formed at the ends of two parallel limbs, one of which is fixed to
a bench or other place by screws and nuts, or otherwise. The fixed limb has
two toothed racks fixed to it, and at right angles with its back surface.
Through the fixed limb are made two openings, for the passage of two parallel
guide bars, fixed to the back surface of the moveable limb, and at right angles
thereto; such guide bars are supported by friction rollers, or they simply slide,
and are guided in the openings formed through the fixed limb. The two
guide bars are connected at their ends by another bar, which keeps them
correct in position; and these bars carry an axis, having at each of its ends a
pinion, which respectively gear in the two racks fixed to the limb of the fixed

page_text: jaw. The screw, which I prefer to be three-threaded and case-hardened, is
connected with and turns in the moveable jaw, and the screw nut is carried
by the fixed jaw. The screw is protected by a cover, which is fixed to the
moveable jaw and slides through the fixed jaw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Colley March, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
COLLEY MARCH, of Barnstaple, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Colley March, Her special licence that I, the said James Colley March,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Colley March, 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
VICES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Colley
March, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Colley March, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to-be-particularly-described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
The object of these improvements is to construct vices in such manner that
the jaws shall with greater advantage than heretofore move parallel to each
other. For this purpose, each vice is constructed with two jaws, which are
respectively formed at the ends of two parallel limbs, one of which is fixed to
a bench or other place by screws and nuts, or otherwise. The fixed limb has
two toothed racks fixed to it, and at right angles with its back surface.

page_text: fastened to the bench by four bolts. (o) is a bolt to fasten the limb or side
(b, b,) to a block or clamp in the floor. (p, p.) are pieces of steel, made rough
as usual; they are rivetted to a plate of iron, about one-eighth of an inch thick.
Under each piece of steel is fitted a piece of iron, about three-eighths of an
inch thick; it is to support the steel, and is fastened together with the inner
plate to the jaws or chaps by two screws in each. The steel pieces and the
pieces of iron are thinner at the upper part, by which means a dovetailing is
effected, and the steel pieces are by the pressure of the vice therefore firmly
retained. (r) is a roller to support the guide bar, and enables the limb or side
(a, a,) to be moved in and out with little friction.
The racks should be made of scrap iron; they may be cut and rounded, as is
well known, by appropriate machines.
The pinions I prefer to be forged. Being prepared of the proper size, it is
first driven when hot some way into a taper mould, by which the teeth are
marked; they are then worked up by a fuller, and finally driven hot through
'the taper mould, by which the true shape is acquired; a hole is then bored
through the centre; they are then chucked and turned true to the centre. To
prevent their moving on the bar, a longitudinal hole is drilled, one-half in the
bar and one-half in the pinion; a pin is then inserted, and the pinion is firmly
rivetted upon the bar. I find it convenient to provide a taper pinion to take
castings from, by which means a mould is readily formed.
Figure 2 shows the vice in a
position to bring in view certain parts not so
clearly shewn in Figure 1. The screw (h) being taken back shews the collar
(9), spherical on the inner side and flat on the outer. (s) is the washer,
concave towards the collar (q).
Figure 3 shews the flat washer cut in two, to allow its being placed in the
recess of the limb or side (a, a); and then the ring (i), in Figure 1, is fastened
by screws over it, by which means the limb or side (a, a,) is drawn back. (t)
shews the nut turned back upon the screw; it is made with a spherical shoulder,
for which there is a corresponding recess in the limb or side (b, b); this nut is
-provided with a notch on each side, to receive two pieces of iron screwed on to
the boss of the limb or side (b, b), by which it is prevented from turning or
being forced back. (u) shews a countersunk hole, to receive a nut for screw-
ing one of the stays (m). (v, v) shews the stays which connect the flat bar
(g) with the guide bars (c, c); they are made with a T head, and are fastened
to the guide bars (c, c,) by the bolts which secure the bearings of the round
bar (f). On each side of the roller (r) is a flat piece of iron, with a hole in
each to support the pin on which the roller moves; they are secured in the slot
by a screw and collar on each side.

page_text: Having thus described the nature and principles of my improvements on
vices, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details; but what I claim is, the combination herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Colley March, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
HENRY IVIE GRIBBLE,
of Barnstaple, Devon,
Banker.
JAMES COLLEY MARCH. (L.S.)