Improvements in Wrenches.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1391-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wrenches.
I
I, PHINEAS WILLIAM LOWNES, of Orlando, in the County of Orange and
State of Florida, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improvement in wrenches and has for its object to
produce a wrench which shall be of simple, durable construction, easy to operate
and effective in the performance of its function.
A further object to produce a wrench having a double faced jaw and a sliding
jaw so arranged relatively to the double faced jaw that it may be made to operate
with either face of said double faced jaw and at the same time be prevented from
lateral movement in whichever position it may be operated.
A further object is to produce a wrench of simple construction having a double
faced pivoted jaw and so attach a sliding jaw to the body of the wrench that it
may be capable of operating with either face of the pivoted jaw.
With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth
and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:-
:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved wrench.
Fig. 2 is a view of the body of the wrench with the jaws and operating devices
removed.
Figs. 3 and 4 are views of certain details.
Fig. 5 is a view of a modification.
A represents the body of the wrench and is composed of two flat plates B of
metal sufficiently thick to insure strength, and are properly spaced apart by means
of blocks a, a, a, b, b', and 3, the blocks a', a, a, forming in part, the edges of the
body of the wrench. The spacing blocks may be cast or forged solid with the
sides, or if desired the ends of said blocks may be contracted and such contracted
portions inserted in perforations in the plates B.
Secured to the plates B of the body A at the lower end thereof, is a block c from
which a shank C projects, said shank preferably being made tapering and provided
at its free end with screw threads d. Surrounding the shank C is a handle D of
wood or other suitable material, a metallic collar e being fitted to the top of the
handle D and adapted to abut against the lower end of the body of the wrench.
The lower free screw threaded end of the shank d projects beyond the end of the
handle D where it is provided with a nut f.
At one side of the body A near the top thereof the plates B project upwardly
and outwardly to produce portions g in rear of which the post b' is located between
the plates. Between the post 6 and the outer extremity of the curved portions g,
the plates B are provided with aligned perforations i. Located between the
portions g of the plates is the preferably curved shank j of a jaw E having an upper
face and an outer face l. The shank projects inwardly between the plates to a
point in proximity to the post 62 and is provided with a perforation m adapted to
align with the perforations in the portions 9 of the plates,-through which
perforations a pivot pin F is inserted, whereby the jaw E is pivotally connected to
the body of the wrench.
Made in the opposing faces B of the body A are aligned openings G, preferably
of octagonal shape, in which openings a similar shaped box H is inserted, said box
having openings n, o, made through it at right angles to each other, the opening n
being adapted to receive an interiorly threaded nut I inserted loosely therein, and

page_text: n
the opening being adapted to permit the passage through the box of the screw
threaded shank of a sliding jaw J.
of
With the parts constructed and arranged as shown in Figure 1, the shank P
jaw J is inserted in the opening formed by the spacing blocks a', b,-being guides
by said blocks and made to pass through the opening o in the box H and through
the nut I in said block, the free end of the shank p then passing between and
guided by the spacing blocks a, a.
With the parts of the wrench thus assembled, the sliding jaw is adapted to be
operated by the nut 7 to engage a pipe inserted between it and the pivoted jaw E.
When the device is thus operated the pivoted jaw E will swing freely on its
pivot F in such manner that when pressure is applied to the handle the jaw E
swings in toward the sliding jaw, gripping the pipe or bolt tighter and tighter
as the distance between the jaws becomes less, acting after the manner of a
toggle joint. The pivoted jaw E falls back by its own weight when released
and is of such shape that when it hangs free and there is nothing between the
jaws they are much wider open at the points y--y than at z, thus giving a sure
grip to the pipe. When the pivoted jaw has swung until it strikes the block a¹ it
has not come quite parallel with the teeth of the jaw j,-thus preventing the work
from wedging so that the wrench will not release, a trouble experienced with almost
all wrenches which I am aware of.
By means of the spacing blocks a, b, and a, a, and by making the box H with
flat edges to fit into similarly shaped openings in the plates of the body, the sliding
jaw will be guided in its movements and lateral motion of said jaw prevented.
When it is desired to adapt the sliding jaw to operate in conjunction with the
face of the pivoted jaw, the sliding jaw is withdrawn and the box H and nut I will
be turned one-fourth around, so that the opening o in the box will align with the
openings r, s, formed by the spacing blocks a, a¹ and .
The shank of the sliding jaw will then be passed through these openings and
the openings in the box and nut and thus the sliding jaw will be adapted to
operate with the face of the pivoted jaw.
If desired the jaw E may be pivoted at the end of its shank, and a slot
made in the body of said shank for the reception of a set screw by means
of which to adjust it, as shown in Figure
In order to adapt my invention for use as a monkey wrench, a jaw K may
be made to project in the opposite direction from the jaw J and a jaw K¹ made
to project from the body of the wrench at the opposite side thereof from the
pivoted jaw E, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.
By constructing a wrench as above described a device will be produced which
will be very simple in construction and effective in operation.
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 :-
:-
1st. In a wrench, the combination with a body having an opening at its top and
openings in its sides, a transverse opening, the sides or walls of the latter being
angular and a jaw attached to said body and having teeth on its upper and outer
faces, of an adjustable carrier or box shaped to fit the transverse angular opening
in the body of the wrench a movable jaw or nut located in the carrier and engaging
the movable jaw, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a wrench the combination with a body having an opening in its top and
openings in its sides, and a jaw attached to said body and having an upper and an
outer face, of an adjustable carrier having an angular periphery and located in a
correspondingly shaped opening in the body of the wrench, an interiorly threaded
nut in said carrier, and a movable jaw detachably and adjustably located in the
carrier, whereby provision is made for causing the movable jaw to work with either
face of the pivoted jaw, substantially as set forth.
.
3rd. In a wrench, the combination with a body having an opening in its top and

page_text: openings in its sides, and a jaw pivoted to said body and having an upper and an
outer face, of a detachable carrier inserted in the body of the wrench and having its
periphery made up of a series of edges, a threaded nut in said carrier and a sliding
jaw having a stem adapted to pass through said carrier and nut, substantially as
set forth.
4th. In a wrench, the combination with a body composed of two plates secured
together by means of spacing blocks, of a jaw having an upper and an outer face
and a shank, said shank being adapted to enter between the plates composing the
body, a pin for pivotally connecting said jaw with the body of the wrench, a box
or carrier having straight edges inserted in correspondingly shaped openings in
the plates, a nut in said box and a jaw having a shank adapted to pass through
said box and put and operate with either face of the pivoted jaw, substantially as set
forth.
'
5th. In a wrench the combination with a body having openings in its top and sides
and an angular opening in its body, and a jaw attached to said body, having an
outer and an upper face, of an angular detachable carrier adapted to enter the
angular opening in the body of the wrench, a threaded nut in said carrier and a
sliding jaw having a stem adapted to pass through said carrier, substantially as
set forth.
6th. In a wrench the combination with a body having a longitudinal socket,
stops or spacing blocks on opposite sides of the outer end of said socket and
forming the end walls thereof, a transverse socket, stops or spacing blocks on
opposite sides of the transverse socket and forming the end walls thereof, the said
stops or spacing blocks adapted to prevent lateral or swinging movement of the
movable jaw, and a carrier seated in an opening or recess located at the juncture of
the longitudinal and transverse sockets, of a movable jaw and a nut seated in a
recess in the carrier and engaging the stem, or shank of the movable jaw, sub-
stantially as set forth.
101 1
1001
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.