US520519A

US520519A - Screw-driver

Info

Publication number: US520519A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1894-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1911-05-29

Description

(No Model.)

J. J. EDWARDS. SCREW DRIVER.

No. 520,519. Patented May 29,1894.

m wmw m 4 TES JOHN J. EDWVARDS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SYLVANUS F. BOYVSER AND ALLEN A. BOWSER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

SCREW-DRIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,519, dated May 29, 1894. Application filed July 19,1393. Serial No. 480,909. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, JOHN J. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Screw-Drivers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to self-acting screwdrivers aud like tools, and its object is to provide improved devices for causing the stock to rotate either to the right or left at the will of the operator by reciprocating but without rotating the handle.

A further object is to adapt the tool to be used with the stock looked, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

The invention consists primarily of a stock having a shank provided with intersecting spiral grooves, a reciprocating handle, and clutch devices, consisting of peculiar mechanism hereinafter described, together with a partially rotatable sleeve capable of causing the desired clutch device to positively engage the stock, and thereby transform reciprocating motion into rotary motion of the stock in either a forward or a backward direction as may be desired.

The invention further consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification, and in which similar letters and figures of reference are used to denote similar .parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the position of the parts when driving a screw downward. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing the position assumed by the parts when driving a screw vertically. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking downward. Fig. 4 is a detail of a slight modification, in which the springs are dispensed with, and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the shell or casing partially inclosing the clutches, as shown in Fig. 4.

A, denotes the tool stock, which may consist of a metal rod having its front end threaded as at a, and split longitudinally as at 0t, to receive the shank of the screwdriver bit a or other tool inserted therein. The shank of the bit may be tapered or made narrow at its inner end and is provided with a projection or shoulder a as shown in Fig. 1. The sleeve or chuck B, screws on the threaded portion a, of the stock and engages the shoulder a of the bit shank and forces the end of the latter against the inclined rear wall of the split or slitted portion a, of the stock, so as to firmly hold the screw-driver bit or other tool and lock it between said inclined Wall and the sleeve or chuck B. To insert the bit or other tool it is only necessary to loosen the chuck or sleeve B, and insert the shank of the bit in the slitted end of the stock, and thereupon to turn the screw or chuck until it binds the ,tool in place. The stock above its slitted threaded end is provided with high-pitched spiral grooves, which twist oppositely and intersect each other at regular intervals. The handle D, is adapted to receive a sleeve or casing d, which surrounds the stock A, for its entire length within the handle. This sleeve (1, may be secured in any suitable manner at one end to a shell or casing E, which contains the clutch mechanism. The shell E, (Figs. 1 and 2) has located centrally, a partition 6, which divides it into two compartments, and at its endsthicker end walls or heads e 6 which together with the intermediate partition 6, are perforated to receive the stock A.

F and G (if the tool be in the position shown in Fig. 1) denote the upper ratchetfaced collar and thimble, respectively, and F, G, the lower ratchetfaced collar and thimble, which are like F, G, except that the ratchet teeth are made to engage in the opposite direction. f, f, denote the ratchet teeth upon the collars F, and F, respectively, and g, g, the teeth upon the thimbles G, and G, respectively. Thimble G, has interior lugs or projections to engage the spiral grooves 2, 2, and thimble G, has similar lugs to engage the

grooves

3, 3, of the stock, so as to adapt the thimbles, when the stock is moved longitudinally, to revolve in opposite directions. The collars F, and F, are provided with lugs or flanges f f which engage'slots E", and

notches E in the shell E. These slots and notches are a little longer than the width of the lugs, so as to permit a slight play or movement of the collars F,F', to adapt them to approach or recede from the thimbles when desired to effect the engagement or disengagement of the clutches. One notch E is formed in the edge of the semi-cylindrical part of the shell E, opposite each slot E, as shown moreclearly in Figs. 4: and 5, so as to adapt the collars to be readily placed in positlon or removed when the device is taken apart. A light spiral spring H, is preferably placed between the collar F, and the end wall or head e of the shell E, and a similar spring between the middle wall e, and the collar F, so as to yieldingly force the collars toward the thimbles and cause the latter to partially engage when the tool is in a horizontal positlon, the pressure upon the handle, when the tool is applied to its work completing the engagement of the ratchet. These springs are especially designed to aid in effecting the engagement of the clutch when the tool is in a horizontal position, but they may be dispens'ed with and gravity alone be'relied upon to accomplish the desired result, particularly when the tool is used with the point downward or upward. But a spring is desirable and preferably employed to accomplish in a hor zontal position what gravity does in the posltions just enumerated, and may be adllatitageously employed in all positions of the I, 1, denote clips engaging the thimbles G, G, and provided with prongs t', 2", which terminate with inclined or cam faces 6 '21 adapted to engage suitable cam lugs or projections K, K, located upon the inner surface of the shell E, adjacent to the prongs of the clips. The clips 1,1, are substantially alike, except that the inclines or cam faces on one point in an opposite direction to those on the other so as to adapt them to act in opposite directions, and cause only one clutch to operatively engage the stock at a time. These .clips are further provided with ribs or proj ections 1 1 which form the walls of a groove or key-way, which is adapted to be engaged by a key or spline Z, on the inside of a sleeve L. The sleeve L, surrounds the shell E, which it fits closely, and may be confined between a bead'on the head 6 of the shell and a shoulder on the handle D. The head 6 is grooved so as to permitthe key or spline Z, to slip through it and to be brought into place where it engages the grooves or ways in the slips 1, I. The sleeve L, is adapted to rotate about a third of a complete revolution. By giving it a partial rotation in one direction the clips I, I, will be moved so as to cause the ratchet teeth on one of the collars to engage the adj acent thimble and to disengage the other collar and thimhle; and a partial rotation in the opposite direction will disengage the first mentioned thimhle and collar and engage the other. When the sleeve is between these two extre1nes,or centrally of the space through which it may rotate, neither pair of ratchet teeth on the collars and thimbles are in position to cause the stock to rotate, and in this position of the parts the stock will be locked when the tool is held point upward, by reason of the inclined faces 6 1 'on the prongs t', t", engaging the cams K, upon the shell E, in such manner that the collar F, and thimble G, will oppose the collar F, and thimble G, so that the pins or lugs on the thimbles, respectively, will engage the spiral grooves 2 and 3, and the stock will be held immovable "so long as the sleeve L, remains in that position, thereby forming a rigid instead of a spiral screw-driver. The movements of the collars and thimbles are controlled by gravity when the sleeve L, is turned either to the extreme right or left of its center position, aided by a light spring as above indicated, which spring, however, is unnecessary except when the tool is in a horizontal position. In this latter position the spring takes the place of gravity, when the tool is used as a ratchet screw-driver, as will hereinafter appear.

In the modification shown in Figs.4 and 5, the springs H, and the central partition 6, of the shell E, are omitted. In other respects the device is identical in construction with the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Without the springs gravity will act to automatically engage and disengage the thimbles and collars, according to the position of the tool, in all cases except the horizontal. The collars and thimbles will also be locked to form a rigid tool instead of a spiral, the same as in the other construction in which the springs are used.

The operation of the device is as follows: The handle D, is grasped in the hand and the sleeve L, turned either to the right hand or the left, on the shell E, according to the direction in which the screw is to be turned. This movement turns the clips I, I, because of the engagementof the key or spline l, with the ribs 1 1 of the clips. This movement, however, does not control the movement of the thimbles F, G, except to reverse the tool, while the handle is held in the same position, and makes it possible for the ratchet teeth on the collar F, and thimhle G, to interlock, or

those on collar F and thimhle G. Conceiving the tool to be in the position shown in Fig. l,the collar F, and the thimhle G, will engage with each other; the collar F, falling by gravity, or aided by a light spring, will engage the teeth of thimhle G, to about onehalf of the depth of the teeth, and when pressure is applied the stock tends to force back the thimhle, owing to the engagement of the stud or pin carried by the thimhle and the spiral groove, until it is completely locked, both collar and thimble being capable of only a limited movement. The handle is pushed down, and as ,the shell E, is fast to the handle, and the thimhle G, is locked to the shell through its engagement with the collar F, (which is confined within the notch and slot in the opposite walls of the shell E,) the lugs or studs on thimble G, engage with spiral grooves 2, and revolve the stock so as to drive the screw.- The thimble G, being disengaged from thewcollar F, is free to revolve during the reciprocation. In order to reverse the tool, the sleeve L, must be turned in the op posite direction, and the cams on the prongs of the clips I, I, will cause the opposite pair of ratchet teeth to engage and simultaneously disengage those that were engaged. The reciprocation of the handle with the parts in this position will cause the rotatory motion of the stock to be reversed. When the tool is held in a horizontal position, as before stated, the light springs cause the desired pair of ratchet teeth to engage to about one-half the depth of the teeth, and when pressure is exerted on the handle they are caused to lock to their full depth. A movement of the sleeve in the opposite direction operates to reverse the tool in the manner just described. When the tool is used as a ratchet screw driver,the clutches with their respective teeth being in their proper positionthe handle D, is firmly grasped and turned, and the desired thimble or clutch being locked will turn the tool in one direction and disengage upon the reversal of said movement. It will thus be seen that the tool may be used as a rigid, a spiral, or a ratchet screw-driver, when the conditions of the work to be done require it.

It is evident that various modifications in construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement of parts shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, of the shell or casing loosely fitted on said stock, a pair of thimbles each provided with ratchet-teeth and with a lug or lugs engaging the respective spiral grooves of the stock; the teeth upon one thimble being inclined in an opposite direction to those upon the other, a pair of loose collars each having ratchet-teeth adapted to interlock with one of said thimbles, and means for simultaneously shifting said thimbles so as to either engage both and look the stock against rotation or engage one thimble and simultaneously disengage the other, for the purpose of causing the stock to rotate in either a forward or backward direction, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, and the shell or casing fitted thereon, of a pair of clutch devices each comprising a loose collar having ratchet-teeth, a thimble also having ratchetteeth adapted to interlock with said collar;

the teeth upon one set of clutch devices being inclined in an opposite direction to those upon the other, so as to cause the stock to rotate in opposite directions by engaging and disengaging one or the other of said clutches, a ing or lugs on each of said thimbles engaging the respective spiral grooves of the stock, and means for simultaneously shifting the thimbles so as to either engage both clutches and lock the stock against rotation or engage one and simultaneously disengage the other so as to cause the stock to rotate in either a forward or backward direction as may be desired, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, and the shell fitted thereon having interior cam projections, of the clutch devices comprising the loose collars having ratchet teeth, similarly toothed thimbles for engaging said collars, each havingalug engaging one of said grooves in the stock, and the clips having the prongs with inclined or cam faces adapted to engage said cam projections so as to shift said thimbles and simultaneously engage both clutch devices or engage one and disengage the other, and means for partially rotating said clips, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, of the shell or casing loosely fitted thereon, a pa r of loose collars capable of a slight longitudinal movement and having ratchet-teeth 1n-v clined in opposite directions, a pair of thunbles each having ratchet-teeth adapted to interlock with one of said collars; each thimble being provided with a lug or lugs engaging one of said grooves, springs tending to force said collars into engagement with said thimbles, and means for simultaneously shifting the thimbles so as to either engage one with one of said collars and disengage the other or simultaneously engage both, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, of a shell or casing loosely fitted thereon, a pair of collars also loosely fitted on said stock and provided with ratchet-teeth inclined in opposlte directions; said collars having lugs or flanges which enter elongated slots or notches in said casing, so 'as to permit slight longitudinal movement or play thereof, a pair of thimbles loosely mounted on said stock within said casing having ratchet-teeth adapted to engage the teeth of said collars and provided with internal lugs fitting the respective spiral grooves of the stock; a partially rotatable sleeve surrounding said shell, and clips keyed to said sleeve and engaging said thimbles, so

as to simultaneously shift the same when the sleeve is rotated, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, of the shell or casing loosely fitted thereon, a pair of collars also loosely fitted upon said stock and capable of a slight longitudinal movement;

said collars having ratchet-teeth inclined in opposite directions and provided with lugs or flanges adapted to enter suitable slots or notches in said casing, a pair of thimbles loosely mounted on said stock within said casing having ratchet-teeth adapted to interlock with the teeth on said collars, and provided with internal lugs fitting the respective spiral grooves of the stock, clips on said thimbles having exterior lugs or key-ways and provided with prongs having cam faces adapted to engage cams or projections on the interior of said casing, and a sleeve capable of a partial rotation having a spline or key engaging said ways, whereby one or both thimbles may be thrown into engagement with said collar or collars so as to either lock the stock against rotation or cause it to rotate in either a forward or backward direction, as may be desired, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, and a shell or casing fitted thereon having a centrally disposed partition or wall, of a pair of ratchet-toothed thimbles fitted on said stock, one above and the other below said partition; the teeth of one of said thimbles being inclined in an opposite direction to the teeth upon the other thimble, and each having a lug engaging one of said grooves, a pair of collars capable of a slight longitudinal movement, each having ratchet teeth adapted to engage one of said thimbles; one of said collars being located centrally and the other at one end of said shell, springs placed one between said centrally disposed collar and said partition and another between the end wall or head of the shell and the collar at said end and tending to force said collars into engagement with said thimbles, and means for engaging said thimbles with the respective collars so as to lock the stock, and fordisengaging one thimble and simultaneously engaging the other so as to reverse the rotary movement of the stock at will, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the stock having right and left hand spiral grooves, and a. shell or casing fitted thereon having a centrally disposed partition or wall, of a'pair of ratchet-toothed thimbles fitted on said stock, one above and the other below said partition; the teeth of one of said thimbles being inclined in an opposite direction to the teeth upon the other thimble, and each having a lug engaging one of said grooves, a pair of collarscapable of a slightlongitudinal movement, each having ratchet-teeth adapted to engage one of said thimbles; one of said collars beinglocated centrally and the other at one end of said shell, springs placed one between said centrally disposed collar and said partition and another between the end wall or head of the shell and the collar at said end, and tending to force said collars into engagement with said thimbles, and means for engaging said thimbles with the respective collars so as to lock the stock, and for disengaging one thimble and simultaneously engaging the other so as to reverse the rotary movement of the stock at will, comprising a sleeve inclosing said shell, a clip for each thimble keyed to said sleeve and having a prong with an inclined or cam face, and cam projections on the interior of said shell adapted to engage said prongs and move the clips when the sleeve is rotated,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. EDWARDS. Witnesses:

H. B. HUSTON, THOS. EDWARDS, Jr.