A METHOD AND A BLANK FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HORSESHOES

Abstract: An elongated body (5) is used as a blank for the production of horseshoes, which blank is produced by parting-off of a plane initial plate composed of at least two part-plates of differently hard materials and which has on one hand a length that is many times larger than the bow lengths of the individual, finished horseshoes, and on the other hand a rectangular cross-sectional shape, the width of the blank body corresponding to the thickness of the initial plate, while at the same time the thickness is smaller than the width.

Description: A METHOD AND A BLANK FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HORSESHOES Technical F__p_r_ of the. Inven ion In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for the production of horseshoes from an initial blank in the form of a plane plate the length and width of which are many times larger than its thickness and which is composed of at least two part-plates of differently hard materials which are joined to each other by explosion welding, the harder mate- rial forming an external lamina and the softer material an internal lamina in the finished, substantially U-shaped shoe. Prior Art From SE 8603894-0 it is previously known to produce horse- shoes from an initial blank composed of two part bodies of different metals which are intimately joined to each other by explosion welding. According to an embodiment described in said patent, these part bodies consist of two tubes which are con¬ centrically arranged in each other. According to another embo- diment, the part bodies consist of metal plates which together form a plate body that is bent to a groove or tube shape, before the production of the individual horseshoes is initia¬ ted. In both cases, this production is effected by cutting or sawing the groove- or tube-shaped blank in transverse cuts, whose internal axial distances correspond to the desired thickness of the horseshoe. Advantageously, metals used for the composite unit may be steel and aluminum, the steel forming an external, thin and hard lamina with good wear resistance and good gripping properties, while the internally located aluminum material forms a wider and softer lamina which confers a low weight to the shoe in its entirety by the small density of the material. Thus, the advantages of the ready shoe are that it has both a low total weight and a long life, at the same time as the joint effected by explosion welding between the two different laminae gives a very reliable connection of the laminae, thereby avoiding any risk of a delamination. However, a serious disadvantage of the manufacturing method described in SE 8603894-0 is that the individual shoes are produced by a section-wise separation o.f the end portions of a groove- or tube-shaped blank, whose cross-sectional shape substantially corresponds to the contour form of the prospec¬ tive shoe. For most farriers, e.g. those being active at trot- ting and riding stables, there is a necessity of being able to shoe horses with most varying hoof sizes. Thus, in practice no less than about twenty different shoe sizes exist, all the way from shoes for the smallest breeds to shoes for the biggest breeds, the largest shoe being 4 to 5 times larger than the smallest one (a pony shoe may have a bow length from end to end smaller than 15 cm, while the corresponding bow length of the largest shoe may amount to a size of 50 cm) . The consumption of different shoes for both one and the same, and for different farriers, may vary quite considerably over time. Periodically, shoes'of a certain size may be produced in large amounts, while at the same time other sizes are not at all requested, or only to a small degree. During other periods the circumstances may be reversed. These fluctuations, which are impossible to predict for the farrier, cause storage problems that are difficult to master, irrespective of whether the groove or tube blank is immediately divided into a maximum number of shoes (e.g., 50 to 100 shoes per blank) or is stored in order to enable a separation of shoes one by one, as need emerges. In order to satisfy the requirements of different farriers, one has to store about twenty different types of voluminous blanks and/or sets of shoes, this being both costly and bulky. A further disadvantage of especially the groove-shaped blank, is that it requires rather strong and thus expensive bending machines. Moreover, both longer and shorter transports of groove-shaped and tube-shaped blanks from a central producer to geographically scattered buyers are rather costly because of the fact that the major part of the volume of the blanks con¬ sists of an empty cavity. Ob-iects and Characteristics of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention aims at setting aside the above mentioned disadvantages of the pre¬ viously known method and at providing a manufacturing method that makes possible an effectual storage of the required blanks, as well as effectual transports thereof. Thus, a primary object of the invention is to create possibilities of storing and transporting horseshoe blanks tightly to each other without any bulky cavities in connection with the same. A further object is to provide a manufacturing method according to which one and the same blank can be used for the production of shoes of most varying bow lengths. Another object of the invention is to provide a method which does not necessitate any strong and thus costly bending machines. According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained by the features defined in the characteri¬ zing clause of claim 1. Further, preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention are defined in dependent claims 2 to 3. According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a blank per se-. The features of this new blank are defined in claim 4. Brief Description of the Ap e ded Drawings In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating two part-plates intended to jointly form an initial blank, Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view showing the initial blank in a composite condition, at the same time as an intermediate blank has been separated therefrom, Fig. 3 is a partial side-view of the initial blank and a section of the intermediate blank in a very enlarged scale, Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the interme¬ diate blank according to figure 2 during the separa¬ tion of a final blank, Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a final blank that has been provided with a groove, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a finished horseshoe, showing the underside thereof, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section through the finished horseshoe. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention Figure 1 depicts two part-plates 1,2 intended to be joined to each other to form an initial blank. Advantageously, the plates have equally large surfaces, while differing in thickness. In practice, the plates may have a length of for instance 1,5 m and a width within the range of 1,0 to 1,5 m, although these measures may vary both upwardly and downwardly. Advantageously, the thinner plate 1 may be made of steel or another relatively hard and wear-resistant metal, while the thicker plate 2 preferrably consists of aluminum, although also other light metals are feasible. Even if the thicknesses of the two plates may vary within wide ranges, the steel plate 1 suitably has a thickness within the range of 2 to 5, prefer- rably 3 to 4 mm, while the thickness of the aluminum plate 2 may be within the range of 7 to 20, preferrably 10 to 15 mm. As indicated to the left in figure 3, the plates 1,2 may be joined by explosion.welding in a way- known per se. thereby effecting an intimate connection of the same in the area of an interface designated 3. However, it should be emphasized that an intimate connection between the plates may also be brought about in other ways than just by explosion welding, e.g., by gluing, other welding, such as sound welding, etc. It is even thinkable to use a joining technique in the future, which was still not known at the time the invention was made. Essential is only that the two part-plates 1,2 be joined so intimately with each other that they do not run the risk of delaminating in the finished horseshoe. In figure 2, reference numeral 4 designates the plane plate that is formed by the joining of the two part-plates 1,2. This plane plate forms an initial blank for the continued manu¬ facturing. According to the invention, the plane initial plate 4 is, in a first step, divided into a plurality of separate, elongated intermediate blanks 5 of which one is shown in figure 2. The parting-off of these intermediate blanks 5 is most advantageously made along a longitudinal side of the initial plate in case this plate has a rectangular form, whereby the intermediate blank obtains the largest possible length. For this parting-off, any known or arbitrary technique may be used, such as sawing with a circular saw blade, cutting by laser, cutting by water'jet or similar. The parting-off is made in cuts which are perpendicular relative to the plane of initial plate 4, whereby the separated intermediate blank obtains a substantially parallelepipedical basic shape. The width of this parallelepipedical body corresponds to the thickness of the initial plate 4, while the thickness of the body is selected in such a way that it is always smaller than the blank width. The selection of thickness is made by locating the cuts between the individual intermediate blanks 5 at suitable distances from each other. For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that plate 4 is divided into separate intermediate blanks 5 in its entirety, suitably in identically similar blanks. Now reference is made to figure 4 which in an enlarged condition shows an intermediate blank 5 from which, in a second step, a final blank designated 6 has been parted off. In this final blank 6, reference numeral 7 designates an external lamina consisting of the steel material, while 8 designates an internal lamina of aluminum. At the parting-off from the straight intermediate blank 5, the final blank 6 is given a length corresponding to the bow length from end to end of the finished shoe. In connection with the parting-off of the final blank 6 from the intermediate blank 5, the final blank is suitably also submitted to a punching operation which confers rounded ends 9,10 to the blank. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a grip-enhancing groove 11 of the sort illustrated in figure 5 is milled in the final blank. More specifically, the groove 11 is milled out in the internal, softer lamina 8 in the immediate proximity of interface 3 between the two laminae. That side of final blank 6 in which the groove is milled out, forms the underside of the finished shoe. In practice, the groove may be V-shaped cross-sectionally, although also other cross-sectional forms are feasible, such as circular. For special shoes it is possible to give the groove 11 a length that is smaller than the total length of the final blank 6, the groove being termi- nated at a distance from the two opposed ends of the final blank, thus leaving plane lower surfaces in the area of these ends. In the plane surfaces thus obtained one may drill threa¬ ded holes for fastening grip-enhancing taps or spikes of the type that is conventionally used on winter-shoed horses. In a terminating third step, the final blank 6 is bent to a horseshoe with a U-formed contour as illustrated in figure 6. This bending is performed in a medium-size bending machine (not shown) appropriate for the purpose. In or in connection with the bending machine, the finished shoe, which is designated by reference numeral 12, is provided with the necessary nail-holes 13. The nail-holes are most advantageously obtained by punching and are suitably placed in connection to groove 11. As may be seen in figure 7, the individual nail-hole 13 widens in a way known per se from the shoe's upper side, which is designated by reference numeral 14, towards the under¬ side 15. Most advantageously, the holes are placed along the bow-shaped line that is formed by the bottom of groove 11. In case the shoe is also to be provided with threaded holes of the type indicated above, this is suitably realized in connection with the working operation at which nail-holes 13 are formed. It is also possible to provide the finished shoe with a so called toe cap (not shown) . This toe cap is fastened at the front of the shoe, more specifically on the external lamina 7 of steel, with the toe cap protruding from the upper side 14 of the shoe. The toe cap may for instance consist of a triangu¬ larly shaped piece of plate which is welded or riveted upon the external lamina 7. The advantages of the invention should be evident. As required, final blanks may be parted off from the straight, elongated blank 5, said final blanks being of an arbitrary, individually adjusted length which is suited to the final bending of shoes of most varying sizes. The thin and straight blanks 5 may be stored and transported with a minimum of requi- red space, at the same time as the blanks have low weight and may be handled in a simple and smooth way. Feasible Modif cations of the Invention It is evident that the invention is not restricted solely to the embodiment as described and shown in the dra¬ wings. Thus, it 'is possible to compose the initial plate 4 of more than two part-plates, thereby obtaining three or more laminae of different materials in the finished horseshoe. Further, it is feasible to mill or form the grip-enhancing groove not only in the final blank but already in the inter¬ mediate blank that is parted off from the initial plate. For the sake of completeness, it should also be pointed out that the width of .the finished shoe may of course be varied by selecting differently thick part-sheets or -plates in the initial plate 4.

Claims: Claims 1. A method for the production of horseshoes from an initial blank in the form of a plane plate (4) the length and width of which are many times larger than its thickness and which is composed of at least two part-plates (1, 2) of differently hard materials which are joined to each other by explosion welding, the harder material (1) forming an external lamina (7) and the softer material (2) an internal lamina (8) in the finished, substantially U-shaped shoe, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the plane initial plate (4) in a first step is divided into a plurality of individual, elongated intermediate blanks (5) which have a width corresponding to the thickness of the initial plate and a thickness which is smaller than the width and each one of which is, in a second step, cut into a length corresponding to the desired shoe size, thus forming several final blanks (6) which in turn, in a final third step, are bent to the final U-shape of the shoe. 2. Method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a grip-enhancing groove (11) is milled in the final blank (6) or the intermediate blank (5) , more specifically in an underside (15) of the internal, softer lamina (8) in immediate proximity to the border surface (3) between the two laminae (7, 8) . 3. Method according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the groove (11) is given a length which is smaller than the total length of the final blank (6) , said groove being terminated at a distance from the two opposed ends (9, 10) of the final blank, thus leaving plane lower surfaces in the areas of these ends. 4. A blank for the production of horseshoes in accordance with the method according to anyone of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by an elongated body (5) which is made of a plane initial plate (4) composed of at least two part-plates (1, 2) of differently hard materials, which part- plates are joined to each other via a interface (3) by explo¬ sion welding, and which body on one hand has a length that is many times larger than the bow lengths of the individual, ready horseshoes, and on the other hand has a rectangular cross- sectional form, the width of the blank body corresponding to the thickness of the initial plate (4) , while at the same time its thickness is smaller than its width.

Inventors: BAECKMAN CLEMENS, BAECKMAN, CLEMENS
Applicants: BAECKMAN CLEMENS, MCL I AVESTA AB, BAECKMAN, CLEMENS
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A01L1
IPC codes: B21K15