AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL HAND SHOVELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR, SUCH IMPROVED MACHINERY BEING APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ralph, of the Firm of Ralph and Son, of Bilston,
in the County of Stafford, Hollow Ware Manufacturers, and Henry Sims, of
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Smelter, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON AND STEEL HAND SHOVELS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR, SUCH IMPROVED MACHINERY
BEING APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
Sealed the 6th August 1878, and dated the 1st June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ralph and Henry Sims
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1878.
JAMES RALPH, of the Firm of Ralph and Son, of Bilston, in the County of
Stafford, Hollow Ware Manufacturers, and HENRY SIMS, of Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, Smelter. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON
AND STEEL HAND SHOVELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR, SUCH
IMPROVED MACHINERY BEING APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
The shovel is made with the bit and handle formed out of one blank, by first
stamping out the bit and partially bending over the metal of the handle, and also
giving it the necessary longitudinal curvature in the stamping dies, and then com-
pleting the handle (which is thus entirely of metal) by further bending the metal
thereof over into a complete tubular form.
The improved machine which is used for bending the metal of the handle into the
tubular form consists of two folding hinged clams or dies curved longitudinally to
close round a mandril, which latter is curved longitudinally to suit the curve of the
handle. The clams are actuated by levers or other suitable means.
This improved machine can also be employed for other analogous purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Ralph and Henry Sims in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th November 1878.
JAMES RALPH, of the Firm of Ralph and Son, of Bilston, in the County of
Stafford, Hollow Ware Manufacturers, and HENRY SIMS, of Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, Smelter. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON
AND STEEL HAND SHOVELS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREFOR, SUCH
.IMPROVED MACHINERY BEING APPLICABLE ALSO FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
The shovel is made with the bit and handle formed out of one blank by first
stamping out the bit and partially bending over the metal of the handle, and also
giving it the necessary curvature in the stamping dies, and then completing the
handle (which is thus entirely of metal) by first heating it in any suitable furnace,
and then further bending the metal thereof over into a complete tubular form.
The bending of the metal of the handle into the tubular form, as above stated,
may be effected by the improved machine, herein-after described, which we prefer
to employ for the purpose, or by other mechanism of suitable construction, or the ope-
ration might be performed by hand, but not with the same advantage.
The improved machine which is used for bending the metal of the handle into the
tubular form consists of two folding hinged "clams" or dies, curved longitudinally
to close round a mandril, the said mandril being curved longitudinally to suit the
curve of the handle. The clams are actuated by levers or other suitable
means.
.
"
"
The improved machine can also be employed for other analogous purposes, that is
to say, for bending over the handles of other articles requiring curved tubular sheet-
'metal handles.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, we will now proceed more
particularly to describe the manner of performing the same with reference to the
accompanying Drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.
Figure illustrates a blank from which our improved shovel is made. The blank
is cut out of a metal sheet whilst cold, by hand or by means of a press in the
ordinary manner.
The blank is stamped or pressed, whilst cold, into the form illustrated in plan by
Figure 2, and in side elevation by Figure 3, by means of ordinary metal dies. The
section of the handle in this stage of its manufacture is shewn at the broken part a
(Figure 3).
The partially formed handle is heated and finished to a tubular form, as shewn
by Figures 4 and 5, preferably by means of the machine presently to be described.
The section of the finished handle is shewn by the broken part at b, Figure 5.
The hole at the end of the handle, as shewn at c (Figures 1, 2, and 4), is to hang the
shovel up by.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the machine for completing the handle. d, d, are
the folding hinged "clams" (preferably of cast iron); e, the curved mandril; f, the
hinge pin or fulcrum upon which the "clams" turn; g, a plate fixed to a timber
upright (securely fixed in the ground), the said plate g carrying the hinge pin f
and the mandril e. k, k, are connecting rods or links connecting snugs 1, 1, cast solid
to the "clams," to a cross piece m. The said cross piece m is connected by means
of the mechanism shewn to a treadle n. The operator, by actuating the treadle n,
opens and closes the folding "clams" d, d. The over-head lever is provided with
a balance weight, as shewn, to partially counterbalance the weight of the "clams,"
which however have a sufficient margin of weight to fall open when the pressure of
the foot is taken from the treadle.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 are enlarged views, shewing respectively a front elevation,
longitudinal section, and plan of the folding hinged "clams" and curved mandril.
The same letters of reference occurring upon any of the views 7, 8, and 9 indicate
corresponding parts.

page_text: "
A, A, are the folding "clams," which are each perfectly divided into two parts on
the line B, so as to lessen the expense of replacement if one part of either "clam
becomes broken. The parts are all hinged upon the fulcrum pin D, and the two
parts forming one "clam
are held together by one of the pins C. E is the mandril
which is constructed circular in section (if a circular section of the end of the handle
is required), and also straight from its base or point of fixture to about the point F,
and is then curved up, as shewn, and gradually shaped to the section, as shewn at
end elevation (Figure 7). In finishing the partially formed handle, the shovel
(Figures 2 and 3) is first heated (preferably in a coke fire), and is then turned upside
down and the trough-shaped handle pushed under the mandril as far as about the
point o (Figure 2). The operator then gives several blows with the dies by means
of the treadle, and the handle is thus bent over to a tubular form (Figure 5), and is
afterwards readily dressed upon a mandril by means of a hand hammer, and the
whole shovel is then complete.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, and particularly described
the manner of performing the same, we declare that we do not limit ourselves to
the exact details illustrated, as such may be varied without departing from the
nature of our Invention (for instance, the mandril may be adapted in section for
handles of an oval or other shaped section), but what we claim as our Invention,
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,--
1st. The longitudinally curved mandril used in conjunction with folding " clams"
for bending over the handles of iron and steel hand shovels and other articles
requiring curved tubular sheet-metal handles, whether such handles are in one piece
with the bits of the shovels, or with the body of the other articles or not, substan-
tially as herein-before described and shewn.
2nd. Manufacturing iron and steel hand shovels, with the handle and bit in one
piece, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ralph, for myself and on behalf of the
said Henry Sims, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh
day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
Witness,
W. CHILTON,
Clerk to Stephen Watkins,
Assoc. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
JAMES RALPH. (L.S.)