IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING PICKS TO THEIR SHAFTS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Trussell, of the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham, Mineral Surveyor, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SECURING PICKS TO THEIR SHAFTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Trussell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1881.
THOMAS TRUSSELL, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Mineral Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING PICKS TO THEIR SHAFTS."
My improvements embody several modifications; first, in shafting picks employed
in holing or undercutting coal, I employ a shaft of ash or hickory having a slit
across one end, but being protected by iron or steel rivetted on it which
forms an eye in which the pick blade is placed, being firmly held therein by two
cottars driven into the eye of the shaft; these cottars have each a slot through
their inner or lower ends through which a wedge or wedges are driven at right
angles to the length of the shaft, thus preventing the loosening of the cottars and
firmly securing the pick in position. In a second modification, I employ the same
means as in the first with the addition of projections on the iron or steel which is
rivetted to the shaft; on these projections the blade of the pick rests, and is kept
in position by the wedges before named. In a third modification, in shafting picks
employed in breaking minerals, excavating, and other heavy work, I employ a shaft
protected as above described having a slot on each side of the eye which receives
the pick blade; through these slots and through the shaft a wedge is driven which
forces. the blade tightly against the outer end of the eye of the shaft; or the wedge
may be driven into the shaft so as to press upon a wedge previously inserted in
the eye of the shaft.
Other modifications consist of various arrangements of the several parts above
mentioned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Trussell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th March
1882.
THOMAS TRUSSELL, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Mineral Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING PICKS TO THEIR SHAFTS."
Firstly,
In the method of shafting or securing picks (pick blades) to their shafts as used
for holing or under-cutting coal or other minerals, I employ a shaft of ash, hickory,
or other suitable material having a slit across one end, and being protected by a
band or sheath of iron, steel, or other suitable material inade of a suitable shape for
fitting the eye of the pick (pick blade), into which it is placed and kept in position
by cotters or wedges which are driven into the eye of the shaft; these cotters have
each a slot, groove, or their equivalent at their lower or inner ends, through or on
which a wedge is or wedges are driven at right angles to or in a transverse
direction to the length of the shaft, and thus preventing the loosening of the said
cotters and firmly.securing the pick (pick blade) in position.
Secondly,-
As a modification of the method above described I employ the same means
and appliances, with the addition of projections formed on the band or sheath
which is secured to the shaft (and which forms the eye) of the pick (pick
blade) into which it is fitted; the pick (pick blade) resting on the afore mentioned
projections is preserved in position by the wedges and cotters firstly above described.
Thirdly,
In shafting picks used for breaking minerals, excavating, and other heavy work,
I employ a shaft protected by a sheath or band as firstly above described of a
suitable shape and having slots on each side. The pick (pick blade) is placed on
the opposite or unprotected end of the shaft and passed along it until it rests on
the sheath above the slots afore mentioned, a wedge (or wedges) is then driven
through these slots, so as to force the pick (pick blade) tightly against the outer
-end-of-the-band-or-eye-of-the-shaft. When-necessary the above-mentioned wedge
or wedges may be made to act upon other wedges inserted in the eye of the shaft
or band so as to force the eye of the shaft or band more tightly against the eye of
the pick (pick blade).
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 to Fig. 16 illustrate my improvements as
applied to picks for holing coal as firstly and secondly described. Fig. 1 is a front
view; Fig. 2 is a plan; Fig. 3 is a vertical section as taken through the dotted
line Y, Z, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a front view, side view, and plan of the band or
sheath; Fig. 5 is a front and side view of one of a pair of cotters.
A is the shaft; B is the band or sheath; C is the pick; D and D¹ are a pair of
right and left hand cotters; E is the transverse cotter; P, P¹ are projections on
the band B on which the pick C rests; Q is a projection formed with or fitted to
the inside of the band B to preserve the cotters D, D¹ in position. The band or
sheath B is or can be slit on each side, and in securing the pick to the shaft the
cotters D, D¹, can be placed in the band before the shaft A is placed therein; the
cotters D, D¹, have projections R on which the transverse cotter acts when it is
driven through the slots in the sides of the band B.
In removing the pick C from the shaft 'the cotter E is withdrawn and the
cotters D, D¹, are moved up until the projection Q fits into the recesses "S; S¹, of
the cotters D, D'; the eye of the pick will then be free to pass over the said
cotters D, D¹, the cotters D, D', remaining securely in the band B.
Fig. 6 is a front view; Fig. 7 is a plan; Fig. 8 is a vertical section as taken

page_text: through the dotted line W, X, Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a transverse section as taken
through the dotted line T, V, Fig. 7; Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are front top view and
side view of the band; Fig. 12 is a front and end view of the vertical cotter;
Fig. 13 is a front and end view of the transverse cotter.
A is the shaft; B is the band or sheath; C is the pick; D is the vertical cotter
having a slot or groove to receive the cotter E; E is the transverse cotter. The
band is slit, as shown in Fig. 11, and has a slot in each edge to receive the
transverse cotter E. In securing the pick C to the shaft A, the pick C is placed on
the band B, the vertical cotter D is then placed in position in the eye of the pick C,
and the transverse cotter E is driven into the band B and through the slot in the
cotter D by which the pick C'is firmly secured to the shaft.
Fig. 14 is a front view in elevation, and Fig. 15 is a top view of a modification
of my improvements, as shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 13, in which a vertical cotter D is
employed without projections bearing on the pick as shown in Fig. 8, but with
projections X, X¹, for prising out the cotter from the band B; the pick C rests on
projections P, P', on the band B and is secured to the band B and shaft by the
vertical cotter D and transverse cotter E; Fig. 16 is a front and side view of the
cotter D.
Fig. 17 to Fig. 26 show my improvements in which the bands or sheaths have
external projections on their upper ends, the pick (pick blade) being threaded on
from the opposite end of the handle, and being tightened against the said projections.
by a cotter or cotters driven through the shaft or band.
Fig. 17 is a front view partly in section; Fig. 18 is a top view, and Fig. 19 is
a transverse section of one modification of my improvements.
A is the shaft;. B is the band having external projections, as shown at P, and
internal projections, as shown at R, R; D is the vertical cotter; E is the transverse
cotter. The band B, is slit as shown in Fig. 20, and the vertical cotter D is placed
in position before the band B is secured to the shaft A; or the lower end of the
cutter D is forced through the hole in the upper end of the band B; the pick C is
then placed in position and the transverse cotter E is driven in through the slots
in the band B bearing on the projections R, R, and forcing the pick C against the
projection P by which it is firmly secured.
Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 show a further modification of my improvements, in which
two transverse cotters are employed instead of one; Fig. 21 is a front view partly
in section, and Fig. 22 is a sectional plan as taken through the dotted line Y, Z,
Fig. 21; E, E, are the two transverse cotters which have recesses, allowing one to
half lap over the other, so that they can be forced back clear of the external face
of the band so that the pick (pick blade) can be drawn off the band, the vertical
cotter D acts downwards on the inner ends of the transverse cotters E, E¹, forcing
them outwards, by which the pick (pick blade) is forced tightly against the
projection P on the extreme end of band B.
Fig. 23 is a front view; Fig. 24 is a top view, and Fig. 25 is a side view of
a further modification of my improvements, in which one cotter only is employed
to tighten the pick (pick blade) against the external projection of the band;
Fig. 26 is a front and two end views of the cotter; A is the shaft; B is the band
or sheath having an external projection P, as shown in Figs. 17 to 21.
In securing this pick (pick blade) to the shaft the pick C is threaded on to the
band B from the opposite end of the shaft until it bears against the projection P on
the band B; the cotter E is then driven through the slots in the sides of the band B
by which the pick (pick blade) is firmly secured to the band B and shaft.
In the above description the pick C refers to the blade of the complete pick.
The advantages of the method firstly and secondly described of securing picks
(pick blades) to their shafts (designed for holing or under-cutting coal, are, firstly
the pick (pick blade) can be easily and readily detached from the shaft and readily
replaced by others as required; secondly, the pick (pick blade) can be made
narrow, as being placed on the top of the shaft it does not require the eye of the
pick (pick blade) to be made sufficiently large to allow the whole of the shaft being

page_text: passed through it; thirdly, from the improved and novel appliances (and the
method) adopted, the fastening of the pick (pick blade) to the shaft is firmer and
more secure than any of the methods hitherto adopted, and the improved pick
therefore delivers a deader blow, as owing to the mutual action of the wedges any
strain tending to seperate the pick (pick blade) from the shaft causes them to
become more firmly attached.
The advantages of the method thirdly described for securing picks (pick blades)
to their shafts (for excavating and other heavy work) are firstly, when used for
.excavating, it cannot work itself off the shaft, and, secondly, when used in mining
where the pick (pick blade) is worked above the head of the operator it cannot
work itself loose and fall upon the hands.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly,
-
The construction of a complete pick for holing or under-cutting coal and other
similar purposes, in which the pick blade is secured to a band on or forming part
of the pick shaft by means of one, two, or more vertical or longitudinal wedges,
secured in the said band by one or more horizontal or transverse cotters,
substantially as herein-before specified and described.
: Secondly,-
The construction of a complete pick for breaking minerals, excavating, and other
similar purposes, in which the pick blade is secured to a band on or forming part
of the pick shaft, the said band having a projection at its outer extremity
against which the pick blade is pressed and secured by a transverse cotter driven
into and across the said band and acting on the under side of the pick blade,
substantially as herein-before specified and described.
Thirdly,-
The construction of a complete pick in which the pick blade is secured to a band
on or forming part of the pick shaft, the said band having a projection at its outer
extremity against which the pick blade is pressed and secured by a transverse
cotter acting on a vertical wedge, or as a modification a vertical cotter acting on
transverse wedges, substantially as hereinbefore specified and described.
Fourthly,
The construction of complete picks as herein before described in reference to
Fig. 1 to Fig. 26 of the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Trussell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
THOMAS TRUSSELL. (L.S.)