Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1888
Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
Figures, and elevations showing various preces
the use of the shears; and
Figure 8 a side elevation showing the shears mounted on a bench and arranged for
use with a treadle.
In Figures 2, 3 and 4 the handles are represented as broken off; in Figure 2 a
portion of the handle is shown in section, and in Figure 4 a piece of tin is shown in
position to be cut.
Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures of the drawing.
It is well known by tin-smiths, copper-smiths and other sheet-metal workers
that in the manufacture of sheet-metal vessels, such, for instance, as pans, pails, kettles
and the like having wired edges, it is usual to "nick"the sheets to reduce the
thickness of the seam where it is turned down over the wire; but in making the
"nicks" in the usual manner, much injury is frequently done to the work on account
of the shears being unprovided with means for rendering the cuts uniform and of
proper size.
This will be better understood by reference to Figures 5 and 7 of the drawings, in
which 45 and 47 represent sheets of tin which are united by the seam 54, and
vided with a wire 65, in the usual manner.
pro-
The sheet 45, is "nicked," or has a small rectangular piece cut from its upper corner,
as shown at 75, said piece being removed from the sheet by first cutting from 85, to 89,
and then from 95 to 89 or vice versa (see Figure 5) two cuts being required.

page_text: In performing this with shears as ordinarily constructed the workman is apt to
remove a piece of such size as to greatly injure the work, as shown in Figure 7, in
which the nick 75, extends downward into the seam 54, to such an extent as to leave
a large opening between the upper portions of the sheet 45, and 47, beneath the
wire 65.
Our invention is designed to obviate this difficulty, and also to greatly increase the
capacity of the tool, and to that end we make use of means which will be readily
understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.
at
In the drawings A B represent the handles of the shears which are pivoted together
m, and respectively provided with cutting blades CD at their forward ends, hand-
loops EF, at their rear ends, and a spring Gacting expansively to open the blades,
these parts being all of the ordinary form and construction excepting as hereinafter
set forth.
Projecting laterally towards the upper blade C, from the forward end of the lower
blade D, and at right angles thereto, is an auxiliary blade provided with a cutting
edge which is continuous with the main cutting edge z, of the blade D.
The forward end of the blade C, is provided with an inclined cutting edge f, and is
adapted to produce a "shear cut in conjunction with the auxiliary blade (see
Figure 3) the edge f, and main cutting edge t of the blade C, being continuous.
A plate H, provided with a slot 14, is secured to the front side of the blade D, by a
set screw g, the slot enabling the plate to be adjusted in any desirable position on the
blade.
A stop-bar J, is pivoted at i, to the upper portion of the plate H, its rear or long
arm resting on a projection 15, on the plate H, and its front or short arm projecting
upward above the plane of the cutting edge, of the blade D.
The bar J serves as a stop against which the tin 45. is pressed when in position to
be nicked, and its forward end is so formed as to stand approximately at right angles
to the cutting edge z, of the blade D, when in position for use, as best seen in
Figures 1 and 4.
A bracket 16, is secured to the rear side of the blade C, near its forward end; and
attached to said bracket by the set screw 17, there is a gauge K, which projects
vertically below the cutting edge t, of said blade, the gauge being provided. with a
slot through which the set-screw passes, thereby rendering it adjustable on the bracket.
In the use of our improvement the stop and gauge K, are first adjusted in
accordance with the size of the "nick".it is desired to cut in the sheet of metal, after
which the blades CD, are partially closed to bring the lower end of the gauge K,
below the plane of the cutting edge on the blade D, and the corner of the sheet placed
in position on the.blades & D with its edges.resting against the stop J, and gauge K
as shown in Figure 4 the blades being then actuated by the handles A., B. and the
nick 75, cut or formed in a manner that will be readily understood by all conversant
with such matters without a more explicit description.
It will be obvious that the stop and gauge K, enable nicks of any desired length
or width to be cut in the sheet, and. also that they will be exact or. uniform in size
when a large number of sheets are nicked in succession, thus rendering the work
much more perfect when the sheets are connected by a seam and wired, as shown in
Figure 6 than when produced in the ordinary manner, as shown in Figure 7.
The bar J being pivoted to the plate H, its forward end or short arm may be readily
depressed below the plane of. the cutting edge, 2, of the blade D, thus enabling the
sheet 45 to be placed above said bar and inserted in the jaws of the shears to a
greater extent than the stop will readily permit, should occasion require it.
The upper blade C, may be made of any desired width at its forward end, .or..in
accordance with the width of the nick on the line 95 to 89.
It will be obvious that the shears are equally well adapted for use by hand, as
shown in Figures 1 and 4, or by power, as shown in Figure 8, in which, M represents
a. bench to which they are secured, and N a treadle for actuating the blades, it
being understood that when to be used by power, the hand-loops E, F,. are not
necessarily required