having Loose Points or Blades.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1891-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
having Loose Points or Blades.
I, WILLIAM HENRY MARSDEN NEAVE, of Sheaf Gardens, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to improvements in picks and other like implements, having
detachable points or blades, and more especially to the means employed for securing
and releasing the said points or blades, or other removable end pieces used in
such tools.
The annexed sheet of drawings illustrates the invention as carried out in the
construction of a "miner's pick"; similar letters of reference indicate similar parts
in any of the figures.
Fig. 1, is a plan of pickhead with one point or blade in fixed position.
Fig. 2, elevation, partly in section, and end view.
Fig. 3, end of arm, with hole reversed.
Fig. 4, end of arm, with open slot, or groove.
Fig. 5, modification in the arrangement of slots.
I either cast or forge the head of the pick A, but by preference cast it in steel,
or malleable iron, having the eye B, and the straps C, of any desired form; two
short arms D, extend in opposite directions and are provided with socket holes E,
or grooves E, to receive and hold the points or blades F, and slots G preferably
made vertical, for releasing the points or blades when required.
My invention consists in the first place in forming the socket holes E, to receive
the points or blades F, of a more or less dovetailed cross section, such as is shown
in Figs. 1. 2. 3. but I may also use a triangular or three sided cross section if
desirable, the said holes being also tapered on two or more sides longitudinally, or
from front to back as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.
Secondly, in forming the socket holes for the points or blades of a similar form
but with an open side, (as seen in Fig. 4) the whole or part of its length, or a
partially open side, that is, having one or more straps of metal bridging over the
opening, and connecting the two sides of the groove.
Thirdly, in the formation of the releasing slots G, which I make taper, increasing
in width towards the socket holes E, as by this formation a spare point or blade
can be used to release and drive out the fast point, instead of requiring the aid of a
special wedge. These slot holes G, I prefer to pass through the head vertically,
but they may if desired pass through the sides horizontally, as shown in Fig. 5.
The shanks of the points or blades F, (or other like tools) are made to corre-
spond with, and fit into, the said socket holes E, or open grooves E², and to extend
back so as to project into the slots G, as shown, so that when a wedge, point, or
lever is pushed into the slot, it will come in contact with such projecting end, and
on the application of force, will drive it forward and release it.
Also to prevent the end of the shank becoming set up or enlarged, by repeated
blows, or other releasing action, and thus causing it to be difficult or impossible to
release, I taper or round it at the end, and harden it to the required degree.
I prefer to make the shank of each point or blade, in tools or dies, so that every
shank shall be alike and interchangeable, thus ensuring a perfect fit in the head.
The manner in which I prepare the socket holes to receive the points or blades,
when the heads are cast in steel or malleable cast iron, is as follows; instead of
driving serrated drifts into the sockets, or filing the holes out to sizes, neither
processes being satisfactory, I prepare mandrils of the exact size the holes are
[ Price 6dl

page_text: required to be, and after heating the cast head to the desired degree in any suitable
hearth, or furnace, a mandril is driven into each socket hole while the casting is
hot, so as to clear out the sand, and metal fash, the casting is then left until it is
cool, when the mandrils are driven out, leaving the holes clean and smooth. While
the mandrils are in position, the hot casting may be hammered, or pressed, so as to
close it upon the mandrils and thus ensure a perfect fit.
I am aware that for some purposes picks have been made, having rectangular
holes to receive rectangular shanked points, but they have proved unreliable, and I
disclaim the use of such rectangular holes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1-Constructing the loose self-tightening points of picks and other like tools,
with shanks having a tapering form in cross section, as well as tapered longi-
tudinally, and the butt end rounded off or otherwise reduced and hardened, substan-
tially as herein before described.
2 In picks, mattocks, and other like tools, having loose points or blades,
constructing the socket holes for the said points or blades of a tapering form in
cross section as well as longitudinally, and in the manner described, for the purpose
specified and substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 1. 2. 3.
3-Picks and other like tools having the socket holes for the points of a
triangular cross section, and the loose points or blades, made to correspond there-
with, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4-A pick head A, having a socket hole E, for the points F, tapered both
longitudinally and in cross section, and terminating in a vertical or horizontal
slot G, of a tapered configuration, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
5-In picks and other like tools, for loose points, an open side slot or groove, to
receive and hold the points which have their shanks formed to correspond, substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated in Fig. 4.
6-In picks and other like tools for loose points, extending the socket holes E,
back into recesses formed vertically in the upper part of the eye B, to enable the
butt ends of the shanks of points to be struck, or pressed, so as to release them when
required, substantially as described.
7-In the manufacture of cast pickheads for self-tightening points; cleaning
and trueing the socket holes for the points, while the casting is hot, by driving in
smooth mandrils or drifts of the exact form of the shanks of the points; in contra-
distinction to the use of serrated cutting drifts applied to a cold casting.
Dated the 20th day of January 1801
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.