IMPROVEMENTS IN AXES, HAMMERS, SPADES, SHOVELS AND OTHER TOOLS AND IN HANDLES THEREFOR
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE WILLIAM ELLIOTT of Elliott's Patent Mining Pick Company Limited,
Cambrian Place, Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, Pick Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXES, HAMMERS,
SPADES, SHOVELS AND OTHER TOOLS AND IN HANDLES THEREFOR " to be as
follows -
Shovels, hammers, axes and other tools are usually nailed to their handles, or the
bandles wedged into sockets in the tools by wooden or other wedges.
Now my invention consists in extending the principle set forth in my patent
No. 3186 of 1883 of using a taper tool end in a taper socket, tapering in such
manner that the blows or pressuro given to the tool in working shall only tighton
the tool more strongly in its socket. For hammers, axes, 'spades, shovels and other
tools, I use a socket similar to that used with the pick in my aforesaid patent, and
taper the hammer head or axe where the socket bears, in the same way as the pick
blades are taporod.
In the case of spades and shovels and. other tools which are used with their
working points, edges or faces in a line or nearly so with the centre line of the
handle, I form that part of the tool which fits the socket in such a manner as to
bring the tool to the desired direction with the handle.
By this means in conjunction with my aforesaid patent, one handle may be made
to serve for a pick, axe, hammer, shovel, spade or other tool, and thus effect great.
economy in first cost, packing, carriage and storage, and specially applicable to
military and pioneering purposos.

page_text: I, GEORGE WILLIAM ELLIOTT of 12 Clarkenhouse Road Sheffield in the county
of York, Pick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AXES HAMMERS, SPADES, SHOVELS, AND OTHER TOOLS, AND IN
BANDLES THEREFOR and in what manner the same is to bo performed, to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
Shovels, hammers, axes and other tools are usually nailed to their handles, or the
handles wedged into sockets in the tools by wooden or other wedges.
Now my invention consists in extending the principle set forth in my patent
No 3186 of 1883 of using a taper tool end in a taper socket, tapering in such
manner that the blows or pressure given to the tool in working shall only tighten 1
the tool more strongly in its socket. For hammers, axes, spades, shovels and other
tools, I use a socket similar to that used with the pick in my aforesaid patent, and
taper the hammer head or axe where the socket bears, in the same way as the pick
blades are tapered.
In the case of spades and shovels and other tools which are used with their
working points, edgos or faces in a line or nearly so with the centre line of the
handle, I form that part of the tool which fits the socket in such a manner as to
bring the tool to the desired direction with the handle.
By this means in conjunction with my aforesaid patent, one handle may be made
to serve for a pick, axe, hainmner, shovel, spade or other tool, and thus effect great
economy in first cost, packing, carriage and storage, and specially applicable to
military and pioneering purposes.
Referring to the annexed drawings:-
Figure 1 is an elevation of axe hend in position in socket.
Figure 2 longitudinal section of sama
Figure 3 cross section.
Figure 4 elevation of adze in position in socket.
Figure 5 elevation of hammer in position in socket.
Figure 6 elevation of shovel in socket used for such tools.
Figure 7 elevation of socket capable of holding tools whose tang runs either
longitudinally or transversely.
In these A is the blade or head with a tang a made by preference of rectangular
cross section, and tapered from the shoulder a¹ which is the thickest point to the
end which is furthest away from the front or face. The head or blade A may be
forged or stamped in the manner usual in the manufacture of such tools and after-
wards accurately fitted to a gauge or template corresponding in size to the socket
which is to carry them. B is the socket which is formed with a slightly tapered
holo or socket 6 to receive the tang a of the blade or head A, and a second socket
or shoo b¹ to receive the shaft C. The hole or socket bis formed of a size and
shape corresponding to the tang a of the blade or head, the shoe or socket b' being
made to receive a shaft C of sufficient size and strength for the tool to be carried
thereby. The socket may be secured to the shaft by pins or wedges, but I prefer

page_text: the latter which may be placed in position to enter the end of the shaft before it is
inserted in the shoe, and then both driven into position together. Any looseness
occasioned between the head A and socket B during wear is compensated for by
the taper in the tang a¹ and hole b which the successive blows or the pressure on
the tool always drives tight. In order however to make a more elastic joint,
I prefer to make the socket a slightly bulging outwards being concave on its inner
sides (as shown in Figure 3) When in this form the driving in of the tapered
tang a tends to straighten the sides which then act in some degree as a spring to
retain it more securely in position. In hand tools of the description to which this
invention refers, it is always advantageous that the centre line or axis of the shaft
shall pass as nearly as possible through the centre of gravity of the blade or head,
and to enable this to be the case in tools constructed as described when in normal
position for use, I slightly cut away the socket a at its wider end d, and cause it
to project for some distance beyond the shoe b* at its narrower end d³.
In the case of shovels, spades and other tools which are used with their working
edges, faces or points in a line parallel or nearly so with the centre line of the
handle, I form that part of the tool which fits the socket in such a manner as to
bring the tool to the desired direction with the handle, which in the case of a
shovel is shewn in Figure 6.
In using tools with sockets and heads or blades formed in accordance with this
invention the tang a of the head or blade is inserted in the socket b, and a slight
tap makes it sufficiently firm for use, and every succeeding blow or the pressure of
use tends to keep it firm in the socket. After considerable use when the head or
blade and socket are very firmly wedged together, I find that by a comparatively
gentle tap at e they are sufficiently loosened to allow the head or blade to fall out.
If very firmly wedged or even rusted together a gentle heat applied to the socket
will cause them to be loosened by the expansion of the outer metal before the heat
reaches the inner tang. I have only shown the socket tapered as regards the top
and bottom, but if desired all four sides may be made taper, or any two opposite
sides may be made tapered and the others parallel, but in practice I prefer the
shape of the socket b and tang a, as shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not herein claim the manufacture of picks or tools such as are
already described and protected by my aforesaid patent N° 3186 of 1883 but
I declare that what I claim is
The manufacture and use of hand tools such as those described, having the head
or blade formed with a tapered-tang fitting into a corresponding socket carried by
the shaft or handlo so that the head or blado may be withdrawn or replaced when
required, substantially as described.