IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POINTED EDGE AND OTHER TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL, MINING, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgans, of Elm, near Frome, in the County of
Somerset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
POINTED EDGE AND OTHER TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL,
MINING, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 31st March 1876, and dated the 29th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgans at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1876.
WILLIAM MORGANS, of Elm, near, Frome, in the County of Somerset. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POINTED EDGE AND OTHER TOOLS AND
IMPLEMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL, MINING, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of pointed
edge and other tools and implements for agricultural; mining, and other purposes.
For these purposes I in the first place form a rod, or bar, or plate, consisting
externally of iron and internally of steel; this I do by forming a pile with a bar
or bars of steel, it may be cast steel, in the centre of the pile and with bars of iron
on the exterior, and rolling or drawing down the pile into rods, bars, or plates, of
the section required. For miners' picks I form a compound bar of the above
description, and cut the bar into the lengths required for each tool; one or both
of the ends of each length are afterwards drawn down to bring them to a point or
working edge, which is then hardened and tempered. The bar at its centre may
be slit longitudinally, and opened out to allow of its being attached to a handle, or
other means of attaching it to a handle may be adopted. Picks constructed in the
manner above described may be made lighter and stiffer than picks constructed in
the ordinary manner, and will in addition when a cast-steel core is used possess the
the principal advantages of picks formed entirely of cast steel. The steel will also
be well protected in manufacture, and also when the ends of the pick are reheated
at the time of dressing or sharpening. Other pointer tools, as for example, hay
and other forks, may similarly be formed from compound bars of steel and iron, and
will possess greater rigidity than tools formed of iron and pointed with steel in the
well known manner, and will be tougher or less liable to break than if they con-
sisted entirely of steel. Such compound bars may also be flattened out at the end
and brought to an edge to form boring tools or drills, in which case two sides of the

page_text: pile may consist of iron of only slight thickness, and the pile may be rolled down
into bars of an octagon or other section with the steel passing centrally across it
from one side to the other or nearly . And when two or more edges or points
are required a separate member of steel may be formed for each. Boring tools or
drills formed from such bars will by reason of the continuity of the steel througout
their length transmit a blow better than similar tools of iron pointed with steel.
For forming the blades of scythes or reaping hooks, and other tools or implements
having cutting or wearing blades or edges, I similarly form a pile with steel in the
interior and iron on the exterior, and roll or draw it down to a bar or plate of the
section required and slit the bar longitudinally to divide it into slips; the slips are
afterwards divided into lengths and each length is forged to the shape of blade required.
By this means I am in some cases enabled to secure a more regular and uniformn
disposition of the steel in the rod, bar, or plate, from which the tool or tools are to
be made, than is the case when blades are formed from steel and iron rolled or
drawn together in the ordinary manner. The steel also being surrounded by iron
will be thereby protected until the compound bar or rod has been rolled or drawn
to the section required, and by reason of its being encased by the irou I am enabled
to use some classes of steel, which otherwise could not be employed so readily or
with equally good effect.
In place of forming the bars with one central strip of steel and dividing the bar
by a central longitudinal slit, the bars may be formed with two or more strips of
steel and be afterwards divided into three or more strips, each suitable for being
forged into cutting or wearing blades, or the bars may be made so that a length
of the bar should be suitable for forming a single blade, a strip on one side of the
bar being cut away to waste in order to expose the steel which is to form the
cutting or working edge. In a similar manner other cutting blades and implements
and also shovels, spades, and such like tools, may be formed from compound bars of
iron and steel slit longitudinally, and each slip divided crosswise into lengths
suitable for being forged into the form of a shovel, spade, or other tool, or implement
required.
For forming some classes of tools the compound rods, bars, or plates, in place of
being slit longitudinally as above described, to expose the steel which is to form
the cutting or wearing edge of the tools may be slit transversely, or otherwise, still
retaining the advantage herein-before set forth.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William. Morgans in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th July
1876.
"
WILLIAM MORGANS, of Elm, near Frome, in the County of Somerset.
'IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POINTED EDGE AND OTHER TOOLS AND
IMPLEMENTS FOR AGRICULTURAL, MINING, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of pointed
edge and other tools and implements for agricultural, mining, and other purposes.
For these purposes I in the first place form a rod, or bar, or plate consisting
externally of iron and internally of steel; this I do by forming a pile with a bar
or bars of steel, it may be cast steel within the pile, and with bars of iron around
the exterior, and rolling or drawing down the pile into rods, bars, or plates, of the
section required, having the inner core of steel embraced as it were by a wrapper
of iron. For such tools as miners' picka 1 form a compound bar of the above
description, and cut the bar into the lengths required for each tool; one or both of
the ends of each length are afterwards sheared, cut, or forged, or otherwise drawn
down or shaped to a point or working edge or face, which is then hardened and
tempered. The bar at mid length or elsewhere may be slit longitudinally and
opened out to allow of its being attached to a handle, or other means of attaching

page_text: it to a handle may be adopted. Picks constructed in the manner above described
may be made lighter and stiffer than picks constructed in the ordinary manner,
and will in addition when a cast steel core is used possess the principal advantages
of picks formed entirely of cast steel without the disadvantages which sometimes
tell against the use of such tools. The steel will also be well protected in manu-
facture, and also when the ends of the pick are reheated at the time of dressing or
sharpening in the ordinary way. If by repeated sharpening the iron be found to
overrun the point or extremity some of the iron may be removed by paring or
otherwise, and the extremity may be upset to facilitate doing so.
Other pointed
tools, as for example hay and other forks, may similarly be formed from compound
bars of steel and iron, and will possess greater stiffness or strength than tools
formed of iron and pointed with steel in the well-known manner, and will bo
tougher or less liable to break than if they consisted entirely of hardened steel.
Such compound bars may also be flattened out at the end by paring, forging, or
otherwise, and brought to an edge to form boring tools or drills, in which case two
sides of the pile may consist of iron of only slight thickness, and the pile may be
rolled down into bars of an octagon or other section with the steel passing
diametrically across it from one side to the other, or nearly so, or the bars inay be
upset to enlarge the body of steel previously to such treatment of the ends. And
when two or more edges or points are required a separate member of steel may be
provided and formed for each. The compound mass may also be divided to form
separate bars or portions, with one or more steel cores passing through each.
Boring tools, or drills, or wedges, formed from such bars will by reason of the
continuity of the steel throughout their length transmit a blow better than similar
tools of iron pointed with steel.
For tools having hammer-faced extremities the bar may be upset to increase the
bulk of the steel for the face, and the surrounding iron may be cut away if desired
to any extent.
For forming the blades of scythes or reaping hocks and other tools or imple-
ments, having cutting or wearing blades or edges, I similarly form a pile, with
steel in the interior and iron on the exterior, and roll or draw it down to a bar
or plate of the section required, and slit the bar longitudinally to divide it into slips,
whereby steel to form a cutting or working edge will be exposed; the slips are
afterwards divided into lengths, if not previously divided, and each length is forged
or otherwise formed to the shape of blade or tool required, and submitted to any
other necessary manufacturing process, such as hardening, tempering, and grinding.
By this means I am in some cases enabled to secure a more regular and uniforin
disposition of the steel in the rod, bar, or plate, from which the tool or tools are to
be made than is the case when blades are formed from steel and iron rolled or
drawn together in the ordinary manner for such tools. The steel also being sur-
rounded by iron will be thereby protected until the compound bar or rod has been
rolled or drawn to the section required, and by reason of its being encased by the
iron I am enabled to use some classes of steel which otherwise could not be
employed so readily or with equally good effect.
In place of forming the bars with one enclosed strip of steel and dividing the
bar by a longitudinal slit the bars may be formed with two or more strips of stecl
and be afterwards divided into three or more strips, each suitable for being forged
into cutting or wearing blades or tools. Or the bars inay be made so that a length
of the bar should be suitable for forming a single blade or strip on one side of the
bar, being pared off or cut away in order to expose the steel which is to form the
cutting or working edge. In a similar manner other cutting blades and implements,
and also shovels, spades, and such like tools, may be formed from compound bars of
iron and steel slit longitudinally, and each strip divided crosswise into lengths
suitable for being forged into the form of a shovel, spade, or other tool or implement
required.
For forming some classes of tools the compound rods, bars, or plates, in place of
being slit longitudinally as above described, to expose the steel which is to form

page_text: the cutting or wearing edge of the tools may be slit transversely or otherwise, still
retaining the advantage, herein; before set forth..
When for the purpose of cheapness or of securing increased toughness, without
reference to stiffness or for any other reason it is desired to form the eyes of picks
or other parts of tools entirely of iron the cutting or wearing extremities may be
formed by welding or otherwise connecting portions of such compound bas as
have been described, whereby the advantages in manufacture, use, or general
efficiency of the cutting or wearing edges, points, or extremities, are still retained.
When picks or other pointed or edged tools are sharpened by other means than
forging, such as grinding, it is preferable to provide steel cores of small sections in
order that the bared or naked pyramidal, conical, or other shaped working or
cutting steel point or edge may expose a smaller projection beyond the surrounding
and supporting iron envelope at its base, and thus minimise the loss of working or
cutting point in case of fracture of the same.
In some cases also I harden and temper throughout their entirety the steel cores
of miners' picks, and other pointed or edge tools manufactured from compound
bars of steel and iron, as herein-before described, so that the steel core shall be
possessed of the proper working or cutting temper, from which it follows that for
quarrying and other surface operations, and in metalliferous mines and non-fiery
collieries such picks when requiring resharpening can be ground, filed, or otherwise
abraded to a working or cutting point on the spot, or while underground or within
the mine, thus saving the time and cost of sending them to a sinithy or to "bank"
for repairs. In fiery collieries a grinding or other sharpening apparatus likely to
emit heated sparks could be placed in suitable locality for safety.
To harden and temper the steel cores of pointed or edge tools manufactured from
compound bars of steel and iron, as above described, the steel core is by preference
first hardened by heating the tool to a red heat and quickly cooling it by water
in the ordinary way, and afterwards gradually letting down the temper by again
slowly heating the tool until the desired temper is attained, as is well understood.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim,—
First. The manufacture of miners' picks and other tools having points, or chisel
or other cutting, working, or wearing edges, or the cutting, working, or wearing
portions of such tools from compound bars, rods, or plates, composed of steel
enclosed in an envelope or wrapper of iron, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The manufacture of scythes, sickles, and other .edged tools, substantially
as herein-before described, from compound bars or plates (composed of steel enclosed
in an envelope or wrapper of iron) partially shaped by forging or rolling, and
afterwards slit or divided to expose the steel which is to form or provide for the
cutting edge or working part, and which steel was previously enclosed and protected
by the outer envelope or wrapper of iron.
Third. The manufacture of miners' picks and other pointed or edged tools, or
the working, or wearing portions of such tools from compound bars, rods, or plates,
composed of steel enclosed in an envelope or wrapper of iron, and with the enclosed
steel core or cores of such tools brought to the desired temper throughout its or
their length, substantially as herein-described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgans, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM MORGANS. (L.S.)