Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus Employed in Manufacturing Hoes, Spades, Shovels, Axes, Adzes, and such like Tools.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1887
Complete Left, 18th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 25th May, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus Employed in
Manufacturing Hoes, Spades, Shovels, Axes, Adzes, and such
like Tools.
We, JOHN PERKS, of the firm of John Perks and Sons, of Monmore Green Works,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, edge tool manufacturers, and WILLIAM
CHARLES SALMON, engineer in the employment of the said firm, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus employed in
forming the blades of the tools mentioned in the title, and has for its object to form
such blades by a rolling process direct from the section of bar usually employed when
the old plating process is used, and thus avoid both the expense of the old method
of plating and also the necessity for using expensive sections of bar such as are
usually employed when the blades are formed by a rolling process.
We will first describe this invention in its application to the manufacture of hoes
having a strengthening rib, when its application to the manufacture of other hoes
and the other tools mentioned in the title will be readily understood.
A bar of the usual section for the required hoe is first formed into blanks or moulds
each having the eye and part of the rib formed thereon in the ordinary or any con-
venient manner, and such blanks or moulds have the metal thereof to form the blade
rolled out to the proper width, or nearly so, from the centre outwards, one side being
first rolled out and then the other. This operation is performed in a pair of rolls
which have gaps formed therein to allow of each blank being placed between the
rolls in such position that as the operating surfaces of the rolls approach one another
such surfaces will bear along the longitudinal centre of the blank and roll the metal
out from such centre towards the edge, and deliver the blank towards the side from
which it was fed in. A suitable recess is formed from the gap into the surface of
the operating portion of one of the rolls to receive both one half of the eye and of the
rib, and this recess forms a gauge for the proper position of the blank between
the rolls. After one side of the blank has thus been rolled out the blank is turned
and the other side is similarly rolled, the rolls being, of course, so constructed and

page_text: provided with the proper recesses as to allow for rolling out both sides of the
blank. After the blank has been widened out to the width, or nearly so, of the
intended blade of the hoe, such blade is rolled out lengthways in another part of
the same pair of rolls, or in a secondary pair to the length required.
The blades for the hoes may be rolled lengthways first, if desired, and afterwards
rolled out sideways from the centre, instead of being first rolled sideways from the
centre and then rolled lengthways.
The rolls of the pair for widening the blank to the width of the intended blade, or
for such purpose and also for rolling the blank lengthways, are geared to turn
together and are preferably operated to oscillate instead of to revolve continuously
in one direction, and are preferably constructed with the gaps formed similarly at
each end (considered in relation to a transverse section through the rolls) and with
operating surfaces at each end of the gaps so that blanks may be fed in from both
sides, the movement of the rolls in one direction delivering a blank towards such
side and the reverse movement in the other direction delivering a blank in such
direction, whereby one pair of rolls may be employed to do double duty or approxi-
mately so. When a secondary pair of rolls are employed for lengthening the blades,
such rolls may be operated also in the manner above described in order to deliver
blanks on each side.
The blades of the other tools mentioned in the title, may be formed in the manner.
and with the apparatus above-described excepting, of course, that the recesses
described and of which each is formed from the gap into an operating surface of a
roll to receive half the eye (and also half the rib when such is required), in the case
of a hoe, will be modified as may be necessary to suit the shape of the part of such
other tool which may correspond with or answer an analogous purpose to the eye of
the hoe; and when no rib is required on a hoe or other tool inanufactured in the
above manner no recess is, of course, required in the operating surfaces of the rolls
for the reception of a rib.
In lieu of forming the ends to the gaps (considered in relation to a transverse
section through the rolls) and the operating surfaces of such rolls solid with the
rolls, such parts may be formed separately and dovetailed into or otherwise fixed
to the main body of the rolls, so as to be readily removable and renewable when
worn.
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page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus Employed in
Manufacturing Hoes, Spades, Shovels, Axes, Adzes, and such
like Tools.
We JOHN PERKS, of the firm of John Perks and Sons, of Monmore Green Works'
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, edge tool manufacturers, and WILLIAM
CHARLES SALMON, engineer in the employment of the said firm, 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 reference
being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon,
that is to say:-
This invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus employed in
forming the blades of the tools mentioned in the title, and has for its object to form
such blades by a rolling process upon blanks cut from the section of bar usually
employed when the old plating process is used, or upon blanks cut from other plain
section of bar, and thus avoid both the expense of the old method of plating, and
also the necessity for using expensive sections of bar such as are frequently employed
when the blades are formed by a rolling process.
We will describe this invention in its application to the manufacture of hoes having
a strengthening rib, when its application to the manufacture of other hoes and the
other tools mentioned in the title will be readily understood.
A bar of plain section is first formed into blanks or moulds each having the eye
and, if desired, part of the rib also, formed thereon, in the ordinary or any
convenient manner, and such blanks or moulds have the metal thereof to form the
blade rolled out to the proper width, or approximately so, from or about the middle
outwards, one side being first rolled out and then the other. This operation is
performed in a pair of rolls which have gaps (or one of which has a gap) formed
therein to allow of each blank being placed between the rolls in such position
that as the operating surfaces of the rolls approach one another such surfaces will bear
along the middle of the blank and roll the metal out therefrom towards the edge, and
deliver the blank towards the side from which it was entered. A suitable recess is
formed from a gap into the surface of the operating portion of one of the rolls to
receive one half of the eye, and also receive, or form, or partially form, one portion of
the rib, and this recess forms a gauge for the proper position of the blank between
the rolls. After one side of the blank has thus been rolled out the blank is turned and
the other side is similarly rolled, the pair of rolls being, of course, so constructed and
provided with the proper recesses as to allow for rolling out both sides of the blank.
After the blank has been widened out to the width, or approximately so, of the intended
blade of the hoe, such blade is rolled out lengthways in another part of the same pair
of rolls, or in a secondary pair, to the length required. The endway rolling has a

page_text: tendency to slightly widen the blank and this may be allowed for in rolling out the
blank sideways. The expression "the intended width of the blade" is used as meaning
the width which can be sheared off to the width of the finished blade.
This invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which figure 1 is a front elevation of a pair of rolls constructed according
to, and for the purpose of, this invention. Figure 2 is a plan of the lower roll, in the
position of its revolution shewn by figure 1, with a blank shewn, by broken lines, in
positions necessary for two stages of the rolling process to which it is subjected..
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line of figure 1, shewing a blank being held in
position for the primary operation of the rolls, and such operation as having just
commenced. Figure 4 is a section on line y y of figure 1, shewing a blank being
held in position to be rolled out lengthways between the rolls, and such operation, also,
as having just commenced. Figure 5 is a side elevation, and figure 6 a plan, drawn
to an enlarged scale, of a blank (formed as usual from a narrow bar, as when the
blade is to be plated) previously to its being operated upon by the rolls; figure 7 is a
plan of such blank after one side thereof has been rolled out to, or approximately to,
its required width from the centre, and figure 7 a is a section taken on line zz of
figure 7. The remaining views will be described later on. The same letters of
reference occurring on two or more of the views indicate corresponding parts. The
upper roll A is formed with a gap a, and the lower roll B with a corresponding gap b,
and the rolls are geared together to revolve in the directions indicated by the
arrows a b¹ figure 4. The necks of the rolls and the housings in which they are carried
are of the usual construction and are therefore omitted from the drawings for
convenience of illustration. Within the abutment or shoulder formed at one end of
the gap bis a series of open-ended recesses c, c, d, e, and f. The surface of the
roll A, except for the part thereof in which the gap a is formed, is, preferably, plain
and truly cylindrical; but the surface of the lower roll, extending backwards from the
edge of the gap in which the recesses are formed, is shaped in different divisions
therealong to give the required shape to the blank, in successive stages of the
operation by which it is rolled into a hoe :-thus a part of such surface is formed
so as, in combination with the corresponding surface of the upper roll, to roll out the
blank sideways from or about its middle to the shape shewn by figure 7, and also, by a
second operation, to roll out the other side of the blank to a corresponding shape; the
part d' of such surface is shaped so as, in combination with the corresponding surface
of the upper roll, to partially roll out the blank end ways; and the surfaces e¹ and f¹
are shaped so as, in combination with the corresponding surfaces of the upper roll,
to respectively still further roll out the blank end ways and complete such rolling.
d, e, and fare sinkings in the surfaces d¹, e¹, and Л, respectively, to receive and
properly shape the rib.
The method of rolling the blanks into hoes is as follows:-A blank, as shewn by
figures 5 and 6, is pushed sideways against the recessed abutment of the roll B, with
the eye thereof (including, of course, any cheeks to such eye) in one of the recesses c c¹,
say in the recess c, with somewhat more than half of the part to form the blade of the
hoe resting on the surface c³, as shewn at 1, figure 3, and by broken lines in plan,
figure 2. The blank is placed in position somewhat before the rolls arrive in the
relative positions of their revolutions shown by figures 3 and 4, and when there is
consequently plenty of room between their surfaces to admit the blank. The blank
is thus rolled out to the shape shewn by figure 7, and is then turned round and
again placed upon the surface c, but with the eye within the recess c¹, and the other
side of the blank is thus rolled out to a similar shape to the side previously rolled, the
rolled part of the blank being, after such second rolling, of the width, or approxi-
mately so, of the intended blade of the hoe. c3 c are recesses for partially forming
the intended rib, and c³ is a recess to allow clearance for the pole. The blank is
next turned endways and placed with the part to form the blade of the hoe upon the
surface d', with the eye within the recess d, and with the rib within the sinking d², as
shewn at 1', figure 4, and by broken lines figure 2, and the blade is thus rolled out partially

page_text: )
endways. The blank is then transferred to the surface e¹, and further rolled end ways,
and finally to the surface f¹ where it is still further rolled endways and the rolling
process thus completed.
After the rolling process has been completed in the manner above described the
blanks are sheared in the ordinary or any convenient manner and are bent or set to
their required shape in the usual dies or by other convenient means.
Notches ii etc. are formed in the edge of the abutment of the upper roll to
admit (as clearly shewn by figures 3 and 4) the upper jaw of the tongs by which the
blank is placed in position between the rolls. It is not essential, however, though it
is much preferred, to gap the upper roll in the manner shewn. All that is required
in the upper roll, apart from its cylindrical shape, is that no part of its surface shall
form an obstruction to the use of the tongs in placing the blanks in position between
the rolls.
The blanks may be rolled in some cases to their full length endways at one
operation, if desired, either in the same pair of rolls in which they are rolled out side-
ways or in a secondary pair, or if it is necessary to reduco their thickness and increase
their length by two or more endway rollings, such may be accomplished by screwing
down the upper roll between each operation, in the manner commonly employed in
rolling metals, in lieu of passing the blank successively between different parts of the
rolls. And when a pair of rolls as illustrated is employed the endway rolling may in
some cases be completed between the first or second pair of endway rolling surfaces.
It is preferred that the specially-shaped operating surfaces be formed on the lower
roll and that the upper roll be the plain one, but the rolls may be in the reverse
relation to one another if desired, that is the one described as the upper may be the
lower and the lower one the upper.
While the object of the invention is to enable the tools mentioned in the title to
be formed by the aid of a rolling process direct from blanks cut from plain sections of
bar, it is obvious that the invention may be used also in respect of blanks cut off
from a bar which has been previously rolled with lumps or projections thereon from
which the eyes or corresponding parts of the tools are to be formed, or with
projections to form ribs on such tools, but of which the parts to form the blades are
narrower than the intended widths of the blades and which have consequently to
be widened out sideways. There is no need, however, when this invention is used,
of employing blanks of such character.
When the blade of a hoe rolled from a blank of the character shewn by figure 6
is required to be round-shouldered, this may be accomplished in the sideway rolling,
with the result shewn by figure 7, by forming the operating surface of the lower
roll of such shape as to leave a greater thickness or quantity of metal in the middle
of the upper end of the blank than at the other parts thereof, such thickness or
quantity gradually reducing to a point along the blade. The part having the greater
thickness or quantity left in the middle will not, of course, be rolled out so widely
as the other parts, and, as such thickness or quantity gradually reduces, the width
of the blade along which such occurs will be rolled out gradually wider from the
upper end. The degree of curve may be readily regulated by the degree of thickness
or quantity of metal left in the middle of the upper end of the blank, and by the ratio
of its reduction downwards. The rib, when such is required, is formed from the
thickened part of the blade, or may itself constitute such thickened part.
In rolling out the blades the lower corners thereof are liable to be formed con-
siderably rounded and thus involve the cutting off of a considerable quantity of scrap
0 in shearing the blades to the proper shape. In order to avoid this objection a sinking c
is formed along the surface of the roll B so that in rolling out a blank sideways
a thickened part m (see figures 7 and 7 a) is formed along the outer side thereof.
A corresponding thickened part is formed also in rolling out the other side of the
blank; and these thickened parts, by providing a sufficient quantity of metal along
the edges, cause the lower end of the blade to be rolled out, during the endway
rolling, to a square, or approximately square, shape.
In lieu of first forming the blanks, as in the ordinary method, from a narrow

page_text: bar, in which case they are of the form shewn by figures 5 and 6, they may be
formed to the shape shewn by figures 8 and 9, which correspond, respectively, to
figures 5 and 6, that is with the part for forming the intended blade of a much
greater width than in the previous case, so that a lesser degree of sideway rolling
is required. In this case the blanks may be cut from a bar of the width of the
part to form the intended blade by cutting off such blanks transversely from the bar
but, in order to avoid waste, it is preferred to cut such blanks out from a bar of
suitable width in the manner indicated by figure 10, in which every alternate blank k
is cut the reverse way to the intermediate blanks A. When the hoes are required to
have rounded shoulders, the blanks may be conveniently formed with the upper
corners slanted off as shewn.
;
The blades for the hoes, whichever blanks are employed, may be rolled lengthways
first, if desired, and afterwards rolled out sideways from the centre, instead of
being first rolled sideways from the centre and then rolled lengthways, but it is
preferred to roll them sideways first. If the hoes are required to be partly of iron
and partly of steel the steel is of course welded to the iron previously to the rolling
of the blades.
Instead of gearing the rolls A and B to revolve continuously they may be made to.
reverse in any convenient manner in which rolls are now reversed, or in other con-
venient manner, in which case the gaps a and bare, preferably, formed with a corre-
sponding abutment at each end (that is, considered circumferentially of the rolls) and
with operating surfaces at each end of the gaps, so that blanks may be fed in from both
sides, the movement of the rolls in one direction delivering a blank towards such side,
and the reverse movement in the other direction delivering a blank in such
direction, whereby one pair of rolls may be employed to do double, or approximately
double, duty.
When the rolls are revolved continuously in one direction, it is desirable to form
abutments and operating surfaces, respectively, at and beyond each end of the gaps,
and to provide any necessary recesses, sinkings, or notches therein, and such surfaces,
recesses, sinkings, and notches may be duplicates of those at the other ends of the gaps
so that the rolls may be reversed in their holsters when worn on one side, or they may
be made for a larger size of hoe than can be rolled on the other side, and thus one
pair of rolls will answer for a greater range of sizes of hoe. It will be obvious,
however, that hoes varying in size, within limits, may be rolled in one set of operating
surfaces, as the thickness of the hoes can be regulated by the greater or less distance
apart to which the rolls may be readily adjusted, and the superficial area and shape
may be regulated by the quantity of metal in the blank in relation to the thickness to
which it is rolled.
In lieu of forming the ends to the gaps (considered in relation to a transverse section
through the rolls) and the operating surfaces of such rolls solid with the rolls, such
parts may, if desired, be formed separately and dovetailed into or otherwise fixed to the
main body of the rolls, so as to be readily removable and renewable when worn.
When hoes are formed from blanks of the character shewn by figure 9, such
blanks may have the parts thereof for the intended blades formed to, or approximately
to, the full width of such blades, and the blades may then be rolled down endways,
in the manner above described for such endway rolling, to their proper length and
thickness, without any previous sideway rolling. This method of forming the blades
is more especially applicable in the case of the narrower descriptions of hoes.
The blades of the other tools mentioned in the title may be formed in the manner
and with the apparatus above described excepting, of course, that the recesses
described and of which each is formed from the gap into an operating surface of
a roll to receive half the eye (and also sinkings for the rib, when such is required) in
the case of a hoe, will be modified as may be necessary to suit the shape of the part of
such other tool which may correspond with or answer an analogous purpose to the eye
of the hoe; and when no rib is required on a hoe or other tool manufactured in the
above manner no sinking is, of course, required in the operating surfaces of the rolls
for the reception of a rib.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish to state that we are aware
that rolling a blank for a hoe or like implement, such as a spade, endways to finish it
to proper thickness, between rolls one of which is gapped, and which deliver the blank
to the side of the rolls from which it is fed therein, is not new, as such a method is
set forth in the specification of a patent granted to Daniel Smith, junior, dated the
28th day of September 1883, No. 4623, but what we claim as our invention is :-
1. In the manufacture of hoes, spades, shovels, axes, adzes, and such like tools,
the combined process of rolling out the blanks therefor sideways from or about the
middle each way and rolling them out lengthways or endways, the sideway rolling
being performed, preferably, anterior to the endway rolling, substantially as described
for the purpose set forth.
2. In the manufacture of hoes, spades, shovels, axes, adzes, and such like tools,
rolling out the parts of the blanks thereof for the intended blades sideways from or
about the middle each way, substantially as described.
3. The rolls by which blanks for hoes, spades, shovels, axes, adzes, and such like
tools are or may be rolled out sideways from or about the middle each way, substantially
as described.
4. The rolls, substantially as described with reference to the drawings herewith, by
which the blanks for hoes, spades, shovels, axes, adzes, and such like tools, may be
rolled out sideways from or about the middle each way, and be also rolled out end ways,
for the purpose set forth.
5. In the manufacture of hoes, spades, shovels, axes, adzes, and such like tools, the
combined process of cutting off the blanks from a bar of plain section, with the parts
of the blanks for the blades thereof formed to the full width (or approximately so) of
the intended blades and then rolling out such parts endways to the desired length
and thickness of the blades, substantially as described.
6. In the manufacture of hoes, spades, shovels, axes, adzes, and such like tools,
rolling out the blades thereof direct from blanks cut from plain sections of bar,
substantially as described.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicants.