IMPROVEMENTS IN PITCHFORKA
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Rodden, of Toronto, Ontario,
in the Dominion of Canada, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PITCHFORKA."
Sealed the 21st February 1873, and dated the 27th November 1872.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Henry Rodden
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 27th November 1872, pursuant to the
9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY RODDEN, of Toronto, Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN,
PITCHFORKS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for
the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and
first Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Henry Rodden, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and

page_text: seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification :---
The first part of my said Invention relates to improvements in the
form or shape of the tines or prongs of hay, straw, manure, and other
similar forks, and its object is the construction of the same in such a
manner and of such form or shape that they will be more perfect in
their operation, and may be made of greater strength with the same
weight of metal than any of those hitherto known or used.
The second part of the said Invention relates to an improved ferrule
to be applied to a hay or other fork. The said ferrule is made of wrought
iron and with or without straps; it is constructed entirely of one piece
of metal and is rounded at the end to give it a tight fitting unyielding
grip upon the shank inserted in it. It is most conveniently made of sheet
iron brazed or welded and finished by swaging or rounding it on a mandrel
in a hollow bed or die by the application of a top swage or die with a
hammer. The solid or close end is formed by drawing in or compressing
the iron, thereby thickening the metal at the point of contact with the
shank and giving the firmest grip where there is the greatest strain.

page_text: be made of any suitable metal, and of such dimensions and strength as
will be adapted for the kind of work to which they are to be applied.
By means of this peculiar form or shape of the tine or prong I obtain
several important advantages. In the first place the rounded upper
side presents a large bearing surface to the load or material to be lifted;
I thereby ensure an easy delivery of the load as the rounded upper
surface does not cut into or break the fibre of the straw or other
material as does the oval-shaped tine, which presents a thin edge to
the fibre of the straw or other similar material, causing it to bind on
the prong so that it requires some force to pitch off the load. The
rounded upper side also imparts more firmness and strength to resist
lateral strain.
Furthermore the tapering of the under or lower side imparts greater
strength to resist the vertical pressure of the load than the rounded tine.
And my improved form of tine admits of a more rapid tapering from
heel to point than is possible either in the round or in the oval tine, so
that less power is required to force the tines into the material to be
lifted, and to withdraw them when the load is being pitched off.
It will therefore be seen that in my improved tine I secure the
advantages of the round tine, which are easy delivery and lateral
strength; and also those of the oval tine, which are firmness and
strength to resist or bear vertical pressure; all of which advantages
are secured without any additional weight of material or metal,
and in some cases less metal might suffice than is required in other
forks.
The construction of my improved ferrule f is clearly illustrated in
Figure 1. If desired I may use the solid metal pad c, although it is not
absolutely necessary, as the ferrule proper may be fitted directly upon
the end of the handle e; but the said pad preserves the form of the
ferrule and gives increased grip to the shank. It moreover furnishes
additional protection to the handle, saving it from the effects of the
weather and from shrinkage. The said pad is made of malleable iron.
In Figure 2 I have shown the said ferrule formed with straps f¹ to
extend up on each side of the handle e, but these straps are not
indispensable, and I make the said ferrule either with or without
them.

page_text: Having thus described my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. Making the tines or prongs of a hay, manure, or other similar
fork rounded on their upper or lifting side, and tapered to a thin edge
on their under or lower side, as herein-before described and for the
purpose set forth.
Second. The wrought-iron capped ferrule f made of one piece of
metal either with or without the strap f¹, and applied to the handle
either with or without a solid metal pad c, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Rodden, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
DAVID M. BLICK.
WILLIAM HENRY RODDEN. (L.S.)