Improvements in Pliers for Miners' Use.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pliers for Miners' Use.
I, NATHAN WILSON MOODEY, residing at Fresno City, in the County of Fresno,
and State of California, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 a pocket tool for miners.
As is well known among miners and others familiar with the handling of fuses
it is necessary in order that the same may ignite quickly to split the ends
thereof. This has heretofore been accomplished by the miner by the employment
of an ordinary pocket knife which operation required the time necessary to
withdraw the knife from the pocket, open the knife, split the fuse, reclose and
replace the knife.
The object of my present invention is to avoid this expenditure of time, rendering
the same unnecessary, and to provide a tool which is of simple and inexpensive
construction.
With the above objects in view the invention consists in the peculiar construction
of the tool as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing
and pointed out in the appended clauses of claim.
Referring to the drawing:-
:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a tool constructed in accordance with my invention, and
open.
Fig. 2 is an end view, a fuse being shown dotted in position.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the tool closed.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.
1, 2, designate the opposite members which are provided near their upper ends
with the disks 3, notched at diametrically opposite sides as shown at 4, and
having their edges beveled to form cutters for cutting the fuses into proper
lengths. The two members are pivoted at 5 concentric with their disks and at
one side of the disks form handles 6, while the opposite ends at the opposite
sides of the disks are shaped to form a pair of jaws 7. The jaws 7 have their
inner edges oppositely beveled at 8 to form crimpers, each edge being a
substantial semi-circle so that when the jaws are brought together they complete
a circle, and by the introduction of the capped end of a fuse therein, said cap
may be crimped or an annular groove formed in the same near its edge so that
the water or other moisture cannot enter.
The extremity of one of the jaws is provided with a V-shaped notch or
socket 10, while the opposite member or jaw is provided with or terminates in
a reduced beveled cutter or knife 11, adapted to fit within and interlock with
said notch. The cutter is in line with the centre of the inner edge of the jaw
and hence when the two jaws are brought together the said knife forms within
the notch a continuation of the crimping edge of the opposite jaw, whereby a
crimp made upon the cap is continuous and of a uniform depth or degree the
entire length of the same.
By the interlocking of the two jaws, the same are prevented from spreading
during the operation of crimping. The knife performs an additional function to
that of an interlocking end, in that the end of a fuse laid within the notch of one
jaw may be split by the bringing of the two jaws together. In this operation
of splitting the fuse, the notch serves as a holder for the fuse, supporting the
same in proper position so that the knife may enter opposite the axial centre
of the fuse and thus divide the same longitudinally, exposing the explosive and
ensuring ignition.

page_text: From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing,
it will be seen that I provide a convenient pocket tool for miners, which tool
is adapted to cut and split the fuse and 'successfully and efficiently crimp the
cap upon the end of the same, whereby the operation of capping the fuse is
greatly facilitated and the length of time usually required to perform the same,
reduced.
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. The herein described combination miners tool comprising a pair of opposite
members pivoted together and terminating at their ends in inwardly curved jaws,
the inner edges of said jaws being beveled to form crimpers, as described for the
purpose specified.
2. The herein described miners combination tool consisting of a pair of opposite
members pivoted together and terminating at their ends in inwardly curved jaws,
one of which is provided with a notch and the other with a knife adapted to inter-
lock therewith, said notch and knife being disposed longitudinally with relation to
the members, substantially as specified.
3. The herein described combination miners tool consisting of the opposite
members provided between their ends with the notched cutting disks, and at one
side of the same terminating in curved jaws having internal semicircular central
oppositely-beveled crimping edges, one of said jaws being provided at its extremity
in line with said edge with a V-shaped notch and the other of said jaws with a
V-shaped knife adapted to fit the notch and form a continuation of the crimping
edges of the jaws, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 26th day of July 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT.
Agents for the Applicant.