Improvements in the Manufacture of Shovels and other similar Implements.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct.. 1394-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Shovels and other similar
Implements.
I, LUCIEN DES ROUSSEAUX of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris, France, Founder, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Shovels and other similar implements are generally fitted with curved hafts
because these lessen the throw of the implement, but the curving of the haft
increases the price of the implement and renders it more liable to fracture. It has
been sought to remedy this objection, by making the shovels with a curved socket,
which allows of the employment of straight hafts but this does not appreciably
diminish the price of the shovel, for the socket being the most expensive part and
being of no value when the blade of the shovel is worn out, it has to be thrown
away whilst still in a good condition.
Now the object of my invention is to overcome this objection. By my invention
straight hafts can be used, and the sockets can be employed during the whole of
the time they are of any value, and it principally consists in making the socket
separately from the blade, in attaching it to the blade by some convenient method
and in giving to the sockets the curve that has hitherto been given to the haft of
the implement. My invention presents no difficulty if metals are made use of which
can be cast and shaped, such for example as steel or malleable iron.
In carrying out the invention the blade of the shovel or implement may be made
with a part near the top edge recessed either at the front or at the back and with a
part towards the middle of the blade inversely recessed either at the back or at the
front. In this way supports are formed to hold the socket which is made of cast
inetal and suitably curved; this socket is kept in position by means of a heel piece
placed higher or lower on the socket according to the part which abuts ou the
supports. The whole is then firmly fixed in position by means of rivets or other
suitable fastenings. The haft is placed in the socket in the ordinary way.
In a simplified way of carrying out the invention I do away with the heel piece
on the socket as well as with the recessed portions of the blade and I thereby lessen
the expense of manufacture. In this case the upper edge of the blade is left
perfectly flat for the whole of its breadth. The socket is of malleable iron or of
steel and of suitable curvature and there is no heel piece above or below such as
has been above described, but the socket slides into a pocket formed at the middle
of the blade, until a square edge or shoulder on the socket comes in alignment with
the edge of the blade. This socket is then kept firmly in its place by means of
nails, two of which engage in lugs fixed on either side of the socket, while a third
serves to affix the socket directly to the pocket on the blade.
1 obtain by this means a mounting at once rapid, firm and very economical and I
dispense with the recessed portions at the back of the blade of the implement
which is a great advantage.

page_text: improvements in the Manufacture of Shovels and other similar
Implements.
1, LUCIEN DESROUSSEAUX, of 16, Rue Drouot, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Founder, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :—
My present invention has for its object a novel method of manufacturing and
putting together shovels, spades, and other analogous implements. It consists
essentially in the method of uniting together the blades and the sockets (which
may be in line with the blades, or curved so that straight hafts can be used), which
are separately manufactured; and in this way, considerable economy is effected as
compared with the method of manufacture heretofore ordinarily used. The socket
is the part of the implement which requires the most work and is the most
expensive part of the implement to make, especially considering that it does not
wear out nearly so quickly as the blade, and by manufacturing these two parts
separately, the socket may be used over and over again, by changing the blade
when necessary.
By my invention straight hafts can be used (if desired), and the sockets can be
employed during the whole of the time they are of any value, and it principally
consists in making the socket separately from the blade and attaching it to the
blade by some convenient method, and in giving to the sockets when desired the
curve that has hitherto been given to the haft of the implement. My invention
presents no difficulty if metals are made use of which can be cast and shaped, such,
for example, as steel or malleable iron.
The invention may be carried out in differently modified ways, the socket in
every case being made separately from the blade. For instance, the blade of the
shovel or implement may be made with a part near the top edge recessed either at
the front or at the back, and with a part towards the middle of the blade inversely
recessed either at the back or at the front. In this way supports are formed to
hold the socket which is made of cast metal and may be suitably curved; this
socket is kept in position by means of a heel piece placed higher or lower on the
socket according to the part which abuts on the supports. The whole is then firmly
fixed in position by means of rivets or other suitable fastenings. The haft is placed
in the socket in the ordinary way.
In another way of carrying out the invention 1 do away with the heel piece on
the socket as well as with the recessed portions of the blade, and 1 thereby lessen
the expense of manufacture. In this case the upper edge of the blade is left
perfectly flat for the whole of its breadth. The socket is of malleable iron or of
steel and of suitable curvature, and there is no heel piece above or below such as
has been above described, but the socket slides into a pocket formed at the middle
of the blade, until a square edge or shoulder on the socket comes in alignment with
the edge of the blade. This socket is then kept firmly in its place by means of
nails, two of which engage in lugs fixed on either side of the socket, while a third
serves to affix the socket directly to the pocket on the blade. The method of
making and attaching the separate socket to the blade may be varied more
or less.
The accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention, illustrates
several different methods of putting it in operation.
*Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front view and a side view of a spade with its
socket.
Figure 3 shews the blade of a spade.

page_text: Figures 4 and 5 shew the same blade, fitted with its socket, in side and front
view respectively.
Figures 6 and 7 shew a front elevation and a side view of a separate socket.
Figures 8 and 9 shew in front view and in section a blade brazed or welded to its
socket.
Figures 10 and 11 are corresponding views of a separate socket.
Figures 12 and 13 shew a socket of somewhat different shape, also intended to be
brazed or welded to the blade.
In Figures 1 and 2 the blade a is shewn provided with a projection 6 which
enters the handle c, and with a narrow flange d which serves to facilitate the
pressure of the foot in digging. The blade a, the socket h, and the handle c, are
fixed together by bolts or rivets e. In the modified arrangement shewn in
Figures 3, 4 and 5, the projection 6 is omitted, and a notch b' substituted for it,
the blade socket and handle being united together by bolts or rivets as in the
arrangement first shewn.
In Figures 6 and 7 the socket is shewn provided at its upper end with a ring f
to give it more solidity and strength, and is shewn hollowed at 9 to make it
lighter.
Figures 8 to 13 illustrate sockets of different shapes intended to be brazed or
welded to their blades. This method of construction gives greater strength and
solidity and effects a saving in labour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The novel method of manufacturing shovels, spades, and other implements of the
like kind, consisting in the manufacture of the separate blade a, bolted, or other-
wise connected, with the separate socket h, so that a strong and solid implement is
produced at a very low price, the socket of which, of wrought or cast iron, steel,
or other metal, is capable of being used over and over again upon several successive
blades, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 5th day of October 1894.
.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.