Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan.. 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted; 17th Aug., 1883
BURNETT GREIVE HALL, Abercromby Place, Fermoy, co. Cork, Ireland, Major,
Royal Marine Artillery, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The implement invented, is of two forms-viz.-
(a.) A full sized intrenching tool or digging instrument.
(b.) A light intrenching tool to be carried by soldiers in the field, as part of their
equipment.
Again, each instrument consists of two parts-viz.-
(i.) The Blade.
(ii.) The Shaft or handle.
The blade is similar in both (a) & (b), the only difference being the dimensions,
& the nature & the strength of the metal used in their construction.
It consists of an ordinary spade or shovel blade, with the lower or bottom edge
indented, & formed into a certain number of prongs, the number varying with the
width of the blade.
These prongs are formed on ribs running up into the blade of the shovel, & out of
the same piece of metal as the blade; & the prongs unite at the lower edge of the
shovel blade proper, in a V shaped junction or fork. The edges of these forked
junctions are sharpened for cutting purposes.-vide sketch.
The implement above described is intended to perform the three following
functions.
First, by means of the prongs to break the crust of hard or stony ground, thus
avoiding the necessity for a pick axe to loosen the ground.
Secondly, by means of the V shaped forks at the junction of the prongs, with their
harpened edges, to clear the surface of ground of gorse, heather, scrub, & so forth,
& to cut through the smaller roots of trees, etc. underneath the ground.
Thirdly, by means of the shovel blade, to remove the soil, etc., loosened or detached,
by the action of the prongs & the cutting edges of the forks.

page_text: In short, for the purpose of clearing, breaking, & excavating hard or stony ground,
or ground encumbered with gorse or other small growth, or with the roots of small
trees or shrubs, this implement will perform the functions of the pick axe, bill hook or
hand axe, & shovel, all combined in one instrument.
The shaft of (a) is of wood & is permanently attached to the blade. It resembles in
form that attached to an ordinary garden fork, but with a T handle.
The shaft of (b) is not permanently attached to the blade, but is capable of being
attached to or detached readily from the blade at will.
The actual method of attachment has not yet been definitely decided upon. This
shaft is of metal, & hollow, & is constructed so as to hold the ordinary Infantry service
bayonet, for which it is designed to act as a sheath or scabbard.
The point of this shaft is fitted with a chisel end, to be used for breaking down
masonry walls, for making gaps, or loopholes in walls, for opening cases, or for any
purpose for which a small crowbar would be serviceable.
Attached to it is a small removeable T handle of wood, to be introduced into the
top of the hollow shaft, when required for use, either as a crow bar or when attached
to the blade, for digging or other purposes.
Dated this 24th day of January 1888.
BURNETT G. HALL,
Major, Royal Marine Artillery.

page_text: I, BURNETT GREIVE HALL of Abercromby Place, Fermoy, co. Cork, Major, Royal
Marine Artillery, 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 :-
My Invention relates to a new or improved form or construction of a spade blade
for digging purposes, and its combination with other tools or appliances designed
specially to meet military requirements, for throwing up or erecting hasty Intrench-
ments, constructing Improvised Field Defences generally, and for Military Mining.
It is also applicable for other purposes, such as clearing, digging, and draining rough
and unbroken land, and garden cultivation generally.
In order. that my said Invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
two explanatory sheets of Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures
marked thereon.
For convenience of explanation, I class the tool according to my Invention under
the two forms which it will assume, viz.:-
(a.) A full-sized digging and intrenching tool, in which the handle "H" is
permanently attached to the blade "B." Figs. 1. 2. 3.
"
(b.) A light intrenching tool to be carried by soldiers in the Field as part of their
equipment, in which for convenience of carriage and other purposes, the handle "H
is constructed, so as to be attached or detached readily at will from the blade "B."
Figs. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
The Drawings in illustration of each are on separate sheets, marked “I” and “II"
respectively, and are described as follows,
In class (a), sheet I.
Fig. 1. shows a front view of the spade blade "B" and Figs. 2 & 3 a side and back
view of the same respectively, all three showing the attachment of the handle "H."
In class (b), sheet II.
Fig. 4. shows a front view of the blade "B"; and Fig. 5. is a corresponding view
of the lower end of the handle "H." Fig. 6. is a sectional elevation of the lower
extremity of the spade handle "H," showing the construction of the strapped
socket "," and its attachment to the wooden shaft of the handle "H." Fig. 7. is a
front view of the blade "B" with the handle "H" attached; and Fig. 8. a side view
of the same. Fig. 9. is a front view of the handle "H" which, when detached from
the blade "B," is intended for use as a crowbar.
According to my Invention the blade "B," class (a), is constructed and rivetted to
the handle as shown on Sheet I. It is indented with corrugated ribs or flutings "d"
to give strength to the blade; and the lower extremities of these said flutings, are
allowed to project below the lower edge of the blade, and are rolled round and formed
into semi-solid prongs or forks "p."
The lower edge of the blade "B," between the prongs "p," is cut in V or tapering
forms, as shown, and the edges of these are sharpened to give increased cutting
powers.
The lower portion of the blade "B" is nearly straight, but the upper part of the
blade is slightly cupped, to give greater power of lifting soil. The top edge of
the blade is rolled over to the front, and made semi-solid, to give increased strength
and to form a treadle "t" for the foot of the worker, on either side of the handle "H

page_text: Referring to class (b), according to my Invention, the blade "B" in form and
construction is practically and identically the same as in class (a), heretofore described,
with the exceptions, that the flutings "d" in the blade "B" are so arranged as to
give room for the saw-edge "C" of the blade, Figs. 4 & 7, sheet II, and a hollow
tubular socket "K" is formed out of the frog "f" to receive the point of the
handle "H."
I have formed a saw "C" with the teeth coarsely set, on the edge of the light
intrenching tool for the purpose of severing the larger roots of trees, and for cutting
down small trees, and the stouter limbs of thorn or quickset edges.
The handles "H," in both classes, are of wood, and the lower end of the wooden
shaft in the light intrenching tool, class (b), is rivetted to a hollow steel-strapped
socket "S." This strapped socket, Fig. 6, is preferably rolled or drawn out of a sheet
of tapering steel. The point of the socket "S" is made circular and slightly tapering,
to fit the hollow socket "K" of the blade "B," and is fitted with a shoulder "e,"
""""m²."
a flat chisel end "g," and projecting studs".
'm,"
The method of attachment of the handle "H" to the blade "B" in class (b) is
preferably as follows. The point "g" is placed in the socket "K," which latter is
provided with a slot "u" to receive the studs "m,"
," "m³." Over the outer circum-
ference of the socket "K," and between the two strengthening rings "n," "n¹," is.
fitted an adjustable locking ring "r," with one edge tapered, commonly known as the
bayonet locking ring." When the studs "m," "m" have been inserted in the
slot "u," a downward movement of the locking ring "" makes the tapered edge act
upon the face of the stud "m," and thus presses the top surface of the ring
against the collar "e," thereby securing a simple and firm attachment, but one which
can be readily removed at will.
"
n'
1 "
The socket "K" is made of the same gauge as that attached to the present service
bayonet, and its fittings are so arranged, that in the event of the handle "H," or the
bayonet being lost, the soldier could, on an emergency, attach the blade "B" to the
muzzle of the present service rifle (Martini-Henry), and use it either as a digging tool
or a defensive weapon.
When detached from the blade, the handle "H" of the light intrenching tool, is
designed for use as a crowbar, or pick in very stony soil; also for breaking gaps or
loopholes in masonry walls; levelling walls, and for other military purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
First. The making of the blades of digging and intrenching tools with indented
flutings, terminating at their lower ends in prongs or forks, and cutting V shaped
edges between the forks, substantially as and for the purposes and advantages herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The making of the blades of military intrenching tools with a saw-edge on
one side, substantially as and for the purposes and advantages herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The making of military intrenching tools with their handles detachable and
secured by tapering locking rings, substantially as herein described, in reference to
and shown in the accompanying Drawings. Sheet II.
Fourth. The making and fitting of the detachable handles of military intrenching
tools with strapped sockets to form a crowbar, substantially as and for the purposes and
advantages herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 5. 6. & 9.