Forks, and other Articles with Hollow Handles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1885.
Specification Accepted, 1st Feb., 1887.
Forks, and other Articles with Hollow Handles.
1, HENRY ALEXANDER BROGNARD of the City of Philadelphia State of Pennsylvania
United States of America, Engineer 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:-
The invention consists of novel improvements in and connected with the manufac
ture of cutlery, tools and other articles, having hollow handles of iron or steel.
To clearly explain the nature of the invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 represents a vertical section of one of the forming dies employed in the
manufacture of cutlery embodying the present invention, including a side elevation of
the tube and head piece from which the cutlery is made.
Figure 2 represents a plan view of the said die, including the said tube and head
piece.
Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the upper and lower forming dies.
Figure 4 represents a vertical section of the upper and lower welding or finishing
dies embodying the invention.
5
Figure represents a plan view of one of either of the forming or welding dies.
Figure 6 represents a side elevation of a blank employed in the manufacture of
cutlery embodying the invention.
Figure 7 represents the same as "upset," forming a head or blade piece.
Figures and 9 represent side elevations of various shapes of head or blade
pieces.
Figures 10 and 11 represent views of different shaped tubes from which handles
be finished.
may
Figure 12 represents a side elevation of the united head and tube, after leaving the
welding or finishing dies, and
Figure 13 represents a side elevation of a finished knife.
A and B represent the upper and lower dies of a pair of dies used for forming the
handle, preparatory to subjecting same to the welding dies, said dies having in their

page_text: .
faces depressions a, c and d, and a ridge approximating to the contour of the
handle of the knife or other article, and the bolster and adjacent portion of the blade
thereof.
The handle is formed of a tube C, open at both ends, and a head piece D, the latter
having a tang which is fitted in the adjacent end of said tube, as seen in Figures 1
and 2 the tube being shorter than the length of the depression a, so that its heel end d
rests within the concave portion d² of said depression.
The tube with the head piece inserted, may be heated to a dull red heat, and placed
on the lower die B or it may be preferably so placed, cold; the upper die then
descending, whereby the tube and head piece are struck, the effect of which is to close
down the open end of the tube, the edges thereof being turned towards each other so
as to meet, or nearly meet, and to securely attach the blade or head piece to the tube,
so as to avoid separation of the same during subsequent handling.
F and Gin Figures 4 and 5 represent the upper and lower halves of a pair of
welding dies to which the blade and head piece after being formed and connected by
the forming dies, are subjected.
The depressions of the forming dies are approximately of the same width and shape
as those of the welding dies, but deeper than the latter, in proportion to the size of the
handle to be made; that is to say, when the forming dies are placed together, the
depressions are of a depth exceeding those of the welding dies, but less than the
outside dianieter of the tube employed, and slightly longer than the welding dies.
As the open end of the tube does not quite reach to the end of the depression a
in the forming dies, the extreme end of said tube when struck, is not caught by the
edge of the dies, whereby a flash or fin is avoided. Owing to the concave shape of
the heel portion 2, of the depression a, the edges of the ends of the tube are turned
towards each other, so as to meet, or nearly meet, as has been stated, and as the metal
is not drawn away by the direct impact of the edges of the dies, it is forced to fill up
the full form of the depression.
The sharp edges of the forming dies may be rounded off from around that part of
the dies where the width of the depression in the dies is less than the outside diameter
of the tube; thus avoiding as much as possible, the cutting away of the tube at the
aforesaid place, which would occur if the sharp edges were not rounded off.
After the tube and head piece are removed from the forming dies, they are heated
to a welding heat and placed in the lower of the welding or finishing dies; the upper
die then descending so that the tube and piece are again struck, thus effectively closing
the end edges of the tube, corresponding to the heel or butt of the handle, and
welding the same, as well as the side edges of the tube, in a reliable manner, producing
a uniform, smooth and perfectly formed handle, which will not open or separate during
subsequent manipulation or use.
Referring to Figures 6 to 13, inclusive:
::
A represents a blank for the formation of a knife consisting of a piece of round
steel which is upset" or forged, forming a head or blade piece, having a tang B³,
shoulder and rimm (.
The hollow tube may be either straight or tapering, open at both ends, and
adapted to receive in one end, the tang B of the blade piece, in which condition said
parts are placed in dies B, the lower one of which is shown in Figure 1, as having a
longitudinal depression a, conforming to the contour of the handle to be formed, and
receiving the tube and ridge, with a depression to receive the rim C, of the
blade piece, (whereby a bolster is formed.) and a face for working down the portion
of the blade piece adjacent to the rim C².
or
When the upper die descends, (the tube and head piece being cold, or at a lowered
heat), the tube is formed to the shape of the die, and its butt end brought together,
rounded and the tube and blade piece are united, as a primary step in the formation of
a handle and bolster.
The tube and blade piece, as constructed, are then heated to a welding heat, and
subjected to the action of another set of dies F, G, somewhat similar to the forming

page_text: dies, and the edges of the butt end and side of the tube, as formed, are welded, the
handle and blade piece being also welded together.
The blade piece is then drawn or fashioned for a knife blade, fork, or as the case may
be, and the article finished as desired.
The tube C may be of circular or oval or other shape, the shoulder C of the blade
piece acting as a stop or guage for limiting the entrance of the blade piece into the
tube, and also serving to connect said parts, preparatory to heating, whereby they
retain their position while being subjected to the action of the dies, the result being,
the formation of handles whose joints are thoroughly closed, and which are reliably
connected with the blades, and the production of uniform, light, and cheaper articles
of the class.
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
:-
1st. The improvement in the manufacture of handles for cutlery, and the like.
consisting in primarily subjecting a tube and blade or head piece to the action of
forming dies, which simultaneously bends the heel end of the tube, and unite the tube
and blade piece, and then subjecting the same to the action of welding dies, which
thoroughly unites the edges of the tube throughout, the two sets of dies having
depressions of different dimensions, substantially as described.
2nd. The herein described improvement in cutlery and like articles consisting of a
handle formed of a tube of metal open at its ends, or side and ends, said ends or sides
and ends being welded simultaneously with the union of the tube and connected head
or blade piece, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The method herein described for forming and attaching a hollow metallic
handle to a blade, consisting in forming a tube open at its ends, or side and ends, and
a blade piece with a tang, inserting said tang in the tube, placing the tube and piece
in dies, and simultaneously closing the butt end of the handle, primarily shaping the
handle, connecting the handle and blade piece, and next, subjecting the connected
handle and blade piece to welding dies, as stated.
4th. For the manufacture of cutlery and like articles the combination of a tube and
a blade piece constructed substantially as described.
5th. In the manufacture of cutlery and like articles the combination of a tube
having welded therein a solid piece of steel provided with a shoulder substantially as
described.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55, Chancery Lane, London,
Applicant's Agent.