Improvements in Machines for Digging Post Holes and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Digging Post Holes and the like.
A communication from GEORGE BEWELL, of the Town of Uxbridge, County and
Province of Ontario, Canada.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 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 object of the invention is to design a machine by which a post-hole may be
quickly and easily dug and it consists essentially of two semi-circular spades each
rigidly secured to the end of a handle, the two handles being pivotted together so
that they will be held rigidly in a vertical position parallel with each other while
being forced into the ground, and at the same time easily moved on their pivot so
as to bring their cutting edges towards each other for the purpose of forming a
scoop to raise the earth they have loosened, substantially as hereinafter more
particularly explained.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved post-hole digger.
Fig. 2 is a detail of the joint.
A and B represent two curved spades preferably made of sheet steel with
sharpened edges. These spades are rigidly fastened to their respective handles C
and D.
A crank E is formed as shown on the end of each of the handles referred to so
that while the connection between the spade and the handle shall be at the centre
of the spade the side edges of the spade shall be substantially parallel with the
main portion of the handle.
A lug F extends from the handle C and an extending lug G from the handle D
both lugs F and G being above the crank E. The lug F has a hole a made
through it sufficiently large to permit the free passage of the bolt H while the
lug G has a hole made through it and screwed to receive the screwed end of the
bolt H. In order to connect the two lugs together, the bolt H is slipped through
the hole a and is screwed through the hole b, the nut I being screwed on the end
of the bolt H to jam against the lug G and thus hold the bolt in position, the pivot
point between the two lugs being formed of a portion of the bolt H which passes
through the hole a.
An adjustable set screw J is screwed through the handle C and arranged to
butt against the handle D. This set-screw is located as indicated above the lugs
and is used for the purpose of preventing the two handles C and D being brought
closer together than desired.
To operate the post-hole digger, the handles C and D are grasped and are moved
so as to force the spades A and B into the ground at the point where the post-hole
is to be made. When the spades have penetrated the ground sufficiently far to
secure a spadeful of such quantity of earth as the digger may deem necessary, the
handles C and D are pulled apart and as they are pivotted together as shown and
described the cutting edges of the spades A and B are brought towards each other,
forming a scoop or receptacle to hold the earth they surround, thereby enabling
the said earth to be easily removed from the hole. This operation is repeated
until the hole is made the desired depth.
Should a stone be encountered the set-screw J is adjusted so as to permit the
handles to be brought together and thus open the mouth of the spades so that it
will pass over the stone. When the stone has been removed the screw J may be
re-set.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
Two curved spades A and B rigidly secured respectively to a crank E formed
on the end of each of the handles C and D in combination with the lugs F and G
projecting from the handles C and D and pivotted on the bolt H and an adjusting
set-screw J substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of April 1892.
ALFRED J. BOULT,
Chartered Patent Agent.