Improvements in Cutting Out Shovel Plates, and in the Tools for same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cutting Out Shovel Plates, and in the Tools for
same.
I, WILLIAM WILKINSON WOOD, Beech House, Broomfield, Sheffield in the
County of York Steel Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention is for improvements in the method of and tools for cutting out
shovel plates, the object being to produce such shovel plates with greater expedition
than by the processes now in use.
I am aware that by the use of a properly curved or bent pair of blades or cutters
and by reversing the sheet of steel or iron between each cut, a shovel plate is cut
out and is afterwards, trimmed to shape by cutting off the irregular edges of the
sheet, and also by taking a strip off each side of the strap, but my invention goes
further than this; and according to one plan produces a perfect and complete
shovel plate at one cut, or by another plan the plate would be produced so that the
two edges only would require trimming.
In carrying out my invention, I make a pair of cutters or blades of a suitable
shape to cut down one side of the blade and strap, and tread, and a second pair of
similar cutters or blades, but reversed, to cut down the opposite side of the strap
tread and blade, to the finished configuration and fix them in the required position
in the machine for working them in such a manner that if a sheet of material of the
right width is placed between them, a complete shovel plate will be cut out of the
said sheet.
If the sheet of material has not been cut to width and the edges are irregular, I
fix a pair of straight blades between the beforementioned cranked blades, at the
top and bottom so that each edge of the shovel plate is cut clean and a perfect
plate is produced at each cut of the machine. It will be understood that the sheet
of metal is reversed after each cut.
Dated the fith day of December 1900
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cutting Out Shovel Plates, and in the Tools for
same.
I, WILLIAM WILKINSON WOOD Beech House, Broomfield, Sheffield in the
County of York, Steel Manufacturer 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 is for improvements in the method of, and in the tools for cutting
out shovel plates from the sheet, the object being to produce the said shovel plates
with greater expedition than by the processes now in use, and I will premise that I
am aware that various methods have been devised with the same object, such as
the use of a suitably bent or curved or otherwise formed pair of blades or cutters
for cutting down one side of a shovel plate, and by turning over the sheet between
each cut, a plate is cut off the sheet, and is afterwards trimmed to the correct shape,
and I therefore do not claim or include in my invention any method but what is
therein described and specifically claimed.
And in order that my invention may be clearly described and understood, I annex

page_text: the figures.
Fig. 1, is a plan of the bottom cutters or steelings as they are arranged upon the
bed of the machine, for cutting out square nosed shovel' plates.
Fig 2, plan of underside or face of the top cutters or steelings; to match those
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, side elevation of same.
In carrying out my invention I make a set of cutters or steelings AAA³,
arranged to cut down one side of a shovel plate, (that is both the blade, the tread,
and the strap) and I make a similar or corresponding set B1, B2, B³, but reversed
in the angles, to cut down the opposite side.
I prefer to make each set to consist of three steelings or cutters so that they may
be adjusted to cut various widths of blades and straps, by setting them more or less
apart, and for this purpose the steelings A' and A³ are secured to angle plates. C₁
and C-which are in turn bolted to a bedplate of the machine in such a manner that
their position can be adjusted. The steeling A² I prefer to secure to the face of
a lug or support C, which is solid with the bedplate, as it is not necessary for this
to move.
'The opposite steelings' B₁ B2 B are carried by similar adjustable supports Di
and D and a fixed support D'-and the moveable supports are set up and fixed by
means of screw dogs E.
The bolts F for holding down 'the angle plates C', C, D, D³ pass through slots
in. the bedplate, to permit the said plates to be moved into the various positions
required. The top tool is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and consists of a supporting
bed G, provided with a shank H, to fit into the slide or ram of the machine by
which the tools are operated, and of a configuration suited to carry the steelings I,
I, I, I, and J.
The steeling J, is screwed to the face of the bed G, steelings 1, and I', are
secured to the solid support K, and I', I', are bolted to angle plates L and M, which
are in turn bolted to the bed G.
The angle plates L, M, are set up and held by set screws which pass through
lugs N, secured to the bed G, the dotted lines P; indicate the shape or position of
the steelings or cutters for "round nose" shovels, and dotted lines Q indicate the
position of a cutter or cutters when it is desired to cut the straps with a point.
When the pair of top and bottom tools are made as above described and are
properly fixed in a suitable machine of sufficient power for the work the tool Fig. 1,
being fixed upon the bedplate, and the tool Figs. 2 and 3 being fixed in the slide
or ram of the machine, and so that the tools will fit and cut, in the manner of such
tools, a sheet of shovel steel of the proper width may be placed between them and
a shovel plate be cut out of the sheet by one stroke of the machine, the sheet is
then turned over laterally, so as to present its irregularly cut end in the position for
producing the least waste material, and the machine being set in motion another
shovel plate is cut, and this operation is repeated until the sheet is cut up, there
being only a thin strip of scrap produced between each plate.
I may thus produce a perfect shovel plate at each cut of the machine without
any after process of paring or corner cutting; but in practice I prefer to omit the
cutters indicated by the dotted lines Q, leaving the strap to be cut off square and
afterwards cutting off the corners to form the point.
If the sheet of material has not been pared to the desired width, and the edges
are irregular, I may fix a straight steeling or cutter between the cutters A and B¹
near the letter P, and a corresponding one in the top tool to cut the end of the
blades true, but I prefer to pare the sheets true before bringing them to these tools.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is carried into practice,' I declare that what
I claim is
1-The method of cutting out a complete shovel plate from a sheet of material at

page_text: each down stroke of the machine, by means of top and bottom cutters arranged to
cut down both sides of the blade, the tread and the strap at one and the same time,
then turning the sheet over laterally and cutting another complete plate, and so on
until the sheet is cut up substantially as hereinbefore described.
2-The adjustable top and bottom tools for cutting out a complete shovel plate
at each stroke of the machine, constructed to cut down both sides of a shovel plate,
(that is the blade, tread and strap) at one and the same time, in the manner specified
and substantially as hereinbefore described, and shown in Figs. 1. 2. 3.
Dated the 7th day of September 1891.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.