Improvements in Picks and similar Tools.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Picks and similar Tools.
We, WILLIAM OWEN of 51 Mervan Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, and WILLIAM KIRKLEY BIRKINSHAW of Quarndon, Derby, in the
County of Derby, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to tools or implements more particularly such as picks and
adzes where a single end or blade only is usually employed.
In carrying out the invention we employ any suitable form of head or socket into
or onto which the shaft is secured in any convenient manner as by screwing rivetting
or the like. Preferably the handle or shaft enters a socket provided for it in the
head and is secured there by rivets preferably passing in planes at right angles to
each other.
The point or blade is formed of any suitable shape in the shank, and shaped as
the case may be for the required blade. The shank is preferably tapered and
adapted to fit into a corresponding socket in which it will take a secure hold as soon
as a few blows with the pick or implement are made. The shank passes out of its
appropriate socket at the other side extending as far through as may be convenient
and is preferably rounded over so that it may easily be knocked out of the socket
when so desired. If necessary a collar or special sharp taper or the like may be
employed to prevent the shank from passing too far through its socket but as a rule
the long taper is sufficient for practical purposes. The socket may be extended
upon the point side of the tool and upon the other one if desired so as to afford a
long bearing and the socket itself may if desired be internally recessed so that the
bearing takes place only at certain points.
In use, the shank of the blade or point is inserted into the socket and becomes
firmly fixed with the first few blows of the implement; it can be removed by
striking the blunt end and driving it out of the head.
This implement may be used besides the cutting implements previously described,
for blunt instruments, such as hammers, rammers for use on railways, hoes, gardening
implements, road scrapers and so forth.
If desired the shank of the blade may pass through the shaft and thus secure it
in the head.
The head may be formed with a second socket in the axial line of the shaft or
handle into which may be fitted either the point, or any of the other tools as for
instance a shovel; these sockets may be formed in different planes so that both tools
may be inserted at the same time if desired, but where only one tool is wanted at
the time they would be in the same plane. If desired the tool fitting into the
socket in the axial line of the shaft may be provided with a projection or equivalent
so that when the other tool is inserted it may drive out the one in the axial line the
object of this being that while the tool which lies across the axial line of the shaft
can be driven out by its back end being projected beyond the socket the other tool
being within the head and shaft cannot conveniently be got at for removal. Or the
cross tool may pass through an opening or past the projection or equivalent of the
axial tool and thus hold it permanently in; or again the axial tool may secure or
drive out the cross tool although as will be seen the cross tool can easily be driven
out without reference to the other one. However the head may be made to draw
off the shaft or handle particularly when the latter is made of hollow tube preferably
metal, in which case the head may be secured upon the tube in any convenient
manner as by screwing, welding, brazing or the like. Where the head is
permanently fastened on to the handle tube the other end of the handle may be

page_text: .
permanently open or closed with a removable-plug or cap so that the axial tool may
be driven out by means of a rod or the like; where the head is screwed on it can be
unscrewed and the axial tool be knocked out from the back, the same as with the
cross tool.
One way of making a screwed joint-between the head and the-handle would be to
reduce the head and screw it inside the handle tube the latter being also screwed
on the outside and the outside of the socket being of the same size and also screwed
so that a screwed sleeve, coupling or equivalent may be screwed up over these two
parts and may be secured by crowing against an abutment upon the thead-or the
whole or a portion of the screw threads may be tapered so as to jam it.
In any case the open end of the handle may be closed by a plug or cap screwed
in or otherwise suitably fastened and the hollow interior of the handle may
be used as
a means for carrying spare points or tools or for other useful
This tool is peculiarly suitable for military purposes and the points may be
made to serve as bayonets or the like and can be placed in the axial hole of
the head.
purposes.
Dated this 10th 15 A 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Picks and similar Tools.
We, WILLIAM OWEN, of 51 Mervan Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, and WILLIAM KIRKLEY BIRKINSHAW, of Quarndon, Derby, in the
County of Derby, Merchant, 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 relates to tools or implements more particularly such as picks and
adzes where a single end or blade only is usually employed.
In carrying out the invention we employ any suitable form of head or socket into
or onto which the shaft is secured in any convenient manner as by screwing, rivetting,
or the like. Preferably the handle of shaft enters a socket provided for it in the
head and is secured there by rivets preferably passing in planes at right angles to
each other.
The point or blade is formed of any suitable shape in the shank, and shaped as
the case may be for the required blade. The shank is preferably tapered and
.adapted to fit into a corresponding socket in which it will take a secure hold as soon
as one or two blows with the pick or implement are made. The shank passes out
of its appropriate socket at the other side extending as far through as may be
convenient and is preferably rounded over so that it may easily be knocked out of
the socket when so desired. If necessary a collar or special sharp taper or the like
may be employed to prevent the shank from passing too far through its socket, but
as a rule the long taper is sufficient for practical purposes. The socket may be
extended upon the point side of the tool and upon the other one if desired so as to
afford a long bearing and the socket itself may if desired be internally recessed so
that the bearing takes place only at certain points.
In use, the shank of the blade or point is inserted into the socket and becomes
firmly fixed with the first blow or two of the implement; it can be removed by
striking the blunt end and driving it out of the head.
This implement may be used besides the cutting implements previously described,
for blunt instruments, such as hammers, rammers for use on railways, hoes, gardening
implements, road scrapers and so forth.
If desired the shank of the blade may pass through the shaft and thus secure it
in the head.

page_text: portion B¹ of the shaft or handle B so as to assist in holding it in the head A.
The handle B may be secured in the head A by rivetting in addition to the passage
of, the tool shank through B'; or the end B¹ of the handle, as shown in Figure 1,
may be stopped short so that C¹ will not pass through it at all. The arrangement
shown however in Figure 8 with the tool shank passing through the handle end. B¹
is advantageous as it renders easy the removal of the handle' B or portion B¹
should the bandle become broken and a uew handle can easily be substituted.
In Figure 8 the tool is shown as a miner's or other pick, but it will be understood
that the shank D may carry any desired sort of tool or tool blade such for
example as shown in Figures 2 to 7.
In Figure 9 the head A is shown at A¹ screwed into a socket E into which the
wooden shaft or handle B is fitted and may be secured by rivetting in the usual
manner. The object of introducing the socket E in tais figure is in order that the
handle may be unscrewed and easily removed from the head A, for the purpose of
striking out the second tool F whose shank F' passes through the head A in the
axial line of the handle. This shank.being tapered and fitting a tapered socket as
before would become fixed in.use, and to facilitate removing it, the head A may be
unserewed when the end F of the shank can readily be got at for the purpose of
driving the tool out. The tool F may be of any desired description conveniently
a shovel as shown in Figure 9 and it may be used with the first-described tool D in
position or otherwise as desired. As will be seen from Figure 10 when the two
tools are made to fit the same head as in Figure 9 they may be placed slightly off
the centre line so as to pass each other as shown in. the section in Figure 10. In
this case the shank D' is shown engaging with a portion F2 of the shank F¹ of the
tool F the intention being that by driving in the shank D' it will act as a wedge
on to drive out the shank F¹ and thus release the tool F without the necessity
for unscrewing, or indeed using at all, the socket E for the handle B. In this case
therefore the handle B may be secured into the head A as shown in Figs. 1 and 8
or in any ordinary well known manner by rivetting or the like.
In Figure 10 a projecting portion G is shown upon the shank F' the shank D²
of the other tool being shown in front of it. With this arrangement the shank D
would serve to hold the shank F¹ securely in the head A, and even to draw it into
position should it be undesirable to strike the tool F; as a rule however the
difficulty is not to secure the shank sufficiently firmly in the head but to get it out
of the head after the tool has been used as it is found that the blows upon the tool
usually result in fixing it very securely in the head. Consequently the stop G
would not usually be required.
In Figure 11 the head A is shown screwed at A' into the open end of a metal
tube H which serves as the handle and may be closed at its other eud by a cap or
plug H' of any suitable construction and screwed or otherwise fitted in or secured
to the tube handle H. With this arrangement by removing the cap H¹ the
interior of the handle H may be used to carry duplicate tools or for other purposes
and will be of considerable service to the person using the tool especially where it
is required for military purposes. The tube H may be permanently fixed to the
head A by casting or other suitable means if desired, but in order to facilitate the
driving out of the shank F' of the axial tool as previously described it is convenient
to screw the handle H on to the head A so that it may be unscrewed and the
end F of the shank will then be accessible and the tool F can easily be driven
out.
Where the two tools are not required to be in the head at the same time the
axial and cross sockets may be made in the same plane as indicated in Figure 11.
In Figure 12 a tube handle.H and cap H' are shown as in Figure 11 and the
general construction is similar, but for the purpose of making a secure joint between
the handle H and the head A the head is shown screwed at A' into the inside of
the tube H while the tube H-is screwed externally at Hand.the head A is screwed
to the same diameter at A? making a continuous screw from H2tb A a nut I being
adapted to screw upon both and thus complete a very secure fastening.

page_text: The head may be formed with a second socket in the axial line of the shaft or
handle into which may be fitted either the point, or any of the other tools as for
instance a shovel; these sockets may be formed in different planes so that both tools
may be inserted at the same time if desired, but where only one tool is wanted at
the time they would be in the same plane. If desired the tool fitting into the
socket in the axial line of the shaft may be provided with a projection or equivalent
so that when the other tool is inserted it may drive out the one in the axial line, the
object of this being that while the tool which lies across the axial line of the shaft
can be driven out by its back end being projected beyond the socket the other tool
being within the head and shaft cannot conveniently be got at for removal. Or the
cross tool may pass through an opening or past the projection or equivalent of the
axial tool and thus hold it permanently in; or again the axial tool may secure or
drive out the cross tool although as will be seen the cross tool can easily be driven
out without reference to the other one. However the head may be made to draw
off the shaft or handle particularly when the latter is made of hollow tube preferably
metal, in which case the head may be secured upon the tube in any convenient
manner as by screwing, welding, brazing, or the like. Where the head is
permanently fastened on to the handle tube the other end of the handle may be
permanently open or closed with a removable plug or cap so that the axial tool may
be driven out by means of a rod or the like; where the head is screwed on, it can
be unscrewed and the axial tool be knocked out from the back, the same as with the
cross tool.
One way of making a screwed joint between the head and the handle would be to
reduce the head and screw it inside the handle tube the latter being also screwed
on the outside and the outside of the socket being of the same size and also screwed
so that a screwed sleeve, coupling or equivalent may be screwed up over these two
parts and may be secured by screwing against an abutment upon the head or the
whole or a portion of the screw threads may be tapered so as to jam it.
In any case the open end of the handle may be closed by a plug or cap screwed
in or otherwise suitably fastened and the hollow interior of the handle may be used
as a means for carrying spare points or tools or for other useful purposes.
This tool is peculiarly suitable for military purposes and the points may be
made to serve as bayonets or the like and can be placed in the axial hole of
the head.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a tool-holder or
head and pick constructed according to our invention, and
Figures 2 to 7 are views of various tools which may be fitted in the head.
Figures 8 to 12 are views similar to Figure 1 showing modifications.
A represents the head preferably made of cast steel and secured upon the shaft
or handle B in any convenient manner. C shows the tapered socket and D a tool
or point fitted therein.
The tool D takes a secure hold in the tapered socket C as soon as it is thrust in
or one or two blows with the pick or implement are made and when it is desired to
remove a tool D from C for sharpening purposes or to replace it by another of the
same or a different form this may be effected by striking the projecting end D¹ of
the shank D2 upon some hard substance; when the tool is removed another one can
be put in its place in the socket.
The tools represented in Figures 2 to 7 merely serve to illustrate some forms of
tools which may be used with the heads shown in Figures 1 and 8 to 12, the
important feature being that each tool must be provided with a shank adapted to fit
the socket C. Thus Fig. 2 represents an axe, Figures 3 and 5 two forms of flat-
ended picks, Figure 4 a rammer such as is used on the permanent way of railways,
Figure 6 an adze, and Figure 7 a hammer.
Figure 8 discloses the head A with the wooden shaft B fitted therein and passing
entirely through at B₁ and the shank of the pick or tool D passing through the

page_text: In case of emergency, and this again is particularly useful for military purposes
the pick point may be placed in the axial socket as illustrated in Figure 12 and the
tool can then be used as a pike, the point serving as a bayonet.
If desired the arrangements for securing in the head or driving out of the
head the shank F¹ by means of the shank D' as set forth with reference to
Figure 10 may be reversed and the shank F¹ may be arranged to hold in or drive
out the shank D2 although as the end D' of the shank D³ can always be got at there
would usually be no necessity for this.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is;-
1. In a tool head the combination with a single tapered socket such as C
extending through the head of a tapered tool shank such as D³ also extending
through and projecting beyond the head substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a tool head of a single tool such as D having a tapered
shank D' fitting a tapered socket in the head and extending at D¹ beyond the head
to facilitate the driving out of the tool substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
3. In a pick or similar tool passing the tool shank D' through the end B' of the
handle B to assist in securing it in the head A substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a tool such as described a head such as A having two sockets one in the
axial line of the handle and the other across or perpendicular thereto substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a tool such as described the combination in a single head of two tools the
one projecting from the side of the head and the other from the end substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a tool such as described the use of a removable tool having its shank fitted
into the head in the axial line of the handle substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a tool such as described the securing in or driving out of the head of the
shank of one of the tools by means of the shank of the other substantially as
described and illustrated in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In a tool such as described making the handle removable from the head for the
purpose of giving access to the end F of the shank F' of the axial tool sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a tool such as described the combination with the head A of a hollow or
tube handle such as H whether removable from the head or permanently attached
to it substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. In a tool such as described a double screwed joint such as A' A² H² I
between the tube handle H and the head A substantially as described and
illustrated in Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of September 1893.
WILLIAM OWEN.
W. K. BIRKINSHAW.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.