Improvements in Picks and other Tools having Movable Operative Parts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1893.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Picks and other Tools having Movable Operative
Parts.
of
I, WILLIAM KIRKLEY BIRKINSHAW, of Quarndon, Derby in the County
Derby, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to heads for picks and other tools either blunt or cutting,
where the operative part or tool is intended to be removed from the head.
In carrying out the invention I employ a head adapted to fit on to the shaft
which may be protected by a steel or other shoe if desired, the head being held upon
the shaft by the taper, both the socket of the head, and the end of the shaft being
tapered as is now commonly done. The points or operative parts or faces enter
sockets provided for them in the head, and are tapered so that they can only enter
their sockets to the required distance which will keep their inner ends clear of the
shaft.
In each of these sockets is placed a wedge having a projecting head or end so:
arranged that the wedge may be placed in position in the tool.socket from the open
end or from the shaft socket when the shaft is not in, the shaft when inserted
keeping the wedges from falling out. The tools or points may now be inserted:
into the space left for them and will by the blows given to them in using the
tool, be securely fixed in the head.
To remove the tools or points the shaft may be withdrawn from the head and the:
wedges driven inwardly towards the centre of the head, thus releasing the points or
blades which will then drop out or can be removed. The wedges may be withdrawn.
either by their projections extending sufficiently far to be reached with a hammer
or chisel, or the head may be provided with a groove or opening through which the
wedge can be reached, when it may be removed by a suitable tool or one of the
ordinary points may be employed for this purpose.
Another way of removing the wedges is to provide a suitable opening in the open
end of the tool socket through which the wedge can be reached and driven inwards;
or the wedge may extend a sufficient distance beyond the open end of the tool
socket so that it can thus be reached.
If desired, two of these wedges may be employed to each tool socket, the shank
of the tool or point entering the space between the two wedges, and suitable openings
or the like may be provided to enable both wedges to be knocked out.
If desired instead of making the head removable from the shaft, the shaft may be
a fixture in the head in which case I prefer to have the shaft socket closed at its
outer end and may if desired stop the shaft short so as to leave an entirely free
space for the movement of the wedges. To fix the shaft in its place I prefer to
form the socket on the taper with the inner end larger than the outer end and to
put a saw cut up the end of the shaft and drive a pin wedge or equivalent into it or
through it so as to force the divided portions of the shaft apart and thus securely
fasten it in the socket. Conveniently the saw cut may terminate or have in the
portion of its length a hole having half in each side of the shaft so that a simple
round pin driven in will force the two portions apart. The end of the shaft may or
may not be provided with a shoe or equivalent.
.;
I also prefer to provide one or more springs for the purpose of forcing outwards
the wedges so that they may always retain their proper positions in the head and
guides or equivalent may be provided to ensure the proper position and operation of
the wedges which for this purpose may be recessed so as to pass between suitable
guiding surfaces formed upon the interior of the head or this arrangement may be:

page_text: may be
reversed. Also the portion of the point sockets in which the wedges work
undercut or dovetailed or enlarged so that the wedges will work in channels or
equivalent and will thus be prevented from escaping from their proper places. Or
the inner ends of the wedges may be provided with studs or extensions passing if
desired through the springs to guide the wedges. These may fit one inside the
other or may fit in sockets in the head or shaft.
i
Any suitable means may be provided for allowing the requisite movement to the
wedges supposing the shaft to be continued further into the head than the heads
of the wedges, in which case the shaft may be recessed or other similar provision
made..
Dated this and do--
:
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Picks and other Tools having Movable Operative
Parts.
I, 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 heads for picks and other tools either blunt or cutting,;
where the operative part or tool is intended to be removed from the head.
:
In carrying out the invention I employ a head adapted to fit on to the shaft
which may be protected by a steel or other shoe if desired, the head being held:
upon the shaft by the taper, both the socket of the head and the end of the shaft
being tapered as is now commonly done. The points or operative parts or faces
enter sockets provided for them in the head, and are tapered so that they can only
enter their sockets to the required distance which will keep their inner ends clear
of the shaft.
!
In each of these sockets is placed a wedge having a projecting head or end so
arranged that the wedge may be placed in position in the tool socket from the open
end or from the shaft socket when the shaft is not in, the shaft when inserted
keeping the wedges.from falling out. The tools or points may now be inserted into
the space left for them and will by the blows given to them in using the tool, be
securely fixed in the head.
. I
To remove the tools or points the shaft may be withdrawn from the head and
wedges driven inwardly towards the centre of the head, thus releasing the points
or blades which will then drop out or can be removed. The wedges may be with->
drawn either by their projections extending, sufficiently far to be reached with a
hammer or chisel, or the head may be provided with a groove or opening through.
which the wedge can be reached, when it may be removed by a suitable tool or one
of the ordinary points may be employed for this purpose.
:
Another way of removing the wedges is to provide a suitable opening in the open
end of the tool socket through which the wedge can be reached and driven inwards;
or the wedge may extend a sufficient distance beyond the open end of the tool
socket so that it can thus. be reached.
:
If desired, two of these wedges may be employed to each tool socket, the shank
of the tool or point entering the space between the two wedges, and suitable.
openings or the like may be provided to enable both wedges to be knocked out.
:
If desired instead of making the head removable from the shaft the shaft may..
be a fixture in the head in which case I prefer to have the shaft socket closed at its
outer end and may if desired stop the shaft short so as to leave an entirely free
space for the movement of the wedges. To fix the shaft in its place I prefer to
form the socket on the taper with the inner end larger than the outer end and to

page_text: .
7
!
put a saw cut up the end of the shaft and drive a pin, wedge or equivalent, into it
or through it so as to force the divided portions of the shaft apart and thus securely
fasten it in the socket. Conveniently the saw cut may terminate or have in the
portion of its length a hole having half in each side of the shaft so that a simple
round pin driven in will force the two portions apart. The end of the shaft may
or may not be provided with a shoe or equivalent:
I also prefer to provide one or more springs for the purpose of forcing outwards
the wedges so that they may always retain their proper positions in the head and
guides or equivalent may be provided to ensure the proper position and operation
of the wedges which for this purpose may be recessed so as to pass between suitable
guiding surfaces formed upon the interior of the head or this arrangement may be
reversed. Also the portion of the point sockets in which the wedges work may be
undercut or dovetailed or enlarged so that the wedges will work in channels or
equivalent and will thus be prevented from escaping from their proper places. Or
the inner ends of the wedges may be provided with studs or extensions passing if
desired through the springs to guide the wedges. These may fit one inside the
other or may fit in sockets in the head or shaft..
Any suitable means may be provided for allowing the requisite movement to the
wedges supposing the shaft to be continued further into the head than the heads of
the wedges in which case the shaft' may be recessed or other similar provision made.
Or the shaft may be carried nearly or entirely through the head and space allowed
for the working of the wedges without any recess being made in the shaft.
In the accompanying drawings I have represented that form in which the shaft
is for working purposes a fixture in the head, although 'to renew the shaft or
when necessary it can be removed by driving out the wedge or pin which
holds it.
:
Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section and partly in elevation of the pick-head
and the end of the shaft,
Fig. 2 an edge view of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 a sectional side view of the head showing modified arrangements of the
wedge springs.
Like letters represent like parts throughout the drawings.
:
A is the shaft or handle and B the head having a handle socket or eye B₁
of suitable length and shape. This socket is tapered as shown in Fig. 1 so
that its open end through which the handle projects is smaller than its inner
or closed end, the handle or shaft being split and its divided ends forced apart
inside the eye so as to prevent it from coming out. I prefer to run a saw-
cut C up the end of the shaft which is made of a suitable size to enter the
open end of the eye B' and I force apart the divided ends A¹ of the shaft' by
any suitable form of wedge or equivalent, preferably a tapered or other pin D
for the reception of which a portion of the saw-cut C is enlarged as indicated
in the drawing. This pin or wedge may be driven tight in and usually is held
so firmly by the spring and compression of the ends of the shaft that there is
no danger of its coming out; nevertheless it may be glued or otherwise secured
in if desired. The head socket B' is preferably provided with an opening.B³
on each side to allow of the insertion of the pin or wedge.
The head B is provided with tool or point sockets E tapered on one or both
edges E' and parallel upon their sides or larger faces E2 the larger ends of the
tapers being at the open or outer ends of the sockets. Internally these tool sockets
open into the eye or shaft socket inside the head and the tools or points Flare
tapered on their edges to suit the sockets as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,
so that they can only enter the sockets to a certain distance, the use of the pick or
tool serving to force them more firmly into their sockets.
:
At one of the narrower faces E' of each socket E I place a wedge or equivalent G
having a head G' arranged to project through the head B as shown in the drawings,
the dotted lines in Fig. 1 indicating the outer walls of the head. The object of this
projection is to enable the wedge to be knocked out in the direction of the arrow in

page_text: Fig. 1 by the blow of a hammer or equivalent from the outside upon the head G¹.
The withdrawal of the wedge releases the tool or point F; the shaft, if as in Fig. 1
it extends up so high as to interfere with the inward movement of the wedges may
be recessed as at A2 to allow of their free movement. It is not absolutely
necessary that any means should be provided for holding or securing the wedges G
as they cannot fall entirely out even if the points F are withdrawn if the heads G¹
are made sufficiently large to prevent this; it is however convenient that they should
always retain as nearly as possible their proper positions and I therefore prefer to
adopt some arrangement of springs or equivalent to secure this. Upon the right
hand side of Fig. 1 a plate spring H is shown rivetted at H' to the inside of the
socket B¹ and also rivetted or otherwise secured to the inner end of the head G¹.
When the wedge is driven in towards the shaft to release the tool the spring H gives
way but returns the wedge to its normal position as soon as it is allowed to do so;
with this spring no guides are required for the wedges. This spring H may be
'sunk in a recess or opening in the socket or head to avoid cutting the shaft; or it
may be placed outside the socket.
4
Upon the left-hand side of Fig. 1 a helical spring I is shown bearing upon the
back of the head G' which latter is slightly recessed at G² to engage with the walls
of the tool socket as shown in Fig. 2 so as to guide the wedge. The spring I may
be held in a suitable recess in the end of the tool shaft A' the plate K serving as a
cover and holding it in place; this plate K may be screwed or otherwise secured
in position upon the shaft or it may be merely a diaphragm or projection cast in
the head. In Fig. 2 it is shown in the form of two plates or stops projecting from
the inner walls of the head into the cavity or inner end L of the eye.
In Fig. 3 the same idea is carried out but the wedge head G' upon the right-hand
side of the figure carries an extension G³ upon which is placed the helical spring I
which may be accommodated with a special circular or other recess in the end of
the shaft A¹ if desired. On the left-hand side of Fig. 3 a similar arrangement is
shown but the helical spring is replaced by a block of rubber I for the same purpose
and intended to act in the same manner. Or this block may be simply inserted in
a recess in the shaft the wedge bearing against it.
The tool is thus secured by jamming or gripping it between two surfaces one or
both of which can be withdrawn or so far relaxed that the pressure between it and
the tool is reduced or entirely removed so as to permit of the removal of the tool
from its socket, and I have described a wedge as the best means known to me for
accomplishing this. The same result however may be attained by other means
without using a wedge; for example one or more screws night provide the necessary
hold for the tool and these could be slackened or withdrawn to release it.
With an arrangement such as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 where room is left inside the
head the tool or point may be made double-ended as shown upon the left side of
Fig. 1, so long as the two tools do not meet. With this arrangement the miner has
at his disposal four working points or faces. This plan could not be adopted when the
tool had only a shank to fit into the socket and the working face-as for instance
an axe, alze, or hammer-was not suitable to enter the head.
I have already explained at the commencement of my Specification that the
shaft or handle may be made removable and inserted through the larger end of the
taper in the head which would be left open for this purpose if desired, but I think
on the whole the form I have illustrated is the most perfect one although the other
would make a good workable tool.
I have described the tool socket as being tapered on both its narrower edges or
faces and I prefer that it should be so tapered, but the face upon which the wedge
bears need not necessarily be tapered although I prefer to have it so.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that I am aware that tapered tool sockets with their larger ends
outwards, have before now been used, the tools or points being fixed by blows from
the outside, and driven out by wedge action from the inside. I am also aware that

page_text: various devices have been employed for fixing the blades or tools in the sockets
when inserted from the inside, and I make no general claim to these features.
What I claim is,―
1. In a pick or similar tool securing the tool or point in its socket by a bearing
surface or support which can be removed or relaxed to release the tool substantially
as described.
2. In a pick or similar tool the combination with a tapered tool socket such as E
having its larger end outwards and a tapered tool or point such as F having its
smaller end inwards of a wedge such as G having its thicker part inwards and so
arranged that it can be forced inwards towards the centre of the head from the
outside for the purpose of releasing the tool or point substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a pick or similar tool the employment of a tool-retaining wedge having its
thicker part towards the inside of the head and capable of being released from the
outside.
4. In a pick or similar tool the employment of a tool-releasing wedge substan-
tially as described.
5. In a pick or similar tool the employment of a wedge adapted to both retain
and release the tool.
6. In a pick or similar tool the combination with a wedge such as described in
the preceding claim of a spring intended to keep it in its normal position substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In a pick or similar tool the combination with a wedge such as described in
Claim 2 of a plate spring such as H secured both to the wedge and to the head or
shaft socket substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In a pick or similar tool the combination with a handle socket or eye such
as B' closed at its larger end of a shaft or handle placed therein through the open
smaller end and subsequently expanded therein by means of a cross wedge or
equivalent entered through an opening such as B₁ in the socket substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In a pick or similar tool the employment of a double ended point or tool
substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of February 1893.
W. K. BIRKINSHAW.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.