Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Crutch Handles for Spades and Shovels.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1889
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Crutch Handles
for Spades and Shovels.
We JABEZ FIDELL, Timber Merchant and EDWIN FIDELL, Engineer, both of
Crowgarth, Gainsboro', in the County of Lincoln do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :—
This invention has for its object to facilitate and cheapen the production of crutch
handles for Spades and Shovels, and to enable large quantities of such articles to be
made of one exact shape and size.
Our invention is to operate upon a block of wood generally about five inches
long, and one and a half inches square more or less having a central oblong
hole already made transversely through the block to receive the end of the shaft.
We fix upon each end of a base plate, a headstock, the two sides of which carry a
chain-block capable of revolving on a shaft supported by the sides; the block of one
headstock being opposite that of the other, and a chain of peculiar construction is
passed round the said blocks which are preferably hexagonal for the purpose of
driving the chain.
The chain is driven by means of suitable gearing fixed to the chain-block shaft
of either Headstock.
Upon each headstock, at a suitable distance from the chain-block and from each other
we arrange a number of revolving cutter-blocks which may be driven by any desired
arrangement of pulleys and belts; the chain before mentioned being for the purpose
of carrying the blocks of wood to the cutters.
Each link of said chain is constructed to carry a block of wood the centre
of the link forming a circular table, with a raised bed upon which the block
is placed; the circular part can be moved round in either direction a short
distance.
In the centre of the bed is a plug which fits into the oblong hole in the crutch
block, and at each end a claw projects which can be made to seize the crutch-
block at each end so as to hold it firmly in position; this may be done by
means of a hand wheel and screw underneath the link, and a travelling nut to
which the claws are connected, so as to draw the claws towards each other or
vice versa.
Crutch blocks can be fixed on the chain and removed without stopping the
apparatus; when the machino is started the chain carries the blocks to the revolving
cutters which acting upon them in rotation, roughs them out so far as the top and
sides are concerned, they are then carried forward to the other headstock and sub-
mitted in like manner to three similar finishing cutters which complete this part of
the operation.
To obtain the taper at each end of the crutch, the circular table is caused to turn
a little diagonally before passing under one of the cutters, and a little to the other
side before passing the next cutter, the action is caused by a finger on each side of
the table coming in contact with a projection as it travels along.
To shape the underside of the crutch which has a circular boss to correspond
with the top of the shaft against which it fits, we make a swing cutter frame the
driving pulley being at the fulcrum and the cutter spindle and pulley at the other
end of the frame.
The Cutter is formed like a doubled arch back to back and is carried by the extreme
end of the spindle, and it may have a short axis attached to it on the other side
working in a hearing if desirable.

page_text: The Crutch is held in a suitable vice having a rise and fall motion, and capable of
being turned round a short distance and the cutter is caused to act upon the
wood by the movement of the swing frame by which the segmental shape is
also obtained; the circular boss is produced by the arched configuration of the
cutter
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Crutch-handles
for Spades and Shovels.
We, JABEZ FIDELL, Timber Merchant, and EDWIN FIDELL, Engineer, both of
Crowgarth, Gainsboro' in the County of Lincoln, 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 has for its object to facilitate and cheapen the production of crutch
handles for Spades and Shovels, and to enable large quantities of such articles to be
made of one exact shape and size.
Our invention is for machinery which shall operate upon a block of wood five
inches long or thereabouts and one and a half inches square more or less, having a
central oblong hole previously made to receive the end of the shaft.
To render our specification quite clear we have annexed drawings to which we
shall refer similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the figures in
which they occur.
;
Fig. 1, Is an elevation of one of the two headstocks of the principal apparatus.
Fig. 2. Plan of same.
Fig. 3, Elevation of companion headstock.
Fig. 4, Plan of same.
Fig. 5, Sectional elevation of one of the links of the chain, and means for holding
blocks.
Fig. 6, Plan of same.
Fig. 7, Elevation of shaping machine for underside of handle.
Fig. 8, Plan of same.
In carrying our invention into practice, we fix upon each end of a baseplate A, a
double bearing or headstock B, the two sides of which carry a chain-block C, capable
of revolving with a shaft D, supported by the sides in suitable necks, the block of
one headstock being opposite that of the other, and a chain, or a series of clamps E,
linked together so as to form an endless chain, is passed round the said blocks
which are preferably made hexagonal for the purpose of driving the said series of
clamps, or chain.
The Chain is driven by means of suitable gearing such as pulleys F, pinion F
and wheel F2 fixed to either headstock but shown in Fig. 3; the wheel F is on the
chain-block shaft D.
Upon each headstock at a suitable distance from the chain-block and from each
other we arrange a number of revolving cutter blocks G, one only being shown
which may be driven by any desired arrangement of pulleys and belts, such as
shown, in which H is the first pulley driven by a belt from the line shafting;
I, I, I are driving pulleys for the cutter block spindles J, J, J2; the chain
before mentioned being for the purpose of carrying the blocks of wood W to the
cutters K.
Each link of said chain, shown full size in Figs. 5 and 6, is constructed to carry a
block of wood, the centre of the link forming a circular table L, with a raised bed L'
upon which the block is placed; the circular part can be moved round a short
distance in either direction.

page_text: In the centre of the circular table and bed is a plug M, which fits into the oblong
hole in the crutch block W, and at each end a claw N, projects, which can be
made to seize the crutch-block at each end so as to hold it firmly in position;
this may be done by means of a handwheel O, and screw P, underneath the link,
with a travelling nut Q to which the claws are connected, so as to draw the claws
towards each other or vice versa.
The speed of the chain should be so arranged that the attendant can fix the wood
blocks and also remove them without stopping the apparatus.
When the machine is started the chain carries the wood blocks to the revolving
cutters K, which acting on the blocks in rotation, rough them out so far as the top
and sides are concerned; they are then carried forward to the other headstock and
submitted in like manner to the action of three finishing cutters which complete this
part of the operation.
To obtain the tapered form at each end of the crutch, the circular table L, is caused
to turn or rotate a little to one side, before passing under one of the cutters, and
then a little to the other side before reaching the next cutter, and this action
which brings the wood block in a diagonal position to the cutter is caused by a
finger R, on one side or the other of the table L, coming in contact with a
projection or slide S, and being pressed on one side by it as it travels along. These
parts are seen in Fig. 2.
To shape the underside of the Crutch W, (seen in Fig. 7) which is curved,
and has a circular boss to correspond with and fit upon the top of the shaft
of a spade or shovel, we construct a swinging cutter frame illustrated in
Figs. 7 & 8.
It consists of a headstock, T, carrying a sliding spindle U, having at its front end
an apparatus for holding and manipulating the wood block W.
The method of holding the wood block is same as that used on the links, that is by
means of the claws N, which are opened and closed by the wheel 0; these appliances
are carried on a segmental or curved slide V, which can be moved in its slide
by either of the handles Vor V as desired, it can be moved to and from the
cutters by the handle X, and a partial rotary movement can be given to the wood block
by the handles Y.
Preferably on the same base plate on which the head stock above mentioned is
fixed, we erect the cutter spindle standards Z, driven by any suitable means such as
the pulley (a).
The cutter b, is made with a double arch, each arch being the cutting edge, and is
preferably supported and carried between two short spindles as shown, to give it
better support than if carried at the end of a single spindle. The arched configuration
of the cutter produces the circular boss.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
clain is
1-The improved machinery for the manufacture of crutch handles for spades
and shovels, herein before described, and substantially as shown in the drawings
annexed.
2-In machinery for the manufacture of crutch handles for spades and shovels,
the carrier or link hereinbetere described, and shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
3-In the manufacture of crutch handles for spades and shovels; the shaping
apparatus hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 7 & 8.
Dated the 27th day of June l009.
Zith day of June Lood.
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.