Improvements in the Manufacture of Cheeked Eyes for Hoes and Picks, and in Tools employed therein.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cheeked Eyes for Hoes and
Picks, and in Tools employed therein.
We, THE EAGLE EDGE TOOL COMPANY, LIMITED, of Eagle Works,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Edge Tool Manufacturers, EDWIN
JOSIAH READ, of the same address, Foreman, and FRANK ARTHUR WILLIAMS,
of the same address, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of eyes for hoes and picks which have
checks formed therewith, such as the eyes of what are commonly known in the
trade as "Brazil" hoes; and has for its object to form the eyes, including the
cheeks thereof, by machinery in such manner that, while their production is greatly
cheapened, they may be as neat in appearance and as strong, or approximately so,
as such eyes made by hand; and in the case of hoes there is the further object of
ensuring that the eyes made in the same tools shall each be the same distance from
the shoulders of the hoe, and in such respect be an improvement on hoes with hand
made eyes.
In manufacturing cheeked eyes by machinery, it has heretofore been usually
customary to drag down the metal to form the cheeks; but according to our
invention the metal, instead of being dragged down, is caused to flow into suitably
shaped recesses formed therefor in one of the tools. We employ a pair of tools for
forming the metal into such shape that it requires merely a wad of metal to be
punched out from the eye, and the frazing or fin around the forging to be cut away,
in order to produce the finished shape. This pair of tools is carried in a stamp,
and the upper tool is preferably the one in which the recesses are formed into
which the metal flows to form the cheeks. The tool which has such recesses is
formed with a sinking in its face of the diameter of the exterior of the eye and of a
depth somewhat less than that of the eye exclusive of the cheeks; and, preferably,
a shallow punch concentric with the sinking, and of a diameter to form a portion
of the depth of the interior of the eye, stands up from the bottom thereof. The
recesses to receive the metal for the cheeks are formed down one on each side from
the bottom of the sinking. The other tool, which is preferably the bottom, is
formed with a sinking in its face which corresponds to the sinking in the face of
the upper tool, and is of such depth as will, when added to the depth of the sinking
of the upper tool and to the thickness of the fin of metal left between the two tools
when the stamping blow has been given, make the total depth of such parts equal
to the depth of an eye exclusive of the cheeks. A punch, concentric with the
sinking and corresponding with the punch before described, stands up from the
bottom of the sinking in the lower tool to such a height (extending, preferably, to
above the upper face of the tool) that after the stamping blow has been given a
thin wad of metal will be left in the eye between the two punches.
When the tools are for use in the manufacture of checked eyes for hoes, an
opening is formed through the side of each tool from the sinking in the face thereof,
and such openings are shaped so that the desired form is given to the neck or
portion of the hoe which connects the eye and blade; and the shoulders of all hoes
made in the same pair of tools are thus spaced an equal distance from the eyes.
When the tools are for use in the manufacture of cheeked eyes for picks an
opening, for the portions, adjacent to the eye, of the metal to form the shank or
bar of the pick, is formed in opposite sides of each tool from the sinking in the face
thereof, and such openings are shaped to give the desired form to such portions of
the metal.

page_text: Beyond each opening through the side of a tool a face is set down, and the metal
projecting beyond such opening is pressed to a desired thickness between opposite
faces of the tools for a distance corresponding to the width of such faces.
In describing the tools it has been assumed, for convenience of description, that
the upper tool is lying face upwards, and the description should be read as applying
to the tool whilst in such position. The description also has been made as if the
tools were each formed in a single piece of metal. It is convenient, however, in
the case of the lower tool, (or the tool corresponding to that described as the lower
tool) to form a taper hole, concentric with the sinking in the face thereof, and to
form the punch, separately from the other portion of the tool, having a portion of
a tapered shape to fit down in the hole; and it is convenient, in the case of the
other tool, to bore it out to a conical shape corresponding to the conical shape of
the eye and of the imaginary conical surface of which the outer surfaces of the
checks form portions, and to fix therein a plug having the punch formed at its
working face and sinkings for the cheeks formed in opposite sides. The punch
and plug bed, respectively, against the bottoms or inner ends of the holes in which
they are fitted, and they are formed with round shanks which fit within corre-
sponding holes formed through from the bottoms of the holes in which the punch
and plug, respectively, fit to the backs of the tools. These shanks tend to steady
the punch and plug in place, and the punch and plug may be driven out from the
holes in which they fit by means of a bar pushed along the holes within which the
shanks fit and driven against the ends of the shanks.
When a poll is desired on an eye of a hoe tools are used which have a recess
formed in the face of each for the purpose.
In manufacturing a checked eye by the use of the above described tools the
heated bar is held on the top of the lower punch. The descent of the upper tool
causes the metal to be driven down over the lower punch and into the sinking of
the bottom tool; and the sinking in the face of the upper tool passes down over
the metal and is filled therewith, and the upper punch enters the metal, and some
of the metal flows up into and fills the recesses which form the moulds for the
cheeks. The stamping is then removed from the tools, and the wad of metal left
between the punches is punched out by a further process, and the frazing or fin left
around the eye is cut off in the usual manner.
Dated this 11th day of February 1893.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cheeked Eyes for Hoes and
Picks, and in Tools employed therein.
We, THE EAGLE EDGE TOOL COMPANY, LIMITED, of Eagle Works,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Edge Tool Manufacturers, EDWIN
JOSIAH READ, of the same address, Foreman, and FRANK ARTHUR WILLIAMS,
of the same address, Manager, 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 the manufacture of eyes for hoes and picks which have
cheeks formed therewith, such as the eyes of what are commonly known in the
trade as "Brazil" hoes; and has for its object to form the eyes, including the
checks thereof, by machinery in such manner that, while their production is greatly
cheapened, they may be as neat in appearance and as strong, or approximately so,
as such eyes made by hand; and in the case of hoes there is the further object of
ensuring that the eyes made in the same tools shall each be the same distance from
the shoulders of the hoe, and in such respect be an improvement on hoes with hand
made eyes.

page_text: In manufacturing cheeked eyes by machinery, it has heretofore been usually
customary to drag down the metal to form the cheeks; but according to our
invention the metal, instead of being dragged down, caused to flow into suitably
shaped recesses formed therefor in one of the tools. We employ a pair of tools for
forming the metal into such shape that it requires merely a wad of metal to be
punched out from the eye, and the frazing or fin around the eye to be cut away, in
order to produce the finished shape. This pair of tools is carried in a stamp, and
the upper tool is preferably the one in which the recesses are formed into which the
metal flows to form the cheeks. In further describing these tools it will be
assumed, for convenience of description, that the upper tool is lying face upwards.
The tool which has the recesses for the cheeks is formed with a sinking in its face
of the diameter of the exterior of the eye and of a depth somewhat less than that
of the eye exclusive of the cheeks; and, preferably, a shallow punch concentric
with the sinking, and of a diameter to form a portion of the depth of the interior
of the eye, stands up from the bottom thereof. The recesses to receive the metal
for the cheeks are formed down one on each side from the bottom of the sinking.
The other tool, which is preferably the bottom, is formed with a sinking in its face
which corresponds to the sinking in the face of the upper tool, and is of such depth
as will, when added to the depth of the sinking of the upper tool and to the
thickness of the fin of metal left between the two tools when the stamping blow has
been given, make the total depth of such parts equal to the depth of an eye
exclusive of the cheeks. A punch, concentric with the sinking and corresponding
with the punch before described, stands up from the bottom of the sinking in the
lower tool to such a height (extending, preferably, to above the upper face of the
tool) that after the stamping blow has been given a thin wad of metal will be left
in the eye between the two punches.
When the tools are for use in the manufacture of cheeked eyes for hoes, an
opening is formed through the side of each sinking in the face of a tool, and such
openings are made so that the desired form is given to the neck or portion of the hoe
which connects the eye and blade; and the shoulders of all hoes made in the same
pair of tools are thus spaced an equal distance from the eyes. When the tools are
for use in the manufacture of checked eyes for picks openings, for the portions,
adjacent to the eye, of the metal to form the shank or bar of the pick, are formed
in opposite sides of each tool from the sinking in the face thereof, and such
openings are made to give the desired form to such portions of the metal.
The face of each die on the side thereof through which the opening as aforesaid
is formed from the sinking, or the face of each die on opposite sides thereof, when
an opening as aforesaid is formed through each side of the sinking, is carried out to
its edge at the level of the bottom of the opening, or is otherwise set down from
the upper surface of the face as may be required, and the metal being operated
upon which projects beyond the sinkings of the two tools is pressed to the desired
thickness to allow of the rib being formed in plating.
The tools have been described as if each were formed in a single piece of metal.
It is convenient, however, in the case of the lower tool (or the tool corresponding
to that described as the lower tool) to form a taper hole, concentric with the
sinking in the face thereof, and to form the punch, separately from the other portion
of the tool, having a portion of a tapered shape to fit down in the hole; and it is
convenient, in the case of the other tool, to bore it out to a conical shape corre-
sponding to the conical shape of the eye and of the imaginary conical surface of
which the outer surfaces of the cheeks form portions, and to fix therein a plug
having the punch formed at its working face and sinkings for the cheeks formed
in opposite sides. The punch of the one tool and plug of the other bed, respectively,
against the bottoms or inner ends of the holes in which they are fitted, and they
are formed with round shanks which fit within corresponding holes formed through
from the bottoms of the holes in which the punch and plug, respectively, fit to the
backs of the tools. These shanks tend to steady the punch and plug in place, and

page_text: the punch and plug may be driven out from the holes in which they fit by means
of a bar pushed along the holes within which the shanks fit and driven against the
ends of the shanks.
When a poll is desired on an eye of a hoe, tools are used which have a recess
formed in the face of each for the purpose.
In manufacturing a checked eye by the use of the above described tools, the
heated bar is held on the top of the lower punch. The descent of the upper tool
causes the metal to be driven down over the lower punch and into the sinking of
the bottom tool; and the sinking in the face of the upper tool passes down over
the metal and is filled therewith, and the upper punch enters the metal, and some
of the metal flows up into and fills the recesses which form the moulds for the
cheeks. The stamping or "mould " is then removed from the tools, and the wad
of metal left between the punches is punched out by a further process, and the
frazing or fin left around the eye is cut off in the usual manner. No frazing is
formed along any part of either cheek.
In order that the method of carrying out the above described invention in
practice may be clearly understood, we will proceed to describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawings, of which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a pair of tools used in manufacturing
cheeked eyes for hoes according to this invention, and shews a bar of metal in
position between the tools at the moment when the upper tool has struck its down-
ward blow.
Figure 2 is a section taken on line of Figure 1 at right angles to the view
shewn by Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the face of the lower tool.
Figure 4 is a face or underside view of the upper tool.
Figure 5 is a detached side elevation of the recessed plug shewing one of the
recesses in side elevation.
Figure 6 is a plan view of the end of a bar after the same has been operated
upon by the tools, but before the wad of metal has been cut out from the interior
of the eye; and
Figure 7 is a section taken on line y y of Figure 6.
The upper tool A is formed with an opening or sinking a shaped for a portion of
its depth inwards from the face of the tool to form the exterior of a portion of the
eye for a hoe. The opening is continued inwards to a taper shape to receive a
plug b, and is then shouldered down to a less diameter and continued in a taper
shape to receive the tapered slank e of the plug, and is then formed as a cylindrical
portion & which is continued to the back end of the tool. The plug b is preferably
formed with a shallow projecting punch e to form a portion of the interior of
the eye of a hoc, and is formed also with recesses f in its sides which receive the
metal to form the cheeks of the eye. In Figure 5 the plug is shewn detached and
with the punch end downwards as when in use. When the plug is pushed into
place within the opening formed in the tool to receive it, the portion of its face or
end which partially surrounds the punch forms the bottom of the sinking a in the
face of the tool, that is to say, it forms the roof or top of the sinking when the
tool is inverted as in use, and shapes the edge of the eye; and the punch e stands
forwards from the face of the plug and is pressed into the metal of the eye when
the tool is brought down upon the heated bar. The recesses f f form, together
with the portions of the side of the opening against which they come, the exact
shape of the required cheeks. An opening is formed between the points g g in the
face of the tool A, from the sinking a, for the passage of the metal which connects
the eye of the hoe with the metal from which the blade is to be formed; and the
face of the portion A' of the tool is set down to the. level of the bottom of the
sinking, or it or a portion of it may be otherwise set down as may be required for
the special character of the tools which are to be manufactured. The division, on
the face of the tool, between the set down portion A and the remainder of the

page_text: face, is represented by the lines h h.
When the hoe eye is intended to have a poll,
a recess i is formed out from the sinking in the face of the tool to form a portion of
such poll.
The bottom tool B has a sinking a' formed in its face, and in the bottom of this
sinking is formed a concentric opening to receive a tapered shank of a punch k
which projects from the bottom of the sinking a' and preferably considerably above
the face of the tool. The opening from the bottom of the sinking a' is continued,
below the shank j, as a cylindrical portion right through to the back of the tool.
An opening is formed from the sinking a corresponding to the opening between
the points g
of the tool A, and the portion of the face B' of the tool B is set
down to the level of the bottom of the sinking a in the corresponding manner, and
for the corresponding purpose, in and for which the portion A¹ of the face of the
tool A. is set down; or is otherwise set down as may be required for the special
character of the tools which are to be manufactured. The punch & is of a diameter
to form a portion of the interior of the eye, and is tapered somewhat, as shewn, to
allow of the forging or stamping being readily removed therefrom.
When a poll
is required on the hoes, a recess i, corresponding to the recess i, is formed out also
from the sinking a¹ of the tool B.
The hoes are formed from billets of a square or approximately square section,
instead of from flat bars as usual, and the part where an eye and cheeks are to be
formed is first thickened up somewhat depthways by holding it between the plain
faces r r of the tools A and B while a blow is given by the upper tool. The metal
is, of course, highly heated for being operated upon by the tools, and is placed in
position for being operated upon by the tools by resting the thickened up portion
thereof, with the greater thickness depthways, upon the top of the punch k. The
upper tool A is then brought down with great force, such as by allowing it to fall
from a considerable height, and the metal is thus driven down around the punch k,
and consequently within the sinking a¹ of the tool B, and fills also the sinking a
of the tool A, and some of the metal flows up also on each side into and fills the
recesses and thus forms the checks for the eye. The poll is, of course,
formed within, the recesses of the tools. The eye of the hoe, with the cheeks
and poll thereon, is thus formed at one operation of the tools to the extent shewn
by Figures 6 and 7, that is to say, a wad of metal m, which has been formed
between the ends of the punches e and k, is left in the interior of the eye, and a
fin of metal n n, which has been formed between the outer faces of the tools,
is left around the eye and poll. The portion p of the bar, from which the
blade of the hoe is to be formed, is flattened out somewhat by the operation of
the tools. The wad of metal m is subsequently punched out from the interior
of the eye, and the fin of metal n n is also cut away, and the eye with the cheeks
thereon is thus completed.
i
The tools A and B are fixed, by means of suitable poppet pins, in the moving
head and bottom block, respectively, of any suitable stamp. The plug b holds
tightly in the tool A when driven up into place, so that it cannot fall out in
working; and this plug, and also the punch k, may be readily driven out of the
tools, when required to be removed therefrom, by means of a bar pushed along the
holes d and l, respectively. It is not, of course, essential that the plug b be
employed at all, as the sinking a may be simply cut down from the face of the
tool A and the recesses ff be cut in from such sinking. This, however, would be
a very expensive way of preparing the tool, and the tool so prepared would be
extremely difficult to repair. The punch k also might, of course, be formed in
one piece with the tool B, but it is much preferred to make it separately
therefrom.
It is preferred that the tool A shall be the upper and the tool B the lower, but
the position of the tools might, of course, be reversed. It is not essential that a
punch e shall project within the sinking a, as the plug 6 may be formed flat across
the end and the punch k be made to project correspondingly further from the
bottom of the sinking a'. It is preferred, however, to use a punch e projecting

page_text: from the plug b, as shewn, as a better finish is given to the interior of the eye than
when the wad of metal m is formed at the extreme end of the eye and punched out
therefrom.
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
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of cheeked eyes for hoes and picks, the employment of a
pair tools whereby the metal to form the cheeks is caused to flow into recesses,
formed in one of the tools, of which the walls enclose spaces of the configuration
of the intended cheeks, substantially as described.
2. A tool for use in the manufacture of cheeked eyes for hoes or picks having
recesses formed therein of which the walls enclose spaces of the configuration of
the intended cheeks and into which metal is caused to flow under the pressure
brought upon 'it in forging the eye, substantially as described.
3. A tool for use in the manufacture of cheeked eyes for hoes or picks having
recesses to receive the metal for the cheeks produced by means of sinkings in the
opposite sides of a plug which is let into an opening in the main body of the tool,
substantially as described and shewn.
4. A pair of tools constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to the drawings herewith for the purpose of forming cheeked eyes for
hoes or picks.
Dated this 4th day of September 1893.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.