IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF ACTING GRABS AND GRAPPLE TOOLS AND SCOOPS IN WHICH ARE EMPLOYED TINES OR PRONGS"
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dent Priestman and Samuel Priestman both
of Kingston upon Hull in the County of York Engineers for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF ACTING
GRABS AND GRAPPLE TOOLS AND SCOOPS IN WHICH ARE EMPLOYED TINES
OR PRONGS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dent Priestman
and Samuel Priestman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 26th February 1883.
WILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN and SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, both of Kingston upon
Hull, in the County of York, Engineers, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF ACTING GRABS AND GRAPPLE TOOLS AND SCOOPS, IN
WHICH ARE EMPLOYED TINES OR PRONGS"
Our Invention relates to certain improvements hereinafter more particularly
mentioned in the construction of self acting grabs and grapple tools and scoops in
which are employed tines, or prongs and provides for the secure fastening of such
tines, or prongs to the tine frame of the tool, such tine frame being so constructed
to receive and hold the tines, that it embodies a strong construction and affords an
easy means of removing and replacing the tines when necessary.
Previous to our Invention it has been the practice to secure the tines to the tine
frame of the tool by fitting the ends of the tines through holes formed in the tine
frame of the tool, the tines being secured to the tine frame by nuts. This con-
struction however is open to objection inasmuch as in practice the tines are found
to break short off in the neck, or that part next to the time frame.
Our Invention consists in the following construction of tine frames and tines
of Grabs, Grapple Tools and Scoops and the means of effecting the connection of
the tines to the tine frame.
According to our Invention the tine frame of the tool consists of parallel bars
separated by distance blocks, the bars being fastened together by rivets, or bolts

page_text: through such distance blocks, thus forming spaces in the tine frame into which the
ends of the tines ship. To secure the tines in these spaces we use keys, or
equivalent devices which we place between the tines and the before mentioned
distance blocks. By driving these keys, or wedges between the tines and the
blocks the tines are firmly secured in the tine frame and by driving out the keys
the tines can be removed from the frame. When all the tines are in position
they are braced together on the outside by a bar positioned between the tine frame
and the points of the tines.
A modified form of the tine frame according to our Invention consists in forming
the tine frame and distance blocks in one piece by forging, or casting instead of
building the tine frame of parallel bars and distance blocks as previously
described.
We would state that the object which we attain by the before described con-
struction of tool is that the metal and thereby the strength of the tines is
maintained throughout and therefore the tines are not liable to break at their point
of connection and at the same time an easy method of securing and replacing the
tines results.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Dent Priestman and Samuel Priestman in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 22nd August 1883.
WILLIAM DENT PRIESTMAN and SAMUEL PRIESTMAN, both of Kingston-upon--
Hull, in the County of York, Engineers "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF ACTING GRABS AND GRAPPLE TOOLS AND SCOOPS, IN
WHICH ARE EMPLOYED TINES, OR PRONGS
"
Our Invention relates to certain improvements hereinafter more particularly
mentioned in the construction of self acting grabs and grapple tools and scoops in
which are employed tines, or prongs and provides for the secure fastening of such
tines, or prongs to the tine frame of the tool, such tine frame being so constructed
to receive and hold the tines, that they embody a strong construction and afford
an easy means of removing and replacing the tines when necessary.
Previous to our Invention it has been the practice to secure the tines to the tine
frame of the tool by fitting the ends of the tines through holes formed in the tine
frame of the tool, the tines being secured to the tine frame by nuts. This
construction however is open to objection inasmuch as in practice the tines are
found to break short off in the neck, or that part next to the tine frame.
Our Invention consists in the following construction of tine frames and tines of
grabs, grapple tools and scoops and the means of effecting the connection of the
tines to the tine frame.
According to our Invention, the tine frame of the tool consists of parallel bars
separated by distance blocks, the bars being fastened together by rivets, or bolts
through such distance blocks, thus forming spaces in the tine frame into which
the ends of the tines ship. To secure the tines in these spaces we use keys, or
equivalent devices, when keys are used we place them between the tines and the
before mentioned distance blocks. By driving these keys, or wedges between the
tines and the blocks, the tines are firmly secured in the tine frame and by driving
out the keys the tines can be removed from the frame. When all the tines are in
position, they are braced together on the outside by a bar positioned between the
tine frame and the points of the tines.
A modified form of the time frame according to our Invention consists in forming
the tine frame and distance blocks in one piece by forging or casting instead
of building the tine frame of parallel bars and distance blocks as previously
described.
We would state that the object which we attain by the before described con-
struction of tool is that the metal and thereby the strength of the tines is
maintained throughout and therefore the tines are not liable to break at their
point of connection and at the same time an easy method of securing and replacing
tines results
The beforegoing being the nature, object and purposes of our Invention we will
now proceed to more clearly and particularly describe how the same may be
carried out into practical effect and illustrate the construction of self acting grabs
employed in carrying our Invention into practice, and for that purpose we have
hereunto attached a sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof which Drawings are
marked with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those used in the
following explanation, like letters and figures denoting the same, or corresponding
parts throughout the various views and figures,

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an end elevation of a grab according to the ordinary method of
constructing tine frames previous to our Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of tine frame shown at Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of grab constructed according to our Invention.
Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a plan of tine frame shown at Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a modification of construction of tine frame according to our
Invention.
Figure 7 is a cross section through X X Figure 6.
The ordinary construction of grab and the method of fixing the tines thereto
is shown at Figures 1 and 2. On reference to the Drawings it will be seen the
necks, or ends a of the tines A are turned down to fit into the tine frame B
through the holes C and are secured by the nuts c'
According to our Invention (see Figures 3. 4 and 5) the tine frame B of the grab,
or tool consists of the parallel bars b separated by the distance blocks b', the
bars b being fastened together by rivets, or bolts through the blocks b' thus
forming the spaces C in the tine frame B into which the ends of the tines A ship.
The tines A are secured into the spaces C by the keys a¹. The tines are braced
-together by the bar D...
A modified form of the tine frame B is shown at Figures 6 and 7 and consists
in forming the tine frame bars b and distance blocks b' in one piece by forging, or
casting instead of building the tine frame B of the bars b and the distance blocks b¹
ns previously described.
Having now described our Invention and shown how the same may be carried
out, we claim :
In self acting grabs and grapple tools and scoops in which are employed tines,
or prongs, the construction of tine frames and tines and the means of securing
the tines to the tine frames substantially as and for the purposes specified and
shown in reference to Figures 3. 4. 5. 6 and 7 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
In Witness whereof, we the said William Dent Priestman and Samuel
Priestman have hereunto set our hands and seals this Seventeenth day
of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty
three.
WILLIAM DENT, (L.S.) PRIESTMAN
SAMUEL (L.s.) PRIESTMAN