Improvements in and relating to Scythes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec.. 1889
TRUYIDIONAL STIVALION
[Communicated from abroad by JEAN BAPTISTE REVOLLIER, of 40, Rue Pascals, Paris,
France.]
Improvements in and relating to Scythes.
1, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS, of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to scythes and has for its object to enable the blade to
be adjusted and secured in any desired angle or position relatively to the handle.
The end of the handle is secured in a socket, a part of the outer end of which is
prolonged and returned at a right angle. The butt end of the blade of the scythe
may terminate either in a returned part similar to the returned part of the socket, or
in a ring or short tube in which a longitudinal slit is formed.
The connection between the blade and the handle is effected by means of two
connected rings or short tubes having their axes at right angles to each other. One
of the connected rings is placed over the returned end of the socket, and the other
ring is placed over the slit ring or returned end of the blade, and a wooden or other
suitable key is then driven into each of the connected rings thus locking the blade to
the handle. When the blade is terminated by a slit tube, the key is driven into the
slit tube which is thereby expanded and locked into the connecting ring.
The connecting rings being at right angles, one of them will permit horizontal,
and the other vertical adjustment at any desired angle, and it follows therefore that
by loosening one or both of the keys, the blade may be adjusted in any desired
position relatively to the handle, and be secured in that position by again driving up
the key or keys.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Scythes.
1, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 scythes and it has for its object to enable the blade of the
scythe to be moved adjusted and secured in any desired position.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my Improvements and to which
reference is hereinafter made Fig. 1 is a view upwards from beneath the blade;
Fig. 2 is a view from above the blade, and Fig. 3 is an end view. In each of the
Figures similar letters of reference are employed to denote similar parts or
elements.
The end of the handle A is inserted into and secured within a metallic socket B
where it will occupy a convenient position for the regulation of the blade. The handle
may be secured to the socket by means of nails spikes or by other suitable
devices.
The bush or socket B is prolonged at its outer end C and returned at a right angle
as shewn in Fig. 2 and this returned portion may have a terminal projection D in the
direction of the handle as will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3.
The butt end of the blade of the scythe may terminate either in a similar returned
part D to that formed on the end of the socket B or it may by preference terminate

page_text: in a ring or short tube H in which a longitudinal slit is formed. When the slit
tube His employed as for example when this means of connection and the blade are
formed of a single piece of steel, the natural spring of the tube is taken advantage of
to aid in securing the blade in place.
n
The connection between the blade and the handle is effected by means of two
connected rings or short tubes E F, having their axes at right angles the one with
the other. The returned projection D of the socket B is passed through the ring E,
and the extension of the blade, whether it is a returned part similar to D or is the lit
tubo His passed through the upper tube F of the two connected tubes. Two wedges
of wood G K or two suitable shaped keys or wedges of metal are then inserted in the
tubes EF from the sides opposite to those into which the parts D and I were
respectively inserted. When the keys or wedges are driven home by means of a
mallet or hammer it will be obvious that the blade will be rigidly secured to the
handle. If the blade terminates in a returned part similar to the part D of the handle
socket, the wedge or key by means of which the blade is secured resembles the key G,
but when the blade terminates in the slit tubo H the koy K is cylindrical but slightly
tapered or conical.
The terminal returned part D upon the rectangular extension from the socket B
and also the similar returned part on the extension from the heel of the blade when
this is used instead of the slit tube H, may he omitted, but it is preferred to use them
because they tend to prevent the respective parts from slipping out of the connected
tubes, and they further assist towards the general rigidity of the assemblage.
When the slit tube H and the conical kay K are employed the driving home of the
key ensures the expansion of the tube and a firm connection between the blade and
the ring F.
It will be evident from the description and from a reference to the drawings that
the two tubes E F not as two circular hinges or centres and because of their transverse
superposition they permit the blade to be placed in any desired angle or direction
relatively to the handle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
(1) The hereinbefore described devices for connecting the blade of a scythe to the
handle and which consist, of a socket for the handle, an angular extension from the
Imandle socket, an angular extension from the heel of the blade resembling the angular
extension from the handle socket, two transversely super-imposed and connected tubes
and two keys substantially as describel and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(2) The combination and arrangement with the blade and handle of a scythe of a
socket for the handle, an angular extension from the socket, two superimposed
transverse connected tubes, a split tubo formed upon the butt of the blade and two
koys, substantially as and for the purpose horeinbofore described with reference to the
drawings.
Dated this 8th day of November A D. 1889.