US2176436A - Method of making a shovel - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 17, 1939. RE DY 2,176,436

METHOD OF MAKING A SHOVEL Filed Aug. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Invemior v7. Ready, qw z w Oct. 17, 1939. w, READY 2,176,436

METHOD OF MAKING A SHOVEL Filed Aug. 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKING A SHOVEL Application August 12, 1936, Serial No. 95,602

4 Claims.

This invention relates to shovels or like tools having a blade and a handle-receiving socket, and more particularly to those types of shovels v known as plain-back shovels and back-strap B shovels, wherein the socket is formed from a pair of straps one of which is integral or effectively integral with the blade proper and the other is formed from a separate piece having an enlarged head overlying the rear portion of the blade to form a frog designed to receive the end of the handle. Objects of this invention are to provide an improved method for manufacturing such tools, resulting in a novel and stronger article having advantages which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention will be well understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein by way of example I have shown my invention applied to a shovel of the back-strap type and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear plan view of a partly formed blade;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a pre-formed back strap;

Figs. 3 and 4 are a plan and edge view respectively on a much larger scale of an element utilized in connecting the above mentioned parts;

Fig. 5 is a rear plan view showing the parts of Figs. 1 and 3 assembled;

Fig. 6 is a similar View at a later stage in the process of manufacture;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section in the plan of the line l--! of Fig. 6, illustrating a later step in the process; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the completed shovel.

The tool herein shown is of the back-strap type and comprises the blade l0 having the front strap l2 extending from the rear edge thereof, the strap being either integral or efiectively integral with the blade proper. As shown in Fig. 1, the strap l2 may be pre-formed in the blank at least approximately to its desired cross-section to cause it to fit the wooden handle 14 and to the desired profile or longitudinal curvature to give the proper lift to the shovel. The socket for receiving the handle is completed by means of a back strap, as shown in Fig. 2, comprising a strap or tongue'proper l6, likewise pre-formed to the transverse cross-sectional curvature and longitudinal profile to permit it to cooperate with strap I 2 to receive the handle, and an enlarged head [8 which overlies the rear portion of the blade and is secured thereto. Herein the head is formed by shoulders 22 extending laterally and adapted to coincide with the rear edge of the blade ill and a forward boundary which, as in my Patent 2,105,007, may be curved throughout its width and have its greatest transverse dimension at an intermediate point, being herein formed as the major segment of a circle. The central portions of the blade In on the one hand and of the enlarged head I8 on the other in line with the straps l2 and It may be pressed outwardly at 9 and 2! as shown to form the frog for receiving the end of the handle.

The next step in the manufacture of the shovel is securing together the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the form of the invention shown I press or ofiset a portion of the blade it at the base of the strap I2 forwardly to provide a depression 25 corresponding in form to the enlarged head l8. The depth of this depression may correspond to the thickness of the head i8 and the area of the bottom of the depression to its area. When the head is laid into the depression, as in Fig. 5, a groove 26 is defined between the outer edge of the head I8 and the wall of the depression. The head is then welded in position around the forwardly facing margin of the same, corresponding herein to the circular segment, by the addition of welding metal w, Fig. 6, applied to fill up the groove as by means of electric arc welding.

The back strap and the blade being thus joined, as shown in Fig. 6, the surplus metal at the weld may be milled or ground off. In the case of a backstrap shovel as herein disclosed, I prefer to retrude or press back the depression 25 so that the upper surface of the blade outwardly of the frog is a continuous surface.

To complete the shovel I join together the opposed surfaces of the blade and of the head at either side of the location of the straps by an interfusionof the metal extending over a substantial area forward of the rear edge of the shovel. This may be ,eifected by electric welding of the area type and is preferably effected as follows:

At the upper end of the shovel after the weld at w is completed there is an open joint between the rear edge of the blade and the shoulders 22 of the head l8. To facilitate the welding operation small metal plates 28 may be inserted into the open joint. I have herein shown these plates of semi-circular form and provided with ears 30 which engage the upper edge of the head or the blade as the case may be to position the plates in the joint in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and '7. The parts of the shovel shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are preferably formed of high carbon steel to permit them to be heat treated after assembly to give the desired strength and resiliency to the tool. In this case I prefer to make the plates 28 of soft steel.

The plates being inserted as shown in Fig. 6, the parts are pressed together with a strong pressure at the location of these plates by means of the electrodes 32, and an electric current of high density passed between the electrodes for a brief moment, in accordance with the practice sometimes referred to as shot welding. The heat is effectively localized by the plates 28 which fuse with and are alloyed with the adjacent high carbon steel parts l8 and I0, binding them together firmly over substantial areas extending inwardly from the rear of the shovel at either side of the frog. It may be remarked that the lug 30 melts away and effectively disappears in the welding process.

The blade H3 may then be trimmed if necessary and shaped to final form in the usual manner.

I have described the weld w as made first, but it will be clear that the order of the welding steps may be reversed.

The shovel is completed by securing in position the usual handle which may be secured by rivet 34, Fig. 8, applied near the upper end of the straps. It has been customary and necessary in tools of this kind hitherto to apply a rivet near the base of the handle. The handle, however, is

so firmly bound by the frog secured by the welded areas at 30 that such rivet is unnecessary. Because of the preforming of the parts, the frog is open ready for the reception of the handle. At the same time the blade and strap head are firmly bound together in face to face relation over substantial areas lateral to the frog and such connection has been effected in a manner which did not disturb the initial form of the socket forming parts.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The method of making a shovel which comprises preforming a blade blank having a strap extending from the rear edge thereof to give said strap at least substantially its final transverse and longitudinal curvatures for receiving a handle, similarly preforming a strap member having an enlarged head, assembling the parts with the head overlying the rear of the blade, welding the forwardly facing margin of the head to the blade, inserting metal discs between the opposed faces of the head and blade at the rear edge of the latter and at either side of the straps and causing said discs to interfuse with and unite the head and blade.

. 2. The method according to claim 1 where the discs are of relatively soft steel and the blade and strap of high carbon steel.

3. The method of forming a shovel which comprises assembling a blade blank having a strap projecting from the rear edge thereof with a cooperating strap having an enlarged head, said head overlying the rear of the blade at the root of the first strap, Welding together head and blade around the forwardly facing margin of the former, inserting metal discs between the opposed faces of the head and blade at the rear edge of the latter and at either side of the straps and causing said discs to interfuse with and unite the head and blade. 7

4. The method of forming a shovel which comprises assembling a blade blank having a strap projecting from the rear edge thereof with a cooperating strap having an enlarged head, said head overlying the rear of the blade at the root of the first strap, welding together head and blade around the forwardly facing margin of the former, inserting metallic discs between blade and head in the joint at the rear edge of the latter, said discs having means cooperating with said rear edge to position the same in the joint, pressing the parts strongly'together at the locations of said discs and causing the parts to interfuse at said locations by the brief application of an electric current of high density.

WILLIAM A. READY.

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