US1614956A - Shovel and process of making the same - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 18 1927. 1,614,956

M. HOKANSON SHOVEL AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Dec. 8, 1924 fNjYEN TOR N/mT/N Ha/r/r/vco/v '1 flTTOfi/VEYS Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN HOKANSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO MARSHALL-WELLS COM- PANY, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SI-IOVEL AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed December 8, 1924. Serial No. 754,636.

In the manufacture of shovels, spades and scoops difficulty has been experienced in providing sufficient strength at the point where the handle socket joins the blade to withstand the strains to which this portion of the tool is frequently subjected, as in tie tamping or other work where the tool blade is inserted into the ground or under an object to be lifted and the handle of the tool used as a lever. At such time, the load on the walls of the socket at the point where they join the blade is so heavy that the tool frequently breaks at this point and has to be discarded.

It is not practicable in tools of this kind to provide extraneous bracing or stiffening means secured by welding or similar means and the promary object, therefore, of my invention is to strengthen the walls of the handle socket at its junction with the blade and at the same time not add materially to the cost of the tool or labor of making it. It is important, too, in a tool of this kind that the socket and blade have a finished appearance, the wall of the socket merging into that of the blade without unsightly projections which would tend to mar the appearance of the finished -tool.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations all as hereinafter described and particularly point.- ed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,-

Figure 1 is a view of a blank of sheet metal from which the blade and the handle socket are formed for a type of shovel generally known as hollowback;

Figure 9. is a detail view-illustrating the manner of folding a portion of metal at the junction of the blade and socket to provide an increased thickness of metal at the point where it is subjected to the maximum strain;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the shovel blade and socket when the folding operation has been completed;

Figure t is an edge view partially in section showing the folded reinforcing section;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a modification in the manner of providing a greater thickness of metal at this junction of the blade and socket.

In the drawing, 2 represents a section of sheet metal in which the blade is formed, having at one end an integral extension 3 which, when folded, forms the tubular socket to receive the handle of the hollowback shovel. In stamping or pressing out this blank for the shovel blade and socket, I provlde a web of metal 4 at the junction of the blade 2 with the extension 3, and on this web upon each side of the extension, I form an ear 5 having a rounded or convex edge, as indicated in Figure 1, the blade and the extension and the integral webs and ears being all formed of a suitable gage of sheet metal.

In the next step of the process, the ears 5 are preferably bent or folded along the dotted line 6 in Figure 1, to the full line position in Figure 2, against the surfaces of the webs 4-, thereby forming a double thickness of metal between the blade 2 and the extension, the ears lying flat against the surfaces of the webs. I may, however, roll the ears to form beads on each of the webs if preferred, but this is a detail of construction and either method of bending or folding the ears may be adopted by the manufacturer.

In the next step, the shovel blade is shaped to the desired form by suitable dies and at the same time the extension 3 is folded by bending the longitudinal edges to form a preliminary or initial fold for the handle socket. In making this fold of the extension and shaping the adjacent end of the blade, the metal at the junction of the blade and extension is subjected to a considerable drawing action and when the metal is all of the same thickness, it is drawn normally to such an extent at this point that it becomes weaker and less able to withstand the pressure,'to which a shovel handle is often subjected, instead of being stronger at this point as it should. be. By providing the ears upon each side of the socket extension and folding them against the webs in the angle between the blade and socket extension, as shown at 7 in Figures 3, 4t and 5, I provide a double thickness of metal and when it is drawn at this point by the action of the dies, the folded portion will still be heavier and stronger after the folding or forming action of the die. The result is, the tool when completed, will have more metal at the junction of the blade and extension and will be stiffer and stronger at this point than when made in the usual way. I am thus able to provide a stronger and more durable tool without adding materially to its cost of manufacture or detracting in any way from the appearance of the finished article. If the tool is used for tie tamping or as a lever for lifting purposes, as it frequently is, the increased body of metal at the junction of the handle socket with the blade will be amply sufficient to withstand any unusual or unexpected strain to which this portion of the shovel may be subjected.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modification in the structure of the blade and socket which consists in taking a blank of sheet metal of suitable gage, rolling one end to a suitable taper to form the blade 8, rolling the other end 9 to the desired taper to form the blank from which the tube or socket is folded, leaving an area of the metal at 10 intermediate the parts 8 and 9 so that when the blank is subjected to the action of a die, the part 8 will be at the junction of the blade with the socket, and the metal will be thicker and heavier at this point and thereby apable of withstanding any unusual load or strain that may be placed upon this portion of the tool. When the blade is formed in this way a thicker section of the metal will be provided extending entirely across the point of juncture of the blade with the ex tension from which the socket is formed and this thicker portion of the metal will, of course, add quite materially to the strength of the shovel, scoop or spade at the point where it is usually subjected to the greatest strain.

It will be understood in applying this invention to a shovel, spade or scoop of the hollowback type that the extension from which the socket is formed may be folded downwardly or upwardly as preferred. Generally, however, the fold is made downwardly so that the point where the edges of the extension are brought together will be on the under or back side of the handle and blade.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shovel, scoop or spade blank com prising a blade having an integral extension at one end and having integral tab extensions at the junction points of said blade and extension, whereby when the extension is folded and drawn a greater body of metal will be provided in the angle between the blade and extension, by folding the tab extensions.

2. A shovel, scoop or spade blank comprising a blade, having an integral extension at one end adapted to be folded to form a handle socket and having webs at the junction of said blade and extension, and ears formed on said webs and adapted to be folded thereover to increase the thickness of the metal at this point.

A method of forming a shovel, scoop or spade which consists in pressing the blade from a plate of sheet metal having a centrally arranged longitudinal extension at one end and forming webs on each side of said exension at its junction with said blade, and ears having edges forming outward con tinuations of said webs, folding or bending said ears upon said webs to form a double thickness of the metal and then folding said extension and drawing the double thickness metal to form the walls of the handle socket with a thicker portion between said walls and the end of said blade.

ing a blade, having an integral extension at one end adapted to be folded to form a handle socket, and means bridging the angle between said blade and extension upon each side of said extension, said means being rela tively thicker than said blade and extension to provide more metal at the point where the tool is subjected to the maximum strain.

5. A shovel blank including substantially rectangular blade and socket forming sec-'- tions, the socket section being of less width than and symmetrically related to and projecting from one side of the blade section, said blank having tabs at the junction points of the sides of the socket section with the sides of the blade section.

(5. A shovel. scoop or spade blank, comprising a blade l'iaving an integral extension at one end, with the metal adjacent the junction of blade and extension transversely thickened, and tapered longitudinally in opposite directions.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of November 1924.

MARTIN HOKANSON.

l. A shovel, scoop or spade blank comprislltl loo

Images