US1130489A - Heel-sweep. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. DEAN.

HEEL SWEEP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE-.30, 1913.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

HADm l HE NORRIS PETERS 00:. PHOTO-LITHO. WASHING TON D C.

HENRY A. DEAN, 0F ROME, GEORGIA.

HEEL-SWEEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.-

Application filed June30, 1913. Serial No. 776,691.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rome, in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Sweeps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to plows, and more especially it is a scraping attachment adapted to be connected with the plow beam or plow-stock, and used particularly in the cultivation of cotton, corn, and grain. In other words, it is an improvement on that line of devices known as heel sweeps.

The purpose of the present invention is to strengthen sweeps of this kind at the points where they are weakest, and yet to do so without increasing the weight.

The invention likewise aims to provide a sweep so constructed as to cause its angle and its arms to travel equi-distantly into the earth.

I have in mind the well-known Terrell heel sweep patented in 1893,Number 504315; and the present invention includes the punciples of construction therein contained, with certain additions and amplifications as will be set forth in the following specifications and claims, and are shown in the drawings wherein-- Figure 1 is a plan view of this improved heel sweep. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a cross section through the center of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an upper edge view looking in about the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing slight modifications.

As is well known to those familiar with this art, heel sweeps are scraping devices adapted to be attached to the lower ends of the plow beam or plow-stock, and the common practice is to manufacture them by rolling strips of iron of the proper cross section, cutting the strips into lengths, and then giving each length a bend at about its mid-length so as to produce a substantially V-shaped structure Whose apex is flattened and moves forward as the heel sweep is in use. The bend is made on a line oblique to the plane of the length of the strip, so

that eventually each fluke or leaf of the V-shaped member stands inclined at about I an angle of 45 to the horizontal, with the result that there is a fullness of metal near the apex, it is bulged to the front, and the angle of the flattened portion which is attached to the plow-stock is greater than 45. As usually constructed, these devices are susceptible of being bent by the farmer or other user who has indifi'erent means of heating them, and therefore they are made of such material that they can be bent so grew thinner toward each edge thereof, the

lower edge being ground on its rear side and also on its front side to produce a cutting edge. On this understanding I will proceed with a description of the details of the present invention.

The body portion of the metal strip of V which my improved heel sweep is made, designated as 1 in the drawings, is about a quarter of an inch in thickness, and this thickness obtains for about one-half the width of the strip, being the central half j and below the uppermost quarter and above the lowermost. The latter is beveled on its rear side as at 2, and the bevel is carried completely downward to the cutting edge 3. The remaining one-quarter of the width of the strip is thickened as at 4, by producing a bead or rib on the rear face of the body 1 along its upper edge; and in the modified form shown in Fig. 5 this bead or rib has a groove 5 along it, virtually dividing the same into two beads or ribs. In Figs. 1 and 4 it will be seen that after the strip of metal is bent into V-shaped form, or perhaps in the act of bending it, a bulge 6 is produced at each side of what might be called the flattened center 7 and particular attention is directed to the fact that the bead or rib 4 throughout the length of said center is thicker than elsewhere as'indicated by the reference numeral 4, this thickness being carried around above the bulges 6 and out into the blades or flukes for a short distance. The particular purpose of this increase in thickness of the bead is to give the heel 7 strip is by preference dished a little throughout its width at both ends and at its center, and in the finished article illustrated in Fig. 1 this dish is presented forward so that the cutting edge 3 moves almost edge on through the soil. However, I do not wish to be unnecessarily limited to this dishing of the body, and Fig. 5 is shown as absolutely straight. In any event, I would make the front and rear faces of the body portion 1 parallel, and 1 would carry the flat or slightly dished front face clear to the upper edge and clear to the lower edge, whereas the rear face of the rib might be flat, rounded, grooved as shown at 5, or of other configuration and the rear side or bevel 2 is preferably flat although that also might be of slightly different shape. When the device becomes dull it is ground along this bevel ina manner well understood.

With a heel sweep as thus constructed, the greatest strength exists along the upper edge of the blade or fluke and especially around the bend at the upper edge of the central portion. The blades are thickened by the ribs 4, and the central portion is not only thickened by said rib but the rib itself is made a little thicker as at a to offset the weakening produced by the opening 8. Yet the addition of this rib and the slight increase of its thickness at its center, does not materially add to the weight of the entire device, nor to its cost; and the disposition of the rib along the upper edge of the device does not prevent the farmer or user from bending its lower edge in case he desires to sweep a slightly wider or narrower path, because he would in that event probably bend the outer ends of the cutting edges either outward or inward, along their lower edges. If, however, he should desire to materially alter the shape and size of the device, it is possible for him to heat it and then bend it at will if it is made of the proper material, as the addition of the rib l throughout each blade or fluke and the thickened rib 4 around the center, does not prevent.

I do not wish to be limited to the material or the proportion of parts.

What I claim as new is:

l. A heel sweep for cultivation, comprising a single sheet of metal bent into substantially \!shape in plan view, the outer and front side of the sweep thus formed being inclined upwardly and rearwardly, and being dished at its angle and'for a short distance from each end thereof, said sweep having its rear side tapering downwardly and forwardly and being provided with a reinforcing rib at the upper and rear portion thereof, substantially as described.

2. The herein described heel sweep formed of a single strip of metal bent into substantially \/shape in plan View, the outer side of the sweep thus formed being inclined upwardly and rearwardly and being dished at its angle and at its two ends, whereby said angle and ends will be drawn equi-distantly into the earth, and the portion of said outer side between said angle and said ends being fiat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. DEAN.

Witnesses:

F. M. IRWIN, P. B. HARBOUR, A. W. REoMoND.

@oplea of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioncr of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

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