Abstract: A slide hammer tamper has a slide hammer positioned within a tamper sleeve. The slide hammer is a solid metal component or has a cavity containing a plurality of metal shot. A connector secures the slide hammer to the tamper sleeve, while allowing vertical, slideable motion between the slide hammer and tamper sleeve. The connector also limits the vertical movement of the slide hammer in relation to the tamper sleeve. Rotation between the slide hammer and tamper sleeve is restricted by a tamper bushing/connector configuration within the tamper sleeve. The tamper is adapted for use with different tamper heads, interchangeably connected to the tool. An adjustable handle secured around the tamper sleeve allows the position of the handle to be varied along the tamper sleeve. The tamper tip can be replaced with a new, unworn tip, when necessary.

Abstract: A slide hammer tamper has a slide hammer positioned within a tamper sleeve. The slide hammer is a solid metal component or has a cavity containing a plurality of metal shot. A connector secures the slide hammer to the tamper sleeve, while allowing vertical, slideable motion between the slide hammer and tamper sleeve. The connector also limits the vertical movement of the slide hammer in relation to the tamper sleeve. Rotation between the slide hammer and tamper sleeve is restricted by a tamper bushing/connector configuration within the tamper sleeve. The tamper is adapted for use with different tamper heads, interchangeably connected to the tool. An adjustable handle secured around the tamper sleeve allows the position of the handle to be varied along the tamper sleeve. The tamper tip can be replaced with a new, unworn tip, when necessary.

Abstract: A hand or mechanically powered tamper tool which has a removeable, replaceable, tool head assembly. The tool head assembly is a separable component from the upper section of the tamper tool which consists of the mounting plate and its attached tamper handle. The tool head assembly has a rubber or similarly resilient material pad bonded to the underside of a backing plate. Connection elements, such as bolts, are permanently secured between the pad and the backing plate. The bolts extend through and are upstanding from the backing plate. The bolts are configured to then extend through openings in the tamper mounting plate, where nuts are used to secure the tool head assembly to the mounting plate. The tool head assembly is thus removeable from the mounting plate and its handle or supporting element and allows for the simple and ready replacement of a used and worn tool head assembly with a new tool head assembly.

Abstract: A rake, pitchfork, or similar forked hand tool or tool head for mechanized machinery has welded tines. The tines each have a lower section located on the backbone of the tool head and a working section extending outwardly from the backbone. Each tine also has two lateral surfaces, two vertical surfaces and a transversely extending back edge surface therebetween. In one embodiment, welds extend the full length of one of the lateral surfaces, the full length of a vertical surface, the transverse length of the back edge surface and down the second vertical surface to the junction between the bottom of the vertical surface and the second lateral surface. Welds can also extend partially along the length of the second lateral surface for a distance not to exceed three quarters of its length. These tines have elongated fracture lines. The resulting tool is far less prone to breakage.

Abstract: A method of welding connection is directed towards the construction and subsequent heat treatment of industrial grade manual tools and, specifically, their tool heads to handles or handle attachment connections. The method employs the use of matching, non-heat treated, compatible material such as steel alloys, for the tool heads and steel handles or attachment sockets. These components are welded together prior to their heat treatment, resulting in a superior weld joint without the normal annealing which occurs during welding. Such tools are, as a result, extremely resistant to bending or breaking under normal usage. With regard to spades and shovels, a stronger blade-to-handle junction is created, as no annealing takes place, compared to blades and handles which are first heat treated separately then welded together.

Abstract: A self-sharpening tool blade is to be used on shovels, spades, cultivating tools, garden hand tools, and other tools and mechanical equipment which need to have consistently sharp cutting edges in order to penetrate into and dig in the ground. The blade utilizes the concept of differential surface wear for self-sharpening. The back side of the tool blade sustains more wear than the top side, since it is most often in contact with more abrasive soil and earth debris, while the blade's top side is usually in contact with abrasive materials which exert less abrasion and less pressure than that which the back side experiences. This is due to the manner in which digging occurs; that is the top side of the blade contacts soil and soil debris which is free to move away from the blade during digging, whereas soil material contacting the back side of the blade is, for the most part, compacted and immovable, providing a higher degree of abrasive friction.

Abstract: A hand or mechanically powered tamper tool which has a removeable, replaceable, tool head assembly. The tool head assembly is a separable component from the upper section of the tamper tool which consists of the mounting plate and its attached tamper handle. The tool head assembly has a rubber or similarly resilient material pad bonded to the underside of a backing plate. Connection elements, such as bolts, are permanently secured between the pad and the backing plate. The bolts extend through and are upstanding from the backing plate. The bolts are configured to then extend through openings in the tamper mounting plate, where nuts are used to secure the tool head assembly to the mounting plate. The tool head assembly is thus removeable from the mounting plate and its handle or supporting element and allows for the simple and ready replacement of a used and worn tool head assembly with a new tool head assembly.

Abstract: A smoothing/sifting rake, fork, pitchfork, or similar forked hand tool or attachment or tool head for mechanized machinery has specially welded tines. The tines each have a lower section located on the backbone of the tool head and a working section extending outwardly from the backbone. Each tine also has two longitudinally extending lateral surfaces, two vertical surfaces and a transversely extending back edge surface therebetween. In one embodiment, welds extend the full longitudinal length of one of the lateral surfaces, the full length of a vertical surface, the transverse length of the back edge surface and down the second vertical surface to the junction between the bottom of the vertical surface and the second lateral surface. Welds can also extend partially along the longitudinal length of the second lateral surface for a distance not to exceed three quarters of its length. For heavy duty applications, welds are optionally applied to the back edge surface.

Abstract: A method of welding connection is directed towards the construction and subsequent heat treatment of industrial grade manual tools and, specifically, their tool heads to handles or handle attachment connections. The method employs the use of matching, non-heat treated, compatible material such as steel alloys, for the tool heads and steel handles or attachment sockets. These components are welded together prior to their heat treatment, resulting in a superior weld joint without the normal annealing which occurs during welding. Such tools are, as a result, extremely resistant to bending or breaking under normal usage. With regard to spades and shovels, a stronger blade-to-handle junction is created, as no annealing takes place, compared to blades and handles which are first heat treated separately then welded together.

Abstract: A smoothing/sifting rake, fork, pitchfork, or similar forked hand tool or attachment or tool head for mechanized machinery has specially welded tines. The tines each have a lower section located on the backbone of the tool head and a working section extending outwardly from the backbone. Each tine also has two longitudinally extending lateral surfaces and a transversely extending back edge surface therebetween. In one embodiment, welds extend the full longitudinal length of one of the lateral surfaces, the full transverse length of the back edge surface, but only partially along the longitudinal length of the second lateral surface. For heavy duty applications, welds are not applied to the back edge surface.