IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE TOOLS FOR MANUFACTURING PARTS OP LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR OR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Alley, of the Firm of Neilson Brothers, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE TOOLS FOR MANUFACTURING PARTS
OP LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER SIMILAR OR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES."
Sealed the 30th July 1867, and dated the 6th February 1867..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Alley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
. 6th February 1867.
I, STEPHEN ALLEY, of the Firm of Neilson Brothers, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE TOOLS FOR MANUFACTURING
PARTS OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO OTHER SIMILAR OR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention comprises various improvements in machine tools specially
designed for use in the construction of locomotives, whilst some of them are
also advantageously applicable in the construction of other machines.
One improved machine tool is more particularly designed for shaping the

page_text: levers forged on a locomotive reversing shaft, and in it two cutting tools, facing
each other, are employed for simultaneously shaping the opposite sides of a
lever. The tools are carried in a head with a right and left-handed screw
adjustment for setting them at any required distance apart, and a vertical
reciprocating motion is imparted to them by a revolving crank and connecting
rod. The reversing shaft is fixed upon a stationary table formed with holes to
receive any levers projecting in a different direction from the lever being
operated upon. A bridge piece traverses by a feed motion along the table,
whilst a carriage or slide which is arranged thereon to be adjusted or moved
transversely carries the cutting tools. The edges of the levers may be planed
without removing them from the machine by causing the bridge piece to
traverse at a suitable speed with the tool fixed upon it.
A second improved machine is for shaping the rounded ends and bosses
of the levers on a locomotive reversing shaft, and is also capable of shaping the
edges of the levers. The shaft to be shaped is centred between an adjustable
centre and a boss fitted with a worm wheel and feed gearing for being turned
slowly round. A long tool carrier or beam is arranged to reciprocate hori-
zontally above and parallel to the shaft by means of a revolving crank and
connecting rod, and one or more tool holders can be fixed at any part of this
'beam to operate on any part of the shaft. The reciprocating beam works in
guides upon slides at each side, and these slides can be moved at right angles
to the shaft by feed gearing. This motion is for shaping the edges of a lever
on the shaft, and when this is being done the shaft is kept stationary with the
lever in a horizontal position.
.
.
A third improved machine tool is also for shaping the edges or sides of the
levers forged on locomotive reversing shafts, and in it the cutting tool has a
horizontal reciprocating motion produced by a revolving eccentric and connecting
rod, whilst the tool holder is moved along horizontally by feed gearing in a
direction at right angles to its reciprocating motion. The shaft to be operated
upon is fixed on an open frame, one side of which is adjustable, and which is
carried by slides at each side, and adjustable vertically on the standards of the
machine. The framing is shaped to admit of parts of the piece which is being
operated on being got under the tool slide, the details in connection with the
tool slide being arranged as far as possible above the framing, whilst the front
part of the slide or the tool box is made. to overhang or project downwards to
reach the work.
A fourth improved machine tool is for shaping or planing the opposite ends
of locomotive coupling or connecting rods. This tool is in many respects, like
au ordinary planing machine, but there are two tool heads, one or both being

page_text: adjustable. The cutting tools of the two heads face opposite ways, that of ono
head operating on one end of the connecting rod when the table moves in one.
direction, and that of the other head acting during the return traverse. Two.
or more connecting rods may be operated upon simultaneously.
A fifth improved machine tool is for planing the edges of plates, such as
locomotive frame plates or ship plates. The improvement in this machine.
consists in making brackets through which the holding down screws are
tapped so as to overhang from the front or back, and not interfere with the
movement or adjustment of the plate longitudinally as in ordinary machines.
A sixth improved machine tool is for boring holes into steel or iron railway
wheel tyres from the insides of the wheel rims when the tyres are in place,
such holes passing partly through the tyre, and being afterwards tapped to
receive holding screws entered from the inside. This tool comprises a bed.
frame on which there is fitted to slide horizontally a box standard fitted with
a vertical slide. There is a horizontal first-motion shaft which by bevil gear
drives a vertical shaft carried by the standard. A spur wheel on the vertical
shaft, but carried by the vertical slide, drives a spur wheel on the drill spindle
either directly or through one or more intermediate spur wheels. The vertical-
slide is moved by a vertical screw shaft for adjusting its position vertically and
for feeding the drill as it operates; the feeding is effected by means of a
revolving worm gearing with a worm wheel which is on a conical boss on the
screw shaft, and it is jammed on the boss by a screw nut with a handle. An
adjustable gauge piece is fixed on the vertical slide, and comes in the way of
the handle of the nut on the screw shaft, and by loosening the worm wheel
stops the feeding motion when the drill point reaches a depth in the tyre
corresponding to the gauge piece.. The wheel to be operated upon is supported
on two rollers, and when it is placed with the part to be bored at the bottom
and centrally between the two rollers, the drill standard is moved horizontally
by means of a lever, so as to enter the slide between a pair of spokes. On a hole
being completed the slide is withdrawn vertically and horizontally, and the
wheel is turned to bring another part of the tyre into position.
A further improvement comprehended in the Invention is applicable to the
machine tool secondly herein-before described, and to lathes, and relates to a
simple and convenient gauge holder for applying gauges for testing the accuracy
of the work. Indentations of different sizes are formed in steel discs, and the
disc in use is centred on a pin on an arm centred on a stud or bracket, tlie
parts being placed so that the arm can be turned to bring the disc to the work,
and apply the proper indentation or gauge opening thereto. In the machine
berein-before described, tlie-gauge holder is connected to the tool holder, and

page_text: in lathes it is connected to the slide rest or saddle, so as in both cases to be
always conveniently at hand, and avoid the waste of time and inaccuracy with
ordinary detached gauges and callipers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed"
by the said Stephen Alley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th August 1867..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
ALLEY, of the Firm of Neilson Brothers, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineers, send greeting..
:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Stephen Alley, Her special licence that I, the said Stephen
Alley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Stephen Alley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times.
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINE TOOLS FOR MANUFACTURING PARTS OF LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER SIMILAR
OR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Stephen Alley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stephen Alley, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that
is to say:-
My said Invention comprises various improvements in machine tools
specially designed for use in the construction of locomotive steam engines,

page_text: whilst some of them are also advantageously applicable in the construction of
other machines.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended three Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, to be berein-after referred to, and representing various
machine tools as constructed with my improvements.
The construction and adaptation of various minor details, such as feed and
reversing motions, adjustment appliances, and the like, in the various improved
machine tools comprehended in my said Invention, are for the most part the
same as in existing machines having similar parts, and when such parts are
not minutely particularised in the following descriptions it is to be understood
that they are or may be constructed or arranged as in existing machines.
The first improved machine tool I shall describe is represented in side
elevation in Figure 1, and in front elevation in Figure 2, on Sheet 1 of the
Drawings, and is more particularly designed for shaping the levers L, 1, forged
on a locomotive reversing shaft R. In this machine two cutting tools T, facing
each other, are employed for simultaneously shaping the opposite sides of a
lever L. The tools T are held in tool boxes 1, which by means of a right-
and-left-handed screw adjustment can be set more or less apart on a head or
slide 2, and a vertical reciprocating motion is imparted to the slide 2, and
through it to the tools T by a revolving crank pin 3 and connecting rod 4.
The reversing shaft R is fixed upon a stationary table 5, formed with openings
in its top surface to receive any levers projecting in a different direction from
the lever L that is being operated upon. A bridge piece 6, 6, 7, is traversed
along the table 5 by screws 8 worked by a feed motion 9, whilst a saddle or
slide 10, which is arranged to be adjusted horizontally thereon, carries the
vertically reciprocating slide 2 with the cutting tools. The machine is actuated
by means of a transverse horizontal shaft 11, having pulleys 12 on one end for
a driving belt from an overhead shaft; this shaft 11 is carried by brackets
formed on the bridge piece 7, and by means of a groove and key turns a bevil
pinion 13 held by a bracket on the saddle 10. The bevil pinion 13 drives a
bevil wheel 14 on a short horizontal shaft carried by the saddle 10, and having
on its front end a disc 15, in which is adjusted the crank pin 3 for actuating
the vertical slide 2. The edges of the levers may be planed in the same
machine without removing the reversing shaft, by causing the bridge piece to
travel at a suitable speed with a planing.tool fixed upon it.
My second improved machine tool is represented in side elevation. in
Figure 3, and in front elevation in Figure 4, and is for shaping, the rounded
ends and bosses of the levers L, 1, ou a locomotive reversing shaft. R; this

page_text: machine is also capable of shaping the edges of the levers.. The framing of
this machine comprises four standards 16, on which are fixed parallel to each
other two slide beds 17... The reversing shaft R to: be shaped is centred
between an adjustable centre 18. carried by one slide bed 17 and a boss 19.
carried by the other slide bed. 17, and fitted with a worm wheel 20 and feed
gearing 9. for being thereby turned slowly round. A long tool carrier or
beam 21 is arranged to reciprocate. horizontally above and parallel. to the
shaft R by means of a revolving crank pin 3 and connecting rod 4, and one, or
more tool holders 2 can be fixed at any part. of this beam 21 to operate on
any part of the shaft R.. The reciprocating beam 21 works in. guides upon
slides or saddles 22 at each side, and these slides can be moved, on their
beds. 17 at right angles to the. shaft. R by .screws 8 actuated. by feed gearing,
This motion is for shaping the edges of a lever L on the shaft R, and when
this is being done the-shaft R is kept stationary with the lever L in a hori;
zontal position. The first-motion shaft 11, with its pulleys 12, is carried by
brackets on one of the slide beds 17, and. it actuates a pinion 13 by means of
a groove and key; this pinion 13 being held by a bracket 23 attached to one
of the saddles 22, and being, in gear with a spur wheel 14 on a shaft carried
by the bracket 23, and having on its front end a disc 15 holding the adjustable
crank pin 3 for working the beam or slide 21.
My third improved machine tool, shown in sectional end elevation. in
Figure 5, and in front elevation in Figure 6, is also designed for shaping the
edges or sides of the levers L, 1, forged on locomotive reversing. shafts R. In
this machine the cutting tool T. has a horizontal reciprocating motion pro-
luced by a revolving eccentric 3 and connecting rod 4, whilst the tool holder
or box 1 is upon a slide 2 working in guides in a saddle 10, which is moved
by feed gearing 9 along a horizontal slide bed 17 in a direction at right angles
to that of its reciprocating motion. The shaft R to be operated upon is fixed
on an open frame 24, one side of which is adjustable, and which is carried
by slides 25 at each side, such slides being adjustable vertically on the
standards 16 of the machine.. The framing is arranged or shaped to admit
of parts of the piece R, which is being operated on, being got under the tool
slide 2; the details in connection with this slide being arranged, as far as
Epossible above the framing, whilst. the front part of the tool slide, or the tool
box 1 is made to overhang or project downwards to reach the. work.
My fourth improved machine tool is shown in sectional end elevation in
Figure 9, in sectional plan in Figure 10, and in sectional side elevation in
Figure 11; on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, and is designed for shaping or planing
the opposite ends of locomotive coupling rods C. This tool is in many respects

page_text: like an ordinary planing machine, but there are two tool heads H, H, one or
both being adjustable. The cutting tools T of the two heads face opposite
ways, that of one head operating on one end of the connecting rod C, when
the table 26 moves in one direction, and that of the other head acting during
the return traverse. Two or more connecting rods may be operated upon
simultaneously, as shown in the Drawing. The traversing, feeding, and
reversing motions may be arranged as in ordinary planing machines; the
length of traverse to be provided for, however, is much shorter,
My fifth improved machine tool is shown in end elevation in Figure 12, on
Sheet 3 of the Drawings, and is for planing the edges of plates P, such as
locomotive frame plates or ship plates. This machine is made like existing
machines. for the same purpose with a long table or bed 41, upon which the
plate P is fixed, to have the edge that is to the right-hand in the Drawing
planed by a tool, not shown, but made to travel along by a screw shaft, the
end 42 of which is shown. The plate P is held down by screws 43 acting
upon blocks 44 placed upon it; and these screws 43 are tapped through a
massive beam 45 extending from end to end of the machine, and formed with
or attached to massive brackets 46, which brackets 46 are themselves attached
to or formed in the same casting as the bed frame 41. In the Drawing, the
beam 45 is shown as fixed to the end brackets by strong bolts 47. My
improvement in this machine consists in making these brackets 46 so as to
overhang, as shown, from either the front or back of the bed frame 41; and
so as thus, not to interfere with the movement or adjustment of the plate P
longitudinally, as they do in ordinary machines.
My sixth improved machine tool is shown in elevation in Figure 13, in
plan in Figure 14, and in vertical section in Figure 15, on Sheet 3 of the
Drawings, the, section Figure 15 being at right angles to Figure 13. This
.machine tool is for boring holes into steel or iron railway wheel tyres W from
the insides of the wheel rims when the tyres are in place, such holes passing
partly through the tyre, and being afterwards tapped to receive holding screws
entered from the inside. The tool is represented as in position for operating
on a wheel W, and it comprises a fixed bed frame 48, on which there is fitted
to slide horizontally a standard 49. fitted with a vertical slide 50. In the bed
frame 48 there is a horizontal, first: motion shaft 51, which by bevil gear
drives a vertical shaft 52 carried by the standard 49, and passing up through
the slide 50. A spur wheel 53 on the vertical shaft 52, but carried by the
slide 50, drives a spur wheel 54 on the drill spindle 55 (either directly or)
through one or more intermediate spur wheels 56. The slide 50 is shaped to

page_text: receive the wheels 53, 56, 54, as between a pair of jaws, as will be easily
understood from the Drawing, and it is moved by a vertical screw shaft 57 in
the standard 49, for adjusting its position vertically and for feeding the drill
down as it operates. The feeding is effected by means of a revolving worm 58
gearing with a worm wheel 59, which is on a conical boss 60 screwed on the
top end of the screw shaft 57. The conical boss is formed with arms, by
means of which the worm wheel 59 can be jammed between its' conical
surface and a collar on the shaft. [Or the conical boss may be formed on the
shaft, and the worm wheel may be jammed upon it by means of a screw nut
with a handle.] An adjustable gauge piece 61 is fixed on the vertical slide,
and is formed with its top end bent over so as to come in the way of the
handle of the conical boss 60, and by loosening the worm wheel 59 to stop
'the feeding motion when the drill point reaches a depth in the tyre corre-
sponding to the gauge piece. The wheel W to be operated upon is supported
in the ordinary way on two rollers 62, and when it is placed with the part to
be bored at the bottom and centrally between the two rollers the drill
standard 49 is moved horizontally by means of a lever 63 so as to enter the
drill slide 50 between a pair of spokes. On a hole being completed : the
slide 50 is withdrawn vertically and horizontally and the wheel W is turned
to bring another part of the tyre into position.
A further improvement comprehended in my Invention is applicable to the
machine tool secondly herein-before described (Figs. 3 and 4), and to lathes,
and to avoid confusing, Figures 3 and 4, it is shown separately in Figures 7
and 8, on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, together with parts of a common lathe to
which it is supposed to be applied.
This improvement consists in applying a simple and convenient gauge
holder for applying gauges for testing the accuracy of the work. Indentations
of different sizes are formed in steel discs, and the disc 31 in use is centered
on a pin 32 on an arm 33 centered on studs on the slide 34, these parts being
placed so that the arm 33 can be turned to bring the gauge disc 31 to the
work 35, and apply the proper indentation or gauge opening thereto.
J
In the machine shown in Figures 3 and 4 the gauge holder is to be
connected to the tool holder 2, and when applied to such machines or to
lathes in the manner described, it will be always conveniently at hand, and
thereby avoid the waste of time and inaccuracy with ordinary detached gauges
and callipers.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, 1. have to state that I do not restrict

page_text: myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but that what I
believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of machine tools for
shaping such pieces as the levers forged on locomotive reversing shafts, sub-
stantially in the modes herein before-described as constituting my first, second,
and third improvements.
2. The arranging or adapting of planing machines for planing the opposite
ends of such pieces as locomotive connecting rods, substantially in the mode
herein-before described as constituting my fourth improvement.
3. The constructing of machines for planing the edges of plates with the
brackets of the holding down part overhanging, so as not to interfere with the
longitudinal movement of the plates, substantially in the mode herein-before
described as constituting my fifth improvement.
4. The arranging or combining together of the parts of apparatus for
drilling railway wheel tyres, substantially in the mode herein-before described
as constituting my sixth improvement. And,
5. The applying of gauge holders to lathes and other machine tools,
substantially in the mode herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Alley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
STEPHEN ALLEY. (L.S.)