Improvements in Rotary Swaging Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rotary Swaging Machines.
A communication from abroad by REUBEN GILBERT COLLINS, of Dollar Bay,
in the County of Houghton, State of Michigan and United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer.
..
1, WILLIAM PHILLIP THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to that class of machines for drawing down rods of metal
in which swiftly rotating swages are employed, these swages or dies being forced
together at stated times by contact with a series of rollers placed in their
annular path.
Heretofore, so far as known in this class of machinery, it has been necessary to
stop the revolving head or die carrier whenever it is desired to bring into use
another set of dies, thus wasting more or less time and increasing proportionately
the cost of the work performed; but in this present improved form of rotary
swaging machine such changes of dies may be effected without stopping the machine
or hindering its work.
Another serious defect in this class of machines has existed in the arrangement of
the series of rolls which engage the hammer to move the dies or swages into
operative contact with the wire. A single series of rolls has been employed, which
when rapidly engaged by the revolving hammers are carried forward by the rolling
contact of said hammers and in consequence the blow of said hammers is prolonged,
instead of being a short, quick stroke, as is desirable. This defect is overcome by
providing two series (of equal number) of rolls arranged in concentric circles those
of one series being in radial alignment with those of the companion series. The
rolls of the inner series receive the impact of the hammers, while the rolls of the
outer series are backed by a solid ring, against which they bear and roll while
in use.
This arrangement of rolls causes each pair to act practically as a pair of
gears, and when the rotary hammers engage the inner rolls and tend to carry them
forward the outer rolls, being reversed in their direction of rotation, seek to travel
in the backward direction, and thus neutralize or check the tendency of the inner
rolls to travel with the hammers.
In carrying into effect the improvements already referred to, various other
improvements in the details of the rotary swaging machine have been made, all of
which are described hereinafter.
To more clearly explain the said invention four sheets of drawings, illustrating
the same are annexed hereto, Figure 1 being an elevation of a swaging machine of
the improved construction, largely in vertical section, Figure 2 is a similar view
with the revoluble head that carries the dies and hammers rotated a quarter of a
revolution and with the mechanism that operates the turret-head or die-carrier
removed; Figures 3 and 4 are respectfully front and rear end views of said machine:
Figure 5 is an inner face view of one of the roller-supporting rings and Figure 6 a
cross-section of the same on line a―: Figure 7 is a perspective view, considerably
enlarged, of one of the roller-shafts 31; Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of
the end of lever 53 showing also the cam-groove 55, by which said lever is
moved.
In the drawings, 10 denotes the supporting frame or standard of the machine

page_text: (here shown as a hollow casting) with suitable base, and bored at its upper portions
to provide a bearing for spindle 11. That portion of said spindle projecting to the
rear of the machine (the right hand, as shown in Figures 1 and 2) is reduced in
diameter, and has securely keyed thereto a driving pully 12, which is preferably of
considerable weight and serves as a balance pully.
Secured to the front or the machine stand by bolts 13 is an annular casting 14,
that is bored centrally to provide a cavity coincident with the opening in the
stand 10, that is to receive spindle 11, said annular casting is also counterbored at
its exposed end, as shown in figures 1 and 2, to receive the roller mechanism which
is described below.
Spindle 11 is held against longitudinal movement in one direction by a
shoulder 15, that abuts the stand, and also by a ring-section 16, secured to said
spindle at the rear end.
The front end of the spindle (left hand as shown) is formed with an enlarged
head 17, that is split lengthwise, and in the chamber or cavity thus provided is
located the turret-head or die-carrier 18, that forms one of the important features
of this invention. This turret-head is axially supported on a screw 19, that may
be introduced through any one of a series of holes 20 in the ring section 14. The
two faces of said turret-head are formed with central hubs 21, that are cut as pinion
gears, and said head is provided with a series of radial transverse slots, in which
are located the several sets or pairs of swages or dies 22, said dies being held
against accidental displacement by a small lateral slot in the turret-head, which
receives a rib 23 on the dies. Said dies are made of two blocks of steel, having
their confronting faces provided with semi-circular grooves, which when brought
together form a two part swage of the size to which it is desired to draw down the
rod of wire.
"
The openings in the several sets of swages are of different sizes, and are
preferably arranged in such order that they may be successively brought into use,
from the largest to the smallest opening, thus enabling the operator to introduce the
rod first to the swages with the largest opening, and then by bringing into use the
next smaller in size to draw said wire until the desired reduction in diameter has
been, effected. The enlarged spindle-head 17, which carries the turret-head, is also
slotted at right-angles to said turret-head to receive what is termed "hammers 24
whose inner ends rest on the ends of the set of dies that are in operative position,
and whose outer ends project slightly beyond the perimeter of the spindle-head 17,
as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings. Hammers 24 are capable of limited
endwise movement in their slots or ways, but are prevented from leaving the head 17
(by lateral displacement) by a centrally perforated plate 25, that is screwed to the
end of said head. This plate is shown in Figures 1 and 2, but is removed in Figure 3,
in which latter figure may be seen the holes 26 that receive the screws by which
said plate is clamped to said head.
It will now be understood that the spindle 11, as it rotates in its bearings,
carries with it several sets of swages or dies held in the circular holder 18, and that
the rotation or partial rotation of said circular holder on its axis 19 will bring either
set or pair of dies into proper position to receive and act upon the wire to be
pointed.
Within the fixed annular casting 14 are two systems of rollers arranged in
concentric circles, the rollers of the two systems being in contact. Those of the outer
system 27 bear at their periphery against the outer wall of the counter-bored ring-
shaped head 14, or preferably against a steel bushing 27', and those of the inner
system 28 are in such relation to the hammers 24, already mentioned, that as the
split head 17 of the spindle rotates, said hammers successively engage said rollers
and are forced inward carrying with them the swages that are between said
hammers. The described rollers are supported between two ring-discs 29 (see
Figure 5) having radial channels 30, in which the squared ends of the roller-
journals 31 are held. The outer and inner discs 29 are securely tied together by
rivets or screws 32, and the rollers and their supports (ring discs 29) are free to

page_text: travel or roll forward in the counter bored head 14. As the hammers 24 pass
around and engage rollers 28 of the inner system, the said rollers 28 are at first
inclined to travel with said hammers; but the contact of the perimeters of the
inner rollers with the perimeters of the outer rollers acts, as stated above, substan-
tially like a pair of gears and reverses the direction of rotation of the outer rollers,
thus checking the forward or travelling movement of the complete system of
rollers and permitting the hammers to pass on beyond the inner rollers much
quicker than were only a single system of rollers provided.
To prevent the rollers and their supporting-rings 29 from leaving their place in
the head 14, a ring-dise 33 is provided which is firmly fastened to the outer face of
said head by screws 34.
To limit the end wise movement of hammers 24, there is provided in the outer
face of each a depression or hole to receive the tapered end of screws 35, tapped
into the plate 25, said depressions or holes being somewhat larger than the
screw ends, being practically slots that allow a limited movement of said
hammers.
It has been stated above that the die-holder may be partially rotated to bring
into service any of the several sets of dies.
What is believed to be a novel mechanism for rotating said die-holder has been
provided, consisting of a rod 36 arranged to move longitudinally through the centre
of spindle 11 or through a tube hereinafter described, and bearing an offset,
forked end 37, that straddles the die-holder and is formed with rack teeth that
engage the toothed hubs 21. When rod 36 is moved longitudinally, the racks on
fork 37 serve to partially rotate the die-holder on its axis 19, and thus bring any
desired pair of dies into position between the hammers.
To move rod 36 longitudinally, the following described mechanism has been
provided On the outer end of said rod, at the rear of the machine, are fixed
collars 38, between which is a loose collar 39, to which is trunnioned a forked
lever 40, that is fulcrumed, as here shown, to a link or short arm 41, attached to a
rigid part of the machine frame. The upper end of the lever 40 is forked and
trunnioned to a loose collar 42 ou a rod 43, supported in bearings 44 and capable
of both endwise and rotary movement. At each end of loose collar 42 is a fixed
collar 45. When rod 43 is moved lengthwise in its bearings, lever 40 acts to
correspondingly move the rod 36, and thus rotate the die holder. An operating
handle 46 is provided on rod 43, of such shape that said rod may easily be moved in
either a rotary or longitudinal direction.
It has been found desirable to provide a locking-device by means of which the
die-holder 18 may be positively held against rotation when the dies are in service,
and which may also be operated without stopping the machine. The die holder is
formed with a series of notches 47 in its periphery corresponding in number with
the pair of dies. Pivoted in the split head 17 is a dog 48, having at one side a
projection 49, that may enter said notches 47. Said dog is connected at its inner
end with a tube 50, that passes through the spindle 11 and surrounds the rod 36,
above described. A slight end wise movement of tube 50 serves to withdraw the
projection 49 from the notch in the die holder as will be understood by referring
to Figure 1 of the drawings. Tube 50 bears at its exposed end a loose collar 51,
supported on each side by fixed collars 52, and trunnioned to a lever 53, substantially
like the lever 40 first above described. The upper end of lever 53 terminates with
a projecting stud 54 that engages a groove-cam 55 on the rod 43, said cam being
held against end wise movement by fixed bearings that also serve as bearings for
the rod 45. When said rod 43 is rocked a half turn, the lever 53 is rocked on its
fulcrum, and thus moves tube 50 and dog 48, leaving the die-holder or turret-
head 18 free to be rotated to bring into service a new set of dies. After the
described adjustment of said die-holder has been made the operator grasps handle 46
and partially rotates rod 43 and the cam 55 (which is splined on said rod) when the
projection 49 on dog 48 enters the coincident notch on the die-holder and again
holds it against accidental displacement.

page_text: In Figure 8 is shown the stud 54, at the upper end of lever 53, arranged as a
spring pressed rod, this form being desirable where a considerable movement of
lever 53 is required, as the spring acts to force the stud outward as the lever swings
out of vertical alignment, and insures a more perfect connection with the cam than
would result if the stud was formed as a rigid part of the lever.
This
Inasmuch as the revoluble die-holder, dog, and rack-mechanism are largely
concealed, it has been found desirable to attach to the rod 43 an index, by means of
which any desired pair of dies may be quickly brought into position for use.
may be done by attaching to rod 43 a collar having an arc-shaped flange 57, which
as said rod is drawn forward to rotate the die-holder 18, abuts one of a series of
stops 56 that are hinged to a fixed portion of the machine and are capable of being
raised out of the way or lowered into the path of the said flange 57. If desired,
the ends of said stops may be round and of sizes corresponding to the openings in
the several sets of dies.
When it is desired to bring into service dies of a certain size-as, for example,
one quarter of an inch in diameter it is only necessary to drop into the path of
flange 57 the stop having a quarter inch end; or if preferred said stops may have
stamped upon them the size of the dies which are to be used with them.
Two concentric series of rolls for operating the hammers have been described but
it is obvious that inasmuch as only the inner series engage said hammers the
turret-head die-holder could be used with said inner series alone; but it is preferred
to use the double form shown for the reasons stated. It should also be noted that
said double series of rolls could be successfully used with rotary swages of the old
form that is, without the described revoluble die-holder.
The machine as a whole occupies but little floor space, is not expensive to produce,
and is so planned that all its adjustable parts are easily controlled by a single
operator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said invention,
as communicated by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1-In a swaging machine, a spindle bearing a revoluble die-holder in turret-head
form, the axis of said die-holder being transverse to the axial centre of said spindle,
as and for the purpose specified.
2-In combination with a spindle, a revoluble die-holder located therein with its
axis transverse to the axial centre of said spindle, said die-holder bearing in radial
periphery slots a series of two part dies, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3-In a rotary swaging machine, two concentric series of rolls, those of the inner
series being in contact with those of the outer series, as set forth, the journals of said
rolls being held in and between two radially-slotted ring discs, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
4-In combination with a spindle bearing a pair of dies movable in a direction
transverse to the axial centre of said spindle, a corresponding pair of hammers,
as set forth, and two concentric series of rolls, as specified, the rolls of the inner
series being in the annular path of said hammers, as and for the purpose
specified.
In a swaging-machine, in combination with a counter-bored head 14, two
concentric series of rolls supported in radially slotted rings, as set forth, a bushing 271
between the outer series of rolls and the inner wall of said head, and a ring-plate
secured to the outer end of said head, all being substantially as and for the object
set forth.
6-In a swaging-machine, a spindle bearing a revoluble die-holder in turret-head
form whose axis is at right-angles to the axial centre of said spindle, a pair of
hammers supported in said spindle parallel with the axis of said die-holder, and a
series of rolls concentric with said spindle located in the annular path of said
hammers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

page_text: 7-A spindle bearing a revoluble die-holder, with its axis transverse to the axial
centre of said spindle, said die-holder being notched at its periphery, as set forth, a
dog with a projecting that may be entered in any of said notches, and mechanism,
substantially as described for moving said dog into and out of operative engagement
with said die-holder, for the purpose specified.
8-In a suitable supporting frame, in combination, a spindle bearing a revoluble
die-holder whose axis is transverse to the axial centre of said spindle, said die-holder
being formed with projecting hubs cut as pinion gears, a rod centrally located in said
spindle, having its inner end forked and formed as racks that engage said hubs, and
mechanism, substantially as described, for moving said rod and its fork longitudinally,
for the purpose specified.
9-In combination with a spindle bearing a revoluble die-holder, rack and pinion
mechanism, as set forth, for partially rotating said die-holder, and mechanism for
moving the rack-rod longitudinally, consisting of a rod 43, parallel with the spindle
and connected to said rack-rod by a lever, substantially as described.
10 In combination with a spindle bearing a revoluble die-holder with notched
periphery, a dog adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said notches,
a tube connected to said dog, centrally located in said spindle, a rod 43 bearing a
groove-cam, as set forth, and a lever connecting said cam with said tube, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
11 In combination with swaging-mechanism of form described, rod 43,
capable of both rotary and longitudinal movement, lever connections, as set forth,
for connecting said rod with said swaging mechanism, and mechanism, substantially
as specified, for limiting the longitudinal movement of rod 43, for the purpose
specified.
D
10 of 1001
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.