Improvements in Apparatus for Heating and Welding by Electricity.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Heating and Welding by
Electricity.
We, CHARLES FREDERICK PARKINSON, of Wellington Terrace, Morecambe,
in the County of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer, and WALTER GATWOOD, of
Derwent Road, Lancaster, in the said County, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention is designed to provide an apparatus for welding metal by means
of the electric current passed through the article to raise it to welding heat.
It is primarily designed and arranged for glutting wheel spokes and bossing
railway waggon and carriage wheel centres but the several parts may be arranged
to suit other descriptions of work or to act upon articles of different shape.
In carrying out the invention we mount upon the central core of an alternating
current transformer a plate or frame which forms a bed plate to hold the wheel or
other article to be heated or welded and it also forms a medium of electrical
communication between the core of the transformer and the article to be operated
upon. It is provided with suitable contact makers capable of resisting a greater
degree of heat than the metal to be welded.
Connected to the core of the transformer and supported by a suitable base are a
number of contact makers in the form of pillars or supports of copper or other
suitable conductor and in electrical contact with these pillars and supported by
them is a second plate capable of sliding up and down to permit of the placing and
removal of the work. This plate is also provided with contact makers opposite
those of the other plate so that when this plate is lowered on to the article to be
heated the secondary circuit is completed through it at the desired point.
The contact pieces on the plates are preferably made movable or adjustable
so that their position can be altered to suit various sizes of wheels or other
articles.
In addition to these movable plates or frames a fixed frame or ring is placed
outside the plates which carries one, two or more hydraulic cylinders with rams
moving towards the plates.
In the apparatus for glutting wheels the plates are made circular and four, six
or eight of these hydraulic cylinders are employed, one for each spoke, so that the
operation of glutting all the spokes can be carried on simultaneously. The
apparatus is also applicable for heating rolled disc wheel centres for rolling
purposes which enables the iron to be maintained at a constant temperature during
the complete operation.
The rams of the hydraulic cylinders are set opposite the contact pieces of the
two plates for the purpose of pressing the parts to be welded firmly together, when
the temperature bas reached and is maintained at the proper degree. The top and
bottom plates prevent the metal spreading laterally and the hydraulic rams
compress it until the welding is effected.
A similar appliance is constructed for bossing the wheel centres in which the
spokes and bosses are heated at the same time and then compressed together. Or
the bosses may be brought down in two halves and squeezed together by hydraulic
pressure.
The apparatus can be constructed of convenient shape and arrangement to suit
any particular form of work the hydraulic cylinders and rams being where possible
placed opposite each other so that one will take up the thrust of the other.

page_text: In working, the secondary current induced in the core of the transformer is
carried through the core to the base and then by the upright pillars or supports to
the top plate and returned to the core when the circuit is completed through the
part of the wheel or other article to be welded to the bottom plate which is
electrically connected to the end of the core.
The V pieces which form the gluts are cut to the desired size and placed in
position at the junction of the spokes while cold and the two (spokes and glut
piece) are heated together to a welding heat and then compressed by the
hydraulic rams.
Dated this 25th day of July 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Heating and Welding by Electricity.
We, CHARLES FREDERICK PARKINSON, of Wellington Terrace, Morecambe,
in the County of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer, and WALTER GATWOOD, of
Derwent Road, Lancaster, in the said County, Mechanical 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 is designed to provide an apparatus for welding metals by
means of electric currents passed through the articles to raise them to welding
heat.
It is primarily designed and arranged for glutting wheel spokes and bossing
railway wagon and carriage wheel centres but the several parts may be arranged
to suit other descriptions of work or to act upon articles of different shape.
The invention consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with one or more
alternating or continuous current transformers or generators working in conjunction.
with a number of hydraulic cylinders and rams the transformers or generators
being connected with the bed plate or support upon which the articles are placed
so that the current passes through that part of the article or at the point which is
required to be treated and maintains it at the desired temperature whilst the
hydraulic rams compress it and effect the welding.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which as an example a machine is shown for heating and welding
railway carriage wheels.
Fig. 1. Elevation.
Fig. 2. Sectional elevation through two opposite cylinders, with rams removed
showing section through transformer.
Fig. 3. Plan
Fig. 4. Longitudinal section of single cylinder.
Fig. 5. End elevation of same.
Fig. 6. Plan of parts of same.
In the apparatus illustrated for glutting wheels the number of liýdraulie
cylinders A and rams B and B employed correspond with the number of spokes
of the wheel C to be operated upon and these are arranged on a circular bed' D
radiating from a common centre.
At or near the centre of the apparatus in front of the hydraulic cylinder is
placed an electrical transformer E preferably arranged for alternating currents.
The secondary coil F of the transformer terminates with two star shaped poles G
and H which also act as slides upon which sliding contact pieces or carriages I and J
are capable of being moved to and fro. The top pole or star shaped piece of
copper G carries the sliding pieces or carriages I and the bottom pole H the

page_text: upright sliding contact pieces J. The pieces J are preferably made in the form of
or as part of a choking coil which when in use acts as a regulator to choke back
the current and reduce the heating effect. A central pin K is provided to hold and
support the wheel C whilst being heated and welded. It is fixed to but insulated
from the secondary coil F of the transformer.
The contact pieces or carriages I connected to the top pole G carry the contact
arms L which fit against the spokes of the wheel at the point to be heated. To the
contact arms L may be fitted adjustable clamps L¹ to fit the radius of a larger
wheel C¹ (a portion of which is shown in plan).
The upper end of the upright contact piece or carriage J connected to the lower
pole H forms the slide for the contact block M which is caused to move to and fro
therein by the forward or backward movement of the hydraulic ram B. Over and
under the contact block M are placed die pieces 6 b' which are moved to and fro by
the hollow hydraulic ram B'.
The hydraulic cylinders A are arranged with a cast iron base or slide A¹ to
which they are bolted. The slide or base A¹ is mounted on a circular bed plate D
upon which they can be adjusted to any suitable position the number and position
of the cylinders being regulated according to the number of spokes to be welded.
The position of the cylinders can be adjusted circumferentially on the bed plate D
and radially upon the slide or base A¹. The hand wheel S and screws are
arranged to move the cylinders to give the required adjustment on a radial line the
screw being supported on a bracket a at the back of the base A¹.
Each cylinder A contains two rams, a solid one B and a hollow one B¹ the one
sliding or working inside the other. Instead of two rams one working inside the
other each cylinder may be constructed with two chambers separated by a division
piate or diaphragm in which the ram works.
To the end of the ram B is fitted the sliding contact block M which moves
to and fro in the slide formed by the upper end of the contact piece or carriage J
and to the end of the hollow ram B are fitted the die pieces 66' which move
to and fro with it through recesses cut in the upper and lower sides of the contact
block M.
Each sliding contact piece or carriage I is connected to the ram B of the
corresponding hydraulic cylinder A by the connecting rod N and lever n which
are pivoted together and to the fixed bracket N' the bracket N¹ being affixed to
though insulated from the upright contact piece J.
The outward movement of the ram B carries forward the contact block M
which makes contact with the glut piece CH and holds it firmly against the
outer rim of the wheel C at the same time bringing the contact arms L against
the inner face of the wheel thereby completing the secondary circuit through
the part of the wheel C and glut piece Cu to be heated. W W₁ are the primary
leads.
Each of the upright contact pieces J is coupled to the corresponding cylinder
by a connecting link R coupled to an eye bolt in the face of the cylinder so that
as the cylinder is moved back or forward to adjust its position to the size of wheel
(or other work) the contact piece J is moved to or fro at the same time and by
reason of the connecting rod N and lever n of the contact piece I being pivoted on
the bracket N¹ its position is at the same time adjusted.
The water is admitted. to the hydraulic cylinders A from the pipes T T₁ T".
The pipe T-admits to the back of the cylinder to move forward the ram B the
pipe T admits to the centre of the cylinder to propel forward the hollow ram B'
and the pipe T admits to the front end of the cylinder to move both rams back
again. Suitable valves are applied to these pipes and to the cylinder for
controlling the flow of the water to the cylinder and the exhaust from it. The
pipes TT Teach terminate in castings VVV into which the small pipes tt' t
slide being suitably packed so that when the position of the cylinders is altered
they are free to slide with them. The upright part of the pipes T T¹ T" may be
of any suitable flexible piping to allow for the lateral movement of the cylinders.

page_text: The secondary coil may be fitted with flexible pipe to allow of water circulating
about it to keep the contacts cool.
Although one special form of machine is described and illustrated applicable
for glutting railway carriage and wagon wheels it is to be understood that the
construction of the apparatus may be varied to suit different forms of work.
In the construction of the machine several transformers may be employed placed
diametrically opposite each other the secondary circuits of which are directly
connected to the work in hand thus separate transformers can be applied to the
different parts to he heated. When using more than one transformer we prefer to
place in series with the primary current a choking coil or regulator.
The transformer or transformers are fixed beneath the wheel (or other work)
with the secondary coil or coils terminating at the contacts I and J through the
star shaped poles & and. H. The wheel C (a portion of which is shown in Fig. 4)
is placed upon the central supporting pin K.
The glut pieces C" (which are forged to the width of the wheel to be welded)
are then placed between the die pieces bb' as shown in Fig. 4 water is then
admitted through the pipes Tt to the back of the cylinders A and the rams B
forced outwards by which movement the glut pieces C₁ are carried forward by
the contact blocks M and held against the spokes of the wheel at the same
time the contact arms L (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3) are drawn against the
inner face of wheel C thereby completing the secondary circuit through the
metal.
The primary circuit of transformer is then closed and when the metal has been
sufficiently heated the admission valve on pipe T₁t is opened and water admitted
into the centre of cylinder between the two rams this forces out the hollow ram B'
which has fixed upon its end the two die pieces 6 61 (which slide through recesses
in the contact block M) until they project over the glut piece and part of spokes
heated forming a closed die around the weld the admission valve on pipe T¹ is then
closed allowing the full pressure (available) on the contact block M fixed on the
end of ram B thereby completing the weld.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
.
1. An apparatus for heating and welding metals constructed with one or more
electro transformers or generators the poles of which terminate in castings of star
or other shape forming slides upon which carriages. fitted with contacts move
to and fro upon which the articles are placed so that the current passes through
the article at the point desired to be heated in combination with a number of
hydraulic cylinders and rams capable of being adjusted to the requisite position and
of applying the desired amount of pressure to weld the metal whilst maintained at
the desired temperature substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for heating and welding metals the combination with one
or more transformers. constructed with terminals. in the form of slides in
contact with the poles of the secondary circuit and a number of hydraulic
cylinders and rams by which the contact pieces are. brought into contact with the
work and by which the necessary pressure is applied to make a wėld substantially
as described.
3. Apparatus for heating and welding metals constructed with the several parts
arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 26th day of Anril 1805
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.