IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, AND. THE ARRANGEMENTS THEREOF, FOR FORGING, STAMPING, PUNCHING, CUTTING, AND PRESSING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILSON, of Low Moor Iron Works, Bradford, in the County of York,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of June, in the eleventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Wilson, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Robert Wilson, my exors,
admors, or assigns, and such others as I, the said Robert Wilson, my exors,
admors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the continuance of the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, AND.
THE ARRANGEMENTS THEREOF, FOR FORGING, STAMPING, PUNCHING, CUTTING, AND
PRESSING METALS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso, obliging me, the said Robert Wilson, to cause a particular
description of the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Wilson, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
several Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed (that is to say): -
My Invention relates, first, to the construction and arrangement of the
machinery or apparatus called a steam hammer, to be actuated by the power
of steam, and used in the manufacture of or for the purpose of forging,
stamping, punching, cutting, or pressing malleable iron and other metals.
Secondly, my Invention relates to the construction and arrangement of
apparatus, by which the steam hammer is rendered self-acting, and at the same
time capable of being regulated with facility to suit the variable character of
the work while the hammer is in operation.
Thirdly, my Invention relates to the application of steel for the purpose of
forming a packing in the pistons used for the purpose of actuating steam
hammers.
And fourthly, my Invention relates to an improved method of connecting the
piston rod with the piston used for the purpose of actuating hammers by steam
power when such piston rod is required.
Having had considerable experience in the practical application of the steam
hammer for the purpose of stamping, reducing, or otherwise treating metals,
I have found that the apparatus and arrangements hitherto employed are
subject to considerable objection from their liability to injury, and the con-
sequent annoyance and expence attendant thereon; and in those cases in which
a rod passing through a stuffing box, or piston rods and stuffing boxes are
employed, the stuffing boxes, cutters, nuts, and packings are particularly subject
to such injury. Now, by the arrangements herein-after described, these
inconveniences may be avoided and other advantages in the working of steam
hammers obtained.
Figure 1, Sheet A, represents a front elevation of a steam hammer constructed
according to my Invention and furnished with my improved self-acting gear.
Figure 2, Sheet A, a plan of the same. Figure 3, Sheet B, a transverse
vertical section through the centre of the machine. Figure 4 an end view;

page_text: and Figure 5, a transverse vertical section through the dotted line A, A, shewing
more clearly the self-acting motion. Throughout these Drawings the same
letters of reference denote the same parts where they recur in the several
Figures. B, B, represents the upright standards or framework, which is fixed
on a sole plate by holding down bolts to the stone or other foundation. C, C,
is a rectangular trunk, the upper part of which is bored out and forms the
steam cylinder C'; this is fitted with a plate or cover D bolted on the top in
such a way that will render it steam-tight. The lower part of the trunk C is
internally of a rectangular form, and has attached to it at the bottom the
hammer E, which is to be raised by the pressure of the steam; the standards
B, B, are attached to each other by the front and back plates F, F, which are
firmly secured thereto by means of the bolts and nuts a, a, a, a, a. A chamber
is thus formed corresponding in shape with the rectangular trunk C, and to
which it is fitted so as to slide freely up and down therein. G is a bar which
passes transversely through the centre of the machine; this rests on and is
attached to brackets F', F¹, on the front and back plates F, F, by bolts or
other suitable means; this cross bar G is in a piece with the steam nozzles G',
and forms a support for the stem or upright H which carries the piston I.
The upright H is not made a fixture to the cross bar G, but merely rests in
a ball and socket joint b, b, and retained in its position by means of a return
flanch c, c; this arrangement allows the piston to vibrate with the jarring motion
of the cylinder, avoiding any injurious result from the concussion of the
hammer. The cross bar G passes through a slit or opening K in the trunk C,
which is sufficiently wide to admit it without touching or otherwise interfering
in its motion.
The steam nozzles G¹ are furnished with suitable steam passages; d being
the induction and e the eduction passage; f the steam valve attached to the
rod g,
the upper end of which passes through the guide h; this rod is controlled
in its motion by the lever i, supported by the arm and connected with the
self-acting gear before mentioned.
The self-acting gear consists of a vertical oscillating bar or shaft k, which is
pivoted between the entablature L and the plate M.. A lever m, seen separately
at Figures 7 and 8, Sheet C, is placed on the shaft k, to which it is fitted in
such a manner that it will slide freely up and down to the extent of the
required rise or fall of the hammer, yet will not be capable of being turned
round horizontally without carrying the shaft k round also; a lever n is affixed
to the lower end of the shaft k, which lever is connected at o to the bell crank
lever ', the other arm of which works the valve rod g. The lever m, as will be

page_text: seen in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet B, carries at one end a roller p and is continued
at q, so as to balance the weight of the roller p, and suffered it to hang fairly on
the rod ; otherwise, as it is loosely fitted, it would be apt to drop and jam on
its rod k. The weight of this lever m is supported in its position by the rod r, at
the top of which it is so attached that it will admit of the lever m oscillating
in any direction. This rod r is capable of upward or downward motion, and
slides in a guides at the top, passing through an opening in the frame at
bottom.
The lower end of this rod is furnished with a number of teeth, which gear
into a pinion on the horizontal shaft N. The whole weight of the lever m and
its appendages, together with the rod r, are therefore sustained on the teeth of
the pinion v, which would give it a tendency to turn, but which is counteracted
by means of a weight hanging to a rope or cord wound on a pulley u, and
passing over the pulley u¹. Thus the whole weight of the lever m and rod r are
evenly balanced, and are free to have upward or downward motion communi-
cated to them by means of the hand wheel O, the power required being just
sufficient to overcome the friction on the different rubbing surfaces, and disturb
the equilibrium in either direction. A latch lever is placed on the plate D;
and pivoted to a standard at X, the opposite end being confined by a guide y;
the weight of this lever is sustained by the spring z, and the short end of the
lever w¹, which is turned nearly at right angles, is kept so as just to touch the
edge of a curved plate a', distinctly seen in plan, Figure 2; this curved plate is
in length equal to the greatest rise and fall of the cylinder, and is attached to
or forms a part of a vertical rod ; this rod is pivoted in the entablature L
at top, the lower end being supported in the step c', where a short lever d¹ is
fixed to it; this is connected to the catch or retaining lever e¹ by the rod f',
by which it is withdrawn from its position in a notch on the rod P at the
proper time by the action of the machine, the catch lever being pressed up to
the rod P by the spring g¹..
The throttle valve for regulating the admission of steam to the cylinder is
situate in the induction pipe at R, and is connected from a lever on its axis by
the rod h with a corresponding lever on the vertical rod S, this being fur-
nished with a handle & moving on a graduated plate indicating the position
of the valve.
The action of this machine is as follows:-Steam of an adequate pressure
being admitted to the steam nozzles by opening the throttle valve, the valve f
will be depressed from the position indicated by the Drawings till the ports in
the valve are opposite the ports in the nozzles, when the steam will enter by

page_text: the passage m¹, and thence up the passage in the stem H, expanding between
the piston I and top plate D, by which means the trunk C, and with it the
hammer E, are elevated, but in its upwards passage an inclined plane T,
affixed to the trunk C, comes in contact with the roller p, giving that end
of the lever m a sudden cant upwards, which fixes it for the time on its vertical
shaft k. The action of the inclined T causes the roller p to recede from it, and
thereby turning the shaft k partially round; this carrying with it the lever n
moves the upright arm of the bell crank, as seen at Figure 1, to the right,
which raises the valve f and suffers the steam to escape from the cylinder
by the eduction pipe e; the rod P, being connected to an arm V on the same
axis as the bell crank i, is now by its action depressed, and the catch lever e¹
falls into its notch or seat on the rod P, retaining the valve f in the position it
is thus thrown, and as represented in the Drawings, till the hammer falls by its
own gravity, and strikes the iron placed on the anvil W below, when it will be
ready for another stroke.
The momentum attained by the latch lever w during its fall with the hammer
being thus suddenly arrested at æ, it is impelled onwards at the opposite end,
forcing the spring which supports its weight to recede, the short end w of the
lever pressing the curved plate a¹, and causing the rod b' to turn partially
round, which has the effect of withdrawing the retaining lever e¹ by being
connected with the rod f, as before explained, thus relieving the valve f, which
will be depressed as before by the steam, causing a repetition of the stroke.
Now it will be apparent that the cylinder, and with it the hammer, will rise
just according to the position of the lever m and roller p, which, if placed low on
the shaft k, the incline T will soon come in contact with the roller p, conse-
quently the stroke will be short and the blow light; but if the lever m be
elevated to the top, the hammer will rise to its full height before being released
by the incline T, and therefore fall with its full force. It will be seen that the
arrangements of this self-acting motion are such that although the lever m is
temporally fixed to the shaft k, while pressed by the incline, it can when
released be readily moved in an upward or downward direction (by turning the
hand wheel O) to the extent of several feet before the hammer can fall and
rise again to the lever m, admitting of almost any variation being made within
the limits of the machine in each successive stroke.
When a light blow is required, the catch lever e' is kept out of the notch in
the rod P, which allows the steam valve f to be depressed directly the inclined
plane T leaves the roller p; this again admits the steam to the cylinder, and
prevents the hammer falling with its full force. This is accomplished by

page_text: depressing the lever handle ³, which is fixed to the same arbor as the catch
lever e¹, and supported by the bracket p¹ from the frame. The depression of
this lever may either be effected by hand or by bringing the pall q' to bear
upon the handle n', admitting the steam below the piston at every down stroke
of the hammer.
Figure 6, Sheet C, represents another arrangement of a steam hammer, which
is also unencumbered with stuffing bores, or other parts liable to accident from
the concussion attending each fall of the hammer. This differs from the last,
inasmuch as the piston I, instead of being stationary, is attached to the top,
plate D by a rod H secured thereto by a ball and socket joint a, to allow for
any vibration of the trunk C, C; this trunk is fitted to and moves within the
framing, as described with reference to the machine herein-before described,
the hammer being attached as before. A, A, is the cylinder, which is fitted to
the internal capacity of the trunk C, C, and is merely placed in the socket
in the cross bar G, which will therefrom be also free to vibrate with the
tremulous motion of the trunk C. The steam in this case enters through
cross bar G, and passes at once into the cylinder, where it expands and forces
the piston I upwards, carrying with it the trunk C. The pressure of steam
being released by the self-acting gear, as before, which gear will also be equally
applicable to this as well as every other steam hammer, and will be readily
understood from the foregoing description, therefore quite unnecessary to
repeat. The other letters of reference denote the same parts as in the
previously described machine.
I now come to the third part of my Invention, which relates to the use and
adaptation of steel in forming metallic packings for the pistons of steam
hammers. Hitherto it has been usual to construct the packings for the
pistons of steam hammers of cast iron, brass, or some such materials. Now
I have observed that great inconvenience results in the working of steam
hammers from this cause, inasmuch as those last-mentioned materials cannot
withstand the concussion consequent on the fall of the hammer; the cast iron
packings break in pieces, and malleable iron and brass become so changed in
form as to render the piston nearly useless or give rise to a great waste of
steam. But by substituting and adapting steel for the packings of steam
hammers the above inconveniences will be avoided, inasmuch as such steel
packing will not be materially affected by the concussion and the loss of steam,
and the trouble and expense of the frequent repairs required by the old
packings will be avoided.
The fourth and last part of my Invention relates to the fixing of piston

page_text: rods to the pistons of steam hammers in such cases where piston rods are
used.
Figure 9, Sheet C, represents a sectional elevation, and Figure 10 a sec-
tional plan of a piston rod and piston connected according to my Invention.
The improvement consists in connecting the rod to the piston by either
screwing the rod into the pistons and afterwards screwing on a nut with a
reverse thread in it on the top of the rod; the nut is then prevented turning
by passing a key through it into the piston; it is thus impossible for the one
to turn without the other. Instead of this, two nuts of reverse threads may
be screwed on the rod, as represented in the Drawing. A is the piston;
B, the piston rod; C, the same metallic packing, made of steel, and may be
of any of the varied forms in use; D and E are the two, nuts, the one having a
right-hand thread and the other a left; the piston rod is furnished with
corresponding right and left threads.
The piston having been properly fitted to the rod, the nut D is screwed
hard down on the piston, forcing it against the shoulder on the rod B; the
second nut E is next screwed down on the top of the other; a key F is then
introduced in a key-way formed in the sides of both nuts, which prevents the
possibility of the one nut moving without the other, therefore effectually pre-
venting the piston from becoming loose on the rod.
purposes
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood, that I do not claim as
of my Invention or the exclusive use of the several parts of the arrangements
herein-before set forth when taken separately, or otherwise than for the
herein-after expressed; but what I claim as new and of my Invention is―
First, the constructing and arranging the parts of a steam hammer as
shewn in Sheets A and B of the annexed Drawings, in which the required
motions are given to the hammer or other instrument by the action of the
steam, without the intervention of a piston rod, stuffing box, and packing.
Secondly, the constructing and arranging the parts of a steam hammer as
shewn in Figure 6, Sheet C, of the annexed Drawings, the required motion
being obtained without the intervention of stuffing boxes.
Thirdly, the adaptation to steam hammers of a sliding lever or parallel
shaft, so combined and arranged that by moving the shaft the motion of the
hammer may be reversed at any part of its range, thereby altering the length
of the stroke or rise of the hammer at pleasure while such hammer or other
instrument is in motion between its lowest and highest positions, such lever
becoming thereby self-fixed and self-relieved by the action of the machine.

page_text: Fourthly, the adaptation of steel packings to the pistons of steam hammers,
as above described.
Fifthly, the method herein-before described, and represented in Figures 9
and 10, Sheet C, of fixing the piston rod to the piston of steam hammers, in
such cases where piston rods are required.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
ROBERT (L.s.) WILSON.
Enrolled the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.