Improvements in Machines for Making Wheel-hub Blanks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1874
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Wheel-hub Blanks.
I, WILLIAM WALLACE TUCKER, of 195 Huntington Street, Hartford, in the
County of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Contractor 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 machines for making wheel-hub blanks, the object of
the invention being to provide a machine especially adapted for making bicycle-
wheel hub-blanks from a continuous metallic rod with accuracy, rapidity and
economy.
In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this Specification,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention, said figure showing
the hub-forming rod in position to be engaged by the centering-pin and in the
position it occupies when being operated upon by the cutters.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, as seen from the underside in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the hub-making
machine, showing the hub-forming rod turned down to form a hub-blank and in the
position it occupies preparatory to being cut off, the hub-forming cutters being
shown in their retracted position.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the machine taken in line a-a,
Fig. 2 showing a portion of the parts at the left hand of said line as seen from a
point at the right hand thereof, said figure being drawn on a scale coinciding with
that of Fig. 3, and showing the cutter-feed mechanism in its inoperative position,
and the cutting-off tool in its operative position.
Fig. 5 is a similar view of the machine showing the cutter-feed mechanism in its
operative position with the hub-forming cutters in working position and the cutting-
off tool in its inoperative position.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine as seen from the right hand
in Fig. 5, showing the cutter-feed mechanism in operative position.
Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the cutter-feed mechanism taken
in line bb, Fig. 6, looking downward and showing the drop-feed therefor.
Fig. 8 is an end view of the carrier-pin guide.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of said carrier-pin guide taken in line c-c Fig. 8,
showing said guide secured in place in the turret, a portion only of said turret being
shown.
Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section of a portion of the machine taken in line d-d,
Fig. 6, looking toward the right hand in said figure.
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the machine taken in line e-e,
Fig. 4, looking toward the left hand in said figure.
Similar characters designate like parts in all of the figures.
My improved hub-blank making machine, in the form thereof herein shown,
comprises a suitable frame, a revoluble rod-carrying spindle, a turret revolubly-
supported upon a sliding carriage adapted for movement toward and from said
spindle, and carrying a carrier-pin, a guiding-device for said carrier-pin, a
compound slide rest supported upon the bed of the machine between the turret and
rod-carrying spindle and carrying two oppositely-disposed cutters, one at each side
the axial line of said spindle and adapted to have a coincident movement

page_text: simultaneously toward and from each other transversely of said axial line, means
for rotating said spindle, traversing-mechanism for said cutters, an automatic let-off
device in connection with said traversing-mechanism and the cutter-carriers, and
means for reciprocating the turret-supporting carriage, all of which will be
hereinafter more fully described.
The framework of the machine, which may be of any suitable construction for
carrying the several operable details, is shown in the drawings of a construction
similar to the construction of an ordinary lathe-frame and consisting of the bed B
baving the usual longitudinal slide-ways 2 and 3. Located at one end of the bed B
of the machine, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as the right hand end, is a revoluble
turret, T, supported in the usual manner upon a sliding carriage D, which carriage
will be moved longitudinally of the bed by any suitable mechanism, a; rack-and-
pinion being shown in. dotted lines. in Fig. 2 for accomplishing this purpose.
Located at the opposite end of the machine is a spindle-carrying head H, in which
is revolubly-supported the work-carrying spindle S, upon which spindle are located
two sets of pulleys P and P³, one of which sets of pulleys. constitute the driving
pulley for said spindle, and the other of which sets of pulleys constitute the driving
pulleys for a feed-shaft, as will be hereinafter described.
Transversely-disposed with_relation to, and supported upon the bed of the
machine, between the turret T and the spindle-carrying head H, is a compound
slide rest R, which in the form thereof herein shown, consists of two horizontal
blocks or members 4 and 5, the lower one 5, of which is supported for adjustment
longitudinally of the spindle-axis upon the bed of the machine, and the upper
one 4 of which is supported upon slideways upon the lower member and is adapted
for adjustment longitudinally of said member and transversely with relation to the
spindle-axis, by means hereinafter described.
The upper member 4 of the slide-rest has longitudinal slide-ways at its upper
face between which are supported two oppositely-disposed cutter-carrying slides 6
and 7, one of which is located at one side of the longitudinal axis of the spindle,
and the other of which is located at the opposite side thereof, said tool-carrying
slides being moved toward and from each other, simultaneously, by means of a
right-and-left hand-feed screw F, extending through right-and-left hand screw-
threaded bearings 9 and 10, herein shown as secured to the underside of, and
central with relation to the two slides 6 and 7, respectively, said screw being
revolubly supported at its ends on bearings formed in the ends of the upper
member 4 of the slide-rest R, and being provided with washers or flanges 11 and 11',
at its ends adjacent to the inner faces of the walls of the slide-rest which flanges
prevent longitudinal movement of said screw.
As a means for rotating the feed-screw F to bring the cutters C and C¹, carried
by the cutter-carrying slides 6 and 7 up to the work, I have provided an automatic
feed-mechanism in connection with said screw, of the well known drop-worm type,
which mechanism in the form thereof herein shown, consists of a horizontal
shaft 15, journalled in bearings upon the bed of the machine at one side thereof, as
shown in Fig. 1, and carrying a piuion 16, which meshes with a pinion 17, upon a
shiftable worn-shaft 18, which carries a worm 19, in mesh with a worm-wheel 20,
carried upon a stud 21, secured in the lower member 5, of the slide-rest, which stud
carries a gear-wheel 22, which meshes with a gear-wheel 23, secured to the feed-
screw F. The shaft 15 carrying a pulley 15', at one end thereof and having power
communicated thereto by means of a belt extending from said pulley 15¹ over a
pulley P upon the work-carrying spindle S, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 10
of the drawings. As shown in the drawings the worm-shaft 18 is revolubly-
supported at its ends in bearings formed in the outwardly projecting arms of a
bracket 18, supported for swinging movement upon the shaft 15, said bracket
being provided at one end thereof with a shifting-lever 25, the free end of which
is provided with a handle 25' which is located in convenient position to be engaged
by the operator. This shifting-lever is normally held with its free end in an
elevated position so as to retain the worm normally out of engagement with the

page_text: worm-wheel, by means of a spring 26, secured at one end to a pin 26¹, upon the
shifting-lever 25, and at its opposite end to a convenient portion of the slide-rest,
as most clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.
As a means for holding the worm up to its working position in engagement with
the worm-wheel, a locking-lever 27, is provided, which is herein shown pivoted
midway of its length upon the slide-rest with its lower end in position to engage a
catch or laterally projecting lug 28, upon the inner face of the shifting-lever' 25
while the upper opposite end of the locking-lever extends into the path of travel
of a tripping device 29, carried upon one of the tool-carrying slides, said locking-
lever being normally held with its lower end in engagement with the catch upon
the shifter-lever by means of a spring 30, connected at one end to said lever and at
its opposite end to the slide-rest as shown in Fig. 5. The shifter-lever is limited
in its upward movement by a pin or projection 31, located above the shifter-lever
upon the slide-rest, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and the locking-lever is also
limited at each side thereof upon said slide-rest.
In practice the feed-screw F will be provided, at one end thereof, with a hand-
wheel 12, by means of which said shaft may be turned to bring the cutters into
working position, or retract the same when the feed-mechanism before described is
thrown out of working position.
In the form thereof herein shown, the cutters C and C¹, for forming the hub-
blank are approximately circular in cross section, each cutter being notched or cut
away at one side thereof, as shown at 33, to form a cutting edge 34, the contour of
said cutting edge coinciding with the contour of one-half of the wheel-hub being
formed; this form of cutter may be varied to conform to the requirements. The
two cutters are of such construction and are so set with relation to each other and
with relation to the rod to be operated upon as to enable them, by their co-
operation, to form a complete hub-blank at one continuous cutting operation, one
cutter acting upon and forming one-half, and the opposite cutter acting upon and
cutting the other half of said blank, acting upon the opposite sides and at opposite
ends of the hub-forming portion of the rod, as will be readily understood by
reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 10 of the drawings.
The
The cutter-carrying slides 6 and 7 will preferably be enlarged at their adjacent
inner ends, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 10 and 11, each slide having its enlarged end
bored transversely, as shown at 35, to receive the stem or shank 36', of the cutter,
and is counterbored concentrically from one end, as shown at 37, to form a bearing
for the cutter head, at a point opposite the cutting point of said cutter.
cutters C and C, each consist of a head 36, and a shank 36', which shanks extend
through the bores 35 in the cutter-carrying slides, the ends of said shanks being
screw-threaded and are secured in place by means of nuts 38, screwed upon the
screw-threaded ends thereof and bearing against the outer faces of said slides,
clamping bolts 39, being provided which are herein shown as extending vertically
through the cutter-carrying slides, and bearing at their lower ends against
shoes 40, which in turn bear upon the shanks of the cutters and prevent
accidental rotary movement of said cutters. These cutters will be located in their
respective slides in such manner that the inner ends 41, thereof will lie in
opposition in slightly overlapping planes, so that in operation each cutter will
cut a fraction more than one-half of the wheel-hub blank, the cutting edges of
the cutters being substantially in alignment but oppositely disposed.
As a means for insuring accurate adjustment of the cutters relative to the rod W,
to be operated upon so as to bring both cutters equi-distance from the axis of said
rod and compensate for unevenness in wear of one cutter over the other, I have
provided means for the simultaneous adjustment of the two cutters in the same
direction laterally of the rod to be operated upon. This means consists of adjusting
screws 42, seated in screw-threaded bearings formed in the lower member 5 of the
compound slide-rest, and having shoulders 42', bearing against the outer faces of
the ends of the upper member 4 of said rest. When it is desired to adjust the cutters
laterally of the rod to be operated upon, it is simply necessary to loosen one of the

page_text: adjusting screws and screw in the opposite adjusting-screw to move the upper
member 4 of the slide-rest transversely of the axial line of the rod to be operated
upon. This construction and organization permits the ready adjustment of the
cutters with relation to the rod and insures accuracy in cutting and obviates the
possibility of one cutter cutting away more stock than the opposite cutter.
The turret T will, in practice, be provided with a series of tools, herein shown
as three in number, and designated by 50, 51 and 52 respectively, the ones 50
and 51 being shown in dotted lines, the one 50 being herein shown in the nature
of a drill for boring the end of the hub-forming rod, and the one 51 being in the
nature of a counterbore for counterboring the bored end of said rod, while the
next adjacent tool 52 embodies a revoluble center or carrying-pin adapted for
engaging and supporting the end of the hub-formning rod during the operation of
the cutters C and C¹.
As a means for insuring the accurate centering of the carrying-pin 52 with
relation to the rod being operated upon, and to prevent lateral movement of said
carrying-pin and rod when the same is being operated upon by the cutters C
and C', I have provided a guiding and holding device for said carrying-pin which,
in the form thereof herein shown, consists of a guide-block 53, having a centrally-
bored stem 54, fixed in a socket in the turret T, and a slide-way or guide 55, for
said guide-block fixed to the side face of the slide-rest L. The carrier-pin is
revolubly supported in the longitudinal recess in the guide-block, it being held
therein by a shoulder formed at the outer end thereof, and a nut screwed upon the
inner end thereof, as shown in Fig. 8, said guide-block being provided near its
outer end with laterally projecting flanges 56, adapted to slide between guide-
straps 57, upon the guide 55 secured to the slide-rest. This guide in the form
thereof herein shown is in the nature of a bracket secured by means of screws
to the side of the slide-rest and having flanges 58, at its upper edge at opposite
sides thereof, which flanges in connection with the straps 57 which are adjustably-
secured thereto, constitute the slide-way for the guide-block of the carrying-pin.
The guide-block 53 when moved forward to bring the carrying-pin 52 into
engagement with the end of the hub-forming rod, will have a bearing at its under
face against the upper face of the guide-bracket 55 and at its outer side faces
against the adjacent ends of the guide-straps 57, as shown by dotted lines in
Fig. 4, the space between the side flanges 58, being sufficient to permit a slight
adjustment of the bracket caused by the adjustment of the upper member 4 of the
slide-rest when moving the cutters together laterally of the rod to be operated
upon.
To compensate for the adjustment of the cutters, as before described, and to
insure a bearing contact between the ends of the guide-straps 57 irrespective of
the position of said cutters, with the side faces of the guide-block 53, said straps
are adjustably-secured to the upper faces of the flanges 58 by means of screws, 60,
extending through elongated slots formed through said straps into said flanges,
ard as a means for securing said straps in their adjusted position, clamp-screws 61,
are provided, one for each flange 58, which are seated in screw-threaded openings
in said flanges and bear at their heads upon the outer ends of the straps 57.
In the operation of forming a wheel-hub blank with my improved machine, the
hub-forming rod carried in the spindle S, is moved forward and clasped in the
position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the cutters C and C¹ being in the position
shown in Fig. 4, and the feed-mechanism for said cutters being in the inoperative
position shown in said figure. The spindle being rotated, the turret is then turned
on its axis to bring the boring tool into engagement with and forming the bore 62
in the end of said rod, as shown in Fig. 3; the turret is then retracted and revolved
to bring the counterbore 51 into working position and moved forward to counter-
bore the end of said rod, as shown at 63, after which the turret is retracted and
revolved, bringing the carrying-pin into position in alignment with the end of said
rod, and the turret is again advanced, bringing the guide-block of the carrying-piu
into engagement with the guide therefor, and carrying-pin into engagement with

page_text: he counterbored end of the rod W. The shifter-lever 55 is then thrown from the
osition shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 which brings the feed-worm 19,
nto engagement with the worm-wheel 20, which, through the medium of the
rear-wheels 22 and 23, rotates the feed-screw F and moves the cutter-carrying
lides 6 and 7, together with their cutters C and C¹ into the position illustrated in
Fig. 5 of the drawings, this operation continuing, the cutters operate upon the end
of the rod on opposite sides, reducing the same until it assumes the character of
a wheel-hub-blank, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. After the cutters C
and C¹ have reduced the stock to the requisite diameter, the tripping-device 29
carried by one of the cutter-carrying slides comes in contact with the upper end
of the locking-lever 27 which releases the same from engagement with the shifter-
lever 25 which immediately throws the worm 19 out of engagement with the
worm-wheel thereby stopping the movement of the feed-screw F, after which the
cutter carrying slides may be retracted by the hand-wheel 12.
As a means for cutting-off the hub-blank after the same has been formed in the
manner described, I have provided a cutting-off tool 70, which is secured in a
holder 71, hinged at its outer end as shown at 72, upon an upwardly extending
flange 73, at one side of the cutter-carrying slide 6, said cutter being adapted to be
elevated, as shown in Fig. 5, during the operation of the cutters C and C¹, and
being adapted to be thrown into operative position, as shown in Fig. 4, when it is
desired to cut off the hub-blank after the operation of the cutters C and C¹ has
been completed.
After the cutters have been retracted from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that
shown in Fig. 4, the operation of forming the hub-blank having been completed
the cutting-off tool 70 will be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that
shown in Fig. 4, and the cutter-carrying slides will be again advanced, either
through the medium of the hand-wheel 12, or automatic feed-mechanism before
described, bringing the cutting-off tool into engagement with, and severing the
rod W adjacent to the completed hub-blank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a machine for making wheel-hub blanks, the combination with a revoluble
rod-carrying spindle and with means for revolubly supporting the end of the rod
carried by said spindle, of two oppositely-disposed cutters one for each end
of the blanks and located one at each side of the spindle-axis with their inner
cutting edges in snch planes relatively to each other as will adapt them to cut
the stock simultaneously in longitudinally-overlapping continuous lines and thereby
complete a wheel-hub blank by a single continuous and simultaneous operation of
said two cutters, slides supporting the cutters, means for simultaneously and
progressively advancing said slides toward the spindle-axis and positively
maintaining the cutters equidistant from said axis and meaus for automatically
stopping said cutters after a predetermined period of operation, substantially as
described.
2. A hub-blank-making machine comprising a revoluble rod-carrying spindle, a
revoluble turret supported upon a carriage adapted for sliding movement toward
and from said spindle, two oppositely-disposed cutters fixed in cutter-carrying slides
and having their inner cutting edges in overlapping planes relatively to each other,
feed-mechanism for progressively advancing the cutter-slides transversely toward.
O the splindle axis and positively maintaining the cutters equidistant from said axis,
means for automatically stopping said cutters after a predetermined period of
operation, a tool carried by the turret in position to engage the end of the rod
carried by the spindle, and a tool-guiding device intermediate to the turret and
spindle and adapted for positively maintaining the axis of said tool in alignment with
5 the spindle axis, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. In a machine for making wheel-hub blanks, the combination with the revoluble
rod-carrying spindle and with the revoluble turret, of two oppositely-disposed
tool-carrying slides supported for sliding movement one at each side the axial line
of the spindle upon the upper member of a two-member slide-rest, two hub-forming
cutters supported, one by each slide; with their inner cutting edges in overlapping
planes relative to each other, a cutting-off tool carried by one of said slides at one
side of the cutter-head, a tool carried by the turret and adapted for engaging the
end of the rod carried by the spindle, and a guide for said tool comprising two
members, one of which is secured to the tool, and the other of which is secured to
the slide-rest in position to receive and guide the first-mentioned member, and
means for moving the hub-forming cutters toward and from each other, substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with a rod-carrying spindle
and turret, and with a tool carried by said turret, of a transversely-disposed slide-
rest comprising two members adjustable longitudinally of each other, cutter-carrying
slides supported for movement in opposite directions upon one of said members, a
guide-block secured to one of said members, and having transversely adjustable
guide-straps, and a guide carried by the turret in position to enter between the
straps and guide-block, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a hub-blank making machine, the combination with the revoluble spindle
adapted for carrying a rod, and with means for revolubly-supporting the end of
said rod, of two oppositely-disposed cutters supported by oppositely-movable cutter-
carrying slides, means for advancing said slides towards the spindle-axis and
positively maintaining the cutters equidistant from said axis, means for automatically
stopping said cutters after a predetermined period of operation, a cutting-off tool
carried in a holder pivotally-supported upon one of said slides at one side of the
cutter-head carried thereby and adapted to have the cutting edge of said tool
projected beyond the cutting edge of the aforesaid cutter by a swinging movement,
substantially as described.
6. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with a revoluble spindle
adapted for carrying a rod, of a cutter-carrying slide, a fixed cutter carried by said
slide, a cutting-off tool supported for swinging movement at one side of the
aforesaid cutter, means for progressively feeding said cutter-carrying slides toward
the spindle-axis and thereby shaping the rod, and means for automatically stopping
said movement after a predetermined period of operation, substantially as
described.
7. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with a revoluble rod-
carrying spindle and with a revoluble turret supported for sliding movement toward
and from said spindle, of a compound slide-rest supported for adjustment transversely
of said spindle, two oppositely disposed cutter carrying slides located one at each
side of the axial line of said spindle, drop-feed mechanism in connection with said
cutter-carrying slides and adapted for moving said slides transversely of the spindle
axis, cutters carried by said slides with their inner cutting edges located in over-
lapping planes relatively to each other, a cutting-off tool supported for swinging
movement at one side of one cutter and adapted to have its cutting edge projected
beyond the cutting plane of the aforesaid cutter, and an automatic let-off device in
connection with a drop-feed mechanism and one of the cutter-carrying slides,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with the revoluble rod-
carrying spindle and with the revoluble turret supported upon a sliding carriage, of
two oppositely-disposed cutters having bearings at points opposite their cutting
edges in tool-carrying slides supported for movement in opposite directions, one
slide at each side the axial line of the spindle, upon a compound slide-rest
comprising two members adjustable, one longitudinally of the other, and trans-
versely of the spindle axis; a tool carried by the turret and provided with a guide,
a guide-block secured to the slide-rest and having guide-ways in position and

page_text: adapted to receive and position the guide of said tool, and means for moving the
cutter-carrying slides simultaneously in opposite directions toward and from the
axial line of the spindle, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
02-dder of October 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.