Improvement in Tools or Means for Making and Shaping Files and the like Implements by Steam or other Mechanical Power Appliances.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1898
COMPRID MULTICATIO
Improvement in Tools or Means for Making and Shaping Files and
the like Implements by Steam or other Mechanical Power
Appliances.
I, DANIEL CORNTHWAITE, of No. 4, Hartington Road, Millhouses, Sheffield,
Manager, 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:-
The process of file forging is necessarily divided into two stages, i.e., one end of
a suitable piece of steel is usualled heated and drawn down taper to receive a wood
handle, this end is known technically as the "tang": the other end is heated and
is variously shaped according to the class and size of file desired and is known
as the point, a portion constituting the body of the file not being altered or
worked upon. When these processes are effected in the usual manner, inequalities
and variations as between individual blanks always exist, such variations to a
large extent nullify or reduce the benefit resulting from the use of machinery for
subsequent stages of manufacture wherein, if greater uniformity existed in the
blanks, a number of blanks could be operated satisfactorily at the same time
thereby saving time and expense.
The object of my invention is to obtain greater uniformity and accuracy of size.
and shape with a saving of manual labour. My method is applicable to tools used
for shaping all classes of files and the like implements having tapered tangs or
of varying sectional area. While the particular formation of the working parts
of tools must be varied to correspond to the individual sizes and shapes of files*
required, the tools themselves may be primarily of any of the usual classes known
as "pellets," and used in connection with steam, atmospheric, or other power
hammers and presses or machines commonly used for forging or shaping metals.
To attain said objects, I divide the working faces of the pellets into several por-
tions, and separately shape each portion of both top and bottom tools to corre-
spond to a separate portion of a given size or class of file, and in each pair of
faces I provide or leave flat portions which by coming into contact prevent any
further action of the shaped parts upon the file blanks. Further to secure longi-
tudinal uniformity I fix said blanks in a specific position in tongs, and in front
of the bottom tool adjust an ordinary stop against which the end of the said tongs
inpinges thereby preventing the insertion of the blank beyond the pre-determined
amount.
That my invention may be better understood I will explain the same by re-
ference to the annexed drawings. Wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a pair of
pellets, Fig. 2, being an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of
bottom tool face. Fig. 4, an end view of tools in section on line x, x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5, front elevation of a bottom tool suitable for "half-round" work. Fig. 6,
end view of a portion of tools arranged for "three-square" work. Fig. 7, illus-
trates pair of tongs holding a file blank, said tongs operating as length gauge
when stop, not shown, is reached by point S.
Referring to the drawings, A and B, represent respectively top and bottom
tools or pellets the working faces of which are to be individually shaped to cor-
respond to the required contour of the blanks, so that when closed such shaped
parts will operate as dies; preferably on the left hand side of each pellet intended

page_text: to form tangs, I cut a groove, slightly tapered and dovetailed, into which are fitted
separate cast steel cutting fullers fixed some distance apart so that when a piece
of hot steel F is inserted edgewise up to a stop fixed at S, (but not shown) two
grooves or shoulders will be formed, the short protruding end is then put between
the drawing parts D and P alternately said parts being properly shaped, and as a
consequence of repeated blows or pressure the end is formed into a taper tang of
definite shape and length, this tang end is now secured in tongs H, Fig. 7, with
its shoulders in a marked position to secure uniform length of blanks: the
other end of the steel having been heated is inserted alternately in the spaces E
and P, the steel being gradually worked into said spaces until the end of the
tongs H comes against a stop S (not shown) fixed in front of the bottom pellet B.
The space E is formed to produce the desired shape of edge while P is likewise
shaped for the thickness, the blows or pressure is to be repeated until the pro-
jecting parts of the faces come into contact when no further reduction being pos-
sible any number of blanks may be made perfectly alike in all respects.
The formation and process so far described is more particularly suitable for files
having a flat or rectangular section: When "half-rounds' are required the
cutters C are retained and the drawing faces D and P are modified as follows:
The upper faces of A may approach nearly to the flat, but hollows require to be
formed in lower face of B as shown by dotted lines Fig. 3 and by elevation Fig. 5
marked G, G, being part of D and P, respectively. The operation is as follows:
A piece of hot steel having one flat side and the other side rolled to an are of a
circle is to be inserted at D flat side downward over the shallow groove G an
by one or more blows is made to partially assume a fish belly shape preparatory
to either tanging or pointing process; if for tang end, the steel is passed edge-
ways as before up to stop S, two notches or shoulders being formed the short pro-
truding end is shaped into a tang by faces D as before, likewise having been
fixed accurately in tongs H the point end is gradually worked up in groove G¹
and faces E until the tongs reach the stop S and the projections left upon faces
of pellets meet as before described.
For "three-square" files no fullers C are required, the top pellet A is however
made narrower than B and a portion of its face is shaped to give requisite taper
and hollow root of tang as shown F³, Fig. 6, when after being turned end for end
in the tongs it is gradually advanced in the angular groove G³ until tongs reach
stop and faces meet as aforesaid.
When desired, separate sets of tools may be provided for tanging only and other
sets for pointing only or such other sub-divisions may be made as may be pre-
ferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. In tools for file forging the division of faces into separate working spaces
each shaped to correspond to a definite portion of a file and together operating as
dies or matrices of specific shape and dimensions, substantially as described.
2nd. In tools for file forging the combination of shaped openings faces tongs and
adjustable gauges to secure uniformity of work, all substantially as described.
3rd. In tools for file forging the substitution of separate cutter fullers. fitted
thereto instead of being intergral parts of such tools, substantially as described.
Laten this 20th day of May 1000.
Dated tHIS GUL Qay 01 May 1000.
ISAAC BECK, F.S.P.A.,
Agent for the Applicant,
Haymarket Chambers, 17, Haymarket, Sheffield.