IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT, to David Davies, of Crumlin, in the County of Mon-.
mouth, for the. Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS."
Sealed the 20th February 1866, and dated the 24th August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on the 24th
August 1865.
I, DAVID DAVIES, of Crumlin, in the County of Monmouth, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
HAMMERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in rendering steam hammers capable of delivering
blows not only perpendicular to the face of the anvil, but also in directions
inclined to the face of the anvil, as may be required during the operation of
forging, the hammer at the same time being capable of delivering blows with
various lengths of stroke and of various degrees of force. I fix the steam
cylinder which is employed in working the hammer, whether by means of an
arm or by direct action, inside of and in firm connection with a horizontal

page_text: cylinder, the two cylinders having their axes at a right angle or at any other
angle to each other, or they may have their axes in parallel lines to each other.
The horizontal cylinder is so fitted as to be capable of being turned round its
axis in suitable bearings and so carry with it the steam cylinder and hammer,
and the hammer is by this means rendered capable of delivering its blows in
any desired direction. The horizontal cylinder may be turned round in the
bearings by various means, whether by levers or otherwise, which means can be
placed under the control of the smith or other person using the hammer. I
place the steam chest at right angles to the axis of the steam cylinder, the
steam chest being fitted with common cylindrical equilibrium valves, and I
work the valves by an internal link or excentric cam, which is actuated
by a stud projecting from the piston rod. The internal link is fitted
with a sliding plate at each end, by means of which I regulate the length of
stroke, and vary the force of the blows to suit the size and nature of the
forging. If preferred water or compressed air may be used instead of steam
to actuate the piston. Where the hammer is worked by an arm I fit the
socket supporting the arm so that it can be raised or lowered relative to the
centre of the horizontal cylinder by which it is supported, to suit the various
sizes of the forgings. I also where an arm is used support the bearings on
which the horizontal cylinder rests, either on a bed plate fixed to the floor or on
the piston of a hydraulic ram or on some other arrangement of machinery, by
means of which the horizontal cylinder can be raised or lowered for the purpose
of varying the angles of blows in front of the anvil, and the ram or other
machinery can be so constructed that the hammer may be brought to bear on
any number of anvils placed at equal distances from the centre round which
the hammer turns.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
February 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
DAVIES, of Crumlin, in the County of Monmouth, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said; David Davies, Her special licence. that I, the said David
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said David Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time; agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter, during the term therein. expressed, should and. lawfully might
make,, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN STEAM HAMMERS," upon the condition. (amongst others) that I,
the said David Davies, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe, and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same. to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters, Patent.
NOW KNOW YE,; that I, the said David Davies, 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: -
My Invention. consists in rendering steam hammers capable of delivering
blows, not only perpendicularly to the face of the anvil, but also in directions
inclined to the face of the anvil, as may be required during the operation of
forging, the hammer at the same time being capable of delivering blows with
various lengths of stroke and of various degrees of force. I fix the steam
cylinder which is employed in working the hammer, whether by means of an
arm or by direct action, inside of and in firm connection with a horizontal
cylinder, the two cylinders having their axes at a right angle or at any other
angle to each other, or they may bave their axes in parallel lines to each
other. The horizontal cylinder is so fitted as to be capable of being turned
round on its axis in suitable bearings, and so carry with it the steam cylinder
and hammer, and the hammer is by this means rendered capable of delivering
its blows in any desired direction. The horizontal cylinder may be turned
round in the bearings by various means, whether by levers or otherwise, which
means can be placed under the control of the smith or other person using
the hammer. I place the steam chest at right angles to the axis of the steam
cylinder, the steam chest being fitted with common cylindrical equilibrium
valves, and I work the valves by an internal link or excentric cam which is
actuated by a stud projecting from the piston rod. The internal link is fitted

page_text: with a sliding plate at each end, by means of which I regulate the length of
stroke and vary the force of the blows to suit the size and nature of the
forging. If preferred water or compressed air may be used instead of steam
to actuate the piston. Where the hammer is worked by an arm I fit the
socket supporting the arm so that it can'be' raised or lowered relative to the
centre of the horizontal cylinder, by which it is supported to suit the various sizes
of forgings. I also where an arm is used support the bearings on which the
horizontal cylinder rests, either on a bed plate fixed to the floor, or on the piston
of a bydraulic ram, or on som other arrangement of machinery, by means
of which the horizontal cylinder can be raised or lowered for the purpose' of
varying the angles of blows in front of the anvil, and the ram or other
machinery can be so constructed that the hammer may be brought to bear on
any number of anvils-placed at equal distances from the centre round 'which
'the hammer turns.
Having thus set forth the nature and object of my said Invention; I' shall
endeavor more particularly to describe the same, and in order thereto I shall
refer to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings; on which the same letters refer
to the same portions on the different Figures; thus:-
Figs. 1 and 8, 4 and 9, show vertical and horizontal sections of the
apparatus; Figs. 2 and 3, front views, showing the hammer's up and down;
Figure 5, front view, showing the hammer striking horizontal blows, suitable
for 'upsetting; Figure 6; front view, showing the hammer in position to strike
at an angle of 45°; Fig. 7, Drawing No. 2; shows plan 'as arranged for
four anvils; Figure 10, shows end view of Figure 8; Figure 11, Drawing
No. 3, elevation with steam cylinder, shewn' dotted at an 'angle of 30°,
inclined to the axis of the horizontál cylinder; Figure 12, plan. of "same;
Fig. 13, part elevation (with steam cylinder in section, showing mode of
striking at an angle in front of the anvil; Figures 14 and 15, show vertical
and transverse sections of a direct-acting hammer; Figure 16; Drawing
No. 4, shows enlarged sectional elevation of the internal link; Fig. 18, jilan
of same; Figure 17, section of same.
.....1.
A, shows a vertical steam cylinder, but compressed air or water may be
employed to actuate the piston, if thought preferable to steam, which cylinder
is of the kind known as double acting, and may be cast inside at a right or any
other angle to the axis of the horizontal cylinder as shown in 'Drawing, which
shows the horizontal cylinder so formed as to contain within it the steam cylin-
der, steam chest, inlet, outlet, and all the necessary induction and eduction ports,
cast in one piece, but the steam cylinder may be so formed by casting it

page_text: separately and placing it inside the horizontal cylinder, but I prefer the method
shown for simplicity. The horizontal cylinder is so fitted that it can be turned
around in its bearings in either direction, and so carry with it the steam
cylinder, hammer, and hammer arm, for the purpose of causing the blows to
be struck to radiate from the centre or face of the anvil as may be required
during the operation. of forging.
T. :
The steam cylinder is shown on Drawing No. 1, with its axis at right
angles.to the axis of the horizontal cylinder, but this may be altered if. neces-
sary by placing the, axis of the steam cylinder, at any other angle to the axis
of the horizontal, cylinder, as shown in Drawing No. 8. Fig. 11, on which the
steam cylinder is,shown.with its axis.placed at an angle of 30°, inclined to that of
the horizontal cylinder, or it may be placed parallel to the axis of the hori
zontal cylinder as shown on Drawing No. 5, Fig. 13...
The horizontal, cylinder can be revolved in its bearings in either direction
for the purpose, of varying the angles. of blows to be struck on either the
right or left hand of the smith either. by. a light. chain fastened in a groove P.
cast in a flange,on the horizontal cylinder, and connected to the short end of
the lever, which lever is within reach of the smith and is supported by a light
pillar, standing, on, the, gland B 1 of the horizontal, cylinder, as shown on
Drawing No. 8, Fig. 1.2; or where the horizontal cylinder is supported on a
hydraulic ram it may be turned in its bearings by placing, a light chain in the
groove, and passing it over a pulley, or pulleys to bring it within the reach of
the smith,,who can vary, the angles, by simply dropping, the chain on a stud
near the anvil, as it will, be seen that if the end of the, chain is, held by
the stud, while the pressure is turned under the hydraulic ram, it will
cause the, horizontal cylinder to revolve in. its.. bearings and at the same
time. vary the angles, of, blows to be struck. Or it may be revolved by a
treadle or by a hand wheel, as shown in Fig. 15, Drawing No. 3. Or it may
be revolved by causing the piston rod of the steam cylinder to actuate.a pall
or ratchet, as shown in Drawing No. 2, Fig. 10. The piston shown on
Drawings is of the ordinary kind, and is slotted to receive the hammer arm
which is connected to the piston by means of a cross head or stud G, which
stud or. cross head projects on the one side for the purpose of actuating the
internal, link, and this stud can be disconnected from the link when necessary;
but this form of piston rod is not essential, as the trunk shown in Fig. 17, or
any other arrangement may be employed if preferable, as shown on Drawing
No. 3, Figs. 12 and 13, which arrangement requires the arm to be made to a
suitable angle to receive a direct motion from the piston, (or connecting rod if

page_text: applied. C, steam chest, which is shown at right angles to the axis of the
steam cylinder, but it may be placed in any other position if preferred
and is fitted with a cylindrical valve D, bút any other form of valve
may be used if preferred, and may be worked directly or otherwise
from an internal link E, which link is actuated by a stud or pin G; pro-
jecting from the piston rod. F1, steam inlet; F2, port leading to top of
piston; F3, port leading to bottom of piston; F4, exhaust, which port
communicates with the stand pipe F. This pipe is made double by casting a
diaphragm in the inside which makes it serve the double purpose of a steam
and exhaust pipe. The internal link F and stud G serve to make the machine
self-acting by so controlling the main valve that the height of fall of the
hammer and consequent force of the blows can be regulated to any degree of
nicety by the smith or other person using the hammer. The above-mentioned
internal link is made the exact length corresponding to the full length of the
stroke of the piston, plus the clearance at each end of the cylinder, for the
purpose of working the piston to its full length of stroke. But it is fitted
with a sliding plate H at each end, which sliding plates are so fitted that
they can be moved or adjusted to any required position either from 'the top or
bottom of the link, for the purpose of so actuating the main 'valve as to work
the piston through any fraction of the stroke, either from the top or bottom
of the cylinder. These sliding plates H can be moved or adjusted to any
required position by the worm I, as shown in Drawing No. 4, Figs. 16 and 18,
or they can be moved by cutting. teeth in each plate, to allow a pinion to work
therein, or they can be moved by the eccentric groove J, as shown in Drawing
No. 3, Fig. 15, or they may be moved by any other means if preferable to the
modes explained. The above named sliding plates. by being moved up or
down, which may be done as before described, so actuate the main valve as to
admit, suppress; and release the steam at any required fraction of the stroke,
while the form of the link so adjusts the main valve as to admit a sufficient
quantity of steam to keep the hammer up off the anvil when not in action.
Where the hammer arm is supported on a movable or adjustable pivot, I fix
the pivot in a wrought-iron socket K, which supports the hammer arm, as
shown in Drawings 1 and 3, Figs. 1, 11, and 13, and this socket is so fitted
that it can be raised or lowered to suit the various sized forgings by means of
the hand wrench K1. Thus if a piece of iron, say four inches in diameter, is
required to be forged round and true without swages, the hammer must describe
a circle of four inches; the hammer pivot would in this case stand two inches
above the centre of the horizontal cylinder, and would consequently describe:

page_text: a circle of four inches in diameter on the anvil, as the distance of the stud
pin (on which the hammer hinges) from the centre of the horizontal cylinder
would become the radius of the circle described by the hammer face upon the
face of the anvil in all cases, and this distance can be varied at pleasure by the
hand wrench K1, which works on a 'thread formed on the top of the socket for
the purpose of altering the position of the stud relatively to the horizontal
cylinder as before stated; L is an annular hydraulic ram which raises and
lowers the horizontal cylinder with its hammer and arm for the purpose of
varying the angles of blows in front of the anvil. The top of this ram is sö
formed as to become the bottom bearing of the horizontal cylinder, and is so
fitted that it can be turned around in a horizontal plane, to suit any number of
anvils arranged at equal distances from the centre as shown in Drawing No. 2;
Fig. 7, arranged for four anvils. If thought preferable to fixing the hori-
zontal cylinder on the top of an hydraulic ram or some other suitable
machinery for the purpose of raising and lowering the steam cylinder as just
described, it may be made as shewn in Drawing No. 2, Figs. 8 and 9, which
show the bearing of the horizontal cylinder fitted into a cast-iron bed plate
marked M, which is secured to the floor of the smithy. The horizontal
cylinder can in this case be turned around in its bearings by chains, levers, or
otherwise, or it can be revolved by causing the piston rod to actuate a pall,
which works into ratchet teeth, cast on the gland of the horizontal cylinder,
as shown in Drawing No. 2, Fig. 10; N1 is an inclined slot formed in the
piston rod for the purpose of giving lateral motion to the slide block which
carries the palls. These palls work in the ratchet teeth N2, formed on the
gland B1 of the horizontal cylinder, and so cause the horizontal cylinder to
revolve to any desired angle, and as the hammer in this case is only capable
of varying its blows on either the right or left hand of the smith from a ver-
tical line, and as it will be often necessary to strike blows at any angle from a
horizontal line, the face of the anvil block may be made with bevilled
divisions, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, which anvil block can be moved laterally
by a screw or otherwise, so as to bring the required bevil directly under the
hammer face, thereby rendering the hammer capable of striking blows at
given angles from a horizontal line. Or the anvil may be so fitted that it can be
turned arround on its centre in a horizontal plane, so as to bring any required
swage hole directly under the hammer face. The horizontal cylinder may in
this case be so fitted in its bed plate that it can be turned around in a hori-
zontal plane to suit any number of anvils placed at equal distances around the
centre, as shown in Drawing No. 2, Fig. 7; L1 is the hydraulic cylinder.

page_text: which is made annular for the purpose of allowing the steam pipe F1 to pass
through. The steam pipe is in this case fitted with a gland and stuffing box,
to permit the steam pipe to be raised and lowered with the steam, cylinder;
or in other words the steam pipe is made telescopic inside the annular space
of the hydraulic cylinder, as shown in Drawing No. 1, Fig. 1. This steam
pipe I fit with a regulating foot valve for the purpose of putting the hammer
in action, which valve 1-place near the anvil for the purpose of being actuated
by the smith's foot as, shown in Drawing No. 2, Figs. 17, 8, and 9, This
valve is so formed that when closed it will admit a constant flow of steam
through it, sufficient to keep the hammer up off the anvil when not in action.
Where the hammer is arranged for any number of anvils I place a foot valve
near each anvil, as shown in plan for four anvils, Fig. 7.,,
The above arrangements are also applicable to working a direct-acting
hammer, as shown in Drawing No., 3, Figs. 14 and 15, in which it will be
seen that the steam cylinder A is cast inside at a right angle to the axis of
the horizontal cylinder B, and the steam chest C is, at right angles to the axis
of the steam cylinder, and is fitted with an equilibrium valve D which,is.
worked direct by an internal link actuated as before described. It will be
seen that this hammer can be moved to any desired angle from a vertical to a
horizontal line by either of the modes explained for revolving, the cylinder of
the pivot hammer, or it can be revolved, by a hand wheel I, which gives, motion
to a pinion working into teeth cast on the horizontal cylinder as shewn, or, it
may be otherwise revolved by a separate hydraulic.or steam cylinder.
Having now fully described and illustrated my said Invention, together,
with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
effect,. I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself. to the precise
forms, dimensions, or relative proportions herein-before mentioned or referred
to, as they may be considerably varied without departing from the principle
of my Invention, neither do I claim the use; of the equilibrium valve, but
what I do claim is,
First, the internal link for actuating the main valve directly or otherwise
from a stud or other projection from the piston rod.
Secondly, I claim the steam cylinder, so formed, as to revolve, or be moved
with the horizontal cylinder for the purpose of giving action to the hammer,
arm in any desired direction, as herein-before stated.
Thirdly, I claim the regulating foot valve, for the purpose of, keeping the
hammer up off the anvil when not in action, and so, placed as to be actuated
by the smith's foot, as before described.

page_text: Fourthly, I claim the general arrangement and construction of the
mechanism berein-before described and illustrated, and in the manner herein-
before mentioned or referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
CHARLES STUART BAKER,
General Patent Co., Limited,
71, Fleet Street,
Agents.
DAVID DAVIES. (L.8.)