IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY WHEELS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archibald Craig, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY WHEELS."
Sealed the 5th April 1855, and dated the 31st October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archibald Craig at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st October 1854.
I, ARCHIBALD CRAIG, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY WHEELS." to be as follows:--
This Invention relates to various modifications of machinery for bending
into shape the spoke bars, and for welding the tires of wrought-iron railway
wheels. In the description of wheel for the manufacture of which the present
machinery is constructed, the spokes are formed by bars of wrought iron bent
into triangles, the middle of the bar lying against the inside of the tire, whilst
the ends extend to the boss and form the spokes. The object of one portion
of these improvements is to bend these spoke bars into the requisite shape.
According to one modification of the machinery, a traversing platform or

page_text: carriage is arranged upon a bed plate, in a similar manner to that of a planing
machine, being made to traverse by means of a crank, or any other suitable
movement. On the traversing carriage is fixed a block formed to the shape
of the inside of the triangle, that is to say, so as to fill the inside of the spoke
bar when bent into shape. Opposite to the circumferential side of the central
block is a block for shaping the outside of that portion of the spoke bar, and
this block is capable of approaching to or receding from the central block,
being suitably fitted in slides for the purpose. On each side of this sliding
block is a block for acting on the outsides of the ends of tho spoke bar. The
two side blocks turn horizontally upon pins carried by the traversing carriage,
and they act upon the spoke bar by turning against it, and gradually beinding
it into the proper shape; the bar being put into the machine in the form of
a straight bar. This action is effected by the traverse of the carriage, and by
means of a pair of anti-friction pulleys carried by the stationary framing. The
side blocks are made triangular in shape, and when the carriage is traversed
between the stationary pullies, the outsides of the blocks come in contact with
the pulleys, and are thereby made to turn in upon the spoke bar, and to
gradually bend it into shape. On introducing the bar the slide block is
shifted back to allow it to be entered in a straight form, and when the machine
is in action this block is made to advance by a self-acting movement, so as to
give the requisite bend to the bar at that part. A self-acting movement is also
provided for throwing the machinery out of gear as soon as the shaping of the
spoke bar is effected, and when completed the spoke bar is thrust upwards by
suitable mechanism, so as to be easily removed. It is obvious that the frame
carrying the shaping blocks may be stationary, and the requisite bending
action may be effected by causing the side pulleys to traverse, these pulleys
being mounted in a suitable frame. According to another modification the
side blocks may be connected directly to and worked by cranks; or, again,
the side blocks may be worked by hand, in which case they may have sockets
formed in their ends to receive hand levers, and when the ends approach each
other, they may be connected by a screw or screws, by means of which they
may be still further compressed or held together. The slide block for acting
on the outside of the circumferential portion of the spoke bar may be adjusted
up against the bar by means of a screw arrangement, or it may be connected
to the other moving parts, so as to act simultaneously with them.
In welding wheel tires according to this Invention, the tire being bent to
the proper shape, and being held in the ordinary diametrical screw clips or
holding handles, is heated at the point of junction, and is inserted and held
between a pair of rollers, shaped respectively to the inner and outer sides of

page_text: the tyre. These rollers are carried by a frame capable of oscillation about an
axis coincident with the centre of the tire, and this frame is made to oscillate
by a crank, or other suitable movement, through an arc of a sufficient extent
to enable the rollers to act on the heated part of the tire, the motion being
continued until the weld is effected; or, instead of this plan, the frame
carrying the rollers may be made to oscillate on the axis of the inside roller,
the lever by which the oscillation is produced being fixed to the spindle of the
lower roller on to the frame. One or both of the rollers is carried in adjust-
able bearings to admit of the introduction or removal of the tire, and the
rollers may be pressed together by screws or springs, or otherwise. By these
means the tires will be more effectually and uniformly welded than by the
modes at present in use, whilst, by employing the herein-before described
apparatus for bending the spoke bars, a great saving in time and labour will
be effected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Archibald Craig in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARCHIBALD
CRAIG, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Archibald Craig, Her special license that I, the said Archibald Craig,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Archibald Craig, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF RAILWAY WHEELS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Archibald Craig, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and scal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause

page_text: 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 Archibald Craig, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference, being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to various modifications of machinery or appa-
ratus for bending into shape the spoke bars, and for welding the tyres of
wrought-iron railway wheels. In the general class of wheels for the manu-
facture of which my present improved machinery is constructed, the spokes
are formed by bars of wrought iron bent into triangles, the middle of the bar
lying against the inside of the tyre, whilst the ends extend to the boss and
form the spokes. The object of one portion of these improvements is to bend.
these spoke bars into the requisite shape. According to one modification of
the machinery, a traversing platform or carriage is arranged upon a bed plate,
in a similar manner to that of a planing machine, being made to traverse by
means of a crank, or any other suitable movement. On the traversing carriage
is fixed a block formed to the shape of the inside of the triangle, that is to
say, so as to fill the inside of the spoke bar when bent into shape. Opposite
to the circumferential or curved side of the central block is a block for
shaping the outside of that portion of the spoke bar, and this block is capable
of approaching to or receding from the central block, being suitably fitted in
slides for the purpose. On each side of this sliding block is a block for acting
on the outsides of the ends of the spoke bar. The two side blocks turn
horizontally upon pins carried by the traversing carriage, and they act upon
the spoke bar by turning against it, and gradually bending it into the proper
shape, the bar being put into the machine in the form of a straight bar. This
action is effected by the traverse of the carriage, and by means of a pair of
anti-friction pulleys carried by the stationary framing. The side blocks are
made triangular in shape, and when the carriage is traversed between the
stationary pulleys, the outsides of the blocks come in contact with the pulleys,
and are thereby made to turn in upon the spoke bar, and to gradually bend it
into shape. On introducing the bar the slide block is shifted back, to allow
it to be entered in a straight form, and when the machine is in action, this
block is made to advance by a self-acting movement, so as to give the requi-
site bend to the bar at that part. A self-acting movement is also provided for
throwing the machinery out of gear as soon as the shaping of the spoke bar
is effected, and when completed the spoke bar is thrust upwards by suitable

page_text: .
mechanism, so as to be easily removed.
It is obvious that the frame carrying
the shaping blocks may be stationary, and the requisite bending action may be
effected by causing the side pulleys to traverse, these pulleys being mounted
in a suitable frame. According to another modification the side blocks may
be connected directly to and worked by cranks; or, again, the side blocks
may be worked by hand, in which case they may have sockets formed in their
ends to receive hand levers, and when the ends approach each other they may
be connected by a screw or screws, by means of which they may be still
further compressed' or held together. The slide block for acting on the outside
of the circumferential portion of the spoke bar may be adjusted up against
the bar by means of a screw arrangement, or it may be connected to the other
moving parts, so as to act simultaneously with them. In welding wheel tyres
according to this Invention, the tyre being bent to the proper shape, and being
held in the ordinary diametrical screw clip or holding handles, is heated at the
point of junction, and is inserted and held between a pair of rollers, shaped
respectively to the inner and outer sides of the tyre. These rollers are carried
by a frame capable of oscillation about an axis coincident with the centre of
the tyre, and this frame is made to oscillate by a crank, or other suitable
movement, through an arc of a sufficient extent to enable the rollers to act on
the heated part of the tyre, the motion being continued until the weld is
effected; or, instead of this plan, the frame carrying the rollers may be made
to oscillate on the axis of the inside roller, and the lever by which the oscilla-
tion is produced may be fixed either to the spindle of the lower roller or to
the frame. When the lever is fixed to the spindle of the roller, the frame in
which the rollers are carried may be fixed or stationary, the action of the
rollers causing the wheel tyro to reciprocate, being worked back and forwards
through or between them. It is also obvious that the lever may be fixed to
the spindle of the upper roller, the rollers in this case also being carried in a
fixed framing. One or both of. the rollers is carried in adjustable bearings to
admit of the introduction or removal of the tyre, and the rollers may be.
pressed together by screws or springs, or otherwise. By these means the tyres
are more effectually and uniformly welded than by the modes at present in
use, whilst, by employing the herein-before described apparatus for bending.
the spoke bars, a great saving in time and labour is effected.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several explanatory Figures on the three Sheets of
Drawings hereunto attached.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the Drawings is a side elevation of one modifi-
cation of my machinery for. bending the spoke bars of railway wheels;

page_text: Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine, looking on the end opposite the
driving details, a portion of the details being omitted at one side to bring
the Figure within reasonable and convenient limits; and Figure 3 is a plan
corresponding to Figure 1. Figure 4 on the same Sheet of Drawings is a plan
of a modification of my spoke bar bending machine to be worked by hand.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings is a front elevation, and Figure 2
is an end elevation, of one modification of my machinery for welding wheel
tyres.
Figure 1 on Sheet 3 of the Drawings is a side elevation, Figure 2 is a
plan, of another modification of my machinery for welding wheel tyres.
The framing of the spoke-bending machine, represented in Sheet 1 of the
Drawings, consists of a rectangular cast-iron sole plate A, upon which are set up
the two transverse end standards B, and the intermediate transverse standard C.
These standards support the horizontal cast-iron bed plate D, cast with the two
dovetailed slide rest flange E, upon which fits and slides the table or frame F.
The machine is driven by a large pulley G, loose upon a horizontal shaft H,
carried in bearings on the sole plate A. The pulley G is formed with or fixed
apon an elongated boss, upon which is a friction pulley I, which is embraced
by a friction strap J, screwed up tightly, so as to transmit the driving power,
but at the same time so as to slip, if any inordinate strain occurs in the
working of the machine. Motion is communicated to the shaft H by means
of a clutch box K, fitted upon it with a groove and feather, and capable of
being shifted into or out of gear with the friction strap J, either by hand or by
the action of the machine itself, as herein-after more particularly described.
A bevil pinion L, keyed upon the shaft H, drives a bevil wheel M, fast upon a
vertical shaft N, mounted in suitable bearings, and on the shaft N is keyed
a pinion O, which drives a spur wheel P, upon a second vertical shaft Q, carried
in suitable bearings near the rear end of the machine. By means of this
gearing a slow powerful movement is obtained for working the sliding frame F
.back and forwards. This motion is communicated from the spur wheel P to
the frame by means of a connecting rod R, jointed at one end to a pin S,
bolted to one of the arms of the wheel P, and at the other end to a pin T,
passed through a double eye in the back of the frame F.. On the frame F is
carried a block U, which is held down by bolts at V at its front end, and by two
stout vertical pins W, which, rising up above the block, also serve as centres
for the moveable shaping blocks X to turn upon, and which are stiffened by
means of a tension bar Y, passed across from one to the other above the
blocks X. The block U is cast with a raised flange Z, shaped externally to
the internal contour of the bent spoke bar a, b. The circumferential part a

page_text: of this bar is shaped to fit the inside of the wheel tyre, whilst the sides b form
the spokes. The circumferential portion a of the spoke is bent into shape
against the form.or mould piece Z by means of a block c, which slides between
two cheeks or snugs d, cast upon the block U, and this block is actuated by a
lever e, connected to it by a link f, and working upon a horizontal centre
spindle, carried by the frame F. The lower end of the lever e is connected by
a link rod g, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, to the short arm of a handled
lever h, working on a centre at the front end of the frame F. The block c is
pressed forward against the spoke bar by depressing the lever h into the
position in which it is represented, from which position it cannot itself return,
as the tendency of the strain is to force the short arm of the lever h up against
the under side of the frame F. The spoke portions of the bar are bent into
shape against the form or mould Z by means of the triangular swivelling
blocks X, which turn on the pins W, as already mentioned, this movement
being effected by the traverse of the frame F. The bar to be bent is put in in
a straight form when the frame is at the front end of its traverse, and when it
is in this position the swivelling blocks X are turned outwards, into the positions
indicated by the red lines in Figure 3, whilst the block c is removed back a
little from the form Z, to allow the bar to be introduced across in a straight
line. When the bar is so introduced, the frame F begins to traverse back-
wards, whereupon the swivelling blocks X are caused to turn gradually
inwards by the action of two pulleys i, carried in adjustable bearings in
side brackets j, bolted to the stationary framing; at the same time the block c
is thrust forward by means of the lever h, and the frame continues to traverse
until the swivelling blocks X are turned completely in to the position in which
they are represented in the Drawings, when the bar a, b, will be firmly com-
pressed on every side against the form Z, thereby receiving the required shape.
The bearings of the pulleys i are capable of sliding in grooves in the
brackets j, and are adjustable out or in by means of screws 7, and the brackets j
are strengthened and made the better able to resist the separating strain by
means of a strong rod m, tyeing the two brackets together. When the action
of the crank wheel P causes the frame F to traverse back again towards the
front end of the machine, the swivelling blocks are drawn outwards as they get
free from the pulleys i by means of the counterweights n, chains from which
pass round pulleys o, carried by the brackets j, and are connected to the ends of
the blocks at p; at the same time the block c is shifted back by means of the
lever h, and the grip is thus taken off the spoke bar a, b. Then, as the frame
proceeds to the front of the machine, a pair of pendant bell-crank levers q
come in contact with the two pins r, fixed to the framing, and are thereby made

page_text: to turn, which causes their other ends to lift up a pair of vertical rods 8, and
these last thrust up the bent spoke bar a, b, above the level of the form Z, so
that it can be removed from the machine with facility. The frame F also has a
pin t standing out from one side, so as on the advance of the frame to shift
a bell-crank lever u, carried on a pin on the side of the framing. The lever u
is connected by a link v to a second cranked lever w, also turning on a pin on
the side of the framing, and the other end of this last lever w fits in a slot in
a rod a, capable of sliding vertically in bracket guides bolted to the framing.
This rod has a guage piece y bolted upon its upper end, and when the frame F
comes forward, the rod is lifted by means of the levers just described, so as to
raise the guage piece y into such a position, that when a fresh bar is intro-
duced into the machine from the opposite side, its position may be accurately
determined by its being entered up to the guage or stop y. On the recession
of the frame the guage y falls, so as to be out of the way of the swivelling
blocks X. The machine is thrown into or out of gear by means of a bell-
crank lever z, which shifts the clutch K upon the shaft H, and this lever is
connected by a rod 1 with a lever 2, working on a centre at the base of the
framing, and resting above in one of two notches in a plate 3 bolted to
the framing. When the lever is placed in the inner notch, the corner of the
frame F comes in contact with it, and causes the machinery to be thrown out of
gear; if the lever is placed in the outer notch, however, the frame will traverse
forward without touching it, and the motion of the machinery will consequently
continue. The connection of the lever 2 with the rod 1 is by means of a pin
on the former, which pin is kept against a catch on the latter by means of
a bent lever 4, jointed to the end of the latter, and by turning the lever 4,
the pin on the lever 2 can be released, so that this lever will not act on the
reversing gear.
In the modification of spoke bar bending machine, represented in Figure 4
on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, two bending arms A are contrived to swivel on
pins B, upon a fixed bed plate C, and upon this bed plate is formed or
fixed a raised block or form D, of such a shape as to fit the inside of the
bent spoke bar E, F. The circumferential portion E of the spoke bar is
held or compressed against the form D by means of a block G, which
is capable of sliding between cheeks H, upon the bed plate C being shifted
back or forward by means of the screw spindle I. The bar to be bent is
introduced when the bending arms A are open, as indicated by the red lines
in the Figure, and the arms are then turned in upon the bar by means
of hand levers J, inserted into sockets in their ends. These levers are
of sufficient length to give the requisite pressure, but are represented as

page_text: broken away in the Drawing. When the ends of the arms A are brought
near together, they are connected by a link K, jointed to one of them, which
link is entered in a groove or recess in the other arm, and a nut L upon
a screwed portion of the link is tightened up, so as to bring the two arms
together, and hold them in that position as long as is necessary for completing
the bending of the spoke bar.
In the modification of my wheel tyre welding machine, represented on Sheet 2
of the Drawings hereunto attached, a pair of strong pedestal bearings A, cast
on a single sole B, and bolted down to a massive foundation C, serve to
support a horizontal shaft D, on which is fixed an oscillating frame, consisting
of two end frame pieces E, tied together by a pair of tension rods F. One of
the end frame pieces E is fixed on the overhanging end of the shaft D, and is.
formed with a downward projecting tail G, which acts as a lever, by means of.
which the frame E is made to oscillate. The lower end of the tail or lever G
is connected by the rod H to a pin on the arm of a large spur wheel I on a
horizontal shaft, which spur wheel is driven by a pinion J on a second hori-.
zontal shaft K. The shaft K, supported in suitable bearings, passes across
the foundation C, and has a pair of pulleys L on its opposite end for driving
it by. The frame pieces E are formed with slots, in which are bearings for a
pair of shafts M, N, on the overhanging end of each of which is fixed a
roller O, P, shaped respectively to the inner and outer contours of the tyre Q
to be welded. The two rollers O, P, are compressed together by means of
screw spindles R, acting on the bearings of the upper roller shaft M. The
wheel tyre Q to be welded is held by means of a pair of handles R¹, keyed
and tightened upon it by means of a screw, and when the tyre is being
welded, it rests, by means of the handles R', upon two brackets S, bolted to the
pedestal A, by which brackets it is at the same time prevented from turning
or oscillating with the frame E. The upper roller O is raised to allow the
tyre Q to be introduced between it and the lower roller P, and after the two
are compressed together again, the machine is set in motion, and the rollers
are thereby made to roll back and forwards over the part of the tyre to be
welded, this part of the tyre being of course previously heated to the requisite
temperature. In the modification of wheel tyre welding machine, represented
on Sheet 3 of the Drawings hereunto attached, the welding rollers A, B,
are carried in a stationary framing, consisting of two cast-iron side standards C,
bolted down to a cast-iron base frame D, to which they are also connected by
a pair of diagonal stays E, being connected to each other by a pair of trans-
verse tie rods F. The machine is driven by means of a pair of pulleys G
upon a transverse horizontal shaft H, carried in bearings bolted to the base

page_text: frame D, and this shaft H has fast on one of its overhanging ends a pinion J,
which drives a large spur wheel K, fast on a transverse horizontal shaft L,
also carried in bearings bolted to the base frame D. The arms of the spur
wheel K are formed with eyes M at different distances from the centre, and
in one of these eyes is fixed a pin N, upon which is jointed a connecting rod O,
passing to a crank or lever P, fast on the shaft Q of the welding roller A.
The lever P is considerably longer than the radius distance of the pin N, and
the rotation of the latter makes the former vibrate through a proportionate
arc, and this causes the roller A to reciprocate through a corresponding portion
of a revolution. The wheel tyre R to be welded is carried in the holding
handles S, and the part to be welded is introduced between the welding
rollers A, B, the peripheries of which are shaped respectively to the external
and internal contours of the tyre. The machinery being then set in motion,
the reciprocatory partial rotation of the roller A causes the tyre to reciprocate
or pass back and forwards between the two rollers, and by these means the
required weld is effected, the tyre being of course suitably heated at the part
for the purpose. The shafts Q and T¹ of the two welding rollers work in
bearings which are capable of sliding in vertical slots in the frame pieces C.
The bearings of the upper shaft Q are adjustable vertically by means of a
pair of screw spindles U, working in internal screws in the top of the frame
pieces, and fitted with handles V, for turning them by. As the welding
operation goes on, the lower roller B is gradually raised up, so as to nip the
tyre more closely, and for this purpose the bearings of its shaft T rest upon
eccentrics W, upon a lower horizontal shaft X, the turning of which last
causes the eccentrics to raise up the bearings of the shaft T. The shaft X
bas fixed upon it a worm wheel Y, in gear with which is a worm Z, fast upon
an inclined spindle a, this last being supported in a bracket bearing b, bolted
to the frame piece C, and having a hand wheel c fixed on its upper end, by
turning which the requisite lift is given to the lower roller B. In the modifi-
cation just described, the lever P for working the welding rollers is fixed
to the shaft of the upper or outside roller A; it will, however, be obvious to
the practical man that a similar effect will be obtained by communicating the
motion primarily to the lower or inside welding roller B.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be

page_text: novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, apparatus, or
means to be employed in the manufacture of railway wheels, as herein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of bending the spoke bars of railway wheels by
means of swivelling and sliding blocks arranged to bend and compress the
bar upon or against a form or mould piece, the compressing action being
given to the swivelling blocks either by traversing them upon a frame
between fixed resisting pulleys: by causing traversing pulleys to act upon
them, they being jointed upon a fixed frame; by connecting them directly or
otherwise to revolving cranks, or other equivalent movement; or by turning
them in upon the bar by hand, by means of levers, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of welding railway or other wheel tyres by means
of rollers made to roll back and forward, or act in an equivalent manner upon
the part of the tyre to be welded, such rollers being carried in a frame to
which an oscillatory motion is communicated or being in a fixed frame; and
having a reciprocatory partial rotation given to them whilst the tyre recipro-
cates through or between them, and is thus subjected to a reciprocatory rolling
action, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the Archibald Craig, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
ARCHIBALD CRAIG. (L.s.)