IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS, AND RIVETTING MACHINES.
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Naylor, of the City of Norwich, Engineer,
. for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS, AND RIVETTING
MACHINES.
Sealed the 18th April 1856, and dated the 30th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Naylor at the
Office of the Commissioners. of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1855.
I, WILLIAM NAYLOR, of the City of Norwich, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS AND
RIVETTING MACHINES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to power hammers, whether worked by means of
elastic gas or steam or by compressed or exhausted air, and consists, firstly,
of improvements in the general construction. and. arrangement of power
hammers..
Secondly, of an arrangement of apparatus applicable to hammers worked
by ordinary steam engines, so that the elastic gas, compressed air, or steam can.
be either admitted above the piston or not at will.
And, thirdly, of a steam regenerator or air heater to be used in connection
with such hammers, to heat and expand the air, or regenerate the steam
immediately before entering the ports of the cylinder.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention, the working cylinder_is

page_text: supported upon a cast-iron bracket..attached to, the framing, which may be of
any suitable material. In-place of aapiston rod I employ a ram of large
diameter (say, about two-thirds of the diameter of the cylinder,) which passes
through stuffing boxes in the top and bottom of the cylinder. This ram, the
hammer block, and the piston are formed in one piece of either cast or wrought
iron. The piston is formed eccentric to the ram,. so as to prevent the block
from turning round when at work. The die or hammer face is keyed on to
the bottom of the hammer block. The working valve is formed of two pipes,
one placed inside the other, with a space intervening, which is closed at each
end by a solid ring, which unites the two pipes together. . The upper ring also
forms a boss, by means of which the valve spindle is attached to the valve.
The outside pipe is perforated at its central part with several small holes, and
is furnished near the top and bottom with openings corresponding with the
upper and lower ports of the cylinder. The valve chest is cylindrical, and
turned at its upper and lower parts, so as to fit accurately around the valve,
but is cast rather larger in the centre, so as to admit the air, steam, or gas
entering the valve chest at this part to circulate round the valve, and pass
through the perforations into the space between the inner and outer casing,
and thus through the upper or lower port (as the case may be) into the
cylinder. The ports in the valve are nearer together than the ports of the
cylinder, and the length of the tubular valve is so arranged, that when one port
is opened by. raising or depressing the valve, the steam, air, or gas escapes
from the other port past the end of the valve to the exit or exhaust pipe at the
bottom of the valve chest, the steam, air, or gas from the upper port passing
down through the inner pipe. The upper end of the ram is furnished with a
roller revolving upon a pin fixed to the ram, which, as the hammer ascends or
descends, comes into contact with one or other of two sliding wedges, which
are connected by suitable links and levers to the working valve. The two
sliding wedges are connected by, two short links to two rods, which rods' are
connected by two other rods to hand levers, so placed as to be under control
of the workman. It will be thus obvious, that by suitably adjusting the sliding
wedges by means of the hand levers any desired amount of stroke of the
piston may be obtained, or the blows may be given alternately light or "heavy
at will. The valve is also so arranged that the gas, air, or steam can either
be admitted to the top of the piston or not, according to the weight of blow
that may be required, and it is entirely under the control of the workman to
it to any degree. When used as a vacuum hammer the vacuum pipe
must be attached to the exhaust pipe, and it will then work with atmospheric
pressure, as it would in the other case with compressed air, steam, or gas.
vary

page_text: In carrying out the second part of my Invention, I propose to employ an ordi-
nary D. valve; the: upper part of which is elongated, so that communication with
the top of the piston would be entirely closed, but a port is cast through this
part of the valve, which is opened and closed by means of a plate sliding on
the back of the valve, & mioved by a valve spindle which is entirely under the
control of the workman: When it is desired-to-open-the communication into
the top of the cylinder, the sliding plate is elevated until the under side of the
plate is in a line with the top of the port leading to the top of the cylinder;
and it is obvious, that as soon as the port through the valve begins to pass the
under side of the plate, the motive power will pass through the valve and into
the cylinder; but when the plate is drawn over the back of the valve, covering
the port when at the bottom of the stroke, the communication, between the
cylinder and the valve chest will be entirely closed..
a
In carrying out the third part of my Invention, I employ.a cylindrical
or other convenient shaped vessel placed as near as practicable to the
hammer, and so arrange the supply pipe that the steam, air, or gas shall
pass through this; vessel on its passage to the working, cylinder. In the
interior of this vessel I place a fire box, having a grate at the bottom
communicating with an ash-pit, and, having, a chimney passing up through
a stuffing box in the top of the vessel. There is float inside the vessel,
connected by levers, and a rod to a fly valve working in a plate, and
admitting or shutting off, the supply of air to or from the ash-pit.. In
using steam, the steam in passing through, the vessel leaves therein any con-
densed' water which may have been carried with it, thus giving dry steam to
the hammer. The water so left is, pure and hot, and is, almost immediately
reconverted into, steam by the, action of the fire, as the float will rise with the
water, and admit air through the ash-pit to the fire. As the water in the
vessel is evaporated, the float falls with the level of the water in the vessel, and
thus closes the ash-pit damper, thereby preventing combustion when it is not
required... When working with compressed air or gas, this, vessel is, to be filled
with water, linseed oil, or other fluid which, will not evaporate until it has
attained a very, high temperature. Through this, hot fluid the compressed air
or gas, must be carried. in suitable tubes, and by being thus heated it will
become expanded, and consequently far more effective. In place of making
the working piston eccentric to its rod .or. ram for the purpose of preventing
the hammer, from turning round in working,, as herein-before described, I
propose in some cases fitting a cross head to the upper end of the ram, such
cross head working along, fixed guide rods bolted to the top of the cylinder,
and steadied by suitable brackets at their upper ends. The pulley for working
i

page_text: the valve is in this case fitted into the cross head in place of in the end of the
'ram. These hammers may all be worked either in a horizontal, oblique, or
vertical position, and may be made to serve as rivetting machines for boiler-.
working or ship-building purposes by modifying the the framing accordingly.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Naylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
'NAYLOR, of the City of Norwich, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Naylor, Her special license that I, the said William Naylor,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Naylor, 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 POWER HAMMERS
AND RIVETTING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Naylor, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 William Naylor, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures imarked thereon, that is to say.:-
.
My said Invention relates to power hammers and rivetting machines,
whether worked by means of elastic gas or steam, or by compressed air. or.
vacuum, and consists,―
,i Firstly, of improvements in the general construction and arrangement of
power hammers and rivetting machines...

page_text: Secondly, of an arrangement of apparatus or valves applicable to hammer's
worked by ordinary steam engine cylinders, so that the elastic gas, compressed.
air, or steam can be either admitted above the piston or not at will.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention, the working cylinder is sup-
ported by cast-iron brackets, cast thereon and attached to the framing, which
may be of any suitable material. The hammer is made to work either single
or double acting, that is to say, to be either lifted by the motive power, and
when such power is removed for the hammer to fall by its own gravity, or
when circumstances and the operations upon the work require it, it can work
double-acting by bringing the motive force direct from the boiler upon the
piston to accelerate its downward motion.
The application of the motive force upon the piston is capable of being
varied to any degrée while the hammer is in full play, and such variation can.
be made so as to give alternate blows with the hammer, one by its gravity
alone, and the next by the full motive force upon the piston, and by being
double-acting can be worked vertically, obliquely, or horizontally, as a forging
hammer, shaping hammer, and rivetting hammer.
"The working valve is formed of two pipes, one placed inside the other with
a space intervening, which space is closed at each end. The outside pipe is
perforated with 'several small holes in "the central portion, and is furnished
near the top and bottom with openings corresponding alternately with the
upper and lower ports of the cylinder.
The valve chest is cylindrical, but is cast or bored rather larger in the centre,
so as to admit the air, steam, or gas entering the valve chest at this part to cir-
culate round the valve, and pass through the perforations into the space between
the inner and outer casing, and then through the upper or lower port (as the
case may be) into the cylinder. This tubular valve is so arranged, that when
one port is open to admit the steam, air, or gas to the cylinder, by raising or
depressing the valve, the steam, air, or gas escapes from the other port past
the end of the valve to the exit or exhaust pipe at the bottom of the valve
chest, (the steam, air, or gas from the upper port passing down through the inner
pipe.) A roller, revolving upon a pin as the hammer ascends or descends,
comes into contact with one or other of two sliding wedges, which are connected
by suitable links and levers to the working valve. The two sliding wedges
are connected by two short links to two rods, which rods are connected by two
other rods or other suitable contrivance to hand levers, so placed as to be
under the control of the workman. It will be thus obvious, that by suitably.
adjusting the sliding wedges by means of the hand levers, any desired amount
of stroke of the piston may be obtained, or the blow may be given alternately

page_text: light or heavy 'at, will.. The valves are also so arranged, that by being turned
partly round, the gas; air, or steam can either be admitted to the top of the
piston or not,. according to the weight of blow that may be required, and
it is. entirely under the control of the workmen to vary it to any degree.
When used as a vacuum hammer, the vacuum pipe must be attached to the
exhaust pipe, and it will, then work with atmospheric pressure, as it would in
the other case with compressed air; steam, or gas.
In carrying out the second part of my Invention, I propose to employ an
ordinary Dslide, valve; the upper; part of which is elongated, so that com-
munication with the top of the piston would be. entirely closed; but a.port is.
cast or made through this part of the valve, which is opened and closed by
means of a plate sliding on the back of the valve. and moved by a valve
spindle, which is entirely under the control of the workmen. When it
is desired to open, the communication into the top of the cylinder, the
sliding plate is, elevated until the under side of the plate is in a line with
the top of the port leading to the top. of the cylinder; and it is obvious, that
as soon as the port through the valve begins to pass the under side of the plate,
the motive power will pass through the valve and into the cylinder; but when
the plate is drawn over the back of the valve covering the port, when-at the
bottom of the stroke, the communication between the cylinder and valve chest
will be entirely. closed... These hammers may all be worked either in a
horizontal, oblique, or vertical position, and may be made to serve as rivetting
machines for boiler-making or for ship-building purposes by modifying the
framing accordingly.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more: particularly to describe the same; and for that
I shall
purpose
refer to the several: Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
Drawings.
.. Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings; represents a side elevation of, one
modification of power hanimer, and Figure-2 is a corresponding front view of
the same; Figure 3 is a transverse section of the cylinder aud cylindrical
valve chest, taken through the upper steam ports, and Figure 4 represents
an external elévation and longitudinal vertical section of the valve detached.
A is the working cylinder, 'carried. by its bracket flanges B, B, upon the
frames or standards C, C; D is the ram hammer, passing through both ends
of the cylinder. I may here observe, however, that I lay no claim to the
bringing of the ram or piston rod through stuffing boxes at both ends of the
cylinder, as I am aware. that hammers have been previously constructed on

page_text: 1.
a
that principle. The piston in the cylinder is so placed on the ram as to form
an eccentric, thereto, and thus prevent it from turning when at work. The
ram is composed of wrought or cast iron, separate or combined, or of any
other suitable material, and may be made solid, but I prefer its being made
hollow. E is a roller attached to the upper end of the ram for the purpose
of working the valve.; F is the die or hammer face, which is keyed or other-
wise fitted on to the bottom end of the ram; G, G, are the top and bottom
cylinder covers; and H, the cylindrical valve chest. a, a, are two way shafts,
carried in bearings, attached to suitable upright bars or frames I, I. On
the
lower one of these two way shafts, a', is keyed a lever b, for working the valve.
Each of these way shafts is fitted with a right-angle lever, or a portion of
disc cc, having studs or pins d, d, and d', d', fixed at an angle with each other
of about 90 degrees. The upper stud in the lever or portion of a disc c is
connected by a rod or link.e to the upper or corresponding stud.in the second
lever or disc c', and the corresponding lower studs in these levers.or.discs, are
connected in like manner, by a second.rod or link el. By this means the two
way shafts, a, a, must revolve or move simultaneously.and .in .corresponding
directions when moved at all. Upon the two rods or links. e, e', are fixed
sliding wedges.f, f, or where the length and effect of the hammer is, required
to be constant.and unchangeable the ends of the links.e, el, may themselves be
formed into, wedges.., The sliding wedges f, f', are connected by two short links
99, to two, sliding rods h, and these are connected by the connecting, links i,
or by any other suitable means, to the two hand levers k, k, which are so placed
as to be under the perfect and easy control of the workman in charge of the
hammer. When the hammer descends and. rests on, the, anvil, the roller E
attached to.the upper end of the ram will have pushed against,, the sliding
wedge f, and forced the rod or link e partly down with the hammer and
partly away from the roller E. The cylindrical valve will now admit the
steam or other motive power to the under side of the piston, which, admission
will be continued until the roller E strikes against the other sliding wedge f
on the second rod, or link e, thereby forcing it partly. upwards in the direction
of the hammer's, motion and partly pushing .it .aside, which will change the
position of the valve,.so as to allow the steam or air, to escape, from the bottom
of the cylinder, and if working double-acting, will admit the steam direct
from the boiler upon. the upper side of the piston to accelerate its fall. If
working single-acting, the ram and hammer will fall by gravity alone, so soon
as the steam or other motive power below the piston be permitted to escape.
On the roller E again striking the lower sliding wedge f¹, the valve will again
change its position, and re-admit the steam or air.below the piston. It will be
44

page_text: obvious that the workman, by adjusting the hand levers k and k¹ in one
or other of the notches k", can hold the sliding wedges f, f, in any position
upon their respective rods or links e, e', and that according to their positions
so will the roller E act sooner or later against the sliding wedges, and change
the position of the valve and direction of the hammer accordingly, thereby
enabling the man in charge of the hammer to give either long or short blows
at will, and, if necessary, long or short blows alternately either near the anvil
or at any portion of the whole range of stroke.
The round or cylindrical valve, Fig. 4, is composed of two pipes I, I, one
placed inside the other, with a space intervening, which is closed at each end
by rings m, m', uniting the two pipes together. The outer pipe may be in
parts, and made steam-tight to the rings m, m'. To one of the rings is attached
the valve spindle or rod n (Fig. 1) for working the valve; the outside pipe l
of the valve is perforated near its central part with several small holes for
admitting the steam into the intervening space between the two pipes.
At a suitable distance from the bottom end of the valve and round its cir-
cumference the outer pipe has a number of holes or ports o made in it, through
which the steam is admitted under the piston, and at a suitable distance from
the top end of the valve other holes or ports p are made through the outer pipe
on two sides only, the other two sides remaining blank. The valve is turned
perfectly parallel, so as to fit accurately into the cylindrical valve chest or
chamber. The valve chest H is to be accurately bored out near to each end-
to receive the valve, but is of rather larger diameter near the middle, to allow
of the steam from the steam pipe H¹ getting round the outer pipe and through
the perforation into the intervening spaces between the two pipes. Opposite
to the steam passage into the bottom of the cylinder there is a recess round
the valve chest to give free admission to the steam into and out of the cylinder,
as the case may be. There is also a recess round the top of the valve chest,
but two sides are closed by bridges 7, 9, (Fig. 3,) the steam having to pass
behind them. When the hammer is to be worked single-acting, that is, falling
by gravity alone, the valve is held in such a circular position that the two
opposite ports p, p, in the upper end of the outer pipe of the valve will be
turned towards, and moved when the valve is at work against, the two bridges
.1, 9, whilst the blank sides of the pipe will coincide with the cylinder ports,
and thereby prevent the admission of steam to the top of the cylinder or above
the piston.
A portion of the valve spindle n, but which does not work in the packing, is
made square, or of any other shape except round, and works through the eye
of the horizontal hand lever r. This lever is held in position by a flange similar

page_text: to that of the gland, and the two are held in their proper places by adjusting
bolts or pins. The lever r is (in some cases to be connected to a second lever
or other suitable contrivance, and) placed conveniently to the hand of the
workman, who can move it from side to side, and cause the valve to rotate
partly whilst it is in full work vertically, or whilst it is otherwise stationary.
When a greater force or power of blow is required than the gravity of the
hammer can produce, the lever r is to be moved to one side, and the valve
thereby partly turned round in the valve chest, so as to bring the upper ports
p, p, in the sides of the outer pipe of the valve partially or entirely opposite the
ports in the valve chest or cylinder, by which means a certain amount of
steam will be admitted to the top of the piston, which amount may be varied,
according to the downward pressure, required and the work the hammer is
doing, from the slightest degree of force to the full force due to the pressure of
the steam in the boiler; this being effected by the simple adjustment of the
lever r from side to side, the most powerful blow, by gravity and steam com-
bined can be given at will or alternately with the slightest touch. There may
be but one opening through the outer pipe l'of the valve into the top of the
cylinder, or there may be, more than two, but I consider two sufficient for the
area of the steam port, and prefer that number, as it produces equilibrium of
the valve in the valve chest. The steam escapes from the top of the cylinder
through the inner pipe of the valve,. and from the bottom of the cylinder past.
the end of the valve into the escape pipe K.
motive power.
Figure, 5 represents a section of a cylinder and slide valve for attaining the
same object, namely, a single or double acting power hammer. The top end
of the slide valve a is elongated, and never admits the steam or
past the end, but has a port 6 cast or made through it, and has a plate c
resting against the back of it, and held in position by a spindle d connected to
a lever e, (or to any other suitable contrivance) leading to the hand of the
workman.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, represents a side elevation of another
modification of my power hammer for forging and working upon, metals,
arranged with the valve gear below the cylinder. In this case.the piston rod
or ram is in the centre of the piston, and does not pass through the top cylinder
cover. The hammer block, which works in guides below the cylinder, is
secured to the bottom of the piston rod or ram, and carries the pulley E for
working the valve gear, which is placed below the cylinder instead of above it,
as in, the first-described arrangement. Figure 2 is a corresponding front
elevation, taken at right angles to Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan of the
bammer. With the exceptions above referred to, this hammer is of the same

page_text: general construction as that illustrated on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, and need
not therefore be further described. The corresponding parts in both arrange
ments are indicated by corresponding letters of reference.
Figure 1, on Sheet 3 of my Drawings, represents a side elevation of one of
my double-acting power hammers, working horizontally and applied' as a
rivetting hammer, the rivets being held on by a post or stem C' fixed to the
frame or standard C of the machine; and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of
the same. The general arrangement of the hammer is similar to the arrange-
ment shewn on Sheet 1, with the exception that the shape of the standards is
suitably modified to admit of the hammer working horizontally. As the steam
or other power will always be admitted on both sides of the piston, the lever r
for turning the valve may be dispensed with. All the parts corresponding to
those in the two arrangements shewn on Sheets 1 and 2 are indicated by
corresponding letters of reference.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would 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 said Invention; but what
I consider to be 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 constructions and arrangements of valves and valve
gearing for power hammers, as herein-before described, "and illustrated by my
Drawings.
A
Second, the system or mode of adjusting or regulating the length of blows
of power hammers when in full work by means of hand levers" and sliding
wedges, as herein-before described.
Third, the application of a cylindrical or round valve constructed as herein
before described to power hammers, whether used as 'ordinary forging hammers
or rivetting machines, or for other purposes to which power hammers are
applicable.
HT
Fourth, the application and use of a cylindrical or round valve arranged and
worked in such a manner that the steam or other power may be admitted or
not at will to the upper side or back of the piston during the working of the
hammer, in the manner herein-before described."
Fifth, the placing of the pistons of power hammers eccentrically on their
rods or rams, for the purpose of preventing them from turning round when
working.
*:
05
11

page_text: Sixth, the peculiar construction and arrangement of D slide valve, with a
sliding plate working on the back thereof, and the application of such arrange-
ment to power hammers, for the purpose of admitting the steam or other power
to the top or back of the piston at will during the working of the hammer, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Naylor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six.
WILLIAM NAYLOR. (L.S.).