OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CAULKING, CHIPPING, SWAGING, AND RIVETTING METALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Nicholas Floyd, of Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Machinist, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
CAULKING, CHIPPING, SWAGING, AND RIVETTING METALS."
Sealed the 21st December 1877, and dated the 12th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Nicholas Floyd at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1877.
JOHN NICHOLAS FLOYD, of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Machinist.
"NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CAULKING, CHIPPING, SWAGING, AND
RIVETTING METALS."
My Invention consists of machinery constructed as herein-after explained, by
the use of which metals may be caulked, chipped, swaged, and rivetted with great
rapidity and facility.
My Invention is especially applicable to the caulking of the joints of the plates
of steam boilers and articles of like manufacture.
I will describe my said Invention as applied to caulking.
My Invention consists of a small steam cylinder and piston, preferably of the
kind known in commerce as the "special," provided with the requisite valves
for producing a rapid reciprocating motion of the piston. The end of the piston
rod projecting from the stuffing box of the cover of the cylinder constitutes a per-
cussive instrument or hammer by which a series of blows is struck upon the end
of the holder of the caulking tool. This tool holder is in a line with the piston,
and works in a bush supported at a short distance from the cover end of the steam
cylinder. By means of a coiled spring the tool holder is brought to its normal
position after it has been struck forward by the piston. The fool holder is incapable
of rotating in the bush; but the bush, and with it the tool holder, may be turned
through any desired angle, in order to bring the caulking tool into the plane
required by the plates being caulked.
The machine is suspended from a chain or otherwise, and is provided at its rear
with a handle by which the workman directs its motion, and causes it to follow

page_text: the joint to be caulked. The said handle is provided with a spring plate, which
the workman can press without relaxing his hold on the handle. This spring
plate acts on a tap or valve connected with the steam chest, and when the said
plate is not pressed the said tap closes. By pressing more or less on the said spring
plate the amount of steam admitted to the steam chest and the rate of working of
the machine may be regulated by the workinan, or the machine may be brought to
rest by ceasing to press the said plate. Steam is supplied the said tap from the
steam boiler by an elastic pipe.
The application of my Invention to chipping, swaging, and rivetting metals
differs in no essential respect from its application to caulking.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Nicholas Floyd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
January 1878.
JOHN NICHOLAS FLOYD, of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, Machinist.
"NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CAULKING, CHIPPING, SWAGING, AND
RIVETTING METALS."
My Invention consists of machinery constructed as herein-after explained, by
the use of which metals may be caulked, chipped, swaged, and rivetted with great
rapidity and facility.
..
My Invention is. especially applicable to the caulking of the joints of the plates-
of steam boilers and articles of like manufacture.
. I will describe my Invention as applied to caulking.
My said Invention consists of a small steam cylinder and piston, preferably of
the kind known in commerce as the "special," provided with the requisite valves
for producing a rapid reciprocating motion of the piston. The end of the piston
rod projecting from the stuffing box of the cover of the cylinder constitutes a per-
cussive instrument or hammer by which a series of blows is struck upon the end
of. the holder of. the caulking tool. It is preferred to make the caulking tool
project into the steam cylinder, the piston striking the blow direct on the projecting
end of the said tool. This tool holder is in a line with the piston, and works in a
bush supported at a short distance from the cover end of the steam cylinder. By
means of a coiled or other spring the tool holder is brought to its normal position
after it has been struck forward by the piston. The tool holder is capable of
rotating in the bush, which is fixed, the said tool holder being turned through any
desired angle, in order to bring the caulking tool into the plane required by the
plates being caulked.
The machine is suspended from a chain or otherwise, and is provided at its rear
with a handle by which the workman directs its motion, and causes it to follow
the joint to be caulked. The said handle is provided with a spring plate, which
the workman can press without relaxing his hold on the handle. This spring plate
acts on a tap or valvė connected with the steam chest, and when the said plate is
hot pressed the said tap closes. By pressing more or less on the said spring. plate
the amount of steam admitted to the steam chest and the rate of working of the
machine may be regulated by the workman, or the machine may be brought to rest

page_text: by ceasing to press the said plate. Steam is supplied to the said tap from the
steam boiler by an elastic pipe.
The application of my Invention to chipping, swaging, and rivetting metals
differs in no essential respect from its application to caulking.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal vertical section, Figure 2 in plan, and Figure
in transverse section through the slide valve, a caulking machine, the parts of which
are constructed, arranged, and worked according to my Invention.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
A is the steam cylinder of the caulking machine in which a piston B, consti-
tuting a striking block, works. The reciprocating motion of the piston or block B
in the cylinder A is effected in the manner herein-after described. To the front
end of the steam cylinder A, a bush or nozzle A² is affixed by a flange on its larger
end, being bolted to the flange on the end of the steam cylinder. In the said bush
or nozzle A² the caulking tool J (or the holder to which the caulking or other tool
is affixed) works, the said tool J working steam-tight through the gland s, the said
tool J having a rapid reciprocating motion given to it for effecting the caulking
operation. The tool J is a solid tool, that is, has no hole in its end to receive the
caulking tool. It is preferred to use this kind of tool, but the tool and its.holder
may be made separately, as herein-after described. On the rod or stem of the
caulking tool J (or on the tool holder) is a collar j, on opposite sides of which collarj
spring buffers marked respectively R and R' are placed, the buffer R consisting of
a hollow cylinder of india-rubber, and the buffer R¹ consisting of a coiled metallic
spring. By means of the pressure of the said buffers R, R₁, the caulking tool J is
kept firmly in the required position in the bush or nozzle A2, thereby preventing
its too easy rotation, and also preventing shock to the machine. The buffer R
bears against a loose collar J¹, which is packed or supported by the india-rubber
ring K adjusted. by the gland & in the nozzle or bush A
In order to adjust the angle of the caulking tool. J (or its holder) to the plane
required by the plates being caulked, it is only necessary to grip the tool or holder
by hand to adjust its position in the bush A2
By the advance stroke of the piston or block B in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 1, it strikes the inner end of the caulking tool or tool holder J,
and the said caulking tool is made to advance and effect the caulking of the joint.
The advance of the tool or tool holder J causes the buffer R to be compressed by
the collar j; and on the back stroke of the piston B the said buffer R expanding
gives the return stroke to the caulking tool, the spring buffer R¹ being compressed.
On the piston B arriving at the end of its back stroke, the india-rubber buffer K,
on the rear end of the piston B, strikes the cylinder cover, and thereby prevents
shock to or vibration in the machine.
The reciprocating motion of the piston or block B in the steam cylinder A is
effected in the following manner :-Steam is admitted to either end of the cylinder
A through the ports a, a,.and steam is exhausted from either end of the cylinder
through the said ports a, a, and exhaust port b. The said ports a, a¹, are alternately
put into communication with the steam chest, and with the exhaust port b by the
action of the slide valve c, which is of the ordinary construction used in this kind
of engine, and which valve may be so arranged as to admit steam under it, as seen
in Figure 3.
I do not, however, limit myself to any particular construction of slide valve. The
slide valve c is seated on the bottom of the steam chest D, the ends of which steam
chest form small cylinders E, E', bored out to receive the auxiliary pistons F, F¹,
which are connected together by the rod G. The rod G is furnished with two
collars which bear against standards c², c², projecting from the back of the slide
valve c. The auxiliary pistons F, F, fit loosely in their cylinders, so as to permit of
a small quantity of steam leaking past them. The said pistons F, F¹, are thereby
exposed to a uniform pressure of steam from all sides after they have made their

page_text: stroke, and are maintained in a state of equilibrium till the next stroke of the said
pistons. The auxiliary cylinders E, E¹, are connected by means of the channels e, e¹,
(see Figure 2) opening into the passages H, H¹, with the ends of the main cylinder
A through the passages g, g¹. The passages g, g', are closed by the valves I, I',
which are pressed to their seats by springs carried by screw caps, as
Figure 1.
seen in
I do not limit myself to the construction described of the valves I, I', for closing
the passages g, g¹; but I have found that the form of valve represented in the
Drawing answers well. The stems of the valves I, 1', extend down the passages g, g²,
and project into the main cylinder A. The ends of the said stems of the valves I, I¹,
are bevelled or rounded, as represented.
The ends of the main piston B are also bevelled or inclined, as illustrated in
Figure 1, so that on the piston B passing one or other of the valves I or I', it lifts
the said valve from its seat, and reverses the position of the slide valve c in the
following manner:-Supposing the main piston or block B to be moving in the
direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the said piston B, just before it reaches the end of
its stroke in that direction, strikes against the stem of the valve I, and raises the
said valve from its seat. The further motion of the piston B causes it to strike the
inner end of the caulking tool J, and propel or drive forward the said tool, as before
described. By the opening of the valve I the auxiliary cylinder E is brought into
connection with the exhaust port b through the passages a¹, g¹, H, and e¹ in the
saine manner as in the steam engine known as the "special," and steam from the
said cylinder E is rapidly exhausted therefrom. The equilibrium of the auxiliary
piston F is thereby disturbed, the pressure of steam on the other auxiliary piston Fl
giving motion to the two pistons F, F¹, and the position of the main slide valve c
is reversed, and steam from the steam chest D is now made to press on the
end of the piston B near the nozzle end A, and give the back stroke to the said
piston B. On the piston B arriving at the end of its back stroke it acts upon
and lifts the valve I', and the slide valve c is again reversed, and the piston B is
again advanced in the cylinder A, and made to strike the tool or tool holder J, as
before described.
Steam is admitted to the steam chest D by the stop-cock ○ connected to the
steam boiler by an elastic pipe. The caulking machine is suspended by a chain
or otherwise at the place where it is to be used, and the rear end of the steam
cylinder A is furnished with a spring buffer or handle by which the workman
keeps the machine up to its work, and directs its motion so as to cause it to follow
the joint to be caulked. By means of the said spring buffer the amount of steam
admitted to the steam chest can be controlled, and the working of the piston or
block B regulated.
The said spring buffer consists of a plate or handle P, which is grasped by the
hand of the workman. To this plate or handle P a tube Q is fixed, which tube Q
slides upon the rod T at the rear end of the cylinder A. Within this tube Qis
a strong spring P2, which bears at one end against the rod T, and at the other end
against the small rod N, the bent or cranked end of which works in a slot in the
tube Q. The outer end of the rod N is furnished with a knob or head, and the
inner end is connected by the link N2 with the cock O in the pipe through which
steam passes to the steain chest D. By the action of the spring P² the rod Q,
handle P, and rod N'are made to take the positions represented in Figures 1 and 2,
in which positions of the parts the steam cock O is closed. By pressing inwards
the rod N by its head the cock O may be opened more or less by the workman,
and the quantity of steam passing to the steain chest D can thus be regulated; or,
by removing the pressure from the rod N, steam is cut off from the steam chest D,
and the machine is brought to rest.
The operating of the spring rod N for regulating or cutting off the steam to
the machine is effected by the workman without relaxing his hold on the plate or
handle P by which he directs the motion of the machine.
Figure 4 represents a tool holder and tool for chipping purposes.

page_text: Figure 5 represents a swaging tool holder and tool, and Figure 6 represents a
tool holder and tool for rivetting. These tool holders, carrying their respective
tools, are used in the machine, Figures 1, 2, and 3, in the manner described with
respect to the caulking tool J.
Figure 7 represents in elevation my Invention applied to a steam swage or
hammer for smith's or forge use. In this modification the parts are arranged to
work vertically instead of horizontally as in the caulker, Figures 1 and 2, the steam
cylinder being stationary instead of being suspended as described with respect to
the caulking machine.
The modification, Figure 7, may also be used for caulking, chipping, and rivetting
metals.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention
of "New or Improved Machinery for Caulking, Chipping, Swaging, and Rivetting
Metals,"-
The arrangement or combination of parts, substantially as herein-before
described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying
Drawings, constituting a portable steam caulking, chipping, swaging, and rivetting
machine, with hand guide and regulator, the piston or block of the machine
striking the blow direct on the end of the tool or tool holder, as described and
illustrated.
Also the modification of the said machine, illustrated in Figure 7, for adapting it
to be used as a fixed or stationary machine for swaging or hammering, chipping,
rivetting, and caulking.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Nicholas Floyd, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
EDWIN ERNEST BEDDOE,
Bratt Street,
West Bromwich.
JOHN NICHOLAS FLOYD. (L.S.)