IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PORTABLE HYDRAULIC RIVETING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Carnegie Kirk, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED
WITH PORTABLE HYDRAULIC RIVETING MACHINES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Carnegio Kirk at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1880.
ALEXANDER CARNEGIE KIRK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PORTABLE HYDRAULIC RIVETING
MACHINES."
This Invention has for its object to render portable hydraulic riveting machines
more conveniently and advantageously applicable than heretofore, for riveting the
framing, stringers, or coamings of ships, the angle irons and other parts of girders
or other analogous work, and consists principally in simplifying the means of
supporting and moving such machines as hereinafter described.
In carrying out the Invention, arrangements are adopted whereby the machine
whilst riveting rests on or bears against the structure that is being riveted, and
also whilst being moved from rivet to rivet. At the same time the parts of the
machine holding the riveting dies are capable of an independent angular or oblique
adjustment to admit of the dies acting on rivets at different distances from the edge
along which the machine travels.
In one of the various modifications of which the arrangements are susceptible,
the riveting machine is carried on bearings placed so that it is balanced or nearly
balanced on them in a fraine or carriage fitted with two rollers or slides, of which
one is in front and the other behind. It is by these rollers or slides that the
machine rests on or bears against, and it is moved and guided along, the work
being riveted; whilst it can be turned about its bearings between the cheeks or
sides of the frame or carriage so as to act on each rivet at the proper distance from
the edge.
This arrangement, which is suitable for horizontal riveting, can be adapted both
to the type of machine having a fixed or rigid gap or jaw piece of horse-shoe or
other suitable form, and also to other varieties in which the dies are actuated
through levers admitting of the cylinder being placed clear of the work.

page_text: When the machine is made with a deep gap tied together about the middle by
a bolt, or with two fraines or pieces tied together, and either rigidly connected or
arranged as levers, the frame or carriage may be dispensed with, the bolt or
connecting piece being arranged to slide or move, by preference with a roller on it,
along the edge of the work, and being so placed that the machine is balanced
or nearly balanced upon it. Or the bolt may be fitted to a small frame or carriage
with two rollers, whereby a greater effective depth of gap is obtainable.
The arrangements are susceptible of modification in various analogous ways to
suit special cases. Thus in riveting vertically, as, for example, when riveting an
angle iron to a beam, frame, or stringer, the web or part to which the angle iron
is being riveted being horizontal, a small roller may be fitted in the gap of the
riveting machine, such roller being in a swivelling fork, the shank or spindle of
which is vertical and fitted in a bearing in the upper limb of the gap. The
machine is balanced or nearly so on the swivelling roller, and can be moved along
the work and be turned about the swivel axis to adjust the dies to the various
positions required. In some cases, as when riveting an angle iron to the lower
edge or side of a beam or girder, the machine is carried below the beam or girder
on a bolt having fixed to it a bracket fitted with a slide or roller in a position to
move on the upper side of the beam or girder or of the angle iron, the machine
being capable of turning-on-the-bolt for setting the dies at different distances from
the edge of the beam or girder, and in the case of a ship's frame,-which-from-its.
_curvature varies between a horizontal and vertical position, the carrying part is
fitted with two rollers, one to bear on-cach-side-of-the-leaf_or_web of the angle iron,
or there may be a single-roller-on-one side and two on the other.
In some cases, as when operating on the lower parts of deep frames-or-girders,-
the riveting machine may be suspended by rods passing up on each side of the
frame or girder to a counterbalanced lever on a carriage or support fitted to move
along the top edge; or the support or carriage may be directly over the machine,
the suspending rods being connected to a piston or pistons in one or two hydraulic
cylinders by means of which the machine can be raised or lowered as required.
When the machine is light and travels along a nearly horizontal edge it may be
simply pushed along, or the roller or rollers may be turned by means of a small
hand spike or a ratchet lever; but when the machine has to be moved along an
inclined or vertical edge, a light tackle or hydraulic hoist is by preference employed
to raise the machine as required.
In order to lighten the riveting machine the limbs or jaws of the gap are made
in the form of open steel frames, and either cast or made out of plates or forgings
in which the openings are cut or punched, or out of separate bars welded together.
3
3
In cases in which it is inconvenient for the supporting part of the riveting
machine to run on the work itself that is being operated on, bars may be temporarily 4
fixed from point to point for the purpose of supporting or guiding the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Carnegio Kirk in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th March 1881.
ALEXANDER CARNEGIE KIRK, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PORTABLE HYDRAULIC RIVETING
"
MACHINES."
My said Invention has for its object to render portable hydraulic riveting
inachines more conveniently and advantageously applicable than horetofore for
riveting the framing, stringers, or coamings of ships, the angle irons and other
parts of girders, or other analogous work, and consists principally in simplifying
the means of supporting and moving such machines, as hereinafter described.
In carrying out my Invention arrangements are adopted whereby the machine
whilst riveting rests on or bears against the structure that is being riveted, and
also whilst being moved from rivet to rivet. At the same time the parts of the
machine holding the riveting dies are capable of an independent angular or oblique
adjustment to admit of the dies acting on rivets at different distances from the edge
along which the machine travels.
•
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append two Sheets of explanatory
Drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing various modifications of
my improved arrangements or apparatus. In these Drawings the same reference
numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherover they are repeated.
One of the various modifications of which my improved arrangements are
susceptible is shown in plan in Figure 1, and in elevation in Figure 2, on Sheet 1
of the accompanying Drawings. In this modification the riveting machino
11, 12, 13, is carried on bearings 14, placed so that it is balanced or nearly balanced
on them, in a frame or carriage 15 fitted with two rollers 16 (or it might be with
slides instead of rollers), of which one is in front and the other behind. It is by these
rollers 16 or the slides that the machine rests on or bears against and is moved and
guided along the work 17 being riveted, whilst it can be turned about its
bearings 14 between the cheeks or sides of the frame or carriage 15 so as to act on
cach rivet 18 at the proper distance from the edge.
This arrangement, which is suitable for horizontal riveting, can be adapted both
to the type of machine shown in Figures 1 and 2, and having a fixed or rigid gap
or jaw pieco 12 of horse-shoe or other suitable form, and also to other varieties in
which the dies 19, 20, are actuated through levers admitting of the cylinder (11)
being placed clear of the work.
When the machine is made with a deep gap tied together about the middle by a
bolt, or with two frames or pieces 21, 22, as shown in plan in Figure 3, the frames
being tied together by a middle bolt 23, and either rigidly connected by the aid of
a second or outer belt 24, as shown in Figure 3, or arranged as levers, as shown in
Figure 4, the frame or carriage (15) may be dispensed with, the middle bolt or
connecting piece 23 being arranged to move, by preference with a roller 25 on it,
long the edge of the work 17, and being so placed that the machine is balanced or
nearly balanced upon it. If required, a lever weight may be added, as indicated
by dotted lines at 20, Figure 2, to make the machine nearly balanced, or a simple
and lever may be attached for moving and adjusting the machine by. Instead
of the roller 25 being on the middle bolt 23, that bolt may be attached to a small
rame or carriage with two rollers, whereby a greater effective depth of gap is
btainable.
The modification represented in Figure 4 is shown partly in section. The con-
ecting piece 23 is an eye bolt fixed in one lever frame piece 22, and jointed to the

page_text: other lever frame piece 21 by a pin 27. The hydraulic cylinder 11 is shown in
section, and as containing a conic volute spring 28 for returning the piston and
separating the dies. If preferred, an external spring may be applied, as indicated
at 29, instead of the enclosed spring 28, or a small hydraulic ram or other suitable
known appliance may be used for the same purpose.
My improved arrangements are susceptible of modification in various analogous
ways to suit special cases. Thus in riveting vertically, as, for example, when
riveting an angle iron to a beam, frame, or stringer, the web or part to which the
angle iron is being riveted being horizontal, a modification may be adopted such
as is shown in plan in Figure 5, and in side elevation in Figure 6, on Sheet 2 of
the Drawings. The machine is like that shown in Figure 3, excepting that a
small roller 30 is fitted in the gap, this roller being held in a swivelling fork, the
shank or spindle of which is vertical and fitted in a bearing in the upper limb 21
of the gap. The machine is balanced or nearly so on the swivelling roller 30, a
lever weight being attached if necessary as indicated by dotted lines at 26, and
can be moved along the work 17, and be turned about the swivel axis to adjust the
dies 19, 20, to the various positions required. Figure 7 is a side elevation of
another modification of machine which is suitable for the same applications as that
last herein before described. In this modification two carrying rollers 16 are
employed, being held by a frame or carriage 15, from which the machine is
suspended by a swivelling bolt 31, the machine shown in this example-being. one
with a rigid gap or horse-shoe frame.
In some cases, as-when-riveting-au-angle_iron_to_the lower edge or side of a
beam-or girder,_the_machine is carried below the beam or girder, as shown in
Figures 8 and 9, which are elevations as at right angles to each other. The-machine-
shown is of the kind shown in Figure 3, and is carried by means of its middle
connecting bolt 23, which has fixed to it a bracket 32 fitted with a single roller
or slide to move on the upper side of the beam or girder or of the angle iron 17,
the machine being capable of turning on the bolt 23 for setting the dies 19, 20, at
different distances from the edge of the beam or girder; and in the case of a ship's
frame, which from its curvature varies between a horizontal and vertical position,
the carrying part 32 is fitted with two rollers, one to bear on each side of the leaf
or web of the angle.iron, or there may be a single roller 33 on one side and two 34
on the other, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.
In some cases, as when operating on the lower parts of deep frames or girders,
the riveting machine may be suspended by rods passing up on each sido of the
frame or girder to a counterbalanced lever on a carriage or support fitted to move
along the top edge; or the support or carriage may be directly over the machine,
the suspending rods being connected to a piston or pistous in one or two hydraulic
cylinders, by means of which the machine can be raised or lowered as required.
When the machine is light and travels along a nearly horizontal edge it may be
simply pushed along, or the roller or rollers (16, 25, 30, 33, or 34) may be turned
by means of a small hand spike or a ratchet lever; but when the machine has to
move along an inclined or vertical edge a light tackle or hydraulic hoist is by
preference employed to raise and lower the machine as required.
In order to lighten the riveting machine the limbs or jaws 21, 22, of the gap
are made, as shown in Figures 3, 4, 6, 8, in the form of open steel frames, and
either cast or made out of plates or forgings in which the openings are cut or
punched, or out of separate bars welded together.
In cases in which it is inconvenient for the supporting part of the riveting
machine to run on the work itself that is being operated on, bars may be tempo-
rarily fixed from point to point for the purpose of supporting or guiding the
machine.
The water or other liquid under pressure for working the riveting machines used
in carrying out my Invention may be supplied thereto by means of flexible or
jointed piping and valvular and other necessary appliances such as are in use in
connection with other portable hydraulic machines.

page_text: Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
"
1. The fitting of portable hydraulic riveting machines with supporting parts,
having rollers or slides adapted for resting on or bearing against and moving along
the structure or work that is being riveted, the parts being arranged so that the
limbs holding the riveting dies are capable of independent angular or oblique
adjustment to admit of the dies acting on rivets at different distances from the
edge along which the machine travels, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The making of the limbs, jaws, or levers of portable riveting machines in the
form of open steel frames, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Carnegie Kirk, have hereunto set
my hand and scal, this Third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
ALEXANDER C. KIRK. (LS.)