Improvements in Gas Hammering, Punching, Riveting, and Shearing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
Improvements in Gas Hammering, Punching, Riveting, and Shearing
Machines.
I CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY of No. 5 Regent Street Smethwick in the County
of Stafford Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to
be as follows:-
My invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner hereinafter
described the parts of gas hammering punching riveting and shearing machines
whereby great efficiency in action and simplicity in construction are secured.
I will describe my improvements in connection with a gas hammer.
I employ but one piston in the cylinder of the machine which piston has the
double function of charging the cylinder with the detonating mixture of inflam-
mable gas and air and of receiving and transmitting the force of the explosion to the
hammer. This piston is solid with the piston rod on its underside. The lower end
of the said piston rod takes into and is keyed in an axial hole in the "tup" or
stalk of the hammer. The piston is pressed upwards and when at liberty to move
is made to rise nearly to the top of the cylinder by two volute springs. An axial-
rod passing through the cover of the cylinder carries at its lower end a circular
disc. Its upper end has a guide block working in a small guide cylinder. Jointed
to the said guide block is an arm which descends vertically to the base of the
machine where it is connected to a horizontal lever having a vertical working hand
lever. Underneath the said lever is another lever. I will call these levers the upper
and lower levers respectively. The lower lever is so connected by a vertical connecting
rod with the igniting apparatus that when the said rod is raised it opens the aperture
through which by means of a gas flame the detonating gaseous mixture is ignited. On
the underside of the inner or acting arm of the upper lever is an incline which when
the said arm is depressed by pushing inwards the hand lever bears upon an incline
on the upper side of the outer arm of the lower lever thereby raising the inner arm
of the said lower lever and opening the ignition valve. On the return or outward
motion of the hand lever a projection on the vertical arm connecting the guide block

page_text: with the upper lever strikes against a lever connected with the exhaust valve and
opening the said valve puts the interior of the cylinder into communication with the
atmosphere.
The action of the parts is as follows:-By pushing inwards the hand lever the
axial rod passing out of the top of the cylinder is depressed. The disc at the bottom
of the said rod bearing on the piston depresses the said piston thereby drawing into
the cylinder a charge of mixed gas and air. By now moving still further inwards
the working hand lever of the upper lever the ignition valve is opened and the charge
in the cylinder ignited. The piston is thereby forcibly and rapidly depressed causing
the hammer to strike a blow and at the same time compressing the volute springs.
After the blow the piston rises by the action of the springs and the counterbalance
weight on the outer end of the upper lever raises the inner end of the said lever
thereby raising the vertical arm and causing the projection on it to open the exhaust
valve. The piston is thereby permitted to rise to the top of its cylinder and to expel
the exhaust gases.
The parts are now in their normal positions ready to make
a second blow. The disc on the lower end of the axial rod is in its normal
position raised a short distance above the piston and on pressing inwards the hand
lever of the upper lever the first effect of its motion is the closing of the exhaust valve.
Immediately this has been effected the said disc comes in contact with the piston and
the further motion of the upper lever effects the descent of the piston and the
recharging of the cylinder. A buffer washer prevents concussion on upward motion
of the piston.
In order to vary the force of the blow it is necessary to diminish the volume of
the detonating gaseous mixture introduced into the cylinder. This is effected by
limiting the charging stroke. To do this the working hand lever of the upper lever is
moved through a smaller range. In this case it is necessary to change the position
of the incline on the lower lever in order that the fixed incline on the underside
of the upper lever may act upon it in its limited range of motion. For this
purpose the incline on the upper side of the lower lever is made capable of a
sliding motion on its lever so as to bring it more or less under the incline on the
underside of the upper lever. The position of the adjustable incline on the lower
lever is effected by an adjusting lever. By advancing the adjustable incline on its
lever it comes earlier into action and effects the opening of the ignition valve at
the proper time to fire the diminished charge in the cylinder.
In applying my improvements to gas punching riveting and shearing machines
I make such changes in details as are required by the particular purpose to which
the machine is to be applied but in all essential respects the machines resemble
the gas hammer herein before described.
In applying my improvements to punching and shearing and to some kinds of
riveting machines I invert the cylinder and piston and the weight of the piston
and piston rod enables me in some cases to dispense with one or both volute
springs. When as in shearing machines and in riveting machines in which the
riveting is effected by pressure instead of percussion I employ the ordinary lever
mechanism for changing the long percussive range of motion of the piston into a
short range of slow motion having great power and effecting the riveting by
pressure. In some kinds of riveting and shearing machines the cylinder of the
machine is situated horizontally and the details are varied to suit that position of the
cylinder.
Dated this Houstonth da
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gas Hammering, Punching, Riveting, and Shearing
Machines.
I CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY of No. 5 Regent Street, Smethwick, in the County
of Stafford, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my 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 constructing and arranging in the manner hereinafter
described the parts of gas hammering punching riveting and shearing machines,
whereby great efficiency in action and simplicity in construction are secured.
I will describe my improvements in connection with a gas hammer.
I employ but one piston in the cylinder of the machine which piston has the double
function of charging the cylinder with the detonating mixture of inflammable gas and
air and of receiving and transmitting the force of the explosion to the hammer. This
The lower end of the
piston is preferably solid with the piston rod on its underside.
said piston rod takes into and is keyed in an axial hole in the "tup" or stalk of the
hammer. The piston is pressed upwards and when at liberty to move is made to rise
nearly to the top of the cylinder by two volute springs. An axial rod passing through
the cover of the cylinder carries at its lower end a circular disc. Its upper end has a
guide block working in a small guide cylinder. Jointed to the said guide
block is an arm which descends vertically to the base of the machine_where
it is connected to a horizontal lever having a vertical working hand lever. Under-
neath the said lever is another lever. I will call these levers the upper and
lower levers respectively. The lower lever is so connected by a vertical con-
raised it opens
necting rod with the igniting apparatus that when the said rod
the aperture through which, by means of a gas flame, the detonating gaseous mixture
is ignited. On the underside of the inner or acting arm of the upper lever is an incline
which when the said arm is depressed by pushing inwards the hand lever bears upon
an incline on the upper side of the outer arm of the lower lever thereby raising the
On the return or
inner arm of the said lower lever and opening the ignition valve.
outward motion of the hand lever a projection on the vertical arm, connecting the
guide block with the upper lever, strikes against a. lever connected with the exhaust
valve and opening the said valve puts the interior of the cylinder into communication
with the atmosphere.
The action of the parts is as follows:-By pushing inwards the hand lever the axial
rod passing out of the top of the cylinder is depressed. The disc at the bottom of the
said rod bearing on the piston depresses the said piston thereby drawing into the
cylinder a charge of mixed gas and air. By now moving still further inwards
the working hand lever of the upper lever the ignition valve is opened and the charge
in the cylinder ignited. The piston is thereby forcibly and rapidly depressed
causing the hammer to strike a blow and at the same time compressing
the volute springs.
After the blow the piston rises by the action of the
springs and the counterbalance weight on the outer end of the upper lever,
raises the inner end of the said fever, thereby raising the vertical arm and

page_text: causing the projection on it to open the exhaust valve.
The piston is thereby
permitted to rise to the top of its cylinder and to expel the exhaust gases. The parts
are now in their normal positions ready to make a second blow. The disc on the
lower end of the axial rod is in its normal position raised a short distance above the
piston and on pressing inwards the hand lever of the upper lever the first effect of its
motion is the closing of the exhaust valve. Immediately this has been effected the
said disc comes in contact with the piston and the further motion of the upper lever
effects the descent of the piston and the recharging of the cylinder. A buffer washer
prevents concussion on the upward motion of the piston.
In order to vary the force of the blow it is necessary to diminish the volume of the
detonating gaseous mixture introduced into the cylinder. This is effected by limiting
the charging stroke. To do this the working hand lever of the upper lever is moved
through a smaller range. In this case it is necessary to change the position of the
incline on the lower lever in order that the fixed incline on the underside of the upper
lever may act upon it in its limited range of motion. For this purpose the incline on
the upper side of the lower lever is made capable of a sliding motion on its lever so as
to bring it more or less under the incline on the underside of the upper lever.
The
position of the adjustable incline on the lower lever is effected by an adjusting lever.
By advancing the adjustable incline on its lever it comes earlier into action and effects
the opening of the ignition valve at the proper time to fire the diminished charge in
the cylinder.
In applying my improvements to gas punching riveting and shearing machines I
make such changes in details as are required by the particular purpose to which the
machine is to be applied but in all essential respects the machines resemble the gas
hammer hereinbefore described.
In applying my improvements to punching and shearing and to some kinds of
riveting machines I invert the cylinder and piston and the weight of the piston and
piston rod enables me in some cases to dispense with one or both volute springs.
When as in shearing machines and in riveting machines in which the riveting is
effected by pressure instead of percussion I employ the ordinary lever mechanism for
changing the long percussion range of motion of the piston into a short range of slow
motion having great power and effecting the riveting by pressure. In some kinds of
riveting and shearing machines the cylinder of the machine is situated horizontally and
the details are varied to suit that position of the cylinder.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in vertical section, partly in side elevation, and Figure 2 in
back elevation a single piston gas hammer or gas hammering machine, the parts of
which are constructed and arranged according to my invention. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in both Figures.
a is the cylinder of the gas hammer and is the piston working therein the said
piston having the double function of charging or drawing into the cylinder the
detonating mixture of inflammable gas and air and of receiving and transmitting the
force of the explosion to the hammer c. The said hammer c is connected to the piston b
by the piston rod 62 on its underside indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, the lower
end of the said piston rod 2 taking into an axial hole in the "tup" or stalk c² of the
hammer c and being keyed to the said "tup" by the key c³ (see Figure 1). Between
the bottom of the piston b and the guide through which the "tup" c² of the hammer
works, are two volute springs e, e by which the piston when at liberty to rise is pressed
upwards nearly to the top of the cylinder af is an axial rod passing through the
cylinder cover g and having at its lower end the circular disc f2. By the descent of
the said circular disc, effected in the manner hereinafter described, the piston bis
depressed in its cylinder to the required extent for drawing in the charge of detonating
gaseous mixture. On the upper end of the axial rod f is a guide block / working in
the cylindrical guide in the cover g.
The piston is worked through the rod f, f2 and guide block in the following
manner; is a long vertical arm the horizontal top of which is jointed to the guide

page_text: by
block h. The said arm i descends vertically to the base of the machine or hammer
and is jointed to the inner arm of the upper horizontal lever balanced by the
weight 3 on the end of its outer arm. The said upper horizontal lover k is fixed on
the axis or shaft turning in bearings carried by the framing of the gas hammer. On
one end of the axis or shaft the principal hand lever m is fixed by moving which
hand lever in the direction of the arrow near the said lever, through the arc or portion
of the arc indicated in Figure 1, the long vertical arm i may be made to descend and a
corresponding descending motion given to the rod f, f and piston b so as to charge
the cylinder to the required extent with the detonating gaseous mixture. The full
extent to which the piston can be made to descend in the cylinder a
by the
mechanism described is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1; n is the exhaust pipe in
connection with the top of the cylinder a and p is the exhaust valve raised to its seat
so as to close the exhaust passage by the coiled spring represented acting upon the
stalk of the said valve. The said exhaust valve p is depressed from its seat for opening
the exbaust passage for exhausting the cylinder a of its waste gases by the roller on
the vertical arm the said arm i when raised causing the said roller to act upon the
outer arm of the small lever p² the inner arm of which is connected with the stalk of
the exhaust valve p. The mixture of inflammable gas and air enters the cylinder a
the pipe a²; a³ is the main gas supply pipe and a is the box in which the gas and air
are mixed prior to entering the cylinder a by the pipe a²: q is the permanent gas
flame for igniting the inflammable gaseous charge in the cylinder a and r is the
ignition valve by the opening of which the gas flame at q is permitted to pass through
the igniting orifice for igniting the charge in the cylinder a. The said ignition
valve is opened at the proper time in the following manner. Under the inner or
acting arm of the lever through which the piston b is operated is a second
levers turning on the axis s². The inner arm of the under lever s is jointed to the
vertical connecting rod t, the head t2 of which is wedge shaped and bears against a
roller secured to the stalk of the ignition valve r. When the rod t is raised by the
action of the lever sits wedge shaped head t2 pushes back the stem or stalk of the
ignition valve and opens the said valve for igniting the charge. The under or
ignition valve lever s is put into operation by the descent of the inner arm of the
upper lever by means of the fixed incline k² on the underside of the said inner arm
bearing upon the inclines on the upper side of the outer arm of the lower lever s.
The incline s is capable of sliding upon its lever for adjusting its position thereon for
the purpose hereinafter described. The under levers is restored to its normal
position after the upper lever k has been taken out of action by the springs. The
use of the second or adjusting hand lever u is hereinafter particularly explained.
The action of the parts is as follows:-On pushing inwards the hand lever m in the
direction indicated by the arrow near it the axial rod f passing out of the top of the
cylinder a is depressed through the action of the lever k, vertical arm i and guide
block. The disc f at the bottom of the said rod bearing on the piston & depresses
the said piston thereby drawing into the cylinder a charge of mixed inflammable gas
and air supplied through the pipe a². By now moving still further inwards the
working hand lever m of the upper lever k the ignition valve is opened and the
charge in the cylinder ignited. The opening of the ignition valve is effected by
the fixed incline 2 on the lever & bearing upon the adjustable incline s³ on the lever s,
the descent of the outer arm of the said levers causing the rod t to he raised and the
ignition valve to be opened by the action of the head of the said rod upon the said
valver. By the ignition of the gaseous charge in the cylinder a the piston bis
forcibly and rapidly depressed causing the hammer c to strike a blow and at the same
time compressing the volute springs e. e. After the blow of the hammer, the piston b
rises by the action of the springs e, e and the counterbalance weight 3 on the outer
end of the upper lever k raises the inner end of the said lever thereby raising the
vertical arm and causing the roller on it to open the exhaust valve p in the manner
herein before described. The piston is thereby permitted to rise to the top of its
cylinder and to expel the exhaust gases. The parts are now in their normal positions
as represented in the Drawing ready to make a second blow. The disc f on the

page_text: lower end of the axial rod fis in its normal position raised a short distance above the
piston and on pressing inwards the hand lever m of the upper lever k the first effect of
its motion is the closing of the exhaust valve p by removing the roller from the
lever p². Immediately this has been effected the said disc 2 comes in contact with the
piston and the further motion of the upper lever k effects the descent of the piston
and the recharging of the cylinder as before described. A buffer washer prevents
concussion on the upward motion of the piston.
I will now describe the arrangement for limiting the charging stroke of the piston b
and thereby varying the force of the blow of the hammer. For this purpose, the hand
lever m is moved through a smaller range and the ignition valve r is opened earlier.
To change the time of the opening of the ignition valve r it is necessary to change the
position of the adjustable inclines on the lever s so as to cause the fixed incline k² on
the upper lever to operate earlier upon it. This is effected by the small adjusting
hand lever u turning loosely on the axis of the principal hand lever m and lever k.
The lower arm of the adjusting hand lever u is forked at u² and is engaged with a pin
at the end of the adjustable incline s³. By moving the adjusting lever u from the
frame of the gas hammer, in the direction indicated by the arrow, the incline s³ may
be advanced on its lever nearer to the joint or centre of the said lever so as to cause
the said lever to come earlier into action and thereby effect the opening of the ignition
valve at the proper time to fire the diminished charge in the cylinder as will be
understood by an examination of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents partly in longitudinal vertical section and partly in side
elevation; Figure 4 in end elevation and Figure 5 partly in plan and partly in
horizontal section, a direct acting gas riveting, shearing or punching machine
constructed according to my invention.
In this machine the cylinder is situated horizontally and the details of the mechanisms
for operating the single piston and ignition and exhaust valves are somewhat varied
from those used in the gas hammering machine herein first described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 3, 4 and 5. a is
the horizontal cylinder of the gas riveting, punching or shearing machine and b is the
piston working therein, the said piston carrying the piston rod 62 to the outer end of
which the riveting tool 63 (or punching or shearing tool) is connected. The return
motion of the piston b and parts connected to it is effected by the axial volute springe:
fis the axial rod having a disc or head f2 upon it the said rod working in the guide in the
cover g of the cylinder a. The said rod fis jointed to and worked by the hand lever m
by the motion of which hand lever in the direction of the arrow Figure 3 the disc or
head of the axial rod fadvances the piston in the cylinder a for charging the said
cylinder with the detonating gaseous mixture supplied through the pipe a² from the
gas and air box at: n is the exhaust pipe and p is the exhaust valve pressed upon its
seat by the coiled spring represented and opened for the exhaustion of the spent gases
from the cylinder a, when the hand lever m is returned to the position represented, by
the right angled part m² of the lower arm of the hand lever m depressing the longer
arm of the cranked lever p² connected with the stem or stalk of the exhaust valve p
and thereby sliding inwards and opening the said valve p: r is the gas ignition valve
and the permanent gas flame. The said ignition valve r is closed by the action of
the spring around its stem or stalk and is opened for the ignition of the gaseous
mixture in the cylinder by the action of the adjustable tail piece m³ on the lower arm
of the hand lever m operating upon the outer arı of the lever so as thereby to
withdraw or press outwards the stem or stalk of the ignition valve and open the
aperture at which the gas flame q is situated. By adjusting the tail piece m³ more or
less forward when the range of the hand lever m is reduced for diminishing the volume
of detonating gaseous mixture introduced into the cylinder a, its head can be made to
operate upon and open the ignition valve r earlier and thereby vary the force of the
blow of the tool as herein before described.
As the action of the parts of the gas riveting punching or shearing machine is in all
essential respects the same as that of the corresponding parts of the gas hammer first
described I do not consider a further description of the same necessary.

page_text: Figure 6 represents in vertical section partly in side elevation Figure 7 in end
elevation and Figure 8 in plan another gas riveting punching or shearing machine
constructed according to my invention. In this machine the cylinder is vertical and
the piston is inverted so that the weight of the piston and piston rod permits of the
volute spring or springs for giving the return motion to the piston to be dispensed
with. This machine is not direct acting and the parts for operating the piston and
closing and opening the exhaust and ignition valves are modified.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate the same parts in Figures 6, 7
and S.
a is the vertical cylinder and b is the piston. The piston rod 2 is of large diameter
and is connected through the rocking lever or arm 63, with the slide or sliding bolt
carrying the riveting tool or the punching or shearing tool. It will be seen by an
examination of Figure 6 that the piston rod 62 is guided by the tubular cover a² of the
cylinder a : ff is the axial rod of the kind hereinbefore described working through
the bottom of the cylinder a. The said rod f, f' is raised and through it the piston b
for charging the cylinder by means of the long arm d of the cranked lever d, d² the
short arm d² of the said lever closing the exhaust valve at the proper time. The
cranked lever d, d² is fixed on the axis or shaft d³ and is worked by the hand lever d².
The short arm d² of the cranked lever d, d² besides closing the exhaust valve
p also in
its motion acts upon the arm or lever q² connected with the stem or stalk of the
ignition valve q and opens the said valve for igniting the charge: p² is the exhaust
pipe 93 the permanent gas flame and q the pipe conveying the detonating gaseous
mixture to the cylinder.
The action of this modification is as follows:-The hand lever d being moved
in the direction of the arrow Figure 6, through the arc or portion of the arc
indicated, the long arm d of the lever d d² lifts the rod ff2 and raises the piston b
in the cylinder which piston in its motion draws in the gaseous charge. Just
before the disc f2 of the axial rod facts upon the piston b, the short arm d² of the
lever d, d² is removed from the stalk of the exhaust valve p when the latter is closed
by the action of its spring. As soon as the required charge has been introduced into
the cylinder a, the short arın d² of the lever d, d² strikes against the ignition valve
lever q² and opens the said valve when the charge is ignited by the fixed gas flame q³.
The blow given to the piston by the explosion of the gaseous charge acts through the
piston rod 62 and lever 63 upon the slide carrying the riveting, punching or shearing
tool at 64.
On returning the hand lever d* to its normal position the piston 6 and piston rod b²
descend by their own weight restoring the arm 63 and tool slide to the positions
represented. On bringing the hand lever d* to its normal position the short arm d² of
the cranked lever d, d² is removed from the ignition valve lever q2 and the ignition
valve is closed and the said short arm d² at the same time opens the exhaust valve p
through which open exhaust valve the spent gases are expelled from the cylinder by
the descent of the piston b.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed 1 declare that I claim as my
invention of "Improvements in gas hammering punching riveting and shearing
machines":
First The employment in the cylinder of a gas hammering punching riveting or
shearing machine of one piston the said piston having the double function of charging
the cylinder with the detonating gaseous mixture and of receiving and transmitting
the force of the explosion to the hammer or other tool the said single piston being
arranged in the cylinder and operated substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly The arrangement or combination of parts substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the modified arrangements represented
in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings for giving the required

page_text: descending or rising or advancing motion to the piston for charging the cylinder with
the detonating gaseous mixture.
Thirdly The arrangement or combination of parts substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the modified arrangements represented
in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings for closing the exhaust
valve immediately before the piston is moved in its cylinder for charging the said
cylinder.
Fourthly The arrangement or combination of parts substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and the modified arrangements represented
in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings for opening the exhaust
valve at the proper time.
Fifthly The combination with the ignition valve levers of the adjustable incline s³
worked by the adjusting hand lever u as described and represented in Figures 1 and 2
for effecting the opening of the ignition valve for firing at the proper time the full
charge or diminished charge. in the cylinder; also the adjustable tail piece m³
represented in Figures 3 and 5 for the same purpose.
Dated the 21st day of September 1888.
CHARLES WILLIAM PINKNEY.