Improvements in Drop Hammers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Drop Hammers.
I, JAMES ALEXANDER HORTON, of No. 225, West One Hundred and Sixth Street,
n the Borough of Manhattan, City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to drop-hammers, and it has for its object to provide a
machine of the said character in which blows of graduated strength or force may
be obtained. The invention consists in the improvements which I shall now
proceed to describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,--
Figure
represents a side elevation of a drop-hammer constructed in accordance
with my invention.
Figure 2 represents a top plan view thereof.
Figure 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a similar view, with the parts in another position.
Figure 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents a detail section on line 6-6 of Figure 4, with parts
in plan.
Figure represents a detail section on line 7-7 of Figure 4.
Figure 8 represents a rear end elevation.
Figure 9 represents a partial rear end elevation with portions broken away,
and the parts thereat in section.
Figure 10 represents a similar view, with parts in another position.
Figure 11 represents a view similar to Figure 6, showing a modified con-
struction.
The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Referring to the drawings,-
a is the frame of the machine, having vertical guides a¹ a¹ for the drop-
hammer b. c is a column or bed, supported on an independent foundation of
masonry and carrying on its upper end an anvil-block 2, shown in dotted lines.
d is a flexible strap attached at one end to the hammer b and at the other end to
a bar which is held in clamps as on the frame and is adapted to be rotated to
adjust the strap. The strap d passes over a roll at the top of the frame, and is
arranged to form a bight or loop between the said roll and the bar d. el is a
roll occupying the bight of the strap and mounted at the upper end of a link e
whose lower end is pivotally connected at e2 with a sector f pivoted at f¹ to the
purpose of moving the sector f. I provide its front end with a thin and somewhat
flexible metal segment 2, and in close iuxtaposition thereto, I arrange a roll g
upon a shaft ¹. Suitable gearing, including the fast and loose pulleys g05
and the gears g³ is employed to operate the roll g; and when the machine is
running, said roll is continuously rotated. h is a second roll, arranged at the rear
of the segment f2 and loosely mounted on a shaft h¹ which is carried at the upper
end of a pair of arms h2 h2, pivoted at h³ h³ to the frame of the machine. hh+ repre-
sent a second pair of arms, pivoted at h5 h to the frame a and connected with the
D

page_text: arms by means of toggle-levers 6 6 forming knuckle-joints. When these
levers are moved to straighten out the joints, the roll h¹ is caused to press the
segment into close frictional contact with the rotating roll g, and the latter
because of this engagement depresses the sector f and raises the hammer b. When
the knuckles are broken, the pressure is relieved, and the hammer drops and raises
the sector, unless the latter is obstructed, as hereinafter explained.
hh are stops forming a rear support for the arms h and consisting of screws
supported by ears at a on the frame a, and provided with lock-nuts h8h8. The
adjustment of these stops determines the degree of pressure between the rolls g
and h.
For the purpose of straightening the knuckles of the toggle-joints, I provide the
sector-frame with adjustable lugs f³ (Figure 3), which may be arranged to come
in contact with the knuckles at a predetermined point in the rise of the sector.
is a forked lever pivoted between cars f f formed on the sector-frame f
and adapted to engage the knuckles of the toggle-levers and break the joints at
a desired point in the downward movement of the sector under the influence of
the friction-rolls. The position of the front end of the lever i, and hence the length
of stroke of the sector, is regulated by means of the following mechanism; j is an
adjusting slide operating on the principle of a cam or wedge, and having an
inclined or bevelled portion 2, best shown in Figures 9 and 10. Said slide
occupies a transverse socket in one side of the frame a, and operates beneath the
rear end of the lever i. According to the position of this slide, the operating end
of the lever is raised or depressed with respect to the segment-frame f; thus
when a high portion of the slide is underneath the rear end of the lever i, as
shown in Figure 10, the forward end of the latter is depressed with respect to the
sector-frame, and the sector is only allowed to have a short stroke under the
influence of the friction-rolls before the toggles are broken and the hammer
dropped. When the slide is pushed into its socket so as to bring its low portion
beneath the rear end of the lever i, the forward end of the latter is raised with
respect to the sector frame, and the knuckles are broken after a longer stroke
of the sector. The slide j is actuated by means of a bell-crank lever k connected
to said slide by a link and pivoted to the frame a. The said lever is operated
by a treadle m pivoted at m¹ to the frame and connected to the lever by means of
a link ³.. A spring normally operates to retract or withdraw the slide ;
r is
As a means for arresting and sustaining the hammer at any point, I provide
mechanism including a fixed abutment p arranged at the rear of the segment f³,
and a dog q adapted to co-operate with said abutment to bind the segment and
prevent upward motion of the same. The dog is pivotally mounted in front of
the segment at the lower ends of two arms q q¹ pivoted at q2 q² to the frame of
the machine said arms carrying stop-pins q³ to limit the upward movements of
the dog and springs q to yieldingly actuate said dog in an upward direction.
a cam mounted on a shaft r whose outer end is provided with a lever r2 connected
by a rod 3 with the treadle m. The arrangement is such that when the said
treadle is up, the cam operates to move the dog q in the direction of the abutment
thus causing the segment f³ to be gripped between said dog and abutment and
held from upward movement. When the treadle is depressed, the said
operates to release the dog, which is withdrawn by the action of a spring g³, and
the segment is permitted to rise and fall freely. a² a² are a series of pins arranged
at different heights on the frame of the machine and adapted to be connected by
a chain a with the treadle m, so as to regulate the distance to which the treadle
can be depressed, and thereby determine the position of the bolt j and the
maximum length of stroke of the sector.
the treadle.
A spring normally operates to raise
P,
cam
The operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing
description. Supposing the hammer to be raised above the anvil-block, and a
sustained by the action of the dog q and abutment p, in order to release the
hammer, the treadle m is depressed. As soon as the hammer drops, it is imme-

page_text: the
diately raised again by the action of the lugs f³ in straightening the toggles,
and causing frictional engagement of the roll with the sector f². As soon as
hammer has risen a distance determined by the amount to which
the treadle is depressed, the toggles are Broken by the action of
the lever, and if the treadle is still held down, the hammer falls again.
As long as the treadle is depressed, the hammer rises and falls, and a quick
succession of blows is imparted to the anvil or the material thereon which is
being hammered. If at any time the operator desires to maintain the hammer in
a raised position, he releases the treadle as soon as said hammer has begun to
rise,and the slide j is thereby entirely withdrawn from beneath the heelof the lever i,
as shown in Figure 9, the cam r at the same time moving the dog q in the direction
of the abutment p. The sector f is free to move in a downward direction by
reason of the yielding of the dog 7 against its springs q, and continues to so move
until the lever breaks the toggles, when the sector stops, and is then caught
between the abutment p and dog q, and restrained from upward movement. A
stop f on the frame f is provided, for limiting the movement of the lever i when
the slide is withdrawn from beneath said lever. When the hammer is raised
away from the anvil, the operator can adjust his work to the desired position, and
when he wishes to start the hammer in operation again, he depresses the treadle
and allows the same to drop, as previously described.
In Figure 11, I have represented a modification in which the shafts g¹ and h¹
of the rolls g h are provided with intermeshing gears 9 h. Both of said rolls
are therefore positively and continuously rotated, the movement of the toggles
being insufficient to throw the gears out of mesh. By thus gearing the rolls
together, both rolls have a positive frictional driving engagement with the
segment, and the amount of pressure necessary to produce the requisite amount
of driving friction is somewhat less than when only one roll is positively driven.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a machine of the character specified, a hammer, driving mechanism for
raising the hammer, releasing mechanism for said driving mechanism, a device
acting automatically on said releasing mechanism at each stroke of the hammer
to release the hammer, said device being adjustable to vary the height at which
the hammer is released, and an operating treadle or equivalent constructed and
arranged to change the adjustment of said device during the automatic action
thereof.
2. In a machine of the character specified, a hammer, mechanism for causing
the same to impart automatically a succession of blows, said mechanism having
provisions for varying the strength of the blows, a treadle for controlling said
mechanism and having successive positions corresponding to the different strengths
of blows, a stop for limiting the depression of the treadle, and means for
adjusting said stop to vary the limit of depression.
3. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, friction-rolls for applying
driving power to said segment, and means operated by said segment for causing
the engagement and disengagement of said rolls with the segment, whereby the
hammer may be automatically raised and released a number of times in succession.
4. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, mechanism for applying driving
power to said segment, means operated by said segment for causing the engage-
ment and disengagement of said mechanism with the segment, whereby the
hammer may be automatically raised and released a number of times in succession,
and operating devices acting on said means during such movement of the hammer,
for varying the height to which the hammer is raised.
5. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, a

page_text: flexible device such as a strap connected at one end with said hammer and at the
other end with a suitable fixed support, a roll operating on said strap, a link
connected with said roll, an oscillatory segment connected with said link, a
means for operating said segment to raise and release the hammer.
6. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, rolls arranged on opposite sides
of said segment, means for continuously driving one or more of said rolls, means
for automatically causing a driving engagement between the rolls and segment,
whereby said segment is moved to raise the hammer, and means for automatically
disengaging said rolls and segment, whereby the latter and the hammer are
released.
7. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil; a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, a pair of rolls arranged on
opposite sides of said segment, means for continuously driving one or both of
said rolls, toggle mechanism connected with one of the rolls and adapted to move
the same to cause a driving engagement between the rolls and the segment, or to
cause a disengagement of said parts, thereby raising and releasing the hammer,
and devices connected with the segment for operating said toggle-levers to cause said
movements of the roll.
8. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, a continuously driven roll
adapted to engage the segment to move the same and raise the hammer, means
for producing such engagement, a device connected with the segment for produc-
ing a disengagement of the roll and segment, releasing the hammer, and means for
adjusting said device to vary the duration of engagement of the roll and segment
and consequently the height at which the hammer is released.
9. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment, a flexible connection between said segment and the hammer,
friction-rolls adapted to engage the segment on opposite sides, means for
continuously driving one or more of said rolls, and means for producing
the operative engagement or disengagement with the segment, whereby tho
hammer is raised or released.
10. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, a
reciprocatory part connected with said hammer, a pair of friction driving-rolls
adapted to engage said reciprocatory part on opposite sides, means for driving
the rolls, a fixed bearing supporting one of the rolls, a movable bearing supporting
the other roll, a toggle having one end relatively fixed and the other end connected
with the movable roll bearing said toggle when straightened, effecting driving
engagement of the rolls with the reciprocatory part, and when broken releasing
said engagement, and means operated by the movement of the hammer for
breaking and straightening said toggle.
11. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, a
reciprocatory part connected with said hammer, a pair of friction driving-rolls
adapted to engage said reciprocatory part on opposite sides, means for driving
the rolls, a fixed bearing supporting one of the rolls, a movable bearing supporting
the other roll, a toggle having one end relatively fixed and the other end connected
with the movable roll bearing said toggle when straightened, effecting driving
engagement of the rolls with the reciprocatory part and when broken releasing such
engagement, means operated by the movement of the hammer for breaking
and straightening said toggle, and means for adjusting the relatively fixed end
of the toggle to regulate the pressure between the rolls when the toggle is
straightened.
12. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with the hammer, mechanism for applying driving
power to said segment, a pivotal trip carried by said segment and operating on
said mechanism to effect the release of the segment, and an adjusting member
mounted on a fixed support and adapted to be moved to change the relative

page_text: position of said pivotal trip and thereby vary the point at which said segment is
released.
13. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with the hammer, driving-rolls adapted to friction-
ally engage said segment, a toggle connected with one of said rolls, means for
straightening the toggle to cause a driving engagement of the rolls with the
segment, a pivotal trip carried by the segment and adapted to break the toggle
and cause the release of the segment, and an adjusting member mounted on a
fixed support and adapted to engage the heel of said trip, and means for moving
said member to vary the point at which the segment is released.
14. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, mechanism for applying driving
power to said segment, a trip carried by said segment and operating on said
inechanism to effect the release of the segment, a cam member mounted on a
fixed support and having an inclined face adapted to engage the trip and change
its relative position to vary the point at which the segment is released, and a
treadle or similar operating means connected with said cam member.
15. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, means for operating said
segment to raise and depress the hammer, and means for locking said segment to
hold the hammer in a fixed raised position, said means including a fixed abutment
located on one side of the segment, and a second abutment located on the other side
of the segment and movable toward and from said fixed abutment to lock and
unlock the segment, and means for operating said second abutment.
16. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, means for operating said segment
to raise and depress the hammer, a dog adapted to engage and frictionally hold
the segment, said dog being so mounted as to yield and permit the movement of
the segment in a hammer-raising direction but to lock and prevent the movement
of said segment in an opposite direction, and means for moving said dog into and
out of locking position.
17. A machine of the character specified, comprising an anvil, a hammer, an
oscillatory segment connected with said hammer, means for operating said segment
to raise and depress the hammer, the dog q' adapted to engage and lock the
segment, a pivotal arm carrying said dog, and the rotary cam r¹ adapted to move
said dog into and out of engaging position.
1000
JAMES ALEXANDER HORTON
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.