IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN MAKING RAILWAY SLEEPERS AND APPLICABLE FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Clark Bunten, and Alexander Russell, both of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN MAKING RAILWAY SLEEPERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Clark Bunten and
Alexander Russell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
1st December 1882.
JAMES CLARK BUNTEN, and ALEXANDER RUSSELL, both of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE USED
IN MAKING RAILWAY SLEEPERS AND APPLICABLE FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
"
This Invention has for its objects to obtain increased economy and expedition in
making railway sleepers and specially to secure increased accuracy in the relative
positions of holes for tie bars and other fastenings where several of such holes are
required in the same article.
In carrying out the Invention in punching bowl sleepers of the ordinary dished
shape an hydraulic cylinder is in one arrangement used in combination with
horizontal punch slides worked from eccentric pins on the ends of rotating shafts.
The hydraulic cylinder is placed in the vertical position and has two rams, the
large ram having punches fixed on the underside of it to punch the holes in the
crown of the sleeper for the rail fastenings; the holes in the sides to receive the tie
bars being punched by the horizontal slides. All the holes in the sleeper are
punched simultaneously and the machine may be worked automatically. The
small ram which is placed within the large ram and is constantly under water
pressure, is worked or set a short distance in advance of the punches for the
purpose of pressing down the sleeper during the punching and for holding it until
the punches are withdrawn thus dispensing with the fixed guards used in ordinary
punching machines.
Hydraulic cylinders placed horizontally may be used instead of slides worked
from eccentric pins for punching the tie bar holes in the sides of the sleepers.

page_text: For punching ordinary transverse sleepers two movable hydraulic cylinders
which can be adjusted to suit the gauge of line required are firmly secured to a
strong girder frame and both cylinders are worked from one valve so as to act
simultaneously. This arrangement is also suitable for shearing, stamping, riveting
or shaping iron to be used for other purposes. In punching all the holes are
punched at one operation and the punches are fixed to the ends of the rams as in
the arrangement for bowl sleepers.
For punching fence posts, angle bars or plates and the like the punches are fixed
to the underside of a strong sliding bar made of wrought iron or steel. This
sliding bar is connected to the rams of two hydraulic cylinders and has a vertical
movement equal to the stroke of the rams. Punches can be fixed to this bar at
various positions to give the number and positions of boles required. All holes
are punched at one and the same stroke. This arrangement is also suitable for
punching the holes in transverse sleepers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Clark Bunten and Alexander Russell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 31st May 1883.
JAMES CLARK BUNTEN, and ALEXANDER RUSSELL, both of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY TO BE USED
"
IN MAKING RAILWAY SLEEPERS AND APPLICABLE FOR ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
"
Our said Invention has for its objects to obtain increased economy and expedition
in making railway sleepers, and specially to secure increased accuracy in the
relative positions of holes for tie bars and other fastenings where several of such
holes are required in the same article.
In carrying out our Invention in punching bowl sleepers of the ordinary dished
shape an hydraulic cylinder is in one arrangement used in combination with
horizontal punch slides worked from eccentric pins on the ends of rotating shafts.
All the holes in the sleeper are punched simultaneously and the machine may be
worked automatically. Hydraulic cylinders placed horizontally may be used
instead of slides worked from eccentric pins for punching the tie bar holes in the
sides of the sleepers.
For punching ordinary transverse iron sleepers two movable hydraulic cylinders
which can be adjusted to suit the gauge of line required are firmly secured to a
strong girder frame and both cylinders are worked from one valve so as to act
simultaneously. This arrangement is also suitable for shearing, stamping, riveting,
or shaping iron to be used for other purposes. In punching all the holes are
punched at one operation and the punches are fixed to the ends of the rams as in
the arrangement for bowl sleepers.
For punching fence posts, angles, bars, or plates, and the like, the punches are
fixed to the underside of a strong sliding bar made of wrought iron or steel. This
sliding bar is connected to the rams of two hydraulic cylinder, and has a vertical
movement equal to the stroke of the rams. Punches can be fixed to the bar at
various positions to give the number and positions of holes required. All holes are
punched at one and the same stroke. This arrangement is also suitable for
punching the holes in transverse sleepers.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append three sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to and representing examples of our improved
machinery.
Figures 1 and 2, on sheet 1, of the accompanying drawings are a plan and a
back elevation of our improved machine for punching bowl sleepers. Figure 3, on
sheet 2, is an enlarged vertical section and figure, 4, is a side elevation. Figure, 5,
on sheet 3, is a transverse vertical section and figure, 6, is a front elevation of our
improved machine for punching transverse iron sleepers; and figures 7, and 8, are
sectional end and front elevations of our improved machine for punching bars and
other articles. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark
the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The bowl-sleeper punching machine shown in figures 1 to 4, is made with a
massive bed frame, 9, on which are bearings, 10, for a pair of shafts, 11, having
fixed on their outer ends spur wheels 12 (indicated by dotted circles in figure, 2,)
both driven by a pinion on a shaft, 13, also carried in the bed frame, 9. The
pinion shaft, 13, is driven by bevil wheels, 14, from a first-motion shaft, 15, having
a flywheel, 16, on one end and fast and loose pulleys, 17, on the other end, the
latter being shown only in figure, 4. The spurwheel shafts, 11, have upon their

page_text: ends cranks, 18, which are connected by links, 19, to massive slides, 20, fitted to
work horizontally in guides, 21, in raised parts, 22, of the framing. Over the
middle part between the slides, 20, there is fixed, in an inverted position, an
bydraulic cylinder 23, having working in it a massive ram, 24, which is itself
formed with a central cylindrical chamber having working in it a small ram, 25.
The larger ram 24, is made double-acting, its upper end being provided with a
cup-leather packing so as to act like a piston, and after each descent the main
ram, 24, is raised by water under pressure being admitted into the narrow annular
space between the piston-like part and the bottom cover, 26, of the cylinder, 23.
To the bottom end of the main ram, 24, there is fixed a block or deep plate, 27, in
which are fixed the punches for forming holes in the top of the sleeper 28, and
through a central hole in this block 27, a reduced part, 29, of the smaller ram, 25,
passes, and has attached to its bottom end the holding down block, 30, which bears
down on the sleeper, 28, whilst the punching operations are being performed and
prevents displacement or distortion. The cylindrical space inside the main ram, 24,
and above the small ram, 25, is in communication by a passage, 31, with the
annular space under the piston-like part of the main ram, so that when water is
admitted into the annular part to raise the main ram, 24, it also acts on the top of
the small ram, 25, and pressing it down makes it continuo to keep down the holding-
down block, 30. This action facilitates the withdrawal of the vertical punches and
prevents them from lifting up the sleeper; but as soon as the main ram, 24, has
raised its block, 27, up as far as the shoulder between the reduced part, 29, and the
upper part of the small ram, 25, the block, 27, begins to lift up the small ram, 25,
and with it the holding-down block, 30, which continues to rise during the
remainder of the upward movement of the main ram, 24. The sleeper, 28, rests
on a castiron block, 32, on which are fixed steel bolsters to resist the punching
action; and whilst the ram, 24, holds down the sleeper, 28, and effects the vertical
punching, the horizontal slides, 20, with their punches, 33, punch the tie-bar holes
in the sides of the sleeper. The ram, 24, raises the holding-down block, 30, high
enough to allow of each punched sleeper being easily removed and of a fresh one
being substituted and the speed of the gearing which works the horizontal punch
slides, 20, is regulated to give sufficient time for changing the sleepers without
stopping the machine. The water under pressure for working the ram, 24, is led
to and from the cylinder, 23, by two pipes, 34, 35, from a valve box, 36, the valve
of which has a handle, 37. The pressure is continually maintained in the annular
space under the piston-like part of the ram, 24, and the valve is arranged to put
the top of the cylinder, 23, in communication with the supply pipe, 39, or with the
exhaust pipe, 38, the pressure when acting on the top of the ram, 24, overcoming
the pressure in the annular space in consequence of the difference of area. The
valve handle, 37, may be connected by any convenient arrangement of gearing with
the gearing which drives the horizontal punch slides, 20, so that the entire action
of the machine may be automatic.
In the machine shown in figures, 5, and 6, the framing consists of two end
standards, 41, connected by a pair of upper horizontal girders, 42, and by a pair of
lower horizontal girders, 43, the latter being for supporting the transverse sleeper
or other article, 44, which is to have holes punched in it. The upper girders, 42,
are fitted to hold between them two (or it might be more) inverted hydraulic
cylinders, 45, which can be fixed in any required positions by means of flanges on
the cylinders and bolts which latter are held in T-grooves formed along the
bottom edges of the girders, 42, The details of the hydraulic cylinders, 45, may
be similar to those of the hydraulic cylinder, 23, of the machine shown in
figures 1, to 4, and hereinbefore described. The connections for leading water to
and from the cylinders, 45, may be by means of jointed or flexible pipes, or by
fitting suitable lengths for the different positions of the cylinders,
In the machine shown in figures 7, and 8, the framing is like that of the
machine shown in figures 5, and 6 and herein before described; but it is in
addition fitted with vertical guides, 46, in the end standards, 41, for the ends of a

page_text: horizontal bar, 47, which is moved vertically by two hydraulic cylinders, 45,
adjustably (or it might be permanently) fixed to the upper girders, 42. The
rams, 48, are connected to the horizontal bar, 47, by trunnion joints, 49, to prevent
undue strains from being produced by slight inequalities in. working. The
horizontal bar, 47, is formed with T-grooves along it near its bottom to allow of
the attachment of punches, 50, in any required positions. In this case the
ordinary guards, 51, are provided in connection with the bolsters to hold down the
bar 52, that is being operated on whilst the punches are being withdrawn.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the
precise details herein described or delineated but that what we believe to be novel
and original and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is:-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of machines for simul-
taneously operating vertical and horizontal punches in making railway sleepers and
other articles substantially in the improved manner hereinbefore described with
reference to figures, 1, to 4, of the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of the hydraulic cylinder (23) and ram (24) with the inner
ram (25) arranged to force and keep down the holding-down block (30) and
subsequently raise it out of the way, the parts operating substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described.
3. The arranging or combining together of the parts of machines for
simultaneously operating two or more vertical punches in variable positions
substantially in the improved manner hereinbefore described with reference to
figures 5, and 6, of the accompanying drawings.
4. The arranging or combining together of the parts of machines for simul-
taneously operating two or more vertical punches in variable positions substantially
in the improved manner herein before described with reference to figures, 7, and 8
of the accompanying drawings.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Russell, on behalf of the said
James Clark Bunten and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal this
thirtieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and
to thenn
5 Witness-
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent.
Glasgow.)
A. RUSSELL (L.S.)