IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING AND SHAPING PARAGON' STEEL FOR UMBRELLA RIBS AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Knott, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Steel Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING AND
SHAPING PARAGON' STEEL FOR UMBRELLA RIBS AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 3rd June 1879, and dated the 4th December 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Knott at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1878.
JOSEPH KNOTT, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING AND SHAPING 'PARAGON' STEEL FOR UMBRELLA
RIBS AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to the making and shaping of "paragon" steel for umbrella
ribs and other similar purposes, and has for its object economy in both material and
labour.
In carrying out my Invention the steel is first rolled into sheets of the requisite
thickness and size, and is then cut up by any usual means into parallel strips of
suitable width and length.
The strips so produced are then passed through a guide into and between a pair
of rolls for the purpose of curving them into the desired "paragon" section, one of
the rolls having a groove and the other roll a corresponding fillet or rib, such fillet
and groove being turned or otherwise formed around their peripheries.
The several operations herein before described may be accomplished without the
necessity of annealing the steel more than once, which in the processes at present
in use it is necessary to do several times.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Knott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th June
1879.
f
JOSEPH KNOTT, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING AND SHAPING PARAGON' STEEL FOR UMBRELLA
RIBS AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES.".
The said Invention relates to the making and shaping of paragon steel for
umbrella ribs and other similar purposes, and has for its object great economy in
manufacture by reducing, the number of the various processes it passes through, and
also retaining the original quality of the steel which the repeated annealings and
frequent washings in spirits in the old processes..greatly deteriorated. The process
of manufacture according to my Invention is as follows:-The steel is first rolled
into sheets of the required thickness and width. The sheet is then cut up into
parallel strips, the width of the strips being regulated to form the required cross
section of the ribs, these strips are now annealed, and afterwards to clean off the
scale that is formed during that process they are submitted to the action of a
solution of vitriol or other acid or spirit and dried in the usual manner. They are
now ready for the bending machine which may be described as follows:-It consists
of a suitable frame or standard carrying a pair of steel rods, one rod being over
and above the other, and secured on horizontal shafts or spindles which revolve in
suitable bearings. The rolls may be driven by hand or other motive power, as may
be desirable. Round the periphery of the top roll a rib is turned or otherwise
formed, and a corresponding groove is also formed round the periphery of the
bottom roll, sufficient room being left to admit the strip of steel between the two.
The top roll is carried by a vertical slide, which may be adjusted' in height by
means of a screw and hand wheel and adjusted sideways by set screws. The strip
of steel is entered into the rolls through a guide, and an exit guide receives it as it
leaves the rolls, and by means of a screw clip or its mechanical equivalent the
mouth of the exit guide (which is curved) may be set so that the curving action of
the rolls is counteracted and the rib delivered perfectly straight. As fast as one
strip disappears between the rolls another is introduced, and the speed may be
arranged to take the strips as fast as the operator can feed the machine. The ribs
are then hardened and finished in the usual manner. And in order that the said
Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed more particularly to
describe the same, that is to say, the bending machine, which is the only mechanical
device connected with my Invention requiring illustration, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures..
Fig. 1 of the Drawings represents a front elevation of the bending machine.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. :
1
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the rib and groove of the rolls; full size, with a rib
bent in the groove.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the exit guide and the screw clip.
A, the frame or standard; B, B, the two rolls; C, the vertical slide; D, side set
screws; E, elevating screw; F, brackets, carrying the guide frame G;. H, front
guide; I, back or exit guide; J, clip; K, K, gearing; L, driving pulleys.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the improved method of making paragon steel ribs for
umbrellas and other similar purposes from strips of steel cut off the rolled sheets
to the required width, and after once annealing and cleaning the same, then
bending them to the desired cross section between a pair of revolving rolls and

page_text: straightening them at the same time by means of an adjustable guide, substantially
as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The method of bending strips or lengths of steel, either cut from sheets,
rolled from wire, or otherwise produced by means of revolving rolls with ribs, and
grooves, and suitable guides, substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The use of steel strips cut from rolled sheets, for the purpose of being
made into paragon ribs for umbrellas and other similar purposes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Knott, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty first day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JOSEPH KNUTT. (L.S.)