IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF EXPANDING OR CONTRACTING, FORMING, AND SHAPING DUCTILE OR MALLEABLE METALS, AND ALSO IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ebenezer Hall, of Shrewsbury Works, Sheffield,
in the County of York, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF EXPANDING OR CONTRACTING, FORMING, AND
SHAPING DUCTILE OR MALLEABLE METALS, AND ALSO IN THE MACHINERY
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 4th July 1871, and dated the 7th January 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ebenezer Hall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th January 1871.
I, EBENEZER HALL, of Shrewsbury Works, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF EXPANDING OR CONTRACTING, FORMING, AND
SHAPING DUCTILE OR MALLEABLE METALS, AND ALSO IN THE MACHINERY TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates,-
Firstly. To certain improvements in the means or method of expanding
or contracting, forming, and shaping ductile, malleable, soft or tenacious

page_text: metals, or suitable alloys or combinations thereof, in order to produce
articles therefrom.
And, secondly. To the machinery or apparatus by which such means
or method is made effectual for the manufacture or production of such
articles.
The improved means or method consists in the application of hydro-
static or hydraulic power for the purpose of direct action on metals or
their alloys, whereby they may be expanded, contracted, formed, and
shaped.
The machinery or apparatus consists of suitable moulds or discs for
the articles, and also of the connections of the hydrostatic or hydraulic
apparatus in regard to such moulds or discs.
Since hydraulic power would in practice be used, in preference to
hydrostatic pressure, I will describe the process by which my Invention
may be carried into effect by the former power or means:-
-I propose
to employ a powerful hydraulic pump, of such stroke and diameter of
piston rod and cylinder as may be required, according to the nature
of the article to be produced and the compressible. nature of the metal
or alloy of which it may be composed, and I bring the eduction pipe.
from the cylinder to the mould, die, or other apparatus to contain and
shape the metal, so that the pressure may be communicated thereto.
Assuming as an example that it is required to form a teapot, urn,
vase, or other hollow vessel or figure, I form a strong mould, whose
interior surface is to correspond with the external surface of the required
vessel or figure; such mould being made in two, three, or other number
of parts, hinged, jointed, or otherwise clamped or fastened together, so
as to be. capable of being opened or separated to release the manu-
factured article. The mould should be constructed of iron or other
strong metal, capable of resisting powerful pressure, and should be
provided with flanges to receive a cover, cap, or top plate, which may
be applied to the most convenient opening of the mould, whether
beneath, at the side or top, according to the shape or dimensions of the
article treated. The flange obviously is for the purpose of permitting
such cap or plate to be firmly secured to the mould by bolts and nuts,
or by screw clamps, or otherwise, so as to resist equally with the mould
the pressure brought to bear thereon. The connection is then made
from the eduction or supply pipe of the hydraulic apparatus to the cap
or cover of the mould; this connection may easily be effected by nozzle
E
1

page_text: joints or other means, so as to disengage the pipe from the plate. I thus
convey the pressure from the press to the mould through the cover or
plate. But before securing the cover to the mould I apply to the interior
surface of the cover or plate a hollow vessel or receptacle of the suitable
metal or alloy to be operated on by the subsequent pressure. This vessel
or receptacle may be, formed by any ordinary means, and it is preferable.
that it should approximate to the form or dimensions of the mould,
although presenting merely an undefined surface without any special
outline or figure,. in fact being a mere smooth or clean surfaced vessel,
provided with a flange or rim to be applied to the under surface of the
plate to which it is to be securely held by means of two semi-discs or
plates of metal,, similar to. a metal washer cut in two parts, whatever
may be its internal or external periphery (in form), whether circular,
oval, square,, or polygonal, or otherwise to suit the shape of the article;
but other means of clamping or holding the receptacle to the plate may.
of course be employed.. For example, a compound secondary plate-
may be used in sections or quadrants, and clamped together to nip or
bite a rim of the receptacle, the top plate or cover of the mould having
a descending or projecting flange, between which and the internal
surfaces of the sectional plate the rim of the article is gripped by a
clamp or screw motion, or in some cases the rim may be let in the cap
itself by a cut groove,. and tightened at various points by screw taps.
The plate or cover with the hollow metal duly fixed thereto is then
applied to the mould, the receptacle occupying the interior thereof, and
the plate is also duly secured to the mould. Then the hydraulic press
is actuated by steam or manual power, until the hollow metal or vessel
or receptacle shall have been so dilated, expanded, or pressed outwards
as to completely fill the mould, and acquire therefrom its pattern, shape,
figure, design, and finer lines.. The pressure being practically without
limit will suffice to perform this work with perfect ease, after which the
pressure is released, the mould disintegrated and opened out, and the
article removed..
Now with regard to the contraction or compression of a similar ductile
vessel or receptacle on a die, the principle of the Invention is the same,
but that which was the mould in the former oxample must constitute
the receptacle for the water pressure, and the die must be in the interior
surrounded or encased by the metal; it will follow that the metal will
be compressed upon the dic..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Ebenezer Hall in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th July 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EBENEZER
HALL, of Shrewsbury Works, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Ebenezer Hall, Her special licence
that I, the said Ebenezer Hall, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Ebenezer Hall, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MEANS OF EXPANDING OR CONTRACTING, FORMING, AND SHAPING DUCTILE OR
MALLEABLE METALS, AND ALSO IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Ebenezer Hall, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands. and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ebenezer Hall, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 relates,-
Firstly. To certain improvements in the means or method of expanding
'or contracting, forming, and shaping ductile, malleable, soft, or tenacious
metals, or suitable alloys or combinations thereof, in order to produce

page_text: And, secondly. To the machinery or apparatus by which such means
or method is made effectual for the manufacture or production of such
articles.
The improved means or method consists in the application of hydro-
static or hydraulic power for the purpose of direct action on metals or
their alloys, whereby they may be expanded, contracted, formed, and
shaped.
The machinery or apparatus consists of suitable moulds or dies for
the articles, and also of the connections of the hydrostatic or hydraulic
apparatus in regard to such moulds or dies.
Since hydraulic power would in practice be used in preference to
hydrostatic pressure, I will describe the process by which my Invention
may be carried into effect by the former power or means: -I propose ·
to employ a powerful hydraulic pump of such stroke and diameter of
piston rod and cylinder as may be required according to the nature of the
article to be produced, and the compressible nature of the metal or alloy
of which it may be composed, and I bring the eduction pipe from the
cylinder to the mould, die, or other apparatus to contain and shape the
metal, so that the pressure may be communicated thereto.
Assuming, as an example, that it is required to form a teapot, urn,
vase, or other hollow vessel or figure, I form a strong mould whose
interior surface is to correspond with the external surface of the required
vessel or figure, such mould being made in two, three, or other number
of parts hinged, jointed, or otherwise clamped or fastened together so
as to be capable of being opened or separated to release the manufactured
article. The mould should be constructed of iron or other strong metal
capable of resisting powerful pressure, and should be provided with
flanges to receive a cover, cap, or top plate, which may be applied to
the most convenient opening of the mould, whether beneath, at the side
or top,.according to the shape or dimensions of the article treated. The
flange is obviously for the purpose of permitting such cap or plate to be
firmly secured to the mould by bolts and nuts, or by screw clamps, or
otherwise, so as to resist equally with the mould the pressure brought
to bear thereon. The connection is then made from the eduction or
supply pipe of the hydraulic apparatus to the cap or cover of the mould.
This connection may easily be effected by nozzle joints or other means,
so as to disengage the pipe from the plate; I thus convey the pressure
from the press to the mould through the cover or plate. But before

page_text: may
securing the cover to the mould I apply to the interior surface of the
cover or plate a hollow vessel or receptacle of the suitable metal or alloy
to be operated on by the subsequent pressure; this vessel or receptacle
be formed by any ordinary means, and it is preferable that it should
somewhat approximate to the form or dimensions of the mould, although
presenting merely an undefined surface without any special outline or
figure, in fact, being a mere smooth or clean surfaced vessel provided
with a flange or rim to be applied to the under surface of the plate to
which it is to be securely held by means of two semi-discs or plates of
metal, similar to a metal washer cut in two parts, whatever may be its
internal or external periphery (in form) whether circular, oval, square,
or polygonal, or otherwise to suit the shape of the article, but other
means of clamping or holding the receptacle to the plate may of course
be employed. For example, a compound secondary plate may be used
in sections or quadrants, and clamped together to nip or bite a rim of
the receptacle, the top plate or cover of the mould having a descending
or projecting flange, between which and the internal surfaces of the
sectional plate, the rim of the article is gripped by a screw motion; or
in some cases the rim may be let in the cap itself by a channelled
groove, and tightened at various points by screw taps. The plate or
cover with the hollow metal duly fixed thereto is then applied to the
mould, the receptacle occupying the interior thereof, and the plate
is also duly secured to the mould. Then the hydraulic press is actuated
by steam or manual power until the hollow metal vessel or receptacle
shall have been so dilated, expanded, or pressed outwards as to com-
pletely fill the mould, and acquire therefrom its pattern, shape, figure,
design, and finer lines. The pressure being practically without limit
will suffice to perform this work with perfect ease, after which, the
pressure is released, the mould disintegrated and opened out, and the
article removed.
Now, with regard to the contraction or compression of a similar
ductile vessel or receptacle on a dic, the principle of the Invention is.
the same, but that which was the mould in the former example must.
constitute the receptacle for the water pressure, and the dic must be in
the interior surrounded or encased by the metal; it will follow that the
metal will be compressed upon the die.
The annexed Drawings will serve to shew some examples of the
Invention, in so far as regards the system of expansion as described.

page_text: In Fig. 1, the vessel a is shewn fixed in a flange of the cap or
cover ; c being the inlet pipe from the hydraulic press; d is the
section of the mould.
But in Fig. 2, instead of the mould having a flange to which the
cover, cap, or top plate is fastened, I proceed as follows:-A vertical
mould is prepared, and the vessel a is prepared with a flanged edge
and placed in the mould. On the top of this flange I place an india-
rubber or leather washer; I then place it under a powerful screw or
hydraulic press, through the centre disc of which the water is conducted
by the eduction pipe into the metal vessel. The power of the press is
then brought to bear upon the india-rubber or leather washer until it
is so compressed that it becomes perfectly water-tight and withstands
the pressure of the powerful hydraulic pump which forces the water
into the vessel, until it becomes so dilated or expanded as to com-
pletely fill the mould and acquire therefrom its pattern, shape, figure,
and finer lines.
When vessels have to be dilated or expanded that have contracted
openings and no flanges, as shown by Fig. 4, the vessel is prepared by any
ordinary means to the required form as shewn by Fig. 3, from which.
is formed the vessel Fig. 4, as follows:-The prepared vessel, Fig. 3,
is put into the mould Fig. 5. A perforated tube is then placed
in the centre of the vessel. The upper portion of this perforated
tube is screwed or tapped, and a flange (not larger than will pass
through the mouth of the vessel) is screwed upon the tube, and upon
this flange are placed two semi-discs which fit the inside of the upper
portion of the vessel, and by means of a key which fits the inside
of the tube the flange on the tube is screwed up, and forces the semi-
discs against the inside of the contracted top of the vessel, thereby
supporting it against the upper portion of the mould, which forms
the cap (as well as being the mould) and which is brought down
upon the vessel by means of the screw or hydraulic press, with such
pressure as to render it water-tight. The water is then conducted
through the upper portion of the mould or cap and through the per-
forated tube, and forced by means of the hydraulic pump into the
vessel, until it becomes so dilated, expanded, or pressed outwards as to
completely fill the mould.
Of course it will be clear that the articles may be removed for
annealing during certain stages of the work.

page_text: I claim as my Invention the process of subjecting ductile or malleable
metallic vessels, contained within moulds, or without moulds to the
pressure created by hydraulic or hydrostatic pressure, in order that
such vessels may be dilated or expanded to fit the moulds, or otherwise
without moulds.
And I also claim the process of contracting similar metallic vessels
upon dies by hydraulic or hydrostatic power, whatever may be the
form or arrangement of apparatus employed, and the purpose for
which such vessels or articles so treated are or may be made ap-
plicable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ebenezer Hall, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
C. H. JOHNSON,
7, St. James' Row,
Sheffield.
EBENEZER HALL. (L.S.)