IMPROVED MACHINES FOR PUNCHING AND RIVETTING LARGE OR HEAVY PLATE WORK, SUCH AS GIRDERS AND THE FRAMES AND PLATE WORK OF IRON OR STEEL SHIPS OR VESSELS."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Arrol, of the Firm of "William Arrol and
Company," of Dalmarnock Iron Works, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINES FOR PUNCHING
AND RIVETTING LARGE OR HEAVY PLATE WORK, SUCH AS GIRDERS AND THE
FRAMES AND PLATE WORK OF IRON OR STEEL SHIPS OR VESSELS."
ed the 21st December 1877, and dated the 14th September 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Arrol at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th September 1877.
"
WILLIAM ARROL, of the Firm of "William Arrol and Company," of Dalmarnock
Iron Works, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. IMPROVED
MACHINES FOR PUNCHING AND RIVETTING LARGE OR HEAVY PLATE WORK, SUCH
AS GIRDERS AND THE FRAMES AND PLATE WORK OF IRON OR STEEL SHIPS OR
VESSELS."
This Invention has reference to the improved construction of portable hydrostatic
or hydraulic rivetting machines, or rivetting and dressing machines or punching
machines, for the more speedy and efficient rivetting than heretofore of large or
heavy plate, girder, or bridge work, and ships or other heavy plate work, such as
the shells of large steam boilers, caissons for foundations, and tanks or cisterns,
which have to be erected, plated, and rivetted in one place, being too large or heavy
to be moved until fully put together in whole pieces or large sections, and which, as
a consequence, have mostly been rivetted by manual labour for want of a thoroughly
practical portable rivetting machine suitable for this class of work, and capable also
of dressing off the countersunk rivet heads flush outside with the plating, as
required for ship work, and also for punching when desired.
And the nature of the Invention or construction of these improved portable
machines consists all as follows:-First, when this improved machine is required in
its simplest form for ordinary rivetting only it is constructed of two strong solid
malleable iron or steel beam-shaped end frames or jaws, capable of resisting the
Prins d)

page_text: whole strain required at the outer ends or arms, where the pressure is applied
between them, without bending or breaking. These two end frames are secured
together at their one end by a hollow steel or iron stay and a strong solid screw
passed through the whole, with screw nuts and jam nuts or other equivalent
fastening at the outer ends, and further secured near the middle by two strong side
straps of malleable iron or steel checked into or over them there as buckles at the
ends of these plates, with screwed bolts passed through them, leaving the end
frames or arms at such a distance apart, and projecting out at their ends beyond
the middle straps, where the pressure is applied, as to take in the water-compressing
cylinder and ram with its die on the inside of one arm and the corresponding die on
the other on each side of the plate work, with sufficient room to allow this to be
rivetted right along each row or streak of plate, all quite clear off the middle straps
or stays which sustain the pressing-out strain, while the hollow stay at the other
end sustains the crushing strain in rivetting.
.
The water-pressing cylinder is preferably made of solid malleable iron or steel,
and bored parallelly inside, with solid square flanged bottom to be screwed to
corresponding lateral flanges on the inner face and outer end of its carrying arm,
and the ram or piston turned with a piston ring or cylindrical part at the inner end
to fit the cylinder, with two reverse-edged discs of cupped leather secured with
turned curve edge disc plate between them, and an end plate securing the whole by
screw pins to the inner end of the ram, the outer end of which is turned cylindrically
three-sixteenths of an inch, or so, less than its inner piston end, which fits the
cylinder, so as to fit and work out through the annular end cover, fitted and secured
to the outer round flange of the cylinder, with an ordinary inverted annular cupped
leather and ring, inside of it, filling the cup groove out to the contracted part of the
ram, and steady the cup packing over this new annular space for the water to enter
and press in the plunger quickly so soon as the pressure of water behind, which
forced it out, has been released.
The cylinder is preferred to be of large area, as from 8 to 16 inches in diameter,
according to the size of the rivets or work to be done, and so that a pressure of
from 400 to 1,200 pounds on the square inch would be sufficient, as I find this most
suitable for the strongest flexible water-pressure pipes at present obtainable.
Ordinary brass screw inlet coupling branches are screwed into the lower and
upper sides of the cylinder to admit the water to press the plunger out and in
respectively.
By one arrangement the end of the pressure-water pipe or hose is coupled and
led direct into the branch at the outer end, so as to be always acting in the annular
space to push the plunger in, and also direct to one side or lateral entering branch
of a three-way tap or cock chest screwed on to the coupling leading the water to
and from the bottom of the cylinder, and which passes through the centre of the
hollow key of the cock, which, when turned half round, shuts off the inlet and
opens the outlet branch (on the opposite side of the cock case to the inlet.branch)
to the interior of the key to let the water out of the cylinder, which had forced out
the ram against the pressure in the small annular space, and which now forces in
the plunger, so as to press out the water below the plunger into an open cistern or
other equivalent.
The dies for shaping the rivet heads (or bolster, when it is countersunk, flush rivet
heads that are being rivetted or compressed, or punches and dies, when the machine
is to be used for punching) are secured by stems, as usual, into receiving or fixing
sockets in the centre of the outer end of the ram, and in the end frame or arm
opposite it, which receives the force or pressure on the opposite side of the plates
being rivetted or punched, and over which the machine is hung by a shackle
attached to near the centre of gravity, either on the hollow end stay or the central
straps, so as to oscillate freely on and by a carrying chain from any convenient
raising and lowering derrick or travelling crane, which would allow the dies to be
quickly set in proper position over the hot rivets when inserted, or the exact place
to be punched.

page_text: In some cases, as for large machines for the curved or angled work of ships, they
would be hung by a double or open bow frame and swivelling boss in the centre of
the cross straps fitted with internal circular or segmental toothed rack, and a pinion
worked into it on a spindle or axis secured to the upper arms of the machine, or to
the hanging bow frame when the rack turns with the machine, and actuated by a
screw and screw wheel and crank handle convenient to the attendant to swivel the
dies round to the proper angle and position desired.
When this new or improved construction of hydraulic rivetting machine is to be
used for the rivetting of countersunk rivet heads outside, a slide rest or frame is
fitted and secured on one side of the rivetting cylinder, which has a broad or chisel
form of paring or dressing tool fixed in the rest, so as to dress off the parts of the
rivets left projecting flush with the plates by the direct action of a second water-
pressure cylinder and ram coupled to the rest direct, or through links or levers, and
secured to the frame of the revolving cylinder at right angles to, and only made to
act while the frame of the machine is held steady and properly in position by the
rivetting ram after it had completed the compression of each rivet, thus cutting and
dressing off each previously finished rivet while it was yet hot, and before releasing
the rivetting ram from the last compressed rivet.
Another improvement consists of a new construction of coupling for and mode of
jointing the ends of the flexible pipes or hose (for leading the water from the pumps
and accumulator to rivetting machines) to the metal branches, so as to stand the
great pressure required; and this consists in forming the outer surface of the
branches of a conical or long tapered shape, and then, by hand, forcing on the end
of the hose or pipe as tightly to the shape as possible, and making and fitting on
outside of this a conical bush or ferrule in segments the whole length of the joint
part with narrow slits between them, and screwed outside to fit a conical screwed
collar gland piece and one or more screw nuts, which are screwed on to the segments
to press them as close as possible over the end of the joint against the branch; and
when thus sufficiently tightened screw bolts are inserted through the collars or ears
of the glands and corresponding collars on the end branch; and the end joint piece
of the hose so fitted is drawn up by the screw nuts on the bolts over the conical
end branch until it is perfectly liquid pressure tight by this wedge action at the
joint between the cone and the india-rubber or other hose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Arrol in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th March
1878.
20
WILLIAM ARROL, of the Firm of "William Arrol and Company," of Dalmarnock
'IMPROVED
Iron Works, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
MACHINES FOR PUNCHING AND RIVETTING LARGE OR HEAVY PLATE WORK, SUCH
AS GIRDERS AND THE FRAMES AND PLATE WORK OF IRON OR STEEL SHIPS OR
VESSELS."
My said Invention has reference to the improved construction or combination of
the parts of portable hydrostatic or hydraulic rivetting machines, or combined
rivetting and rivet head cutting or dressing machines, or punching machines for the
more speedy and efficient rivetting than heretofore of large or heavy plate, girder,
or bridge work, and such work as the shells of large steam boilers, caissons for
foundations, and tanks or cisterns, which have to be erected, plated, and rivetted in
one place, being too large or heavy to be moved until fully put together in whole
pieces or large sections, and which, as a consequence, have mostly been rivetted by
means of manual labour for want of a thoroughly practical portable rivetting
machine suitable for this class of work, and which is also capable of dressing off the
countersunk rivet heads flush with the outside of the plating, as required for ship
work, and also for punching such stationary built plate work when desired.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said Invention
may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on
the two accompanying Sheets of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for
that purpose, the same reference letters and numerals indicating the same or
equivalent parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 on Sheet 1 are respectively a side elevation, edge view, and
plan of one modification of my new or improved hydrostatic portable rivetting
machine with rigid frame A, B, C, having the water cylinder D shown in section in
Figure 1, as forged solid on the end of the one side frame or beam A, all constructed
in accordance with and illustrative of the improvements of my Invention.
Figures 4 and 5 are a sectional side elevation and plan respectively of an improved
three-way water-cock F, F', for the inlet and outlet or escape of the water to and
from the cylinder D, for pressing the ram D¹ out to compress the rivet z, and draw
or push it in to relieve the dies d, d', and machine by a simple half-turn of the key
F of the cock F by the lever F2 on its spindle outside of the stuffing box.
Figures 6 and 7 are a sectional side and an end view respectively of my improved
construction of gripping or joint coupling g and its fittings for securing the ends of
high-pressure hose e to the jointing coupling parts of portable hydraulic cylinders
and other such-like machines or mechanism and their pump fittings, and Figure 8
shows a plan and elevation of the compressing conical screw segments separate or
detached.
Figures 9, 10, and 11, are a side elevation partly in section, an edge view, and a
sectional plan taken at the centre line 9---9, in Figure 9, all respectively of another
modification or arrangement of my new or improved rivetting machine, with the
beams or side frames A, A, oscillated on eyes at C¹ on the jointed ends of their
central tie bars C, C, so as to oscillate the frames A, A, and the dies d and d at their
one end A to compress the rivets 2, while the cylinder D and ram D¹ (which is of
a trunk form in this case) press the beams A, A, asunder at the other end A", A",
and vice versa, release the dies d, d¹, and machine while the plunger is pushed or
drawn in, the whole being fitted with and carried by a swing or bow frame B, B*,
for being quickly set and worked at any angle.
Figures 12, 13, and 14, on Sheet 2, are respectively a side elevation, a vertical
section, and a plan of a modification of my improved machine for rivetting and
dressing off the heads of the rivets in countersunk rivetting, as suitable for ship
work and other plate structures where this is required.

page_text: When the new or improved machine is required in its simplest form for ordinary
rivetting only, it is preferred to be constructed as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, on
Sheet 1, with two strong solid malleable iron or steel beam-shaped end frames or
jaws A, A, capable of resisting the whole strain required at the outer ends or extremi-
ties A', A', where the pressure is applied on the rivets and plate work 2, Z, between
them without bending or breaking. These two end frames A, A, are secured together
at their ends A", A", by a hollow steel or iron stay B and a strong solid screw bolt
B' passed through the whole, with a screw nut or nuts, or cotters or other equivalent
fastening at the outer ends A, and further secured together near the middle by
two strong side straps C, C, made of malleable iron or steel, checked into or over
them as buckle plates at the end, as seen particularly in Figures 2 and 3, secured
by screw bolts passed through them there at C', fixing the end frames or arms A, A,
at such a distance apart, and projecting out beyond the middle straps C at their ends
A', where the pressure is applied, as to take in the water-compressing cylinder D
and ram D', with one die d on the inside of one arm, and the corresponding die d'
on the other, exactly opposite each other on each side of the plate work Z and rivets
z to be rivetted, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, with sufficient room or clearance
to allow this to be done right over and along each width or streak of plates Z, all
quite clear off the middle straps or stays C, which must be strong enough to sustain
the pressing out strain, while the hollow stay B at the other ends A" must be
sufficient to sustain the crushing strain in rivetting, and with the bolt B¹ also
sufficient to carry the whole by a centre gland and shackle B", B³.
The water-pressing cylinder D is preferably formed or forged on the end of the
arm, as seen in Figure 1 (but it might be screwed to broad lateral flanges on the
outer end of its carrying arm A¹), and in either case is bored parallelly to the same
size as the inner end of the ram or piston D¹, and is there turned with a narrow
piston ring or cylindrical part a at the inner end to fit the cylinder D, with two
reverse edge discs of cupped leather a¹, a¹, secured with a turned double curve edge
disc plate b between them, and an end plate 6¹ securing the whole by screw pins 611
to the extreme inner end of the ram D¹, formed with a central pap Du to keep the
leather a¹ and discs b, b', concentric. The outer end of the ram D₁ is turned cylin-
drically three-sixteenths of an inch or so, at D³, less than its inner piston end a,
which fills the cylinder D, so as to leave a small annular water space c at the outer
end, and fit and work tightly out through the annular end cover 1³ fitted and
secured to the outer round flange part at A' of the cylinder D, and having an
ordinary inverted annular cupped leather c¹ and ring fitted in a cup groove in
the joint between them, projecting into the contracted cylindrical part D2 of the
ram D, to steady the cup packing over the new annular space c for the water to
enter and press in the plunger D¹ quickly after each outward action or compression
of a rivet so soon as the pressure of water behind it, which forced it out, has been
released.
The cylinder D is preferred to be of large area, as from 8 to 16 inches in diameter,
according to the size of the rivets and the work to be done, and so that a pressure of
from 400 to 1,200 pounds on the square inch would be sufficient, as I find this quite
suitable, while my improved joints or couplings g and flexible water pressure pipes
or hose e are capable of standing this maximum pressure. Ordinary brass screw
inlet and outlet coupling branches E, E¹ are screwed into the inner and outer sides
and ends of the cylinder D, to admit the water to press the plunger D¹ out and in
respectively, these pipes e, with their couplings g and fittings, forming an important
part of the Invention.
By one arrangement, the end of the pressure water pipe or hose e is coupled and
led direct by the branches E", E, to the outer end A¹ of the cylinder D, before
entering the cock F, so that the water is always acting in the annular space c to
push in the plunger D¹; and also direct to one side or lateral entering branch ƒ of
a three-way cock F (or cock chamber) screwed into the bottom coupling E of the
cylinder D (or it might be on to a coupling as E¹), fitted there for passing the water
to and from the inner end of the cylinder D, and which passes through the centre of

page_text: the hollow key F¹ of the cock F, as seen in Figure 4, and which when turned one
half round shuts off the water from the inlet branch f, and opens the outlet branch f¹
(on the opposite side of the cock case F to the inlet branch f) from the interior of
the key F¹, to let the water out of the cylinder D through the branch and opening f¹¹,
which had forced out the ram D' against the regular acting pressure in the small
annular space c, and which thus now forces in the plunger D', all as indicated by
the arrows in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5, so as to press the water below the plunger D¹
out through the branch f¹ into an open discharge cistern or other equivalent for the
purpose.
The dies d, d, for shaping the rivet heads (or bolster when countersunk flush
rivet heads are being rivetted or compressed, or punches and dies when the machine
is to be used for punching) are secured by stems in a usual manner into corres-
ponding receiving or fixing sockets in the centre of the outer end of the ram D',
and in the end frame or arın A¹ opposite it, which receives the force or pressure on
the opposite side of the plates Z, being rivetted or punched, and over which the
machine is hung by a buckle B" and shackle B² attached to near the centre of
gravity, either on the hollow end stay B for rivetting vertical plating, or it might
be near the central straps C, as dotted in at B1, B2, in Figure 1, for horizontal
rivetting, so as to oscillate freely on and by a carrying chain from any convenient
raising and lowering derrick or travelling crane, which would allow the dies d, d¹,
to be quickly set in proper position over the hot rivets when inserted into the holes
in the plates, or the exact place to be punched, when used as a horizontal portable
punch.
Referring to Figures 9, 10, and 11, these represent a modification or arrangement
for giving facility in swivelling for angled or curved work, where the machine
can be set into any position and corners, as for rivetting the frames of ships
and such like work. In this case the side frames A, A, are made to oscillate as
beam levers by bosses C" on each side, sunk into corresponding eyes C in the
ends of their buckle bars C, which sustain the strain, and are held together by
a strong central bolt C₁. The ram D¹ is formed with a hollow trunk connected
by a short rod D", and joint pieces secured in the bottom of the trunk in the
ram at D², and to the opposite arm of the beam A¹, so as to push them asunder
or draw them together at the cylinder ends A', and, vice versa, compress or relieve
the dies at the other end A" when rivetting or changing for the next action.
In this improved hydraulic rivetting or punching machine, when it is to be used
much for the curved or angled work in confined positions, as for ship work, whether
constructed with rigid or oscillating frames or jaw levers A, A, as shown in Figures
1 to 3 or 9 to 11, the whole might be hung by a double or open bow frame B, B*,
with the buckle B¹¹ and shackle B2 above, and by the swivelling eyes B³ at the
lower ends to joint holes B¹ in the hangers B4, secured by the screws C₁ to the
centres of the cross stays C, C, as seen particularly in Figures 9 and 10 on Sheet 1, and
which when desired may be fitted with a circular or segmental toothed rack, having
a pinion worked into it, secured on a spindle or axis with turning crank or wheel,
carried in bearings in the hanging or main frames B* or A of the machine, according
as the toothed segmental rack turns with the arms A, A, or not; or otherwise a
screw wheel and screw might be used with crank handle convenient to the attendant
to so swivel the machine or frames A, A, and its dies round to the proper angle and
position required to suit the rivets and work.
Referring to Figures 6, 7, and 8, on Sheet 1, another improvement consists of a
new or improved construction of coupling for, and mode of jointing the ends of the
flexible pipe or hose e to the metal branches or couplings as E (for leading the
water from the ordinary water pressure pumps and accumulator to these rivetting
or other high-pressure hydrostatic machines), so as to stand the great liquid pressure
required. This improvement consists in forming the outer surface and stem G of
the branches E, to which the hose e are to be jointed, of a long tapered or conical
shape, as seen at G, in Figure 6; and then, by hand, forcing on the end e¹ of the
hose or pipe e as tightly as possible on to this tapered part G, and making and

page_text: fitting on outside of this, and nearly parallel thereto, a conical bush or ferrule g, 9, 9, 9,
in four or other number of segments the whole length of the joint part G, with
narrow slits g¹ between them, and cut or "chased" with screw thread outside, as
seen particularly in Figure 8, to fit a conical screw collar or gland piece G¹, and one
or more screw nuts G₁₁, which are then screwed on to the segments g outside to
press them as close as possible over the end of the hose joint e against the tapered
stem branch G; and when thus sufficiently screwed up or tightened, screw bolts gll
are inserted through the collar or ears of the gland G¹ and corresponding collars G¹¹
on the end of the branch G, E, when the end joint piece e¹, g, so fitted is then drawn
up by the screw nuts on the bolts g¹¹ over its conical end branch G until it is
perfectly liquid pressure tight, by the conical wedge action of the joint between the
cone G and the india-rubber or other hose e, e¹, all as seen particularly in Figures 6
and 7.
Referring to Figures 12, 13, and 14, on Sheet 2, when these new or improved
constructions of hydrostatic rivetting machines are to be used for the rivetting of
countersunk rivet heads, as for the outside plate work of ship sides, the frames A, A,
B, C, and rivetting cylinder and ran D, D¹, and their fittings may all be substan-
tially as described in reference to Figures 1 to 3, on Sheet 1; but they have a
second hydraulic cylinder I firmly secured, or it might be formed on one of the
beams or frames A, fitted with the inlet and outlet branches and cocks, and a
truncated or hollow piston ram I set nearly at right angles to the rivetting cylinder
and piston D, D¹, with a short connecting rod 111, 12, coupled at its outer extremity
to the lever J of a hollow boss or spindle J, working in an eye J" in the arm A, to
which the cylinder I is fixed, and its axis working parallel to the axis of the rivetting
cylinder D, D¹, and dies d, d¹. This hollow spindle J has tightly fitted within it,
by a groove and feather, the spindle j of the actual cutting tool i, fixed in a slotted
boss head at its inner end j', all so as to slide to and from the surface of the plate
work Z, being rivetted while being turned by the hollow spindle J and its actuating
lever J, and water cylinder and ram I, I', as seen particularly in Figures 12 and 13;
the spindle of the cutter i being drawn out and in, as described, to cut or shave
off the projecting parts of the heads of the countersunk rivets by a hand screw and
wheel,, fitted at its outer end in a cross head and studs 111, 3, all being so set
that when the cylinder and ram D, D¹, and dies d, d', have finished the compression
of each rivet z, and while yet holding it and the machine steady, the cylinder and
ram I, I', are actuated so as to turn the spindles J, j, and cause the cutter i to shear
off the projecting heads of the rivet previously rivetted nearly flush with the surface
of the plates, whether it may be rivetting a vertical or horizontal row of rivets. Or
otherwise by another arrangement when desired, the cylinder I and plunger I¹
might be made to actuate a tool-holding slide rest or frame, secured to the frame of
the revolving or swivelling frame A, B, C, and cylinder D, D1, at right angles thereto,
with a broad paring or dressing chisel form of tool fixed in the rest, so as to dress
off the parts of the rivets left projecting flush with the plates by the direct action of
the ram I, coupled to the moving slide or tool holder of the slide rest direct, or
through links or levers instead of the hollow and solid reciprocating tool spindles J,j,
and only made to act while the frame of the machine A, B, C, is held steady and
properly in position by the rivetting ram D, D¹, after it has completed the com-
pression of each rivet, thus cutting and dressing off each previously finished rivet,
while it was yet hot, and before releasing the rivetting frames A, A, from the last
compressed rivet, all substantially as described in reference to the modification shown
in Figures 12 to 14.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated; but what I consider novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction or combination of the parts of a portable hydro-
static rivetting or punching machine, or rivetting and rivet head dressing-off machine,

page_text: with flexible water pressure pipes or hose and their joint fittings, all substantially
as herein described in reference to, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.
Second. The general construction of portable hydrostatic rivetting machines,
with two main frames A, A, rigidly fixed to or oscillating on checked or recessed
central cross bars C, C, having the water cylinder fitted at the compressing die end
or at the opposite end of the frames, all substantially as herein described in
reference to, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Third. The general construction of a portable hydrostatic rivetting and rivet
head dressing machine, with two water cylinders, and with either oscillating or sliding
or reciprocating cutting tools, all substantially as herein described in reference to,
and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The forming of portable hydrostatic rivetting machines, with improved
water cylinders and piston rams, with an annular water space c for pushing in
the plunger after the outward action, all substantially as herein described in
reference to, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Fifth. The actuating of the hydrostatic cylinders of portable rivetting machines
by a simple arrangement of two-way cock or valve, all substantially as herein
described in reference to, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
Sixth. The constructing and fitting of the water pressure tight joints of branches
and the ends of elastic or flexible pipes, with screwed conical segments g and
tightening-up collars or nuts G₁, G, and fittings, for portable hydrostatic rivetting
machines, or other hydrostatic presses or machines, all substantially as herein
described in reference to, and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Arrol, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
WILLIAM ARROL (L.S.)