Improvements in Method and Apparatus for Hardening Knife Sections of Harvester Binders, Mowers, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Method and Apparatus for Hardening Knife
Sections of Harvester Binders, Mowers, and the like.
WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON Manufacturer JAMES GRAY, Mechanic, both of
915 King Street West of the City of Toronto, Canada 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for hardening the
edges or other desired portions of knives, sections of knives, ledger plates, and such
like articles and the object of the invention is to design such a method and apparatus
whereby the cutting edges of the sections may be successively and rapidly hardened
with greater uniformity in heating and hardening than by the method now
employed without affecting such portion of the section, which it is desirable to leave
soft and tough, and thereby effect by our improved method and apparatus an
economy both in time and labor, and it consists essentially of placing each section
or piece to be heated or hardened between peculiarly formed links of a travelling
chain, which passes through a fire chamber where it is subjected to a high degree
of heat, so that the edges of the sections or pieces to be heated or hardened are
brought to the desired heat, means being provided whereby each section or piece
may be taken from, or may drop from or through the chain from the fire chamber
into a hardening tank, the apparatus being arranged and constructed in detail as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a perspective sectional view through the fire chamber of a furnace,
travelling chain, and other parts of the apparatus, the chain being shown for the
major portion section.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged perspective detail showing the means whereby the chain is
supported.
Fig. 3, is an inside view of the form of a link, in chain shown, which is adapted
for the sections of knives of harvesting machinery.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A, is the ordinary fire chamber of an oil furnace and B, the flue. The furnace
body is supported preferably upon legs, C. D, is an endless chain, which is shown
mostly in cross section and is comprised of a series of links, d. Each of the links
is preferably made up of two forwardly extending lugs, d', and two rearwardly
extending lugs, d², of a greater distance between than the forwardly extending
lugs, d', the rearwardly extending lugs of each link being pivotally connected to
the forwardly extending lugs of the succeeding link by suitable rivets, d³. The
space between the lugs of each link is open with the exception of a downwardly
extending tooth, d', situated between the forwardly extending lugs, d¹. The side
portion, D', of each link is preferably concavo-tapered to an apex. The ends of
the outer portion D', are parallel to each other.
E, is an oil burner, which is supplied with oil from a pipe, F, and has air pumped
into the burner, so as to spray it into the interior of the fire chamber through the
opening, G, shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that there is preferably a
burner at each side or end although only one is shown, which burners when ignited
serve to keep the interior of the fire chamber at a very great heat. Although we
preferably use petroleum as fuel we do not wish to confine ourselves to its use as
other kinds of fuel might possibly be used as advantageously.
H, is a channel iron, which extends from the opening, I, at one end of the
furnace to a point beyond the opposite side of the furnace. The chain passes

page_text: through an opening, J, at the flue end of the oil furnace and an inclined opening, K,
at the opposite end. The end of the channel iron, H, is supported upon the forked
bracket, L, which is bolted to the channel brackets, M, which in turn are secured
to the bottom plate of the body of the furnace as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and
particularly in Fig. 2, in which the holes for the bolts are shown.
N, is a sprocket wheel shown in section in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2.
The sprocket wheel, N, is secured on the shaft, Ñ¹, which is journalled in the outer
ends of the brackets, M, as indicated. H¹, are curved extension bars of the channel
iron, H, the bars being of the same width as the side ribs of the channel iron.
The outer ends of the bars, H', are curved on a slightly smaller arc and one which
is preferably concentric with the circle described by the top of the tooth as the
sprocket wheel rotates. It will thus be seen that as the width of the knife sections
is the same as from outside to outside of the channel iron that the curved extending
bars, H, will receive the teeth and hold them up in position until they reach the
channel iron, H. The sprocket wheel, N, is driven through the sprocket wheel, O,
by a sprocket chain, P, to the sprocket wheel, Q, ou the shaft, Q', which is
supported in suitable bearings, which are preferably suspended from the beams of
the ceiling. R, is a tapered pulley, which is connected by a belt, S, to a tapered
pulley, T, on the driving shaft, T₁, which is supported in suitable bearings. U, is
a lever pivotally connected to a bar, u, which is suitably supported. The bar, u,
has a loop, u', which extends over the belt. By tilting the lever on its pivot the
position of the belt on the tapered pulleys may be changed so as to drive the
sprocket wheel, N, and consequently the chain, D, at such a desired speed as will
best effect the proper heating of the knives as they pass through the fire chamber
as hereinbefore described. I preferably use means for speeding the chain instead
of increasing or decreasing the intensity of the heat in the fire chamber which
alternative means, however, we lay claim to in connection with our invention.
The channel iron, H, is supported upon the bed of the fire chamber_through
which it extends longitudinally slightly beyond the edge of the opening, I. V, is
a bar, which extends beneath the end of the channel iron above the opening and
has two upwardly extending ribs, v, one on each side of the channel iron and two
end lips, . W, are two parallel bars, the upper ends of which are horizontal and
extend underneath the lips at each side into the recess formed between the ribs, v,
and lips, . The inner edges of the bars, W, are entirely outside the line of the
channel iron and the bars are bent so as extend downwardly obliquely from
immediately above the opening, I, to the bearing bracket, X, at the forward end
of the machine to which they are secured by screw-bolts, w, passing through the
bars, W, near the outer edge into the bosses, x, attached to or forming part of the
"bear brackets, X, which in turn are secured to the bottom of the furnace body by
suitable bolts, holes being shown for such bolts in Fig. 2. The bars, W, are
designed to form a support for the chain, D, and the bend in the bars is designed
to cause the links of the chain to open as they pass over the angle as indicated
in Fig. 1, so as to permit a section when heated, to drop through the opening, I.
The teeth of the chain pass over the sprocket wheel, Y, at the forward end,
which sprocket wheel is supported on the shaft, y, which is journalled in the
end of the bearing brackets, X, and supports, Y.
Z, is a tank, which is filled with sperm oil, water, or other suitable liquid
and has situated within it the open work basket, Z. The tank is made of a
greater width than the width of the furnace so that the basket can be inserted
into it or taken out from it at each end. 2, is a series of coils which extend
throughout the length of the tank at each side and have a continual support of
cold water from the main by means of the pipe, z¹, which is connected to one
end of the coil, z. The object of passing the cold water through these pipes is
to keep the liquid in the tank cool and thereby effect the proper hardening of
the section. is a pipe which leads from the other end of the coil into a tank, 2,
which is located on the floor. 3, is an overflow pipe for such tank, so that the
water returned from the coil is always kept at the same level in the tank, 2.
,

page_text: The height of the water in the tank, 2, is such that the sag of the chain admits
of the points of the outer portion of the link passing through the water as indicated in
Fig. 1. We find in practice that the outer points of each link are beated to such
an extent that were such a device as the tank not provided the outer end of
each link would in time become heated and thus destroy their usefulness by
communicating such heat to that portion of the section, which it is necessary to
keep cool. By submerging the points, however, in the water in the tank as
they pass round, their temperature is reduced to such a degree that when they reach
the fire chamber they serve to keep that portion of each section with which
they come in contact, cool, as it passes through the fire chamber.
As herein before described the endless chain, D, is driven in the direction
indicated by arrow through the sprocket wheel, O, chain, P, sprocket wheel, Q,
and the rapidity at which the chain is driven is regulated by the position of the
belt upon the tapered pulleys, R, and, T. The flame emitted from the burners, E,
on each side or end of the fire chamber, A of course acts upon the exposed
parts of the sections as they pass through the fire chamber. On account of the
thickness of material in the outer portion or point of the links of the chain it
will be seen that inteuse heat is prevented from reaching the covered parts of
the sections, which will consequently remain soft and tough. The outer edges
of the teeth are heated to the degree desired and when each tooth reaches the
opening, I, it passes through the opened chain down through the opening into
the open work basket, Z', in the cooling tank, which rapidly cools each section.
When the basket, Z', is filled it can be removed from either side and another
basket substituted in its place.
From this description it will be seen that I provide a very simple and efficient
means by which the desired parts of the sections of knives or other similar
articles may be hardened without affecting the portion of the section which it is
desired to leave soft and tough.
It will of course be understood that the links of the chain would be necessarily
constructed according to specific form of article, it is desired to harden.
It will also be understood that although we show a drive through the tapered
pulleys that our machine might be driven by hand, or in any other suitable
manner.
Although I show in the drawings the sections or pieces inserted between the
links of the chain it will of course be understood that the sections might be
placed in the slot or other suitable means of holding the same in the link.
What we claim as our invention is
1. The method of hardening the cutting edges or other desired portions of
knife sections, ledger plates and similar articles, which consists in passing the
sections or pieces to be heated and hardened partially exposed, through the fire
chamber of a furnace of suitable temperature and immediately afterwards
submerging the sections or pieces in the hardening tank as and for the purpose
specified.
2. The method of hardening the cutting edges or other desired portions of knife
sections, ledger plates and similar articles which consists in passing the sections or
pieces to be heated and hardened partially exposed, through a fire chamber of a
furnace kept at a desired heat the speed at which the sections or pieces are
passed through the fire being commensurate with the degree of hardness required
and the teeth being arranged to be immediately submerged in the hardening
tank after having left the fire chamber as and for the purpose specified.
3. In an apparatus for hardening the edges or desired portions of knife sections
and similar articles, the combination with the fire chamber of a furnace, of an
endless chain consisting of a series of links suitably formed to receive the sections
or pieces and expose the portions to be heated and hardened as and for the purpose
specified...
"

page_text: 4. In an apparatus for hardening the edges or desired portions of knife sections
and similar articles, the combination with the fire chamber of a furnace, of an
endless chain consisting of a series of links suitably formed to receive the sections
or pieces and expose the portions to be heated and hardened and means for
supporting the sections or pieces within or between the links of the chain as they
pass to and through the fire chamber as and for the purpose specified.
5. In an apparatus for hardening the edges or desired portions of knife sections
and similar articles, the combination with a fire chamber of a furnace, of an endless
chain consisting of a series of links suitably formed to receive the sections or
pieces and expose the portions to be heated and hardened and means for supporting
the sections or pieces within or between the links of the chain as they pass to and
through the fire chamber and for opening the links of the chain to free each
section or piece and discharge it after having passed through the fire chamber into
a hardened tank as and for the purpose specified.
6. In an apparatus for hardening the edges or desired portions of knife sections
and similar articles, the combination with a fire chamber of a furnace, of an endless
chain consisting of a series of links suitably formed to receive the sections or pieces
and expose the portions to be heated and hardened and means for supporting the
sections or pieces within or between the links of the chain as they pass to and
through the fire chamber and for speeding the chain as and for the purpose
specified.
7. The combination with the fire chamber of a furnace and an endless chain
consisting of a series of links with concavo-tapered outer portions and parallel ends
between which the sections fit so that their edges project, of a channel iron, H,
through which the teeth of the chain pass and the edges of which support the
sections in position as and for the purpose specified.
8. The combination with the fire chamber of a furnace and an endless chain
consisting of a series of links suitably constructed to receive the sections or
pieces and expose the desired portions of the same, of a channel iron, H, and the
forked brackets, L, secured to the bottom of the rear end of the channel iron and
to the bearing brackets, M, as and for the purpose specified.
9. The combination with the fire chamber of a furnace and an endless chain
consisting of a series of links suitably constructed to receive the sections or pieces
and expose the desired portions of the same, of a channel iron, H, and the forwardly
extending curved extension bars, H', forming a continuation of the edges of the
channel iron and means for carrying the lugs or edges of the chain over the
opening, I, so that the chain will open above such opening as it is passing it as and
for the purpose specified.
10. The combination with the fire chamber of a furnace and an endless chain
consisting of a series of links suitably constructed to receive the sections or pieces
and expose the desired portions of the same, of a channel iron, H, and the forwardly
extending curved extension bars, H¹, forming a continuation of the edges of the
channel iron and the side bars, W, bent above the opening and situated at greater
distance apart than the width of the channel iron and suitably connected to the
channel iron and to the bearing brackets as and for the purpose specified.
11. The combination with the fire chamber of a furnace and an endless chain
consisting of a series of links suitably constructed to receive the sections or pieces
and expose the desired portious of the same, of a channel iron, H, and the forwardly
extending curved extension bars, H', forming a continuation of the edges of the
channel iron and the side bars, W, secured at the rear end above the opening, the
bar, V, extending underneath the channel iron and secured at the forward end by
the bolts, w, to the bearing brackets, X, as and for the purpose specified.
12. The combination with the fire chamber, of an endless chain consisting of a
series of links with concavo-tapered outer portion and parallel ends between which
the mower sectious fit so that their side edges project, and having formed on them
the lugs, d', and, d, which are rivetted together as specified and central teeth, d*,

page_text: situated between the forward pair of lugs and the sprocket wheels, N, and, Y,
secured on the end shafts and having suitable bearings as and for the purpose
specified.
13. The combination with the fire chamber and an endless chain consisting of a
series of links suitably constructed to receive the sections or pieces and expose the
desired portions of the same, and the sprocket wheels, N, and, Y, secured on the
end shafts and having suitable bearings, of the sprocket wheel, O, on the end of
the shaft, N', chain, P, sprocket wheel, O, tapered pulleys, R, and, T, connected
by the belt, S, and means for shifting the belt, S, upon such tapered pulleys as and
for the purpose specified.
14. The combination with the fire chamber and oil burners, E, emitting the
flame into it from opposite sides of an endless chain, D, suitably constructed and
driven, the opening, I, and means for opening the chain above such opening and
the tank, Z, situated beneath the opening as and for the purpose specified..
15. The combination with the fire chamber and oil burners, E, emitting the
flame into it from opposite sides, of an endless chain, D, suitably constructed and
driven, the opening, I, and means for opening the chain above such opening and
the tank, Z, and open work basket, Z' situated in the hardening tank beneath the
opening as and for the purpose specified.
16. The combination with the fire chamber and oil burners, E, emitting the-
flame into it from opposite sides, of an endless chain D, suitably constructed
and driven, the opening, I, and means for opening the chain above such opening,
tank, Z, and the coil of pipes, 2, connected by the pipe, z¹, to the main as and for
the purpose specified.
17. The combination with the fire chamber and oil burners, E, emitting the
flame into it from opposite sides of the endless chain, D, suitably constructed and
driven, the opening, I, and means for opening the chain above such opening and
the tank, 2, into which the outer points of the sagging portion of the chain extend,.
the said tank being supplied with water and having an overflow pipe as and for the
purpose specified.
18. The combination with the fire chamber and oil burners, E, emitting
the flame into it from opposite sides of the endless chain, D, suitably constructed
and driven, the opening, I, and means for opening the chain above such opening,
and the oil tank, Z, supplied with water from the main and connected by the-
pipe, , to the tank, 2, which has an overflow pipe, 3, as and for the purpose-
specified.
Dated at Toronto, this 1st day of June 1894.
WILLIAM F. JOHNSTON,
JAMES GRAY.