Improvements in Machinery for Swaging Wire and other Round Articles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Swaging Wire and other Round
Articles.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DAYTON, of No. 13, Litchfield Street, Torrington, in the
State of Connecticut, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is especially intended for swaging the wire used in the manufacture
of spokes for velocipedes, bicycles, etc., and in which the end portions of the spokes
are left larger than the middle portions in order to obtain the necessary strength
for the screw thread or other attachment between the ends of the spokes and the
hub and felly of the wheel respectively.
In this improvement a revolving swaging mechanism is made use of, consisting
of a tubular shaft with a cross channel at the end of the shaft into which are
received' swaging dies that are opened and closed successively and with rapidity as
the shaft is revolved, these dies being acted upon preferably by the rollers of a
group of rollers that are within a cylindrical shell, and the wire to be acted upon
is moved progressively through the tubular revolving shaft and the dies are
allowed to remain open while the portion of the wire that is unacted upon is passed
along, and then the parts are brought together and the reduction of the wire takes
place as such wire is moved along gradually, and when the proper length is
obtained for the spoke the dies are allowed to open and the wire drawn through
and then the dies are again closed and the swaging of the second spoke is
carried on.
The pincers made use of for drawing the wire along progressively are moved
back and forth and opened and closed automatically and at the proper times, and
there is a guide plate and clamp that acts upon the wire before it enters the
tubular revolving shaft carrying the swaging dies, so that the wire is held in
position when the pincers are opened and moved along and closed upon the wire
at the proper place.
It is advantageous to arrange the machine in such a way that the wire for one
spoke is swaged, and the wire drawn through while the swaging dies are open and
then the clamp holds the wire during the backward movement of the open pincers,
and then such pincers are closed and the wire drawn through and a second spoke
swaged, and while the wire is being held stationary and the pincers moved back
in their open condition for again closing upon the wire, the first is cut off at the
proper place automatically and the operations proceed regularly, as indicated.
The devices for opening and closing the swaging dies and regulating their action
may be such as illustrated in my English Patent, No. 8803 of May 10th, 1892,
that is to say, wedge-acting surfaces are brought to bear by an end movement upon
the dies, or die blocks, to allow them to open a greater distance, or to bring them
closer together, thereby regulating the extent of the swaging operation, and this can
be performed while the swaging dies are rotating.
The mechanism for opening and closing the pincers is preferably a lever and
toggle block acted upon by a grooved bar that is raised or lowered at the proper
time by the action of a cam, and the cutter for separating one spoke from another
is preferably upon a lever that receives its motion from a slotted bar and cam that
is brought into action at the proper time while the wire is standing still, and the
position of the cutter is accurately adjusted by a screw rod and nut connected with
the stock of the pincers so that the parts are operated without one device interfering
with the action of the other.
By this improvement the swaging of such articles as wheel spokes can be carried

page_text: on automatically, and great accuracy is obtained in the length of the spoke and in
the reduction of the wire, and the wire is stiffened and strengthened by the swaging
operation.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1892.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Swaging Wire and other Round
Articles.
I, WILLIAM HENRY DAYTON of Torrington in the State of Connecticut,
United States of America, Machinist, 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 :-
This invention is especially intended for swaging the wire used in the manufacture
of spokes for velocipedes, bicycles, etc., and in which the end portions of the spokes
are left larger than the middle portions in order to obtain the necessary strength
for the screw thread or other attachment between the ends of the spokes and the
hub and felly of the wheel respectively.
In this improvement a revolving swaging mechanism is made use of consisting of
a tubular shaft with a cross channel at the end of the shaft into which are received
swaging dies that are opened and closed successively and with rapidity as the shaft
is revolved, these dies being acted upon preferably by the rollers of a group of
rollers that are within a cylindrical shell, and the wire to be acted upon is moved
progressively through the tubular revolving shaft and the dies are allowed to
remain open while the portion of the wire that is unacted upon is passed along, and
then the parts are brought together and the reduction of the wire takes place as
such wire is moved along gradually, and when the proper length is obtained for the
spoke the dies are allowed to open and the wire drawn through and then the dies
are again closed and the swaging of the second spoke is carried on..
The pincers made use of for drawing the wire along progressively are moved
back and forth and opened and closed automatically and at the proper times, and
there is a guide plate and clamp that acts upon the wire before it enters the tubular
revolving shaft carrying the swaging dies so that the wire is held in position when
the pincers are opened and moved along and closed upon the wire at the proper
place.
It is advantageous to arrange the machine in such a way that the wire for one
spoke is swaged and the wire drawn through while the swaging dies are open and
then the clamp holds the wire during the backward movement of the open pincers,
and then such pincers are closed and the wire drawn through and a second spoke
swaged, and while the wire is being held stationary and the pincers moved back in
their open condition for again closing upon the wire, the first is cut off at the
proper place automatically and the operations proceed regularly, as indicated.
The devices for opening and closing the swaging dies and regulating their action
may be such as illustrated in my English Patent No. 8803 of May 10, 1892, that is
to say, wedge acting surfaces are brought to bear by an end movement upon the
dies or die blocks to allow them to open a greater distance or to bring them closer
together, thereby regulating the extent of the swaging operation, and this can be
performed while the swaging dies are rotating.
The mechanism for opening and closing the pincers is preferably a lever and
toggle block acted upon by a grooved bar that is raised or lowered at the proper
time by the action of a cam, and the cutter for separating one spoke from another
is preferably upon a lever that receives its motion from a slotted bar and cam that

page_text: 8 brought into action at the proper time while the wire is standing still, and the
position of the cutter is accurately adjusted by a screw rod and nut connected with
the stock of the pincers so that the parts are operated without one device interfering
with the action of the other.
By this improvement the swaging of such articles as wheel spokes can be carried
on automatically, and great accuracy is obtained in the length of the spoke and in
the reduction of the wire, and the wire is stiffened and strengthened by the swaging
Operation.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation.
Fig. 3 is an elevation from the opposite side to Fig. 2 and with the swaging
mechanism and base in section and part of the pincer actuating devices removed.
Fig. 4 is an elevation at the opposite side to Fig. 2, and
Figs. 5 to 11 show details of the devices for actuating the pincers and for holding
and cutting the wire.
Any suitable swaging mechanism may be made use of for acting upon the wire,
rod or other article. I have represented devices similar to those shown in my
British Letters Patent No. 8803 of May 10, 1892, that is to say, the dies A B are
in a cross mortice in the revolving head C of the actuating shaft D, and these parts
are within and sustained by the shell E, and there is a circular range of rolls F
within the shell E and there are die blocks H in line with the dies A B, and the
wedges II are between the dies and die blocks and they are held and connected in
any suitable manner such as by the head or pins M with the adjusting tube S 80
that by an endwise movement given to this adjusting tube S the wedges act to cause
the dies A B to come closer together or further apart in the swaging operation, all
of which is more fully described in the aforesaid Patent.
The shell E is supported on a suitable standard E¹ upon a bed or base G,
preferably in the form of a pan for catching oil, and the actuating shaft D is
rotated by suitable means such as a belt to the pulley J, and the adjusting tube S
receives its end wise movement in any suitable manner, such for instance as by the
mechanism hereafter set forth.
The frame K extends out from the shell E and the cross shafts N and O are
supported by suitable bearings in the respective parts, and these shafts N and O
receive their motion from the countershaft P, worm pinions 2 and 3 and gear
wheels 4 and 5, and the driving pulley Q can be driven continuously by a belt and
either connected to or disconnected from the countershaft P by a clutch, the parts
being actuated by a suitable lever such as that shown at 6; and it is to be under-
stood that the parts are so proportioned and the cams upon the respective shafts N
and O so shaped, that one complete movement of the machine is effected by the
entire revolution of the said shafts N and O, and the relative speed of these
shafts N and O to the speed of the revolving head C and shaft D is such that the
swaging dies will be opened and closed the required number of times to perform
the swaging operation during the movements of the machine.
The wire 10, rod, or other article to be swaged is fed into the rear end of the
tube S, and it is preferably subjected to a straightening operation by a revolving
or other straightener, in order that such wire in passing through the tube S may
not be subjected to unusual strain or wear, but in some instances the straightening
operation can be dispensed with. I have not represented any straightener upon
the drawing, but at T a bracket is shown extending to the rear and provided with a
clamping plate 7, adjacent to which is a guide plate 8 with a hole through it for
the free passage of the wire to be acted upon, and there is a clamp lever 9 that is
brought into action at the proper time as hereafter described, to hold the wire
against the plate 7 during the return movement of the pincers and while the wire is
being cut off.
A convenient device for actuating this clamp lever 9 is the lever 11, connecting
rod 12 and a cam 13 on the shaft O, a portion of the surface of which is segmental

page_text: and acts to hold the wire by the lever 11 and then to release the same as the
swaging operation begins.
To give an endwise motion to the adjusting tube S I prefer to use lock nuts
on the projecting back end of such tube, and a fork 14 having a pivotal handle
within a socket at one end of the lever R, which lever is pivoted at 15 upon
the frame of the machine, and it is provided with an arm 16 to a cam 17 on the
shaft O, so that by properly shaping this cam the adjusting tube S will be moved
endwise at the proper time and either open or close the dies A B more or less
or allow such dies to remain open without performing any swaging operation.
Usually a spring 42 will be required for this lever 16 to draw it towards the
cam 17.
Upon the cross shaft O is a cam 18, see Fig. 3, which cam acts against the
roller 19 of the lever U pivoted at 20, and the connecting rod 21 extends to
the radius bar V the lower end of which is pivoted and the upper end connected
with the pincers, as hereinafter described, so as to give motion to such pincers and
carry the wire through the machine by a longitudinal movement given to such
pincers, and the connection 22 between the rod 21 and the radius bar V may be
raised or lowered so that the leverage is changed and the distance which the
pincers are caused to travel varied without requiring a different cam 18; and
remark that this cam 18 should be a progressive volute or spiral so that the wire
which is drawn along by the action of the pincers may be acted upon with
regularity by the swaging dies, or the shape of this cam may be varied according
to the character of the article that is to be produced, so as to unify the swaging
operation according to the extent of the reduction.
Upon the top of the frame K are slide ways for the base K₁ of the pincers L,
and these pincers are of suitable construction, preferably with the lower jaw 23
stationary and the upper jaw 24 movable, and the same may be opened by
springs 25 when not otherwise acted upon, and there are side frames L upon the
base K that receive the pivoted rocker 26 between which and the upper jaw 24 of
the pincers is a toggle block 27, and the rocker 26 has an arm or lever 28 at one
side with a roller at its outer end in the channel bar 29, so that when this channel
bar 29 is raised the rocker is moved and the pincers closed and firmly held upon
the wire, and when the channel bar is drawn down, the parts assume the position
represented in Fig. 8, and the pincers are opened by the springs 25 so as to release
the hold upon the wire.
I have shown a spring 30 to draw down the channel bar, and a cam 31 to act
upon the lower end of the vertical member 32 of the channel bar, which vertical
member is fitted in suitable slide ways upon the frame K, and the shape of the
cam 31 is such that it raises the channel bar and closes the pincers at the proper
time or allows them to open to release the hold upon the wire as the channel bar
descends.
The connection between the base K¹ upon which the pincers L are placed and
the radius bar V is to be of any desired character; I have shown the link V¹ as
made with an adjusting screw passing through the pivoted block 33 that is con-
nected by standards with the under side of the base K', so that the pincers can be
moved backward and forward by the action of the radius bar, connections and
lever, and I have shown a spring 34 for giving motion to the lever U in one
direction to keep the roller of such lever against the cam 18 and to move the
lever V and its connected parts.
The operation of the respective parts thus far described, when employed in
making wire spokes for wheels is as follows:-
The wire is passed through the swaging dies when the latter are open, and
also through the pincers sufficiently for such pincers to grasp the same when
closed, the swaging mechanism and other parts being in motion, and the wedges I
are moved endwise to bring the swaging dies towards each other and reduce the
wire down to the proper size for the spoke, and at the same time the pincers
are moved along by the action of the cam 18 the proper extent to draw the

page_text: wire along, and if the body of the spoke is to be parallel the wedges remain in
the position to which they have been moved during the commencement of the
swaging operation and the pincers draw the wire through the swaging dies at
the proper speed during the swaging operation, and when the necessary length
has been swaged, the wedges I are moved endwise, so as to allow the swaging
dies to open more or less gradually, and they may open so as not to act upon
the wire, or they may open sufficiently far for a slight swaging operation to be
performed upon the wire where such wire is left sufficiently large to form the
ends of the spokeɛ.
The clamping lever 9 is now brought into action to hold the wire, and the
pincers are opened to disconnect them from the wire, and they are moved back
to the point of beginning ready to be closed upon the wire for the operations to be
repeated.
These swaging operations may be performed and the wire may be cut off by
hand in the proper lengths for each spoke, the wire being separated where it is
left the largest in order that the ends of the spokes may be sufficiently strong for
receiving the screw threads or other devices by which such ends are to be con-
nected in the wheel; I however prefer to cut off the spokes automatically, and
with this object in view the cutter plate is provided upon which ie pivoted a
cutter d. Preferably there is a hole through both the cutter plate and the cutter
and the separation is performed by a motion given to the cutter. This cutter
plate c may be stationary in cases where the lengths of the spokes or other articles
are such that the cutter will not interfere with the movement of the pincers, but
usually it is preferable to allow the cutter plate c to slide in the ways upon the
frame K, such cutter plate being moved forward by the base K' acting against
the same, and the cutter plate is drawn back by the rod e which is pivoted at
one end to the frame L' and is screw threaded and provided with nuts, and such
rode passes freely through a hole in the cutter plate, hence when the pincers
are closed and are drawing the wire along, the pincers and cutter plate can move
together, and when the pincers have been opened and are sliding backwardly
over the wire or spoke, the cutter plate c will not move until the nuts upon the
rod e come in contact with such cutter plate and draw such cutter plate along with
the pincers as the latter are moved, and the cams are shaped in such a manner
that the pincers remain stationary while the cutting operation is being performed.
A convenient device for actuating the cutter d is represented in Fig. 2, in which
the cam upon the shaft N comes into action against the roller g upon the
swinging frame that is pivoted at i and connected by a link to a slotted bar 1,
in the slot of which the lever handle of the cutter d is received, and when this
slotted bar is in its normal and level position, the cutter is out of action and the
cutter can slide backwards and forwards upon the wire, and the parts are so timed
that the cam comes into action to separate the wire while the latter is quiescent,
and by the nuts upon the rod e an adjustment can be effected, so that the wire will
be separated at exactly the desired place; and I provide an adjustable stop 40 to
arrest the movement of the cutter so that the inertia may not displace the same.
This stop 40 is adjustably fastened to one of the slides that support the cutter and
it comes into contact with the stationary bed or frame K; and it is advantageous
to provide a pan in front of the cutter and between the slides, as at 41, into which
the spoke as it is separated from the stock may fall.
I find it advantageous to have the cutter separate from the pincers and to
construct the pincers and the actuating devices as light as consistent with the
proper strength, because with comparatively light pincers and actuating parts,
there is a small spring or yield that lessens the risk of the swaging dies by their
gripping and revolving action loosening the hold of the spoke or wire in the
pincers.
By the foregoing description of this apparatus as adapted to the manufacture of
wire spokes, it is not to be understood that the improvement is limited in this

page_text: particular, but that the devices may be employed for swaging other articles, and
the swaging action may be either continuous or intermittent.
I have described the present improvements in connection with a revolving
ewaging device, but it will be apparent that in cases where the device that is being
manufactured is not circular, the improvements are available with any character
of swaging device whether it revolves so as to act all around the circular article,
or whether it may remain stationary and only act at opposite sides of the article
being swaged.
The cam 18 being a progressive incline or scroll gives motion to the pincers
through the intermediate lever connections, and according to the position of the
pivotal connection 22 upon the lever V so the pincers will receive a greater or less
movement during the time that the swaging operation is progressing, and this
adapts the machine to different lengths of spoke, and upon this cam 18 is a movable
toe o attached by a bolt in a slot, and adjusted by the screw 43, which toe can be
set to project more or less at the end portion of the scroll of the cam, and this toe
is to come into action after the dies have been opened, so that the wire may be
moved along the desired distance between one swaging operation and the next to
give the amount of material or stock necessary for the larger end portions or
shanks of the respective spokes, and by setting this toe o further out, a greater
length of wire will be provided by the action of the levers on the pincers, so that
the amount of stock left for the reception of the screw threads or other connecting
devices at the respective ends of the spokes will be increased, or the reverse when
the toe is set inwardly.
Any suitable adjustable lever connections can be provided between the cam 18
and the pincers, so as to vary the stroke or longitudinal movement given to the
pincers, and consequently the length of the spoke or other article that is swaged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:
First The combination with the swaging mechanism, of pincers for grasping
the article to be swaged, mechanism for giving motion to the pincers to draw the
article through between the swaging dies and a holding clamp for holding the
article operated upon and mechanism for opening the pincers and returning
them to take a fresh hold for drawing through another length, substantially as set
forth.
Second-The combination in a swaging machine, of dies for effecting the
swaging, mechanism for actuating such dies, pincers for holding the article to be
acted upon, mechanism for opening and closing the pincers and moving them
longitudinally for drawing the article to be swaged through between the dies,
substantially as set forth.
Third: The combination with rotary swaging dies and mechanism for opening
and closing the same, of pincers for grasping the article to be acted upon, and
mechanism for moving the pincers and drawing the article along between the
swaging dies, a clamp for holding the article when the pincers are opened, and a
cutter and mechanism for actuating the same to separate the swaged article from
the wire or stock, substantially as set forth.
Fourth: The combination in a swaging machine, of swaging dies, rotary
mechanism for actuating such dies, a moving wedge or backing for varying the
closing of the dies, pincers and mechanism for opening and closing the same and
for moving the pincers longitudinally for drawing the article to be swaged along
between the dies, a clamp for holding the material when the pincers are opened,
and a cutter for separating the swaged article, substantially as set forth.
Fifth The combination with swaging dies, of pincers, mechanism for opening
and closing the same and for moving them longitudinally and carrying the article
longitudinally between the swaging dies, a cutter for separating the swaged article

page_text: and a connection between the cutter and the pincers, whereby the cutter is brought
into position by the movement of the pincers, substantially as set forth.
Sixth-The combination in a machine for swaging wire spokes, of revolving
swaging dies and mechanism for moving and regulating the action of said dies,
pincers and mechanism for opening and closing the same, a cam and variable lever
mechanism for regulating the longitudinal movement given to the pincers and
varying the length of the spoke, substantially as set forth.
Seventh-The combination with the swaging mechanism and mechanism for
grasping the wire, of a revolving cam, adjustable lever mechanism intervening
between the cam and the pincers for varying the length of the article swaged,
mechanism for opening the swaging dies and an adjustable toe for moving the
pincers and wire the desired distance between one swaging operation and the next,
substantially as set forth.
Eighth The combination with the swaging mechanism, of the revolving shaft
through which the wire to be swaged passes and which shaft carries the swaging
mechanism, pincers and means for opening and closing the same to grasp or relieve
the wire, a cam and intervening connections to the pincers for giving motion to
such pincers to move the wire between the swaging dies, a cutter plate and cutter
movably supported upon the machine and a variable connection between the cutter
plate and the pincers for determining the position of the cutter, and mechanism for
giving motion to the cutter, substantially as set forth.
:
Ninth The combination with the swaging mechanism, of the revolving shaft
through which the wire to be swaged passes and which shaft carries the swaging
mechanism, pincers and means for opening and closing the same to grasp or relieve
the wire, a cam and intervening connections to the pincers for giving motion to
such pincers to move the wire between the swaging dies, a cutter plate and cutter
movably supported upon the machine and a variable connection between the cutter
plate and the pincers for determining the position of the cutter, mechanism for
giving motion to the cutter, and a clamp for holding the wire during the return
movement of the pincers, substantially as set forth.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.