A Novel or Improved Method of Polishing or Bobbing Articles of Considerable Length, such as Hames, Fire-irons, Bicycle Tubes and the like, and Novel or Improved Appliances for Use therein and otherwise for Polishing or Bobbing.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Novel or Improved Method of Polishing or Bobbing Articles of
Considerable Length, such as Hames, Fire-irons, Bicycle Tubes
and the like, and Novel or Improved Appliances for Use therein
and otherwise for Polishing or Bobbing.
We, PARKES AND GNOSILL, LIMITED, of Regent Street, Walsall in the County
of Stafford, Cart Hame Manufacturers, and JOHN PARKES, Works Manager to
the said Company, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates, chiefly, to a novel or improved method of, and to novel or
improved appliances for use in, polishing or bobbing articles of considerable length,
such as hames, fire-irons, bicycle tubes and the like, and especially those which are
also of irregular form, such as hames and fire-irons; but the novel or improved
appliances may be used generally for polishing or bobbing articles whether long or
otherwise, and are specially useful for polishing or bobbing articles of irregular
shape.
It has heretofore been the practice to polish or bob articles of considerable length,
and especially those which have an uneven or irregular surface, such as hames,
fire-irons, shovels, forks and some kinds of edge tools, by holding them upon and
across an emery dressed endless band passing over and travelling between two
pulleys. The work has been held upon the portion of the band between the
pulleys, which portion to some extent yields under the pressure and adapts itself
more or less to the shape of the article. The article, however, is polished or
bobbed transversely to the direction in which it is most conveniently rubbed to
clean or re-polish it when in use, which is obviously a disadvantage as the transverse
markings left by the emery, though minute, prevent the attainment of so smooth
and glossy an appearance as would be produced if the bobbing and cleaning were
effected by rubbing the surface in the same direction. Further, the polishing or
bobbing is usually effected transversely to the grain of the metal, which we consider
a disadvantage compared with a polish in the same direction of the grain. It is
obvious, however, that such articles cannot be held lengthways on the yielding
portion of the surface of the band. Moreover, the band does not adapt itself as
readily as is desired to the form of some articles which are required to be polished
or bobbed.
Now, according to this invention, articles of considerable length, such for instance
as those above enumerated, are polished or bobbed lengthways, that is to say in
the same direction as when repolished or cleaned in actual use, on a surface which
yields and adapts itself to the irregular shape of an article. This may be effected
by means of an endless band having a suitably prepared polishing surface, such as
an emery dressed band, passing over an upper and under a lower pulley, the upper
being surrounded by an inflated cushion, detachable or otherwise, which is carried
by the pulley and in fact forms as were a part thereof. The article which is
being polished is held against the band in such position that the operative portion
of the band, that is to say, the portion which at any moment is operating to polish
the article, is backed by the inflated cushion, and the article is polished in a
longitudinal direction. The cushion is inflated with air or other elastic fluid to the

page_text: pressure which will allow it, and the operative portion of the band, to adapt itself
to the shape of the article being polished. By arranging the cushioned pulley
above the other pulley the operator can move the article he is polishing over nearly
a half circle of space and yet keep it against the surface of the band which is at
the time directly supported by the cushion; but the pulleys may be arranged with
their axes in a horizontal plane, or in an inclined plane, if for any reason
preferred.
Both pulleys may be cushioned, to give a more even tension of the band; and a
belt tightening pulley, drawn outwards by a spring, may be used for such purpose,
if desired.
A bobbing belt has been used heretofore both on account of its flexibility
allowing it to Field to the shape of the article and on account of the extent of
bobbing surface which can be obtained thereby. It is for the latter advantage
that we use it.
A bob may be used, bowever, consisting of a pulley or round revolving block
surrounded with an inflated cushion as above described, and the cushion be
surrounded with a covering having a suitable polishing surface, such as emery
dressed leather.
Either form of inflated cushion appliances above described may be used for
polishing articles generally, and is specially useful for polishing such as are of
considerable length and irregular form.
A hollow cushion of india-rubber or other elastic material may be substituted for
the inflated cushions above described.
Dated this 9th day of November 1893.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Novel or Improved Method of Polishing or Bobbing Articles of
Considerable Length, such as Hames, Fire-irons, Bicycle Tubes
and the like, and Novel or Improved Appliances for Use therein
and otherwise for Polishing or Bobbing.
We, PARKES AND GNOSILL, LIMITED, of Regent Street, Walsall in the
County of Stafford, Cart Hame Manufacturers, and JOHN PARKES, Works
Manager to the said Company, 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 relates, chiefly, to a novel or improved method of, and to novel
or improved appliances for use in, polishing or bobbing articles of considerable
length, such as hames, fire-irons, bicycle tubes and the like, and especially those
which are also of irregular form, such as hames and fire-irons; but the novel or
improved appliances may be used generally for polishing or bobbing articles
whether long or otherwise, and are specially useful for polishing or bobbing
articles of irregular shape.
It has heretofore been the practice to polish or bob articles of considerable
length, and especially those which have an uneven or irregular surface, such as
hames, fire-irons, shovels, forks and some kinds of edge tools, by holding them
upon and across an emery-dressed endless band passing over and travelling between
two pulleys. The work has been held upon the portion of the band between the
pulleys, which portion to some extent yields under the pressure and adapts itself
more or less to the shape of the article. The article, however, is polished or
bobbed transversely to the direction in which it is most conveniently rubbed to
clean or re-polish it when in use, which is obviously a disadvantage as the

page_text: transverse markings left by the emery, though minute, prevent the attainment of
so smooth and glossy an appearance as would be produced if the bobbing were
effected by operating on the surface in the same direction in which it is rubbed to
clean it. Further, the polishing or bobbing is usually effected transversely to the
grain of the metal, which we consider a disadvantage compared with polishing or
bobbing in the direction of the grain. It is obvious, however, that such articles
cannot be held lengthways on the yielding portion of the surface of the band.
Moreover, the band does not adapt itself as readily as is desired to the form of
some articles which are required to be polished or bobbed.
Now, according to this invention, articles of considerable length, such for
instance as those above enumerated, are polished or bobbed lengthways, that is to
say, in the same direction as when repolished or cleaned in actual use, ou a surface
which yields and adapts itself to the irregular shape of an article. This may be
effected by means of an endless band having a suitably prepared polishing surface,
such as an emery-dressed band, passing over an upper and under a lower pulley,
the upper being surrounded by an inflated cushion, detachable or otherwise, which
is carried by the pulley and in fact forms as it were a part thereof. The article
which is being polished is held against the band in such position that the operative
portion of the band, that is to say, the portion which at any moment is operating
to polish the article, is backed by the inflated cushion, and the article is polished
in a longitudinal direction. The cushion is inflated with air or other elastic fluid
to the pressure which will allow it, and the operative portion of the band, to
adapt itself to the shape of the article being polished. By arranging the
cushioned pulley above the other pulley the operator can move the article he is
polishing over nearly a half circle of space and yet keep it against the surface of
the band which is at the time directly supported by the cushion; but the pulleys
may be arranged with their axes in a horizontal plane, or in an inclined plane, if
for any reason preferred.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we will proceed to
describe, by way of example, a practical application of it with reference to the
drawings herewith, of which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine fitted at
each end with an appliance constructed according to this invention for the purpose
of polishing or bobbing; and Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof looking in the
direction of the arrow a Figure 1.
On each end of a spindle A mounted in bearings in the upper ends of frames or
standards B, is fixed a pulley C. The pulley on the left-hand side of Figure 1 is
shewn in section. Each pulley C is surrounded with an inflated cushion D. The.
face of each pulley. C is formed concave, as shewn, and thus when the surrounding
cushion D is inflated it is securely held in place sideways upon the rim of the
pulley, and the cushion is prevented from turning round independently of the
pulley by the grip therearound which is given to the inner surface of it by
the inflation. The cushion D may be conveniently formed in the manner of
pneumatic tyres and other inflatable cushions. We find it convenient to form it
of thin rubber sheet, of say rather less than one eighth of an inch in thickness,
covered with canvas. The cushion is provided with a suitable appliance b, such as
is used for pneumatic tyres, by the aid of which the inflation is effected. On each
end of a lower shaft E is fixed a band pulley F; and a band G G having a suitably
prepared polishing surface, such as an emery-dressed band, passes over the
pulley C and under the pulley F on the corresponding side of the machine.
In order to keep each band G G sufficiently tight, it is caused to pass in contact
with the periphery of a band-tightening pulley H, which is, preferably, flanged on
each side as shewn, to assist in keeping the band in position sideways. The
pulley H may be conveniently mounted (so that it may be operated to tighten the
band) upon a stud c projecting from a slide d capable of sliding between V-guides e e
fixed to the face of the framing; and the slide may be conveniently drawn
outwards, to tighten the belt, by means of a hand-wheel screwed upon the outer
end of a rod g which passes through a hole in the hinder flange of the framing and

page_text: is connected at its inner end with the slide; but any well-known or other
convenient arrangement for tightening the band may, of course, be adopted.
JJ are a pair of fast-and-loose pulleys around which the driving belt passes to
transmit the motive power to the machine.
It will readily be seen that, by means of the appliances above described, any
article may be polished or bobbed by holding it either lengthways (or if desired
transversely) upon the portion of a belt GG which is at the time passing over
the surface of the inflated cushion around the corresponding pulley C.
Instead of using a band-tightener to tighten a band G G, both the pulley C and
pulley F around which it passes may have an inflated cushion therearound to
ensure an even, or approximately even, tension of the band.
The machine illustrated is shewn to have a bobbing or polishing appliance at
each end; but it may of course be provided with only one such appliance, if
desired.
A bobbing belt has been used heretofore, for polishing or bobbing articles of
considerable length, and especially those having irregular form, both on account of
its flexibility allowing it to yield to the shape of the articles and on account of the
extent of bobbing surface which can be obtained thereby. It is for the latter
advantage that we use it according to this invention. A bob may be used, how-
ever, consisting of a pulley or round revolving block surrounded with an inflated
cushion as above described, and (in lieu of a bobbing belt) the cushion be
surrounded with a covering having a suitable polishing surface such as emery-
dressed leather; but of course such surface will require renewing, owing to its
comparatively small area, more frequently than would the surface of a bobbing
belt.
Either form of inflated cushion appliances above described, (that is to say the
appliance which comprises a polishing or bobbing belt and a revolving inflated cushion,
or the revolving inflated cushion surrounded with the polishing or bobbing surface)
may be used for polishing articles generally, and is specially useful for polishing
such as are of considerable length and irregular form.
A cushion of indiarubber, formed with hollows in the manner of a cushion tyre
for a cycle, may be substituted, in either modification above described, for the
inflated cushion above described as around the pulley, but we do not consider it so
useful as the inflated cushion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The novel or improved method above described of polishing or bobbing
articles of considerable length, such as hames, fire-irons, bicycle tubes and the
like, by holding them lengthways upon a prepared polishing or bobbing surface
which is backed by an inflated revolving cushion (or uninflated revolving rubber
cushion formed with hollows to give the desired elasticity), substantially as
described.
2. The novel or improved appliance for use in polishing or bobbing articles of
considerable length, such as "hames, fire-irons, bicycle tubes and the like, or
otherwise for polishing or bobbing, which consists essentially of a prepared
polishing or bobbing surface which is backed by an inflated revolving cushion (or
uninflated revolving rubber cushion formed with hollows to give the desired
elasticity), substantially as described.
3. The novel or improved appliance for use in polishing or bobbing articles of
considerable length, such as hames, fire irons, bicycle tubes and the like, or
otherwise for polishing or bobbing, which consists essentially of an endless band
having a suitably prepared polishing or bobbing surface which passes around two
pulleys of which the contact surface of one forms the outer surface (or a portion
of the outer surface) of an inflated cushion (or of an uninflated rubber cushion
formed with hollows to give it the desired elasticity), substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In an appliance for use in polishing or bobbing, a pulley or revolving block
surrounded with an inflated cushion (or with an uninflated rubber cushion formed
with hollows to give it the desired elasticity), substantially as described, for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of August 1894.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.