Improvements in Electric Forges.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Forges.
I, EDWIN ELLIOTT ANGELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
t Somerville, in the County of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, United
States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC FORGES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of this invention is to provide a simple and convenient electric forge
for heating bars of metal for forging, hardening, drawing the temper, or other
purposes.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of this
improved electric forge, a part of the cylindrical frame being broken out.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of the front end thereof.
Figure 3 represents details of the electrodes and their insulating bushings and
rings.
Figure 4 represents details of the brackets containing stops for the electrode
levers.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different
figures.
The frame of this electric forge consists preferably of a hollow cylinder 10
supported upon four legs 11. This cylinder is provided at its top with a series of
slots 12, at its bottom with a corresponding series of slots 13 diametrically opposite
the slots 12, at one side with a series of slots 14 disposed slightly in rear of the
slots 12 and 13, and at the other side with a corresponding series of slots 15
diametrically opposite the slots 14. The cylinder is provided with external lugs 16
adjacent to the several slots.
Electrode levers 20, 21, 22 and 23 disposed in a vertical plane, are pivoted to the
lugs 16 at the upper side of the cylinder 10, their long arms extending downward
through the slots 12 into the cylinder to points near the axis thereof, and similar
electrode levers 30, 31, 32 and 33, also disposed in a vertical plane, are pivoted to
the lugs at the under side of the cylinder, and their long arms extend upward
through the slots 13 into the cylinder to points near the axis thereof opposite the
ends of the upper series of electrode levers.
Electrode levers disposed in a horizontal plane, are pivoted to the lugs at one side
of the cylinder 10, their long arms extending inward through the slots 14 into the
cylinder to points near the axis thereof in rear of the terminals of the several pairs
of the vertical electrode levers. The first of this series of levers, the one nearest
the mouth of the forge, is numbered 40 in the drawings and the other levers of this
series do not appear in the views represented. Horizontal electrode levers 50, 51,
52 and 53, disposed in a horizontal plane, are pivoted to lugs at the opposite side of
the cylinder, their long arms extending inward through the slots 15 to points near
the center of the cylinder opposite the inner ends of the electrode levers of the
other horizontal series. These levers are insulated from their pivots 17, and from
the lug 16, by means of flanged bushings 18 and rings 19 composed of insulating
material. The inner arms of the electiode levers are inclined rearward, and the
outer arms extend radially outward from the cylinder. These levers are provided
at their outer ends with binding posts 25, and at their inner ends with anti-friction
rolls 26 composed of conductive material, the fusing point of which is above that of
the bar to be heated.
Brackets 60 are severally attached to the cylinder 10 immediately in rear of the
slots therein, and are provided with horizontal tubular arms 61 which extend

page_text: forward toward the radial arms of the electrode levers. Adjustable stops 62,
composed of insulating material, are disposed in these horizontal arms, and project
slightly beyond the front ends thereof in position to serve as stops or abutments to
determine the oscillation of the electrode levers, and prevent contact of the inner
ends or anti-friction rollers of companion electrodes. These stops are regulated by
adjusting screws 63. Springs 65 connect the outer arms of the electrode levers
with the brackets 60, and tend to throw the inner end of said levers toward each
other for grasping a bar to be heated. These springs are insulated from the
electrodes by means of insulating plates 66 on their front faces.
Conducting wires 70, 71, 72, and 73 are connected at their inner ends to the
· binding posts of the electrode levers 20, 21, 22 and 23 respectively, and at their
outer ends with a distributing wire 100, and conducting wires 75, 76, 77 and 78 are
connected at their lower ends to the binding posts of the horizontal electrode
levers 40, 41, 42 and 43 respectively, and at their upper ends with said distributing
wire 100. The branches 71 and 72, 76 and 77 are longer than the branches 70
and 73, 75 and 78, in order to equalize the distance which the currents have to
travel to reach the electrodes. The distributing wire 100 is connected centrally
of its length with a positive conductor 101 which is connected to a dynamo or
current transformer.
Similar wires 80, 81, 82 and 83 connect the horizontal electrode levers 50, 51, 52
and 53 with a distributing wire 90, disposed at the opposite side of the apparatus.
The wires 85, 86, 87 and 88 connect the vertical electrode levers 30, 31, 32 and 33
with the last named distributing wire. The connecting or branch wires also vary
in length to equalize the currents. The distributing wire 90 is connected centrally
of its length to a negative conductor 91 leading to a dynamo or transformer. The
terms positive and negative are used for convenience. Alternating currents will
usually be employed.
In the use of this apparatus a bar, as 200, to be heated may be grasped at one
end by a pair of tongs, and thrust into the forge between the rolls of the pair of
electrodes 20 and 30. The metal of the bar closes the current between the rolls
and causes a transverse current to pass vertically through the bar. As the bar is
thrust further into the forge, it passes between the rolls of the horizontal electrode
levers 40 and 50, and a transverse current is caused to pass horizontally through
the bar. When short bars are to be heated, or a bar is to be heated a short distance
at one end, one or two pairs of electrodes only may be utilized, the other electrodes
remaining idle; but in heating a long bar, the entire series of electrodes may be
brought into play. The bar will be reciprocated by the operator, or by mechanical
means while it is between the rolls so as to distribute the heat throughout its
length. The inner arms of the electrode levers are sufficiently inclined to prevent
the binding of the rolls upon the rods in withdrawing the bar. The springs 65
cause the electrodes to yield and automatically adjust themselves to bars of different
⚫sizes.
If it be desired to pass currents longitudinally through the bar, the wiring to the
electrodes may be changed so that all the vertical electrode levers will be connected
with the positive pole, and all the horizontal electrode levers with the negative
pole.
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 :-
1. In an electric forge, the combination of two electrode levers pivoted at opposite
points, and inclined rearwardly toward each other, the inner ends of said levers
being adapted to receive between them a bar to be heated.
2. In an electric forge, the combination of two pairs of pivoted electrode levers
disposed at an angle to each other, the levers of each pair being inclined toward
each other, and their inner ends adapted to receive between them a bar to be
heated,

page_text: 3. In an electric forge, the combination of a hollow cylinder provided with slots
at diametrically opposite points, electrode levers disposed in pairs and pivoted to
said cylinder adjacent to said slots, said levers extending inward to near the axis of
the cylinder at an incline thereto, their inner ends being adapted to receive between
them a bar to be heated, stops for regulating the oscillation of said electrode levers
on their pivots, springs for actuating said levers, and electric connections for said
levers.
4. In an electric forge, the combination of a hollow cylinder provided with slots
and lugs adjacent thereto, electrode levers pivoted in pairs on said lugs, and pro-
jecting through said slots, brackets attached to said cylinder in rear of said slots,
and provided with adjustable insulating stops, springs connecting the outer ends
of said levers with said brackets, and electric connections for said levers.
5. In an electric forge, the combination of two electrode levers pivoted at
opposite points, and inclined toward each other, the inner ends of said levers being
provided with conductive anti-friction rollers to receive between them a bar to be
heated.
6. In an electric forge, the combination of two pairs of electrodes, one pair
being disposed in advance of and at an angle to the other pair, the ends of said
electrodes being adapted to engage opposite sides of the metal to be heated, and
electric conductors connected with said electrodes and adapted to convey a heating
current.
7. The apparatus for heating metal bars, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 1st day of December 1801
Witnesses:
GEO. D. BURTON,
Car Builder, Boston, Mass.
CHESTER MARR,
Accountant, Gloucester, Mass.
EDWIN ELLIOTT ANGELL.