Improvements in or relating to the Means of Bending Rails, Bars, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Means of Bending Rails, Bars, and
the like.
I, HENRY WALKER HILL, of 2, Church Gate, Low Pavement, Nottingham,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved means of bending rails, bars, and the like,
by what are called "Jim Crows," having one or more screws, in such a manner
that the screw can be turned with greater ease, and friction is reduced to a
minimum; whereby larger rails and bars can thereby be bent than with the
means now generally in use.
For this purpose, instead of making the screw to turn in the frame of the Jim
Crow itself, I bore the hole in the boss of the frame so that the screw can slide
freely up and down therein by means of a hexagonal or other shaped nut turning
thereon, and taking a bearing against the under side of the frame nearest the bar
to be bent. Between this nut on the screw and the frame, I place a number of
friction balls or rollers, travelling in a suitable path in both the nut and the frame;
in such a manner that when the nut is being turned round on the screw by a
long wrench or spanner, to force the screw down on to the rail to bend it, the con-
sequent upward pressure of the nut against the frame of the Jim Crow, is taken
by these friction balls or rollers, and the nut can in consequence be turned round
with greater ease, and proportionately less power. In order to prevent the screw
turning in the frame of the Jim Crow, I form a keyway in the upper part of the
screw, into which fits a key or screw secured in the Jim Crow frame.
I may drill one or more holes in the sides of the nut, so that a short bar may
be inserted therein for turning the nut backwards and forwards on the screw more
quickly than with the long wrench or spanner, which is used to turn the nut when
bending rails.
In cases where the screw turns in the frame of the Jim Crow itself-as now in
use I may adopt a part of my invention thereto, by placing the friction balls
or rollers between the end of the screw and the cup or socket fitted at the end of
the screw, and in this manner also reduce the friction of the one turning on the
other.
Date : 17
1
1000
Improvements in or relating to the Means of Bending Rails, Bars, and
the like.
I, HENRY WALKER HILL, of 2, Church Gate, Low Pavement, Nottingham,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
[Price 8d.1

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement;-
My invention relates to an improved means of bending rails, bars, and the like,
by what are called "Jim Crows," having one or more screws, in such a manner
that the screw can be turned with greater ease, and friction is reduced to a
minimum; whereby larger rails and bars can thereby be bent than with the
means now generally.in use.
For this purpose, instead of making the screw to turn in the frame of the Jim
Crow itself, I bore the hole in the frame SO that the screw can slide
freely up and down therein by means of a hexagonal or other shaped nut turning
thereon, and taking a bearing against the under side of the frame nearest the bar
to be bent. Between this nut on the screw and the frame, I place a number of
friction balls or rollers, travelling in a suitable path in both the nut and the frame;
in such a manner that when the nut is being turned round on the screw by a
long wrench or spanner, to force the screw down on to the rail to bend it, the con-
sequent upward pressure of the nut against the frame of the Jim Crow, is taken
by these friction balls or rollers, and the nut can in consequence be turned round
with greater ease, and proportionately less power. In order to prevent the screw
turning in the frame of the Jim Crow, I form a keyway in the upper part of the
screw, into which fits a key or screw secured in the Jim Crow frame.
I may drill one or more holes in the sides of the nut, so that a short bar may
be inserted therein for turning the nut backwards and forwards on the screw more
quickly than with the long wrench or spanner, which is used to turn the nut when
bending rails.
In cases where the screw turns in the frame of the Jim Crow itself-as now in
use I may adopt a part of my invention thereto, by placing the friction balls
or rollers between the end of the screw and the cup or socket fitted at the end of
the screw, and in this manner also reduce the friction of the one turning on the
other.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, and more readily carried
out and into effect, I have appended hereunto one sheet of drawings whereon:-
Figure represents my improved Jim Crow in elevation, and partly in section.
Figure 2 represents a side or end view of the same.
Figure 3 represents in section the cup or socket at the end of the screw of an
ordinary Jim Crow with a part of my invention attached thereto.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the various figures.
In these figures A is the body of the Jim Crow carrying at its lower ends the
rail or bar R to be bent; and Ċ is the hole bored in the boss A¹ of frame A, in
which slides freely up and down the screw B by means of the nut D when turned
thereon. The upper part of this nut D is formed with a collar D' for holding the
nut in the Jim Crow by means of the flange L, and screws M, M. The upper
end of nut D has a suitable path turned in the same, in which are placed a number
of friction balls or rollers E, E which also bear against and travel in a similar
path turned or formed in the hardened steel collar K fixed in the boss A¹. G is
a key fastened in the boss A' by means of the screws H, H; and this key also enters
into the keyway F formed in the screw B, so as to prevent this from turning
round when in use.
The action of the whole is such that when the nut D) is turned round on the
screw B so as to bring its lower end B¹ on to the rail R for bending same the whole
pressure or upward thrust of the nut D against the collar K is taken by the
friction balls or rollers E, E which thus enable the nut D to be turned round
with great ease, and with a minimum of friction.
In Fig. 3, which represents the end of a screw of an ordinary Jim Crow wherein
the screw B turns round in the cup N resting on the rail to be bent, I place the
friction balls E, E in suitable paths formed in the screw B and cup N respectively.
By this means the balls E, E take the pressure of the screw from the cup, and
allow the screw to be turned more freely therein.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. In Jim Crows or rail benders, forming them with one or more screws sliding
freely therein for bending the rails by means of a nut turning there-
on in combination with a series of friction balls or rollers placed
between the nut and body of the Jim Crow, and revolving in suitable paths
therein, as shewn by Figs. 1 and 2 on the drawings herewith for the purposes
herein set forth, and substantially as hereinbefore described.
2nd. In Jim Crows, the combination of a screw for bending the rails, a nut
turning thereon, with friction balls placed between the said nut and Jim Crow;
all for the purposes herein set forth, and substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown on the drawings herewith.
3rd. In ordinary Jim Crows wherein the screw turns, the combination therewith
of friction balls placed between the end of the screw and the cup resting on the
rail to be bent, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing herewith, and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
4th. The arrangement and combination of parts for Jim Crows as shown by
Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive herewith, all for the purposes named herein, and substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.