CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FLY-PRESSES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM WATER, OR OTHER POWER.
Year: 1859

page_text: County of Middlesex, and of- Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Bit,
Spur, and Stirrup Manufacturer, and Charles Hawkins, of Walsall,
aforesaid, Manager of the Works of the said John Hawkins, for the
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FLY-PRESSES TO BE WORKED BY
STEAM WATER, OR OTHER POWER.".
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hawkins and Charles
Hawkins at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th September 1859.
We, JOHN HAWKINS, of Lisle Street, London, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Bit, Spur, and Stirrup Manu-
facturer, and CHARLES HAWKINS, of Walsall, aforesaid, Manager of the
Works of the said John Hawkins, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FLY-PRESSES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM,
WATER, OR OTHER POWER," to be as follows (that is to say):-
Our Invention, relates more particularly in the mechanical arrangement.
connected with fly-presses, by which a self-acting motion is imparted to a
particular part for reversing the motion, so as to cause tre screw to rise and
Price Sd.j

page_text: fall as desired, the speed being increased or decreased as required, or the
nature of the work (whether piercing, cutting-out, or raising) will permit.
The manner in which we purpose carrying out our Invention will be under-
stood from the following description:-We fix a strong toothed wheel in a
horizontal position to the top end of the press-screw, and secure it by a cotiar
or feather in the usual way. This wheel gears into a pinion of suflicient
depth to admit of the wheel being in gear with it at the highest and lowest
range of the press-screw. This pinion is secured to a vertical shaft, and to
this shaft (either above or below the pinion, as convenient) a bevilled wheel is
fixed which gears into two bevilled wheels fixed to a compound horizontal
shaft for carrying the driving pulleys. To the inner portion of this compound
shaft one pulley is fixed, while the other driving pulley is secured to the
outside shaft, so that when motion is given by a band from a driving shaft to
either of these pulleys it will be found that one will turn the vertical shaft
with its pinion and horizontal wheel (with which it is in gear) in one direc-
tion, while the other will entirely reverse the motion, and for the convenience
of neutralizing or stopping the action of the press when desired, we place a
loose pulley between the two before described, that when the band which may,
be in full motion (from its connection with the driving pulley or drum) while
working on this smaller pulley will not affect the action of the press. To
effect this an horizontal rod of iron working in stays or clips is placed in any
convenient way for pulling or pushing the band from the middle negative
pulley to either of the other pulleys, as may be desired, for giving motion to
the press. The horizontal arm for regulating the band is connected with a
vertical rod, the use of which will be hereafter explained. Over the top
horizontal wheel a hoop of iron or other material may be placed, with holes
for receiving two projecting bolts or pins, and it is by means of these pins
that we regulate the extent of the rise and fall of the screw, and with it the
cutting and forming tools from the bed; as these pins come in contact with
the vertical rod to which the horizontal rod is attached, that moves the band.
Supposing that we wish to have the full range that our machine or press is
capable of moving, in that case we use but one pin or bolt in the top hoop or
circular plate before described, and placing the bolt in the right position with
the vertical rod it brings the band in gear with one of the driving pulleys,
which sets in motion the vertical shaft, and the screw of the press causing it.
to rise up until the hoop carrying the pin has made nearly a revolution, when
the pin will be brought in contact with the rod, which will carry the band to
the other driving pulley, thereby reversing its motion, when the screw will be
made to descend until the pin again reverses the motion by its contact with

page_text: the rod before described. and so a continuous rising and falling of the screw
and tools is produced, the speed being regulated in various ways either by
altering the pitch of the screw, or by decreasing or increasing the diameter of
the toothed wheel secured on its top, and altering the pinion accordingly. or
by graduating the pulley into different speeds that is driven by the engine
or other agency, and from which the motion is taken off as required by the
band connected with a shaft. from which it may be brought down or up and
connected with the driving pulleys of our machine. And, in some instances.
where we may require a series of presses to be worked, we merely apply the
gearing, and motions herein-before described to the one, and by means of con-
necting rods we are enabled to put in motion any convenient number of other
presses, the whole working forward or backward in concert with the one press
to which the motion is imparted by the band from the driving shaft or drum
before described. The additional presses rising or failing in their action
according to the pitch of the screw or screws connected with them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent. filed
by the said John Hawkins and Charles Hawkins in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th March 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we. JOHN
HAWKINS. of Lisle Street, London. in the County of Middlesex., and of
Walsall. in the County of Stafford. Bit. Spur. and Stirrup Manufacturer.
and CHARLES HAWKINS, of Walsall, aforesaid, Manager of the Works of the
said John Hawkins. send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria. by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine. in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself. Fler heirs and. successors, give and grant unto us.
the said John Hawkins and Charles Hawkins, Her special license that we.
the said John Hawkins and Charles Hawkins. our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Hawkins and Charles Haw-
kins, our executors. administrators, or assigns. should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed. should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FLY
PRESSES TO BE WORKED BY STEAM, WATER, OR OTHER POWER." upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that we, the said John Hawkins and Charles Hawkins, by
an instrument in writing under our hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months, next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Hawkins and Charles Hawkins,
ilo hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement. (that is to say):-
Our Invention consists in the application to fly-presses of a mechanical
arrangement by which a self-acting motion is obtained for reversing the action
of the press-screw. so as to cause the screw to worm itself up and down as
desired, the speed being increased or decreased according to the nature or
description of the work desired. whether that be for raising, piercing, clipping.
or forming, as also in the means for stopping and reversing the same while
in work, and the manner in which we purpose carrying our Invention into
effect will be best understood by the following description.
The press may be of the ordinary shape, with the screw boss supported with
one or two arms or supports according to the description of work it may be
required for. The bolt, guide-screw, and bed, being in every respect like an
ordinary fly-press, and on the top of the worm part of the screw we fix a
strong cog or toothed wheel, this wheel we gear to a vertical pinion of a depth
equivalent to the rise and fall of the press screw, as well as the thickness of
the cog or toothed wheel in gear with it, this pinion is secured to a vertical
shaft, and secured in that position in any suitable way, working in glands at
the top, and a socket or centre at the bottom, at which part a bevilled cog
wheel is fixed, which gears into corresponding bevilled pinions, one of which is
fixed to a horizontal shaft, on which a driving pulley is also fixed, and which
shaft is set up on pillar blocks, and held down with glands in the usual way.
and on the same shaft a loose pulley is fitted for the driving hand to work over
when the press is not at work, and on the same shaft another pulley is fitted
to work loose, and on this pulley one of the bevilled pinions in gear with the
vertical shaft is fixed, so that by shifting the band from the centre loose pulley
to one or other of the pulleys on either side of it, the press will be put to
work, and this at once calls into action our improvements for reversing the
motion of the screw, so that it shall continue to work up and down until
stopped by the workman, or the motive power by which it is actuated. And we
effect this by fixing a wheel or hoop on the top end of the barrel of the press-

page_text: screw. or concentrically on the top side of the large cog wheel before referred
to. Around the periphery of this wheel or hoop a number of holes are made
for receiving one or two radial pins, the number of holes being added for the
purpose of shifting the pins where desired; and at the back of the press, say,
vertically behind the press screw, an upright lever is fitted, working on a
pin or fulcrum at its bottom end, and to this vertical lever a horizontal rod is
attached working through a fixed eye or bearing, and to this rod a fork is
secured for clipping the band, so that the press being at work, the radial pin
extending from the hoop or wheel at the top of the press before described,
(say, at the time the screw of the press is elevated). will come in contact with
the vertical rod, pushing it on one side, which will have the effect of shifting
the band from the one driving pulley to the other, which causing the vertical
shaft to turn in the reverse direction. and with it the large cog wheel and press-
screw, causing the radial pin to be carried around to push the vertical arm in
a contrary direction, thus the action of the press is used to alternately reverse
its own motion. But in order that the press may be stopped or set in motion,
or reversed at pleasure by the attendant, we apply a handle suitably attached
and supported by the side of the press or other convenient way, and to the axis
of this handle an arm is fastened at the back, which is also clipped by a fork
secured to the horizontal rod, and when the handle is in a vertical position, it
may indicate that the band is on the loose pulley and the press not at work.
but by turning the handle to the right or the left, so that by shifting the band
ou to one or other of the driving pulleys the screw of the press will descend or
rise accordingly, and in the process of working, should the work not be
properly placed for the tool by the downward action of the screw. the mere
movement of the handle to the right or left will reverse the action of the press,
causing the tool to rise from the work, that it may be properly adjusted for the
next stroke.
And in order that the press may be made perfectly stationary. and not liable
to be drawn into action unintentionally by the shifting of the band, we apply
a horizontal clip at the back working on a vertical pin at one end. and at the
other end a rod that extends forward. terminating in front with any suitable
handle, and by pulling the handle towards the front or outward, the vertical
lever before referred to will be clipped when it is in a perpendicular position,
to effect which the band will have been pulled or placed on the loose pulley,
from which position it cannot shift as long as the vertical lever is so clipped.
But as our Invention will be best understood by referring to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, we will proceed to describe the same. reference being had
to the various figures and letters marked thereon.

page_text: Fig.
represents a front view of a Hy-press as representing our improve-
ments A. A, represents a cast-iron plate resting upon brickwork for the press
and other parts to rest on, but, which may be constructed in any other suitable
way, as a cast-iron frame or stand may be used. or the base may be of solid
masonry or stonework, as convenience may suggest: B is the top or boss of
the press for the screw to work through; C. C. are the sides; and D. the
base, and in this part also we do not claim any novelty, as it may be cast in
any desired shape, with one side, or with two sides as here represented: E is
a cog wheel fixed to the screw F; and G. G, a wheel or hoop fixed also to the
press-screw, or concentrically to the cog wheel, the use of which will be here-
after described; H. J. are driving pulleys; and 1. a loose pulley. The
shaft a. a. to which the pulley J is keyed works in glands on the pillar blocks
K and L. the latter being shown partly in dotted lines, and to the axle or
shaft a, a, the hevilled pinion shown in dotted lines is also secured, the pulley F
has a corresponding bevilled pinion cast, or otherwise formed or attached to it.
and through which bevilled pinion and pulley the shaft A. A. freely works;
M is a vertical shaft working on a foot support N. through which a hole is
formed for the shaft. a. a. to work freely in. Near the bottom of this shaft.
the bevilled wheel O is fixed in gear with the smaller bevilled pinions each
side. On the top of the shaft M, the pinion P is secured; and for convenience
of description we will assume that a partition or wall is at the back of the
press, and to which wall the bracket Q is secured for supporting the driving
shaft R, R. for carrying the top driving pulley on which the band S. S. is
placed at the back and perfectly vertical and central with the press-screw
and bolt b, a lever is fixed upon an axis or centre shown in dotted lines at c. c,
and at right angles with this lever the horizontal rod d. d. is attached by a jaw
joint the rod d. d, is supported by the bracket e, which bracket may be
fastened in any convenient way to the wall or back support. the outer end of
the rod is secured by the connecting joint or piece to the vertical
lever g, which lever works on the pin or fulcrum secured to the wall, on the
top of the lever g an iron ball is placed as here shown. The concentric wheel
or hoop G. G. has holes around its periphery for the purpose of receiving one
or two pins shifted and placed as may be required, one of which pins is repre-
sented as in the front, marked i. hereafter to be referred to.
Fig. 2 represents a detached, view of the vertical lever referred to in the
description of the last Figure, with the other parts in connection with it,
which lever works on the pin c fastened to the plate j. . which plate may be

page_text: bolted or secured to the wall in any convenient way; in like manner also the
part k, k, which forms the slot or guide for the vertical lever to work in. And
on the top of this the clip is shown working on the pin n, and which clip is
pulled forward or pushed back by the handle m. At the top of the vertical
lever T the parts o and p-are fixed with set screws; to the outer ends of these
parts the hanging pieces and are fastened, the use of which will be here-
aiter referred to. s and are forks or clips, and which clips are secured to
the rod d,. d, by set screws behind, the latter being required for clipping the
band, for shifting it from one pulley to the other, and the former for clipping
a hanging lever attached to the axis u in Figure One; and to the same axis
the handle is attached, the axis u being supported by a bracket either formed
or cast on the side of the press, as here shown marked w.
Fig. 3 represents a complete top view of Figure One, showing the vertical
rod in section, and the parts marked o and p in Figure Two removed to avoid
confusion. U, U, represents a wall at the back for supporting the various
parts before named, and the radial pin shown in front in Figure One marked
i, is represented in this view slightly turned to the right, marked with the
same letter. The vertical rod T is represented as being held by the clip 1, 1,
which working on the pin n, it has only to be pushed back by the handle m
when the lever T will be free; the driving band is represented in section as
on the loose pulley I, and confined there by the fork or clip t, while the clip s
confines a pendant lever in connection with the axis u, which is supported at
the back in a socket or bearing secured to the wall, or other convenient way,
and in the front by the bracket we, as exhibited in Figure One before
referred to.
And with this general description of the parts in detail, we will show their
various uses when the machine is in motion, as, for instance, the clip is first
pushed back by the handle m, which is held and guided in front by the fork 2,
Figure One, supported on a parallel projection formed on the side of the press or
otherwise, as convenient; the vertical lever T being now free the handle u has
only to be pushed to the right, when the driving band S will be placed on the
driving pulley J, which being driven in the direction of the arrow by the
steam, water, or other convenient power" in use for giving motion to the
driving shaft R, as exhibited in Figure One, when the cog wheel E will be
turned in the direction of the arrow y, until the radial pin iis carried around
and brought in contact with the vertical lever T, when it will immediately,
place this lever T in the position as exhibited in dotted lines in Figure Two, in
which position it. will remain by the overhanging gravitating effect of the weight
or ball on the lever g; and from this position of the lever T, the band will

page_text: have been shifted to the left on the pulley H, immediately causing a reverse
action of the press, which will continue until the radial pin or arm i passed
around and places the lever T in a slanting direction to the right in like
manner as it is here represented to the left, by which means the band will
again have been shifted to to the pulley J, and thus an additional reverse action
is given to the cog wheel E, and by that means the screw of the press is
wormed up and down. And if in work it should be found desirable to give
but little elevation and depression to the screw, two radial pins may be used,
the position of which will determine the range of action.
Fig. 4 simply represents a sectional view of the base or bottom of the press,
and Fig. 5 represents a side view of the handle and axis u, and the pendant.
lever for actuating the rod d, d, before described, and which part is shown in
dotted lines, as also the socket or plate marked W in Figure Two, for the
back end of the axis u to work in. And in some instances we purpose
applying on the top the lever T the parts p and o, shifting them up or down
as desired, according to the range of the screw in use, that the parts and q
may be in the right position for the radial pin or pins i to strike against.
And supposing the radial pin should by any means get on the wrong side, just
at the time that the reaction of the press takes place from their being
suspended to the pins z, z, they will readily move laterally to allow the radial
jin so placed to disengage itself.
And with this general description we will further observe, that our arrange-
ments as here shown are capable of considerable modification, without departing
from the spirit of our Invention; as, for instance, if it may be desirable to set.
the press up in an isolated position, an iron or wood frame may be set up at
the back for attaching the parts in connection with the vertical lever, and to
which frame a division piece or support may be fixed for carrying the vertical
shaft in any other convenient way than here shown. Again, for some de-
scriptions of work, a fly wheel of the desired weight may be applied on the
top of the press-screw, as at V, which is left square as herein shown for that
purpose; and in order to have the full benefit of it gravitating momentum of its
downward stroke, the pinion P may be converted into a friction pulley, which
being pressed by a suitable lever against the cog wheel E, during the rising of
the screw and reversing of the action of the press, when the lever or pressure
may be withdrawn, thereby allowing the screw to descend and the fly to
acquire a momentum, the extra force of which may be desirable for some
purposes. And if the screw of the press should be required to make more
than one turn, the radial pin i may be removed, and the radial arm X applied
as in Figure One. The outer end of this arm may be forked so as to clip the

page_text: vertical lever T; by this means several revolutions of the screw may be made,
if desired, and the range adjusted to the greatest delicacy by the set screws
a' and b'. And it will be apparent to any practical mind that the speed may
be varied according to the size or weight of the press to which these improve-
ments may be applied or used, and the work required to be produced, either
by altering the relative proportions of the driving pulleys, and the pulley on
the shaft R, or by increasing or decreasing the relative proportions as here
given of the cog wheel E and pinion P.
Having now given a general description of our Invention and the way we
believe best for carrying the same into effect according to the size or nature
of the work desired, we wish it understood that we do not purpose confining
ourselves to the exact details, as the whole may be generally varied, as the
position or nature of the work may dictate, still preserving the spirit of our
Invention; but what we claim and wish protected by these our in part recited
Letters Patent is, the general arrangements herein described and exhibited for
imparting to fly-presses a self-acting continuous action or ascending and
descending motion of the screw, the same being worked by steam, water, or
other power in counter-distinction to hand labour, as ordinarily applied or
used in the working of fly-presses, as also in the means of putting in motion,
reversing, regulating, and stopping at pleasure the action of such presses.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Hawkins and Charles Hawkins,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventeenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS,
Patent Agent, Birmingham,
CHARLES HAWKINS. (L.S.)