IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN TOOLS OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Carpenter Smith, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and George Gayford Lusher, of Birmingham aforesaid,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
THE RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN TOOLS
OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Carpenter Smith and
George Gayford Lusher at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
10th July 1878.
JOHN CARPENTER SMITH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, and GEORGE GAYFORD LUSHER, of Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES. OF
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN TOOLS OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE
SAID MANUFActure."
'
In manufacturing a runner for an umbrella or parasol according to one of our
improvements we make a short tube from a disc of sheet metal by the process
commonly called the drawing-through process, but we so conduct the said process
that the short tube formed is thicker or stronger in metal at one end than in the
remaining portions of the tube. The said tube is of the same internal diameter
throughout, the additional thickness of metal described giving the tube a somewhat
greater external diameter at and near one end.
We expand and flatten out the greater part of the thick end of the tube, so as
to produce a flange on the end of the tube, the said flange constituting one of the
two flanges of which the notch of the runner consists. The thicker part of the
tube terminates abruptly at a short distance from the flange formed as described,
and the shoulder made by the change in the thickness of the metal forms an
abuttment for the ring of sheet metal which is fast on to the tube, and constitutes
the second flange of the notch. In order to fix the said ring or second flange in its
place the bead is formed in the tube at the rear of the said ring. This bead may
be made by a turning or spinning process, a tool being introduced into the rotating
tube and by pressure made to raise a bead, between which and the shoulder
described the said ring is firmly gripped; or a similar bead may be formed by dies
[Price 8d1

page_text: and pressure. In this case the tube with the ring upon it is placed flange upwards
in a bottom or fixed die, the length of which is so much less than the length of the
tube that when the tube with its ring is placed in the said die there is exposed a
short portion of the tube between the said ring and the top of the die. On bringing
down the upper or moveable die upon the flange on the end of the tube, the
pressure acting on the exposed portion of the tube (the said exposed portion being
the only unsupported portion of the thin part of the tube) causes the said portion
to shorten in length and to increase in diameter, thus forming a bead which fixes
the ring in its place.
The notches are cut in flanges, and the runner notch is finished in the ordinary
way.
In manufacturing runners according to another of our improvements we proceed
as follows: We make a tube thicker at one end than at the other, and by means of
dies and pressing tools we first expand the thick end of the tube into a trumpet-
like shape, and afterwards bring the expanded part into a plane at right angles to
the axis of the tube; this part constitutes one of the flanges of the notch. We
introduce this tube or partly made runner into a die, and insert in the said tube a
spring expander, consisting of a bulbous head divided into six or other number
of parts supported on stems connected at their base. This spring expander is
hollow.
A conical punch fixed to the bolt of a press is brought down upon and made to
enter the hollow expander. The bulbous head is thereby increased in diameter and
made to form a bulb in the tube immediately below the flange, on its end. The
said conical punch works through a collar carried by a strong spring, which collar
pressing on the flange at the top of the tube holds the said tube firmly in the die
while the expander forms the bulb described.
The second flange of the notch is formed from the bulb described in the following
manner:- -The bulbed and flanged tube is placed in a die, which receives only its
lower cylindrical part, the bulb standing above the die.
A pair of side tools moving horizontally close upon the tube immediately under
the top flange, so as to prevent any expansion at that part, the said tools also
forming a gauge, which determines the distance between the two flanges of the
notch.
An upper tool descending compresses or flattens the bulb between the gauge or
horizontal side tools and the top of the lower die, thereby forming the second flange
of the notch.
According to another of our improvements we form runners in the following
manner-We take rolled sheet iron of a strength proper to form the barrels of the
runners, and we cut the said sheet iron into strips of a breadth equal to the length
of the runners to be made. We cut the said strips transversely into blanks of a
length suitable when rolled up to form barrels of the required diameter. During
the cutting off of the blanks, or by a separate process, we cut away such portions
of the edges as will leave, when the blanks are rolled up, the required slots in the
barrels. The feeding rolls, by which the sheet iron is supplied to the cutting
machinery, have grooves in them, which form slight hollow beads at each side of
the strip. When a blank of the kind described is rolled up or bent into a cylindrical
form a runner, tube, or barrel, with the requisite slot, and having a hollow bead at
each end, is formed. On one end of a barrel of the kind described we cast in brass,
or other hard metal or alloy, the notch of the runner, and on the other end we cast
a ring or solid bead.
The manufacture according to our Invention of top notches for umbrellas and
parasols differs in no essential respect from the manufacture of runner notches
herein-before described.
The tools or apparatus herein-before described in connection with the formation
of a bulb, and the subsequent manufacture from the said bulb of the lower flange
of the notch, constitute part of our Invention.

page_text: :
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Carpenter Smith and George Gayford Lusher in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 1st January 1879.
JOHN CARPENTER SMITH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, and GEORGE GAYFORD LUSHER, of Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES OF
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN TOOLS OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE
SAID MANUFACTURE"
In manufacturing a runner for an umbrella or parasol according to one of our
improvements we make a short tube from a disc of sheet metal by the process
commonly called the drawing-through process, but we so conduct the said process
that the short tube formed is thicker or stronger in metal at one end than in the
remaining portions of the tube. The tube, as first made, is of the same internal
diameter throughout, but is thicker in metal at one end, making its internal
diameter less at that end. By subsequent treatment the thick end is expanded and
flattened out, so as to produce a flange on the end of the tube, the said flange
constituting one of the two flanges of which the notch of the runner consists. The
thicker part of the tube, after the expanding and flattening operations, terminates:
abruptly at a short distance from the flange formed as described, and the shoulder
made by the change in the thickness of the metal forms an abutment for the ring
of sheet metal, which is passed on to the tube, and constitutes the second flange of
the notch. In order to fix the said ring or second flange in its place a bead is
formed in the tube at the rear of the said ring. This bead may be made by a
turning or spinning process, a tool being introduced into the rotating tube and by
pressure made to raise a bead, between which and the shoulder described the said
ring is firmly gripped.
The notches are cut in the flanges, and the runner notch is finished in the
ordinary way..
In manufacturing runners according to another of our improvements we proceed
as follows:We make a tube thicker internally at one end than at the other, and.
by means of dies and pressing tools we first expand the thick end of the tube into
a trumpet-like shape, and afterwards bring the expanded part into a plane at right
angles to the axis of the tube; this part constitutes one of the flanges of the notch..
We either fix a ring on the end of the tube to form the second flange of the notch,.
or we make the second flange from the end of the tube in the following way:-We
introduce the flanged tube or partly-made runner into a die, and insert in the said
tube a spring expander, consisting of a bulbous head divided into six or other
number of parts, supported on stems connected at their base. This spring expander
is hollow.
A conical punch fixed to the bolt of a press is brought down upon and made to
enter the hollow expander. The bulbous head is thereby increased in diameter and
made to form a bulb in the tube immediately below the flange on its end. The
said conical punch works through a collar, upon which a strong spring bears, which
collar pressing on the flange at the top of the tube holds the said tube firmly in the
die, while the expander forins the bulb described.
The second flange of the notch is formed from the bulb described in the following
manner: The bulbed and flanged tube is placed in a die, which receives only its
lower cylindrical part, the bulb standing above the die.
A pair of side tools moving horizontally close upon the tube immediately under
the top flange, so as to prevent any expansion at that part, the said tools also
forming a gauge, which determines the distance between the two flanges of the notch.
An upper tool descending compresses or flattens the bulb between the gauge or
horizontal side tools and the top of the lower die, thereby forming the second flange
of the notch.
:
According to another of our improvements we form runners in the following

page_text: manner-We take rolled sheet iron of a strength proper to form the barrels of the
runners, and we cut the said sheet iron into strips of a breadth equal to the length
of the runners to be made. By means of a pair of rolls the strip of sheet iron is
formed with slight hollow beads on each side of the strip. We cut the beaded
strips transversely into blanks of a length suitable when rolled up to form barrels
of the required diameter. During the cutting off of the blanks, or by a separate
process, we cut away such portions of the edges as will leave when the blanks are
rolled up the required slots in the barrels. When a blank of the kind described is
rolled up or bent into a cylindrical form a runner, tube, or barrel, with the requisite
slot, and having a hollow bead at each end, is formed. On one end of a barrel of
the kind described we cast in brass, or other hard metal or alloy, the notch of the
runner, and on the other end we cast a ring or solid bead.
The manufacture according to our Invention of top notches for umbrellas and
parasols differs in no essential respect from the manufacture of runner notches herein-
before described.
The tools or apparatus herein-before described in connection with the formation
of a bulb, and the subsequent manufacture from the said bulb of the lower flange
of the notch, constitute part of our Invention.
We will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which our Invention may be performed.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 represent the first-described process for manufacturing
runners of umbrellas or parasols. Figure 1 represents in section the tube from
which, the runner is to be made; this tube has the internal diaineter of the finished
runner, but the metal at the end a is thicker or stronger than in the remaining
portion of the tube. We make this tube from a disc of sheet metal by the drawing-
through process conducted in the ordinary way. We take the tube, Figure 1, and
place it in a die or lower tool, and by the operation of a punch or upper tool we
expand and flatten out the thick internal end a of the tube so as to produce a
flange b, as represented in Figure 2. By the flattening and expanding of the thick
part a of the tube, so as to form the flange b, a shoulder c is also formed at a short
distance below the said flange on the exterior of the tube, as seen in Figure 2; this
shoulder c serves as an abutment and distance piece for the ring of sheet metal
which constitutes the second flange of the notch, as represented in Figure 3, where
the second flange d is represented passed on to the end of the tube, and made to
abut against the shoulder c. The second flange d is fixed in its place against the
shoulder c by means of a bead made in the tube below the said flange d, as repre-
sented in section in Figure 4, and elevation in Figure 5, where the bead is marked e.
By the formation of the bead e the second flange d is firmly gripped between the
said bead e and the shoulder c, and the said flange fixed in its place. The bead e
may either be made by the use of a spring expander of the kind herein-after
described, or by a turning or spinning process.
3
The partly made notch of the runner, Figures 4 and 5, is now ready to be finished
by cutting the notches in the flanges b and d in the ordinary way.
In making runners according to another part of our Invention we take a tube of
the kind represented in section in Figure 6. That end of the tube from which the
top flange of the notch is to be made is thicker internally than the other parts of
the tube. The internal thick part of the tube is marked f, and has the sectional
figure represented.
:
We make the said tube and its thick end by the drawing-through process con-
ducted in the ordinary way, the punch or moveable tool having the figure of the
interior of the tube.
We place the tube, Figure 6, in the lower die 7 of the pair of dies or tools g, h,
represented in Figure 7, the said dies or tools being worked in a press, and by the
descent of the punch or upper tool h the thick end f of the tube is expanded into
the wide end of the lower tool g, and a trumpet-like shape given to the said thick
end of the tube, as represented. The tube with the trumpet-like end is next placed
in the lower die or tool i of the pair of dies or tools i, k, represented in Figure 8,

page_text: and by the descent of the punch or upper tool k the said trumpet-shaped end of the
tube is expanded out and flattened into a plane at right angles to the axis of the
tube, so as to produce a flange at the end of the tube; this tube is represented in
Figure 8 after it has been operated upon by the, pair of tools i, k, so as to form the
flange l.
The second flange we make from a ring of sheet metal, the internal edge of which
is bent at right angles so as to produce an annular shoulder, that is to say, we place
the ring p in the lower die or tool m, Figure 9, and by the descent of the punch or
upper tool n the internal edge of the said ring is bent at right angles to form the
annular shoulder 7, as represented in Figure 10. The ring thus operated upon,
after its has been removed from the lower tool m, is represented in plan of under
side in Figure 11. The ring or second flange p, q, Figure 11, is next forced upon
the conical end of the partly made runner tube until it is at the required distance
from the upper flange l, as represented in section in Figure 12, and the said second.
flange is securely fixed in its place by means of a bead r under the shoulder q of the
flange p, q, the said bead being made from the metal of the tube, either by a
spinning process, or, by preference, by means of a spring expander.
In Figure 12 we have represented the bead r the tube, made by means of the
spring expander s, the bulbous head of which is expanded by the descent of the
conical tool t, and made to press from the tube a bead, as represented.
The construction of the said spring expander is herein-after more particularly
explained.
In manufacturing runners in which both flanges of the notch are made solid to
or in one piece with the head of the runner tube, according to our Invention, we
proceed as follows:-We make in the manner herein-before described, and illustrated
in Figures 6, 7, and 8, a partly made runner having its top flange formed solid to
the runner tube, and we place the said flanged tube or partly made runner in the
lower die or tool u, represented in Figure 13, and we make from a portion of the
tube below the top flange la second flange. We effect this by first placing in
the partly made runner, Figure 13, a hollow spring expander of the kind repre-
sented in section, elevation, and plan in Figure 15, and shown in the lower die,
Figure 14.
The said expander consists of six spring arms or stems 83, connected to the base s³.
The upper end of each arm or stem is expanded; the said expanded ends consti-
tuting a bulbous head s.
In conjunction with the said spring expander we use a conical punch t, repre-
sented in Figure 14, the said punch working in a 'collar u², the said collar being.
pressed upon and forced downwards by a strong spring v around the punch t. By
means of a screw nut to working on a screw on the punch the pressure of the said
spring upon the collar u³ may be regulated. A cross pin on the collar works in a
slot in the punch, so that the said punch can rise and fall a limited distance without
the said collar.
Having placed the flanged tube in the die u, Figures 13 and 14, with the spring
expander within the said tube, the conical end of a punch t (which punch is fixed
to the bolt of a press) is brought down upon and made to enter the upper part of
the hollow spring expander 8, 82, 83. The bulbous head of the said expander is
thereby increased in diameter, and made to force outwards the metal of the tube,
and to form a bulb w under the flange 7 on the tube, as represented in Figure 14.
l
By the descent of the conical punch t the spring collar u² is made to enter the
mouth of the die u, and press on the flange 7 of the tube, so as to hold the said tube
firmly in the die during the formation of the bulb w by the action of the spring
expander, as seen in the said Figure 14.
The second flange of the notch is made from the bulb w of the runner tube in
the manner and by means of the tools and apparatus represented in Figures 16, 17,
18, 19, and 20 of the accompanying Drawings.
:
Figure 16 represents the pair of tools after the second flange. has been made from
the bulb part of the tube; and Figure 17, the said pair of tools and apparatus used:

page_text: with the said tools before the punch or upper tool has descended; the section of the
lower die or tool, Figure 16, is taken in a plane nearly at right angles to that in
which the section of the lower die or tool, Figure 17, is taken.
Figure 18 represents in plan, and Figure 19 in elevation, the lower die or tool
separately; and Figure 20 represents a plan of the pair of spring side tools for
preventing the expansion of the tube under the upper flange, and for determining
the distance between the two flanges of the notch.
y is the lower die or tool, and y² the upper tool or punch; x, x, are the spring
side tools, which have a horizontal motion, as well as a slight rising and falling
motion. The inner ends x2, x², of the said side tools have a semicircular figure (see
Figure 20), and their outer ends are connected to the vertical arms 2, 3, of the
cranked levers z, 22, 2, 2. Cross slots y³, y³, are made in the top of the lower die y,
in which slots the inner ends of the spring arms x, x, work. The horizontal
arms 22, 22, of the cranked levers are connected by the links 23, 23, to the treadle 25.
By pressing upon the treadle the horizontal arms z², 22, are depressed, and the
vertical arms z, z, moved towards each other, and the semicircular ends x2, x3, of the
spring arms x, x, brought together and made to embrace that part of the runner
tube placed in the die y, situated between the bulbous part w and the top flange l,
as represented in Figure 17. The several parts being in the respective positions
represented in Figure 17, the flanged end of the tube standing above the die y,
the punch or upper tool y² is brought down. The bulbous part w of the tube is
thereby compressed and folded or doubled between the gauge or horizontal side
tools x, x, x, x2, and the shoulder y' in the die y (the semicircular ends of the side
tools being carried down into the die by the said punch y²), thereby forming the
second flange 2 from the bulbous part w, as represented in Figure 16. After the
ascent of the punch ys, the pressure of the foot is removed from the treadle 25, when
it rises by the action of the spring 20, and the vertical arms z, 2, of the cranked
levers are moved outwards, and the ends x2, x3, of the spring side tools x, x, are
withdrawn from between the flanges of the notch, and the partly made runner tube
may be removed.
Figure 20 represents in section a runner tube, the two notch flanges 1, 3, of which
have been made in the manner herein last described. The runner is finished in the
ordinary way.
Figure 20 represents in elevation a finished runner made from the partly-made
runner, Figure 204.
In making top notches according to our Invention by the several processes or
combinations of processes described and illustrated, shorter tubes are used than those
employed for runners.
In making runners from sheet iron according to our Invention we proceed as
follows: We take a strip of rolled sheet iron of the kind represented in Figure 21,
and we pass the said strip through a pair of rolls of the kind represented in
Figure 22. The top roll a of the pair of rolls is furnished with grooves at b, b, and
the bottom roll c is furnished with projections d, d, of a corresponding figure to the
grooves b, b, in the top roll a. By passing the plain strip of sheet iron, Figure 21,
through the pair of rolls a, c, Figure 22, hollow beads are passed or rolled in it
along each edge, as represented in the cross section of the rolled and beaded strip,
Figure 23, where the beads are marked e, f. We cut the beaded strip, Figure 23,
transversely, so as to form blanks from which the runners are to be made by means
of the pair of cutting-out tools represented in elevation in Figure 24, and plan of
the bottom tool in Figure 25.
The opposed faces of the said tools, Figures 24 and 25, are furnished with grooves
and projections corresponding in figure to the beads pressed or rolled in the strip, so
that the cutting out of the blanks does not injure the figure of the said beads. The
cutting edges g, g, of the said tools, Figures 24 and 25, have the form seen in the
plan, Figure 25; that is, the said cutting edges cut from the edges of the blank such
portions as will leave, when the blank is rolled up, the required slot in the runner
tube. The beaded strip, Figure 23, being placed between the guides at h, h, in the.

page_text: lower tool, Figure 25, in the required position, the upper tool, Figure 24, descends
and cuts from the said strip a blank of the form represented in Figure 26, the cut-
away parts in the short sides or ends of the blank to form the slot in the tube being
marked i, i.
By rolling up or bending the blank, Figure 26, into a cylindrical form, a runner
tube or barrel, with the required slot in it and having a hollow bead at each end, is
formed as represented in Figure 27.
The runner tube or barrel, Figure 27, is finished by casting a brass or other hard
metal notch on the end of the tube, and a brass or other hard metal ring or solid
bead on the other end e. By casting the notch and ring upon or in the beadings e, f,
on the ends of the runner tube, the said notch and ring are very securely fixed to
the said tube.
The rolling up bending of the beaded blank, Figure 26, into the runner tube,
Figure 27, may be effected in various ways, but we prefer to effect the said rolling
up or bending by means of the machine represented in side elevation in Figure 28,
end elevation in Figure 29, and plan in Figure 30. Portions of the machine are
represented in Figures 31, 32, and 33. The said machine consists essentially of a
mandril k, around which the strip is coiled or bent, and a pair of bending jaws l, l.
The mandril k is carried by the hand lever m, which is jointed to a fixed portion of
the machine, and the jaws l, l, are jointed at 12, 12, to the base of the machine, the
said jaws being forced together by a coiled spring n on each side. The acting end
of each jaw has a curved nose for permitting the mandril to force back the said
jaws.
The blank, Figure 26, being placed over the meeting ends of the jaws l, l, in the
position represented in Figure 31 and marked p, the mandril k is brought down
upon it by the depression of the hand lever m. The blank p is thereby carried
between the nose ends of the said jaws, forcing open the said jaws, and a trough
form is given to the blank, as represented in Figure 32. By the further descent of
the mandril the trough-shaped blank is carried completely between the jawls l, l,
to the under side thereof. As the mandril reaches this position the ends of the
jaws close upon one another, and by acting upon the parallel edges of the trough
plate or blank force the said edges inwards and bend them closely upon the mandril,
as represented in Figure 33. The mandril k is capable of being removed from its
bearings, so that after the blank has been bent around it, it is necessary to withdraw
the said mandril in order to remove the runner tube from it. The runner tube thus
made is completed in the manner herein-before described.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
Invention,―
First. The process, or combination of processes herein-before described, and illus-
trated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the accompanying Drawings, for the manufacture
of the runners and top notches of umbrellas and parasols.
Secondly. The process or combination of processes herein-before described, and
illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawings, for
the manufacture of the runners and top notches of umbrellas and parasols.
Thirdly. The process or combination of processes herein-before described, and
illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 204, and 20³ of the
accompanying Drawings, for the manufacture of the runners and top notches of
umbrellas and parasols, in which both flanges of the notches are made solid to or in
one piece with the runner or top notch tube.
Fourthly. The construction of the spring expander herein-before described, and
illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying Drawings, and the combina-
tion therewith of a conical punch and pressing collar, as described and illustrated,
to be used in the formation of the bulbous part of the tube from which the second
flange of the notch is made; also, the modified spring expander, represented in
Figure 12, for forming an annular bead in the notch tube for the purpose
described.
'

page_text: Fifthly. The arrangement or combination of the parts of the tools or apparatus
herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 of the
accompanying Drawings, to be used in the manufacture of the second flange of the
notch from the bulbous part of the tube.
Lastly. The process or combination of processes herein-before described, and
illustrated in Figures 21 to 33, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings, for
the manufacture of the runners of umbrellas and parasols from sheet iron.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Carpenter Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.