Anchory for Drawing wire.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1898
Cumplate Concifiontion Loft 07h Enh 1031 Accented
6th Mou 1000
Anchory for Drawing wire.
I, NICHOLAS KING TURNBULL, of Bradford Iron Works, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer and Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in improvements in machinery for drawing wire and
relates more particularly to the blocks or drums used in such machinery and
clamping devices to be used with such blocks or drums.
In the drawing of wire by machinery as hitherto conducted a portion of each
piece of wire or rod to be operated upon sufficient to reach and be attached to
the block or drum of the machine is drawn through the die and then attached to
the said block or drum.
The principal object of my invention is to facilitate and expedite the com-
mencement of the drawing of wire by enabling the commencement and the com-
pletion of the drawing of each piece of wire or rod required to be operated upon
in a machine to be effected by means of one block or drum and in one operation.
A further object of my invention is to enable a larger proportional reduction of
cross section to be obtained in the drawing of wire than is possible by the use
of the arrangements hitherto employed in wire-drawing machinery.
According to my invention, I form the block or drum of a wire-drawing machine
to which my invention is to be applied with a spiral or other curved surface which
commences at the centre of such block or drum or as near to the centre of such
block or drum as may be considered desirable and extends to or nearly to the
circumference of such block or drum and may be more or less inclined to a plane
at right angles to the axis of such block or drum. A chain or equivalent device,
with a clamping device to be hereinafter described attached, is connected to
the said block or drum at or near the commencement of the said spiral or other
curved surface and is made of such length that when placed in a straight line
from the point at which it is connected to the said block or drum towards the die-
plate through which the wire is to be drawn the clamping device attached to such
chain can be made to hold the reduced end of the wire or rod to be drawn which
is made to project through the die in the ordinary manner. The said chain is
made of such length that when coiled or laid against the said spiral or other
curved surface the clamping device shall be within the circumference of the block
or drum so as not to interfere with the passage over such block or drum of wire
coiled thereon. A recess of any suitable form may be provided in the said block
or drum to recive the said clamping device when the chain is laid against the
said spiral or other curved surface and the block or drum may be provided with
a surface for the chain and clamping device to rest upon and such surface may be
inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of the block or drum. The holder
for the die-plate employed in a machine to which my invention is applied is pre-
ferably connected by means of an universal joint to the bed or table or other
support on or in which it is mounted. In the use of the block or drum arranged

page_text: according to my invention the chain is first uncoiled from the said spiral or other
curved surface and the clamping device is attached to the reduced end of the wire
or rod passed through the die and the block or drum being caused to revolve the
chain commences to be coiled upon the most central part of the said spiral or
other curved surface so that the commencement of the drawing of the wire is
effected at a comparatively slow speed and as the chain aforesaid becomes coiled
against the said spiral or other curved surface the speed of drawing increases
until the clamping device is laid against the block or drum and then or very
soon after the continued drawing of the wire is effected at a speed equal to the
velocity of the circumference of the block or drum and then the wire is coiled
upon and caused to slip over the surface of the block or drum in the ordinary
manner. In order that the wire which becomes coiled upon the block or drum
may be kept in proper position and prevented from passing into the space which
it is necessary to provide according to my invention for the passage of the chain
and clamping device aforesaid, I in one form of apparatus which may be em-
ployed, provide pins or projections upon a disc concentric with and capable of
being moved in the direction of the axis of the block or drum and of being made
to revolve therewith and arrange the said pins so that as soon as the clamping
device becomes laid against such block or drum they may be brought either by
the attendant in charge of the machine or automatically by the action of some
part of the machine into engagement with holes in the said block or drum or be
made to so bear against or project over parts of it as to prevent the wire coiled
upon the block or drum from passing inwards towards the axis thereof so as to
pass out of proper position. Instead of the said pins I may provide the block or
drum with a counter part which after the clamping device has been laid against
such block or drum shall be laid upon such block or drum so as to form a pro-
longation or complement of the surface of the block or drum.
In constructing the clamping device attached to the chain aforesaid I provide
two or more dies which are arranged to be capable of being slidden in guides
formed in a holder and when slidden therein to approach or recede from each
other according to the direction in which they are moved. The said guides are
so formed that each die shall be moved in a straight path. A spring or springs
bearing against the said holder is or are provided to press the said dies in the
direction in which they require to be moved in order to hold the end of a wire
or rod or other object and such spring or springs may be made to bear against
the said dies or against a block or blocks provided to bear against them. The
said dies are provided with studs or projecting screws extending to the cutside of
the holder so that such dies may readily be moved in opposition to the force of
the said spring or springs. The said dies are provided with faces to bear against
the portion of wire or rod to be held by the clamping device and the said faces
which may be flat or hollowed or channelled or convex are made parallel to the
length of the portion of wire or rod to be held by the said dies and the said dies
are preferably provided with teeth so shaped that the force transmitted by means
of them shall tend to cause them to more firmly hold the portion of wire or rod
to be held by the clamping device. In any case in which it may be desirable to
so form them the faces provided upon the dies to bear against the portion of
wire or rod to be held thereby may be inclined to the length of such portion of
wire or rod. The said holder is preferably so formed that when pushed into a
certain position against the force of the spring or springs used with them the
dies may be removed through an opening provided in such holder or so that when
one or more of the dies is or are moved against the force of the spring or springs
used with it or them as far as possible the other die or dies may be pushed out
of the holder so that the substitution of different dies for one another may be
readily accomplished but any other means enabling the substitution of one set of
dies for another may be provided or two or more different clamping devices may
be provided for use with one block or drum.
Besides being compact and so very convenient for use with blocks or drums

page_text: arranged according to my invention the clamping devices constructed according
to my invention in the manner herein before described are applicable and con-
venient and efficient for use in connection with wire-drawing machines other
than those in which blocks or drums of the kind hereinbefore described are em-
ployed, and so form in themselves a distinct part of my invention.
I, NICHOLAS KING TURNBULL, of Bradford Iron Works, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
My invention consists in improvements in machinery for drawing wire and
relates more particularly to the blocks or drums used in such machinery and
clamping devices to be used with such blocks or drums.
In the drawing of wire by machinery as hitherto conducted a portion of each
piece of wire or rod to be operated upon sufficient to reach and be attached to
the block or drum of the machine is drawn through the dic and then attached to
the said block or drum.
The principal object of my invention is to facilitate and expedite the drawing
of wire by enabling the commencement and the completion of the drawing of
cach piece of wire or rod required to be operated upon in a machine to be effected
by means of one block or drum and in one operation.
A further object of my invention is to enable a larger proportional reduction of
cross section to be obtained in the drawing of wire than is possible by the use
of the arrangements hitherto employed in wire-drawing machinery.
According to my invention I form the block or drum of a wire-drawing machine
to which my invention is to be applied with a spiral or other curved surface which
commences at the centre of such block or drum or as near to the centre of such
block or drum as may be considered desirable and extends to or nearly to the
circumference of such block or drum and may be more or less inclined to a plane
at right angles to the axis of such block or drum. A chain or equivalent device,
with a clamping device, to be hereinafter described, attached, is connected to
the said block or drum at or near the commencement of the said spiral or other
curved surface and is made of such length that when placed in a straight line
from the point at which it is connected to the said block or drum towards the die-
plate through which the wire is to be drawn the clamping device attached to such
chain can be made to hold the reduced end of the wire or rod to be drawn which
is made to project through the die in the ordinary manner. The said chain is
made of such length that when coiled or laid against the said spiral or other
curved surface the clamping device shall be within the circumference of the block
or drum so as not to interfere with the passage over such block or drum of wire
coiled thereon. A recess of any suitable form may be provided in the said block
or drum to receive the said clamping device when the chain is laid against the
said spiral or other curved surface and the block or drum may be provided with
a surface for the chain and clamping device to rest upon and such surface may be
inclined to a plane at right angles to the axis of the block or drum. The holder

page_text: for the die-plate employed in a machine to which my invention is applied may
be connected by means of an universal joint to the bed or table or other
support on or in which it is mounted. In the use of the block or drum arranged
according to my invention the chain is first uncoiled from the said spiral or other
curved surface and the clamping device is attached to the reduced end of the wire
or rod passed through the die and the block or drum being caused to revolve the
chain commences to be coiled upon the most central part of the said spiral or
other curved surface so that the commencement of the drawing of the wire is
effected at a comparatively slow speed and as the chain aforesaid becomes coiled
against the said spiral or other curved surface the speed of drawing increases
until the clamping device is laid against the block or drum and then or very
soon after the continued drawing of the wire is effected at a speed equal to the
velocity of the circumference of the block or drum and then the wire is coiled
upon and caused to slip over the surface of the block or drum in the ordinary
manner. In order that the wire which becomes coiled upon the block or drum
may be kept in proper position and prevented from passing into the space which
it is necessary to provide according to my invention for the passage of the chain
and clamping device aforesaid, I, in one form of apparatus which may be em-
ployed, provide pins or projections upon a disc concentric with and capable of
being moved in the direction of the axis of the block or drum and of being made
to revolve therewith and arrange the said pins so that as soon as the clamping
device becomes laid against such block or drum they may be brought either by
the attendant in charge of the machine or automatically by the action of some
part of the machine into engagement with holes in the said block or drum or be
made to so bear against or project over parts of it as to prevent the wire coiled
upon the block or drum from passing inwards towards the axis thereof so as to
pass out of proper position. Instead of the said pins I may provide the block or
drum with a counter part which after the clamping device has been laid against
such block or drum shall be laid upon such block or drum so as to form a pro-
longation or complement of the surface of the block or drum.
In constructing the clamping device attached to the chain aforesaid I provide
two or more dies which are arranged to be capable of being slidden in guides
formed in a holder and when slidden therein to approach or recede from each
other according to the direction in which they are moved. The said guides are
so formed that each die shall be moved in a straight path. A spring or springs
bearing against the said holder is or are provided to press the said dies in the
direction in which they require to be moved in order to hold the end of a wire
or rod or other object and such spring or springs may be made to bear against
the said dies or against a block or blocks provided to bear against them. The
said dies are provided with studs or projecting screws extending to the outside of
the holder so that such dies may readily be moved in opposition to the force of
the said spring or springs. The said dies are provided with faces to bear against
the portion of wire or rod to be held by the clamping device and the said faces
which may be flat or hollowed or channelled are made parallel to the
length of the portion of wire or rod to be held by the said dies and the said dies
are preferably provided with teeth so shaped that the force transmitted by means
of them shall tend to cause them to more firmly hold the portion of wire or rod
to be held by the clamping device. In any case in which it may be desirable to
so form them the faces provided upon the dies to bear against the portion of
wire or rod to be held thereby may be inclined to the length of such portion of
wire or rod. The said holder is preferably so formed that when pushed into a
certain position against the force of the spring or springs used with them the
dies may be removed through an opening provided in such holder or so that when
one or more of the dies is or are moved against the force of the spring or springs
used with it or them as far as possible the other die or dies may be pushed out
of the holder so that the substitution of different dies for one another may be
readily accomplished but any other means enabling the substitution of one set of

page_text: dies for another may be provided or two or more different clamping devices may
be provided for use with one block or drum.
Besides being compact and so very convenient for use with blocks or drums
arranged according to my invention the clamping devices constructed according
to my invention in the manner hereinbefore described are applicable and con-
venient and efficient for use in connection with wire-drawing machines other
than those in which blocks or drums of the kind herein before described arc em-
ployed, and so form in themselves a distinct part of my invention.
One form of block or drum and one form of clamping device constructed accord-
ing to my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a
side elevation and Fig. 2 is a plan of the said drum or block and clamping de-
vice and the die-plate used therewith and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the drum
or block and clamping device and Fig. 4 is a plan of the said drum or block and
clamping device and the die-plate used therewith, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrating the
position and arrangement of the parts at the commencement of the drawing of a
wire and Figs. 3 and 4 illustrating the position and arrangement of the parts at
the time when the clamping device has been laid against the block or drum and
the wire drawn through the die-plate has commenced to be coiled upon the
outside of the block or drum. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a part of the
said drum or block taken on the plane indicated by the line A A of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a part of the said block or drum taken on the
plane indicated by the line A A of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is in part a side elevation and
in part a vertical longitudinal section through the said clamping device. Fig. 8
is a vertical section through the said block or drum taken on the
plane indicated by the line B B of Fig. 4. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are in part
vertical sections taken on planes corresponding to those indicated by the lines CC
of Figs. 2 and 4 and show in side elevation a catch illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4
and serve to illustrate the action of such catch more clearly than is possible in
Figs. 2 and 4. In order that the figures of the accompanying drawings may be
brought close together and for convenience of illustration, the vertical lines in
Fig. 3 are drawn inclined to those in Fig. 8, the relation between such Figs. 3
and 8 and Fig. 4 being clearly indicated by the centre lines drawn to connect
Figs. 3 and 8 with Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 and Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are drawn in positions
which do not bear any specially significant relation to the other figures illustrating
the same parts. Fig. 7 is drawn upon a larger scale than the other figures.
In the block or drum a illustrated in the accompanying drawings, b is the
spiral or other curved surface which commences near to the centre of such block
or drum a and extends nearly to the circumference thereof being inclined to a
plane at right angles to the axis of such block or drum a and is provided with
a recess or flattened portion 61 to receive the clamping device c.
The block or
drum a is formed of a casting a¹ and at the lower part is formed like the blocks
or drums hitherto used in wire-drawing machines, and is preferably provided
with a wrought iron band a shrunk around its circumferential flange and also
with a wrought iron band a² shrunk around the upper end of the central boss a³
in order to prevent injury from being caused by strains in the block or drum a
due to the heat of the wire coiled upon such block or drum a. Between the part
of the block or drum a on which the curved surface b is formed and the central
boss a³ of such block or drum a, extends a cross-bar d which is passed through a
hole in the curved part 6 and inserted into a smaller hole in the boss a³ and
secured in position by means of a cotter d. One end of a chain e is connected
to the cross-bar d by means of a pin e¹. The other end of the chain e is connected
by means of a pin to the holder of the clamping device c which is formed
internally with two inclined faces c¹ each of which forms a bearing surface for one
of two dies 2 capable of being slidden against it. The holder c³ of the clamping
device c is also formed internally with parallel faces to act as guides for the
sides of the dies ². The dies are provided with studs extending through
slots in the holder to the outside thereof and serving as means by which the

page_text: formed with
dies may be slidden in such holder . Each die c² is formed with a toothed
face which may be so formed that when such die c² is in position in the holder c³
such face shall be parallel to the plane bisecting the angle between the inclined
faces but is preferably made inclined to such plane as shown to correspond with
the surface of the reduced end of the rod or wire to be held thereby. A spiral
spring tends to press the lies in the direction indicated by the arrows re-
spectively drawn thereon in Fig. 7 so as to keep them against the reduced end of
the rod or wire f to be drawn into wire which is placed between them after being
passed through the die-plate g. The spiral spring 8 is at one end placed around
à stud csecured in the holder c3 and at the other end around a projection c¹0 upon
a block c capable of bearing on the dies and guided by being provided with
two projections each capable of being slidden in a groove formed in one of the
parallel faces of the holder 3. The block c is preferably provided, as shown,
with a central hole to permit the passage of the pointed ends of small wires or
rcds. The chain e is as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2 made of such length that it may
be made to reach so close to the die-plate g that the dies may be readily made to hold
the reduced end of the rod f passed through the die-plate g and as is clearly
indicated in Fig. 4 the spiral or curved surface b is made so that when the chain e
and clamping device c are laid against such spiral or curved surface b the clamping
device c shall be within the circumference of the block or drum a so as not to
interfere with the passage over such block or drum, of wire coiled thereon. A
cavity is provided in the block or drum a to receive the clamping device c
when it has been laid against the surface b¹. Should the clamping device c
touch the circumference of the winding or coiling surface at of the drum a before
being laid against the surface b₁ it will simply be raised by contact therewith
and pass over it on the way to the surface 61 but the surface at may be cut away
in part so as to allow the clamping device c to pass into contact with the surface &¹
without touching such surface a. Above the block or drum a is placed a cage
h extending from central disc 2 and provided
with arms 3 extending upwards and arms hh extending downwards.
One downwardly extending arm h³ is arranged to be guided by a hole i formed
in the block or drum a while the other five downwardly extending arms h' are
arranged to fall as will be hereinafter described into holes provided to receive them
in the said block or drum. In Figs. 1 and 2 the cage h is shown as raised so that
the five arms hare raised clear of the holes in the block or drum a so as not to
interfere with the coiling of the chain e upon the surface b. The cage his sup-
ported in the position in which it is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 by means of blocks i
arranged to be capable of being slidden radially in the block or drum a and
ressed outwards therein by means of spiral springs 2 each of which is at one
end mounted in the said block or drum a and at the other end in a recess in the
block with which it is used. Each block ¹ is provided with a pin to pre-
One block i¹
vent it from being slidden too far outwards in the block or drum a.
is made capable of being protruded for a little distance beyond the adjacent por-
tions of the surface b in order that the chain e in being laid against the surface
may press such block inwards so as to bring a hole in such block in line
with a hole i formed in the block or drum a in which hole i an arm ho secured
to and projecting downwards from one of the radial arms h¹ is placed and guided
and the other block is made capable of being protruded for a little distance
from the surface so that when the clamping device c has been laid against the
block or drum a and the wire f commences to be coiled upon the outer surface a
of such block or drum a the wire in being coiled on such block or drum a shall
press such block inwards so as to bring a hole therein in line with the hole i
in which the downwardly projecting arm is placed. When the cage his
raised into the position in which it is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the blocks are
pressed outwards by the springs so that the holes in such blocks are out
of line with the holes in which the arms 5 h6 are guided and so that such
blocks supporting the arms 16 may support the cage h. In order that when
arms
a

page_text: the blocks are pressed inwards in the block or drum a to allow the arms h³ ho
to pass into the holes provided to receive them, the cage h may not be raised
by the wire f passing upwards upon it as such wire is made to slip upwards from
the block or drum a, a catch j is arranged to be capable of being oscillated upon
a stud screwed into the interior of the block or drum a. The catch is provided
with a weight and with a hook with an inclined surface at its upper end so
that as the cage h is allowed to fall from the position in which it is indicated in
Figs. 1 and 2 to the position in which it is indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 8, the radial
arm adjacent to the catch j striking the inclined face thereof shall cause the
catch to move back out of the way of such arm h¹ as indicated in Fig. 10 and
then the weight shall cause the hook 2 to engage the said radial arm h¹ as
indicated in Fig. 11 and prevent the cage h from being raised until the hook j³
has been disengaged from the said radial arni h¹.
The cage is provided with a ring or handle h capable of being turned therein
which is only indicated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. A rope, wire or chain may con-
veniently be connected to the said ring or handle h in order that the cage h may
be raised vertically and held clear of the block or drum a and again lowered into
position on such block or drum a.
The die-plate g is arranged so as to be capable of being turned about a vertical
axis so that both at the commencement of the drawing of a wire and during the
coiling of wire upon the circumference of the block or drum a the wire f which
has been drawn through the die-plate 9 shall be as nearly as possible in line with
the portion which is next to pass through such die-plate g.
The block or drum a is mounted upon the mandrel m of any suitable wire-
drawing machine so as to revolve therewith, and preferably the said mandrel is
arranged to be set in motion by means of a friction-clutch so that shock at start-
ing may be avoided.
h
In the use of the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings the cage
is raised into the position in which it is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the block
or drum a is turned into the position in which it is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2
and the chaine is extended therefrom towards the die-plate g and the clamping
device c is secured to the reduced end of the rod f to be drawn into wire which
is made to protrude through the said die-plate g.
Then the block or drum a
is caused to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow E. The chain e com-
mences to be coiled upon the most central part of the surface 6 of the block or
drum a so that the commencement of the drawing of the wire is effected at a com-
paratively slow speed and the speed of drawing is gradually increased as the
chain is laid against the surface 6 and then very soon after the clamping device c
having been pulled over the edge of the coiling or outer circumference a of the
block or drum a is laid against the surface 6₁ the wire commences to be coiled
upon such outer circumference a and is gradually forced upwards thereon. In
the laying of the chain e against the surface 6 first the block 2 used with the
arm his pressed inwards in the block or drum a and then the block i¹ used with
the arm is pressed inwards therein and as soon as the block i¹ used with the
arm his pressed inwards the cage h falls so that the arms h* enter the holes pro-
vided in the block or drum a to receive them, so that as the wire f is coiled upon
and slips upwards upon the block or drum a it may be prevented from passing
into the space or cavity produced by the formation of the surface b and becoming
excentric to the block or drum a. When the portion of rod or wire f being
operated upon has all been drawn through the die-plate g or when a coil of the
desired length has been formed the cage h is raised clear of the block or drum a
and the dies 2 of the clamping device c being moved back in the holder c³ by
the attendant are made to release the end of the wire f and the coil is removed
from the block or drum a and the cage h being lowered to the position in which
it is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the drawing of another length of rod or wire
is commenced in the manner hereinbefore described.
The narrowest part of the space between the inclined internal faces c¹ of the

page_text: holder of the clamping device c is made greater than the thickness of the larger
end of each die c² so that either die 2 may be removed from the front of the
holder when the other die has been pressed backwards therein for a suitable
distance against the pressure of the spring c8.
The employment of a block or drum constructed according to my invention
enables each piece of wire or rod which is to be operated upon in a wire-drawing
machine to be attached to the block or drum of such machine as soon as the
reduced end of such wire or rod is passed through the die-plate instead of after
a portion long enough to reach to such drum or block has been drawn through
such die-plate by subsidiary appliances in the manner hitherto practised which
besides being slow has caused many breakages of the wire being drawn. The use
of a block or drum made according to my invention also by enabling the com-
mencement of the drawing of a wire to be much slower than the speed of the
circumference of such block or drum, enables the speed of the circumference of
the drum or block to be made greater than that of the drums hitherto used with-
out causing increase in the danger of breakage of the wire. If the speed of
drums of the kind hitherto used be increased the increase in the breakage of the
wires being drawn due to the drawing requiring to be commenced at practically
full speed prevents any advantage from being derived from the increase in the
speed of the blocks or drums.
The employment of blocks or drums made according to my invention by render-
ing unnecessary the subsidiary appliances such as supplementary blocks or
drums hitherto necessary also enables machines for drawing wire to be made
simpler and cheaper in construction and maintenance than the machines hitherto
used.
The clamping devices provided in accordance with my invention besides being
very convenient for use with the blocks or drums made according to my invention
are also very compact in form and convenient for use with wire-drawing machines
of other kinds and are capable of being readily fixed to and released from the
wires to which they are to be connected in use and enable changes in the dies for
use to be readily made as may be necessary or desirable from time to time, in the
drawing of wires of different diameters.
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. A block or drum for use in a wire-drawing machine, provided with a spiral
or other curved surface, a chain or equivalènt device and a clamping device for the
purpose and substantially in the manner herein before described.
2. The combination with a block or drum for use in a wire drawing machine and
provided with a spiral or other curved surface and a chain or equivalent device
and clamping device for the purpose and substantially in the manner herein-
before described, of a cage such as h or equivalent device for the purpose and
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
3. For use with the block or drum of a wire-drawing machine a clamping
device provided with dies and a holder arranged, employed and operating for
the purposes and substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of February 1899.
HOWARD CHEETHAM,
Manchester,
Agent to the Applicant.