IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING OR PERFORATING BOILER PLATES AND OTHER METAL PLATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Heaton, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
:
caster, Boiler Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PUNCHING OR PERFORATING BOILER PLATES AND OTHER METAL PLATES."
Sealed the 21st October 1870, and dated the 26th April 187
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Heaton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th April 1876.
EDWARD HEATON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Boiler Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING OR PERFORATING BOILER PLATES
AND OTHER METAL PLATES." ...
My Invention relates to the operation of punching iron, steel, or metal plates
preparatory to the riveting together of such plates in the formation of steam
generators, tanks, girders, and other metal constructions, and has for its object to
obtain apparatus capable of punching the holes in or along all the four sides of a
plate with one adjustment and fixing of the said plate, whereby great exactness in
respect to the relative situations of the holes may be obtained, my Invention being
of especial value in the punching or perforating of duplicate plates. In the said
apparatus the plates to be punched are bolted or secured to a frame or carriage
which is fitted to slide or travel beneath a cross head, which is arranged to slide
up and down on suitable side standards, and is actuated by means of a crank shaft
and connecting rods, or by other suitable means. The bed of the machine or the
said standards is or are prepared to receive a die plate or holder in which are fixed
dies at the required distances apart. The said cross head is also prepared to receive
a punch holder, in which punchies are mounted at the required distances apart.
The said die holder and punch holder are secured by bolts or are otherwise secured
in such a manner as that they may be readily removed and others fixed in their
place, so that rows of holes of any required pitch may be punched by fixing in the
machine die, and punch holders provided with dies and punches arranged at the
required pitch. Each punch is arranged to slide in the punch holder on coming in
contact with the plate, excepting at times when it is required to perforate the plate,
when a distance piece or hand tool is inserted between the end of the shank of the
punch or between a collar on the said shank and some stationary part of the cross
[Price Gd.]
.

page_text: head. If preferred a sliding block actuated by means of a screw or rack may be
employed as a distance piece to bring one, two, or more punches into action at each
stroke. The punches and dies may be arranged in a single row or two rows
corresponding to the two rows of holes required for double riveting or in any
manner suitable to the requirements. To punch the holes in one end of a plate the
aforesaid sliding carriage remains stationary, and as many of the punches are
caused to act as will produce the required holes in the end of the plate. To punch
the side holes an intermittent movement is imparted to the sliding carriage, the
extent of each movement corresponding to the pitch of the holes, and punches in
the required positions are caused to act after each movement. The extent of each
movement is determined by means of changable pitch plates fitted or formed with
holes, teeth, or projections, with which engage pawls or fingers at each upward
movement of the aforesaid cross head, or the intermittent movements may be
imparted to the said carriage by means of any suitable arrangement of gearing,
and of screws or racks and pinions. When the holes along the sides of the plate
have thus been punched, the movement of the said carriage is arrested and the
other end of the plate may be punched. Holes may also be punched in any required
positions in line with the punches.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edward Heaton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th October
1876.
EDWARD HEATON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Boiler Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING OR PERFORATING BOILER PLATES
AND OTHER METAL PLATES."
My Invention relates to the operation of punching iron, steel, or metal plates
prepatory to the riveting together of such plates in the formation of steam
generators, tanks, girders, and other metal constructions, and has for its object to
obtain apparatus capable of punching the holes in or along the four sides of a plate
with one adjustment and fixing of the said plate, whereby great exactness in respect
to the relative situations of the holes may be obtained, my Invention being of
especial value in the punching or perforating of duplicate plates. In the said
apparatus the plates to be punched are bolted or secured to a frame or carriage
which is fitted to slide or travel beneath a cross head, which is arranged to slide up
and down on suitable side standards, and is actuated by means of a crank shaft and
connecting rods or by other suitable means. The bed of the machine or the said
standards is or are prepared to receive a die plate or holder in which are fixed dies
at the required distances apart. The said cross head is also prepared to receive a
punch holder in which punches are mounted at the required distances apart. The
said die holder and punch holder are secured by bolts or are otherwise secured in
such a manner as that they may be readily removed and others fixed in their
places, so that rows of holes of any required pitch may be punched by fixing in
the machine die and punch holders provided with dies and punches arranged for
the required pitch. Each punch is arranged to slide in the punch holder on coming
in contact with the plate, excepting at times when it is required to perforate the
plate, when a distance piece or hand tool is inserted between the end of the shank
of the punch or between a collar on the said shank and some stationary part of the
cross head.
If preferred a sliding block actuated by means of a screw or rack may
be employed as a distance piece to bring one, two, or more punches into action at
cach stroke. The punches and dies may be arranged in a single row or in two
rows corresponding to the two rows of holes required for double riveting, or in any
manner suitable to the requirements. To punch the holes in one end of a plate the
aforesaid sliding carriage remains stationary, and as many of the punches are caused

page_text: to act as will produce the required holes in the end of the plate. To punch the side
holes an intermittent movement is imparted to the sliding carriage, the extent of
each movement corresponding to the pitch of the holes, and punches in the required
positions are caused to act after each movement. The extent of each movement is
determined by means of changeable pitch plates fitted or formed with holes, teeth,
or projections, with which engage pawls or fingers at each upward movement of the
aforesaid cross head, or the intermittent movements may be imparted to the said
carriage by means of any suitable arrangement of gearing and of screws or racks
and pinions. When the holes along the sides of the plate have thus been punched
the movement of the said carriage is arrested and the other end of the plate may be
punched. Holes may also be punched in any required positions in line with the
punches.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings marked with letters of reference, corresponding
marks indicating the same parts in the various Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front or end
elevation, and Fig. 2 a side clevation of a plate punching machine constructed in
accordance with my Invention, the said Figures being drawn about one-eighth of
the full size. In the said Figures A, A, are two strong cast-iron standards in
which a cross head B is fitted to slide, and C is a cast-iron frame which is fitted to
slide upon a bed D in a similar manner to the table of a planing machine. The
said standards are cast hollow, and in order to obtain steadiness and a good con-
nection between the two they are cast together in one piece with a cross piece a,
which sustains and serves as a bed for the dies, as indicated in Figures 3 and 5,
which are drawn to a larger scale. As this method of connection does not permit
the bed D to be continuous it is formed in two parts, the inner ends of which are
planed and fitted to planed faces on the sides of the standards and are firmly bolted
thereto. The cross head B, made of wrought iron in the example, is formed with
true parallel surfaces on the side at each end, and the ends are fitted to slide between
blocks b, b, which are fitted in the hollow standards. The said blocks are made
taper and are attached to bolts c, c, in order that by tightening or slackening
the nuts on the said bolts the said blocks may be raised or lowered, whereby
the tightness of fit of the cross head in its bearings in the standards is adjusted.
Planed blocks d, d, are secured on each side of both ends of the cross head by means
of bolts passing through the said blocks and the cross head. The said blocks can
be adjusted by means of set screws e, e, to bear against planed surfaces on the inner
sides of the standards. In the example set screws are fitted into blocks which are
bolted to the cross head, partly for the reason that if such blocks were formed on
the cross head it could not be got into its working position. When the blocks b
and d are suitably adjusted, and supposing the parts to be well fitted, the cross head
can be caused to move up and down with a sufficient degree of steadiness. Turned
trunnions are formed on the two ends of the cross head, and in each trunnion is
mounted one end of a strong link f. The lower ends of the said links are bored to
fit upon excentrics g, which are turned upon, the two ends of a strong shaft h,
which is fitted to revolve in bearings i, i, which are secured to the under side of the
standards and connecting piece d. A part extending beyond the excentric at each
end of the said shaft is turned concentric with the remainder of the shaft, and is
fitted to revolve in bearings h, k, but these parts may be dispensed with if not
considered to be necessary. A spur wheel is fixed on the said shaft, and with
this wheel gears a pinion m, which is fixed on a second shaft n, which is mounted
in bearings 0, 0. A pinion p fixed on the driving shaft q gears with a spur wheel?,
which is fixed on the shaft n. A fly wheels is fixed on the driving shaft, and the
said shaft is also provided with fast and loose pulleys not seen in the Drawings.
By means of the said pulleys and gearing a rotating motion is imparted to the
shaft h, and the said excentrics acting on the links fcause the cross head to slide
up and down. In order to obtain access to the gearing and bearings, which are
situated below the floor line, a chamber or pit E is formed in the foundation below

page_text: the machine and the standards, and the inner ends of the bed castings D are sustained
by means of strong foundation plates t, t, which extend across the said chamber and
rest by each end upon suitably solid foundations. A punch holder F is secured by
means of bolts to the under side of the cross head. The punch holder is also
represented in vertical section in Fig. 3, and a portion of it in horizontal section in
Fig. 4, and is formed with a number of cells open to each side of the holder. Holes
opening into these cells are bored in the lower part of the said holder, and in cach
hole is loosely mounted a punch v, which is formed or provided with a head which
prevents it from falling out of the holder. In the example the said holder is pro-
vided with two rows of punches arranged for double riveting, but the sizes of the
punches, their pitch or distances apart, and their arrangement would be varied as
required. A die holder G, represented in Figs. 3 and 5, is secured in a recess formed
in the upper part of the connecting piece a. The said die holder is bored to receive
dies w, which correspond in number and arrangement with the punches, and the
said holder is secured and adjusted by means of set screws x.
The machine may
be provided with two or more sets of punch and die holders fitted with punches
and dies varying in size, pitch, and arrangement, the holders in the machine being
changed as required. The frame C is formed with two sides connected together at the
ends by cross pieces, and is or may be cast in one piece. A cross section of one side
is seen in Fig. 5, wherein it will be seen that the sides are formed and fitted to slide in
V slides formed on the bed D. On the outer sides of the frame are planed recesses
in which racks H are fitted. Each rack is fitted with projecting studs which are
fixed in holes drilled in the metal which constitutes the foundation of the rack, the
studs being situated at equal distances apart, the pitch or distance apart corresponding
with the pitch of the holes which are to be punched in or near the sides or edges
of the plates. These racks inay be removed and replaced with racks having studs of
a different pitch, as in the case of the punch and die holders. The method of con-
struction of the said racks may be varied. An arm y (seen in Fig. 2) fixed to the
link is provided with a stud which enters a slot in a levers, which is fixed to a
short shaft, which is fitted to rock in a fixed bearing. On the other end of this
shaft is fixed a lever arm, upon which is mounted a double ended pawl a¹, which
is formed to engage with the studs of the rack. There is a corresponding arrange-
ment at each side of the machine. As the link f moves up and down the arm
y gives motion to the lever s, and the outer end of the pawl is thereby caused to
inove to and fro. The army is slotted in order that the extent of motion of the
pawl may be adjusted as required by shifting the aforesaid stud in the slot in the
arm. The plate to be punched is supported by and attached to the frame by means
of suitable screw clamps. In Fig. 5, 6' represents an adjustable support. Similar
supports fitted with upper clamping plates are provided at various points on the
sides and ends of the frame C. In the case of plates which are too short to be
attached by both ends to the ends of the said frame, one end of the plate may be
clamped to a movable cross-bar or piece, which is capable of being secured across
the frame in any required position. Any required punch in the series is caused to
act by introducing a tool into the cell above the punch, as indicated at c', in Fig. 3.
Two or more punches may be caused to act simultaneously by introducing a tool
over each punch. When the holes in the sides of the plate are to be punched the
pawls d are thrown into gear with the studs of the racks, the effect being that the
frame C is moved forwards after cach downward stroke of the cross head.
Fig. 2, for convenience of representation, the pawl is represented in the position
which would work the frame back, but it will be understood that when punching
the side holes the outer end of the pawl would be to the right hand of the lever
arm upon which it is mounted, so as to move the frame when the cross head is
rising. It will be understood that the pawls on both sides of the frame are or may
be arranged to act in concert.
In
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to be
understood in conclusion that I claim the apparatus for punching plates constructed,

page_text: arranged, and acting substantially as set forth and indicated herein-before and in
and by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Heaton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Signed and sealed by the said
Edward Heaton, in the presence
of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
EDWARD HEATON. (LS.)