IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE RIBS AND STRETCHERS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Boyle, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Tool Maker, and Thomas Warwick, of Birmingham, aforesaid,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
THE RIBS AND STRETCHERS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN MACHINERY
TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 30th December 1862, and dated the 29th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Boyle and Thomas
Warwick at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition on the 29th July 1862.
We, ARTHUR BOYLE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Tool
Maker, and THOMAS WARWICK, of Birmingham, aforesaid, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF THE RIBS AND STRETCHERS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN MACHINERY
TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in manufacturing the ribs and stretchers of umbrellas
and parasols by means of rolls, in a groove in the peripheries or cylindrical.
surfaces of which suitably formed dies are inserted. In making umbrella
or parasol ribs we employ a pair of rolls, the circumference of each of which
is equal to the length of the rib to be manufactured, or equal to the length of
two of the said ribs. When we employ the smaller rolls we insert in, the

page_text: grooves in the cylindrical surfaces of the rolls a pair of dies for flattening and
making the impression for the hole at the tip end of the rib, and another pair
of dies situated at a suitable distance from the former for flattening the notch
end and making the impression for the hole. We also insert a third pair of
dies at the proper distance from the former for making the impression for the
stretcher joint. When we employ the larger rolls, we prefer to arrange the
dies in the rolls so as to make the tip ends of the two ribs together and the
top ends together. The pair of rolls are geared together, and are adjusted at
such a distance from each other that they slightly flatten the wire through its
whole length, and thereby strengthen the rib laterally. By introducing the
end of a coil of wire between the rolls, and giving the said rolls a rotatory
motion, the wire is drawn through the said rolls, the several pairs of dies acting
in succession, and giving the required figure to the different parts of the wire
to convert it into umbrella or parasol ribs. Each pair of dies acts separately,
and only when they are opposite each other or in a line with the centres of the
rolls. In making the stretchers of umbrellas and parasols according to our
Invention we employ rolls in which dies are inserted for forming the runner ends,
and also for flattening tho wire at that part which is to be converted into the
forks of the stretchers. The construction and action of these rolls are in all
essential respects similar to those of the rolls herein-before described with
reference to umbrella and parasol ribs. As the wire passes from the rolls it is
separated into .lengths, each of which consists of two stretchers joined at the
finttened part from which the stretcher forks are to be made. The flattened
part of the double stretcher is cut out and slit at a press into the form of two
flattened forks presented to each other, end to end, the two stretchers being
at the same time separated. By bending up the flattened and slit ends, the
stretcher forks are formed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arthur Boyle and Thomas Warwick in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ARTHUR
BOYLE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Tool Maker, and THOMAS
WARWICK, of Birmingham, aforesaid, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Arthur Boyle and Thomas Warwick, Her special licence, that we, the said
Arthur Boyle and Thomas Warwick, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Arthur Boyle and Thomas Warwick, our
executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE RIBS
AND STRETCHERS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED
IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Arthur Boyle and Thomas Warwick, our, executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the
liand and seal of one of us or them, 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 Arthur Boyle and Thomas Warwick,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say —
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein-after explained in the
manufacture of the ribs and stretchers of umbrellas and parasols, and in
machinery to be employed in the said manufacture. The improvements in the
manufacture of the ribs of umbrellas and parasols we effect by means of rolls
in grooves in the peripheries or cylindrical surfaces of which suitably formed
dies are inserted. The improvements in the manufacture of the stretchers of
umbrellas and parasols may be effected either by the use of dies fixed in rolls,
or partly by the use of dies fixed in rolls and partly by the use of dies worked
in a stamp or press. In making umbrella or parasol ribs we employ a pair
of rolls, the circumference of each of which is equal to the length of the rib to
be manufactured, or equal to the length of two of tho said ribs.
When we'
employ the smaller rolls we insert in the grooves in the cylindrical surfaces
of the rolls a pair of dies for flattening the notch end, and making the
impression for the hole. We also insert another pair of dies at the proper
distance from the former for making the impression for the stretcher joint.
When we employ the larger rolls we arrange the dies in the rolls so as to
make the tip ends of two ribs together, and the top or runner ends together.

page_text: The pair of rolls are geared together, and are adjusted at such a distance from
each other that they slightly flatten the wire through its whole length, and
thereby strengthen the rib laterally. By introducing the end of a coil of wire
between the rolls and giving the said rolls a rotatory motion, the wire is drawn
through the said rolls, the several pairs of dies acting in succession, and giving
the required figure to the different parts of the wire to convert it into umbrella
or parasol ribs. Each pair of dies acts separately, and only when they are
opposite each other or in a line with the centre of the rolls.
In making the stretchers of umbrellas and parasols according to our Invention
we flatten the wire at that part which is to be converted into the fork of the
stretcher. We prefer to effect this and to form the runner ends by means of
two pairs of rolls, in which properly shaped dies are inserted. The construction
and action of these rolls are in all essential respects similar to those of the rolls
herein-before described with reference to umbrella and parasol ribs. As the
wire passes from the rolls it is separated into lengths, each of which consists
of two stretchers joined at the flattened part from which the stretcher forks
are to be made. The flattened part of the double stretcher is cut out and
slit at a press into the form of two flattened forks presented to each other, end
to end, being at the same time separated. By bending up the flattened and
slit ends, the stretcher forks are formed.
.
Having described the nature of our Invention we will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
.
In manufacturing the ribs of umbrellas and parasols we tako steel wire of
the required strength, and we flatten it at the required places by means of dies
or tools, and make the impression at the said flattened parts for the hole of the
top or notch end of the ribs and the hole of the tip end of the ribs. By
another pair of dies we make at the required place, between the two impressions
described, a third impression and mark for holding the middle bit of the
stretcher joint.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, represent portions of a continuous steel wire thus
flattened and impressed according to our Invention. Figures 1 and 2 represent
a portion of the wire, which has been properly impressed to form two tip ends,
and Figures 3 and 4 represent a portion of the wire which has been properly
impressed to form two top or notch ends of umbrella or parasol ribs. Nearly
midway between the tip impressions, Figures 1 and 2; and the top or notch
impressions, Figures 3 and 4, the impression for the stretcher joint is made.
This impression is represented in Figure 5. Steel wire impressed in the
manner represented and described when divided at the points marked a in

page_text: Figures 1 and 2, and 6 in Figures 3 and 4, forms a series of umbrella or
parasol ribs which only require to be pierced at the impressions to finish them.
When we carry our Invention into effect by the use of rolls having a
circumference equal to the length of one rib, we impress the wire at the
required intervals with the impression and hole of the top or notch end, and also
with the impression for the middle bit. The tip end is in this case made by a
subsequent process. We make the impressions; described and represented, by
means of dies worked by means of rolls, as represented in the machines,
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, of the Drawings.
Figure 6 represents in side elevation, and Figure 7 in end elevation, one of
the machines, by which we impress wire for the manufacture of umbrella and
parasol ribs. The said machine consists essentially of a pair of rolls c, d, in
the peripheries of which dies e, f, are fixed. The axes on which the rolls c, d,
are fixed are geared together by toothed wheels g, h, and are driven by a band
on the fixed pulley i. The rolls c, d, may either be of such a size that the
circumference of each is equal to the length of one rib, or they may be of such
a size that the circumference of cach is equal to the length of two ribs.
.
Figures 8 and 9 represent in side and front elevation respectively a pair of
the larger last described rolls. The small rolls, Figures 6 and 7, are suited to
impress wire with a top or notch end and middle bit impression, and the large
rolls, Figures 8 and 9, are suited to impress wire in the manner represented
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, that is to say, with two tip ends presented
together, and with two top ends presented together with middle bit impressions
at the required places. The dies e, f, Figures 6 and 7, have the figure proper
to impress the wire passed between them with a top or notch end. Dies for
making the impression for holding the middle bit of the stretcher joint are
fixed at k. The dies e, f, are fixed in the peripheries of the rolls c and d, so
that their acting portions are in a line with one of the pairs of grooves made in
the rolls. The wire is guided to the dies by the said grooves, and when one
pair of grooves becomes worn the dies can be fixed in another pair of grooves.
In order to secure the accurate working of the dies e, f, guides m, m, are fixed
in each of the rolls near each die. The guides on one roll gear with holes n, n,
in the other, and thus preserve the proper relative positions of the dies while
they are acting on the wire. The grooves in the rolls are not quite semi-
cylindrical in cross section, but are shallower than semi-cylindrical grooves,
and the wire in passing between the rolls is somewhat flattened and thereby
strengthened in the plane in which it requires strength.
In making the stretchers of umbrellas and parasols according to our Invention,
we flatten the wire at that part which is to be converted into the fork of the

page_text: stretcher, and form the runner end of the stretcher by means of dies, which
may either be fixed in the peripheries of two pairs of rolls, or the dies for
making the runner ends may.alone be fixed in rolls and the dies for flattening
the part for the fork may be worked by a stamp or press.
Figure 10 represents two partly formed stretchers joined together by their
fork ends made according to our Invention; Figure 11 represents the opposite
side of the same; Figure 12 is an edge view of the same; Figures 13 and 14
represent the same with the partially formed forks slit; and Figure 15
represents the same with the two fork parts separated; Figures 16 and 17
illustrate the manner by which the twisting of the ends of Figure 15 makes a
complete fork; Figure 18 represents a piece of wire for a double stretcher, on
the ends of which only the impressions proper to form the runner ends are
made.
In making stretchers, we employ the machines represented in Figures 6, 7,
8, and 9, either with or without the addition of a second pair of rolls geared to
the said machines. By the machines, Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, we make
partially formed stretchers of the form represented in Figure 18, that is, we
impress the wire at the required distances with impressions for the runner ends
of the stretchers, and by a second pair of rolls working in a horizontal plane,
and geared to the rolls Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, we flatten the part to be con-
verted into the stretcher forks, Or instead of forming the flattening for the
stretcher forks by means of a second pair of rolls geared to the rolls, Figures
6, 7, 8, and 9, the said second pair of rolls may constitute a separate machine
similar to the machine Figures 6 and 7. Or the dies by which the flattening
for the forks is made may be worked by a stamp or by a press instead of by
rolls. The properly shaped dies for making the runner ends, as well as those
for making the flattening for the forks are fixed in the rolls in the manner
already explained with reference to the manufacture of ribs.
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 do not limit
ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of our Invention; but we
claim as our Invention,-
Firstly, the improvements in the manufacture of ribs for umbrellas and
parasols herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say, impressing pieces of wire or a continuous wire at the proper
distances with impressions having the figure of the top or notch end, and the
mark for the middle bit of the stretcher joint, or with impressions having the
figure of the tip end and top or notch end and mark for the middle bit of the

page_text: stretcher joint respectively, by the use of dies fixed in the peripheries of a
pair of rolls.
Secondly, the improvements in the manufacture of stretchers for umbrellas
and parasols herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say; impressing pieces of wire, or a continuous wire, at
the proper distances, with impressions having the figure of the runner ends of
the stretchers, and also flattening the part to be converted into the forks of the
stretchers.
Thirdly, the improvements in machinery to be used in the manufacture of
ribs and stretchers for umbrellas and parasols, herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Arthur Boyle and Thomas Warwick,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-third day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
(L.S.)
ARTHUR BOYLE.
THOMAS WARWICK. (L.S.)