Improvements in or relating to Wire-drawing Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Wire-drawing Machines.
I, CURT WEYHMANN, of 7, Lüneburgerstrasse, Berlin, N.W., in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a device for throwing wire-drawing machines in and
out of gear. The essential feature is the provision, between the driving mechanism
and the shaft of the drawing cylinder of a friction clutch, which is connected
with an arrangement of levers in such a manner that it is only possible to bring
the friction clutch into gear with certainty and by degrees, but in addition such
clutch may be adjusted for various degrees of friction.
By means of this device the capacity of the drawing cylinder is considerably
increased. The wire-drawing cylinder may be run at a greater speed, the clutch
can be adjusted so as to correspond with the driving ratios for the time being,
and the operator is able to control the proper setting or adjustment of the clutch
and has full power over the operation of the said clutch; far more so than is the
case with the devices for effecting the same purpose which have hitherto
been employed. The engaging or claw clutches which are very generally
employed for engaging and disengaging the wire-drawing cylinder have the dis-
advantage that on account of the suddenness with which engagement and disen-
gagement takes place, shocks and accidents are liable to occur, thereby causing
rupture of the wire and other prejudicial results and any increase of the velocity
of the rotation of the drawing cylinder, that is to say an augmentation of the
working speed, beyond a certain amount, is rendered impossible.
These defects are rendered by the novel device for engaging and disengaging
the wire drawing cylinder which forms the subject of this invention. Owing to
the manner in which the friction clutch is connected with the system of levers,
the driving ratios may be arranged in any desired manner.
In carrying the invention into practice the shaft which carries the wire-drawing
cylinder is also provided with the driving wheel which is loose upon this shaft
The friction clutch is
and which may be actuated in any suitable manner.
arranged between the driving wheel and the shaft. This clutch consists of the
disc which is rigidly connected with the driving wheel and which is formed with
the serrations, and of the disc fixed upon the shaft upon which disc the friction
blocks with teeth bear. The engaging sleeve which is displaceable upon the shaft
is connected with the friction blocks by means of levers. According as the sleeve
is displaced in one direction or the other, the serrations of the friction blocks are
either pressed into or with drawn from the serrations of the disc. By this means
the shaft is either coupled with or disengaged from the driving wheel or the fric-
tion blocks are more or less tightened.
The two adjusting levers are so arranged that the clutch is engaged or rendered
tighter (as the case may be) by the depression of one of the levers, and disengaged
or loosened by the depression of the other. The clutch operating levers are pre-
ferably made double and provided with treadles.

page_text: The one lever is pivotally mounted on a pivot upon one frame, whilst the other
adjusting lever is similarly mounted upon the opposite side of the frame. In
addition to this, both the levers engage in a suitable manner with the pins upon
the sliding ring of the adjusting sleeve. Owing to this opposite arrangement of
the adjusting levers the sleeve moves up or down according as one or other of the
levers is raised or depressed, the other lever rising or falling at the same time.
The clutch and its levers as well as the operating levers are so arranged or
balanced, that the sleeve remains and is securely held in any position in which it
is placed. If necessary the operating levers may be provided with balance weights.
The actuation of the clutch is effected by displacing one or other of the levers
alternately according as it is desired to engage or disengage or to tighten or
loosen it. When the adjusting device is employed, when one of the operating
levers rises the other is depressed owing to the rigid connection between them.
The opposite arrangement of the levers indicates to the operator that the clutch
is correctly adjusted in accordance with the requisite frictional force. The
operator very soon becomes practised in correctly adjusting the levers for the
proper frictional force for the time being, for which purpose the levers may be
advantageously arranged as treadles. In addition to this, the operator is in a
position, after the starting of the machine, at which time the clutch must of
course be tighter, to release the clutch to such an extent that although engage-
ment still takes place, yet security against rupture of the wire is afforded owing
to the fact that the clutch commences to slip immediately any obstacle occurs to
the drawing through of the wire. The operator is also able to tighten the clutch
whilst the machine is running if it commences to slip. The clutch may thus be
adjusted as regards its tractive force under all conditions, either at the commence-
ment or during the continuance of operations. The clutch also operates reliably,
so that it does not fail or permit of any interruption in the driving, if lubricating
oil should penetrate between the friction surfaces for example, which is unavoid-
able in running wire drawing machines.
The device above described is capable of modification in many respects. Thus
any suitable number of friction blocks may be provided. The constructional form
of the clutch shewn is however advantageous, because the pressure lever may be
either lengthened or shortened by means of the adjusting device, so that by this
means the frictional action of the clutch is altered and subsequent adjustment may
be obtained when the frictional surfaces have become worn, or if it is desired
to modify the maximum frictional effect. A serrated disc clutch might be
employed.
The adjusting device may be constructed in various manners. It is essential
that the operative portion of the clutch and the adjusting device, must be rendered
rigid and interdependent with each other, in such a manner that the greater or
less alteration in position of the adjusting device correspond to the various degrees
of the frictional force which has been produced.
Dated this 6th day of December 1898
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to a device for throwing wire-drawing machines in and
out of gear. The essential feature is the provision, between the driving mechanism
and the shaft of the drawing cylinder of a friction clutch, which is connected
with an arrangement of levers in such a manner that it is not only possible to bring
the friction clutch into gear with certainty and by degrees, but in addition such
clutch may be adjusted for various degrees of friction."
By means of this device the capacity of the drawing cylinder is considerably
increased. The wire-drawing cylinder may be run at a greater speed, the clutch
can be adjusted so as to correspond with the driving ratios for the time being,
and the operator is able to control the proper setting or adjustment of the clutch
and has full power over the operation of the said clutch; far more so than is the
case with the devices for effecting the same purpose which have hitherto
been employed. The engaging or claw clutches which are very generally
employed for engaging and disengaging the wire-drawing cylinder have the dis-
advantage that on account of the suddenness with which engagement and disen-
gagement takes place, shocks and accidents are liable to occur, thereby causing
rupture of the wire and other prejudicial results and any increase of the velocity
of the rotation of the drawing cylinder, that is to say an augmentation of the .
working speed, beyond a certain amount, is rendered impossible.
These defects are rendered by the novel device for engaging and disengaging
the wire-drawing cylinder which forms the subject of this invention. Owing to
the manner in which the friction clutch is connected with the system of levers,
the driving ratios may be arranged in any desired manner.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a constructional form of such
a device for engaging and disengaging a wire-drawing cylinder in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation shewing the clutch partly in section and
Figure 2 shews in plan the levers for throwing the clutch in and out of gear.
In carrying the invention into practice the shaft w which carries the wire-
drawing cylinder T, also provided with the driving wheel which is loose upon
this shaft and which may be actuated in any suitable manner. The friction clutch
is arranged between the driving wheel r and the shaft w. This clutch consists of
the disc a, which is rigidly connected with the driving wheel r and which is formed
with the serrations ¹, and of the disc b fixed upon the shaft w, upon which disc
the friction block 61 with teeth bear. The engaging sleeve m which is displaceable
upon the shaft w is connected to the blocks by means of arms m¹ m¹ and levers n
and o.
According as the sleeve m is displaced in one direction or the other, the
serrations 63 of the friction blocks 61 are either pressed into or withdrawn from the
serrations of the disc a. By this means the shaft is either coupled with or
disengaged from the driving wheel r, or the friction blocks are more or less
tightened.
The two adjusting or clutch operating levers u and are so arranged that the
clutch is engaged or rendered tighter (as the case may be) by the depression of
one of the levers, and disengaged or loosened by the depression of the other. The
clutch operating levers u and v are preferably made double in the manner illus-
trated in Figure 2 and provided with treadles u³ v3.
The lever vis pivotally mounted at 22 on a pivot v¹ upon one frame g, whilst
the other adjusting lever uu is similarly mounted upon the opposite side of the
frame at 2 by means of the pivot u¹. In addition to this, both the levers
engages in a suitable manner with the pins t t upon the sliding ring m³ of the
adjusting sleeve. Owing to this opposite arrangement of the adjusting levers
the sleeve m moves up or down according as one or other of the levers is raised
or depressed, the other lever rising or falling at the same time.
The clutch and its lever mechanism (m n o) as well as the operating levers u v
are so arranged or balanced, that the sleeve m remains and is securely held in any

page_text: position in which it is placed. If necessary the operating levers u, u and v v
may be provided with balance weights.
The actuation of the clutch is effected by displacing one or other of the levers u, v
alternately according as it is desired to engage or disengage or to tighten or
loosen it. When the adjusting device is employed, when one of the operating
levers rises the other is depressed owing to the rigid connection between them.
The opposite arrangements of the levers indicates to the operator that the clutch
is correctly adjusted in accordance with the requisite frictional force. The
operator very soon becomes practised in correctly adjusting the levers for the
proper frictional force for the time being, for which purpose the levers may be
advantageously arranged as treadles. In addition to this, the operator is in a
position after the starting of the machine at which time the clutch must of course
be tighter, to release the clutch to such an extent that although engagement still
takes place, yet security against rupture of the wire is afforded owing to the fact
that the clutch commences to slip immediately any obstacle occurs to the drawing
through of the wire. The operator is also able to tighten the clutch whilst the
machine is running it commences to slip. The clutch may thus be adjusted as
regards its tractive force under all conditions, either at the commencement or
during the continuance of operations. The clutch also operates reliably, so that
it does not fail or permit of any interruption in the driving, if lubricating oil
should penetrate between the friction surfaces for example, which is unavoidable
in running wire drawing machines.
The device above described is capable of modification in many respects. Thus
any suitable number of friction blocks may be provided. The constructional
form of the clutch shewn is however advantageous, because the pressure lever o
may be either lengthened or shortened by means of the adjusting device c so that
by this means the frictional action of the clutch is altered and subsequent adjust-
ment may be obtained when the frictional surfaces have become worn, or if it is
desired to modify the maximum frictional effect. A serrated disc clutch might
be employed.
The adjusting means may be modified in various manners. It is however
essential that the adjusting means and the clutch mechanism are interdependent
with each other in such a manner that the distance of the sleeve m from the clutch
mechanism corresponds to the degree of friction which it is desired to make.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:―
..
1. Wire-drawing machine, characterized by a friction clutch having friction
cheeks in combination with a lever system for adjusting the friction clutch to
various driving-powers, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
2. Driving clutch for wire-drawing machines, characterized by a friction
coupling arranged between the driving wheel and the drum shaft in combination
with two levers interdependently arranged in such a manner that when the one
lever is depressed the other ascends and vice versa substantially as herein before
described and shown.
Dated this 5th day of September 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.