Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Hardening and Tempering Steel Wire.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Hardening and
Tempering Steel Wire.
I, HARRY BROWN GOLDTHORP of High Town, Liversedge, in the County of
York, Card Manufacturer 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 :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the method of and apparatus
for hardening and tempering steel wire suitable for use in the manufacture of card
clothing, and has for its object, the construction of the apparatus in such a manner
that, the wire after being hardened and tempered, still retains its brightuess and
tensile strain.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will describe the same in
detail by making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation partly in section of an apparatus constructed
according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.
Fig. 3 an enlarged detail of front end of hardening tank and
Fig. 4 a section of same on line a. b.
The wire A is passed from the wincels B. through the foundation of the flame
from the gas burners C. so that the flame envelopes the wire, thus excluding the
air and heating the wire to the required degree. The wire then passes through
the short ferrule D to the oil bath E. where it becomes hardened, and on leaving
the hardening bath E. the wire passes between a number of presser pads F.
provided with flexible material for the purpose of stripping the oil from the
hardened wire.
The wire is then passed under a guide bar G secured in and near to the bottom
of the tempering bath H consisting of lead or other soft metal or alloy kept in a
molten state by means of a gas burner J or the like. Upon leaving the tempering
bath H. the wire is conducted through a short ferrule K to the cooling bath L.
consisting of oil or other cooling liquid caused to circulate in any convenient
manner.
On the end of a ferrule D and passing for a short distance over the gas burner C.
I place a shield O for the purpose of inducing the flame of the ignited gas to enter
the end of the ferrule D. along with the wire A. when the latter is suddenly plunged
into the hardening bath in a highly heated state.
In order to prevent the oil from escaping through the opening through which the
wire passes into the hardening and cooling baths E and L respectively, I form the
end of the said baths with a "jacket" E' through which the oil may escape into
the catch tank B'.
For obviating the tedious operation of threading the wire through the ferrules D
and K. I form the said ferrules with a slot S in the top, whereby the wire can be
dropped into position. The slot or opening in the "jacketed" ends of the baths E
and L. I prefer to close after the wire is in position, by means of the cover Q.
In lieu of the tempering bath H. consisting of molten metal heated in any
convenient manner as before described, I find I can obtain equally good results by
passing the wire over an open gas flame or the like in a similar manner to the
method hereinbefore described and shown in the drawing as used for the purpose of
hardening.

page_text: 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 :-
:-
The hereinbefore described method of hardening and tempering steel wire, the
essential novelty consisting in a shield O. which conducts the flame from the gas
burners C into the ferrule D. and the combination of the said shield and ferrule
with a hardening or tempering bath arranged substantially in the manner as herein-
before set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of May 1893
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.