IMPROVEMENTS IN WELDING STEEL TO MALLEABLE IRON AND TEMPERING THE STEEL BY ONE AND THE SAME OPERATION, AND IN TEMPERING STEEL AFTER IT HAS BEEN WELDED TO IRON
Year: 1866

page_text: Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WELDING STEEL TO MALLEABLE IRON AND
TEMPERING THE STEEL BY ONE AND THE SAME OPERATION, AND IN TEMPERING
STEEL AFTER IT HAS BEEN WELDED TO IRON." -A communication from
abroad by Asa R. Reynolds, of Auburn, in the State of New York,
United States of America.
Scaled the 22nd February 1867, and dated the 15th December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th December 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WELDING STEEL TO MALLEABLE IRON
AND TEMPERING THE STEEL BY ONE AND THE SAME OPERATION, AND IN TEMPERING
STEEL AFTER IT HAS BEEN WELDED TO IRON," to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of shear blades it is common to weld the thin strips of
steel that form the faces and cutting edges of the blades to the malleable-iron
[Price 8d.]

page_text: or other metal backs (which are often cast), and afterwards temper the steel in
liquids. By this mode of procedure very great loss is encountered from the
breaking, warping, or twisting of the metal backs or of the malleable portion
of such blades, besides requiring the two operations of welding and tempering
to be done in succession.
The present Invention consists in welding the steel to the malleable metal,
and tempering the steel at one and the same operation, or by repeating the
same operation. The welding and tempering are effected by a blow or blows
of a drop die upon the heated iron and steel which is placed upon an anvil or
under die block, and to which blow or blows is given a reactionary trembling
or shivering motion by placing the drop die and anvil upon a reacting bed
of timber or other suitable springing foundation, whilst the shear blade
or other similar article is firmly held between the drop die and the anvil or
under die.
And in the manufacture of other kinds of cutlery or tools where the steel
forms one part or end, and the iron to which it is welded the other portion or
part, such, for instance, as chisels, plane irons, axes, and hatchets, the same
kind of reactionary blow or blows by a drop die and anvil properly mounted
on an elastic bed or foundation is employed. The die or dies may, however,
strike upon or cover so much of the article that is being tempered as to drive
out or prevent any tendency of the metal to warp or twist in certain places,
but this is simply a straightening process, the tempering by a blow from a
drop die being the gist of the Invention when such blow is followed by a
rebound or reaction, which gradually runs out in waves or shiverings, and in
contact between the article being tempered and the die or dies.
The Inventor has discovered that steel can be tempered by a reactionary
blow so as to produce the very finest kind of a cutlery temper, this reactionary
blow being accompanied by metal contact between the article to be tempered
and the drop die, or between the drop die and anvil die for a few moments;
and in addition to the blow, reaction, or shivering, and metallic contact there
may be used an artificial blast of forced atmospheric air upon the dies and
article being tempered, which will hasten the cooling of the dies, and with
some articles may aid in the tempering.
In reducing the Invention to practise a die or anvil block set upon a heavy
timber foundation is used, the elasticity or reactionary property of wood being
better than that of metal or other substances; this anvil or under die may have
formed in it the shape or mould for the article that is to be tempered to lie
firmly in. The drop die or hammer is very heavy, weighing many thousands

page_text: of pounds for larger articles, and four or five thousand pounds for smaller
articles; and this drop die too may have a mould or form given to its face or
striking and holding surface that will fit the article that is being tempered.
The height to which the drop die or hammer is raised is slight for small
articles, being less than one inch. The article to be tempered having been
properly heated (and for an uniform temperature I prefer to heat them in
heated fluid or molten metal of some kind) is placed upon the anvil, and the
heavy drop die let fall upon it; the blow condenses the steel in the first place.
driving the fibres or crystals into their most compact form. The weight of
the hammer upon the article holds it firmly between itself and the anvil or
under die, and the reaction from the timber foundation produces a shivering
or trembling motion to the whole, and produces a temper in the steel that
cannot be attained by liquid tempering or any other kind of tempering hitherto
practised. In liquid tempering the same results, though in a less degree,
follow as in making a chill.
In welding and tempering shear blades at one operation I first take the
backs or shear stocks of any suitable shape, style, or form, and having
rendered them malleable by decarbonization in any of the usual well-known
ways, they are then cleaned preparatory to the welding on of the steel faces.
The steel is cut of the proper shape and size and both the back or stock, and
the steel having been properly heated the malleable portion is laid into a die
or bed of the proper form in the anvil and the steel plate placed upon it; the
drop die is then let fall upon the steel or back, and the blow welds the two
metals together, and the blow and recoil or reaction effect at the same time
the tempering. Of course the usual condensation of the steel follows this
united action of blow and reaction, and a temper is produced in the steel far
better than that of liquid tempering. This mode of welding steel to malleable
or wrought iron, and tempering the steel at one and the same time or opera-
tion, saves much time, as it obviates one entire operation and a second heating
of the blades. After the welding and tempering, which is generally done by
one blow, but may take two or even more, the blades may be ground and
fitted up in any of the usual well-known ways. A very heavy hammer is used,
and generally but a single blow, and that at a very restricted height or fall on
the article to be operated upon; but the reaction obtained and the waves or
shiverings of motion that follow the blow whilst the steel is firmly held between
the drop die and the anvil or anvil die produce a temper in steel that cannot
be equalled by any of the practised modes of tempering of the day. In the
tempering of such articles as are composed of steel welded on to iron, as

page_text: chisels, plane irons, hatchets, axes, or even sabres, or cutting blades of any
other kind; such as knives, razors, and other articles, the article is heated to the
proper degree and placed on an anvil block or die, and a drop die or hammer is
let fall upon and held between itself and the anvil whilst the reaction or waves
or shiverings of motion take place, and thus the steel is tempered in its pre-
viously condensed form, which produces when ground a tempered edge far
superior to anything produced by liquid or any of the practised tempering
processes of the day.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66; Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Edward Newton, my 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 WELDING STEEL TO MALLEABLE IRON AND TEM-
PERING THE STEEL BY ONE AND THE SAME OPERATION, AND IN TEMPERING STEEL
AFTER IT HAS BEEN WELDED TO IRON," being a communication from abroad.
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, 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 (that is to say):-
In the manufacture of shear blades it is common to weld the thin strips of
steel that form the faces and cutting edges of the blades to the malleable iron
or other metal backs (which are often cast) and afterwards temper the steel
in liquids. By this mode of procedure very great loss is encountered from
the breaking, warping, or twisting of the metal backs, or of the malleable
portion of such blades, thus rendering the process expensive from such losses
besides requiring the two separate operations of welding and tempering to
be done in succession.
In manufacturing articles of cutlery according to the present Invention the
steel is welded to the malleable metal and tempered at one and the same
operation, or by repeating the same operation, by which means a great
saving is effected, both from the exemption of fracture or twisting and in the
time consumed in the process. The welding and tempering are effected by a
blow or blows of a drop die upon the heated iron and steel which is placed
upon an anvil or under die blocks, and to which blow or blows is given a re-
actionary trembling or shivering motion by placing the drop die and anvil
upon a reacting bed of timber or other suitably springing or elastic foundation
whilst the shear blade or other similar article is firmly held between the drop
die and the anvil or under die.
In the manufacture of some kinds of cutlery or tools where the steel forms
one part or end, and the iron to which it is welded the other portion or part.
such, for instance, as chisels, plane irons, axes, and hatchets, or any other kind
of blade or cutting tool or instrument that is to be tempered, the same kind
of reactionary blow or blows by a drop die and anvil properly mounted on an
elastic bed or foundation is employed in conjunction with the griping contact
or weighted contact of the die upon the steel portion that is to be tempered.
The die or dies may, however, strike upon or cover so much of the article
that is being tempered as to drive out or prevent any tendency of the metal
to warp or twist in certain places, but this is simply a straightening process,
the tempering by a blow from a drop die being the gist of the Invention,
when such blow is followed by a rebound or reaction which gradually runs
out in waves or shiverings and in contact between the article being tempered,
and the die or dies.
What is termed a "chill" in metallurgic operations is well understood.
.

page_text: The fibres or crystals subjected to a chill are suddenly cooled and hardened
in their expanded condition, and there is no close texture given to the
metal. On the contrary chilled metal under a magnifying glass shews
innumerable fire cracks, and though the metal is hard it is of a glassy
hardness and will fly under any ordinary strain or pressure, and the fire
cracks, and want of condensation of the fibres or crystals make such
chilled metal useless for cutlery, a "chill" not being a "temper" in the
sense of that term.
The Inventor has discovered that steel can be tempered by a reactionary
blow so as to produce the very finest kind of a cutlery temper, this reactionary
blow being accompanied by metal contact between the article to be tempered
and the drop die, or between the drop die and anvil die for a few moments;
and in addition to the blow, reaction or shivering, and metallic contact there
may be used an artificial blast of forced atmospheric air upon the dies and
article being tempered, which will hasten the cooling of the dies and with
some articles may aid in the tempering; but I do not restrict myself to the
use of this forced blast as it may be dispensed with.
In reducing the Invention to practice a die or anvil block set upon a heavy
timber foundation is used, the elasticity or reactionary property of wood being
better than that of metal or other substances; this anvil or under die may
have formed in it the shape or mould for the article that is to be tempered
to lie firmly in. The drop die or hammer is very heavy, weighing many
thousands of pounds for large articles, and four or five thousand pounds for
smaller articles, and this drop die too may have a mould or form given to its
face or striking and holding surface that will fit the article that is being
tempered. The height to which the drop die or hammer is raised is slight
for small articles, being less than one inch. The article to be tempered having
been properly heated (and for an uniform temperature I prefer to heat them
in heated fluid or molten metal of some kind) is placed upon the anvil and
the heavy drop die let fall upon it; the blow condenses the steel in the first
place driving the fibres or crystals into their most compact form. The weight
of the hammer upon the article holds it firmly between itself and the anvil
or under die, and the reaction from the timber foundation produces a shivering
or trembling motion to the whole, and produces a temper in the steel that
cannot be attained by liquid tempering or any other kind of tempering hitherto
practised. In liquid tempering the same results though in a less degree follow,
as in making a chill, viz., the metal in its most expanded condition of fibre
caused by heating it is suddenly in that expanded condition cooled, leaving

page_text: the fibres or crystals in that expanded state, whilst by this improved process
the fibres or crystals are first driven or forced into their most condensed form
or condition, and in that condition they are tempered and a cutting edge is
produced in that way that cannot be produced by liquid tempering, however
carefully practised, for the moment heated and expanded steel is immersed in
liquid its surface at least becomes set, and the interior fibre or crystals however
gradually cooled must draw or spin out from that already set, exterior and
compactness or condensation cannot take place as it does in the improved
process. But the expedition of the improved process and the perfect uniformity
of temper that is attained are of themselves of very great value independent
of their superiority of cutting edge or temper, and where these cutting instru-
ments are used in the form of a series it is very important that they should
cut and wear alike.
In welding and tempering shear blades at one operation I first take the
backs or shear stocks, which may be cast of any suitable shape, style, or form,
and having rendered them malleable by decarbonization in any of the usual
well-known ways they are cleaned preparatory to the welding on of the steel.
faces; the steel is cut of the proper shape and size, and both the back or
stock and the steel having been properly heated the malleable portion is laid
into a die or bed of the proper form in the anvil, and the steel plate placed
upon it; the drop die is then let fall upon the steel or back and the
blow welds the two metals together, and the blow and recoil or reaction effect
at the same time the tempering; of course the usual condensation of the steel
follows this united action of blow and reaction, and a temper is produced in
the steel far better than that produced by liquid tempering. This mode of
welding steel to malleable or wrought iron, and tempering the steel at one
and the same time or operation, saves much time, as it obviates one entire
operation, and also a second heating of the blades; but much the greater
saving is effected by the almost entire freedom from fracture of the malleable
portion of the metal by the improved process; and the united advantages of
the quality of the temper, time, and exemption from fracture, or warping or
twisting is very important and highly valuable in the manufacture of shears
and other similar articles. After the yielding and tempering, which is
generally done by one blow, but may take two or even more, the blades may
be ground and fitted up in any of the usual well-known ways.
In ordinary welding the hammer is light and the blows rapidly repeated,
whereas by the improved process this order of operation is reversed, so that I
may temper as well as weld. A very heavy hammer is used and generally but

page_text: a single blow, and that at a very restricted height or fall on the article to be
operated upon; but the reaction obtained and the waves or shiverings of
motion that follow the blow, whilst the steel is firmly held between the drop
die and the anvil or anvil die produce a temper in steel that cannot be equalled
by any of the practised modes of tempering hitherto employed. In the
tempering of such articles as are composed of steel welded on to iron, as chisels,
plane irons, hatchets, axes, or even sabres, or cutting blades of any other
kind, such as knives, razors, and other articles, the same general principle is
adopted, that is, the article is heated to the proper degree and placed on an
anvil, block, or die, and a drop die or hammer is let fall upon and holds it
between itself and the anvil, whilst the reaction or waves or shiverings of
motion take place, and thus the steel is tempered in its previously condensed
form, which produces when ground a tempered edge far superior to anything
produced by liquid or any of the ordinary tempering processes. As the articles
to be tempered increase in size the weight of the drop die must be corre-
spondingly increased, for whilst a drop die or hammer, weighing, say, five
thousand pounds, would suffice for tempering chisels or plane irons, to temper
a sabre or sword would require three or four times that weight; the height
too to which the drop die is to be raised will vary with the size or shape of
the article to be tempered; from half an inch to three inches are the extremes
that have been used, but it may be found necessary to use a greater fall of the
drop die or hammer, or to repeat the operation upon the articles so treated
as described above.
.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me as
aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First, tempering steel cutlery of any kind by means of a blow from a drop
die with its reactionary movement, and the metallic contact between the
drop die, anvil, and article to be tempered, as described.
Second, I claim in connection with shear blades or other similar articles
where the backs are made of malleable or of wrought iron, the welding on of
the steel faces thereto, and tempering the steel at one and the same operation
by means of a drop die and anvil, and a reactionary blow or blows, and metallic
contact between the steel and the die, as described.
Third, I claim in connection with cutting instruments made of steel previously
welded on to iron the tempering of the steel portions thereof by means of a
drop die let fall upon them whilst resting on an anvil block, together with
continued metallic contact, and the waves or shiverings of motion effected by

page_text: In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. 1. NEWTON.