Improvements in Machines for Making Metal Balls.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION. .
[Communicated from abroad by Edward ALFRED JONES, of Military Road,
Tonawanda, City and State of New York, United States of America,
Machinist.]
Improvements in Machines for Making Metal Balls.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 a machine by which metallic balls are made from rods
or bars of metal by rolling or swaging portions of such rods or bars between
movable dies. Heretofore these dies have been made straight and have had a
rectilinear movement in opposite directions or they have been made curved and
mounted upon the cylindrical faces of discs rotating in opposite directions. A
straight die moving in a rectilinear path has also been combined with a curved die
moving in a circular path. My invention has particular reference to a machine in
which two curved dies are mounted upon rotating discs and has the object to
improve the construction of such a machine so as to compact or condense the metal
more thoroughly and to produce balls of more true or exact spherical form.
In the accompanying drawings consisting of two sheets:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved ball forming
machine.
Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is a cross section thereof, in line, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a face view of one of the die carrying discs.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the discs and the gauge for the
blank.
Figure. 6 is a fragmentary section, showing the blank between the opposing
dies.
Figure 7 is a detached view of the swaging dies showing their position preparatory
to seizing the blank.
Figure 8 is an elevation of one of said dies.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 10 is a face view thereof.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are transverse sections of the opposing dies, showing
the progressive steps in forming the balls.
Figure 15 is a view of a ball before it is finished.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A represents the main frame of the machine consisting essentially of a top plate a,
side pieces a', cross pieces a' and legs a³.
B represents the main driving shaft arranged lengthwise in the frame underneath
the top plate and journalled in bearings a secured to the cross pieces. a' and a
standard a arranged adjacent to one end of the main frame. C.Cf represent tight
and loose pulleys arranged on the shaft between the standard and the main frame.
D D' represent two die carrying discs arranged transversely in the main frame with
their flat opposing faces separated a suitable distance. The discs are provided on
their rear sides with stub shafts E E¹ journalled respectively in bearings e el e³ e³
secured to the top plate of the main frame. These stub shafts are arranged in line
with each other and are surrounded by split conical sleeves which are adjustably
arranged in the bearings to take up wear. F represents a gear wheel keyed to the
shaft E of the disc D between its bearings e e¹ and meshing with a pinion ƒ on the

page_text: main driving shaft, whereby the disc D is rotated directly from the driving shaft.
G is a gear wheel keyed to the shaft E' of the disc D between its bearings e e
and meshing with an idler gear wheel g mounted on a longitudinal shaft g¹
journalled in the main frame. This idler meshes with a pinion on the driving
shaft, whereby the disc D' is rotated in a direction opposite to that of the disc D.
H represents thrust bearings arranged on the outer ends of the disc shafts
whereby the discs are held against backward movement. Each of these bearings
is provided with an annular row of balls arranged in a cup or recess h¹ in the
outer end of each shaft and a follower 2 bearing against said balls. Each follower
is provided on its outer side with a screw threaded shank arranged in a bracket h
secured to the adjacent bearing and provided with a jam nut whereby the follower
can be adjusted.
I represents thrust rollers whereby the outer portions of the die carrying discs
are held against backward movement. These rollers are journalled in brackets i
secured to the top plate and bear against the rear side of the discs on opposite sides
of each shaft. These brackets are adjustably secured to the top plate by means of
bolts passing through slots formed in said brackets.
I' represents an intermediate ball bearing arranged between the adjacent inner
ends of the disc shafts, whereby the discs are prevented from approaching each
other. This bearing consists of a cup 3 an annular row of balls arranged in said
cup and a followerbearing against the balls. The cup and the follower are each
provided with a screw threaded shank which engages in a screw threaded opening
in the adjoining disc shaft. By means of these adjustable ball bearings at the outer
and inner ends of the disc shafts, the end thrust of the disc shafts is relieved and
the discs can be easily adjusted longitudinally in the machine.
JJ' represent the dies whereby the blank is rolled and swaged into a spherical
form. These dies are secured in pairs to the flat opposing sides of the discs so that
the working faces of each pair of dies move past each other in opposite directions.
Each of the dies consists of a steel bar curved concentric with the disc shaft and
arranged with its back between two concentric ribs jj' formed on the front side of
the disc, as represented in Figure 4. represents adjusting screws arranged
horizontally in the die between the ribs and bearing against the back of the die
for adjusting the same horizontally toward and from the opposing die. represents
set screws arranged radially in the outer rib j' and engaging against the outer side
of the die whereby the latter is clamped against the inner rib ; and secured in
position after adjustment. The working face of each die is arranged nearly in a
plane at right angles to the axis of rotation and is constructed as follows:
A semi-circular groove E is first cut into the face of a curved steel bar having
the same thickness throughout its length. This groove commences at the front
end of the bar and rises rearwardly with reference to the buse line or back L of
the bar to the point ", which is located about one-fifth of the length of the bar
from the front end and then falls with reference to the base line to the rear end
of the bar, thereby forming a groove composed of an ascending front portion m and
a descending rear portion m'. The inclination of the ascending front portion m of
the groove is very slight and that of the descending rear portion is about the same.
The projecting portions of the bar forming the inner curved face portion m² and the
outer concentric face portion m³ on opposite sides. of the groove are next ground
down, so that the face of the die gradually riscs from the front end toward the rear
end. The die face is ground down to about one-half of the depth of the groove
and parallel with the bottom of the latter from the front end of the die to the
summit of the groove. Beyond this point the die face is ground so that it rises
gradually in a curve to the point n which is located about one-fifth of the length of
the die from the rear end and from there the die face continues to the end parallel
with the base line of the die.
M represents a V-shaped rest for supporting the blank as it is fed between the
dies. This rest is secured upon the front portion of the top plate between the dies.

page_text: M' represents a stop or gauge whereby the inward movement of the blank is limited
as the latter is fed between the dies. This gauge is secured to the flat face of one
of the discs opposite the front end of its die and is made adjustable by means of
slots m through which the fastening bolts » pass. The front ends of the dies are
rounded to permit the blank to enter between the dies, and the face of each die is
of sufficient width on each side of the groove to enable the dies to firmly grasp
the
blank on opposite sides of the groove, as represented in Figures 5 and' 11.
The bar or blank is heated and placed on the rest. When the, gauge arrives
opposite the rest the blank is pushed against the gauge and the dies then seize the
blank. As the dies rotate past each other, their faces gradually approach each
other and force the metal into the groove of both dies. The flat faces outside of
the groove seize the blank as soon as the front ends of the dies arrive opposite each
other and grasp the blank so firmly that they crowd the metal inwardly and force it
into the groove, from the beginning of the operation, instead of spreading the metal
which takes place when the front portions of the dies are narrow and have a
rearwardly diverging form. During the rotation of the dies, the bar between them
is rolled and twisted but remains practically at the point where it was introduced
between the dies until it is finished into a ball. When the dies are rotated so that
the suminits of both grooves stand opposite each other the bar is, pressed or
swaged to such an extent that the metal is in contact with the bottom of the groove,
as represented in Figure 12, and completes the equator of the ball. During the
subsequent rotation of the dies, the projecting die faces continue to approach each
other and the depth of the groove increases in proportion. This causes the dies to
crowd the metal into the groove and increases the spherical form of the ball.
When the dies have rotated so that the highest points n of the faces stand opposite
each other, the ball is twisted or pinched off from the bar, as represented in
Figure 13, which leaves the ball with two projecting poles ppl as represented in
Figure 15. The preliminary formation of the ball is effected by the pressure of
the dies against the equatorial side of the ball which causes the ball to revolve or
roll at right angles to the rotation of the dies. During the final operation of the
dies from the point n to the end of the die, the projecting poles of the ball are
removed and the ball is delivered from the dies in a perfect spherical form as
follows:
--
The die being curved concentric with the axis of rotation the outer curved wall
of the groove extends over a greater distance than its inner wall which is arranged
nearer the axis of the dies. The lineal difference between the outer and inner walls
of the groove cause the balls to be rotated on an axis parallel with the axis of the
discs, or at right angles to the axis on which the ball rotates before it was severed
from the bar. The ball in being so rotated both by the opposing faces of the dies
in one direction and in another direction by the difference in the length and' speed
of the groove-walls receives a spiral movement which causes the ball to present all
parts of its surface to the action of the dies, thereby enabling the latter to remove
the poles or projections and producing a ball of perfectly spherical form. This
spiral movement is retarded when the ball is in contact with the bottom of the
grooves which produce a uniform pressure on all sides of the ball. To avoid this
the grooves are cut sufficiently deep from the point n to the rear end of the dies to
form a clear space between the bottom of each die and the ball, as represented in
Figure 14, which enables the side walls to exert a greater influence in rotating the
ball. In order to increase the spiral movement of the ball in finishing the same the
rear portion of the face of one die projects beyond the centre line of the groove
toward the opposite die and the rear portion of the face of the opposing die
recedes to the same extent, as represented in Figure 14. This produces a bearing
for the outer and inner parts of the ball in the same die and in a line passing
diametrically through the ball.
The rear end of the groove in each die is rounded off so as to avoid marking or
indenting the balls as they issue from the dies.

page_text: As represented in Figure 4, each disc is provided with two dies forming two
pairs of dies. By increasing the size of the discs a larger number of dies may be
employed and the product of the machine be correspondingly multiplied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The combination with two discs arranged in line and rotating in opposite
directions, of ball forming dies secured to the opposing sides of the discs and
provided with curved grooves formed in the opposing flat sides of the dies,
substantially as set forth.
Second. A ball forming die having a curved groove in which the outer side of
the groove has a longer radius than the inner side, and flat faces beginning at the
front end of the die on both sides of the groove and extending to the rear end of
the die, substantially as set forth.
Third. A ball forming die having a groove which ascends from the front end of
the die to a summit point and descends from said point to the rear end of the die,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of two curved dies rotating about the same axis and
each provided with a curved groove in its flat side, one of said dies being provided
in its rear portion with side faces which project toward the other die beyond the
centre line of the groove, and the other die being provided in its rear portion with
correspondingly receding side faces, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In a ball forming machine, the combination with two revolving discs
arranged axially in line, of opposing dies secured to the faces of said discs,
substantially as set forth:
0
Sixth. In a ball forming machine, the combination with two revolving discs
arranged axially in line, of curved dies secured to said discs and having their
working faces arranged about at right angles to the axis of the discs, substantially
as set forth.
Seventh. In a ball forming machine, the combination with two revolving discs
arranged axially in line of dies secured to the faces of said discs, and a gauge
whereby the inward movement of the blank between the dies is limited, substantially
as set forth.
Eighth. In a ball forming machine, the combination with the two revolving discs
arranged axially in line of dies secured to the faces. of said discs, and a gauge
secured to the face of one of said discs opposite the front end of the die, substan-
tially as set forth.
Ninth. In a ball' forming machine, the combination with the main frame, of two
revolving discs arranged axially in line and jourpalled in bearings on the main
frame, dies secured to the faces of the discs, and thrust rollers bearing against the
rear sides of said discs, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In a ball forming machine, the combination with two revolving discs
arranged axially in line, of dies secured to the faces of the discs, and a thrust
bearing interposed between the faces of the discs, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. In a ball forming machine, the combination with two revolving discs
arranged axially in line, and dies secured to their flat faces, of a cup provided with
a threaded shank which enters one of said discs, a follower provided with a threaded
shank which enters the other disc, and balls interposed between the follower and the
cup, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. In a ball forming machine, the combination with the main frame, of
two revolving discs arranged axially in line and provided with shafts journalled on
the main frame, and thrust bearings engaging with the ends of the shafts, whereby
the end thrust of the discs is relieved, substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. In a ball forming machine, the combination with two revolving discs
mounted upon shafts arranged axially in line and having dies secured to their flat

page_text: faces, of a main frame in which said shafts are journalled, and thrust bearings.com-
posed of brackets extending over the ends of the shafts, screw followers working in
Baid brackets, and balls interposed between said followers and recessed rests in the
ends of the shafts, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th dox of July 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.