Improvements in Apparatus for Carrying and Applying Tools or Work in Building Ships, and in Making Bridges, Tanks, Gas- holders, and other Metallic Structures.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Carrying and Applying Tools or
Work in Building Ships, and in Making Bridges, Tanks, Gas-
holders, and other Metallic Structures.
I FREDERICK JOHN ROWAN, of 134 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow in the County
of Lanark, North Britain Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said Invention has for its object the application of improved apparatus for
diminishing manual labor, and for obtaining increased efficiency and expedition in
building ships and in making various other metallic structures; and it comprises
developments of the Invention described in my Patent Specification No. 815 of 1882.
In carrying out my Invention electro magnets excited by electric currents obtained
by means of dynamo-electric machines or otherwise are used for wholly or partly
attaching portable tools for drilling riveting, slotting and other operations to the parts
of ships or other metallic structures or for attaching pieces of work to tools. In cases
in which one or more drilling or other tools have to be moved from point to point in a
horizontal or other direction I provide one or more guide bars at a suitable distance
from the plates frames or parts to be operated upon, and I attach such guide bar or
bars by means of electro magnets. In some cases as for example where considerable
work has to be done on the area commanded by the guide bar or bars they may be
fixed in position by bolts; and in some cases one pair of guide bars instead of directly.
carrying the tool may be provided with a second guide bar or pair of guide bars
adjustable by means of screw shafts or otherwise so as to admit of the tool being
shifted not only parallel with the main guide bars but also at right angles thereto.
In some cases as for example with some modifications of chipping and caulking
tools the tool may when working be held by the guide bar or bars only; but other
tools such as drilling punching, and riveting tools, each tool when working may be
additionally attached to the work by special electro magnets; whilst any of the tools
may be directly attached by electro magnets where convenient and where the guide
bar or bars cannot be advantageously used. In general when a tool is directly
attached by electro magnets and with or without the guide bars, the electro magnets

page_text: are arranged as part of the tool or machine; but in some cases, as for example when
the tool is a chipping or caulking tool, the part carrying and working the chipping or
caulking instrument may be connected to the part comprising the attaching electro
magnets by a ball-and-socket, universal, or other joint, so as to allow of any required
angular adjustment of the instrument; and one or more other adjustable connections
may be introduced to allow of the best working positions being given to the
instrument.
When a tool is required to be attached to a vertical or nearly vertical plate it is
necessary to provide against a gradual downward movement of the magnet polo pieces
which may take place without any variation in their holding on power; and for this
purpose an adjustable suspension chain or a set of chains of different lengths is
employed being connected to a convenient point above the tool. A vertical screw or
lever connection is also provided for tightening up and for adjusting the apparatus
accurately in the required positions. When the overhead fixed point is in the plating or
framing a bracket is used to make the suspension chains stand at a little distance from
the plating or framing. It is necessary for the pole pieces of the holding on magnets
to have as complete contact as possible with the iron or steel plating; and borings or
foreign matters must be provented from collecting round the pole pieces and from
getting between the contact surfaces. For this purpose I place on the projecting
parts of the pole pieces guards consisting of rings or short tubes of rubber or other
suitable compressible material. These guards project slightly beyond the ends of the
pole pieces when these are not in contact and when contact is made become slightly
compressed or crushed against the plating and in this condition completely protect the
parts from foreign matters. If preferred the guard may be a ring or short tube or a
plate of brass or other suitable metal pressed outwards by a spring.
The tools held to their work by appliances of the kind herein before described may
be of various constructions and driven by steam or by compressed air or by water or
by electro-dynamic motors worked by electric currents from the same source as those
for exciting the holding-on magnets, or from a separate source. When electro-dynamic
motors are used fixed or variable electrical resistances may be introduced into the
circuit for the purpose of equalising resistance when the motors are thrown in or out.
Or the coils for exciting the holding-on magnets may be arranged so that they can be
coupled in parallel or in series for varying resistance when the motor is thrown into
or out of circuit. Or the circuit for the holding-on magnets and those for the motors
may be arranged in parallel from a main cable or conductor. When electro-dynamic
motors are employed, a locking switch arrangement is used such that the holding-on
magnets cannot be turned out of circuit until the motor has been switched out. In
an extended system of machines, as in a workshop for example, the tools may be
connected to the main source of electric power in parallel or in loops from a main
conductor or otherwise as may be found most convenient or advantageous in each
case.
The guide bars hereinbefore described as attached by means of electro magnets may
be used to support staging for men working at a ship's side or bottom or at bridge
work or other structures.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Carrying and Applying Tools or
Work in Building Ships, and in Making Bridges, Tanks, Gas-
holders, and other Metallic Structures.
I, FREDERICK JOHN ROWAN of 134 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the application of improved apparatus for
diminishing manual labor and for obtaining increased efficiency and expedition in
building iron or steel ships, and in making various other iron or steel structures; and
it comprises developments of the Invention described in my Patent Specification
No. 815 of 1882.
In carrying out my Invention electro magnets excited by electric currents obtained
by means of dynamo-electric machines or otherwise, are used for wholly or partly
attaching portable tools for drilling, riveting, slotting, and other operations, to the
parts of ships or other metallic structures, or for attaching pieces of work to tools.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append eight sheets of explanatory drawings to be
hereinafter referred to and representing a few examples of the various modifications of
apparatus which may be used in carrying out my Invention.
In cases in which one or more drilling or other tools have to be moved from point
to point in a horizontal or other direction I provide one or more guide bars at a
suitable distance from the plates, frames, or parts to be operated upon, and 1 attach
such guide bar or bars by means of electro magnets. In some cases, as for example
where considerable work has to be done on the area commanded by the guide bar or
bars they may be fixed in position by bolts; and in some cases one pair of guide bars
instead of directly carrying the tool may be provided with a second guide bar or pair
of guide bars adjustable by means of screw shafts or otherwise, so as to admit of the
tool being shifted not only parallel with the main guide bars but also at right angles
thereto.
Figure, 1, on sheet 1, of the drawings is a face view of a pair of guide bars, A, as
attached to a ship's side or bottom, B; and figure, 2, is a sectional view partly
corresponding to figure, 1. The guide bars, A, are fixed to transverse end pieces, C, D,
which may be attached to the ship, B, by electro magnets, E, as indicated at the
right-hand ends of the figures, or by being temporarily bolted as indicated at the
other ends. Examples of tools, F, G, H, are shown as clamped on the guide bars, A,
at different points, and they can be shifted along the bars as required. Figure, 3, on
sheet, 2, partly corresponds to figure, 2, and shows an arrangement in which the
guide bars, A, on which a tool, J, is directly fixed, are themselves carried and movable
on guide shafts, K, at right angles to them. The guide bars, A, are connected at

page_text: their ends by transverse angle-iron bars, L, which are fixed to blocks, M; and these
blocks are bored and internally screwed to fit on the shafts, K, which are screwed.
The screw shafts, K, are held in bearings on plates, N, P, which are attached to the
ship either by electro magnets, E, as shown at the left-hand side or by bolting as
indicated at the other side. The guide bars, A, are moved at right angles to them-
selves by turning the screw shafts, K; and the tool, J, can be shifted along them so
that it can be applied to every part of the area commanded by the shafts, K, and guide
bars, A.
In some cases, as for example, with some modifications of chipping and caulking
tools the tool may, when working, be held by the guide bar or bars, A, only; but
with other tools such as drilling, punching, and riveting tools, each tool when working
may be additionally attached to the work by special electro magnets, Q, as shown in
the case of the tools, F, G, in figure, 2; whilst any of the tools may be directly
attached by electro magnets, Q, where convenient and where the guide bar or bars, A,
cannot be advantageously used. In general when a tool is directly attached by
electro magnets, and with or without the guide bars, A, the electro magnets, Q, are
arranged as part of the tool or machine. This construction is shown in the case of a
single drilling tool shown in plan in figure, 4, sheet, 3, and in vertical section in
figure, 5; also in the case of another modification of drilling tool shown in vertical
section in figure, 6, sheet, 4; and also in a multiple drilling tool shown in sectional
elevation in figure, 7, sheet, 5, and in plan in figure, 8, sheet, 6. In some cases,
however, as for example when the tool is a chipping or caulking tool, like what are
shown in figures, 9, to 13, sheets, 7, and 8, the part, R, carrying and working the
chipping or caulking instrument may be connected to the part, S, comprising the
attaching electro magnets, Q, by a ball-and-socket joint, T, as shown in figure, 9, or
by a universal or other joint so as to allow of any required angular adjustment of the
instrument; and one or more other adjustable connections may be introduced to allow
of the best working positions being given to the instrument.
When a tool is required to be attached to a vertical or nearly vertical plate it is
necessary to provide against a gradual downward movement of the magnet pole pieces
which may take place without any variation in their holding-on power; and for this
purpose an adjustable suspension chain, or a set of chains of different lengths is
employed, being connected to a convenient point above the tool. A vertical screw or
lever connection is also provided for tightening up and for adjusting the apparatus
accurately in the required positions. When the overhead fixed point is in the plating
or framing of a ship or other structure a bracket is used to make the suspension chains
stand at a little distance from the plating or framing. It is necessary for the pole
pieces of the holding-on magnets, Q, to have as complete contact as possible with the
iron or steel plating; and borings and foreign matters must be prevented from
collecting round the pole pieces, and from getting between the contact surfaces. For
this purpose I place on the projecting parts of the pole pieces guards consisting of
rings or short tubes of rubber or other suitable compressible material. These guards
project slightly beyond the ends of the pole pieces when these are not in contact, and
when contact is made become slightly compressed or crushed against the plating, and
in this condition completely protect the parts from foreign matters. If preferred the
guard may be a ring or short tube or a plate of brass or other suitable metal pressed
outwards by a spring.
The tools held to their work by appliances of the kind hereinbefore described may
be of various constructions, and driven by steam, or by compressed air or gas, or by
water, or by electro-dynamic motors worked by electric currents from the same source
as those for exciting the holding-on magnets or from a separate source. When electro-
dynamic motors are used fixed or variable electrical resistances may be introduced
into the circuit for the purpose of equalising resistance when the motors are thrown in
Or the coils for exciting the holding-on magnets may be arranged so that
they can be coupled in parallel or in series for varying resistance when the motor is
thrown into or out of circuit. Or the circuits for the holding-on magnets and those
for the motors may be arranged in parallel from a main cable or conductor. When
or out.

page_text: electro-dynamic motors are employed, a locking switch arrangement is used such
that the holding-on magnets cannot be turned out of circuit until the motor has
been switched out. In an extended system of machines, as in a workshop for
example, the tools may be connected to the main source of electric power in parallel
or in loops from a main conductor,.
, or otherwise, as may be found convenient or
advantageous in each case.
In the arrangement shown in figures, 4, and 5, the holding-on magnets, Q, have
their pole pieces formed on or fixed to a connecting bar, 13, made with a central
opening for the drill spindle, 14, and are enclosed in a casing or frame, 15.
A frame, 16, fixed upon the connecting bar, 13, is made with bearings for the drill
spindle and other parts. Motor details are not shown but may be of any convenient
kind, operating directly or indirectly on a shaft, 17, which by bevil wheels, 18, drives
the spindle through a collar with a groove and feather in an ordinary way.
feeding screw-nut, 19, carried in a bearing at the top of the frame, 16, is formed with
spur teeth gearing with a pinion, 20, on a shaft, 21, which can be turned by means of
a handwheel, 22, or automatically by means of a spurwheel, 23, on its lower end
which may be made to gear with a pinion, 24, on the collar which turns the drill
spindle, 14.
The
Figure, 6, may be taken as representing an arrangement with single drill spindle, 14,
carried in a frame, 25, which may be adjusted in various positions on a guide bar, A,
which is attached to the plating, B, to be operated on by a pair of holding-on
magnets, Q, at each end. Figure, 6, may also be taken as an enlarged transverse
vertical section corresponding to figures, 7, and 8, which represent a multiple-drill
arrangement, the framing of which is attached to the plating or work, B, by holding-
on magnets, Q, at each end. An electro-dynamic motor, V, is fixed to the framing
for driving the drill spindles, 14, the shaft, 26, of the motor having on it a pinion
which gears with a large spurwheel, 27, fast on a shaft, 28, extending from end to end
of the machine. The shaft, 28, by means of a groove and feathers turns a number of
wheels, 29, which have inclined teeth and gear with similar wheels, 30, on the drill
spindles, 14. The several frames, 25, of the drill spindles are adjustable along the
main frame of the machine the adjusting mechanism being such as to maintain a
uniform pitch or distance from spindle to spindle. Each frame, 25, has attached to it
by a ring a tubular screw, 31, fitted to screw into the next frame, 25, and the several
screws, 31, are turned simultaneously by means of a square shaft, 32, passing through
them all. The feeding of the drill spindles, 14, is effected by worms, 33, on a
shaft, 34, driven by means of pulleys and a cord from the shaft, 28; and each worm
gears with a wormwheel, 35, formed in the same piece with the feeding screw nuts or
bosses. The feeding worms, 33, and also the driving wheels, 29, are moved along
their shafts, 34, and 28, by brackets on the frames, 25.
In the arrangement shown in figure, 9, a chipping or caulking tool, W, is fitted in
guides in a frame, 36, together with a spring, 37, for giving the impact, and a volute
cam, 38, which rotating in a slot in the shank of the instrument raises it so as to
compress the spring, 37. The cam, 38, is on a short shaft, 39, which has also on it
a wormwheel, 40, driven by a worm on the shaft of an electro-dynamic machine, V.
The frame, 36, is adjustable by means of a screw shaft, 41, on a bracket, 42, which is
formed with a ball, 43, held in a socket, 44, fixed to the back or connecting bar, 45, of
a pair of holding-on magnets, Q, (one only of the pair being seen in the figure). In
the modification shown in figure, 10, the frame, 36, is fixed to or formed with a bent
or double-sided bracket, 46, centered on a guide-bar, A, and provided with a handle, 47,
by means of which the tool can be held in the required position. In the modification
shown in figure, 11, two solenoids, ✗, are applied for moving the chipping or caulking
tool, W. The action of the solenoids, X, is reversed by an automatic device of a well
known kind, projections, 48, on the shank of the instrument moving at each end of
the stroke a sliding contact maker, 49, and thereby reversing the electric current. In
the arrangements shown in figures, 12, and 13, the instrument, W, is worked by a
pair of solenoids, (✗) as in the arrangement shown in figure, 11, but whilst the
solenoids are shown in section in that figure, their casing is shown in elevation in

page_text: figures, 12, and 13; and the frame, 36, is arranged like that shown in figure 9, so as
to be adjustable by means of a screw shaft, 41, upon a bracket, 42. In figure, 12, the
bracket, 42, is shown jointed to the bracket, 50, so as to be angularly movable in one
plane only; but in figure, 13, the bracket, 42, is shown jointed to a swivelling
block, 51, held by a pair of brackets, 52, the brackets, 50, in the one case and, 52, in
the other being fixed to the back or connecting bar, 45, of the holding-on magnets, Q.
The guide bars, A, hereinbefore described as attached by means of electro
magnets, E, may be used to support staging for men working at a ship's side or
bottom, or at bridge work or other structures; or the staging itself may be directly
attached and supported by the electro magnets.
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-The improved apparatus for carrying and applying tools or work in building
iron or steel ships, and in making bridges, tanks, gasholders, and other iron or steel
structures, such apparatus comprising electro magnets for directly or indirectly
attaching the tools or work, and the various parts being arranged and operating
together substantially as heroinbefore described.
2-The attaching of guide bars or staging to ships or other iron or steel structures
by means of electro magnets arranged and applied substantially in the manner and for
the purposes hereinbefore described.
3-The attaching of tools directly to ships or other iron or steel structures by
means of electro magnets with or without the support of guide bars or staging
attached by means of electro magnets or otherwise the parts being arranged and
operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
4-The several modes of applying holding-on electro magnets to, or combining
them with tools used in building ships or making other iron or steel structures, as
hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twentieth day of April 1887.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: B