Improvements in, or connected with, the Tapering and Shaping of Metals.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in, or connected with, the Tapering and Shaping of
Metals.
I, WILLIAM HALL, of 224, Sherlock Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention has relation to the tapering and shaping of metals through the
agency of electrolysis, the characteristic feature of the process being that the
varying lengths of time to which the different parts of the articles are treated
is effected by raising and lowering the surface of the electrolyte or by lowering
into or lifting out of such solution the articles being tapered, which form the
anode, which process is fully described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me and bearing date the 9th day of June 1894 No. 11192, of which my
present invention is an amplification or development.
Round articles under treatment by this said process are apt to be shaped
irregular, i.c. not perfectly round in cross section throughout their full length
and such a defect is obviated by rotating the articles in question, both upon
their own axes and also by changing their relative positions in the vat within
which they are under treatment.
By thus constantly changing the positions of the articles, the articles under
treatment are tapered perfectly true in figure throughout their lengths.
In carrying out one form of this part of my invention, I place within a vat
any suitable electrolyte solution, either acid, alkaline or neutral in its reaction,
and suspend or mount above the same a rotatory carrier, table or frame, having
clips or holders suitably arranged and carrying pulleys which are each inde-
pendently rotated through the medium of a band acting in common upon the
whole of the holders. The table, carrier or frame is also very slowly rotated
(whilst the height of the electrolyte is changed or the articles constituting the
anode are raised or lowered thereinto) through the medium of a pulley or gear
whose motion is taken from off a main shaft or otherwise, so that as the
carrier makes a rotary movement, the whole of the pulleys carrying the articles
under treatment are also very slowly rotated on their axes by being drawn over
the inside periphery of the band which is itself a fixture.
When it is required to do tapering in bulk, then I fagot the wires, which are
to form needles, knitting pins or the like, and place those ends which are not
required to be operated upon upright within a frame having a loose side or sides,
which is or are slowly reciprocated against the sides of the parallel ends of the
wires within which they are in contact, and by which reciprocation the whole
of the wires are rotated and at the same time the positions of the wires within
the vat may be changed by bodily rotating the frame. The lower ends of the
needles may rest upon a slab of slate or other material not acted upon by the
electrolyte.
The carbon forming the cathode is situated within the electrolyte and may
be surrounded by a porous cell.
In another form of my invention, the carrier (which is made of some material
.

page_text: not acted upon by the electrolyte) is made in the form of a flexible or ring
frame, within which lengths of wire to be tapered are placed and rotated by
rolling contact.
Or the ends of the wires which are to be left parallel are placed and gripped
between bars of a reciprocating frame or two frames one above another which
are reciprocated and cause the wires to rotate in the gaps or spaces between the
bars and the electrolyte to act uniformly upon all parts of the wires subjected
to its action.
Or the clips or carriers which support the wires may be mounted upon the
outer face of an endless band running slowly between a pair of pulleys disposed
a suitable distance apart and located above the vat.
If desired, the rotating frames may be suspended within the electrolyte or the
vats may be provided with buoyant false bottoms within which the points of the
articles are stuck, so that should the articles under treatment become momentarily
pressed down by the rotatory motion the buoyant bottoms take them again to
their proper positions on this pressure being relieved.
The articles under treatment may be passed, once, twice or thrice through the
electrolyte or dissolving solution, and if necessary the operation may be accelerated
by an electric current generated from a battery or dynamo.
The operation of tapering may be performed with the goods or wires in a
horizontal position with their ends passed through packed holes in the sides of
the vat through which they are gradually drawn.
This part of my present invention is particularly applicable to the tapering of
wire lengths for forming needles, knitting pins, whip cores, centres of fishing
rods, parts of cycles and cycle saddle framings and springs, cop spindles, pins,
tools, and cutlery of all kinds and a great variety of other purposes.
In carrying out another part of my invention, I take a vat containing an
electrolyte or dissolving solution, such as nitric or sulphuric acid, to which a
small quantity of metallic zinc has been added in order to give smoothness to
the articles being operated upon and I pierce the ends of the walls, at parts
below the level of the solution, with holes which I fit with valves, glands or
self-acting closures, through which a wire or metallic length is drawn, either at
a uniform or a varying rate of motion.
Connected with the metallic article under treatment, at a part outside the
solution, is the positive wire of an electric circuit, the negative wire of which
is connected to a block of carbon suspended within the solution and forming the
anode. Contact between the article and the wire is made by a spring or brush,
so that the electric current passes first through the metallic length or article
under treatment, and enters the solution from the said article and passes over to
the carbon anode by which it leaves the solution, hence the completion of the
circuit.
Now as the article under treatment is drawn through the solution, the same
becomes partly dissolved and is partly transferred to the carbon block and is
partly precipitated.
By varying the rate of drawing through the article under treatment may be
tapered or shaped more or less.
As a further form of my invention, the tapering is effected by varying the
intensity of the electric current. Thus assuming that a length of wire is
uniformally drawn through the solution, a strong current is first passed through,
and is gradually reduced in intensity by automatic means. That is, the bobbin
upon which the wire is wound or other feeding mechanism may carry a regulator
or switch which gradually cuts off the current as the article progresses through
the solution, and by which means a uniform taper is given to the length under
treatment.
Instead of diminishing the current as the wire or article under treatment
progresses it may be increased.

page_text: Instead of the wire lengths being fed through the solution continuously, they
may be fed intermittently and with a feed equal to the length of the vat, and
during the time that the length is under operation, then the current is either
increased or decreased in order to impart the necessary taper.
Short lengths may be tapered in the same way as long lengths, in which case
the intensity of the current may remain unchanged, as the tapering may be
effected by the gradual drawing of the articles from the solution, and further
parts may be left intact by stopping them off with suitable resists.
Instead of tapering solid lengths or articles by the processes described, I may
taper, or shape tubular or hollow lengths or articles in the same or a like way.
Alkaline or neutral dissolving solutions may be employed in conjunction with
an electric current, but where strong acid solutions are employed then the use
of the electric current may be dispensed with.
LT
1907
WILLIAM HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in, or connected with, the Tapering and Shaping of
Metals.
I, WILLIAM HALL, of 224, Sherlock Street, in the City of Birmingham,
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 has relation to the tapering and shaping of metals through the
agency of electrolysis, the characteristic feaure of one form of the process being
that the variation of the periods during which the different parts of the articles
are under treatment is effected by raising and lowering the surface of the
electrolyte or by lowering into or lifting out of such solution the articles being
tapered or shaped which form the anode and which process is fully described in
the specification of Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date the 9th day
of June 1894 No. 11192 of which my present invention is an amplification or
development.
Round articles under treatment by this said process are apt to be shaped
irregular, i.e. not perfectly round in cross section throughout their full length
and such a defect is obviated by rotating the articles in question, both upon
their own axes and also by changing their relative positions in the vat within
which they are under treatment.
By thus constantly changing the positions of the articles under treatment the
same are tapered perfectly true in figure throughout their lengths.
In carrying out one form of this part of my invention, I place within a vat
any suitable electrolyte solution, either acid, alkaline or neutral in its reaction,
and suspend or mount above the same a rotary carrier, table or frame, having
clips or holders suitably arranged and carrying pulleys which are each inde-
pendently rotated through the medium of a band acting in common upon the
whole of the holders. The table, carrier or frame may also very slowly rotate
(whilst the height of the electrolyte is changed or the articles constituting the
anode are raised or lowered thereinto) through the medium of a pulley or gear
whose motion is taken from off a main shaft or otherwise, so that as the
carrier makes a rotary movement, the whole of the pulleys carrying the articles

page_text: under treatment are also very slowly rotated on their axes by being drawn over
the inside periphery of the band which may itself be a fixture.
Instead of a band and pulleys, I may employ a fixed and inside toothed
annulus with which pinions in connection with the clips or carriers are in gear,
and are rotated by being caused to roll around the inside periphery of the said
annulus.
When it is required to do tapering in bulk, then I may fagot the wires or rods
together, and place those ends which are not required to be operated upon
upright within a frame having a loose side or sides, which is or are slowly
reciprocated against the sides of the parallel ends of the wires within which
they are in contact, and by which reciprocation the whole of the wires are rotated
and at. the same time the positions of the wires within the vat may be changed
by bodily rotating the frame. The lower ends of the articles may rest upon a
slab of slate or other material not acted upon by the electrolyte.
The carbon forming the cathode is situated within the electrolyte and may
be surrounded by a porous cell.
In another form of my invention, the carrier (which is made of some material
not acted upon by the electrolyte) is made in the form of a flexible or ring
frame, within which lengths of wire to be tapered are placed and rotated by
rolling contact.
Or the ends of the wires which are to be left parallel are placed and gripped
between bars of a reciprocating frame or two frames one above another which
are reciprocated and cause the wires to rotate in the gaps or spaces between the
bars and the electrolyte to act uniformly upon all parts of the wires subjected
to its action.
Or the clips or carriers which support the wires may be mounted upon the
outer face of an endless band running slowly between a pair of pulleys disposed
a suitable distance apart and located above the vat.
If desired, the rotating frames may be suspended within the electrolyte or the
vats may be provided with buoyant false bottoms within which the lower ends or
points of the articles are stuck, so that should the articles under treatment become
momentarily pressed down by the rotatory motion the buoyant bottoms take them
again to their proper positions on this pressure being relieved.
The articles under treatment may be passed, once, twice or thrice through the
electrolyte or dissolving solution, and the operation is performed by the aid of,
or is accelerated by an electric current, generated either by a dynamo or other
source of electric power or within the vat itself, which being provided with
positive and negative elements (in the form of the articles under treatment and
the cathodes) and an exciting fluid constitutes in itself a galvanic battery.
Where articles already having a taper, such as cutlery blades and the like,
are required to be pushed or further reduced without affecting their temper which
is liable to be destroyed or deteriorated when they are mechanically operated
upon, such as by grinding, I simply immerse the article for a period in a suitable
stationary electrolyte preferably when suspended from a support in connection
with the positive pole of a battery or dynamo. Cathodes of suitable kind and
area are also suspended in the vat, through which an electric current, which
enters the electrolyte by the articles under treatment is passed. The surface
metal of the article is then dissolved away to the desired extent thus uniformally
or evenly thinning the articles to give the required taper or shaping, without
impairing their original temper. In this process when applied to the tapering
or shaping of flat or wedge sectioned articles, the same need not be rotated or
moved in the electrolyte, which may consist of diluted nitric, sulphuric or
other acid, or of an alkaline solution of suitable strength.
The operation of tapering may be performed with the articles or wires in a
horizontal position. In this form the articles are passed through glands or
tracked holes in the sides of the vat through which they are gradually drawn.
This part of my present invention is particularly applicable to the reducing,

page_text: tapering and shaping of wire lengths for forming needles, knitting pins, whip
cores, centres of fishing rods, parts of cycles and cycle saddle framings and
springs, cop spindles, pins, tools and cutlery of all kinds and a great variety of
other purposes.
Where the articles are required to be simply shaped or reduced without
tapering the articles are suspended in an electrolyte and form the anodes, and
current is passed through until the required amount of metal has been removed..
In carrying out another part of my invention, I take a vat containing an
electrolyte or dissolving solution, such as nitric or sulphuric acid, to which a
small quantity of metallic zinc has been added in order to give smoothness to
the articles being operated upon and I pierce the ends of the walls, at parts
below the level of the solution, with holes which I fit with valves, glands or
self-acting closures, through which a wire or metallic length is drawn, either at
a uniform or a varying rate of motion.
Connected with the metallic article under treatment, at a part outside the
solution, is the positive wire of an electric circuit, the negative wire of which
is connected to a block of carbon suspended within the solution and forming the
cathode. Contact between the article and the wire is made by a spring or brush,
so that the electric current passes first through the metallic length or article
under treatment, and enters the solution from the said article and passes over to
the carbon cathode by which it leaves the solution, hence the completion of the
circuit.
Now as the article under treatment is drawn through the solution, the same
becomes partly dissolved and is partly transferred to the carbon block and is
partly precipitated.
By varying the rate of drawing through the article under treatment may be
tapered or shaped more or less.
As a further form of my invention, the tapering is effected by varying the
intensity of the electric current. Thus assuming that a length of wire is
uniformally drawn through the solution, a strong current is first passed through,
and is gradually reduced in intensity by automatic means. That is, the bobbin
upon which the wire is wound or other feeding mechanism may carry a regulator
or switch which gradually cuts off the current as the article progresses through
the solution, and by which means a taper is given to, or reduction effected in
the length under treatment.
Instead of diminishing the current as the wire or article under treatment
progresses it may be increased.
Instead of the wire lengths being fed through the solution continuously, they
may be fed intermittently and with a feed equal to the length of the vat, and
during the time that the length is under operation, then the current is either
increased or decreased in order to impart the necessary taper or shape.
Short lengths may be tapered or uniformally thinned or reduced in the same
way as long lengths, in which case the intensity of the current
may remain
unchanged, as the tapering may be effected by the gradual drawing of the articles
from the solution, and further parts may be left intact by stopping them off
with suitable resists.
Instead of tapering solid lengths or articles by the processes described, I may
taper, thin, or shape tubular or hollow lengths or articles in the same or a like way.
Alkaline or neutral dissolving solutions may be employed in conjunction with
an electric current, but where strong acid solutions are employed then the use
of the electric current may be dispensed with.
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:-
First Thinning, reducing, tapering or otherwise shaping metallic articles
or parts of metallic articles, by immersing or suspending them in an electrolytic

page_text: solution subjected to the influence of an electric current, substantially in the
way as herein described.
Secondly:-Imparting roundness or uniform shape to articles being tapered,
reduced or shaped by electrolytic action by rotating them within, or moving
them through the electrolyte, substantially in the way as herein described.
Thirdly: The means herein described for rotating articles, being tapered,
reduced or shaped by electrolytic action, through the electrolyte, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described.
:
Fourthly Thinning, reducing, tapering or otherwise shaping metallic articles
or lengths by drawing them through an electrolyte or electrolytic solution, either
at an intermittent or continuous uniform rate, or at a varying and gradually
increasing or decreasing rate, or at an intermittently increasing or decreasing
rate, substantially as herein described.
Fifthly: Thinning, reducing, tapering or otherwise shaping metallic articles
by drawing them through an electrolytic solution under the influence of an
electric current, the intensity of which may be varied or increased or decreased,
as the drawing through of the article or length proceeds, substantially as and
for the purpose herein described.
Sixthly: The processes herein described for tapering, thinning, reducing or
otherwise shaping metallic articles and lengths by electrolysis, substantially as
herein described.
VITTO
.
WILLIAM HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.