IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORGING IRON AND OTHER METALS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORGING IRON AND OTHER METALS."
_ A communication.
Sealed the 21st June 1853, and dated the 22nd December 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry
Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 22nd December 1852.
I do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORGING IRON AND OTHER
METALS" to be as follows:-
The main features of this Invention consists in the holding,
carrying forward, and turning the bar or rod of heated iron or other
metal that is to be operated upon at such times and in such manner
as the shape of the article to be manufactured may require; in a
peculiar curvilinear movement of the face of the hammer, for the
purpose of "drawing" the bar; and also in giving to the swages or
dies, which are attached to the lower side of the hammer, such a
form and position, with reference to each other, as to cause the heated

page_text: bar that is placed between them and the anvil to assume a form
that shall approach nearer to the shape of the finished article at each
successive blow of the hammer and forward movement of the heated
bar or rod. The bars or rods to be forged are held by suitable
holders, and caused to revolve partially at each stroke of the
hammer, so that the bar may be struck on different sides alternately.
This partial turning of the bars is effected by a rack and tappet
movement, but it is obvious that various contrivances may be adopted
for the same purpose. A small furnace is fitted under the bars on
a level with the anvil, so that the metal to be forged is kept hot
during the process. Any number of bars may be forged at one time.
The stand which holds the bars has a forward intermittent move-
ment given to it by means of a rack and differential worm. The
face of the hammer consists of a number of swages, which are so
arranged as to act consecutively upon the bars; thus one swage will
strike the bar in one plane, and the next swage will strike a little
further on in the bar, the projecting parts of the swages being
placed diagonally along the hammer face. The hammer is actuated
by cranks or eccentrics and connecting rods. To give the necessary
curvilineal movement to the hammer face, for the purpose of " draw-
ing" the bars, the hammer is supported by its guide plates by two
pins, which therefore allow it to oscillate or turn slightly on its
centres. This peculiar movement causes the bars to be "drawn at
the same time that they are forged. When an article is to be forged
flat, or thicker one way than another, the swages are alternately
long and short, for the purpose of sticking alternately on the flat
side, and on the edge of the article.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great
Seal, Patent Office on the 22nd June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of December,
in the
year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two,
in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson,
Her special license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Henry Johnson, 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 MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR FORGING IRON AND OTHER METALS," being a communication from
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had
to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):
The said Invention relates to a mechanical apparatus for accom-
plishing all the necessary movements of heating, holding, carrying
forward, turning, and hammering or striking pieces of metal being
forged or worked into any desired shape. The face of the hammer,
or forging instrument, has a peculiar curvilinear movement given
to it, for the purpose of "drawing" the picce of metal under treat-
ment, whilst the swages or shaping dies carried on the lower side of
the hammer have such a form and position with relation to each

page_text: other, that the heated bar placed between them and the anvil is made
to assume a shape approaching nearer and nearer to the shape of
the finished article at each successive blow of the hammer and tra-
verse of the heated bar. Each bar or piece of heated metal is carried
by a tubular holder, and is made to revolve partially at each stroke
of the hammer, this motion being effected by a rack and tappet
movement or other convenient arrangement. The heat is derived
from a small furnace fitted under the bars, on a level with the anvil,
so that the pieces of metal are kept hot during the forging operation.
The stand which holds the bars has a forward intermittent move-
ment given to it by means of a rack and differential worm, and the
face of the hammer is made up of a series of swages or shapers,
arranged to act consecutively upon the bars, one swage striking the
bar in one plane, and the next a little further on in the bar, the
swages being placed diagonally along the hammer face. The ham-
iner is worked by cranks on an overhead shaft, and to give the
required curvilinear movement to the hammer face for "drawing,"
the hammer is supported by two pins, allowing it to turn slightly
on its centres. When an article is to be forged flat, or thicker in
one direction than the other the swages are alternately long and short
to suit the two sizes. Figure 1, on the Sheet of Drawings, is a perspec-
tive view of the machine; Figure 2, is a transverse vertical section
corresponding; Figure 3, is a detailed plan of one arrangement of
the swages or dies as seen on the hammer face; and Figure 4, is a
transverse section through the line a, b, in Figure 3; Figure 5, is
an end view partially sectioned of the swages and anvil; Figure 6,
is a side edge and sectional view of a flat file as shaped by the
machine, Figure 7, being a front view of part of a swage for forging
the same; Figure 8, is a plan and section of the handle of a square
file; Figure 9, is an end view of the bevil-fuced anvils; Figure 10, is
a plan of the hammer, shewing its guide apparatus; and Figure 11,
is an end elevation corresponding. The machine is carried on a
solid base plate A, on which are set two parallel horizontal bars B,
secured to each other transversely by ties C; on the top of each bar
is a rail or rib D, shaped to fit into a groove on the lower side of the

page_text: moveable platform or table E. Over this table are placed two trans-
verse guides F, parallel to each other, and fitted to receive the ends
of the sliding table G, allowing the latter to traverse to and fro' at
right angles to the direction of the length of the platform E. Along
one side of the table G, is a stand or rest H, bolted firmly down, and
perforated laterally to receive the ends of the cylindrical holders I,
allowing them to turn freely; each of these holders I, is bored out
through its axis, to hold the bar of metal to be worked, the bar
being secured to its holder by a set screw or other fastener. Each
of the holders I, is furnished with a handle or arm J, in which there
is an oblong opening or slot, for a pin attached to the horizontal rod
K, to enter; the rod or bar K, is placed so as to traverse in guides
L, which may be fastened to the end of the stand H. One end of
the rod K, is bent upwards at M, at which point the connecting
rod or arm N, is jointed to it, being placed directly above the sliding
rod K. Upon the sliding table G, there is also placed a stand
or hanger R, which supports the rocking shaft S¹. To this shaft,
two leaves or teeth U, and T, are affixed the length of the leaves,
in the direction of the length of the rocking shaft, being determined
with reference to the distance that the sliding table G, is required
to traverse between the guides F. Upon one end of the rocking
shaft S, an arm O, is attached, extending a short distance upwards,
and having at its upper end a pin or pivot P, which enters a slot
or recess in the connecting rod N. A bent stand W, is secured to the
bed A, of the machine, which supports the fixed rack X. This rack,
which is made of plate iron, and is nearly as long as the machine,
has a long slot or opening, which is furnished with cams or teeth Y,
upon its upper edge, and with cams or teeth Z, upon its lower edge,
the teeth being of such number and form, and so placed with refer-
ence to each other, as to act in any required manner upon the leaves
T, and U. The centre of the rocking shaft S, is about on a level
with the centre of the breadth of the rack, X. To the horizontal
traversing platform E, there are affixed two or more upright
standards, c, and which support the bar, d, upon the top of which
a rack c, is bolted; the teeth f, of the rack are so placed as to

page_text: receive the tooth g, of the worm wheel, h, which is attached to the
shaft 1. One section of the tooth g, is placed upon the wheel h, in a
spiral direction, in such a manner as to give a progressive motion,
by its action upon the rack e, to the platform E, during one part of
its revolution; the other part of the tooth or worm being placed
parallel with the sides of the wheel h, allow the rack and platform
to stand still during the remainder of its revolution. The hammer
2, is shewn in Figures 1, 2, 10, and 11. Motion is given to the
hammer by means of the vertical rods 3, connected to the crank
shaft 1. The hammer 2, is so placed, as to act upon one end of the bar
of heated iron m, which passes through the centre of the holders I,
in each of which a separate bar is firmly fastened. The sliding
platform E, which supports the bar holders I, is so placed, that
the ends of the bars m, may be exposed to the heat of a fire n,
made in a furnace or upon a suitable hearth p, which is placed at
one end of the machine, the surface of the fire being at about the
same level as the face of the anvil upon which the bars are forged.
The bars may be advanced towards the fire, or withdrawn from it,
by turning the screw V, which moves the table or platform G, back
and forward, the position thus given to the table being such as to
allow the proper length of the heated ends of the bars to be brought
under the action of the hammer. At each end of the hammer there
is a sliding piece 9, upon the outer side of which there are two
vertical grooves adapted, so as to fit and move freely upon the two
vertical guide bars 10, which are securely fastened to the frame of
the machine. At each end of the hammer 2, there is a round hole
or bearing fitted, to receive the round pin or pivot 11. This pin
projects from the end of the hammer, and is properly secured in
the sliding guide 9. The hammer 2, and guide 9, being thus
attached to each other, will traverse the saine distance whilst rising
and falling, whilst at the same time the face of the hammer, or the
face of a swage 13, attached to the bottom of the hammer, will have
an alternate motion to the right and to the left, the face taking the
direction shewn by the line 14, in Figure 11, at each revolution of
the cranks. If preferred, the pin, pivot, or fulcrum 11, may be

page_text: firmly fixed in the end of the hammer 2, and left free to turn
slightly in the sliding guide 9. If the pin 11, be placed nearer to
the top of the hammer, the deviation of the bottom or face of the
hammer (when at its lowest point) from a horizontal line will be
greater; if placed lower, as shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 11,
it will be diminished. The extent of this deviation from a hori-
zontal line as well as the shape of the curve, described by a marking
point projecting from the end of the hammer, will also depend upon
the position of the crank with reference to its centre of motion. It
will also be observed, that the extent of the rocking motion to and
fro' is greater when the pin or pivot 11, is near the top of the hammer,
and less when it is near the bottom, therefore by changing the posi-
tion of the pivot, the "drawing" action of the hammer or swages can
be increased or diminished. The face of the anvil 15, which is about
the same length as the hammer, may be horizontal; or it may be in-
clined from the front to the back, as at V, Figure 9; or inclined in the
opposite direction as at U, the direction of this slope serving to in-
crease or diminish the "drawing" action of the hammer. The series
of bars m, Figure 1, being heated to the proper temperature, the
machine is started, and the revolution of the wheel h, and attached
screw g, moves the rack e, and platform E, in the direction of the
arrow 8. As the rocking shaft S, moves forward, the attached leaf
U, comes in contact with one of the teeth or cams Z, on the lower
part of the fixed rack X, by which the shaft S, is turned a short dis-
tance, and by means of the arm O, the connecting rod M, the rod K, and
bar holder arm J, the holders I, and the heated bars are turned one
quarter round. While the bars are being turned in this way, the
hammer 2, is rising, the tooth g, no longer acts upon the rack e,
the platform E, stops, and the hammer descends upon the heated
bars. As the hammer rises, the platform E, moves forward, the leaf
T, comes in contact with the tooth Y, on the upper part of the fixed
rack, and the bar is turned one quarter round in the opposite direction
in readiness for the next blow of the hammer. In case the section of
the article to be forged is not quadrangular, the heated bar is turned
more or less as required, instead of being turned one quarter round

page_text: as above described.
been operated upon, it becomes necessary to move the sliding plat-
form E, back to its first position, in order that the bars m, may be
again heated at the fire n; this may be effected by raising the driv-
ing wheel g, h, out of gear with the rack e, and sliding the platform
back by hand; or the direction of the motion of the wheel g, h, may
be reversed whilst it remains in gear with the rack, which will pro-
duce the same effect. Previous to sliding the platform back, the
connecting rod N, must be detached from the arm O, in order that
the leaves U, and T, may be placed nearly horizontal, so that they
may pass between the teeth Y, and Z, without touching them.
Having described those parts of the machine by which the bar of
iron to be operated upon is held, carried forward, turned, &
subjected to the action of the hammer, the form and use of the
swages by which the article to be forged is gradually drawn out, and
brought to the required form, by the successive blows of the
hammer, is to be explained. In forging the handle of a square file
tapered uniformly to a point, as seen in Figure 8, swages are used,
attached to the lower side of the hammer, the prominent or acting
parts of which are not in a line with each other, but are placed
diagonally in such a manner that the heated bar is first struck by
the face 1, Figure 3 (seen in the plan in an inverted position), by
which it is slightly "drawn," or extended; the bar is then turned
one quarter round, as herein-before explained, and is moved opposite
to the points, where it receives another blow, and so on throughout
the series of swages, each of which brings it nearer to the required
tapered form, until it receives the last blow upon its extreme point
from the face 4, of the last swage. The diagonal line which the
faces of the swages r, s, 4, are placed, will differ as to its direction
with reference to the parallel sides of the haminer, according to the
rapidity with which the "drawing" is to be effected. By reference
to Figure 5, it will be observed that the face of the swage r, is not
so far from the hammer 2, as the face of the swage 4, there being
a slight difference in the length of each swage, in order to give the
tapered form shewn in Figure 8; the blow from the swage r, giving
After the whole series of bars or rods have
upon

page_text: the size and form at r, and the last blow from the swage 4, finishing
the point at 4. In case the article forged is to be cut off after re-
ceiving the last blow, a cutter u, Figure 5, is added to the series of
swages for this purpose, and a suitable cutter v, is placed below it
upon the anvil. It will be noticed, that if the forged article is cut
off as above described, the cut will not be perfectly square, as the
cutter partakes of the peculiar curvilinear motion of the hammer
to which it is attached; but if the article is required to be cut off
square, the cutter may be fastened to the sliding guide 9, Figure 1,
which is placed between the end of the hammer and the vertical
guide bars.
The swages as viewed in the direction shewn in
Figure 4, will be of various forms, according to the shape of the
article to be forged, and their form will also be modified with
reference to the rocking motion of the hammer. In case the handle
of a flat file is to be forged of the shape shewn in Figure 6, the
swages are made alternately long and short, as in Figure 7, the
faces w, w, producing the form shewn at w¹, and the fuces x, x,
giving the form at ³, striking alternately upon the flat side and
upon the edge.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I
do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrange-
ments which I have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the prin-
ciples or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, ―
First, the sliding guide traversing upon the side bars, as herein-
before described, having a pin pivot or fulcrum, one end of which
is attached to the sliding guide while the other end enters the end
of the hammer, in which it is so fitted as to allow the hammer
to turn or vibrate a short distance when power is applied to it by
means of the crank cam or eccentric, and the connecting rods.
Second, the diagonal position of the swages upon the face of the

page_text: hammer for the purpose of striking the bar at a different point at
cach successive blow.
Third, the alternate difference in the length of the swages, this
difference being such as to adapt them for striking alternately upon
the flat side, and upon the edge of the article to be forged.
Fourth, the traversing platform placed near to the hammer, and
so constructed as to support the bar holders and heated bars of iron
or other metal which are turned by the mechanism described (or
its mechanical equivalent), while the platform is advancing, and
remain stationary at regular and definite intervals while they receive
the blows of the hammer
J. HENRY JOHNSON.