Improvements in Wire-drawing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application 10th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov.. 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM EDWARDS FULTON, of Waterbury,
County of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Wire-drawing Machines.
-
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
of 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:-
The present invention relates to machines for drawing wire, and especially has
for its object the provision in such machines of a number of drawing rollers of
the same diameter and driven at varying rates of speed. It also contemplates
providing means for threading the wire through the several dies and gradually
moving such dies from an initial position wherein the wire is wound about a roll
and consecutively threaded through the several dies while the die box is moved
up to its normal position, wherein the respective dies are located opposite their
appropriate rolls.
In the several views of the drawings, I have shown a construction embodying
the features of the present invention, in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, certain parts being in horizontal
section.
-
Figure 2 is an end elevation, the tank being shown in vertical section.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the sliding die box.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view along line 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view along line 5-5 of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the drawing-in-roll taken on
the line 6-6 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.
Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6, looking
in the direction of the arrows.
Figure 8 is an enlarged detail plan view, partly in section, of the wire gripping
mechanism of the draw-in roll.
Figure 9 is a side elevation view, and
Figure 10 is an enlarged view in section of the gearing for driving the parts
at varying rates of speed.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views of the drawings.
Referring to these drawings in detail, A represents the base of the machine
which is provided with standards a a' on which are supported the various parts
of the machine. A series of drawing rolls B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, and B6 are mounted
on a shaft B, driven by means of the gear wheels b, from the shaft 2, these
drawing rolls being of the same diameter, but driven at varying rates of speed.
The drawing roll B₁ is directly secured to the shaft B, while the drawing rolls B³,
B3, B4, B, and B6 are mounted on sleaves revolving one within the other, and

page_text: each provided with a driving gear wheel. Each of the sleeves is provided with
a gear wheel by means of which it is driven, these respective gear wheels being
designated C, C2, C3, C4, C5, and C. These gear wheels are of varying diameters,
and mesh with corresponding gear wheels D1, D2, D3, D, D³, and D6 mounted
on shaft D, the relative proportions of these intermeshing gear wheels being
such as
to develop a gradually increasing rate of revolution of the drawing
rolls B1, B2, 133, B4, B5, and 136.
F designates a frame carrying the die box F¹ in which are supported the several
dies.
Projecting from one side of the frame F are arms f in which is journaled a
shaft on which are mounted grooved rollers or idlers f³, about which the wire
passes from one die box to the next succeeding. The frame F slides upon a
stationary frame G being moved longitudinally on the frame G by means of a
band-wheel G provided with a threaded red G2 screwing into the hollow frame G.
For the purpose of lessening the friction between the frame F and the supporting
frame G roller bearings are provided, which bearings consist of a spindle g and
an annular ring g². Between the spindle and ring are placed anti-friction
rolls g³.
In the operation of the machine, the side strain upon the movable frame F
is considerable, and the use of roller bearings permit of an easy manipulation
of the frame F in the operation of threading the dies. Upon the under side of
the frame G is secured an arm H provided at its projecting end with a pawl h
which is held in position by a spring h¹, provided with a notch engaging a pro-
jection formed on the pawl. Normally the pawl bears against the wire passing
around the drawings rolls preventing it from becoming unwound when the end
of the wire is released from the gripping tongs, or in case of the breaking of
the wire. A channel f3 surrounds the die box, and is for the purpose of con-
ducting the fluid pumped into the die box back again into the main fluid tank.
Loosely mounted on the end of the shaft B is the drawing-in-roll I; this roll
acts in conjunction with the roll B₁ to draw the wire through the dies and
around the drawing rolls. For this purpose, the roll B is provided with an
annular cut-out portion 63, the inner face of the cut-out portion being provided
with a series of notches 6 to constitute a ratchet. In a recess I on the face
of the drawing roll I, opposed to the face of the contiguous roll B is mounted a
bell crank lever 12 having a stud 13 projecting through the face of the roll and
working in the slot I formed therein. The other end of the bell crank lever
is provided with a stud 15 working in the annular grooves ³ formed in the
face of the roll 131 being normally held out of engagement with the notches
by means of the spring I. The drawing-in roll I is provided with wire gripping
tongs J. The jaws of the tongs consist of two pieces j sliding in a way j', the sides of
which converge.
The inner ends of the jaws j are provided with lugs engaging
a cut-out portion formed in a stud ja sliding in a slot . The stud is pro-
vided with a flange sliding in ways j and a milled head 7. For the purpose
of guiding the wire on to the drawing rolls, the drawing-in roll I is provided
with a spiral flange 17.
K designates the wire block which is mounted on shaft k upon which is secured
beveled gear wheel meshing with beveled gear wheel 2 on shaft o.
Situated under the drawing rolls, the die box, and the idler rolls, is a tank L
containing the fluid which is supplied to the die box. For this purpose the
fluid is pumped out of the tank into the die box passing therethrough and being
discharged therefrom into the channel f³ surrounding it, which channel is inclined
so as to conduct the fluid back into the tank L. L' designates the finishing die
box which is placed on the opposite side of the rollers to the die box F¹, the wire
passing from this die box directly to the wire block K. When the end of the
wire is first secured to the block K it is desired that the machine shall run at
a much slower rate of speed than its normal rate and for the purpose of varying
the speed of rotation of the several parts the following construction is availed

page_text: On
of: On the shaft 63 slides a clutch M adapted to engage the gear 6 which has
made integral with it a sleeve m. On this sleeve is loosely mounted a gear
wheel m¹ and a clutch ', the clutch M being feathered on the sleeve m.
the shaft bis keyed a gear wheel meshing with gear wheel on shaft,
on which shaft is also keyed a gear wheel m³. The clutches are operated so
that when the clutch is in engagement the clutch M is out of engagement
and vice versa, the movement of the clutches being accomplished by a hand
lever N to which is engaged a link which operates the clutch yokes n' n². When
the wire is first attached to the block and it is desired to run the machine more
slowly the parts are in the position shown in Figure 10, the clutch M being in
engagement with the gear wheel m¹. In this position the shaft 2 rotating at
its normal rate drives the gear wheel meshing with gear wheel k, driving
the shaft on which is mounted the gear wheel m³ which meshes with the gear
wheel m¹, thus rotating the sleeve m and the gear wheel 61 by means of
the clutch M, the gear wheel 6 meshing with the gear wheel O on shaft o which
carries the beveled gear meshing with the beveled gear to drive the block K.
When it is desired to operate the machine at full speed the clutch M is thrown
into engagement and the clutch is thrown out of engagement. The shaft 63
then drives the gear wheel b¹ which then directly drives the block K by meshing
with the gear wheel O.
The operation of the device is as follows:-The sliding frame F carrying the
die-box is drawn out to its furthermost position, so that the opening in the
die-box for the first of the series of dies comes opposite the drawing-in roll I.
The end of the rod or coarse wire to be reduced after having been properly
tapered is passed through the largest die and placed between the jaws of the
gripping tongs. The jaws of the tongs are then caused to grip the wire tightly
by sliding them by means of the milled head along the converging ways, so
that the jaws come together and grip tightly the rod placed between them.
The machine is then set in operation and the bell crank lever 12 is rocked so
that the projecting portion 15 engages one of the teeth of the ratchet formed
on the inner face of the roll 13. By this means, the drawing-in roll and the
roll B move together, and the wire is drawn through the die box and is guided
inwards towards the rolls by the spiral flange I7. The sliding frame F is then
moved up so as to bring the opening for the next die opposite drawing-in roll.
The wire is then passed underneath the die box and over its appropriate grooved
roller or idler back through the die, and is placed in the grip of the tongs
again, and the operation repeated. These operations are repeated until all the
dies are filled, the last being placed in the finishing die box and the end of
the wire secured to the block K. It will be seen that by this arrangement each
die is handled but once, and that it remains in its place throughout the stringing
up. As the rolls are turning while the frame F is advanced, but little power is
required to run the coils from roll to roll, and the graduation in speed being
constant throughout, the tension on the wire is constant. The wire is prevented
from uncoiling when the end is released from the tongs by the pawl h bearing
against it. When the roll is turning, the wire passes this pawl, but on releasing
the jaws, the tendency of the coil is to spread out to a larger diameter, which is
prevented by the pawl h.
Of course the system of drawing-rolls may be used in connection with a sliding
die box of the character herein described, or the same may be used in connection
with an ordinary stationary die box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention 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:-
1. The combination of a series of drawing rolls, means for operating same and
a sliding die box, substantially as specified."

page_text: 2. The combination of a series of drawing rolls, a drawing-in roll, and a
sliding die box, substantially as specified.
3. The combination of a series of drawing rolls, a drawing-in device, a, frame
carrying a series of dies, and means for moving the frame longitudinally relatively
to the drawing rolls, substantially as specified.
4. The combination of a series of drawing rolls, a die box, a drawing-in roll,
and means for holding the wire against the drawing rolls, substantially as
specified.
5. The combination of a series of drawing rolls, a frame carrying a series of
dies and a corresponding series of idler rolls, and means for moving said frame
longitudinally relatively to the drawing rolls, substantially as specified.
6. The combination of a drawing roll, means for operating the same a
drawing-in roll, and means for engaging and disengaging the drawing-in roll
with the drawing roll, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of a series of drawing trolls, a drawing-in roll, means
for engaging and disengaging the drawing-in roll with one of the series of drawing
rolls, a die box and means for moving the die box longitudinally relatively to
the series of drawing rolls, substantially as specified.
8. In a wire drawing machine, a drawing-in roll, a spiral flange on said
drawing-in roll, and means for engaging and disengaging the drawing-in roll
with a drawing roll, substantially as specified.
9. In a wire drawing machine a drawing-in roll, means for engaging and dis-
engaging the drawing-in roll with a drawing roll, a gripping device consisting
of gripping jaws having inclined faces operating in conjunction with inclined
faces on the gripping device to grip a wire between said jaws, substantially
as specified.
10. In a wire drawing machine a drawing roll provided with a ratchet, a
drawing-in roll, a pawl on said drawing-in roll, and means passing through to
the face of the drawing-in roll whereby said pawl is thrown into engagement
with the ratchet on the drawing roll, substantially as specified.
11. In a wire drawing machine, the combination of a series of drawing rolls,
means for driving the same at varying rates of speed, a wire block and means
for driving the same at a rate of speed corresponding to the rate of the drawing
rolls, substantially as specified.
12. In a wire drawing machine the combination of a series of drawing rolls,
of the same diameter, means for rotating the drawing rolls at varying rates of
speed, a wire block and means for driving the same at varying rates of speed
corresponding to the rate of driving the drawing rolls, substantially as specified.
13. In a wire drawing machine, the combination of a number of drawing
rollers of the same diameter arranged side by side, and surrounding a common
shaft, but supported so as to be capable of simultaneous and independent rota-
tion and gearing for rotating these drawing rollers at different speeds, substan-
tially as specified.
14. In a wire drawing machine, the combination of a number of drawing
rollers arranged side by side and surrounding a common shaft, but supported
so as to be capable of independent rotation, and gearing connected to drive said
drawing rollers and consisting of two sets of differently proportioned gear wheels,
substantially as specified.
15. In a wire drawing machine, the combination of a number of drawing rollers
arranged side by side, and surrounding a common shaft, but supported so as to
be capable of independent rotation, and gearing consisting of two sets of differ-
ently proportioned gear wheels, the individual gear of one set being connected
by a shaft and sleeves with the independent drawing rollers, substantially as
specified.
16. In a wire drawing machine the combination of a series of drawing rollers,
arranged side by side, and provided with elongated bearing sleeves, supported

page_text: one within the other, a common shaft for said several sleeves, and gearing for
simultaneously rotating said sleeves and their drawing rollers at different rates of
speed, substantially as specified.
Dated this 10th day of August 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.