Improvements in Dies for Impressing Ornamental Designs on Metal Tubes, Balls, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1889
Specification Accepted, 1st June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dies for Impressing Ornamental Designs on Metal
Tubes, Balls, and the like.
We, JOHN BURKHARDT, of 31 East Seventeenth Street, New York, in the County
of New York and State of New York, United States of America, Machinist, and
WILLIAM HENRY JACKSON, of 31 East Seventeenth Street, New York, in the County
of New York and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the invention of said John Burkhardt for
IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES FOR IMPRESSING ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS ON METAL TUBES,
BALLS AND THE LIKE " and in what manner tho same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this Invention is to produce symetrical depressions, of the nature of
ornamental designs, upon the perimeters of metallic tubes, for use in the construction
of artistic fenders, chandeliers, and other metallic manufactures; and the important
features of the invention include manifold die plates arranged in circular form; into or
through the circle formed by them a metallic tube may be placed; and die plate
actuators, having concavities of the form of frustrums of cones, to act upon the circle
of die plates, as will be set forth herein.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, figure 1, represents
a plan of the inner face of the circular plates, provided with radial grooves or guide
ways, extending from a central circular opening therein to their peripheries, in which
grooves the die plates are supported and work; figure 2 represents a side elevation of
one of the die plates; figure 3, is a transverse sectional view of the same; figure 4,
represents a section of metal tube with ornamentation thereon, produced by the
mechanism employed in the invention; also a side elevation of one of the die plates;
figure 5 represents a central vertical section of the connected mechanism employed,
ready to receive a plain tube through opening C,-figure 6, shows a modification
of the die plates, each plate having three sections or series of edge indentations.
In figure 1, the letter A, denotes the series, forming the circle, of die plates, arranged
in their respective guide ways or grooves formed in plates or disks B, B, at top and
bottom, so as to work radially therein around the circular opening C. Counter
dies D, D, have concavities E, corresponding in form with the outline or perimeter of

page_text: the series of die plates A, arranged in their circular position. The counter dies serve
when the connected mechanism, (constituting a machine) is in operation to cause the
die plates to move uniformly toward the center of opening C.-The spring-wires y,
inserted through holes F, of the several die plates A, of the series, serve to hold them
from becoming deranged relatively, and to cause them by its retractive action to move
outwardly to their normal position when the counter dies D, are withdrawn to relieve
the die plates from pressure of disks B. The disks or plates B, are pressed gently
upon or against the ends of the die plates, by means of the spiral springs G, located in
chambers H; the former act directly against shoulders I, on the hollow shafts J, which
connect with grooved plates B, B, and are adjustable with said plates, up and
down.
The counter dies D, -D, are made respectively in two parts...which are secured
together by bolts and nuts K, at the transverse sectional lines X, X.
L denotes the table- or.. platen of a power press upon which is seated the lower
counter die D¹, and the upper counter die D, has a hollow cylindrical neck M. which
projects above, and is inserted into a corresponding opening in the plunger N, of the
power press and secured therein by the screw bolts O, O.
The modification of the die plates in figure 6, shows a triple set of undulating
working edges of uniform configuration, the upper or top set, or section P, of the
plates being of greatest width, the middle section Qis of less width, and the lower or
bottom section R, is of least width severally. Die plates of this construction,
substituted for the plates A, will enable the manipulator of the metal tube being
operated upon, to cause the impressions made by the die plates thereon, to he gradually
formed, which will prevent liability of crushing the thinner kinds of tubing, when
subjected to the action of the dies. In using these die plates with their triple series of
working edges, the tube to be compressed with a design by the dies, will be inserted
into opening C, in the press table and be passed upward until its upper end reaches the
heighth indicated by lines, figure 6, when the die plates will be compressed by
counter dies D, (actuated by a press) causing, an impression on the tube equal to the
space between lines c, d, and e, m, figure 4: the dies will then be opened, and, the tube
will be advanced upward to an extent, that will bring the portion of tubing acted upon
by section P, of the plates, to occupy a central place opposite to section Q, of the die
plates, when a second action. of the press, and counter dies, will cause section P,.to act
as before upon a plain portion of the tube, and at the same time the central section Q,
of the die plates will act upon that part of the tube. which received the first impression,
and this will again depress the figures upon the tube, to the extent of the distance
between lines e, m and f, n; and at the next vertical adjustment of the tube, (being
acted upon) so as to occupy the opening opposite all the sections P, Q, R, of the series
of die plates constituting the circle, the section R, will still more deepen the
impressions formed by the sections P, Q, equal to the distance between lines denoted
by letters f, n, and g, w, shown in figure 4; thus the operation is gradually
performed.
Besides designs or figures, the counterpart of which are shown upon the working
faces or edges of the die plates represented in the drawings, a great variety of other
designs may be produced by modifications of said die plates for instance; the plates
may be curved into wave lines or be made to represent sections of spires, or serpentine
configurations, with plain or undulating working edges, and by passing the tubes
successively between two sets or circles of dies of reverse.form to receive their action,
they may be impressed with curved or zigzag lines-crossing each other, to confer a
checkered or diverse configuration. It is within the scope and purpose of.this
invention to confer ornamental depressions or figures upon shollow metal balls and
analogous bodies; which may be accomplished by mere modifications of the shape of
the working faces or edges of the die plates.
Although the counter die located upon the table of the press, is at rest; the effect of
the downward movement of the upper counter die, will be to force the lower portion of
the circle of die plates into the lower counter die to the same degree that the upper
counter die is forced over the upper portion of the circle of die plates.
'

page_text: the inven
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
ion of said John Burkhardt, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
ve declare that what we claim is:
1st Die plates, in combination with radially grooved disks or plates, as described
for the purpose specified.
2nd: Counter dies D, in combination with die plates A, and grooved plates B,
substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
3rd: The sectional chambered counter dies D, springs G, and tubular plate
holders J, in combination with disk plates B, substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
4th: The series, or set of die plates, retained in vertical position, respectively by
retracting spring-wires y working in holes F, of the die plates, and grooves in the
inner faces of the disk plates B, in combination with counter dies D, as described.
5th: The triple faced die plates with three series of edge or face configurations P, Q, R,
for gradually forming indented designs or ornamental configurations upon the
perimeters of tubes or analogous bodies, substantially as described.
D1 ili 50th day of March 1889.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicants.