Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 9th Sept., 1887..
Complete Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887,
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an apparatus or machine, whereby the number of articles
blown or moulded may be increased with the same amount of labour as is at present
used in like manufactures.
This apparatus or machine consists of two or any number of tubes such as are at
present used for blowing glass, these tubes are placed in rows or may he formed in a
circle or square, the ends are fixed to a framework or tube plate and bushed so as to
be capable of revolution. At any convenient part of the tubes but preferably near
the tube plate the driving gear is placed, that is, each tube is fitted with toothed
wheels or pulleys, for a belt or india-rubber strap or other means of communicating to
each other the power of revolution, lower down the tubes are fixed by another tube-
plate also bushed, this is merely to provide steadiness and to keep each tube in its
position and equidistance from its neighbour during the rotation of the several tubes
while in work.
The principal driving pulley is placed on any of the tubes that may be convenient
this is propelled from a shafting in the workshop or otherwise, by a belt or by
compressed air or electricity or other means of communication. This means of
communicating power to the machine may be used as a suspender for the machine,
which may, when many tubes are used, be heavy, and will thereby enable the workman
to manipulate his work by the machine with more facility.
To the first mentioned tube-plate is fixed a box, which may be made collapsible or
not, and to this is attached a tube preferable of india-rubber or other flexible material
(but not necessarily so) this tube conveys from a pump or other machine air, which
is forced into the box, and on its entrance mouth, is placed, a cock, for the proper
adjustment of the pressure, and for shutting off and on of the same from the tubes.
This box communicates directly with the tubes whose ends come into the box through
the tube-plate and thus receive the air direct from it.

page_text: When objects are to be formed in a mould, the moulds are made to correspond to
the number of tubes, and made to open together, and shut in the same manner.
There is also a lever provided for raising the tubes out of the moulds during the
process of blowing; in order to finish the articles, the workman proceeds in the
ordinary way, as if to make a single article; he gathers the metal on the ends of
the various tubes which are kept rotating by the means above described and then he
proceeds to the moulds in the ordinary way.
In order to finish the articles smoothe in the moulds they are made to rotate by
the above process in the moulds together, this gives a polish to the outside of them.
In order to finish the tops of the articles such as bottle necks and the like, an
apparatus is fixed to the mould which acts like a collar when the tubes are placed
therein, this is drawn close up to the top of the moulds which thereby cuts off the
articles while hot, the tubes or moulds revolving at the same time, thus finishing the
articles at once. The ordinary tubes used to blow the articles being withdrawn,
another set of rods or tubes may be inserted into the apertures of the moulds for this
purpose if necessary, which may be of any required shape or pattern desired to be
formed on the tops or necks of the articles formed.
If blown work is made only the moulds are dispensed with and a chair is used to
which is attached an instrument for adjusting the shape of the various articles that
may be required to be formed.
Dated this 11th day of December 1886.
JOHN ARMSTRONG 11 Queen Victoria Street London, E.C. 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 consists of an apparatus or machine whereby the number of articles
blown or moulded may be increased with the same amount of labour as is at present
used in like manufactures.
This apparatus or machine consists of two or any number of tubes (a) such as are
at present used for blowing glass. These tubes are placed in rows, or may be formed
in a circle or square, the ends are fixed to a framework or tube-plate (d) fig. 1 and
bushed as shown at (f) so as to be capable of revolution with as little friction as
possible. At any convenient part of the tubes but preferably near to the tube

page_text: plate (d) is fixed the driving gear-that is each tube is fitted with toothed wheels (P)
or with pulleys for a belt or india rubber strap or other means of communicating to
each other the power of revolution. Lower down the tubes are fixed by another tube
plate also bushed (h) this is merely to provide steadiness and to keep each tube in its
position and equidistant from its neighbour during the rotation of the several tubes
while in work.
The principal driving pulley is placed on any of the tubes that may be convenient
in the drawings it is placed upon a half tube between two tubes at (a') this is
propelled from a shafting in the workshop or otherwise by a belt or by compressed
air, or electricity or other means of communication. The pulley (6) fig. 1. 2. 3. of
drawings is for a belt or india rubber strap, should other means of motion be adopted
this pulley is taken off and the electric or compressed air motor is attached to the tube
or spindle (a). This means of communicating power may be used as a suspender
for the machine which may (when many tubes are combined) be heavy and will
thereby enable the workman to manipulate his work by the machine with more
facility.
There may be also two side suspenders chains or india rubber, ropes or wires as
may be desired. In the case of a great many tubes being used together side rests
may be used, that is handles placed on the machine at each side and rests formed for
them on the mouth of the pots or tank in order to keep the tubes horizontal while
gathering the metal.
To the first mentioned tube plate is fixed a box which may be made collapsible or
not as shown at (L) figs. 2 and 3 and to this is attached a tube preferable of india-
rubber or other flexible material (but not necessarily so) as shown at (k) this tube
conveys from a pump or other machine air which is forced into the box (L) and on
its entrance mouth is placed a cock (4) for the proper adjustment of the pressure and
for shutting off and on of the same from the tubes, and being made three-way, after
the knob or button is set free (i.e.) after the air has been blown into the tubes and
thence into the bottles or other articles) the expanded air gets back and relieves itself
through the third opening of the cock. This box (L) communicates directly with
the tubes the ends of the tubes entering it at any convenient place, it may be made to
the same width as the tubes extend, according to their number and arrangement.
When objects are to be formed in a mould (bottles for instance) the number of
moulds and their arrangement is made to correspond to the number and arrangement
of the blowing tubes and made to open and shut together in the same manner. In
the case of a number of tubes being used together a lever is provided on the moulds
for raising the tubes out of the moulds during the process of blowing in order to
finish the articles the workman proceeds in the ordinary way as if to make a single
article with a single tube, that is, he gathers the metal (molten glass) on the ends of the
various tubes by placing them into the pot or tank which contains the molten glass, the
tubes are kept rotating by the means already shown and described he then proceeds to
the moulds with the metal on the end of each tube, but previously if found necessary
he may roll the pieces on the tubes on the marver by simply placing the tubes thereon,
which are still kept revolving, or with another instrument he may give a certain form to
the several lumps of molten glass, and then proceed to the moulds in the ordinary
way as if under the old process, the moulds all closing simultaneously, and keeping
his thumb on the button, when the air enters the tubes and performs the operation as
is at present done by the lungs. The moulds are then opened and the articles at the
ends of the rods are taken out and broken or burst off, and finished in the ordinary
way, or they may be kept rotating in the moulds by the tubes being made to revolve by
the means already shown in order to give a polish to the outside of round articles.
If blown articles are made only, the moulds are dispensed with, and a chair is used
to which is attached an instrument for adjusting the shapes of the various articles
that may be required to be formed.
The combination of these principles with a single tube may be used as at present
for blowing large bottles, carboys, sheet glass and such like articles, which will do the
work more rapidly and better than can be performed by the lungs.

page_text: A handle (c) is attached to the back of the machine to hold it by during operation,
a covering is made to protect the driving gear and to protect the operator from
accidents as shown at (e). A gland or stuffing box or ball joint is formed at (G)
for the tubes to revolve in.
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. The combination of two or more tubes or blowing irons for the purpose
of blowing two or more articles or for forming and moulding the same, as herein
shown or described.
Secondly. The combination of two or more tubes, with driving gear consisting of
pulleys or cog wheels as herein described or shown.
Thirdly. The combination of two or more tubes with motive power consisting of
pulley driven from a shafting by belt or india rubber straps or by compressed air or
electricity as herein shown or described.
Fourthly. The combination of two or more tubes with attachments, having inflating
box (collapsible or not) and having three-way or two-way cock for adjustment of air,
also air tube and means of service as herein shown or described.
Fifth. Two or more tubes and their attachments in combination with two or more
moulds and their attachments to be worked together as herein described and shown.
Sixtly. The means of communicating power and air to the machine and used as a
suspender for the machine as herein shown or described.
Seventhly. The application of a second tube plate in combination with two or more
tubes and their attachments as herein shown or described.
Eightly. The general arrangements of this apparatus and the several parts in com-
bination or separately and their application to any other machine for the same purpose
all as herein described and shown.
100R