IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON WHEELS to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I, PETER EDWARDS of Openshaw in the county of Lancaster, Engine Smith,
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON
WHEELS to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates more particularly to that part of the manufacture of
wrought iron wheels (used upon railways, tramways, and for other purposes) which
consists in welding the two washers or discs to form the projecting portions on
each side of the hub or boss of the wheel.
The ordinary way of effecting this is to weld each washer or disc on separately
so that the central part of the wheel requires to be brought to a welding heat twice
(once for each side) and two operations are necessary.
The object of my invention is to construct an apparatus (which may be termed
a double smith's hearth) whereby the centre of the body of the wheel can be
brought to a welding heat on both sides at once, so that both washers or discs can
be welded together at one operation.
I construct two smith's hearths, (preferably of a vertical cylindrical form) one
of which is fixed on a suitable foundation, and the other is mounted on a carriage
or frame supported upon wheels running on a tramway, so that the movable hearth
can be caused to approach to or recede from the other when desired.
Each hearth
is provided with two blast pipes, entering the hearth (one on each side) about the
centre of its height; and each hearth is also provided on its inner side with a
tubular orifice or mouth at about the same height, the two orifices or mouths being
thus opposite to each other. The blast pipes of the movable hearth are provided
with joints to allow of the movement of the hearth.
The two hearths are provided with movable covers to feed them with fuel, and
also with sliding bottoms to clear out the ashes and allow them to fall into the
ashpit beneath.
The central part of the body of the wheel being placed close to the orifice or
mouth of the fixed hearth, the movable hearth is brought up with its orifice close
to the other side of the same. The joints being "luted" with clay the blast is
turned on and the flame attacks both sides of the metal at the same time, and
the central part of the wheel is thus soon brought to a welding heat all through,

page_text: The two washers or discs, having been heated to welding point at the same time
in a separate furnace, are now placed one on each side, and the whole being laid
over a suitable mould, the die or stamp is brought down and the whole is welded
into a solid mass at one operation.
It is evident that although this apparatus is especially adapted for welding on
the washers or discs for forming the hubs of wrought iron wheels yet it may be
used for other welding purposes wherein it is required to apply the heat to both
sides of a piece of metal at once.

page_text: I, PETER EDWARDS of 18 Ryder Street, Openshaw, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engine Smith do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON WHEELS and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The primary object of my invention is to simplify the process of manufacturing
the centres, or bosses, of wrought iron wheels, such as are in use on railways, for
locomotives, carriages or other vehicles: By the usual means hitherto adopted,
after the formation of the wheel by the spokes being welded to the outer rim,
with their opposite ends radiating to the centre of the wheel, and filling pieces
placed between each of the inner ends of the spokes the centre thus partially
formed requires two washers to be welded, one on either side to complete the boss
of the wheel, and to weld these washers, the present mode of procedure is, to place
the centre part of the wheel in a bossing fire, until a welding heat is obtained on
one side, and a washer being similarly heated, the wheel is placed under the
hammer, and the washer welded on; The wheel centre is then heated a second
time, and by a similar process, a washer is welded on the opposite side, thus
completing the wheel centre or boss: By the means I adopt in my invention, the
ends of the spokes, which radiate to the centre, are brought to a welding heat on
both sides at the same time, by a blast from two furnaces, constructed with closed
tops, so that the entire heat produced from the fuel is retained, and directed on to
the wheel centre: One of these furnaces is fixed, and one which rests on wheels
or rollers traverses backwards and forwards the required distance, being moved by
a lever or other suitable arrangement, the blast pipes connected with the moveable
furnace, being constructed so as to swivel and allow the mouth of the pipe which
enters the furnace to move in the same direction: The nozzle or mouth of each
furnace is provided with slots, or recesses, on the rim or edge, to admit the spokes,
and to allow the said nozzle or mouth of each furnace to meet on the centre of the
wheel, which is placed or suspended between them: In the openings or spaces
between the spokes, a small quantity of loam sand is placed, to protect the spokes,
sufficient space being allowed for the escape of blast: The centre or boss of the
wheel is thus brought to a welding heat on both sides, at the same time, and two
washers being similarly heated, the wheel centre is placed on suitable blocks, with
one washer under and the other on the top, and by means of a steam hammer, or
by hydraulic power, both washers are welded, and the wheel centre or boss is
completed, at one operation.
In the foregoing description, I especially refer to the manufacture of wrought
wheel centres, but it is obvious the same arrangement of furnaces, and the same
method may be employed, with any piece of metal of other form or shape requiring
additional parts to be welded on both sides.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I now refer to, and describe
the accompanying sheet of drawings, similar letters being shown on similar parts
through the several views.
Fig. 1 is part side elevation with part side section, and Fig. 2 is plan of a double
furnace: a. represents the fixed and b. the moveable furnace c and c' are the blast
pipes: The connection of the blast pipes c¹ with the moveable furnace b. is made
so as to allow the mouth of the pipe c¹ by means of a swivel joint at its base, to
move with and in the same direction as the furnace: d. and d' are the nozzles

page_text: through which the blast is directed on to the wheel centre e. the wheel f. being
suspended or otherwise held in position: The furnace b rests on wheels or rollers h.
and may be removed along the rails j. by the lever g. when the wheel f. is required
to be withdrawn.
The furnaces a and b. which may be constructed of iron or steel are lined with
firebrick k or other suitable material and are provided with covers 7 and 1¹ for
charging or cleaning: Coke, gas, or other suitable substance may be used to obtain
the heat required: m is the ash pit, n. the slide plate for clearing furnace o. the
man hole cover.
2
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
1 The use of two furnaces, one being fixed, and the other moveable, and placed
in such positions that the blast produced by the said furnaces is directed through
mouths or nozzles on to the wrought wheel centre or other similar object, and a
welding heat obtained on both sides at the same time and at one operation
substantially as described.
•
.
2 The construction of the furnaces as above described with closed tops in order
that the entire heat produced by the combustion of the coke, gas, or other fuel
may be utilized for the purpose of obtaining a welding heat in forming or shaping
wrought metal objects such as wheel centres or other similar forgings: the tops of
such furnaces being removeable for the purpose of charging or cleaning.
Dated this 27th day of October 1884