IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RIVETTING AND FOR MAKING RIVETS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Martyn Kennard, of Viaduct Works,
Crumlin, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RIVETTING AND FOR MAKING
RIVETS."
Sealed the 22nd December 1865, and dated the 27th June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Martyn Kennard
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th June 1865.
I, HENRY MARTYN KENNARD, of Viaduct Works, Crumlin, near Newport,
in the County of Monmouth, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RIVETTING AND FOR MAKING
RIVETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in improved arrangements of that description of
machinery for 'rivetting together metal plates in which both heads of the
rivets are formed during the process of rivetting, one of which improved
arrangements is also rendered applicable to the making of ordinary rivets
when the machine is not employed for rivetting.
In one arrangement a strong framing is provided with two uprights
situated such a distance apart that the object to be rivetted can pass between

page_text: them. In these uprights there are arranged two sliding rams or pistons, and
each carrying a die or cup for forming the rivet heads, so that when the object
to be rivetted is passed between the two uprights (being held and guided in
its motion by guide rollers), and a length of heated rivet iron has been inserted
into the hole formed in the object to receive it, both pistons or rams with the
dies are caused to advance, and by acting simultaneously upon each end of
the rivet iron are made to form both heads of the rivet at once. The
required motion for this purpose is imparted to the pistons or rams by means
of two double-ended levers, the ends of each of which are connected respec-
tively by links, to the extremities of the rams and to the extremities of a toggle
joint. The elbow of the toggle joint is connected by means of links to a
double-ended lever, of which the long arm is connected to and receives motion
from an excentric or crank upon a revolving shaft, receiving the requisite
rotary motion from the driving shaft through suitable speed reducing gearing.
The fulcrum of the last-mentioned lever is carried by the short arm of another
double-ended lever, the long arm of which is weighted to an extent corre-
sponding with the pressure to be exerted by the rams, whereby the pressure
of the rams is rendered of a yielding nature so as to allow for the difference
in thickness of the objects to be rivetted. This machine may also be employed
for forming ordinary rivets instead of for rivetting, for which purpose the
before-mentioned uprights are provided with bearings situated above the
sliding rams, in which bearings, when the machine is not employed for rivetting,
is placed a hollow shaft carrying a hollow disc, which disc receives a rotary
motion between the sliding rams by means of a ratchet wheel fixed upon the
hollow shaft. Inside the hollow disc is situated a second disc, the surfaces of
which are formed as inclined planes tapering from top to bottom, and which
disc divides the space inside the hollow disc into two compartments. This
inclined plane disc is held stationary whilst the hollow disc revolves by means
of a spindle attached to it, which passes through the spindle of the hollow
disc, and is fixed to the framing. In the circumference of each side of the
hollow disc are formed holes which as the disc revolves pass in front of each
of the sliding rams; and into these holes, when near the lowest position and
approaching the rams, are inserted lengths or "blanks" of rivet iron heated
at the projecting end upon which the head is to be formed. The blanks are
pushed into the hollow disc until they come in contact with the before-
mentioned stationary inclined plane disc, so that when the ends of the blanks
projecting from the hollow disc are brought before the sliding rams, these are
made to advance against such projecting ends of the blanks, and from them
into the required rivet heads. As the hollow disc in revolving carries the

page_text: formed rivets up away from the rams the fixed inclined plane inside pushes
the rivets out of the holes of the hollow disc to make room for the fresh
blanks.
Another improved arrangement of rivetting machine has for its particular
object to enable those forms or parts of girders to be rivetted thereby that
are not capable of being rivetted by ordinary rivetting machines. For this
purpose two opposite slides carrying the rivetting dies work between guides
fixed or formed at the top of two uprights on the framing. The ends of these
slides in which the rivetting dies are fixed are made to project upwards so as
to stand higher than the top of the machine, and are provided with one socket
for the dies near the upper edge of such projecting part, and another socket
lower down. For rivetting ordinary work the dies are placed in the lower
sockets, but for rivetting those parts of girders that have heretofore been
inaccessible, such as the top and bottom plates or flanges, the dies are placed
in the upper sockets of the slides, and the girder is turned over on its edge in
such a position that the flange to be rivetted is situated between the two dies,
whilst the web and the other flange of the girder overhang one of the pro-
jecting slides, which are made to project a sufficient height to reach the part
of the flange required to be rivetted. The requisite motion may be imparted
to the slides and dies by any suitable known arrangement of mechanism,
or by the arrangement herein-before described, or the before-mentioned
double-ended levers actuating the dies may receive their motion by means of
cams upon shafts caused to revolve by means of spur gearing, and the elastic
or yielding action of the dies may be provided by giving the bearings of the
double-ended levers a certain amount of play in the framing, and pressing
them against the work by powerful springs made adjustable by means of set
screws. A stop or catch is provided whereby one of the levers, and con-
sequently also one of the dies, may be held stationary in its backward position,
and the machine made single-acting.
Another improvement consists in rendering both this and the first described
machine applicable for rivetting any description of work by placing in the
space between the uprights of the framing a large pair of jaws or nippers
projecting any required distance beyond the framing, and formed to suit any
particular kind of work; the upper ends of these jaws are provided with sockets
carrying the requisite rivetting dies, and they are actuated by means of 'the
before-mentioned slides or rams which carry the dies when the machine is
used for ordinary work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Martyn Kennard in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
MARTYN KENNARD, of Viaduct Works, Crumlin, near Newport, in the County
of Monmouth, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, Her special licence that I, the said
Henry Martyn Kennard, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, 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 FOR RIVETTING AND FOR MAKING
RIVETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Martyn
Kennard, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Henry Martyn Kennard, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to
say
'
This Invention consists in improved arrangements of that description of
machinery for rivetting together metal plates in which both heads of the
rivets are formed during the process of rivetting, one of which improved
arrangements is also rendered applicable to the making of ordinary rivets
when the machine is not employed for rivetting.
In one arrangement a strong framing is provided with two uprights situated
such a distance apart that the object to be rivetted can pass between them.

page_text: In these uprights there are arranged two sliding rams or pistons, and each
carrying a die or cup for forming the rivet heads, so that when the object to
be rivetted is passed between the two uprights (being held and guided in its
motion by guide rollers), and a length of heated rivet iron has been inserted*
into the hole formed in the object to receive it, both pistons or rams with the
dies are caused to advance, and by acting simultaneously upon each end of
the rivet iron are made to form both heads of the rivet at once.. The
required motion for this purpose is imparted to the pistons or rams by means
of two double-ended levers, the ends of each of which are connected respec-
tively either directly or by links to the extremities of the rams, and to the
extremities of a toggle joint. The elbow of the toggle joint is connected by.
means of links to a double-ended lever, of which the long arm is connected
to and receives motion from an excentric or crank upon a revolving shaft,
receiving the requisite rotary motion from the driving shaft through suitable-
speed reducing gearing. The fulcrum of the last-mentioned lever is carried
by the short arm of another double-ended lever, the long arm of which is
weighted to an extent corresponding with the pressure to be exerted by the
rams, whereby the pressure of the rams is rendered of a yielding nature, so
as to allow for the difference in thickness of the objects to be rivetted. This
machine may also be employed for forming ordinary rivets instead of for
rivetting, for which purpose the before-mentioned uprights are provided with.
bearings situated above the sliding rams, in which bearings, when the machine-
is not employed for rivetting, is placed a hollow shaft carrying a hollow disc,
which disc receives a rotary motion between the sliding rams by means of a
ratchet wheel fixed upon the hollow shaft. Inside the hollow disc is situated
a second disc, the surfaces of which are formed as inclined planes, tapering
from top to bottom, and which disc divides the space inside the hollow disc
into two compartments. This inclined plane disc is held stationary whilst the
hollow disc revolves by means of a spindle attached to it, which. passes through.
the spindle of the hollow dise, and is fixed to the framing. In the circum-
ference of each side of the hollow dise are formed holes which as the disc
revolves pass in front of each of the sliding rams; and into these holes, when
near the lowest position and approaching the rams, are inserted lengths or
blanks of rivet iron heated at the projecting end upon which the head, is.
to be formed. The blanks are pushed into the hollow disc until they come in
contact with the before-mentioned stationary inclined plane disc, so that when
the ends of the blanks projecting from the hollow disc are brought before the
sliding rams, these are made to advance against such projecting ends of the

page_text: blanks, and form them into the required rivet heads. As the hollow disc in
revolving carries the formed rivets up away from the rains, the fixed inclined
plane inside pushes the rivets out of the holes of the hollow dise to make room
for the fresh blanks.
Another improved arrangement of rivetting machine has for its particular
object to enable those forms or parts of girders to be rivetted thereby that
are not capable of being rivetted by ordinary rivetting machines. For this
purpose two opposite slides carrying the rivetting dies work between guides
fixed or formed at the top of two uprights on the framing. The ends of these
slides in which the rivetting dies are fixed are made to project upwards so
as to stand higher than the top of the machine, and are provided with one
socket for the dies near the upper edge of such projecting part, and another
socket lower down.
For rivetting ordinary work the dies are placed in the
lower sockets, but for rivetting those parts of girders that have heretofore been
iuaccessible, such as the top and bottom plates or flanges, the dies are placed
in the upper sockets of the slides, and the girder is turned over on its edge
in such a position that the flange to be rivetted is situated between the two
dies, whilst the web and the other flange of the girder overhang one of the
projecting slides, which are made to project a sufficient height to reach the
part of the flange required to be rivetted. The requisite motion may be
imparted to the slides and dies by any suitable known arrangement of
mechanism, or by the arrangement herein-before described, or the before-
mentioned double-ended levers actuating the dies may receive their motion
by means of cams upon shafts caused to revolve by means of spur gearing.
and the elastic or yielding action of the dies may be provided by giving the
bearings of the double-ended levers a certain amount of play in the framing,.
and pressing them against the work by powerful springs made adjustable by
means of set screws. A stop or catch is provided whereby one of the levers,
and consequently also one of the dies, may be held stationary in its backward
position, and the machine made single acting.
Another improvement consists in rendering both this and the first described
machine applicable for rivetting any description of work by placing in the
space between the uprights of the framing a large pair of jaws or nippers,
projecting any required distance beyond the framing, and formed to suit any
particular kind of work; the upper ends of these jaws are provided with
sockets carrying the requisite rivetting dies, and they are actuated by means
of the before-mentioned slides or rams which carry the dies when the machine
is used, for ordinary work.

page_text: But in order that my. Invention may be thoroughly. understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now proceed more particularly to describe the several
parts of the same as shown on the accompanying Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 to 7, on Sheet I. of the Drawings, show the arrangement of the
first berein-before described rivetting machine, which is also applicable for
making' rivets.
'
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the machine as arranged for
rivetting; Figure 2 shows a plan, and Figure 3 shows an end elevation ;
Figure 4 shows a front elevation of the machine as arranged for making
rivets Figure 5 shows an end elevation and Figures 6 and 7 show a
detached front view and a section of the revolving disc carrying the rivet
blanks. Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the
Figures.
any
The two uprights A, A, of the framing carry each a sliding ram B, B, with
rivetting dies. These are caused to approach to and recede from each other;
simultaneously in order to effect the rivetting of the object passed between.
them by means of the double-ended levers C, C, working upon shafts D, D,
carried by the framing, the lower ends of which levers are connected to the
links of a toggle joint E; this is connected by means of a link F to the
short arm of a lever G, the long arm of which has a reciprocating motion;
imparted to it by means of the connecting rod H from the crank shaft I;
driven by gearing J, K, and driving pulley L. To afford the requisite amount
of elasticity to the action of the rams B the fulcrum of the lever G is
supported by the short arm of another lever M, the long arm of which is
weighted to a sufficient extent to counteract the downward pressure of the
lever G, whilst reduction of the full amount of motion of the rams, owing
to the thickness of the object being rivetted; is compensated for by the,
depressing of the short arm of the lever M. N. is a fly wheel for accumu-
lating the power requisite for the action of the rams. When this machine is;
employed for making rivets instead of for rivetting, a hollow shaft O carrying.
a hollow disc P is placed in upper bearings Q, Q, formed on the uprights A, A.
Inside the hollow disc P is a stationary inclined plane disc R held by a
spindle S inside the shaft O, which spindle has a square heads projecting:
from the end of the shaft O, and fitting into a corresponding hole in a plate T.
fixed to the bearing Q. By this arrangement the spindle S and disc R are
held stationary, whilst the shaft O and disc P revolve. In the circumference
of the disc P are formed holes p, p, for receiving the blanks for forming the
rivets, which as the disc revolves are placed in the holes approaching the
rains B, B, which form the heads thereon when the blanks arrive in front of

page_text: them. The requisite intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the shaft O
for this purpose by means of a ratchet wheel U fixed upon the same, acted
upon by a pawl y receiving a reciprocating motion through the connecting
rod W and lever X from cam Y upon the crank shaft I. As the rivets pass
away from the leading rams after having the heads formed thereon, they
are pushed out of the holes by the inclined surfaces of the. disc R. In
order to steady. this disc for this purpose a rim formed upon its circum-
ference fits loosely into a corresponding groove: in the disc P, as shown at
Figure 7.
:
Figures 8 to 13, on Sheet II. of the Drawings, show the arrangement of
double-rivetting machine constructed according to the second part of my
Invention.
Figure 8 shows a plan; Figure 9 shows a part side elevation and part
longitudinal section; Figure 10 shows an end elevation; Figure 11 shows a
sectional plan on line X, X, Figure 9; Figure 12 shows a transverse section
on line Y, Y, Figure 9; and Figure 18 shows a transverse section on line Z, Z,
Figure 9. Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in each of these
Figures.
In this arrangement the rams B, B, are made to slide in V-grooves formed
at the top of the framing A; they are provided with a projection in which is
formed a second socket for receiving the rivetting dies b, b, for the purposes
herein-before mentioned. The rams are actuated by double-ended levers C, C,
the lower ends of which are alternately pressed outwards for effecting the
rivetting by means of the cams E, E, upon the shafts I, I, and are drawn
inwards as the cams recede by means of the chains F and weight G sus-
pended over the rollers f, f. The fulcra of the levers C, C, work in
bearings c, c, held in an elastic manner in the framing A by means of strong
springs M, M, the pressure of which is regulated by means of set screws m, m,
and the object of which is identical with that of the lever M in the foregoing
arrangement. The cam shafts I, I, are driven by means of gearing J, J, and
K, and by pulleys L. For rivetting ordinary work the dies are fixed in the
rams in the position indicated, but for rivetting such work as the top and
bottom plates or flanges of girders the dies are fixed in the upper sockets, and
the girder is made to overhang the dies in the position indicated in dotted
lines in Figure 9. This machine may also be employed for single rivetting
by taking one of the chains off, and at the same time making one of the
vers C stationary by means of a stop or link O attached to the framing, in
which case it is. preferred to provide each lever with a separate weight G, as
indicated by dotted lines at Figure 9:
'

page_text: Figure 14, Sheet I., shows a part side elevation of a rivetting machine
having the third part of my Invention applied to it, which consists, namely, of
a large pair of nippers or hinged jaws P placed in, the space between the
uprights A of the framing, and actuated by the rams. B, B, to which they
are attached. The upper ends of these. jaws are made to project any
required distance above the top of the framing, and are provided with sockets
for receiving the rivetting dies 6, 6, whereby they are enabled to rivet work
that is otherwise inaccessible by the ordinary rivetting machine, such as the
flanges of girders described in the foregoing arrangement. These nippers can
in some instances be arranged to turn round upon their points of attachment
to the rams, so as to rivet work at any angle.
'
Although this part of my Invention is shown in combination with the
arrangement of rivetting machine first herein-before described it is evident
that it is equally applicable to the arrangement last described.
Having now described the several parts of my Invention, and the manner
in which they are to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
claim generally the construction of rivetting machinery for forming both heads
of rivets at once, as I am well aware that this has before been proposed; nor
do I claim the various details of the several herein-before described arrange-
ments of rivetting machinery when taken separate and apart from the
combination thereof as forming any part of my Invention; nor do I limit
myself to the precise arrangement of such details as shown on the accom-
panying Drawings, as these may be variously modified without departing
from the nature of my Invention; but what I claim is,-
First, the construction and employment of rivetting machinery for
forming simultaneously both heads of rivets, substantially as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 on Sheet I. of the accompanying
Drawings.
Second, the adaptation of the aforesaid machine to the making of rivets in
manner herein-before described with reference, to Figures 4 to 7 on Sheet I.
of the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the construction and employment of rivetting machinery for forming
either both heads of rivets simultaneously, or for rivetting in the ordinary
manner, in which the sliding rams are arranged to work on the top of the
framing, and are provided with projections for receiving the rivetting dies,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described with reference
to Figures 8 to 13 on Sheet 11. of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, the application to rivetting machinery of a separate pair of jaws
having rivetting dies arranged and actuated substantially as and for the

page_text: purposes herein-before described with reference to Figure 14 on Sheet I. of
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Martyn Kennard, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
H. MARTYN KENNARD. (L.S.)
H. MARTYN KENNARD. (L.S.)