IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CERTAIN DESCRIPTION OF CASTOR, AND IN APPA- BATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CERTAIN PARTS OF SUCH CASTORS, WHICH APPARATUS MAY ALSO BE APPLIED FOR PRODUCING ROUNDED BODIES FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Michael Henry at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th February
1861. A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste Germain Cler-
geau, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.
I, MICHAEL HENRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CERTAIN DESCRIPTION OF CASTOR, AND IN APPA-
BATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CERTAIN PARTS OF SUCH CASTORS, WHICH APPARATUS
MAY ALSO BE APPLIED FOR PRODUCING ROUNDED BODIES FOR OTHER PURPOSES," com-
municated to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste Germain Clergeau, of 33,
Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of castors, for
which J. Felix obtained a Patent, dated 9th November 1858, and also to
machinery for manufacturing the smaller balls employed therein, which is
likewise applicable for producing rounded bodies for other uses. According
to the present improvements the disc or knob intended for the recess con-
taining the small balls is at the end of a rod or stem, connecting the castor
cup to the piece of furniture or other article to which the castor belongs, such
disc or knob being cast or forming a single piece with or being a portion of
such rod or stem; the latter has a collar cast or formed on it; the inverted
cup which can be cast in a single piece is turned smooth at the recess which
contains the disc or knob and the smaller balls, and is constructed with a shoulder

page_text: or ledge at the upper opening, the neck being also turned true, so that the
rod or bar may be readily fitted in place by placing the disc or knob (which is
turned smooth) into the upper recess, where space is left for the smaller
balls, the collar resting exactly on the shoulder. The top edges of the
cup are turned over the top of the collar. The lower edges of the cup are
formed somewhat open or widened out to allow the large ball to be inserted,
and are bent or forced inward to retain the ball (a little below its centre), but
yet allow it the necessary freedom.
For manufacturing the small balls the metal is first subjected to apparatus
to be roughly shaped out and cut, and then to apparatus for being rounded,
smoothed, or finished off. In the first apparatus the wire or rod of metal to
be cut is led past a lever (worked to and fro by an excentric or crank motion
from the driving shaft), being nipped at the lever by a knee piece, and is
brought between a pair of dies or punches which are caused to slide to and fro
or advance and recede alternately by a pair of arms or levers worked by
excentrics, cams, or crank action from the driving shaft; the dies or punches
to which the wire is held by a burin, graver, point, or finger, shape out the
balls on the length of wire or rod, which is then propelled by a lever to a
cutter worked up and down by the lever driven by two teeth or projections on a
boss or collar on the driving shaft, which said cutter coming down on the
metal twice rapidly for each ball cuts off the rough balls, which are separated
by a screen or otherwise, and are rounded, smoothed, or finished off by
apparatus in which there are two plates or discs, one stationary and one
revolving. On the surface of the stationary plate nearest the revolving plate
a spiral is cut or formed corresponding at the side or edge part to balf the
circumference of the ball, the rough ball dropping on to the revolving plate
through a central feed sieve or hopper, is driven by such revolving plate all
along the spiral, running right through it from beginning to end, and is finally
projected in a finished state into a conveniently placed receiver. The revolving
plate can be conveniently adjusted by raising and lowering it by means of a
wheel, screw, and lever.
The apparatuses may also be adapted or applied for producing rounded
bodies or obiects for other useful purposes.