A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF UTILIZING OLD DOUBLE-HEADED OR FLANGE-BOTTOMED RAILS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Richard Wheeldon, of Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, and Benjamin Ford, of Bilston, in the County of Stafford
aforesaid, Iron Manufacturers, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MODE OF UTILIZING OLD DOUBLE-HEADED OR FLANGE-BOTTOMED RAILS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Richard Wheeldon
and Benjamin Ford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on-the 22nd
November 1877.
FREDRICK RICHARD WHEELDON, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford,.
and BENJAMIN FORD, of Bilston, in the County of Stafford aforesaid, Iron Manufac-
turers. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF UTILIZING OLD DOUBLE-HEADED OR
FLANGE-BOTTOMED RAILS."
The object of this Invention is to remove at a single operation a portion of the
centre web of the rails referred to in the title whilst they are in a cold state, in
pieces of any desired length, and so to prevent the waste of metal which now takes
place in consequence of the burning of the web when the rails are only split down.
the middle, when the rail or pieces of rails are placed in the furnace in order that
the metal may be again worked up.
When the rail is so divided into convenient lengths the centre portions or pieces
may with advantage be used in piling or cross piling; and so produce an improved
quality of iron; or they may be at once rolled into bar, hoop, rod, or other descrip-
tion of iron.
The said pieces may be cut out in any convenient or well-known manner, but by
preference we use a longitudinal punch working in, through, or between, a suitable
die or steeling.
It will be understsod that the said punch or other cutting apparatus may be
actuated by any suitable mechanical means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Richard Wheeldon and Benjamin Ford in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th May 1878.
FREDERICK RICHARD WHEELDON, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford,
and BENJAMIN FORD, of Bilston, in the County of Stafford aforesaid, Iron Manufac
turers. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF UTILIZING OLD DOUBLE-HEADED OR
FLANGE-BOTTOMED RAILS."
The object of this Invention is to remove at a single operation a portion of the
centre web of the rails referred to in the title, whilst they are in a cold state, in
pieces of any desired length, and so to prevent the waste of metal which now takes
place in consequence of the burning of the web when the rails are only split down
the middle, when the rail or pieces of rails are placed in the furnace in order that
the metal may be again worked up.
When the rail is so divided into convenient lengths, the centre portions or pieces
may with advantage be used in piling or cross piling, and so produce an improved
quality of iron; or they may be at once rolled into bar, hoop, rod, or other descrip-
tion of iron.
The said pieces may be cut out in any convenient or well-known manner, but by
preference we use a longitudinal punch working in, through, or between suitable
dies or steelings.
It will be understood that the said punch or other cutting apparatus may be
actuated by any suitable mechanical means.
That our Invention may be fully understood, we have annexed Drawings showing
the manner in which it is proposed to carry it into effect.
Figures 1 and 2 shew a piece of old rail from which the central web is in course
of being removed in one long strip, according to our Invention.
A, A, are the heads of the rail, and B is the strip of central web which becomes
bent downwards between the two side cutters C, C', (see Figure 3) in the act of
being separated by the central cutter D from the heads A, A.
A cutter may be used of any ordinary length, the rail being advanced after each
descent of the cutter, until the web has been removed from the whole length of the
rail.
In order to prevent the burr which the cutters sometimes produce from causing
the strip B to wedge itself between the two cutters C, C¹, the arrangement shewn
in Figure 3 may be adopted. One of the cutters C¹is hinged at E, and is provided
with a knuckle joint F, F, which is actuated by means of a suitable cam fixed upon
the principal shaft of the shearing machine, and acting upon the rod G. When the
rod G descends it closes the cutter C¹ and holds it closed while the central cutter D
descends, and cuts out a given length of the central web of the rail. The rod G
then rises, withdrawing the cutter C¹, and leaving the rail free to be advanced by
hand, in readiness for the next cut.
Figures 4 and 5 shew a piece of old rail from which the central web is in course
of being removed in short pieces, according to our Invention, and Figures 6 and 7
shew the kind of cutters which may be used for this purpose.
His the rail lying
upon the upper edges of the two side cutters I, I; K is the central cutter, having a
stop L which works between the two side cutters, and against which the end of the
web of the rail is pushed at each ascent of the central cutter K. In this case the
central cutter K descends sufficiently far to pass completely through the rail, so as
to entirely remove at each descent a portion of the web of the rail of the same
length as the blade K¹, K², of the central cutter K, and the rail is then free to be
advanced for the next cut.
The relieving cam motion described in connection with Figure 3 is therefore not
required in the arrangement shewn in Figures 4 and 5.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the

page_text: same is or may be carried into effect, we desire it to be understood that we do not
claim the arrangement of mechanism or mechanical parts, herein-before described,
and shewn upon the accompanying Drawings, except as herein-after mentioned for
carrying our Invention into effect, as these may be varied or modified to almost
any desired extent, but what we do claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. Cutting out longitudinally in long or short pieces, whilst cold, the webs of
double-headed or flange rails, whether of steel or iron, substantially as and for the
purpose or purposes herein-before described.
Second. The relieving cam motion described in connection with Figure 3, substan-
tially as herein-before set forth, and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Richard Wheeldon and Benjamin,
Ford, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
FREDERICK RICHARD WHEELDON. (L.S.)
BENJAMIN FORD.
(L.S.)