IMPROVE- MENTS IN FORGE HAMMERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FORGE HAMMERS." A communication from abroad by Max Hasse,
of Berlin, in the German Empire.
Sealed the 3rd October 1879, and dated the 25th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1879.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORGE HAMMERS." [A communica-
tion from abroad by Max Hasse, of Berlin, in the German Empire.]
This Invention relates to that description of forge hammers in which the hammer
block has a vertical stem passing up between two nipping rollers to which rotary
motion is imparted, whereby they effect the raising of the stem and consequently of
the hammer block, until by means of a governing lever the one roller is moved
slightly away from the stem and thus allows the hammer block to fall again.
According to the present Invention the said stem instead of being made of equal
thickness throughout its length as heretofore is only made of equal thickness up to
a certain distance above the hammer head, at which point it suddenly increases in
thickness by a shoulder on either side, and thence gradually increases in thickness
towards the upper end. By this arrangement the action of the hammer will be
under about as perfect control of the operator as a steam hammer, as the hammer
block will only rise so long as the governor lever is moved in order to cause the
nipping rollers to follow up the decreasing thickness of tapering the stem as it
passes up between them, while its descent will be equally governed by bringing the
nipping rollers into such position as to more or less check the downward motion at
any point. On the other hand the beforementioned sudden decrease of thickness of
the stem at a certain point near the lower end prevents the hammer block from
being lifted too high, as when such point passes between the rollers these will cease
to nip the stem, and the hammer block will consequently cease to rise.
The two nipping rollers each have their axes mounted excentrically in cylindrical
bearing blocks carried by the framing, to one of which blocks is attached an arm
connected by a rod to the governing or steering lever below, while both blocks are
[Price 6dl

page_text: geared together by toothed segments, so that as the steering lever is moved so as
to raise the arm of the one eccentric bearing both bearings will be turned so as to
move both the nipping rollers away from the stem, while by the contrary motion
they will both be made to approach and nip it. The steering lever or the rod con-
necting it to the eccentric bearings is connected to an adjustible spring, the tension
of which is made to balance the weight of the lever, so that this will remain in
whatever position it is placed in when let go of by the operator, and thus the
hammer block will be held suspended in the corresponding position. By causing
both nipping rollers to move to and from the stem of the hammer, as above
described, instead of only one of thein, as in former hammers of this class, only half
the amount of lateral motion has to be imparted to each roller, and they are made
to nip the stem in the centre line, thus avoiding any bending of the stem and
making it much easier to handle the hammer, and also affording better proportions
to the lever and connecting pieces. In order to insure uniform speed of rotation of
the nipping rollers as much as possible, whether in or out of action, both axes are
provided with fly wheels, serving at the same time as driving pullies.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th October
1879.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORGE HAMMERS." A communica-
tion from abroad by Max Hasse, of Berlin, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to that description of forge hammers in which the hammer
block has a vertical stem passing up between two nipping rollers, to which rotary
motion is imparted, whereby they effect the raising of the stem and consequently
of the hammer block until by means of a governing lever the one roller is moved
slightly away from the stem, and thus allows the hammer block to fall again.
According to the present Invention the said stem instead of being made of equal
thickness throughout its length as heretofore is only made of equal thickness up to
a certain distance above the hammer head, at which point it suddenly increases in
thickness by a shoulder on either side, and thence gradually increases in thickness
towards the upper end. By this arrangement the action of the hammer will be
under about as perfect control of the operator as a steam hammer, as the hammer
block will only rise so long as the governor lever is moved, in order to cause the
nipping rollers to follow up the decreasing thickness of tapering of the stem as it
passes up between them, while its descent will be equally governed by bringing the
nipping rollers in such position as to more or less check the downward motion at
any point. On the other hand the before mentioned sudden decrease of thickness
of the stem at a certain point near the lower end prevents the hammer block from
being lifted too high, as when such point passes between the rollers these will cease
to nip the stem and the hammer block will consequently cease to rise.
The two nipping rollers each have their axes mounted eccentrically in cylindrical
bearing blocks carried by the framing, to one of which blocks is attached
an arm connected by a rod to the governing or steering lever below, while both
blocks are geared together by toothed segments, so that as the steering lever
is moved so as to raise the arm of the one eccentric bearing both bearings will be
turned so as to move both the nipping rollers away from the stem, while by the
contrary motion they will both be made to approach and nip it. The steering
lever or the rod connecting it to the eccentric bearings is connected to an adjustable
spring, the tension of which is made to balance the weight of the lever so that this
will remain in whatever position it is placed in when let go of by the operator, and
thus the hammer block will be held suspended in the corresponding position. By
causing both nipping rollers to move to and from the stem of the hammer, as above
described, instead of only one of them, as in former hammers of this class, only half
the amount of lateral motion has to be imparted to each roller, and they are made
to nip the stem in the centre line, thus avoiding any bending of the stem and
making it much easier to handle the hammer, and also affording better proportions
to the lever and connecting pieces. In order to insure uniform speed of rotation of
the nipping rollers as much as possible, whether in or out of action, both axes are
provided with fly wheels, serving at the same time as driving pullies. The taper
might of course be formed entirely on one side of the stem, in which case the roller
on the other side would run in fixed bearings, but the above arrangement is
preferred.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a hammer according to this Invention; and Fig. 2 is a
vertical section through the eccentric bearings of the friction rollers A, A. These

page_text: thickness towards its lower end, as shewn. At a point the thickness undergoes
a sudden diminution, so that when the hammer is raised its full height the rollers
can exert no farther grip to raise it higher. The axes of the rollers A, A, carry fly-
wheels, either of which may serve as a driving pulley. These axes revolve in
eccentric bearings C, C, which are geared together by toothed segments D, D. E is
the steering or governing lever, connected by a rod F to an arm projecting from one
of the eccentric bearings; the weight of the lever E is counteracted by a spring G in
addition to the weight of the rod F.
The eccentric bearings are so arranged that on raising the lever E the rollers
A, A, are brought nearer together, nipping the hammer stem B and raising the
hammers, but by depressing the lever E the rollers are separated, relieving the
hammer stem from their grip so that the hammer descends. The hammer stem is
made of wood, as shewn in part vertical section at Fig. 3, the wood being in three
thicknesses, a strong middle core with a facing on each side, the whole secured
together by trenails. It is of advantage to have the grain of the wood facings
lying diagonally in opposite directions, as indicated by the part elevation, Fig. 4.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim in respect of forge hammers or stamps worked by nipping rollers,-
First. Making the hammer stem of tapering form with an abrupt shoulder, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. Mounting the axes of both the nipping rollers in eccentric bearings
geared together, substantially as herein described.
Third. The combination of the tapered stem B, the nipping rollers A, with fly
wheels, the geared eccentric bearings C, and the actuating lever E, partly balanced
by the adjustable spring G, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Simon, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
HENRY SIMON. (L.S.)