IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS, REQUIRING SUCH A PROCESS
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. WILLIAM
WILKINSON NICHOLSON, of Acton Street, Grays Inn Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the twelfth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Wilkinson Nicholson, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said William Wilkinson Nicholson, my
exors, adiñiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Wilkinson
Nicholson, my exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully, might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS, REQUIRING SUCH A
PROCESS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the
said William Wilkinson Nicholson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what, mauner the same is to be performed, and to cause
the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto bad,
will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Wilkinson Nicholson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for Compressing Wood and
other Materials requiring such a Process" relates principally to improved
means of compressing quoins, wedges, treenails, pins, and other similar articles
for railway purposes.
I am aware that these articles have been heretofore compressed and hardened,
and their elasticity in a great measure, if not entirely destroyed, by forcing
them, by means of great pressure, into strong metal moulds, and there retain-
ing them for some time.
The object of my Invention, however, is to compress the articles in such a
manner, and to such an extent, as will not destroy the elasticity of the material,
but allow the article, when placed in favorable circumstances, to expand again
to nearly its original dimensions, so that when a wedge or quoin, for instance,
in a dry state, and compressed according to my plan, is employed for securing
a rail in a chair, it may be made to hold the rail tightly in its place by merely
damping the wooden wedge, and allowing it to expand, which it will always do
when exposed to moisture, provided its elasticity be not impaired or destroyed
by a lengthened exposure to pressure and heat from steam or otherwise.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn three different machines
for compressing the articles above mentioned, or such others as require such a
process.
The several Figures in Sheet I. represent my improvements as applied to
compressing wedges for railway purposes.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine complete.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view, shewing only the lower portion of the
framing, together with the main shaft and driving gear, and the cam for giving
the pressure.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine complete, and Fig. 4 is a longi-
tudinal section through the centre of the machine, shewing the same working
parts as Figures 2 and 3.
Fig. 5 represents an end elevation of the frame and table of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of the machine in the line 4 D

page_text: Fig. 3, shewing the compressing arms and boxes, and also the main driving
shaft, with the cam thereon, for communicating motion to the compressing
arms.
Fig. 7 is a similar section through the machine, taken in the line C, D, of
Fig. 3, and shewing the bevil gear that drives the crank and sliding table.
Fig. 8 is a back elevation of the frame and table, with the driving gear
removed.
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, are different views, on an enlarged scale, of the
compressing boxes, and the working parts connected therewith.
Fig. 9 is an elevation of the cam, shewing also the centre lever connected
with the compressing arms and boxes.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the sliding table.
Fig. 11 is a similar view of a portion of one of the compressing arms and
box. And
Fig. 12 is a front view of one of the compressing boxes and wedge.
The wood to be compressed must first be cut or formed into the proper size
and shape, and then thoroughly dried, after which it will be ready. to be operated
upon by the machine. The object of the operation is to compress the blocks
The wooden
sideways, whilst their length remains the same, or nearly so.
blocks or wedges are placed in strong cast or wrought iron boxes, of which
there are one, two, or any convenient number, on each side of the machine;
and each box is furnished with a compressing block or plunger, the inner
surface of which is shaped to the form of the wooden block or wedge. As it
is sometimes necessary to use the machine for compressing blocks or wedges
of different dimensions and shapes, the compressing blocks or plungers are
made moveable, so that they may be detached from the arms and other com-
pressing blocks affixed in their place. They are also made adjustable on the
arms by connecting them thereto by means of adjusting screws, so that the
plungers may be made to enter the boxes more or less, according to the size of
the wooden blocks or wedges, or the degree of compression required. The
construction of the machine will be best understood by describing its operation,
which is as follows:-
The wooden blocks to be compressed, having been made as aforesaid of the
proper shape, are placed, one behind the other, in the troughs or channels, A, A,
Fig. 1, along which they are driven forward by the sliding table or plate B, B,
into the compressing boxes D, D, the table B being furnished at each side with
a driver d for that purpose, as seen best in Fig. 10, which is a plan view of
the table detached from the machine. One of the wooden wedges or blocks
on each side of the machine, having, by the forward motion of the table. or

page_text: plate B, B, being pushed into the compressing boxes, the table recedes, and
while it, is returning to its original position, as shewn in Fig. 1, the large cam E
acts against the friction wheel at the lower end of the central arm or lever F
and raises the same, thereby causing the arms G, G, to straighten, as shewn
best in Fig. 6, and thus drive the plungers.or metal blocks, g, g, into the com-
pressing boxes D, D, and compress the wooden wedge a therein, as shewn in
the Figure, and thereby reduce the wedge to the size and shape required. As
soon as the point of the cam E passes the friction roller of, the arm F, the latter
immediately falls, and draws down with it the arms G, G, thereby withdrawing
the plungers 9, 9, from the, compressing boxes D, D, and releasing the wooden
wedges a, a, from pressure. The table, or plate B, B, then moves forward
again, and by driving onward another and fresh pair of wedges a, a, forces the
previous ones out of the compression boxes D, and takes their places, and are
acted upon in their turn by the plungers g, g, at the ends of the compressing
arms G, G.
It will sometimes happen that a wedge or block of too large a size will
accidentally get into the machine, and when such is the case there is great
danger of breaking some of the parts of the machine. I however obviate this
by mounting the bevil wheel loosely, on the vertical shaft, and causing it to
drive by means of a clutch on its boss, as shewn in Figs. 4 and 7. The upper
half of this clutch is connected to the shaft by means of a feather,' which will
admit of its rising up on the shaft; and it is kept in contact with the lower half
of the clutch on the boss of the wheel by means of rings of vulcanized india
rubber, which, by admitting of compression, will allow the bevil wheel and
the clutch to rise up on the shaft when any extraordinary strain takes place,
and by thus yielding will prevent any derangement of the machinery from
taking place.
The peculiar advantage and utility of wedges prepared in the manner
above set forth is, that as long as they are kept dry they will retain the
form and dimensions to which they have been compressed by the machine, but
on being exposed to damp and moisture they will gradually expand again, and
at last resume their original dimensions, or nearly so. From this it will be at
once understood that if a wedge so prepared is kept quite dry until it is driven
into the chair, it will in the course of a few hours begin to expand at each end,
and will exert a great elastic force, which will tend to hold the rail more
firmly, and will also prevent the wedge from falling or being shaken out of the
chair.
"
In Sheet 2 I have shewn two sectional views of another machine for com-
pressing and shaping wood or other materials.

page_text: Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the middle of the
machine, and Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section of the same. "The
machine consists principally of two, three, or more pairs of compressing rollers,
between which the wood is passed, and, after being compressed, is carried for-
ward thereby into and through a box fitted with plane irons, whereby any super-
fluous material is cut or planed off, and the compressed wedges are delivered out
of the opposite end of the box ready for use. The lower range of compressing
rollers B, B, B, have a channel or groove made therein for the purpose of
receiving the wood to be operated upon, and the section of such groove is made
to correspond to the section of the intended compressed wedge, as seen best in
Fig. 14. The upper set of rollers C, C, C, have a ring or fillet which fits into
the groove of the lower set, of course leaving sufficient space for the passage
of the wedge E between them. Each pair of rollers is also furnished with
adjusting screws F, F, whereby the distance between them, and consequently
the amount of pressure, can be easily regulated. The several pairs of rollers
are so adjusted that a gradual compression of the wedge E takes place in the
following manner: -The uncompressed wedge or piece of wood is placed in a
box A, Fig. 13, at the left-hand end of the machine, and being pushed forward
by the attendant is guided by the box A to the grip of the first pair of rollers,
by which the wood is slightly compressed and carried forward along the table
or plate H to the second pair, where it receives a second and greater amount of
compression, by the second pair of rollers the wedge is carried forward to the third
and last where the compression is completed, and from thence the compressed
wedge passes into the box D, which, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 13,
is furnished with a number of plane irons, whereby any superfluous material is
cut off and removed, each iron being so adjusted as to take off merely a
shaving, and thus reduce the wedge to the size required. In operating with
this machine the attendant has only to feed the box A with the wedges to be
compressed, and take care that the first pair of rollers takes hold or grips
one end of the wedge, when the latter will be carried into and through the
machine, and will push out of the box D any wedge that has preceded it.
The means of actuating the several parts will be so clearly understood by
inspecting the Drawing that I do not think it will be necessary to enter into
any detailed explanation on this point.
In Sheet 3 I have shewn various views of a machine for compressing pins
or treenails. The machine consists principally of a horizontal travelling table,
to which a reciprocating motion is communicated by means of a crank on the
vertical main shaft, for the purpose of driving forward the pins, treenails, or

page_text: other articles to be compressed into dies, holes, or tubes made or let into the
periphery of revolving plates or tables, and which dies, holes, or tubes extend
across or from edge to edge of the plates. There are two of these revolving
tables or plates, one on each side of the machine; and as each table is
furnished with two dies, it follows that at every revolution of the main vertical
shaft four pins or treenails are driven into the dies, and compressed. The
revolving plates, in which are the dies for compressing the pins, are made to
rotate on their vertical axles one half of a revolution for every backward or
forward motion of the travelling table, so that when the travelling table has
forced two wooden pins into one end of the dies of the revolving plate, and
travels back to the dies of the second plate on the other side of the machine, the
first revolving table will at the same time turn half round on its spindle,
and present the opposite end of the dies, into which the travelling table on its
return will force two more pins, and will by this operation push out at the
opposite end the two pins already compressed in the dies by the previous
motion.
Fig. 1, in Sheet III. of the Drawings, represents a longitudinal vertical
section taken through the machine in the line A, B, of the plan view, Fig. 4.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line C, D,
of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, shewing the revolving
plates with their dies in section; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine
complete. C, C, is the travelling table, which is slidden backwards and
forwards on the guides or rails F, F, by means of the crank A on the upper
end of the vertical shaft U, U. The pin of this crank A carries a nut B,
which works in a slot in the travelling table C. The pins or treenails G, G,
to be compressed, are placed by the attendant in grooves or channels imme-
diately in front of the travelling table C, by the reciprocating motion of which
they are pushed forward on each side alternately into the dies made in the
revolving plates H, H, one of which is fitted on each side or end of the
'machine.
Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of one of these tables and its appendages,
from which it will be seen that the lower side of the tables is furnished with
a vertical pin or spindle h, which carries a toothed wheel or pinion L, which
is mounted loosely on the spindle or pin, and gears into a rack K, as seen in
Fig. 1, and shewn by dots in Fig. 3, and detached at Fig. 8. These racks K
are connected to the under side of the travelling table C, and consequently
move backwards and forwards with it. It will be obvious that while the
wooden pins or treenails G are being forced by the onward motion of the

page_text: travelling table C into the dies of the revolving plates or tables H, the latter
must remain stationary. This is effected by causing a spring catch I to catch
into a notch made in the under side of each of the plates H, as shewn at 1,
in Fig. 3. There is a notch of this kind on each side of the plates H, into
which the catch I takes, and holds the plate firmly at every half revolution
until the pin or treenail to be compressed is driven quite into the dies. It
will be seen, upon referring to Figs. 1 and 3, and the detached view, Fig. 7,
that the outer edge of the catch I" is bevelled off, and that it projects up
through the stationary bed of the machine between the channels along which
the pins or treenails G are pushed into the dies. This being the case, it will
be evident that when the edge of the travelling table C comes against the
bevilled edge of the catch I, it will depress the latter, and release the revolving
table from the catch, and allow it to move freely on its centre. Immediately,
however, that the table C recedes, and releases the catch 1, it is forced up
again by the elasticity of the india rubber springs P (see Figs. 1 and 7), and
presses against the under side of the revolving table H until one of the notches
comes round, when it springs into the notch, and holds the table until it is
again released. The rack K is always in gear witli the toothed pinion Lon
the spindle of the revolving plate H, and consequently this pinion always
follows the motions of the rack; but as the pinion L is mounted loosely on
the spindle h of the revolving table, it allows the rack K to come forward
without causing the table to revolve, but when the rack travels back again a
pall or click M (see Figs. 1 and 8) comes against a tooth of the clutch piece
N, which is fixed on the spindle h, and drives the clutch, N, and consequently
the table H with it, round one half of a revolution, but when the rack
advances again the click or pall M passes in the opposite direction over the
teeth of the clutch without acting upon them. In order that the points of
the pins or treenails may not become injured, as would be the case if the
points of two pins were driven with great force against each other, I place in
the dies of the revolving tables or plates H a little apparatus, which I call a
spring buffer, that carries at each end a small die to receive the point of the
pin or treenail. This spring buffer is shewn clearly in Fig. 3, and detached
upon an enlarged scale at Fig. 6. W, W, are the dies to receive the points
of the pins, and at the back of these dies are small pistons which enter the
ends of a cylinder, and bear against pieces of vulcanized india rubber or some
other highly elastic material, which, by yielding to great pressure, prevents the
points of the pins from becoming injured, and also assists in pushing out the
compressed treeuail when another is forced into the dies at the opposite side,

page_text: as seen at the right-hand side of Fig. 1. In order to prevent the spring
buffers from being pushed or falling out of the dies, they are furnished with a
hempen, leather, or other packing, which, being wound round the cylindrical
part of the buffer, as shewn in Fig. 6, causes it to fit the dies. "**
The mode of actuating, the several parts, and also the operation of the
machine, will be so clearly-understood by inspecting the Drawings that it will
be unnecessary to give any more detailed, explanation thereof. I would there-
fore merely observe, in conclusion, that although I have shewn and described
the best means with which I am, acquainted for carrying my several improve-
ments into effect, yet I:do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly to the
precise arrangement or construction of parts herein shewn and described, as
they may doubtless be varied without departing from the nature and object of
my Invention.
But that which I consider to be new, and therefore wish to
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement of the machine shewn in Sheet F. as applied
for compressing wedges for railway purposes or other similar articles requiring
such a process, or any mere modification thereof, in which the material to be
compressed is forced into a stationary box or die, from which it is afterwards
pushed out by the next succeeding wedge or block to be compressed, the
elasticity of the wood not having been destroyed by such compression.
Second, I claim the general construction and arrangement of the machine
shewn in Sheet 2, whereby wedges or blocks are compressed by passing them
between two or more pairs, of rollers, and the superfluous material is removed
therefrom after such compressing, by a series of plane irons or other cutting
instruments, so as to reduce them all to an uniform size and form.
Third, as regards compressing pins or treenails, I claim the machine shewn
in Sheet 3, or any mere modification thereof, in which the pins or treenails
to be compressed are driven into dies made in or attached to revolving or
moveable plates or tables arranged in such a manner that the act of forcing
in one pin may push out the one previously compressed.
I also claim the use of the spring buffer shewn at Fig. 6, or any similar
contrivance when employed for a like purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wilkinson Nicholson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal,, this Twenty-seventh day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
(L.S.) W. W. NICHOLSON, C.E.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-seventh day of March,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid William Wilkinson Nicholson
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WILKINSON NICHOLSON, of Acton Street, Grays Inn Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the twelfth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Wilkinson Nicholson, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said William Wilkinson Nicholson, my
exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Wilkinson
Nicholson, my exors, adññors, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and. in all
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR COMPRESSING WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS REQUIRING SUCH
PROCESS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the
said William Wilkinson Nicholson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause
the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto bad,
will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Wilkinson Nicholson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said In-
vention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for Compressing Wood and
other Materials requiring such a Process" relates principally to improved
means of compressing quoins, wedges, treenails, pins, and other similar articles
for railway purposes.
I am aware that these articles have been heretofore compressed and hardened,
and their elasticity in a great measure, if not entirely destroyed, by forcing
them, by means of great pressure, into strong metal moulds, and there retain-
ing them for some time.
The object of my Invention, however, is to compress the articles in such a
manner, and to such an extent, as will not destroy the elasticity of the material,
but allow the article, when placed in favorable circumstances, to expand again
to nearly its original dimensions, so that when a wedge or quoin, for instance,
in a dry state, and compressed according to my plan, is employed for securing
a rail in a chair, it may be made to hold the rail tightly in its place by merely
damping the wooden wedge, and allowing it to expand, which it will always do
when exposed to moisture, provided its elasticity be not impaired or destroyed
by a lengthened exposure to pressure and heat from steam or otherwise.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn three different machines
for compressing the articles above mentioned, or such others as require such a
process.
The several Figures in Sheet I. represent my improvements as applied to
compressing wedges for railway purposes.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine complete.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view, shewing only the lower portion of the
framing, together with the main shaft and driving gear, and the cam for giving
the pressure.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine complete, and Fig. 4 is a longi-
tudinal section through the centre of the machine, shewing the same working
parts as Figures 2 and 8.
Fig. 5 represents an end elevation of the frame and table of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of the machine in the line A, B, of

page_text: Fig. 8, shewing the compressing arms and boxes, and also the main driving
shaft, with the cam thereon, for cominunicating motion to the compressing
arms.
Fig. 7 is a similar section through the machine, taken in the line C, D, of
Fig. 3, and shewing the bevil gear that drives the crank and sliding table.
Fig. 8 is a back elevation of the frame and table, with the driving gear
removed.
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, are different views, on an enlarged scale, of the
compressing boxes, and the working parts connected therewith.
Fig. 9 is an elevation of the cam, shewing also the centre lever connected
with the compressing arms and boxes.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of the sliding table.
Fig. 11 is a similar view of a portion of one of the compressing arms and
box. And
Fig. 12 is a front view of one of the compressing boxes and wedge.
The wood to be compressed must first be cut or formed into the proper size
and shape, and then thoroughly dried, after which it will be ready to be operated
upon by the machine. The object of the operation is to compress the blocks
sideways, whilst their length remains the same, or nearly so. The wooden
blocks or wedges are placed in strong cast or wrought iron boxes, of which
there are one, two, or any convenient number, on each side of the machine;
and each box is furnished with a compressing block or plunger, the inner
surface of which is shaped to the form of the wooden block or wedge. As it
is sometimes necessary to use the machine for compressing blocks or wedges
of different dimensions and shapes, the compressing blocks or plungers are
made moveable, so that they may be detached from the arms and other com-
pressing blocks affixed in their place. They are also made adjustable on the
arms by connecting them thereto by means of adjusting screws, so that the
plungers may be made to enter the boxes more or less, according to the size of
the wooden blocks or wedges, or the degree of compression required. The
construction of the machine will be best. understood by describing its operation,
which is as follows:-
The wooden blocks to be compressed, having been made as aforesaid of the
proper shape, are placed, one behind the other, in the troughs or channels, A, A,
Fig. 1, along which they are driven forward by the sliding table or plate B, B,
into the compressing boxes D, D, the table B being furnished at each side with
a driver d for that purpose, as seen best in Fig. 10, which is a plan view of
the table detached from the machine. One of the wooden wedges or blocks
on each side of the machine, having, by the forward motion of the table or

page_text: plate B, 13, being pushed into the compressing boxes, the table recedes, and
while it is returning to its original position, as shewn in Fig. 1, the large cam E
acts against the friction wheel at the lower end of the central arm or lever F
and raises the same, thereby causing the arms G, G, to straighten, as shewn
best in Fig. 6, and thus drive the plungers or metal blocks g, g, into the com-
pressing boxes D, D, and compress the wooden wedge a therein, as shown in
the Figure, and thereby reduce the wedge to the size and shape required. As
soon as the point of the cam E passes the friction roller of the arm F, the latter
immediately falls, and draws down with it the arms G, G, thereby withdrawing
the plungers g, g, from the compressing boxes D, D, and releasing the wooden
wedges a, a, from pressure. The table or plate B, B, then moves forward
again, and by driving onward another and fresh pair of wedges a, a, forces the
previous ones out of the compression boxes D, and takes their places, and are
acted upon in their turn by the plungers g, g, at the ends of the compressing
arms G, G.
It will sometimes happen that a wedge or block of too large a size will
accidentally get into the machine, and when such is the case there is great
danger of breaking some of the parts of the machine. I however obviate this
by mounting the bevil wheel loosely on the vertical shaft, and causing it to
drive by means of a clutch on its boss, as shewn in Figs. 4 and 7. The upper
half of this clutch is connected to the shaft by means of a feather, which will
admit of its rising up on the shaft; and it is kept in contact with the lower half
of the clutch on the boss of the wheel by means of rings of vulcanized india
rubber, which, by admitting of compression, will allow the bevil wheel and
the clutch to rise up on the shaft when any extraordinary strain takes place,
and by thus yielding will prevent any derangement of the machinery from
taking place.
The peculiar advantage and utility of wedges prepared in the manner
above set forth is, that as long as they are kept dry they will retain the
form and dimensions to which they have been compressed by the machine, but
on being exposed to damp and moisture they will gradually expand again, and
at last resume their original dimensions, or nearly so. From this it will be at
once understood that if a wedge so prepared is kept quite dry until it is driven
into the chair, it will in the course of a few hours begin to expand at each end,
and will exert a great elastic force, which will tend to hold the rail more
firmly, and will also prevent the wedge from falling or being shaken out of the
chair.
In Sheet 2 I have shewn two sectional views of another machine for com-
pressing and shaping wood or other materials.

page_text: Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the middle of the
machine, and Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section of the same. The
machine consists principally of two, three, or more pairs of compressing rollers,
between which the wood is passed, and, after being compressed, is carried for-
ward thereby into and through a box fitted with plane irons, whereby any super-
fluous material is cut or planed off, and the compressed wedges are delivered out
of the opposite end of the box ready for use. The lower range of compressing
rollers B, B, B, have a channel or groove made therein for the purpose of
receiving the wood to be operated upon, and the section of such groove is made
to correspond to the section of the intended compressed wedge, as seen best in
Fig. 14. The upper set of rollers C, C, C, have a ring or fillet which fits into
the groove of the lower set, of course leaving sufficient space for the passage
of the wedge E between them. Each pair of rollers is also furnished with
adjusting screws F, F, whereby the distance between them, and consequently
the amount of pressure, can be easily regulated. The several pairs of rollers
are so adjusted that a gradual compression of the wedge E takes place in the
following manner: -The uncompressed wedge or piece of wood is placed in a
box A, Fig. 13, at the left-hand end of the machine, and being pushed forward
by the attendant is guided by the box A to the grip of the first pair of rollers,
by which the wood is slightly compressed and carried forward along the table
or plate H to the second pair, where it receives a second and greater amount of
compression, by the second pair of rollers the wedge is carried forward to the third
and last where the compression is completed, and from thence the compressed
wedge passes into the box D, which, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 13,
is furnished with a number of plane irons, whereby any superfluous material is
cut off and removed, each iron being so adjusted as to take off merely a
shaving, and thus reduce the wedge to the size required. In operating with
this machine the attendant has only to feed the box A with the wedges to be
compressed, and take care that the first pair of rollers takes hold or grips
one end of the wedge, when the latter will be carried into and through the
machine, and will push out of the box D any wedge that has preceded it.
The means of actuating the several parts will be so clearly understood by
inspecting the Drawing that I do not think it will be necessary to enter into
any detailed explanation on this point.
In Sheet 3 I have shewn various views of a machine for compressing pins
or treenails. The machine consists principally of a horizontal travelling table,
to which a reciprocating motion is communicated by means of a crank on the
vertical main shaft, for the purpose of driving forward the pins, treenails, or

page_text: other articles to be compressed into dies, holes, or tubes made or let into the
periphery of revolving plates or tables, and which dies, holes, or tubes extend
across or from edge to edge of the plates. There are two of these revolving
tables or plates, one on each side of the machine; and as cach table is
furnished with two dies, it follows that at every revolution of the main vertical
shaft four pins or treenails are driven into the dies, and compressed. The
revolving plates, in which are the dies for compressing the pins, are made to
rotate on their vertical axles one half of a revolution for every backward or
forward motion of the travelling table, so that when the travelling table has
forced two wooden pins into one end of the dies of the revolving plate, and
travels back to the dies of the second plate on the other side of the machine, the
first revolving table will at the same time turn half round on its spindle,
and present the opposite end of the dies, into which the travelling table on its
return will force two more pins, and will by this operation push out at the
opposite end the two pins already compressed in the dies by the previous
motion.
Fig. 1, in Sheet III. of the Drawings, represents a longitudinal vertical
section taken through the machine in the line A, B, of the plan view, Fig. 4.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line C, D,
of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, shewing the revolving
plates with their dies in section; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine
complete. C, C, is the travelling table, which is slidden backwards and
forwards on the guides or rails F, F, by means of the crank A on the upper
end of the vertical shaft U, U. The pin of this crank A carries a nut B,
which works in a slot in the travelling table C. The pins or treenails G, G,
to be compressed, are placed by the attendant in grooves or channels imme-
diately in front of the travelling table C, by the reciprocating motion of which
they are pushed forward on each side alternately into the dies made in the
revolving plates H, H, one of which is fitted on each side or end of the
machine.
Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of one of these tables and its appendages,
from which it will be seen that the lower side of the tables is furnished with
a vertical pin or spindle h, which carries a toothed wheel or pinion L, which
is mounted loosely on the spindle or pin, and gears into a rack K, as seen in
Fig. 1, and shewn by dots in Fig. 3, and detached at Fig. 8. These racks K
are connected to the under side of the travelling table C, and consequently
move backwards and forwards with it. It will be obvious that while the
wooden pins or treenails G are being forced by the onward motion of the

page_text: travelling table C into the dies of the revolving plates or tables H, the latter
must remain stationary. This is effected by causing a spring catch I to catch
into a notch made in the under side of each of the plates H, as shewn at 1,
in Fig. 3. There is a notch of this kind on each side of the plates H, into
which the catch I takes, and holds the plate firmly at every half revolution
until the pin or treenail to be compressed is driven quite into the dies. It
will be seen, upon referring to Figs. 1 and 3, and the detached view, Fig. 7,
that the outer edge of the catch I" is bevelled off, and that it projects up
through the stationary bed of the machine between the channels along which
the pins or treenails G are pushed into the dies. This being the case, it will
be evident that when the edge of the travelling table C comes against the
bevilled edge of the catch I, it will depress the latter, and release the revolving
table from the catch, and allow it to move freely on its centre. Immediately,
however, that the table C recedes, and releases the catch I, it is forced up.
again by the elasticity of the india rubber springs P (see Figs. 1 and 7), and
presses against the under side of the revolving table H until one of the notches
comes round, when it springs into the notch, and holds the table until it is
again released. The rack K is always in gear with the toothed pinion L on
the spindle of the revolving plate H, and consequently this pinion always
follows the motions of the rack; but as the pinion L is mounted loosely on
the spindle h of the revolving table, it allows the rack K to come forward.
without causing the table to revolve, but when the rack travels back again a
pall or click M (see Figs. 1 and 8) comes against a tooth of the clutch piece
N, which is fixed on the spindle h, and drives the clutch N, and consequently
the table H with it, round one half of a revolution, but when the rack
advances again the click or pall M passes in the opposite direction over the
teeth of the clutch without acting upon them. In order that the points of
the pins or treenails may not become injured, as would be the case if the
points of two pins were driven with great force against each other, I place in
the dies of the revolving tables or plates H a little apparatus, which I call a
spring buffer, that carries at each end a small die to receive the point of the
pin or treenail. This spring buffer is shewn clearly in Fig. 3, and detached
upon an enlarged scale at Fig. 6. W, W, are the dies to receive the points
of the pins, and at the back of these dies are small pistons which enter the
ends of a cylinder, and bear against pieces of vulcanized india rubber or some
other highly elastic material, which, by yielding to great pressure, prevents the
points of the pins from becoming injured, and also assists in pushing out the
compressed treenail when another is forced into the dies at the opposite side,

page_text: as seen at the right-hand side of Fig. 1. In order to prevent the spring
buffers from being pushed or falling out of the dies, they are furnished with a
hempen, leather, or other packing, which, being wound round the cylindrical
part of the buffer, as shewn in Fig. 6, causes it to fit the dies.
The mode of actuating the several parts, and also the operation of the
machine, will be so clearly understood by inspecting the Drawings that it will
be unnecessary to give any more detailed explanation thereof. I would there-
fore merely observe, in conclusion, that although I have shewn and described
the best means with which I am acquainted for carrying my several improve-
ments into effect, yet I do not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly to the
precise arrangement or construction of parts herein shewn and described, as
they may doubtless be varied without departing from the nature and object of
my Invention. But that which I consider to be new, and therefore wish to
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is,
First, the general arrangement of the machine shewn in Sheet I. as applied
for compressing wedges for railway purposes or other similar articles requiring
such a process, or any mere modification thereof, in which the material to be
compressed is forced into a stationary box or die, from which it is afterwards
pushed out by the next succeeding wedge or block to be compressed, the
elasticity of the wood not having been destroyed by such compression.
Second, I claim the general construction and arrangement of the machine
shewn in Sheet 2, whereby wedges or blocks are compressed by passing them
between two or more pairs of rollers, and the superfluous material is removed
therefrom after such compressing by a series of plane irons or other cutting
instruments, so as to reduce them all to an uniform size and form.
Third, as regards compressing pins or treenails, I claim the machine shewn
in Sheet 3, or any mere modification thereof, in which the pins or treenails
to be compressed are driven into dies made in or attached to revolving or
moveable plates or tables arranged in such a manner that the act of forcing
in one pin may push out the one previously compressed.
I also claim the use of the spring buffer shewn at Fig. 6, or any similar
contrivance when employed for a like purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wilkinson Nicholson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
(L.S.) W. W. NICHOLSON, C.E.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-seventh day of March,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid William Wilkinson Nicholson
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-seventh day of March,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid William Wilkinson Nicholson
came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
Enrolled the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.