IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING, PLANING, SHAPING, ROLLING, AND RIVETTING BOILER PLATES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Betts Brown, of Rosebank Iron Works,
Edinburgh, in the County of Edinburghshire, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING, PLANING,
SHAPING, ROLLING, AND RIVETTING BOILER PLATES.”
Sealed the 20th July 1875, and dated, the 1st May 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Betts Brown
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st May 1875.
I, ANDREW BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in
the County of Edinburghshire, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING,
PLANING, SHAPING, ROLLING, AND RIVETTING BOILER PLATES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object planing, punching, rolling, and
rivetting plates, and consists,-
Firstly. Of a combined self-acting planing and punching machine,
which is by preference actuated by hydraulic power.

page_text: actuated by hydraulic cylinders.
Thirdly. A hydraulic flanging press for shaping plates.
And, Fourthly. In the method of rivetting plates cold.
In accordance with this Invention I arrange a lathe bed having a
table working upon it, which table carries the plate to be planed. This
table slides upon the usual V slides, and is propelled to or fro on the
lathe bed by a hydraulic cylinder attached to it, having a ram fitted
therein. This ram, which is by preference single acting, propels it in
one direction against the cutting edge of the planing tool held by a slide
rest arrangement carried by the punching machine frame, and another
cylinder fitted to the table has a smaller ram fitted therein, which being
open to the constant hydraulic pressure returns the table on the larger
cylinder having its water exhausted. At right, angles to this lathe bed
is fitted a punching machine which also has upon its side the herein-
before mentioned planing tool.
b
This punching machine consists of the well known form of a hydraulic
cylinder with plunger and die on its upper part and with a hollow bolster
to receive the punch on its under part, the planing tool occupying a
mid position. This punching machine is not fixed but slides out and in
at right angles to the lathe bed actuated by a screw and nut in the
ordinary way.
The planing of the plate is effected by admitting water to the larger
hydraulic cylinder which propels the plate against the cutting edge of
the tool fixed on the punching machine, the return stroke being made by
the smaller ram having a constant pressure upon it. When the plate is
planed the punching is effected by an ordinary valve applied to the
hydraulic cylinder (the plunger of which carries the punch) admitting
and exhausting water. The shifting of the plate, however, for the
spacing of the rivet holes is effected by a small pump having a variable
stroke, which is worked from the hydraulic pressure releasing a certain
measured quantity of water from the larger cylinder. The stroke of this
pump may be altered by a hand wheel to any desired amount.
To prevent error in punching plates in the event of the apparatus
being out of order a detector or following punch is attached to the
plunger having a lower level than the actual punch; and on the descent

page_text: of the plunger the detector is carried with it into the previously punched
hole. Should any variation of the distance take place and this detector
punch catch the side of a hole, it will at once open a valve in the
punching plunger, so that the pressure water in the cylinder will escape
and so prevent the next hole being punched. Suitable apparatus, by
means of right and left hand screws and vice jaws, is attached to the
travelling table, so that the plates may be readily clamped. No claim is
laid to any novelty in punching or traversing the plate under the punch
by mechanical means, but in the combination of planing, punching, and
traversing, as also in the detector punch.
In forming dished or saucer-shaped plates or other forms approximating
thereto, I construct an inverted hydraulic press carried on the top of
four or more pillars. This press is fitted with a ram carrying the
internal convex form of the die of the shape required. Underneath this
press another and smaller press is formed, being attached to the under
side of these four pillars; this smaller press has the concave part of the
saucer shaped form which fits the upper part. The smaller or under
press ram is half the area of the upper one. On the pillars is fixed an
open ring having curved edges which terminate in a perfect ring or
cylinder. The plate is placed between these dies which are caused to
approach one another by hydraulic pressure when the plate is thereby
dished or made to approach the form of a saucer or other required form.
It is then firmly held, when by communicating pressure to both
cylinders the upper hydraulic ram having double the area of the lower
one forces it down through the curved cylindrical ring, and thereby
forms a flange all round the saucer-shaped plate. The plate is then
removed from below, the smaller ram is used to raise the upper and
larger one, and the operation may be conducted again.
In rolling plates previously punched by such machinery to a true
cylinder as necessary for the boiler, in place of actuating the ordinary
system of three rolls by means of belting and shafting, I employ a hydraulic
cylinder fitted with a plunger or piston which is double-acting and has
fitted in connection with it a jointed toothed rack.
This rack engages
the pinion wheels of the lower rollers. This cylinder has a travel
equal to the longest plate required to be rolled in one stroke. The
pinions on the rollers have the same diameter as the rollers. When an
extraordinarily long plate is required to be rolled, the excentric which
carries the guide wheel is lowered to permit the rack to become

page_text: disengaged from the pinions of the rollers. By reversing the action of
the hydraulic cylinder the rack is withdrawn or makes its in-stroke, the
excentric and guide wheel is raised, re-engaging the rack with the
pinions when another stroke of the cylinder can be made and a plate of
double length rolled. The cylinder being double-acting the rollers can
be actuated in both directions. The upper roller has its bearings
actuated by hydraulic cylinders and rams, which when water is admitted
depress the upper roller so as to obtain the requisite curvature of the
plate.
It is convenient in large rolls, where long plates require to be rolled,
to make the pitch line of the pinions one-half the diameter of the rolls
which enables a shorter hydraulic cylinder to be used.
It is obvious that a similar arrangement can be applied to the two roll.
system for rolling ordinary bars, rails, &c., with great advantage,
dispensing with all reversing clutches.
In rivetting plates prepared as herein-before described, I use a
hydraulic rivetting machine of well kn description, having however
its rivetting dies reversed, that is, I prepare the rivets with round snap
heads which is usually larger than the head of a rivet, and when such
rivets are inserted in the plates holding against the round heads I form
the taper flat head proper with the snap or dic of the hydraulic press.
The advantage of this is, that rivets of good iron, which I anneal, may
be closed cold without cracking by forming the tapered head in place of
the half round snap. The force I employ to compress such rivets cold
is thirty tons for rivets of half an inch diameter, and more or less in
proportion to increasing or decreasing areas.
I lay no claim to cold rivetting generally, but simply to this particular
manner which produces superior work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Andrew Betts Brown in the Great Seal Patent 30
Office on the 29th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
BETTS BROWN, of Rosebank Iron Works, Edinburgh, in the County of
Edinburghshire, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her 'most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Andrew Betts Brown, Her special
licence, that I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Andrew Betts
Brown, my executors, administatrors; and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR PUNCHING,
PLANING, SHAPING, ROLLING, AND RIVETTING BOILER PLATES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Andrew Betts Brown,
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 Andrew Betts Brown, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its objects planing, punching, and rolling and
rivetting plates, and consists,-
Firstly. Of a combined self-acting planing and punching machine,
which is by preference actuated by hydraulic power.
Secondly. The plates are rolled by the ordinary three-roll system
actuated by hydraulic cylinders.
And, Thirdly. A hydraulic flanging press for shaping plates.
And, Fourthly. In the method of rivetting plates cold.
In accordance with this Invention I arrange a lathe bed having a
table working upon it, which table carries the plates to be planed. This
table slides upon the usual V slides, and is propelled to and fro on the

page_text: lathe bed by an hydraulic cylinder attached to it, having a ram fitted
therein. This ram, which is by preference single acting, propels it in one
direction against the cutting edge of the planing tool held by a slide
rest arrangement carried by the punching machine frame, and another
cylinder fitted to the table has a smaller ram fitted therein, which being
open to the constant hydraulic pressure returns the table on the larger
cylinder having its water exhausted. At right angles to this lathe bed.
is fitted a punching machine, which also has upon its side the herein-
before mentioned planing tool.
This punching machine consists of the well-known form of a hydraulic
cylinder, with plunger and die on its upper part, and with a hollow
bolster to receive the punch on its under part, the planing tool occupying
a mid position. This punching machine is not fixed, but slides out and
in at right angles to the lathe bed, actuated by a screw and nut in the
ordinary way.
The planing of the plate is effected by admitting water to the large
hydraulic cylinder, which propels the plate against the cutting edge of
the tool fixed on the punching machine, the return stroke being made
by the smaller ram having a constant pressure upon it. When the plate
is planed the punching is effected by an ordinary valve applied to the
hydraulic cylinder (the plunger of which carries the punch) admitting
and exhausting water. The shifting of the plates however for the
spacing of the rivet holes is effected by a small pump having a variable
stroke, which is worked from the hydraulic pressure, releasing a centro
measured quantity of water from the larger cylinder. The stroke of this
pump may be altered by a hand wheel to any desired amount.
To prevent error in punching plates in the event of the apparatus
being out of order a detector or following punch is attached to the
plunger, having a lower level than the actual punch, and on the descent
of the plunger the detector is carried with it into the previously punched
hole. Should any variation of the distance take place, and this detector
punch catch the side of a hole it will at once open a valve in the
punching plunger, so that the pressure water in the cylinder will escape,
and so prevent the next hole being punched. Suitable apparatus, by
means of right and left hand screws and vice jaws, is attached to the
travelling table so that the plates may be readily clamped. No claim
is laid to any novelty in punching or traversing the plate under the

page_text: .
punch by mechanical means, but in the combination of planing,
punching, and traversing, as also in the detector punch.
In forming dished or saucer-shaped plates, or other forms approxi-.
mating thereto, I construct an inverted hydraulic press carried on the
top of four or more pillars. This press is fitted with a ram carrying the.
internal form of the die of the shape required. Underneath this press
another and smaller press is formed, being attached to the under side of
these four pillars. This smaller press has the concave part of the saucer
shaped form, which fits the upper part. The smaller or under press ram
is half the area of the upper one. On the pillars is fixed an open ring
having curved edges which terminate in a perfect ring or cylinder. The
plate is placed between these dies, which are caused to approach one
another by hydraulic pressure, when the plate is thereby dished or made to
approach the form of a saucer or other required form. It is then firmly
held, when by communicating pressure to both cylinders the upper
hydraulic ram having double the area of the lower one forces it down
through the curved cylindrical ring, and thereby forms a flange all
round the saucer-shaped plate. The plate is then removed from below,
the smaller ram is used to raise the upper and larger one, and the
operation may be conducted again.
In rolling plates previously punched by such machinery to a true
cylinder, as necessary for the boiler, in place of actuating the ordinary
system of three rolls by means of belting and shafting, I employ a
hydraulic cylinder fitted with a plunger or piston, which is double
acting, and has fitted in connection with it a jointed toothed rack. This
rack engages the pinion wheels of the lower rollers. This cylinder has
a travel equal to the longest plate required to be rolled in one stroke.
The pinions on the rollers have the same diameter as the rollers. When
an extraordinarily long plate is required to be rolled the excentrix which
carries the guide wheel is lowered to permit the rack to become dis-
engaged from the pinions of the rollers. By reversing the action of the
hydraulic cylinder the rack is withdrawn or makes its in-stroke. The
excentric and guide wheel is raised, re-engaging the rack with the
pinions when another stoke of the cylinder can be made, and a plate of
double length rolled. The cylinder being double acting the rollers can
be actuated in both directions. The upper roller has its bearings
actuated by hydraulic cylinders. and rams, which when water is
.

page_text: admitted depress the upper roller so as to obtain the requisite curvature
of the plate.
It is convenient in large rolls where long plates require to be rolled to
make the pitch line of the pinions one-half the diameter of the rolls,
which enables a shorter hydraulic cylinder to be used.
It is obvious that a similar arrangement can be applied to the two-
roll system for rolling ordinary bars, rails, &c., with great advantage,
dispensing with all reversing clutches.
In rivetting plates prepared as herein-after described I use a hydraulic
rivetting machine of well known description, having however its rivetting
dies reversed, that is, I prepare the rivets with round snap heads which
is usually larger than the head of a rivet, and when such rivets are
inserted in the plates holding against the round heads, I form the taper
flat head proper with the snap or die of the hydraulic press. The
advantage of this is that rivets of good iron which I anneal may be closed
cold without cracking by forming the tapered head in place of the half
round snap. The force I employ to compress such rivets cold is thirty tons
for rivets of half an inch diameter, and more or less in proportion to
increasing or decreasing areas.

page_text: similar but smaller ram and cylinder E; F is the punching machine and
hydraulic cylinder cast in one piece which slides in and out on a cross
bed at G. On one side of this punching machine is mounted a slide
rest H and planing tool. On the other side is placed the hydraulic
pump I, whose lower cylinder J is fitted with the usual section and
delivery valves of an ordinary pump, as shewn. These valves are loaded
with springs or other suitable appliance to prevent the escape of the
water from the cylinder through its rams D which is connected to the
suction valve of the pump cylinder J by a pipe, as shewn. The
punching machine cylinder is fitted with a double-acting ram and
piston K, having a rod passing thro' the cylinder cover and
abutting on its upward stroke against the screwed stop and wheel L,
which regulates the stroke of the ram. Upon this rod is fitted a collar
(which is adjustable) M, which also abuts against a lever N working the
single ported slide valve O, the valve spindle of which passes out of one
end of the valve chest only, and is therefore acted upon by the constant
pressure of water tending to force it out. A pipe leads from the
admission port of this valve O to the cylinder I of the hydraulic pump.
In this way when the punching ram K has made its full upwards stroke
it opens the valve O and places the pump cylinder I in communication
with the exhaust port, as shewn in section Fig. 3. The cylinder J being
in communication with the plaining cylinder C has its water pressed by
the constant pressure cylinder E into the cylinder J passing through the
suction valve, and thus causing the pump ram P to make an upward
stroke. This pump ram is controlled in the extent of its stroke by a
screwed rod Q which has fixed collars on it at R, and a moveable
screwed nut S (which is prevented from turning).
When the screwed rod is turned by the hand wheel to right or left it
lengthens or shortens the stroke of the pump ram P, and in this way
measures the quantity of water released from the cylinder C, and so
causes the table B to move through a greater or less distance, as may be.
The rod Q, while it is free to turn on its axis, is fitted in a bearing T,
so that it can move endways to only a very small extent. This small
movement is taken advantage of to work a valve spindle which is in one
with the rod Q, and passes through both ends of the valve casing U
working a slide valve on a face containing two admission ports with
centre exhaust port, and shown in enlarged section, Fig. 8. The
admission ports 1 and 2 lead to single-acting corresponding cylinders 3

page_text: and 4, in which work pistons connected by one rod 5 between the
collars 6, 6, of which is held a slide valve 7 working on a single
admission ported valve face. This port 8 is placed in communication by
means of the pipe shown in Fig. 1 with the top of punching
cylinder F, while the exhaust port 9 leads by a pipe to the return water
mains, where it is also joined by the exhaust port (10) of the sub-
sidiary valve face.
In this way pressure water being admitted to the
casing U, as also the larger main valve casing and the valve and
casing O, whilst a constant pressure is admitted to the annular space
under the piston K. It will seen that on the punching ram K making
its up-stroke it will cause the pump ram P also to follow, which in turn
will reverse the action of the slide valve of the punching ram K. It'
will descend, punching a hole at the same time, however, leaving the
valve spindle at O to move outwards, and so causing the pump ram to
follow in a downward direction. On its catching the screwed nut S it
will push down the rod Q and with it the subsiduary slide valve of U,
which by reversing the action of the main punching slide valve exhausts
the water from tlic cylinder F, allowing the pressure to act in the
annular space under K. This ram will then move upwards, and on
pushing down the valve spindle of O the operation will be repeated. By
suitable stop-cocks on the admission pipes leading to these various slide
valves the relative speeds of the rams P and K may be timed to suit
cach other, and so effect the punching and spacing of the holes in boiler
plates. The lower end of the ram K is fitted with the usual punch,
while the under part of the punching machine F is fitted with the cor-
responding bolster.
To prevent error in spacing the holes, which might take place from
leakage at the ram D, or otherwise, a following or." detector" punch is
adjusted to the pitch of holes in the block W, shewn in section, Fig. 4;
this block has a T groove in it, and is connected with a rod carrying on
its upper part a valve opening inwardly in the plunger K, and shown
at X. The "detector" hangs somewhat below the other punch, and
following the line of holes it enters the one previously punched. Should
it however catch in the side of a hole by reason of the spacing being
too wide, the water will be allowed to escape by the valve X, so pre-
venting the erroneous hole being punched.
To permit the punching machine to be adjusted at right angles to the
bed for punching, an inner row of holes for double rivetting the pressure

page_text: pipes are gathered into a telescope pipe, shewn at Y, a similar one being
provided for the exhaust or return water, the pipes leading from the
pump I to the cylinder C being of sufficient length to yield to the various
positions of the machine. The slide valve Z with its handle and
quadrant is employed to admit water to the cylinders C and E when a
plate requires to be planned; this valve is shewn in section, Fig. 9.
Sheet No. 2.-1 is a slide valve having two ports 2, 3, one at each end;
this valve covers three other ports 4, 5, 6; 4 leads to the smaller cylinder E,
and the port 5 is for exhaust water, the port 6 leading to the larger cylinder
C. When planing a plate if full power is required the slide valve I is
moved so as to open port 6 to the pressure and place port 4 in com-
munication with the exhaust port 5. If however only half power is
required such as in planing a light plate, the valve is placed so that the
port 3 in the slide valve is over the port 5, and the port 2 over the port
4; pressure is thus admitted to both of the cylinders actuating the table,
and the latter moves by virtue of the excess of power of the larger over
the smaller ram. The return motion of the table is performed by
placing the slide valve so that port 4 is uncovered to the pressure, and
port 6 put in communication with the exhaust. When placed to close
all ports the table remains at rest.
Sheet No. 3 shews the flanging press, Fig. 1 being a front and Fig. 2
a side elevation, A is the upper hydraulic cylinder carried by the pillars.
and bolts B, B, from the bed plate C; the upper ram D carries the
convex die E of the shape required; the lower hydraulic cylinder F is
attached to the bed plate and is fitted with a ram G carrying the.cor-
responding concave dic J, the flanging ring His carried by the pillars
B, B, and also by the moveable supports I. The plate to be operated upon
is placed on the top of the concave die J above the ring II, the convex or
upper die E is then brought down, a circular projection at its centre
entering a hole previously bored in the plate, which is thus prevented
from moving as the die performs the process of dishing. This being
completed both dies are allowed to descend, carrying the plate through
the ring which flanges the plate as shewn on the Drawing. The
upper ram and die may be pushed up by the lower ram, but I prefer to
use for convenience the additional piston K, Fig. 3, which in the cylinder
L is exposed on its under side to a constant pressure of water and
attached to the ram D by a rod M; the finished plate is then withdrawn

page_text: from the press under the ring H and not above as shewn for convenience
on the Drawing.
Sheet No. 4 shews a side clevation, Fig. 1, and a plan Fig. 2, of the
bending rolls, A being the double-acting hydraulic cylinder fitted with
a piston shewn in dot lines whose rod B is attached to the toothed rack 5
C. This rack engages the pinions D, D, which drive the lower rolls. The
upper roll E is raised or lowered by water pressure acting on pistons in
the hydraulic cylinders F. The rollers C, C, may be fixed upon eccentric
pins so that by turning them the rack may be disengaged, or it may be
placed in a trough and lowered by the cranks H as shown upon Drawing, 1
which is the arrangement I prefer to adopt. After the rack has been
disengaged it is run back by the piston rod B and the rolls may thus be
caused to revolve in the same direction so that a plate of any length
may be rolled.
In cold rivetting I adopt the form of rivet shewn in Figure 10, Sheet 1
No. 2, in which the head A is hemispherical and is placed in the rivet
hole from the inside or outside of the boiler and held up by the moveable
or fixed dic of the rivetting machine, the tapered head B being formed
by the other die of the rivetting machine. The edges of the tapered
head abutting against the inside of the boiler or the outside (as the case:
may be, which is a matter of appearance only) I prefer to project one
eighth of an inch or less if the holes are countersunk.
The rivets I previously anneal by making red hot in a reverberatory
or other suitable furnace and allow them to cool slowly with the furnace.
The pressure I employ is three and a half tons per circular eighth of an a
inch sectional area of rivet compressed, which is sufficient to close the
rivet when annealed. No claim is made however by me to rivetting as
above when the rivets are made red hot and used in the above manner.
Having now fully described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood, and I do
not confine myself to the precise forms or details represented, but what
I claim as novel is―
1stly. The combination of hydraulic apparatus in which a plate is
planed and punched at one setting, the rivet holes being spaced by the
measuring certain variable quantities of water, which may either be
injected into or released from the planing cylinder substantially as
hercin-before described.

page_text: 2ndly. Flanging boiler plates by a press having two hydraulic
cylinders and rams working in conjunction with a fixed die, substantially
as herein-before described.
3rdly. Rolling boiler plates by a set of ordinary rolls, actuated by a
hydraulic cylinder in conjunction with a moveable rack, substantially as
herein-before shewn and described.
4thly. The particular manner of treating rivets so as to soften them
in combination with the form of head which prevents the rivet cracking
at the edges, substantially as herein-before shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Betts Brown, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
ANDREW BETTS BROWN. (L.S.)