IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL SHACKLES, SWIVELS. HOOKS, SLIPS, AND OTHER KINDS OF IRON OR STEEL FASTENINGS WELDED INTO AN EYE SHAPE, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANU- -FACTURE, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TYRES OF WHEELS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Homfray, of Witley Lodge, Halesowen,
in the County of Worcester, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL SHACKLES, SWIVELS.
HOOKS, SLIPS, AND OTHER KINDS OF IRON OR STEEL FASTENINGS WELDED
INTO AN EYE SHAPE, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANU-
-FACTURE, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE
OF THE TYRES OF WHEELS."
Sealed the 17th October 1868, and dated the 29th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Homfray,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
- on the 29th April 1868.
I, ALFRED HOMERAY, of Witley Lodge, Halesowen, in the County of
Worcester, Gentleman, do hereby. declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL SHACKLES, SWIVELS,
Hooks, SLIPS, AND OTHER KINDS OF IRON OR STEEL FASTENINGS WELDED INTO
[Price 8d.1

page_text: AN EYE SHAPE, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE то THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TYRES
OF WHEELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the method herein-after described of manu-
facturing shackles, swivels, hooks, slips, and other kinds of iron or
steel fastenings and tyres of wheels.
In manufacturing the said articles according to my Invention I
proceed as follows:-In making a shackle I cut off a cylindrical bar
of iron or steel of the required length, heat it, and flatten it on the
side which will come next the shackle bolt as far up from the end
as is required to form the eye. I place the end of the bar so flattened
with the flat side upwards in a groove or tool in an anvil block shaped
like half a shackle eye. I then allow a mandril shaped like a shackle
bolt to descend on the heated bar at a sufficient distance from the end
to allow enough of the flattened end of the bar to project over to form
the upper half of the eye. This mandril is fixed in a ram and by
its weight or momentum the heated bar is forced to assume the shape
of the groove or die, which latter has a crossed groove to admit of
the mandril descending to the centre of the eye. The heated bar being
thus half bent into shape I turn over the other half either with a hand
hammer or with a lever attached to the machine herein-after described
until the end nearly reaches the place where it is to be joined to the
bar in order to form the eye but leaving it loose on the mandril. I
then lift the ram, take the metal thus bent off the mandril, and heat
it to a welding heat. Having again slipped it on the mandril I insert
another piece of heated metal between the proposed junction close
up to the mandril in order to fill up any crack or cavity that might
be otherwise formed in the inside of the eye. The ram being again
allowed to fall the heated metal is held in its place. I then let fall
a welding hammer, a die at the bottom of which hammer strikes the
heated metal and welds it, at the same time forcing it to assume the
required shape. I again take the partially formed shackle off the man-
dril and lay it flat on the anvil block of a steam hammer over a hole
in the same about the size of the shackle bolt. Having inserted in the
shackle a punch shaped like a shackle bolt I give it a blow with the
steam hammer, which drives the punch home, countersinking and flat-
tening the heated eye at the same time. An eye having been made
in a similar manner at the other end of the bar I proceed to bend

page_text: it into the required shape. In order to effect this I place the shackle
eye between or on the top of two levers in the machine herein-after
described in such a position that the two eyes fit upon two pins or
projections like two half shackle bolts. I then let a mandril descend
upon the centre of the bar, which by its weight and momentum compels
the shackle to assume the shape required.
The manner in which I manufacture swivels or swivel sockets or
bows is as follows:-I cut a metal bar into the length required and
heat it in a fire with three tuyeres, thus making the middle red hot
and the two ends welding hot. I then place the metal bar in a line
with the edge of the anvil and across the tops of the levers of the
machine herein-after described, which levers when closed form a die
for the two sides of the swivel eye. Having placed the bar across
the levers I let a mandril the size of the swivel bow descend upon
the centre of the heated bar, which drives it downwards, and at the
same time the jaws closing compel the iron to assume the shape required,
with the exception of the top, where there is not iron enough in the
two welding hot ends to form the eye or fill up the dye formed by
the levers and mandril. In order to fill this up or to put in as much
more iron as is required, I place the end of another heated bar upon
the top of the mandril as it descends, which is cut off by the levers
in closing, and when the levers are closed comies between and is welded
to the two ends of the bar first mentioned contained in the die between
the jaws and mandril. I then let a welding hammer fall, at the bottom
front of which is a die, which die fits the aperture in the top of the
levers. This die has a projection or punch at the bottom which punches
the swivel eye, there being a hole in the mandril to receive the end
of the punch and for the escape of any surplus metal.
The machinery I employ consists of a hammer or press worked by
steam or other motive power either horizontally or vertically.
I will describe the said machinery as working vertically like an
ordinary steam hammer. The anvil block has a slit or groove in the
centre, in which works a ram perpendicularly and flush with its face.
On either side of this slit or groove are two holes in the anvil block
passing through it at right angles with its face. In these holes work
axles, and on these axles on the face of the anvil are fixed two levers
and on the back of the anvil on the other ends of the axles are fixed
reversed levers, so that when the ram descends the back part of it

page_text: strikes the reversed levers out and causes the levers in front to close.
In the face of the ram a mandril is let in, which projects out from the
face of the said ram and is so placed that when the ram rests on the
bottom of the groove in the anvil the mandril is between the levers.
On the ram and attached to the piston of the steam hammer another
or welding hammer works which when lifted to a certain height picks
up the ram with it. When the steam escapes the ram first descends
on to the bottom of the groove in the anvil block, then the welding
hammer slides down the ran and rests on the top of the anvil on
each side of the groove which contains the ram. In front and at the
bottom of the welding hammer is a recess for inserting welding tools
of any required shape, and in a line with this on cither side of it arc
two other recesses in which are placed two clips longer than the welding
die, which when the hammer falls clip the outsides of the levers and
hold them in their places while the blow from the welding die conies
upon the heated metal.
The method of manufacture and machinery described with reference
to the manufacture of shackles and swivels only require unessential
modifications to adapt them to the manufacture of other kinds of iron
and steel fastenings and the tyres of wheels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Homfray in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
HOMFRAY, of Witley Lodge, Halesowen, in the County of Worcester,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Homfray, Her special licence
that I, the said Alfred Homfray, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Homfray, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF IRON OR STEEL SHACKLES, SWIVELS, HOOKS, SLIPS, AND OTHER
KINDS OF IRON OR STEEL FASTENINGS WELDED INTO AN EYE SHAPE, AND IN
MACHINERY TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS AGE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TYRES OF WHEELS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Homfray,
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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Homfray, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
:
My Invention consists of the method herein-after described of
manufacturing shackles, swivels, hooks, slips, and other kinds of iron or
steel fastenings and tyres of wheels.
In manufacturing the said articles according to my Invention I
proceed as follows:-In making a shackle I cut off a cylindrical bar
of iron or steel of the required length, heat it, and flatten it on the
side which will come next the shackle bolt as far up from the end
as is required to form the eye. I place the end of the bar so flattened
with the flat side upwards in a groove or tool in an anvil block shaped
like half a shackle eye. I then allow a mandrel shaped like a shackle
bolt to descend on the heated bar at a suflicient distance from the end
to allow enough of the flattened end of the bar to project over to form
the upper half of the eye. This mandrel is fixed in a ram, and by its
weight or momentum the heated bar is forced to assume the shape of
the groove or die, which latter has a cross groove to admit of the
mandrel descending to the centre of the eye. The heated bar being
thus half bent into shape I turn over the other half either with a hand
hammer or with a lever attached to the machine herein-after described

page_text: until the end nearly reaches the place where it is to be joined to the
bar in order to form the cyc, but leaving it loose on the mandrel. I
then lift the ram, take the metal thus bent off the mandrel, and heat
it to a welding heat. Having again slipped it on the mandrel I insert
another piece of heated metal between the proposed junction close up
to the mandrel in order to fill up any crack or cavity that might be
otherwise formed in the inside of the eye. The rain being again allowed
to fall the heated metal is held in its place. I then let fall a welding
hammer, a die at the bottom of which hammer strikes the heated metal
and welds it, at the same time forcing it to assume the required shape.
I again take the partially formed shackle off the mandrel and lay it
flat on the anvil block of a steam hammer over a hole in the same about
the size of the shackle bolt. Having inserted in the shackle a punch
shaped like a shackle bolt I give it a blow with the steam hammer,
which drives the punch home, countersinking and flattening the heated
eye at the same time. An eye having been made in a similar manner
at the other end of the bar I proceed to bend it into the required shape.
In order to effect this I place the shackle eye between or on the top
of two levers in the machine herein-after described in such a position
that the two eyes fit upon two pins or projections like two half shackle
bolts. I then let a mandrel descend upon the centre of the bar, which
by its weight and momentum compels the shackle to assume the shape
required.
The manner in which I manufacture swivels or swivel sockets or
bows is as follows:-I cut a metal bar into the length required and
heat it in a fire with three tuyeres, thus making the middle red hot
and the two ends welding hot. I then place the metal bar in a line
with the edge of the anvil and across the tops of the levers of the
machine herein-after described, which levers when closed form a die
enclosing the swivel eye, except at top and bottom. Having placed
the bar across the levers I let a mandril the size of the swivel bow
descend upon the centre of the heated bar, which drives it downwards,
and at the same time the jaws closing compel the iron to assume the
shape required, with the exception of the top, where there is not iron
enough in the two welding hot ends to form the eye or fill up the die
formed by the levers and mandrel. In order to fill this up or to put
in as much more iron as is required I place the end of another heated
bar upon the top of the mandril as it descends, which bar is cut off
by the levers in closing, and when the levers are closed comes between

page_text: and is welded to the two ends of the bar first mentioned contained in
the die between the jaws and mandrel. I then let a welding hammer
fall, at the bottom front of which is a die, which die fits the aperture
in the top of the levers. This die has a projection or punch at the
bottom which punches the swivel eye, there being a hole in the mandrel
to receive the end of the punch and for the escape of any surplus
metal.
The machinery I employ consists of a hammer or press worked by
steam or other motive power either horizontally or vertically.
I will describe the said machinery as working vertically like an
ordinary steam hammer. The anvil block has a slit or groove in the
centre, in which works a ram perpendicularly and flush with its face.
On either side of this slit or groove are two holes in the anvil block
passing through it at right angles with its face. In these holes work
axles, and on these axles on the face of the anvil are fixed two levers,
and on the back of the anvil on the other ends of the axles are fixed
reversed levers, so that when the ram descends the back part of it
strikes the reversed levers out and causes the levers in front to close.
In the face of the ram a mandril is let in which projects out from the
face of the said ram, and is so placed that when the ram rests on the
bottom of the groove in the anvil the mandrel is between the levers.
On the ram and attached to the piston of the steam hammer another
or welding hammer works, which when lifted to a certain height picks
up the ram with it. When the steam escapes the ram first descends
onto the bottom of the groove in the anvil block, then the welding
hammer slides down the ram and rests on the top of the anvil on either
side of the groove which contains the ram. In front and at the bottom
of the welding hammer is a recess for inserting welding tools of any
required shape, and in a line with this on either side of it are two
other recesses in which are placed two clips longer than the welding
die, which when the hammer falls clip the outsides of the levers and
hold them in their places while the blow from the welding die comes
upon the heated metal.
The method of manufacture and machinery described with reference
to the manufacture of sliackles and swivels only require unessential
modifications to adapt them to the manufacture of other kinds of iron
and steel fastenings and the tyres of wheels.

page_text: Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent machinery constructed according to
my Invention for the manufacture of swivels, shackles, and other like
articles. Figure 1 represents the said machinery in front elevation
provided with the tools proper for the manufacture of swivels; Figure 2
represents the same provided with the tools proper for the manufacture
of shackles; and Figure represents a back elevation of the same as
The same letters of reference are
used for the manufacture of swivels.
used to indicate the same parts in each Figure.
a is an anvil block fixed on the base of the machine; b is a ram
working in a groove or slot in the middle of the said anvil block a.
On either side this groove or slot are two horizontal holes in which
axles c, c, work; one end of each of these axles projects from the front
face of the anvil block a, and the said projecting ends carry levers or
shaping jaws d, d. The other ends of the said axles project from the
back face of the anvil block a (see Figure 3) and carry the short
levers f, f. When the ram b descends its back lower end striking
upon the levers f, f, closes the levers or shaping jaws d, d. In the
face of the ram b is a mandril which projects from the said ram.
The position of the mandril g upon the ram b is such that when the
said ram rests on the bottonr of the groove in the anvil block a, that is,
when it is at the lowest point of its stroke, the said mandril g is between
the acting parts h, h, of the levers or jaws d, d. i is a welding hammer
which is attached by its upper side to the piston rod of a stean
hammer, by which piston rod the said welding hammer i is raised and
lowered. The said steam hammer is situated immediately above the
machine, and as its construction and mode of working do not differ from
those of ordinary steam hammers I do not think it necessary either to
represent or describe the same. In the welding hammer i is a slot or
opening in which the ram b works. When the said welding hammer i
is raised until its top comes in contact with the pin on the ram bit
lifts the said ram and carries it through the remainder of its ascending
stroke. When the welding hammer i descends the ram b descends
with it until the motion of the ram is arrested by its coming to the
bottom of the groove in the anvil block a, when the welding
hammer descends without the said ram 6 until it comes on to the top

page_text: of the anvil block a. In front and at the bottom of the welding
hammer is a recess in which is fixed the punch or tool for punching
the hole in the swivel; other tools of the proper kind are fixed in the
said recess when other articles are to be manufactured. On either side
the welding hammer i are fixed two clips m, m, which clips when the
haminer falls clip the outsides of the levers or shaping jaws d, d, and
hold them firmly in their places while the blow from the welding
hammer comes upon the heated metal. At the back of the welding
hammer and working in a recess made near its lower face is a shaft n,
on the middle of which is a tooth o, and in the back of the ram b is a
recess p. By means of a spring 9 acting on a short lever 7 on the end
of the shaft n, the tooth o is made to press upon the ram b, and when
the said tooth o is brought over the recess p it is forced therein by the
said spring, and the welding hammer and ram are now locked together.
This locking together of the welding hammer a and ram b takes place
almost immediately the said welding hammer begins to descend, and the
said ram is during the said locking of it with the said welding hammer
carried down by the momentum of the welding hammer as well as its
own. When, however, the welding hammer a has descended until the
small lever strikes against the projection s on the framing of the
machine, the position of the said lever is so changed by striking against
the projections that the tooth o is disengaged from the recess p, and the
welding hammer i completes its descent unconnected with the ram b.
I will now describe the operation of the machine in the manu-
facture of a swivel. I cut a bar of iron or steel t of the required
length to make the swivel, and I heat the said bar at its ends and
middle, the ends being raised to a welding heat; I then place the heated
bart across the tops of the levers or shaping jaws d, d, on a line with
the top edge of the anvil block a. The hammer a descending is locked
in the manner herein-before described with the ram b, and the said rain
descending the mandrel g, which has the figure of the inside of the
swivel to be made, strikes upon the middle of the heated bar t and carries it
down into the acting parts h, h, of the levers or jaws d, d, and bends it into
the form of the letter U. The bottom be of the ram b next strikes upon.
the short levers f, f, and closes the levers or jaws d, d. The welding
hammer up to this point was locked with the ram b, but is now
disconnected therefrom and completes its descent without giving
further motion to the ram b. As the welding hammer i approaches
the anvil block a, the clips m, m, clip and hold the closed levers or

page_text: jaws d, d, holding them firmly together while the punch descends and
makes the required hole in the top of the swivel.
As the formation of the top of the swivel requires rather more iron
or steel than the bar t would furnish I supply the additional quantity
required in the following manner:-I take another bar of iron or steel,
heat it to a welding heat, and place its end upon the mandrel I in
the position marked in Figure 1, and the end of the said bar at v
is carried down on the mandrel g into the acting parts h, h, of the
levers or jaws d, d. By the closing of the said levers or jaws d, d, a
piece is cut off from the end of the rod at and welded with the
ends of the bar t. By this additional portion of heated iron or steel v
the upper ends of the levers or jaws d, d, by which the top of the
swivel is formed are filled with metal before the punch l descends to
make the required hole in the said top of the swivel.
I will now describe the manufacture of a shackle according to my
Invention by the use of the machine as represented in Figure 2. In
the groove in the anvil block u, a tool w is fixed (indicated in dotted
lines), the jaws or shaping levers and parts connected with them
represented in Figure 1 being removed. The upper part of the tool
w has the figure of one half the eye which has to be made on each
end of the bar in order to form a shackle. To the under side of the
welding hammer the tool is fixed, the said tool having the figure
of one half of the eye to be formed. The clips m, m, Figure 1, are
removed from the hammer i. On the top face of the anvil block a,
and on one side of the groove in which the ram b works, is a groove y
for the purpose herein-after explained, and on the other side of the
said groove is a vertical hole z opening into a horizontal hole 1 for the
purpose herein-after explained. To the ram ba mandrel 2 is fixed,
the said mandrel having the figure of the interior of the eye to be
formed.
I will now describe the manner in which I make a shackle by the
machine, Figure 2. I cut off a bar of iron or steel 3 of the required
length, the ends of the said bar being cut obliquely, as represented on
a larger scale in Figure 4. I flatten the said bar on that side which
will come next the shackle bolt, the said flattening extending as far
up the bar as is required to form the eye.
represented on a larger scale in Figure 5.
by placing the heated bar 3 the required
The bar so flattened is
This flattening is effected
distance in the groove y

page_text: when the descent of the face of the welding hammer i upon it effects
the flattening. I place the flattened end of the bar, 3 the flat side
upwards, in the recess on the top of the tool w, a sufficient length of
the said bar projecting over the edge of the said tool w to form when
bent up one half of the eye. On the descent of the mandrel 2 on the
ram b the bar is carried into the recess in the tool w, thereby forming
one half of the eye, the projecting extreme end being made to take
nearly a vertical position. The said projecting end is turned over
the mandrel 2 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, either by
a hand
hammer or by a lever attached to the machine. I then take the
bar 3 from off the mandrel 2 and heat its bent end to a welding heat.
I again place it on the mandrel 2 and insert a wedge-shaped piece of
heated iron or steel 4 between the parts which have to be welded
together to make the eye. The said piece 4 fills up the metal at
the inside of the eye and prevents any defect where the welding is
effected. The ram descending carries the mandrel 2 and end of the
har 3 into the lower tool.w, as represented in Figure 2, and the welding
hammer i descends. The die carried by the said hammer falling on
the heated iron or steel welds the extreme end and the piece of iron or,
steel 4 to the bar, and thus produces an eye on the end of the said
bar. In order to perfect the figure of the interior of the eye, as well
as to flatten the sides of the eye, I take the eye of the bar 3 from
off the mandril 2 and place it flat on the anvil block a over the hole z.
I insert a punch in the eye, the said punch having the figure of a
shackle bolt. The said punch is by the descent of the hammer forced
into the hole in the eye, and the sides of the eye are at the same
time flattened. An eye is next made in a similar manner on the
other end of the bar 3, and the bar with an eye at each end is bent
at its middle into the required shape. In order to effect this I place
the bar between or on the top of the levers or jaws d, d, of the machine
represented in Figure 1, in such a position that the two eyes fit upon
two pins or projections like two half shackle bolts on the said levers
d, d. A properly shaped mandrel descends upon the middle of the
bar and carries its middle down and bends it into the required shape.
Although I have only described and represented the manufacture of
swivels and shackles according to my Invention and by the use of
my improved machinery, yet the method and machinery described and
represented by making the necessary changes in the tools and working

page_text: details are equally applicable to the manufacture of other fastenings
having an eye form and to the tyres of wheels.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illus-
trated, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The improvements herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawing in manufacturing iron or steel shackles,
swivels, hooks, slips, and other kinds of iron or steel fastenings
welded into an eye form and the tyres of wheels whereby the said
articles are made more economically than by the ordinary hand process,
and are more true and uniform in shape; the welding is also more
perfect than that effected by hand.
Secondly. The arrangement or combination of the parts herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing of machinery
to be used in the manufacture of iron or steel shackles, swivels, hooks,
slips, and other kinds of iron or steel fastenings welded into an eye
form and the tyres of wheels.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Homfray, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
ALFRED HOMFRAY. (L..s.)