IMPROVEMENTS IN FORMING OR UNITING ARTICLES OF GLASS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Stearn of 51 Osborne Road in the
Borough and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electrician for an invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORMING OR UNITING ARTICLES OF GLASS AND IN
APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Stearn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st July 1882.
CHARLES HENRY STEARN of 51 Osborne Road in the Borough and County
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Electrician "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORMING OR UNITING
ARTICLES OF GLASS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN.
13
My Invention relates to improvements in forming or uniting articles of glass and
in the Apparatus to be employed therein and consists as follows:-
-
I attach the two glass vessels the surfaces of which are to be united by fusion
to two opposed axes which are connected to suitable gearing so that rotation at
precisely the same speed can be communicated to both. These axes can be adjusted
in their bearings at any desired distance from each other
One or more finely pointed blow pipe flames are caused to play upon the parts
to be acted upon or the line of juncture of the two glass surfaces whilst they are
mechanically kept in rotation
By means of a spring or other equivalent device acting on the end of one or
both of the axes the two glass surfaces may be gently pressed together when soft
and then very slightly withdrawn so as to produce thorough fusion and equal
thickening of the glass at the point of union.
This equal thickening may be further effected by causing a lever to press with
any desired degree of force upon a flexible diaphram or a piston closing an air
chamber which is connected through either of the axes with the air in the interior
of the united glass vessels; this pressure being applied while the glass at the point
of juncture is soft. To prevent the glass from being blown too thin or burst
owing to being too soft the mechanism may be so adjusted that the blow pipe
flames cease to play on the glass when the pressure from within is brought into
action 1

page_text: When it is required to form an aperture for uniting one vessel to another I may
effect it by placing the glass vessel in which the aperture is to be made against
metallic supports or other good conductors of heat which closely fit the surface but
leave between them a space equal or nearly equal to the diameter of the hold it is
intended to make, the blow pipe flame is then caused to play upon this point and
if a piston be suddenly caused to act (when the glass is soft) in a cylinder which
closely fits the glass vessel causing pressure on one side or a vacuum on the opposite
side the glass will be forced inwards or outwards as may be desired and burst
leaving an orifice of the desired size
If it is desired to form a constriction in a narrow tube I cause the tube to
rotate as above described in front of the blow pipe and (when the glass is soft) the
tube is gently pulled longitudinally by the action of a spring acting on the end of
the axis as above mentioned-To prevent collapse of the sides from closing the
aperture a spindle of metal may be thrust up or down the centre at the same time
or internal wind pressure be caused to act in the manner herein before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Henry Stearn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st January 1883.
CHARLES HENRY STEARN of 51 Osborne Road in the Borough and County of
Newcastle upon Tyne Electrician "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORMING OR UNITING
ARTICLES OF GLASS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN
"
My Invention relates to improvements in forming or uniting articles of Glass
and in the apparatus to be employed therein which I will explain with reference to
the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2 representing elevations at right
angles to each other of such apparatus constructed according to my Invention, and
Figure 3 a detail of the blow pipe and gas device whilst Figures 4 and 5 are
modified arrangements of the apparatus hereinafter referred to
I attach the two glass articles which are to be united by fusion (say for example
the bulb B and the stem of an incandescent electric lamp) to two opposed axes a b
which are arranged in a vertical position and are connected to suitable gearing c s0
that rotation at the same speed can be communicated to both from any convenient
source of motive power-these axes can be adjusted in their bearings at any desired
distance from each other.
One or more finely pointed blow pipe flames (as at d) is or are caused to play
upon the parts to be acted upon at the line of junction of the two glass articles
whilst they are mechanically kept in rotation.
By means of a spring or other equivalent device acting on the end of one or

page_text: both of the axes the two glass articles may be gently pressed together when soft,
and then very slightly withdrawn so as to produce thorough fusion and equal
thickening of the glass at the point of union.
In the drawing a lever or treadle e is shewn for this purpose conveniently placed
to be worked by the operator.
The equal thickening may be further effected by causing a lever f to press with
any desired degree of force upon a flexible diaphragm or a piston working in an
air chamber and constituting an air pump which is connected through the
pipe by a passage in the interior of either of the axes a or b with the air in
the interior of the united glass articles this pressure being applied while the glass
at the point of juncture is soft and in order to prevent the glass from being blown
too thin or burst owing to being too soft the mechanism is so arranged that the
blow pipe flames cease to play on the glass when the pressure. from within is
brought into action for this purpose the lever ƒ may be connected with a valve
or tap or its equivalent as at g.which is closed by the action of the lever to pump
air into the hollow axis so as to cut off the supply of gas or air or both to the
blow pipe at that time. It will be evident that the cutting off of the supply to
the blow pipe can be effected in a variety of ways such for example as by
compressing the flexible pipe through which the supply passes to the blow pipe or
the same object may be effected by causing the lever to act upon the blow pipe to
turn it on one side away from the glass but this will not be found so convenient
in practice.
When it is required to form an aperture for uniting one vessel to another I may
effect it by placing the glass vessel in which the aperture is to be made against metallic
supports or shields or other good conductors of heat which closely fit the surface but
leave between them a space or perforation equal or nearly equal to the diameter of
the. hole it is intended to make-The blow pipe flame is then caused to play upon
this point and if the piston of the air pump is suddenly caused to act (when the
glass is soft) causing pressure on one side or a vacuum on the opposite side the
glass will be forced inwards or outwards as may be desired and burst leaving an
orifice of the desired size.
.If it be desired to form a contraction in a tube I cause the tube to rotate as
above described in front of the blow pipe and (when the glass is soft) the tube is
gently. pulled longitudinally by the action of a spring or other equivalent device
acting on the end of the axis as above mentioned. To prevent collapse of the sides
from closing the aperture a spindle of metal may be thrust up or down the
centre at the same time or internal wind pressure be caused to act in the manner
herein before described.
Figure 4 represents a slightly modified form of the apparatus for use when the
lamp is closed at one end, and there is only one aperture.
The bulb B is held between two or more spring clips A. A. The conducting
wires of the other portion of the lamp are held between forceps or clips G.
A spring S presses the nozzle of the internal air pipe d' against the central
aperture E left in the stem of the lamp.
The clip carrying the bulb is adjusted to the right position and secured by the
screw I, which is then placed in the chuck of the lathe or rotating apparatus and
revolved under the blow pipe and wind pressure brought to act at the proper time
as herein before described through the hollow axis or stem.
The clips A and G may be used by hand if desired instead of being placed in
the lathe.
Figure 5 represents the bulb B of a lamp as being supported by the rotating
mechanism H instead of the said mechanism supporting the stem. The spring
clip A embraces the bulb and has fixed to it the clip G which holds the other
part or stem of the lamp. This clip G' may be like that G Figure 4.
A rack and pinion or other suitable device may be provided for regulating the
elevation of the blow pipes d.
An auxiliary support h may be provided for supporting the glass article and

page_text: air admitted into the interior thereof through the hollow axis or stem F as before
described.
In Figures 4 and 5 I have not shewn the air forcing apparatus but the air is or
may be supplied to the interior of the article by means of air forcing apparatus
similar to that shown in Figures 12 and 3..
There may be one or any number of blow pipes used according to convenience or
requirements for example there may conveniently be three arranged at equal
distances around the article when in position.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is.
First. Apparatus for forming or uniting articles of glass constructed and
arranged as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the several Figures of the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. In apparatus for forming or uniting articles of glass so connecting
the mechanism or means by which the air is forced into the interior of the article
with the supply of gas or air or both to the blow pipe or blow pipes that the said
supply is automatically cut off or so that the blow pipe or pipes is or are turned
on one side so that the flame or flames do not play upon the glass whilst the air
is being forced to its interior substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third, Forming holes in articles of glass by the use of perforated supports or
shields formed of a good conductor and of air pressure or suction as hereinbefore
described.
Fourth. In apparatus for uniting articles of glass the employment of the
clips A and G or A' and G. for supporting the parts to be united as herein before
described.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Henry Stearn have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of December One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
HANDT SUDDY
חתומה
HARLES HENRY STEARN