Improvement in Lead Presses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Lead Presses.
1. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS TRACY of 814, Dean Street, Brooklyn, King's
County, State of New York, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:→
:
My invention relates to an improved die for lead presses, designed more
particularly for covering wire with lead and for making Straps but which may
be used for producing other lead articles or products and the invention comprises
such form of construction of the die and its parts as to enable the attendant to
prevent buckling" of the lead as it issues from the die, if a straight and uniform
product is to be produced, or to augment the flow as required, if a curved pipe or
trap is to be produced.
Upon the press ram is a die-block in which a tubular die is fitted to turn axially
between said die-block and a cap-block forming the bottom of the lead chamber in
the top block and apertured to convey the lead to the die. The tubular die has
lateral apertures separated by a bridge piece which may either occupy a central
position or be shifted towards one side or the other to regulate the flow of lead as
hereafter described. In one end of the tubular die is held the core the point of
which passes or is coincident with the lateral openings, and the said core is by
preference made conical and of less external diameter at its end than the die ring at
the other side of the said openings. This difference in diameter regulates the
thickness of the lead pipe or covering and I shall provide interchangeable cores
of varying sizes to be used for different thicknesses of pipe or layers. The core
may be held in the tubular die by a follower secured into the die. If wire is to be
covered this follower should be hollow and also the core, but if lead pipe is to be
produced it may be solid and in the latter case the core may also be solid instead of
hollow. The die is adapted to be turned axially in its seat by a lever or otherwise,
to shift the division piece or bridge to the right or left to increase or to diminish the
How of lead at either side of the tips to prevent buckling or to form a curved pipe
as required.
In operation, to cover wire or any similar object it is first passed through the die
the top block is then supplied with lead and the press set in action which causes the
ram attached to the press-head to press the lead through the lateral openings of
the die causing it to flow around the conical core to surround the wire in the die
ring and feed out through the outer end of the shell. In case of buckling" the
die is turned slightly towards the side at which the buckling takes place. This
reduces the supply of metal at that side and prevents buckling. In case a curved
product is to be made the tubular die is turned so as to nearly cut off the flow of
metal at one side. This causes the tube to issue in a curve and by simply reversing
the tubular die while the press is still in action a reverse curve will issue from the
die. In this manner an S trap may be produced of most perfect design and at
one operation.
Dated this 1st day of July 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Lead Presses.
I, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS TRACY, of 814, Dean Street, Brooklyn, King's
County, State of New York, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates, to an improved die for lead presses, designed more parti-
cularly for covering wire with lead and for making Straps but which may be used
for producing other lead articles or products; and the invention comprises such
form of construction of the die and its parts as to enable the attendant to prevent
buckling of the lead as it issues from the die, if a straight and uniform product
is to be produced, or to augment the flow as required, if a curved pipe or trap is to
be produced.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which Figure 1 illustrates, in part, a common hydraulic lead press,
die being shewn in sectional elevation, and Figure 2 is a sectional plan view, on line
Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the die. Figure 4 is a
perspective view of the tubular die and core for covering wire or other object with
lead, and Figure 5 is a sectional view of the same arranged for making traps or
curved products. Figures 6 to 10 illustrate a modification. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The ram A of the press has, mounted upon it, or applied thereto, in any suitable
manner, a die block B. This may be fitted in a recess in the base block C formed
with the slotted lugs C and placed on the ram A, or it may be set in a recess in the
ram, use the base block to permit the removal of the die from the press. In a
curved seat B' in the block B is fitted the tubular die D. This is formed with side
openings d. In one end of the tubular die is the shoulder d, and in it is firmly
held the core d² the point of which passes or is coincident with the openings d and
the said core is by preference made conical and of less external diameter at its end
than the die ring d held by the shoulder d'. This difference in diameter regulates
the thickness of the lead pipe or covering, and I shall provide interchangeable cores
of varying sizes to be used for different thicknesses of pipe or layers. The core
may be held in the tubular die by a follower d secured into the die. If wire is to
be covered this follower should be hollow and also the core, but if lead pipe is to be
produced it may be solid and in the latter case the core may also be solid, as in
Figure 5, instead of hollow, as in the other figures. Over the tubular die tube D is
placed the cap E centrally apertured at E' to coincide with the openings d in the
die tube. Upon the cap E is placed the hollow top block E formed with slotted
lugs. These correspond with the slotted lugs C₁ of the base block C and in these
lugs are fitted bolts G to securely hold the top block and base block and the die
piece between them firmly together. The top block forms the reservoir for lead H,
the opening F in said block in which the lead is placed being of a size to receive
the ram I attached to the press head J. The die D is adapted to be turned axially
in its seat by a lever D' or otherwise, to shift the division piece or bridge to the
right or left to increase or to diminish the flow of lead at either side of the tips to
prevent buckling or to form a curved pipe, as required.. For the purpose of
limiting the rotary movement of the die, a segmental slot do is formed in the tubular
die which engages a stud d in the die block B.
.
In operation, to cover wire W, or any similar object, the same is first passed
through the die, as shewn in Figure 2, the top block is then supplied with lead and
the press set in action which causes the ram I to press the lead through the open-
ings d, causing it to flow around the conical core d, to surround the wire in the die
ring d³, and feed out through the outer end of the shell. In case of "buckling" the
die D is turned slightly towards the side at which the "buckling" takes place.

page_text: In case a
This reduces the supply of metal at that side and prevents "buckling."
curved product is to be made, the tubular die is turned so as to nearly cut off the
flow of metal at one side. This causes the tube to issue in a curve and by simply
reversing the tubular die while the press is still in action a reverse curve will issue
from the die. In this manner an S trap may be produced of most perfect design
and at one operation.
In Figures 6 to 10 a modified means for turning the dies is provided, the same
consisting of a toothed segment carried by the die K and a worm K for operat-
ing the same, said worm being fitted in the ram A of the press. Also, the die K
comprises a casing a core-holder and a core m. Each casing is formed with
side ports kk and at the end with a die tip which gauges the external form of
the product, the internal size and form of the product being dictated by the core m.
The core holder of the die is hollow to receive the core and at the front end it is
formed with the wedge-shaped projections which extend past the inlet ports k³ ³
of the casing, as shewn clearly in Figure 8, whereby they maintain a proper
division of the lead until the latter has fully entered the casing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A lead press die adapted to be rotated in its seat and formed with side openings
at which the lead enters the die and provided with a core coincident with the said
openings and of less diameter than the die ring at the front of the die which forms
the exterior of the product, substantially as described.
2. The combination, with a lead press, of a rotating die formed with side openings,
substantially as described.
3. The combination, with a lead press, of a rotating and hollow die formed with
side openings to receive the lead, substantially as described.
4. The die tube having side openings & in combination with the core and outer
die ring d³, substantially as described.
5. The die tube D formed with the division piece or bridge in combination with
a die ring and a core central thereto, substantially as described.
6. The die tube D held in a seat and formed with the division piece or bridge h
and provided with a core and outer die ring in combination with the upper block
formed with an aperture E', substantially as described.
7. The hollow die tube D formed with the bridge and provided with the tip
core d² and outer die ring, substantially as described.
8. The block B formed with a seat to receive the die tube in combination with
the upper block E formed with the opening E, substantially as described.
9. The die Kformed with ports in combination with the core and core
holder, the latter being formed with projections, substantially as described.
10. The die formed with a toothed segment in combination with a worm for
turning the same, substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of November 1800
C. C. TRACY.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.