IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BENT CRANKS AND MACHINERY THEREFOR to be as follows :—
Year: 1884

page_text: We GEORGE BROWN, of South Park, Lincoln Forge Manager and ROBERT BROWN
of The Terrace, Morton, near Gainsborough Mechanical Engineer both in the
County of Lincoln do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BENT CRANKS AND MACHINERY
THEREFOR to be as follows :—
"
Our invention relates to improvements in machinery of appliances for the
manufacture of bent cranks, whether round or square, by hydraulic machinery
and in the preparation of bars for the manufacture of square or flat jawed
cranks.
In carrying out our invention for the manufacture of cranks of small size, the
straight bar from which the crank is to be made (after being prepared in the
required form) is strapped or cottered down to suitable blocks or holders secured
by dovetails to sliding beds-which beds support the ends of the bar, leaving
sufficient space for forming the crank between them.
To form the crank, blocks or dies are used in a suitable manner such as the
following :-
One block is placed underneath the bar to form the crown, another is placed
above to form the inside of the throw and these two are secured to the upper end
of stout links to be pulled down by an hydraulic ram or rams placed underneath;
two other blocks are fixed in dovetail grooves on the inner ends of the sliding
beds and these when they come in contact form the outside of the crank throws.
The beds are caused to slide horizontally approaching each other whilst the middle
portion is pulled downwards to any given depth of throw. The beds are caused to
travel inwards by means of bell cranks or jaws-one towards each end, and one
arm of each being in contact with a crossbar fixed between the links, which latter
are actuated by a vertical hydraulic ram or rams under the bed or frame of the
machine. For cranks of medium size two other rams are provided to thrust at
the ends of the bars or the sliding beds in lieu of the bell cranks or jaws; these
are fixed one at either end, firmly secured to the upper edge of the girders or
frame of the machine. When the ends of the bar to form the crank do not
extend close up to the rams or either of them, blocks or distance pieces may be

page_text: used to fill up the intervening space but we do not claim the use of these blocks or
distance pieces. For cranks of large dimensions we prefer to use three rams
underneath the bed, arranged and operating as follows; the centre one vertical,
the other two placed in oblique positions pointing inwards at the upper ends each
provided with crossheads and a pair of links crossing each other and reaching
upwards above the frame or bed plate.
The bed plate may be a slab or forging of iron or steel fixed on the top of the
frame or girders and to which the crank block is secured. The centre rain to pull
down and hold the bar to be bent securely on the top of the central block or die;
the oblique rams to pull down the bar on each end of the central block or die and
so. form the crank, while other rams are applied, one at each end to thrust up
against the ends of the crank, or against the ends of the bar forming the crank
simultaneously, packing pieces or chocks being used as may be required and so
assist in forming the crank. The underneath rams as also the end rams may be
worked singly if desired as for instance when forming overneck cranks with one
jaw only The centre ram may also be used to pull or hold down the bar of the
partially formed crank on one end of the central block if desired while the other
rams are operating in other ways.
The end rams are provided with tension or radius links-one end of which are
recured to the main bed plate, the other to the rams or hydraulic cylinders, leaving
the rams free to be fixed at any desired height. Packing pieces may be placed
upon the main frames to secure the rams and sustain the weight of the same and
other links are provided for holding down the cylinders to the main frame in any
desired position. For forming cranks with extra long shaft, or of any form where
the above described end rams would be inconvenient, in lieu thereof the rams may
be fixed horizontally under the level of the bed plate between the framing or
girders and a strong jaw or lever with the fulcrum at the lower end, the ram
acting on the lever about midway and the upper end of the lever acting on the
end of the crankshaft, direct or by means of thrusting bars or packing pieces;
the position of the jaw or lever may be either between the ram and the central
block, or it may be at any required distance behind the rain, crossheads and
links being provided of any desired length.
Either double acting rams, or single acting ones with counterbalance weights
may be used.
In making cranks with square or flat jaws we prepare the bars in the following
manner, videlicet;-The pile or bloom is first drawn out square or flat under the
hammer to the desired section and swaged into round form at proper intervals for
the shaft and necks ;-for flat jawed cranks with two or more throws, the flats so
formed should be made at the required angle, suitable depressions are then made in
the upper and lower faces of the parts to form the throws, and at suitable distances,
for more easily forming the angles and for leaving the corners well up, without
overstraining the fibres of the bar forming the crank.
100

page_text: We GEORGE BROWN of South Park, Lincoln, Forge Manager and ROBERT BROWN
of the Terrace, Morton near Gainsborough Mechanical Engineer both in the County
of Lincoln do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BENT CRANKS AND MACHINERY THEREFOR" and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in machinery, or appliances for the manu-
facture of bent cranks, whether round or rectangular, by hydraulic machinery.
In order to enable our invention to be fully understood we will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1,
Sheet 1, shews an Elevation partly in section of a machine for manufacturing bent
cranks of small and medium sizes, and constructed according to our invention.
Figure 2, sheet 1 is a plan shewing parts of the same.
Figure 3, sheet 2, is a section on line A. B. of figure 1, sheet 1, and Figure 4,
sheet 2, is a section on line C. D. of the said,figure 1.
Figure 5, sheet 2, is a longitudinal section showing a modification of the blocks
or dies for forming a crank, the arms of which are not parallel.
Figure 6, sheet 2, is a similar view to figure 5, shewing a modification of the dies
for bending the outer arms of a three-throw crank.
Figure 7, sheet 2, is a view of a three-throw crank after being bent by the dies
shewn in figure 6, and set.
Figure 8, sheet 3, is an elevation partly in section shewing the central portion
and one end of a modified construction of machine suitable for making cranks of
large dimensions.
•
Figure 9, sheet 3, is a plan shewing portions of the same.
Figure 10, sheet 4, is a section on the line E. F. of figure 8, sheet 3.
Figure 11, sheet 4, is a section on the line G. H of figure 8, sheet 3.
Figure 12, sheet 4, is a plan at the line J. K. of figure 8, sheet 3.
Figure 13, sheet 4, is a section on the line L. M. of Figure 14, sheet 4, and ·
Figure 14, sheet 4, is an elevation of a modification of the end portions of the
apparatus shewn on sheet 3.
:
Figure 15, sheet 4, is a plan of the same.
с
Figure 16, sheet 5, shows an elevation of part of a shaft for making a crank with
square or flat jaws or arms.
Figures 17, to 24, sheet 5, are elevations shewing the different progressive stages
in the formation of such a crank.
We will first describe our invention as applied to the manufacture of cranks of
small or medium size by reference to figures 1, to 4, in which similar letters refer to
parts which are similar.
For the manufacture of cranks of small size, the straight bar, previously forged or
prepared in the required form, is strapped or cottered down to suitable blocks or
holders 1, and 1 secured by dovetails or otherwise to the sliding beds 2, which
blocks and beds support the respectivo ends of the bar and are set apart a suitablo
distance to allow for the depression and closing of the throw.

page_text: To form the cranks, blocks or dies are used in the following manner, one block or
die 7, is placed underneath the bar to form the crown and another block or die 7",
is placed above to form the inside of the throw. Two other dies or blocks 9, are
fixed in dovetail grooves on the inner ends of the sliding beds 2, and these dies
when they come in contact with the bar under operation form the outside of the
crank throw. Pressure is applied to the die 7 by one, or preferably a pair of
hydraulic rams 3. by means of links 4. 5. and 6. Whilst the middle portion of the
bar is being pulled downwards to the necessary depth of throw, pressure is trans-
mitted to the sliding beds 2, and dies 9, by means of the cross bar 7d and friction
rollers 7b through bell cranks or jaws, one of which is shewn at 8. the upper
arms, 8, of which give motion to the sliding beds 2. In the links 5 are slots in
which are placed adjusting picces 7c which determine the position of the dies and
regulate the travel of the jaws and dies.
For cranks of medium size two other rams 10, are provided to thrust at the ends
of the bars or the sliding beds in lieu of (or-in-conjunction with) the bell cranks or
jaws 8, and 8; these are firmly secured one at either end and fixed to the upper
edge of the girders 11, or frame of the machine.
When the ends of the bar to form the crank do not extend close up to the rains,
or either of them, blocks or distance pieces may be used to fill up the intervening
space but we do not claim the use of these blocks or distance pieces.
For cranks of large dimensions we prefer to use three rams underneath the bed,
arranged and operating as follows, the centre one shewn at 12, figure 8, sheet 3, is
vertical and the other two 13, and 14, are placed in oblique positions pointing
inwards at the upper ends. Each of the rams 13, and 14, is provided with cross
heads 15 and a pair of links 16, those of one ram crossing those of the other and
reaching upwards above the frame and bed plate. The Bedplato 17 preferably
consists of a slab or forging of iron or steel fixed on the top of the frame or
girder 11, and to this bedplate the crank block 18, is secured. The central ram
serves to pull down and hold the bar to be bent securely on the top of the central
block or die 18, by means of links 19., the oblique rams serve to pull down the bar
on each end of the central block or die and so form the cranks whilst other rams,
only one of which is shewn in the drawing at 20, are applied simultaneously one at
each end to thrust up against the ends of the crank, or against the ends of the bar
forming the crank; packing pieces or chocks being used as may be required and so
assist in forming the crank.
.
We do not claim the use of the central block or die 18, except as in the manner
above described.
'
The underneath rams as also the end rams may be worked singly if desired, as,
for instance, when forming over neck cranks with one jaw only. The central ram
may also be used to pull or hold down the bar or the partially formed crank on
one end of the central block if desired whilst the other rains are operating in other
ways.
The end rams 20, are provided with tension or radius links 21, one end of each
of which is secured to the bed plate 17 and the other to the Ram or hydraulic
cylinders, thus leaving the rams free to be fixed at any desired height. Packing
pieces 22 may be placed upon the main frames 11, to secure the rams and sustain
the weight of the same, and other links 23 are provided for holding down the
hydraulic cylinders to the frame 11, in any desired position.
For forming.a crank with an extra long shaft, or a crank of any form where the
use of the previously described end rams would be inconvenient, in lieu thereof the
Rams 24, Figure 14, sheet 4, may be fixed horizontally below the level of the bed-
plate, and between the frames or Girders 11, and a strong jaw or lever 25, with its
fulcrum at the lower end may be used, the ram acting on the lever about midway
and the upper end of the lever acting on the end of the crank shaft direct or by
means of bars or packing pieces. The position of the jaw or lever 25 may be either
between the ram and the bedplate or at any required distance behind the ram 24,
cross heads 26 being provided and links 27, of any necessary length connecting the

page_text: crossheads with the jaws or levers 25. Either double acting rams or single acting
rams with counterbalance weights may be used.
In making cranks with square or flat jaws or arms as illustrated in figures 16 to
24 we prepare the shafts in the following manner. The pile or bloom is prepared
in the usual manner and drawn out square or flat under the hammer to the desired
section and swaged into round form at proper intervals for the shaft or necks; for
flat jawed cranks with two or more throws the flats are made at the required angle,
suitable depressions are made at convenient distances in the upper and lower faces
of the parts intended to form the throws for more easily forming the angles and for
leaving the corners square and full size without overstraining the fibre of the
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
(1). In a machine for the manufacture of bent cranks placing the rams or some
of them, beneath the level of the bed or beds, or working table of the machine and
transmitting the pressure therefrom to the top by means of strong links thereby
giving a clear headway for operating on the bars and for lifting them in and out of
the machine substantially as hereinbefore described.
(2). In a machine for the manufacture of bent cranks the employment of sliding
beds moving horizontally upon the main frame and fitted with suitable blocks for
bringing in the ends of the cranks and operating in combination with vertical
blocks or dies actuated by the rams placed below the same substantially as
described.
(3). In a machine for the manufacture of bent cranks the use of bell cranks
serving to move the sliding beds horizontally at the same time that the central dies
are brought down by the lower ram or rams and operated by the said rams for
light work substantially as hereinbefore described.
(4). In a machine for the manufacture of bent cranks securing the end rams by
means of tension or radius links to the main bed and holding down the said end
rams by other links with suitable packings on the main frame so as to readily
accommodate the height of the end rams for operating to the best advantage endwise
on the bar or crank either independently of or simultaneously if desired with the
underneath ram or rams substantially as herein before described.
(5). The modification of the arrangement of end rams to suit extra long crank
shafts or bars by placing the said rams below the top of the frame and using strong
jaws or levers with fulcrum below to allow of their upper ends operating on the
ends of the shaft or bar the said jaws being placed either in front or behind the
said end rams substantially as herein before described.
(6). Preparing the bars for manufacturing square or flat jawed cranks by making
suitable depressions or indentations therein in order to give a perfect form to the
bars when bent and to prevent overlapping or tearing of the iron or steel at the
parts forming the angles of the crank substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated the 10th day of March 1005.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicants.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicants.