IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
POWER HAMMERS." A communication from abroad by Jean Louis Marie
Diot, Pierre Moulebout, and Frédéric Yates, all of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
་
Sealed the 23rd January 1880, and dated the 2nd August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1879.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS." A communication from
abroad by Jean Louis Marie Diot, Pierre Moulebout, and Frédéric Yates, all of
Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relating to power hammers consists in constructing the same with
two or any suitable number of reciprocating parts, and two or any suitable number
of steam cylinders independent or connected either partially or wholly, that is to
say, each reciprocating part being capable of working separately, or all the said
parts when connected being capable of working together.
In carrying out this Invention the hammer is constructed with an anvil bed,
uprights, a base for the cylinders, a series of cylinders provided with steam chests,
and reciprocating parts or blocks carrying the hammers proper.
The reciprocating parts or blocks in lieu of being constructed in one piece are
composed of two, three, or any suitable number of pieces. There is a steam cylinder
to each reciprocating part to which it is connected by a piston rod. Each steam
cylinder is capable of being worked separately in such a manner as to act only upon
the corresponding reciprocating block.
The different blocks may be united or connected together in such a manner as to
form a single piece.
The steam piston actuating the blocks may likewise be connected together, that
is to say, they may be caused to act simultaneously so as to raise all the blocks
at ouce when the latter are connected. For this purpose the distribution of
steam is so arranged as to be capable of admitting steam. into all the cylinders
simultaneously.

page_text: Each reciprocating block is adapted for the reception of a hammer face and the
anvil bed is arranged for the reception of anvils corresponding to the hammer on
each block. When the blocks are all connected together they are all connected to
one hammer and the anvil bed is so arranged as to carry one single anvil.
The forging apparatus combined as hereinbefore described are adapted for
welding the blocks of metal as well as for working or forging the same. In fact by
connecting the reciprocating blocks together a large block is obtained possessing the
requisite power for welding a mass of metal of a certain size.
By dividing this last block and working one or the other of its parts
separately the proper power is obtained for forging the same mass in a suitable
manner.
By means of this Invention in lieu of employing several apparatus of different
power one and the same apparatus is enabled to perform all the operations of
manufacturing a forged article.
Consequently a considerable saving is effected in the first expense of providing
the plant of a forging shop.
Moreover it frequently happens that it is required to produce an article of
exceptional dimensions. In this case the improved apparatus enables such articles
to be manufactured under the same conditions as by the apparatus at present in use
of corresponding dimensions.
In order to forge shafts, axles, and the like, the hammer on each block and the
corresponding anvils are so arranged as to form one of the diameters of the article.
By graduating these appliances in a suitable manner an article of different diameters
may be quickly forged without any loss of time or reheating.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
February 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS." A communication from
abroad by Jean Louis Marie Diot, Pierre Moulebout, and Frédérick Yates, all of
Paris, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to improvements in power hammers whereby one and
the same apparatus is rendered adapted for use for different kinds of work by
simply bringing a greater or less number of the parts into action.
In the production of large forgings blocks are usually prepared from a series of
iron bars rolled or obtained from scrap iron which are heated in a furnace and
placed one over the other, being at the same time submitted to the action of a
stamp hammer. Under the action of the hammer the iron bars are powerfully
compressed and consequently the liquified impurities are expelled from the bundle,
the different molecules are brought together and placed in intimate contact
in the centre as well as at the surfaces, and by reason of their juxtaposition
form a perfectly homogeneous mass. This operation is technically known as
"welding."
The block thus treated is subsequently worked up or forged, that is to say, the
form and dimensions of the finished article are imparted to it under the action of a
stamp hammer.
•
From the foregoing it may be readily understood that the action requisite in a
hammer when employed for the operation of welding is much more powerful than
that required for the operation of forging. Hence it results that the manufacture
of good forgings requires welding apparatus of great power combined with similar
apparatus of less power for forging.
Forging apparatus are composed moreover,―
1st. Of the apparatus proper.
2nd. The exchangeable parts attached to the apparatus and corresponding to the
work, consisting of the hammer or striker and anvil.
These parts, which, in the case of powerful apparatus, are of large dimensions,
form a considerable dead weight and involve a great amount of labour in moving
them.
Independently of this fact forging apparatus as heretofore constructed are not
well adapted for the economical manufacture of forgings, and do not enable these
articles to be produced with all the perfection desirable.
When it is required to manufacture shafts or axles of varying diameter with
shoulders, collars, and the like, the only means of forging these articles is by
changing the hammers and anvils successively for each change of dimensions. This
necessitates replacing the article in the fire at each change involving great loss of
time, and considerably raises the cost of production; moreover the repeated
reheating of the particles is liable to change the molecular condition of the iron
in certain parts so that there is danger of rendering the article defective in
quality.
Now the said Invention has for its object the production of forging apparatus on
the principle of the stamp hammer which shall be free from the disadvantages
inherent in the forging apparatus heretofore employed, whilst at the same time.
enabling the first cost of the plant of a forge to be greatly reduced,
In carrying out the said Invention in order to effect this object the hammer is
constructed with an anvil bed, uprights, a base for the cylinders, a series of cylinders
provided with steam chests, and reciprocating parts or blocks carrying the hammer
proper. The reciprocating parts or blocks in lieu of being constructed in one piece
are composed of two, three, or any suitable number of pieces. There is a steam

page_text: cylinder and piston to each reciprocating part to which it is connected by a piston
rod. Each steam cylinder is capable of being worked separately in such a manner
asto act only upon the corresponding reciprocating block.
The different blocks are capable of being united or connected together in such a
manner as to form a single piece.
The steam cylinders and pistons actuating the blocks may likewise be connected
together, that is to say, they may be caused to act simultaneously so as to raise all
the blocks at once, when the latter are connected. For this purpose the distribution
of steam is so arranged as to be capable of admitting steam into all the cylinders
simultaneously when required. Each reciprocating block is adopted for the reception
of a hammer, and the anvil bed is arranged for the reception of anvils corresponding
to the hammer on each block. When the blocks are all connected together they
are all connected to one hammer, and the anvil bed is so arranged as to carry one
single anvil.
The blocks may be of equal or different sizes.
The improved forging apparatus combined as hereinbefore described obviates all
the disadvantages herein before set forth of ordinary stamp hammers, and are
adapted for welding the blocks of metal as well as for subsequently working or
forging the same. In fact by connecting the reciprocating blocks together a large
block is obtained possessing the requisite power for welding a mass of metal of a
certain size.
By dividing this large block and working one or the other of its parts
separately the proper power is obtained for forging the same mass in a suitable manner.
By means of the said Invention therefore in lieu of employing several apparatus
of different power one and the same apparatus is enabled to perform all the
operations of manufacturing a forged article, and a considerable saving is conse-
quently effected in the first expense of providing the plant of a forging shop.
Moreover it frequently happens that it is required to produce an article of
exceptional dimensions; in this case the improved apparatus enables such articles
to be manufactured under the same conditions as by the apparatus at present in use
of corresponding dimensions.
As an example of the facility with which forgings may be made by the use of the
improved apparatus the manufacture of a shaft or axle having different diameters,
shoulders, collars, and the like may be instanced. In order to forge articles of this
description each hammer and the corresponding anvil is so arranged as to forme
one of the diameters of the article. By graduating these appliances in a suitable
manner an article of different diameters may be quickly forged without any loss
of time or reheating.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a front elevation, partly in
section, of an apparatus constructed according to the said Invention, and arranged
so as to be capable of working with two hammers.
Figure 2 is a corresponding side elevation partly in section.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section corresponding to Figure 1, the section being taken
along the line
2, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a detail of the hammers and anvil, showing the former connected
together, and
Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the apparatus taken along the line 3, 4,
Figure 1.
According to the arrangement illustrated in the Drawing the apparatus is con-
structed with two steam cylinders I mounted on a suitable base K supported by
uprights Q, the said cylinders having separate steam chests L with separate single
acting valves to each chest. A third steam chest M common to both cylinders is
provided with a valve capable of working with bọth cylinders simultaneously when

page_text: the travelling blocks are connected together so as to act in concert. The steam for
working the apparatus is conducted to the steam chests by suitable pipes N and
escapes through another pipe O.
The apparatus is provided with an anvil R supported on a bed R', which is made
by preference in three parts connected together by two pins a passed through all
the three parts and secured by two keys a' inserted when in a heated condition;
two hoops b are also provided for the purpose of binding the said parts together.
This arrangement facilitates the construction of the anvil bed and at the same time
renders it more solid.
The cylinders are provided with pistons c and piston rods d of the usual con-
struction connected to two blocks P carrying the hammers or tups H and partaking
of a reciprocating vertical motion in the usual manner.
The blocks P work in contact with each other and their contiguous surfaces are
provided with-alternate grooves or recesses and ribs or projections, the grooves or
recesses of the one surface engaging with the ribs or projections on the opposite
surface, and vice versa, as shown at P', Figures 1 and 3. When it is desired to
connect the blocks together this is effected by means of bolts e passed horizontally
through the said ribs or projections.
In working the apparatus when a considerable amount of force is required, as in
the operation of welding a mass of metal, for example, the anvil bed R¹ is provided
with a single anvil of suitable dimensions, and the reciprocating blocks P being
connected together by bolts e as herein before described, are provided with a single
hammer of corresponding size, whilst steam is admitted to both cylinders
simultaneously by means of the valve in the common steam chest M.
When the apparatus is required to perform operations in which less power is
required, such as forging articles of iron, the large anvil is removeed and replaced
by one or more anvils corresponding in size to the nature of the work. The
reciprocating blocks are disconnected from each other, the large hammer being
removed and replaced by a hammer or hammers corresponding to the anvils, and
steam is admitted to the cylinders by the separate single [acting slide valve lin
lieu of by the valve in the common steam chest M, thereby enabling the cylinders
to act independently.
The Drawing illustrates the general arrangement of a stamp hammer constructed
according to the said Invention with two reciprocating parts or blocks, and two
cylinders, but any other required number of reciprocating parts or blocks and
cylinders may be employed in like manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said In-
vention, 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,-
A power hammer having separate reciprocating parts or blocks and separate
steam cylinders capable of operating independently or conjointly, substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, the Second day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty
J. HENRY JOHNSON, (L.S.)