Ix- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRAWING FINE WIRE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Simpson, of Preston, in the County of
Lancaster, Gold Thread Manufacturer, for the Invention of "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRAWING FINE WIRE,"
Sealed the 23rd November 1869, and dated the 11th September 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Simpson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th September 1869.
I, STEPHEN SIMPSON, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Gold
Thread Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRAWING FINE WIRE," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is to draw fine wire, such as copper,
copper-plated, silver, silver gilt, or any other wire of a similar nature by
machinery instead of by hand.
My improvements consist in fixing upon a table or frame a headstock
similar to that of a lathe for carrying a spindle, upon which is mounted
fast and loose pullies, so that it can be rotated by a belt passing from a
rigger on a shaft running underneath, and which is driven by a belt
D
071

page_text: from any prime mover. The spindle has at its outer end a disc fitted
with a spring carrying a pin which passes through the disc and takes
into a hole in one face of a bobbin, upon which the wire when drawn is
wound. There is a headed stud on the face of the disc to fit a slotted
hole likewise in the bobbin to hold it secure. The inside end of the
spindle has a worm wheel mounted upon it, which takes into a wheel
supported in brackets in the headstock; the spindle upon which this
wheel is fitted also has a pinion to gear into another wheel, the spindle
of which has a pinion on its outer end to gear into a wheel on a spindle,
by which an intermittent motion is given to a sliding table or plate by
means of a rack. The sliding table or plate works in grooves in a frame
and carries uprights, in which is fitted a "rocket "or bobbin from which
the wire to be drawn is unwound. There is also a bar for carrying
weighted levers, from which depend other levers having rollers for the
wire in its passage from the rocket to the bobbin to pass over.
weighted levers cause a sufficient tension to be put and retained upon
the wire in its passage, and prevent all slackness and kinks occurring.
Between the rocket" and the bobbin I fit an adjustable bar in which a
jewel is set, and by which the reducing of the diameter of the wire is
effected, as is usual. I attach a cord to one of the levers, and carry
it down to a weighted rod or bar centred upon a short spindle which
carries a break friction block or pad; the break acts upon one face of the
"rocket," and regulates its rotation. The pressure with which the break
is caused to bear upon the "rocket" is governed by screwing up its
bracket nearer to or farther from the "rocket." The pinion and wheels
for communicating the motion to the sliding table are removable, so that
other wheels may be placed in their stead, and thus the intermittent
motion can be adjusted to suit the different sizes of wires that my
machinery is capable of drawing or reducing.
6
The
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Stephen Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, STEPHEN
SIMPSON, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Gold Thread Manu-
facturer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Stephen Simpson, Her special
licence that I, the said Stephen Simpson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Stephen Simpson, my executors,
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
MACHINERY FOR DRAWING FINE WIRE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Stephen Simpson, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
IN
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Stephen Simpson, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
The object of my Invention is to draw fine wire, such as copper,
copper-plated, silver, silver gilt, or any other wire of a similar nature
by machinery instead of by hand.
My improvements consist in fixing upon a table or frame a headstock
similar to that of a lathe for carrying a spindle, upon which are mounted
fast and loose pulleys, so that it can be rotated by a belt passing from a
rigger on a shaft running underneath, and which is driven by a belt
from any prime mover. The spindle has at its outer end a disc fitted
with a spring carrying a pin which passes through the disc and takes
into a hole in one face of a bobbin upon which the wire when drawn is
wound. There is a headed stud on the face of the disc to fit a slotted
lole likewise in the bobbon to hold it secure. The inside end of the
spindle has a worm wheel mounted upon it, which takes into a wheel

page_text: supported in brackets in the headstock; the spindle upon which this
wheel is fitted also has a pinion to gear into another wheel, the spindle,.
of which has a pinion on its outer end to gear into a wheel on a spindie
by which an intermittent motion is given to a sliding table or plate by
means of a rack. The sliding table or plate works in grooves in a frame,
and carries uprights, in which is fitted a "rocket" or bobbin from which.
the wire to be drawn is unwound. There is also a bar for carrying.
weighted levers, from which depend other levers having rollers for the
wire in its passage from the rocket to the bobbin to pass over.
The
weighted levers cause a sufficient tension to be put and retained upon
the wire in its passage, and prevent all slackness and kinks occurring.
Between the "rocket" and the bobbin I fit an adjustable bar in which a
jewel is set, and by which the reducing of the diameter of the wire is
effected, as is usual. I attach a cord to one of the levers and carry it
down to a weighted rod or bar centred upon a short spindle which
carries a break friction block or pad; the break acts upon one face of
the "rocket," and regulates its rotation. The pressure with which the
break is caused to bear upon the "rocket" is governed by screwing up
its bracket nearer to or farther from the "rocket." The pinion and
wheels for communicating the motion to the sliding table are removable,
so that other wheels may be placed in their stead, and thus the inter-
mittent motion can be adjusted to suit the different sizes of wires that
my machinery is capable of drawing or reducing.
The manner in which I carry my Invention into effect is represented
in the accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2
is a sectional elevation of my improved machinery, as before referred to.
In these Figures the parts are represented as being arranged for drawing
only one wire at the same time, but the machine may be made any
length for drawing any number of wires simultaneously.
The table or bench A, A, on which the different portions of the
machinery are fixed is supported by trestles or legs firmly fixed to the
table or bench A, A, at alternate intervals. Underneath this table or
bench A, A, and close to the floor is a shaft B, B, working into bearings C
fixed to the inner side of the trestles or legs, see Figure 2, and extending
the whole length of the bench; upon the end of this shaft B, B, which
I call the first motion shaft, is a fast and loose pulley D, D, so that it
can be driven by any convenient motive power, or by hand. Upon this
shaft B, B, there are also fixed a number of pulleys or drums (see dotted

page_text: handle K.
lines E, E, at convenient distances apart, for driving the machinery) fixed
on the upper part of the table or bench A, A. F, F, is a casting with.
two uprights G, G, very similar to the headstock of a lathe; in these
uprights G, G, works a wrought-iron spindle working in brass or other-
wise, one end of which projects beyond the upright, as at H, Figure 3.
Between the uprights or bearings G, G, there is fixed on the spindle a
worm I, and also a fast and loose pulley J, J, this spindle receiving its
motion from the first motion shaft B, B, according as the band or strap
is moved on to the fast or loose pulley J, J, by means of a forked lever
Upon that part of the spindle which projects beyond the
upright G is a large flange L, upon which at the side next to the upright
or bearing G is a straight moderately strong spring M, N, of tempered
steel; one end N of it is firmly screwed or rivetted as near to the outer
edge as possible; the middle part of the spring is placed as near to the
spindle without touching as will allow its free action; the opposite end
of the spring M projects beyond the radius of the flange, as at L; a
hole is bored through the flange, and an iron or a steel pin rivetted to
the steel spring, as at O, which fits the hole in the flange L; this steel
pin is sufficiently long to project through the flange L, and the long
part of the spring at M which projects beyond the radius of the flange L
is for the convenience of drawing back the projecting steel pin. In
addition to this projecting steel pin there is on the reverse side of the
flange L, to which the spring is fixed a headed stud P, Figure 3, which
is in conjunction with the pin, as at O, for the purpose of locking the
drum or roll Q, Q, on to that part of the spindle which projects beyond
the flange L, and which said drum or roll receives the wire as it is
drawn through the draw plate or jewel hole at R. The drum or
roll Q, Q, is made very similar in construction to those which are now in
use. by skilled fine wire drawing hands, the diameter of which may very.
according to taste or fancy. The most convenient size I have found to
be about 14 inches diameter, and about 4 inches on the barrel or
between the flanges; but the ordinary drums or rolls now in use may
be brought into use with a little modification in the arrangement of the
distances of the other parts of the machinery hereafter to be described.
In the centre of the drum or roll Q, Q, is firmly screwed a flanged boss
(see Figure 4) of cast iron, or otherwise, the whole of which fits exactly
on that part of the spindle H which projects beyond the upright G-the
flange of this boss also corresponds in diameter with the flange L; in the

page_text: flange of this boss are two holes, one, S, to receive the head of the stud P,
which is described as being fixed on the flange L; from this hole S there
is a slot in the flange, this slot is for the purpose of allowing the small
part or neck of the stud P after the head has gone through the large
hole S to be drawn back to the end of the slot, at the same time the
steel pin which is fixed to the spring M, N, is forced in a corre-
sponding second hole T in the flange or boss which forms the centre of
the drum or roll Q, Q, and thereby prevents the drum or roll Q, Q,
either from revolving on the spindle H or from coming off, unless
liberated by drawing back the spring at M to which the lock pin O is
attached. On the spindle H, H, which works between the uprights G, G,
is a worm I, which works into a toothed wheel U, Figure 3; upon this
toothed wheel U there is cast in the centre a pinion V; this wheel U and
pinion V are keyed to a small shaft which works in two projecting
bearings W, W, cast to the inner side of the upright of the headstock G.
Immediately under this wheel and pinion U and V is another shaft X,
one end of which works in a similar projecting bearing Y, Figure 3, cast
to the inner side of the upright G of the headstock, the other bearing Z
for this shaft X is fixed on the table or bench A, A; on the shaft X is
keyed or fixed another toothed wheel a which gears into and is driven
by the pinion V, it will here be seen that for every, say 360 revolutions
of the shaft or spindle H, H, upon which the drum or roll Q, Q, is
fixed, the shaft X is intended to make only one revolution; the end of
the shaft X which projects beyond the bearing Z is for the purpose of
putting on different sized change wheels according to the work required.
b, b, is a small casting of iron screwed to the table or bench A, A, with
an upright dat one end, a second upright e is fixed to the base at the
other end by set screws or otherwise, and between these two uprights
works a small shaft c, one end of this shaft c projects beyond the
upright d, for the purpose of putting on change wheels, which gear into
the one already alluded to; into the other end of this small shaft c, which
projects beyond the upright e, is screwed or otherwise fixed a ratchet
or gatherer; immediately under this ratchet or gatherer is a projection
which is cast to and is a part of the upright. In this projection and
immediately under, and at right angles to the ratchet or gatherer is a
slot in which works a rack f, and this rack f is so arranged by a set
screw underneath that every revolution of the ratchet or gatherer
moves the rack f and that part of the machinery to which the rack f

page_text: is fixed from left to right. The rack f is fixed as at 9, 9, to a movable
table of wood h, h, or otherwise; upon the two edges of this movable
table h, h, and running parallel with the bench A, A, upon which the
machinery is fixed are screwed two pieces of wrought iron i, i, i, i, the
edges of the two pieces of wrought iron i, i, i, i, project over the
movable table h, h, as shewn. This movable table h, h, works or slides
between two parallel pieces of wood k, k, k, k, upon the inner sides of
which are screwed two pieces of wrought iron, and upon the top edges
of these rest and slide the two projecting pieces of wrought iron i, i, i, i,,
which are screwed to the movable table h, h, so as to allow the table to
be moved (with the least amount of friction or chance of binding) from
left to right, by means of the ratchet or gatherer as it. comes in contact
with. cach successive tooth of the rack f. Upon the surface of this
movable table h, h, is fixed a wrought or cast iron stand or upright
called the jewel stand 1, 1, 1, 1, (sufficiently broad to shield the rocket m, m,
hereafter to be described); at the top of this upright or stand 1, 1, 1, 1, is
fixed a plate of wrought iron or brass n by means of two screws 0, 0,
passing through two perpendicular slots, in this piece of wrought iron
or brass n is fixed the jewel R, through which the wire has to be
drawn and the slots are for the purpose of raising or lowering the
jewel R, there is also fixed at the end of this iron or brass plate or
jewel holder n, a small projecting bracket p, of brass or other metal,
and at the end of this bracket p is screwed or rivetted a pin or stud of
iron; upon this stud or pin, which is parallel with the jewel R, is fixed
a small roller of wood q covered with several thicknesses of linen or
cotton, the position of this small covered roller is so arranged, that the
top side is exactly on the same level as the centre of the jewel hole R
and the top of the drum or roll Q, Q. Upon the opposite edge of the
movable table h, h, is fixed a wrought-iron stand or upright called
the pendulum or lever stand r, r, the height of which is regulated
by the length of the pendulum or lever s, s, hereafter to be described.
At the top of this upright stand r, r, is welded or otherwise fixed a head
piece of wrought iron t as seen in Figure 2. In this head piece t, t, are
two slots for receiving the two bearings of the pendulum lever and arm
8, 8, u, u. The pendulum lever s, s, and the arm u, u, are joined at
the fulcrum at an angle of 90 degrees, the fulcrum is a small shaft or
spindlev, v, by which the pendulum s, s, and the arm u, u, are suspended;
to the bottom end of the pendulum s, s, is fixed a small stud upon whichi

page_text: revolves a boxwood bobbin bushed with metal. Upon the arm u, u, which
is divided into degrees or division slides a small cast-iron weight which
can be moved and fixed to any division by means of a thumb-screw at
the side.
The spindle or small shaft v, v, upon which the pendulum
lever s, s, and the arm u, u, are suspended, projects beyond the slots, in
which it works at one end, and to this part of the spindle which over-
hangs the bearings, is fixed a small short arm y, for working the break z.
The break z consists of a cast-iron base, at the right-hand end of it is a
slotted upright, the slot receives the neck of the thumb-screw a¹. Upon
the surface of this bed or base there is a sliding piece, and an upright
which corresponds to the upright at the right hand end of the bed as
before described. Through the upright of the sliding piece there is a
hole tapped to receive the thread of the screw (before described), and
which screw will cause the sliding piece b', upon the upper surface of
the base to move backwards or forwards accordingly as it is turned. At
the left hand end of the sliding piece b' there are two other uprights c', c',
which are a part of the casting, these uprights c¹, c', form bearings for a
small spindle d', which has to work in them; at the end of this spindle d'
furthest from the front edge of the bench on which the machinery is
placed, is fixed a small lever e', in a horizontal position, through this
arm or lever e¹, are 4 or 5 small holes, and at the end of this arm or
lever e¹, there is a small weight fixed, just sufficient to act as a counter-
poise. At the other end of the small spindle d' there is fixed in a
perpendicular position a flat steel spring f, and at the top end of this
spring is fixed by means of a little shellac a piece of cork or any other
suitable substance; this is the break or buffer which is brought in contact
with the rocket m, to check its speed, in the event of its overrunning
by means of a small cord g', one end of which is attached to one of
the holes in the horizontal lever e¹, and the other end is attached to the
small arm y, which projects from the
the pendulum s, s, and the arm u, u.
pendulum lever stand Figure 2; at the
bent horizontally in a semicircular position, for the purpose of forming
bearings for a second pendulum lever ", '; this pendulum lever ', ¹, has
an arm projecting from the fulcrum at an angle of about 90
degrees; upon this arm is a sliding weight m¹ which can be fixed
to any division, by means of the thumb screw at the side; at the bottom
end of this pendulum lever ¹, 2, is fixed a stud, upon which works a
end of the spindle or fulcrum v of
h', h', is a cross piece fixed to the
end of this cross piece h¹, h', it is

page_text: boxwood bobbin ; this pendulum lever i', ', is in every respect similar
in construction to the long one s, s, before described, excepting that the
fulcrum or spindle does not project over the bearings at one end. On
the movable table h, h, see Figure 1, are lixed or screwed two upright
bearings o', o', between these bearings is fitted and works a spindle p',
in the two slots of the uprights or bearings o', o', and on this spindle p'
is placed and fixed the rocket m by means of a nut q'. This rocket
contains the wire that has to be drawn from one size to another.
Having now described the different portions and arrangements of the
machinery, the working of it is conducted in the following manner:-
The rocket m is filled with wire on the same principle as they spin
back in the ordinary hand fine wire drawing, it is then put on the
spindle p', and the nut q is screwed up against the rocket m to prevent
it from turning round on the spindle. The spindle with the rocket on
it is then placed in the bearings of the uprights o', o', the next care is
to see that the pendulum levers are properly set for the work they
have to do, and, as this entirely depends upon the size of wire to be
drawn, it may be here explained, that for the largest sized wire that can
be drawn on these machines, it is requisite that the two balance
weights and m¹ be fixed, by means of their thumbscrews, at the
extreme end of their respective arms u, u, and , and as the wire gets
finer it is requisite to move these balance weights and m' to such
divisions nearer the fulcrum as correspond with the size of the wire
to be drawn. The next thing is to see that the movable table h, h, is
slided to the extreme left hand, so that the draw plate or jewel hole R
will be within sth inch from being opposite to the left-hand flange of
the drum or roll Q, Q. After these adjustments the end of the wire to
be drawn is taken from the rocket m, m, and passed round the boxwood
bobbins n' and w fixed to the extreme ends of the pendulum levers i', ',
and s, s, it is then passed through the draw plate hole or jewel at R,
and the end is fastened to the left-hand flange of the drum or roll Q, Q.
The machine is now ready for starting to draw wire from off the
rocket m, m, through the jewel R on to the drum or roll Q, Q, which
is done by placing one of the forefingers of the right-hand in one of
the two holes r, s, for the purpose of starting the machine gradually,
and as soon as the operator has got the required speed, the driving strap
is moved on to the fast pulley, with the left-hand by means of the forked

page_text: lever K. After the machine is started it is requisite to notice the
motion of the pendulum levers i, i¹, and s, s; and in the event of their
working too far apart or too near together this must be regulated by
the thumbscrew of the break 2. As the machine continues working it
will be noticed that the wire is being guided all on to one place of the
drum or roll Q, Q, until it is moved on to another space by means of
the ratchet or gatherer coming in contact with each successive tooth of
the rack f, which is attached to the movable table h, h, the drum or
roll Q, Q, is thus filled with wire from flange to flange. The drum or
roll Q, Q, is then liberated from off the spindle H, H, by drawing back
the pin O attached to the spring M, N. The next process is to rewind
the wire from off the drum or roll Q, Q, on to a rocket m, m, for the
purpose of drawing the same wire to a finer size through another jewel
hole, this is done by having an upright spindle u', u', Figure 5, screwed
firmly to a bench, upon which revolves a flanged boss t¹, this boss t¹ has
a convex centre at the top, and on the outside of this loss and resting
upon the flange is placed the drum or roll Q, Q, and in this position
the wire which is on the drum or roll Q, Q, is spun back or rewound
on to the rocket m, m, by the same means as in hand fine wire
drawing.
This process of drawing and rewinding is repeated until the wire is
reduced to the size required, by having passed through a succession of
finer jewel holes.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
Firstly. The general arrangement of the machinery as described in the
foregoing Specification..
Secondly. I claim the pendulum levers with their giving and taking
motions, in conjunction with their balance weights, and which balance
weights slide backwards or forwards (according to the size of the wire
to be drawn,) on an arm or projection, which is fixed at right angles or
nearly so from the fulcrum of the said pendulum levers.
33
Thirdly. I claim the self-acting "break" or buffer which is
worked from the small arm projecting from the fulcrum or shaft upon
'which the pendulum lever swings, and which "break" or buffer,"
according to the oscillating motion of the pendulum lever to which it

page_text: is attached retards or liberates and consequently regulates the speed of
the bobbin or rocket as the wire is being drawn off on to the drum or
roll as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Simpson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
Witness,
WILLIAM CHADDERTON,
28, Park Road,
Preston.
STEPHEN SIMPSON. (L.S.)