IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WORKING HIDES AND LEATHER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and Com-
pany, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WORKING HIDES
AND LEATHER."
A communication from abroad by Edward Fitzhenry, of
Somerville, Middlesex County, State of Massachusetts, United States of
America.
Sealed the 21st December 1876, and dated the 6th November 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1876.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR WORKING HIDES AND LEATHER." A communication from abroad
by Edward Fitzhenry, of Somerville, Middlesex County, State of Massachusetts,
United States of America.
The nature of my Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of
a machine for working hides and leather, as will be herein-after more fully set
forth.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my Invention appertains to
make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation,
referring to the annexed Drawings, which form a part of this Specification, and in
which,―
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my entire machine.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the table and sliding framo
thereon.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the entire mechanism suspended
from the sliding frame.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of the table and frame through the line
,, of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a side view of the movable frame for attaching the tools.
Figure 6 is a side view of the steam cylinder with guides.
==
Figure 7 is a transverse section of the steam cylinder through the line y, y,
Figure 6.

page_text: Figure 8 is a transverse section of the tool frame through the line 2, 2,
Figure 5.
Figure 9 represents a mechanism for preventing the tools from being lowered.
Figure 10 is a side view of one end of the sliding frame, in which the entire
mechanism is suspended.
Figure 11 represents springs in said frame.
Figure 12 represents the tools with their toggle joints.
Figure 13 is a bottom view of the tool holder.
Figure 14 is a side view of the mechanism for raising and lowering the
tools.
Figure 15 is a bottom view of the tool frame.
Figure 16 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the cylinder piston with the
interior pistons; Figure 17 is an end view of the same.
Figure 18 is a side elevation of the steam cylinder and carriage with attach-
ments thereto showing modifications of certain parts thereof.
Figure 19 is a partial longitudinal section; and Figure 20, a transverse vertical
section of the same.
Figure 21 is a view of detached parts..
A represents the table upon which the leather is worked. This table rests upon
the frame B, and is of sufficient size to allow of two ordinary sides of leather being
placed upon it at the same time; C represents a platform upon which the operator
stands while working the machine. This platform is attached to a framework D,
which is built substantially in the manner shown in Figure 1, it being simple in
construction, and at the same time strong and light; it is supported by means of
slides a, a, in grooves b, b, on the table frame B, and moves back and forth in the
same.
In the framework D, at the inner edge of the operator's platform C, is a treadle
wheel E on the back of which is a cog wheel G. This cog wheel gears with a
pinion d upon the end of a shaft d in the lower part of the frame D, said shaft
being provided with two other pinions d², d², which gear with rack bars d³, d³,
secured to the inner sides of the table frame B. The operator, standing upon the
platform C by working the treadle wheel E, can thus move the entire framework D,
and everything connected therewith from one end of the table to the other as the
work may require.
In the upper part of the frame D are two parallel bars D¹, D¹, upon which
slides a circular frame H. This frame forms flanged boxes on opposite sides, in each
of which is placed a flanged gib I.
While the machine is running crosswise of the table if it were turned suddenly
to run parallel with the table, and the inertia were not overcome, it would naturally
weaken the frame D, D¹, as well as the machine lose its regularity of movement.
To avoid this I leave a space between each gib and the frame H, and in said space
are inserted springs e, e, connected by a cross bar f, and said cross bar attached
to the frame. By this means, when there is any necessity for it, the frame H will
give sufficiently to overcome the inertia of the machine, and prevent the straining
of the parts.
On the inside, around the lower edge of the frame H, is an inward projecting
flange i, which is beveled on its under side. On this flange are placed two grooved
head blocks I, 11, attached to the upper ends of standards J, J, at the ends of the
steam cylinder K; L is the piston inside of the cylinder K, and k the piston rod
thereof, extending in both directions through the heads of the cylinder. The piston
rod is hollow or tubular, and on each side of the piston in said hollow rod is a
smaller piston and rod m; n and n' are steam passages to each small piston m. When
the piston L is at one end of the cylinder previous to its making a stroke the
opening to the passage n on that side of the piston is within the stuffing box, and
cannot therefore take steam, but as soon as the piston L has begun its stroke said
opening is withdrawn from the stuffing box, and immediately receives the steam,
which passes through it into the hollow piston rod k, back of the piston m on the

page_text: other side of the large or main piston, and consequently forces it outward in the
same direction the main piston is moving. This movement of the piston m throws
outward a swinging lever p hung in the end of a sliding frame M, which moves back
and forth in grooved ways a on the side of the cylinder K. The lower ends of
the levers p, p, are by rods t, t, connected with the toggle joints v, v, supporting the
tool holders N, N, so that at each stroke of the main piston one of said tool holders
will be lowered to cause the tools to bear on the leather. When the steam enters
the cylinder to form a lead or cushion for the main piston previous to its return
stroke the steam immediately enters the passage n', driving the piston m back to
the original position, and thereby raising the tools from the table, where they
remain till at the beginning of another stroke the steam again enters the passage n,
and forces the small piston m outward. When one of the pistons m raises one
tool holder and set of tools from the table the other piston forces the other holder
and set of tools almost at the same time down on the table. The rods of the
pistons m, m, are connected to the levers p, p, by stirrups w, and the movement
of the main piston and piston rod gives a reciprocating motion to the sliding
frame M.
O, O, represent the tools, which are firmly attached to the tool stocks or tool
holders N, N, by a bolt or bolts passing through holes pierced in the tools, stocks,
and covering plates alike, and the stocks or holders slide upon the frame M. The
pressure of the tools upon the leather is obtained by means of springs X, X, above
and below the joints in the toggles v, v, as shown in Figure 12. In the outer end
of each stirrup w is a cam y upon a shaft passing through the stirrup, and on one
end of this shaft is a lever Z. On one of the head blocks I is pivoted an elbow
lever P connected by a rod a¹ with an arm or pawl b¹ pivoted on the inner side of
one of the ways 8. By the use of the lever P the arm b¹ may be set so that either
end of the lever Z will strike the end thereof, and set the cam y. By allowing
one end to strike the arm the cam will be turned away from the swinging lever p
and hence allow the piston m to raise and lower the tools. When the other end of
the lever is made to strike the arm b₁ the cam will be turned against the swinging
lever p, holding the same rigid, so that the piston m cannot lower the tools, but
they will remain raised.
Two balance wheels R, R, are used, one on each side of the cylinder, which admits
of two connecting rods d', d, to the carriage or frame M, thereby giving a stronger
and firmer control of the same.
S represents the exhaust pipe, to which are attached handles T, T, for giving the
engine the pivot motion, as well as the movement crosswise of the table. To one of
these handles is pivoted a lever V, which is connected with another lever W pivoted
to the side of the cylinder K, and the lower end of this last lever pivoted to
sliding bars A¹. These sliding bars have pins passing through them, which pins
also pass through inclined slots e', in a bar B¹ placed between them, so that by the
movement of the levers V, W, said bar B₁ will be raised or lowered as desired.
The bar B¹ is slotted longitudinally, and in this slot is placed a sliding block f¹,
through the ends of which pass the upper rods of the toggle joints v, v. By these
devices the tools may be raised from the table while the machine is in motion, so
that it may be moved from one side of the leather to the other without touching it.
This may also be used for regulating the pressure on the tools. Inside of the
exhaust pipe S is the steam inlet pipe h', and the amount of steam used is regulated
by a throttle valve it.
The object of arranging one steam pipe within the other is to admit of the steam
cylinder and operating mechanism being revolved or turned in either direction
without interfering with the pipe conveying steam to and from the same.
This machine is not attached to, supported by, or fastened to any part of the
building in which it is set up, as it is a machine in itself. The frame is strong and
light, the table is long enough to admit of two ordinary sides of leather being
placed on it at the same time, so that one side when finished may be replaced with

page_text: a fresh one while the machine is at work on the other, whereby it is constantly
operating on leather. The tools can be brought to bear upon any points of the
table by the peculiar construction of the frames and the pivot motion.
By raising and lowering the tools by toggle joints, as described, I obtain a nearly
perpendicular motion of the tools, so that there is no sudden contact of the tools
with the leather, and thereby prevent the marking of the leather by the tipping or
circular motion.
In Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21 I have represented a different mechanism for
raising and lowering the tools, and for starting and stopping the same to and from
the work.
In the lower portion of the frame or carriage M at each end is a rocking shaft a³
with arms b, b, projecting outward therefrom, and to the outer ends of said arins
the tool holder N is secured. From the back of each rocking shaft a extends an
arm, which is curved upward, as shown, and the upper portion slotted or forked,
and pivoted to a slide A. This slide or sleeve is placed loosely on a bar B², to each
end of which are pivoted two links f, f. The links at one end of the bar B² are
placed loosely on a shaft h², while the links at the other end are secured to a similar
shaft . The two bars B, B, with their links are 50 arranged that each shaft
has two links fast thereon, and two loose links.
At one end of the frame or carriage M are pivoted two pitmen C³, C, which
connect with and operate the two fly wheels R, R, placed on the ends of a shaft i
above the cylinder K in the centre. On this shaft are secured two cams k², k², each
of which operates a lever De pivoted in a slotted bar E² placed in the framework
connected to the cylinder. The lower ends of the levers D2, D2, are by bars or rods
G2, G3, connected with cranks m², m², on the shafts, h, that is, one lever connects
with one shaft, and the other lever with the other shaft.
When the machine is in operation the shafts h³ are rocked by means of the cams
k2, levers D2, connecting bars G³, and cranks m², whereby the bars B are moved
lengthwise, and alternately raised and lowered, thereby alternately raising and
lowering the tools. T is the hand wheel for swinging the entire mechanism in any
direction. On the under side of this wheel are two rods n², n, each of which con-
nects with hinged levers H2, H2, carrying a wedge I². These wedges are pushed
down in grooves at the ends of the fulcrum bars E, E, to hold them stationary
while the machine is in operation. To stop the tools it is only necessary to push
the rods n² inward, when the wedges will be drawn and the bars or boxes E become
movable, thereby removing the fulcrums of the levers D2, so that they will not
operate. The wedges 12 are guided in their up-and-down movement by means of
pins 8º
Having thus fully described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The combination with the table A and frame B of the sliding framework
D, D', supporting the entire operating mechanism, the platform C, treadle wheel E
with cog wheel G, shaft d¹ with pinions d, d², and rack bars d³, d³, all substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2nd. The combination with the sliding framework D, D¹, of the circular sliding
frame H, flanged gibs I, and springs e, substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
3rd. The combination of the circular sliding frame H provided with interior flange
i, the grooved head blocks II, and standards J, J, from which is suspended the
cntire operating mechanism, whereby said mechanism may be given a rotary
motion, as described.
4th. In combination with the cylinder K and piston L the hollow piston rod k
with steam passages n, n¹, and interior pistons and rods m, substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
5th. The combination of the pistons m, swinging lever p, rods t, toggle joints v,
and tool stocks N, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

page_text: 6th. The combination of the pistons m, stirrups w, lever p, cam y, lever z, pivoted
arm b¹, connecting rod a¹, and lever P, substantially as and for the purposes herein
set forth.
7th. The combination of the steam cylinder K with the pistons L, m, m, sliding
frame or carriage M carrying the tools, swinging levers p, rods t, and toggle joints v,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
8th. The combination of the levers V, W, sliding bars A¹, slotted bar B¹,
block f, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
and
9th. The exhaust pipe S with the steam inlet pipe h³, arranged within the same
for the purposes set forth.
10th. The combination of the cam k², lever D³, connecting bar G², crank m², bar
B2 with links f2, slide A2, and arm & connected to the rocking tool holder, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
11th. The combination of the lever D³, fulcrum bar or box E³, wedges I, levers
H2, and rod n², all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. J. HADDAN. (L.S.)