Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Levelling or Flattening Plates.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Levelling or
Flattening Plates.
I, JOHN DONALDSON, of Church Wharf, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, a Member of the Firm of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Engineers
and Ship Builders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows;
-
This invention has reference to a construction of machine designed to enable
metal plates of various kinds but especially those used in boat and ship building
to be easily, quickly and cheaply levelled or flattened.
For this purpose
I combine a power hammer of any suitable construction with
means for moving it laterally in various directions in such a manner that it may
be rapidly moved into position over any part of the surface of a levelling plate
between which and the hammer head the portion of plate requiring to be
operated upon may be located and that the hammer can be moved from one
position to another rapidly as the hammering proceeds.
One type of such a machine I construct with a hammer arranged to be rapidly
reciprocated by steam, compressed air or other suitable motive agent after the
manner of a rock drill and so arranged to slide and to be operated by suitable
means that it can be traversed both longitudinally and transversely over the
place to be levelled which is supported during the levelling operation upon a
heavy levelling plate, slab or anvil hereinafter called the levelling plate.
The hammer can be mounted and traversed in various ways.
In one construction, the machine comprises two side frames or standards con-
nected transversely by horizontal rods or bars and mounted on wheels or rollers
so that the machine can be traversed longitudinally on rails or ways between
which the levelling plate is arranged. For traversing the machine longitudinally,
one or more of the carrying wheels or rollers may advantageously, be driven by
chain or other suitable gearing from a transverse shaft mounted in the framework
of the machine and provided with a hand wheel or crank handle.
Upon two of the horizontal rods, which serve as slide rods, is mounted a trans-
versely movable crosshead or support provided with a pneumatic or other motor,
which may be of any known or suitable kind having a piston adapted to be rapidly
reciprocated in a vertical direction and to which the hammer is attached. For
moving the hammer transversely, the cross head or support is or may conveniently
be attached to an endless chain that extends horizontally across the machine and
passes around chain wheels to the spindle of one of which is attached a hand
wheel or equivalent device for operating the chain.

page_text: My machine is specially suitable for levelling the hardened steel plates used
in the construction of torpedo boats and other like vessels.
Daied this 21st day of Now 1907
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Levelling.or
Flattening Plates.
I, JOHN DONALDSON, of Church Wharf, Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, a Member of the Firm of John I. Thornycroft & Co., Engineers
and Ship Builders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to a construction of machine designed to enable
metal plates of various kinds, but especially those used in boat and ship building,
to be easily, quickly and cheaply levelled or flattened.
For this purpose I combine a power hammer of any suitable construction with
means for moving it laterally in various directions in such a manner that it can
be rapidly moved into position over any part of the surface of a levelling plate
between which and the hammer head the portion of plate requiring to be
operated upon may be located and that the hammer can be moved from one
position to another rapidly as the hammering proceeds.
One type of such a machine I construct with a hammer arranged to be rapidly
reciprocated by steam, compressed air or other suitable motive agent after the
manner of a rock drill and so arranged to slide and to be operated by suitable
means that it can be traversed both longitudinally and transversely over the
plate to be levelled which is supported during the levelling operation upon a
heavy levelling plate, slab or anvil hereinafter called the levelling plate.
The hammer can be mounted and traversed in various ways.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying illustrative drawings show respectively in
end and side elevation one construction of machine or apparatus for levelling
or flattening plates according to this invention. Fig. 3 shows in plan a detail
of construction.
The machine shown comprises two side frames or standards 1 connected trans-
versely by horizontal rods or bars 2, 2ª and mounted on wheels or rollers 3 so that
the machine can be traversed longitudinally on rails or ways 4 between which is
arranged the heavy levelling plate 5 upon which the plate A to be levelled is
placed. For traversing the machine longitudinally, one or more of the carrying
wheels or rollers 3 may advantageously be driven by chain or other suitable gear-
ing from a transverse shaft mounted in the frame work of the machine and pro-
vided with a hand wheel or crank handle. In the example shown two of the
carrying wheels or rollers 3 are driven by endless chains 6 from chain wheels 7
on a transverse shaft 8 provided with hand-wheel 9.
Upon two of the horizontal rods, viz. 2, which are made of larger diameter
than the other 2ª and serve as slide rods, is mounted a transversely movable cross
head or support 10 provided with a motor 11, which may be of any known or
suitable kind having a piston adapted to be rapidly reciprocated in a vertical

page_text: direction and to the rod 12 of which the hammer 12" is attached. In practice
I have used with advantage a pneumatic motor 11 of ordinary or known construc-
tion and such as is commonly used for rock drills, such motor having an inlet
pipe 13 with cock 13" for supply of compressed air, and outlet pipes 14 for spent
air, these pipes being connected to flexible pipes 13" and 14" respectively to permit
of free movement of the crosshead 10 and motor. 15 is a screw with crank
handle 15 by which the motor and hammer can, when desired, be raised on the
cross head or support 10 sufficiently to prevent the hammer acting upon the
plate A without stopping the motor. The screw also enables the hammer to
be adjusted in height to suit plates of different thickness. For moving the hammer
transversely, the cross head or support 10 is or may conveniently be attached by
bolts 16 to the links of an endless chain 17 which extends horizontally across the
machine and passes around chain wheels 18 to the spindle of one of which is
attached a hand wheel 19 or equivalent device for operating the chain.
As
will be seen, by the arrangements described the motor can be rapidly moved
from one position to another over the plate A as the hammering proceeds.
My machine is specially suitable for levelling the hardened steel plates used
in the construction of torpedo boats and other like vessels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;
1. For levelling or flattening plates the use in conjunction with means for
supporting the plate to be operated upon of a hammer adapted to be rapidly
reciprocated by steam or other motive agent and to be moved over the surface of
the supported plate in such manner that it can be caused to act successively upon
the various parts of that surface as and for the purpose mentioned.
2. A machine or apparatus for levelling plates wherein a power hammer, means
for moving it laterally in various directions, and a levelling plate are so com-
bined and arranged that the power hammer can be rapidly moved into position
over any part of the surface of the levelling plate between which and the hammer
head the portion of plate requiring to be operated upon may be located and
that the hammer can be moved from one position to another rapidly as the
hammering proceeds, substantially as described.
3. A machine or apparatus for levelling plates, constructed and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings
Dated this 21st day of February 1898.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.