IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING OR TREATING STRIPS OF STEEL FOR HARDENING AND TEMPERING
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wright, of New George Street, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Spring Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PREPARING OR TREATING STRIPS OF STEEL FOR HARDENING AND TEMPERING."
Sealed the 6th April 1858, and dated the 16th October 1857. .....
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said John Wright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th October
1857.
66
.. I, JOHN. WRIGHT, of New George Street, Sheffield, in the County of York;
5. Spring Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, OR. TREATING STRIPS OF STEEL FOR HARDENING: AND
TEMPERING," to be as follows:-
My Invention of preparing or treating strips of steel for hardening and
témpering, consists in drawing them.through a hot metal or fire-clay tube, to
heat the strip, and at the same time applying sufficient tension to the strip of
steel to straighten it while hot, and keep it straight during the operation.. For
this purpose I wind the strip of steel to be hardened. on a drum, from which
it is drawn off to be passed through the heating: tube. To this drum I apply
a friction break, whereby to oppose its rotation with a force necessary to create
5 the required. tension on the strip. The metal, or fire-clay tube is heated by
a suitable furnace, and is sufficiently long and hot that; the strip acquires the
c degree of heat necessary in passing through. On leaving. the tube. the strip
is.conducted down into an oil reservoir or vessel of liquid, to harden it..under

page_text: a roller therein, and thence it is drawn over a tempering furnace or hot plate,
and on to a drum, on which it is wound up. This latter drum is driven by
any suitable power, and exerts the force necessary to draw the strip of steel
through the whole operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WRIGHT, of New George Street; Sheffield, in the County of York, Spring
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Wright, Her special licence that I, the said John Wright,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Wright, 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 IN PREPARING
OR TREATING STRIPS OF STEEL FOR HARDENING AND TEMPERING," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Wright, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Wright, 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 state-
ment, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of preparing strips of steel for hardening and tempering,
consists in drawing them through a hot metal or fire-clay tube, to heat the

page_text: strip, and at the same time applying sufficient tension to the strip of steel;
to straighten it while hot and keep it straight during the operation. For
this purpose I wind the strip of steel to be hardened on a drum, from which
it is drawn off to be passed through the heating tube. To this drum I apply
a friction brake, whereby to oppose its rotation with a force necessary to create
the required tension on the strip. The metal or fire-clay tube is heated by a
suitable furnace, and is of sufficient length, and kept at such temperature,
that the strip acquires the degree of heat necessary in passing through. On
leaving the tube the strip is conducted down into an oil reservoir or vessel of
liquid, to harden it under a roller therein, from thence it is drawn over a
tempering furnace or hot plate, and on to a drum, on which it is wound up.
This latter drum is driven by any suitable power, and exerts the force necessary
to draw the strip of steel through the whole operation.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
The annexed Drawing represents in vertical section the furnace heating tube,
hardening reservoir, and tempering furnace together with the necessary appa-
ratus for conducting the operation according to my Invention.
a, a, is a drum, on which the strip of steel 6 is coiled previous to hardening.
This drum is mounted on an axis c, supported in frames d; e is a brake drum,
affixed to a, on which a friction strap f takes effect. This strap f is fixed at
one end at g, and at the other to the weighted lever h, which has its fixed
fulcrum at i. According to the position of the weight greater or less
tension is applied to the strap f, and according to such tension so will be the
frictional contact applied to the drum a, which will therefore have greater or
less force opposed to its rotation. B, B, is a vertical longitudinal section of the
heating furnace; 7, is the furnace; m, the fire bridge; and'n, a heat chamber
beyond; 0, 0, 0, is the heating tube, which is a tube of iron, or by preference
of fire-clay or other earthenware. It extends throughout the furnace, being
disposed immediately over the furnace fire, and throughout the chamber n.
This tube is fitted in the furnace so that it can be easily introduced or with-
drawn in case of renewal being necessary. The strip of steel b passes through
this tube o; it is introduced and conducted over a roller p, which guides it
always central of the tube. From the opposite end of the tube the strip of
hot steel descends at once into a cooling reservoir of oil C, in which it is guided
under a roller q, immersed therein. It is conducted thence over a roller r;
which keeps it at an uniform elevation, whence it passes across a tempering
furnace or hot plate D, and finally over a rollers to the winding-on drum E,
in a hardened and tempered state. The drum E is mounted similarly to drum

page_text: a, and has a winch handle t, or it may be wheel gearing applied to its axis,
whereby the rotary motion may be communicated to it necessary to wind on
the strip of steel b.
By the introduction of the tube o, o, in the furnace, and heating. the strip
of steel through its intervention, the steel always acquires an uniform degree
of heat suitable for hårdening, and is not subject to be over heated, which is
so objectionable, as damaging the nature of the steel. A clear passage is thus
also provided for the strip of steel through the fire, such strip is straightened
therein while red hot, by reason of the tension applied at the winding-on, drum
E. The heat of the strip of steel is also thoroughly equalized by passing
through the length of tube o within the chamber n. The immersion of the
strip of steel in the oil at C is the same as usual, while the subsequent
tempering taking place. immediately after the hardening, as described;
completes the hardening and tempering of the strip of steel 6 at one con-
tinuous operation.
The tempering of springs over furnaces or heated plates is well understood,
it being simply necessary in this case to regulate the heat and extent of the
plate or furnace D, and the proximity of the strip of hardened steel thereto;
according to the rate of travel of the strip of steel under operation, so that it
may be subjected to that heat which will give it the requisite temper..
.
In order to lead the first end of the strip of steel through the tube o, I
pass a leading wire or strip of iron back from drum E, which is constantly
affixed thereto, the first end of the steel strip is affixed to the leading wire 'or
strip, and is carried through by it, as will be readily understood.
.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be secured under
the herein-before in part recited Letters. Patent, is, drawing strips of steel
through a hot metal or earthenware tube or tubes, for the purpose of heating
such strips of steel preparatory to, and for. the purpose of hardening and
tempering them, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wright, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
:
JOHN WRIGHT. (L.S.)