IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HINGES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult of the firm of W. P. Thompson
& Boult Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn in the
county of Middlesex, and 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster
Engineer for an invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
HINGES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR" communicated to him from abroad by
Etienne Salomon and Edmond Armant both of the city of Montreal in the
district of Montreal and province of Quebec in the Dominion of Canada
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th May 1882.
"
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex, and
6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster, Engineer IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HINGES AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR a communication
to me from abroad by Etienne Salomon, and Edmund Armant both of the city
of Montreal in the district of Montreal and province of Quebec in the Dominion
of Canada
.
This invention relates more particularly to the manufacture of metal strap
and Thinges where the blanks are alternately male and female in configuration
and the knuckles are formed by bending the ends of the male and female blanks
into the form of eyes through which to make a complete hinge, the pivot pin is
passed and rivetted in place therein; but the machine and process is applicable to
hinges of all descriptions with such slight modifications as would not depart from
the invention.
The object is first to make the hinges more perfect and durable and at a less cost
than those manufactured by the present means--second to prevent the great waste
which it is now impossible to avoid, produced by the breaking of the metal at those
parts which are bent to form the knuckle, and consequent loss of time and
material: third to make it possible for metal of an inferior or cheaper quality to
[Price dl

page_text: be used without detracting from the merits of the hinge and fourth to lessen the
time required to turn out the complete hinge.
Many imperfections appear in hinges manufactured by the present processes and
machines such as different degrees of tightness and looseness caused by driving the
pivot pin into or through the eyes after the same are formed especially when these
pins are of uneven diameter or slightly crooked.-and extra trouble and labour is
necessitated when, after the hinged portions are connected it is required to hammer
the ends of the leaves or straps in order to bring them into line with each other,
besides turning out an imperfect article.
The blanks are placed (one male and one female) previously formed in pairs
between gripping jaws and the pivot pin is put between the ends of such blanks
in position to be enwrapped by the eyes their ends are then struck by a punch or
former fed from the opposite direction, which gives the metal a curve equivalent
to about half a circle around said pin which bears against the end (preferably
concave) of a division plate fastened to the bed plate between the gripping jaws.
By another movement immediately following the blanks and pin held between
them are advanced further out and away from the division plate or bearing, and a
second stroke from the punch drives or bends same back again against the end of
the division plate which thus forms an anvil and completes the hinge by folding
the ends of both male and female blanks in the form of circular eyes around the
pivot pin which can then be rivetted by any suitable means
Upon any suitable bed plate a pair of gripping jaws are arranged which are
constructed somewhat in the form of and opening and closing like scissors a
suitable slotted strap or steadiment being attached to the bed plate and combined
with the jaws so as to hold same in place while permitting them to slide back and
forth.
A division plate is located between the gripping jaws and is made somewhat
thinner than the diameter of the pivot pins used for the hinges so that when the
blanks are placed one on each side of such division plate and between the jaws the
pin held between them will by reason of its greater thickness prevent the jaws
from gripping said blanks too tightly against the sides of the division plate.
The shorter arms of the jaws or those which would represent the handles of
scissors are connected through a series of links and levers to an operating lever
which by a suitable triple movement opens the jaws so that the blanks may be
inserted, closes same, and at the necessary moment throws said jaws and blanks
forward for the second stroke of the punch.
Steadying devices are arranged on each side of the jaws, and said jaws are
preferably lined with steel pieces which can be changed to suit different sizes and
styles of hinges.
The punch or former is carried in a frame sliding in guides in the bed plate of
the machine and is operated forward and backward through a crank shaft revolved
by pulleys and gearing.
A clutch is arranged on the crank shaft and is thrown into gear so as to rotate
said crank shaft just before each primary stroke of the punch is made. This is
accomplished by forming a cam groove in the collar which forms the sliding part
of the clutch and a spiral spring surrounding the shaft is arranged to bear against
this collar and a collar on the shaft. This cam groove extends only about half way
round the collar and a pin sliding up and down in a sleeve hanging from the frame
fits into this groove; it being thrown out of same by means of a system of treadles
arranged underneath the framing. By depressing the outer of these treadles the
pin is released from the cam groove in the clutch and the latter is forced by the
spring into gear with the spur wheel through which motion is communicated to the
crank shaft which in turn forces the punch or former forward and draws it backward
after every stroke.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th November 1882.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of the firm of W. P Thompson and Boult, Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex, and
6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster, Engineer " IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HINGES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR A communication
to me from abroad by Etienne Salomon and Edmond Armant both of the City
of Montreal in the district of Montreal and province of Quebec in the Dominion
of Canada
This invention relates more particularly to the manufacture of metal Strap and
T hinges, where the parts are alternately male and female in configuration and
have their ends or projections bent round in the form of eyes, through which the
pivot pin is passed and riveted therein; but it must be understood that this
machine is applicable to hinges of all descriptions, with such slight modifications as
would not depart in any way from the invention.
It has for its object, first, to make the hinges more perfect and durable and at a
less cost than those manufactured by the present means; second, to prevent the
great waste (which it is now impossible to avoid) produced by the breaking of the
metal at those parts which are bent to form the eyes for the pin, and consequent
loss of time and material; third, to make it possible for metal of an inferior or
cheaper quality to be used without detracting from the merits of the hinge and,
fourth, to lessen the time required to turn out the complete hinge.
In the
Up to the present time it has been the custom to form the eyes of both the male
and female parts of the hinge by rolling each upon a mandrel separately, after
which they are fitted together and the pivot-pin driven through and riveted at
either end. Should the pins therefore be of uneven diameter or crooked as is very
often the case, some of the hinges will be too tight and others too loose.
former case it is necessary, as the eyes are forced open in driving the pin through,
to put the hinge through another operation to remedy the defect; while in the
latter instance a slack, imperfect, and necessarily weak hinge is produced again by
the present inaccurate mode of manufacturing, when the hinge is formed it often
happens that the joint is not true and the ends of the two straps do not come in a
straight line with each other. This necessitates one part being hammered side wise
which loosens the hinge and renders it otherwise unserviceable.
Many other
imperfections appear in hinges manufactured by the known machines which it is
not necessary to describe, but this invention obviates every possible chance of any
but a perfect hinge being turned out and performs the work rapidly in one
operation
The blanks are placed in pairs (one male and one female) between gripping jaws,
the pivot-pin placed between their ends in position to be inwrapped by the eyes.
These are then put forward, so that they may be struck on their ends by a punch
or former fed from the opposite direction, which gives the metal a curve equivalent
to about half a circle around said pin, which bears against the concave end of
a division plate located between the gripping jaws. By another movement
immediately following the blanks and pin thus connected are advanced further out
and away from the bearing, and a second stroke from the punch drives or bends
same back again against the concave edge of the division plate, which thus forms
an anvil and completes the hinge by folding the ends of both male and female
parts in the form of circular eyes around the pivot-pin which can then be riveted
in place.
For full comprehension of the invention reference must be had to the accom
panying drawings in which letters similar to those used in the following description
denote like parts in all the figures.

page_text: Fig 1. is a plan view, partly in section of a machine embodying the invention
Fig 2. is a side view of same;
Fig 3. a section taken through bed-plate on line X X, Fig 1. looking toward rear
of machine.
Fig 4. a plan view of gripping-jaws open.
Fig 5, a detail view of clutch and device for throwing same in and out of gear;
Figs. 6 and 7, views, respectively, of strap and T hinges
Fig. 8. a side view of strap hinge finished;
Fig. 9, a view of male and female blanks.
Fig. 10, a side view of same, with half turn made around pin;
Figs. 11 and 12, views of close-joint hinges made by modifying the machine.
Upon the bed-plate A, toward the front end, are carried a pair of gripping
jaws, B, B, constructed somewhat in the form of and opening and closing like
scissors. These jaws slide back and forth upon the bed-plate or in a groove therein,
and are held in position by a strap, C, passing over same and bolted to the frame.
In the upper part of this strap a slot c, is formed, in which the end of a pin, D, is
held. This pin forms the pivot upon which the jaws open and close, and its lower
end slides in a groove, E, formed in the bed-plate A. The jaws B are preferably
faced with steel pieces b b, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. to hold the blanks, and are
of a shape to correspond with the sizes and styles of hinges to be made, screws b¹ bl
being used to secure them in place and allow them to be interchangeable. Small
pins or supports 62 62 are also inserted through the jaws B B, near where each end
of the blanks will come to support same. The distances apart et cetera, of these pins
can be varied to suit different lengths and sizes of hinge. Centrally between these
jaws B B a division or guide plate F, is inserted, its lower side being preferably
Tshaped and firmly secured to the bed-plate A. This division-plate F is slightly
thinner than the diameter of the pivot-pins used for the hinges, and its front edge
is made by preference slightly concave. The shorter arms B¹ B¹ of the gripping
jaws B B project on the opposite side of their pivot D, and to their extreme ends are
pivoted short links G G the other ends of these links being pivoted to two cross
heads or bars H H, placed one above the other, below the shorter arms B¹ B¹ of the
gripping jaws and about at right angles to the centre line between the latter
B² B² are stops cast on the jaws B B near their pivot-point. These are provided
with set screws as shown. The office of these stops is to prevent the jaws from
being drawn back past the strap C, and the set-screws passing through same are
to allow the distance of travel back and forth of the gripping-jaws to be adjusted
so as to adapt them for different lengths of hinges.
A forked push-lever, I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, pivoted at i to and embraces
the cross-bars H H, its other end being provided with a hub or eye, I', which is
slipped over a vertical spindle, K, and is held securely thereon by a nut and
washer, The lower end of this vertical spindle K is formed with a tongue or
cross head K', which fits into a groove, K2, formed in the butt end of the
operating lever L, an adjusting-screw, k¹ being provided therefor, as shown, to
provide for different sizes of work. The bed-plate A of the machine at this end is
preferably of curved or circular form and projects but slightly beyond where the
butt of the operating lever forms connection with the push lever I, a series of
holes 11, being made around the bed-plate near its outer edge, into any particular
one of which a pin l, attached to a small spring catch-lever, 12 (which is affixed to
and operated by the hand simultaneously with the lever L,) drops when it is
desired to lock the said lever in any one position, for the purposes hereinafter
described. 2 is the end hole on one side, and 3 that at the other extremity of
travel of the operating-lever.
M M are convenient steadying devices, placed one at either side of the jaws B B
for the purpose of offering a yielding resistance to the latter when opening and
assisting them to close. These steadying devices may not be found necessary but
it is preferable to use some such means as those shown in Fig 1. They are made

page_text: up of a sleeve, m, inside which is placed a spiral spring m¹ This spring bears
against the solid end of the sleeve on one side and against a stop, m³, adjusted by
a set-screw m³ on the other. A roller m, is placed at the outer end of the
steadying device to bear against the side of the jaw B, and thus avoid friction.
The whole device is carried in any suitable standard or bearing affixed to the frame
of the machine
The above is a description of the mechanism for holding the hinge blanks and
feeding the same toward the punch or former and the following is a description of
the construction of the said punch and the devices operating the same.
Power is communicated through a pulley, N, mounted on a short shaft, N¹, carried
in bearings in the frame A. This shaft N¹ also carries a balance wheel, N2, and a
spur N³, which intermeshes with a pinion, O, mounted on another shaft O¹, carried
in a similar manner to N¹ and parallel thereto, but with another journal. A
clutch 02, with means, to be hereinafter more particularly described, for throwing
same in and out of gear, is used to regulate, that is, to start and stop-the move-
ment or revolution of the shaft O', the same being mounted on said shaft, which
extends right across the bed plate A, and is provided at about the centre with an
eccentric or crank, O³, to which is attached a connecting rod, P, joined to a cross-
head, Q, secured to a sliding frame Q', held in a guide frame Q, bolted to the bed
plate A. The sliding frame Q¹ holds in its front end the punch or former R. This
punch or former is preferably made of hardened steel, and concave on its face, so
as to give the required form to the hinge. It is held in place in the head of the sliding
frame Q by a bolt or set screw, or any suitable means. The size and configuration
of the punch can be altered to suit the different work it has to accomplish
The clutch O2 is operated by the following means. This clutch is supposed to be
thrown out of gear with the pinion O when the crank O³, connecting-rod P, and
punch R are drawn back, and is intended to be thrown into gear just before each
primary stroke of the punch is made. This is accomplished by forming a cam-
groove, o, in the collar o', which forms the sliding part of the clutch, and against
this collar and a collar, o³, on the shaft O¹ bears a spiral spring 03 surrounding said
shaft. The cam-groove o extends only about half-way round the collar o' and a
pin, s, carried and sliding up and down in a sleeve, S, which hangs downward from
the frame, fits into this groove o, it being thrown out of same by means of a system
of treadle-levers, TT, extending underneath the framing. These devices are shown
in Figs 1. 2. and 5.
The operation of the invention is as follows: In Fig. 1 the gripping-jaws B B
are shown closed with the hinges between them; but to open these jaws (to the
position shown in Fig. 4) to remove said hinges when complete, and to insert fresh
blanks, the pin is raised from the hole in the bed-plate, in which it is shown
in Fig. 1, by depressing the spring catch-lever 12 with the hand, and then moving
the operating lever smartly around to the left, and by releasing the spring catch-
lever the pin is dropped into the hole marked 2. This operation induces the
push-lever I to draw upon the cross-bars H and pivot i, and thus through the
links G G, close the arms B¹ B¹ together, and thus open the gripping-jaws B B. A
pair of blanks Y Y', one male and one female are then inserted by resting same
upon the support-pins 62, 6, and the pin (represented by Z in the drawings) is held
in place ou a stop, or in suitable guides which may be attached to the bed-plate,
and the locking-pin is then released from the hole 2 and the lever brought back
to the position shown in the drawings, again dropping the locking-pin. This closes
the jaws B B and holds the same firmly in place. When in this position, as shown
in Fig. 1, the pivot-pin Z is held tightly between the ends of the two parts of the
hinge, although the same are not close up against the division plate F, from the fact
as already mentioned, that the pin is thicker than this division-plate. By depressing
the treadle T the pin S is released from the cam-groove o in the clutch, and the
latter is then forced by the spring o³ into gear with the pinion O. The shaft O' is
thus set in motion and the crank 0%, through the connecting-rod P and sliding
frame Q, forces the punch R smartly against the projecting ends of the blanks and

page_text: gives them the half turn around the pivot pin Z, as shown in Fig 10 By the
continued revolution of the shaft O¹ the punch-recedes, and before it again advances
(without stopping the machinery) the operating lever L is moved sharply around to
the right and the locking-pin is dropped into the hole marked 3 This has the
effect of forcing the gripping jaws B and the partly formed hinges and pin held
therein still farther forward, away from the division-plate F, the pivot-pin D of the
jaws sliding in the slot c formed in the strap C On the next stroke of the punch R
the ends of the blanks are turned completely around the pin Z, which is also forced
back against the end of the division-plate F, and with the assistance of the latter
the hinge is completed The treadle T is then released which allows the pin S to
fly upward and again enter the cam-groove o on the clutch, and by this groove
working around on said pin to that side which is farthest from the Clutch O
said clutch is thrown out and the shaft O¹ ceases to revolve and the punch stops
operating. The operating lever is then moved around and locked in the hole 2
and the finished binge removed. Fresh blanks can then be inserted and the
operation repeated.
In making "butt" or close-folding binges a cavity or mold may be formed at
the front ends of the gripping jaws and by means of a suitable former attached
to the sliding frame Q₁ the blank is struck into the form shown in Fig 11; or this
work may be done by a separate machine, if desired, after which a pair of these
blanks arranged as shown with the pin between their ends may be put between the
jaws and the operation completed, as already described by one blow of the punch.
Fig 12 shows such a hinge complete.
Having now described the invention as communicated to me, I wish it to be
understood that what I desire to claim and protect under the hereinbefore in. part
recited Letters Patent is;
1st The process of forming hinges by enclosing the blanks and the pin within
gripping jaws and in forcing the blanks around the pin by means of a former
substantially as described
2nd The process of making hinges, consisting in first enclosing the blanks and
pivot-pins between gripping-jaws, bending the said blanks partly around the pin
by means of a former moving the gripping-jaws and partly formed hinge forward,
and finishing the hinge by the succeeding blow of the former against a concave
anvil.
3rd In a machine for making hinges the gripping jaws BB, having between them
the division or guide-plate F, in combination with means for opening, closing, and
sliding said jaws forward and backward substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4th A machine for making hinges, consisting of a pair of gripping-jaws adapted
to receive and hold the blanks, a horizontally-movable former, a concave anvil and
a lever for moving the gripping-jaws and blanks toward and retracting them from
the former, the parts being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as
described and shown.
5th. The combination of the gear wheel O, having the clutch-sleeve 0%, the
movable clutch sleeve o', the cam groove on said sleeve o', the pin 8, sliding in the
sleeve S and adapted to enter said groove, and the treadle, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I, the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this twenty fourth day of November in the year of our Lord
one thousand sight hundred and airhter town
ALFRED J. BOULT (L.S.)