MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE CASTORS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN PARRY, of the Eagle Foundry, Broad Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVE-
to be as follows:-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE CASTORS
"
و"
My Invention is applicable to "roller and "ball" furniture castors and it has
reference firstly to the "born-piece" or that part of a roller castor which carries
the axle of the "roller" and connects it to the central pivot of the castor; secondly
to the corresponding part of a "ball" castor, that is to say, the "cup-piece" or
part which is connected to the furniture and in which the "ball" revolves; and
thirdly to the "socket" part of a castor which carries the central pivot and by
which the castor is attached to the leg of the furniture.
"
The object of my Invention is to improve the manufacture of the said parts of
'roller" and "ball" castors by making them either wholly of sheet metal or of a
combination of sheet and cast metals as hereinbefore described.
I will first describe that part of my Invention which has reference to the "horn-
pieces" of "roller" castors.
"
I take a sheet metal blank of a suitable shape to form the "horn-piece" and
having at opposite sides projections corresponding to the "horns" which carry the
axle of the "roller." The said sheet metal blank is preferably provided centrally
with a hole. By means of suitable dies I raise outwardly from the central hole a
boss for the central pivot of the castor. This boss may be either wholly on the
upper side of the "horn-piece" when finished or wholly on the under side or it
may be partly on the upper side and partly on the under side of the "horn-piece."
I turn down the said side projections parallel to each other and at right angles to
the face of the boss thus forming the horns of the castor. I insert a metal
washer or washers within the hollow boss formed as above and press the boss over
and around the washer or washers so as to strengthen it and give a large wearing
surface on the central pivot. Instead of using a metal washer or washers as above
described I sometimes use a cast boss and attach the "horn-piece" to it by spinning
or pressing the parts together by suitable tools. I have described this part of my
Invention as applied to the manufacture of "horn-pieces" for carrying a single
roller only, but it is evident my improvements can be applied also to such "horn-
pieces" as have more than one roller. For instance for a castor in which two
rollers are employed one behind the other I form the sheet metal blank with two
pairs of projections to form two pairs of "horns" when bent as above described

page_text: and I form a boss for the central pivot as herein before described. When applying
my Invention to the manufacture of my patent direct bearing castors which have &
small bearing wheel carried by a bracket above the axis of the "roller" as
described in the Specification of my Letters Patent N° 239 Dated January 24th
1872, I take a sheet metal blank having a projection corresponding to such
bracket for the small wheel in addition to the projections for forming the "
"horns
as above described and I turn the said projection upwards by means of suitable
tools and forin the bracket for the bearing wheel. I form the central boss as
herein before described.
I will now describe that part of my Invention which has reference to the "
piece" of a "ball" castor.
44
cup-
I take a disc of sheet metal and by ordinary spinning tools or by suitable dies
or by both I raise it centrally to form the central boss of the castor. I then draw
down the disc by dies or by spinning to form a hemispherical or dome shaped cup
to suit the "ball." When the "ball" is placed in the cup the edges of the latter
may be spun or compressed over the central line of the ball" to prevent its
removal, leaving space to allow freedom of turning, and an axle pin is passed
through the sides of the cup and through the “ball." The attachment of the
"ball" to the cup forms no part of this Invention. I spread out the top of the
central boss by pressing or spinning or by both so as to form a disc, cup or socket
to suit the particular article to which the castor is to be attached and such disc,
cup or socket may either be formed of the same piece of sheet metal as the said
cup which carries the "ball" or it may be formed of a separate piece or pieces of
sheet metal and attached thereto by means of pressing, spinning or other suitable
means. Instead of forming the central boss and the cup each of sheet metal as
above described the central boss may be of cast metal attached to the sheet metal
cup by means of spinning or pressing or by other suitable means as hereinbefore
described with reference to the "horn pieces." When the "ball" castor is required
to be attached by means of a central screw I provide a central screw having a
head or plate and attach it to the central boss by spinning or pressing the boss
around the head. For bedstead castors the boss is usually tapped and the castor
screwed on to a screw in the bedstead leg.
:
I will now describe that part of my Invention which has reference to the
"sockets" of castors.
I take a disc of sheet metal and by ordinary spinning tools or by suitable dies or
by both I shape it as a "socket." I then punch or cut out the blauk or smaller
end so that both ends are now open. By suitable dies or by spinning I reduce the
diameter of the smaller end working the metal inwards and forming an inner
flange. I provide two washers of suitable diameter one above and oue below the
said inner flange of the socket and through these washers I pass the central pivot
of the castor the inner end of which is rivetted over against a collar on the pivot
so that the "socket" washers and central pivot are all firmly fixed together.
1
2
1007

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Furniture Castors.
I, JOHN PARRY, of the Eagle Foundry, Broad Street, Birmingham Warwickshire,
Manufacturer, 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:-
"
"
My Invention is applicable to roller furniture castors and it has reference firstly
to the "horn-piece or that part of a roller castor which carries the axle of the
roller and connects it to the central pivot of the castor and further to the "socket
part of a castor which carries the central pivot and by which the castor is attached
to the leg of, the furniture.
The object of my Invention is to improve the manufacture of the said parts of
roller castors by making them either wholly of sheet metal or of a combination
of sheet and cast metals as hereinafter described.
I will first describe that part of my Invention which has reference to the "horn-
pieces" of "roller" castors.
I take a sheet metal blank of a suitable shape to form the "horn-piece" and
having at opposite sides projections corresponding to the "horns" which carry the
axle of the "roller." The said sheet metal blank is preferably provided centrally
with a hole. By means of suitable dies I raise outwardly from the, central hole
a boss for the central pivot of the castor. This boss may be either wholly on the
upper side. of the "horn-piece" when finished or wholly on the under side or it
may be partly on the upper side and partly on the under side of the "horn-piece."
I turn down the said side projections parallel to each other and at right angles
to the face of the boss thus forming the "horns" of the castor. I insert a
metal washer or washers within the hollow boss formed as above and press the
boss over and around the washer or washers so as to strengthen it and give a large
wearing surface on the central pivot. Instead of using a metal washer or washers
as above described I sometimes use a cast boss and attach the "liorn-piece" to it
by spinning or pressing the parts together by suitable tools. I have described this
part of my Invention as applied to the manufacture of "horn-pieces" for carrying
a single roller only, but it is evident my improvements can be applied also to such
"horn-pieces" as have more than one roller. For instance for a castor in which
two rollers are employed one behind the other I form the sheet metal blank with
two pairs of projections to form two pairs of "horns" when bent as above
described and I form a boss for the central pivot as herein before described.
When applying my Invention to the manufacture of my patent direct bearing
castors which have a small bearing wheel carried by a bracket above the axis of
the "roller" as described in the Specification of my Letters Patent No 239 Dated
January 24th 1872 I take a sheet metal blank having a projection corresponding
to such bracket for the small wheel in addition to the projections for forming
the "horns" as above described and I turn the said projection upwards by means
of suitable tools and form the bracket for the bearing wheel. I form the central
boss as herein before described,

page_text: I will now describe that part of my Invention which has reference to the
"sockets" of castors.
I take a disc of sheet metal and by ordinary spinning tools or by suitable dies
or by both I shape it as a "socket." I then punch or cut out the blank or smaller
end so that both ends are now open. By suitable dies or by spinning I reduce the
diameter of the smaller end working the metal inwards and forming an inner
flange. I provide two washers of suitable diameter one above and one below the
said inner flange of the socket and through these washers I pass the central pivot
of the castor the inner end of which is rivetted over against a collar on the
pivot so that the "socket" washers and central pivot.are all firmly fixed together.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents in plan and elevation a sheet
metal blank for forming a "horn-piece" of a castor according to my Invention;
Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate the manufacture of a 'horn-piece" from the
blank illustrated by Fig. I as hereinafter set forth the boss for the central pivot
being wholly on the upper side of the "horn-piece" and Figs. 8 and 9 are respec-
tively front and side elevations of the same horn-piece" completed the other
parts of the castor being represented by dotted lines. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate
the manufacture of a modified form of the "horn-piece" represented by the pre-
ceeding Figures the boss for the central pivot being wholly on the underside and
Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 illustrate the manufacture of a further modified form of
"horn-piece" the central boss being partly on the upper side and partly on the
underside.
*
"
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figs. 1 to 41, both
inclusive.
"
horn-
a, is a sheet metal blank preferably of brass or mild steel for forming a
piece" having a central hole b and side projections c, c, corresponding to the horns
which carry the axle of the roller. By means of suitable dies or other tools
I form, by successive raising and drawing operations as may be required a boss d
on the upper side of the castor having two circular recesses (d' and d². e, e, are
two metal washers preferably of steel (shewn separately at Fig. 4) which are
severally inserted in the circular recesses d¹, d³, (see Fig. 3) and then fixed to the
"horn-piece" by means of suitable tools (as for instance the top tool f and
the bottom tool f¹ Figs. 3 and 5) which close (see Fig. 5) and press the boss over
and around the washers which will then give a large bearing surface to the central
pivot. The side projections c, c, are turned down by means of suitable tools to
form the horns which carry the roller (see Figs. and 7) either before the
washers e, e, are fixed to the boss d or afterwards or (in the case of "horn-pieces
for small castors) before the central boss d is formed on the blank.
"
It will be evident that the boss d instead of being formed on the upper side of
the "horn-piece" as represented by Figs. 1 to 9, both inclusive may be similarly
formed wholly on the underside as shewn by Figs. 10, 11 and 12 or formed partly
on the upper side and partly on the underside as represented by Figs. 13, 14, 15
and 16, in this latter modification a pair of tools g¹, g³, preferably being employed
which when closed together as shewn in Fig. 14 press the metal around the
washers e, e, and form the upper part of the boss.
"
Instead of using a metal washer or washers as above described I sometimes use
a cast boss and attach the "born-piece" to it by spinning or pressing the parts
together by suitable tools for instance as shewn y Figs. 17 to 29, both inclusive,
of which Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 illustrate the manufacture of a sheet metal
horn-piece." having a cast or forged metal boss for the central pivot and Figs. 22
and 23 are respectively a side and front elevation and Fig. 24 is a plan of the
completed "horn-piece" made as illustrated by Figs. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21; Figs. 25,
26, 27 and 28 illustrate the manufacture of a modified form of sheet metal "horn-
piece with a cast or forged boss and Fig. 29 in a side elevation of the completed
horn-piece" made as illustrated by Figs. 25, 26, 27 and 28.
"

page_text: In the manufacture of the "horn-piece" illustrated by Figs. 17 to 24, both
inclusive, the side projections c, c, of the blank a (Fig. 17) are first bent down to
form the horns and a central hole b punched therein. The cast or wrought boss h
(Fig. 20) is then secured to the "horn-piece" by means of the top and bottom press
tools i, j, (Fig. 19) which, when closing force the metal boss h into their circular
recesses (Fig. 21) and form a collar h¹, h³, on each side of the blank a and firmly
secure it to the boss h. The boss h may then be drilled centrally at h³ for the
centre pivot of the castor. In the "horn-piece" illustrated by Figs. 25 to 29, both
inclusive, the cast or wrought metal boss (Fig. 27) is furnished with a groove /¹
into which the boss d of the blank a (Figs. 25 and 26) is pressed by closing the top
and bottom tools m³, m² (Fig. 28) thereby securely fixing the boss / and the
"horn-piece" together.
"
When applying this part of my Invention to the manufacture of "horn-pieces
for castors which have more than one roller for instance as illustrated by Figs. 30, 31
and 32 of which Fig. 30 is a sheet metal blank for forming a "horn-piece" for a
castor having two rollers one behind the other (known as Reilly's Patent Castor)
and Fig. 31 is a sectional front elevation and Fig. 32 a side elevation of the
completed "horn-piece" made from the blank represented by Fig. 30. The sheet
metal blank a has two pairs of projections c, c, and c¹, cl, which are bent down by
means of suitable tools to form the two pairs of horns (see Figs. 31 and 32). A
boss is formed for the central pivot of the castor as herein before described and
illustrated with reference to an ordinary castor.
Fig. 33 is a sheet metal blank for forming a "horn-piece" for one of my patent
direct bearing castors and Figs. 34, 35 and 36 respectively represent in side
elevation, front elevation and plan the "horn-piece " completed from the blank
represented by Fig. 33. Fig. 37 is a sectional front elevation, Fig. 38 a side
elevation and Fig. 39 a plan of a modified form of sheet metal blank for my patent
direct bearing castor and Figs. 40 and 41 are respectively a sectional front and a
sectional side elevation of a further modification of the same.
The sheet metal blank a (Fig. 33) has a projection n in addition to the two
projections c, c, for the horns. The projection n is of a proper shape and size for
forming the bracket for the small rollers when turned upwards as shewn in
Figs. 34, 35 and 36. The boss for the central pivot may be formed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated with reference to an ordinary castor or as represented
by Figs. 37, 38 and 39, in which a boss d is formed on the blank a and the
washers e, c, or cast or forged boss are dispensed with; or the "horn-piece" may
be made without a central boss as represented by Figs. 40 and 41.
Figs. 42 to 47, both inclusive, illustrate that part of my Invention which has
reference to the sockets of castors. Fig. 42 represents a sheet metal blank for
forming a socket for a castor according to my Invention and Fig. 43 represents in
sectional elevation and plan a castor socket partly made from the blank shewn by
Fig. 42, and Fig. 44 is a sectional elevation of the finished socket of which Fig. 45
is a modification in sectional elevation; Fig. 46 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 47
a plan of another form of socket for a castor having a central fixing screw. o is a
sheet metal disc which by means of ordinary spinning tools or by suitable dies or
by both I shape as a socket o¹ (see Fig. 43) and form a hole p at the bottom end.
q, q, are two washers one being inside the socket and one outside through which
the upper part of the central pivot r of the castor is passed and its end rivetted
over (see Fig. 44) against a collar r' on the pivot so as to firmly fix them together.
I sometimes dispense with the outer washer q² and rivet the parts together as
represented by Fig. 45, and for cup sockets having a central screw (see Figs. 46
and 47) both washers may be dispensed with and the central screw rivetted over
inside to attach it to the socket.
In conclusion I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
forms of the parts of castors represented in my drawings nor to the particular
methods described of fixing such parts together as variations therefrom may be
made without departing from the nature of my Iuvention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The improvements in the manufacture of the "horn-pieces" of castors
herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 1 to 16 of the accompanying
drawings, that is to say, making the said "horn-pieces" of sheet metal and
forming thereon a boss for the central pivot of the castor substantially as
described and illustrated.
2. A sheet metal "horn-piece" having a central boss formed as described and
illustrated by Figs. 1 to 16 of the accompanying drawings such boss having
internally a metal washer or washers for the purpose and as described and
illustrated.
3. The improvements in the manufacture of the "horn-pieces" of castors herein-
before described and illustrated by Figs. 17 to 29 of the accompanying drawings,
that is to say, making the said "horn-pieces" of sheet metal and providing them
with a separate central boss secured to the "horn-piece" as described and
illustrated.
4. A sheet metal "horn-piece" having two pairs of horns as described and
illustrated by Figs. 30, 31 and 32 of the accompanying drawings and provided
with a central boss formed in the several ways described and illustrated.
5. A sheet metal "horn-piece" having a bracket n for carrying a small roller
as described and illustrated by Figs. 33 to 41 of the accompanying drawings
the said "horn-piece" being either made with a central boss constructed in the
several ways described and illustrated or without a central boss as described and
illustrated by Figs. 40 and 41.
6. The improvements in the manufacture of the sockets of castors as herein
described and illustrated by Figs. 42 to 47 of the accompanying drawings, that is
to say, making the sockets of sheet metal as described and fixing them to the
central pivot in the ways described and illustrated.⚫
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.