IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SHIELDS AND SUPPORTS FOR Use Under STOVES AND ANALOGOUS ARTICLES OF METAL, AND IN MACHINES FOR PRO- DUCING SUCH METAL WORK BY SPINNING
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Mingus Conger, of Newark, in the State
of New Jersey, and in the United States of America, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC SHIELDS AND SUPPORTS FOR Use Under
STOVES AND ANALOGOUS ARTICLES OF METAL, AND IN MACHINES FOR PRO-
DUCING SUCH METAL WORK BY SPINNING."
Scaled the 12th January 1875, and dated the 24th November 1874.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Walter Mingus Conger
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 24th November 1874, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, WALTER
MINGUS CONGER, of Newark, in the County of Essex, and State of New
Jersey, one of the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METALLIC SHIELDS AND SUPPORTS FOR USE UNDER STOVES AND ANALOGOUS
ARTICLES OF METAL, AND IN MACHINES FOR PRODUCING SUCH METAL WORK BY

page_text: SPINNING," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the first and truc
Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Mingus Conger, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and
scal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :—
I make a metallic construction large enough to receive the legs of the
stove and support them, and with provisions in the central space for
effectually shielding the floor from heat. I have devised several forms
of the construction. All are capable of being richly finished and being
afforded at a low price so that they may be universally used. It is found
that some kinds of stoves throw down heat too intensely to be resisted
by a single sheet of metal unless some unusual provision is made for
increasing the non-conducting power of the shield.
One of the simplest forms with which I have experimented is to
simply dome the centre, leaving an air space under. Another is to
suspend one or more plates of thin metal in such air space. Another is a
to mount above a plane shield or slightly domed shield one or more
plates with free ventilation in the space or spaces under. In such
case I prefer to dome these additional shields. Still another plan is to
construct convex shields by applying the hollow faces of two such dislics
together, leaving the space empty or filling it with some light non- !
conductor, such as a mat of coarse wool or the mineral fibre known as
asbestos.
In making any such forms by the ordinary spinning machines the
slicet metal is either held by the central portions, and the portions nearer
the periphery treated by the spinning tool; or by another plan some-
times used the metal is caused to turn by being acted on by wheels,
acting by their peripheries upon the sheet metal in the manner of rollers."
Either of these methods and all methods of stamping by simple pressure
between dies are liable and almost certain to distort the portion which

page_text: My improved spinning machine overcomes the difficulty by grasping
the portion of the sheet metal which is to remain plane firmly between
two flat surfaces, which during the spinning operation revolve with it,
and effectually prevent it from being wrinkled or disturbed. While it
is held and thus revolved the portion within the plane ring is spun into
thic proper dome form, and I have so constructed the machine that tho
periphery is left clear to allow me to trim the edge and turn a bead
thercon without releasing the metal from the machine. The dome may
be raised and the edge finished with a single introduction and removal

page_text: My improvements in machinery for treating metals by what is termed
spinning may be employed with advantage in producing various dish-like
articles of sheet metal where a broad flange is desired to be preserved
unaffected. I will describe it applied for spinning a stove support in
one piece with a large moderately raised dome in the centre, as shown
in Figure 3.
My improvements in machinery for treating metals by what is termed
spinning may be employed with advantage in producing various dish-like
articles of sheet metal where a broad flange is desired to be preserved
unaffected. I will describe it applied for spinning a stove support in
one piece with a large moderately raised dome in the centre, as shown
in Figure 3.
The stove supports shown in Figures 1 to 8 require no long descrip-
tion. They may be made of sheet metal and decorated in any desired
stylc.
Referring to Figures 9 and succeeding, A is a strong fixed framework
of cast iron; B is an upright shaft adapted to be operated by a pulley
B, and carrying an expanded head or chuck B', which is partially flat
and partially hollow, and is of the proper size and form to allow the
finished article to lic upon its upper face with the dome downward; C is a
centre pin mounted concentrically in the shaft B, and held up by the forco
of a gentlo spring D¹. The upper end of this pin is contracted, forming
a smaller pin above the shoulder, as indicated by c. Its lower end is
formed with an enlargement C', which prevents its being lifted entirely
out by the force of the spring D'; M is a stout ring of cast iron having
a plain lower face corresponding to the plane face of the head or chuck:
B¹ below it. This ring M is mounted loosely by means of rollers upon
a stout adjustable frame E of slightly smaller diameter, which is by
means of arms E¹, a central hub E, and a stout shaft or vertical slide E",
adapted to be moved up and down in a suitable bearing in the over-
hanging head of the fixed framing A. The adjustable frame E carries
also a rack E, which receives the teeth of a geared segment G, by
turning which latter the frame E and its attachments may be raised and
lowered at will.
Te introduce the sheet metal I turn the segment G, and raise the
frame E, with all its connected parts. I then introduce the sheet metal
between the upper face of the chuck B¹ and the lower face of the loose
ring M. A hole which has been previously punched by hand or other-
wise in the centre of the sheet metal is caused to fit upon the contracted
top c of the central spring pin, and serves to centre the work. Now by
turning the segment G the frame E and its connection are lowered, the a
ring M presses its annular plane face firmly upon a corresponding
surface of the sheet metal or blank and holds it firmly between itself
.

page_text: and the planc portion of the chuck B'. When in this state of things
the chuck M commences to be revolved by the action of a belt, not
represented, upon the pulley B³, the ring E goes with it.
Antifriction rollers e, of which four are represented, and more or less
may suffice, depend upon centers mounted upon the inner edge of the
adjustable frame E. These rollers e press forcibly downward upon the
ring M. Another set of rollers e', the pivots of which are also fixed in
the adjustable frame E, act against the inner surface of the loose ring M
and keep it in its proper concentric position. These latter act under an
internal lip at the upper edge of the ring M. to support the weight
thereof when it is elevated.
A vertical slide I carrying a spinning roller i at its lower end is
mounted in a stout horizontal slide or carriage J, which is adapted to be
moved by the action of the feed screw P in a line horizontally across the
blank. It is guided in this movement by a stout bar E³, which is fixed
on the ring E and extends across it, and also overhangs a long distance
on one side to support the geared end of the feed screw.
This piece,
which I have termed a bar E³, is properly formed to afford a firm hold
for the horizontal carriage J, and allows the latter sufficient horizontal
motion to move the spinning roller i from the centre of the blank or
the centre of the pin c to and a little beyond the periphery of the dome
part of the finished article. The vertical slide I carries a roller I', which
acts against the under face of a cam picce E, which is mounted on the
under side of the bar E*.
A grooved upright shaft K, driven by gearing or belting from any.
suitable source, is supported by the framing A near its lower end and by
an imperfect steadying in the removable bearing afforded by the extended
bar E. This bar carries the beveled gear wheel N, which is feathered
upon the upright shaft K, so that it is free to move up and down thereon,
and will receive rotary motion therefrom in all positions. This wheel
meshes into another beveled gear wheel O, which is fixed on the feed
screw or feed shaft P. The carriage J takes hold of the feed screw, and
is fed inward by the action thereof, carrying with it the vertical slide I,.
and spinning roller i, with the proper slow motion to perfectly raise, or:
rather, in the position here held, depress the dome.
When all the parts are properly operating the blank centered on the
pin c, and held firmly on a large part of its surface by being clamped-

page_text: "
between the revolving chuck B' and the correspondingly moving ring E,
which is moved by the frictional contact therewith, the carriage J is
moved slowly inward by the action of the feed screw P, and the spinning
roller i raises or, in the position here treated, sinks the dome part of the
stove support or corresponding article. This operation commences at
the periphery of the dome part and progresses successively inward.
During this operation the center pin c sinks by the yielding of the
spring D, and allows the dome to sink without distortion while holding
or aiding to hold the whole firmly in its properly centered position.
When this action has progressed until the spinning roller i has reached
the centre of the blank, and stands exactly over the pin c, the hold on
the feed screw P is relaxed and the carriage J is moved back with its
attachments by the force of the weight L pulling on the cord which
passes over the pulley ". I release the carriage from the action of the
feed screw P by causing the partial nut to be lifted out of contact with
the feed screw P. As soon as the spinning roller i has reached the line
of the axis of the spring pin C the partial nut j is mounted in a vertical
groove in the carriage J and subjected to the action of a cam not repre-
sented, which is fixed on the partial rotating shaft U. This shaft has
an arm w, which when the carriage J has reached the extreme inward
limit of its motion strikes a stop E' mounted on or under the bar E³, and
causes the shaft U to turn, and by its cam lift the partial nut j. When
the finished stove support or analogous article has been removed and a
new blank introduced, and the frame and its connections again depressed
ready for another operation, the hand of the attendant is applied upon
the arm w, turning it up into the position represented, and the partial
nut is free to descend and again engage with the feed screw P. I can
employ a spring on the top of the carriage J to insure the prompt and
complete depression of the partial nut j if desired. So soon as an
engagement is effected between j and the feed screw the carriage J with
the connected spinning roller commences to be fed again slowly inward
to sink the dome as before.
In the detail Drawings, Figures 11, 12, and 13, the forms of the parts
are somewhat modified, and a spring F is employed to hold up the slide I
and keep the roller I' tightly in contact with the cam piece E°. In this
modification also a slide V is employed to raise and lower the partial
nut j. The arrangement for this purpose is clearly shown in the Figures.
The slide V strikes a stop E' when the carriage J has reached the inward_

page_text: extreme of its motion, and being moved endwise on the carriage acts by
means of its inclined slot (see Figure 13) on a crank pin x, carried on
an arm a¹. This arm a¹ is fixed on a short horizontal shaft X, which by
means of another arm X* takes hold of the partial nut j. The endwise
movement of the slide V raises the partial nut j, and the carriage J and
its attachments being then moved outward by a weight and cord, as
before described, the parts remain stationary until the hand of the
attendant is applied to move the slide V inward again, and this again
depresses the partial nut.
I preferably make the cam piece E detachable and exchangeable. I
can also change the head or chuck B'. By changing these parts I can
by the same machine make different sizes and shapes of domes. I can
also obviously by a more extended alteration employ larger or smaller
chucks B and larger or smaller rings M. so as to make stove supports of
larger or smaller outside diameter.
In order to trim the periphery of the stove support or analogous
sheet metal work I can apply a suitable cutting tool by hand or by
machinery, and thus reduce the previously square or irregular shape to
a perfect circle. I provide means for beading the edge when. thus
trimmed.
:
Q is an adjustable support mounted by means of the screw 2 in an
arm which extends downward from the bar E. It may be adjusted in
a slot so as to allow for some variation in the diameter of the article.
Its lower face presses gently on or stands rigidly above the upper face
of the rapidly revolving sheet metal. I act on the edge of the sheet
metal which is allowed to extend beyond this firm adjustable picce Q by
means of a beading roller r, which is mounted on a lever R turning on
a pivot mounted on the adjustable support S¹. This support S', held by
the pinching screw T in the desired position on the firm framing A,
carries also a support S, which is adapted to apply under the sheet metal
opposite to or directly under the firm block Q. The edge of the sheet
metal being thus allowed to revolve, projecting only a little beyond the
two firm supports Q, S, may be readily curved over and beaded in the
desired manner by the action of the roller ».
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood. that I claim
as my improvements in metallic stove supports and heat shields,-

page_text: 10th. In combination with the chuck B' and adjustable frame E, and
its connections adapted to hold a blank, and the spinning roller i, and
its connections adapted to treat the central portions of such blank, tho
feed screw P connected with the carriage J, and receiving motion
through the gearing wheel N, which is feathered upon the shaft K to
allow for the elevation and depression of the feed screw and its connected
parts, as herein specificd.
11th. The automatic liberation of the carriage J and its connections
from the feed screw P by means of the stop E' acting on the partial
nut j; to detach it from the screw P in combination with the cord Z
for moving the carriage J outward, all substantially as heroin specificd.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Mingus Conger, have herc-
unto set my hand and scal, this Ninth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
WALTER MINGUS CONGER. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM CLARK DEY,
Clerk for
Thomas Drew Stetson.