An Improved Wire Drawing Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Wire Drawing Machine.
I, HENRY RANKIN, of 10/11, Stonecutter Street, Farringdon Street, in the
County of London, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved wire drawing machine and it has for
its objects to construct a machine in which by a simple device it is possible to vary
the speed of the wire block in accordance with the size thereof that is to say,
that as the size of block employed by various consumers varies, it is necessary
that the wire shall be wound when drawn upon various sized blocks, to con-
struct a wire drawing machine in which the draw rollers whilst being positively
driven shall have speeds varying in accordance with the diminution in size of
the wire and consequent increase in length as it is drawn through the successive
dies, and to construct the trough of the machine with an inclined bottom so
that whilst the dies and the guide rollers are fully immersed therein, the draw
rolls are placed at the top of the incline and are, therefore, clear of the liquid
therein, and it has for its further object to provide a simple drawing in device.
In carrying the invention into effect I construct a table like frame supported
upon suitable legs or standards and having underneath the said table a shelf or
bracket running longitudinally from end to end upon which are supported the
vertical brackets for the spindles of the draw rolls which are inclined upwardly
so that the faces of the said rolls lie in the same plane as the bottom of the
trough. Running parallel with the longitudinal shelf aforesaid is the main
shaft actuated from any suitable external motor and having at its end a mitre
wheel in gear with a similar wheel upon the lower end of one of the spindles
of the draw rollers. Motion imparted to the said main shaft is thus transmitted
to the particular spindle actuated and from it transmitted by suitable gearing to
the rest of the draw rollers, the gear being of such proportion that the speed of
the said rolls shall vary increasing proportionately with the diminution in the
size of the wire. The draw rolls are arranged as aforesaid at the top of the
inclined bottom of the trough and between them and the guide pullies are
arranged suitable dies. The wire block situated at the end of the table aforesaid
is driven by suitable gearing from the main shaft, the said gearing being so
arranged that the wheels thereof may be readily changed to produce an alteration
in the speed of the block. At the back of the machine and running parallel with
same is a continuously moving endless chain actuated by a short shaft supported
by the table aforesaid and provided with fast and loose pullies so that it may, be
driven independently of the machine.
The chain passes over suitable sprocket wheels, the forward one being driven
by worm gearing from the shaft aforesaid. Adapted to engage with the chain is a
dog or tooth attached to a small clamp or vice to which the end of the wire is
led when drawing in same, the clamp by means of the dog travelling along until

page_text: the sprocket wheel is reached when the dog is automatically freed from the
A suitable guide is provided for the wire during this operation.
chain.
To allow for the varying sizes of blocks; the last die holder is pivotally sup-
ported upon the bottom of the trough allowing it to readily adjust itself to the
size thereof.
Dated this 20th day of Sentember 1800
An improved Wire Drawing Machine.
I, HENRY RANKIN, of 10/11, Stonecutter Street, Farringdon Street, in the
County of London, Merchant, 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 relates to an improved wire drawing machine and it has for
its object to construct a machine in which by a simple device it is possible to vary
the speed of the wire block in accordance with the size thereof that is to say,
that as the size of block employed by various consumers varies, it is necessary
that the wire shall be wound when drawn upon various sized blocks, to con-
struct a wire drawing machine in which the draw rollers whilst being positively
driven shall have speeds varying in accordance with the diminution in size of
the wire and consequent increase in length as it is drawn through the successive
dies, and to construct the trough of the machine with an inclined bottom so
that whilst the dies and the guide rollers are fully immersed therein, the draw
rolls are placed at the top of the incline and are, therefore, clear of the liquid
therein, and it has for its further object to provide a simple drawing in device.
And in order that the invention may be the better understood drawings are
appended in which:-
Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section to an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the gripper for the drawing in device.
Fig. 5 is a rear end view of the same.
Fig. 6 is a section showing the form and arrangement of the serrated jaws
of the gripper.
Fig. is an enlarged longitudinal section of part of the machine illustrating
the arrangement of the gearing by which the speed of the drawing rolls is
increased in proportion as the wire diminishes in size.
Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a side and rear view of the arrangement of gear-
ing whereby the speed of the wire block may be varied.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view of one of the drawing rolls.
Fig. 11 is a front perspective view of the machine.
Referring to the drawings a a are legs or standards to which is secured by
bolts or the like 6 Fig. 3 passing through an internal horizontal flange c formed
at the base of the same, a rectangular trough.d. The trough d is formed with
downwardly extending peripheral flanges e and has an inclined bottom f sloping
upwards from the rear of the machine to the front. The bottom f does not
extend right across for the full width of the trough but the inclination thereof is
such as to leave a plane portion g at the front upon which is located the drawing

page_text: in device which device will be more fully described hereafter. Situated upon
the inclined bottom of the trough near the top or higher portion thereof so as
to be practically clear of the liquid therein, area number of rolls h mounted upon
the upper ends of the inclined vertical spindles for which bearings j are formed.
upon the underside of the bottom f aforesaid. The spindles i are at a right
angle to the plane of the bottom of the trough and arc supported at their lower
extremities by the bearings & formed upon brackets which brackets are secured:
to the longitudinal bracket or beam m attached at its ends as shown in Fig. 3
and 11 to the standards a a. Running parallel with the beam m and supported
by the bearings nn² is a shaft o to the outer end of which are secured the
usual fast and loose pullies pp to which motion is imparted by a belt from any
suitable external source. The shaft has secured to it at its inner end a small
bevel wheel q which wheel operates a similar wheel attached to the lower
end of the spindle, see Figs. 1, 3, and 11, and from the spindle motion is
transmitted to the whole of the rolls h. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 7 it will be
seen that each of the spindles with the exception of the two end ones, are pro-
vided with two pinions the pinions varying in size those r being larger
than the pinions and being arranged in pairs one large and one smaller pinion
on each spindle the wheels however being alternately transposed that is to say
commencing with the left hand end spindle Fig. 7. A pinion is secured to
the said spindle and receives motion through an intermediate pinions from
the smaller pinion to the spindle of which latter pinion is also attached the
pinion to which again motion imparted through the intermediate wheel s
in gear with the wheel upon the driving spindle to which spindle is also
attached a larger pinion r. This arrangement of pinions is repeated on each
spindle with the exceptions before referred to throughout the whole series and
by this means is obtained the desired variation in the speed of the drawing rolls
it being necessary that the speed should increase proportionately with the diminu-
tion in the size of the wire. The drawing rolls aforesaid are each composed of
three parts as shown more clearly in Fig. 10, the upper part being of cast iron
clamped to the lower by means of the nut h¹ upon the screwed end 2 of the
spindle i which is reduced at its upper end so as to form a shoulder fitting into a .
suitable recess formed in the lower part of the roll. As it is found in
practice that there is considerable wear upon the peripheries of the said rolls I
reduce the diameter of the lower part ht and shrink thereon a ring h5 of hardened
metal, at the same time slightly undercutting a certain portion of the periphery
thereof in which the wire lies and is prevented thereby from riding up when the
machine is in operation. Situated at the right hand end of the machine, when
facing the back thereof, is a block of ordinary construction mounted upon the
end of a vertical spindle Figs. 2, 8, and 9 which spindle passes downwards
below the trough and is carried by a bearing 2 forming part of the bracket t³
bolted or otherwise secured to the standard at that end of the machine. The
spindle has at its lower end a mitre wheel which wheel engages with a
second wheel upon the horizontal spindle to arranged at a right angle to the
spindle and also carried by the bracket to which spindle motion is imparted
by means of the pinion upon its inner end the latter pinion being actuated from
the pinion upon the shaft o through the intermediate wheel carried by the
swing arm of which the shaft o form a pivot see Figs. 2, 8, 9 and 11. The
arm is approximately T shaped the cross piece at the top being circular the
radius of the said circle being equal to the distance from the centre of the shaft o
to the centre of the slot "therein. Passing through the slot t1 formed in the
head of the arm 10 is a set stud 2 tapped into the side of the bracket 3 by
which the position of the said arm and consequently the position of the pinion t
may be adjusted to suit varying sizes of pinions of which the train may be com-
posed and by which means the speed of the wire block may be altered to suit
the size of the same so as to permit of the employment of varying sizes of blocks
as before stated. It will be seen on reference to the drawings that in addition

page_text: These
to the drawing rolls there are a number of guide rolls u around which the wire
(indicated by Fig. 2) is passed as it is led from one die to another.
rolls are supported by the spindles tapped into the bottom f being loosely
mounted thereon so as to revolve freely under the driving action of the wire.
Between these rolls and the drawing rolls are located a number of vertical
slotted projections or plates w the purpose of which is to retain the dies, (not
shown in the drawings) when the machine is in action and against which the
dies are drawn by the wire in its forward movement.
Situated at the forward or entering end of the machine is an arm or bracket
supported by the bar a secured in any suitable manner to the front of the machine
upon which the said arm is capable of longitudinal adjustment or it may as
shown in Eig. 11 occupy a reversed position if so desired. Between the wire
block and the last of the guide rolls u is located an additional guide. A Fig. 1
consisting of an ☐ shaped plate pivotally secured at its base to the bottom f
and provided with a small sheave A over which the wire is led and then through
the die bearing against slotted vertical head of the plate to the wire block t.
The purpose of this arrangement is to permit of the wire readily adjusting
itself to the size of the block either when using various sizes of block or as the
size thereof increases owing to the amount of wire wound thereon. It will be
seen on reference to Fig. 3, that the bottom f in the front of the machine is of
somewhat increased thickness and has cut or otherwise formed therein a channel C
within which lies the upper run of a continuous chain passing over suitable
chain-wheels at each end of the channel C. The forward chain wheel 1) is
mounted upon a spindle D' carried in suitable bearing formed on the machine and
is actuated by means of the worm wheel D2 mounted upon the outer end of the
spindle D with which gears a worm D³ upon a short shaft D* supported by bear-
ings formed upon the bracket D³. The outer end of the shaft D is provided with
fast and loose pulleys D6 D7 and is driven by an independant belt to that driving
the main shaft of the machine. The striking gear for the last mentioned pullies
consists of a sliding bar D8 having a fork at its outer end for the belt and turned
over downwards at its inner end where it has a cranked handle Dº secured to a
pin D passing through the boss of the said handle through the end of the bar
and having secured to it upon the other side a short lever at the end of which is
a pin sliding between two vertical bars 11 secured to the machine as shown in
Fig. 11. By means of this arrangement upon turning the handle 19 the fork
will be either advanced or withdrawn and the belt shifted to either the fast or
loose pulley. Situated on each side of the channel C and secured by means of
screws or the like are two bars E E which overhang the channel on each side
and form guide bars for the drawing in gripper F which gripper as shown in
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, consists of two tapered horizontal jaws F sliding in a tapered
recess F10 The inner adjacent edges of the jaws are provided with teeth as
shown and are near their front ends, slotted to receive the rounded end of the
rocking lever F2 pivotted at F3 between the projections formed on the plate F
which plate is secured by screws Fo to the body of the device and serves to
keep the jaws aforesaid in position. The lever F2 is provided with a small
handle by means of which the jaws are caused to advance or withdraw in
their slot, such advancement or withdrawal causing the jaws to close together
or open and the smaller end of the jaws being located at the rear end of the
device it follows that when the wire has been gripped by the jaws any pull
thereon against the direction of motion of the gripper will cause them to grip
more tightly whilst they may be easily and quickly released when desired by
the handle F. Pivotally secured to the forward end of the device is a hook F8
provided with a handle F by which the said hook is depressed and its end
caused to engage with one of the links of the chain aforesaid. At each side of
the device are cut or otherwise formed recesses or channels designed to engage
with the over-hanging portion of the guide bars E E which serve to keep the
gripper of the drawing-in device in position whilst it is travelling along. At

page_text: the rear of the gripper and secured in any suitable manner to the top of the
trough is a plate G upon which is a vertical stud or pin G¹ supporting a small
guide roller around which the wire is led when it is desired to reduce its diameter
prior to stringing up the machine the wire after being led around the roller
passing through the die which abuts against the vertical forked projection G³,
also forming part of the plate G, the die resting upon the inside thereof.
H Fig. 11, is a treadle actuating the striking gear for the drawing rolls the said
gear being located at the end of the machine and consisting of a triangular shaped
lever or plate H¹ Fig. 1 pivotally attached at its lower corner H³ to the extension H³
of the bracket H the said bracket being bolted or otherwise secured to the rear
end standard of the machine. Pivotally attached to the opposite end or side of
the triangular frame is a link H5 the opposite end of which is secured to the
outer end of an arm attached to the end of the rock shaft He Figs. 1, 3, the shaft
being formed in the present instance from square metal turned down at the ends
which ends are supported by suitable brackets attached to the supporting beam m.
The treadle H may consist as shown of a piece of wood secured in any suitable
manner to the ends of the arms themselves H7 the inner ends of the arms being
secured, to the shaft H. H³ Figs. 1 and 11 is a piece of flat bar or other metal
hinged to the plate H and arranged as to hang down in a position to permit of
the treadle being caught when it is depressed against a projection formed upon
the edge of the said bar and retained thereby until it is desired to stop the machine
when the treadle can be freed from engagement with the bar by its being
pushed away therefrom by the operators knee and the spring H⁰ secured
respectively at its outer and inner ends to the upper part or extension H1 of the
triangular plate H (for which a guide F2 is formed at the top of the bracket H¹)
and the pin or stud H tapped into the underside of the bottom of the trough
see Fig. 1: A cross piece H14 is attached to the upper end of the extension H"
and has upon it pins or the like which engage with the belt. When stringing
up the machine the end of the wire is first reduced by any suitable means
sufficiently to allow of a short length of the same passing through the first die
which is then placed so that it abuts against the projections upon the plate G
and the wire passing between the said projection is introduced between the open
jaws of the gripper which are then closed and the chain set in motion by means
of its striking gear. If now the hook F8 be depressed by means of the handle F
it will engage with one of the links thereof and will be carried forward drawing
the wire through the die aforesaid (which die may be of any ordinary form) until
it reaches the driving wheel of the chain when one of the teeth of the same
will strike against the end of the hook and release it from its engagement with
the aforesaid chain. By this means a sufficient length of wire is obtained to
permit of same being led around the first guide roll and drawing roller when the
operation may be repeated with each of the dies.
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. In a wire drawing machine the arrangement of gearing whereby the
speed of the drawing rolls is varied in proportion to the gradual reduction in the
diameter of the wire substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
appended drawings.
2. In a wire drawing machine the arrangement whereby the speed of the block
upon which the wire is wound may be varied so as to permit of varying sizes
of block being employed substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
appended drawings.
3. For use in a wire drawing machine a drawing in roll provided with a
hardened surface as and for the purposes herein set forth constructed substantially
as herein described and illustrated by the appended drawings.
4. The improved drawing in device consisting of an endless travelling chain

page_text: with which may be caused to engage a suitable hook forming part of a gripping
device travelling in suitable guides formed upon the bed of the machine and
which device consists of a pair of serrated jaws caused by a suitable lever to
engage with and hold fast to the reduced end of the wire so that a length of
same may be drawn through a die for which an abutment is provided and also a
suitable guide for the wire. The whole constructed, actuated and operating
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the appended drawings.
5. The improved wire drawing machine constructed and operating substantially
as herein described and illustrated by the appended drawings.
Dated this 15th day of January 1900.
J. E. EVANS JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.