IMPROVEMENTS IN PUNCHING MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE. OF AXES PICKAXES AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PUNCHING MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE.
OF AXES PICKAXES AND OTHER ARTICLES to be as follows:-
My improvements in the manufacture of axes and similar tools consist in
improved punching machinery employed therein.
In describing my improvements I will refer to the manufacture of axes, but
similar machinery may be employed in the manufacture of other articles of
similar kind.
My improved punching machinery which is chiefly designed for use in combina-
tion with that embodying my improved dies and parts described in my provisional
specification N° 6346 lodged at the Patent Office on the fifteenth day of April of
this present year 1884 is constructed and operated as follows.
After the pattern has been operated upon by my said improved dies so as to
produce a poll or partly formed, article, it is placed upon one edge with the head
towards the front, between the clamps of the machine, there griped firmly and the
eye punched.
My improved punching machinery consists of a pair of levers which are pivoted
near their front or griping ends, to a bed-piece which is keyed to the anvil of a
drop-hammer machine, and which serve as clamps to firmly hold the poll while it
is being punched. I have found that in order to get the desirable amount of
griping power between the front ends of these levers, the length which they project
in front and in the rear of their pivots should be in the proportion of about one
to five.
By a system of levers controlled by a handle pivoted to a lug on the front of
the anvil-block, I operate a pair of toggles which are pivoted to the rear ends of
the said clamping levers. The griping faces of these clamps are removable dies

page_text: having a form which is the counterpart of that desired for the side of a finished
axe-poll or other article. They may be adjusted by placing shims of metal behind
them and are held in place by means of clamps on the front of the griping ends of
said levers, made adjustable so as to accommodate dies of varying length.
In the front side of the hammer of the machine I make a slot or mortice into
which is fitted a tool-stock for holding the punch used for forming the eye.
This tool-stock is held in place in the said mortice, by means of two adjustable
gibs, one on each side of the said tool-stock secured to the front of the hammer by
bolts and which bear against a tongue projecting from either side of the said tool-
stock. These tongues do not extend entirely to the top of the tool-stock but a
shoulder is left at the top on each side which strikes upon the top of the said gibs
when the tool-stock is at its lowest position, they being made short enough to
allow the said tool-stock to slide vertically up and down within a short range of
movement.
In order to keep the said tool-stock at its highest position, that is, so that the
top thereof shall bear against the upper face of the said mortice in the hammer, it
is supported by one or more springs, which, for the sake of convenience I attach to
the lower face of the hammer and have them bear against the lower side of the
tool-stock, by which means it is held firmly against the hammer when it is dropped,
in the operation of punching the eye of the axe or other article.
The object of giving the said tool-stock the capability of a vertical sliding move-
ment in the hammer, is to relieve the strain upon the devices which raise the
hammer. For when the punch, by the drop of the hammer, has been forced into
and nearly through the metal of the axe or other article held firmly between the
said clamp-levers, it will require a great amount of power to withdraw the punch
therefrom, if applied with a steady continuous pull, but by percussion the punch
can be readily removed. Therefore, the spring beneath the tool-stock should have
a strength only little more than sufficient to raise the tool-stock and keep it in
close contact with the hammer, so that when the hammer begins to rise, after
driving the punch into the metal of the axe or other article where it is tightly
>wedged the resiliency of the spring will allow the tool-stock to .slide in the mortice
in the hammer until the-shoulders on the top of the tool-stock strike upon the top
of the gibs which hold it in place. The hammer will then have acquired sufficient
.. momentum to bring the said gibs into contact with the shoulders on the tool-stock
with a sharp blow, which will readily knock the punch out of the metal of the axe-
'poll, and the spring will then carry the tool-stock up to its place in contact with
the hammer again..
3
My improved, machine is intended for punching the eyes of axes and other
articles, which require to be spread laterally at the portion where the eye is to be
formed in order to completely fill the dies of the clamping levers and bring the
sides of such article to the proper shape. For if the axe-poll or other article.com-
pletely filled the space between the faces of the dies in the griping end of the
clamps before the punching operation, it would require so great an amount of
power and increase the cost of construction of the machinery so much, that it
would not be economical and practical method.
The operation of my improved punching machine is as follows: An axe-poll or
other similar article, of the desired form, after it has been heated to the proper
temperature is taken by the operator and placed upon one edge between the dies,
constituting the griping faces of the clamp levers. The hand-lever is then drawn
forward into position shown, by which movement the lower end of the lever is also
drawn forward by means of the connecting rod. The forward movement of the.
lever pushes a block, forward in a mortice between projections, and at the same
time the ends of two toggle-levers, which are pivoted in a block are carried
forward until the toggle-levers are at right angles or nearly so with the sides of
that block. This will force the rear ends of the clamp-levers apart, and conse-
quently, press their forward or griping ends together; and tightly squeeze the axe
or other article which has been placed between them, resting on a steel strip. As
2917
200
9.13

page_text: soon as the heated axe or other article has been firmly clamped, the hammer, is
released and it drops forcing a punch, into the metal of the axe, splitting it centrally
in the thin portion, and about two-thirds through.
Immediately a hand-lever is pushed partly back towards the anvil, which
relieves to some extent the pressure of the griping jaws upon the axe and thereby
renders the withdrawal of the punch more easy.
i
At that moment the operator throws the lifting devices of the machine into
operation and as the hammer begins to rise 'the punch is held so tightly in the
metal of the axe that the springs are not sufficiently strong to pull it out.
The tool-stock will therefore slide in the mortice in the front of the hammer
until the hammer has risen high enough to bring the top of the gibs, against the
shoulders at the top of the tool-stock. The hammer will then have acquired con-
siderable momentum and will strike the shoulders with a sharp blow which will
easily knock the punch out of the metal of the axe, and as soon as that is done the
springs should be sufficiently strong to raise the tool-stock until the top of it is
brought into close contact with the top of the mortice again. The lever is then
pushed entirely in against the anvil thereby entirely releasing the axe or other
article which is turned over so as to present the other edge upward, the hammer
is then dropped and the operation above described is repeated, which completes the
formation of the eye in a very perfect manner. The operation of the punch in
forming the eye in an axe, axe-poll, or other article having the form at the eye
portion will divide the metal into two parts of equal thicknesses and force these
out against the faces of the dies, held in the griping ends of the clamp-levers, thus
giving the article a substantially perfect shape upon the sides conforming to the
faces of the dies used in the clamp-levers.
Much less power is required to operate my machine than any in use prior to
my invention.
There is no waste of material in scrap iron, and the punching is done
so quickly that it can be accomplished at the same heat at which the axe or poll
is formed, in my improved dies described in my said provisional specification.
hereinbefore referred to.

page_text: I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55, Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PUNCHING MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF AXES, PICKAXES AND OTHER ARTICLES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and; ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My improvements in the manufacture of axes and similar tools consist in
improved punching machinery employed therein.
In describing my improvements I will refer to the manufacture of axes, but
similar machinery may be employed in the manufacture of other articles of a
similar kind.
My improved punching machinery which is chiefly designed for use in com-
bination with that embodying my improved dies and parts described in my
provisional Specification with application for patent No 6346 lodged at the Patent
Office on the 15th day of April of the year 1884 and in the complete specification
subsequently lodged in pursuance thereof according to which by use of my improved
machinery for swaging axes and other articles therein described in connection with
the present improvements in machinery for 'punching the same articles hereinafter
set forth axe-polls may be produced at two operations and with one heat as
constructed and operated as follows.
After the pattern has been operated upon by my said improved dies so as to
produce a poll or partly formed article, it is placed upon one edge with the head
towards the front, between the clamps of the machine there griped firmly and the
eye punched.
My improved punching machinery consists of a pair of levers which are pivoted
near their front or griping ends to a bed-piece which is keyed to the anvil of a
drop-hammer machine, and which serve as clamps to firmly hold the poll while it]
is being punched. I have found that in order to get the desirable amount of
griping power between the front ends of these levers, the length which they project
in front and in the rear of their pivots should be in the proportion of about one
to five.
By a system of levers controlled by a handle, pivoted to a lug on the front of the
anvil-block I operate a pair of toggles which are pivoted to the rear ends of the
said clamping levers. The griping faces of these clamps are removeable dies
having a form which is the counterpart of that desired for the side of a finished
axe-poll or other article. They may be adjusted by placing shims of metal behind
them and are held in place by means of clamps on the front of the griping ends of
said levers, made adjustable so as to accommodate dies of varying length.
In the front side of the hammer of the machine I make a slot or mortice
into which is fitted a tool stock for holding the punch used for forming the eye:
This tool-stock is held in place in the said mortice, by means of two adjustable
gibs, one on each side of the said tool-stock secured to the front of the hammer by

page_text: bolts and which bear against a tongue projecting from either side of the said tool-
stock. These tongues do not extend entirely to the top of the tool-stock but a
shoulder is left at the top on each side which strikes upon the top of the said gibs,
when the tool-stock is at its lowest position they being made short enough to allow
the said tool-stock to slide vertically up and down within a short range of
movement.
In order to keep the said tool-stock at its highest position that is, so that the top
thereof shall bear against the upper face of the said mortice in the hammer, it is
supported by one or more springs, which for the sake of convenience I attach to
the lower face of the hammer and have them bear against the lower side of the
tool-stock by which means it is held firmly against the hammer when it is dropped.
in the operation of punching the eye of the axe or other article.
The object of giving the said tool-stock the capability of a vertical sliding
movement in the hammer is to relieve the strain upon the devices which raise the.
bammer: For when the punch by the drop of the hammer has been forced into
and nearly through the metal of the axe or other article held firmly between the.
said clamp levers it will require a great amount of power to withdraw the punch
therefrom, if applied with a steady continuous pull; but by percussion the punch
can be readily removed. Therefore, the spring beneath the tool-stock should have
a strength only little more than sufficiently to raise the tool-stock and keep it in
close contact with the hammer, so that when the hammer begins to rise after
driving the punch into the metal of the axe or other article where it is tightly
wedged the resiliency of the spring will allow the tool-stock to slide in the mortice
in the hammer until the shoulders on the top of the tool-stock strike upon the top
of the gibs which bold it in place.
The hammer will then have acquired sufficient momentum to bring the said gibs
into contact with the shoulders on the tool-stock with a sharp blow, which will.
readily knock the punch out of the metal of the axe-poll and the spring will then
carry the tool-stock up to its place in contact with the haminer again.
My improved machine is intended for punching the eyes of axes and other
articles, which require to be spread laterally at the portion where the eye is to be
formed in order to completely fill the dies of the clamping levers and bring the.
sides of such article to the proper shape. For if the axe-poll or other article com-
pletely filled the space. between the faces of the dies in the griping end of the
clamps before the punching operation, it would require so great an amount of
power and increase the cost of construction of the machinery so much, that it
would not be an economical and practical method.
All of which will readily appear from the drawings annexed to this Specification
and forming a part thereof, wherein
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved punching machine.
Figure 2, a right-hand-side elevation.
Figure 3 a vertical section through the centre of the machine.
Figure 4, a plan view of the machine with the hammer and punch removed.
Figure 5 a view of the bottom of the hammer, showing the bottom of the tool
stock and two springs which hold it in place.
Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings annexed to my said Specification Nº 6346
respectively, show the form of my improved axe-poll before and after it has been
operated upon by the said punching machine.
Like parts of this machine in the different figures are designated by the same.
letters.
A is the base picce or anvil of the machine. B the upright standards between
which the drop-hammer is held and guided, represented in the drawings as broken
off at the top. C is the hammer D is the bed-piece keyed to the anvil A and
projects back therefrom a sufficient distance to support the rear ends of the clamp-.
levers a which are pivoted to the bed piece D at bb. These pivots extending up.
through a yoke c resting on top of the clamp-levers a. The pivots bb are held
tightly by the top in the yoke c by slotting the yoke from the ends in to the pivot |

page_text: holes as indicated at c¹ and then closing these slots by a bolt d, running
horizontally through the yoke at either end and a nut d¹ screwed on to the end
of each o 0
. '
+
〃
1
Back of the rear line of the anvil A, in order to lighten the bed-piece D, and
facilitate the escape of scale; it is cast with an oblong opening which extends back
nearly to the rear end thereof, where two upright projections e e are cast upon it,
one on each side, and extending through between these upright projections is a
centrally located slot or mortice into which a block f is nicely fitted, which should
be capable of sliding readily thereon. Through this block fa mortice f¹ is cut
horizontally through the block at right angles to its sides at the rear end of the
mortice and at an angle of about 45° with the sides of the block from the forward
corners thereof to a perpendicular planè dividing the said block longitudinally in
the centre thus making a mortice V shaped at the forward end and straight across
the rear end. In this mortice f the ends of two short toggle levers g g are
pivoted at g¹g the other ends of, which are pivoted at g² g² one to the rear end
of each of the clamp levers a-On the top of the upright projections e and
extending across and overlapping the same is a cap-piece h grooved-out on its
under side to shut over, the outer edges thereof On the top of this cap-piece / two
ears i project in which is pivoted a short link k forked at its outer end. In the
forked end of the link k a lever is pivoted. This lever extends down below the
bed-piece D so that its lower end is in line with about the middle of the anvil A-
On the rear end of the block f two ears ¹ project in which the lever is also.
pivoted. The lower end of the lever is forked to receive the end of an extensible
connecting rod which is pivoted therein. This connecting rod extends forward
through a hole made in the anvil block A and is pivoted to an upright liand-
lever m which is also pivoted at its lower end to a forked lug m¹ attached near
the bottom of the anvil block.
.
J.
And it will be seen that as the pivots in the lug m¹ and the ears i are the fixed
points or unchangeable fulcrums of this series of levers, a movement of the hand-
lever m towards and from the anvil will cause the lever to vibrate back and forth
on its pivot in the forked link k and the block f being pivoted to the lever
through the ears will be caused to slide backward and forward in the mortice in
the upright pieces e and thus by means of the two toggle levers g g pivoted to the
sliding block f and to the rear end of each of the clamp-levers a those ends of the
levers will be vibrated toward and from each other as the block f slides backward
and forward which movement of the rear ends of the clamp levers a will open and
close the forward or griping ends thereof.
nn are the removeable and adjustable dies forming the griping faces of the
clamp-levers a and are held by adjusting clamps n¹, n₁, on the front end of said
levers. In the upper face of the bed-piece D, a dove-tailed groove is made in line
with the space between the two griping faces of the clamp levers a, extending from
the front edge of the bed-piece back to the oblong opening beyond the anvil, its
width being somewhat greater than the thickest axe-poll or other article which is
ordinarily made.
'
In this dove-tailed groove a strip of steel o is accurately fitted, so as not to be
liable to move, merely by the jar of the machine and is made long enough to
extend. back of.the rear edge of the yoke c and on its front end has a shoulder o¹
projecting down on the under side of it through which is an adjusting screw o² the
end of which bears against the front of the anvil.
An upright projection p is forged upon this steel strip o at a point far enough
back of the griping faces of the clamps a to allow.an.axe-poll or other article, as
the case may be, to be placed in the proper position between the said griping faces,
and have the bit end of the axe, or poll, rest against the said projection p. Small
variations in the length of the article to be punched can be accommodated by the
adjusting screw o² and to assist in holding the projecting stop p more firmly its
upper end extends into a slot p¹ in the yoke c.. The strip o is made of steel the
better to resist wear.
4. '

page_text: q is. the tool-stock fitted in a mortice in the front of the hammer C, for holding
the punch E. By means of tongues rr, Figure 5, projecting laterally from each
side of the tool-stock q at its rear edges the said tool-stock is held in place in the
hammer by gibs F, bolted to the front side of the hammer on either side of the
tool-stock. Notches s, s are cut in the top of these gibs on their inner edges next
the tool-stock q to allow space for the shoulders 8181 to move up and down a short
distance. Fastened to the bottom of the hammer C are one or more springs t,
(Figure 5) the ends of which project forward under the bottom of the tool-stock q
and hold it up in close contact with the upper face of the mortice in the hammer.
In the front of the tool stock q a central vertical groove is made to receive the
punch E and in order to hold the punch rigidly and securely in this groove, two
or more crossbars u are bolted to the front of the tool-stock q and by means of
steel set screws projecting through these cross-bars the punch E is firmly held in
place.
In order to break the shock of the blow of the hammer whenever its momentum
is more than sufficient to force the punch into the metal blank the proper distance,
I place a block of hard wood w beneath the hammer on each side between the
standards B and the clamp levers a making these blocks high enough to project a
little above the upper surface of the yoke c but in place of these blocks of wood an
air cushion or equivalent means may be used for this purpose.
Such springs, or other equivalent means may also be used to assist in with-
drawing the punch from the metal instead of the sliding tool-stock, in which case
the punch would be rigidly held in the hammer; but I have found in practice that
the sliding tool-stock is much more efficient and generally desirable, for the reason;
that, if springs are used to withdraw the punch. from the metal after it has
been driven into the blank, the blow of the hammer will have to be sufficiently in
excess of the force needed to drive the punch, to also compress such springs.
x is an axe or axe-poll griped between the clamp. levers a after it has been
operated upon by the punch. E. In Figure 3, the axe-poll is shown with the
punch in the position which it will occupy after the first blow, and the levers m
and are in the position which partially releases the pressure of the griping faces
of the clamps a at the time when the punch is to be withdrawn. In Figure 4, it is
represented as it appears in the clamps a after both blows of the punch have been
made and the metal has been forced out so as to completely. fill the dies n.
The operation of my improved punching machine is as follows:-An axe-poll or
other similar article, of the desired form, after it has been heated to the proper
temperature is taken by the operator and placed upon one edge between the
dies n n constituting the griping faces of the clamp levers a. The hand-lever m is
then drawn forward into the position shown in Figure 4 by which movement the
lower end of the lever is also drawn forward by means of the connecting rod l¹. -
The forward movement of the lever pushes the block f forward in the mortice
between the projections e and at the same time the ends of the two toggle-levers gg
which are pivoted in the block fat gl g¹ are carried forward until the toggle-levers
are at right angles or nearly so with the sides of the block f. This will force the
rear ends of the clamp-levers a apart, and consequently press their forward or
griping ends together, and tightly squeeze the axe or other article which has been
placed between them, resting on the steel strip o. As soon as the heated axe or
other article has been firmly clamped the hammer c, is released and it drops forcing
the punch E into the metal of the axe, splitting it centrally in the thin portion,
and about two thirds through as shown in Figure 3. Immediately the hand
lever m is pushed partly back towards the anvil which relieves to some extent the
pressure of the griping jaws upon the axe and thereby renders the withdrawal of
the punch more easy.
At that moment the operator throws the lifting devices of the machine into
operation and as the hammer begins. to rise the punch is held so tightly in the
metal of the axe that the springs t are not sufficiently strong to pull it out.

page_text: The tool stock q will therefore slide in the mortice in the front of the hammer
until the hammer has risen high enough to bring the top of the gibs F against the
shoulders s¹ 8 at the top of the tool-stock. The hammer will then have acquired
considerable momentum and will strike the shoulders with a sharp blow which
will easily knock the punch out of the metal of the axe, and as soon as that is
done the springs 't should be sufficiently strong to raise the tool-stock until the top
of it is brought into close contact with the top of the mortice again. The lever, m
is then pushed entirely in' against the anvil thereby entirely releasing the axe or
other article which is turned over so as to present the other edge upward, the
hammer is then dropped and the operation above described is repeated which
completes the formation of the eye in a very perfect manner. The operation of
the punch in forming the eye in an axe, axe-poll, or other article having the form at
the eye portion will divide the metal into two parts of equal thicknesses and force
these out against the faces of the dies n, n, held in the griping ends of the clamp
levers a, thus giving the article a' substantially perfect shape upon the sides
conforming to the faces of the dies used in the clamp-levers.
'
Much less power is required to operate my machine than any in use prior to my
invention. There is no waste of material in scrap iron, and the punching is done
so quickly that it can be accomplished at the same heat at which the axe or poll
is formed, in my improved dies herein before described in my said Specification
herein before referred to.
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
1st In a drop-punching machine the combination of the drop and a tool-holding
stock with means for permitting them to slide upon one another vertically and
springs for holding them in close contact when they descend to force the tool into
the metal to be acted upon, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.,
2nd In a drop-punching machine a drop in combination with a punch held in
tool-stock capable of separate vertical moveinent in the drop and clamping
levers a a pivoted upon the bed of the machine for firmly holding the article to be
punched, in proper position to receive the thrust of the punch when the drop
ascends substantially as described.
3rd In a drop-punching machine a tool-holding stock and a drop adapted to slide
upon one another vertically in combination with means for positively, limiting such
relative movement, so that after the tool has been forced into the metal and the
drop begins to ascend it will at first move independently of the tool-stock and then
after acquiring momentum, will suddenly act upon the tool-stock to withdraw the
tool from the metal substantially as described.
4th In a drop-punching machine, for punching the eyes of axes, axe polls and
similar articles, the combination of a drop and punch with a pair of clamping levers
having removable adjustable dies n, n, in their griping ends the faces of which are
the counterpart in shape of that which it is desired to produce upon the sides of
the finished article, and adjustable clamps n n¹ for holding said dies therein, all
constructed and operated substantially as described.
: