AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING METAL PLATES TO BE USED AS GAS HOLDER TOP SHEETS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Leonard Clayton and Lawrence Clayton, of Hunslet, near
Leeds, in the County of York, Gas Engineers and Contractors, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING METAL
PLATES TO BE USED AS GAS HOLDER TOP SHEETS."
Sealed the 14th August-1877, and dated the 15th February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Leonard Clayton and
Lawrence Clayton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th
February 1877.
LEONARD CLAYTON and LAWRENCE CLAYTON, of Hunslet, near Leeds, in the
County of York, Gas Engineers and Contractors. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING METAL PLATES TO BE USED AS GAS HOLDER TOP
SHEETS."..
This Invention consists of an improved arrangement and apparatus for punching
sheets or plates for plating gas holder tops, by which means the plates can be
punched and prepared without the aid of a template, and punching the holes one
at a time, as is usually the case.
First. We punch the sheets at each side at one stroke or one time, the same
radiating to the centre with a punching machine prepared for that purpose,
whereby any number of holes can be punched at one time, providing the punch bar
and die bed are long enough. After the plates are punched at each side it is
necessary for the ends to be truly punched to fit the adjoining plates or sheets
accurately at both ends, which is of a curved form more or less, according to the
circle the sheets are to make; this is done by means of punches and dies fixed in
their beds and sockets, and made to the proper curve forming the circle they are for,
which beds and sockets are made the full length of the ends of the sheets or plates
they have to punch. By this method the plates or sheets are punched with great
accuracy, making the plates or sheets in the same row or circle exact duplicates of
each other, also punching the bottom of the sheets so as to exactly coincide with the
top of the sheets joining to them.
The distances of the holes can be varied in pitch, and an ordinary punching
machine prepared for the purpose can be used in punching these sheets.

page_text: The punches and dies can be fixed in any convenient way, so that the curves are
truly formed.
The plates for the whole of a gas holder top (either of convex or flat shape) can
be punched before being fixed in their places, thus saving an immense amount of
labour, and at the same time obtaining great accuracy, which is very necessary in
constructing gas holder tops.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Leonard Clayton and Lawrence Clayton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th August 1877.
LEONARD CLAYTON and LAWRENCE CLAYTON, of 'Hunslet, near Leeds, in the
County of York, Gas Engineers and Contractors. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND
APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING METAL PLATES TO BE USED AS GAS HOLDER TOP
SHEETS."
This Invention consists of an improved arrangement and apparatus for punching
sheets or plates for plating gas holder tops, by which means the plates can be
punched and prepared without the aid of a template, and punching the holes one at
a time, as is usually the case.
First. We punch the row of holes near the edge at each side of a plate at one
stroke or one time, the punches radiating to the centre with a punching machine
prepared for that purpose, whereby any number of holes can be punched at one time,
providing the punch bar and die bed are long enough. After the plates are
punched at each side it is necessary for the ends to be truly punched to fit the
adjoining plates or sheets accurately at both ends, which is of a segmental or
curved form more or less, according to the circle the sheets are to make; this is
done by means of punches and dies fixed in their beds and sockets, and made to
the proper segment or curve forming the circle they are for, which beds and
sockets are made the full length of the ends of the sheets or plates they have to
punch. By this method the plates or sheets are punched with great accuracy,
making the plates or sheets in the same row or circle exact duplicates of each other,
also punching the bottoms of the sheets being punched as to exactly coincide with
the tops of the sheets joining to them.
The distances of the holes can be varied in pitch, and an ordinary punching
machine prepared for the purpose can be used in punching the sheets or plates.
The punches and dies can be fixed in any convenient way, so that the curves are
truly formed.
The plates for the whole of a gas holder top (either of convex or flat shape) can
be punched before being fixed in their places, thus saving an immense amount of
labour, and at the same time obtaining great accuracy, which is very necessary in
constructing gas holder tops.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed we show a series of punches a, a, arranged in
segmental or curved form in a top plate or force b; c is an intermediate plate
perforated for the punches to go through the holes d, d, therein to prevent the gas
holder top sheet after being punched rising up and following the punches; e is the
bottom plate of the press; the punches can be arranged in any segmental or curved
form in the force 6 to correspond to the holes in the bottom plate e, in order that
all the holes along one end near the edge of a sheet can be punched at one time.
The holes in a corresponding end of what is to be an adjoining sheet being also
punched by the same series of punches to ensure their exact fit when the two sheets
have to be put together. In punching the holes, radii from a centre along the side
edges of the sheets, the punches are arranged to correspond in all the sheets
prepared for that particular row or circle of plates, according to their sizes and
their distances from the centre. By this means all the plates of each row are made

page_text: interchangeable, consequently any diameter of gas holder can be roofed simply by
increasing the number of circles or rows of plates, which by our Invention can be
kept in stock, if desired, and be used when necessary.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we declare that we claim, the apparatus, substantially as
described and shown, in which punches are fitted in radii or in curved or segmental
order for punching all the holes near one side or end of a gas holder top sheet, and
the corresponding ends of the sheets of the same row in radii, and of the next row
in curved or segmental order to ensure the holes of the sheets of each row corre-
sponding for the reception of the rivets, as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Leonard Clayton and Lawrence Clayton,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
LEONARD CLAYTON.
(L.S.)
LAWRENCE CLAYTON. (L.S.)