Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Manufacture of Wire.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Manufacture of Wire.
I, CHARLES ABERNETHY COWLES, of 52, North Cliff Street, in the City of
Ansonia, County of New Haven and State of Connecticut, United States of
America, Superintendent, 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:-
-
I will describe my improvement in detail, and then point out the novel features
in a claim.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of
apparatus embodying my improvement. Figure 2 is an elevation of an elevator
and certain appurtenant parts. Figure 3 is an elevation of the parts shown in
Figure 2, but in a plane at right angles to that of said Figure 2. Figure 3
also shows some additional parts constituting à modification. Figure 4 is a rear
elevation of parts shown in front elevation in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a sectional
elevation of a reel designed to receive coarse wire rod, so called because not die
drawn, formed from an ingot. It also shows parts which are to operate with
said reel. Figure 6 is a top view of a reel support shown also in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of an acid trough or a hot water trough, and
parts for conveying a reel of wire into the same. Figure 8 is a sectional
elevation of a reel and track along which the same may travel, and a support
which may be elevated to engage with the bottom of the reel whenever it is
desired to unwind wire, from the reel, as for instance when the wire is to be
threaded into dies for drawing, or when it is to be unwound from the reel in the
process of drawing it down to a finer gauge. Figure 9 is a top view of the
support shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is an elevation taken parallel to the
dotted line 10-10, Figure 1. Similar letters of reference designate corre-
sponding parts in, all figures.
A designates a rolling mill of
B designates coarse
wire proceeding from the last pass. It is wound upon a reel C, shown in
Figure 5, and comprising a head c¹ having legs 2 pivotally connected to lugs c³
depending from the head. Near the lower end these legs have rods pivotally
connected to them, the inner of said rods being pivotally connected to a central
rod which is fitted so as to be capable of sliding longitudinally through the
head e, its upper end being passed through the base of a swivel eye and
The swivel eye may be
provided with a head for retaining it in place.
engaged with a hook comprised in a trolley D and having a swiveling con-
nection with, the trolley so that it may rotate. This trolley fits a track T¹ that
is downwardly inclined to the right in Figure 1, this inclination being shown in
Figure 5.
suitable construction.
any
The base of the swivel eye c6 is protruded so as to engage with hook shaped
lugs formed integral with or attached to the top of the head o." By
rotating the swivel eye in one way it may be engaged with the lugs 7, so that the
central rod will be incapable of moving longitudinally through the head c¹.
By turning the eye in the reverse way, it may, however, be disengaged from the
said lugs, and then the rod 5 will be capable of moving longitudinally through

page_text: the head c¹. While the rod e5 is secured against longitudinal movement through
the head c¹, the rods will serve as braces to hold the legs 2 in their outermost
positions, as they are represented in Figure 5. Then the reel is in operative
condition for receiving and holding wire. It may be collapsed by disengaging
the eye from the lugs c7, for then the rod c5 will slide upward through the
head so as to draw the rods upwards, and consequently swing the legs ²
inwards. Any suitable catch for precluding the eye of from accidentally
turning relatively to the lugs c may be provided if desired. In Figure 2 a
suitable catch is represented.
The lower end of the central rod e5 may be made hollow and provided at the
lower extremity with a socket c. The purpose of such a socket will be made
plain hereafter. The lower ends of the legs are turned outward to form
feet 10, and these are adapted to rest in recesses formed in the upper surface
of a support E, which is here (Figure 5) shown as having engagement by means
of a spline with an upright rotary shaft e journaled in bearings in a frame e³.
The support E is shown as having a hub e' that is provided with a circum-
ferential groove into which project pins from bifurcate arms formed upon a
lever et that is fulcrumed by means of a pin e5 to the frame e².
When a reel C has been moved to a position over the support E, the latter
may be raised by means of the lever et so as to engage with the feet c¹0 of the reel,
in order that rotary motion may be imparted to the reel. After the adjustment
of the lever into the necessary position for raising the support E into engage-
ment with the reel C, a hook e pivoted to the frame e² may be engaged with a
pin e upon the lever to maintain it in this adjustment.
The support E is provided upon its upper surface with a number of pins es
arranged in a circle which form a skeleton cylinder upwardly tapered and
externally convex at all points. This frame may include the legs 2 of the reel C.
A convenient way of producing this convexity is to make the pins round, and the
upward taper of the cylinder may be conveniently secured by tapering the pins
themselves upwardly. Owing to these features of construction they will not
prevent the lowering of the support after wire shall have been wound around the
reel. Their purpose is to take the strain of the coarse wire rod while it is
being wound upon the reel, so as not to subject the reel to this great strain
during the beginning of the winding.
As here shown,
This belt will
Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the shaft e¹.
a belt pulleye is affixed to said shaft and receives a belt e¹0.
only serve to rotate the shaft e¹ when tightened upon the pulley by means of a
belt tightener el consisting of a pulley mounted upon a lever which is fulcrumed
by means of a pin el to the frame e."
Wire having been wound upon a reel C while engaged with a support E is,
after the disengagement of the support E, carried by the trolley D along the
downwardly inclined track T. In order to permit it to move along the track T¹,
the attendant will have to remove a stop S¹ which detained the trolley D during
the winding of the wire upon the reel C. This stop as here shown consists of a
bolt which may project upwardly through the track, or be depressed so that its
upper surface will be coincident with the top of the track. A spring s normally
elevates it. It may be lowered by either electrical or mechanical means, as for
instance, a cord descending to within reach of an attendant.
The
By descending the track T¹ the trolley D will reach an elevator F', shown in
Figures 2, 3 and 4. Trolleys D carrying reels C may pass one after another as
fast as desired, and may accumulate at the elevator F¹. Only one will be able
to pass to the elevator at a time. Each one is arrested by means of a stop Sa
which may be like the stop S¹, and similarly fitted to the track T¹.
release of the stop S2 will elevate a stop S3 that may be similar to the stops S¹, S²,
and similarly fitted to the track T¹. The stops S2, S3 are connected together by
a lever a fulcrumed to the track T, by means of a pin 3, the connection being
made in such manner that when one stop is elevated, the other will be depressed.

page_text: Obviously, whenever the stop S2 is, depressed, a trolley will be permitted to pass
beyond it, but as the stop Swill, then be raised, it will arrest the trolley.
The elevator F comprises a support or car f which is made in the shape of a
picce of track, so that a trolley may run upon it from an adjacent track, and from
it onto the track to which it is moved. Whenever the elevator support or car f
is in position to receive a trolley from the track T¹, the stop S3 will be depressed
and the stop S³ raised. This is the relation of the parts represented in Figure 2.
The lever has an end s which is hinged to the lever by what is known as a
knuckle joint, or, in other words, so that it may be depressed relatively to the
lever, but not swung upwards independently thereof. 'A spring extending.
from the main portion of the lever under the hinged end sustains the
hinged end in line with the main portion of the lever, and this spring is so stiff
that any. downward motion imparted to the hinged end will be transmitted equally
to the main part of the lever, unless the lever is restrained from further down-
ward movement, whereupon the hinged end will be moved downwards without
imparting any movement to the lever. The downward movement of the lever
will be limited by a lug s formed upon the upper end of the stop S3. A downward
motion is imparted to the lever by means of a push piece fi connected to the
elevator support or car f.
As here shown, a rod f extends upwardly from the elevator shaft or car f,
and passes through a guide f³ affixed to a beam V upon which a track T is
supported. Above the guide f3 a spring f surrounds the rod f, an adjustable
collar f being affixed to the rod above the spring. A cord f is fastened
to the lower part of the rod f, and passes thence upwardly from a guide
pulley to a windlass f which comprises one part f of a clutch f³, f³, the
other part of said clutch being affixed to rotate with a shaft f upon which
the windlass is loosely mounted. The shaft is constantly rotated by means
of a belt applied to a pulley f that is affixed to said, shaft. Any suitable
means may be employed for supporting the shaft, as, for instance, brackets fl
The part of the clutch although engaged to rotate with the shaft f1, is free
to move lengthwise of the same for the purpose of rendering the clutch operative
or inoperative.. As here shown, it is adjustable lengthwise of the shaft f" by
means of a lever f4 fulcrumed to one of the brackets by means of a pin f
and connected with a rod f16 that passes down through a collar f7 affixed to the
rod and operating as a tappet.
When the elevator support or car f descends sufficiently far, the collar f17 will
act as a tappet upon a collar affixed to the lower end of the rod f16, and it will
thereby cause the lever f¹ to render the clutch f, f operative, whereby the
rotary motion of the shaft f" will be transmitted to the windlass 18, and the
cord will be wound up. Thus the elevator support or car f will be raised to
a position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, from which a trolley carried
by it may descend to the track T².
Assuming the elevator support or car f to be in line with the track T¹ at the
time of receiving a trolley D, the weight of the trolley will cause a sliding
downward movement of the elevator support or car as indicated by dotted lines
in Figure 2. As during this time the windlass is not supporting the elevator
support or car but it is being supported by the spring f resting upon the
guide f, the spring f permits of the movement of the car just described.
will occur without affecting the main portion of the lever 2 because of the
hinged end of said lever. This motion of the elevator support or car trans-
mitted through the rod f to the tappet collar f7 will start the windlass and
cause the trolley to be elevated.
This
It will have been observed that the elevator support or car is provided with
a stóp S. This will be like the other stops, and raised by a springs attached
to the elevator support or car. When the elevator support or car is raised
sufficiently, a pin 8 extending laterally from the stop S will come in contact with
a rod fi fitted to slide in a bracket f attached to the beam V, a spring being

page_text: .
Conse-
coiled around said rod between the upper part of the bracket and a collar (20.
affixed to said rod. The stop S will contact with the rod f18 before the elevator
support or car reaches the level of the track T, and thereupon said stop will be
depressed, and the trolley will run against the end of the track T
quently, as soon as the elevator support or car reaches the level of the track-T2,
the trolley will be free to run upon the latter, and will pass on to it almost
instantaneously. This movement on to the track may be accelerated by giving
the adjacent end of the elevator support or 'car á greater inclination.
The continued upward movement of the elevator support or car will cause the
tappet collar f to strike a collar f affixed to the rod f16, and thereupon the
clutch f, fo will be rendered inoperative, and the windlass will be permitted to
lower the elevator support or car. The downward movement of the elevator
support or car will be retarded by a dash-pot or equivalent device f. The
rapidity of descent may be regulated by a cock f¹³.
Whenever the elevator support or car is raised; a spring 10 rocks the lever 2
into such a position that it will depress the stop S2 and raise the stop $3 for the
purpose of allowing another trolley to pass to a position whence it may be
delivered to the elevator support or car after the descent of the latter.
I have not described in detail the form of clutch f³, f10, as any suitable clutch
may be used.
The
If desired, I may dispense with the windlass and its appurtenances, and instead
of that employ a compressed air engine as a substitute for the dash-pot f
In such case will connect with it a supply pipe f24, and control the same by
means of a three-way cock f; using a regulating cock f for the outlet
nozzle through which air in the engine is discharged. The three-way cock
is connected by means of a rod f28 which is connected with the rod f
depression of the elevator support or car upon receiving a trolley will effect the
opening of the three-way cock f³, so as to permit of the entrance of compressed
air into the engine. Thus the elevator will be caused to raise the elevator support
or car and trolley. At the proper time the tappet collar f17 will strike the
upper collar fal and reverse the three-way cock f so as to cut-off the supply
of compressed air, and discharge the contents of the engine into the atmosphere.
The track extends to a position over an acid trough G, which may be
arranged in the floor. It will be seen by reference to Figure 7 that the track
takes a somewhat sudden dip above the trough. Trolleys traveling along the
track will carry reels. Any number of reels of wire may thus be carried into
the trough. Any acid suitable for removing rust and cleaning the wire generally
may be used.
Hand operated stops S5, S like the stop S¹ may be arranged in
this portion of the track to control the delivery of the reels of wire.
An elevator F2 is arranged adjacent to the track T2 for carrying up the trolleys
and reels of wire one at a time to a track T. The elevator may be substantially
like the clevator. F already described, except that instead of being started
automatically, it may be started by hand if desired. If the trough G is made
sufficiently long, this elevator may be in all respects like the elevator F, and the
stops S7, S8 may be constructed and combined together and with the elevator F
in the same manner that the stops S2, S3 are constructed and combined with each
other and the elevator F¹.
The track T near the end which receives the trolleys is provided with a land
operated stop S. By this means each trolley may be so detained as to properly
drain off the acid into the trough. When a trolley has been permitted to
pass the stop S it will travel along the track T until it reaches another hand
operated stop $10. Here the wire may be showered with water to wash off the
acid. By manipulating the stop S10, the trolley may be permitted to run along
the track T until it is carried into a hot water trough H, which may in general
construction be like the trough G. Any number of trolleys with reels may pass
through this trough at the same time, but it will not be necessary for any one of
them to dwell.

page_text: The track T3 above the trough His provided, with two stops,,S!!, S12, which
will be preferably operated by the same mechanism as I have shown and described
in connection with the stops S2, S
At the end of the track T" is an elevator which may be constructed and may
operate like the elevator F
It will deliver trolleys carrying reels to a track T.
Along the track T the trolleys travel until arrested by stops S3, S, which may
be manually operated to release trolleys, one at a time. While detained by the
stop S4, a reel may be supported by a table I, supported by a rod i, having a
sliding connection in a tubular bracket (sce particularly Figs. 8 and 9). The
table has in its upper surface recesses for the feet of the reel, so that the
reel, will interlock with the table. The table is not affixed to the rod i, but is
pivotally connected therewith, being supported upon a conical collar.
secured by a set screw or otherwise to the rod in any desired position.
may be the same reel C as previously described, and the upper end of
enters the socket.c of the reel..
ti q.
which is
The reel
the rod i
A lever arrangement similar to the one described in connection with Figure 5
may be used for adjusting the table I vertically, and holding it in its operative
position. As here shown is a lever and a fulcrum extending from the
bracket i¹. The lever engages with a pin extending from the rod i, and the
bracket has a hook for engaging the lever. The weight of the reel may
be more or less imposed upon the collar. by adjusting the latter vertically
upwards along the rod i and securing it there, as thus more or less weight will
be taken from the trolley. The friction generated while the table, turns upon
the collar may therefore be varied to properly resist the unwinding of the reel.
The wire is only intended to be partially unwound from a reel detained by the
stop S4, the purpose being simply to unwind enough to thread upon it the dies
which are to be employed in a machine for drawing down the wire to a smaller
size. A machine J for threading the wire through the dies is shown adjacent
to the elevator Ft.
When the wire has been sufficiently unwound, the table, I will be lowered
and the stop S depressed so as to permit, the reel with its trolley, to move onward
until it reaches an elevator F This elevator may be automatic, like the
elevator already described. Thus each trolley and reel will be delivered to
a track T5.
Upon this track trolleys with reels may accumulate, and be released.
one at a time by means of stops S15, SIG.
'
Beyond the stop SIG is a switch T operated by a lever arrangement T7, and
capable of being adjusted into line with either of two tracks T8, T. Upon the
track T two trolleys with their reels may be supported while the wire is unwound
from the reels to pass through a wire drawing machine W. If the trolleys are
directed to the track T they will be retained until the wire shall have been taken
from the reels upon track T8, whereupon the next wire may be taken from reels
supported from the track T. The reels, while the wire is being taken from
them for the wire drawing machine W will be supported by a table I and
appurtenances, as shown in Figure S...
.
The empty reels pass with their trolleys from the tracks Ts, T on to a switch T,
and thence to an elevator 5, which may be like the elevator ", and serves to
deliver the empty 'reels with their trolleys upon a track T", where they will be
kept in storage by means of stops S17, $18. They may be released one, at a time
on to a switch Te and delivered thence either on to the track T or on to a
track T, the latter being for the purpose of supporting a reel while it takes
wire from the rolls A, a reel first being used for this purpose upon the track T,
and then another being used upon the track T and so on. A switch T takes
the reels from the tracks T, TB to the elevator F
The wire delivered from the wire drawing machine W is taken by reels C
supported by an elevator K of the kind shown in the Specification of an Applica-
tion filed of even date herewith and numbered 4694. This elevator will
preferably be a hydraulic elevator. As shown in Figure 10, it has a cylinder k¹,

page_text: a piston or plunger working vertically in the same, a cross beam affixed to
the plunger and two beams suspended by rods which are pivotally con-
nected by turn tables with the beam . As soon as the reel is filled with
wire the elevator K will be raised, and the beams will be rotated to transfer
the filled reels to a position in alignment with tracks T5, T6, and empty reels
It will be seen that the
to a position opposite the wire drawing machine.
trolleys supporting these reels may travel lengthwise of the beams A.
The tracks T, T extend to a turn table U having four track sections in a
cruciform arrangement, and adapted to sustain four trolleys with their reels.
This may be turned by hand to take filled reels from the tracks T5, T6 and
deliver them to a track T, and also to receive empty reels from a track T
and deliver them to the tracks T5, T6
Bolts t¹, will serve to lock the beams in line with the tracks T5, T6, and
also lock the turn table U so that its arms will be in line with the tracks T5, T6
and with the tracks T7, 118. The track T7 leads to an elevator Fe which may be
like the elevator F. It delivers trolleys one at a time to a track T, where
trolleys with their reels filled with wire may accumulate for storage. They
will be delivered under control of stops S1, S20. The stop S will detain
one at a time in position to be supported by the table I and appurtenances, as
shown in Figure 8, until sufficient wire has been withdrawn for threading it by
means of a machine J, through dies for a second reducing machine.
After having been threaded, the trolleys with their reels may accumulate upon
the track T further on, and there be controlled by stops S2, S. Beyond the
stop is a switch T operating in connection with tracks T1, T2, which may
receive the reels in positions where they will be supported by tables and their
appurtenances, as shown in Figure S, while their wire is passed from them
through a second wire drawing machine W₁, where it is further reduced in
diameter.
The empty reels may be taken from the tracks T1, T22 by a switch T2 to an
elevator F, which may be like the elevator Fand will deliver the trolleys with
their empty reels one at a time to the track T18. It will, of course, have been
understood that the tracks have a continuous incline in the direction in which the
trolleys have to travel.
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. An apparatus for conveying wire to different places where it is to be
treated, consisting of a track, a support arranged upon said track and extending
below the same, means for operating upon said material, and a device arranged
adjacent to said track for moving the support vertically to the means which are
to operate upon the material, substantially as specified."
2. In an apparatus for conveying wire to different places where it is to be
treated, consisting of a track, a support arranged on said track and extending
below the same, and carrying the material to be treated, said track being inclined
toward the place whither the support is desired to be moved, means for operating
upon the material carried by the support, and a device arranged adjacent to said
track for moving the support vertically to the means for operating upon said
material, and also in order that it may be started onwards in its course, sub-
stantially as specified.
3. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the
combination of reels, trolleys with which said reels have a swivel connection,
a track along which said trolleys may be caused to travel, and rotary supports
with which said reels at their lower ends may be engaged, substantially as
specified.
4. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the
combination of supports for the wire, a main track along which said supports

page_text: may travel, a switch at one end of said track, and duplicate or storage tracks, into
line with either of which said switch may be set for the purpose of establishing
communication between it and the main track, substantially as specified.
5. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the
combination of reels for the wire, trolleys with which said reels have a swivel
connection, a track along which said trolleys may be caused to travel, a stop on
said track for arresting one of the trolleys and its reel, and a machine arranged
adjacent to said stop and track for taking the wire from the reel and threading it
through dies, substantially as specified.
6. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the
combination of supports for the wire, tracks along which said supports may be
caused to travel, and a combined elevator and turn table, substantially as specified.
7. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the
combination of supports for the wire, a track along which said supports may be
caused to travel, an elevator having a carriage or part normally in alignment with
said track, and comprising hoisting mechanism consisting of a rotary shaft, a
loosely mounted windlass and a clutch, and means whereby the windlass will
he clutched to the shaft whenever the said carriage or part of the elevator
receives one of the said supports for material to be treated, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.