IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN BLOWING AND MOULDING GLASS BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of: A. M and
W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR USE IN BLOWING AND MOULDING GLASS BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR
communicated to him from abroad by La Société Appert frères, of Paris,
France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN BLOWING AND MOULDING GLASS BY
MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR." [communicated to him from abroad by La Société
Appert frères, of Paris, France]
This Invention relates to a system of apparatus, some of which are capable of
being adapted to the ordinary glass makers' chair whereby compressed air may be
mechanically applied for blowing and moulding all kinds of glass articles in lieu
of the ordinary mode of blowing by the mouth as hitherto practised. The
Invention further relates to utilising the expansion of the escaping compressed air
for cooling the glass in course of manufacture as well as the metal or other moulds
used for blowing or pressing glass. This process has the advantage of facilitating
the manufacture and of preserving the moulds as well as of reducing the number
required.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings represent by way of example
different views of the apparatus of this Invention mounted on an ordinary glass
maker's chair.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of the chair provided with the
blowing apparatus; Figure 3 represents on a larger scale a longitudinal section of
the coupling socket for receiving the end of the blowing iron. The same letters
of reference denote like parts in the three figures.

page_text: The apparatus consists of a coupling formed of a conical metal casing a
containing an elastic conical tube or sleeve 6 of indiarubber or guttapercha attached
by its larger end to a conical metal ring or mouthpiece c rivetted to the casing a.
The sleeve b is shorter than the casing a and is held in a central position therein
by means of four springs & which support the sleeve in the direction of its length
while allowing of its free elasticity. The air pressing outside around the sleeve b,
compresses it around the blowing iron which is introduced therein and makes a
tight joint. The coupling is sufficiently tight to cause it to partake in the rotation
and to and fro movements of the blowing iron along the arms e of the chair f.
For this purpose the metal casing is attached by its screwed neck h to a tube i
supported upon a carrier having bearings k k in which the tube i turns on an axis
coinciding with that of the blowing iron. The carrier k has itself a horizontal
motion upon a vertical axis so that it may follow the to and fro movements of
the blowing iron along the arms of the chair the whole being by a bracket bolted
to the left arm of the chair. The coupling is connected by a flexible tube m to
a self closing cock n beneath the glass makers' chair. This cock is opened to any
desired extent by pressing on a pedal o connected with the cock by jointed levers p
on a branch pipe q provided with a stop cock and attached to an air main
communicating with a reservoir of compressed air in which a constant pressure is
maintained by means of a suitable regulator. This method of blowing ensures
a more regular and rapid action than usual, it does not fatigue the workman
and his boy, and may even enable the services of the latter to be dispensed with.
In order to apply compressed air for cooling the glass and the moulds, it is
preferred to employ a jet nozzle provided with a self closing cock attached to a
flexible tube long enough to reach the glass or mould and communicating with a
reservoir of compressed air. The moulds are cooled in this manner without injury
and less suddenly although with greater rapidity so that they may be used over
again more quickly whereby a considerable saving is effected.
The coupling shown in figures 4. 5. 6. and 7 (which represent respectively a
longitudinal section, end view, and two cross sections on lines 1-2, 3-4) consists
of a conical indiarubber sleeve b held in position by steel springs c. The casing a
is attached to an iron tube d which turns freely in a stuffing box joint in a second
tube d'. The inner tube d has two shoulders ƒ fitting the tube d¹, the annular
space between the two shoulders being filled with greased tow g. The flexible
pipe is attached to the brass nose piece e.
Figures 8. 9. and 10 show respectively in elevation, plan, and vertical section an
improved construction of glass blowers' chair provided with the said blowing
apparatus. The carrier b for the rotary coupling a, is supported upon a wheel c
which travels upon a steel rail and is guided laterally by the grooved rollers i
running against parallel guide bars of the frame d which is itself hinged by a
rode to the left arın of the chair so that the whole apparatus may be turned down
when not in use. The frame is held in the working position by a strut k. f is
the self closing cock opened by pedal g, and h is the branch from the air main.
For manufacturing certain articles which require the blowing iron to be held in
a more or less vertical position, the article to be produced being at the upper end
of the blowing iron, the arrangement of chair represented in Figures 11 and 12 is
employed. In this case the coupling a instead of being supported on a carriage,
is pivoted upon a horizontal axis 6 carried by a support which itself moves about
a vertical axis c, a fork f being provided to support the end of the blowing iron
when not in use. The other parts of the apparatus are the same as those
previously described.
Figures 13, 14, and 15 represent respectively a face view, plan, and side view of
an arrangement of portable apparatus for blowing with a mould. In this case the
chair is replaced by a kind of stage having steps f, from which rises a pipe
bending downwards at top through which compressed air is conducted by means of
a flexible tube to the cock b. The pipe c slides within a socket pipe d and is fixed
=

page_text: in the desired position by a set screw g. e bulb upon which is, fitted the flexible
tubing communicating with the air main h. The mouth piece a which is fixed to
the self closing cock b is placed upon the blowing iron by the workman who
regulates the air supply by hand.
The apparatus to be employed for blowing clock shades, cylinder glass, and other
similar products, is arranged so as to give entire liberty of action to the glass
blower and not impede in any way his various evolutions. The apparatus consists
essentially in the arrangement of two pedals projecting above the platform upon
which the glass blower stands and acting upon a self closing cock. Figure 16
represents a face view of the arrangement, Figure 17 is a vertical section on
line 1. 2. 3. 4. Figure 18 is a plan showing the arrangement of the pedals. pp are
the two pedals which project above the glass blowers platform or stage u and
operate an automatic stop cock r situated at the upper part of the workshop above
one end of the platform, the pedals being connected with the stop cock by means
of a lever and adjustable connecting rod t. By pressing on one or other of the
two pedals p according to the position which the workman occupies on the stage
when performing the various operations of the blocking, elongating and piercing
the cylinder or other article, the cock is opened. The cock r is placed on a branch
tube of the compressed air main c, and to it is attached by a suitable union a
flexible tube a which passes over a pulley o and is provided at its free end with a
coupling sleeve b which fits on the end of the blowing-iron and is connected to the
tube a by a swivel tube 8 turning in a stuffing box joint so that the tube a cannot
become twisted. The tube a hangs over the pulley o its pendent end being
counterbalanced by a weight d so that when the pendent portion is pushed up the
tube hangs down slack on the opposite side of the pulley. The tube a is fixed
to the pulley at a point e and the pulley is mounted on steel centres and bearings in
a hanging bracket. Figures 19 and 20 represent a press for moulding glass in
which compressed air or other elastic or non elastic fluid is employed for applying
the desired pressure. The apparatus consists essentially of a cylinder a in which
works a piston c turned true or made in segments or packed so as to fit air tight to
the opposite sides of which piston compressed air or other fluid at a suitable
pressure is admitted at k by a distributing valvej similar to that of a steam
engine. The slide valve is operated by the workman with the aid of a lever m
pivoted at n to which the rod of valve j is connected.
one end to lever m and at the other end to a fixed arm p. To the end of lever m
o is a spring attached at
is jointed a lever g which is depressed by the workman pressing on pedal r.
releasing the pedal the spring o again raises the valve to admit compressed air below
On
the piston for discharging the mould. 8 guide of pedal r.
the cylinder are placed obliquely in order that the motion may be as slow as
The inlet ports l, l' of
desired. The piston rod d is formed of a hollow cast iron sleeve in which a
screw works up and down g hand nut for operating the screw f, the latter being
provided with a key way, which prevents it turning in sleeve d. h core secured
to the end of screw ƒ by a key i.
The mould may also be fixed to the piston rod and the core would in this case
be applied to a cross piece opposite to the mould, the height of the core being also
egulated by means of a screw or nut as before. Thus the moulding may be
ffected by making either the core or the mould movable and the piston be placed
ither above or below the mould. The sleeve or trunk of the piston may work
ither in a stuffing box e as shown or in guides upon vertical standards. The
istribution of the fluid pressure may be effected either by a cock slide or other
alve. The cylinder is lined at each end with a thick sheet of indiarubber b in
rder to deaden the shock at the ends of the piston stroke.
It is preferred to use compressed air for working the piston owing to the
bjections attending the use of steam or water on account of leakage and
ondensation, moreover the compressed air which exerts no injurious action upon
ther the articles or moulds can be used for cooling the one or the other.

page_text: The advantages of this press are as follows:-1. It will give any degree of
pressure desired. 2nd. It can be made to work quick or slow and the speed be
graduated at will. 3rd. It gives a regular pressure without shocks. 4th. It is
quicker in its action, does not fatigue the operator and can be worked by one man
whatever may be the pressure required and the size of the glass to be moulded.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 21, the mould t is fixed to the top end of the
piston rod and the core h which is above the cylinder is adjusted by means of a
screw working in a fixed nut x. The action is the same as in the press shown
in Figures 19 and 20, that is to say, the slide valve j is operated by the lever r and
anring o
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Patent Office on the 29th May
1884.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A M and W Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN BLOWING AND MOULDING GLASS BY
MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR & communication to me from abroad by La Société
Appert frères of Paris, France
This Invention relates to a system of apparatus, some of which are capable of
being adapted to the ordinary glass maker's chair, whereby compressed air may be
mechanically applied for blowing and moulding all kinds of glass articles in lieu of
the ordinary mode of blowing by the mouth as hitherto practised. The Invention
further relates to utilising the expansion of the escaping compressed air for cooling
the glass in course of manufacture as well as the metal or other moulds used for
blowing or pressing glass. This process has the advantage of facilitating the
manufacture and of preserving the moulds as well as of reducing the number
required.
Figures 1. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings represent by way of example
different views of the apparatus of this Invention mounted on an ordinary glass
maker's chair. Figure is an elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of the chair provided
with the blowing apparatus. Figure 3 represents on a larger scale a longitudinal
section of the coupling socket for receiving the end of the blowing iron. The same
letters of reference denote like parts in the three figures.
The apparatus consists of a coupling formed of a conical metal casing a containing
an elastic conical tube or sleeve b of indiarubber or guttapercha attached by its
larger end to a conical metal ring or mouthpiece c rivetted to the casing a. The .
sleeve b is shorter than the casing a and is held in a central position therein by
means of four springs d which support the sleeve in the direction of its length
while allowing of its free elasticity. The air pressing upon the outside of the
sleeve 6 compresses it around the blowing iron which is introduced therein and
makes a tight joint. The coupling is sufficiently tight to cause it to partake in
the rotation and to and fro movements of the blowing iron along the arms e of the
chair f. For this purpose the metal casing is attached by its screwed neck h to a
tube i supported upon a carrier having bearings k k in which the tube i turns on
an axis coinciding with that of the blowing iron. The carrier k has itself a
horizontal motion upon a vertical axis so that it may follow the to and fro
movements of the blowing iron along the arms of the chair, the whole being by a
bracket bolted to the left arm of the chair. The coupling is connected by a flexible
tube m to a self closing cock n beneath the glass maker's chair. This cock is
opened to any desired extent by pressing on a pedal o connected with the cock by
jointed levers p on a branch pipe q provided with a stop cock rand attached to an
air main communicating with a reservoir of compressed air in which a constant
pressure is maintained by means of a suitable regulator. This method of blowing
ensures a more regular and rapid action than usual, it does not fatigue the workman
and his boy, and even enables the services of the latter to be dispensed with. In,
order to apply compressed air for cooling the glass and the moulds, it is preferred
to employ a jet nozzle provided with a self closing cock attached to a flexible tube.
long enough to reach the glass or mould and communicating with a reservoir of
compressed air. The moulds are cooled in this manner without injury and less
suddenly although with greater rapidity so that they may be used over again. more
quickly and thereby effect a considerable saving.

page_text: The coupling shown in Figures 4. 5. 6. and 7 (which represent respectively a
longitudinal section, end view, and two cross sections on lines 1-2, 3-4 of
Figure 4) consists of a conical indiarubber sleeve b held in position by steel
springs c. The casing a is attached to an iron tube d which turns freely in a
stuffing box joint in a second tube d¹. The inner tube d has two shoulders ffitting
the tube d, the annular space between the two shoulders being filled with greased
tow g. The flexible pipe is attached to the brass nose piece e.
Figures 8. 9. and 10 show respectively in elevation, plan, and vertical section an
improved construction of glass blower's chair provided with the said blowing
apparatus. The carrier b for the rotary coupling a is supported upon a wheel c
which travels upon a steel rail and is guided laterally by the grooved rollers i
running upon parallel guide bars of the frame d which is itself hinged by a rod e
to the left arm of the chair so that the whole apparatus may be turned down when
not in use. The frame is held in the working position by a strut k. f is the self
closing cock opened by pedal g, and h is the branch from the air-main.
For manufacturing certain articles which require the blowing iron to be held in
a more or less vertical position, the article to be produced being at the upper end
of the blowing iron, the arrangement of chair represented in Figures 11 and 12 is
employed
In this case, the coupling a instead of being
supported on a carriage, is pivoted upon a horizontal axis 6 carried by a support
which itself moves about a vertical axis c, a fork f being provided to support the
end of the blowing iron when not in use. The other parts of the apparatus are the
same as those previously described.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 represent respectively a face view, plan and side view of
an arrangement of portable apparatus for blowing with a mould. In this case the
chair is replaced by a kind of stage having steps f, from which rises a goose neck
pipe c through which compressed air is conducted by means of a flexible tube to
the cock b. The pipe c slides within a socket pipe d and is fixed in the desired
position by a set screw g. e bulb upon which is fitted the flexible tubing
communicating with the air main h. The mouth piece a which is fixed to the
self closing cock b is placed upon the blowing iron by the workman who regulates
the air supply by hand.
The apparatus to be employed for blowing clock shades, cylinder glass, and other
similar products, is arranged so as to give entire liberty of action to the glass
blower and not impede in any way his various evolutions. The apparatus consists
essentially in the arrangement of two pedals projecting above the platform upon
which the glass blower stands and acting upon a self closing cock. Figure 16
represents a face view of the arrangement, Figure 17 is a vertical section on
line 1, 2, 3, 4. Figure 18 is a plan showing the arrangement of the pedals.
PP are the two pedals which project above the glass blower's platform or stage u
and operate an automatic stop cock situated at the upper part of. the workshop
above one end of the platform, the pedals being connected with the stop cock by
means of a lever and adjustable connecting rod t and one or other of the two
pedals being pressed on to open the cock according to the position which the
workman occupies on the stage when performing the various operations of blocking,
elongating and piercing the cylinder or other article. The cock is placed on a
branch tube of the compressed air main c and to it is attached by a suitable union
a flexible tube a which passes over a pulley o and is provided at its free end with
a coupling sleeve b which fits on the end of the blowing-iron and is connected to
the tube a by a swivel tube s turning in a stuffing box joint so that the tube a
cannot become twisted. The tube a hangs over the pulley o its pendent end being
counterbalanced by a weight d so that when the pendent portion is pushed up the
tube hangs down slack on the opposite side of the pulley. The tube a is fixed to
the pulley at a point e and the pulley is mounted on steel centres and bearings in a
hanging bracket.
Figures 19 and 20 represent a press for moulding glass in which compressed air
or other elastic or non elastic fluid is employed for applying the desired pressure.

page_text: The apparatus consists essentially of a cylinder a in which works a piston c turned
true or made in segments or packed so as to fit air tight to the opposite sides of which
piston compressed air or other fluid at a suitable pressure is admitted at k by a
distributing valve j similar to that of a steam engine. The slide valve is operated
by the workman with the aid of a lever m pivoted at n to which. the rod of
valve j is connected. o is a spring attached at one end to lever m and at the other
end to a fixed arm p. To the end of lever m is jointed a lever q which is depressed
by the workman pressing.on pedal r. On releasing the pedal the spring o again
raises the valve to admit compressed air below the piston for discharging the
mould. 8 guide of pedal r. The inlet ports of the cylinder are placed obliquely
in order that the motion may be as slow as desired. The piston rod d is formed of
a hollow cast iron sleeve in which a screw f works up and down. g is a hand nut
for operating the screw f, the latter being provided with a key way, which prevents
it turning in sleeve d. h core.secured to the end of screw f by a key & The
mould may also be fixed to the piston rod and the core would in this case be
applied to a cross piece opposite to the mould, the height of the core being also
regulated by means of a screw or nut as before. Thus the moulding may be
effected by making either the core or the mould movable and the piston be placed
either above or below the mould. The sleeve or trunk of the piston may work
either in a stuffing box e as shown or in guides upon vertical standards. The
distribution of the fluid pressure may be effected either by a cock, slide or other
valve. The cylinder is lined at each end with a thick.sheet of indiarubber b in
order to deaden the shock at the ends of the piston stroke.
It is preferred to use compressed air for working the piston owing to the
objections attending the use of steam or water on account of leakage and
condensation, moreover the compressed air which exerts no injurious action upon
either the articles or moulds can be used for cooling the one or the other.
The advantages of this press are as follows: 1 It will give any degree of
pressure desired. 2nd It can be made to work quick or slow and the speed be
graduated at will. 3rd It gives a regular pressure without shocks.. 4 It is
quicker in its action, does not fatigue the operator and can be worked by one man
whatever may be the pressure required and the size of the article to be moulded.
In the arrangement shown in figure 21, the mould t is fixed to the top end of
the piston rod and the core h which is above the cylinder is adjusted by means of
a screw u working in a fixed nut x. The action is the same as in the press shown
in figures 19 and 20, that is to say, the slide valve j is operated by the lever 7 and
spring o
Figure 22 represents another arrangement of the apparatus, the self closing cock
in this case being placed at the upper part of the workshop. Figures 23 and 24
represent side and front views of the same apparatus mounted upon a staging.
This apparatus may be used for blowing all kinds of articles in either an open or
closed mould, the article being moulded either by holding the blowing iron
stationary in the mould or by rotating it therein. The essential features of this
apparatus are 1 a self closing cock placed either at the upper part of the workshop
as in figure 22, or beneath the floor or the top step of a staging as in figures 23
and 24 if the apparatus is to be portable. 2nd The cock is operated by an oscillating
ever and a single or double pedal upon which the workman presses with his foot,
placed either on a level with the floor or on the top step of the stage, and an
djustable vertical rod t connecting with said cock r.
eneath the floor an iron tube would be used for conducting the compressed air to
When the cock is placed
he upper part of the workshop. 3rd A flexible indiarubber tube a for conducting
he compressed air from cock r downwards to any suitable point above the floor.
As the flexible tubes does not need to be lougthened or shortened as in a former
rrangement, the compensating pulley need not be used. The flexible pipe is
rovided with a rotary coupling of the same kind as that previously described, but
maller, said coupling being employed instead of the indiarubber sleeve and
tuffing box joint of the universal apparatus before described for producing glass

page_text: cylinders in the manufacture of window glass a more perfectly air tight and a
quicker connection with the blowing iron being thereby obtainable. The workman
after having placed the lump of glass attached to the end of the blowing iron
within the mould, attaches the coupling to its opposite end and blows compressed
air into its interior by simply pressing his foot upon the pedal; he then rotates the
blowing iron or simply moulds without turning according to the kind of article to
be produced.
Having described, the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:
1st In a system of apparatus for blowing glass by mechanically compressed air the
combination with the glass maker's chair and with the air supply pipe of the
coupling for connecting the blowing iron with the air pipe mounted to rotate in
bearings in a pivoted carrier, and of the self closing cock and its operating pedal,
substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1. 2. and 3 of the drawings.
2nd The particular construction of coupling formed of a conical india-rubber
sleeve b, springs c, tubes d, d' and air tight packings g, as described with reference
to figures 4 to 7 of the drawings.
3rd In a system of apparatus for glass blowing by compressed air, the com-
bination with a glass maker's chair of the coupling forming the subject of the
preceding claim, the carrier b supported upon a wheel c guided by rollers i in a
frame d hinged to the chair at e as described with reference to figures 8. 9. and 10
of the drawings.
4th The coupling a pivoted upon a horizontal axis b carried in a support moving
about a vertical axis c as described with reference to figures 11 and 12 of the
drawings.
5th In a system of apparatus for glass blowing by compressed air, the com-
bination and arrangement of portable apparatus consisting of a step-like stage f
goose neck pipe c, cock b and coupling a attached thereto as described and
represented in figures 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings.
6th In a system of apparatus for moulding glass by compressed air, the con-
struction of press composed of a cylinder and piston with distributing valve
operated in one direction by a pedal and in the other direction by a spring as
herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty ninth day of May A.D. 1884
5
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