IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS AND RIVETTING MACHINES, PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ARPLICABLE TO THE MANU- PICTURE OF BOLTS OR RIVETS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Naylor, of the City of Norwich, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS AND RIVETTING
MACHINES, PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING ARPLICABLE TO THE MANU-
PICTURE OF BOLTS OR RIVETS."
Sealed the 1st November 1856, and dated the 2nd May 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Naylor at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
May 1856.
I, WILLIAM NAYLOR, of the City of Norwich, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS AND
RIVETTING MACHINES, PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO THE
MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS OR RIVETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in power or steam hammers and
rivetting machines, and to the manufacture of bolts and rivets by such
machines. In most cases, heretofore, the piston rods at one end have termi-
nated with the piston, causing the piston to jar and injure or wear the cylinder
most at those parts where the piston would be when the hammer gives the
blow. When the piston rod or ram has extended from both ends of the piston,,
and, together with the piston, been used as a hammer within itself, the upper
end has been made to pass through a stuffing box into the atmosphere, and
has been used to work the valve.
Now my Invention consists of a piston rod or ram on each end of the
piston, the upper or back end working through a stay in a closed blank
pipe, but not through into the atmosphere. The cylinder covers at each
end will be the guides to the hammer, but on one, two, or more sides

page_text: of the piston rod or ram above or behind the piston are grooves working
along guides in the cylinder cover to prevent the piston or hammer from turn-
ing round when at work, or the piston rod or ran that works through the
upper or back end of the cylinder in the blank pipe may be of any other shape
or form than round. Steam passages are provided in the upper or back
cylinder cover communicating between the cylinder and the blank pipe on the
The valve gear is worked by a projection or roller connected with the
ram or hammer block.
cover.
When used as a rivetting machine, I employ one double acting power
hammer, working either direct or through a lever, to drive the pin to be rivetted
into its place, and afterwards to hold on the end of the pin by the steam or air
acting on the piston, while a second double-acting power hammer, working
direct or through a lever, completes the rivet. I also make use of an eccentric,
a screw, or some other mechanical power, to hold the machine to the plates to
be rivetted while the rivet is put into its place. These rivetting machines may
be used either in fixed positions or as portable machines, and may be hung in
ropes, chains, or slings to the object to be worked upon, such as ships, boilers,
tanks, or bridges. The motive power is to be conveyed from its source by
suitable metallic or flexible pipes to the machines. For some purposes one
double acting power hammer, (with the before-mentioned eccentric screw or
other mechanical power to hold the plates after the pin is put into the hole
to be rivetted against the post or stem (firmly attached to the frame of the
machine), will be found sufficient without the second power hammer, as
herein-before referred to.
The same improvements in the piston rods or rams, Lefore mentioned, apply
to these rivetting hammers, whether worked by steam, air, or gas, also whether
worked vertically, obliquely, or horizontally. For rivet making I use a circular
block revolving on a shaft vertically. The dies to receive the pin to be
formed into a bolt or rivet consist of perforations made in the circular
block from the outside towards the centre, and of such length and diameter
as the rivet or bolt.is required to be when finished. On one side of the circu-
lar block are holes corresponding in number with the die holes for the rivets;
a pin, actuated by a spring or weighted lever, is inserted into the side hole to
fold the block steady while the rivet is being made by the hammer. A commu-
nication is made between the bottom of each die with a steady pin hole at the
sides, and a jet of water may play into these holes through the steady pin, or
otherwise, to keep them cool, and also to contract the heated rivet that it may
fall out during the hammering of the others as the rotation of the block proceeds.
For working these hammers I use a cylindrical valve which is made in one

page_text: or more parts enclosed and carried between two flanges on the valve spindle,
and so connected to the spindle that when it is turned round the valve will
also turn, which means I use for admitting the steam above or behind the
piston, or not, for working single or double acting, as may be required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Naylor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NAYLOR, of the City of Norwich, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Naylor, Her special license that I, the said William Naylor, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Naylor, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER HAMMERS
AND RIVETTING MACHINES, PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO THE
MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS OR RIVETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Naylor, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Naylor, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to improvements in power or steam hammers and
in rivetting machines, and to the manufacture of bolts and rivets by my im-
proved power hammers. In most cases heretofore the piston rods of power

page_text: hammers have términated at one end with the piston, causing the piston to jar
inside of and injure or wear the cylinder most at those parts where the piston
would be when the hammer gives the blow. In cases where the piston rod
or ram has extended from both sides of the piston, and, together with the
piston, has been used as a hammer of itself, the upper end of the rod has
been made to pass through a stuffing box into the atmosphere, and has
been made to work the valve gear.
Now my present Invention consists in the use of a piston rod or ram fitted
on to each side or end of the piston, the upper or back end of such piston rod
working in a closed blank pipe, but not through into the atmosphere. The
cylinder covers at each end form the guides to the hammer, but on one, two,
or more sides of the piston rod or ram, above or behind the piston, are grooves
working along guides in the cylinder cover to prevent the piston or hammer
from turning round when at work; or the piston rod or ram that works
through the upper, or back end of the cylinder in the blank pipe may be of
any other shape or form than round, in which case. the grooving of the sides
may be dispensed with. Steam passages are provided in the upper or back
cylinder cover communicating between the upper or back end of the cylinder
and the blank pipe on the cover. The valve gear is worked by a projection or
roller connected with the ram or hammer block.
When used as a rivetting machine, I employ one double acting power
hammer working either direct or through a lever to drive the pin to be rivetted
into its place, and afterwards to hold on the end of the pin by the steam or
air acting on the piston, while a second double-acting power hammer working
direct or through a lever completes the rivetting. I also make use of an
eccentric or screw or some other mechanical power to hold the plates to be
rivetted against the post or stem during the process of rivetting. These
rivetting machines may be used either as fixed or portable machines, and may
be hung in ropes, chains, or slings, to the object to be worked upon, such as
ships, boilers, tanks, or bridges. The motive power is to be conveyed from
its source by suitable metallic or flexible pipes to the machines. For some
purposes, one double-acting power hammer (with the before-mentioned eccen
tric screw or other mechanical power to hold the plates up to the post
or stem during the process of rivetting, such post or stem being firmly
attached to the frame of the machine,) will be found sufficient without the
second power hammer, as herein-before referred to.
The same improvements in the piston rods or rams before mentioned
apply to these rivetting hammers, whether worked by steam or gas, also
whether worked vertically, obliquely, or horizontally. In making rivets, I

page_text: use a circular block revolving on a shaft vertically. The die to receive the
pin to be formed into a bolt or rivet consists of perforations made in the
circular block from the outside towards the centre, and of such length and
diameter as the rivet or bolt is required to be when finished. On one side of
the circular block are holes, corresponding in number with the die holes for
the rivets, and a pin, actuated by a spring or weighted lever, is inserted into
one of the side holes to hold the block steady while the rivet is being formed
by the hammer. A communication is made between the the bottom of each
die hole and the bottom of the corresponding side hole, and a jet of water may
play into the side holes to keep them cool, and also to contract the heated
rivet, that it may fall out during the hammering of the others, as the rotation
of the block proceeds. In working these hammers, instead of the arrange-
ment of cylindrical hollow valve, described by me in the Specification of my
Patent bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five, I use a cylindrical hollow valve (made of one piece or in two or
more parts), which is enclosed and carried between two flanges placed on the
valve spindle at the opposite ends of the valve, or the valve may consist of a
perforated tube, closed at both ends and attached at one end only to the valve
spindle, in place of such spindle passing through the valve.
so arranged with reference to the spindle, that when the
round the valve will also turn; the valve also works vertically in the valve
chest. By this arrangement I can admit the steam, air, or gas at the top or
behind the piston, or I can prevent it entering the upper or back part of the
cylinder, as may be required.
This valve being.
latter is turned
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings represents a front elevation of my
improved power hammer, as applied to the manufacture of bolts and rivets;
Figure 2 is a corresponding side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a sectional
detail of the blank pipe on the top of the cylinder; Figure 4 represents a
vertical longitudinal section and corresponding elevation of my improved
valve detached; Figure 5 is a vertical section of the cylinder and valve chest
detached; Figure 6 is a corresponding sectional plan of the same; and
Figure 7 is a detail plan, shewing the mode I adopt for turning the valve in
the valve chest.
A is the working cylinder, bolted to the single frame post B, which may have

page_text: a recess formed in it, as shewn at B' in Figure 2, for the purpose of receiving
large bodies whilst under the action of the hammer. In case the frame post
is formed without a recess, the back of the post may be formed as shewn by
the dotted line b, b, Figure 2. The frame post with its bed plate is cast in
one solid piece, the cylinder being bolted to the front thereof, so as to over-
hang its work. C is the hammer block, and D the anvil block; E is a
circular die, for making rivets or bolts. This die revolves upon its axis F in
the bearings G, resting upon the anvil block. e, e, are radiating perforations
made in the periphery of the circular die, to receive the iron to be made into
a rivet or bolt; f, f, are perforations in the side of the die, to receive a steady
pin for holding the die in position while the rivet or bolt is being formed.
A jet of water may pass through the steady pin into the bottom of the holes
e, e, to cool the die and contract the heated bolt. or rivet, so that it may drop
out of the die freely as the latter revolves. The die E and its bearings G,
may be removed from the anvil block D, and a die block or anvil, as shewn
by the dotted lines at 9, 9, substituted, thus adapting the hammer to the
forging or hammering of metals.
I, Figure 3, is the blank pipe, formed on the top cylinder cover, and made
square or any other shape from the bottom of the cover to the top of the
side ports i, i. The piston rod above or behind the piston is to be of a cor-
responding form to the lower part of the blank pipe, so as to work freely into
it; by this means the piston is prevented from turning in the cylinder. The
steam or air passages i, i, maintain an equilibrium of pressure in the cylinder A
and blank pipe I. J is the piston rod, the upper end of which works in the
blank pipe I, whilst the lower end is firmly secured to the hammer block C
by a cottar c; K is the stuffing box on the bottom cylinder cover, through
which the piston rod J passes.
The valve chest L (Figures 5 and 6) is cylindrical, and is cast upon the
back portion of the cylinder. The valve M (Figure 4) consists of a hollow
cylinder, carried between flanges or collars at its extremities, on the valve
spindle N. This hollow cylinder is shewn in Figure 4 as made in four parts,
so as allow for wear without loss of steam, that is to say, the hollow cylinder
is divided both longitudinally and transversely, as shown, so that it may be
expanded laterally as the valve or valve chest wears away. The middle portion is
perforated, and through the perforations the steam or air passes from the valvo
chest inside the valve, that is to say, into the space round the valve spindle,
thereby establishing an equilibrium of pressure in and around the valve. A
recess is formed entirely round the bottom of the valve chest, as shewn in
Figure 6. When the valve M is brought down, so that the lower ports n are

page_text: in communication with the recess round the bottom of the valve chest, it will
be in a position to admit the steam into the cylinder at.the bottom end, and will
allow the steam to escape over the top end of the valve from the top side of
the piston into the exhaust passage o, which leads to the chamber P, com-
municating with the exhaust pipe p. When the valve is raised until the
port n' is level with the port of the working cylinder at the top of the valve
chest, the steam will escape from the bottom side of the piston under the
bottom end of the valve into the exhaust passage O¹, and into the chamber
before referred to. When light blows are required, the upper port n¹ of the
valve is presented to the blank side of the valve chest (as shewn in Figure 5),
which prevents the steam from entering into the top of the cylinder. When
heavy blows are necessary, the valve is turned, by its spindle N working
through the square eye of a lever or quadrant Q (Figure 7), actuated by the
lever R and rack or toothed rod S (guided by the bracket s), till the port n'
is turned towards that side of the valve chest in which the cylinder port enters
at its upper end. The hammer will then work double acting, the motive force
being exerted in both up and down strokes. In small forge hammers, and in
bolt making, the sliding wedge T is adjusted so as to regulate the descending
traverse of the hammer, whilst the upper wedge U may or may not be made to
slide simultaneously with the wedge T as may be required. This adjustment
of the wedge T, the turning of the valve M to admit the steam to the top as
well as bottom of the piston, and the opening or closing of the steam stop
valve or cock V, are all simultaneously effected by the lever W, thus giving the
operator command by his own hand of any blow he may wish the hammer to
give. The lever W works on a fixed centre at w, and gives motion to the short-
arm R, which is jointed to the rack or toothed rod S, used for turning the
valve. A pin X in the slide Y (with which the lower wedge T is connected
by the link Z) projects into the lever W, and is actuated thereby, whilst
a rod 1, connecting the lever W with the arm 2 on the stop valve spindle,
imparts motion thereto. It will thus be obvious that all the the above ad-
justments or movements are effected simultaneously. The valve gear is
constructed on the principle for which Letters Patent were granted to me
on or about the Thirtieth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five, excepting that I employ only one lever for actuating it and
turning the valve, in place of using three levers, and this involves certain
modifications, which I have described above.
Figure 8, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a side elevation of my.
power hammer as applied to rivetting together plates of ships, boilers, or other
vessels. Figure 9 is a corresponding sectional plan taken along the line 1, 2.

page_text: Figure 10 is a plan of the supporting rail and pulley, and Figure 11 is a detail
of the lever and ratchet for traversing the machine along its supporting rail.
The cylinder, piston, and rod, with its blank pipe and valve gear, are similar
to those described in reference to Figures 1 and 2, and are therefore marked
with similar letters of reference.
The rivetting machine is represented as being slung to the side of an
iron ship in course of construction. B represents one of the plates of the
outside shell of the ship; D, an angle iron bar with one edge turned upwards,
temporarily secured by bolts or pins along the top rivet holes of the plate which
is to be rivetted at the bottom. Upon this rail the rivetting hammer is slung,
and is moved along as the work progresses by a ratchet lever E (Figure 11)
actuating a roller F, which has its outer edge flattened in parts of equal
length to the pitch of the rivets. This roller bas flanges inside and outside
of the bent up angle iron, and on one of these flanges is formed the ratchet
G, actuated by the pall g, with its lever E coming down to a convenient
position for the man working the hammer to be actuated. This roller
revolves upon an eye bolt H. K is a short bracket, seen in Figure 8, and
plan, Figure 9. This bracket is secured by cottered pins or bolts through the
rivet holes in advance of the work by the man who "holds on" inside the
ship inserting the pins, and the man outside with the hammer driving in
the cottars. A part of this bracket is bent up, and has an eye through which
the suspension rod L passes. This rod also passes through the eye of the
pin H. Above this eye pin is secured the collar end of the back stay M.
By this means the hammer can, with its suspension rod L, revolve laterally to
any required angle, as shewn by the dotted line in Figure 9. The bottom
end of the suspension rod L terminates at o by a double eye, which is jointed
to a clip at P. This clip passes under and supports the front end of the.
hammer frame. In the back stay M at Q is a sliding crosshead with two
side rods q, q, leading to the back end of the cylinder at R. On the end of
the back stay M at m is a collar. Between this collar and the crosshead is
placed a spring n. It will thus be obvious that the workman in charge of the
hammer has the means of moving the hammer laterally, the suspension bar L
revolving through the eye of the bracket K and the eye bolt II, to meet any
lateral angle at which he may wish to hit the rivet in the operation of
hammering, whilst, by the workman bearing with his hand upon the blank
pipe I, he will compress the spring, and angle his hammer so as to give the
blow and upward tendency; he can also, with very slight exertion on his part,
elevate the back end of the hammer, being therein assisted by the elasticity of
the spring n, so as to give the blow of the hammer a downward tendency, as

page_text: shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 8, thereby having perfect control of the
direction in which the blow should be given. When the last rivet is inserted
the man in charge of the hammer can move the hand lever W, which has its
axis upon the stop valve or cock spindle V, and is also connected by the rod
Y to the link Z of the sliding wedge T; he can thus shut off the supply of
steam; air, or gas from the cylinder and stop the hammer. By moving the
lever W towards the work, the motive force is admitted, and the wedge T is
advanced, so that he has perfect control over the amount of blow he may deem
it necessary for the hammer to give the rivet. This hammer need not be
immediately slung to the top plate of the ship, but to any portion where it
may be required. As the plates of ships are supported by ribs of divers forms
varying in depth, the Drawing shows angle brackets p, with double jaws
pointing upwards to receive flat bars or rails on their edge, as seen at r in
Figures 8 and 10, such brackets projecting out beyond the ribs of the ship.
Upon this bar the "holder-on" inside the ship slings his "dolly," or holding-
on hammer head S, by the rod s clipping over the bar r by a hook at t; or
a roller may be used in place of such hook. The dolly head S can be moved
laterally by the guiding rod u, and turn freely on the rod s, so as to strike
the rivet at any desired angle and drive it into its place. Should the rivet
holes not come exactly fair with each other, the man with the hammer can
drive in a drift by the hammer, the "holder-on" inside the ship can with his
"dolly" drive it back, or the "holder-on" can drive in a drift from the
inside, and the man with the hammer can drive it back with the hammer. It
will be seen that when one rivet is completed, the man with the hammer, by
the use of a hand hammer, can take the cottars out of the pins that secured
the bracket K. and the hammer to the plates, the "holder-on" withdrawing the
pins. The man with the hammer, with his ratchet and lever E, moves his
suspending roller the distance of the pitch of rivet, namely, to the next suc-
ceeding flat portion of the roller F. The holder-on again inserts his pins, the
cotters are driven in, and the hammer is ready for another operation. The
motive power is conveyed to the hammer by suitable flexible pipes. When
the ends of the plates have to be rivetted, the man with the hammer can from
its light weight easily lift it and insert collars or parts of collars between the
eye bolt H and the top of the back stay M, these collars being in depth equal
to the distance or pitch of rivets. This hammer can operate equally well
upon any part of a ship or boiler, whatever may be the angle at which the
blow may be required or whatever may be the angle of the row of rivets.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, represents a side elevation of my
compound portable rivetting hammer; Figure 2 is a corresponding front

page_text: elevation of the same; and Figures 3 and 4 represent respectively the blank
pipe and valve detached. The various parts corresponding with those herein-
before described are marked with corresponding letters of reference.
This machine is composed of one double-acting power hammer for rivet-
ting, similar to the one previously described on Sheet 1 of my Drawings.
In this case the cylinder A of the double-acting rivetting hammer is placed
upon one side or edge of a portable frame at B; and at right angles with the
rivetting hammer cylinder is placed another cylinder A', on another side or
edge of the frame. This latter cylinder has a piston with its rod G' connected
with a right-angled lever H¹ at C'. This lever works upon a pin or bolt at h¹.
firmly secured to the frame B, and terminates in the "dolly" head S. The
valve (Figure 4) to the cylinder A¹ is actuated by a band lever g. In the
position of the lever and valve shewn in the Drawing, the motive force is
applied on the upper side of the piston in the cylinder A³, and exerts its power
through the lever H₁ and "dolly "head S upon the pin to be rivetted by the
double-acting power hammer. When the rivet is completed the lever W is
moved so as to draw the wedge T from the work, and by the levers a and 2,
and rod 1, shuts off the motive power by closing the stop valve V. The hand
lever g is then moved by the man in charge of the machine so as to admit the
motive power to act on the under side of the piston in the cylinder A¹, thereby
removing the "dolly" head to give room for the admission of another rivet or
pin to be rivetted. As a precaution against accident, a projection h of the
lever g is acted on by a roller i, on the piston rod G³, and of itself shuts off the
motive power. When a fresh pin is inserted, the lever g is brought back to the
position shewn in the Drawing, the "dolly" head S strikes the pin home with
great force, and holds it there by the motive force acting on the piston in
the cylinder A'. The lever W is again advanced to the position shewn in
the Drawings, and according to the degree of that advancement, so will the
wedge T be advanced, and the stop-cock V opened. As this machine will
work in any position, it is obvious, that by being slung in ropes, chains,
slings, or any other contrivance, by the rings on the framing B, and as the
motive power can be supplied by a flexible pipe, it can with facility be moved
over the work it may be required to operate upon, such as rivetting together
the plates of boilers; tanks, bridges, or ships, which, from their size and weight,
could not be moved to a machine. In some cases, where there might not be
room for the "dolly" head to work, I apply an eccentric m, as shewn in the
Drawing, or any other mechanical power, to the two side rods n, which press
against the work and hold the plates firmly together against the fixed "dolly"
head. These rods are drawn back when a fresh rivet is to be introduced.

page_text: When a moveable "dolly "head is used, as shewn in the Drawing, the rods "
may be dispensed with, and fixed brackets, as shewn by dotted lines at o, may
be fitted to the machine, so that the plate will be pressed against them by the
"dolly" head. With one double-acting power hammer, and with the "dolly"
head S and its lever H' firmly secured to the frame, this hammer can be used
for ordinary rivetting purposes. The eccentric, or any other mechanical power,
or means, actuating through the rods or bars n", will hold the plates firmly
together and against the "dolly" head S, while the rivet is being rivetted.
The lever I might in such a case have a little elasticity given to it by a
powerful spring, as shewn at C.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general constructions and arrangements of power hammers, as
herein-before described.
Second, the general constructions and arrangements of power rivetting
machines, as herein-before described.
Third, the general construction and arrangement of mechanism for making
bolts and rivets, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the peculiar construction and arrangement of valve for regulating
the admission of steam, air, or gas into the working cylinders of power
hammers and power rivetting machines, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Naylor, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six.
WILLIAM NAYLOR. (L.S.)