IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH RIVETING AND DRILLING APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED MAKING BRIDGES GIRDERS BOLLERS TANKS. GAS- TAT DITIT DING SHIDS AND PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John Rowan, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH RIVETING AND DRILLING APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
MAKING BRIDGES GIRDERS BOLLERS TANKS. GAS-
TAT DITIT DING SHIDS AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John Rowan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1882.
FREDERICK JOHN ROWAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH RIVETING AND
DRILLING APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN BUILDING SHIPS, AND IN MAKING
BRIDGES, GIRDERS, BOILERS, TANKS, GASHOLDERS, AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES."
This Invention has for its object the application of improved apparatus for
diminishing manual labor and for obtaining increased efficiency and expedition in
riveting or drilling the plates and other parts used in building ships and in making
various other metallic structures.
Various arrangements of apparatus have been proposed for carrying out the
object of the present Invention, and many of such arrangements have depended on
the obtaining of a connection by means of bars, levers, rods, hinged or rigid jaws,
or the like, between the two parts of the apparatus which are on the opposite sides
of the plates or other parts which are being riveted. Such connections which are
not only difficult to contrive or arrange but also at the best cumbersome and
inconvenient, are dispensed with or rendered unnecessary in some modes of
carrying out the present Invention. The improved apparatus is comparatively
light and conveniently portable, and it is attached to the part of the ship or other
structure by means of powerful electro magnets excited by electric currents
obtained by means of dynamo-electric machines.
In one modification the parts carrying and working the riveting die are attached
to an iron bar which when in position is parallel to the plates that are being

page_text: operated on; and this iron connecting bar has fixed to its ends iron or steel pole
pieces which have wound upon them coils of insulated wire through which the
exciting electric current passes. The ends of the poles are placed against the plate
on each side of the rivet hole; and a similar iron connecting bar with pole pieces
having coils of wire on them and with the dolly or resisting die fixed to it is placed
with the ends of its pole pieces against the other side of the plate. The parts on
opposite sides of the plates are arranged so that the northward and southward
poles on one side are respectively opposite southward and northward poles on the
other side. A communicator or switch apparatus is provided for directing the
electric currents to the electro magnets or cutting them off as required when fixing
or moving the apparatus. In another modification there are for each side of the
plates two iron connecting bars each with its pair of pole pieces; and this arrange-
ment comprising four magnetic holding parts on each side, will, be more convenient
with some kinds of riveting apparatus.
For the riveting operation electro-magnetic force may be applied either directly
or through a lever or levers; and in one modification two lever hammers are
employed being centered on opposite sides and fitted with armatures to be acted
upon by two electro magnets the wires of which are connected to a commutator
arranged so that by moving a small handle from side to side the riveting hammers
will be made to act alternately.
The most important feature of the Invention is the special arrangements of
electro magnets for attaching the parts of the apparatus to the plates or other parts
which are being riveted; and any suitable known kind of apparatus may be used
for the actual riveting operation or for drilling the rivet holes. Or the drilling or
riveting mechanism may be driven by means of an electro-motor operating through
a rotating shaft, and in the case of the riveting operation by means of cams,
eccentrics, or cranks. The apparatus may be supported by chains or ropes tem-
porarily fixed to suitable points above the work or to travelling or swinging hoists
or craues.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick John Rowan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th August 1882.
FREDERICK JOHN ROWAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH RIVETING AND
DRILLING APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED IN BUILDING SHIPS, AND IN MAKING
BRIDGES, GIRDERS, BOILERS, TANKS, GASHOLDERS, AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES."
My said Invention has for its object the application of improved apparatus for
diminishing manual labor, and for obtaining increased efficiency and expedition in
riveting or drilling the iron or steel plates and other parts used in building ships,
and in making various other metallic structures.
Various arrangements of apparatus have been proposed for carrying out the object
of my present Invention and many of such arrangements have depended on the
obtaining of a connection by means of bars, levers, rods, hinged or rigid jaws, or
the like, between the two parts of the apparatus which are on the opposite sides of
the plates or other parts which are being riveted. Such connections which are not
only difficult to contrive or arrange, but also at the best cumbersome and inconvenient
are dispensed with or rendered unnecessary in some modes of carrying out my present
Invention. My improved apparatus is comparatively light and conveniently portable,
and it is attached to the part of the ship or other structure by powerful electro
magnets excited by electric currents obtained by means of dynamo-electric
machines.
In one modification the parts carrying and working the riveting die is made with
an electro magnet having two poles the ends of which are placed against the plate
on each side of the rivet hole; and another electro-magnet with the dolly or resisting
die attached to it is placed with the ends of its poles against the other side of the
plate. The parts on opposite sides of the plate are arranged so that the northward
and southward poles on one side are respectively opposite southward and northward
poles on the other sido. A commutator or switch apparatus is provided for directing
the electric currents to the electro magnets or cutting them off as required when
fixing or moving the apparatus. For many purposes the parts for each side of the
plates need not be heavier than what a man can lift and move from one part to
another; but when the apparatus is comparatively heavy, or in any case when
preferred, it may be supported by chains or ropes from a crane or overhead traveller
or in any other convenient way.
For the riveting operation electro-magnetic force may be applied either directly
or through a lever or levers but the most important feature of my Invention is the
special arrangement of electro magnets for attaching the parts of the apparatus to
the plates or other iron or steel parts which are being riveted; and any suitable
kind of apparatus may be used for the actual riveting operation or for drilling the
rivet holes. Or the drilling or riveting mechanism may be driven by means of an
electro-motor operating through a rotating shaft, and in the case of the riveting
operation by means of cams, eccentrics, or cranks.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing various modifications of my improved
apparatus.
Figures 1, and 2, on sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings are an elevation
and a plan of riveting apparatus suitable for light work and operating by direct
electro-magnetic force. Figures, 3, and 4, are an elevation and plan of apparatus
arranged for riveting by means of lever bammers. Figures, 5, and 6, are an

page_text: elevation and plan and figure 7, is a section as at right angles to figure, 6, of
apparatus arranged for riveting by means of a cam on a shaft driven by an electro-
motor. Figures 8, and 9, on sheet, 2, are views as at right angles to each other of
another modification having a rotating cam shaft. Figures 10 and 11 are views
as at right angles to each other of apparatus in which the riveting operation is
effected by means of an hydraulic cylinder. Figure, 12, represents a modification
for working with compressed air or steam; and figures 13 and 14, are views of a
modification of the apparatus as arranged for drilling. In these drawings the
same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they
are repeated.
In the modification shown in figures, 1, and 2, which is designed for riveting by
the direct action of electro-magnetic force but which is only suitable for very light
work, there are two complete electro-magnets on each side of the plates, 15, which
are being riveted. Each of the electro magnets for holding the riveting die, 16,
consists of an iron bar, 17, which when in position is parallel to the plates, 15, and
this iron bar, 17, has fixed to its ends soft iron or steel pole pieces, 18, which have
wound upon them coils, 19, of insulated wire through which the exciting electric
current passes. The bars, 17, of the two electro-magnets are rigidly connected by
blocks, 20, near their ends and also by a central block, 21, which carries the
riveting die, 16. The ends of the poles, 18, are placed against the plate, 15, on
each side of the rivet hole; and a similar pair of iron connecting bars, 27, with
pole pieces, 28, having wire coils, 29, on them, and with the dolly or resisting
die, 26, fixed to them, are placed with the ends of their pole pieces, 28, against the
other side of the plates, 15. The parts on opposite sides of the plates, 15, are
arranged so that the northward and southward poles on one side are respectively
opposite southward and northward poles on the other side. A commutator or
switch apparatus, 30, is provided upon each of the two parts of the apparatus that
are on opposite sides of the plates, 15, for turning the electric currents on or off as
required; and in using this modification of the apparatus, the part carrying the
dolly, 26, having been first put in position, and made to adhere by turning on the
electric current to its magnets, and the rivet having been put into its hole; the other
part of the apparatus with the riveting dio, 16, is made to approach the plates, 15,
and its electric currents having been turned on the magnetic attraction acts on it
as soon as it is near enough and drawing it to the plates at the same time closes
the rivet.
In the modification shown in figures 3 and 4, the closing of the rivet is effected
by means of a pair of lever hammers, 31, actuated by means of powerful electro-
magnets, 32, the exciting wires of which are connected to a separate commutator,
33, the workman, moving the hand lever of this commutator from side to side so
as to actuate the lever hammers, 31, alternately. These lover hammers are moved
back after making their strokes, by blade springs, 34, connected to them by links, 35.
In this example the principal electro-magnets, 17, 18, 19, and 27, 28, 29, are used
for attaching the two parts of the apparatus to opposite sides of the plates, 15;
and the mechanism for closing the rivet may be whatever is found most suitable
and efficacious in practice.
In the modification shown in figures, 5, 6, and 7, the riveting die, 16, is on a
bar, 36, guided in a frame piece, 37, and having its outer end formed with slots
at right angles to each other. Through the slot seen in figure, 6, there projects a
cam shaft, 38, having on it a cam, 39, which works through the other slot, seen in
figure, 7. The cam shaft, 38, is driven by means of a spurwheel and pinion, 40,
from the shaft, 41, of an electro motor 42, the action of which is controlled by a
separate commutator, 33. The cam, 39, moves the bar, 36, away from the plates, 15,
and the strokes are produced by levers, 43, extending into the slot of the bar and
acted on by powerful springs.
The modification shown in figures 8, and 9, is like that shown in figures, 5, 6,
and 7, excepting that the electro-motor, 42, for driving the cam shaft, 38, is placed
at the outer part of the apparatus, its frame having fixed to it the electro-imagnet

page_text: bars, 18, by means of which the apparatus is attached to the plates, 15, the tops of
the bars, 18, having pole pieces fixed on them and made with concave faces to act
on the rotating armature of the motor.
In the modification shown in figures, 10 and 11, the riveting die, 16, is held and
moved by the ram, 44, of an hydraulic cylinder, 45, which last is forined in the
same piece with or fixed to the part, 17, serving as the connecting bars to which
the electro-magnet bars or pole pieces, 18, are fixed.
In the modification shown in figure, 12, the riveting die, 16, is carried and
moved by the piston rod, 46, of a cylinder, 47, which may be worked by
compressed air or steam. In this modification there is also shown the application
of steadying arms, 48, 49, which may be used with advantage in all cases in which
the riveting or holding up apparatus is fitted to one side of the electro-magnets
which attach the apparatus to the plates, 15.
Figures 13, and 14, represent parts such as are shown in figures, 5, 6, and 7,
and herein before described, as modified for working a drilling spindle, 50.
When the riveting apparatus is constructed for work in which some of the
rivets have to be closed or hammered in inclined directions the ends of the pole
pieces, 18, 28, may be bevilled as shown in figure, 9, to allow of the apparatus
being set at the required inclinations.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The combining of riveting or drilling mechanism with electro-magnets
arranged for attaching the apparatus to iron or steel structures in the course of
building substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
2. The combining of riveting or drilling mechanism with electro-motors for
actuating the same and therewith formning portable apparatus substantially as
hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I the said Frederick John Rowan have hereunto set my
hand and seal this sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
FRED. JNO. ROWAN. (L.S.)