AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR ROLLING OR SHAPING METALS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Bowater, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE FOR
ROLLING OR SHAPING METALS."
Scaled the 26th April 1870, and dated the 27th October 1869:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Bowater at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents,, with his Petition,, on the
27th October 1869.
I, ALFRED BOWATER, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR ROLLING OR SHAPING METALS," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to provide a machine whereby axles
and such like articles of round section and varying diameters can be
speedily and economically rolled or formed lengthwise into the desired
shape. For this purpose I employ three or more rolls whose axes are
parallel to each other. These rolls are geared together so as to rotate
in the same direction, or two or more of them are left free to rotate,
but in all cases they are so disposed that there is a space between their
peripheries to receive the metallic blank from which the axle or other

page_text: article is to be formed. Their surfaces may have any desired pattern
thereon. The blank is placed between the said rolls with its axis
parallel to theirs. By rotating the rolls and gradually bringing them
closer together, the blank is also caused to rotate on its axis and assume
a negative outline of the rolls. To form well-defined shoulders, bearings
or other parts on axles and articles, I employ sliding collars or portions
of rolls; these move laterally with the blank at the time as they are
giving pressure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Bowater in the Great Seal Patcut Office
on the 27th April 1870..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, ALFRED
BOWATER, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer, send greeting.
1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Bowater, Her special license
that I, the said Alfred Bowater, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Bowater, my executors,
administrators, and 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 "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR ROLLING OR SHAPING METALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Bowater, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, 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 Alfred Bowater, do hereby declare.

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
illustrative Drawings, & to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
The object of my Invention is to provide a machine whereby axles
and such like articles of round section and varying diameters can be
speedily and economically rolled or formed lengthwise into the desired
shape. For this purpose I employ three or more rolls whose axes are
parallel to cach other. These rolls are geared together so as to rotate
in the same direction, or two or more of them are left free to rotate,
but in all cases they are so disposed that there is a space between their
peripheries to receive the metallic blank from which the axle or other
article is to be formed. Their surfaces may have any desired pattern
thereon. The blank is placed between the said rolls with its axis
parallel to theirs. By rotating the rolls and gradually bringing them
closer together, the blank is also caused to rotate on its axis and assume
a negative outline of the rolls. To form well-defined shoulders, bearings,
or other parts on axles and articles, I employ sliding collars or portions
of rolls, these move laterally with the blank at the time they are giving
pressure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 an end elevation; Fig. 3 a longi-
tudinal section; and Fig. 4 a transverse section at the line A, B, all of
a machine, provided with three shaping rolls combined and fitted in
accordance with my Invention. Like letters are marked on the same
parts in all the views.
a denotes the supporting framework; b, shaping rolls. These are
geared together by toothed wheels and pinions (not shewn), or their
equivalents, in such manner that they are caused to rotate in the same
direction, or one or two of them is or are left free to rotate by contact
with the blank. In practice I prefer to gear two of them, and to leave
the third free to rotate in its bearings. c, collars turning with the
rolls b, but free to slide laterally thereon over the feathers d; e, helical
springs to offer a slight resistance to the outwards movement of c, and to
move c inwards into proper position for action on a new blank; shews
an axle blank in the position it occupies when being subjected to
pressure. It will be obvious that at this time the axle blank is caused
to rotate by the rolls but in the contrary direction; g, bearings for the

page_text: of
top roll; these bearings are moveable in the frame a, for the
purpose
allowing the top roll to be brought into contact with or removed from
the blank. The said bearings, and with them the top roll, are moved
downwards or upwards by turning the screws (which pass through
female screws in the frame a) in one direction or the other. Motion may
be given to by the hand wheels j₁ or by the worm wheels k, worms,
and shaft m, suoh shaft being operated at the required speed for giving
pressure by hand or by connecting it with the gearing or mechanism
employed to rotate the shaping rolls.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that more than three shaping
rolls can be arranged under my Invention so as to act on one blank at
the same time, and that the form of the rolls can be varied so as to be.
suitable for producing an article of the desired outline.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and par-
ticularized the same in such manner that others will be enabled to
construct, use, and modify machines embodying my improvements, I
claim the combinations and arrangements of parts, substantially as herein
described and illustrated on the Sheet of Drawings operating in the
manner and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Bowater, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy.
In the presence of
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
ALFRED BOWATER. (L.S.)