IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, SHAPING, PUNCHING, AND COM- PRESSING METALS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Howden, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, SHAPING, PUNCHING, AND COM-
PRESSING METALS."
Sealed the 20th May 1859, and dated the 28th February 1859
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Howden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th February 1859.
I, JAMES HOWDEN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, SHAPING, PUNCHING, AND COM-
PRESSING METALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improved machinery for cutting, shaping, punch-
ing, and compressing metals in the process of manufacturing them into various
articles, and has for object efficiency in working, and economy both as regards
the cost of the machines themselves and also as regards that of the articles
produced by them.
In a modification of the improved machinery suitable for making bolts,
rivets, and similar articles, the dies are carried by two circular tables turning
about vertical spindles, and upon circular stools or beds. These die tables are
placed at each end of the machine, and there is situated between them a
T-shaped lever fast on a shaft, turning in bearings formed in the tops of
central upwardly projecting portions of two side frame pieces, constituting the
main parts of the framing, and between which the die table stools are bolted.

page_text: The T lever is made to vibrate by means of a crank shaft working within
the lower forked end of the middle or vertical leg of the lever, this crank shaft
receiving motion from the driving shaft.
The horizontal arms of the T lever are each connected to a vertical heading
ram, working in a guide, carried by a transverse frame piece, also serving to
bind the framing together, and the two rams are actuated alternately; the
respective die table being turned between each stroke of each ram to bring
a fresh blank round to be shaped..
The tables are turned by ratchet movements, actuated each from the vertical
leg of the T lever by a lever and links, and the T lever is also made to
actuate bell-crank levers, which at the proper periods push out the bolts or
rivets by means of vertical spindles passing through the bottoms of the dies.
A, couple of pairs of cutters are arranged at the side of the machine to cut the
rod for forming the bolts or rivets into proper lengths, these cutters being
actuated by an eccentric on the driving shaft, and being arranged to drop the
blanks into a receptacle, from which they are taken by an attendant to be
placed in the dies.
Instead of arranging the vertical leg of the T lever downwards from the
shaft on which this lever is fixed, that leg may be directed upwards, or in some
other convenient direction therefrom, and be worked by an overhead or other
shaft, and the shaft on which the T lever is fixed, may have two working
arins fixed on it on one or both sides, additional die tables and other details
being provided to correspond. According to another modification the same
general arrangement of parts may be used with a single die table, the T lever
being in such case formed with only one working arm.
. In another modification of machinery, also suitable for making bolts, rivets.
and similar articles, two or more die tables, turning on vertical spindles, aro
arranged round a vertical shaft, and the heading rams are worked by arms on
a "lever piece," carried by an oblique crank (known as a Z crank) on the
vertical shaft, the rotation of which shaft causes the depression of the heading
rams in succession. A strong frame for this kind of machine is formed by
carrying up standards between the die tables, and curving them inwards above
the oblique crank to receive an upper bearing for the vertical shaft. The
turning movements for shifting round the die tables can all be obtained from
a single eccentric on the vertical shaft, and two or more pairs of cutters may
also be actuated by a single scroll groove drum on the same shaft. Or the
cutting movement may be obtained from the driving shaft, which may bo
connected with the vertical shaft by bevil or other gearing. Instead of the
oblique crank and lever piece, the vertical shaft may have fixed
upon it a disc

page_text: formed with an inclined projection, which in turning depresses each heading
ram in succession.
It is intended to make arrangements in connection with the various modi-
fications of machinery, herein-before described, for facing up or boring the dies
without removing them from their tables by means of a simple portable tool.
The various modifications of machinery herein-before described may be
made suitable for punching, shearing, shaping, or compressing in various ways,
by substituting suitable tools or acting details for the heading rams and dies
used in making bolts or rivets.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Howden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th June 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HOWDEN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Howden, Her special licence that I, the said James
Howden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Howden, my exccutors, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, SHAPING, PUNCHING,
AND COMPRESSING METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said James Howden, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 James Howden, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to improved machinery for cutting, shaping,
punching, and compressing metals in the process of manufacturing them into
various articles, and has for object efficiency in working and economy, both as
regards the cost of the machines themselves, and also as regards that of the
articles produced by them.
In a modification of the improved machinery suitable for making bolts,
rivets, and similar articles, the dies are carried by two circular tables, turning
about vertical spindles, and upon circular stools or beds. These die tables are
placed at each end of the machine, and there is situated between them a
T-shaped lever fast on a shaft turning in bearings, formed in the tops of
central upwardly projecting portions of two side frame pieces, constituting the
main parts of the framing, and between which the die table stools are bolted.
The T-lever is made to vibrate by means of a crank shaft working within the
lower forked end of the middle or vertical leg of the lever, this crank shaft
receiving motion from the driving shaft: The horizontal arms of the T lever
are each connected to a vertical heading ram working in a guide, carried by a
transverse frame piece, also serving to bind the framing together; and the two
rams are actuated alternately; the respective die tables being turned between
each stroke of each ram to bring a fresh blank round to be shaped. The
tables are turned by ratchet movements, actuated each from the vertical leg of
the T lever by a lever and links; and the T lever is also made to actuate
bell-crank levers, which at the proper periods push out the bolts or rivets by
means of vertical spindles passing through the bottoms of the dies. A couple
of pairs of cutters are arranged at the side of the machine to cut the rod for
forming the bolts or rivets into proper lengths, these cutters being actuated by
an eccentric on the driving shaft, and being arranged to drop the blanks into
a receptacle from which they are taken by an attendant to be placed in the
dies. Instead of arranging the vertical leg of the T lever downwards from
the shaft on which this lever is fixed, that leg may be directed upwards, or in
some other convenient direction therefrom, and be worked by an overhead or
other shaft; and the shaft on which the T lever is fixed may have two
working arms fixed on it, on one or both sides, additional die tables and other
details being provided to correspond. According to another modification the
same general arrangement of parts may be used with a single die table, the
T lever being in such case formed with only one working arm.
In another modification of machinery also suitable for making bolts, rivets,

page_text: and similar articles, two or more die tables, turning on vertical spindles, are
arranged round a vertical shaft, and the heading rams are worked by arms on
"lever piece" carried by an oblique'crank (known as a "Z crank") on the
vertical shaft, the rotation of which shaft causes the depression of the heading
rams in succession. A strong frame for this kind of machine is formed by
carrying up standards between the die tables, and curving them inwards above
the oblique crank to receive an upper bearing for the vertical shaft. The
turning movements for shifting round the die tables can all be obtained from
a single eccentric or crank on the vertical shaft, and two or more pairs of
cutters may also be actuated by a single scroll-groove drum on the same shaft.
Or the cutting movements may be obtained from the driving shaft, which may
be connected with the vertical shaft by bevil or other gearing. Instead of the
oblique crank and lever piece, the vertical shaft may have fixed upon it a
disc formed with an inclined projection, which in turning depresses - each
heading ram in succession.
It is intended to make arrangements in connection with the various modifi-
cations of machinery herein-before described, for facing up or boring the dies
without removing them from their tables by means of a simple portable tool.
The various modifications of machinery herein-before described may be
made suitable for punching, shearing, shaping, or compressing in various ways,
by substituting suitable tools or acting details for the heading rams and dies
used in making bolts or rivets.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood and
carried into effect, I have delineated upon the accompanying Sheet of expla-
natory Drawings, examples of apparatus embodying modifications of my
improvements, and shall now proceed to describe the same, remarking that
the same reference letters mark the same or like parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a side elevation, partly in section, of a rivet-
making machine, in which a T-shaped lever is used; and Figure 2 is a plan
corresponding to Figure 1, and also partly in section; Figure 3 is an elevation,
partly in section, of a rivet-making machine, in which "a Z crank and lever
piece" is used; and Figure 4 is a plan corresponding to Figure 3, and also
partly in section; Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams explanatory of the mode of
applying a disc in a rivet-making machine; Figure 7 is an elevation of the tool
for facing up and boring the dies used in rivet-making and similar machines.
In the rivet-making machine represented in Figures 1 and 2, the dies A
are carried by two circular tables B, each of which is fixed on a vertical
spindle C, and rests upon a stool D formed with a circular A rail fitting a
groove formed in the under side of the table B the stools D are bolted

page_text: between the opposite ends of two massive side frame pieces E, the central
portions of which rise up to receive the bearings of a short horizontal shaft F
carrying the T lever T. This T lever is held down by eyed' bolts G strung
on the shaft F, and secured to two wooden beams H inserted beneath lugs
cast on the insides of the frame pieces E. The strain of the heading rams
comes upon these wooden beams H, and by using them a slight elasticity is
imparted. The lower end of the T lever is forked to receive the sliding
brasses of a crank pin I, and the crank shaft J, of which this pin forms part,
revolves in bearings in the frame pieces E. This crank shaft J, the rotation
of which causes the T lever to vibrate, is itself driven by a pinion and spur
wheel from the first motion shaft K, shown in the plan, Figure 2, and turning
in bearings at one end in one of the frame pieces E, and at the other end in a
pedestal L. In addition to the fast and loose driving pulleys M, and pinion
for driving the crank shaft J, the shaft K carries a fly wheel N and an eccentric
O, this last serving to work a pair of levers P, one at each side of the machine,
mounted on a stud in the frame piece E, and carrying at its free end a cutter,
which, in combination with a fixed cutter carried by a bracket Q, cuts off the
proper lengths of rod for forming rivets. The rods are by an attendant
introduced between the cutters up to a screw stop R, which determines the
length to be cut off. The horizontal arms of the T lever are each connected
by short side links to a vertical heading ram S working in guides formed in a
transverse frame piece U, also serving to bind the framing together, and the two
rams S are actuated alternately. Each die table B.is shifted. round between
each stroke of the respective heading ram, to bring a fresh blank under it by
means of a ratchet wheel V fixed upon its spindle C, and acted upon by a
link to a vertical lever
paul lever W. This paul lever W is connected by
X mounted on a stud in the frame piece E, and having its upper end con-
nected by a link to the T lever. The T lever is also on each side connected
by a link to a bell crank lever Y mounted on a stud in the frame piece E, the
other end of this lever Y being so situated as, at the proper periods, to push
out of the dies A the newly formed rivets, which is done. by means of vertical
spindles Z, one of which passes through the bottom of each die A, and rests
by a collar in the bottom flange of the table B. The spindles Z are each in
two pieces, the upper part- being capable of being changed to suit different
lengths of rivets; or washers may be inserted: beneath the collar of the lower
part for the same purpose. A contrivance (not shewn in the Drawing) may be
added to the machine to lock each die table exactly in the proper position
whenever the heading stroke is about to be made.. This contrivance consists
of a bolt which enters a notch or recess in the die table, and the point of the

page_text: bolt or the sides of the notches or recesses are bevelled, so that if the table is
not exactly in position, the point of the bolt will, on entering, force it round
as much as may be required.
rams
b
In the rivet-making machine represented in Figures 3 and 4, there are
four die tables B, the stools D of which are bolted between four massive
standards a; these standards are, by preference, in one casting, and rising up
vertically for a certain length have their upper ends curved inwards towards
a central line. In this central line is placed a vertical shaft b, having upper
collar bearings in the convergent part of the framing a, and being supported
at its lower end in bearings in a cross form bracket c bolted to the lower parts
of the standards a. The vertical shaft 6 has keyed on its upper end a bevil
wheel d, Figure 3, (not shown in Figure 4,) by means of which it is driven
from a horizontal shaft e having fast and loose pulleys towards one side, and a
fly wheel (not shown) towards the other side. The vertical shaft 6 has also
keyed on it, below its upper bearing, an oblique boss f, which constitutes the
oblique or Z crank, and on this boss f there is fitted, to turn loosely, a four-
armed lever piece g, each arm of which is linked to and actuates a heading
ram S; the shaft 6 may have the oblique crank formed on it, but it is pre-
ferred to apply a separate oblique boss, as described. The four heading
work in guides formed in brackets bolted between the standards a;
in connecting these rams to the arms of the lever piece g, it is necessary to
provide for a slight lateral motion of the ends of the arnis; and, whereas in
this modification of the apparatus such slight elasticity as is desirable cannot
conveniently be obtained by means of wooden beams, as in the machine
represented in Figures 1 and 2, I propose to place a species of sliding.box,
such as is shown at 3', between each ram S and the part of the lever piece g
acting on it, and to insert inside this box a piece of elastic material, such as
vulcanised caoutchouc, whereby the desired elasticity is obtained. The
caoutchouc entirely fills its receptacle, so that when compressed it cannot.
spread, as in ordinary applications of this material. This contrivance. is
obviously applicable in all modifications of rivet-making and similar machines.
The vertical shaft has keyed on it, near its lower end, a second oblique boss
or crank h with its lever piece i, the arms of this last being arranged to act on
the rods Z for pushing out the rivets. The ends of the arms of the lever
piece i act upon vertical slides moving in bracket guides, one of which slides:
is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8. The die tables Bare turned by means
of a crank j fixed on the lower end of the vertical shaft b; on the pin of this
crank there is a loose block, to which are jointed four double links k, each of
which links acts by a pin on the ratchet wheel V of one of the die tables B;

page_text: a blade spring m keeps each link in gear with its respective ratchet wheel.
Levers P and the corresponding stationary cutters are shown in the plan,
Figure 4, for cutting the rods into proper lengths for rivets. These levers are
worked by connecting rods n, from eccentrics or crank pins on the first motion
shaft e.
Instead of the oblique crank or boss f and lever piece 9 (Figure 3), the
vertical shaft may have fixed upon it a disc p, Figure 5, (also indicated by
red lines in Figure 6,) formed with a curved incline to depress the heading
rams S. The heading rams S are in this case furnished with antifriction
rollers g, upon which the disc p acts in putting down the rams. The rams are
lifted after depression by links hung from antifriction rollers ŕ lying on the top
of the disc p. The details shown or indicated in Figures 5 and 6 are such as
appertain to a machine having three rotating dic tables B. A scroll groove
drums, Figure 5, is shown as fixed on the vertical shaft 6 for actuating a
cutting lever P, with three or more of which the machine may be provided, if
required, all being actuated by the same wheel s. The vertical shaft b is also.
represented in Figure 5 as having fixed on it a disc t, for actuating the
pushing out lever Y (Figures 5 and 6), the movement of this lever being
produced by a curved.incline on the under side of the disc t.
The facing up and boring tool represented in Figure 7 consists of a central
pillar u, to be fixed by a screw bolt to the spindle C of the die table B when
the application of the tool is required. This central pillar is formed with two
arms, one for steadying the tool by means of a spindle w, which is screwed
down upon and into the die opposite to the one under treatment, and another
x, for holding the tool spindle y, the lower end of which is formed to receive
the cutter z, and with a central pin projecting down into the die, a boring tool
being substituted for this pin when the die requires boring. The tool spindle y
is turned by means of a ratchet wheel and lever 1, and is kept down by a bow
and screw 2; or the tool may be modified so as to be driven by power.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I have to state that
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein-before described or
delineated, and that I do not claim to have invented every separate detail
herein-before described and delineated, but that what I believe to be novel
and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent, is,—
First, the applying and using in cutting, shaping, punching, and compressing
metals, of machinery or apparatus arranged and combined substantially as
herein-before described.

page_text: Second, the combining of two or more die tables having vertical axes, with
a single lever or its equivalent for actuating the heading rams in rivet-making
machines, or the corresponding parts in other similar machines.
Third, the obtaining of the minor movements (such as the pushing out and
die table movements) of rivet-making and similar machines from the prin-
cipal lever.
Fourth, the constructing or arranging of rivet-making and similar machines,
with the principal shaft placed vertically, and acting by means of a "Z crank
and lever piece," or of a disc with an incline on its face, or of an equivalent
instrument, the die table or tables or corresponding parts being disposed round
the vertical shaft, or with axis or axes parallel thereto.
Fifth, the using in rivet-making and similar machines of " cranks and
lever pieces" for actuating the heading rams or pushing-out rods or corre-
sponding parts.
Sixth, the using, in rivet-making and similar machines, of discs with
inclines on their faces combined with rotating die tables.
Seventh, the using, in rivet-inaking and similar machines, of discs with
inclines on their faces for actuating the pushing-out movements.
Eighth, the applying and using, in rivet-making and similar machines, of a
contrivance, such as is herein-before described in connection with the detail
marked 3¹ in Figure 3 of the Drawings hereunto appended.
Ninth, the actuating two or more cutting levers or lever arms from one
eccentric crank or scroll groove drum in rivet-making and similar machines.
Tenth, the applying and using in connection with rivet-making and similar
machines of a special tool, such as is herein-before described for boring and
facing up the dies or corresponding parts.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Howden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.
JAMES HOWDEN. (L.S.)