IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TYRES FOR WHEELS, AND ALSO FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HOOPS AND RINGS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Brown, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF TYRES FOR WHEELS, AND ALSO FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF HOOPS AND RINGS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES.”
"
Sealed the 24th January 1878, and dated the 22nd November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd November 1872.
"
I, THOMAS BROWN, of Leeds, in the County of York, Machinist, do
5 hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TYRES FOR WHEELS, AND ALSO FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF HOOPS AND RINGS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES,” to be as follows :-
My Invention consists of the machinery herein-after described for
manufacturing by the process of rolling the said tyres and hoops and
O other like-articles of a ring-like figure.

page_text: I will described my Invention as applied to the manufacture of a tyre
for the wheel of a railway carriage. The said machinery consists
essentially of a mandril and a series of rolls constructed, arranged, and
working in the following manner :-The said mandril consists of a
cylinder working in bearings after the manner of a roll, and capable of
a sliding motion in its bearings. Upon the said cylindrical mandril a
flanged collar or roll works freely. The said mandril is situated
horizontally, and below it and parallel therewith is a flanged roll of
small diameter, the bearings of which are capable of being raised and
lowered at pleasure. The said lower roll has in section the well-known.
figure of a railway tyre. Two flanged guide rolls are arranged
with their axes parallel to and in the same horizontal plane as the
mandril first described. The said guide rolls are situated respectively on
opposite sides of the said mandril. The bearings of the guide rolls are
capable of travelling in horizontal guides, so as to permit the said guide
rolls to approach to or recede from the said mandril. The said guide rolls
are made to slide by means of screws acting on their bearings, the said
screws being driven by toothed wheels on their outer ends. The said
toothed wheels are driven by other-toothed wheels on the ends of a
horizontal shaft provided with a clutch. By giving a rotary motion to
the said horizontal shaft, and by throwing the said clutch into or out of
gear an advancing or receding motion may be given at pleasure to one
or both of the said guide rolls. The said guide rolls have in section the
figure of the tyre to be produced. The sliding motion of the mandril is
obtained by a rack and pinion, and the mandril and the lower roll are
geared together by toothed gearing.
In using my new or improved machinery the mandril is withdrawn
from over the lower roll; and the block, mould, or bloom properly heated
is introduced into the machine, the said mould resting upon the lower
roll. The mandril is advanced so as to enter the hole in the mould, and
the guide rolls are also advanced to the mould. The machine being set
in motion and the lower roll being raised by means of a lever, the
mould is compressed between it and the mandril, and the metal of the
said mould is forced by the said lower roll into the required shape. The
guide rolls by their pressure serve to give the required figure to the tyre
as well as to guide it, and any "mark" or slight projection left by the
action of the lower and top rolls is removed by the flanges of the said
guide rolls. After the mould has been enlarged sufficiently to permit

page_text: of the introduction therein of the sliding flanged collar or roll on the
mandril, the lower roll is depressed, and the said sliding collar or roll is
brought immediately over the said lower roll, which is again raised.
The operation of the machine is then continued until the tyre is com-
pleted. The guide rolls are made to retire as the diameter of the mould
increases. By the proper adjustment and making of the several
rotating parts of the machine the mould is rapidly and with great-
accuracy brought into the required form.
Although I have described the working of the series of rolls in com-
bination, yet the guide rolls may be used alternately with the top roll
during the first stage of the rolling process, and after a time the bottom
roll may be brought into operation and the guide rolls be used for taking
off any projection or burr which may arise from the action of the top and
bottom rolls.
In some cases I arrange the parts of the machine in the following
manner :-I dispense with the guide rolls, and effect the compression of
the tyre between two rolls situated one over the other. The upper roll
has the required sectional figure, and is provided with a broad conical
flange, between which and a fixed guide or support the mould is sup-
ported and travels in an inclined position during the operation of the
machine upon it. The lower roll is conical, and upon the said lower roll
the inner surface of the tyre is supported.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
BROWN, of Leeds, in the County of York, Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Brown, Her special license that I,
the said Thomas Brown, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Brown, my executors, adminis-

page_text: trators, 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
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TYRES FOR WHEELS, AND ALSO FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
HOOPS AND RINGS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst.
others) that I, the said Thomas Brown, 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 1
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 Thomas Brown, do hereby declare 1
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of the machinery herein-aftor described for
manufacturing by the process of rolling the said tyres and hoops and ?
other like articles of a ring-like figure.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the manufacture of a tyre
for the wheel of a railway carriage. The said machinery consists
essentially of a mandril and a series of rolls constructed, arranged, and
working in the following manner:-The said mandril consists of a
cylinder working in bearings after the manner of a roll, and capable of
a sliding motion in its bearings. Upon the said cylindrical mandril is a
flanged collar or roll. The said mandril is situated horizontally, and
below it and parallel therewith is a flanged roll of small diameter, the
bearings of which are capable of being raised and lowered at pleasure.
The said lower roll has in section the well-known figure of a railway
tyre. Two flanged guide rolls are arranged with their axes parallel to and
in the same horizontal plane as the mandril first described. The said
guide rolls are situated respectively on opposite sides of the said
mandril. The bearings of the guide rolls are capable of travelling in
horizontal guides, so as to permit the said guide rolls to approach to or
recede from the said mandril. The said guide rolls are made to slide by

page_text: means of screws acting on their bearings; the said screws being driven
by toothed wheels on their outer ends. The said toothed wheels aro
driven by other toothed wheels on the ends of a horizontal shaft provided
with a clutch. By giving a rotary motion to the said horizontal shaft,
and by throwing the said clutch into or out of gear an advancing or reced-
ing motion may be given at pleasure to one or both of the said guide rolls.
The said guide rolls have in section the figure of the tyre to be pro-.
duced. The sliding motion of the mandril is obtained by a rack and
pinion, and the mandril and the lower roll are geared together by
toothed gearing, or otherwise.
In using my new or improved machinery the mandril is withdrawn
from over the lower roll, and the block, mould; or bloom properly heated
is introduced into the machine, the said mould resting upon the lower
roll. The mandril is advanced so as to enter the hole in the mould, and
the guide rolls are also advanced to the mould. The machine being set
in motion and the lower roll being raised by means of a lever, the
mould is compressed between it and the mandril, and the metal of the
said mould is forced by the said lower roll into the required shape. The
guide rolls by their pressure serve to give the required figure to the tyre
as well as to guide it, and any "mark" or slight projection left by the
action of the lower and top rolls is removed by the flanges of the said
guide rolls. After the mould has been enlarged sufficiently to permit of
the introduction therein of the flanged collar or roll on the mandril the
lower roll is depressed, and the said collar or roll is brought immediately
over the said lower roll, which is again raised. The operation of the
machine is then continued until the tyre is completed. The guide rolls are
made to retire as the diameter of the mould increases. By the proper
adjustment and working of the several rotating parts of the machine
the mould is rapidly and with great accuracy brought into the required
form

page_text: In some cases I arrange the parts of the machine in the following
manner :-I dispense with the guide rolls, and effect the compression of
the tyre between two rolls situated one over the other. The upper roll
has the required sectional figure, and is provided with a broad conical
flange, between which and a fixed guide or support the mould is t
supported and travels in an inclined position during the operation of
the machine upon it. The lower roll is conical, and upon the said lower
roll the inner surface of the tyre is supported.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in 1
which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation; Figure 2 in end elevation; and
Figure 3 in plan a machine for manufacturing tyres for wheels, con-
structed and arranged according to my Invention. Figure 4 represents.
a portion of the machine as herein-after explained. The same letters of ]
reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
a is the cylindrical mandril, having upon it the flanged collar or roll b,
which constitutes as herein-after described the internal roll, against
which the tyre bears during the rolling operation. This internal roll b
may either be fixed on the mandril a or be capable of turning freely on a
the said mandril. In the accompanying Drawing it is represented as
being fixed on the mandril. The said mandril a is capable of sliding in
its bearings for the purpose of introducing the mould or bloom into the
machine, and to enable either the mandril a or the roll 6 to be used at
pleasure. This sliding motion of the mandril a is effected by a rack d;
on its end, with which a pinion e, turned by a winch gears, the rack bar
being connected to the mandril a so as to permit the rotation of the
said mandril by the collar fas represented. Below the mandril a and
parallel therewith is a small flanged roll c. The bearings c³ of the roll c
are capable of being raised or lowered in the frame g by means of a lever
or otherwise, for the purpose of raising the said roll towards or with-
drawing it from the mandril a or roll b. The roll c has in section the
figure of a railway tyre (see Figure 4), and its flanges, as well as the
flanges of the top roll b, are shallow, as represented. On opposite
sides of the mandril and roll a, b, are flanged guide rolls marked respec-
tively hand i, the said rolls having in section the figure of the tyre to
be made. The flanges of the said guide rolls have the depth represented

page_text: in the Drawing, the function of the said flanges being herein-after
explained.
The position of the guide rolls h, i, with respect to the mandril and
roll a, b, will be readily seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3; the
bearings h³, &, of the guide rolls h, i, travel in the horizontal guides k
in the framing of the machine so as to permit the said rolls h, i, to
approach to or recede from the mandril and roll a, b. This sliding
motion of the guide rolls h, i, is effected by the right and left-handed
screws l, m, working in corresponding screw boxes ³, m³, in the frame of
the machine, the said screws being connected with the bearings h³,-‹³, ·
of the guide rolls. On the ends of the screws l, m, are toothed
wheels, m³, which gear with other toothed wheels n, o, on the ends of
the horizontal shaft p as represented. This shaft p is furnished at q
with a clutch of the ordinary kind, whereby the two screws 1, m, may be
coupled with or uncoupled from one another at pleasure. When the
two screws l, m, are coupled together by the clutch q, by giving a rotary
motion in one or other direction to the toothed wheel n by a winch, the
two guide rolls h, i, may be made to advance towards or recede from
each other. By throwing the clutch q out of gear the two guide
rolls h,, may be moved independently of one another. The mandril
and roll a, b, and the lower roll o are geared together by the toothed
wheels 7, 8, (see Figures 1 and 8.)
The action of the machine is as follows:-By means of the rack and
pinion d, e, the mandril a is withdrawn so as to remove the top roll 6
from opposite the lower or facing roll c. This having been done, the
heated block, mould, or bloom to be made into a tyre, having a hole in its
centre, is introduced into the machine and made to rest upon the lower
roll o and between the guide rolls h, i, which have been advanced by
the action of the screws and gearing represented. By now advancing
the mandril a its end a³ is made to enter the hole in the mould t, as
illustrated in Figure 4. The mould being thus fitted and held in the
machine the mandril a and bottom roll o are set to work, and the
bottom or face roll e is lifted by the lever described and made to operate
upon the mould t, Figure 4. By the pressure of the roll o the diameter
of the mould & is increased, but as the guide rolls are during this stage
of the manufacture kept stationary the said mould is consolidated and
its quality thereby improved. The mould having in this way acquired
the desired density the guide rolls h, i, are made gradually to recede

page_text: from one another and the diameter of the mould is increased, the metal
of the mould t being forced by the lower roll c to take the sectional
figure of the said roll that is the figure of the section of an ordinary
tyre. The hole in the mould is at the same time made sufficiently large
to permit of the mould being placed upon the top or internal roll b.
The placing of the partially made tyre on the roll 6 is effected by
depressing the bearings of the lower roll c and advancing the mandril a
so as to introduce the top roll within the mould or bloom t. The bottom
roll c is again raised. The two rolls b, c, are now opposite one another
as represented in Figure 2, and by their operation and the gradual
receding of the guide rolls h, i, the mould t is compressed and rolled out
between the said rolls, and guided by the rolls h, i, and a tyre is formed
as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the said upper and lower rolls b, c,
giving to the tyre the required sectional figure.
By an examination of the Drawing it will be seen that the guide
rolls h, i, besides serving to preserve the circular. figure of the tyre, also.
act by means of their flanges laterally on the edge of the bloom or tyre,
being manufactured so as to cross the joint left by the shaping rolls b, c,
and any mark or projection left by the action of the said shaping rolls
is removed by the flanges of the said guide rolls.
Instead of using my improved machinery in the manner last
described, it may be used in the following manner:-I work all the
rolls under pressure separately and alternately during the first stage of
the rolling process; that is, after a heated mould has been introduced
into the machine and the top roll 6 passed through the hole in the
mould, I advance the guide roll h having deep flanges and operate upon
the mould by means of the said rolls b and h. I afterwards withdraw
the guide roll h and advance the guide roll i, having flanges of less
depth than the guide roll h. After the tyre has been operated upon by
the rolls b and i, the roll i is allowed to recede, and the bottom or face
roll c is brought into action and the tyre rolled between the two rolls b
and c; and as the rolling operation proceeds, the guide rolls h, i, are
geared together and brought into contact with the partially made tyre,
and made simultaneously to recede as the tyre is expanded or rolled out,
the said guide rolls removing any mark or projection which may be left
at the edge of the tyre by the top and bottom rolls b, c. Thus by the
proper adjustment and working of the several rotating parts of the

page_text: machine the mould is rapidly and with great accuracy brought into the
required form.
Instead of making the distance between the flanges of the top and
bottom rolls b, c, of the exact width of the tyre to be made, the said
flanges may have a bell-mouth shape given to them. In this case a
mould or bloom broader than the tyre to be made may be introduced
into the machine, the bell-mouth flanges of the rolls compressing the
mould or bloom laterally into a tyre of the required thickness.
Although I have represented the best arrangements with which I
am acquainted for driving the top and bottom rolls b, c, and for giving.
the sliding motion to the combined mandril and roll a, b, and guide
rolls h, i, yet I wish it to be understood that other equivalent arrange-
ments for effecting the same objects may be employed.
Figure 5 represents in side elevation, Figure 6 in end elevation, and
Figure 7 in plan another machine constructed according to my In-
vention for the manufacture of wheel tyres. In this machine the guide
rolls are dispensed with. The said machine consists essentially of three
rolls marked respectively a, b, and c; the roll a being a top roll by means
of which the tyre is shaped, and the rolls b, c, being bottom rolls, upon
which the inner surface of the tyre is supported. The roll 6 makes a
pair with the portion a³ of the top roll a, and the roll o makes a pair
with the portion a³ of the said top roll a. The top roll has a broad
conical flange a', and at the side of the roll o is a fixed guide or support d
having the same inclination as the conical flange a' of the top roll. The
shafts of the top roll a, and the bottom roll 6 are geared together and
driven by the toothed gearing represented. Should the speed com-
municated to the lower roll 6 by the clutch p be insufficient, the said
lower roll will be driven by the upper roll by friction, in which case the
bevils of the clutch will run together, and the lower roll will be
disengaged from the upper roll. The roll o may or may not be geared
with the upper roll a. The required pressure is put on the top roll a so
as to compress the tyre between it and the roll b or c by means of the
screws e, e, and gearing g, h, i, carried by the housings of the rolls. The
manner in which the bearings k, k, of the top roll a are acted upon by
the rollers, supported in the moveable carriage m, to put pressure on
the said top roll is best seen in Figure 6. The required pressure may be
put on the top roll by hydraulic power.

page_text: By the
In using the machine, the heated mould or bloom is placed upon
the
lower roll 6 and the upper roll a is brought down upon it.
operation of the two rolls a³, b, the bloom or mould is rolled out, and its
diameter increased, and the general sectional figure of the tyre given to
the bloom. After the tyre has been rolled to the required extent
between the rolls a³, b, the top roll is raised and the mould or partly
made tyre is removed to and placed upon the conical roll c, and sup-
ported in an inclined position against the fixed guide or support d. The
top roll being again brought down, and the required pressure put upon
it, the tyre is now rolled between the part a³ of the upper roll and the
conical lower roll c, the sides of the tyre being supported during the
rolling operation between the inclined flange at of the upper roll and the
fixed inclined guide d as represented in Figure 5. By the last described
operation the tyre is rolled to the required diameter and its sectional
figure perfected, the tyre travelling during the finishing operation in an
inclined position.
Instead of employing two independent bottom rolls in combination
with the top roll a single bottom roll may be used.
My improved machinery may be applied to the rolling of hoops and
other articles of a ring-like figure in addition to wheel tyres.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my In-
vention, but I claim as my Invention:-
Firstly. The improvements in machinery for the manufacture of tyres
for wheels, and also for the manufacture of hoops and rings for various
purposes herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,
of the accompanying Drawings :-That is to say, the combination of the
small face roll c, cylindrical mandril a, a³, upper roll b, and flanged
guide rolls h, i, for flanging or roughing and compressing or condensing
the tyres of wheels, hoops, and other articles of a ring-like figure, the
said mandril and rolls being constructed, combined, and used .sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
Secondly. The improvements in machinery for the manufacture of
tyres for wheels, and also for the manufacture of hoops and rings for
various purposes herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 4, 5,

page_text: and 6 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the combination of
the upper roll a, having modifying grooves and a broad inclined flange,
with the lower rolls b and c, or with a single lower roll in conjunction
with a fixed inclined guide or support for flanging or roughing the
tyres of wheels and other articles of a ring-like figure, the said rolls being
constructed, and the operation of rolling conducted substantially as
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Brown, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
JOSEPH HARDY,
Middlesbro'-on-Tees.
THOMAS BROWN. (L.S.)