Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Castor Bowls or other Circular, Solid Articles of Potters' Clay or like Plastic Substances.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification-Left, 1st July, 1889-Accepted, 3rd Aug.. 1889
TRUVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Castor Bowls
or other Circular, Solid Articles of Potters' Clay or like Plastic
Substances.
I, FREDERICK JOSEPH WYTHES, of the Eagle Foundry, Broad Street, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of the improvements herein described in machinery for
fettling, sizing and finishing castor bowls and other circular solid articles, such as
knobs and handles, of Potters' clay or other like plastic substance whilst in the green
state; the first part of the said invention has reference to machinery for operating on
the outside of the said articles and the second part of the said invention (which can
either be used with the said first part or separately) has reference to machinery for
countersinking and truing up the central axle or spindle holes in the said articles."
I will describe the invention as applied to the manufacture of castor bowls.
The first part of the said invention is carried out as follows:-
I provide a wheel or drum of wood, pottery ware, glass, metal or other suitable
substance mounted on an axle and arranged to revolve by preference in a vertical
plane. In the periphery of this drum a groove is turned corresponding in size and
form with the required castor bowls. The flanges at each side of the groove are by
preference turned to a sharp angle for the purpose hereinafter described. A stationary
strap, band or clip partly surrounds or is adjacent to this drum, oue or both ends of
the strap, band or clip being attached to some fixed part of the machine or arranged
to move to or from the wheel or drum. A castor bowl in the green state, having
previously been turned or otherwise formed from clay or other plastic substance by
machinery or apparatus not forming part of this invention, is fettled, sized and
finished (with in some cases the exception of countersinking the axle hole) by being
placed in the said groove of the revolving wheel or drum and there maintained by the
strap band or clip. As the castor bowl comes into contact with the wheel or drum it
commences to revolve and the sharp edges of the flanges of the wheel or drum
gradually pare off the superfluous clay from the sides of the bowl which is finished
to conform with the size of the groove in the drum. Or instead of being held in
about one position against the revolving wheel or drum as above described, the bowls
may be arranged to pass one at a time down a shoot into the groove of the wheel or
drum when on coming into contact with the drum they are by it caused to commence
to roll around the drum and to be gradually forced into the groove by the strap, the
sharp edges of the flanges paring off the superfluous clay from the sides of the bowls.
As the drum revolves the bowls roll round in the groove between the drum and the
strap until they arrive at a part where they are discharged from the groove by a fixed
inclined scraper fitting therein. In order to impart a polish to the castor bowl and
enable it to revolve freely in the groove I lubricate it with either petroleum, soap-
suds, oil, water or some other suitable lubricant.
The castor bowls then roll down an inclined trough to the said machinery for
countersinking and truing up the central axle or spindle holes which is arranged as
follows:-I provide a wheel-like holder mounted on an axle and arranged to revolve
either continuously or intermittently by preference in a vertical plane. This holder
as recesses in its periphery in each of which a castor bowl will lie with its axis
parallel with the said axle of the holder. To each recess is a pair of adjustable
countersinking tools which are pressed outwardly by coiled or other springs and as
he holder revolves the pairs of tools are successively pressed towards each other by

page_text: stationary inclines at the sides of the holder or by other ineans and when they have
passed the inclines they spring outwardly again. The green castor bowls pass down a
shoot or trough, preferably by rolling, to one side of the said holder and as the holder
revolves they severally fall into the recesses and as they are carried round with the
holder the countersinking tools advance towards each other and press and finish the
axle holes. When the countersinking tools spring outwardly again the castor bowls
fall out of the recess and roll away down a groove or shoot.
In combination with the groove or shoot along which. the bowls pass to the said
holder I sometimes provide a spring tongue which holds back the first bowl and lets
them escape to the holder ono at a time or other means may be employed for a like
purpose.
The said strap is preferably so arranged relatively to the wheel or drum that the bowls
enter the groove at the top and pass round about three-fourths of the circumference
before they are discharged; and the strap is led away at the underside of the drum so
as to allow waste clay to fall away.
The said machinery can be used for operating on knobs, handles or other like round
solid articles by making the groove in the wheel or drum to correspond with the
particular shape of article to be operated upon. If there is no hole or depression
required on the sides of the article then the holder and countersinking tools are
dispensed with; or when a hole or depression is required on one side only then only
one of each pair of countersinking tools is used.
The said strap is sometimes made of leather and sometimes of metal or other suitable
substance and when an article of a moulded form is being operated upon
the strap
requires to be made to conform with such moulded form.
In a modification of my invention instead of employing a revolving disc and strap
as above described I use two grooved plates one or both of which slide to and fro in
the direction of the grooves. The bowls or other articles are placed in the grooves
and the sliding motion of the plate or plates fettles and sizes them as required.
Instead of employing a single wheel or drum fór fettling sizing and finishing the
castor bowls as above described two or more of such wheels or drums may be employed
to revolve together the castor bowl revolving between them. Or as a further
modification the groove round the wheel or drum may take the form of a screw thread
so that when the wheel or drum is revolving and the castor bowls are fed into the
groove thereof at one side of the clip or strap they roll round and are delivered at the
other side fettled and sized.
Dated this 29th day of September 1888.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for the Manufacture of Castor Bowls
or other Circular Solid Articles of Potters' Clay or like Plastic
Substances.
I, FREDERICK JOSEPH WYTHES, of the Eagle Foundry, Broad Street, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention consists of the improvements herein described in machinery for
fettling, sizing and finishing castor bowls and other circular solid articles, such as
knobs and handles, of Potters clay or other like plastic substance whilst in the green
state; the first part of the said invention has reference to machinery for operating
on the outside of the said articles and the second part of the said invention (which can
either be used with the said first part or separately) has reference to machinery for
countersinking and truing up the central axle or spindle holes in the said articles.

page_text: I will describe the invention as applied to the
The first part of the said invention is carried out as follows:-
I provide a wheel or drum of wood, pottery ware, glass, metal or other suitable
substance mounted on an axle and arranged to revolve by preference in a vertical
plane. In the periphery of this drum a groove is turned corresponding in size and
form with the required castor bowls. The flanges at each side of the groove are by
preference turned to a sharp angle for the purpose hereinafter described. A
stationary strap band or clip partly surrounds or is adjacent to this druin, one or both
ends of the strap band or clip being attached to some fixed part of the machine or
arranged to move to or from the wheel or drum. A castor bowl in the green state,.
having previously been turned or otherwise formed from clay or other plastic sub-
stance by machinery or apparatus not forming part of this invention, is fettled, sized
and finished (with in some cases the exception of countersinking the axle hole) by
being placed in the said groove of the revolving wheel or drum and there maintained
by the strap band or clip. As the castor bowl comes into contact with the wheel
or drum it commences to revolve and the sharp edges of the flanges of the wheel or
drum gradually pare off the superfluous clay from the sides of the bowl which is
finished to conform with the size of the groove in the drum. Or instead of being
held in about one position against the revolving wheel or drum as above described,
the bowls may be arranged to pass one at a time down a shoot into the groove of the
wheel or drum when on coming into contact with the drum they are by it caused to
commence to roll around the drum and to be gradually forced into the groove by the
strap, the.sharp edges of the flanges paring off the superfluous clay from the sides of
the bowls. As the drum revolves the bowls roll round in the groove between the
drum and the strap until they arrive at a part where they are discharged from the
the castor bowl and enable it to revolve freely in the groove I lubricate it with any
groove by a fixed inclined scraper fitting therein. In order to impart a polish to
suitable lubricant.
The castor bowls then roll down an inclined trough to the said machinery for
countersinking and truing up the central axle or spindle holes which is arranged as
follows I provide a wheel-like holder mounted on an axle and arranged to revolve
either continuously or intermittently by preference in a vertical plane. This holder
has recesses in its periphery in each of which a castor bowl will lie with its axis
parallel with the said axle of the holder. To each recess is a pair of adjustable
countersinking tools which are pressed outwardly by coiled or other springs and as
the holder revolves the pairs of tools are successively pressed towards each other by
stationary inclines at the sides of the holder or by other means and when they have
passed the incline they spring outwardly again. The green castor bowls pass down a
shoot or trough, preferably b; rolling to one side of the said holder and as the holder
revolves they severally fall into the recesses and as they are carried round with the
holder the countersinking tools advance towards each other and press and finish the
axlo holes. When the countersinking tools spring outwardly again the castor bowl
falls out of the recess and rolls away down a groove or shoot.
In combination with the groove or shoot along which the bowls pass to the said
holder I sometimes provide a spring tongue which holds back the first bowl and lets
them escape to the holder one at a time or other means may be employed for a like
purpose.
The said strap is preferably so arranged relatively to the wheel or drum that the
bowls enter the groove at the top and pass round about three-fourths of the circum-
ference before they are discharged; and the strap is led away at the underside of the
drum so as to allow waste clay to fall away.
The said machinery can be used for operating on knobs, handles or other like round
solid articles by making the groove in the wheel or drum to correspond with the
particular shape of article to be operated upon. If there is no hole or depression
required on the sides of the article then the holder and countersinking tools are dis-
pensed with; or when a hole or depression is required on one side only then only one
of each pair of countersinking tools is used.
'

page_text: The said strap is sometimes made of leather and sometimes of metal or other suit-
able substance and when an article of a moulded form is being operated upon the
strap requires to be made to conform with such moulded form.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents in sectional side elevation a
machine constructed according to this invention for fettling sizing and countersinking
castor bowls; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of part of the countersinking apparatus
separately; Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in section of a pair of the machines
illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 mounted on a single frame so as to be more compact and
if required to operate on two sizes of castor bowls at the same time; Fig. 4 is a part
sectional plan of the same; Fig. 5 is a front elevation, Fig. 6 a sectional side
elevation and Fig. 7 a plan of a simpler form of my said invention for use in fettling
sizing and finishing the outside of castor bowls; Fig. 8 is a plan and Fig. 9 a.
sectional side elevation of another form of my invention for the same purpose.
'
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring firstly more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, in each machine a is the
wheel or drum mounted on the axle b which is caused to revolve in the bearings c c
in the direction shewn by the arrow in Fig. 1. d.is the groove which is turned in
the periphery of the wheel a and corresponds in size and form with the required castor
bowls and ee are the flanges at the side of the groove which are turned to a sharp
angle as shewn for the purpose of paring off the superfluous clay from the sides of
the castor bowls as above described. f is the strap or band partly surrounding the
wheel a and fixed at each side of the wheel a to the stationary pulleys g' g' which
are rather larger in diameter than the wheel a so as to support the strap fat a proper
distance therefrom and leave room for the castor bowls to roll round in the groove d
as hereinafter described. are two side plates fixed to a block ³ and provided
with a flat spring between the side plates and forming the shoot down which the
bowls roll into the groove d the block being fixed to the stationary pulleys g' g².
The ends of the strap fare fixed by side links i and crossbars to the block h³ and
continuations to the strap are carried down below the wheel a and attached to
springs secured to the frame of the machine. The object of these springs is to
impart elasticity to the strap fand allow it to accommodate itself to the bowls as they
roll round in the groove as hereinafter described. jis the scraper fixed to the block /³
and fitting in the grooved for the purpose of discharging the bowls from the groove
through the hole in the strap f.k is the shoot or trough leading down to the
countersinking apparatus of which is the wheel like holder mounted on the axle m
which receives rotary motion from the axle b by the band and pulleys as shewn; or
instead of being arranged to revolve continuously an intermittent rotary motion may
be imparted to it by a ratchet and ratchet wheel or by other means.
the periphery of the wheel like holder in each of which a castor bowl will lie are
The recesses in
marked. The countersinking tools are marked n and they are carried by the
brackets fitting in radial grooves in the holder (see Fig. 2) and secured thereto
by the bolts n so that the brackets can be moved either nearer to or farther from the
axle m to fix the countersinking tools n to correspond exactly with the centres of the
castor bowls as they lie in the recesses /'.
ends of the countersinking tools n and force them outwardly against the fixed cams o 4
Coiled springs n³ act upon the headed outer
which latter have gradual inclined surfaces so that as the holder revolves the pairs
of countersinking tools will be successively pressed together to countersink the bowls
and will spring apart again and allow the bowls to escape as hereinafter described.
p is the groove or slot down which the castor bowls roll from the countersinking
apparatus.
5
The machinery above described operates as follows:-The castor bowls
green state are fed by the, attendant between the side plates the bowls resting
9 in the
on the spring and the last one pressing against the strapf. A slight pressure on
the uppermost bowl forces the lower one off the spring and it is by the revolving
wheel a caused to roll round in the grooved between the wheel and the stationary 5
strap which has the effect of finishing the bowl to conform with the shape of the
said groove, the superfluous clay from the sides of the bowl meanwhile being pared

page_text: off by the sharp edges of the flanges e e. The lower part f' of the strap is made
narrow enough to pass into the groove d so that the superfluous clay can fall away
at the lower part of the wheel. The castor bowl continues to revolve until it meets
the scraper which gradually forces it out of the groove through the hole in the
strap. The bowl then rolls down the shoot k. A light spring tongue is fixed on
the bottom of the shoot and projects slightly into the grooved so that it will be
lifted by the castor bowl in passing and when the castor bowl has passed will spring
down and prevent the bowl falling into the groove again. The spring tongue s is
for the purpose of holding back the first bowl in the shoot so as to allow the bowls
to roll down one at a time to the wheel like holder which in revolving takes up a
castor bowl in each of its recesses (see Fig. 1). Immediately the castor bowl has
fairly entered the recess from the shoot k the pair of countersinking tools n in
connection with that recess are by the stationary cams o caused to gradually close
together so that their inner ends which are pointed to the form or shape of the
required form will countersink each end of the axle hole in the bowl. Just before
the howl reaches the discharge trough p breaks in the stationary cams o allow the
countersinking tools to spring apart and permit the finished bowl to roll away down
the shoot.
It will be evident that instead of combining the countersinking apparatus with the
sizing and fettling apparatus as above described either part of the machine can be
used separately from the other.
Instead of employing a single wheel or drum for fettling sizing and finishing the
castor bowls as above described two or more such wheels or drums may be employed
to revolve together the castor bowl revolving between them.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 where a is the wheel or drum provided with the
This is illustrated by
edged flanges e e and mounted upon the revolving axle b and t is a second wheel
groove d and sharp
mounted on an axle t¹ parallel with the axle b. Both axles receive rotary motion in
the same direction from the pulley u by the strap u¹ passing round the pulleys u² u³.
In using this machine the castor bowl is threaded upon an axle q' which latter is
held by the operator (see Fig. 7) and the castor bowl brought into contact with the
revolving wheel t which causes the bowl to rapidly revolve in the direction shewn
by the arrows in Fig. 6. The revolving bowl q is then gradually pressed against the
revolving wheel a the sharp flanges ee of which pare off the superfluous clay from
the sides of the bowl 7 and the groove d finishes the same to the proper shape. The
wheel t is by preference made of wood so as to have a better grip on the bowl q to
cause it to revolve and the wheel t is made larger than the wheel a so that the periphery
of the bowl will move at a quicker speed than the periphery of the wheel a so that
there is a rubbing action between the surfaces of the bowl and the wheel a which
imparts a polish to the former. After the outsides of the bowls have been finished
by this machine their axle holes are countersunk as above described or in the usual
manner.
As a further modification of my invention the grooved round the wheel or drum a
may take the form of a screw thread as shewn by Figs. 8 and 9 so that when the
wheel or drum a is revolving in the direction shewn by the arrows and the castor bowls
are fed down the clip or trough at the right hand side of the machine (see Fig. 8)
they will enter the groove d at one side and be caused to revolve around their axes
until they are delivered at the left hand side fettled and sized.
It will be evident that the machinery above described and illustrated can be used for
operating on knobs handles or other like round solid articles by making the groove d
in the wheel or drum to correspond with the particular shape of article to be operated
upon; and that when no hole or depression is required in the sides of the article then
the revolving holder and countersinking tools can be dispensed with, or when a hole
or depression is required on one side only then only one of each pair of countersinking
tools n is used.
The accompanying drawings illustrate what I have found to be the best way for
carrying my said invention into practice but it is to be understood that my invention.
s not limited to the precise details illustrated.

page_text: Instead of or in addition to the inner ends of the countersinking tools n, n, being
made pointed as described and represented, they may be made of an ornamental or
other form so as to impress a device or a name upon the side or sides of the castor
bowl or other article instead of or in addition to countersinking the same..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :―
1. In machinery for fettling and sizing castor bowls or other solid circular articles
of potter's clay or other like plastic substance, the employment of a revolving wheel
or drum having a groove or grooves in its periphery corresponding in form with the
finished castor bowl or other plastic article, in combination with a clip strap or band
so arranged that the castor bowls or other plastic articles will be relled round in the
said groove or grooves between the periphery of the wheel or drum and the clip strap
or band, substantially as herein before set forth.
2. In machinery for fettling and sizing castor bowls or other solid circular articles
of potter's clay or other like plastic substance, the employment of a revolving wheel
or drum having a groove or grooves in its periphery corresponding in form with the
finished castor bowl or other plastic article, in combination with a second roll or drum
revolving in the same direction and acting as a driver to cause the castor bowl or
other plastic article to revolve whilst the first said wheel or drum smooths and finishes
the surface of the castor bowl or other plastic article, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The wheel or drum a provided with the groove d, corresponding in form with
the required castor bowl or other, plastic article, and the sharp edged flanges e e, for
the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described.
·
4. In a machine for fottling and sizing castor bowls or other like circular solid
articles of potter's clay or other like plastic substance and in combination with the
wheel or drum a, the ejector or scraper j and the spring tongue for the purposes
and substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
5. The arrangement or combination of the revolving wheel or drum a, the stationary
side pulleys gg, and the strap f and parts connected therewith supported by the
said side pulleys, all for the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The arrangement or combination of the revolving wheel or drum a, the stationary
side pulleys gg², the strap f and parts connected therewith supported by the said
side pulleys, the upper shoot down which the castor bowls or other like articles are
fed on to the revolving wheel or drum, the ejector or scraper j, the spring tonguer,
and the delivery trough k, the whole forming a machine for fettling and sizing castor
bowls or other like plastic articles, arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The herein described improved apparatus for countersinking or otherwise
impressing one or both sides of castor bowls or other like plastic articles, consisting of
a continuously or intermittently revolving wheel-like holder provided with recesses or
cavities in its periphery for containing the said articles, in combination with tools carried
by the said holder, which, as the latter revolves, are automatically caused to move
towards said articles and to recede therefrom, for the purposes and substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
8. The arrangement or combination of the revolving wheel-like holder 1, the
adjustable countersinking or impressing tools n, n, and parts connected therewith
carried by said holder, and the stationary cams oo, the whole forming an apparatus
for countersinking or otherwise impressing one or both sides of castor bowls or other
like plastic articles, arranged to operate substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In machinery for fettling and sizing castor bowls or other like solid circular
articles of potter's clay or other like plastic substance, the combination with the

page_text: revolving wheel or drum a, of the roller trevolving in the same direction and of
larger diameter. than the wheel a, so as to make the surface of the castor bowl or
other like plastic article revolve at a higher rate of speed than the wheel or drum a,
for the purpose and substantially as hereiubefore described and illustrated in Figs. 5,
and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
6
10. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting a machine or
apparatus for fettling sizing and countersinking or otherwise impressing castor bowls
or other like circular solid plastic articles as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
11. In machinery for fettling and sizing castor bowls or other solid circular articles
of potter's clay or other like plastic substance, the employment of a revolving wheel
or drum having a screw thread or screw threads on its periphery, the groove or
grooves between the said thread or threads corresponding in form with the finished
castor bowls or other plastic articles, in combination with a clip or trough so arranged
that the castor bowls or other plastic articles will by the said drum be caused to
revolve around their axes in the groove or grooves and to travel sideways along the
clip or trough, for the purpose and substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in Figs. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of June 1889.