IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL PILLARS OR POSTS, AND IN ROLLING IRON FOR OTHER USES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Baines, of London Works, Soho, Smethwick,
in the County of Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL PILLARS OR POSTS, AND IN ROLLING
IRON FOR OTHER USES."
Sealed the 28th December 1866, and dated the 9th July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Baines at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition on the 9th
July 1866.
I, WILLIAM BAINES, of London Works, Soho, Smethwick, in the County of
Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL PILLARS OR POSTS, AND IN
ROLLING IRON FOR OTHER USES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
telegraph and signal pillars or posts, and in rolling iron for other uses. For
these purposes when a pillar or post is to consist of one piece of rolled iron, I
make it of a cross-like horizontal section, but tapering from end to end on one
side, whilst the projecting webs or limbs of the cross on the other side are
parallel. In making these pillars or posts I prefer to roll sheets or plates of
iron of a width suitable for two or more pillars or posts, such plates having
parallel ribs on either side, and then to cut or divide the sheets or plates in
inclined directions in order to produce the desired taper of the projecting ribs
[Price 8d.1

page_text: on each pillar or post. In some cases I form a post or pillar of two plates
rolled thin in the middle, and of progressively greater thickness or section from
the centre cutwards; these plates in their centres are rolled with projecting
ribs and hollow grooves in ruch manner that the ribs of one may enter the
groove of the other. The plates if rolled flat are bent in the centre where
they come together, so that when together they form a cross in their horizontal
section. In some cases I form tubular posts or pillars with external ribs if
rolling iron, for such purposes I make each post or pillar of two or more ver-
tical sections which come together by means of flanges or projections or webs
in such manner that the webs or projections of one section project or radiate
a greater distance from the centre of a post or pillar than the web or pro-
jecting flange of the other section, and Irivet or otherwise combine the sections
to each other. In rolling the flanges or projecting parts of the sections I roll
them when desired with projecting ribs and hollow grooves in such manner
that the rih of one part or section enters the groove of another section or part.
In some cases when the sections have been brought together I pass the com-
bined sections together through rolls, and in doing so the parts of the sections
are pressed together and altered in form so as to cause the ribs and grooves
of the flanges or projecting webs or parts to be the means of holding or
assisting to hold the parts or sectious together, and this mode of combining
sections formed of rolled iron is applicable when making other articles than
pillars and posts.
When rolling plates for various purposes in order to obtain butt joints with
a flush surface on one side where several plates are brought together, each
plate ut one edge is rolled with a recess suitable for receiving the plain edge
of another plate so as to overlap the recessed edges of the next plate, and I
form ribs and grooves in the parts which are to overlap in such manner that
the rib of one plate may enter the grooves of the other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Baines in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BAINES, of London Works, Soho, Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, sond
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
l'atent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Baines, Her special licence that I, the said William
Baines, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I,
the said William Baines, 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL PILLARS OR POSTS,
AND IN ROLLING IRON FOR OTHER USES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Baines, 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 William Baines, do hereby declare
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:-
'This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
telegraph and signal pillars or posts and in rolling iron for other uses. For
these purposes when a pillar or post is to consist of one piece of rolled iron,
I make it of a cross-like horizontal section, but tapering from end to end, or
nearly so, ou one side, whilst the projecting webs or ribs of the cross on the
other side are parallel. In making these pillars or posts I prefer to roll
sheets or plates of iron of a width suitable for two or more pillars or posts,
such plates having parallel ribs on either side, and then to cut or divide the
sheets or plates in inclined directions in order to produce the desired taper of
the projecting ribs on each pillar or post. In some cases I form a post or
pillar of two plates rolled thin in the middle, and of progressively greater
thickness or section from the centre outwards; these plates in their centres are
rolled with projecting ribs and hollow grooves in such manner that the rib of
one may enter the groove of the other. The plates if rolled flat are bent in
the centre where they come together so that when together they form a cross
in their horizontal section. In some cases I form tubular posts or pillars
with external ribs, if rolling iron; for such purposes I make each post or
pillar of two or more vertical sections which come together by means of flanges

page_text: or projections or webs in such manner that the webs or projections of one
section project or radiate a greater distance from the centre of a post or pillar
than the web or projecting flange of the other section, and I rivet or otherwise
combine the sections to each other. In rolling the flanges or projecting parts
of the sections I roll them when desired with projecting ribsand hollow grooves
in such manner that the rib of one part or section enters the groove of another
section or part. In some cases when the sections have been brought
together I pass the combined sections together through rolls, and in doing so
the parts of the sections are pressed together and altered in form so as to
cause the ribs and grooves of the flanges or projecting webs or parts to be the
means of holding or assisting to hold the parts or sections together, and this
mode of combining sections formed of rolled iron is applicable when making
otherarticles than pillars and posts. When rolling plates for various purposes
in order to obtain butt joints with a flush surface on one side, where several
plates are brought together, each plate at one edge is rolled with a recess
suitable for receiving the plain edge of another plate so as to overlap the
recessed edge of the next plate, and I form the ribs and grooves in the parts
which are to overlap in such manner that the rib of one plate may enter the
groove of the other.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 are sections of my improved bars intended for telegraph
supports in one piece of rolled iron of a cross-like section. Figure 3 is an
elevation of the same showing the widest part or side, which when fixed
stands at right angles to the line of the wires, and to prevent their being top
heavy they are cut or formed taper on both sides, reducing the weight
gradually where strength is not required, thus adding lateral strength and
stiffening them in their position. Figure 4 is a transverse elevation of the
same, showing the narrowest part or side when fixed, set, and parallel with
the line of the wires. Figure 5 is a plan of the same; Figure 6 is a section
of iron suitable for two pillars or posts to be made out of one bar. Figure 7
is a side elevation of the same, the inclined dotted lines a¹, a² a³, indicates the
way the plate is cut or divided into two tapered posts or pillars. Figure 8 is
a transverse section of the same. Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, are sections of
iron, suitable for the construction of my hollow tubular posts or pillars, when
two of these sections are brought together they constitute a post or pillar, and
the projections or ribs of one section enter and fit into corresponding recesses
or grooves in another section or part which is conformable and when brought
in contact they are secured by bolts or rivets; X shows the rib, and X' indicates

page_text: the corresponding groove. The letters S and S¹ in the following Figures 14,
15, 16, 17, 29, 24, 25, show that the webs or projections of one section
projects or radiates a greater distance from the centre of a post or pillar than
the ribs or flanges of the other sections; Figure 18 is a side elevation of the
same showing the widest side or part; Figure 19 is a transverse elevation
of the same.
Figure 20 is a plan of the same; Figure 21 is constituted of
two sections of Figure 11 which are brought together hot as shown by the
dotted lines, and passed through rolls and altered in form so as to hold or
assist in holding them together. Figure 23 is a section of iron suitable for
forming a post or pillar of three sections or parts in the same way as I have
described, and in like manner Figure 22 is a section of iron suitable for form-
ing a post or pillar in four parts or sections; Figure 25* is an elevation of
a tapered column or post; Figure 26 is a view of a pillar or strut tapering
from the middle towards both ends; Figure 27 is a plan of the same; Figure
28 is a post or pillar rolled thinner in the middle and of progressive greater
thickness from the centre outwards, these plates in the centre are rolled with
projecting ribs and hollow grooves as shown at C and P in such a manner
that the ribs of one enter the grooves of the other, and I would here remark
that although I have described the various parts as being composed only of
iron, steel, or steel iron may be employed with equal facility.
The next part of my Invention has reference to rolling plates for various pur-
poses with aviewto obtainbutt joints, thebars and platesbeing joggled into one
anothercontinuouslythroughout thewhole systembymeans of projections fitting
into grooves; Figures from 30 to42 are sections formed together(in curvesand
various ways) and are suitable for ship-building, architecture, and engineer-
ing purposes. The letters W are recesses formed in the bars or plates by
rolling, for the purpose of receiving the end of another bar B. The letters
C, C, indicate the ribs and grooves which I cut or form by machinery or they
are in some instances rolled. Figure 42 shows how I apply my improved
plates for the construction of locomotive and other boilers or cylinders, the
flush surface is in the interior, the ring J is screwed or shrunk on to the ring
or hoop S, which in some cases I roll without a weld; Figure 40 indicates
a series of plates applicable for targets or armour plates which require simply
putting together, and bolted; the ribs h, h, h, are bevilled off. Figure 41. is
an end view of the same showing by the dotted lines the part cut off. The
line g, g¹, is the taper for supporting the target g¹, and g² is the base. These
plates can be casily put together in any requisite length, and thrown over
rivers, forming accomodating bridges for armies to pass over. It is under-
stood that in all of the Figures where there is more than one plate shown I

page_text: form ribs or projections on one side of each, whilst the opposite side of the
same plate or part has corresponding grooves or recesses formed upon them,]
so that one form or section is sufficient for the construction of each separate
Figure though there might be several plates of iron or steel therein.
Having described the nature of my Invention, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shown and described,
as the same may be varied in many ways without departing from the peculiar
character of my Invention, and I hereby declare that I claim as my Invention
the improvements in pillars and posts as above described, also the method of
joining plates together so that they may mutuallysupport and strengthen each
other, as also above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Baines, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
JOHN BAINES.
ILLIAM BAINES. (L.B.)