An Improved Process and Apparatus for Applying and Attaching Tools and Machines to any Fixed Surface.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 31st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar.,
1898
An Improved Process and Apparatus for Applying and Attaching
Tools and Machines to any Fixed Surface.
I, LOUIS JOSEPH MOISSENET, of 42, Boulevard Exelmans, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, 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:―
The subject of my invention is a process for applying tools to the surface of a solid
body, no matter of what nature, and it consists in utilising adhesion caused by the
aid of a vacuum. To this end one or more suction devices of convenient size are
applied to the surface of a solid body, and are made to adhere thereto.
by a more or less complete vacuum produced in the interior of such
devices, when they will admit of any machine tool, such as a drilling machine, a
slotting machine, or the like, being secured to the body.
The improved process is applicable in connection with any tools or machines
indiscriminately, and may, according to circumstances, be carried out. in a great
variety of ways.
To specify one method of its performance, by way of illustration only, I have
represented in the accompanying drawing, and hereinafter describe, a simple
arrangement which may be used in securing a drilling machine to a horizontal
metal plate by the adhesion produced through a vacuum.
A cap a, stamped out of sheet-metal, and having the shape of a cylinder with
level flanges, is surrounded by a leather fitting or packing 6 which encircles the
cylindrical portion whereon it is tightened by a strip c of copper or brass, fitting
over the flat edge or flange and extending beyond the same for a uniform distance
all around its periphery. In the centre of the top wall of the cap there is riveted
an eye-bolt d.
In order to cause the machine to adhere to a surface such as that of the metal
plate xx, which is supposed to be horizontal, or nearly horizontal, a basin f, half
filled with water, is first placed upon the metal plate. Into this basin a piece of
red-hot iron g is plunged, which should be of sufficient size to bring about ebullition
and an energetic vaporisation. Over the basin is placed the cap a, provided with
its leather packing or washer b. The steam which is generated expels the air from
under the said cap. When no more steam is seen escaping from under the leather
washer, a heavy metal ring his placed upon such washer, after which the machine
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page_text: is well moistened, or watered. The ensuing cool temperature will cause the steam
filling the cap to condense, thereby producing within such cap almost a complete
vacuum. The atmospheric pressure will then fix the cap on to the metal plate
with an energy proportionate to the area of the cap. Besides, the leather b is pressed
down both upon the flat edge of the cap and upon the plate, so that the joint.
may be fully relied on for tightness and that any access of air is cut off
automatically.
When the suction device, consisting mainly of the cap and leather washer is
thus made integral as it were with the metal plate ax, the eye-bolt d may be used
as a fulcrum for exercising any desirable strain at right angles to the metal plate.
Thus, for example, through the medium of the screw-rod and hook, j, the bench
or frame k, whereon the tool-holder is to be placed, may be tightened on the metal
plate; the tool-holder consisting of say, of the drilling machine, as shown, to which
motion is imparted through a flexible shaft m. The movement of the flexible
part m will be transmitted to the tool by means of bevel pinions, or otherwise, in
such a manner that the tool constantly bears upon the surface to be worked by the
operation of a screw provided with a hand wheel and supported by the bench k.
It will be understood that the shapes and dimensions of the cap, the nature of the
materials employed in its manufacture, the arrangement of the leather washer
or packing to close the joint around the brim of the cap, the substitution of india-
rubber or any other suitable material for leather, and the method adopted in
obtaining a partial vacuum under the cap, are features which may vary without
in any way affecting the essential characteristics of my process. The vacuum, for
example, may be produced under the cap by placing it into communication either
with an air-pump or any other suitable machine, or with a capacious chamber
wherein a vacuum has been previously obtained. If such connection be effected
through a medium of flexible tubes, the suction device may obviously be caused
to adhere to surfaces placed in various positions other than horizontal, as to vertical
walls or partitions, ceilings and so on.
In the case in which the vacuum is produced beneath the suction device by the
generation of steam and subsequent cooling, the vacuum is sufficiently maintained
on the one hand, by the powerful atmospheric pressure which is exerted at the
contact with the surface xx of the broad edges of the said device, on the other hand,
by the hemetic joint formed by the leather applied upon the edges of the cap
and upon the sheet, by the atmospheric pressure and the heavy disc h. In the
case in which the vacuum is produced by an air pump or other equivalent machine,
the vacuum is still more perfectly maintained by the action of such machine.
I may combine the three parts of the apparatus, viz., the suction device, bench
and machine tool, so as to form one complete apparatus. By this novel combination
I obtain a series of special tools of a novel description forming a plant arranged for
operation by adhesion produced by a vacuum.
The machine tool to be employed may be of any construction or nature, and the
surface operated upon may be metal or any other resisting material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-.
1. The process hereinabove specified for applying tools and machine tools to the
surface of any solid body, mainly consisting in utilising adhesion produced by a
vacuum, by the employment of one or more suction devices of suitable dimensions,
placed upon such surface, within which a vacuum is produced and maintained, so
as to create upon the surface of the solid body points of attachment enabling
machine tools of any description, such as drilling or slotting machines, or the like,
to be fixed thereto.
2. For carrying out the process in accordance with the first claim, an suction
devices consisting of a rigid cap and a flange or packing ring of leather or india-
rubber, which cap is arranged to cover over a basin partly filled with water, placed

page_text: upon the stationary surface and wherein a red-hot iron is plunged in order to bring
the water to the boiling point, with the result that a vacuum is formed under the
cap, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
3. For the performance of the process in accordance with the first claim, one or
more suction devices placed upon the surface to be operated upon and within
which a vacuum is obtained, and a bench or frame which is firmly secured to the
surface or wall to be operated upon, by connecting it through screw-threaded and
hooked rods to the eye-bolt provided on each suction device, substantially as described
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
4. For the performance of the process in accordance with the first claim, one or
more suction devices placed upon the surface to be operated upon and within
which the vacuum is produced; a bench or frame which is firmly fixed to the sur-
face or wall to be operated upon, being supported by, or resting upon, the suction
devices, and a machine tool operated by a flexible shaft and bevel gearing, or other-
wise, so that the tool may constantly rest upon the surface it is to work, owing to
the operation of a screw hand-wheel having its point of support upon the bench or
frame, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this ist day of July 1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.