IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRANKED SHAFTS OR AXLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hempsted, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln,
and Charles Herbert Holt, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRANKED SHAFTS OR AXLES."
Sealed the 5th January 1877, and dated the 3rd November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hempsted and Charles
Herbert Holt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November
1876.
ROBERT HEMPSTED, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, and CHARLES
HERBERT HOLT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRANKED
SHAFTS OR AXLES."
The Invention has for its object an improved arrangement of machinery or
apparatus employed in the manufacture of cranked shafts or axles, whereby the
fibre of the metal is less strained and distorted than by the methods of operation
heretofore adopted. For this purpose I employ a fixed die or block of the form
required for the webs of the crank, and I employ in connection therewith a moveable
block capable of being forced towards the fixed block and held firmly in any
required position with the bar of metal to form the cranked shaft or axle tightly
held between it and the fixed die or block. In connection with such fixed and
moveable blocks I employ three levers or cams, one arranged on each side of the
fixed block or die to form the webs of the crank, and another being arranged
opposite to the moveable block to act first on one side and then on the other to
bend the bar and thereby form the crank shaft.
The fixed block or die is formed with hollow faces, and the moveable block and .
levers or cans are also preferably formed with hollow faces, the better to act on the
bar and hold the same, and the fixed block or die is made in two pieces capable of
being firmly united together and readily separated to facilitate the placing of the
bar or rod in position and the removal of the finished crank from the machine.
The levers or cams are mounted on axes of motion, and may be operated by levers
or by steam or bydraulic power.
The action of the machinery or apparatus is as follows:-The bar of metal to be.

page_text: formed into a crank shaft or axle is placed on the bed of the machine against the
fixed block or die, the moveable block is then forced firmly against the rod or bar
to hold it firmly in position; the side levers or cams are then turned on their axes
either separately or together, and act to press the bar or rod against the sides of the
fixed block or die, and thereby form the webs of the crank; the bottom or end lever
or cam is then turned on its axis first to the one side and then to the other, to bend
those parts of the rod or bar which will form the shaft into a line with each
other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Hempsted and Charles Herbert Holt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 3rd May 1877.
ROBERT HEMPSTED, of Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, and CHARLES HERBERT
HOLT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRANKED SHAFTS
OR AXLES."
The Invention has for its object an improved arrangement of machinery or apparatus
employed in the manufacture of cranked shafts or axles, whereby the fibre of the metal
is less strained and distorted than by the methods of operation heretofore adopted.
For this purpose we employ a fixed die or block of the form required for the webs
of the crank, and we employ in connection therewith a moveable block capable of
being forced towards the fixed block and held firmly in any required position with
the bar of metal to form the cranked shaft or axle tightly held between it and the
fixed die or block. In connection with such fixed and moveable blocks we employ
three, or it may be four levers or cams, one arranged on each side of the fixed block
or die to form the webs of the crank, and another or a pair being arranged opposite
to the moveable block to act first on one side and then on the other to bend the
bar and thereby form the crank shaft.
The fixed block or die may be formed with hollow faces, and the moveable block
and levers or cams may also be formed with hollow faces, the better to act on the
bar and hold the same, and the fixed block or die is made in two pieces capable of
being firmly united together and readily separated to facilitate the placing of the
bar or rod in position and the removal of the finished crank from the machine, as
also to permit of various sized blocks being used to enable cranks of different sizes
to be formed in the same machine.
The levers or cams are mounted on axes of motion, and may be operated by levers
or by steam or hydraulic power.
And in order that our said Iuvention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 1, 1, of Figure 1;
and Figures 3 and 4 are opposite end elevations partly in section of machinery or
apparatus constructed in the preferred form of our Invention.
a is the bed plate of the machine; b is a fixed block or die of the form and
dimensions required for the inner surface of the webs of the crank, and we employ
in connection therewith a moveable block capable of being forced by the screw c¹
towards the fixed block band held firmly in any required position with the bar of
metal d to form the cranked shaft or axle tightly held between it and the fixed die
or block b. In connection with such fixed and moveable blocks b, c, we employ
two levers or cams e, one arranged on an axis of motion e¹ on each side of the fixed
block or die b to form the webs of the crank, and by preference a pair of levers or
cams being arranged on an axis of motion f¹ opposite to the moveable block to

page_text: act first on one side and then on the other to bend the bar and thereby complete
the formation or bending of the crank shaft.
The fixed block or die b is preferably formed in two parts, the block proper b
being fitted to and mounted on a fixed block b¹ to enable various sized blocks b to
be applied to the machine, according to the size of crank it is desired to bend in the
machine.
The levers or cams e, e, f, f, and fixed block b may if desired be formed with
hollow faces, the better to act on and hold the rod or bar d in position, but they
are shown in the Drawings as having flat faces.
According to the arrangement shown in the Drawings the levers or cams e, e, and
ff, are represented as being operated by hydraulic power being connected by links
e2, e, f, f, to piston rods e³, e, f, fs, working in hydraulic cylinders e, e', f*, f*,
but if desired the levers or cams e, e, f, f, may be operated by levers or by steam
power. The axis f¹ of the levers or cams is shown capable of adjustment in a
slot a¹ in the bed a, and the heads of the piston rods es, e³,f,f3, are shown provided
with projecting guides e³, e, f, f, working in slots a², a², a³, a³, in the bed a, to
which projecting guide plates e, e, f, fo, are fixed so as to work against the under
side of the bed a, and thereby prevent the rising of the piston rods from their proper
positions and consequently the bending thereof. The moveable block e is also fitted
in a similar manner to the heads of the piston rods to work in a slot in the bed a.
The piston rods are connected by chains g, g, passing over pullies h, h, to weights
(not shown) to facilitate the back action of the piston rods.
If desired the levers or cams f may be formed in one piece, as described in our
Provisional Specification.
The action of the machinery or apparatus is as follows:-The bar of metal to be
formed into a cranked shaft or axle is placed on the bed of the machine against the
fixed block or die b, the moveable block c is then forced firmly against the rod or
bar to hold it firmly in position; the side levers or cams e, e, are then turned on
their axes either separately or together, and act to press the bar or rod against the
sides of the fixed block or die b, and thereby form the webs of the crank. The
bottom or end lever or levers or cam or cams fis or are then turned on its or their
axis of motion, first to the one side and then to the other, to bend those parts of the
rod or bar which will form the shaft into a line with each other, or they may be
simultaneously operated.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the mode in which
we carry the same into effect, we would have it understood that what we claim is,
the peculiar arrangement and combination of machinery or apparatus employed in
the manufacture of cranked shafts or axles, substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Herbert Holt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
CHAS. H. HOLT. (L.S.)