CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN MIXING OR ALLOYING IRON WITH OTHER METALS FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING ITS STRENGTH, TENACITY, OR COHESION, WHICH ALLOYS, AMONG MANY OTHER USES, ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR MANUFACTURE OF LINKS FOR CHAINS AND RINGS, AND CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR EFFECTING SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1839

page_text: WRIGHTS SPECIF GATION, AND
ISCLAIME AND
MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION.
SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WRIGHT, of Park Place, near Glasgow, in the Kingdom of Scotland,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Eighteenth day of June, in the second year of Her
reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-
nine, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Wright, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said John Wright, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, and such others as I, the said John Wright, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England
and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all Her
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, an Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MIXING OR ALLOYING IRON WITH OTHER METALS FOR THE PURPOSE
OF INCREASING ITS STRENGTH, TENACITY, OR COHESION, WHICH ALLOYS, AMONG MANY
OTHER USES, ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR MANUFACTURE
OF LINKS FOR CHAINS AND RINGS, AND CERTAIN MACHINERY FOR EFFECTING SUCH
MANUFACTURE;" being a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad;
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
John Wright, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, parti-
cularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Wright, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say): :-
These Improvements in Mixing Iron with other Metals for the Purpose of
Increasing its Strength, which among many other Uses are particularly appli-
cable to the Construction or Manufacture of Links for Chains and Rings, and
in certain Machinery for effecting such Manufacture, consists,-
Firstly, in mixing or combining bundles or coils of rods, wires, or strips of
iron with copper or other pure metal (not easily fusible) in a molten state, in
order that such molten metal may enter into the interstices or spaces between
the rods, wires, or strips of iron so combined in bundles or coils, and by uniting
with the iron form together a solid compact mass of the two metals, which will
possess considerably greater strength or tenacity than either of the metals
would possess if employed alone in similar quantities or weight.
Secondly, such combined metals will, from their increased strength or
tenacity, be applicable to the formation of a great variety of articles, such, for
instance, as bars and rods for pistons, for bolts, and for shafts, for axles, and
the framings of various kinds of erections, as rafters, and for bridges, and
viaducts, and rails generally, and many other things which it is unnecessary
to enumerate, also for hollow cylinders and tubes, as the cylinders of steam
engines or barrels of guns; and certain kinds of vessels for boxes of wheels,
for pipes, and many other uses; likewise for the manufacture of the links of
chains and rings for various purposes.
Thirdly, in a peculiar construction of machinery by which wires may be
wound into successive hanks or rings, in which operation of winding the links
are connected one to another.
As respects the first head of this Invention, I combine either longitudinally
or in helical coils any desirable number of wires, rods, or strips of iron, of
suitable dimensions, in what would be called bundles or faggots, piles or coils;
and if for the formation of the hollow articles, by winding, placing, or piling
such wires, rods, or strips of iron within or upon a mould formed to the figure

page_text: of the intended article; and if a tube, then the surface of the mould must
be first covered with a plate of sheet iron, and then, by means of other wires,
as strings, bind round such bundles so as to confine the wires, rods, or strips
of iron securely in the positions in which they have been wound, placed, or
piled. The iron wires, rods, or strips being thus secured by the binding wires
or strings, the mould, if any, within or upon which the wires have been
wound, placed, or piled, must then be withdrawn, which may be readily done
if the mould is constructed so that its parts will take asunder. The bundles,
piles, or coils of iron having been so arranged according to the shape of the
article to be made, I melt a quantity of copper (say the red copper of com-
merce), and when such copper has been perfectly melted, skim its surface;
I then introduce into the molten copper such a quantity of pulverized glass
as will be sufficient to agglutinate the remainder of the scoria, and then care-
fully remove all the scoria which remains. A small quantity of borax is then
introduced as a flux, and after that has been done, immerse the articles
formed of the coiled, piled, or faggotted iron into the molten copper for a
space of time sufficient for the melted metal to insinuate itself into all the
interstices or spaces between the several pieces of iron. The necessary time
for immersion will depend upon the thickness or substance of the bundle, pile,
or hank of the iron bound together.) For a small substance half a minute
will be sufficient for immersion, for a larger bulk a minute or a minute and a
half, and this may be extended up to five or six minutes, which might be neces-
sary for articles of large bulk, the object to be obtained being, that when the
article is withdrawn from the molten metal it may have united with the iron, and
the whole be formed into a solid and compact mass of the two metals. Many
of the articles of small dimensions may be plunged into the melted metal and
quickly withdrawn, but some, such as lengths of chains, it may be found
desirable to pass slowly through the melted metal, observing the time neces-
sary for immersion is only such as will allow the melted metal to flow perfectly
through and attach itself to the iron in one compact mass. When the articles
so formed of the two combined metals have become cold they will be found
to possess the very great increased strength above stated, and may, if required,
be turned and polished on the surfaces, as will be necessary in the case of
axles, piston rods, and many other articles, also for tubes, as gun barrels, and
boxes for wheels, and many other things; but chains, bars, and other articles
need not be polished, but will be fit for use as soon as they have been drawn
from the melted metal, cooled, and the binding wires removed.
The third head of this Invention, consisting of the machinery for winding
wires into the forms of links or rings, is exhibited in the Drawing accompany-

page_text: ing this my Specification, in which Fig. 1 is a bird's-eye view of the machine;
Fig. 2 is a view looking down upon the under part of the machine; Fig. 3
is a front elevation; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the end of the machine,
which Figures represent the machine complete. The following Figures shew
parts of the machine detached.
In order that the construction and operation of the machine may be per-
fectly understood, I will, before going into the details, state the objects to be
effected: In this machine a length of iron wire is drawn from a reel below,
and being conducted upward is then passed through a guide on to a peculiarly
constructed pulley, to which the end of the wire is made fast. The pulley
is then made to revolve, and in so doing causes the wire to be tightly wound
round its periphery. The wire is by means of the guider laid evenly upon the
pulley, and when a sufficient quantity of wire has been so wound, it is con-
fined in its coil by binding wire passed round it in several places, to keep the
wire altogether in a close contact; the pulley is then removed from the
machine, and on its parts being separated the hank of wire comes off in the
form of a ring or link. This coiled ring or link of wire is then put through
the opening in the pulley (as will be further explained), and being confined
or linked to the pulley, the pulley is then put into the machine again, and
another hank of wire wound round the pulley, which, being completed as
before, the pulley is then removed, and its parts being separated; the two coils
or rings of wire will be found to be linked one to the other.) Fig. 5 repre-
sents the frame detached, shewn at a in Fig. 3. This frame, when fastened
to the wooden table, carries the hollow stud E on which the winding pulley B
is to revolve. This pulley is shewn detached in several positions at Fig. 10.
The said frame also carries the axle or shaft D, on which a toothed wheel C
is fixed, as shewn at Fig. 1, 3, and 4. It will be seen that the inner edge
of the pulley B has a rim of teeth, into which the teeth of the wheel C are
made to gear, hence it will be perceived, that when the winch and axle D
revolve, the wheel C will give rotary motion to the pulley B, and thereby
cause the wire drawn off the reel X and passed through the guide to be wound
round in the groove of the pulley, and thereby formed into the hank, ring, or
link before described. Fig. 11 shews the stud in several positions, on which
the winding pulley revolves. Fig. 12 represents another winding pulley in
different positions, this pulley having a circular form, whereas the former at
Fig. 10 was an oval pulley, both having the circle of teeth on their edge, by
which they are driven round by the rotary toothed wheel C. It will be seen
that both these pullies separate in the middle of the groove, and also that they
open upon a joint, the pivot of which is for the purpose of slipping the hank

page_text: of wire off the pulley after the wire has been wound into the form of the link
or ring. The opening upon a joint is for the purpose of admitting one side
of the link into the interior of the pulley, when a second hank of wire is to
be wound and linked on to the former. I have hitherto been considering the
mode of making round chains, as those used for cables, in which case
I should guide the wire as it winds upon the pulley by means of a hand
apparatus, shewn in different positions at Figs. 8 and 9, and in operation, as
G and H, Fig. 4.
a
I will, however, now describe the mode of making flat chains, such as are
employed for deep pits. In this case the groove of the pulley must be made
square, as at Fig. 13, and instead of guiding the wire by hand, I employ
sliding guide and rod, shewn detached at Fig. 7, and in operation at Fig. 3.
This rod J moves in eyes on the upper edge of a vertical board H; the guide
I is fixed upon it, through which the wire passes. At the end of the rod a small
antifriction roller is mounted, bearing against the regular edge of a circular
cam F, shewn in several positions at Fig. 6. Against this cam the end of the
guide rod is pressed by a worm spring. This cam is formed on the face of a
ratchet wheel K, Fig. 6, and shewn in operation turning upon a stud fixed in
the frame A in Fig. 3 and 4. On the shaft D there is a small detant L, which,
as the shaft revolves at every half rotation, moves the ratchet wheel one tooth,
and by that means brings the different elevations of the cam against the end
of the sliding rod, and thereby causes the guide to traverse the wire to and fro
from side to side of the groove in the winding pulley, and consequently causing
it to wind evenly in helical coils. The numbers on the face of the ratchet
wheel show the number of the rotations of the winding pulley, the index M
being stationary.
Figure 14 represents the jointed arm O, which keeps the stud and the
winding pulley in its place, as at Figs. 1 and 3. In the event of one of the
links of a chain breaking, I open the pulley, and put the two unconnected
links into the interior of the pulley, as at Fig. 15, and to admit of one link
lying sideways a notch or opening is made in the stud, as at Fig. 11, which
admits of the chain being placed in the position seen in Fig. 3, when the
pulley being made to revolve as before, a link or ring is wound round the
two separated links, and they are linked together in the same way that the
links were formerly made, one through the other. In order to form long
links for the construction of chain bridges and other purposes, I employ,
instead of the former winding pulley, the circular plate shewn at Figure 16, in
which I fix two small pulleys at such distances apart as the desired length of
the link; these are intended to form the eyes of the link. This plate I mount

page_text: upon the axle D in place of the wheel C, and drawing the wire off the reel X
as the plate revolves wind the wire into the looped form represented at
Figure 17, and having placed eyes at the ends, press the sides by bandages of
wire into the form shewn at Figure 18. The application of these formed
links, and the mode of connecting them, is shewn in several auxiliary Figures
19, 20, and 21, the latter of which has additional pieces of wire placed round
the eyes to give greater strength to those parts. The whole of the wires are
then connected together, as described above.
Fig. 22 represents an axle for a carriage, formed, as before described, by a
bundle of rods, and turned in a lathe to the proper figure. I have only to
add, that there are many pieces shewn under each Figure, and that in those
cases they represent the parts thereto belonging drawn in different positions,
merely for the purpose of more perfectly describing their forms.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wright, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.

page_text: the Matter of Letters Patent granted to John Wright, of Park
Place, near Glasgow, in the Kingdom of Scotland, Gentleman, for
an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MIXING OR ALLOYING
IRON WITH OTHER METALS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING ITS
STRENGTH, TENACITY, OR COHESION, WHICH ALLOYS, AMONG MANY OTHER
USES, ARE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR MANU-
FACTURE OF LINKS FOR CHAINS AND RINGS, AND CERTAIN MACHINERY
FOR EFFECTING SUCH MANUFACTURE," being a communication from a
Foreigner residing abroad, bearing date at Westminster, the
Eighteenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-
nine.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION entered by
the said John Wright with the Clerk of the Patents of England, pursuant
to an Act passed in the fifth and sixth years of Ilis late Majesty's reign,
intituled "An Act to amend the Law touching Letters Patent for
Inventions.
I, the said John Wright, do hereby declare, that since the grant of the said
Letters Patent, and upon consulting with my professional advisers, in drawing
up the Specification of my said Letters Patent I have discovered that the said
Invention does not in any way apply to the "alloying" iron with other
metals, or increasing its "tenacity or cohesion," and therefore the words "or
alloying," "tenacity or cohesion," and "alloys," have been improperly intro-
duced into the Title of my said Patent, and that the said words ought forthwith
to be withdrawn therefrom previous to the inrolment of my said Specification;
and I have therefore been advised by counsel learned in the law, and other
persons competent to advise me thereon, immediately to apply to Her
Majesty's Attorney General for leave to enter a Disclaimer or Memorandum
of Alteration of such part of the Title of my said Letters Patent; and for the
reason aforesaid I, the said John Wright, dohere by make the following Dis-
claimer and Memorandum of Alteration of part of the Title of my said Letters
Patent, and for this reason (viz), in order to make the same consistent with
what the Specification will describe the said Invention to be when such
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration as aforesaid shall have been
entered as aforesaid (that is to say):-I disclaim and omit the words "or

page_text: 66
alloying," tenacity or cohesion," and also the word "alloys," in the Title of
my said Letters Patent, in order that the said Title, when so altered, may read
as follows:-" Certain Improvements in Mixing Iron with other Metals for
the Purpose of Increasing its Strength, which, among many other Uses, are
particularly applicable to the Construction or Manufacture of Links for
Chains and Rings, and certain Machinery for Effecting such Manufacture."
In witness whereof, J, the said John Wright, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighteenth day of December, 2
in the third year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said John
Wright came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the 3
fifty-fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Eighteenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-nine.