IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING BARS OR LINKS OF WROUGHT IRON OR OTHER METAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUSPENSION OR GIRDER BRIDGES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert Howard-Keeling, of the "King and
Queen" Iron Works, Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING BARS OR LINKS OF
WROUGHT IRON OR OTHER METAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUSPENSION
OR GIRDER BRIDGES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 30th November 1869, and dated the 5th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert Howard-
Keeling at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 5th October 1869.
I, HERBERT HOWARD-KEELING, of the "King and Queen" Iron Works,
Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING BARS OR LINKS OF
WROUGHT IRON OR OTHER METAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUSPENSION OR
GIRDER BRIDGES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My improvements refer to the manufacture of bars or links where one
or both ends or other portions of the same are required to be thicker
than the remaining portions.

page_text: In order to carry my Invention into effect I take a "bloom," "pile,"
or "faggot," and roll it out into a "slab" of a determined length; this
slab I pass broadside 'between rolls, having collars upon them for the
purpose of producing depressions in the slab after the manner known
as "Howard's Patent." I may use for this purpose of producing
depressions hammers, hydraulic, or other suitable means. Having thus
produced a thinner portion or portions of the bar at the parts required I
pass it through plain rolls for the purpose of lengthening the inter-
mediate part of the-bar. I do this by passing the bar to and fro through
the rolls until the desired thickness and length of the intermediate part
is attained, these rolls being reversed when the thinner portion or
portions just mentioned have been reached, as upon arriving at such
thinner portion the rolls are in consequence released from pressure. By the
above process the required parts of the bar are left of sufficient thickness,
so that on drilling or otherwise forming bolt, key-way, or other holes the
necessary section of such portion shall be left. As the parts acted upon
by the collars, if "Howard's method," is employed for the purpose of
producing the depressions are spread out at each side, these portions.are
afterwards removed. Should the thicker portions also require to be
widened I do this by modifying the forms of the collars accordingly; or
if hammers or other means be adopted, by altering the form of the
thicker parts previously to the final rolling. If the extra thickness
of the portions of the bar above described be required on one side
only, I make the necessary modification in either of the modes before
mentioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Herbert Howard-Keeling in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HERBERT
HOWARD-KEELING, of the King and Queen Iron Works, Rotherhithe, in
the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and

page_text: "
grant unto me, the said Herbert Howard-Keeling, Her special licence
that I, the said Herbert Howard-Keeling, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others. as I, the said Herbert Howard-Keeling,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING BARS OR LINKS OF WROUGHT
IRON OR OTHER METAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUSPENSION OR GIRDER
BRIDGES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Herbert Howard-Keeling, my executors or adminiṣ-
trators, 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 Herbert Howard-Keeling, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 :-
My improvements refer to the rolling of iron or other metal where one
or both ends or other portions of the piece are required to be thicker
than the remaining portions.
In order to carry my Invention into effect I take a "bloom," "pile,"
or "faggot," and roll it out into a "slab" of a determined length; this
slab I pass broadside between rolls, having collars upon them for the
purpose of producing depressions in the slab after the manner known
as Howard's Patent. I may also use for this purpose of producing
depressions hammers, hydraulic, or other suitable means. Having thus
produced a thinner portion or portions of the piece at the parts required
pass it through rolls for the purpose of producing the desired thickness
and length of the intermediate part. These rolls are reversed when the
said depressions are reached, being upon arriving at such depressions aro
relieved from pressure. By the above process portions of the metal are
produced of the required thickness, so that when bolt, key-way, or other
holes are made the necessary section of such parts will be maintained.
I

page_text: As the parts acted upon by the rolls when Howard's method is employed
for the purpose of producing the depressions will be spread out at each
side, such portions are afterwards removed. Should the thicker portions
also require to be widened, I do this by modifying the forms of the
collars; or if hammers or other means be adopted, by shaping accordingly
the thicker parts previously to the final rolling. When the extra
thickness of the portions of the metal are required on one side only I
make the necessary modification in any of the modes before mentioned.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to purposes
where bars or links are employed, whether in girder, suspension, or other
bridges, as the slabs when rolled out and operated upon after the method
I have described and of the required size are equally applicable for
armour plates for vessels of war, forts, or other structures which require
to be protected or strengthened therewith.
I do not limit my claim in so far as regards the uses to which my
Invention can be put, but what I do claim as my Invention is sub-
stantially the method of rolling iron or other metal in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert Howard-Keeling, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this First day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street,
London.
HERBERT HOWARD-KEELING. (L.S.)