IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING FINE IRON AND STEEL WIRE
Year: 1884

page_text: VISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
I THOMAS SHAW of Livingstone Wire Mill Brighouse in the county of York,
Wire Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING FINE IRON
AND STEEL WIRE," to be as follows:-
:-
The object of my invention is to construct an arrangement of simple and efficient
machinery for drawing fine iron and steel wire thereby saving labour, time and
waste, as well as producing a larger and better quality of wire, in less time than
by the existing methods, also a better speed is attainable, and less skilled workmen
are required, and a greater quantity of wire is produced at much less cost.
By the present system of drawing fine iron and steel wire, there is great loss, in
wasto and broken bits, or coils, and the quality of the wire is deteriorated by its
constant contact and repeated immersion in acidulated liquor, or substance used to
assist in its drawing.
In the present machinery for drawing wire, the wire is placed on a wincel, or
uncoiling drum which is mounted on a spindle fixed in a tub or trough, which is
full of acidulated liquor from the wincel or uncoiling drum the wire is run through
the draw plate, and is coiled on to the drawing drum, from which it has to be
removed by hand labour, and placed on the said wincel or uncoiling drum, at each
successive stage, which disturbs and interlaps the coils of wire, and in uncoiling is
liable to catch, will not run freely and so causes breakage and waste.
By my arrangement I construct the drums on which it is coiled to act both as
drawing drums and uncoiling drums alternately; I mount the drums on spindles
to run both fast and loose alternately as required between which is a box or trough
divided and containing the acidulated liquor or substance that assists the wire in
drawing, through which the wire passes in a direct lino, and is drawn and coiled
on the fast drum, the drawing drum is then made loose aud becomes the uncoiling
drum, and the wire passes through the other compartment of the box or trough
and is drawn and coiled on to the other drum which is now the fast or drawing
drum, by this means, the wire need not be disturbed until finished it runs free and
easy and as it is not in constant immersion in the box or trough of acidulated
liquor and there is less drag and friction.
I also speed the blocks, so that the finer the wire, and the quicker they run and
30 a larger quantity is produced in a given time than by the existing machinery

page_text: which run at one speed on the present system, whether drawing the thick or fine
wire there are weights or blocks of metal, suspended from each end of a cord or
chain, passing over a pulley or runner, arranged so that one or the other of the
weights is dropped into that compartment of the box or trough, through which the
wire is passing, this weight displaces and raises the height of the liquor, so that
the wire passes through it, when being drawn, or during the process of threading
the apertures in the box or trough the weights are drawn out and the wire is not
in contact with the liquor the troughs are placed in an outer trough, that in case
of accident the liquid does not run to waste and I so form the apertures through
which the wire passes, so that no liquor escapes with the passage of wire. Or tho
drums may be lifted and their position changed from one spindlo to the other, and
the wire passed through the trough as stated, alternately becoming the drawing
and uncoiling drum, they may also be arranged to run either vertically or hori-
zontally as suitable.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Crossley Street, Halifax,
Agent for the Petitioner.

page_text: I THOMAS SHAW of Livingstone Wire Mill Brighouse in the county of York
Wire Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING FINE IRON
AND STEEL WIRE," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to construct an arrangement of simple and efficient
machinery for drawing fine iron and steel wire, thereby saving labour, time, and
waste, as well as producing a larger and better quality of wire in less time than by
the existing methods, also a better speed is attainable, and less skilled workmen
are required, and a greater quantity of wire is produced at much less cost.
By the present system of drawing fine iron and steel wire, there is great loss in
waste and broken bits or coils and the quality of the wire is deteriorated by its
constant immersion in acidulated liquor or substance used to assist in its drawing.
In the present machinery for drawing wire, the wire is placed on a winch or
uncoiling drum, which is mounted on a spindle fixed in a tub or trough, and which
is full of acidulated liquor; from the wincel, or uncoiling drum the wire is run
through the draw plate, and is coiled on to the drawing drum, from which it has to
be removed by hand labour, and placed on the said wincel or uncoiling drum, at
each successive drawing stage, which disturbs, and interlaps the coils of wire, and
in uncoiling it is liable to catch, and will not run freely and so causes breakage
and waste
Fig 3 is an elevation of my improved apparatus, the positions of the drums and
trough, being altered.
Fig 4 is a plan of Fig: 3..
Figs 5 and 6 are details of trough and brush.
A, and B are the blocks or drums mounted on suitable spindles C and D, E is
the frame, the drums A and B, on which the wire is coiled, are constructed so as to
act, both as drawing drums and uncoiling drums alternately, the drums upon the
spindles, have clutches or catches, so that they can bo run fast or loose alternately
as required. I mount the drums on spindles to run both fast and loose alternately
as required, between the drum is a box or trough F, divided and containing the
acidulated liquor or substance which assists the wire in drawing, and through which
the wire passes, in a direct line, the wire is drawn and coiled onto the fast drum,
the drawing drum is then made loose, and becomes the uncoiling drum and the
wire passes through the other compartment of the box or trough, and is drawn and
coiled on to the other drum, which is now the fast or drawing drum, by this means
the wire neod not be disturbed until finished, it runs free and easy, and is not in
constant immersion in the box or trough of acidulated liquor, and there is less drag
and friction, the blocks may be driven as shewn, or by other suitable means.
I also speed the blocks by means of a cone H, or other suitable gearing so that
the finer the wire, and the quicker they run, and so a larger quantity is produced-
in a given time, than by the existing machinery which runs at one speed whether
drawing the thicker or the fine numbers say from No 20 guage_downwards, also
above the liquor trough F, there are weights, or blocks of metal J, suspended from

page_text: each end of a cord or chain K, passing over, a pulley or runner L, arranged so that
one or the other weight is dropped into that compartment of the box or trough,
through which the wire is passing, this weight displaces, and raises the height of
the liquor so that the wire passes through it when being drawn and during the
process of threading the wire through the apertures in the box or trough the
weights are drawn out, and the wire is not in contact with the liquor, the liquors,
are placed in an outer trough, so that in case of accident the liquor does not run to
waste and I so form the apertures through which the wire passes, so that little or
no liquor escapes with the passage of wire, or the drums and troughs may be in
different relative positions see, Figs 3 and 4 and the drums may be lifted and their
position changed from one spindle to the other and the wire passed through the
trough as stated, each drum alternately becoming the drawing and uncoiling drum,
they may also be arranged to run either vertically or horizontally; or instead of
passing the wire, direct through the box or trough, à circular brush may be inserted
as shewn and made to revolve, and the wire passes through the bristles of the
brush, see Fig 6, whereby it is sufficiently wetted to aid its drawing, or the wire
may be passed over a bar covered with any substance of a fibrous or pulpy nature
so as to carry with it sufficient liquid to assist the wire in drawing, or the wire
may pass under and over pulley inserted in the box or trough.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I do not limit myself
to any particular position of the drums or troughs, or any particular means of
driving them but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In drawing wire the use and employment of drums acting as the drawing
drum and uncoiling drum alternately, whereby the wire need not be removed at
each successive drawing stage from the drawing druin to the uncoiling drùm as
heretofore.
2. Passing the wire (when drawing) through a box or trough containing suitable
liquids or compounds that assists the wire in drawing, whereby the wire is not
in constant immersion as heretofore.
3. Passing the wire over a bar in the trough, covered with bristles or any
substance of a fibrous or pulpy nature, whereby the wire is sufficiently wetted to
assist its drawing without being in constant contact with the liquors as shewn and
described.