AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING ROLLERS OR SHAFTS CARRYING ROTATORY INSTRUMENTS FOR OPERATING UPON OBJECTS OR MATERIALS APPLIED EITHER AGAINST THEM OR BETWEEN THEM
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tighe Hamilton, M.A., of Rathmines, Dublin,
Ireland, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING
ROLLERS OR SHAFTS CARRYING ROTATORY INSTRUMENTS FOR OPERATING UPON
OBJECTS OR MATERIALS APPLIED EITHER AGAINST THEM OR BETWEEN THEM.”
"
aled the 6th August 1878, and dated the 21st February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tighe Hamilton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1878.
WILLIAM TIGHE HAMILTON, M.A., of Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland. "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING ROLLERS OR SHAFTS CARRYING ROTATORY INSTRUMENTS
FOR OPERATING UPON OBJECTS OR MATERIALS APPLIED EITHER AGAINST THEM OR
BETWEEN THEM."
The chief novelty of this Invention lies in the means employed to impart a
uniform reciprocating motion to one or more shafts or rollers whilst they rotate
either at the same or at different speeds, and either against each other or against plane
surfaces. This peculiar motion can be effected in the manner specified in my reci-
procator Patent, bearing date the 6th day of December 1872, No. 3704. But for
the purpose of this application its essential principle can be better effected by the
following improved construction.
A sheave or grooved pulley is mounted upon the proposed roller or shaft, and
this is free to reciprocate as well as rotate in suitable bearings. But instead of the
ring with a circular hole through it, a disc or quadrangular block with an oblong
hole through it is so introduced into the hollow of the sheave, that when the disc
or block is prevented from turning, the sheave can revolve within the hole. Then a
second or outer like disc or block with an aperture through it swivels upon
trunnions or gimbals fixed into the inner one in a line through the centre of the
sheave and the axis of rotation. A radial pin is then fixed into this outer disc or
block in the same line, or this disc or block may have its back portion so elongated
or shaped as to be equivalent to the pin. The relation of this pin or its equivalent
[Price fid1

page_text: to the inner disc or block is then analogous to the strap and rod of an excentric.
The outer portion of this pin or its equivalent passes through a suitable opening in
a vertical stud or pillar which stands at right angles to the pin or gimbal line, and
is free to rock upon cones or journals similarly to a hinge. Then, when the sheave
is inclined by set screws or other means to the roller or shaft, this will reciprocate
as it rotates, because the pin or its equivalent acts as a lever with the stud as a
fulcrum, and will thus compel a throw of the roller or shaft in proportion to the
inclination of the sheave and the distance of the stud from the axis of rotation.
During this double action, the several parts are free to have their respective
proper motions, whether in and out, or twisting or rocking, whilst the reciprocating
or end-way motion of the roller or shaft will be perfectly uniform as it travels to
and fro. Their relative speeds too can be varied as desired by the employment of
different sized pullies or wheels when applied to each pair. Again the axes of the
above rollers or instruments may be either parallel or inclined to each other, and
their surfaces may be of any form or description suited to the proper treatment of
the materials or objects submitted to their action. When these rollers or shafts are
in operation, two distinct functions are developed.
If an object is passed between any such roller or instrument, and any other like
roller or instrument, or between any of these and any plane surface, it will undergo
a compression by the rotatory action, but an extension sideways by the reciprocating
action. The same two functions will also take effect when objects are applied, as
against any such rollers or implements instead of between them. Thus this method
is applicable to actuate all appropriate forms of roller or rotating instruments for
crushing and disintegrating, or for grinding and polishing, or for carding and
combing, or for otherwise treating the various materials submitted to their double
action.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Tighe Hamilton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st August 1878.
WILLIAM TIGHE HAMILTON, M.A., of Rathinines, Dublin, Ireland. "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR ACTUATING ROLLERS OR SHAFTS CARRYING ROTATORY INSTRUMENTS
FOR OPERATING UPON OBJECTS OR MATERIALS APPLIED EITHER AGAINST THEM OR
BETWEEN THEM."
The novelty of this Invention lies in the means employed to impart an equable
reciprocating motion to one or more shafts whilst they rotate, either at the same or
at different speeds, and are either themselves rollers or which carry rollers to act
against other rollers or against plane surfaces, or which carry suitable instruments
to operate upon objects when suitably applied to them. This is a particular appli-
cation of the mode of motion specified in my Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of
December One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, No. 3704 for general
purposes, but with alterations of the original forms of construction if preferred for
the present purpose.
According to the Specification of that Patent, a grooved sheave is so mounted
upon a shaft, that it can be inclined to it at any desired angle by set screws, whilst
a ring is introduced into this groove by the removal and replacement of a side plate.
The boss of this sheave, that is, the bottom of the groove, revolves within the ring,
when this is prevented from turning by a round radial pin which is fixed into it, in
a line through its centre and through the axis of the shaft. These three parts are
analogous to the body strap and rod of an ordinary steam engine excentric, but
with this difference, that the sheave is concentric with the shaft, and not at, right
angles to it, and that therefore the derivative motion is of a different nature and in
a different direction. The outer portion of this pin passes through a round hole in
a vertical stud which is free to swing or rock as a hinge upon pivots or trunnions.
Its vertical axis of motion is through the trunnions, and at right angles to the line
of the pin. The pin is thus free to have a twisting as well as an endway motion,
and then, when the shaft and sheave rotate together, the pin acts as a lever with
the stud as its fulcrum, and compels the shaft to reciprocate equably with a throw
proportioned to the inclination of the sheave and its distance from the stud. This
combination of parts constitutes what is terıned a reciprocater from the effects it
produces. Its construction as altered for its present application will be understood
from the annexed Drawing, where Fig. 1 shows a side view of the reciprocater in
elevation, Fig. 2 shows a cross view, and Fig. 3 a plan view of its parts. The stud
and pin were referred to in order to elucidate the principle involved in the altered
construction.
The sheave A is so mounted upon the shaft B that it can be inclined to it at any
angle by the set screws C, C, which pass through the lugs D, D. This shaft is
without shoulders, and is mounted in suitable bearings E, E, in any convenient
form of headstock F, F.
The hole through the ring G is circular; but instead of the pin, the back of the
ring is formed into the shape of a tenon H which is free to work in a mortise I of
the same dimensions, and which passes across and through the circular disc K.
This disc is bedded in a circular recess in the block L, and is held there by means
of the loose plate M. Both these parts are in a plane parallel to the shaft, and at
right angles to a line through their centre and the axis of rotation.
The recessed block carries upon its upper and lower edges two trunnions N,
which are free to turn in suitable holes in the frame of the machine, which may
be of any convenient form. The tenon then acts as a lever with the combined dise

page_text: and block as a fulcrum, and thus produces the required reciprocation of the shaft.
whilst it rotates. The tenon has its end way motion in the mortise, and its twisting
motion by means of the turning of the disc whilst the swinging motion originates
in the block as it swings or rocks upon its trunnions. The result will be a perfectly
'equable throw of the shaft to the extent determined by the set screws.
When more than one shaft is used, their relative speeds can be varied by the use
of different sized driving pulleys or wheels. When a shaft actuated by this means
revolves, two distinct functions are developed.
The rotatory action causes a vertical compression, whilst the reciprocating action
causes a lateral extension of the material. These results too may be modified in
many ways by special forms given to the rollers or instruments so as to increase
either of these functions. Thus the shafts may be inclined to each other or to any
plane surface, or the rollers or instruments may be of a conical or tapered form.
In either case the effects will be intermittent in their degrees of force in con-
sequence of the alternate approach and retreat of the operating surfaces.
In Fig. 5 is shown a general view of the relative positions of a reciprocater and a
pair of rollers P and P¹. This is only given to illustrate one of the many ways in
which rollers of any kind may receive an equable reciprocating motion, and thus
produce equable disintegration of any materials introduced between them. The
nature of their surfaces must of course be suited to the nature of the materials.
The Drawings do not purport to show all the details of complete machines, but
only so much as will indicate the proper lines for their construction, and explain
the proper uses of their essential parts for the purposes of this Invention. Neither
do I limit myself to the exact mechanical details above described. These may of
course be varied so long as their use is the same, and their combination produces
the same special mode of equable motion. For instance, the hole in the ring may
be oval instead of circular, and its elongated back may be formed into a spherical
ball instead of into a tenon, as shewn in Fig. 4. In this case, the oval hole will
allow freedom for the endway motion, whilst the spherical ball as it works in a
suitable socket will allow both the twisting and rocking motions in the one solid
piece. Again the inclination of the sheave may be effected either by set screws
passing through lugs at the side of the sheave and pressing against the shaft, or by
set screws passing through a collar fixed upon the shaft and pressing against the
Bide of the sheave.
It will be seen that rollers or instruments actuated as above described may be
applied to any of the following purposes, viz.,-
(a.) To the crushing or disintegrating of minerals, or corn, or wood, or other
granular or fibrous materials.
(b.) To the superficial grinding or polishing of any objects submitted to their
action.
(c.) To the sharpening and ranging of the teeth of strickles or the like instru-
ments.
(d.) To the actuating of any such instruments for the carding, combing, cutting,
felting, or dressing of any kinds of textile or other fabrics or materials,
(e.) And to the similar treatment of any other materials submitted to their
action, either under them, or between them, or against them.
Having now explained the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, what I claim is,-
First. The imparting to one or more rollers, or to the shafts which carry such
rollers or other rotatory instruments, a perfectly uniform or equable reciprocating
motion by means of a sheave, ring, and pin, either according to the construction
first above described, or according to the modified construction next above described
and shewn in the annexed Drawings.
Second. The production of variable degrees of force in the lateral action of
rubbing surfaces, either by means of an inclined shaft or shafts, or by giving a

page_text: conical or other form to the surfaces of the rollers or instruments, so that in either
case their surfaces may be made to alternately approach and recede from each other
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tighe Hamilton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W TIGHE HAMILTON. (L.S.)