Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
I WILLIAM JOB HOWCROFT of 24 Alpine Road Rotherhithe London S.E. Iron-
plate worker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is a machine to be employed in the manufacture of water cans and
other vessels of sheet metal with straight or tapering sides.
The plate to form the body of the vessel is mounted with the lateral joint engaged
on a mandril capable of revolution. A die worked by a screw from above is brought
into the body of the vessel, and a second mandril of desired shape is brought by some
suitable contrivance against the exterior of the body of the vessel when the body of the
vessel is made to revolve on the mandril the pressure of the second mandril makes the
lateral joint secure. A toothed wheel is then brought up to the exterior of the edge of
the vessel and as the vessel revolves causes the material of the vessel to bend over.
The die is then withdrawn, the body of the vessel reversed on the mandril, and a plate
brought over the vessel and then into it so as to steady it on the mandril. The
bottom with prepared joint is then put in position on the vessel and the joint secured
by means of two grooved wheels which are made to press on the joint.
wheels have grooves of different widths and are attached to the frame of the machine in
one piece so that either wheel can be brought against the joint. The top of the vessel
is fastened on in a similar manner.
These
In the case of hand made bodies the finished body is placed on a pivoted mandril
and brought between a revolving wheel and a beviled flanged wheel. The edge of the
body of the vessel having been thus bent over the prepared bottom is placed in
position on the vessel. The vessel is then moved to another part of the revolving.
wheel, which part is beviled and the joint is thus secured by double seaming.
All the parts of the machine are adjustable one to the other and removable at
pleasure. The machine is worked by steam or other power.
Dated this 14th day of December 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machine for Making Water Cans and other Vessels of
Sheet Metal.
I, WILLIAM JOB HOWOROFT, of 24 Alpine Road, Rotherhithe, London, S.E.,
Iron plate worker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention consists of improvements' in the machinery employed in the manu-
facture of sheet metal vessels with sides tapering very slightly.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine the driving axle and gearing and also the
treadle and lever action for moving the counter mandril being left out.
The mandril A is made to revolve and the counter mandril B is brought into action
in the manner described in my specification No. 6964 dated the 24th day of May 1886
and entitled "Improved machine for manufacturing sheet metal buckets and similar
sheet metal receptacles."
The body of the vessel A¹ with its edges engaged is placed on a suitably shaped
mandril A which is caused to revolve and a counter mandril B brought up to it. The
die Cis at the same time brought within that part of the vessel A' above the mandril A.
The die C is attached to screw shaft C¹ working through an arm C pivoted to top of
framing at F. Another arm C pivoted also to F¹ carries a die F with screw shaft
in like manner. The two arms "C" are fastened together at F". By action of
the two mandrils A and B the vertical seam of the vessel A¹ is secured. A wheel D
is used to turn over the edge of the vessel A' and a grooved roller E to make a bead
as described in my Specification No. 6964 of the year 1886 already referred to. The.
vessel A' is then taken off the mandril A, inverted, and then replaced on it so as to
allow the other part of the vessel to be treated in the same way. The vessel A is then
again taken off the mandril A and a flat bottom piece already stamped out with
turned edge is laid on the mandril A. The vessel A' is then placed on the bottom
piece right side up and a suitable top piece with turned edge is placed on it. The
die F of shape and size corresponding to this top piece is then screwed on to it and
the vessel A is thus supported between the mandril A and the die F. The upper part
of mandril B is now brought against the revolving vessel and presses against the
turned over top edge of A. The roller G makes a bead round the top of vessel and
the roller G which is arranged horizontally with G and worked by the same lever G"
finishes off the bead with its finer groove. The lower part of the mandril B.
flattens the turned over edges of the bottom of the vessel and the roller E¹ makes a
bead round. The roller E¹ is worked by the same lever E" as the roller E but E' is
placed above E... The vertical edge of the mandril B is slightly tapering both ways
from the middle line and may be also very slightly curved.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the contrivance employed for shifting the position of
the pivoted mandril H.

page_text: Figs. 3, 4, 5 represent in section the different stages of fixing the bottom on the
vessel by the aid of the pivoted mandril H.
Another contrivance for fixing on the bottom piece is also employed which is con-
nected however with the machine and worked from the same driving axle.
The mandril H is attached to a shaft J ending in a point K working in a recess on
the top of La piece of metal passing through the frame M. The shaft J is attached
to an arm O so that it can move up and down. The arm O is pivoted at P to the
frame of the machine. The arm N and stop Q prevent the mandril H and support
going too far back. The arm O gradually increases in width downwards. The piece L
has an adjusting screw W at bottom. Beneath W is one arm of a lever X connected
to an arm V within convenient reach of workman. The finished body H¹ is placed
inverted over the mandril H and slides down over J and O till it fits. Upon the
vessel H is placed the bottom piece H" with its edge turned down as shown at Fig. 3.
The mandril is then moved so that the bottom edge of the vessel comes between the
wheel S and the wheel R. The wheel S, which at the end is abruptly contracted in
diameter as shown at T, is moved from a wheel on the main driving axle by a strap
driving the wheel U and suitable gearing. The screw S¹ regulates the distance
between S and R. The edge of bottom piece is here pressed against edge of vessel as
shown at Fig. 4. By moving the lever V the screw and piece I are moved so as to
bring the edge of the vessel between T and S. Here between the edges of T and
S the edges of vessel and bottom are flattened down to make a double seam as shown
at Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 represents the improved form of the counter mandril B showing the very
slight curve and taper of its edge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :
1st. In a machine for making sheet metal receptacles the use and manufacture of
the improved counter mandril B for the purposes specified.
2nd. In a machine for making sheet metal receptacles the use and manufacture of
the arrangement of grooved rollers in pairs for the purposes specified.
3rd. In a machine for making sheet metal receptacles the use and manufacture of
the die C for supporting the vessel A¹.
4th. In a machine for making sheet metal receptacles the use and manufacture of
the die F of any desired pattern and size for the purpose specified.
5th. The use and manufacture of the apparatus consisting of pivoted mandril and
wheels R, S, T for fixing on the bottoms of sheet metal receptacles substantially as
described in foregoing specification.
Dated this 27th day of July 1888.
W. H. MUNNS,
Agent for Applicant.