IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDED METALLIC BODIES, AND IN SHAPING AND EMBOSSING METALS AND METALLIC BODIES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDED METALLIC BODIES, AND IN
SHAPING AND EMBOSSING METALS AND METALLIC BODIES." A communi-
cation from abroad by William H. Mallory, of the City of Bridgeport, State
of Connecticut United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1881.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
MOULDED METALLIC BODIES, AND IN SHAPING AND EMBOSSING METALS AND
METALLIC BODIES." A communication from abroad by William H. Mallory, of
the City of Bridgeport, State of Connecticut, United States of America.
The Invention relates, first, to a new and useful process applicable by slight
variations to shaping and embossing metals and metallic bodies in many different
ways; and, secondly, to the products of such process.
The process may be used in connection with many bodies, which are capable of
being shaped or formed by dies, and it consists in a novel method of operation in
applying pressure to or within the body to be shaped or embossed, by which such
body is made to conform in configuration to a die.
I shall describe the process as applied to a copper body, but it will be understood
that it is equally applicable to bodies of other materials.
In carrying out the process a die or shaper is required, against which the metal
is to be forced, a press to force the metal against the dic, and a suitably dry powder
for conveying the force of the press to the metal and causing it to assume the
desired configuration.
This powder is fed in successive charges into the blank, and after each charge
the plunger is brought to bear upon the powder, which is thereby forced laterally,
spreading the blank outward against the sides of the die with such force that it
will not only gradually take the form of the die, but will also exhibit in relief all
the marks, figures, or embossing of the die.
In the manufacture of articles of irregular shape or of any considerable height,
this successive and alternate charging and pressing is of the utmost importance

page_text: because I have found that in operating with a granular material the direct down-
ward pressure will only act to spread the metal laterally through a limited mass,
so that when the vessel is of such size as to contain more than such mass, the
pressure will not effect the desired result.
I shall particularly describe the method of making a vase, from which the process
will be readily understood in its application to other articles.
In the Drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.
P represents a suitable press.
In carrying out the Invention upon a large scale a hydraulic press should, be
employed.
D, D¹, represents a female die.
B represents a copper blank; in this case a cylinder of copper is shewn closed at
the lower end.
In Figure 2 the blank is shewn, and in Figure 3 an inside view of the die, and
in Figure 4 a horizontal section of the same. In Figure 3 the blank is shewn in
full in the die, which may be made of two or more portions, as shewn.
In Figure 1 the die and blank are shewn in position under the press, and the
blank is shewn as filled with a powder. Many forms of powder can be used, but
a silex powder has been found to be most efficacious. This powder should
preferably be dry, but it may be operated with a certain amount of moisture, but
not sufficient to make the mass plastic.
By forcing the plunger L of the press downward, the blank has been driven out
to conform to the shape of the die, as is clearly shewn in Figure 1. The powder H
which has been used to force out the blank may then be removed, or it may be
left in position, in which case it forms a very suitable and solid filler for the article,
and by this filler it is able to make satisfactory-articles-with much less_thickness
of metal than has hitherto been possible.
In Figure 6 I show a vase made by the process in which the filler H has been
left in position, and a suitable hole having been drilled within the filler, an inner
cup F has been inserted and brazed to the outer vase E. This inner cup may also
be forced out and into position by the same process if desired.
In Figure 7 is shewn a door knob made by the process with the filler H within
it. It will be obvious that this process is susceptible of almost an infinite variety
of applications.
Many metallic articles which have heretofore been necessarily made in several
pieces can be readily made of a continuous sheet by the improvement. Of course
the surface on which the sand acts will not be a finished surface.
The process might also be used in shaping steel or other material only flexible
when heated by placing the blank within or against the die, heating the same, and
applying pressure. By successively heating the metal and applying pressure, and
using fire clay between the press and the blank very good results can be obtained.
The heat should be applied to the inside of the blank.
The Invention must be distinguished from the forming of metal articles by a
plunger brought upon the entire mass within the blank at one operation. This is
effected when the said mass is such as can all be moved, and may be used for the
manufacture of certain small articles. But it has been discovered that large articles
or those of irregular form cannot be made in this way. For instance, an article of
the shapo and size shewn in Figure 3 can only be made by the introduction of
successive charges.and corresponding alternating application of pressures, whereby
the blank is gradually distended from the bottom upward, and made to conform
to all the irregularities of the die.
The Invention must also be distinguished from those processes in which liquid
or plastic materials are subjected to pressure in the blanks, and which necessitate
the use of packings to prevent the material from escaping between the die and
blank, and have therefore proved to be practically of but little use.
What I claim as the Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First. The within described process of shaping, forming, or embossing metal

page_text: articles, the same consisting in the intervention between a plunger and the metal
to be forined of a dry powder, applied in successive charges and pressed after each
charge, substantially as setforth.
Second. The process of shaping or forming non ductile metals, the same consisting
in introducing the blank hot in the die, applying a charge until the blank is partly
distended, again heating, charging, and pressing, and repeating such operations
until the shaping is completed, substantially as setforth.
Third. The process of forming filled metallic articles, which consists in introducing
into a blank a dry powder capable of being compacted by pressure, applying pressure
while the blank is in a mould, and thereby distending, shaping, forming, or
embossing the blank, and also forming a compact filling, which remains within the
blank to strengthen and support the same, substantially as setforth.
Fourth. As a new product, a metallic article filled with a compacted powder, by
means of which the blank is distended, which powder was used in shaping the
blank, thereby forming a substantial solid article, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty second day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
SYDNEY PITT. (L.S.)