IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRINOLINE STEEL
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas, of No. 128, Cheapside, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CRINOLINE STEEL."
Sealed the 14th October 1876, and dated the 1st August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st August 1876.
WILLIAM THOMAS, of No. 128, Cheapside, in the City of London.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRINOLINE STEEL."
"IMPROVE-
Crinoline steel is usually made in flat ribbands or slips which are flexible in one
direction but inflexible in the other direction. My Invention relates to the
manufacture of crinoline steel in such a way that it is flexible in all directions and
is thus rendered generally applicable for stiffening fabrics. For this purpose 1 at
short intervals twist the steel slip into planes at angles to one another, each such
plane giving a flexibility in the direction at right angles to itself. Or employing
a round steel wire, I flat it by pressure or percussion in planes at right or other
angles to each other successively. The slip thus produced may be woven into
fabrics, or may be covered in the ordinary way and used for stiffening fabrics.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st February
1877.
WILLIAM THOMAS, of No. 128, Cheapside, in the City of London. "1MPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CRINOLINE STEEL."
Crinoline steel is usually made in flat ribbands or strips which are flexible in one
direction but inflexible in the other direction. My Invention relates to the
manufacture of crinoline steel in such a way that it is flexible in all directions and
is thus rendered generally applicable for stiffening fabrics. For this purpose I at
short intervals twist the steel slip into planes at angles to one another, cach
such plane giving a flexibility in the direction at right angles to itself. Or employ-
Price 6d1

page_text: ing a round steel wire, I flat it by pressure or percussion in planes at right or other
angles to each other successively. The slip thus produced may be woven into fabrics,
or may be covered in the ordinary way and used for stiffening fabrics.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews a piece of crinoline steel formed according to my before-described 5
Invention, the steel being twisted at the points a, a, a, so that the parts b, b, b, lie
in planes at different angles to each other, thus allowing the steel strip to bend in
various directions. It will be seen that the twist to have the proper effect should
be equal on each side of the central line of the steel strip. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show
respectively a longitudinal section, a cross section, and a plan of a machine by 1
means of which the twisting of the steel in the manner described may be effected.
A die A, through which the steel strip B is passed, and the aperture of which is
of a form corresponding to the section of the steel, as shewn in the end view at
Fig. 5, receives partial rotary motion in alternately reversed directions by means
of a toothed segment C gearing with a toothed wheel D on the hollow mandril 1
carrying the die, the segment having a stud Centering the cam groove E¹ on the
driving shaft E, and being mounted on a pin C² on the framing. In front of the
dic A is a pair of hinged nipping jaws F, between which the steel passes from
the die, and which at certain times are caused by a spring F1 to nip the steel
between them while the die A makes a partial revolution, whereby the before- 2
described twist is imparted to the portion of the steel between the die and
jaws. After such twist has been effected the jaws are caused to open by means of
a cam G acting upon a lever F2 connected to the upper jaw. The die A is then
caused by the segment C to turn back into its original position, and a length of the
steel is fed forward through the die by means of a pair of feeding rollers H receiving 2
rotary motion by gearing I from the shaft E. As the feed rollers while receiving
continuous rotary motion must only feed the steel strip forward at certain intervals,
their peripheries are formed, as shewn, so as only to meet and nip the steel between
them when the feed is required. The upper feed roller is acted upon by springs so
as to effect the required hold on the steel as it is fed forward. From the feed 3
rollers the steel is led through a tube K across the space between the feed rollers
and the mandril, in order to prevent it from bending sideways when it is pushed
forward by the rollers. The steel is also passed through a guide L at the back of
the feed rollers so as to maintain it in position between these. The shaft E is
rotated in the direction of the arrow either by a hand wheel M or by a pulley and
band in any convenient manner. The steel slip being fed forward until its front
end has passed through and is held by the jaws F, the die A is then partially
rotated by the toothed segment C actuated by tho cam groove, thereby twisting the
steel as above described, this being the position shewn on the Drawing, the back
part of the steel strip being free to turn with the motion of the die, as indicated,
the jaws F are then opened by the action of the cam G, after which the die is
caused to turn back into its original position by the segment, the space between the
two jaws F, as also that existing at the time between the two feeding rollers, being
sufficient to allow the steel strip on either side to turn freely with the motion of
the die from the vertical to the horizontal position. The feed rollers then come in
contact with each other and effect the forward feed of the steel strip, the extent of
such feed being determined by the length of flat steel which is desired to be left
between two successive twists. The foed having terminated the jaws F then nip
the steel again, and the above-described operation is repeated. In place of the
jaws F might be used a sliding die similar to that at A, but being widened out at
one end so that while the twist is being effected the steel strip is situated in the
narrow part of the die, after which the die is slid laterally so as to bring the steel
strip into the widened part thereof, thus allowing it freedom to turn and to move
forward, as above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I make no claim for, nor

page_text: do I limit myself to, the use of the before-described machine for carrying out my
Invention, but I claim the improved manufacture of crinoline steel wherein the
steel strip is twisted at short intervals into planes at angles to one another, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
W. THOMAS. (L.S.)