IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BENDING LINKS FOR CHAIN HARROWS, AND FOR BENDING IRON FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Denton, of Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, Agricultural Engineer, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BENDING LINKS FOR CHAIN HARROWS,
AND FOR BENDING IRON FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Denton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th October 1875.
I, HENRY DENTON, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford,
Agricultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BENDING LINKS FOR CHAIN HARROWS,
AND FOR BENDING IRON FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
According to this Invention the revolving mandril and shaft are
worked in a horizontal position. I will refer to this shaft in future as the
mandril shaft. At the other end of the mandril shaft to that to which
the mandril is fixed a crank and crank pin, clutch, frictional clutch, or

page_text: weight or weighted lever is preferably carried in a vertical or somewhat
vertical position upwards for a distance of two or three feet or so above
its connection with the compressing links, and then over a pulley to the
weight or weighted lever.
Through the shelf or flange of the mandril and in position as required
pins are passed, working easily therethrough in lines parallel with the
axis of the mandril shaft, and the back ends of the said pins are fixed
into a collar sliding on the mandril shaft (preferably on a key), and
between the mandril and the bearing. The said sliding collar is pushed
forward by means of a lever when required, and the ends of the pins
force the iron from off the mandril after it is properly bent and the
compressing links pulled back from the mandril.
A spiral spring round the mandril shaft and between the mandril
flange and the sliding collar or weight and lever or other equivalent
mechanism is provided to cause the return of the sliding collar and-pins
upon the removal of the pressure which forced them forward.
The feeding of the iron to the machine may be done as in the ordinary
way, or if desired an adjustable tube is fixed in position to receive the
iron, and the tube is provided with a spring clip or weighted clip, having
sufficient hold to retain the iron till the latter is taken hold of by the
compressing arrangement, when it is dragged through the clip. The
tube may be so arranged that the iron is in proper position when the
top is pushed down level with the top of the tube; or any suitable
arrangement for gauging the position of the iron in the tube may be
used.
The mandril shaft may be thrown out of gear with the second shaft
by means of a self-acting mechanism, such for instance as a fast cam
on the mandril shaft working in connection with a fixture on the
machine bed, or by an arrangement of levers actuated by the weight or
weighted lever in connection with the compressing links, just as the
last-mentioned weight or weighted lever is finishing its upward motion,
or by any equivalent mechanism, such as would be perceived by a
mechanician of ordinary ability; or the second shaft may be thrown out
of gear by a similar arrangement if it is otherwise desired and arranged
that the second shaft shall be the one to be thrown out of gear, as
before stated.

page_text: When desired the motion forcing the bent iron from off the mandril
as well as the return of the pins is made self-acting. In this case the
spring or equivalent mechanism is arranged so that it acts to force the
bent iron from off the mandril, as this must be done when the mandril
shaft is at rest after its return revolution.
Immediately upon the mandril shaft commencing to revolve the pins
are pulled back very rapidly by an arrangement of lever, having a long
and short end, the long end being in connection with the sliding collar
and the short end being connected by a rod with a very quick throwing
cam on the mandril shaft. The last-mentioned lever is then held by a
catch, and prevented from receding with the cam, and is released from
the catch by a suitable projection on the mandril shaft immediately
before the mandril shaft comes to rest on its return revolution; or
equivalent mechanism is used, such as would be perceived by a
mechanician of ordinary ability. In this case the pins are arranged
so as not to interfere with the feeding the iron to the machine, and aro
arranged so as to give as much time as may be required for them to be
drawn back before the iron can be pressed upon them.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Denton in the Great Seal Patent Office 2
on the 1st April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
DENTON, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Agricultural
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 2
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Denton, Her
special licence that I, the said Henry Denton, my executors, 8
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Denton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might

page_text: make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BENDING LINKS FOR CHAIN
HARROWS, AND FOR BENDING IRON FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Denton, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Denton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
(that is to say):—
The object of this Invention is to simplify the present arrangement of
the said machinery, making it more convenient for the operator, and to
make it also more efficient by adding certain mechanism to facilitate the
operations of feeding the iron, casting off the bent iron, and throwing
the mandril shaft out of gear at the proper point.
According to this Invention the mandril and shaft is worked in a
horizontal position. I will refer to this shaft hereafter as the mandril
shaft. At the other end of the mandril shaft to that to which the mandril
is fixed a crank and crank pin, clutch, frictional clutch, or obvious
equivalent is provided, formed out of or firmly fixed to the mandril
shaft. On any convenient part of the mandril shaft a collar or pair of
collars is formed for connection with a lover suitably shaped therefor.
The journals of the mandril shaft are of sufficient length to allow it to
be moved by means of the said lever in the direction of its axis for any
required distance for a purpose herein-after shown, and the mandril
shaft is prevented from being moved too far by means of collars or stops
fixed thereon.
5
Instead of employing the said fixed crank and crank pin, clutch, fric-
tional clutch, or obvious equivalent, and the means for moving the
mandril shaft in the direction of its axis, a crank and crank pin, clutch,
frictional clutch, or obvious equivalent may be made to slide on a key

page_text: by means or a lever, and thus the mandru snart would not require to
have
any motion in the direction of its axis. The crank and crank pin
is preferred, whether fast or sliding, as it is sot so that when the weight
has descended, and the chain is a little slack, the weight of the crank
hanging down brings the mandril into proper position for feeding the
iron thereto. In case of using the clutch, frictional clutch, or obvious
equivalent, a weighted arm is fixed to the mandril shaft so as to bring
the mandril into proper position, as aforesaid.
At the other end of the mandril shaft to that to which the mandril is
fixed, and in line therewith, a second horizontal shaft is hung in suitable
bearings, and has a pulley or other obviously equivalent mechanism
fixed thereto by which it receives its continuous rotary motion. I will
refer to this second shaft hereafter as the second shaft. At that end of
the second shaft which is the nearer to the mandril shaft is attached a
crank (not necessarily provided with a crank pin, as will be presently
seen,) having one, two, or more arms in the same plane, or a clutch,
frictional clutch, or obvious equivalent, as may be required, to suit the
mechanism on that end of the mandril shaft which is the nearer to
the second shaft.
The mandril shaft is thrown into and out of gear with the second
shaft by means of a lever working in connection with the collar or
collars, as before stated, or by means of the lever working in connection
with the crank and pin, clutch, frictional clutch, or obvious equivalent
sliding on the key, as before stated.
Instead of the arrangements described for gearing the two shafts
together, and throwing them into and out of gear with each other, the
arrangement may be reversed so that the parts described as applied to
the mandril shaft may be applied to the second shaft, and the parts
described as applied to the second shaft may be applied to the mandril
shaft, except that the weighted arm or equivalent mechanism must be
fixed to the mandril shaft, and not to the second or driving shaft. The
mandril shaft being horizontal, the compressing links of course work in a
vertical plane, and the chain for connection to the weight or weighted lever
is preferably carried in a vertical or somewhat vertical position upwards
for a distance of two or three feet or so above its connection with the
compressing links (when the connection is at its lowest point), and then
over a pulley to the weight or weighted lever.

page_text: Through the shelf or flange of the mandril, and in position as required,
pins are passed, working easily therethrough in lines parallel with the
axis of the mandril shaft, and the back ends of the said pins are fixed
into a collar sliding on the mandril shaft (preferably on a key), and
between the mandril and the bearing. The said sliding collar is pushed
forward when required by means of a lever, and the front ends of the
pins force the iron from off the mandril after it is properly bent, and the
compressing links pulled back from the mandril.
A spiral spring round the mandril shaft, and between the mandril
flange and the sliding collar, or a weight and lever, or other obviously
equivalent mechanism, is provided to cause the return of the sliding
collar and pins upon the removal of the pressure which forced them
forward.
"
The feeding of the iron to the machine may be done as in the ordinary
way, or if desired an adjustable tube is fixed in position to receive the
iron, and the tube is provided with a spring clip or weighted clip, having
sufficient "bite or "hold" to retain the iron till the latter is taken
hold of by the compressing arrangement when it is dragged through the
clip. The tube may be so arranged that the iron is in proper position
when the top is pushed down level with the top of the tube; or any
suitable arrangement for gauging the position of the iron in the tube
may be used. The tube may be made adjustable to different lengths of
iron by screwing extra lengths on or by any other simple method.
The mandril shaft may be thrown out of gear with the second shaft
by means of a self-acting mechanism, such for instance as a fast cam on
the mandril shaft, or crank, or equivalent on the back end thereof,
working in connection with a fixture on the machine bed or by an
arrangement of levers actuated by the weight or weighted lever in con-
nection with the compressing links, just as the last-mentioned weight or
weighted lever is finishing its upward motion, or by any obviously
equivalent mechanism; or the second shaft may be thrown out of gear
by a similar arrangement if the second shaft is the one desired to be
thrown out of gear as before stated.
When desired the motion forcing the bent iron from off the mandril
as well as the return of the pins is made self-acting. In this case the
spring or equivalent mechanism before described is arranged, so that it

page_text: continuously. It is retained in position endways by means of suitable
collars; H is a crank having two arms, and is firmly fixed to the second
shaft. In this case no crank pins are required; K, K, K, are pins
fastened at their back ends to a sliding collar L on the mandril shaft
(preferably sliding on a key), their front ends passing through the shelf
or flange M of the mandril; N is a spiral spring around the mandril
shaft and between the flange of the mandril and the sliding collar L;
O is a collar fixed to the mandril shaft in such position that when the
spiral spring N forces the sliding collar L against it, the front ends of
the pins are pulled back flush with the face of the flange M.
collar O also prevents the mandril shaft from being pushed too far back-
wards; P is a lever movable on a stud fixed to the bar E, and having
one end arranged to press against the sliding collar L.
The
The method of operation in bending links is first to hold the iron in
position for compression between the mandril and the compressing
links; then to pull the back end of the lever D so as to slide the
mandril shaft A backwards until the crank pin on the crank B is in
gear with one of the arms of the crank H, when the mandril shaft is
caused to revolve until the link is bent to the proper shape; the back
end of the lever D is then pushed back, and the mandril shaft slid
forward out of gear, when the weight acts to revolve the mandril
shaft in the contrary direction and unwind the compressing links from
off the mandril.
When the weight comes to rest the chain is somewhat slack, and the
weight of the crank and pin B brings the mandril into proper position
for feeding the iron for the next link; the compressing links are then
clear from the mandril, and the back end of the lever P is pushed
backwards and the spiral spring N thus compressed, and the pins K, K, K,
protruding through the flange M push the bent iron from off the
mandril. Upon the pressure being removed from the back end of the
lever P the spiral spring forces the sliding collar L back against
the fixed collar O, and brings the pins K, K, K, and the lever P into
their former position again.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the self-acting parts of my Invention.
Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the mandril shaft and its connection
with the second shaft. In this view the mandril shaft is shown in gear
with the second shaft, and the pins are shown held back from the

page_text: mandril. Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, but the mandril shaft
is shown out of gear with the second shaft, and the pins are shown
protruding over the mandril in position to have pushed the bent iron off
therefrom.
When the same letters occur on both the Figures 4 and 5 they
indicate the same parts.
a is the mandril shaft; 6 is the crank and pin on the end of the
mandril shaft; c is the second shaft, which is retained in position
endways by means of suitable collars; d is the crank, which in this
case must be provided with one arm only, or the throwing-out gear
might act too soon; e is an inclined plane, preferably somewhat curved,
fixed on the crank d; fis a friction rollor carried by a bracket fixed to
the pedestal or bed plate; g is a flange or projection around the
crank d; h is a lever working on a fixed stud, and having one end
shaped to bear against the said projection 9; k is a spiral spring inserted
between a sliding collar (preferably sliding on a key) and a fixed
collar m on the front end of the mandril shaft. The pins for pushing
the bent iron from off the mandril are fixed to this sliding collar 7, and
pass through the flange of the mandril as before explained. n, n, are
levers movable on a fixed centre o, and having friction rollers p, p,
bearing against the front of the sliding collar 1. The top ends of the
levers n, n, are connected by a rod q to the top of another pair of
levers r, r.
The levers 7, ", are movable on a fixed centro s, and are
provided with a friction roller t carried by a cross bar between them.
The friction roller & bears against a cam u, having a recess in such a
position therein as that when the recess is in front of the friction
roller & the mandril shaft is at rest.
Figure 6 is a plan of the crank & showing the arrangement of the
lever h.
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the mandril with the compressing a
links removed, and shows the levers n, n, with their friction rollers p, p,

page_text: The position of the arm of the crank d is shown by dotted lines, and
the position of the crank pin 6 is shown by a dotted circle. The front
view of the inclined plane e and the friction roller is shown by this
Figure.
The action of the self-acting arrangements is as follows:-When the
mandril shaft is out of gear with the second shaft the recess on the
cam u is at the lowest point of the cam, and the spiral spring k pressing
on the levers n, n, through the medium of the friction rollers p, p,
forces the levers n, n, forward, and consequently the levers r, r, until
the friction roller t is stopped by the back of the recess (see Figure 5).
The strength of the spring & and the length of the forward movement
of the sliding collar are sufficient to cause the pins passing through
the mandril flange to protrude over the whole width of the mandril, and
to force the bent iron off therefrom. When the crank d is slid forward
into gear with the crank and pin ō by means of the operator actuating
the lever the mandril shaft a begins to revolve, and also the cam u,
when the rapidly rising side of the recess almost immediately forces
back the friction roller t, and consequently at the same time compresses
the spiral spring k and draws back the pins from off the mandril (see
Figure 4). When the mandril has made such part of a revolution as is
sufficient to bend the iron as may be required the inclined plane e
coming in contact with the friction roller ƒ will have forced the crank d
out of gear with the crank and pin 6 (see Figure 5), and the weight will
then act to unwind the chain. Just as the weight comes to rest and
the compressing links are clear of the mandril the recess on the cam u
comes in front of the friction roller t, and the bent iron is pushed off
(see Figure 5). When the weight is at rest and the chain slack, the
crank and pin 6 hanging down (see Figure 5) keeps the mandril in the
proper position for receiving the next piece of iron, which is held in
position, and the mandril shaft then thrown into gear by means of the
lever as before explained.

page_text: . The arrangement of my adjustable tube through which to feed the
iron is illustrated in side elevation in Figure 4, and in front elevation in
Figure 7. The same letters occurring in both views indicate the same
parts. a¹ is the tube; 6' is a bracket jawed to receive the tube a' and
cranked in plan, as will be readily understood, to miss the compressing
links. The tube a¹ is carried by trunnions working in the jawed end of
the bracket b¹ so as to allow the tube to oscillate as may be required.
A weight and horizontal lever c¹, acting through the medium of a short
vertical lever d', bent down from the horizontal lever o' and working
through a slot in the tube a¹ causes sufficient pressure on the iron in
the tube to prevent it slipping till taken hold of by the bending
mechanism below, when it is dragged passed the pressing lever d' and
out of the tube. A stop e¹ is fixed at the side of the lever ď³ to prevent
the weight descending too far when the iron is drawn out of the tube.
The bracket 6' is fixed to the standard carrying the pulley, over which
the chain passes to the weight. The tube is of such a length that the
iron is in proper position when the top of it is flush with the top of the
tube. The levers n, n, (see Figure 7,) are arranged so that the top ends
shall not strike the tube a¹ when the levers are forced forward by the
spring.
The arrangement of the pins for forcing the bent iron from off the
mandril (see Figure 7), is such as to give the nearest pin to the iron in
the tube time to be drawn back before it can come in contact with the
iron. To see this point clearly it must be borne in mind that the
mandril, as shown in Figure 7, has travelled one quarter of a revolution,
as before stated.
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 I claim as my Invention,-
First. The combination of the horizontal mandril shaft with the crank
and pin, or with the equivalent mechanism, and the weighted arm,
substantially as and for the purposes described and shown.
Second. The arrangement for sliding the shaft by means of the lever,
as described and shown.
Third. The arrangement for throwing the bent iron from off the
mandril by hand, with the spring or obviously equivalent mechanism
for causing the return of the pins.

page_text: Fourth. The tube and weighted lever arrangement or spring clip,
substantially as and for the purpose described and shown.
Fifth. The self-acting arrangement for forcing off the bent iron from
the mandril and for drawing back the pins, substantially as described
3 and shown.
Sixth. The self-acting arrangement for throwing the mandril shaft
and the second shaft out of gear with each other, substantially as
described and shown.
And I declare that I do not limit myself to the exact arrangements
O as described, but claim all such modifications as follow obviously from
and are in harmony with the general description of this my Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Denton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this (24th) Twenty-fourth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
Witness,
JAMES A. WYNN,
Clerk to Stephen Watkins,
Patent Office,
Wolverhampton.
HENRY DENTON. (L.s.)