IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINES FOR COILING AND SOLDERING METAL RIBBON OR WIRE, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS
Year: 1885

page_text: тощено IU паспnes ΤΟΥ Conning and Soldering Metal
Ribbon or Wire, Chiefly Designed for Use in the Manu-
facture of Guns.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57° Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of any invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR COILING AND SOLDERING METAL RIBBON OR WIRE, CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS "
to be as follows:--
My invention relates to machines chiefly designed to be used in the manufacture
of built-up guns for coiling or winding metal ribbon or wire upon steel or other
tubes, and soldering the said ribbon or wire as it is coiled or wound. My improved
machine can, however, be adapted for other purposes, such as the coiling or
winding of wire on electro-magnets, where it is desirable that the tension on the
wire should be maintained uniform, and not be subject to the variations in the
co-efficient of friction which are unavoidable in brakes and other frictional tension-
regulating devices.
In the specification accompanying my application for Letters Patent dated
8th January, A.D. 1885, N° 288, I have described a gun which mainly consists of
an inner steel tube having a band or ribbon of finely tempered steel wound or
coiled around it, each coil or turn of the said ribbon being secured to the
adjacent coils thereof by means of solder. One object of my present invention
is to provide for simultaneously winding or coiling the said steel ribbon upon the
inner tube and applying melted tin or solder thereto.
In constructing a machine for this purpose, I provide suitable bearings for
supporting the tube upon which the ribbon is to be coiled, and mechanism for
rotating the said tube. This mechanism may be of any desired construction.
The steel ribbon is supplied from a reel upon which it has been previously wound..
The free end of the said ribbon is passed between two pulleys forming part of a
tension-regulating device hereinafter described, which pulleys are arranged to
rotate in opposite directions and grip the said ribbon between them; it is then
passed around, or partially around, and secured to the tube upon which it is to
be coiled. The rotation of this tube winds or coils the ribbon thereon.
The tension of the ribbon is regulated by the following means, viz:-Tho
aforesaid two pulleys are carried by a frame, which is pivotted at its lower end

page_text: to a suitable support, and which also carries a double-cylinder pump or two or more
single cylinder pumps, actuated by means of cranks. When a double-cylinder
pump is used, these cranks are fixed, at right angles to each other, on the shaft
or axis of one of the said pulleys, so that the rotation of this pulley by the ribbon,
as it passes around the same, will work the said pump. A lever having an
adjustable weight is arranged to act upon the said frame and tends to pull it
away from the tube, whilst the tension upon the ribbon tends to pull this frame
towards the said tube.
1 provide a valve in the eduction pipe of the pump, which valve has a spindle
projecting towards the tube and in proximity to a stop. When the said frame is
drawn towards the tube, the said spindle comes against the stop and the valve is
more or less opened. The opening of the said valve in this manner can be
regulated by adjusting the weight on the aforesaid lever so that there will be
more or less resistance to the action of the pump. By these means, the tension
on the ribbon can be increased or diminished at will.
I provide a suitable vessel for feeding melted tin or solder on to the ribbon
before it reaches the tube and I arrange a series of gas-burners in such a position
that they will be beneath the tube when it is resting in the said bearings. By
means of these burners, I supply the heat necessary to melt the tin or solder, or
temporarily retain the same in a molten state. Each coil, as it is wound on the
tube, will thus be soldered to the adjacent coils.
The aforesaid reel, the heating burners, and the tension-regulating apparatus are
arranged in combination with mechanism for moving them to and fro-in a direction
parallel with the axis of the tube, during the coiling or winding of the ribbon
thereon.
It is obvious that, if the coils do not require to be soldered together, the
gas-burners and the vessel for containing the solder can be dispensed with, and
the machine used for simply coiling or winding the ribbon or wire upon the tube
or other article.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Coiling and Soldering Metal
Ribbon or Wire, chiefly Designed for Use in the Manu-
facture of Guns.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57P Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR COILING AND SOLDERING METAL RIBBON OR WIRE,
CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to machines chiefly designed to be used in the manufacture
of built-up guns for coiling or winding metal ribbon or wire upon the inner tubes
or linings, and, if necessary, soldering the said ribbon or wire as it is coiled or
wound. The said machines can, however, be adapted for coiling or winding wire
on electro-magnets or for other purposes wherein it is necessary or desirable that
the tension on the ribbon or wire should be uniform, and not be affected by
variations in the co-efficients of friction such as are unavoidable when brakes or
other frictional tension-regulating devices are employed.
In the specification of Letters Patent also dated 8th January, A.D. 1885, N° 288,
I have described a gun which mainly consists of an inner steel tube having a band
or ribbon of finely tempered steel wound or coiled around it, the coils of the said
ribbon being united by means of melted tin or solder. One object of my present
invention is to provide for simultaneously winding or coiling the said band or
ribbon upon the inner tube and applying the melted tin or solder thereto.
An important feature of my said invention is the employment of one or more
pumps and means for automatically controlling the eduction or delivery valve or
valves thereof in the manner hereinafter described, for the purpose of regulating
the tension on the ribbon or wire while the same is being wound or coiled.
My said invention, moreover, comprises various improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shewn a machine constructed according
to my said invention for use in the manufacture of built-up guns.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation, partly in vertical transverse section, of the said
machine.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation, and
Figure 4a side elevation of part of the said machine.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, drawn to an
enlarged scale, of a tension-regulating device hereinafter described.
Figure 6 is a front elevation, partly in section on the line x, x, and partly in
section on the line x, x¹, Figure 5, also drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a, a indicate two frames or standards, each of which is formed or provided with
a bearing a¹. b, bare short shafts carried in the bearings a¹, and adapted to fit

page_text: 1
into, and support, the tube c upon which the steel ribbon is to be wound or coiled.
The said steel ribbon d is wound upon a reel e, previous to its introduction into the
machine. The said reel is then placed in a supporting bracket e¹ formed on, or
attached to, the platform or table f
g is a frame which is pivotted at g¹ within a tank or receptacle h forming part
of a tension-regulating device. This device is more clearly illustrated in Figures 5
and 6, and is constructed as hereinafter descrit.ed, that is to say, are two
double-acting pumps carried by the frame g. The piston-rods j, j of these pumps
are coupled, by means of the connecting rods k, l, with two disc-cranks 1, i fixed
on a shaft m, which is supported in bearings g' in the frame g.
n, n¹ are the eduction or delivery pipes of the pumps i, i, which pipes are con-
nected with a common outlet n² provided with a valve n³. This valve is acted
upon by a spring n which tends to keep it closed; and the said valve has a
spindle no, which is screw-threaded and provided with locking nuts no, whereby
the spring n can be compressed and the valve kept open to a greater or less extent
as required. The valve-spindle n is coupled to one arm of a lever o, which is
pivotted at o' to the frame g. The other arm of the lever o bears, at its extremity,
against a stop h¹ provided upon the side of the tank or receptacle h, so that, when
the frame g is turned around or about its pivot in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 5, the lever o will be moved by the stop and the eduction or
delivery valve n³ thereby opened. The pumps i, are provided with a common
inlet or suction pipe 2, and are arranged to draw water from, and deliver it into,
the tank h.
is a bent lever, which is pivotted to a bracket or support p¹ secured to the
platform or table f. The short arm of this lever is coupled to the pivotted frame g
by means of the links p. A weight p³ is fitted with a capability of adjustment
upon the long arm of the lever 2, and is provided with a set-screw p for securing
it in any desired position on the said lever. This weighted lever tends to turn the
frame g around or about its pivot in the direction opposite to that indicated by
the arrow in Figure 5.
r, are two pulleys, one of which is fixed upon the shaft m, and the other of
which is mounted upon a pin or shaft carried by a bracket 23 fixed or formed on
the frame g. The ribbon d is conducted from the reel e and is passed over and
partially around the pulley 1, then between the pulleys, and then partially
around and beneath the pulley r. It is then conducted to, and passed around, or
partially around, the tube c, to which its extremity is secured.
One of the short shafts has fixed thereon a toothed wheel 8, which is connected,
by the gear-wheel 81, shaft t', and gear-wheels 82, 83, with the driving shaft t, so
that the tube c can be thereby rotated to wind or coil the ribbon upon the said
tube.
As the ribbon d is passed between the two pulleys 7, 7 and is gripped more or
less tightly thereby, the said pulleys will be rotated in opposite directions by the
ribbon, as it moves from the reel e to the tube c. The said ribbon will, therefore,
work the pumps i,
The platform or table fis mounted upon rollers f1 and is arranged to be moved
to and fro upon rails f, so that the ribbon d will be gradually moved along the
tube c as it is wound thereon, and the uniform winding of the said ribbon will
thus be ensured. The ribbon is to be wound in layers all of which are to be
commenced at one end of the tube, the ribbon being cut as soon as a layer is
completed. Therefore, to save time, I prefer that the platform or table should have
a rapid return movement.
For imparting the requisite movements to the said platform or table, I provide
a long screw-threaded shaft A, which is carried in bearings B in which it is free to
rotate, but the said shaft is prevented from endwise movement by collars A', A²
fixed or formed thereon at each side of the said bearings. This shaft is passed 5
through a nut f³ formed on, or secured to, the underside of the platform f. The
shaft A is geared by means of bevel pinions C, C with a shaft D, which is geared

page_text: by means of bevel pinions E E¹ with a shaft F. A toothed wheel G is fixed on the
shaft F and is geared with two pinions H, I carried by a frame J fitted to oscillate
on the shaft F. K is a pinion fixed on the shaft t' outside the standard a³, which
supports the outer ends of the shafts t, t¹ and F. L is a pinion fixed on the shaft t
outside the said standard.
The frame J is coupled, by means of a link J¹, to the short arm.of a bent lever M,
which is pivotted at M to the standard a². This lever is arranged in combination
with a notched segment N, and is provided with a spring catch or bolt M2 adapted
to engage in either of the notches N¹ of the said seginent and thus hold the lever M
and frame J in any position to which they may be adjusted. When the frame J
is in the position shewn in the drawings, the pinion H is in gear with the pinion K
fixed on the shaft t, whilst the pinion I is out of gear with the pinion L; therefore
motion will be imparted from the driving shaft t, through the gear-wheels 83, 82,
shaft t, pinions K, H, to the gear-wheel G, and from this wheel, through the
shaft F, the bevel pinions E', E, shaft D, and bevel pinions C₁, C, to the shaft A;
the platform f will thus be moved slowly in the direction indicated by the arrow in
Figure 1. When one layer of the ribbon has been wound or coiled up on the tube c
and it is desired to move the platform f back to the position requisite for
commencing to wind another layer of the ribbon, the lever M is operated by hand
to move the pivotted frame J in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4,
and thus put the pinion I in gear with the pinion L and throw the pinion H out of
gear with the pinion K. Motion will then be imparted from the shaft t, through the
pinions L, I to the gear-wheel G, and the platform f will thus be moved rapidly in
the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. When the
platform is in position for another layer of the ribbon to be wound on the tube c,
the frame J is again moved by means of the lever M into the position shewn in the
drawings.
It is evident that, when the tube c is rotated to wind or coil the ribbon thereon,
the tension on the said ribbon will tend to turn the frame g around or about its
pivot g¹ in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, and that, when the
said frame moves in this direction, the valve n³ will be opened to a greater or less
extent, thus diminishing the resistance to the action of the pumps, which will then
commence to work more freely and thus reduce the tension on the ribbon. The
action of the weight p³ then moves the frame in the reverse direction and the
spring a partially closes the valve n³. I thus provide for automatically regulating
the tension on the ribbon by varying the area of the passage for the escape of the
water delivered by the pumps.
The area of the said passage and, consequently, the tension on the ribbon can be
regulated by hand by adjusting the weight p³ on the lever p so that the fulcrum of
the lever o will be moved more or less away from the stop h¹. The area of the
said passage can, moreover, be increased or diminished by adjusting the locking
nuts n on the spindle n³.
u indicates a vessel for containing melted tin or solder; this vessel is provided
with a spout u¹, through which the said melted tin or solder can be permitted to
flow on to the ribbon as the latter is being wound upon the tube.
This spout
should terminate a short distance from the point where the ribbon meets the tube.
vindicates a series of gas-burners arranged beneath the vessel u. This vessel is
enclosed in a casing or chamber u³ to prevent the escape of heat.
burners arranged beneath the tube c. By means of these gas-burners, I supply the
heat necessary to melt the tin or solder, or to temporarily retain the same in a
molten state, and thus ensure the proper union of the coils of the ribbon.
w, ware gas-
The vessel u and the heating burners are arranged upon the platform f so that
they will be moved to and fro therewith in a direction parallel with the axis of the
tube, during the coiling or winding of the ribbon upon the said tube.
To permit the adjustment of the vessel u and the gas-burners to suit the varying
diameter of the tube c due to the coiling of the ribbon thereon, I arrange the said
vessel and gas burners as follows, that is to say:-The vessel u with its gase

page_text: burners and casing u' are mounted upon a screw-threaded rod u³, which is passed
through a nut u supported in a bracket us, so that, by turning the said nut in one
or the other direction, the said rod can be raised or lowered. The bracket u³ is
fitted to slide to and fro in a guide u attached to the platform f. A screw-
threaded rod u is fitted to rotate in the guide us but is prevented from end wise
movement therein. This screw-threaded rod is passed through a nut us on the
underside of the bracket us, so that, by turning the said rod in one or the other
direction, the said bracket us can be adjusted horizontally towards or away from
the tube c. A gas supply pipe u³ is connected to the upper end of the rod u³ which
is made hollow to permit the passage of gas through it to the burners v.
gas-burners w are fixed in a pipe w¹ which is secured with a capability of vertical
adjustment on a rod w² fixed in the platform for in a bracket formed on, or
attached to, the said platform. A pipe w³ is connected with the pipe w¹ for the
supply of gas to the burners w.
The
It is obvious that, if the coils do not require to be soldered together, the gas-
burners and the vessel for containing the solder can be dispensed with, and the
machine used for simply coiling or winding the ribbon or wire upon the tube.
The pumps shewn in the drawings may be replaced by other suitable pumps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I do not limit myself to the details of construction above described, as it is
evident that the same may be modified to some extent without departing from the
nature of my said invention; for example, other means than those above described
may be employed for rotating the tube c, or for moving the ribbon or wire along
the same as it is coiled thereon, or for applying the melted tin or solder to the said
ribbon or wire while it is being wound or coiled upon the tube; moreover the
pump or pumps may, if desired, be provided with two or more eduction or delivery
valves capable of being controlled automatically for the purpose above specified;
and I declare that what I claim is
First. In a macbine for coiling metal ribbon or wire, the employment of one or
more pumps and means for automatically regulating or controlling the escape of
the water therefrom in proportion to the tension upon the said ribbon or wire, as,
and for the purpose, specified.
Second. The combination, with a pump or pumps carried by a pivotted frame, of
un escape or delivery valve coupled to a lever pivotted to the said frame and
bearing against a fixed stop, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. The improved machine consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and
operating as, and for the purposes, specified.