IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE-DRAWING MACHINERY
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE-DRAWING MACHINERY." A communication from
abroad by Joseph Sprague Winsor, of Providence, Rhode Island, United States
of America.
Sealed the 16th November 1877, and dated the 23rd August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
"
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE-DRAWING MACHINERY.
[A communication from abroad by Joseph Sprague Winsor, of Providence, Rhode
Island, United States of America.]
One object of this Invention is to so construct a wire-drawing machine that all its
parts will resist the required strain, and great strength, simplicity in construction,
and facility of duplication will be secured.
Another object of the said Invention is to make a wire-drawing machine entirely
automatic in its operations, and which has each frame or bench complete in itself
to perform all the functions required in drawing wire.
'
Another object is to connect the driving mechanism with the draw head by
means of an improved clutch, so that the same may be connected or disconnected
by the exertion of very slight manual force, or automatically, by the driving
mechanism.
The said Invention comprises the peculiar construction of the frame of a wire
drawing machine, by which the driving shaft, the clutch, and draw head are all sup-
ported on the same frame, which is constructed to resist all the required strain,
and to resist moisture and prevent shrinkage.
It further comprises the peculiar arrangement of the main driving shaft in com-
ination with the beveled gear wheels, the clutch, and draw head, all firmly secured

page_text: to the frame, so that each frame is a self-contained machine, and the relative position
of all parts will be at all times maintained, and a machine may be conveniently
shipped or moved to any place, and when power is applied will be ready for
immediate operation.
The said Invention further comprises the employment of the clutch, by which
the draw head is connected with and disconnected from the driving mechanism.
It further comprises the peculiar arrangement of two cams with the main driving
shaft, one of which actuates a lever on which the draw tongs are secured, and the
other actuates a wire-pointing device.
It also comprises mechanism by which the drawing machine is automatically
stopped when the wire breaks or the reel becomes deranged, and a safety brake, by
which the wire is retained on the draw head.
In constructing a machine according to this Invention I provide cast-iron end
frames, fitted with bearing blocks, in which a main driving shaft rests; also a cast-
iron front plate, having a lateral plate either cast in one piece with the front and
back plates, or firmly bolted between the two, and the whole is bolted to the said
end frames, so that the whole forms a firm and substantial structure, not liable to
warp and give, as is the case with the heavy wooden tables heretofore used. In the
said lateral plate the shaft to which the draw head is secured has a firm bearing
cast with the said plate. I provide front and rear horizontal plates, which are
firmly secured to the end frames, and to these plates another plate is firmly bolted,
or may be cast with the same, and-forms the step bearing for the vertical shaft,
and also a support for the bearing of the main shaft at the centre of the machine.
The mechanism employed to perform the different functions of the machine
consists of a main shaft driven by some prime motor, and to which a pinion is
secured, which gearing with a horizontal bevelled gear wheel rotates, the same.
There is a vertical shaft, to the upper end of which the draw head is secured.
The said shaft passes through the said bevelled gear wheel, and is supported in a
step on a plate, the said bevelled gear wheel may therefore turn on the shaft, being
loose on the same, whilst a clutch is firmly secured to the shaft. On the said
bevelled gear wheel a hinged pawl secured, and the said pawl is provided with a
rounded projection, and arranged so that when a lever provided for the purpose is
raised a loose friction roll will come in contact with the projection, and engage the
hinged pawl with the stop on the clutch, and when the aforesaid lever is lowered
the said roll will come in contact with the rear end of the hinged pawl, and disengage
the same from the clutch, and stop the rotation of the draw head. A spring is
arranged to hold the hinged pawl in the position it was placed by the lever. One,
two, or more hinged pawls may be thus secured to the upper surface of the bevel gear
wheel, and one, two, or more stops, provided on the clutch at regular or irregular
distances apart, and operated to secure the driving mechanism to or from the clutch,
and thus to or from the draw head, by the raising or lowering of the said lever.
Instead of securing the hinged pawl to the bevel gear wheel the same inay bè secured
to a separate disc, driven in any suitable manner, and thus the driving power may be
connected with and disconnected from the machine by the raising or lowering of the
said lever, thus ensuring the prompt action of the clutch, and preventing the binding
usual in power clutches. Secured to the said main shaft is a cam, arranged to give
reciprocating motion to another lever, the upper end of which passes through a slot
in the front plate, and to this upper end the draw tongs are connected, and by the
sanie a direct strain is exerted to draw the first portion of the wire through the die
until there is length enough to secure the same to the draw head, when a swivelled
die holder readily adjusts itself to the new direction of the wire. The said die
holder is secured to a plate by a bolt passing through a slot in the front plate, so as
to allow the die holder to swing on the bolt and reciprocate in the slot, the whole
being held in the forward end of the slot by a coiled spring, and when in operation
the strain of the wire on the die brings a strain on the coiled spring, which allows
the die holder to slide in the slot as soon as the wire breaks; the strain being
released a coiled spring draws the die holder. forward, and as it is desirable that

page_text: when this happens, the machine should be automatically stopped, the last-mentioned
lever is secured to the lower plate of the die holder, and at its lower end is provided
with a stop, which when strain is exerted on the die, passes over a foot treadle
lever hinged to the rear portion of the frame and projecting in front of the machine,
and is connected with a hinged lever which extends to and raises and lowers the
said clutch-operating lever. As soon as the strain is released a notch in the said
stop is brought over the foot-treadle lever, and allows the same to rise, and thus
through the hinged lever the first-named lever is depressed, and by bringing the
same in contact with the hinged pawl the revolution of the draw head is stopped.
By this arrangement the machine will be automatically stopped as soon as the wire
breaks.
.
When the wire suddenly breaks the portion coiled on the draw head is liable to
uncoil, and if the wire is thick liable to injure the workmen and the machine. • To
prevent this I place a hinged brake in contact with the draw head, so as to hold
the wire by the pressure of a spring, and when the same is to be released I press
on a foot treadle, which through a lever operates and releases the brake from the
wire.
The coiled wire on the reel is liable to become deranged, and the strain exerted
liable to break or otherwise injure the reel and "kink" the wire. To avoid this I
mount the reel on a hinged frame, a reel being supported on a vertical spindle
passing through two brackets secured to the said hinged frame, and also provided
with an arm which rests against a spring, and is provided with a pin which extends
to the aforesaid stop, so that when extraordinary strain is exerted on the reel the
pin on the arm will push the stop inward and allow it to pass into a slot on the
foot treadle, and thus allow the same to rise, and through the hinged lever to operate
the first-named lever, and stop the rotation of the draw head, and prevent injury
to the wire reel. The machine will therefore stop automatically when the wire
breaks, and also when the wire on the reel becomes deranged.
Every time the wire breaks the end must be pointed so as to enter the die; this
hitherto has required much time; I therefore place on the machine a wire-pointing
device, consisting of a pair of shears, in which the cutters are arranged so as to cut
a long point. There are two hinged jaws provided with bevelled cutters. One of
these jaws is firmly secured to the front plate, and the other provided with a lever,
the end of which enters a cam secured to the main driving shaft, and thus oscillating
motion is imparted to the jaw. The wire is inserted between the jaws and a long
tapering wedge is cut from the same; and, if required, by partially turning the
wire, two or more such wedges can be cut, so that the pointed end may be readily
inserted in the die.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1878.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WIRE-DRAWING MACHINERY.'
A communication from abroad by. Joseph Sprague Winsor, of Providence, Rhode
Island, United States of America.
One object of this Invention is to so construct a wire-drawing machine that all its
parts will resist the required strain, and great strength, simplicity in construction,
and facility of duplication will be secured.
Another object of the said Invention is to make a wire-drawing machine entirely
automatic in its operations, and which has each frame or bench complete in itself to
perform all the functions required in drawing wire.
Another object is to connect the driving mechanism with the draw head by
means of an improved clutch so that the same may be connected or disconnected
by the exertion of very slight manual force, or automatically by the driving
mechanism.
The said Invention comprises a peculiar construction of the frame of a wire-
drawing machine by which the driving shaft, the clutch, and draw head are all
supported on the same frame, which is constructed to resist all the required strain,
and to be unaffected by moisture or shrinkage.
It further comprises the peculiar arrangement of the main driving shaft in com-
bination with the bevelled gear wheels, the clutch, and draw head, all firmly secured
to the frame, so that each frame is a self-contained machine, and the relative position
of all parts will be at all times maintained, and a machine may be conveniently
shipped or moved to any place, and when power is applied will be ready for
immediate operation.
The said Invention further comprises the employment of the clutch by which the
draw head is connected with and disconnected from the driving mechanism.
It further comprises the peculiar arrangement of two cams with the main driving
shaft, one of which cams actuates a lever whereon the draw tongs are secured, and
the other actuates a wire-pointing device.
It also comprises peculiar mechanism by which the drawing machine is auto-
inatically stopped when the wire breaks or the wheel becomes deranged, and a
safety brake, by which the wire is retained on the draw head.
In the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 is a top view of my improved wire-drawing machine, showing the cast
metal frame, the wire reel, the draw head, and portions of the actuating mechanism;
Figure 2 is a front view of the same.
Figure 3 is a view of the lever to which the draw tong, whereby the wire is first
drawn through the die is secured, and also the cam by which the same is operated.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the said machine showing the wire-pointing
device, the cam operating the same, and the foot treadle and levers for operating
the safety break.
Figure 5 shows the mechanism by which the die holder is connected with the
clutch-operating mechanism, so that when the wire breaks the driving clutch is
released and the machine stopped automatically; Figure 6 is a view of the same
mechanism, shown in the position occupied by it when no strain is exerted on the
die plate or the wire.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section of the machine showing the main driving shaft,
the cams for operating the driving lever, the cam for actuating the wire-pointing
device, and other parts.

page_text: -
Figure 8 is a top view of the clutch when turning. loosely; Figure 9 is a view of
the said clutch when engaged.
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the bevelled gear wheel and clutch.
Similar letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A, A, are cast-iron end frames, provided with the bearing blocks B, B, in which
the main driving shaft rests; C is the cast-iron front plate, having the lateral
plate C' either cast in one piece with the front and back plates C, C2, or firmly
bolted between them, and the whole is bolted to the end frames A, A, so as to form
a firm and substantial structure, not liable to warp and give, as is the case with the
heavy wooden tables heretofore used. In the plate C₁ the shaft to which the draw
head is secured has a firm bearing cast with the said plate. C³, C³, are front and
rear horizontal plates, firmly secured to the end frames, and to these plates C³ the
plate C is firmly bolted, or it may be cast with the same, and it forms the step
bearing for the vertical shaft, and also a support for the bearing of the main shaft
at the centre of the machine. The end frames A, the top plates, C, C', and C², and
the plates C and C form the whole frame, and all the parts are secured to and
supported by the same. The spaces between the top plates C, C', and C², may be.
filled with wood to form the table, and as the end frames are made to receive two
ends of the plates a number of duplicate wire-drawing machines may be secured
end to end, all of them being operated by one main driving shaft.
the same.
The mechanism employed to perform the different functions of the machine
comprises the main shaft a, driven by any suitable motor, and to which is secured
the pinion a, the latter gearing with the horizontal bevelled gear wheel a² rotates
b is a vertical shaft, to whose upper end the draw head 6' is secured.
The shaft b passes through the bevelled gear wheel a², and is supported in a step on
the plate.C, the bevelled gear wheel a² may therefore turn on the shaft b, being
loose on the same, whilst the clutch 62 is firmly secured to the shaft b. On the
bevelled gear wheel a² the hinged pawl c is secured, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.
This pawl is provided with a rounded projection c', shown enlarged in Figure 10,
and arranged so that when the lever d is raised the loose friction roll d' will come
in contact with the projection c¹ and engage the hinged pawl with the stop on the
clutch b³, as shown in Figure 9, and when the lever d is lowered the roller d' will
come in contact with the rear end of the hinged pawl c, and disengage the same
from the clutch 62, and stop the rotation of the draw head. E is a spring, arranged
to hold the hinged pawl in the position it is caused to assume by the lever d. It is
shown as engaging with the end of the hinged pawl, but may be arranged in any
other manner to retain the pawl in the desired position. One, two, or more hinged
pawls may be thus secured to the upper surface of the bevel gear wheel a², and one,
two, or more stops may be provided on the clutch 62, at regular or irregular
distances apart, and operated to secure the driving mechanism to or from the clutch,
and to or from the draw head, by the raising or lowering of the lever d. Instead
of securing the hinged pawl to the bevel gear wheel, the same may be secured to a
separate disc, driven in any suitable manner, and thus the driving power connected
with, and disconnected from, the machine by the raising or lowering of the lever d,
thus ensuring the prompt action of the clutch, and preventing the binding usual in
power clutches. Secured to the main shaft a is the cam f, arranged to impart
reciprocating motion to the lever f, whose upper end passes through a slot in the
front plate C, and to this upper end the draw tongs are connected, as shown in
broken lines in Figure 1, and by the same a direct strain is exerted to draw the
first portion of the wire through the die to secure the wire to the draw head b¹;
when the swivelled die holder f readily adjusts itself to the new direction of the
wire. The die holder is secured. to a plate by a bolt passing through a slot in the
front plate C to allow the die holder to swing on the bolt and reciprocate in the
slot, the whole being held in the forward end of the slot by a coiled spring, and
when in operation the strain of the wire on the die causes a strain on the coiled
spring, which allows the die holder to slide in the slot.. As soon as the wire breaks,

page_text: -
the strain being relaxed, the coiled spring draws the die holder forward, and as it is
desirable that when this happens the machine should be automatically stopped the
lever f³ is secured to the lower plate of the die holder, and at its lower end is pro-
vided with the stop f, which, when strain is exerted on the die, passes over the
foot treadle lever f³, hinged to the rear portion of the frame, and projecting in
front of the machine. The treadle is connected with the hinged lever g, which
extends to and raises and lowers the clutch-operating lever d, and as soon as the
strain is relaxed the notch in the stop f' is brought over the foot treadle lever ƒ³
and allows the same to rise, and thus through the lever g depress the lever d, and
by bringing the same in contact with the hinged pawl c stop the revolution of the
draw head. The first of these positions is represented in Figure 5, and the latter
in Figure 6. By this arrangement, the machine will be automatically stopped as
soon as the wire breaks.
When the wire suddenly breaks the portion coiled on the draw head 6' is liable
to uncoil, and if the wire is thick will probably injure the workmen and the
machine. To prevent danger from such accidents I place the hinged brake / in
contact with the draw head to hold the wire by the pressure of the spring h¹, and
when the same is to be released I press on the foot treadle h³, which through the
lever ² operates and releases the brake from the wire, as shown in Figure 4.
The coiled wire on the reel is liable to derangement, and the strain exerted may
break or otherwise injure the reel and "kink" the wire. To avoid these accidents
I mount the reel on the hinged frame i, the reel being supported on a vertical
spindle passing through two brackets secured to the hinged frame i, and provided
with the arm ². The latter rests against the spring , and is provided with a pin
which extends to the stop f4, so that when excessive strain is exerted on the reel i
the pin on the arm 2 will push the stop f* inward, and allow it to pass into a slot
on the foot treadle f5, and thus allow the same to rise, and through the lever g to
operate the lever d, stop the rotation of the draw head, and prevent injury to the
wire reel. The machine will therefore stop automatically when the wire breaks,
and also when the wire on the reel becomes disarranged.
Every time the wire breaks the end must be so pointed as to enter the die; this
operation has heretofore required much time. I therefore place on the machine a
wire-pointing device, consisting of a pair of shears in which the cutters are arranged
to cut a long point. K, K, are two hinged jaws provided with bevelled cutters;
one of these jaws is firmly secured to the front plate C, and the other is provided
with a lever whose end enters the cam K¹, secured to the main driving shaft, and
thus oscillating motion is imparted to the jaw. The wire is inserted between the
jaws, and a long taper wedge is cut from the same, and if required by partially
turning the wire two or more such wedges can be cut, so that the pointed end may be
readily inserted in the die. This pointing device saves time, and facilitates the
operation of the machine.
+
The operation of the said wire-drawing machine is as follows, that is to say :-
A coil of wire being placed on the reel ¹ the operator inserts the end into the
pointing device, where it is pointed. He then passes the pointed end through the
die and grasps it with the tongs secured to the reciprocating lever f', and continues
to draw enough wire to secure the same to the draw head b₁; he then depresses the
foot treadle f³ and thus causes the pawl to engage with the clutch b², giving
rotative motion to the draw head and drawing the wire through the die, the
brake holding it firmly on the draw head, and the strain on the die keeping the
stop over the foot treadle until all the wire is passed through the die, or until
the wire breaks, or the wire on the reel becomes disarranged, when the machine is
instantly stopped by the foot treadle being released, and in its turn releasing
through the lever d the clutch b².
The said machine is entirely self-contained, is strong, and simple in construction
and operation, and will be found very efficient for the purpose for which it is

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The combination with the end frames of the side plates, the step plate, and
the top plates, arranged to form the frame of a wire-drawing machine, and provided
with bearings and brackets to support the shafts and levers, as and for the purpose
set forth.
Second. The combination with the main driving shaft of the pinion, the bevel
gear wheel, the shaft b, and clutch, arranged to drive the draw head, and to be con-
nected with, and disconnected from, the same, as above described, and for the
purpose specified.
Third. The combination with the clutch of the hinged pawl or pawls and the
lever provided with the roller, arranged to connect and disconnect the said clutch,
as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination with the lever and die holder, arranged to yield to the
strain on the wire of the lever f³, the stop and intervening mechanism, by which
the lever d is allowed to disengage the clutch and stop the machine when the wire
breaks.
Fifth. The combination of parts comprising the clutch, the hinged pawl, and the
lever d, arranged to engage and disengage the pawl and the clutch of the foot
treadle, and intervening mechanism arranged to operate the lever d, as and for the
purpose set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the wire reel of the hinged frame, arranged to
support the said reel, and provided with the arm, the spring, and the stop, the
whole arranged to disengage the stop .and release the lever f³ when too much
strain is exerted on the reel, and by suitable intervening mechanism to disengage
the clutch from the driving power, as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the draw head of the brake, held against the
wire on the draw head and the foot treadle, and hinged lever arranged to release
the brake, as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The combination with the die holder of the hinged lever and the cam f,
arranged to give reciprocating motion to the end of the lever, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the shaft a of the cam K', the hinged jaw, arranged
to be operated by the said cam, the stationary jaw, and suitable cutting dies
arranged to point the wire, as and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. In a wire-drawing machine the combination of the following instru-
mentalities, namely, a draw head, arranged to be connected with and disconnected
from the driving power, an automatic detaching apparatus to stop the machine when
the wire breaks, a safety device to hold the wire on the draw head, an automatic
stop motion operated through the wire reel, and a wire-pointing device, driven
from the main shaft, the whole arranged and operating as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.