IMPROVEMENTS IN RIVETTING, BORING, AND OTHER APPARATUS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED IN CONSTRUCTING SHIPS, BRIDGES, BOILERS, AND OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES
Year: 1866

page_text: for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIVETTING, BORING, AND OTHER
APPARATUS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED IN CONSTRUCTING SHIPS, BRIDGES,
BOILERS, AND OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 18th January 1867, and dated the 21st July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st July
1866.
1, HUGH SMITH, of the Firm of Smith, Brothers, and Company, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIVEITING, BORING, AND
OTHER APPARATUS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED IN CONSTRUCTING SHIPS, BRIDGES,
BOILERS, AND OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has principally for its objects to methodise, to expedite, to
cheapen, and generally to improve the constructive operations in making ships,
bridges, boilers, and other metallic structures.
The nature of the improved apparatus and arrangements will be most easily
understood from the following description of their adaptation to shipbuilding,"
but it must be understood that their application is not limited to this
Price 8d.1

page_text: important art. It is to the rivetting of the plates of an iron ship to the
frames and to each other that the arrangements about to be described are
specially adapted, and this being the case it must be assumed at the outset
that the frames and plates are in position.
An important feature of the present Invention consists in providing frames
or supports for the rivetting apparatus, and in arranging for the progressive
movement of the apparatus as the work proceeds.
There are in one modification four principal frame bars or frame tubes
situated in transverse vertical planes, but bent in those planes approximately
to the transverse sectional contour of the ship's side. Two of these fixed
frame bars (as they may be termed) are outside, and the other two are inside,
and they are held by links jointed or fixed to shoes, which are bolted or
otherwise fixed upon the ship frames or plates. A movable frame is carried
upon the outer pair of fixed frame bars, and consist of one or more hori-
zontal bars or tubes held by two carriages, which latter are fitted with or
without rollers to run or slide on the fixed frame bars, the rollers or
corresponding parts being acted on by springs so as to grip the bars.
In order to adjust the movable frame on the fixed frame bars each of the
latter has a chain fixed to its top and bottom ends, and the two chains pass
round barrels or pulleys on the carriages, the barrels being fitted with
gearing so that they can be actuated either simultaneously or independ-
ently. By turning the barrels the movable frame can be warped towards
either end of the fixed frame bars. On the horizontal bars of the movable
frame there is mounted, so as to slide thereon, a holder or slide, which
carries a small steam or compressed air hammer for effecting the rivetting
operation. The hammer cylinder has formed on it a projecting zone, which
is shaped spherically to fit a corresponding spherically shaped seat formed
in the slide, and in a movable cap, which last secures the cylinder in its
place, and may be screwed up to fix the cylinder in any angular position
that may be required and that the spherical form of the parts admits of. The
piston, piston rod, and hammer head are rigidly united, and the valve, which
is by preference of the cylindrical class in use with ordinary steam hammers,
is actuated by means of adjustable tappet pieces on rods fixed to a cross head
on the piston rod, the tappets acting on levers on a rocking spindle, having
on it a lever connected to the valve spindle. Springs may be applied to these
details to mitigate the concussiens. In other respects the hammer details are
like those of ordinary double-acting steam hammers, the steam or com-
pressed air being of course supplied by means of flexible or jointed tubing.

page_text: The rivetting apparatus is shifted on its supports by means of racks and
pinions, or by barrels or pulley and chain gear, or as is preferred by means of
screws. In connection with the hammering apparatus there remains only
to mention that there is attached to the movable frame a platform for the
attendant worker or workers to stand on, such platform being adjustable. To
act in concert with the hammering apparatus carried by the outer fixed frame
bars there is carried on the inner fixed frame bars a movable frame consisting
of one or more horizontal bars or tubes; on which is supported the dolly or
holder up. This dolly consists simply of a massive bar made to bear up
against the inner end of the rivet, and oppose the blows of the hammer, having
spiral blade or rubber springs and adjusting screws applied to it in an
convenient way to obtain the requisite pressure. and being by preference
arranged with its weight equally on opposite sides of its supporting tube. Or
the requisite elastic opposing pressure may be obtained by means of steam, air,
or other elastic fluid. In general the tube will take the strain directly, but in
some cases the dolly will require to be carried by a lever, whilst in other cases
a simple weight suspended by suitable tackling running on rollers above may
be substituted for the spring dolly; or the holding up may be performed by
hand in the ordinary way. The dolly may be shifted by means similar to
those herein-before described as applied to the rivetting apparatus. The
dolly tube or support carries an adjustable platform for the attendant worker
who has to put in the rivets and to place the dolly against them. When the
rivetting or other work in which the apparatus is used is done in the portion
of the ship's side between the fixed frame bars, one outer bar and one inner
bar are shifted a stage further on, and the hammering and dolly apparatus
are also moved. The links connecting the frame bars to the ship frames or
plates are by preference disposed angularly to enable the hammer to act
quite up to the centre line of the shoes, and when shifting a stage the links
of the bar which is not shifted are turned over in the other angular direction
to admit of the new stage of rivetting being commenced where the preceding
one left off.
In making some structures, such, for example, as bridge beams or girders, or
boilers, the frames for carrying the rivetting or other apparatus may be fixed to
the structure itself. or not, as may be convenient: thus the structure may be
supported above the ground, whilst the frames for the rivetting apparatus may
be upon a carriage or slide beneath, which carriage or slide can be traversed
along as the work progresses. Instead of adjusting the movable frame or
frames by warping in the manner herein-before indicated, the adjustment may

page_text: be effected by means of chains wound on barrels situated at the end or
ends of the fixed frames. or differential pulleys or rack-and-pinion gear
may be used for the same purpose. The racks may be applied to or formed
on the frame bars or tubes, and partially or entirely round them. the pinions
being shaped to suit the racks. The fixed frame bars, herein-before described
as being placed in vertical planes, may be arranged horizontally or otherwise,
the movable frames having their position changed correspondingly, and being
in general at right angles to the fixed frames. The fixed frames, or both fixed
and movable frames, may obviously be used for other operations besides
rivetting for example, for boring, countersinking, finishing, and similar
operations, boring or other machines with one or more drills or other tools being
substituted for the rivetting apparatus. The apparatus for boring or the like
comprises a frame fitted with one or more drills or revolving spindles. and
arranged to slide or be otherwise adjustable upon the frame bars or tubes, so
as to admit of holes being bored in any required position or direction. The
rotation of the spindles may be obtained by an engine worked by steam or
compressed air, or by power transmitted by a belt from a portable or other
convenient engine. When two or more drills are arranged upon the apparatus
to operate simultaneously they are made adjustable to suit different distances
between the holes to be bored. Tools are provided for adaptation to the
spindles for countersinking the holes, and for finishing or dressing the rivets
to make them flush with the plates, this last operation being effected in a
better manner by the rotatory action of the spindles and suitable cutiers than
by the ordinary process of chipping.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hugh Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I. HUGH
SMITH. of the Firm of Smith. Brothers, and Company, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me,
the said ugh Smith, Her special licence that I, the said Hugh Smith, my

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Hugh
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIVETTING,
BORING, AND OTHER APPARATUS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED IN CONSTRUCTING
SHIPS, BRIDGES, BOILERS, AND OTHER METALLIC STRUCTURES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Hugh Smith, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Hugh Smith, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings. that
is to say:
My said Invention has principally for its objects to methodise, to expedite,
to cheapen, and generally to improve the constructive operations in making
ships, bridges, boilers, and other metallic structures.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the
same may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings to be hercin-after referred to in describing the
adaptation of my improvements to shipbuilding: it must, however, be under-
stood that their application is not limited to this important art.
It is to the rivetting of the plates of an iron ship to the frames and to
each other that the arrangements about to be described are specially adapted.
and this being the case it must at the outset be assumed that the frames and
plates are in position.
Figure on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an elevation of a
ship's frame F with the plates P upon it ready for being rivetted.
An important feature of the present Invention consists in providing frames
or supports for the rivetting apparatus. and in arranging for the progressive
movement of the apparatus as the work proceeds.
There are in the modification represented on the accompanying Drawings
four principal frame bars 1, 2, 3, 4, situated in transverse vertical planes, but

page_text: bent in those planes approximately to the transverse sectional contour of the
ship's side. Two, 1, 2, of these fixed frame bars (as they may be termed) are
outside, and the other two. 3, 4, are inside, and they are held by links 5
jointed or fixed to shoes 6, which are bolted or otherwise fixed upon the ship
frames F or plates P. A movable frame is carried upon the outer pair of
fixed frame bars 1. 2, and consists of one or more, say, in the present
example, two horizontal bars or tubes 7, 8, held by two carriages 9, which
latter are fitted with (or without) rollers. 10 to run (or slide) on the fixed
frame bars 1. 2. the rollers 10 or corresponding parts being acted on by
springs so as to grip the bars 1. 2. Figure 2 is a view at right angles to
Figure 1. showing the movable frame tubes 7, 8, and parts connected there-
with, and Figure 3 is a corresponding sectional plan. One of the carriages 9
is shown on an enlarged scale in side view in Figure 6 on Sheet 2 of the
Drawings, and in edge view and plan in Figures 7 and 8. In order to adjust
the movable frame 7, 8, 9, on the fixed frame bars 1, 2, each of the latter has
a chain fixed to its top and bottom ends, and the two chains pass round
pulleys or barrels 12 on the carriages 9. the barrels 12, being fitted with
gearing which will be easily understood from the Drawings, so that they can
be actuated either simultaneously or independently. By turning the barrels
12 the movable frame 7, 8, 9, can be warped towards either end of the fixed
frame bars 1. 2. On the horizontal bars or tubes 7. 8. there is mounted so
as to slide thereon a holder or slide 13, which carries a small steam or
This
compressed air hammer 14, for effecting the rivetting operation.
hammer is shown in Figures 2 and 3, and on an enlarged scale in Figures 9,
10, and 11. which are respectively a sectional end elevation, a sectional plan,
and a sectional side elevation. The hammer cylinder has formed on it a pro-
jecting zone 15. which is shaped spherically to fit a corresponding spherically
shaped seat formed in the slide 13, and in a movable cap 16, which last
secures the cylinder in its place, and may be screwed up to fix the cylinder in
any angular position that may be required, and that the spherical form of the
parts admits of. The piston. piston rod, and hammer head 17 are rigidly
united, and the valve 18, which is by preference of the cylindrical class in use
with ordinary steam hammers. is actuated by means of adjustable tappet
pieces 19 on two rods 20 fixed to a cross head on the piston rod, the tappets
19 acting on levers 21 on a rocking spindle 22. having on it a lever connected
to the valve spindle, and a handle for actuating it by hand. Springs 23 are
applied to the valve spindle to mitigate the concussions of the valve details.
these springs being disposed so as to encounter the opposite sides of the

page_text: zone 15, through which the valve spindle is guided. In other respects the
hammer details are like those of ordinary double-acting steam hammers, the
steam or compressed air being of course supplied by means of flexible or
jointed tubing. The rivetting or hammering apparatus is shifted on its
supports 7, 8, by means of racks or pinions, or by barrel or pulley and chain
gear, or by means of screws. A simple arrangement is shown in Figure 2,
and consists of a barrel b, from which chains c pass over guide pulleys to
points of attachment on the carriages 9, one chain being unwound from the
barrel as the other is wound on it. When a rivet happens to be so placed
that the hammer cannot conveniently be adjusted to strike it exactly in the
right direction a cress or intermediate piece formed with oblique faces may
be interposed between the hammer head and the rivet, so as to suitably
modify the action of the hammer. Various cresses may of course also be used
in the regular way to give particular forms to the rivet heads, or the acting
faces of the hammer head and dolly may be variously shaped for the same
purpose.
The apparatus may be used with cold rivets as well as with hot ones when
made of a suitable strength. In connection with the hammering apparatus
there remains only to mention that there is attached to the movable frame 7,
8, 9, or properly speaking to the carriages 9 a platform 24 for the attendant
worker or workers to, stand on, such platform 24 being adjustable relatively
to the carriages 9, so that it can always be set in a horizontal position
whatever may be the position of the carriages. To act in concert with the
hammering apparatus carried by the outer fixed frame bars 1, 2, there is
carried on the inner fixed frame bars 3, 4, a movable frame, consisting of
one or more horizontal bars or tubes 25, on which is supported the dolly or
holder up 26; this dolly is shown in Figures 1 and 3, and on an enlarged
scale, and in section in Figure 4; and a modification is shewn in section in
Figure 5. The dolly consists mainly of a massive bar 26 made to bear up
against the inner end of the rivet and oppose the blows of the hammers 17,
having spiral blade or rubber springs, and adjusting screws or levers applied
to it in any convenient way to obtain the requisite pressure, and being by
preference arranged with its weight nearly equal on opposite sides of its
supporting tube 25, as in the modification shown in Figure 5.
The two modifications shown in Figures 4 and 5 have several features in
common; the bar 20, which is forked in Figure 5 to pass the frame tube 25,
is formed with a cross head 27, between which and another cross head 28
there are two spiral springs 29 on tubes fixed in the cross head 28. The

page_text: action of the springs 29 may be improved by arranging them in pairs, each
pair consisting of two concentric springs with the spirals running in reverse
directions. The force of the springs is regulated by a hand wheel 30 fixed
on a nut working on a screw spindle 31. In Figure 4 this spindle 31 is
shown as formed in one piece with a sleeve or saddle fitted upon the frame
tube 25, and on the other side of which the spindle is continued into the
bar 26 to act as a guide therefor. The sleeve or saddle is fixed on the frame
bar 25 by means of a cod indicated by dotted lines, and acted on by a screw
spindle 32 tapped through the spindle 31. In Figure 5 the spindle 31 is
screwed into the sleeve or saddle on the frame tube 25 to pinch the cod
against the tube, the sides of the sleeve being shaped to guide the forked part
of the bar 26. A ring 33 is bolted to the cross head 27 (Figure 5) to bear
ugainst a collar formed on the spindle 31, and take the strain of the springs
29. Instead of fitting the dolly with springs the requisite elastic. opposing
pressure may be obtained by means of steam, air, or other elastic fluid. In
general the frame tube 25 will take the strain of the dolly directly, but in
some cases the dolly will require to be carried by a lever, as shown at A in
Figure 1, whilst in other cases a simple weight suspended by suitable tackling
running on rollers above may be substituted for the spring dolly; or the
holding up may be performed by hand in the ordinary way. The dolly inay
be shifted by means similar to those herein-before described as applied to the
rivetting apparatus. The dolly tube or support 25 carries an adjustable
platform 34 for the attendant worker, who has to put in the rivets and place
the dolly against them. The rivetting and hammering apparatus and the
dolly may obviously be transposed, the former to act on the inside and the
latter on the outside of the vessel. When the rivetting or other work in
which the apparatus is used is done in the portion of the ship's side between
the fixed frame bars 1, 2, one outer bar 1 and one inner bar 3 are shifted a
stage further on, and the hammering and dolly apparatus are also moved.
The links 5 connecting the frame bars 1, 2, 3, 4, to the ship frames or plates
are by preference disposed angularly, as best seen in Figure 3, to enable the
hammer to act quite up to the centre line of the shoes 6; and when shifting a
stage the links 5 of the bar (2 or 4), which is not shifted, are turned over in
the other angular direction, as shown by the dotted lines, to admit of the new
stage of rivetting being commenced where the preceeding one left off.
In making some structures, such, for example, as bridge beams or girders,
or boilers, the frames for carrying the rivetting or other apparatus may be
fixed to the structure itself or not, as may be convenient; thus the structure

page_text: may be supported above the ground, whilst the frames for the rivetting
apparatus may be on a carriage or slide, beneath which carriage or slide
can be traversed along as the work progresses. Instead of adjusting the
movable frame or frames by warping in the manner herein-before described.
the adjustment may be effected by means of chains wound on barrels or
winches situated at the end or ends of the fixed frames; or differential
pulleys or rack and pinion gear may be used for the same purpose. The
racks may be applied to or formed on the frame bars or tubes, and partially
or entirely around them, the pinions being shaped to suit the racks. The
fixed frame bars (1. 2. 3, 4), herein-before described as being placed in
vertical planes, may be arranged horizontally or otherwise. the movable
frames (7, 8, 25.) having their position changed correspondingly, and being
in general at right angles to the fixed frames. The fixed frames (1, 2, 3, 4,)
or both fixed and movable frames may obviously be used for other operations
besides rivetting; for example, for boring, countersinking, finishing, and
similar operations, boring or other machines with one or more drills or other
tools being substituted for the rivetting apparatus.
The apparatus for boring or the like comprises a frame fitted with one or
more drills or revolving spindles, and arranged to slide, or to be otherwise
adjustable upon the frame tubes 7, 8, so as to admit of holes being bored in
any required position or direction. The rotation of the spindles may be
obtai by an engine worked by steam or compressed air, or by power
transmitted by a belt from a portable or other convenient engine. A simple
arrangement for actuating a single drill or other tool is shown in section in
Figure 12 and in sectional end view in Figure 13, and is constructed so that it
can be held in the slide 13, 16, on the movable frame bars 7, 8, in place of
the hammer cylinder 14. Fixed or cast together in one piece are the zone-
shaped part 15 for being held angularly or otherwise in the slide 13, 16, the
bearings for the drill spindle 35 and a small steam cylinder 36 arranged to
drive the spindle 35 directly, this spindle having a fly wheel 37 and crank on
it. The drill or other tool 38 is held in a tubular extension 39 of the spindle
35, driven therefrom by means of a key and groove, and fed by means of a
forked lever 40, acting by means of pins between a collar on the tubular
spindle 39, and actuating by means of a screw spindle 41 and hand wheel 42.
More than one drill spindle may be actuated simultaneously if wished; thus
two more spindles might be arranged in the same apparatus, one on each side
of the spindle 35. and be driven therefrom by means of pinions, or "two or more
spindles may be arranged in a line to be driven by bevil gear from a shaft

page_text: running across their ends, and actuated by a donkey engine, in which case the
spindles might be made adjustable at various distances apart.
Tools are
provided for adaptation to the spindles (35, 39,) for countersinking the holes
and for finishing or dressing the rivets to make them flush with the plates,
this last operation being effected in a better manner by the rotatory action of
the spindles and suitable cutters, of which an example is shown in side and
face view in Figures 14 and 15, than by the ordinary process of chipping.
Amongst the other revolving tools which the apparatus may be made to drive
is one of the kind shown in Figure 16, which may be used for finishing or
dressing the edges of plates.
The framework (1. 2, 7, 8, 9.) (3. 4, 25.) and the adjustable stages (24)
(34) may obviously be used so as to avail of a portion of the advantages
which are the objects of my Invention, without using therewith the other
apparatus herein described, that is to say, when the rivetting and other
operations are performed by hand, and they may be used for any manual
operations on the side of the ship or other structure, such as caulking,
painting, and the like.
Having this particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I have to state that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described or delineated; but that what I
believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. Generally the improved adaptations herein-before described of rivetting,
boring, and other apparatus and arrangements connected therewith, and more
particularly,
2. The providing of supports for rivetting, boring, and other apparatus in
connection with the structures upon which they operate, and arranging for
their progressive movement, substantially as herein-before described, and the
combining together of the parts of such supports and apparatus, substantially
in the improved modes herein-before described.
3. The boring and countersinking of holes and the finishing of rivets
and plate edges upon metallic structures by adjustable apparatus held by a
special framework in connection with the structure, substantially as herein-
before described.
4. The using of steam, air, or other elastic fluid for imparting to the dolly
a regulated elastic holding up pressure, substantially as herein-before
described. And,
5. The employing of a framework and stages, arranged substantially in

page_text: the improved manner herein-before described, for facilitating manual operations
on the side of a ship or other metallic structure.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
EMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.