IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS FOR MACHINERY, RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bowron, junior, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County
of Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
WHEELS FOR MACHINERY, RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER PURPOSES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE." A commu-
nication from abroad by James Bowron, senior, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
U. S. A., and Albert Livingstone Blackman, of Nashville, U. S. A.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bowron at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1876.
"IM-
JAMES BOWRON, junior, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS FOR MACHINERY, RAILWAY
ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR
THAT PURPOSE." Being a communication to me from abroad by James Bowron,
senior, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., and Albert Livingstone Blackman,
of Nashville, U. S. A.
This Invention consists in the manufacture of wheels adapted for machinery,
railway, and other purposes in one piece, from a mass, block, or disc of heated
wrought iron or steel, by means of a direct action steam hammer, hydraulic
or other pressure, operating upon such mass or disc of metal by means of suitable
dies. These dies are adjustable upper and lower dies, which when brought together
form a matrix of the form and dimensions of the wheel to be produced.
The mass or disc of metal to form the wheel is inserted between the upper and
lower dies, in a heated and plastic state; the dies are then forced together, and
the metal is thus driven or hammered into the dies to form the wheel. At the
same time a mandril is forced through the centre of the mass by means of one of
the dies for the purpose of forming a hole in the centre of the hub of the wheel
for the reception of the shaft or axle. This mandril is formed with an eye or
hole in its upper end or with a shoulder, or such other mechanical arrangement, so
that when the wheel has been formed from the mass of metal inserted between the
dies, such wheel may be removed from the lower die by means of a derrick or
other apparatus, by attaching the hook of the chain through such hole or eye, or
suitable clasp below the projecting shoulder.
The upper die is attached to the lower end of a piston rod working in a steam or

page_text: hydraulic cylinder supported by a pair of standards having their bases securely
embedded in such manner as is usual with direct action steam hammers, the
lower die being fixed on to the anvil block, and has a conically shaped hole formed
therein and in the anvil block for the passage of the lower end of the mandril,
which is placed in a slot or hole in the upper die, and also for the escape of any
dross or metal forced out of the moulds by the downward movement of the
mandril.
"IM-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James Bowron in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th July 1876.
JAMES BOWRON, junior, of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS FOR MACHINERY, RAILWAY
ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
FOR THAT PURPOSE." Being a communication to me from abroad by James Bowron,
senior, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., and Albert Livingstone Blackman, of
Nashville, U. S. A.
: This Invention consists in the manufacture of wheels adapted to be employed-
for machinery, railway, and other purposes in one piece, from a mass, block, or disc
of heated wrought iron or steel, by means of a direct action steam hammer,
hydraulic or other pressure operating upon such mass or disc of heated metal by
means of suitable dies. These dies are adjustable, upper and lower dies, which
when brought together form a matrix of the form and dimensions of the wheel to
be produced.
The mass or disc of metal to form the wheel is inserted between the upper and
lower dies in a heated and plastic state; the dies are then forced together, and
the metal is thus driven or hammered into the dies to form the wheel. At the
same time a mandrel is forced through the centre of the mass by means of one of
the dies for the purpose of forming a hole in the centre of the hub of the wheel
for the reception of the shaft or axle. This mandril is formed with an eye or
holo in its upper end, or with a shoulder or such other mechanical arrangement, eo
that when the wheel has been formed from the mass of metal inserted between the
dies, such wheel may be removed from the lower die by means of a derrick_or.
other apparatus, by attaching the hook of a chain through such hole or eye or
suitable clasp below the projecting shoulder.
Figure 1 in the Drawings hereunto annexed. represents a front view partly in
section, of apparatus constructed for the purposes of this Invention, with dies
applied thereto adapted for the production of pulley wheels..
Figure 2 represents a vertical section of a set of dies adapted to the production
of cogged wheels.
Figure 3 is a similar view of a pair of dies for the manufacture of railway wheels.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, represent detail views of the pair of dies shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 7 shews a plan and edge view of the wheel produced thereby.
Figure 8 shews a plan and side view of the maudril.
Figures 9 and 10 show separate views of the dies shewn in Figure 2.
Figure 11 shews the edge and under side views of the cogged wheel produced
thereby.
Figures 12 and 13 shew detached views of the dies shown in Figure 3.
Figure 14 shews the under side and edge views of a railway wheel produced
thereby.
Similar letters of reference are employed to indicate like parts in all the Figures.
A, A, represent a pair of standards having their bases securely embedded in
such manner as is usual with direct action steam hammers, and supporting at their
upper end a steam or hydraulic cylinder O, the piston rod D, of which is enlarged
at d and provided with a dovetailed groove d') or other suitable means of attach-
ment) for the purpose of receiving a correspondingly formed tongue or projection e
"

page_text: formed on the upper side of a die E which, in Figure 1, belongs to the mould
adapted to the production of a pulley F, but is equally applicable to the moulds
for producing the cogged wheels shewn in Figure 11, or the railway wheels shewn in
Figure 1 by substituting the dies shewn in Figures 2 or 3 respectively. E is
another die adapted to act in conjunction with the die E; this die E' is formed in
two parts e, e, for the purpose of allowing the finished wheel to be removed
therefrom, and which two parts are held in a recess formed in the anvil block G.
The lower half c of this die E¹ is formed with a square or other suitably formed
projection adapted to be received into a correspondingly formed recess in the anvil
block G, for the purpose of preventing the die E from turning in the anvil
block G; H is a mandril provided with conical or tapering ends and held in a slot
or hole e' in the upper die, and adapted in the downward movement of the die E
to pass through the mass of metal placed upon the die E¹ to form the desired
wlicel, and in so passing to form a hole therein, which shall, when the wheel is com-
pleted, be in the centre thereof; I is a conically shaped hole formed in the lower
die E and the anvil block G for the passage of the lower end of the mandril H, and
also for the escape of any dross or metal forced out of the moulds by the downward
movement of the mandril.
In Figures 2 and 3 the dies El are formed each in one piece instead of in two
parts as is the die E', shewn in Figure 1.
The operation is as follows:-The die E is first raised by the piston rod, and
a mandril inserted into the hole et therein, after which the requisite amount of
heated and plastic metal (preferably in form of a disc, and nearly the size of the
intended wheel) is placed centrally in the lower die E. The die E is then caused
to descend by means of the piston and piston rod D forcing the mandril H through
the heated mass, and then forcing or hammering such mass into the interstices of
the moulds E, E', and forming the wheel, as shown in the different Figures. The
wheel having been thus formed the upper die E is again raised, leaving the
mandri firmly embedded in the wheel; a chain is then attached to the
mandril H by placing a hook through the eye or hole in its upper end, or by
other obvious incchanical arrangements, by means of which the wheel can be
readily removed from the lower mould E and the operations repeated. The mandril
may then be drawn out from the wheel leaving a central hole in the hub. On the
sides of the dies E, E', loops, eyes, or cars are formed; for the purpose of facilitating
the removal thereof by derrick chains or other means.
The tread of the railway wheels and the cogs of the cogged wheels can
be hardened by casehardening, carbonizing, or steelifying, by any of the known
processes.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that I do
not claim the steam hammer or any of its parts, but what I consider novel and
original and therefore claim as constituting the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination of the piston rod D, die E, and mandril H, of the die E¹
and anvil block G, and escape hole I, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before set forth and described.
And, Secondly. The combination of the mandril H provided with an eye hole h
and tapering ends, with the dies E, E, escape hole I, and anvil block C, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof I, the said James Bowron, junior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six
JAMES BOWRON, J". (L.S.)