AN IMPROVED STEAM HAMMER AND HEATING FIRE CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles Wilson, of 8, Grove Park, Redland, in the
City of Bristol, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
STEAM HAMMER AND HEATING FIRE CONNECTED THEREWITH."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1877.
JOHN CHARLES WILSON, of 8, Grove Park, Redland, in the City of Bristol,
Mechanical Engineer.
"AN IMPROVED STEAM HAMMER AND HEATING FIRE CON-
NECTED THEREWITH."
These improvements have reference, first, to a steam hammer to be used prin-
cipally for welding or " veeing up," as it is technically called, the rims of wrought-
iron wheels.
Such hammers have hitherto been made of a horizontal form, with the rim of the
wheel in a vertical position at the part where it is being "veed up," but this
hammer, according to my Invention, is of a vertical form, with the rim of the wheel
in a horizontal position at the part where it is being " veed up."
My improved hammer consists,―
دو
First. Of a cast-iron anvil with a large base resting on the usual timber beams.
In the top part of this anvil a smaller anvil or nose is inserted, projecting from
it, over which the rim of the wheel is placed which is about to be welded. On the
top of the cast-iron anvil a "swan neck" is bolted, carrying the cylinder, valves,
piston, piston rod, and head of the steam hammer, the head working in a guide, and
performing the welding operation of the V piece to the rim of the wheel, which is
laid over the "nose" in a position ready to be welded. The V piece stretches right
across the rim of the wheel, and not only is the welding operation performed by the
hammer head, but it at the same time cuts off the V piece at each side of the wheel.
rim by means of flanges projecting from its face.
In addition to the ordinary slide valve worked by hand for working the steam
hammer I add in my improved hammer a second valve worked by the foot of the
steam hammer driver, which entirely cuts off the steam from the hammer, and

page_text: thereby saves waste of steam when his foot is removed from it, that is, when he
leaves his post as driver of the hammer..
I also construct the sling in which the wheel is being veed up, is held, and swung
from the heating fire to the hammer with a spring so as to be elastic, and allow the
rim of the wheel to rest solidly in the "nose" when it receives the blow of the
steam hammer.
in
Second. Of a heating fire to properly heat the rims of wheels for a vertical steam
hammer. This fire is made with a framing and iron bed, which is adjustable to be
raised or lowered to suit the different sizes of wheels which may be "veed up," the
heated rim of any size of wheel when turned over in the sling in which it is suspended
from the crane always requiring to be at one level, viz., the level of the "nose
the steam haminer. I raise or lower the heading fire either by a screw or screws or
a rack or racks, or hydraulic machinery, or any other suitable mechanical appli-
ance. The blast pipe I construct with a stuffing box so as to be easily raised or
lowered along with the bed of the fire.
My improved steam hammer and heating fire are suitable for other work
besides veeing up wheels, such as welding the levers in reversing or brake
shafts, &c.
.
And instead of the fixed "nose "I construct that part with moveable or fixed dies
for the above-named or other work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Charles Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
January 1878.
JOHN CHARLES WILSON, of 8, Grove Park, Redland, in the City of Bristol,
Mechanical Engineer. "AN IMPROVED STEAM HAMMER AND HEATING FIRE CON-
NECTED THEREWITH."
These improvements have reference, first, to a steam hammer to be used prin-
cipally for welding or “ veeing up,” as it is technically called, the rims of wrought-
iron wheels.
Such hammers have hitherto been made of a horizontal form, with the rim of the
wheel in a vertical position at the part where it is being "veed up," but this hammer;
according to my Invention, is of a vertical form, with the rim of the wheel in a
horizontal position at the part where it is being " veed up."
•
My improved hammer consists,-
"
First. Of a cast-iron anvil with a large base resting on the usual timber beams.
In the top part of this anvil a smaller anvil or nose is inserted, projecting from
it, over which the rim of the wheel is placed which is about to be welded. On the
top of the cast-iron anvil a "swan neck" is bolted, carrying the cylinder, valves,
piston, piston rod, and head of the steam hammer, the head working in a guide, and
performing the welding operation of the V piece to the rim of the wheel, which is
laid over the "nose" in a position ready to be welded. The V piece stretches right
across the rim of the wheel, and not only is the welding operation performed by the
hammer head, but it at the same time cuts off the V piece at each side of the wheel
rim by means of flanges projecting from its face.

page_text: In addition to the ordinary slide valve worked by hand for working the steam
hammer, I add in my improved hamıner a second valve worked by the foot of the
steam hammer driver, which entirely cuts off the steam from the hammer, and
thereby saves waste of steam when his foot is removed from it, that is, when he
leaves his post as driver of the hammer.
I also construct the sling in which the wheel which is being veed up, is held, and
swung from the heating fire to the hammer with a spring so as to be elastic and
allow the rim of the wheel to rest solidly in the "nose" when it receives the blow
of the steam hammer.
Second. Of a heating fire to properly heat the rims of wheels for a vertical steam
hammer. This fire is made with a framing and iron bed, which is adjustable to be
raised or lowered to suit the different sizes of wheels which may be "veed up," the
heated rim of any size of wheel when turned over in the sling in which it is sus-
pended from the crane always requiring to be at one level, viz., the level of the
nose in the steam hammer. I raise or lower the heating fire either by a screw or
screws, or a rack or racks, or hydraulic machinery, or any other suitable mechanical
appliance. The blast pipe I construct with a stuffing box, so as to be easily raised
or lowered along with the bed of the fire.
"
"
My improved steam hammer and heating fire are suitable for other work besides
veeing up" wheels, such as welding the levers on reversing or brake shafts, &c.
And instead of the fixed "nose" I construct that part with moveable or fixed dies
for the above-named or other work.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section of
my improved steam hammer.
"
A is a cast-iron anvil supported upon timber beams. It is formed with a hole
through it to receive the nose or small anvil B, which is fixed in its place by a
wedge driven in at the back; C is the wheel to be operated upon, resting on the
nose with its rim, which has to be completed by the welding in of V pieces in an
horizontal position; D is a "swan neck " bolted to the anvil A; it carries the steam
cylinder E F is the piston rod armed at its lower end with the hammer head G,
and this, as the Drawing shows, is provided with flanges which serve to cut off the
superfluous ends of the V pieces at the same time that the joints are welded up; H
is the guide for the hammer head; it is formed upon the swan neck D ; I is the rod
of the ordinary slide valve; it is connected with the tappet K, which when struck
by the hammer head in the up stroke moves the valve over; L is the lever handle
for working the hammer; the handle and the tappet are fast upon the same axis;
M is a casing containing a steam valve, which is worked by a rod N and a foot
lever O. So long as the hammer boy keeps his foot upon the lever the valve
remains open, but when he leaves it the valve at once closes, shutting the steam off
completely from the hammer, and so preventing waste.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of my improved heating fire; Figure 4 is a back
view of the same; and Figure 5 is a vertical section taken from front to back. In
these Figures the spring sling which forms part of the apparatus is also represented.
P is a hook carried by a swinging jib, or in other convenient manner; it receives
the U piece Q, which has lugs upon its lower end, supporting the coiled spring R;
S is another U piece hanging by its lugs from the top of the spring; it receives the
hook of the cross bar T, from which descend the rods U; these rods at their lower
ends are bent round to receive the trunnion-like holders V, which are clipped on to
the rim of the wheel on opposite sides, and by which it is held and turned about.
The sling is so adjusted that the wheel when brought to the hammer hangs when
turned upright with the upper part of the rim at a level slightly under that of the
nose B of the hammer, so that the workmen have to relieve the spring R of a

page_text: portion of the weight in order to raise the wheel on to the nose, and when there it
rests solidly and firmly whilst the weld is being made.
In order that the fire may be raised or lowered to set it to the position most
convenient for heating the wheel when suspended at the proper height from the
sling the hearth W is supported upon four screw columns X, X, X, X₁; these pass
through holes in the fixed frame Y, and receive nuts which, resting upon the frame,
sustain the hearth at any height to which by turning the nuts it may be set. The
front columns X, X, are connected to the hearth by their upper ends, and the sup-
porting screws are in compression, but the screws X¹, X', at the back are attached
to the hearth by their lower ends, so that these supporting screws are in tension.
The blast nozzle Z and the blast valve are attached to the back of the hearth, and
in connection with the valve box there is a piston suitably packed, and entering a
corresponding socket or cylinder at the upper end of the blast pipe.
It is obvious that in place of employing screws and nuts for raising and lowering
the hearth other instruments, mechanical equivalents for these, may be substituted.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,--
First. My improved steam hammer, substantially as described.
Second. The combination of the anvil A, nose B, and cylinder E, piston F, and
hammer head G; substantially as described.
Third. My improved heating fire with a hearth capable of being raised or lowered
to set it to any desired height, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of apparatus for welding or "veeing up" the rims of
wrought-iron wheels, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Charles Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TATTNT
TILL NOT
JOHN C. WILSON. (L.S.)