Untitled record

Application filed December 12,1888. Serial No. 293,411, (No model.) .

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, William Taylor, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and st_a.t_{e ot}· Pennsylvania, have in5 vented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Manufacturing and Producing V ires of A arious Shapes, of which the following is a .specification.

J h<i i others may fully understand my into vention, I will briefly state that the old process of wire-drawing consists in passing a suitable metallic rod or wire through a series of holes of less diameter, each of the same form, but of gradually-diminished size, whereJ5 by the whole circumference of the wire is affected, and its body attenuated, lengthened, and changed with a proportionable reduction of its diameter.

To enable others skilled in the art. to fully2o understand iny invention and put the same into practice, I will proceed to describe my improved means for manufacturing or drawing wire from one shape into that of other and different shapes by reference to the ae25 companying drawing.

/or die purpose of converting a round rod 1 into a flat wire, I prepare a strong metallic plate 2 and provide the same with a series of transverse holes, the first of which corre.30 spends in general outline with the circumference of the rod or wire to be operated on and through this first, hole 3 the rod 1 or initial wire is drawn for removing therefrom any undue roughness and giving it uniform35 Ry of size preparatory to converting it into other and different shapes. The wire is passed successively through the other holes of the series, whose outlines are rectangular parallelograms all of equal· length and differing ⁴⁰ T ^bein£ consecutively less in widtln l.he wire when drawn through the second ioki -1 has two sides of said wire depressed making them flat and leaving i ts edges round. The wire is then drawn through the third 45 hole 0, which increases the width of its. flattened surfaces, bringing them nearertogother. The wire is next drawn through the fourth hole 6, which not only increases the width of its plain,,,surfaces, but nearly squares its 50 rounded edges. The Ay ire is finally drawn I through the fifth hole 7, which causes.it to I assume the exact shape of said hole, whereby a flat rectangular wire 8 is produced, having a width equal to the diameter of the original rod or initial wire. ' 55

To convert a round wire to one of triangular form, I employ a draw-plate 9, having a series of holes'all of equal width that gradually and consecutively change in outline from a complete circle to that of a complete tri- 6u angle, and through these several holes in regular sequence the wire is drawn, to bring it to thedesired shape. After beingdrawn through the circular hole 10, for purposes hereinbefore stated, the wire 11 is passed through the sec- 65 ond hole 12, which differs from a circle in having three equidistant and equal portions of its circumference bounded by three straight lines arranged at an angle of sixty degrees to each other, the intermediate portions of its 70 circumference retaining a curvilinear form corresponding to the out line of the first or'eircular hole. The rod on passing through this second hole 12 assumes its shape by being elongated and depressed to the extent of hav- 75 ing three equidistant portions of its surface flattened, each equaling in breadth one-sixth of its circumference. After its passage through the second hole 12 the wire.is_: drawn through the tliird hole 13, which is similar in 80 shape to that of. the second hole, but differs therefrom i n that.its curvilinear faces or sides are narrowed and its straight ones proportionally widened. On passing through this third hole 13 the wire has its form brought to a cor- 85 responding shape. The wire is rext passed through the fourth hole 14, which is so shaped as to furthei! increase tlie width of its flat sides arid lessen itscurved'portions. The wire is subsequently and finally passed through 90 the fifth hole 15, wherebyil.is given tlie shape of a triangular wire 16, having three plain sides which meet in th rec., parallel lines or angles, the corners or edges of,, which , will _; each touch at equiilistaijt points the original 95 , circle of tlie first, hole when placed therein. Thus from a round wire one of triangular form is produced,.each side equaling in width lhe diameter of the originator initial wire, and the three sides its circumference. 10c

J 0 convert a round wire into one having a tri foliated form a similar struct 11 re of draw2

414,080 is used, having holes that gradually change from a complete circle into the form of an oblong haying straight· sides and rounded ends, 70 whereby the original round wire 34 as it is drawn consecutively through them is caused to assume the shape of a flat wire 36, having rounded or curved edges and of a breadth equaling the diameter of the original round 75 wire.

The several and various shapes of wires represented in the drawing, numbers 37 to 46, inclusive, may, by the means and process described or similar means, in like manner b^e So produced from round or square wire without undue strain or lessening the original diameter or width of the same.

I am aware that in the .manufacture ot wire .draw-plates have been used having a se- 85 ries of many holes of gradually-decreasing size, and that wire has been drawn through them for increasing its length and reducing its diameter. I am also aware that by similar means wire has been drawn into various 90 complex shapes; but in all such methods of manufacture the whole and entire surface ot the wire has been subjected to the action of the draw-plate and -reduced at each and every pass through its holes. The old method.of 95 manufacturing wire is to attack its entire surface and reduce its diameter at each and every pass. Under such harsh treatment the wire becomes very hard, requiring repeated annealings, which not only softens.the wire, 100 but oxidizes and roughens its surface, makhm it unfit for further drawing until the oxide is removed by a pickling and washing process. Even then it is more severe on the draw-plate and the wire is not so. smooth 105 as it would be were these things avoided. .

In the practice of niy invention the wire lias a part only of its surface acted upon at e’ach pass through the successive holes m the draw-plate, the remainder of its surface being 110 unaffected and left in its original condition. Thus much friction is avoided. It is easier on the draw-plate and less severe on the wire, which does not become so hard under the drawing process as to require extra annealing 115 and subsequent pickling. By my improved methods of wire-drawing the fiber, filaments, and molecules of metal under strain are given an opportunity to adjust themselves with relation to other and different portions not uii- 120 der strain, whereby the wire remains stronger and less liable to tear or break while undergoing the drawing process. Nor is the original surface or “skin” on the wire mutilated or injured, but is simply spread, condensed, 125 and forced into a different shape, leaving the wire in that respect as proportionably strong as it was primarily. .

By the means and process described wire of one form is concerted into another aiid 130 different form without any intermediate annealing. ' Therefore it possesses a smoother, harder, and better surface, that adds to its quality, improves its appearance, and enplate 17 to that just described is used, and the holes are the same with this exception, that instead of having portions of their outline in right or straight lines those parts in this plate 17 form inward reverse curves constituting convex surfaces each separated from the other by portions that, if continued around the hole, would make a complete circle. The wire 18 is to be drawn through the io first or circular hole 19 for purposes previously stated, and then through the second hole 20, whereupon the wire will have three separate portions of its circumference depressed, furrowed, or fluted, while, the .inter15 mediate portions will retain their original form. By drawing it through the third hole 21 the furrows or flutes will be made deeper and wider. On its passage through the fourth hole 22 it will take the shape of a triangle having three concave sides separated by undisturbed parts of its originalcircu inference. The fifth hole 23 is so shaped that the wire on being drawn through it will asstime the form of a trifoliate or three-ribbed wire 24, 25 having rounded edges and concaved sides, the extremities occupying the same, relative position they did originally, each being separated from the other a distance equal to the diameter of the initial wire, and with an out30 line equaling its circumference.

To convert a rouud wire 25 into one having the form of a cross, a similar draw-plate 26is used as that just described for making three-ribbed wire, the difference being that 35 the several holes gradually change from a complete circle into the form of a cross, whereby the original wire as it is drawn through them in regular sequence is caused to assume the shape of a cross or four-ribbed 40 wire 27, the extremities of which are separated from each other a distance equaling the diameter of the original round wire and with an outline equaling its circumference.

To convert a round wire 28 into one having 45 the form of a five-pointed star, a draw-plate 29 is used, having holes that gradually change from a complete circle into the.form of a fivepointed star, whereby the original wire as it is drawn through them in regular sequence 50 is caused to gradually assume, the shape of a five-pointed star or wire 30 having that shape, the' several extremities of which occupy the same relative position to each other, that they did in the original round wire. Therefore 55 the diameter is the same. ' _ .To convert a square wire 31 into one of triangular form, a draw-plate 32 is used, having holes that gradually change in shape from a. complete rhombus into the form of a com plete 60 triangle, whereby the original square wire 31 as it is drawn consecutively through them is caused to assume the shape of a triangular wife 33, each side thereof eqiialing in width the-distance between the widest-separated 65 corners or angles of the original square. .

To convert a round wire 34 into one having flat sides and rounded edges, a draw-plate 35

414,090 fiances its value, as it is stiffer, brighter, and . less liable to rust. In that respect it is particularly useful for manufacturing into wire nails and various things known in the arts.