US484637A - Apparatus for annealing wire or metallic rods by electricity - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. H. HUNTER.

APPARATUS FOR ANNEALING WIRE OR METALLIC RODS BY ELECTRICITY.

No. 484,637. A Patented Oct. 18, 1892,.

I UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. HUNTER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR ANNEALING WIRE OR METALLIC RODS BY ELECTRICITY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,637, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed June 2, 1891. Serial No. 394,860. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH II. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Apparatus for Annealing IVire or Metallic Rods by Electricity, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus whereby rods or ribbons of metal or wire are heated by means of the electric current to a given heat and allowed to cool again for the purpose of annealing them; and the objects of it are to provide an apparatus wherein the heat to be generated in the wire or rod or ribbon to be annealed can be controlled for the purpose of uniformly annealing the same, and also in the apparatus to provide the means by which this can be done in several different ways.

Figure 1 shows my invention and the electrical circuits through which the current is applied tothe substance to be annealed. Fig.

' 2 is an end view of one of the standards 8 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail of brush-holder5 in Fig. 1.

Like figures and letters refer to like parts throughout.

In Fig. 1,1 is a dynamo, and 2 is a converter arranged in multiple are, with conductors a leading to binding-posts 13 13 of brusli-holders 5 5. 14 is an ammeter, and 3 is a rheostat placed in series in conductor a between one of the terminals of the dynamo and converter and binding-post 13 of brush-holder 5. at is a volt-meter in multiple between the conductors running from the terminals of the dynamo and converter to the binding-posts of the brush-holders. 6 is a graduated rod made of any material which, if a conductor, is separated into two sections by a block of non-conducting material 7. This rod is supported by standards 8 S, fixed in base 12, and upon it are placed brush-holders 5 5, which are constructed in such manner as to be adjusted at any desired distance from each other by sliding the same along rod 6. 9 is a hole in standard 8 through which wire 15 is drawn in passing from a reel 11 to reel 11', being supported while stretched between standards 8 8 by guides 10 10.

In Fig.3, 16 is a set-screw placed in the bruslrholder in such position as to enterhole 17, through which rod 6 is passed for the purpose of adjusting the brush-holders 5 5 with reference to each other. 18 18 are set-screws placed in lugs 19 of the brush-holders for the purpose of forcing the brushes 21 against lug 20 of the same.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the standard 8, showing a hole 22 for the reception of rod 6, and also showing a hole 9, bushed with the metallic bushing 23.

To use my invention after the electrical circuits have been arranged, as hereinbefore described, the wire is passed through the hole 9 in the standard 8 and carried through hole 9 in standard 8 to the reel 11 and the brushes 21 21 are placed in such position as to rub upon wire 15, as shown in drawings. The wire is then caused to pass at the desired speed from reel 11 to reel 11, and, being in contact with both brushes, completes the electrical circuit of the apparatus and the current will be caused to flow through the whole length of the wire or rod or ribbon as it is caused to pass the contact-brushes. In annealing wire or metallic rods it is known that the desired qualities in the same have been attained when the wire or rod has attained a certain temperature, which is ascertained from the color it assumes upon being heated and being allowed to gradually cool. To give any desired quality to annealed wire, the temperature of the same must be controlled, and my present invention affords the means of controlling the temperature given to wires or metallic rods annealed by means of the same.

It is well known that wires, by reason of their resistance, are heated to a certain temperature by the passage of a given electric current, reference being had to the electromotive force and intensity of the same, and by governing the intensity and electro-motive force of a current any desired heat can be given to a wire or a rod of a given resistance. In my present invention the intensity and electro-motive force of the current used to raise the wire or rod to the desired temperature is controlled, first, by the speed at which the dynamo is driven, or the current which is sent through the primary coils of the converter; second, by means of the rheostat 3, placed between the source of electrical energy and the wire or rod to be annealed, and, third, by adjusting the bruslrholders at the terminals of the circuit at different distances from each other, thereby using different lengths of the Wire to be annealed and varying the resistance of the same. Either of these methods may be used to vary the current sent through the Wire independent of the other, or they may be used together, or any two of them in combination, to effect the same result.

The am'meter and volt-meter and the color of the Wire being annealed, will indicate to the person operating my apparatus when the desired temperature of the wire has been obtained, and by the above-mentioned means, either singly or in combination or altogether, Will enable him, in the manner well known, to keep the wire being annealed at that temperature and in that shape which will give it a uniform degree of hardness or softness, as may be desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The brush-holders, each comprising two lugs 19 and an intermediate lug 20, located at some distance from the lugs 19, leaving a space between them, and the brushes 21, clamped in each space, in combination with the circuit connections and means'for feeding the wire along in contact With said brushes, substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for annealing wire by electricity, the slotted standards 8 and 8, the graduated rod secured in the said standards, and the guides 10 and 10, in combination with the brush-holders located on the said rod, the brushes 21 and 21, the binding- posts 13 and 13, located upon the brush-holders, and the electrical connections to the said binding-posts, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus for annealing Wire by electricity, in combination, a graduated rod having mounted thereon adjustable brushholders, said rod being supported by standards provided with guides for the passage of the rod or ribbon to be annealed, and reels for said rod or ribbon, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of May, A. D. 1891.

JOSEPH II. HUNTER.

\Vitnesses:

W. MOKENNAN, J r., JOHN S. LUcocK.

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