Modern Power Hammer

[Monte]

I am in the process of assembling an old 35# Modern power hammer. It seems to be all there, and it looks like it is fairly straight forward. There is one thing that I am puzzled about.

This power hammer has two large pillow blocks that sit on top of the head. These blocks have 2 by about 8 inch cut outs that allow a 2 inch block to slide inside the cut out. there is one on either side, and the pivot shaft runs through these 2 inch blocks. With the pivot arm in place this allows the fulcrum to be adjustable.   So far this all makes sense, and after cleaning everything up it all fits together nicely. This is my concern, near the rear of both pillow blocks is a groove or slot. The pivot arm has a pin that goes through and indexes into these slots in the pillow blocks.The slots are arched and the pin follows the slot with the arm in motion. But with the pin in place the pivot is not able to be changed. 

The explanation may be as simple as it is just there to make a non adjustable hammer, but in case there is a different reason I thought I would seek advice.

 

[ThomasPowers]

Have you read the section on the Modern  Powerhammer in "Pounding out the Profits"?  Have you looked at the patent drawings? (751522 was one patent for it)  Does yours have the spring bow up or bow down?

If you live in the USA you can probably ILL "Pounding out the Profits" at your local public library. If you live in a different country I don't know if you can get easy access to that book;

Excerpt: His Modern Powerhammer employed a pivoting beam with a moveable fulcrum to provide variable blows. The beam itself was constrained from front to back movement by steel straps, while the pivot shaft could be moved forward and backward (within the beam) by a long lever with detents to hold it in the desired position Steel bearing blocks on either side of the pivot moved within inclined brackets  

The design was revised in 1904

[Monte]

Since my hammer has 1904 cast into the base I assume it is later than 1904. The leaf springs are bow downward.

I have researched this forum and found similar hammers.

I will check out "pounding out profits" and see if I can figure out the purpose of those slots.

 

 

 

 

i

[ThomasPowers]

Is there a patent listed on it you could research?

[Monte]

There is no ID plate or tag with serial number.

 

It is coming together, I just have to sort out the drive, disassenble it and fit all back together.

I was planing on painting it but I have decided to leave it as is in case I need to spot any cracks.

[ThomasPowers]

The bow is upward---like a rainbow.  

Most mechanical powerhammers have the ability to work a range of thicknesses and are able to modify that range when the hammer is stopped.  A few were able to change while the hammer is running and a very few, Blacker comes to mind, were able to traverse sideways while running.