Today in Wheeling History: October 1—Ralph D. Nye filed a patent for an innovative manipulator for rolling mills, a machine with mechanical arms that safely moved and turned heavy hot metal in steel factories, improving industrial manufacturing equipment (1930).
Ralph D. Nye was a Wheeling, West Virginia inventor and engineer whose innovations advanced the steel and foundry industries during the early twentieth century. On October 1, 1930, Nye filed a patent application for a manipulator for rolling mills, which was granted on March 29, 1932 as U.S. Patent No. 1,851,921. His invention was a machine that helped steel mill workers handle heavy pieces of hot metal safely. In steel mills, workers needed to move and flip large metal bars while they were being shaped by giant rollers. These bars were extremely hot and very heavy, making them dangerous to handle by hand. Nye designed a machine with mechanical arms and fingers that could grab, lift, and turn the metal pieces automatically. His design improved earlier machines by making the moving parts connect better and adding a better oil system to keep everything running smoothly. This meant the machine lasted longer and broke down less often. Nye worked for Wheeling Mold & Foundry Division of the Continental Roll & Steel Foundry Company, and he gave them the rights to his invention.
Wheeling Mold & Foundry was organized in 1893 and became a major producer of heavy castings and steel mill equipment. The company was sold to Continental Roll and Steel Foundry Company in June 1930, the same year Nye filed his patent. His invention helped Wheeling's steel mills work better and safer, adding to the city's reputation as an important manufacturing center.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (http://bit.ly/3KqlkPc) (https://tinyurl.com/mpd62cp4); Google Patents (https://tinyurl.com/mr3zjp5m)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; U.S. Patent Office
Ralph D. Nye was a Wheeling, West Virginia inventor and engineer whose innovations advanced the steel and foundry industries during the early twentieth century. On October 1, 1930, Nye filed a patent application for a manipulator for rolling mills, which was granted on March 29, 1932 as U.S. Patent No. 1,851,921. His invention was a machine that helped steel mill workers handle heavy pieces of hot metal safely. In steel mills, workers needed to move and flip large metal bars while they were being shaped by giant rollers. These bars were extremely hot and very heavy, making them dangerous to handle by hand. Nye designed a machine with mechanical arms and fingers that could grab, lift, and turn the metal pieces automatically. His design improved earlier machines by making the moving parts connect better and adding a better oil system to keep everything running smoothly. This meant the machine lasted longer and broke down less often. Nye worked for Wheeling Mold & Foundry Division of the Continental Roll & Steel Foundry Company, and he gave them the rights to his invention.
Wheeling Mold & Foundry was organized in 1893 and became a major producer of heavy castings and steel mill equipment. The company was sold to Continental Roll and Steel Foundry Company in June 1930, the same year Nye filed his patent. His invention helped Wheeling's steel mills work better and safer, adding to the city's reputation as an important manufacturing center.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (http://bit.ly/3KqlkPc) (https://tinyurl.com/mpd62cp4); Google Patents (https://tinyurl.com/mr3zjp5m)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; U.S. Patent Office
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