Tail hammer
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A tail hammer is a type of stick hammer and belongs to the group of water-powered mechanical drop hammers . This design was already in use in the late Middle Ages and thus well before the industrial revolution and was replaced at the end of the 19th century with the general use of electricity by more effective types such as the spring hammer and later the air hammer .
Structure and functionality
Tail hammers consist of an iron hammer head called a " bear ", a handle called a " helmet ", and a water- driven camshaft called a "thumb shaft". The fin of the "bear" was often steeled for longer durability . Sometimes the “bear” had a “recording” on the underside. The upper die or the upper saddle was inserted into this "receptacle" . The counterpart to the upper die is the lower die or lower saddle.
The lower die or an anvil is mounted on the so-called scabot . The scabbot usually consists of a large, fixed block of wood placed on the floor. About two thirds of its length, an axis runs through the “helmet”, on which the hammer can move up and down, similar to a seesaw . The axis is mounted freely rotating in a frame or the building wall. A massive iron mandrel is mounted on the side of the “helmet” facing the thumb shaft. The cams attached to the thumb shaft strike this iron mandrel as soon as the shaft begins to rotate. These cams are called "frogs". The "frogs" now push the rear part of the helmet, which is called the "tail" and thus gives the hammer its name, downwards. This lifts the opposite end of the helmet together with the “bear” from the scabbard. As soon as the “frog” releases the “tail” by turning the thumb shaft further, the “bear” hits the scabbard and anvil. Iron can now be forged between the anvil and the "bear". This technique was used in hammer mills and was typically driven by a water wheel. These were usually medium or overshot .
Tail hammers were used in scythe hammers , but they were mainly used for the production of wrought iron from sponge iron (lobes) to produce semi-finished products such as B. to shape iron bars or rails . Later, due to the higher force, one switched to working with "throwing" or horizontal hammers .
gallery
Historical illustration of a hammer mill with three tail hammers (early 18th century).
Historical photo of a Polish hammer mill with tail hammers (around 1900).
View of the hammer frame of the iron hammer Dorfchemnitz .
Received certificates
- Three historical tail hammers are preserved in the Elmstein coat of arms forge .
