IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING SPIKES.
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING
SPIKES. A communication from abroad by Amos Whittemore, of
Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, United States of America,
1
Sealed the 18th July 1875, and dated the 15th January 1875,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his l'etition,
on the 15th January 1875.
1, William - ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haschine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
IN MACHINERY
nature of the said Invention for
MANUFACTURING SPIKES," a communication, to be as follows:-
IMPROVEMENTS
FOR
This Invention has relation to machinery which is designed for making
split spikes for holding down railway rails and for other like purposes,
the said machinery being especially designed for making spikes which
|Price Sd.]

page_text: +
The nature of my Invention consists,—
First. In a device which will bend one end of the spike rod and form
part of the point at the same time that a cutter advances and severs the
blank from the rod.
Secondly. In a movable feed gauge, against which the spike rod is
adjusted when first introduced into the machine, which gauge will
automatically recede or move out of the way to allow the spike to be
freely discharged from the machine.
Thirdly. In a vertically vibrating replacer, which will bring the prong
of the spike back to its place after the splitting operation."
Fourthly. In the employment of a cutter which operates in a diagonal
direction with respect to the length of the spike, and forms a chisel edge
on the
prong while this prong is at its lowest point, during which
operation the blank is firmly held, and a head is formed on it.
Fifthly. In the formation of an angular cutter on the upper splitting
device for the purpose of finishing the point on the shank or body of the
spike during the descending stroke of the said splitting device.
Sixthly. In a laterally moving feed table for the spike rod in com-
bination with a laterally movable heading tool and a stationary shearing
or splitting die.
Seventhly. In a reciprocating discharger, which at proper times will
advance and discharge the finished spikes from the machine.
Eighthly. In a horizontal vibrating lever which receives a positive
motion from two cams on the main shaft, and which carries the tool for
severing the blanks from the spike rod, and also a plunger which
actuates the tool which bends the ends of the spike rod to form one side
of the points on the shanks of the spikes, as will be herein-after
explained.
a
Ninthly. In applying to the free end of the said horizontal lever
spring arm which will cushion the blows of the cam at the commence-
ment of each forward stroke, and thus prevent injurious shocks.

page_text: My improved machine has a rectangular frame, which is adapted to
contain and give support to the mechanism for making the spikes. The
main driving shaft extends across the front part of the said frame, and
should be provided with a balance wheel. On this shaft are applied
seven cains. A long lever extends from the front to the rear of the
frame, and is secured to a rock shaft. This lever receives vertical
vibration from one of the said cams, which acts first directly on the
lever to lift it, and then upon a yoke to depress it.
the said lever is in a plane a little to one side of the rear portion of this
lever for the purpose of affording space for another of the said cams,
which moves a heading tool forward and backward. The heading tool
is secured to a shaft which is allowed to receive endwise movement as
The front part of
well as a rocking movement. The said lever has adjustably secured to
it an upper shearing or splitting device, which has an inclined cutting
edge, a supporting flange, and an angular cutting edge. The edge splits
the spike blank while it is lying on the stationary die; the flange
supports the prong against lateral displacement while forming the same,
and the angular edge cuts off a piece from the end of the spike rod, and
finishes the point on the shank of the spike. These operations are all
performed during the descending stroke of the lever. The vertical side
of the die terminates at the rear end of this die in an angle, into which
the end of the spike is bent to form one side of the point on shank of the
spike. This bending is done by means of a vibrating bending tool
pivoted to the lower edge of the lever, and held in contact with a plunger
on a lever by means of a spring. It will be seen that the point on the
shank of the spike is formed by bending and cutting. A lever pivoted
near the rear end of the frame curves forward, terminating in a beveled
end in range of two of the said cams on the main shaft. One cam
during its revolution moves the said lever to the left, and brings the
bending tool into play, and also causes a tool on the said lever to cut a
spike blank from the spike rod. The other of these two cams gives the
back strokes to the said lever. A spring, which is secured to the free
end of the said lever, will modify the shocks on the lever when struck
by the cam.
:
The feed table is arranged in front of the die, and secured to an arm
rising from a rock shaft. This table is arranged on the left hand side of
the heading tool, and in close relation to it, and both the table and the
tool last named resolve lateral movementa from the lever which operaies
the hending tool

page_text: Immediately after the prong of the spike is thrown down by the
cutter a chisel edge is formed on this prong by means of a cutting tool.
This cutting tool receives its movements from an arm on the lower end
of the header arm.
A prong replacer is pivoted at one end to the bed of the aforesaid die,
and connected by a link to the bending tool lever. This replacer descends
with the said lever in advance of the prong of the spike, and when the
spike is completely split and the lever rises it carries with it the replacer,
and leaves the spike ready for use. I use a spike holder, which is a
vibrating lever, made very strong, and constructed with a narrow griping
portion arranged over part of the die, and moved down upon the spike
rod iminediately after its end is bent by the bending tool.
A feed gauge, against which the end of the spike rod abuts, is formed
on the lower end of a lever pivoted to the above-named bending tool
lever, and connected to another lever. This gauge is moved forward to
receive the spike rod by one of the cams on the main shaft, and is moved
back by a spring.
The die bed is grooved transversely, and in the grooves of this bed
play two prongs, which are arranged a suitable distance apart, and are
pivoted to a vibrating arm. The object of these prongs is to discharge
the spikes inmediately after the holder releases them. The dischargers
receive their forward movements from another cam through suitable
mechanism, and the backward movements are given to the dischargers
by means of a spring. The said spike holder is brought down upon the
spike blanks in the die by another cam acting on a lever to which the
outer end of said holder is connected by a rod.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that 1, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING SPIKES." a communica-
tion to
ane from abroad by Amos Whittemore, of Cambridgeport,
Massachusetts, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
one of
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
This invention has relation to machinery which is designed for making
split spikes for holding railway rails and for other like purposes,
the said machinery being especially designed for making spikes which
have a small prong that will spread out during the act of driving the
spike into a cross tie.

page_text: automatically recede or move out of the way to allow the spike to be
freely discharged from the machine.
Thirdly. In a vertically vibrating replacer which will bring the prong
of the spike back to its place after the splitting operation.
Fourthly. In the employment of a cutter which operates in a diagonal
direction with respect to the length of the spike, and forms a chisel edge
on the prong while this prong is, at its lowest point, during which
operation the blank is firmly held, and a head is formed on it.
Fifthly. In the formation of an angular cutter on the upper splitting
device for the purpose of finishing the point on the shank or body of the
spike during the descending stroke of the said splitting device.
Sixthly. In a laterally movable feed table for the spike rod in com-
bination with a laterally movable heading tool and a stationary shearing
or splitting die.
Seventhly. In a reciprocating discharger which at proper times will
advance and discharge the finished spikes from the machine.
Eighthly. In a horizontal vibrating lever which receives a positive
motion from two cams on the main shaft, and which carries the tool for
severing the blanks from the spike rod, and also a plunger which
actuates the tool that bends the ends of the spike rod to form one side
of the points on the shanks of the spikes, as will be herein-after
explained.
Ninthly. In applying to the free end of the said horizontal lever a
spring arm, which will cushion the blows of the cam at the commence-
ment of each forward stroke, and thus prevent injurious shocks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a ton view
and Fia is a button view of
Figure is a top view, and Figure 2 is a bottom view of a machine
constructed according to the said Invention.
Figure 3 is a view of the right hand side of the said machine; Figure 4
is a front view of the same.

page_text: A designates a rectangular frame which is adapted to contain and give
support to the mechanism for making the spikes; B is the main driving
shaft which extends across the front part of the frame A, and should be pro-
vided with a balance wheel; on this shaft B are applied seven cams a, a¹,
a², a³, aª, a², aº; C designates a long lever which extends from the front to
the rear of the frame A, and is secured to the rock shaft C'; this lever
receives vertical vibration from the cam @³, which acts first directly on
the lever to lift it, and then upon a yoke to depress it.
al
The front
part of lever C is in a plane a little to one side of the rear portion of this
lever for the purpose of affording space for the cam a", which moves a
heading tool. E forward and backward. The heading tool is secured to
shaft E', which is allowed to receive endwise movement as well as
rocking movement. The lever C has adjustably secured to it the upper
shearing or splitting device Cª, shown in Figures 5 and 7, which device
has an inclined cutting edge 2, a supporting flange 8, and an angular
cutting edge 4. The edge 2 splits the spike blank while it is lying on
the stationary die F. The flange 3 supports the prong against lateral
displacement while forming the same, and the angular edge 4 cuts off a
piece from the end of the spike rod, and finishes the point on the shank
of the spike. These operations are all performed during the descending
stroke of the lever C. The vertical side of the die F terminates at the rear
end of this die in an angle 5, into which the end of the spike is bent to
This bending is done
form one side of the point on shank of the spike.
by means of a vibrating bending tool b, which is pivoted to the lower
edge of the lever C, and held in contact with a plunger b' on a lever G
by means of a spring bº. It will be seen that the point on the shank of
the spike is formed by bending and cutting. A lever G is pivoted near
the rear end of the frame A, and curves forward, terminating in a
:

page_text: beveled end which is in range of the two cams a, a, on the main shaft B.
The cam a during its revolution moves the lever G to the left, and brings
the bending tool 6 into play, and also causes a tool on lever G to cut a
spike blank from the spike rod, The cam gives the back strokes to
the lever G. H designates a spring which is secured to the free end of
the lever G-in-such-a-position that it will be struck by the cam a at the
commencement of each forward stroke of said lever. This spring H
will modify the shocks on lever Ĝ when struck by the cam a.
J designates the feed table, which is arranged in front of the die F,
and secured to an arm ' rising from a rock shaft J*. This table J is
arranged on the left hand side of the heading tool, and in close relation
to it, and both the table and the tool last named receive lateral move-
ments from the lever C by means of connecting rods e, e', and an angular
lever e". When the lever C rises it brings the table into a position for
guiding a spike rod upon the die F, and when the said lever Û descends
it moves the table J out of the way, and at the same time moves the
heading tool E in position for making a head on the spike in the
die F.
Immediately after the prong of the spike is thrown down by the
cutter 2 a chisel edge is formed on this prong by means of a cutting
tool d, shewn in Figures 6 and 7, which tool plays obliquely through the
bed of the die F, and cuts past the rear edge of the flange 3 of the
movable die or splitting device. The cutting tool d receives its move-
ments from an arm ƒ on the lower end of the header arm through the
medium of a link g and an angular lever g¹. The formation of said
chisel edge on the prong of the spike takes place while the header is
performing its work.
N designates a prong replacer, which is pivoted at one end to the bed
of die. E, and connected by a link to the lever C. This replacer
descends with lever C in advance of the prong of the spike, and when
the spike is completely split and the lever C rises it carries with it the
replacer, and leaves the spike ready for use.
L designates a spike holder, which is a vibrating lever made very
strong, and constructed with a narrow griping portion j. The latter is
arranged over part of the die F, and is moved down upon the spike rod
immediately after its end is bent by the tool b, so that during the
subsequent operations of pointing, splitting, and heading the spike blank
is firmly held down upon the die F.

page_text: K designates a feed gauge,. against which the end of the spike rod
This
abuts when it is adjusted in proper position in the machine..
gauge K is formed on the lower end of a lever k, which lever is pivoted
to the lever C, and connected by a rod k¹ to a lever k². The gauge K is
moved forward to receive the spike rod by the cam a on the main shaft B,
and said gauge is moved back by a spring.
The die bed is grooved transversely, and in the grooves of this bed
play two prongs n, n, which are arranged a suitable distance apart, and
are pivoted to a vibrating arm n'. The object of these prongs is to
discharge the spikes immediately after the holder L releases them. The
dischargers receive their forward movements from the cam a" through
the medium of arm n', angular lever n², connecting rod n³, and a lever n*,
and the backward movements are given to the said dischargers by means
of a spring S. The spike holder L is brought down upon the spike
blanks in the die F by means of the cam a acting on a lever M, to
which the outer end of said holder is connected by a rod r.
The operation of this machine is as follows:-The lever C and holder L
being in elevated positions, the lever G being in the position shown in
Figure 1, and the table J being in line with the die F, a spike rod
properly heated is pushed over the table J and die F until its end abuts
against the feed gauge K. The tool c then advances and severs a blank
from the rod at the same time the bender b bends the end of the rod into
the angle in the die F, and forms one side of the point of the shank.
The holder I then descends and firmly clamps the blank in the die F,
and while the blank is so held the lever C descends, and the blank is
split to form the prong, the point of the shank is finished, the end of
the prong is bevelled, and the head is formed on the blank. While the
lever C is rising it carries with it the replacer N, which brings the prong
back to its place, thus finishing the spike. The feed gauge K at this
stage of the operation is moved back, the holder L rises, and the spike is
finally discharged from the machine by the prongs n, n.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same. I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. An angle 5 on the die F in combination with a bending tool b,
for the purpose of forming one side of the points on the shanks of the
spikes, as above described.

page_text: Second. The feed gauge K movable, as described and for the purpose
set forth.
Third. The vertically movable replacer N combined with the devices
for splitting the spikes, as herein described.
Fourth. The cutter & operating in a diagonal direction with respect to
the length of the spike blanks, while lying in the die F, for the purpose
of forming a bevelled end on the prong of the spike, as herein described.
Fifth. The angular cutter 4 on the upper splitting device C³, for the
purpose of finishing the point on the shank of the spike, as herein
described.
Sixth. In a spike splitting and heading machine a laterally movable
table J, in combination with a longitudinally and laterally movable
header E, as herein described.
Seventh. The reciprocating prongs'n, u, combined with the die F, for
discharging the finished spikes from the machine, as herein described.
Eighth. In a spike splitting machine a horizontal laterally movable
lever G carrying the plunger b', which moves forward the bending tool b
and also the tool which cuts the spike blanks from the spike rods, as
herein described.
Ninth. The spring arm H applied on the free end of the lever G in
the manner and for the purpose described.
Tenth. The holder L combined with the die F, and operating as above
described.
In witness whereof I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
HY. JAS. NOONE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)