IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE SHOE NAILS
Year: 1884

page_text: We, THE LYE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY Limited of Cross Walk Lye near
Stourbridge in the County of Worcester, and THOMAS HAZELWOOD of Waste
Bank the Lye aforesaid, Horse Shoe nail maker do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE SHOE NAILS
to be as follows:-
After the nail has been forged by the hand hammer and foot Oliver of the
workman, under the action of a strong blast from a bellows, we cut of the nail from
the rod by the use of a second Oliver carrying a die, the exact counterpart of
another die fitted in front of the cutter, the nail when cut off is carried down by
the Oliver and top die into the bottom die, and the force of the blow sets the nail
by use of the dies into proper shape, and the Oliver remaining on the dies in which
the nail is held, giving pressure to the dies, hastens the cooling of the nail This
sudden cooling of the nail under the pressure of the cold dies and the action of a
current of wind or blast, chills the portion of the shank of the nail to which the
pressure is applied, and gives it sufficient stiffness, to enable the Smith to drive it
into the hoof without any more preparation.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig 1 1, is a wooden frame called a "Block," which is partly filled with rubble,
upon which rests the Casting 2; 3 & 3 are upright iron pillars screwed to the
block, up and down which two Journals are made to slide, and fastned in position
by a set screw, to carry the ends of the spindles of the Olivers B & F.
These Olivers are worked by means of levers H & 5, and spiral springs, or spring
poles, see J & 7 the connexions being made by the rods 6.
A is the anvil, fastned in a hole in the Casting 2, on which the nail is forged by
the workmans hand hammer, and the foot Oliver B, C is a Boss forming part of
the Casting 2 and slotted out to carry a die D, which gives shape to the nail when
it is cut off from the rod.
This die D is in front of the Cutter E, and fixed also in a hole in the Casting 2.
The second Oliver F, carries also a die G, the counterpart of the die D, on the
face of which is a steel cutter, fixed by a set screw.
The Oliver F is brought down by means of the foot lever H. In passing the
Outter E, it cuts of the nail from the rod and carries it down into the bottom

page_text: die D, setting it in proper shape and gives it the requisite stiffness by the pressure
applied, and by the rapid transition from heat to cold.
In order to keep this pressure on the nail, the Catch K, sliding on a flat upright
spring, so as to be easily regulated or adjusted, and fixed in its proper position by
a set screw, is brought into use.
The Oliver F, in cutting off the nail, strikes the bevil of this catch, which forces
back the spring, and allows the Oliver to pass, but immediatly flys back accross the
helve of the Oliver, and keeps it down on the nail, until the forging of the next
nail is nearly complete, when the Oliver B, in its up stroke, strikes a stud L,
bevelled both ways, and capable of adjustment by means of a set screw, which is
connected with the spring and catch K, and liberates the oliver F, which by spring
and lever I & J is raised, and strikes in its up stroke a catch M, connected with a
lever N, working on a pin at O, and connected at the other end with the riser P P
working on a pin at Q, and as the lever is forced back at one end, by the Oliver F
striking the catch M, the other end is thrown in and bears down the arm of the
riser PP, the other side of which is forced up, and as the top of it passes under the
head of the nail as it lies in the die D, the action tips the nail from the die and
thus completes the process.
In Figure 1, the Oliver F is shown up, ready for the blow. In Figure 2 it is
shown as having cut off the nail, and as being held in position upon it, by the
action of the catch K.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
We THE LYE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY Limited, of Cross Walk Lye, near
Stourbridge in the County of Worcester Nail Manufacturers, and THOMAS
HAZELWOOD of Waste Bank, Lye, aforesaid, Horse Nail maker do hereby declare
the nature of our, invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE
SHOE NAILS, AND THE TOOLS USED THEREIN and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
After the nail has been forged, from a rod of square iron or steel, by means of
the Hand Hammer, and Foot Oliver of the workman, under the action of a strong
blast, from a bellows, which serves the purpose of keeping the metal at a welding
heat, and of eliminating its impurities during the forging process, we cut off the
nail from the rod, by the use of a second Oliver, upon the front of which a steel
cutter is fixed, by means of a set screw. This cutter, during the stroke of the
Oliver, passes the edge of a corresponding cutter, which is fixed upright in the
casting or anvil, and the action of the cutters is similar to that of a pair of shears,
In the face of this Oliver, there is a Die, to give shape to the nail, dovetailed, and
fixed in position by means of set screws
After the nail is cut off the same blow
forces it down the front of the upright cutter into a Die, which is dovetailed into
the Bed of the Casting, and is fixed in the required position by two set screws.
The top and bottom Dies, being brought thus together, give the required shape
to the shank of the nail, which lies between them. And as the Dies are held
together, by means of a Spring Catch, operating upon the helve of the Oliver, the
pressure thus applied to the cold Dies and the action of a strong blast upon the
shank of the nail, very much hastens the cooling process. The nail shank so
operated upon is chilled by this process, and becomes sufficiently stiff, to enable the
Smith to drive it, without having to resort to the old method of cold hammering,
or any other additional process.
Having explained the nature of our invention, so far as relates to the nail, we
will now describe the Machinery, or Tools, and the manner in which they are used,
by means of the accompanying drawings. The same letters of reference, will be
used to indicate the same parts, in the several Figures of the Drawings.
Figure 1 represents, in front elevation, the whole of the Machinery in its normal
position, A, A, represents a frame work of wood, called a Block, which being
partially filled with rubble, well rammed, forms a solid basis upon which to set the
cube shaped iron casting B. The space between the frame work of the Block, and
the casting is also filled with rubble, which prevents the casting being moved
from its proper position, by the concussion incident to the forging process. The
four C, C, C, C, represent upright iron pillars, called Posts, upon which movable
Journals D, D, D, D, with slide bars, E, E, E, E, are secured by set screws, for the
purpose of supporting the axles F, F, of the Olivers G, 1, and G, 2. The Journals
and the slide bars, provide for the adjustment of the axles, and the Olivers, in every
direction. These Olivers are maintained in their normal position, by means of the
back Levers H 1 and H 2 and the spiral Springs J 1 and J2 and they are brought
down to do their work by means of the front Levers K1 and K 2 and the
Treadles L, 1, and L, 2 the connexions being made by the rods M, 1, and M, 2. The
Anvil upon which the nail is forged, by alternate blows from the workmans Hand
Hammer and the Oliver G, 1, is shown at N.

page_text: O, represents an elevated portion of the casting, called a Bed. Into this Bed a
Die P, called the bottom Die, is dovetailed. This Die gives shape to the shank of
the nail, when it is cut off from the rod, by means of the cutter on the Oliver G, 2,
and the top Die S. In front of the Bed O, the bottom cutter R, is fixed, by being
tenoned into the Casting B. The top Cutter T, being fixed, by a set screw, and a
projecting spur, on the front of the Oliver G, 2. The Oliver G, 2, is brought down,
and imparts its blow, by the pressure of the workmans foot upon the Treadle L, 2.
In passing the cutter R, it cuts off the nail from the rod, and forces it down into
the bottom Die P, setting it in proper shape, and giving to it the requisit stiffness.
In order to keep the Oliver G, 2, on the nail, sufficiently long, to chill and stiffen it,
the catch U, which is adjusted on the square part of an upright spring, by a set.
screw, is brought into use. This keeps the Oliver G, 2, on the nail, until the
forging of the next nail, by the Oliver G, 1, is completed. This oliver, on being
brought to its normal position, by removal of the foot from the Treadle L, 1, and
by the action of the spring, and Lever H1 and J, strikes the bevel of the
Catch W 1 which has the effect of liberating the Oliver G, 2, which is immediatly
raised to its normal position by means of the Lever and Spring H 2 and J 2 The
Oliver G, 2, in its up stroke, strikes the bevel of the Catch W, and forces back the
top portion of the Lever ✗. .The lower part of this Lever, is connected by means
of an inclined slot and a nut, forming a sliding joint, with the Riser Y. This Riser
passes between the bottom cutter R, and the Bed O, and is connected with the Bed,
by a set screw, which forms a pivot, or axis, on which it works. The top of the.
Riser, when in its normal position, rests, horizontally, just underneath the shank of
the nail, as it lies in the Die, and when the top part of the Lever X is forced back
by the Oliver G, 2, the lower part of it, is forced inwards, in the slot of the Riser.
This action forces down the extended arm of the Riser by means of the slot, with a
quick motion, which changes the horizontal face of it, into a steep incline, and thus
clears the Die of the finished nail.
Figure 2 represents, in side elevation, the bottom cutter R. The Mark to
brand the nail Z The elevated portion of the casting, called the Bed O, into which
is dovetailed the bottom Die P, with the side partially removed, so as to show the
nail lying in it. The Oliver G, 2, which carries the top Die S, resting upon it, and
also the way it is held in position by the Spring Catch U. Also the Gauge Z,
against which the point of the nail is pushed when it is placed upon the cutter R,
for the purpose of being cut off from the rod. Its action and use we describe as
follows The Gauge Z, works on a centre in a box Joint Z, 1, on the end of a
sliding bar Z, 2, which passes through the boxhead of an upright Standard Z, 3, and
made secure to it when adjusted by a set screw. Connected also with the Gauge Z,
is a curved spring Z, 4, which, by means of a back spur on the Gauge, keeps it in
position, and also permits it to be forced back, when its work is done, by the
bevelled part, coming in contact with the bevelled heel of the top Die The object
of the Gauge Z, is to secure the nail being cut off at the proper length, and the
point being guided into the exact position in the bottom Die, to receive the tip.
The
Figure 3 represents, an upright Standard, which is secured to the back face of
the Bed O, for the purpose of carrying a movable arm X, 4, which by means of a
box head slides upon the Standard, and is fixed in position by a set screw.
end of this arm is fork shaped, having two holes drilled in each branch. Into these
holes, pins are dropped, which pass through pieces of tube, and form two rollers.
The cranked Lever X 2, by means of which the Oliver G, 2, is liberated, is passed
between these rollers for support, which reduces the vibration, and secures a
smoother motion, when the catch W, 1, is struck, by the helve of the Oliver G, 1.
Figure 4 represents, each of the Spring Catches W¹ and W' (see Fig 1) by
means of which the Oliver G, 2, is released from pressing upon the nail in one case,
and the Lever X, which throws the finished nail from the Die P, is worked by the
other. These catches W₁ and W2, work on a centre W, 3, and have a forward
motion only, being so shouldered, as to prevent any back motion, and they are kept
in position by means of a ribbon spring W, 4 coiled round the top of the pin on

page_text: which they turn The down stroke of the Olivers G, 1, and G, 2, simply turn these
catches on their centers without moving the Levers X, and X2, with which they
are connected. But when the Olivers by their upstroke, strike the bevel of these
catches, there being no back motion in them, the olivers quickly pass the catches
and force them back longitudinally, and thus move the levers with which they are
connected.
Figure 5 represents, a front, or plain view, of the finished nail.
Figure 6 represents, an edge view of the finished nail showing the shape, in
head, curve of the shank, and tipping of the point.
Figure 7 represents, the action of the Riser Y, which throws the finished nail
from the Die. The up stroke of the Oliver G, 2, strikes the catch W' forcing back
the upper part of the Lever X (Fig 1) which gives a forward motion to the lower
part, the end of which plays in the Slot Y, 1, at the end of the Lever Y. The
inclination of the Slot is such, that the inward motion of the lower part of the
Lever X, forces down the end of the Riser Y, which works on a pivot at Y 2, and
consequently raises the other end with a quick motion, and clears the finished nail
from the Die (see also Y Fig 2.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of our Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, We declare that what we claim is
First The manufacture of Horse Shoe Nails, by forging them from Iron, or Steel
Rods, by means of the tools refered to in the drawings.
Second. The cutting the nail off from the rod, by a Oliver. carrying a cutter on
the front of it, which passes another fixed cutter, tenoned in the casting.
Third. The Shaping, Stiffening, and pointing the nail shank, by the use of
properly shaped Dies.
Fourth. The keeping of the Dies together, with the nail shank between them,
until it is sufficiently chilled, by means of the spring catch, refered to in the
drawings.
Fifth. The removal of the Oliver and top Die, and the nail also from the bottom
Die, by means of the several Levers refered to in the drawings.
Sixth, The casting, and the Bed, as refered to in the drawings.
Seventh. The dovetailing of the faces of the Bed and of the Olivers, for the
simple and easy adjustment of the Dies, and also the particular shape of the Dies,
as refered to in the drawings.
Eighth. The Gauge, for securing the cutting off, of the nail, at the proper length,
and its proper position in the bottom Die, as refered to in the drawings.
Ninth. The providing of two sets of iron pillars, called posts, so that the axle of
each Oliver can be regulated by the straining rod, without interfering with the
other, as refered to in the drawing.
Lastly The arrangements by which the Dies, the sliding bars, and the catches,
are secured by set screws and also the slot of the Riser, as each is refered to in the
drawings