IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HEADING BOLTS
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HEADING BOLTS." A communication
from abroad by James B. Clark and Lucas C. Clark, both of Plantsville,
Connecticut, United States of America.
Sealed the 20th March 1880, and dated the 3rd February 1880.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd February 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HEADING
BOLTS." A communication from abroad by James B. Clark and Lucas C. Clark,
both of Plantsville, Connecticut, United States of America.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine for heading bolts which embodies my
Invention.
Figure 2 is a like view of parts of the same represented in a more advanced
position, and with the nippers just ready to withdraw laterally.
Figure 3 is a like view of the same represented in a still more and the most
advanced position, and with the header and die F about ready to recede.
Figure 4 is a front view of a detached part looking towards the end of the
header, and showing the nippers closed, in proper position to support a blank at a
point in advance of the header.
Figure 5 is a like view of the same, showing the nippers withdrawn laterally, so
that the header may advance without obstruction.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of parts of the said machine taken on a plane
through the middle portion of the header.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the preliminary blank as made by the dies.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the rear side of the die F and the parts which move
with it, and
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the same on line x, x, of Figure 8.
In Figure 1 the parts are represented with the side wedge advanced just far
enough to close the dies and nippers to gripe a blank, and with the header just
upon the point of advancing.

page_text: A designates the main shaft, hung in any suitable frame; B, the cam which
drives up the header or plunger C, and also the wedge E for closing the die F of
the dies F, G, said parts (when the dies F, G, are made solid instead of having the
shaping portion movable) are all old and well known.
a, a, designate supporters or nippers arranged upon each side of the header or
plunger C. I hang these nippers in the ends of the levers H, H, and hold them
constantly bearing back toward the header by means of springs b, b, Figures 1
and 2.
The end of said levers opposite the nippers is curved so as to form an incline c
upon their inside, at the end of which incline there is a plain or straight face d.
Pins e, e, on the main shaft A engage said inclined ends of the levers H, H.
Suitable springs I, I, hold the levers H, H, with their inclined edges c continually
pressing toward the pins e, e, while said pins are passing said inclines. The sides
of the header C are recessed, as indicated in broken lines in Figures 2 and 3, and
also as shown in Figures 4 and 5, which recesses are of a depth equal to the vertical
width of the body of the nippers a, a, so that said nippers may be substantially
received within the sides of the header when in its most advanced position, as
shown in Figures 3 and 5.
After a rod or blank is placed in the holding dies F, G, the shaft is rotated, when
the dies are closed to gripe and hold the blank. The pins e, e, oscillate the
levers H, H, and throw the nippers a, a, against the blank at a point in front of
the header or plunger to steady said blank and prevent it from bending sidewise
under the action of the header, which is then advanced to upset the metal. The
pins at this time are in contact with the straight faces d, d, of the levers H, H, so
that the levers remain at rest for a short time while the shaft A and header Care
advancing. The nippers are carried forward with said header, and, by reason of
this swinging motion are slightly opened, but not more than enough to compensate
for the increase in size of the blank.
When the nippers are thus engaged the body of each near the shoulder f (shown
in broken lines in Figures 2 and 3) rests in the recess in the side of the plunger,
and is supported thereby, the faces of the nippers meantime occupying a position in
the path of the header, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, until they nearly approach
the holding dies, as shown in Figure 3, when the pins e, e, on the shaft A pass by
and over the end of the plane face d and ends of the levers H, H; the springs I, 1,
throw the front ends of the levers outward and withdraw the nippers from the
path of (that is from in front of) the header, as shown in Figure 5, so that said
header may proceed and act upon the dies in the ordinary nanner, as represented in
Figure 3, the distance between the dies and the plunger at the time the nippers
withdraw being so short that the blank no longer requires support.
Upon the farther rotation of the shaft A. the several springs throw the parts into
their former position ready to receive another blank. The cam B then moves up
the slide which drives the wedge E so as to close the dies, as represented in
Figure 1. Although the same cam forces up the wedge E and the header or plunger
C, the latter is of an independent piece so fitted that the wedge moves far enough
to close the dies before the header is advanced, which however is a common
mechanism in bolt-heading machines, and consequently requires no description; and,
furthermore, the same result might be accomplished by the use of separate cams for
driving the wedge and header.
I have herein shown three recesses in the header C and three pairs of grooves in
the squaring or shaping and holding dies F, G, as I prefer to use them successively
in one machine instead of in separate machines, but the upper recess shaping and
holding grooves are those which more particularly relate to this Invention
and which might be used in a machine by itself, and the bolt finished by ordinary
dies.
The letters m, m, designate the movable portion of the squaring or shaping dies
(and which constitute a part of the dies F, G,) and 6' designates the holding
portion of the same which matches the dies m. m the latter moving in respect to

page_text: the holding portion b'. Instead of hinging or securing them directly to the dies or
die block F, G, without any lateral adjustment thereon I hinge them in laterally
adjustable blocks g, g, preferably dovetailed into grooves or ways h (Figures 8
and 9) and clamped by means of clamp i, which is held in place by screw k. By
loosening said screw and clamp the blocks g, g, may be adjusted so that the movable
shaping dies m, m, may be closed more or less upon the blank, as may be desired,
or set up closer after redressing them when worn.
I prefer to have these adjustable blocks so fitted that they may abut against a
solid portion of the die-block when clear back, as shown in Figure 8, and when
adjusted by moving them nearer together that wedges may be placed behind them
to block them up, as may be desired, and thereby not depend wholly upon the
clamping device for holding them in place. The dies F, G, are held in place by
means of clamps or straps J, J, through one end of which there is an adjustable
hook n, which hangs over the inside of the movable shaping dies m, m, to limit
their movement away from the holding part of the dies. The position of said hooks
is regulated by the two nuts o, o, on their threaded body.
A spring resting under each shaping die, the position of which is indicated by a
broken circle in Figure 8, has a tendency to keep said dies in the position shown
in Figures 1 and 2.
Another feature which may be employed in solid dies, will now be described but
the same is more particularly useful, especially the neck-forming recess, in dies
having the shaping and holding portions made separate so as to simultaneously
upset the stock at both ends of the square neck. Instead of forming the head
wholly in the former C I countersink the face side of the dies m, m, to form part
of the head-forming recess, and I make the head-forming recess C¹ of the header C
smaller, so that the head is formed partly in the header and partly in the dies m, m,
into the form shown in Figure 7.
I also form a transverse swell r in the middle of the length of the neck-forming
portion of the dies m, m, so as to produce the form of neck shown in Figure 7.
The object of making the preliminary head of the form shown is that in the subse-
quent operation the next successive head-forming recess, which is of a little greater
diameter, shall compress the preliminary head a little below its greatest diameter,
as indicated by broken lines in Figure 7, and thereby avoid the usual tendency of
the metal to throw out over the end of the header and form a fin. At the same
time this form of preliminary head is designed to get stock enough to fill the next
successive head-forming recess. The swell in the neck portion of the dies allows
stock to accumulate at the point which is least likely to fill in work upset at both
ends of the neck, so that when the square neck is finished by a subsequent squaring
operation neat and full square corners are secured for the whole length of the
neck.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a bolt-heading machine, the combination of the following elements :-
First, the header or plunger C; second, shaping and holding dies F, G; third,
movable nippers, made independent of and distinct from the dies, for acting upon
the blank at a point immediately in advance of the header and moving with said
header; and, fourth, suitable mechanism for operating said parts in the manner
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Second. The header C recessed upon its two opposite sides in combination with
the nippers a, a, having shoulders f which rest within said recess and steady and
govern the nippers while advancing with the header, substantially as described and
for the purpose specified.
•
Third. In a bolt-header having the stationary holding and movable shaping dies,
the combination of the shaping dies m, m, laterally adjustable blocks g, g, to which
said dies are hinged, and mechanism for fastening said blocks g, g, in position,
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Fourth. The swinging shaping dies m, m, in combination with the straps J, J,
and the adjustable hooks n, n, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The preliminary head-forming recess C' in combination with the counter-
sunk face of the neck-shaping dies, both being relatively shaped so as to produce
the form of preliminary head shown in Figure 7, substantially as described and for
the purpose specified.
Sixth. The neck-forming die having the transverse enlargement at the middle
portion of the length of the neck, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.