IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING SCREW NUTS
Year: 1876

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 SCREW NUTS." A com-
munication from abroad by Heinrich Kusler, of Neuss-on-Rhine, Prussia,
Engineer.
Sealed the 23rd May 1876, and dated the 22nd February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,.
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING SCREW NUTS." A communication.
This Invention relates to novel machinery for the manufacture of nuts for screw.
bolts of all sizes, and is designed to economize this manufacture by preventing
waste of the metal of which the nuts are formed and to provide a machine for this
purpose which is very simple, compact, and durable.
The most important and novel feature of this Invention is the mechanism for
cutting the nut blanks from a bar or rod of iron, and shaping and punching the same
in such a manner that the metal is most economically used, the nut blanks are
formed with great rapidity and without any great expenditure of power, and the said.
blanks are delivered from the machine in such a condition that with the exception
of tapping or screwing them they require no further manipulation to fit them for use.
The whole of the parts of my improved machine are mounted on a strong bed or
frame of cast iron or other suitable material. The said cutting, shaping, and
punching mechanism is carried on a vertical plate herein-after termed the die plate.
This die plate is mounted upon a slide which works to and fro upon the said bed or
frame, and which receives its motion from a cam on a shaft fitted to turn in suitable
bearings at one end of the machine, and which I call the first shaft. This sliding
plate and the mechanism attached thereto operate in combination with the other
parts of the machine in such a manner that when the blanks are severed from the
iron bar or rod presented to the said cutters the die plate slides towards a fixed
Combined with this stationary
plunger which causes the nut blank to enter the die.
plunger is a sliding punch, and opposite to it on the other side of the die plate is

page_text: another punch both of which act to punch the hole in the nut blank while it is in
the die. These punches are operated by cams, and there is also a sliding plunger
operated by another cam which gives a final squeeze or finish to the nut blanks
before they are ejected from the dic. These various parts of the machine are
connected by suitable gear wheels so that they co-operate properly to produce the
required results.
The cutters are fixed upon levers pivoted to the said die plate in front of the dio
which is secured in the said plate, and whose interior form corresponds with the
required finished shape of the nuts. These cutters are wedge shaped and of such a
form and size that in severing a nut blank from a bar of iron they give to the blank and
to the end of the bar the true shape of two sides of a hexagonal nut, and the pivots
or fulcrums of the cutter levers are arranged in such a position on the die plato
that the effect of their combined form and arrangement is to sever the blanks from
the bar without "upsetting" or enlarging the latter, and there is no waste or loss
of any metal in thus cutting and shaping the blanks. The said cutters are operated
by a cam on a shaft which I call the second shaft, and which is fitted to turn in suit-
able bearings at the end or part of the machine farthest from the first cam shaft.
This cam acts on a lever fixed on a countershaft and gives to the latter a rocking
motion in its bearings. This rocking motion is imparted to a second countershaft
which has arms on opposite sides, and these arms are connected by links or rods to
the said cutters and thereby open and close the same. Or I may use other suitable
mechanism for operating the said cutters. Near the said die I secure upon the die
plate a shelf or ledge for the support of the bar of iron from which the nut blanks
are severed by the aforesaid cutters. This shelf is in such a position that when the
iron bar lies thereon its end or portion to be cut off lies across the front of the said
dic. In line with this shelf I arrange a sliding spring bar against which the end of
the aforesaid iron bar is forced as it is fed forward. This bar is connected to the
extremity of a lever arm whose axis works in standards fixed on the frame at
the side of the said die plate. The axis of this lever arm has a finger to which is
connected one end of the spiral spring whose other end is connected to the foot of
one of the standards or other suitable fixed point. This spring is so arranged that
it tends always to force the said spring bar inward so that its end or head extends
across the face of the die.
Another lever arm fixed on the axis of the aforesaid arm is so arranged in com-
bination with a cam on one of the gear wheels of the machine.. And when this
cam acts on the said arm the latter is moved to overcome the pressure of the spring,
and draw back the said spring bar clear of the die. This movement takes place
immediately after the cutters have closed and severed the nut blank from its bar.
This spring bar forms a stop or abutment which affords the means for adjusting the
iron bars quickly and exactly into the correct position for the cutters to sever the
blanks therefrom, and the said bar supports the blank till it commences to enter the
die and then the resistance or pressure due to the spring and lever arins above
described is overcome by the action of the cam on the gear wheel and the said
spring bar releases the nut blank as it is pushed into the said die.
The aforesaid first and second shafts are geared together by means of spur wheels
thereon and an intermediate pinion or pinions, so that the motions of the various
parts of the mechanism are positive with regard to each other. The first shaft,
besides carrying the cam which moves the die plate slide, also carries a cam that
actuates the slides, carrying the aforesaid moving plunger and one of the punches.
The other punch is actuated by a cam on the second shaft through the medium of
the lever fulcrumed on the bed or frame of the machine. The said punch
works through the stationary plunger which is made hollow or tubular for this
purpose, and whose projecting extremity occupies the proper position to force the
nut blanks into the die as the die plate is moved towards the said plunger.
The two punches are so formed and arranged, and their operating cams are so 5
timed that they enter the nut blank simultaneously and approach each other till
their ends are nearly in contact, and then they both move together toward the

page_text: stationary plunger, carrying between them a very thin disc of metal which is all
that is lost from the nut. Then the first named punch returns and this disc of
metal is discharged.
The moving plunger co-operates with the stationary plunger to give a final com-
pression to the ends of the nut blank before it is discharged from the die, and as
or after the die plate inoves back or away from the stationary plunger the moving
plunger thrusts the nut blank from the die and discharges it. The slide upon
which this plunger is mounted moves for a portion of its travel in unison with the
punch slide. And strong springs are arranged in combination with these two slides
which allow the plunger slide to move for the required distance, and then to stop
while the punch slide continues to move. Stops are placed in the proper position
to arrest the slides when they have traveled the required distance.
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
21st August 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANU-
FACTURING SCREW NUTS." A communication from abroad by Heinrich Kusler, of
Neuss-on-Rhine, Prussia, Engineer.
This Invention relates to novel machinery for the manufacture of metal nuts of
all sizes, and is designed to economize this manufacture by preventing waste of the
metal of which the nuts are formed, and to provide for this purpose a simple,
compact, and durable machine.
The most important and novel feature of this Invention is the mechanism for
cutting the nut blanks from a bar or rod of iron, and shaping and punching them in
such a manner that the metal is most economically used, the nut blanks are formed
with great rapidity, and without any great expenditure of power, and the said
blanks delivered from the machine in such a condition that with the exception of
tapping or screwing them they require no further manipulation to fit them for use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my improved machine; Figure 2 is a longi-
tudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of portions of the said machine, shewing the
cutting and shaping mechanism in elevation thereon, and the cutters closed;
Figure 3 shews the said cutters open.
Figures 4 and 5 are front and side views of the shaping die detached.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the main frame and the die plate slide, and
one of the punch slides of the said machine.
Figures 7 and 8, slew bars of iron, and illustrate the manner of cutting the nut
blanks therefrom.
The parts of my improved machine are supported on a strong bed or frame A of
cast iron or other suitable material. The said cutting, shaping, and punching
mechanism is carried on a vertical plate a herein-after termed the die plate. This
die plate is mounted upon a slide a*, which works to and fro upon the said bed or
franie A, and which receives its motion from double cams on a shaft c fitted to
turn in suitable bearings at one end of the machine, and which I call the first shaft.
The return movement of the slide a is effected by the cam b through the medium
of the levers b¹, one arm of which lies in the proper position to be acted. on by the
cam, and the other arm projects into a slot or aperture in the said slide, as shewn in
Figure 2. This sliding plate a* and the mechanism attached thereto operate in

page_text: combination with the other parts of the machine in such a manner that when th
blanks are severed from the iron, bar or rod presented to the said cutters, the di
plate slides towards a fixed or stationary plunger d, which causes the nut blank t
enter the die. Combined with and working through this stationary plunger dis
sliding punch d, and opposite to it on the other side of the die plate a, is anothe
punch e; both of these punches act to punch the hole in the nut blank while it i
in the die. There is also a sliding plunger f, which gives a final squeeze or finish to
the nut blanks before they are ejected from the die. These various parts of the
machine are so connected by suitable gear wheels as to ensure their proper co-
operation in the working of the machine. The cutters are mounted upon levers g
pivoted to the said die plate a at g2, in front of the die a¹ which is secured in the
said plate, and whose interior form corresponds with the required finished shape of
the nuts. The construction of this die is clearly shewn in Figures 4 and 5; it is
held in place in the plate by bolts a². The cutters gare wedge shaped and of such
a form and size, that in severing a nut blank from a bar of iron, they give to the
blank and to the end of the bar the true shape of two sides of a hexagonal nut, as
shewn in Figure 7. Or they may be formed and arranged to cut the nut blanks as
shewn in Figure 8; but in the latter case the plunger or a special shearing tool
must complete the separation of the blank. The pivots or fulcrums g² of the cutter
levers glare arranged in the position on the die plate a, shewn in Figures 3 and 3,
so that the effect of the action of the cutters due to their peculiar form and arrange-
ment is to sever the blanks from the bar without "upsetting" or enlarging the
latter, and there is no waste or loss of any metal in thus cutting and shaping the
blanks. The said cutters are operated by a cam g³ on the shaft h, which I call the
second shaft, and which is fitted to turn in suitable bearings at the end or part of
the machine farthest from the first cam shaft, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. This
cam 3, acts on a lever g', fixed on a countershaft go, and gives to the latter a
rocking motion in its bearings. This rocking motion is imparted to a second
countershaft g, which has arms g, g³, on opposite sides, and these arms are con-
nected by links or rods g", g¹º, to the cutter levers g¹, and thereby close the cutters
which are opened by the springs g. The shaft is supported at one end in the
die plate a, and at the other end in a standard A¹, on the bed, and its end g¹ slides
in this standard as the die plate a moves to and fro. I may use other suitable
mechanism for operating the said cutters to sever the nut blanks from the bar.
Near the said die a¹ I secure upon the die plate a shelf or ledge for the support
of the bar of iron from which the nut blanks are severed by the aforesaid cutters.
This shelf is in such a position that when the iron bar is placed thereon its end or
portion to be cut off lies across the front of the said die a¹. In line with this shelf
arrange a sliding spring bar l, against which the end of the aforesaid iron bar is
forced as it is fed forward. This bar is connected to the extemity of a lever arm 1,
by a groove across the bar, into which the end of the arm slides. The shaft or axis
of this arm works in standards 12, fixed on the frame at the side of the said die
plate. The axis of this lever arm has a finger 1, to which is connected one end
of a spiral spring, whose other end is connected to the frame A. This spring is
so arranged that it tends always to force the said spring bar inward, so that its 4
end or head extends across the face of the die.
Another lever arm fixed on the axis of the aforesaid arm is arranged in
combination with a cam on one of the gear wheels of the machine. And when
this cam acts on the said arm the latter is moved to overcome the pressure of
the spring, and draws back the said spring bar clear of the die. This move- 5
ment takes place immediately after the cutters g have closed and severed the nut
blank from its bar. This spring bar 7 forms a stop or abutment, which affords the
means for pushing the iron bars properly and exactly into the correct position for
the cutters to sever the blanks therefrom, and the said bar supports the blank till it
commences to enter the die a¹, and then the resistance or pressure due to the spring 5
and lever arins above described is overcome by the action of the cam 16 on the gear
wheel, and the said spring bar releases the nut blank as it is pushed into the said

page_text: die. The end of the arm is made broad and thin or fin-shaped to slide in the
slot or groove in the bar Ɩ, so that the latter may move with the die plate a without
leaving the said arm.
The aforesaid first and second shafts c, h, are geared together by means of the
gear wheels c¹, h¹, thereon and an intermediate pinion or pinions, so that the
motions of the various parts of the mechanism are positive with regard to each
other. The first shaft c, besides carrying the cam which moves the die plate slide
also carries a cam m, which actuates the slides f*, e*, carrying the aforesaid moving
plunger and punch e, the latter sliding through the said plunger. The other
punch is actuated by a cam d² on the second shaft h through the medium of a
lever, fulcrumed at d' on the bed or frame A of the machine. The punch d' as
above described works through the stationary plunger d, which is made hollow or
tubular for this purpose, and whose projecting extremity occupies the proper position
to force the nut blanks into the die as the die plate is moved towards the said
plunger; d is a spring for keeping the punch d' up to its cam.
The two punches d, e, are so formed and arranged, and their operating cams are
so set or timed, that the said punches enter the nut blank simultaneously, and
approach each other till their ends are nearly in contact, and then they both move
together towards the stationary plunger d, carrying between them a very thin disc
of metal, which is all that is lost from the nut, the remainder being forced into tho
substance thereof instead of being punched out; then the punch e returns and this
disc of metal is discharged from the machine.
The moving plunger f co-operates with the stationary plunger & to give a final
compression to the ends of the nut blank before it is discharged from the die, and as
the die plate a moves back or away from the stationary plunger d the plunger f
thrusts the nut blank from the die and discharges it. The slide upon which this
plunger is mounted moves for a portion of its travel in unison with the punch
slide e. Strong springs o arranged in combination with these two slides, allow the
plunger slide to move for the required distance, and then to stop while the punch.
slide continues to move; or I may use other devices for ensuring the proper relative
movement of these slides. Stops p, q, are placed in the proper position to arrest
the slides when they have travelled the required distance.
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 under-
stood that although the machine I have herein shewn and described, with its
various punches, plungers, slides, cams, gear wheels, and other parts co-operating
with my improved cutting and shaping mechanism, may be very advantageously
used for the purpose of my Invention, yet the said cutting and shaping mechanism
comprising the die plate and its adjuncts, operating as above described, may be used
in combination with other apparatus or mechanism substituted for the above-named
parts, for the manufacture of screw nuts, and I claim in a machine for manufacturing
inctal nuts,
First. The mechanism consisting of the above described cutters shaped and
pivoted as shewn, so that they act in the peculiar inanner specified, and the sliding
spring bar in combination with the shaping die, as above described.
Second. The mechanism consisting of the said cutters, spring bars, and shaping
die mounted upon a sliding plate which operates and adjusts the said mechanism to
operate in combination with a fixed plunger as hercin set forth, and for the purposes
specified.
Third. The combination of the said cutters and spring bar, mounted on the
sliding die plate with the mechanism for giving the required motions to the said
cutters and spring bar at the proper times as above specified.
Fourth. The combination of the said cutting and shaping mechanism; consisting
of the parts mounted on the said sliding plate, with the two punches operating as
above described, for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The said sliding die plate and the cutting and shaping mechanism carried
thereon, the punches, plungers, slides, cams, and other parts of the machine, con-

page_text: structed and combined, as shewn in the accompanying Drawings and operating as
herein specified.
=
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W ROB, LAKE. (L.S.)