Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Metal Screws, Pins, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by SAMUEL LORD WORSLEY, of Taunton, Massachusetts
United States of America.]
Improvements in Machines for the Manufacture of Metal Screws,
Pins, and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The functions which are performed by my machine are the same as those which
have been heretofore accomplished by other machines for the same general purpose;
that is to say, a rod of stock is intermittingly, fed forward for the prescribed distance
required to make a screw of given length, and is held in the jaws of a revolving
chuck, and a sufficient length of the same projecting beyond the face of such chucks;
a series of tools for performing the operations of milling a shank on the rod and
cutting a thread thereon are mounted radially in an intermittingly revolving turret
head,so that the series of tools shall be brought into action to perform their respective
offices successively and in regular order; and, lastly, devices for cutting off the
screw when finished from the rod of stock.
My improvements hereinafter described are intended to accomplish a great simpli-
fication in this class of machines and to increase their productive capacity very greatly
over previously known machines, and to this end I have made various new combina-
tions and peculiarities of construction hereinafter particularly specified..
One feature which is peculiar in my machine, and tends greatly to increase its
range of capacity for cutting screws of different lengths without accompanying loss
of time in changing gears to make such adaptations, consist in that the means by
which the extent to which the rod of stock shall be fed forward through the axis of
the holding chuck to determine the length of the screw to be cut, can be varied at
pleasure by the simple manipulation to the right or to the left of a milled wheel,
without interrupting the operation of the machine.
Another feature of my machine consists in the combination of devices for instan-
taneously reversing the movements of the spindle carrying the revolving chuck, so as
to enable the threading die, after it has done its work, to be run off the thread which
it has cut, by the employment of a spring-actuated friction clutch for effecting the
changes in the direction of rotation of the chuck spindle. Co-temporaneously, too,
with the reversal of the direction of rotation of the chuck, and while it is causing the
threading die to be run off, the cutting-off tool for severing the screw from the rod
is brought into action.
Another feature of my machine which accomplishes a great economy in time con-
sists in mounting the revolving spindle carrying the chuck, its pullies for driving it
in opposite directions alternately, its friction clutches for inducing movements in
opposite directions, the means for adjusting the extent to which the rod of stock shall
be fed; and the slide which carries the cutting-off tool, all on the headstock of the
machine, whereby this headstock with these adjuncts can be constructed so as to slide
on ways on the bed of the machine and be adjusted at pleasure according to the length
of the screw to be made, so as to have the least space possible existing between the
end of the rod of stock and the faces of the tools mounted in the turret head, and
thereby reduce to a minimum the space through which the milling tools and the
threading tool in the turret head are required to move to reach the end of the stock
to perform their offices, without regard to the circumstance whether a long or a short
screw is being made.
Another feature of my machine consists in the employment of a cam shaft which

page_text: has an intermittent rotary motion, and upon which are mounted the appropriate cams
for giving a backward movement to the cutting-off tool, for releasing the gripping
jaws, for feeding forward the stock, for operating the closing of the gripping jaws in
the chuck, and for moving back the feeding tube for taking a new grip upon the rod
of stock, whereby a high rate of speed can be given to this shaft to perforin these
effects, which would be impossible in the event that such shaft was continually rotating
to enable other effects to be performed by cams thereon giving movement to other
members of the machine, as in prior machines of this class. Such shaft, in my
machine, executes one revolution for inducing all the effects above mentioned, and
then pauses in its rotation until it is again called into action. Consequently a high
rate of speed can be given to this shaft relatively to the movement of other inde-
pendent cam shafts for working other portions of the machine where an equal rapidity
of movement would be injurious.
Jalso carry out the same idea by combining an intermittently revolving shaft,
which induces the successive partial rotations of the tool-carrying turret head, with
the prime motor shaft of the machine by a clutch connection automatically operated,
whereby I am enabled to make the turret head change rapidly when the time is
reached for such changes, and at a rate of speed which would be impossible if the
shaft governing such changes were all the time in connection with the prime motor
shaft.
Various other minor features and combinations will be hereinafter pointed out.
In the accompanying drawings,.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line A B of Fig. 8.
Fig. 2 is an end view.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line E F of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a rear view with the casing cut away so as to show a portion of the interior
mechanism.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line G H of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a similar section on line C D of Figs. 1 and 4.
Fig. 7 is a plan view on a section taken on the broken line QR, Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a plan view looking down upon the top of the machine.
Fig. 9 is a view of the die-holder enlarged showing the friction springs which
prevent the die from falling out when it is turned radially downward.
Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line J K of Fig. 1, showing the locking pin
which locks the turret; also the lever for drawing the pin.
Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on the line 1, M of Fig. 2, showing a portion of the
inechanism for shifting the length of the feed.
Figs. 12 and 13 are the feeding and chuck arus respectively developed.
Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse section on the line OP, of Fig. 1.
Fig. 15 is the cam which moves the turret slide.
Fig. 16 is the cam for working the cutting-off tool.
Fig. 17 is the turret change cain, showing the same series of notches, one for each
change, shown at Fig. 7.
Fig. 18 shows cam of Fig. 17 mounted upon its shaft in front view.
In all prior machines for automatically making metal screws from a long rod of
wire, when a change is to be made in the length of the screw-blank to be threaded,
or, what is the same thing, if a change is to be made in the length of the feed to be
given to the rod of stock, a number of adjustments and manipulations have hereto-
fore been necessary to accomodate existing machines to such new conditions. The
time required to make such adjustments is-necessarily very great, and as many of
the adjustments are independent of, but must be co-related to, each other, much
time must be consumed in making them, involving of necessity a suspension of the
operation of the machine in doing work during such period.
In my machine I vary at pleasure the extent to which the rod of stock shall be
fed to make all lengths of screws, by the simple manipulation of an adjusting device,
without stopping the machine. This adjusting-device is-most-clearly shown at 1
Fig. 4.
It is a nut threaded on its interior, and revolves freely between two

page_text: collars or plates, one of which, 2, is a part of a sleeve 3, and the other 4, is a cap-.
plate secured to the sleeve by holding screws. Upon the sleeve 3, and radially.
projecting therefrom, is a fixed stud 5. A fellow stud 6 projects through a long slot
in the sleeve, and is a part of a bar 7 which can slide longitudinally within the.
sleeve. The face of this sliding bar is provided with a section of a male screw.
thread which engages with the screw thread on the interior of the milled nut 1. It,
is plain that when the nut 1 is turned to the right or to the left, the stud 6 will be.
nade to approach toward, or recede from, the fellow fixed stud 5 accordingly.
Between these two studs there is the upper end of the lever 8, which has its.
fulcrum at al. It lower end is combined with the grooved cam 9 which is secured to
a horizontal shaft 29 and has an intermittent movement. The throw of the cain, and
the extent of the arc of vibration of the upper end of the lever 8, is proportioned to
give a movement to the feeding tubo hereinafter referred to for the rod of stock
through the distance required for feeding the rod for the longest screw-blank. It
follows that the sleeve 3 will partake of the movement of the upper end of lever 8,
and will have the same extent of movement in case the studs 5 and 6 are at their
nearest approach and in contact respectively with the opposite sides of the end of,
lever & lying between the said studs; but if by the turning of the thumb-nut 1 to
the left, the stud 6 is moved rearward so as to increase the distance between the
confronting faces of the studs, then the distance to which the said sleeve will
partake of the movement of the end of the lever 8 will be decreased accordingly,
notwithstanding that the arc through which the end of the lever 8 travels is always
the same.
Upon the side of the sleeve 3, nearly opposite the studs 5 and 6, is a forked arm 10
(shown more clearly at Fig. 2) which engages with a groove 11 (Fig. 1) in au
enlarged head 12 on the end of the spring feeding tube 13, in the hollow axis of
which tube lies the rod of stock. The axis of this spring feeding tube coincides
with the axis of the revolving spindle and holding chuck of the machine. It follows,
therefore, from the foregoing, that the feeding tube must be governed by the
movements of the sliding sleeve 3, and that the extent to which the rod of stock in
the spring-holding feeding tube will be fed forward to supply a long or short blank
can be determined at pleasure by the manipulation of the thumb-nut 1 without
stopping the machine.
The spring-holding foeding tube 13 (Fig. 1) needs no special description, as it is
a well known device in this class of machines.
The gripping jaws in my machine for gripping the rod of stock and holding it
from rotating within the jaws while its end, which is projected beyond the faces of
such jaws, is being operated upon by the milling or the threading tool, are substan;
tially the same in character as the devices for a similar purpose known for many
years in both wood and metal screw machines. These jaws are worked at the proper
times for gripping the rod and for loosening their hold, so as to allow the rod to be
fed forward by means of the cam 14 (Figs. 3 and 4) which controls the movement
of the sliding collar 15 (Figs. 1 and 4) through the lever 16 (shown partly in full
and partly in dotted lines at Fig. 4). This sliding collar interposes a wedge between
the tails of levers 17 which actuate the faces of the holding jaws or chuck in a way
well understood and indicated in sectional view at Fig. 1.
The spindle of the machine carrying the holding chuck, and through the hollow
longitudinal axis of which the rod of stock is fed (shown in section at Fig. 1) is
made to revolve in one direction during the operation of the milling tools and the
threading tool, by means of the pulley 18 driven by a belt, and is made to revolve
in the opposite direction during the operation of running off the threading die and
cutting off the finished screw from the rod of stock, by means of the pulley 19 driven
by a separate belt. Both belts may be run over pulleys on the same counter shaft,
one of then being crossed to give motion to its driven pulley in a direction opposite
to that of its fellow pulley on the same spindle. Both of the pulleys 18 and 19 can
run loosely on the spindle, but they are capable of being alternately clutched to

page_text: the spindle so as to impart to it rotation, first in one, and then in the opposite
direction, as hereinafter to be next referred to.
The next feature in my machine is the mechanism for causing the spindle to be
alternately rotated in opposite directions, whereby time is economized in performing..
this operation. Instead of fast and loose pulleys with a belt shipper to change the
direction of motion, there are two friction clutches in combination with these
driving pulleys. When one friction clutch is in engagement with one pulley, the
other is out of engagement. A sliding collar 20 is arranged so as alternately to put
the one or the other of the clutches into frictional engagement with its driving
pulley. The details by which this is effected are as follow:
Referring to Figa. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 14, it will be seen in Fig. 14 that the character of
the friction clutch is exhibited in section. Each clutch consists of two half rings B, B
located on the interior of a pulley 18 or 19 to be driven, and concentric with its
face. When the wedges 21, opposite to each other, shown at Fig. 14, are forced
between the bevilled ends of the half rings, it follows that they will be expanded and
frictional contact will be secured between their exterior surface and the inner surface
of the driving pulley, and consequently such pulley will be clutched to the spindle
for the reason that the clutching mechanism is splined to and revolves constantly
with the spindle. As previously stated, the pulleys themselves are capable of
revolving loosely upon the spindle, and are made to run in directions opposite to
each other, and consequently the direction of rotation of the spindle and its holding
chuck will depend upon which one of the pulleys 18 or 19 is clutched to its shaft.
The sleeve 20 for working the friction clutches is moved to the right or the left by
the means shown most clearly at Fig. 4. It will be observed in this figure that
there is a cylinder 22 near the bottom of the frame, within which are two coiled
springs 23 and 24 which exert their force in directions opposite to each other, the
ends of the cylinder against which the springs abut being closed. Each of these
springs is pocketed in the hollow piston 25 sliding inside the cylinder 22. In fact
each of these hollow pistons may be said to be the projectile or bolt which is worked
by the spring. Upon each of these pistons there is a head-piece c, c like the head of
a hammer. When either of these bolts is shot by the recoil of its spring, its hammer-
head will strike a pin or projectile on the lower end of a lever 26 of the first order
having its fulcrum at d, and instantly vibrate it, for the reason that said lever lies in
the path of said bolts. The upper end of this lever is forked, and is pivoted to a
curved shoe 27 which fits into a groove in the sliding clutch 20. Consequently, at the
proper moment, to be determined by the operating cam, the sliding collar 20 will be
operated to free one of the clutches and to put into engagement the other, and thus
instantly change the direction of rotation of the spindle.
Upon the rear end of each of the pistons or bolts 25 there is an upwardly projecting
ear-piece e. The purpose of this is to enable cams 28 to engage with these ear-pieces
alternately, and draw backward the hollow bolt to compress the coils of its spring,
very much like the way in which the firing pin of a breech-loading firearm is cocked.
At Fig. 4 the spring on the left hand side is contracted, or, in other words, that hollow
bolt is cocked. The spring on the right hand side is extended, and has performed
its office of shooting its bolt to move the lever 26 so as to clutch the pulley 19 into
engagement for running the die off the screw which has been cut, and to give the
proper direction of rotation for enabling the cutting tool to sever the finished screw
from the rod.
When the time arrives to change the direction of rotation, one of the cams 28 will
have revolved so far as to allow the bolt to be released, and the lever 26 to be vibrated
in the opposite direction, and previously thereto the fellow cam 28 will have cocked
the bolt which it controls. The cams to cause the bolts to be cocked and to be shot
off are shown in plan view at Fig. 7. The details by which the wedges of the two
clutches respectively are forced so as to alternately expand the divided friction rings
to make contact with the inner faces of the driving pulleys when the sliding collar is
moved to one side or the other by the vibrating lever 26 of Fig. 4, is best shown in

page_text: section at Fig. 1, wherein it will be seen that the sliding collar 20 is in engagement
with the tails of the two levers hh, so as to force a pair of wedges opposite to each
other radially outward and clutch pulley 19 to its shaft. A corresponding pair of
levers hh will come into action to clutch pulley 18 to the spindle when the sliding
collar 20 has been moved in the opposite direction.
The combination of friction clutches with the driving pulleys for alternately giving
movement to the spindle in opposite directions, and the means for instantaneously
locking and unlocking the pulleys with their spindle, is of great value and importance
in securing rapidity of action unaccompanied by that violent slain and tendency to
disarrange the machine which results from the employment of the common sliding
clutch-boxes. It enables, too, a thread to be cut on the screw blank up to a head or
to a fixed distance with the greatest nicety, and renders unnecessary any devices such
as are found in prior machines for causing the threading die to revolve idly in its
holder after its predetermined limit of cut has been reached, so as to prevent cutting
too far while the spindle is getting ready to change its direction of rotation. "
Another feature of my machine consists in the fact that the revolving spindle, its
pulleys for driving it in opposite directions, the friction clutches for the pulleys, and
the means herein before described for adjusting the extent of the feed, and the carriage
which carries the cutting-off tool for separating the finished screw from the rod are all
mounted on the head stock of the machine. The bed for supporting these members is
shown in section at C, Figs. 2 and 3, and it is independent of the main bed or
frame A. It is connected therewith by a dove-tail tongue and groove connection,
so that it can be readily slid longitudinally on the main bed, and be held in position
by suitable clamp nuts or screws. The object of this arrangement is to bring the
face of the revolving chuck into as close relation as possible with the intermittingly
revolving turret head which carries the series of milling tools and the threading tool,
so that when the machine is adjusted from cutting a screw with a long shank to one
with a short shank, the revolving turret head, which has also a longitudinal sliding
movement, shall not be obliged to consume time in travelling over any unnecessary
space to reach the rod of stock projected beyond the face of the holding jaws or chuck.
Although the shafts upon which the operating cams for working the gripping jaws
and for controlling the movements of the sliding collar to work the clutches and the
cam for setting the feed mechanism into action are not attached to this adjustable
headstock, provision can be easily made for allowing such cams to be slipped along
their shafts by means of the common spline connection, so as to preserve their proper
relation to the parts which they operate corresponding with any adjustment which
may, be made of the headstock relatively to the turret head.
All the above cams referred to are spline-connected with their respective shafts.
Each cam is provided with a hub, as indicated at figs. 4 and 7, and through these
hubs set-screws are inserted, the heads of which are shown plainly in the drawings.
The cylinder 22 (shown at figs. 3, 4, 7 and 14) containing the coiled springs 23
and 24 for alternating working the pistons or bolts 25 to vibrate the lever 26 to
change the direction of rotation of the spindle as heretofore described, is bolted to
the main frame, as shown in section at fig. 14. The holes in the frame through which
the bolts pass are elongated in the direction of their horizontal diameters so as to
form slides, as indicated by dotted lines at fig. 7, whereby the adjustment of the
position of the cylinder can be easily effected. Inasınuch as the levers which are to
be operated by the adjustable cams and by the shooting-bolts 25 are all mounted on
the adjustable headstock, it follows that the co-operating members will work in
harmony for every change of adjustment in position of which the cains and cylinders
are capable.
In case the length of the rod of stock for making short metal screws projects only
a short distance beyond the jaw of the chuck, it is desirable to have as little space
as, possible existing between the end of the rod of stock and the face of the tool in
the turret head in order not to waste time in carrying up the tool to meet the end of
the stock. If a long metal screw is to be made, the distance necessarily between the
front of the head of the chuck and the face of the tool will be greater, but the

page_text: distance through which the sliding turret head is obliged to travel to come into action
upon the screws, whether long or short, is no greater when a short screw is being
Dade than when a long one is being made, in consequence of the means of adjustment
above described.
Another feature of my machine consists in the employment of a cam shaft which
bas an intermittent rotary motion, and upon which are mounted the appropriate
cams for giving a backward movement to the cutting-off tool, for releasing the
gripping jaws, for feeding forward the stock, for operating the closing of the gripping
jaws in the chuck, and for moving back the feeding tube for taking a new grip upon
the rod of stock. This shaft is shown at 29, fig. 7. It makes one complete revolution,
during which time it performs, through the cams mounted thereon, the offices above
mentioned, and then comes to a state of rest. The order of its action is as follows:
Its first effect is to move backward, through the cam 30, the cutting-off tool herein-
after to be referred to, and which is mounted on a carriage moving at right angles
with the axis of the screw which is being cut. Secondly, it opens, through the
cam 14, the jaws of the chuck to give a free passage through the chuck for the rod
of stock for the next screw blank. Thirdly, through the cam 9 it feeds forward the
rod of stock the prescribed distance determined for it. Then holding for a moment
the rod of stock in that position, through the aid of the spring feeding tube, it then
closes the gripping jaws through the cat 14, and lastly, through the cain 9, the.
feeding device is moved backward to its extreme rearward position. The shaft then
stops. The development of the cams 9 and 14 will be seen at figs. 12 and 13.
It is not to be implied that each one of these movements must be absolutely
finished before the next movement begins. More than one of them may be carried
on coteinporaneously, but the series of operations are in the order as stated.
As far as I am aware, in all former machines for automatically making metal screws
the cam shaft upon which the cams are mounted to perform these several operation's
herein before mentioned is in continuous rotation, and consequently the necessity for
waiting for time is involved, or else such a speed of rotation must be given to the
shaft carrying these cams us would be injurious to other parts of the machine having
movements dependent upon it. Consequently by assigning a separate shaft for these
cams mentioned, and giving it an intermittent movement, so that cams upon other
shafts while it is at rest can perform their offices at a lower rate of speed, important
economical results are secured.
In my machine, as in others previously known of its class, a turret head 30 is
employed, Figs. 1, 6 and 8. Radially projecting from this head are the tools for
milling the rod and the die for cutting the thread. This turret head has an inter-
mittent rotary motion to bring each tool in succession so that its axis shall coincide
with the axis of the rod of stock upon which it is to work, and the turret head itself,
with its tools, is also mounted upon a carriage so that it can be moved to and fro
lengthwise of the bed of the machine. Each tool remains in position, as in former
machines, long enough to perform its particular office on the rod of stock. The turret
head and the carriage upon which it is mounted are shown in plan view at fig. 8.
The carriage is mounted on ways so that it can slide therein in a direction lengthwise
of the bed of the machine, and its rearward movement is effected by means of a
strap 31 passing over an anti-friction wheel, fig. 1, and a weight or spring combined
with this strap tends always to pull the carriage rearward in a well understood way.
The forward movements of the carriage are obtained from a cam 32 shown also in full
view at fig. 15. The shaft upon which this cam is mounted is 33, at fig. 7. This
shaft is constantly rotating, and is driven primarily by the pulley 34 nounted upon a
stud which carries a gear wheel 35 the teeth of which engage with the fellow gear 36
on the end of the shaft 37. This shaft 37 is the prime motor shaft for all the operating
cams in the machine. On this shaft 37 is a worm. This worm engages with the
worm wheel 3 on the shaft 33. On the same shaft, and near the opposite end on
-which the worm wheel is mounted, is a bevelled gear 39 which engages with a fellow
bevelled gear 40 keyed to the end of the longitudinal shaft 41. Consequently the
shafts 33, 37 and 41 are constantly revolving.

page_text: Upon the end of longitudinal shaft 37 is a pinion not shown at fig. 7, because it is
overlaid in the drawing by a toothed gear 42 shown in said plan view, but is visible at
fig. 4 and is marked 43. The gear wheel 42 (fig. 7) is in constant rotation. Now,
as previously stated, the longitudinal shaft 41 (fig. 7) is continually rotating, and it
carries the side cam 44 which at the right moment causes the shipper lever 45
fulcrumed at f (a clearer view is shown at fig. 5) to be vibrated. The forward end of
this lever 45 is forked, as seen best at fig. 5, and the fork engages with a groove in the
sliding collar 46, which collar has upon its face a pin or clutch face which can engage
with a recess or corresponding clutch face on the side of the gear wheel 42. This
sliding collar 46 being spline-connected with the intermittingly revolving shaft 29, it
follows that when the collar 46 is clutched with the gear 42 constantly revolving
loosely on the same shaft 29, motion will be given to the shaft 29 and to the cams
which it carries for governing the movement of the rod feeding tube, the opening and
closing of the jaws of the chuck and the movement of the carriage carrying the cutting-
off tool. By this combination of the prime motor shaft 37 with the shaft 29, the
intermittent movement of such cam carrying shatt 29 for performing the functions
hereinbefore described is effected.
Let it be supposed now that a rod of stock has been fed forward through the
revolving chuck for the proper distance to furnish a screw blank, and that the first
milling tool on the interimittingly revolving turret head is about to be brought into
action. The shaft 29 is at rest and the chuck and its spindle are revolving in the
right direction under the influence of the driving belt over the pulley 18, such pulley
being this time clutched to the spindle. The cam 32 on shaft 33 (fig. 7; cam shown
at fig. 15) works the arm of lever 47 having its fulcrum at g (see fig. 1). Upon the
axle shaft of this lever is an arın 48 the end of which is a toothed sector, as shown in
dotted lines in said fig. 1, the teeth of which sector engage with the teeth of a rack 49
on the underside of the sliding carriage 50 which carries the revolving turret head 30
and advances the first inilling tool radially projected from the turret head and having
its axis at this time in alignment with the axis of the rod of stock up to the end of
the rod and so far on to the same as shall be required for milling the predetermined
length of the shank. So soon as the cain 32 permits the lever 47 to be released, the
weight or spring combined with carriage 50, and attached to the strap 31, pulls the
sliding turret, head carriage rearward and clear of the rod of stock. If the weight or
spring should fail to act, the carriage will be positively moved backward out of the
way of the rod of stock by the cam 51, which acts against a short arm 52 on the
shaft g of the sector arm 48. This cam 51 is mounted on a transverse shaft 58 which
controls the period and times of rotation of the intermittently revolving tool-carrying
turret, head, and such shaft will presently again be referred to in connection with the
description of the means for giving an intermittent rotation to said turret head.
The second milling tool is next to be brought into action, and preliminary thereto
the turret head must be rotated say 90 degrees. The governing cam is 53 on shaft 33,
fig. 7. (See also the face view of the cam at fig. 17.) It is fast to shaft. 33, and
consequently is always revolving. It has been previously stated that the gear wheel 42
is constantly rotating. Now, on the hub of this gear is a sleeve upon the end of
which is a bevel gear 54. This latter gear drives a fellow bevel gear 55 mounted
loosely on a stud. Combined with this last named bevel gear and on the same hub,
is another gear wheel 56 the office of which is to communicate movement to a clutch
gear 57 (fig. 6) mounted loosely on the transverse shaft 58 shown in the same figure.
In combination with this last named clutch gear is a fellow clutch plate which can
slide on the shaft 58, and is spline-connected therewith. Consequently when the said
clutch faces are engaged, the shaft 58 will be made to revolve and the sector or
mutilated gear 59 (see also fig. 4) on the end of said shaft will give movement to the
shaft 60 (fig. 6) which carries the revolving turret head, so long as such sector's teeth.
are in engagement with the teeth of the gear 61 on the end of shaft 60. Thus the
shaft 33 (fig. 7) is the prime mover of the gear 61 whenever the train 42, 43, 54, 55,
56, 57 is clutch connected to the shaft 58.
Cam 53 (fig. 7) as before stated, is the governing cam for causing the turret shaft

page_text: (fig. 6) to be put into revolution for a limited time. I will now show its connection
with the clutch which makes the connection between the shafts 58 and 33, which
latter is driven by the prime motor shaft 37. A pin 62 (shown at fig. 6) on the
lower end of a lever 63 of the first order having its fulcrum at m, is capable of falling
into one of the recesses K cut in the side face of cam 53. (See also figs. 17, 18.)
The cam 53 is not shown at fig. 6, which presents the clearest view of the operating
lever 63, for the reason that if shown in edge view it would obscure the lever 63. A
spring 64 acting against a spindle 65 placed in the hollow axis of shaft 58 is pinned
to the sliding grooved collar 66 (fig. 6) and also to movable half 67 of the clutch box,
which when closed will set the turret shaft 60 into rotation. This spindle 65 must be
capable of a longitudinal movement, and collar 66 and clutch 67 will partake of
that movement. The upper end of lever 63 is forked and embraces the groove in
the sliding collar 66. The tendency of the spring 64 is to move the spindle 65 in
a longitudinal direction to the right, and cause the clutch face of 67 to lock with
its fellow and set the shaft 58 into rotation. The smooth surface of the periphery of
the cam 53 on which the pin 62 of fig. 7 rides compresses the spring 64, and therefore
holds the clutch box 67 open as shown in fig. 6. When, however, one of the
depressions K (figs. 7, 17, 18) comes, in the revolution of cain 53, under the pin 62
projecting from the shifter lever 63, it will drop into the same under the influence
of the spring 64, which also causes the clutch 67 to close, whereupon the shaft 58 will
commence to rotate, because the train heretofore described which connects it with
shaft 33 and with the prime motor shaft 37, is complete, and the toothed sector 59
(fig. 4) on the end of such shaft will give a partial rotation to the toothed wheel 61 on
the end of the turret shaft 60, and the second tool in series will be brought into
alignment with the rod of stock. A spring detent 68 (fig. 4) drops into the notch 69
and holds the turret head by arresting its momentum, which is liable to continue for
an instant after the cain 53 has again opened the clutch 67.
The turret head and its shaft should be locked fast after each partial rotation,
and this lock should be withdrawn just in advance of the toothed sector 59 coming
into action. The device for this purpose is clearly shown at fig. 6. A rod 70.
(fig. 6) is housed in a cylinder on the top of the bearing of the turret-head shaft,
and is constantly under à tendency, by means of a spring 71, to enter a hole 72
in the turret. head. (See fig. 10.) This rod can be withdrawn by the lever 85, the
upper end of which enters a notch in the side of the rod, and the lower end rides
upon the face of a side cain 73. When the raised face of this cam moves the
lower member of the lever 85, the lever will be vibrated inward on its fulcrum and
the lock withdrawn. The cam is shown at 74 (fig. 6), and is keyed to the shaft 58,
and revolves when the latter revolves. As this shaft commences to revolve before
the teeth of the sector 59 come into engagement with the toothed wheel 61, the
locking pin will be withdrawn in advance of the commencement of the revolution of
the turret bead. The turret head having been revolved for say 90 degrees, as above
described, the carriage on which the turret is mounted is again moved up toward the
rod of stock so that the second milling tool can come into action. This is effected
in the same way as heretofore described, except that the operating cam is 32¹
(fig. 15) instead of 32 as in the former case. Inasmuch as the second milling tool
only dresses the shank of the screw blank with a light cut, it can be moved rapidly,
and consequently the cam 32¹ is shaped to induce a more rapid feeding movement.
The second milling operation having been accomplished, and the carriage carrying
the turret head having retreated, the turret head is revolved another fraction of a
_circle_by_the_means hereinbefore fully described, and_the_threading_die.is_brought
into alignment with the rod of stock. It is not desired, as in the case of milling
the blank, that the cam which moves forward the carriage shall follow up the
carriage and force the tool along the surface of the revolving rod of stock. It is
only desired that the die shall be forced far enough to bite the end of the shank of
the blank and then feed itself, otherwise the threads of the screw will be liable to be
injured. Consequently_the_cam_which moves_the_carriage_forward_to_enable_the_
threading operation to be commenced is that portion of 32¹, fig. 15, marked 75. The
1

page_text: die is capable of moving radially outward in its holding socket in the turret head, it
being spline-connected with such socket so that it will not turn therein, and thus
it can be run on to the shank and cut its thread so long as the spindle is in revolution
in the proper direction for that purpose. An enlarged view of the die and holder is
shown at fig. 9, and also a pair of springs 76 for creating sufficient friction to
prevent the die from dropping vertically downward out of its socket in the
turret head. "
9
The thread having been cut, the next operation of the machine is to reverse the
direction of rotation of the spindle and holding chuck, so that the die may be run off
the screw, and also for the purpose of giving the right direction of rotation for the
clutch to enable the cutting-off tool to do its work of severing the screw from
the rod.
The means by which this change of direction of rotation is effected through the
instrumentality of cam 28,sliding collar 20,and clutching mechanism for pulleys 18,19,
have already been described.
The final operation of the machine is to sever the screw from the rod of stock. A
cutting-off tool 77 (fig. 5) is suitably mounted in a post on a sliding carriage 78,
which carriage is mounted on the head-stock so as to run in dove-tail ways or guides
in a direction at right angles with the longitudinal axis of the head-stock. The cam
which induces at the right time the carriage with its tool to move forward, is shown
at 79, figs. 5, 7 and 16. It is mounted on shaft 41 (fig. 7) and constantly revolves
with it. Turning now to fig. 5, it is clear that when cam 79 acts on the lower inember
of lever 80. having its fulcrum at n, the upper end of such lever, which is furnished
with teeth in the form of a sector, and which teeth are in engagement with a rack 81
on the under side of the carriage, will cause the tool carriage to be advanced so that
the cutting-off tool 77 can sever the screw from the rod. The carriage is caused to
retreat before the next feeding forward of the rod of stock occurs by means of the
cam 30, figs. 5, and 7, which is mounted on the intermittingly revolving shaft 29.
Said cam strikes, in its revolution, the back side of lever 80, and moves it in the right
direction for running back the tool carriage, the cam 79 at this time having moved
out of the way.
While the cutting-off tool is in action the threading die has run off the screw, the
carriage carrying the turret head has been returned to its rearmost position, whereupon
the turret head is revolved another fraction of a circle. In this instance there are only
three tools in the turret head, separated 90 degrees from each other; the space for the
fourth tool being left blank. Consequently the machine, as arranged in the drawings,
has no provision for a moving forward of the tool carriage during the time that the
socket which can be occupied by a fourth tool is in alignment with the revolving
chuck. In case such socket were to be occupied by a tool, provision would be made
for advancing the carriage for such tool to work upon the end of the rod as in the
instances previously described. In this instance the cams are so timed that the turret-
head carriage does not commence to advance until the turret head has been again
revolved 90 degrees so as to bring the first inilling tool into alignment with a fresh
blank. Cotemporaneously with this last partial revolution of the turret head, the
direction of rotation of the spindle is changed, and the several operations herein before
described are repeated..
I have devised a convenient ineans for nicely adjusting the position of the cutting-
off tool relatively to the rod of stock upon which it is to operate. So far as I am
aware, in all previous machines the adjustment of the tool was required to be made by
manipulation. In my machine I have constructed the sliding carriage in two parts;
one portion is the part marked 78, fig. 5, upon which the tool is mounted, and the
other portion is the member marked 81, which is the rack. This rack is capable of
being clamped firmly to the upper portion 78 by means of a clamp screw 82. In that
condition the two members of the bed will be united as one.
For the purpose,
however, of adjusting nicely the extent to which the tool carriage shall be inoved,
make the rack member adjustable relatively to its fellow member 78. On the end of

page_text: the rack is a threaded shank upon which is a nut with a milled head 83 the face of
which bears against the rear portion of the member 78. This nut 83 has a groove
turned in it into which fits a yoke-plate 84 secured to the end of the member 78. It
is apparent that if the clamping thumb-screw 82 be loosened, and the thumb-nut 83
be turned to the right or to the left, the rack member 81 will be adjusted to different
positions relatively to its fellow member 78. Consequently the extent to which the
sliding bed carrying the tool carriage can be noved can be adjusted with the greatest
precision.
The several functions which the inachine performs are executed, as will be under-
stood from the foregoing detailed description, in the following order: Let it be
understood that the rod of screw stock is ready to be advanced. The cutting-off tool
has been moved backwards to its rearmost position. The jaws of the chuck have been
opened, and a free passage exists through the hollow axis of the spindle and the axis.
of the jaws for the passage of the rod of stock. The spindle is now revolving in the
direction which is induced by the belt passing over the pulley 18. The adjustable
feeding mechanisin now comes into action, and the rod of stock is fed through the
prescribed distance by means of the spring feeding tube. It is held by the feeding
tube for an instant in the proper position, when the gripping jaws of the chuck close
upon the rod and grip it firmly. It then commences to rotate with the chuck. The
feeding tube is then moved backward to its extreme rearward position, and thereupon
the shaft which carries the cams for giving a backward movement to the cutting-off
tool, for opening the gripping jaws, for feeding forward the stock, for operating the
closing of the gripping jaws in the chuck, and for moving back the feeding tube to its
extreme rearward position, comes to a state of rest, and so remains until the rod of
stock is to be fed forward again to supply a new blank.
The first tool in the series of tools arranged upon the intermittingly revolving turret
head is now advanced, and performs its office of milling the shank of the screw-blank.
The tool with its carriage is then moved backward clear of the rod. Another partial
revolution is now given to the turret-head, and the second tool in the series is brought
into action, and the shank of the screw-blank receives its final dress. This tool with
its carriage upon which it is mounted, is again moved rearward to its extreme position,
and the turret head makes another partial revolution so as to bring the threading die
into action to cut the thread on the blank. So soon as the limit of thread has
been cut the direction of rotation of the spindle is reversed by releasing the clutch
The die is thus
which drives pulley 18 and by clutching pulley 19 to the shaft.
backed off and the carriage which carries the turret head finally returned to its rear-
most position. Cotemporaneously the cutting-off tool is advanced transversely to the
axis of the revolving screw and severs it from the rod. The turret head is then
revolved so as to bring the first milling tool again into alignment, and all the
preceding operations are repeated.
While my machine is intended for making metal screws, it is obvious that it can be
employed with advantage for making similar articles which are not screw-threaded,
as, for example, pins, which require to have their shanks milled to a diameter sinaller
than the head, and to be furnished with a conical or other form of point. In such
case the threading die would be omitted, and a tool adapted to point the end of the
blank would be substituted therefor. It is also obvious that in such case the pointing
-tool-would-not-require-to-be moved on to the blank to the same extent that the milling
tools are moved, and in such case the operating cam for moving forward the carriage
would be modified as to its form to meet such new conditions. So also instead of
three tools mounted in the turret head as described in the present case, a greater
.number of tools to perform appropriate operations upon the blank can be mounted in
the turret head, which would involve only changes in mechanical construction without
-altering essentially the principle or mode of operation of the machine, a leading
characteristic of which machine is, that while all the movements of the several cam
shafts are derived from the rotation of pulley 34 as a prime motor, an intermittent
motion at a relatively higher rate of speed is given to the shaft which controls the

page_text: gripping jaws of the chuck, the backing off of the cutting tool and the rod-feeding
inechanisin whereby a great economy in point of time in the operation of the machine
is effected!
-
While I have described 'particularly the several cams, levers, and other mechanical
devices for accomplishing the movements of my machine, I do not limit myself to the
employinent precisely of such elements or mechanical powers, but I mean to include
all formal variations or known substitutes for the same performing the same mode of
operation by equivalent means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a hollow rotating
spindle and its holding chuck for a rod of stock; a spring feeding tube for such rod;
a sliding sleeve connected with said tube; lugs for working said sleeve which are
adjustable relatively to each other, and a vibrating feeding lever having a fixed
range of movement, whereby any extent of movement equal to or within that of the
feeding lever can be imparted to the spring feeding tube at pleasure.
:
2. For the instantaneous reversal of the direction of rotation of the spindle and its
holding chuck, the combination, substantially as herein before set forth, of two pulleys
arranged to revolve on said spindle in opposite directions; friction clutch devices for
alternately connecting each of said pulleys to the spindle; a sliding collar for working
and releasing such clutches alternately, and spring bolts for alternately vibrating the
lever which slides such collar, said spring bolts being retracted, held, and allowed to
be shot off by means of operating cams, substantially as described.
3. The combination of two spring bolts arranged to be shot in directions opposite
to each other; devices, such as revolving cams, for retracting such spring bolts and
allowing them to be alternately projected by their springs, and a shipper lever
arranged to vibrate on a fulcrum, one end of such lever being located in the path of
movement of both spring bolts, substantially as described.
4. The combination with the main frame of the machine, and with the sliding
carriage carrying the turret head and its tools, of an independent bed carrying the
revolving spindle and its chuck; the pulleys for rotating the saine alternately in
different directions; the clutches for said pulleys; the adjustable spring feeding tube,
and the sliding cutting-off tool, said bed being arranged to be adjustable on the
main frame in positions nearer to or farther from the faces of the tools carried by the
turret head and its sliding carriage, substantially as described.
5. The combination, substantially as herein before set forth, of the prime motor
shaft 37; the shaft 29 (carrying the cams for governing the movements of the rod
feeding tube, the opening and the closing of the jaws of the chuck, and for the
retreating movement of the cutting-off tool carriage), and an autoinatic clutch
coupling mechanism controlled by a shaft in train with the prime motor, whereby an
intermittent movement can be given to said shaft 29, for the purposes described.
6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the prime motor
shaft. 37; the cam 53 driven therefrom; the shaft 58, and an automatic clutch coupling
mechanism controlled by the cam 53 in train with the prime motor, whereby an
intermittent movement can be imparted to the turret head shaft 60 at any desired
rate of speed relatively to the speed of the prime motor shaft, for the purposes
described.
7. The combination of the intermittently revolving shaft 58; the cam 74; the
turret head carrying the series of operating tools, and the locking pin 70, substantially
as described.
8. In combination with the revolving spindle of a screw machine, the sliding
cutting-off tool carriage constructed with a rack through which a sliding movement is
communicated to the carriage, which rack is adjustable in position relatively to the
bed of the carriage by means of an adjusting device, as described, whereby the

page_text: '
:
adjustment of the movement of the cutter relatively to the axis of the revolving
spindle holding the rod of screw stock can be accurately effected.
9: The combination, in a metal screw machine, of a sliding turret head carrying a
screw cutting die held against revolving in the head; a revolving spindle carrying
the chuck for holding the rod of screw stock, the said revolving spindle being arranged,
by means of pulloys revolving in opposite directions and alternately clutched to said
spindle, to revolve first in the direction for allowing the thread to be cut by the non-
rotating die, and, secondly, to revolve in the opposite direction for running off the
threader die, and a sliding cutting-off tool carriage arranged to move toward the
axis of the rod of stock when the die is backing off, whereby the operations of
backing off and severing the screw from the stock can be performed practically
simultaneously.
10. The combination, with the spindle of a screw-machine capable of revolving
first in one and then in the opposite direction, of a screw-cutting die held against
rotation in a sliding turret head; a sliding turret head; a weight, or equivalent
means, for giving a backward movement to said head; and a cam for giving a
forward movement to said head and permitting a movement at the proper time in
the opposite direction, whereby the screw-cutting die is, by the forward movement of
the turret head, forced to take a bite on the blank to be threaded, then allowed to
project itself from the turret to feed itself along the blank for cutting the prescribed
length of thread, and finally, on the reversal of the movement of the spindle and the
breaking off of the die, be returned into the head, and the head itselt, with the
die housed therein, moved backward to its rearmost position, substantially as
described.
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1
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HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.