Improvements in and connected with Dies for Pressing Horse Shoes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Dies for Pressing
Horse Shoes.
We WILLIAM INCH, Superintendent at the Works of The United Horse Shoe
and Nail Company Limited, Cubitt Town, London, and JOHAN EMIL OLSSON,
Engineer at the same works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to dies for pressing horse-shoes after they have been
bent more or less nearly to the required shape, and the objects of the invention
are provide improved means for ejecting the shoe from the lower die or matrix
when the pressing operation is completed, and for cooling the said lower die or
matrix either continuously or in the interval of time between the pressing of
successive shoes.
For these purposes we employ the following arrangements:-
The lower die consists of a block of cast iron, steel, or other suitable metal,
having upon its upper surface a raised part corresponding to the shape of the
finished shoe and the upper surface of this raised part is provided with projections
suitable for forming the indents in the bottom of the shoe to receive the heads of
the nails. The aforesaid die block is contained within an open topped box which
is provided at one side with an inlet pipe to admit cooling water, and at the other
side, or at any other suitable point with an outlet pipe for the discharge of such
cooling water. This cooling water is caused to circulate around, under, or through
the aforesaid die-block, before passing off by the outlet pipe.
Over the aforesaid die-block is fitted a shaper plate which is free to rise and
fall in the aforesaid box. This plate has an opening formed in it corresponding
to the finished shape of the horse-shoe, and consequently to the shape of the
raised part of the die-block, which raised part enters the bottom of the said
opening in the plate when the latter is pressed down so as to bear on the general
surface of the die-block. The shaper plate is normally pressed upwards by
springs so as to stand somewhat about the level of the upper surface of the raised
part of the die-block when not pressed down by the upper die, but is prevented
from rising beyond a certain distance by suitable stops.
At convenient points of the raised part of the die-block are formed holes which
extend down through the die-block and through the bottom of the box containing
the same and through these holes are passed pins or plungers which are either
normally pressed upwards by springs, or are forced upwards at the proper time
by suitable mechanism. These pins or plungers preferably pass through stuffing
boxes in the bottom of the box in order to prevent escape of the cooling water
past them and they are of such a length that when pressed upwards they force
the horse-shoe up out of the matrix formed by the shaper plate and the upper
surface of the raised part of the die-block.
The upper die is provided with a downwardly projecting part corresponding in
shape to the opening in the shaper plate, and fitting more or less accurately into
such opening when pressing the horse-shoe.
It will now be understood that when a horse-shoe is to be pressed it is laid,
preferably in a heated state, over the opening in the shaper plate and resting on
the upper ends of the aforesaid pins or plungers; the upper die is then caused to

page_text: descend or the lower die to rise as the case may be, so as to force the shoe into
the opening in the shaper plate and down on to the surface of the raised part of
the die-block, the pins or plungers being forced down with it, and the shaper plate
at the same time down on to the general surface of the die-block with the lower
part of its opening surrounding and enclosing the raised part thereof. The
pressure of the upper die on the horse-shoe first causes the projections on the
upper surface of the raised part of the die-block to enter the underside of the shoe
and to form the indents therein, and then to press the shoe flat between the lower
end of the upper die and the said upper surface of the raised part of the die-
block. When the upper die rises or the lower die falls, as the case may be, the
shaper plate is forced upwards by its springs and the shoe is carried up with it,
and is pushed out therefrom by the pins or plungers actuated by their springs or
other actuating mechanism.
The cooling water may be circulated continuously round under or through the
die-block, suitable passages being formed therein for that purpose if necessary or
it may be caused to circulate intermittently, that is to say during the interval
between the pressing of one shoe and the introduction of the next and this may be
effected by hand, or automatically by causing some moving part of the press to
open and close a valve or tap in the cooling water inlet pipe.
Dated this 11th day of February 1895.
Improvements in and connected with Dies for Pressing
Horse Shoes.
We, WILLIAM INCH, Superintendent at the Works of The United Horse Shoe
& Nail Company Limited. Cubitt Town, London, and JOHAN EMIL OLSSON,
Engineer at the same works, 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:-
This invention relates to dies for pressing horse-shoes after they have been bent
more or less nearly to the required shape, and the objects of the invention are to
provide improved means for ejecting the shoe from the lower die or matrix when
the pressing operation is completed, and for cooling the said lower die or matrix
either continuously or in the interval of time between the pressing of successive
shoes.
For these purposes we employ the devices shown in the accompanying sheet
of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan of a lower die or matrix with our
improvements applied thereto, and Figures 2 and 3 sectional elevations of same
taken on the lines Y-Y and Z-Z respectively of Figure 1.
The die consists of a block of cast iron, steel, or other suitable metal A, having
on its upper surface a raised plate B corresponding to the shape of the finished
shoe. The aforesaid die-block A is contained within an open topped box C,
which is provided at one side with an inlet pipe D to admit cooling water thereto,
and at the other side, or any other suitable point, with an outlet pipe E for the
discharge of such cooling water therefrom.
Over the said die-block A is fitted a shaper plate F which is free to move
upwards & downwards in the aforesaid box C. This plate has an opening G
formed in it corresponding to the finished shape of the horse-shoe, and con-
sequently to the shape of the raised part B of the die-block A, which raised part

page_text: enters the bottom of the said opening G in the plate F when the latter is pressed
down.
The shaper plate F is normally pressed upwards by springs H; but is prevent d
from rising beyond a certain prearranged distance by suitable stops, as for
example by the heads of the studs 1, the shanks of which pass freely through
holes in the plate F, and are tapped or otherwise secured at their lower ends into
the bottom of the box C.
At convenient points of the raised part B of the die-block A are formed holes
which extend down through the die-block, and through the bottom of the box C
containing the same, and through these holes are passed pins or plungers J which
are either normally pressed upwards by springs, or are forced upwards at the
proper time by suitable lifting mechanism connected or not with the pressing
machine in which the die is employed.
The said springs and the lifting mechanism are not shown in the drawings as
they may be arranged and applied in any suitable way, and form no part of our
present invention.
These pins or plungers J preferably pass through elastic washers K at the
bottom of the box C, or through suitable stuffing boxes, in order to prevent escape
of the cooling water past them, and they are of such a length that when pressed
upwards they force the horse-shoe up out of the matrix formed by the sides of the
opening G in the shaper plate F and the upper surface of the raised part B of the
die-block.
The pins or plungers J may, in some cases, be used alone for the purpose of
forcing the horse-shoe up out of the matrix ; but we prefer to attach to their
upper ends, by rivetting or otherwise, a plate L of the same shape as the raised
part B, but slightly smaller. This plate L forms a false bottom to the matrix,
and being stiff enables the pins or plungers J to force the horse-shoe out of the
matrix without bending it, as sometimes happens when the pins or plungers are
not provided with the plate L, and the pressure applied to the horse-shoe makes
it a tight fit in the matrix.
M are steel punches for forming the recesses in the side of the horse-shoe for
the heads of the nails to lie in, and in some cases for forming more or less
completely the nail holes through the shoe. These punches pass through holes in
the die-block A, raised plate B thereof, and plate L, when the latter is used, and
rest at their lower ends on the bottom of the box C.
The upper die, not shown in the drawings, is furnished as usual with a down-
wardly projecting part corresponding in shape to the horse-shoe to be pressed and
consequently to the lower part of the opening G in the shaper plate F.
It will now be understood that when a horse-shoe is to be pressed it is placed,
when red-hot, in the opening G of the shaper plate F, but the said opening being
somewhat tapered, that is to say smaller at the bottom than at the top, the horse-
shoe remains for the moment at the upper part of the said opening; the upper
die is then caused to descend, or the lower die to rise, as the case may be, so as to
force the shoe down on to the surface of the plate L, or, if the latter is not
employed, down on to the surface of the raise part B of the die-block, thereby
forcing down the pins or plungers J. The shaper plate F is also carried down
against the resistance of the springs H, partly by the friction of the horse-shoe
against the sides of the opening G, and partly by a shoulder on the upper die
which comes in contact with the upper surface of the said plate F, until the lower
part of such opening surrounds and encloses the raised part B of the die-block, and
the plate L, when the latter is employed. The pressure of the upper die on the
horse-shoe first causes the punches M to enter the under side of the shoe and to
form the indents or recesses therein, and then to flatten the shoe between the
lower end of the upper die and the upper surface of the plate L, or of the raised
part B of the die-block, as the case may be. When the upper die rises, or the
lower die or matrix falls, as the case may be, the shaper plate F is forced
upwards by its springs H, and the shoe is carried up with it and is pushed out

page_text: therefrom by the pins or plungers J and plate L, when the latter is employed, by
means of the springs or other mechanism herein before referred to as acting on the
said pins or plungers.
The cooling water may be passed or circulated continuously in contact with the
die-block, and parts connected therewith, suitable passages being formed in such
die-block for the passage of the water through it if necessary, or the water may
be caused to pass or circulate intermittently, that is to say during the interval
between the pressing of one shoe and the introduction of the next; and this
intermittent action of the water may be effected by hand, or, if preferred,
automatically by causing some moving part of the pressing machinery to open
and close a valve or tap in the cooling water inlet pipe D. By causing the
plate F to rise out of the way of the cooling water when a horse-shoe is not being
pressed the said cooling water is enabled to come freely into contact with the
raised part B, plate L, and punches M at that time, so as to cool those parts
before the next red-hot shoe is introduced into the matrix.
If preferred the raised part B of the die-block may be dispensed with, and
instead thereof the plate or false bottom L may be allowed to rest directly on the
surface of the die-block A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The improved die or matrix for pressing horse-shoes, which consists of a
box provided with an inlet and outlet for cooling water; a shaper plate free to
move upwards and downwards in the said box, and having an opening through it
which forms the sides of the matrix; and a die-block provided with a raised part
or its equivalent adapted to enter the lower part of the opening in the shaper
plate, and to form the bottom of the matrix, combined and operating substantially
as described.
Second. In a die or matrix for pressing horse-shoes, causing the part which
forms the sides of the matrix to rise when no sboe is being pressed, in order that
cooling water may come freely into contact with certain parts of the die to be
cooled substantially as described.
Third. In a die or matrix for pressing horse-shoes in which a current of
cooling water is passed through the same for the purpose of cooling certain parts
thereof, the means of ejecting the pressed horse-shoe from the matrix, which
consists of pins or plungers J passing through holes in the bottom of the die,
provided with stuffing boxes or other equivalent water-tight jointing, such pins or
plungers being acted upon, to eject the pressed horse-shoe, by any suitable
mechanism, substantially as described.
ROCK THIS 10th day of December 1895.
W. INCH,
J. E. OLSSON,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.