IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
HORSE-SHOES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR." A communication from
abroad by John Richardson Williams, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Horse
Shoe Manufacturers, and Edward Violett McCandless, of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, Iron and Steel Manufacturer, both in the United States of
America.
Sealed the 24th February 1880, and dated the 26th August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August
1879.
.A
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
communication from abroad by John Richardson Williams, of Johnstown,
Pennsylvania, Horse-shoe Manufacturer, and Edward Violett McCandless, of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Iron and Steel Manufacturer, both in the United States
of America.
The improvements in horse shoes relate in part to the manufacture of shoes with
toe calks, and with a thickness gradually increasing toward the heel so as to give
the calkless heels a height or thickness corresponding with that of the toe, including
the calk; the increased depth or thickness of the heels being obtained by metal
which is pressed out of the width of the shoe at those points. The Invention
further consists in the construction of horse shoes with one or more calks rolled out
of the metal in one and the same piece of steel. The calk or calks are hardened by
tempering while the body of the shoe is annealed to render it less brittle. For
some purposes shoes are preferably made with both toe and heel calks, and with
two or more pyramidal calks on each side interposed between the toe and the
heel calks.
The process of mauufacturing shoes is carried on by several steps as follows:-
For rolling the blanks a proper sized bar or billet for a horse shoe blank train of

page_text: rolls is taken, of a weight that will produce a bar adapted to cut from 20 to 40
blanks of a suitable length for the size of horse shoes desired. The draft and
winter shoe blanks are preferably rolled so as to produce a seven calked shoe. To
obtain such a blank the finishing groove of the train must have a circumference
long enough for two blanks or more, any additional length being in half blanks if
desired. The calk pockets are cut into the bottom of the groove proper; first a
long pocket, then two square pyramidal pockets, then a long pocket again, and so
on completely, around the roll. If the roll is for two blanks in circumference four
of the long pockets which make the toe calks of the shoes are cut in the finishing
groove at equal distances apart around the circumference of the roll. If for two-
and-a-half blanks, five long pockets are employed with two square-based pyramidal
pockets interposed between. the successive long pockets. The blank bars having
thus been rolled are cut up into horse-shoe blanks by dividing at the centre of each
alternate long calk, the same pocket which produces a long toe calk being adapted
to produce two heel calks, the heel calks being a little less than one-half the length
. of the toe calk.
The grooves that precede the finishing groove are termed "fillet forming
grooves," their distinctive character being that they are adapted to produce
a V-shaped ridge on the face of the bar from which the calks are to be formed, and
another ridge on the back of the bar for the purpose of receiving adequate pressure
for forcing the metal down into the calk. pockets to completely fill them without
overfilling or producing pius at top or on the back of the bar.
When the blank bar leaves the rolls it is cut up by saws in proper length for the
sized shoe it was rolled for. For this purpose two saws are employed on the same
mandrel, distanced apart the length of the blank, and adjustable in distance to suit the
different lengths required. The blanks must be cut precisely the equal length to each
extremity from the centre of the long prominence which is to form the toe calk of the
shoe; to insure this the blank must be gauged for length by the toe calk, an adjustable
gauge being attached to the saw frame in front between the two saws, having in it
a pocket which the toe calk will fit. The blank bar is laid on a table in front of
the saws with the toe calk in the gauge pocket, and held there firmly while the
saws are driven through the bar, thus cutting off a blank at each movement of
the saws.
The blanks are then properly heated and presented by means of tongs of peculiar
construction to the pressing machine. The tongs are formed with an upper lip or
bit to fit over the toe calk, and a lower bit made of a width to fit a gauge-groove
or notch prepared for it in the front bed die of the machine. The work done on the
blank by this machine is to produce the nail head creases or pockets to taper the
blank from the toe calk at its centre to each heel or end, and to round the corners
which are to be turned inward in forming the shoe. As soon as the blank is put in
the machine a tapering back die is moved forward compressing the blank against
the front die so as to taper it and round the corners, and hold the blank firmly
while a vertical plunger descends with creasing punches producing the countersinks
for the nail heads.
The operator, still holding the blank in the same tongs, shifts it to the trimming
machine which eliminates the protuberances formed in little bulges opposite the
nail head creases by the metal displaced in forming said creases. This machine
consists of a number of saws mounted on a mandrel, and a suitable slide or carriage
for receiving the blank and guiding it across the edges of the saws so as to trim off*
the protuberances to the surface of the edge of the blank.
The blank is then carried to the toe clipping machine, to which it is presented by
means of two tongs, one in each hand of the operator, and is placed on a bed plate
through which is a hole to receive a vertical punch, on the front of which hole in
the bed-die is a pocket or depression of suitable size and shape to form the toe-clip,
the metal for which is carried down by a protuberance on the face of the
punch.
•
The blank is now ready for bending, to effect which it is taken by tongs at one

page_text: end and placed in a bending machine provided with a gauge-plate having a pocket
for accurately centreing the blank by means of its toe calk. This gauge plate is
attached to a bar carrying the centre or internal form around which the blank is to
be bent. When properly placed the blank is caught by bending rollers mounted on
slides one on each side, which lap and swage it around the centre form. This
machine is a double one, two shoes being turned or bent at each revolution,
the front foot shoe at one end, and the hind foot shoe at the other end of the
machine.
As soon as the shoe is turned or bent it is picked off and placed in swaging dies,
the lower one of which is secured to the anvil block of a steam drop-hammer, and
is cut in its face to the exact form of the horse shoe desired.
The upper or
striking die is secured to the hammer, its face being cut the exact form required
for the foot surface of the shoe. The shoe being in place the hammer is dropped,
the force of the blow forces the shoe into the matrix cut for it, and closing up the
creases or countersinks which are made large enough therefor by the creasing
machine so that they may close into just the size required, and will acquire
by the forcing over of the metal on their inner or rear walls the proper obliquity
or under-cut shape to adapt them to impart an inward inclination to the nail in
driving.
The shoe is now ready for the punching machine, which is provided with punches
suitably formed and spaced to produce the nail holes in customary manner. After
the punching is done the shoes are inspected by a man in front of an emery wheel,
any fins found being ground off. After this they are back holed by a hand punch
to properly size the nail holes and clean out the little fins.
For tempering and annealing the calked soles they are heated to a cherry red
and placed, calks down, on a plate covered with a mixture of prussiate of potash,
saltpetre, and sal-ammoniac, or other suitable chemicals, in equal parts, lying one
quarter of an inch deep, more or less, on a plate. The calks of the shoes having
rested in this mixture for a few seconds are afterwards immersed in water by
means of a frame or rack which allows the projecting calks to rest in the water, but
prevents contact of the water with the body or web of the shoe.
The web is thus allowed to cool gradually by spontaneous radiation until it
reaches the annealing heat, while the calks by the rapid cooling effect of the water
acquire a hard temper, especially toward the points.

page_text: L
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th February 1880.
"
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR.' A
communication from abroad by John Richardson Williams, of Johnstown,
Pennsylvania, Horse Shoe Manufacturer, and Edward Violett McCandless, of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Iron and Steel Manufacturer, both in the United States
of America.
The improvements in horse shoes relate in part to the manufacture of shoes with
toe calks and with a thickness gradually increasing toward the heel, so as to give
the calkless heels a height or thickness corresponding with that of the toe, including
the calk, the increased depth or thickness of the heels being obtained by metal
which is pressed out of the width of the shoe at those points. The Invention
further consists in the construction of horse shoes with one or more calks rolled out
of the metal in one and the same piece of steel. The calk or calks are hardened by
tempering, while the body of the shoe is annealed to render it less brittle. For
some purposes shoes are preferably made with both toe and heel calks, and with
two or more pyramidal calks on each side interposed between the toe and the heel
calks.
The process of manufacturing shoes is carried on by several steps as follows:-
For rolling the blanks a proper sized bar or billet for a horse shoe blank train of
rolls is taken of a weight that will produce a bar adapted to cut from 20 to
40 blanks of a suitable length for the size of horseshoes desired. The draft and
winter shoe blanks are preferably rolled so as to produce a seven calked shoe.. To
obtain such a blank the finishing groove of the train must have a circumference
long enough for two blanks or more, any additional length being in half blanks if
desired. The calk pockets are cut into the bottom of the groove proper; first a
long pocket, then two square pyramidal pockets, then a long pocket again, and so
on completely around the roll. If the roll is for two blanks in circumference four
of the long pockets which make the toe calks of the shoes are cut in the finishing
groove at equal distances apart around the circumference of the roll. If for two
and a half blanks five long pockets are employed, with two square based pyramidal
pockets interposed between the successive long pockets. The blank bars having
thus been rolled are cut up into horse shoe blanks by dividing at the centre of each
alternate long calk, the same pocket which produces a long toe calk being adapted
to produce two heel calks, the heel calks being a little less than one half the length
of the toe calk. The grooves that precede the finishing groove are termed billet
forming grooves," their distinctive character being that they are adapted to produce
a V shaped ridge on the face of the bar from which the calks are to be formed, and
another ridge on the back of the bar for the purpose of receiving adequate pressure
for forcing the metal down into the calk pockets to completely fill them without
over filling or producing fins at top or on the back of the bar.
When the blank bar leaves the rolls it is cut up by saws in proper length for the
sized shoe it was rolled for. For this purpose two saws are employed on the same
mandrel distanced apart the length of the blank, and adjustable in distance to
suit the different lengths required. The blanks must be cut precisely the same
length to each extremity from the centre of the long prominence which is to form
the toe calk of the shoe; to ensure this the blank must be gauged for length by
the toe calk, an adjustable gauge being attached to the saw frame in front between
the two saws, having in it a pocket which the toe calk will fit. The blank bar is
laid on a table in front of the saws with the toe calk in the gauge pocket, and held

page_text: there firmly while the saws are driven through the bar, thus cutting off a blank at
each movement of the saws.
The blanks are then properly heated and presented by means of tongs of peculiar
construction to the creasing device. The tongs are formed with an upper lip or bit
to fit over the toe calk, and a lower bit made of a width to fit a gauge, groove, or
notch prepared for it in the front bed die of the machine. The work done on the
blank by this machine is to produce the nail head creases or pockets, to taper the
blank from the toe calk at its centre to each heel or end, and to round the corners
which are to be turned inward in forming the shoe. As soon as the blank is put
in the machine a back die is moved forward compressing the blank against the
front die so as to taper it and round the corners, and hold the blank firmly while
a vertical plunger descends with creasing punches producing the counter sinks for.
the nail heads. The operator, still holding the blank in the same tongs, shifts it to
the trimmer, which eliminates the protuberances formed in little bulges opposite the
nail head creases by the metal displaced in forming said creases. This device
consists of a number of saws mounted on a mandrel, and a suitable slide or carriage
for receiving the blank and guiding it across the edges of the saws so as to trim off
the protuberances to the surface of the edge of the blank.
The blank is then carried to the toe-clipping device, to which it is presented
by means of two tongs, one in each hand of the operator, and is placed on a bed
plate through which is a hole to receive a vertical punch, on the front of which hole
in the bed die is a pocket or depression of suitable size and shape to form the toe
clip, the metal for which is carried down by a protuberance on the face of the punch.
The blank is now ready for bending, to effect which it is taken by tongs at one
end and placed in a bending apparatus provided with a gauge plate having a pocket
for accurately centering the blank by means of its toe calk. This gauge plate is
attached to a bar carrying the centre or internal form around which the blank
is to be bent. When properly placed the blank is caught by bending rollers
mounted on slides, one on each side, which lap and swage it around the centre form.
The bending apparatus is double, two shoes being turned or bent at each revolution,
the front foot shoe at one end and the hind foot shoe at the other end of the
machine.
As soon as the shoe is turned or bent it is picked off and placed in swaging dies,
the lower one of which is secured to the anvil block of a steam drop hammer, and
is cut in its face to the exact form of the horse shoe desired. The upper or striking
die is secured to the hammer, its face being cut the exact form required for the
foot surface of the shoe; the shoe being in place the hammer is dropped.
The blow forces the shoe into the matrix cut for it, partially closing up the
creases or countersinks which are made large enough therefor by the creasing
machine, so that they may close into just the size required, and will acquire by the
forcing over of the metal on the inner or rear walls the proper obliquity or under-
cut shape to adapt them to impart an inward inclination to the nails in driving..
The shoe is now ready for the punching machine, which is provided with punches
suitably formed and spaced to produce the nail holes in customary manner.
1
After
the punching is done the shoes are inspected by a man in front of an emery wheel,
any fins found being ground off. After this they are back holed by a hand punch
to properly size the nail holes and clean out the little fins.
For tempering and annealing the calked shoes they are heated to a cherry red,
and placed, calks down, on a plate covered with a mixture of prussiate of potash,
saltpetre, and sal-ammoniac in equal parts, or other suitable chemicals, lying one
quarter of an inch deep, more or less, on a plate. The calks of the shoes having
rested in this mixture for a few seconds are afterwards immersed in water by means
of a frame or rack, which allows the projecting calks to rest in the water, but prevents
contact of the water with the body or web of the shoe. The web is thus allowed
to cool gradually by spontaneous radiation until it reaches the annealing heat, while
the calks by the rapid cooling effect of the water acquire a hard temper; especially
toward the points.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents transverse sections of the bar after each of four successive
passes through the preliminary forming grooves of the rolls.
Figure 1ª represents two sections on a somewhat larger scale, indicating under
two modifications the form of the bar when the pyramidal calks have been formed
out of the V shaped ridge shown in the previous sections.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of adjacent portions of a pair of rolls in the plane
of the final forming groove, showing the bar in the process of the formation of the
pyramidal calks out of the V-shaped preliminary ridge.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a bar after coming from the rolls.
Figure 4 is a plan of the cutting off device.
Figure 5 is an end view of the same.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sliding gauge thereof on a larger scale.
Figure 7 is a front view of the creasing apparatus.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of the same.
Figure 9 is a plan on a larger scale of a portion of the bed of the creasing apparatus
showing a blank in position.
Figure 10 is an underside view of the creasing head and the punches therein.
Figure 11 is a front elevation thereof.
Figure 12 is an end view of the same.
Figure 12 shows a front and side view of two of the punches detached.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the jaws of a pair of tongs of peculiar con-
struction employed for applying the blank to the creasing and trimming devices on
a larger scale.
Figure 14 is a transverse section of a portion of the bed of the creasing
apparatus, illustrating, the mode of applying the blank thereto by means of tongs
shown in Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a plan of a trimming device.
Figure 16 is a side view of the same.
Figure 17 is an end view thereof.
Figure 18 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the same machine.
Figure 19 is a plan of a trimmer of the preferred construction.
Figure 20 is a front view thereof.
Figure 21 is an end view of the same.
Figure 22 is a plan of the bed of the swage for forming toe clips.
Figure 23 is a longitudinal section thereof.
Figure 24 is a transverse section of the same, showing the swaging punch and
the inverted blank in position.
Figure 25 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the swaging punch on a
larger scale.
Figure 26 is a transverse section of the blank in upright position after the forma-
tion of the toe clip.
Figure 27 is a plan of the bending apparatus,
Figure 28 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 29 is a vertical transverse section thereof.
Figure 30 is a plan of the upper face of the lower swaging die.
Figure 31 is a view of the lower face of the upper swaging die.
Figure 32 is a transverse section of the bed die on the line 32, 32, Figure 30.
Figure 33 is a longitudinal section of the upper die on the line 33, 33,
Figure 31.

page_text: Figure 35 is a section of one side thereof.
Figure 36 is a perspective view of a shoe with toe' calk only.
Figure 37 is a perspective view of the same inverted.
Figure 38 is a longitudinal section thereof.
Figures 39 and 40 are side views, showing the shoe in the chemical and wator
baths employed for hardening the calks.
As a preliminary to the formation of pyramidal calks by a rolling operation it is
necessary to form on the bar a V shaped ridge, out of which said calks may be
produced, and further to produce on the back or opposite side of the bar a ridge
or prominence which will bear the pressure necessary in filling the pockets in the
final groove by which the pyramidal calks are formed, and will cause the complete
filling out of the upper corners of the bar without overfilling, or the formation of
fins. To accomplish these results the bar is passed through grooves which produce
the successive forms illustrated in Figure 1, and having acquired the last of these
forms, with a sharp V shaped ridge on one face and a ridge or prominence on the
opposite face, it is passed through the final pocketed groove shown in Figure 2, so
as to produce the bar, a portion of which is shown in perspective in Figure 3, and
in section under two modifications in Figure 1ª.
This bar C will be seen to have pyramidal projections c, c, to form side calks,
and interposed ridges c¹, cx, every alternate one c* of which is designed to form the
toe calk, while the intervening ridges c¹ produce the heel calks when the bar is.
cut up at the points indicated by the dotted lines. In Figures 4, 5, and 6, 1 is a
bed affording bearings for a vertical oscillating frame 2, in the upper part of which
are boxes for the mandrel 3 of a pair of saws 4, 4, which are fixed thereon between
collars 5, 5, clamped upon the saws by nuts 6, 6, the screw thread on the mandrel
extending from end to end or to any necessary length to permit the adjustment of
the saws thereon as to position and distance asunder. 7 represents a driving
pulley, which in practice is operated by a belt so connected and arranged as to
permit the forward and backward horizontal movement of the saw mandrel without
interfering with the running of the saws. The frame is guided in its hori-
zontal oscillation by studs' working in standards 8 rising from the bed 1. The
oscillating movement of the frame on its centre in the bed 1 is produced by a rock
shaft 9, operated by a lever 10 carrying arms 11, 11, connected by rods 12, 12, with
the upper part of the frame 2. 13 represents the gauge to receive the blank bar,
this is mounted adjustably on a standard 14, in which the rock shaft 9 has its
bearings. The gauge 13 is constructed with supports 16 for the blank bar C, and
with a pocket 15 to receive the toe calk c* thereof. The device is applicable to
cutting up horse shoe blank bars of any form provided with toe calks.
In operation the saws are adjusted accurately to the distance asunder required
for the length of the blank. The blank bar C is then placed in the gauge 13 pre-
pared to receive it on the standard 14, with one of the toe calks c* in the pocket 15.
The saws are then drawn forward by a downward movement of the lever 10,
causing them to pass through the blank bar on the dotted lines a, a, Figure 3, so
as to saw off a shoe blank accurately to the required length. The blank is then
set with the next toe calk c* in the pocket 15, so that the next motion of the saws
will produce the cuts indicated by the lines b, b, and so on till the bar is used up.
The machine may, if preferred, be made with additional saws on the same mandrel
to adapt it for cutting off two or more blanks at once. The creasing apparatus by
which the blank is next treated is shown in Figures 7 to 12ª inclusive. It is con-
structed with standards 17 rising from the bed 18, supporting a stationary die-
block 19, to which are bolted forming dies 20, 21. The frame is constructed to
form guides for the horizontal sliding compressing die 21 secured to a moving
die-holder 22, to which is attached a yoke 24, encircling a cam 25 carried by a
shaft 26. The cam is constructed, as shown, with a concentric portion from 27 to
28, extending 90 degrees, more or less, for the purpose of causing the moving die 21

page_text: to rest or dwell when in its foremost position, thus compressing and securely
holding the blank while the creasing punches descend, as hereinafter described.
The front shaping dies 20, 20, are changeable to suit the size and style of blank
on which they are to operate, and are inclined and curved at their outer ends so as
to impart a horizontal taper and consequently an increasing vertical thickness to
the blank toward its heel extremities, and to round the corners which will come on
the inside when the blank is bent into the form of a shoe. A space 29 between the
inner extremities of the dies 20, 20, and a corresponding groove in the die holder 19
receive the lower bit of the tongs and form a gauge in setting the blank in the dies,
the upper bit of the tongs being made with a suitable lip to fit over the face of the
blank C, and with a pocket to receive the toe calk c* thereof. The moving die 21
is likewise changeable to suit different sizes and forms of blanks.
In its face are
formed pockets 30, 30, to receive the metal displaced in forming the nail creases 31,
31, in the blank C. The protuberances on the blank are subsequently removed by
saws hereinafter.described.
The centre of the working face of the die 21 is formed with a slight protuberance
to press the toe calk back sufficiently to keep it out of reach of the saws employed
in trimming off the protuberances. Between the standards 17, 17, a cross head 32
slides vertically, being operated by thrust blocks 33 and yokes 34, the former but-
ting against and the latter encircling cams.35, 35, on a horizontal shaft 36 which is
driven by a gear wheel 37 operated by a pinion on a pulley shaft or by other
suitable means. The shafts 36 and 26 are connected by equal cog wheels 36 and
20a so as to drive one from the other at uniform speed. 38 represents a strong cross
bar constituting the upper part of the frame, from the centre of which depends a
strut 39 forming a bearing for the centre of the shaft 36; 40 are studs extending
upward from the upper cross pieces of the yokes 34 and working through the upper
beam 38 of the frame in order to guide said yokes in a vertical path.
The punch stock 41 is bolted to the face of the cross head 32, and carries punches 42,
42, of suitable shape to form the nail creases in the surface of the blanks. The form of
the creasing punches in side view is shown in Figures 8 and 12%. The vertical section
Figure 8 and plan Figure 9 both show a blank Č in position in the bed dies. The
nail creases are shown at 31, 31. The apparatus is adapted for forming nail creases
in horse shoe blanks of any kind. The creasing punches are formed, as shown in
Figure 12a, with the face 43 which makes the front wall of the crease as nearly
vertical as practicable, the other face 44, which is presented toward the front of the
machine and rear of the blank, being inclined as much as necessary for strength.
The object of this difference in form is to make the front wall as nearly vertical as
can be done successfully with punching dies. The said outer walls are pressed over
by the provision of protuberances in the face of the finishing dies in order to give
an inward inclination to the nail creases, especially at the front of the shoe. The
creasing punches are of chilled iron and are fixed in their stocks by set screws 45.
The horizontal bulges or protuberances resulting from the formation of nail creases
are trimmed off by an apparatus, one form of which is shown in Figures 15 to 18.
It is constructed with a horizontal shaft 46 running in bearings on a bed or frame
47, and carrying an annular or crown saw 48. Mounted on the same bed 47 is a
vertical guide block or standard 49 adjusted horizontally toward or from the front
of the saw by set screws 50. A slide 51 works vertically on the guiding standard
49, being raised and lowered by means of a horizontal hand or foot lever 52, the
inner end of which is connected by a rod 53 with the slide 51. The slide 51 is
constructed with a pocket 54 forming a seat to receive a horse shoe blank which fits
therein, as shown in Figures 18 and 15, and is held in such position as to bring the
protuberances 56 which are produced by punching its nail creases 31 just within
the vertical plane of the extremities of the saw teeth, as illustrated in Figure 18, the
necessarily accurate adjustment of the guiding standard 49 to secure this result
being provided by the set screws 50, Figures 15 and 16. 50 represent clamp screws
for screwing the standard in the desired position, 55 represents a notch in the slide
to receive the lower bit of the tongs used in setting the blank in the slide.

page_text: A special slide is preferably used for each style or size of horse shoe blank with
a seat or pocket in which the particular blank will fit. If preferred the slide may, be
made in two parts, the pocket or blank-seat being contained in a removable cap to.
facilitate changing from one size or shape of blank to another; or the blank, may, be,
clamped on the top of the slide without a pocket or seat to receive it so that one
slide may be made to do for blanks of any size.
In operation the workman takes a blank from the creaser and without shifting
his tongs therefrom places it in the seat prepared for it in the slide 51, the lower
bit of the tongs resting in the notch 55 as before stated. By a downward pressure
of his foot or hand on the lever 52 he then elevates the slide 51, and as the
blank is carried across the edge of the annular saw at its upper part the protu-
berances 56, shown in Figure 9, are trimmed off smoothly to the proper surface of
the edge of the blank. A modified and in some respects preferable trimming device
is shown in Figures 19, 20, and 21, having a shaft 57 driven by a pulley 58. and
carrying four circular saws 59, 59, 59, 59. On the same frame or bed 60, in which..
the saw shaft has its bearings, is fixed adjustably a guide block 61 supporting and
guiding a slide 62 which has a dovetailed connection therewith, as shown at 63,
Figure 21, to confine the slide to a horizontal motion in a line precisely parallel
with the axis of the sawa. In the upper edge of the slide 62 is a, pocket or seat.
of proper size and shape to receive and firmly hold the blank which is shown at C,
Figures 19 and 21; 55 represents the notch in the slide to admit the lower bit
of the tongs by which the blank is placed in the machine. Set screws 64, are
employed to adjust the guide block 61 and slide 62 relatively to the edges of the
saws 59. The slide is moved to and fro by a lever 65 projecting horizontally from
a shaft 66, journalled in the bed 60 from the inner end of which shaft rises a
vertical arm 67 engaging with a stud 68 on the slide.
In operation the slide 62 is moved sufficiently to one side to permit the blank C
to be inserted with the protuberances opposite the nail creases between the saws
59, 59, 59, 59. The slide being then moved horizontally as far as the length of
one protuberance, all four of them will be removed by the saws.
.
When any number of blanks of one size or pattern have thus been trimmed the
slide 62 is removed and a new one to suit another size of blank is placed in
position. The next operation is to produce a clip or lug which will project upward*
from the point of the finished shoe to form an abutment or bearing in front of the
toe. For this purpose the blank is placed upside down in a die 69, Figures 22, 23,
and 24, in position opposite the punch or plunger 70. The die 69 is secured' by set
screws 71, 71, to a suitable bed 72. In the centre of the die is a square aperture
73, in the margin of which are one or more pockets or cavities 74 of the shape.
required for the toe clip of a horse shoe. 75 is a gauge which is preferably made
adjustable by a set screw 76, and held in position by a clamp screw. 77, and is
employed to confine the shoe or blank against horizontal motion during the swaging"
operation. A vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to the punch or plunger 70
by a cam, eccentric, or other suitable means. On the face of this plunger is a protu-
berance or boss 78 bevelled on its under side. Below this protuberance the face of the
plunger is inclined backward, as shown at 79, in Figures 24 and 25, which admits of
keeping it constantly in the aperture of the bed-die. The bed-die 69 is preferably
made with two pockets 74, 74, on each side, as shown, so that it may be turned end
for end, so that when one side of the said die is worn it may be reversed in its seat.
In practice both the bed die 69 and plunger 70 are of cast metal, chilled on the
surfaces which sustain the .wear. The said die and plunger may hence be renewed
at trifling cost.
In operation a horse shoe or a straight horse-shoe blank is placed upside down
on the bed die 69 with its centre accurately opposite the plunger 70 and its back
resting against the gauge 75. The plunger 70 is then forced down, the first effect
of which is to cause the wedge shaped portion 79 to press the blank firmly back
against the gauge 75, where it is held by the straight portion, while the boss 78

page_text: catching a part of the metal forming the front edge of the shoe or blank carries
it down into the pocket 74, which imparts the required form to the toe clip thus
produced.
In the sectional view of the swaged blank, Figure 26, C indicates the thickness of
the body of the blank; 80 is the toe calk, and 81 the toe clip. The cavity formed
by the swaging out of the metal is shown at 82, from which it will appear that the
strength and wearing qualities of the shoe will not be impaired by the removal of
the metal to form the clip or toe rest.
The machine may be arranged equally well with the swaging plunger 70 working
in horizontal position.
When used for swaging clips on horse shoes instead of straight blanks the
gauge 75 is curved to correspond with the curvature of the shoe.
The bender represented in Figures 27, 28, and 29, is provided with formers
83, 83, corresponding in their external contour with the desired shape of the
interior of the shoe; and fixed to a central bar 84, which is attached removably to
the bed. Slides 85, 85, are pivotted to a cross head 86, from which they receive
longitudinal reciprocating motion. On the slides are studs 87, 87, carrying flanged
rollers 88, 88, confined to the required path by external guides 89, 89, which are
made adjustable by set screws 90, 90, and clamp screws 91, 91, and like the formers
83, 83a, may be changed when required to adapt them to produce shoes of any
desired size or style; 92, 92, and 91, 91, showing bolts or screws by which the
centre formers and external guides respectively are secured in position.
The rollers are also changeable to suit the varying contour of the different
kinds of shoes which it may be desired to produce.
In order to prevent wear on the outer side of the studs 87, 87, sleeves or rollers
93 of hard steel are placed thereon, so as to roll on the surfaces of the guides.
The formers are preferably arranged in the machine, front to front, as shown.
The slides 85, 85, being in the position shown in Figure 27, a suitably prepared
and heated blank is laid across the machine with the centre of its rear edge
against the front of the former 83, and its toe calk resting in a pocket 94 in the
bar 84, which thus forms a gauge to centre the blank. The movement of the
slides then carries the bending rollers 88, 88, against the front of the blank,
the flanges 88 of the rollers holding the blank firmly down to prevent it rising
off the centre former, and as the rollers are confined laterally by the guides
89, 89, parallel with the proper external contour of the shoe, the blank is pressed
closely against the former 83 completely back to the heel. On the return stroke of
the slides, another blank being placed against the front of the former 83ª, it is bent
in like manner. By the use of formers in pairs, as shown, the machine is adapted
to do double work, as the attendant readily places a second blank in position while
the first is being bent.
The final finish is imparted to the shoe by means of swaging dies of the
required form, such, for example, as shown in Figures 30 to 23, inclusive. The bed
die, Figure 30, is adapted to impart the desired shape and finish to the underside of
the shoe. This illustration shows depressions or pockets for the reception of
calks, but the side pockets are omitted in dies for swaging shoes without side calks.
In order to impart to the nail creases an inward inclination, especially at the
front of the shoe, the bed die 95 is provided 'with protuberances 96, 96, which when
the metal is under pressure between the dies have the effect of producing depressions
97, Figures 34 and 35, in the surface of the shoe, the metal thus displaced being
pressed over the upper part of the nail creases so as to give them the undercut or
inclined shape, shown in Figure 35, in order to impart the proper inclination to the
nails to cause them to penetrate the hoof to the requisite depth and not emerge or
run out too near its extremity. The top die 98 is formed with a depression or
pocket 98 for the reception of the toe clip or toe rest which is formed on the
blank or on the shoe at a previous operation.
This pocket serves to protect the said toe clip from distortion or injury under the
swaging pressure, and also to impart the final shape and finish thereto.

page_text: 1
The dies are so formed and proportioned as to adapt them to impart the final
finish to a horseshoe of any size, style, or shape.
After the shoe has been swaged it is ready for the operation of punching
nail-holes; for this purpose any suitable punching machinery in commou use may
be employed.
It is preferred to use punching apparatus specially arranged for this work, but
as this is not claimed as new a specific description thereof is not required. Figures
34, 36, 37, 38, and 39, show the finished shoe under two modifications, 36, 37 and
38, being respectively two perspective views and a longitudinal section of a shoe
made with a toe calk ouly and with the heel ends reduced in horizontal thickness
and extended in height so as to correspond with the height of the toe including the
toe calk. This shoe is well adapted for driving and other light uses. The shoe,
shown in Figures 34 and 39, having pyramidal side and heel calks is well adapted
for heavy draft purposes. In order to render the calks durable they are hardened
by heating the shoe to a cherry red and setting it in upright position, as illustrated
in Figure 39, on a suitable table with the calks covered or partially covered in a
mixture of equal parts of prussiate of potash, salt-petre, and salammoniac in a finely
pulverized state; a depth of a quarter of an inch of this chemical mixture will suffice.
The shoe is allowed to rest with its calks in this mixture for a few seconds. The calks
are then immersed in water by means of the apparatus shown in Figure 40,.con-
sisting of a water bath 99 with horizontal bars 99ª, 99, adapted to support the
shoe so that its calks will be immersed in the water nearly to their whole depth
without permitting the water to touch the body C of the shoe. The shoe is
allowed to rest on these bars with the calks in the water until the body C is
reduced to the annealing heat by radiation, the required heat being a dark red
color in the dark. When the body has reached a sufficiently low temperature by
radiation it is plunged into water and cooled, which completes the operation,
and produces a calked horseshoe with hardened calks and an annealed body.
Having thus described the Invention and the mode in which the same is carried
into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,―
First. The system of manufacturing horse shoes by rolling, cutting, creasing,
trimming, bending and swaging in the manner substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.
Second. The cutting off apparatus provided with a pair of saws and a centering
gauge, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of the gauge 13, oscillating frame 2, and saws 4.
Fourth. The clamping die of the creasing apparatus constructed with pockets
or depressions in its working face to receive the metal displaced in forming the
nail creases.
Fifth. The combination of the clamping dies 20, 21, and the creasing punches 42,
substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the clamping dies for holding the blank, the die
holder, and the operating cam, constructed with a concentric portion to retain the
moving die in its advanced position while the punches descend.
Seventh. The punches constructed with faces of unequal taper to produce
inclined creases as explained.
Eighth. A gang of punches constructed as described and mounted in a head or
stock operating substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The process or mode of removing the nail crease protuberances from the
edge of a horse-shoe blank by means of one or more saws and a slide adapted to
receive the blank and guide it across the edge or edges of said saw or saws,
substantially as set forth."
Tenth. The combination of one or more saws for trimming horse shoe blanks, and
a slide having on its upper edge a longitudinal pocket to receive the blank, and
a transverse notch admitting the tongs which hold said blank, substantially as set
forth.

page_text: Eleventh. The combination of the bed die 69, and the swaging punch or plunger
70, for forming toe clips on horse-shoes or horse-shoe blanks, as explained.
Twelfth. The combination of the bed die, the swaging punch or plunger
formed with a tapering face, and the gauge, operating substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Thirteenth. A horse-shoe bending apparatus having internal and external formers
and flanged bending rollers, substantially as set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination of bending rollers and external formers with
internal formers arranged in pairs for alternate use, as described.
Fifteenth. The horse-shoe bending apparatus provided with internal and external
formers removable and changeable to adapt them for bending shoes of various
forms and sizes.
Sixteenth. The combination of the central double headed form provided with a
gauge pocket 94, the double external formers 89, the rollers 88, and the cross head
86, as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventeenth. A pair of swaging dies adapted to impart the final form or finish
to a horse-shoe, and the required inclination to the nail creases, substantially as
described.
Eighteenth. A horse shoe constructed with a toe calk and with sides tapering
in horizontal width and increasing in vertical thickness from front to back so
as to form heel extremities without calks about equal in thickness to the front
including the calk.
Nineteenth. A calked horse shoe composed of steel in one piece with the calks
hardened and the body annealed, as set forth.
Twentieth. The process of hardening the calks and annealing the body of a
calked horse-shoe by preliminary treatment with chemicals, sudden cooling of the
.calks only by immersing them in water, and permitting the body to acquire the
annealing temperature by gradual radiation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
R TR MILLS (T0)