IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC NUTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry James Brookes, of Smethwick, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC NUTS."
Sealed the 13th April 1877, and dated the 19th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry James Brookes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1870.
HENRY JAMES BROOKES, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC NUTS."
This Invention consists in various improvements in the arrangement of machinery
for making untapped nuts of square, hexagon, and other shapes more perfectly and
economically than has hitherto been attained.
The framework of the machine is constructed of cast iron or any other suitable
material, and is supported at a convenient height for use. At the back of the
machine is situated the driving shaft, one end of which carries fast and loose
pulleys, and the other end the fly wheel. On this shaft are keyed two cams which
through suitably constructed levers actuate two slides working in guides, to one of
which is fixed the punch, while the other carries three facing tools called respectively
the forming tool, the shearing tool, and the facing tool, together with a cutting
knife.
The heated bar of iron from which the nuts are to be forged is inserted under the
cutting knife, which descends and nearly severs the iron to form the nut from the
bar, at the same time the forming tool snaps the corners of the partially severed
iron so as to form the face of the nut. These tools withdraw, and at the next revo-
lution of the machine the bar is pushed under the shearing tool which shears off the
iron already partially cut from the bar and carries it into a recess formed in the
bed of the machine, the shearing tool again facing the nut, the forming tool and
cutting knife at the same time operating on the bar as before described, while to
prevent the bar adhering to the tools a stationary bar passing through the forming
tool holds the iron in its proper position. A hammer or rain worked longitudin
by the fly wheel now advances and forces the nut against another hainmer also
worked longitudinally by a cani groove in the face of a revolving disc. One of these
hammers then withdraws and a hammer worked transversely by a cam on the

page_text: driving shaft forces the nut against the recess in the bed of the machine. This
hammer being withdrawn the facing tool descends and completes the snapping of
the nut, both hammers instantly closing round the nut once more thus smoothing all
the sides. While the nut is thus held the punching takes place, the punch being
immediately withdrawn. The facing tool and two of the hammers then recede from
the nut and the remaining hammer forces the nut out of the die box and ejects it
from the machine, all the said hammers and facing tools being drawn away from the
nut either by the action of suitably arranged cams or by springs.
When making hexagon nuts the longitudinal hammers are angular at the ends,
and in addition to those already described two other hammers also worked longitu-
dinally are employed. These hammers have angular ends, and when the bar is
first inserted in the machine they advance and indent the sides, and then being
withdrawn the forming tool and cutting knife descend and the various processes
succeed each other as herein-before described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry James Brookes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th April 1877.
HENRY JAMES BROOKES, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC NUTS."
This Invention consists in various improvements in the arrangement of machinery
for making untapped nuts of square,, hexagon, and other shapes more perfectly and
economically than has hitherto been attained.
The framework of the machine is constructed of cast iron or any other suitable
material and is supported at a convenient height for use. At the back of the
machine is situated the driving shaft, one end of which carries a fast and loose
pulley, and the other end the fly wheel. On this shaft are keyed two cams which
through suitably constructed levers actuate two slides working in guides, to one of
which is fixed the punch, while the other carries three facing tools called the
forming tool, shearing tool, and facing tool, and a cutting knife. There are also
three hammers or rams for properly facing the sides of the nuts. Two of these
hammers have straight ends if the nuts are to be square, and angular if they are to
be hexagonal or other shape. One of these hammers is worked by a cam on the
driving shaft, another is worked by a cam formed on the edge of the rim of the fly
wheel, while the third is actuated by a sliding bar worked by a cam groove in the
face of a revolving disc keyed on the shaft near the driving pulley, all the said
hammers and facing tools being drawn away from the nut either by the action of
suitably arranged cams or by springs.
The heated bar of iron from which the nuts are to be forged is inserted under the
cutting knife which descends and nearly severs the iron to form the nut from the
bar. At the same time the forming tool snaps the corners of the partially severed
bar so as to form the face of the nut. These tools withdraw and the bar is pushed
under the shearing tool which shears off the iron already partially cut from the bar
and carries it into a recess formed in the bed of the machine, the shearing tool again
facing the nut, and a hammer worked longitudinally by the fly wheel advances and
forces the nut against another hammer worked longitudinally by the revolving disc
which has advanced to meet it. One of these hammers then withdraws and another
hammer worked transversely advancing forces the nut against the recess in the bed
of the machine. This hammer being withdrawn the facing tool descends and
completes the snapping of the nut, both hammers instantly closing round the
nut once more, thus smoothing all the sides. While the nut is thus held the punch-
ing takes place, the punch being immediately withdrawn. The facing tool and two
of the hammers then recede from the nut and the remaining hammers forces the nut
'

page_text: out of the die box and ejects it from the machine. The heated bar is again brought
under the sheering tool which rises to admit it and the process is repeated.
When making hexagon nuts, in addition to the three hammers already described
two others worked longitudinally are employed. Four of these hammers have
angular ends, and when the bar is first inserted in the machine they advance and
indent the sides, and then being withdrawn the cutting knife and forming tool
descend and the various processes succeed each other as herein-before described, the
nuts being forged with great rapidity, perfect in shape and finish if the tools are
properly adjusted.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I will pro-
ceed to describe the same with reference to the annexed Drawings
:-
This Invention relates as before mentioned to an improved arrangement of
machinery for making untapped square, hexagon, or other shaped nuts.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing shews a front elevation of the
machine; Figure 2, a transverse section; Figure 3, a plan of the same.
Fig. 4, a plan with the upper part of the machine removed.
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a modification of the machine for making
hexagon nuts.
Figure 6 shows the slides to which the facing tools are attached.
Figure 7 shows the arrangement of hammers for making square nuts.
for usc.
The framework a of the machine is supported by standards at a convenient height
At the back of the machine is fixed the driving shaft b, one end of which
carries fast and loose pulleys, the other end the fly wheel. On this shaft are keyed
two cams c, d, which through the straps and levers e, f, communicate a reciprocating
motion to two slides g, h. To the slides g is fixed the punch, while to the slide h
three facing tools are attached. These facing tools are shewn in Figure 6, and they
are called in the following description of the machine the forming tool j, the
shearing tool, the facing tool . There are also three hammers or rams m, n, o, for
properly facing the sides of the nuts. One of these hammers m is fixed to the
slide 2, and is actuated by a cam r keyed on the driving shaft. The hammer
fixed to the slide w, and is actuated by a cam s formed on the edge of the rim of the
fly wheel. The hammer o is fixed to the slide x, and is actuated by a sliding bar t,
worked by a cam slot in the face of a revolving disc u keyed on the shaft near the
driving pulley.
is
The action of the machine is as follows:-The heated bar of iron and from which
the nuts are to be forged is inserted under the forming tool j, which descends and
roughly forms the snaps on the face of the nut. The forming tool then withdraws,
the heated bar being prevented from adhering to it by the stationary bar or
mandril E¹. The bar is now pushed up to the gauge y under the shearing tool k,
which shears off the iron which has been already snapped at the corners and carries
it into a recess formed in the bed of the machine, as shewn in Figure 2, the shearing
tool at the same time again facing the nut. The hammer n now advances and
forces the nut against the hammer o, which has advanced to meet it. The hammer n
then withdraws, and the hammer m advancing forces the nut against the cutting
block b, Figure 2. The hammer also being withdrawn the facing tool descends
and completes the snapping or facing of the nut, the hammers m, n, instantly
closing round the nut once more, thus again smoothing all the sides. While the nut
is thus held the punch i descends, the wad out of the nut being forced through an
aperture in the bed of the machine, as shewn in Figure 6. The punch being with-
drawn the facing tool and the two hammers m, o, then recede from the nut, and the
hammer n advancing forces the nut out of the die box, and ejects it from the
machine through the aperture a¹, shewn in Figure 6 and 7. The heated bar is again
brought under the shearing tool which rises to admit it, and the process as before
described is repeated.
When the machine is used for making hexagon nuts, the hammers n, o, are formed
with angular ends, and in addition two other hammers p, q, with angular ends are
employed. At the same time the hammer n is forcing the finished nut from the

page_text: machine the hammer p which is attached to the same slide indents the side of the
bar for the next nut. The sliding bar t is formed with an angular end as shewn,
which while receding to allow the finished nut to fall out of the machine causes the
slide C¹ to which is fixed the hammer qto advance, thus indenting the other side of
the nut at the same time. The hammers p, q, being withdrawn the forming tool j
descends and flattens the face of the bar, after which the various processes already
described succeed each other the same as when the machine is making square nuts.
For nuts of octagon or other shape a corresponding alteration must be made in the
shape of the hammers.
Sometimes in order to simplify the construction of the machine a fixed swage d¹
with angular edges as shown in Figure 5 may be employed instead of the slide C¹
and the hammer q. When desired the facing tool descends to face the nut after the
hammers m, n, o, have withdrawn from the nut, and either while the nut is held
upon the punch or after the punch has been removed. This arrangement would
obviate the necessity for changing the square facing tools j, k, l, when the machine
to put to make hexagon nuts. It may sometimes also be advantageous in making
square nuts.
The hammers by a slight alteration in the shape of the cams can be made to strike
the nut any number of times that may be desired. The hammers are actuated by
cams one way and returned by springs, but it is obvious that cams may be employed
for giving the movements in both directions.
Sometimes the straps shewn in Figure 2 are dispensed with and only the
levers are employed for giving a positive motion, the levers being returned with
springs.
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein-before described, since they
may be considerably modified without departing from the principles of the Inven-
tion, but that what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent are as follows:-
First. The combination of the forming tool j, the shearing tool k, and the facing
tool as herein-before described and shewn on Drawings.
Second. The stationary bar or mandril e¹ for preventing the bar adhering to the
forming tool, as hercin-before described and illustrated.
Third. The combination of the three hammers m, n, o, with the stationary block 61
as before described and shewn.
Fourth. The combination of the cam u with the sliding bar t and the connecting
rod f¹ for actuating the hammers o, so that it may be a part of the time a, movable
piece, and the remainder of the time of a permanently stationary character, sub-
stantially as herein-before described and shewn on Drawings.
Fifth. The application of apparatus for indenting the sides of the bars for making
hexagon nuts to a machine of this construction as herein-before described and
shewn on Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry James Brookes, have hercunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
THOMAS KENDRICK,
Patent Agent.
HENRY JAMES BROOKES. (L.S.)