Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1889
Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1859
1, WILLIAM EDWARD ELLIOTT, of 7, Gordon Terrace, Rothesay Road, Upton
Park, in the County of Essex, Nautical and Mathematical Instrument Maker
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:
My invention relates to an improvement in the formation of nails and spikės.
and has for its object the attainment of increased tenacity when said nails or
spikes are driven into wood or other material or substance, and also tending to
minimise the risk of splitting said material or substance while facilitating the
operation of driving, relatively to the use and manipulation of nails and spikes as
hitherto constructed and of the formation or style in general use.
In order that my Invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the accom-
panying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an elevation of a nail, according
to my said invention, and Figure 2 is a cross section of the same. Figure 3 represents
a spike or nail with a ring freely suspended within a hole formed in the head thereof,
and Figure 4 is a staple headed spike. Figure 5 shews the aforesaid nail or spike
driven into two pieces of wood, such for instance as the sheathing plank and rib of a
boat, and illustrates the increased tenacity of the same, afforded by the adoption of the
formation or style according to my invention.
In carrying my said invention into effect, I prefer to form said nails or spikes of
metal bars of square or rectangular cross section, twisting said bars so as to present a
spiral outline, the operations of heading and pointing being carried out after
the bars treated in the manner above described have been cut off in suitable lengths.
Said spiral, formed by twisting the square or rectangular har of metal, becomes a four
threaded, or quadruplex screw, of long or short pitch according to the number of turns
given to the metal bar while twisting it. This is fully illustrated by the views,
Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 upon the accompanying sheet of drawings, and needs no further
explanation.
I do not confine myself to the method of producing the spiral or twisted formation
as hereinbefore described, but may in manufacturing forged, cut, or pressed or cut

page_text: nails and spikes according to my invention, produce said twist or spiral by means of a
die and matrix, or other equivalent device. I may also, in addition to the special types
indicated by Figures 1, 3, and 4, form deck spikes, gate and hurdle nails, or any type
of nail or spike with either a right or left handed twist or spiral, preferably extending
from the point of said nail or spike to the head thereof, and said points and heads may
be of any suitable formation or shape, although I prefer in practice to employ a square
or rectangular point in order to utilize the cutting edges thereof to obtain clearance
for the nail or spike when driving.
The chief advantages appertaining to my said invention, are as follows, that is to
say;-
During the operation of driving the improved nail or spike into wood or other
material, the twist or spiral hereinbefore described causes said nail or spike to rotate
by the action of each blow of the hammer or other instrument, the degree of such
rotary movement being regulated by the pitch of the spiral, and the rate of advance
according to the force of each blow. The effect of this movement is not only to cause the
edges of the point to cut the requisite clearance, but also to disturb or part the fibres
of the wood or other material or substance into which the improved nail or spike is
driven, in a lateral direction instead of forcing these apart in a direction parallel to
the nail or spike, as occurs when the latter are formed in the usual manner, as hitherto
made and employed. The wood, or other fibres; thus displaced, engage firmly with the
convolutions of the spiral or twist, and thus prevent the nail or spike from being easily
withdrawn by the application of a force acting upon the head or point thereof.
or
The manner in which the fibres of the material are displaced by the rotary move-
ment before mentioned, minimises the risk of splitting while driving said spikes
nails, and enables these to be employed in cases where those constructed in the
ordinary manner could not be used, for this reason, as aforesaid.
The molecular structure of the nails or spikes according to my invention, is in no
way impaired by the formation of the spiral or twist, whether this be performed upon
the rolled bar, cast, or pressed by a die and matrix, and irrespective of the metal
employed, and if said nails or spikes be subjected to an annealing or tempering
twisted
process, the tensile strength thereof is augmented by said spiral or
formation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is,
In nails or spikes of any type or class, and made of any metal or alloy, the formation
thereupon of a spiral or twist, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth
and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
1000
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.