IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING HORSE-SHOES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING HORSE-SHOES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Vittore Verzoli, of Milan, in the Kingdom
_. of Italy..
Scaled the 6th June 1865, and dated the 81st December 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st December 1864.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING HORSE-
SHOES," to bo as follows:-
This Invention of improved machinery for making horse-shoes has for
its object to produce these articles in a better and more economical manner
than can be done by hand. To this end the bar iron of which the horse-shoes
are to be made is to be cut up in pieces of suitable length, and these pieces
when heated, so that they may be more easily bent, are placed in the machine
against a fixed die or mould, around which they are bent by means of moveable
jaws. The heated pieces of iron are then submitted to pressure between dies

page_text: which are moved up and down by means of cranks, or by a piston fitted in a
steam or air cylinder.
The machine is composed of the following principal working parts:-There
are two dies, each formed of two pieces of tempered steel; these dies are
formed internally of the exact shape of the horse-shoe, and present the
necessary indentations and projecting parts to form corresponding parts on
the horse-shoe. One of the dies (the lower one) is placed on a plate, which
is provided with two jaws which squeeze and press the horse-shoes up against
the die and all round the same. These jaws then open again to allow the
shoe to be discharged. The upper die is attached to a box, which is con-
nected by a joint to a lever, so that it may be raised and lowered on to the
iron. The squeezing jaws are jointed to two arms, which are attached to
reciprocating pieces or bars, so that by moving the latter forward or backward
the jaws may be opened or closed. These reciprocating bars are worked by
bell-crank levers, one arm of which is provided with a bowl or roller, which
works in an excentric slot or groove in the excentric plates. These excentric
plates are mounted on a shaft, which carries a toothed wheel, whereby motion
is communicated to it through a pinion and toothed gear from any primo
mover. On the axle or shaft of the toothed wheel there is a crank, which
actuates a lever, whereby motion is communicated to the plunger which works
one of the moveable dies. Another moveable die in a separate frame is
attached to one end of a piston rod, which is moved up and down by the action
of steam or compressed air in a cylinder. When the iron has been pressed
into the form of a horse-shoe, the moveable die is lifted up by a counter-
balance weight at the end of a lever, and the finished shoe is removed from
the lower or fixed die by means of a vibrating lever, which is actuated by a
cam on one of the working shafts. The main shaft is provided at each end
with a crank, whereby a pump or pumps for compressing the air may be
worked.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed 30
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th June 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
35

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING HORSE-SHOES," being a communica-
tion from abroad upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in'
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
:-
This Invention of "Improved Machinery for Making Horse-shoes," has for
its object to produce these articles in a better and more economical manner
than can be done by hand. To this end the bar iron of which the horse-shoes
are to be made is to be cut up in pieces of suitable length, and these pieces
when heated (so that they may be more easily bent), are placed in the
machine against a fixed die or mould, around which they are bent) by means
of moveable jaws. The heated pieces of iron are then submitted to pressure
between dies, which are moved up and down by means of cranks, or by a
piston fitted in a steam or air cylinder.
The machine is composed of the following principal working parts :-There
are two dies, each formed of two pieces of tempered steel; these dies are
formed internally of the exact shape of the horse-shoe, and present the neces-
sary indentations and projecting parts to form corresponding parts on the
horse-shoe. One of the dies (the lower one) is placed on a plate, which is

page_text: provided with two jaws, which squeeze and press the horse-shoes up against
the die and all round the same. These jaws then open again to allow the
shoe to be discharged. The upper die is attached to a box, which is con-
nected by a joint to a lever, so that it may be raised and lowered on to
the iron. The squeezing jaws are jointed to two arms, which are attached to
reciprocating pieces or bars, so that by moving the latter forward or back-
ward the jaws may be opened or closed. These reciprocating bars are worked
by bell-crank levers, one arm of which is provided with a bowl or roller, which
works in an eccentric slot or groove in two excentric plates. These excentric
plates are mounted on a shaft, which carries a toothed wheel, whereby motion
is communicated to it through a pinion and toothed gear from any prime
On the axle or shaft of the toothed wheel there is a crank, which
actuates a lever, whereby motion is communicated to the plunger, which
works one of the moveable dies. Another moveable die in a separate frame
is attached to one end of a piston rod, which is moved up and down by the
action of steam or compressed air in a cylinder. When the iron has been
pressed into the form of a horse-shoe, the moveable die is lifted up by a
counterbalance weight at the end of a lever, and the finished shoe is removed.
from the lower or fixed die by means of a vibrating lever, which is actuated
by a cam on one of the working shafts. The main shaft is provided at each
end with a crank, whereby a pump or pumps for compressing the air may be
worked.
mover.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the
machine; Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view
taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is an end elevation of the same.
A, B, is the main driving shaft of the machine, which receives motion from
a steam engine or other prime mover through one of the cranks A', B', at its
extremities, and transmits it to the working parts of the machine. This shaft
carries two fly wheels D, E, and a pinion F, which gears into and communi-
cates motion to the wheel G, which turns the shaft of the pinion H. This
latter takes into another wheel I, and communicates motion to the shaft of a
wheel J, (which has teeth upon only one-half of its circumference,) and
which shaft also carries the excentrics K, L. These wheels serve to regulate
the speed and power transmitted by the driving engine to the working parts
of the machine.
The principal working parts consist of two dies, which are each formed of
two pieces of tempered steel a and b, and are of the exact form of horse-
shoes, and are provided with the necessary indentations and projections for

page_text: producing the necessary sunken and relief parts in the shoe (see Figures 1,
3, and 4). The die 6 is set upon a plate M, (Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,) pro-
vided with two jaws c, c, which embrace the die and press the bar to be made
into a shoe against the die, having done which they open and discharge it.
The moveable die a is mounted in a box M set upon a jointed lever. Two rods
O, O', provided with jointed arms d, d, serve to bend the iron to be shaped
and close the jaws c, c, when the rods O, O¹, advance and re-open the jaws on
receding (see Figures 1, 2, and 3). The rods 0, 0¹, are jointed to and aro
actuated by bell-crank levers P, P¹, by means of pins e at their extremities,
which take into guide grooves f in the excentrics K, L, mounted on the
shaft K. A toothed wheel Q mounted upon a shaft R gears into the wheel
J, and through the crank R¹ alternately raises the lever S and allows it to fall,
and with it the hammer T, which is jointed to it (see Figures 1 and 4.)
Another hammer U at the other side of the machine, and which alternates in
its action with the other, is actuated by means of compressed air or steam (see
Fig. 2.) The jointed levers Z, Z', are for the purpose of removing the shoe
when made from the die, and the counterweight levers X, X', serve to raiso
the die carriers N, N¹. The air for actuating the hammer U may be com-
pressed by means of an air pump worked by one of the cranks A' or B¹ upon
the shaft A, B.
Having thus described the various parts of the machine, I will now proceed
to explain the operation of the same. It has been seen that the motion of the
motive engine which is communicated through one of the cranks A¹, B', to the
shaft A, B, is transmitted through the pinions F, H, and toothed wheels
G, I, to the shaft K', diminishing the speed and increasing the power. It
has also been remarked that this shaft carries the two excentrics K, L, and a
tootbed wheel J, which being fixed to the shaft turn continually with it.
Let it now be supposed that the hammer T is raised, as shewn in the
Drawing, and that the upper part a of the die is also raised (see Fig. 1)
the jaws c, c', being open, and the rod O' and lever P¹ thrown back, and
the guide pine of that lever in the excentric part of the groove ƒ of the
excentric L, and at the point of least radius let it be supposed also, as repre-
sented in the Drawing at Fig. 3, that a red-hot bar of iron g has been
placed upon the lower die b. In this state of things the shaft K' continuing
to turn, and with it the excentric L and toothed wheel J, until the curve of
least radius of the excentric shall come into operation, the parts which are
actuated by it do not move, and therefore allow time for the bar of iron g to
be put in its place, but as soon as the excentric curve of the groove facts

page_text: upon the stud or pine of the bell-crank lever P¹, this latter will be set in
motion, and will drive forward the rod O', the arms d, d, of which will force the
bar of iron g against the lower die b, and at the same time acting upon the
jaws c¹, c¹, will firmly enclose the piece of iron g between those jaws and the
die. At this point on the excentric curve of the groove f ceasing to act upon
the stude of the lever P¹, the concentric curve or larger radius of the
groove will stop all movement on the part of the lever P¹ and rod O¹, and the
jaws c, c, will consequently be held fast. During this time the wheel J which
as above stated has only one-half of its circumference provided with teeth will
be in gear with the wheel Q, and by causing it to rotate will also set its shaft
in motion, which shaft carries at one of its extremities the crank R, this latter
in rotating will lower the lever S, and consequently the hammer T, which is
jointed to it at h, and this latter first drives down the die a, and then by
continuing to descend will press upon the die so as to give to the horse-shoe
(which is thus squeezed between the two dies a, b, and the jaws c¹, c¹,) the
exact form which it is intended to have, and also the above-mentioned cavities
in its upper face, and the groove in the line of the nails in its lower face.
This operation is effected during half a revolution of the crank R, that is to
say, whilst it is descending. As soon as it begins to ascend in order to
return to its starting point, the lever S also begins to rise, and with it the
hammer T, and the die a being then freed from the pressure of the hammer T
will be caused to rise by the action of the counterweight X³, which by means
of the lever i, X', and the forked lever j, will raise the die carrier N¹. At
this point the excentric L by ceasing to act with its concentric curve upon
the stud of the lever P¹, and acting with its excentric portion motion will be
again communicated to the said lever, and consequently to the rod O¹, but
this time in a contrary direction, the lever P¹ being carried back, and with it
the rod O¹, the arms d, d, of this latter opening the jaws c¹, c¹. As soon as
these latter are open the projection k on the cam L will strike against the
extremity of the lever ', and this latter by rocking upon its fulcrum will
raise the rod Z, which will lift the finished horse-shoe and throw it on one side, or
facilitate its removal from the die by the workman. During the backward
motion of the rod O' the crank R' will have completed its rotation, and con-
sequently the hammer T and the die carrier N¹ will be completed raised.
The operation of preliminary formation of the shoe is now finished, and there
is a period of rest for the working parts. On the excentric L again coming
into action as at the commencement of the operation with its concentric curve
of least radius will leave the lever P', and consequently the rod O¹ stationary,

page_text: and the wheel
being out of gear with the wheel J (which as above stated
is only provided with teeth on one-half of its circumference) leaves stationary
the crank R¹ and the lever S, and consequently (during half the revolution of
the shaft carrying the excentrics K, L), leaves the hammer T and the
die carrier N' raised. Before proceeding however to manufacture another
shoe it will be necessary to clean and cool the die a, b, and free it from all
scales, these cleaning and cooling operations are performed simultaneously by
means of a jet of compressed air. All the above-mentioned operations, viz*.,
first, allowing the requisite time for the attendant to feed the heated iron to
the machine; second, driving the rod O' forward, and closing the jaws c', c¹;
third, bringing down the hammer T and the die carrier N¹; fourth, raising this
latter together with the hammer T; fifth, bringing back the lever O¹, and
again opening the jaws; sixth, delivering the shoe from the machine; and,
seventh, cooling the die a, b, are effected during one revolution of the shaft K',
which as above stated is that which receives motion from the motive engine
through the gearing which regulates its intensity and force, and transmits
it to the working parts of the machine.
The first portion of the manufacture having been thus described, I will
now proceed to explain the second stage by which the horse-shoe is finished.
It has been already stated that the machine is double acting, or has a
duplicate arrangement of parts, by the first of which the iron is bent into
the required form and dimensions, and has formed in it the recess in its upper
surface, and the groove in its lower surface, these are the parts which have
been above described and represented in Fig. 1 in a portion of Fig. 8, and by
the left-hand portion of Fig. 4. By the second arrangement of parts the pro-
jections are formed on the shoe in the manner which will now be described,
and which is represented in Fig. 2, a portion of Fig. 3, and the right-hand
portion of Fig. 4. The shoe which has been prepared as above stated is to
be reheated, and it is to be supposed that the jaws c, c, are open, and the
hammer U and also the die carrier N raised. The shoe to be completed is now
to be placed upon the die 6 of the second arrangement of parts. The shaft K¹
carries as above stated another excentric K, which operating exactly in the same
manner as the one L above described, will drive forward the bell-crank lever P,
which causing the rod O to advance will close the jaws c, c, and hold them
firmly closed for some time. The hammer U then descends and first drives
down the die carrier N, and then presses upon the die a, which forms in the
shoe the required projections. The die carrier and hammer then rise, the
lever P and rod O recede, the jaws are again opened and the lever Z, l,
removes the finished shoe from the die.

page_text: It is unnecessary to explain the mode of action of the excentric K, bell-crank
lever P, rod O, and lever Z, l, as they are identical in their movements with
the excentric L, lever P¹, rod O¹, and lever Z', l, above described, the only
difference being that the rod O does not require to bend the iron as that has
already been effected by the rod O. It should also be remarked that the
action of the cranks K and L is alternate, the one driving the rod O forward,
while the other moves the rod O¹ backward, and vice versa.
It now remains to describe the method of operating the hammer. It may
be worked by steam, or by preference by compressed air which is introduced
alternately above and beneath the piston of the cylinder V (see Fig. 2), and
thereby raises and lowers the hammer alternately: When steam is employed
for this purpose it is not necessary to enter into details, as the object can be
effected in any well known manner. When using compressed air, however,
which is, as above stated, preferable to steam, it will be necessary to explain
the mode of action, as we have no examples to go by. It bas already been
said that the shaft A, B (Fig. 3), carries two cranks, one of which derives
motion from the motive engine. The other crank will serve to put in motion
the piston of a force pump, which shall compress atmospheric air; this air
when compressed passes through a pipe into a reservoir, which may by means
of a pipe having two branches and provided with double cocks, communicate
with the cylinder V (Fig. 2).
(The pumps reservoir and pipes are not shewn in the Drawings, the con-
struction of these parts being well known.) When it is required to bring
down the hammer U, the eccentric K will open communication between the
reservoir and the upper part of the cylinder V, and the compressed air then
entering above the piston and acting upon it will cause the hammer or
plunger U attached to it to descend, and by forcing down the die a, b, will
produce the desired projections upon the horse-shoe, after which the com-
munication between the cylinders and reservoir will be again cut off. When
the hammer U is required to ascend, the communication between the reservoir
and the lower part of the cylinder is again opened, and the compressed air
being introduced below the piston will raise this latter, and with it the plunger
or hammer attached thereto. In order that the compressed air from the reservoir
shall produce its effect, it is necessary, as will be readily understood, that the
compressed air should cease to act upon the other side of the piston. This is
effected by allowing the compressed air which is on one side to escape as soon
as the air is introduced on the other, as is the case in steam engines; the
opening and closing of the various valves for the purpose may be effected by
means of the excentric K. The compressed air which escapes from the

page_text: cylinder V after having produced its effect does not pass direct into the
atmosphere, but is conducted by means of small pipes to the dies, the air from.
the upper part of the cylinder will pass to the die a, b, of the second, arrange-
ment of apparatus, and that from the lower part to the die of the first
arrangement, in order by its combined action of expansion and ventilation to
effect the cleaning and cooling of the two dies by freeing them from the scales
and heat imparted to them by the heated iron. By this means the compressed
air acts first as a motive power, and afterwards as a refrigerator, for which
reason it is preferable to steam.
In case it were required to stop suddenly, in consequence of an accident or
other cause, the action of the piston which actuates the hammer U, it would*
be advisable to provide both the upper and lower chambers of the cylinder V
with valves, which on being opened by the attendant who superintends the
operation of the formation of projections upon the shoe, will allow the air to
and consequently stop the action of the apparatus.
escape
It may be here remarked that the hammers which serve to prepare the iron
bars previously to their being submitted to this machine, may be actuated by
the driving shaft A, B, of the same machine by means of cams on the said
shaft acting on the handles of the hammers.
It will be easily understood that horse-shoes of different forms and
dimensions either for horses or other animals may be made in the same
machine, for which purpose it is only necessary to change the dies a, b, which,
as above explained, are the moulds in which the shoes receive the desired
forms and dimensions. The holes for the nails are pierced in the shoes either
while the shoe is being shaped between the dies a, b, or after the shoe has
been formed. In the former instance the upper die a is to be provided with
punches made moveable in such manner that when the die descends to squeeze
the iron, these punches may move out and come into action to pierce the
holes, and on the die again rising they are drawn into the die, and thereforo
delivered from the shoe. In the second case it is by a special tool furnished
with punches adapted to and put in action by the machine that the piercing of
the holes is effected. Under this tool the shoes are placed one by one as they
come from the machine. This tool may also if required be provided with a
cutter for cutting the ends of the shoes, and it may be kept cool by directing
upon it a current of compressed air at each operation.
Having now described this Invention of "improved machinery for making
horse-shoes, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, the

page_text: mechanical arrangements and combination of parts herein set forth for forming
horse-shoes from bar iron by mechanical means.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)