NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Fulton Miller, of the Firm of James Miller and
Company, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Bolt and
Rivet Manufacturers, and David Robb, Foreman to the said Firm, for the
Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
BOLTS."
Sealed the 23rd June 1876, and dated the 17th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. John Fulton Miller and
David Robb at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th
February 1876.
JOHN FULTON MILLER, of the Firm of James Miller and Company, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Bolt and Rivet Manufacturers, and
DAVID ROBB, Foreman to the said Firm. "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS."
This Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction and
arrangement of machine or mechanism for the manufacture of bolts, somewhat
analogous to the beam or lever machines with revolving table or bolster matrix
for the making of rivets, or the heading of these.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention or improvements consist, under one
modification, substantially as follows:-In making the short powerful end of the
overhead beam or lever reciprocate the actual pressing plunger within a second
reciprocating slide block, with the head-shaping matrix in its lower end, this
block being reciprocated in guides in a strong cross stay or beam secured to and
between the side frames at the front end of the machine, by two levers, one on each
side of the pressing die or plunger, keyed on a transverse shaft working in
journal bearings formed in the front upper end of the machine, and projecting back.
over or into the sliding block of the head-shaping matrix, so as to reciprocate it by
a longer lever keyed on the outer overhanging end of the said shaft, actuated
through a long-angled connecting rod at one side of the machine connected at its
back free end to the upper end of a slotted vertical reciprocating link fulcrumed
at its lower end to a strong stud projecting from the side frame below the axis of
the crank shaft or powerful second-motion shaft, which actuates the back end of
the rocking beam or lever. A lateral crank pin in an overhanging disc, with an
[Price 6d.]

page_text: antifriction pulley on it, works into a slot in the upper end of the said recipro-
cating link, which actuates the said front lever shaft so as to reciprocate the said
head-shaping slide or matrix with different relative pauses and times of motion to
that of the internal head-compressing plunger or slide, all as will be herein-after
described.
As in the ordinary rivet making machines, before referred to, the axis of these
heading slides or blocks is in a line with the extreme back hole of the revolving
table or matrix, and as each hot blank bolt comes round in these holes to this
position by the usual or equivalent intermittent ratchet motion, the said sliding
head-shaping block is brought down close to the top of the table by its duplex
levers, rocking or wiper shaft, connecting rod, and reciprocating link, and the anti-
friction roller working in the slot of this link, which at this extreme part of its
throw or motion has a segmental curve in it which allows all these cranks to stand
while the crank pin and antifriction rollers are turning through this segmental or
curved part of the slot, at which time the main crank of the same shaft raises the
back end of the beam and presses down the central head-forming or pressing
plunger within its outer shaping box, case, or matrix, so as to compress and form
the head within it on the top of the turn-table, when this plunger then pauses for
a short time (while its actuating crank is passing the upper dead centre) and the
antifriction roller working within the slot of the reciprocating link having passed
through its segmental part now reciprocates the link and rocking shaft and raises
the outer shaping matrix off the newly formed head of the bolt. Both the inner
and outer blocks then rise and allow the table and newly-headed bolt to be turned
round for a fresh hot blank to be brought under them ready for being formed in
the same manner as described in reference to the former, and while this is being
done the last-formed bolt is forced up out of its matrix in the table, and delivered
to the one side as rivets and spikes are, after being headed in these turning tables.
This machine is fitted with a transverse spring beam of wood within a recess in
the side frames, below the reciprocating shaft or centre and journals of the main
beam, with pressure screw and holding buckles for regulating the degree of pressure
and yield to be allowed upon the beam in forming the heads of the bolts and to pre-
vent breakage, all substantially as in the best forms of the class of rivet and spike-
making machines before mentioned, and upon which this Invention is substantially
improvements, whereby these machines are rendered capable of forming proper
headed bolts of any uniform size or shape desired, as square, hexagonal, or other
polygonal form.
This improved machine is also fitted with the usual ratchet pall mechanism, or
other equivalent, for turning the table intermittently and holding it while the heads
are being formed on the hot bolts or blanks, as described, and with sizing and
cutting mechanism for preparing the hot blanks or lengths for being inserted into
the holes of the turning table to form the bolts, as in rivet and spike making
machines of this class; and with compressing mechanism, plunger or block, and
bolster, for the shaping of flat thumb or fiddle pin headed blanks.
In some cases, as for large headed bolts, a squeezer or first pressing block may be
attached to the one side of the lower end of the outer sliding block (which holds
the shaping die) just over the hole in the turn-table containing the hot blank next
to the one having the head formed on it, so as to partially compress and form the
head ready for being finally compressed and shaped at the next shift, and pause
within the shaping die by the central pressing plunger working in it. The under
end of both the shaping and central pressing blocks would be bored or otherwise
shaped to receive various sized shaping dies or a case and a plunger, the latter
fitted to slide freely in the former, and those made to the particular size and shape
of the bolt heads to be formed at the time would be inserted and secured in their
respective sliding blocks, the depth of the heads being regulated by the length of
the pressing dies; these being regulated as usual by the raising or lowering of the
fulcra of the compressing. beam, while the exact central position of the dies over
the hole in the turning table and bolt being acted on are set by screws and slots

page_text: fixing the cross end with the guiding slides on it to the side frames of the
machine.
Although a crank has been described for working the compressing beam, and a
crank pin and rocking link for reciprocating the shaping die frame through a wiper
shaft, it is to be understood that cams might be used on the second-motion shaft for
that purpose, preferably with grooves so as to be double acting, to raise as well as
depress the reciprocating blocks; and that rocking beams might be used for
actuating the shaping slide block direct from its cams without the use of the wiper
shaft, when preferred; and double cranks might be used on the second motion
shaft for actuating the outer slide block of the shaping die either through rocking
levers or the rocking shaft and wipers.
The second-motion shaft of this improved machine is, as in rivet and spike
making machines, actuated by two spur wheels on it by pinions on the first-motion
shaft, fitted with a heavy fly wheel at one side of the two main side frames carry-
ing and containing the working gearing between then, and actuated by a belt
passed over fast and loose pulleys on the first-motion shaft, substantially as in the
before-mentioned rivet and spike heading machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said John Fulton Miller and David Robb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th August 1876.
JOHN FULTON MILLER, of the Firm of James Miller and Company, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Bolt and Rivet Manufacturers, and
DAVID ROBB, Foreman to the said Firm. "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS."
Our said Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction and
arrangement of machine or mechanism for the manufacture of bolts, somewhat
analogous to the beam or lever machines, with revolving table or bolster matrix, for
the making of rivets or the heading of these.
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing our said Invention
or improvements may be properly understood we shall now proceed to describe the
several Figures on the illustrative Sheet of Drawings which we have hereunto
appended for the purpose of showing the best modes and means we are at present
aware of for putting the Invention into effect or practice, the same reference letters
or numerals indicating the same or like parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a side elevation, plan, and front end view of
one modification or general construction of our new or improved machine complete
for the manufacture or heading of bolts, or blank bolts, ready for being screwed;
and Figures 4 to 14 are detailed views of the new or important parts detached to
show the construction of these and the action of the machine and working out of
the Invention more perfectly than can be done in the general arrangement of the
whole machine.
Referring to the Figures 1 to 3, 1 is the usual first motion shaft, carried in a
bracket pillow block 1' and bush bearings 111, in the middle lower part of the two
main side frames 2, bolted together by the strong upper and lower front transverse
frames and stays 21, 211, 211, all secured on a suitable foundation of masonry or
other equivalent. The first motion shaft 1 is actuated by fast and loose pulleys 3,
and a belt 31 passed over these from a drum on any suitable adjacent prime moving
overhead shaft, and fitted with the usual starting and stopping lever and belt fork
shifting mechanism 31, and with a fly wheel 311 mounted on it to insure steadiness
and regularity of action. This shaft i drives the shaft 5, carried in bush bearings 51
in the back part of the side frames 2, through the two transmitting pinions 4,
keyed on the former and gearing into the two wheels 41 keyed on the shaft 5, which
by the crank pin 6 in the centre between the two wheels 4¹, coupled to the lower

page_text: end of the connecting rod 6-with its upper end jointed to the long arm 7 of th
main heading lever or beam 7, 7¹, actuates or oscillates it on its strong main
centre 711, carried and rocking in bushes 711 fitted in slide recesses in the upper
part of the main frames 2, 2. The strain on the main centre is sustained by the
strong links 8, 8, which bind it to the strong transverse beam 81, passed through
recesses in the main frames 2, 2, below, where it is secured by the strong screws and
nuts 8 above its two ends, tightened up to the desired degree to stand the strain
required to compress the heads of the bolts and yet yield when a greater strain is
brought on the centre of the beam, thus preventing breakage. The machine is fitted
with the ordinary horizontal turning table 9, and eight of the receiving bolsters or
matrices 9¹ for receiving and holding the hot blanks z while the heads of the bolts
are being compressed or formed with the internal stopping and delivering piston 9",
all fitted and placed so that the axis of the inner or back matrix 9' of the table will
be in a vertical line with the main head compressing slide block A, linked at the
top by the buckle A¹ to the short arm 71 of the beam 7, 7', which by a shoulder or
bolster on its under side presses down this side block A with great force during the
rising of the long arm 7 of the beam and crank 6, and connecting rod 61, on the in
stroke, as indicated by the arrows on the wheel 4. The table 9 is turned inter-
nittently during the opposite, downward, or out stroke of these parts, by the
eccentric or cam 10 and antifriction pulley 10' and stud working therein, secured
to the rocking lever 10¹¹, connected at top by the duplex connecting rod 11, to
the oscillating segmental block 11', with spring shifting pawl 11" close inside the
front frame 2 of the machine, the pawl working into the notches 11111 of the table 9,
turned in the direction indicated by the arrows on it, but prevented from turning
too far by the spring block or brake 12. The finished bolts 21 are expelled out of
their matrices 91 at the opposite side of the machine at 911 by projections 13, 131,
on the top of the free end of the long reciprocating lever 14, oscillating on the cross
spindle 14', at the back end of the frames 2, 2, by the action of the vertical con-
necting rod 15, 151, coupled to the lever 14 below, and by a screw and nut at 1511 to a
projection or snug on the centre block 7" of the lever 7, 71, so as to regulate the
lift of the lever 14 by the rising of the lever 7' for pressing on the pistons 911 and
forcing out the finished bolts from the matrices 91 as they come round to the two
positions indicated at 911, the first projection 13 on the lever 14 slackening the bolt,
while the other 131 expels it at each advance of the table, and while it is standing
and getting a head formed on the bolt immediately below the pressing block A. A
crank pin 16, with antifriction roller, in a disc 161, secured on the overhanging end
of the first motion shaft 1, actuates the cutting mechanism for cutting off the hot
blanks from the ends of the iron rods or bars, the antifriction roller and pin
working in a cam groove formed in the free end of the long arm of the lever 17, 17¹,
oscillating on a strong stud centre 17" projecting from one of the side frames 2, the
shorter arm of the lever 171 being connected by the link or connecting rod 18 to
the slide block 18' working in guides 18" in the side frame 2, so as to reciprocate it,
and a cutting knife 19 secured thereto and working close to the under cutting
blade 19, secured to and projecting laterally out from the arm 20 at the front of
the said side frame 2 over a tray 21, into which the hot blanks tumble as they are
cut, ready to be lifted up by the attendant with tongs and placed into the matrices
91 each time the table 0 comes to rest, a shifting screw guide 22, with hand screw
221, regulating the length of the blanks to be cut off by inserting the point of the
hot bar between the cutting knives 19, 191, up against the pendent arm of the guide
22 set opposite them for that purpose. The general arrangement, as so far described
(and indicated by numerals), is substantially similar to that of the best forms of this
class of beam lever machines used for the manufacture or heading of rivets or
spikes.
The special features of novelty constituting this Invention and mode of carrying
the same into practice consist all as follows:-In making the short end 71 of the
overhead beam or lever 7, 71, reciprocate the actual pressing plunger A within a
second reciprocating slide block B, shown detached in elevation and plan in Figures

page_text: 5 and 6, with its front cover B¹ removed, and shown detached in front view in
Figure 7, and having a socket b secured in its lower end by the screw b¹ in front,
with the actual steel or case-hardened head-shaping matrix or die 611 secured or
tightly driven into the lower end of the socket b, as seen particularly in sectional
elevation and under face plan detached in Figure 9.
Figure 8 shows an elevation and under face plan of the steel or case-hardened
compressing mandril or die a detached, for working within the outer shaping matrix
or die 6, and secured by a slot and pins at a¹ to a socket A* secured in the lower
end of the slide pressing block A.
Figures 10 and 11 show a section and under plan detached of the dies C and c,
secured by pinching screws to the lower part of the slide frame B, over the bolsters
on each side of the head-shaping matrix 61, and so that the die C partially com-
presses and shapes the head of the hot blank about to be shifted, and set into the
central position under the matrix 611, to be fully compressed at the next succeeding
pause of the table; at the same time the die c comes down over the compressed
head just shifted below it, so as to be rounded at the edges or angles when that is
desired to completely finish the heads of the bolts, ready for being delivered, all as
will be herein-after more fully described.
These detailed views of the new or improved dies or matrices, Figures 8 to 11,
are shown to double the scale of the other views, Figures 1 to 7. The block B is
reciprocated in angled slide guides B in the strong cross stay or beam 2¹ before
mentioned (screwed or otherwise secured at its ends to and between the front ends
of the main side frames 2, 2, of the machine), by two round ended levers D',
working in slide bushes and slots D", one on each side of the pressing die or
plunger A, and formed or keyed on a transverse shaft D, working in journal
bearings Dfitted in the front upper ends of the main frames 2, 2, of the machine,
the levers D projecting back into the slots D11 of the sliding block B of the head
shaping socket and matrix b, 61, so that the whole are reciprocated by a long
lever E with a large frictional disc eye or boss, secured by bolts and stiff friction to
the eye or boss E¹, keyed on the outer overhanging end of the said shaft D, and
actuated through the long angled connecting rod F at one side of the machine,
coupled at its near end by a bush f to a crank pin e on the outer end of the lever E,
worked in a slot in the near end of the connecting rod F, set and regulated by the
hand screw f¹ to give the exact reciprocation to the shaft D and slide block B,
having the other end F of the connecting rod Fattached by a pin to tlie upper end
of a slotted vertical reciprocating cam link G, g, fulcrumed at its lower end G¹ to a
strong stud projecting from the side frame 2 below the axis of the crank shaft or
powerful second motion shaft 5, which actuates the said cam link G, g, and, as before
described, the back end 71 of the rocking beam or lever 7, 7. A lateral crank pin
G in an overhanging disc G2 keyed on the shaft 5, with an antifriction pulley on
it, works into the cam slot or groove g in the upper end of the said reciprocating
link G, which actuates the said front lever shaft D through the connecting rod F,
so as to reciprocate the said head-shaping slide B and its matrix b, b, and auxiliary
dies C and c, with different relative pauses and periods of motion to that of the
internal head-compressing plunger or slide A, with its pressing die a (all as will be
herein-after more particularly described) during each revolution of the second
motion shaft 5, which actuates both "motions" or mechanism.
As each hot blank, cut off and inserted into the bolsters 91, comes round with the
table under the die C, it gets the head partially compressed or formed at the first
pause of the table, and then when it comes round to the back or central position in
a line with the axis of the slide block A, a, in both cases by the intermittent motion
of the table, as before described, the slide block B is brought down till the head-
shaping die 6 comes close to the top of the bolster 91, by its duplex levers D¹,
rocking or wiper shaft D, and outer lever E, connecting rod F, and reciprocating
link G, g, while the antifriction roller G is working in the upper part of the slot
g of the link G, and which, at this extreme part of its back throw or motion, enters
and passes round a segmental or curved part g¹ of the slot g in this lever G, which

page_text: allows all these parts actuating the slide B to stand still or pause while the crank
pin and antifriction roller G11 are passing or turning through the segmental or curved
part of the cam slot g, at which time the main crank 6 of the same shaft 5 raises
the back end 7' of the beam, and presses down the central head forming or pressing
plunger A, a, within its outer shaping box B and matrix b¹¹, so as to compress and
form the head within it on the top of each bolster 91 of the turn-table 9 (while at
rest as before stated) when the plunger A, a, then pauses for a short time (while its
actuating crank 6 is passing the upper dead centre), and the antifriction roller is
working within the lowest part of the slot g of the reciprocating link G (having
passed through its back segmental part 1) now reciprocates the link G and rocking
shaft D, so as to raise the slide B and outer shaping matrix 6" off the newly formed
head of the bolt 1, when the inner and outer blocks A, a, B, 61, both rise, and
allow the table 9 and newly headed bolt to be turned round for a fresh hot blank s,
to be brought under these pressing and shaping dies, ready for being forined in the
same manner as just described; the segmental part gl in the front side of the cam
slot of the lever G stops the upward motion of the slide B, until the table has
been shifted and stopped ready for its descent when the pin and roller G¹¹ reach
the upper part of the slot again. While this compressing and shaping of the
heads of the bolts is being done in the inner bolsters cach finished bolt in succession
is forced up in its bolster or matrix 9' in the table, and discharged or delivered by
the lever 14 to the one side, all as herein-before described, and substantially as the
headed rivets and spikes are in these turning table machines.
In some cases, as for large headed bolts, a "squeezer" or first pressing block C
is attached to the right or forward side of the lower end of the outer sliding block
B (which carries the socket c¹ and shaping die c) just over the hole of the bolster
91 in the turn-table 9, containing the hot blank, next to the central one below the
presser A, a, having the head formed on it so as to partially compress and form the
head ready for being finally compressed and shaped at the next shift, and pause
within the shaping die 6, by the central pressing plunger a working within it.
The under ends of both the shaping and central pressing blocks B and A are bored
or otherwise shaped at B* and A* to receive the sockets b and matrices 6 and a,
or other different sized shaping dies or shaping case 611, and a plunger a, the latter
fitted to slide freely in the former, and those made to the particular size and shape
of the bolt heads to be formed at the time would be inserted and secured in their
sliding blocks B and A respectively, the depth of the heads being regulated by the
length or stroke of the pressing dies a, which is regulated as usual by the raising or
lowering of the fulcra of the compressing beam 7, 71, while the exact central position
of the dies a over the hole in the back bolster 9' of the turning table, and hot
blank being acted upon by the presser a, are set longitudinally by screws and slots
2*, fixing the cross end 21 (with the guiding slides B₁ on it) to the side frames 2, 2,
of the machine, as particularly seen in the vertical and horizontal sections of these
parts, Figures 12 and 13 corresponding to Figures 1 and 2.
The particular construction of these new or improved pressing and shaping dies,
and mode of fixing them in their sockets, according to one modification of our said
Invention, is shown in Figures 9 to 11, for the making of hexagonal headed bolts
2, one of which is shown as in the act of being finished within its bolster, and
shaping and compressing dies a, b, shown detached in Figure 14, the hexagonal
pressing die a being fixed in a socket at A* by a grooved head and slots, with
screws a¹ in the socket A.*, secured to the slide presser A by the pinching screw a¹¹,
as seen in Figures 4 and 8, the part a being made parallel to fit and work freely in
the shaping block 6, made round on the outside with a slight taper so as to be
driven tight into its socket b, which is fixed by a pinching screw to the lower end
of the slide block B, as seen in Figures 5, 6, and 9.
The first shaping and compressing block C has the compressing recess or die
formed in its lower face preferably round and tapered for easy removal from the
partially compressed head, as seen particularly in Figure 10, but it might be made
polygonal or square, approximately to the desired shape of the head of the bolt to

page_text: be formed, this die C being fixed by the stem C₁ on it inserted in a socket in the
lower part of the slide B by a pinching screw C", as seen particularly on the
right-hand side of Figures 5 and 6; and, the die proper c, for finishing the upper.
corners or edges of the head of the bolt, is inserted in a turned recess in the
socket piece c with washers or a spring above it, the socket piece being secured by
a flange and screw at c¹¹ on the lower left-hand side of the slide B, as seen in
Figures 5 and 6, and particularly in Figure 11, with the compressing bevel edged
recess in the under face of the die c for rounding the corners of the head of the
finished bolt, as it comes round under it, after being shaped in the central back
position of the table. When ffat thumb or fiddle pin-headed bolts are to be
formed the compressing plunger or block and matrix for forming these must
be formed of modified shapes to correspond thereto, and when the bolts are to have
square necks the upper end of the bolsters 91 must be made square to suit this form
of neck.
Although an oscillating cam lever G, g, has been described and shown in Figures 1
to 3 for actuating the rocking shaft D of the slide frame B through the connecting
rod F, it is to be understood that the same might be effected through connecting
this rod F to a slide or reciprocating cam frame as G*, g*, fitted to work in slides H
attached to the front side frame 2 in a line between the centre of the shaft 5 and
the crank pine of the lever E with the cam groove g* formed in it equivalent to
the groove g, g, g, in the reciprocating lever G, so that the crank pin G" would
give the motions and pauses to the rocking shaft D and slide B (all as described in
reference to the former arrangement, Figures 1 to 3,) in relation to the main crank 6
and beam 7, 71, actuated by the same shaft 5.
Although a crank or crank pin 6 has been described for working the compressing
beam 7, 7, and a crank pin C and rocking link G for reciprocating the shaping
die frame B through the connecting rod F and wiper shaft D, it is to be understood
that cams might be used on the second motion shaft 5 for that purpose, preferably
with grooves in them so as to be double acting, to raise as well as depress the
reciprocating blocks A and B, and that overhead rocking beams might be worked
on each side of the main beam 7, 71, for actuating the shaping slide block B, 6",
direct from its said cams without the use of the wiper shaft D when preferred, and
double cranks might be used on the second motion shaft for actuating the outer
slide block B of the shaping die 6 either through the said new rocking levers or
the rocking shaft D and wipers D¹.
This Invention is thus substantially improvements upon the overhead pressing
beam and horizontal turn-table, rivet and spike heading machines, whereby these
machines are capable of forming proper headed bolts of any usual uniform size,
shape, or depth desired, as round, square, hexagonal, or other equivalent form,
which could not be done before, the new parts being represented by letters, and the
old parts by numerals in the Specification and Drawings.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing or putting it into effect or practice, we have to state that we do not
restrict ourselves to the precise details herein described or delineated; but what we
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The general arrangement, construction, or combination of machinery for
the manufacture or heading of bolts, all substantially in the new or improved
manner herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings,
or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The general construction and arrangement of the mechanism indicated
by the letters, as combined with or applied to the rivet or spike making machines
indicated by the numerals for forming the heads of bolts, all substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
Third. The construction and use of a second reciprocating frame B for carrying
the outer shaping matrix b, b¹¹, and partially compressing and finishing dies C and

page_text: c, in addition to and actuated by a separate "motion" to that of the ordinary single
slide block actuated by the overhead beam for forming the heads of bolts in rivet
and spike making machines, all substantially as herein described in reference to and
shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Fulton Miller and David Robb, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six,
Witness,
JOHN BROWN,
Patent Office,
96, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
JOHN FULTON MILLER. (L.S.),
DAVID ROBB.
(L.S.)