IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BOLTS, SPIKES, AND RIVETS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Watkins, of Summerfield Cottage, Birming-
ham Heath, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BOLTS, SPIKES, AND
RIVETS."
Scaled the 30th June 1857, and dated the 15th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Watkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th January 1857.
I, FRANCIS WATKINS, of Summerfield Cottage, Birmingham Heath, Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BOLTS, SPIKES,
AND RIVETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for manu-
facturing bolts, spikes, and rivets, and the Invention consists of a peculiar
combination of mechanism for receiving and holding a rod or bar between
clamping dies, at the back of which are placed blocks or springs of vulcanized
india-rubber, inclosed in suitable boxes or cases, so as to confine such blocks
or springs of india-rubber and yet allow of their offering some elasticity to
the clamping dies, which is requisite in order to suit them for holding rods
or bars of somewhat different sizes. The end of each rod or bar has a head
formed on the end, introduced through the holding or clamping dies by a

page_text: suitable header carried by a slide actuated by a cam, there being a similar
block or spring of vulcanized india-rubber, as above explained, introduced
between the parts acted on by the cam and the heading die. The clamping
or holding dies are carried by sliding plates, which are actuated by cams,
suitably formed to press these dies towards each other (when the end of a
rod or bar has been introduced), and for a time to hold the bar or rod in
position to have a head formed thereon, then to open the holding or clamping
dies, to release the bar or rod, in order that the headed end of the bar or
rod may be removed from between the clamping dies, and to admit of another
bar or rod being introduced between the clamping or holding dies before
they are again closed. The rods or bars after they have had heads formed
thereon at one end are taken to shears, so that a proper length for a bolt,
spike, or rivet may be cut therefrom when the rods or bars again have heads
formed thereon and are again cut. The heading die or die box is arranged
to be capable of adjustment, in order that from time to time the same heading
lie or die box may be used in making different sizes of heads on the rods or
bars introduced into the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis Watkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
WATKINS, of Summerfield Cottage, Birmingham Heath, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Francis Watkins, Her special licence that I, the said Francis Watkins, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis
Watkins, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING BOLTS, SPIKES, AND RIVETS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Francis Watkins, my executors or admi-

page_text: nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly 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 Francis Watkins, 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
thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for manu-
facturing bolts, spikes, and rivets; and the Invention consists of a peculiar
combination of mechanism for receiving and holding a rod or bar between
clamping dies, at the back of which are placed blocks or springs of vulcanized
india-rubber, enclosed in suitable boxes or cases, so as to confine such blocks
or springs of india-rubber and yet allow of their offering some elasticity to
the clamping dies, which is requisite in order to suit them for holding rods
or bars of somewhat different sizes. Each rod or bar has a head formed on
the end, introduced through the holding or clamping dies by a suitable header,
carried by a slide, actuated by a cam, there being a similar block or spring
of vulcanized india-rubber, as above explained, introduced between the parts
acted on by the cam and the heading die. The clamping or holding dies
are carried by sliding plates, which are actuated by cams suitably formed to
press these dies towards each other (when the end of a rod or bar has been
introduced), and for a time to hold the bar or rod in position to have a head
formed thereon, then to open the holder or clamping dies, to release the
bar or rod, in order that the headed end of the bar or rod may be removed
from between the clamping dies, and also to admit of another bar or rod
being introduced between the clamping or holding dies before they are again
closed. The rods or bars after they have had heads formed thereon at one
end are taken to shears, so that a proper length for a bolt, spike, or rivet
may be cut therefrom, when the rods or bars again have heads formed thereon,
and are again cut. The heading die or die box is arranged to be capable
of adjustment, in order that from time to time the same heading die or die
box may be used in making different sizes of heads on the rods or bars
introduced into the machine.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood, and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.

page_text: Figure 1 is a transverse section of a machine arranged according to my
Invention for manufacturing bolts, spikes, and rivets; Figure 2 is a front
view of the same with some of the driving gear removed; Figure 3 is a
horizontal section of the complete machine. a, a, is the frame and bed
plate of the machine, shown separately in plan at Figure 4, and. in side
elevation at Figure 5, in which view also the die box and dies are shown.
Figure 6 is a section taken at the line A, A, in Figure 4; and Figure 7
is a section taken at the line B, B, in Figure 4. 6 is the main axis
of the machine; and c is a spur wheel, mounted at one end of the axis
b, and driven by the pinion d, on the axis of which is a pulley for receiving
a driving strap; e and e¹ are bevilled wheels on the axis b, working with
other bevilled wheels f, f', on the axis g, 9'. On the axis are also
cams h, h, which by acting against the small rollers i, ¹, move the slide j
to and fro, causing it to slide on the central rib of the frame, against
which it is kept by the bevilled guides k, k, clearly shown at Figure 8. This
Figure is a vertical section of the machine taken at the line C, C, Figure 3.
The slide has at its forward end a circular hole, into which the punch
carrier fits; at the bottom of the hole in the slide ja cylindrical block of
vulcanized india-rubber, slightly smaller in diameter than the hole in the slide,
is placed, and on this the end of the punch carrier rests, and it is retained
in its place by a key, which, however, is so arranged as not to prevent it from
moving backwards and forwards a short distance. m is a punch, keyed into
the punch carrier; the end of this punch is of the form of the head to be
formed by the machine, and it works between the dies n, n, each of which
is of a triangular form, and they are fitted into the cast-iron cup 0, so as to
leave in its centre a space of the size and form of the head to be formed.
Through each of the dies n is a slightly conical hole, and into this a plug
having an excentric hole through it fits; and through the hole in the plug
a bolt passes, and screws into the bottom of the cup; thus by turning the
excentric plug and screwing up the bolt the dies can be secured in any required
position, and to fix them more securely the bolts p, p, which pass through
the side of the cup o are brought to bear on the bases of the dies. The cup
o with the dies in it rests on the ends of the bolts q, q, which pass through
the frame, and it is held securely against the frame by the bolts, r, passing
through the rim of the cup. In front of the dies n are two other slides s, s',
similar in all respects to the slide j, and receiving motion from cams on the
axes and g¹. These slides, in place of carrying punches, carry two bolding

page_text: instruments t, t¹, which seize the bar or rod when introduced into the machine;
they also have attached to them two steel plates u, u', which close the die
box all round the bar or rod.
The action of the machine is as follows:-A bar or rod, heated to a bright
red heat, is, introduced into the machine by hand, being pushed into the die
box till it rests on the punch m; then the cams on the axes g, g¹, cause the
slides s, s¹, to advance simultaneously, the bar or rod is seized between the
holding instruments t, t', and the die box is closed by the plates u, u¹; then
the punch m moves forward and compresses the iron, so as to fill the mould
and form a head on the end of the bar or rod. In order to keep the slides
s, s', up to the die box during this operation strengthening pieces v, v, are
used, behind which the slides pass when they move forward; and these pieces
are very firmly bolted to the framing by the bolts v, v¹.
When the head is formed on the end of the bar or rod, the slides s, s¹,
move back, so as to open the die box, and the punch m moves forward and
expels the head from the mould. The rod is then taken to shears, and a
length suitable for a bolt, spike, or rivet is cut off, the operation is then
repeated.
In order to adjust the thickness of the head, the roller on the slide j is
made adjustable, so that the punch m can be caused to recede to a greater
or less extent, as may be required, and this causes a greater or less length
of bar to be introduced into the mould.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Watkins, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
ADAM DIXON,
5, Holly Place,
Smethwick, Engineer.
FRANCIS WATKINS. (L.S.)