Improvements in Apparatus for Finishing (Grinding and Tempering) Spikes, Nails, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Finishing (Grinding and Tempering)
Spikes, Nails, and the like.
A communication by HOWARD GREER, of Edgewater, in the County of Cook and
State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M:I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street Manchester
both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to finishing spikes or spike blanks and other like articles
whereby the spike is provided with a hardened cutting edge and a soft or untempered
body. This is accomplished by grinding the points to bring them to the required
edge, in which operation the point is heated for a little distance to a cherry red or
tempering heat, while the body remains practically cold. After leaving the grinder,
the edge of the spike is tempered by a portion of the heat being taken up by the
atmosphere and a portion by the cool body of the spike; or, if desired, the ground
and hot edge may be brought in contact with some other tempering fluid. The
apparatus for carrying out this method of finishing automatically is so constructed
that, after the spike blanks are placed in the machine, they require no further
attention until delivered therefrom in the shape of spikes with a hard tempered
cutting edge and a soft or untempered body.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a double machine embodying the
improvements;
Figure 2, a similar elevation of the countershaft and pulleys in said machine ;
Figure 3, a plan view of the said machine ;
Figure 4, a detail elevation of one of the rotary files or grinders and the parts
adjacent thereto;
Figure 5, a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6, a detail plan showing the devices for taking the spike and presenting it
to the grinder;
Figure 7, a cross section of one of the emery wheels;
Figure 8, a detail side elevation of the chuck holder and part of the chuck
belt;
Figure 9, a plan view of the same ;
Figures 10 and 11, plan and end views of the chuck hinge ;
Figures 12 and 13, side and bottom views of the pin for holding the chuck
bridle;
Figures 14 and 15, plan and edge views of the washer ;
Figure 16, a plan view of the burr plate for rivetting the hinge to the bolt ;
Figure 17, a detail front elevation of table, guide and gauge bars;
Figure 18, a cross section of the same, taken on the line 18-18 of Figure 17;
Figure 19, a plan view of the same;
Figure 20, a front elevation of the lower guide bars ;
Figure 21, a front elevation showing the guide bars under a modified arrange-
ment to grind pyramidal points ;
Figure 22, a similar view with the position of the parts reversed;
Figure 23, a front elevation showing the guide bars curved for making curved
points;
Figure 24, a plan view of the lower guide bar, detached;
Figures 25 to 29 inclusive, different views of spikes of different form, which
will be hereinafter pointed out more definitely.

page_text: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are upon one and the same scale; the remaining figures
are upon a single scale, but considerably enlarged from that of the former, except
Figures 8 to 16, which are upon a scale still further enlarged.
In these drawings, a base or supporting frame is represented, consisting of two
parallel beams, A, lying upon a series of cross beams B. Base plates or supports a
are arranged crosswise of the longitudinal beams A, which they span and to which
they are secured by strong bolts. These plates are of any number desired; in the
drawings, two only are shown, but four or more may be provided, if desired;
these plates are to provide bed supports for the attachment of stands which carry
arbors or shafts, as will hereinafter be described. The shaft C, from which the
machine is driven, is preferably suspended above the machine by suitable hangers C',
and is preferably arranged lengthwise of the machine, or parallel with the lateral
beams A of the supporting frame. The shaft is provided with a pulley, by which
it is driven and with pulleys c', c", the latter larger than the former, which serve
as driving pulleys to certain parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter
described.
Upright stands or standards D are mounted on the base plates a by a tongue and
groove connection, which permits them to be set in and out laterally of the base
frame of the machine, which adjustment is accomplished by means of setting screws s¹.
These stands carry the grinding stones or rings D', which are mounted on arbors or
shafts d", having their bearings in said standards. The adjustment of the standards
provides for setting the grinding stones properly to their work in the first instance
and also for adjusting them to compensate for wear; when brought into the position
desired, the stands are secured in place on the base plates by tightening bolts.
The machine shown in the drawings is a double one, that is, it is constructed with
two sets of finishing devices, so as to act upon a double set of spikes at one and the
same time; this, however, is simply to give capacity to the machine, as the latter
may be fitted with only a single set of finishing devices, if desired. In the double
machine, here shown, the finishing devices are arranged respectively on opposite
sides of the machine; they are practically duplicates and hence a description of
one set only is necessary, but the corresponding parts of each will be designated
by the same letters.
At the rear or delivery end of the machine, there is a shaft E, extending across
the main frame parallel with the shaft of the grinders and mounted in bearings F,
which are bolted to the side beams A. At the opposite or front end of the machine,
there is a similar shaft E', parallel with the shaft E and having its bearing boxes e
mounted on brackets G, which are bolted to the side beams A, and the bearings
are adjustable on the said brackets by means of setting screws g'. On the shaft E,
just inside its journal bearings, is a large pulley n, which is loosely mounted on the
shaft and is connected thereto at will by means of any suitable clutch g; a friction
clutch is preferred for this purpose. On the shaft E', just inside its journal bearings,
is mounted a large pulley n', similar to the pulley n, but fast on the shaft. A chuck
belt H is mounted on these two pulleys, which are of proper face and diameter to
serve as carriers and drivers for said belt, by means of which the spikes are brought
successively to the operation of the grinders and finally discharged at the rear end
of the machine.
A tablet extends lengthwise of the machine running from the top of one
pulley n to the top of the corresponding pulley n'. This table is made of thin steel
plates constructed in sections, arranged so that the portion or section lying in front
of any one of the grinders may be removed without interfering with the rest of the
table. The several sections are bolted to angular steel standards p, seen in
Figures 1 and 5, which standards are secured by bolts to the lateral beams A,
as seen in Figure 1. The table is of such width that the chuck belt H may lic
upon it, occupying the central position thereof, and leave sufficient room on
cach side for the fastening to the table of certain guide bars, and gauge bars y.
The helt H is of such width-say about 3 inches as to adapt it for the attachment
and carrying of holders or chucks, I, which are intended to receive and manipulate

page_text: the spikes in the finishing process, as will be presently described; the belt may be
made of metal or of any known belting material, preferably, however, of a single
thickness of leather.
•
The construction of the holders or chucks I, and the devices for attaching
the same to the belt, are best seen in Figures 6, 8 and 9. The base of the
holder is a metallic plate or piece K, about six inches long and 34 inches wide,
which is connected at one end to the belt, by means of a hinge L, crossing
the same.
The end of the plate K is fastened to the upper leaf 1 of this hinge
by a pivot pin m, so that the plate may swing to either side of the belt in a
horizontal plane. The lower member, 1, of the hinge is fastened directly to
the belt by means of a burr plate L', piaced on the underside of the belt and
through rivets. Obviously this hinge connection provides for a certain amount
of vertical movement of the plate K.
The main portion or body O of the spike chuck, I, may be made of any suitable
metal, either cast or forged, and is of peculiar construction. It is kite-shaped in
general contour, and its upper surface is cut away to provide a longitudinal
groove o, extending back some distance from the point; behind this groove is an
enlarged free space o¹, cut away entirely across the body, and immediately back of
this space is a central boss o", and side wings o, arranged on edges opposite to
the boss, somewhat higher than the latter and extending towards the rear, but with
an open space oll between them at the rear of the boss, as seen in Figures 8 and 9.
The rim at the larger circular end of the chuck O is also cut away slightly, so
as to provide projections S S standing some distance apart, as seen in Figure 9.
The chuck is arranged with its point toward the pivot m of the base plate K, and
is pivoted to the latter near its rear end with a pin P, upon which it may swing in
a horizontal plane. At the rear end of the base plate K, there is a vertical pin T,
which rises just back of the chuck O, standing in the space between the two pro-
jections S S, hence it is obvious that the horizontal vibration of the chuck upon its
pivot will be limited by these projections coming in contact with said pin. A
bridle, U, made of a strip of leather, or sheet metal, is connected at one end to the
pin T, from which it extends rearward, and at its opposite end is provided with a
longitudinal slot u, by means of which it is connected to the belt H by a pin V.
This pin is constructed with a foot or bottom, having projections v¹, by means of
which it is fastened to the belt, and the end of the bridle lies between this foot and
a washer, over which is inserted a spring cotter. A similar washer is placed
upon the pin Tabove the bridle and a spring cotter inserted above.. The inner
end of the bridle extends inward over the rear of the chuck O, as seen in Figures 8
and 9 of the drawings, and so prevents the chuck O from falling away from the
base K when the chuck belt is inverted in its circuit. The bridle also secures the
base plate K to the belt H, by means of the pins T and V and the slot u.
This
jointed connection permits both horizontal and vertical movement of the base
plate K with reference to the belt, but, at the same time, such vibration will be
limited by the said connections; sufficient freedom is given to the parts, however,
to accomplish the grinding, as hereinafter described, and in connection with the
hinges L to allow the chucks to smoothly pass around the pulleys n n¹ as the belt H
performs its circuit. Springs W are fastened to the outside of the respective
wings ol or sides of the chuck O. These springs are secured at one end by means
of through bolts or rivets w, passing from one side to the other of the chuck and
arranged one above the other, as seen in Figures 8 and 9. The springs extend to
the rearward and outward from their points of attachment, as seen in Figures 3, 6
and 9, and are left free at their outer ends. The groove o, in the chuck, is adapted
to receive the spike R, which is placed therein point foremost, the head r, lving
back in the free space o' and between the rivet bolts w, by which and the boss o¹,
it is stopped and held in position.
The grinding stones D₁ are arranged with their faces alternately inward and
outward with reference to the machine and with the planes of their faces a little
distance apart, so that the belt H may run between them. At each grinder, there

page_text: is a pair of spike-guides, z, x¹; the lower guide is permanently fixed to the
tablet, while the upper one is provided with a loop or hook ", Figures 18
and 19, by which it is set upon the upper edge of a short upright standard, so
as to stand directly over the lower guide . This mounting of the guide a¹ may
be entirely loose, or there may be a loose fastening provided by a screw pin a
passing through a slot in the hook, the object being to leave the upper guide ¹ free
to rise and fall.
In the operation of the machine, the front end of the spike passes
between these two guides, the upper one resting upon the spike, and this vertical
movement of the upper guide provides for use with spikes of different size without
adjusting the guides for each change in width of the same. The upper guide ¹,
lying on the spike as it passes by the grinding stone, steadies the point during the
operation of grinding, which is accomplished as the end of the spike is carried
across the cutting face of the grinding stones, and, for this purpose, this guide may
have a horizontal rib or flange, projecting over the spike.
The gauge bars y are adjustable to and from the cutting faces of the grinding
stones, and may also be set either parallel with said faces or at an angle thereto.
This adjustment is for the purpose of regulating the grinding pressure; if a gange
bar is set parallel with the cutting face of a grinder, the grinding pressure will be
uniform throughout the cut, but, if set oblique thereto, so that the intervening
space will be gradually narrowed, the base K of the chuck I will be pressed
gradually closer to the face of the grinding stone, and so the grinding pressure on
the spike will increase during the passage of the latter across the face of the stone ;
.and, if this relative position of the gauge bar and grinder be reversed, so that the
space between them will gradually widen from front to rear, obviously, the pressure
of the spike on the grinding stone will gradually decrease throughout its passage
.across the same.
The lower guides a lie in the plane or path of the springs W, as they are carried
along past the same by the chuck belt, while the gauge bars y are just below this
plane. When one of the chucks is brought to the entrance of a space between a
gauge bar and a grinder, the spring W on the side next to the latter comes in
contact with the guide, and thereby swings the chuck I upon its pivot to turn the
front end or point of the spike in against the face of the grinder, as seen in
Figure 6, which movement is permitted by the arrangement of the gauge bar y
below the plane of these springs, so that the one on the opposite side of the chuck
will swing out over the gange.
A shaft d is set parallel to the shaft E, being mounted in bearings k which are
adjustable to and from the shaft E by means of set screws ¹ as seen in Figures 1
and 3. On this shaft there are fixed pulleys & and h, and a belt bis passed over
the latter and a larger pulley fixed on the shaft E. The pulley d¹ on this same
shaft is driven at the required speed from any convenient source, thereby rotating
the shaft d and so communicating motion to the shaft E through the belt b;
obviously then whenever the pulleys n are clutched to the shaft E, the required
. movement will be communicated to the chuck belts.
The operation is as follows-
The counter shaft C, being driven at proper speed from any convenient source,
transmits motion by quarter turn belts passing over the pulleys c', c", to the
pulleys and on the grind-stone arbors, thereby rotating the latter in the
direction of the arrows seen in Figure 1. At the same time longitudinal movement
is given to the chuck belts B from the shaft d as described above, whereby the
belts are caused to pass along by the faces of the grinding stones from front to
rear of the machine, and of course, carry with them the chucks or holders I
which are fastened thereto. When a chuck I is brought up to the top of the
pulley n', as seen in Figure 1, a spike is dropped into it in the position shown in
Figure 9; then as the belt H brings this chuck and spike to the entrance of the
space between the first grinder and its gauge bar, as seen in Figure 6, the outer
spring W coming in contact with the curved end of the guide a swings the chuck
upon its pivot until the point of the spike is brought in between the guides × ×³

page_text: and against the cutting face of the grinder. This movement throws the base K of
the chuck I against the gauge bar y as seen in Figure 6, and in this position the
spike is carried across the face of the grinder and one side of its point is ground.
The springs W are wider than the space between the guides, and, therefore,
slide upon these bars and so are held away from the cutting face of the grinders as
they pass by them. Now as the grinders are arranged alternately on opposite
sides of the carrying belts, as already explained, when a spike chuck has passed by
the first grinder mentioned above, and the spring is released from compression, the
chuck will swing back into normal position on the belt, and, as it is brought to the
next grinder, the spring on the opposite side of the chuck will swing the latter, so
as to present the opposite side of the spike point to the second grinder, the operation
being precisely the same as that just described except that the grinding is done on
the opposite edge of the spike point. It will be seen then that the spike point is
ground first on one side and then on the other and that any number of grinding
stones may be employed, odd, or even, as may be desired. It is preferred to use
four grinders for each chuck belt. As heretofore stated, the machine shown in the
drawings, is a double one-that is, a chuck belt and set of grinders is arranged on
each side of the machine, so that two sets of spikes may be finished at the same
time on a single machine, thus increasing the capacity of the latter.
After passing the last grinder in a set, the spikes are removed from the chucks
as the latter descend on the pulleys n, being taken out and packed by hand, or
dropped automatically into kegs or other suitable receptacles placed under the
pulleys n, when it is not desired to protect the points by careful packing.
The grinding wheels may be of any emery or corundum composition, or they
may be of steel of the construction generally known as a rotary file, such as seen
at Z in Figures 4 and 5. A corundum or emery wheel however as scen at s,
Figure 7 is preferred, secured by a dovetail joint to a metallic base or chuck r¹ as
seen in said figure.
It will be noticed that the grinding is done on the side or flat part of the stones
or files. This simplifies the taking up of the wear of the grinding wheels and
secures a uniform speed of the cutting surfaces, whereas grinding on the circum-
ference of grinding wheels or stones, reduces the diameter thereof and necessitates
speeding up of the arbors to compensate for the wear.
The speed at which the grinding is done is sufficient to heat the point of the
spike or spike blank to what may be called a tempering heat-say about cherry red;
but it is done so quickly that only a small portion of the spike point or edge is
brought to a red heat, the main body or portion of the spike remaining almost cold.
Therefore as soon as the ground spike leaves the grinder, the thin point which
alone is heated, cools suddenly, a portion of the heat passing into the surrounding
air and the remaining portion being quickly taken up and drawn away from the
point by the cold body of the spike, the result being a wood cutting temper at
the point or edge of the spike sufficient to stand up against the resistance of very
hard wood and hard knots in soft wood.
The object of placing the driving counter shaft C at right angles to the axes
of the grinders, with quarter-turn driving belts from one to the other, is to simplify
the driving mechanism and also to provide a ready take-up for the belts when the
arbors of the grinding stones are moved to compensate for the wear of the latter.
If counter-shafts parallel with the said arbors, were used, a separate shaft with
complete hangers and individual drivers would be necessary for each grindstone
arbor; and furthermore, provision would have to be made on the counter-pulleys
for any considerable wear of the stones to keep the pulleys in line with the pulleys
on the arbors in the necessary adjustment of the latter. In the arrangement
described above, one counter shaft serves for an entire set of grinders aud the
adjustment to take up wear of the latter is not sufficient to materially disturb
the action of the driving belts.
Some minor features are shown in the drawings which may or may not be used.
In Figure 5 there is shown a large cavity in the journal bearing, which is for the

page_text: reception of oil, for lubricating the arbor of the grind-stone. In this receptacle,
the oil is completely protected from all dirt and grit and as the cavity has a small
opening to the arbor, clean oil will always be supplied to the latter.
In order to impart a sensitive contact of the spike point with the cutting faces
of the grinders, a spring Q may be placed against the outer edge of the gauge
bar
y as seen in Figure 19, in which case the two bolt holes y' y" in the bar nearest
to the said spring must be elongated, so as to allow the bar to swing horizontally
on the remaining bolt at the other end thereof as a pivot; in this construction
the nuts on the bolts are not turned up tightly so that the bar will swing freely.
In Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a protection casing J of boiler plate fastened
at its lower ends to the frame of the machine and extending up and over the entire
grinding stone, so as to entirely enclose the latter, except below. This covering is
arranged so close to the stone as to prevent injury by flying fragments in case of
bursting the stone.
The shape and size of the spike chucks or holders must, of course, be changed
to conform to the shape and size of the spike which is to be pointed. And when
it is desired to grind only one side of a spike point, a machine provided with one or
more stones on one side only of the chuck belt will perform the work. It is
preferred. however, to grind both sides of the spike points, as it is believed it
makes a better article.
Modifications may be made in the guides, whereby a variety of spike points
may be ground; some such modifications are shown in the drawings. In Figure 17
these guides are shown as set parallel with the table t; in this arrangement spikes
with a point, as shown in Figures 25 and 26, are produced. In Figures 21 and 22,
the guides are arranged with alternate pairs set obliquely to the table t and
reversed with respect to each other; this arrangement produces a pyramidal point,
as shown in Figure 27. In Figure 23 curved guides are shown, in which the spike
point follows a curved groove between the guide bars and so is swung up and down
in its passage across the face of the grinder; with this construction a curved
point is obtained, as shown in Figure 29. These various means of carrying the
spike points across the cutting faces of the grinders are contemplated as within
the invention, as the main principle of the machine, whereby the automatic grinding
and tempering of the spikes are effected, is still retained.
In the construction herein described and shown the chuck belts H have a continuous
motion in one direction, this, however, may be modified by using devices giving
them a reciprocating motion with an intermittent grinding operation. And changes
may be made in the particular construction of the chucks and other details of
the machine, provided the automatic grinding and tempering of the spikes or nails
is effected by the single machine.
T
11000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Finishing (Grinding and Tempering)
Spikes, Nails, and the like.
A communication by HOWARD GREER, of Edgewater, in the County of Cook
and State of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool & 6 Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to finishing spikes or spike blanks and other like articles

page_text: whereby the spike is provided with a hardened cutting edge and a soft or un-
tempered body. This is accomplished by grinding the points to bring them to
the required edge, in which operation the point is heated for a little distance to a
cherry red or tempering heat, while the body remains practically cold. After leaving
the grinder, the edge of the spike is tempered by a portion of the heat being taken
up by the atmosphere and a portion by the cool body of the spike; or, if desired,
the ground and hot edge may be brought in contact with some other tempering
fluid. The apparatus for carrying out this method of finishing automatically is so
constructed that, after the spike blanks are placed in the machine, they require
no further attention until delivered therefrom in the shape of spikes with a hard
tempered cutting edge and a soft or untempered_body.
Referring to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification :→
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a double machine embodying the improve-
ments;
Figure 2, a similar elevation of the countershaft and pulleys in said machine;
Figure 3, a plan view of the said machine;
Figure 4, a detail elevation of one of the rotary files or grinders and the parts
adjacent thereto;
Figure 5, a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;
Figure 6, a detail plan showing the devices for taking the spike and presenting it
to the grinder;
emery wheels
;
Figure 7, a cross section of one of the
Figure 8, a detail side elevation of the chuck holder and part of the chuck belt ;
Figure 9, a plan view of the same;
Figures 10 and 11, plan and end views of the chuck hinge;
Figures 12 and 13, side and bottom views of the pin for holding the chuck
bridle;
Figures 14 and 15, plan and edge views of the washer;
Figure 16, a plan view of the burr plate for rivetting the hinge to the bolt ;
Figure 17, a detail front elevation of table, guide and gauge bars;
Figure 18, a cross section of the same, taken on the line 18-18 of Figure 17;
Figure 19, a plan view of the same;
Figure 20, a front elevation of the lower guide bars;
Figure 21, a front elevation showing the guide bars under a modified arrange-
ment to grind pyramidal points ;
Figure 22, a similar view with the position of the parts reversed;
Figure 23, a front elevation showing the guide bars curved for making curved
points;
Figure 24, a plan view of the lower guide bar, detached;
Figures 25 to 29 inclusive, different views of spikes of different form, which will
be hereinafter pointed out more definitely.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are upon one and the same scale; the remaining figures are
upon a scale considerably enlarged from that of the former, except Figures 8 to 16,
which are upon a scale still further enlarged.
In these drawings-
A base or supporting frame is represented, consisting of two parallel beams A,
lying upon a series of cross beams B. Base plates or supports a are arranged
crosswise of the longitudinal beams A, which they span and to which they are
secured by strong bolts. These plates are of any number desired; in the drawings,
two only are shown, but four or more may be provided, if desired; these plates are
to provide bed supports for the attachment of stands which carry arbors or shafts,
as will hereinafter be described. The shaft C, from which the machine is driven,
is preferably suspended above the machine by suitable hangers C³, and is preferably
arranged lengthwise of the machine, or parallel with the lateral beams A of the
supporting frame. The shaft is provided with a pulley, c, by which it is driven
and with pulleys c', cl, the latter larger than the former, which serve as driving
pulleys to certain parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter described.

page_text: Upright stands or standards D are mounted on the base plates a by a tongue and
groove connection, which permits them to be set in and out laterally of the base
frame of the machine, which adjustment is accomplished by means of setting
screws s¹. These stands carry the grinding stones or rings D', which are mounted
on arbors or shafts ", having their bearings in said standards. The adjustment of
the standards provides for setting the grinding stones properly to their work in the
first instance and also for adjusting them to compensate for wear; when brought
into the position desired, the stands are secured in place on the base plates by
tightening bolts.
The machine shown in the drawings is a double one, that is, it is constructed
with two sets of finishing devices, so as to act upon a double set of spikes at one
and the same time; this, however, is simply to give capacity to the machine, as the
latter may be fitted with only a single set of finishing devices, if desired. In the
double machine, here shown, the finishing devices are arranged respectively on
opposite sides of the machine; they are practically duplicates and hence a
description of one set only is necessary, but the corresponding parts of each will
be designated by the same letters.
At the rear or delivery end of the machine, there is a shaft E, extending across
the main frame parallel with the shaft of the grinders and mounted in bearings F,
which are bolted to the side beams A. At the opposite or front end of the machine,
there is a similar shaft E' parallel with the shaft E and having its bearing boxes e
mounted on brackets G, which are bolted to the side beams A, and the bearings
are adjustable on the said brackets by means of setting screws g¹. On the shaft E,
just inside its journal bearings, is a large pulley n, which is loosely mounted on the
shaft and is connected thereto at will by means of any suitable clutch 9; a friction
clutch is preferred for this purpose. On the shaft E', just inside its journal
bearings, is mounted a large pilley n', similar to the pulley n, but fast on the shaft.
A chuck belt H is mounted on these two pulleys, which are of proper face and
diameter to serve as carriers and drivers for said belt, by means of which the spikes
are brought successively to the operation of the grinders and finally discharged at
the rear end of the machine.
A tablet extends lengthwise of the machine running from the top of one pulley n
to the top of the corresponding pulley n'. This table is made of thin steel plates
constructed in sections, arranged so that the portion or section lying in front of any
one of the grinders may be removed without interfering with the rest of the table.
The several sections are bolted to angular steel standards p, seen in Figures 1 and 5,
which standards are secured by bolts to the lateral beams A, as seen in Figure 1.
The table t is of such width that the chuck belt H may lie upon it, occupying the
central position thereof, and leave sufficient room on each side for the fastening
to the table of certain guide bars a, and gauge bars y. The belt H is of such
width-say about 34 inches-as to adapt it for the attachment and carrying of
holders or chucks, I, which are intended to receive and manipulate the spikes in the
finishing process, as will be presently described; the belt may be made of metal or
of any known belting material, preferably, however, of a single thickness of
leather.
The
The construction of the holders or chucks 1, and the devices for attaching the
same to the belt, are best seen in Figures 6, 8 and 9. The base of the holder is a
metallic plate or piece K, about six inches long and 3 inches wide, which is
connected at one end to the belt, by means of a hinge L, crossing the same.
end of the plate K is fastened to the upper leaf 1 of this hinge by a pivot pin m,
so that the plate may swing to either side of the belt in a horizontal plane. The
lower member of the hinge is fastened directly to the belt by means of a burr
plate L' placed on the underside of the belt and through rivets 7. Obviously,
this hinge connection provides for a certain amount of vertical movement of the
plate K.
The main portion or body O of the spike chuck, I, may be made of any suitable
metal, either cast or forged, and is of peculiar construction. It is kite-shaped in

page_text: general contour, and its upper surface is cut away to provide a longitudinal groove o,
extending back some distance from the point; behind this groove is an enlarged
free space o, cut away entirely across the body, and immediately back of this space
is a central boss o", and side wings o, arranged on edges opposite to the boss,
somewhat higher than the latter and extending towards the rear, but with an open
space o between them at the rear of the boss, as seen in Figures 8 and 9. The
rim at the larger circular end of the chuck O is also cut away slightly, so as to
provide projections S S' standing some distance apart, as seen in Figure 9. The
chuck is arranged with its point towards the pivot m of the base plate K, and is
pivoted to the latter near its rear end with a pin P, upon which it may swing in a
horizontal plane. At the rear end of the base plate K, there is a vertical pin T,
which rises just back of the chuck O, standing in the space between the two
projections SS', hence it is obvious that the horizontal vibration of the chuck upon
its pivot will be limited by these projections coming in contact with said pin. A
bridle, U, made of a strip of leather or sheet metal, is connected at one end to the
pin T, from which it extends rearward, and at its opposite end is provided with a
longitudinal slot u, by means of which it is connected to the belt H by a pin V.
This pin is constructed with a foot or bottom v, having projections o, by means of
which it is fastened to the belt, and the end of the bridle lies between this foot and
a washer, over which is inserted a spring cotter. A similar washer is placed
upon the pin T above the bridle and a spring cotter inserted above. The inner end
of the bridle extends inward over the rear of the chuck O, as seen in Figures 8
and 9 of the drawings, and so prevents the chuck O from falling away from the
base K when the chuck belt is inverted in its circuit. The bridle also secures the
base plate K to the belt H, by means of the pins T and V and the slot u. This
jointed connection permits both horizontal and vertical movement of the base
plate K with reference to the belt, but, at the same time, such vibration will be
limited by the said connections; sufficient freedom is given to the parts, however,
to accomplish the grinding, as hereinafter described, and, in connection with the
hinges L, to allow the chucks to smoothly pass around the pulleys n n³ as the
helt H performs its circuit. Springs W are fastened to the outside of the respective
wings or sides of the chuck O." These springs are secured at one end by means
of through bolts or rivets, passing from one side to the other of the chuck and
arranged one above the other, as seen in Figures 8 and 9. The springs extend to
the rearward and outward from their points of attachment, as seen in Figures 3, 6
and 9, and are left free at their outer ends. The groove o, in the chuck, is adapted
to receive the spike R, which is placed therein point foremost, the head lying
back in the free space o' and between the rivet bolts w, by which and the boss o" it
is stopped and held in position.
The grinding stones D₁ are arranged with their faces alternately inward and
outward with reference to the machine and with the planes of their faces a little
distance apart, so that the belt H may run between them. At each grinder, there
is a pair of spike-guides, the lower guide is permanently fixed to the
tablet, while the upper one is provided with a loop or hook Figures 18
and 19, by which it is set upon the upper edge of a short upright standard, so
as to stand directly over the lower guide. This mounting of the guide el may
be entirely loose, or there may be a loose fastening provided by a screw pin
passing through a slot in the hook, the object being to leave the upper guide a
free to rise and fall. In the operation of the machine, the front end of the spike
passes between these two guides, the upper one resting upon the spike, and this
vertical movement of the upper guide provides for use with spikes of different size
without adjusting the guides for each change in width of the same.
The upper
guide, lying on the spike as it passes by the grinding stone, steadies the point
during the operation of grinding, which is accomplished as the end of the spike is
carried across the cutting face of the grinding stones, and for this purpose, this
guide may have a horizontal rib or flange a projecting over the spike.

page_text: The gauge bars are adjustable to and from the cutting faces of the grinding
stones, and may also be set either parallel with said faces or at an angle thereto.
This adjustment is for the purpose of regulating the grinding pressure; if a gauge
bar is set parallel with the cutting face of a grinder, the grinding pressure will be
uniform throughout the cut, but, if set oblique thereto, so that the intervening
space will be gradually narrowed, the base K of the chuck I will be pressed
gradually closer to the face of the grinding stone, and so the grinding pressure on
the spike will increase during the passage of the latter across the face of the stone;
and, if this relative position of the gauge bar and grinder be reversed, so that the
space between them will gradually widen from front to rear, obviously the pressure
of the spike on the grinding stone will gradually decrease throughout its passage
across the same.
The lower guides a lie in the plane or path of the springs W, as they are carried
along past the same by the chuck belt, while the gauge bars y are just below this
plane. When one of the chucks is brought to the entrance of a space between a
gauge bar and a grinder, the spring W on the side next to the latter comes in
contact with the guide, and thereby swings the chuck I upon its pivot to turn the
front end or point of the spike in against the face of the grinder, as seen in
Figure 6, which movement is permitted by the arrangement of the gauge bar w
below the plane of these springs, so that the one on the opposite side of the chuck
will swing out over the gauge.
A shaft d is set parallel to the shaft E, being mounted in bearings k which are
adjustable to and from the shaft E by means of set screws & as seen in Figures 1
and 3. On this shaft there are fixed pulleys d'and h, and a belt bis passed over the
latter and a larger pulley fixed on the shaft E. The pulley d¹ on this same shalt
is driven at the required speed from any convenient source, thereby rotating the
shaft and so communicating motion to the shaft E through the belt b; obviously
then whenever the pulleys n are clutched to the shaft E, the required movement
will be communicated to the chuck belts.
The operation is as follows:-
The counter shaft C, being driven at proper speed from any convenient source,
transmits motion by quarter turn belts passing over the pulleys c', e", to the pulleys vill
and, on the grindstone arbors, thereby rotating the latter in the direction of
the arrows seen in Figure 1. At the same time longitudinal movement is given to
the chuck belts B from the shaft d as described above, whereby the belts are
caused to pass along by the faces of the grinding stones from front to rear of the
machine, and, of course, carry with them the chucks or holders I which are fastened
thereto. When a chuck I is brought up to the top of the pulley n¹, as seen in
Figure 1, a spike is dropped into it in the position shown in Figure 9; then, as the
belt H brings this chuck and spike to the entrance of the space between the first
grinder and its gauge bar, as seen in Figure 6, the outer spring W coming in
contact with the curved end of the guide swings the chuck upon its pivot until
the point of the spike is brought in between the guides and against the cutting
face of the grinder. This movement throws the base K of the chuck against the
gange bar y as seen in Figure 6, and in this position the spike is carried across the
face of the grinder and one side of its point is ground. The springs W are wider
than the space between the guides, and, therefore, slide upon these bars and so are
held away from the cutting face of the grinders as they pass by them. Now as the
grinders are arranged alternately on opposite sides of the carrying belts, as already
explained, when a spike chuck has passed by the first grinder mentioned above, and
the spring is released from compression, the chuck will swing back into normal
position on the belt, and, as it is brought to the next grinder, the spring on the
opposite side of the chuck will swing the latter, so as to present the opposite
side of the spike point to the second grinder, the operation being precisely the
same as that just described except that the grinding is done on the opposite
edge of the spike point. It will be seen then that the spike point is ground

page_text: first on one side and then on the other and that any number of grinding stones
may be employed, odd or even, as may be desired. It is preferred to use four
grinders for each chuck belt. As heretofore stated, the machine shown in
the drawings is a double one-that is, a chuck belt and set of grinders are
arranged on each side of the machine, so that two sets of spikes may be finished
at the same time on a single machine, thus increasing the capacity of the latter.
After passing the last grinder in a set, the spikes are removed from the chucks
as the latter descend on the pulleys n, being taken out and packed by hand, or
dropped automatically into kegs or other suitable receptacles placed under the
pulleys n, when it is not desired to protect the points by careful packing.
The grinding wheels may be of any emery or corundum composition, or they
may be of steel of the construction generally known as a rotary file, such as seen
at Z in Figures 4 and 5. A corundum or emery wheel, however, as seen at s,
Figure 7, is preferred, secured by a dovetail joint to a metallic base or chuck r², as
seen in said figure.
It will be noticed that the grinding is done on the side or flat part of the
stones or files. This simplifies the taking up of the wear of the grinding wheels
and secures a uniform speed of the cutting surfaces, whereas grinding on the
circumference of grinding wheels or stones reduces the diameter thereof and
necessitates speeding up of the arbors to compensate for the wear.
The speed at which the grinding is done is sufficient to heat the point of the
spike or spike blank to what may be called a tempering heat-say about cherry
red: but it is done so quickly that only a small portion of the spike point or
edge is brought to a red heat, the main body or portion of the spike remaining
almost cold. Therefore, as soon as the ground spike leaves the grinder, the thin
point, which alone is heated, cools suddenly, a portion of the heat passing into
the surrounding air and the remaining portion being quickly taken up and drawn
away from the point by the cold body of the spike, the result being a wood cutting
temper at the point or edge of the spike sufficient to stand up against the resistance
of very hard wood and hard knots in soft wood.
The object of placing the driving counter shaft C at right angles to the axes of
the grinders, with quarter-turn driving belts from one to the other, is to simplify
the driving mechanism and also to provide a ready take-up for the belts when the
arbors of the grinding stones are moved to compensate for the wear of the latter.
If counter shafts parallel with the said arbors were used, a separate shaft with
complete hangers and individual drivers would be necessary for each grindstone
arbor; and, furthermore, provision would have to be made on the counter-pulleys
for any considerable wear of the stones to keep the pulleys in line with the pulleys
on the arbors in the necessary adjustment of the latter. In the arrangement
described above, one counter shaft serves for an entire set of grinders, and the
adjustment to take up wear of the latter is not sufficient to materially disturb the
action of the driving belts.
Some minor features are shown in the drawings which may or may not be used.
In Figure 5 there is shown a large cavity in the journal bearing, which is for the
reception of oil, for lubricating the arbor of the grind-stone. In this receptacle,
the oil is completely protected from all dirt and grit, and, as the cavity has a small
opening to the arbor, clean oil will always be supplied to the latter.
In order to impart a sensitive contact of the spike point with the cutting faces
of the grinders, a spring Q may be placed against the outer edge of the gauge
bar y, as seen in Figure 19, in which case the two bolt holes y₁y" in the har
nearest to the said spring must be elongated, so as to allow the bar to swing
horizontally on the remaining bolt at the other end thereof as a pivot; in this
construction, the nuts on the bolts are not turned up tightly so that the bar will
swing freely.
In Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a protection casing J of boiler plate fastened
at its lower ends to the frame of the machine and extending up and over the entire

page_text: grinding stone, so as to entirely enclose the latter, except below. This covering is
arranged so close to the stone as to prevent injury by flying fragments in case of
bursting the stone.
The shape and size of the spike chucks or holders must, of course, be changed to
conform to the shape and size of the spike which is to be pointed. And, when it is
desired to grind only one side of a spike point, a machine provided with one or
more stones on one side only of the chuck belt will perform the work. It is
preferred. however, to grind both sides of the spike points, as it is believed it makes
a better article.
Modifications may be made in the guides xx', whereby a variety of spike points
may be ground; some such modifications are shown in the drawings. In Figure 17,
these guides are shown as set parallel with the table t; in this arrangement,
spikes with a point, as shown in Figures 25 and 26, are produced. In Figures 21
and 22, the guides are arranged with alternate pairs set obliquely to the table t
and reversed with respect to each other; this arrangement produces a pyramidal
point, as shown in Figure 27. In Figure 23, curved guides are shown, in which
the spike point follows a curved groove between the guide bars and so is swung up
and down in its passage across the face of the grinder: with this construction, a
curved point is obtained, as shown in Figure 29. These various means of carrying
the spike points across the cutting faces of the grinders are contemplated as within
the invention, as the main principle of the machine, whereby the automatic grinding
and tempering of the spikes are effected, is still retained.
In the construction herein described and shown, the chuck belts H have a
continuous motion in one direction, this, however, may be modified by using devices
giving them a reciprocating motion with an intermittent grinding operation. Aud
changes may be made in the particular construction of the chucks and other details
of the machine, provided the automatic grinding and tempering of the spikes or
nails are effected by the single machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of grinders in combination
with a mechanism for automatically bringing the spikes to said grinders, and
mechanism for automatically presenting the points of the spikes to the grinding
surfaces, substantially as described.
2. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of grinders in combination
with a carrier moving along past said grinders, spike holders or chucks mounted on
said carriers and vibratable laterally thereon, and mechanism whereby said chucks
may be vibrated laterally to present the points of the spikes to the grinders, sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of grinders arranged
alternately in different parallel planes and with their grinding faces opposed, in
combination with a carrier arranged to travel longitudinally between the opposing
sets of grinders, laterally vibratable spike holders mounted on said carriers, and
mechanism whereby said holders are vibrated automatically and alternately from
side to side to present the points of the spikes alternately to the grinders on
opposite sides of the carrier, substantially as described.
4. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of revolving grinders
having the grinding surfaces upon the sides thereof, in combination with an endless
belt arranged to travel along the sides of said surfaces, a series of spike holders
or chucks attached to said belt by hinge connections which permit both lateral and
vertical vibration thereof, and devices for automatically vibrating the said chucks
laterally, substantially as described.
5. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of revolving grinders, in
combination with a mechanism for automatically bringing the spikes to said

page_text: grinders, and mechanism for automatically presenting the points of the spikes to
the grinding surfaces, driving mechanism for imparting the required motion to
the carrier, and separate driving mechanism for rotating the grinders, substantially
as described.
6. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of grinders mounted on
parallel arbors, in combination with a counter shaft arranged at right angles to
said arbors and provided with driving pulleys by means of which the latter are
rotated by suitable belts, substantially as described.
7. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of standards D mounted
lengthwise of the machine and adjustable laterally thereof, in combination with
rotating grinding stones or rings D' having their arbors mounted in said standards
and provided with suitable driving pulleys, a driving counter-shaft C arranged at
right angles to the grinder arbors and provided with driving pulleys, as c', c",
whereby motion may be communicated to the latter by suitable belts, and a spike
carrier arranged to travel along past the cutting faces of the grinders, substantially
as described.
8. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, a series of revolving grinders
having their cutting faces on the sides thereof, in combination with an endless
carrier belt H, spike holder or chuck O connected to said carrier by a vertical
pivot to permit lateral vibration, springs W extending outward and inclining away
from the sides of said holder, and guides arranged in the path of said springs at
each grinder, whereby the holders are automatically vibrated to turn the points
of the spikes against the cutting surfaces of the grinders, substantially as described.
9. In a machine for finishing spikes or nails, an endless spike carrying belt H,
in combination with a base plate K attached to the belt by hinge joints which
permit both vertical and lateral vibration thereof, and the spike holder or chuck O
connected to said base plate by a vertical pivot which permits lateral vibration of
the chuck, and mechanism for automatically vibrating the said spike holder or
chuck as it is carried forward by the belt, substantially as described.
10. The endless carrying belt H, in combination with the cross hinge L, provided
with vertical pin m on one leaf, the base plate K pivoted at one end to the said
pin, the pivoted bridle U connecting the other end of said plate to the belt, and
the spike holder O pivoted by a vertical pin P to said plate, substantially as
described.
11. The revolving grinders D', in combination with the carrier belt H, the
laterally vibratable spike holders O mounted on said carriers, and guide bar ar
arranged on the front side of each grinder and adapted to receive the point of the
spike between them when turned in against the cutting face of the grinders,
substantially as described.
12. The revolving grinders D₁ having their cutting faces arranged upon one
side thereof, in combination with a pair of guide bars arranged along the
front of each grinder, adapted to receive the point of the spike between them and
the upper one free to move vertically, substantially as described.
13. The revolving grinders D' provided with cutting faces on one side, in
combination with a pair of guide bars arranged one above the other in front of
each grinder, a gauge bar arranged opposite each lower guide bar, a carrier H
and a laterally vibrating spike holder mounted on the carrier, substantially as
described.
14. The grinders D' in combination with the guide barse arranged in front
thereof, the gauge bars y, the carrier H, the laterally vibratable spike holders O
mounted thereon, and the side springs W fastened to the holder at the sides
thereof and with their free ends arranged to come in contact with and slide along
the said guide bars to vibrate the holders, substantially as described.
15. The grinders D' in combination with the carrier belt H, base plates K
pivoted thereto, spike holders O pivoted to said plates, guide bars, gange
bars y connected at their rear ends to their support by fixed pivots about which

page_text: they have a limited lateral vibration, and springs Q arranged to act upon the front
ends thereof, substantially as described.
1
T1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.