IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS AND SPIKES, AND IN MACHINERY TO PRO
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Whittle, of Harborne, in the County
of Stafford, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS AND SPIKES, AND IN MACHINERY TO
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Whittle at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th April 1872.
I, WILLIAM WHITTLE, of Harborne, in the County of Stafford,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS AND SPIKES, AND IN
MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in manufacturing nails and spikes from wedge-
shaped plates or strips in the manner and by the use of the machinery
herein after described.
The wedge-shaped plates which I employ, have in longitudinal section
the figure of a blank or headless nail or spike, the said plates being

page_text: divided or slit longitudinally at one operation into a series of blanks or
headless nails or spikes, which blanks may be heated in the same machine
by which they are slit from the wedge-shaped plate or in a separate
machine.
The said wedge-shaped nail plates may be made by rolling, stamping,
forging, or pressing pieces of wrought iron, or the said plates may be
made of malleable or annealed cast iron, or of copper or alloys of
copper.
I slit or divide the wedge-shaped nail plates into a series of nail blanks,
and head the said blanks in a machine, the parts of which are con
structed and arranged in the following manner :--
-The said machinery
consists essentially of a series of slitting rolls, for slitting the nail plate
into a series of blanks in combination with supports and gripping and
heading tools for supporting, gripping,, and heading the said blanks.
The slitting rolls are situated and work in a horizontal plane, and are
provided with taper grooves for receiving and carrying forward the nail
plate. Behind the said rolls and in a line with the junction of the
cutting edges of the said slitting rolls is a vertical taper guide or
separator for separating and turning aside. the slit. nail blanks as they
leave the slitting rolls, the said nail blanks being separated into two
series by the said guide or separator.. On either side the said vertical
taper guide or separator is a series of sliding supports, on to which the
two series of nail blanks, after they have been completely separated
from the nail plate pass and on which they are supported during the
heading operation. Parallel with the said supports moveable gripping
dies or tools are situated for gripping the two series of blanks near the
head parts, the said gripping being effected between the tools described
and the fixed guide or separator described. Two heading tools are
employed in the machine, one heading tool for each series of nail blanks.
Each heading tool is furnished with countersinks corresponding to
the number of nail blanks to be headed. The said heading tools do
not operate upon the two series of nail blanks simultaneously but in
succession.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The wedge-shaped nail
plate or strip when made of iron is fed in a heated state between the
slitting rolls, the wide end of the plate or strip being presented to the
rolls. By the operation of the slitting rolls the nail plate is. slit
longitudinally into a series of nail blanks. As the partially slit nail

page_text: blanks pass from between the rolls they are separated from one another
by the central guide into two series, and the two series of nail blanks
are conducted onto the supports described on either side the said central
guide. After the nail plate has been completely slit or divided, and
the nail blanks have been conducted on to the supports described, the
gripping tools advance and grip the two series of nail blanks on either
side the fixed central guide.
By the advance of one of the heading tools described the nail blanks
of one series are headed, and by the advance of the other heading tool
the nail blanks of the other series are headed. On the ritiring of the
heading tools, gripping tools, and supports the headed nails fall from
the machine, when a second heated wedge-shaped nail plate is in-
troduced between the slitting rolls, when the actions described are
repeated.
When the slitting of the nail plate is effected in one machine and the
heading in another machine, it is preferred to feed the heated wedge-
shaped iron plates between the slitting rolls point forward, the nail
plates being fed between slotted guides which are capable of yielding
to accommodate themselves to the shape of the nail plate and also to
preserve the nail blanks perfectly straight during the slitting process.
These slotted guides turn on axes at one end and are pressed together
by springs. Or the wedge-shaped nail plates or strips may be divided
and formed into nail blanks by a combination of shear blades or strips
of steel joined together and furnished with distance pieces between
them, one series of blades entering and fitting into the spaces of the
other series of blades. By this means the nail blanks are kept perfectly
straight while being cut.
When it is wished to give to the nails a more finished and smooth
appearance the slit blanks are passed between a set of quadruple rolls
for the purpose of planishing and smoothing the faces thereof. The said.
rolls are pressed together by weights or springs so as to enable them to
yield to the taper of the nail blank. The finished blanks are afterwards
headed in a separate machine.
When the nails are made of copper or alloys of copper they are
pointed and slit in a cold state.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Whittle in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WHITTLE, of Harborne, in the County of Stafford, Mechanical Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Whittle, Her special licence that
I, the said William Whittle, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Whittle, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 THE MANUFACTURE
OF NAILS AND SPIKES, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANU-
FACTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Whittle, my executors or administrators, 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 William Whittle, 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 :-
-
My Invention consists in manufacturing nails and spikes from wedge-
shaped plates or strips in the manner and by the use of the machinery
herein-after described.
The wedge-shaped plates which I employ have in section the figure of
a blank or headless nail or spike, the said plates being divided at one

page_text: operation into a series of blanks or headless nails or spikes, which blanks
may be headed in the same machine by which they are slit from the
wedge-shaped plate or in a separate machine.
The said wedge-shaped nail plates may be made by rolling, shaping,
forging, or pressing pieces of wrought iron, or the said plates may be
made of malleable or annealed cast iron, or of copper or alloys of
copper.
I slit or divide the wedge-shaped nail plates into a series of nail blanks,
and head the said blanks in a machine, the parts of which are constructed
and arranged in the following manner:-The said machinery consists
essentially of a series of slitting rolls for slitting the nail plate into a
scries of blanks in combination with supports and gripping and heading
tools for supporting, gripping, and heading the said blanks. The slitting
rolls are situated and work in a horizontal plane, and are provided with
an opening or groove in front of the rolls for receiving and carrying
forward the nail plate. Behind the said rolls and in a line with the
cutting edges of the said slitting rolls is a vertical taper guide or
separator for separating and turning aside the slit nail blanks as they
leave the slitting rolls, the said nail blanks being separated into two
series by the said guide or separator. On either side the said vertical
taper guide or separator is a series of sliding supports, on to which the
two series of nail blanks after they have been completely separated pass,
and on which they are supported during the heading operation. Parallel
with the said supports moveable gripping dies or tools are situated
for gripping the two series of blanks near the head parts, the said
gripping being effected between the tools described and the fixed guide
or separator described. Two heading tools are employed in the machine,
one heading tool for each series of nail blanks. Each heading tool, is
furnished with countersinks corresponding to the number of nail blanks
to be headed. The said heading tools do not operate upon the two series
of nail blanks simultaneously but in succession.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The wedge-shaped nail
plate or strip when made of iron is fed in a heated state between the
slitting rolls, the wide end of the plate or strip being presented to the
rolls. By the operation of the slitting rolls the nail plate is slit into a
series of nail blanks. As the partially slit nail blanks pass from
between the rolls they are separated from one another by the contral

page_text: guide into two series, and the two series of nail blanks are conducted
on to the supports described on either side the central guide. After the
nail plate has been completely slit or divided, and the nail blanks have
been conducted on to the supports described, the gripping tools advance
and grip the two series of nail blanks on either side the fixed central
guide.
By the advance of one of the heading tools described the nail blanks
of one series are headed, and by the advance of the other heading tool
the nail blanks of the other series are headed. On the retiring of the
heading tools, gripping tools, and supports the headed nails fall from
the machine, and a second heated wedge-shaped nail plate is introduced
between the slitting rolls, when the actions described are repeated.
When the slitting of the nail plate is effected in one machine and the
heading in another machine, it is preferred to feed the heated wedge-
shaped iron plates between the slitting rolls point forward, the nail plates
being fed between guides which are capable of yielding to accommodate
themselves to the shape of the nail plate, and also to preserve the nail
blanks straight during the slitting process. These guides turn or
oscillate on axes at one end, and are pressed together by springs; or, the
wedge-shaped nail plates or strips may be divided and formed into nail
blanks by a combination of shear blades or strips of steel joined together
and furnished with distance pieces between them, one series of blades
entering and fitting into the spaces of the other series of blades. By this
means the nail blanks are kept perfectly straight while being cut.
When it is wished to give to the nails a more finished and smooth
appearance, the slit blanks are passed between a set of quadruple rolls
for the purpose of planishing and smoothing the faces thereof. The said
rolls are pressed together by weights or springs, so as to enable them to
yield to the the taper of the nail blank. The finished blanks are after-
wards headed in a separate machine.
When the nails are made of copper or alloys of copper they are slit
and headed in a cold state.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in
which the same is to be performed.

page_text: Figure 1 represents in elevation and cross section a wedge-shaped
plate or strip of iron or other metal, from which I make at one operation
a series of headless nails or spikes by dividing or slitting the said plate
or strip at the dotted lines indicated in the said Figure 1.
Figure 2 represents in plan (partly in section), and Figure 3 in
longitudinal vertical section, a machine constructed according to my
Invention for slitting at one operation the wedge-shaped plate, Figure 1,
into a series of headless nails or spikes, and for afterwards heading the
same. Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of a portion of the
machine taken on the dotted line A, A, Figure 2, the said Figure 4 being
drawn to a larger scale, and exhibiting the arrangement of the supports
and guides by means of which the two series of headless nails or blanks
are supported and guided to the heading tools; and Figure 5 represents
one of the fixed guides.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures, 2, 3,
4, and 5.
a, a, are the slitting rolls turning in a horizontal plane on the vertical
axes b, b, the said slitting rolls being provided with an opening r for
receiving and carrying forward the wedge-shaped nail plate c (seo
the plan, Figure 2). The form of the fixed guides forming the grooves
of the slitting rolls are specially designed in this machine as supports to
the moveable guides herein-after described. d is the vertical taper guide
or separator behind the slitting rolls a, a, for separating and turning
aside the slit nail blanks as they leave the said slitting rolls. The
position of the taper guide or separator d with respect to the cutting
edges of the slitting rolls a, a, is best seen in Figure 2. On either side
the guide or separator d is a series of sliding supports and guides e, e
(one pair of which is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5), on to which
the two series of nail blanks pass, and on which they are supported and
kept at a uniform distance apart before and during the heading opera-
tion. Those ends of the supports or guides e, e, which are presented to
the incoming slit blanks are tapered (see Figure 3) for guiding the slit
blanks on to the said supports. The said sliding supports work between
the fixed guides f. f, (one pair of which is shown in Figure 5,) placed
5 between each pair of the disks of the slitting rolls, the said fixed
guides assisting in guiding the slit blanks to the gripping tools and
straightening the said blanks.

page_text: The arrangement of the sliding and fixed supports and guides e, e, f,f
is best seen in the cross section, Figure 4, the sliding supports being
represented in their returned positions after the headed nails have fallen
from the machine and ready to receive another series of slit blanks.
9, 9, are the gripping tools, and h, h² are the heading tools, each heading
tool being furnished with countersinks equal to the number of nail
blanks to be headed, as seen in Figure 3.
The mechanism for working the several parts of the machine is
arranged as follows:- is the main or driving shaft communicating
motion to the counter shaft. k through the toothed wheels k², k³. The
slitting rolls a, a, are driven from the shaft k through the bevil gearing 1,
shaft m, and bevil gearing n, the axes of the slitting rolls being geared
together by the toothed wheels at p10 (see Figure 3). The heading
tools h, h², are worked in succession by means of the cams h³, h, on the
shaft k, acting on the levers h³, h, and the latter on the heading tools in
the manner best seen in Figure 3, the return motion of the heading
tools and parts connected therewith being effected by the coiled
springs h, h. The side gripping tools g, 9, are worked by the slides g², g²,
connected to the said tools by the toggle joints g³, g³, and motion is com-
municated to the said slides by the levers 9, 9*, operated upon by the
cams g³, g, on the shaft k. The return motions of the several moving
parts are effected by springs. Each series of the moveable supports e, e,
on either side the fixed vertical guide d has a to-and-fro motion given to
it at the proper times, each series being so geared together that their
motion is simultaneous.
This is effected by the following arrangement of parts:-Through
each series of supports e, e, a vertical pin marked respectively c², e³,
passes the motion of the pin, giving motion to the whole of the series of
supports. Slots at f2 are made in the fixed guides f,f, to permit of the
motion of the pins e², e³. Each pin e², e³, is furnished with a link e, es,
connected by the joints es, e7, to the levers p. p, and p³, p², there being a
connecting link, both above and below the machine, connected to each
end of the vertical pins e² and e³, A to-and-fro motion is communicated
to the joints e, e', and links e, e³, through the pairs of levers p, p,
and p, p, turning on the vertical axes p³, p³, at opposite sides of the
machine, the said pairs of levers being connected together by the con-
necting rod p*. On the axis p³ of the levers p, p, is an arm p³ which
receives motion from the cam 6 on the spindle 6 of one of the slitting

page_text: rolls a, a. By means of the connecting rod p' the motion given to the
levers p, p, is transmitted to the levers p², p³, as will be understood by an
examination of Figure 2, and the two series of moveable supports are
moved simultaneously to and from the axis of the machine. q is a bolt
for opening and closing the aperturer in front of the slitting rolls a, a,
to permit of the wedge-shaped plate c being inserted between the slitting
rolls at the proper time to suit the motions of the machine. The said
bolt q is actuated by a rise on the boss q³ of the bevil gearing n.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The wedge-shaped iron.
plate c (see Figure 2) to be slit, is fed in a heated state through the
opening between the slitting rolls a, a, when the bolt q has been
withdrawn the wide end of the nail plate being presented to the rolls.
By the operation of the said rolls the said nail plate c is fed forward
between the rolls and is slit into a series of nail blanks. As the
partially slit nail blanks pass from between the rolls they are separated
from one another by being turned aside by the central taper guide d,
into two series marked respectively s and s² in Figures 2 and 3, and
the said two series of nail blanks are guided and conducted on to the
moveable supports e, e, on either side the guide d, which moveable
supports have been brought into position to receive the said slit blanks.
The said blanks are also guided between the edges of the fixed
guides ff, and the central guide d. By the continued operation
of the slitting rolls the two series of nail blanks & and s² are com-
pletely separated, and are advanced to the heading tools h, h², which
act as stops, as illustrated in Figure 2. This having been done, the
gripping tools g, g, advance and grip the two series of nail blanks
between themselves and the fixed central guide d, a sufficient length
of the nail blank being left beyond the gripping tool to form a head.
The leading tool / now advances and forms a head on the broad end
of cach of the nail blanks of one series, as seen in Figures 2 and 3.
The other heading tool * then advances and forms a head on the
broad end of each of the nail blanks of the other series.
By an examination of Figure 2, it will be seen that the central
guide & supports the nail blanks and resists the force of the gripping
and heading tools, while the said blanks are being headed.
By the operations described, the wedge-shaped plate c is slit or
divided into nail blanks, the said nail blanks separated into two scries

page_text: and finally headed. After the blanks have been headed the gripping
'
and heading tools, and moveable guides and supports retire, when the
nails being unsupported fall from the machine.
Figure 6 represents in front elevation partly in section, and Figure 7,
in longitudinal section, a machine constructed according to my In-
vention for slitting and separating the nail blanks from the wedge-
shaped plate, the nail blanks being headed in a separate machine.
Figure 8 is a modification of part of Figures 6 and 7. The same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 6, 7, and 8.
a, a, are the slitting rolls; b, b, are guides for guiding and straight-
ening the nail blanks after they pass from the rolls; c is the central
wedge-shaped guide or separator for separating the nail blanks after
they have been slit. The said guide or separator c forms an acute
angled space between the guides b, b, into which the slit blanks are
forced by the action of the rolls. The said blanks are thereby
straightened before they leave the machine. The said guides b, b,
oscillate on the axes 6º, 6º, carried by the bars d, the said axes working
in the frame of the machine. The said guides are pressed together
by the strong coiled springs e, e, Each of the guides b, b, has at
bottom a bar f similar to the bar d but without axes, the two
bars d, f, of each series of guides being braced together by vertical
rods g, g. In order to allow the nail blanks to pass from the machine
after they have been slit by the slitting rolls a, a, separated into two
series by the central guide or separator c, and straightened by the
guides b, b, the said guides b, b, are opened by means of the tappets h, h,
on the shaft or axis i, the said axis being provided with the hand
lever k. By raising the hand lever k the tappets h, h, press open the
guides b, b, and allow the straightened nail blanks to pass from between
them and the fixed central guide c. On depressing the hand lever k the
tappets h, h, no longer bear upon the guides b, b, when they are closed
by the action of the strong springs e, e.
Instead of employing strong springs for closing the guides b, b, the
arrangement represented in Figure 8 may be used, by the employment
of which arrangement the inconvenience of using very strong springs is
avoided. In this arrangement the guides b, b, are kept closed by the
locking levers 7, 12, the free ends of the said levers engaging with the
guides b, b, in the manner shown in the Drawing. The said guides are
pressed together by light springs not represented. The two locking

page_text: levers 1, 1, are connected together by the curved connecting rod 'm, the
ends of which are respectively jointed to the arms n, n³, on the said
locking levers. p is a horizontal spindle or axis similar to the axis i,
Figures 6 and 7, provided with long tappets q, q. Fixed on the said
spindle p is a hand lever r, r³, the short arm rs of which is connected by
the links to the locking lever . When the hand lever r is raised the
locking lever is depressed, the motion of the said lever being trans-
mitted through the arm n, connecting rod m, and arm n² to the other
locking lever. The two locking levers are thus simultaneously with-
drawn from under the guides b, b, and the said guides are released and
are pressed open by the action of the tappets q, q. When the hand
lever is depressed the guides b, b, are pressed together by the light
springs described, and the several parts are returned to the position
represented, and the said guides thereby securely locked together.
Figure 9 represents in side elevation and edge view the two series of
shear blades which may be employed for slitting or dividing the wedge-
shaped nail plate into a series of blanks in place of slitting rolls. a, a,
are the fixed lower shear blades, and b, b, are the upper shear blades
having a rising and falling motion given to them in any convenient
manner. The shear blades are secured together by bolts, and are sup-
ported at the required distance apart by the distance pieces c, .c. When
the moveable or upper shear blades b, b, descend they enter and fit into
the spaces between the fixed series a, a. The wedge-shaped plate
placed on the blades a, a, is thereby slit or divided into a series of
blanks, and the said blanks kept straight while being cut.
Figure 10 represents in elevation a machine constructed according
to my Invention for planishing or smoothing the faces of the blanks
before they are headed. The said machine consists of four rolls d, e, f, g,
the peripheries or acting faces of which meet in the manner represented
in the Drawing. The said rolls are pressed together by springs or by
weights, and are driven by the gearing represented. When a nail blank
is introduced between the acting faces of the rolls d, e, f, g, they seize
it and planish and smooth the faces thereof, the said rolls opening or
yielding to accommodate themselves to the taper of the blank.
Although I have only described the manufacture of nails according
to my Invention, yet my said Invention is equally applicable to the

page_text: Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and
illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention of improvements
in the manufacture of nails and spikes, and in machinery to be employed
in the said manufacture,―
Firstly. Manufacturing nails and spikes from wedge-shaped plates or
strips having in section the figure of a blank or headless nail or spike, the
said wedge-shaped plates or strips being slit or divided at one operation
into a series of blanks, preferably by means of slitting rolls, in the
manner substantially as hercin-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The combination or arrangement of the parts of the
machine herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5
of the accompanying Drawing, for slitting the series of blanks from
the wedge-shaped plates, and afterwards heading the said blanks, that
is to say, the combination with slitting rolls of the central guide or
separator d, the moveable supports and guides e, e, fixed guides ƒ, f,
gripping tools g, g, and heading tools h, h2, the said parts being
arranged, worked, and operating substantially as described and illus-
trated.
Thirdly. The combination or arrangement of the parts of the machine
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the
accompanying Drawing, for slitting and separating at one operation
from the wedge-shaped plates or strips the series of blanks, and for
straightening the said blanks, that is to say, the combination with the
slitting rolls of the central guide or separator c and side guides b, b,
substantially as described and illustrated, also the combinations of parts
described and illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, for opening the side
or straightening guides to permit the blanks to fall from the machine.
Fourthly. The combination of shear blades provided with distance
pieces as herein-before described and illustrated in Figure 9 of the
accompanying Drawing, for cutting or separating at one operation a
series of blanks from the wedge-shaped plates or strips.
Lastly. The combination of the quadruple rolls herein-before described.

page_text: and illustrated in Figure 10 of the accompanying Drawing, for planish-
ng and smoothing the faces of the blanks prior to heading:
In witness whereof, I, the said William Whittle, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September. in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM WHITTLE. (L.S.)