IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS AND SCREWS AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS SCREWS BOLTS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE.”
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas James Sloan of St Maudé 75 rue de, Paris
in the republic of France Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN NAILS AND SCREWS AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF NAILS SCREWS BOLTS
AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN
THE SAID MANUFACTURE.”
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas James Sloan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th September 1882.
THOMAS JAMES SLOAN of St Maudé 75 rue de Paris in the Republic of France
Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS AND SCREWS AND IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF NAILS SCREWS BOLTS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES. AND IN MACHINERY TO BE
EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE ""
This Invention relates to a mode of forming screw threads by means of a pair of
cylindrical rollers provided with helical grooves and rotating at different circum-
ferential speeds the said rollers being arranged with their axes parallel to that of
the article being operated upon and in conjunction or not with devices for forming
the bodies and other parts of the nail screws or other articles upon which it is
desired to produce a helical thread or screw. The difference in the circumferential
speed of the rolls is obtained by making the rolls of different diameters or by
gearing them together by wheels of unequal radius and has the effect of imparting
to the article on which the screw thread is to be formed, a rotary motion and at
the same time causes the said article to pass out sideways from between the centres
of the rolls between which it is engaged and by which alone it is supported whilst
the screw thread is being formed. It should be observed that the rolling action of
the rolls is very superior to that of thread forming devices which act by friction
and that the threads when formed are much stronger than when cut out according
to the latter process.
It is not indispensable that the grooves in each cylinder
should correspond as the threads adjust themselves whilst they are being formed
but it is evident that the form of the grooves must be the same as that of the
threads to be formed and their inclination be in the reverse direction to that of the
said. threads..

page_text: "
The improvements in the devices for forming the heads and points are more
especially applicable to the manufacture of what are known as French Nails"
which are made according to this Invention with a chisel point or cutting edge
instead of the tapering or pointed termination usually employed. This improve-
ment is attended with great advantages in practice as the improved nails are not
liable to split the wood. The improved method of forming screw threads by rolling
is susceptible of being applied to all systems of machines for making nails wood
and other screws bolts and other like articles.
In carrying out this Invention as applied to the manufacture of nails for example
the shaping and thread forming devices are arranged inside a large frame supporting
at its upper part a driving shaft provided with fast and loose pulleys and carrying
cams which impart the requisite motion to the nail forming devices as hereinafter
described. One cam works a feeder which may be of any suitable construction and
draws from a coil or reel the wire which is to be used in the manufacture of the
nails; this feeder which may be combined if necessary with a wire straightener
intermittently feeds forward the wire to the extent required for a single nail. The
end of the wire is gripped by a pair of jaws forming a vice and is held by this vice
whilst a hammer alternately lifted and allowed to fall by a suitable cam on the
cam shaft forms the head of the nail by upsetting the end of the wire which
projects beyond the edges of the jaws and at the same time marks the said head
with a ridge or depression for a purpose hereinafter explained. One jaw of the
vice is fixed but the other jaw is moveable and is operated by levers, worked by a
cam on the cam shaft.
Immediately after the operation of forming the head the wire is released by the
jaws and drawn forward by the feeder for a distance corresponding to the length
of a nail. Cutters then cut off a length of wire which is simultaneously grasped
and supported by a gripper or forwarder-The cutters which are actuated simul-
taneously by levers provided with counter-springs and cams on the cam shaft also
shape the flat and cutting edge forming the point of the nail, at the same time as
they sever the nail from the wire.
The gripper or forwarder hereinbefore referred to carries the nail to the thread
or screw forming devices and is composed of an arm to which are pivotted two
spring jaws. This forwarder is actuated by the levers and connecting links
operated by a cam on an upright shaft driven by gearing from the cam shaft.
The jaws of the gripper or forwarder are spring-jointed and of such a form that
they lay hold of the nail automatically when they are pressed against it and before
it is severed the head of the nail rests on the upper edge of the jaws of the gripper
which then carries the nail over to the screw thread forming devices.
When the nail has been thus transferred it is liberated by a pusher which presses
on the head of the nail and causes it to fall before a second pusher. The latter
pusher is actuated by a cam on the upright shaft and pushes the nail between a
pair of thread-forming cylinders or rolls which then impart motion to the nail by
reason of their differential rotary motion as before mentioned.
The axes of these thread forming rolls are each provided with a pinion, both of
which pinions are in gear with one wheel fast on the upright shaft-Both the rolls
are by this gearing caused to rotate in the same direction but at different speeds as
herein before stated. They are provided with helical grooves corresponding to the
pitch and form of the threads to be produced. The axes of the rolls are carried in
adjustable bearings or supports in order to enable the space between the rolls to be
adjusted to suit nails of different sizes.
The chisel point of the nail enables it to cut the fibres of the wood transversely
instead of separating them laterally as when nails with points of the ordinary taper
form are employed and the consequent diminution in the holding power of the nail
is compensated for by the screw threads which are formed from end to end of the
shank. These threads are of such a form that they offer no impediment to the
passage of the nail through the wood.
The ridge or depression or other mark in the head of the nail is for the purpose

page_text: of enabling the workman to ascertain at a glance the position of the edge in order
to place the latter at right angles to the grain of the wood.
The thread forming rolls may be manufactured by means approximately
analogous to those adopted for forming the threaded articles hereinbefore described
For this purpose the cylinder on which the helical grooves are to be formed is set
up between the centres of a lathe. The tool for cutting the grooves consists of a
rotating cylinder provided with both circular and longitudinal grooves so as to
present a number of cutting points or gravers with a large clearance. This rotary
cutting tool is mounted on a slide or carrier to which a slow motion is imparted
by means of suitable endless screws and worm wheels and this motion is combined
with or proportioned to the rotary motion of the cylinder or roll according to the
pitch of the helical grooves which are to be formed thereon.
In order to form a gimlet point or taper on the ends of wood screws simulta-
neously with the formation of the thread, the thread-forming rolls are made so as
to gradually contract the space between the pair of rolls at the parts which form
the point of the screw. In this case the grooves on these parts are finished by
hand by the aid of a pattern or template corresponding with the external form of
the cylinder or roll.
The mode of rolling by differential speed and action hereinbefore described is
applicable to forming or shaping other round articles such as screw and bolt heads.
and the like as well as for forming screw threads in general and may be employed
separately or combined with other machines.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of an
Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Thomas James Sloan in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd March 1883.
THOMAS JAMES SLOAN of. St Maudé 75 Rue de Paris in the Republic of France
Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS AND SCREWS AND IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF NAILS SCREWS BOLTS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES AND IN MACHINERY TO BE
EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE.
My Invention relates to a mode of forming screw threads by means of a pair of
cylindrical rollers provided with helical grooves and rotating at different circum-
ferential speeds the said rollers being arranged with their axes parallel to that of
the article being operated upon and in conjunction or not with devices for forming
the bodies shanks or other parts of the nails screws or other articles upon which it
is desired to produce a thread or screw.
The difference in the circumferential speed of the rolls amounts to about one
tenth and is obtained by making the rolls of different diameters or by gearing
them together with wheels of unequal radius and has the effect of imparting to the
article on which the screw thread is to be formed a rotary motion and causes the
said article to pass out sideways from between the centres of the rolls with which
it is engaged and by which alone it is supported whilst the screw thread is being
formed. It should be observed that the rolling action of the rolls is very superior
to that of thread forming devices which act in the ordinary way and that the
threads when formed are much stronger than when cut out according to the latter
process It is not indispensable that the grooves in each cylinder should correspond
as the threads adjust themselves automatically whilst they are being formed but it
is evident that the shape of the grooves must be the same as that of the threads to
be formed and that their inclination must be in the reverse direction to that of the
said threads.
The improvement in the devices for forming the heads and points are more
especially applicable to the manufacture of what are known as "French" or wire
nails which are made according to this Invention with a chisel point or edge instead
of the pyramidal point usually employed This improvement is attended with
great advantages in practice as the improved nails are not liable to split the wood
in driving.
The improved method of forming screw threads by rolling is susceptible of being
applied to all systems of machines for making nails and wood and other screws
bolts and the like articles.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a front view of an improved machine arranged for forming screw
threads by a rolling action according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same the section being taken along the
line 1-2 figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the machine taken in a plane passing through
the centre of the cylindrical rolls.
Figures 4. 5 and 6 illustrate a nail formed with a screw thread and chisel edge
according to this Invention and figures 7 and 8 are details hereinafter described.

page_text: The shaping and thread forming devices are arranged inside a vertical frame B,
supporting at its upper part a driving shaft A provided with fast and loose pulleys
which are not shown in the drawing and carrying cams which impart the requisite
motion to the nail performing devices as hereinafter described A crank a (Figure 1),
works a feeder which may be of any suitable construction and draws from a coil'
or reel the wire f which is to be used in the manufacture of the nails, this feeder
which may be combined if necessary with a wire straightener intermittently feeds
forward the wire to the extent required for a single nail. The end of the wire is
gripped by a pair of jaws m m' and is held by these jaws whilst a hammer M..
figure 1 (alternately lifted and allowed to fall by a cam b on the shaft A) forms the
head of the nail by upsetting the end of the wire f which projects beyond the edges.
of the jaws m m¹ and at the same time marks the said head with a ridge or
depression for a purpose hereinafter explained. The jaw m is fixed but the other
jaw m' is moveable and is operated by levers ? and worked by a came on the
shaft A.
Immediately after the operation of forming the head the wire f is released by
the jaws m m¹ and is displaced by the feeder for a distance corresponding to the
length of a nail. Cutters n n' then cut off a length of wire which is simultaneously
grasped and supported by a gripper or forwarder p. The cutters which are on
shafts actuated simultaneously by levers h h' provided with counter springs (which
levers are acted upon by cams d d' on the shaft A) also shape the flat or chisel edge
constituting the point of the nail to the form shown in figures 4 and 5 at the same
time that they sever the nail from the wire.
The gripper or forwarder p carries the nail from the shaping devices hereinbefore
described to the thread or screw forming devices and is composed of a horizontally
vibrating arm to which are pivotted two spring jaws. This arm oscillates upon an
axis o being actuated by levers o' and connecting links o³ arranged as indicated in
dotted lines in figure 2 and a came on an upright shaft V driven from the main
driving shaft A by the intervention of bevel wheels R and R¹ The jaws of the
gripper or forwarder p are spring jointed and of such a form that they lay hold of.
the nail automatically when they are pressed against it and before it is severed
from the wire The head of the nail rests on the upper edge of the jaws of the
gripper which then carries the nail over to the screw thread forming devices.
When the nail has been thus transferred to the thread forming devices it is
liberated by a pusher g which presses on the head of the nail and causes it to fall
before a second pusher The pusher k is actuated by a cam f' on the shaft V and
pushes the nail between a pair of thread forming cylinders or rolls C and C¹ which,
then impart motion to the nail by reason of the differential rotary motion which
may be imparted to them as hereinafter described.
The thread forming rolls C and C¹ are driven by pinions. q q₁ both gearing with.
a wheel Q fast on the shaft V. Both the rolls are by this gearing caused to rotate
in the same direction but at different speeds as herein before stated The rolls C C
are provided with helical grooves corresponding to the pitch and form of the
threads to be produced on the nail and their axes are carried in adjustable bearings
or supports S S¹ which are capable of being adjusted in order to enable the space,
between the rolls to be regulated to suit nails of different diameters.
The nail on leaving the rolls CC has a screw thread formed on it as illustrated.
in figures 4 and 5 and is capable of being used with great advantage for securing.
very thin inferior wood such as is liable to split when nails of the ordinary form
are employed. The point of the nail is flat in one direction and presents a chisel
edge as shewn in Figures 4 and 5.
The chisel point of the nail enables it to cut the fibres of the wood transversely.
instead of separating them laterally as when nails with points of the ordinary taper
form are employed and the consequent. diminution in the holding power of the nail
is compensated for by the screw threads which are formed for some considerable

page_text: distance along the nail. These threads are of such a form that they offer no
impediment to the insertion of the nail.
In order to facilitate the insertion of the nail in the proper position to avoid
splitting a ridge or depression or other mark is made in the head of the nail by the
hammer M which mark indicates the direction of the edge of the point so as to
enable the workman to readily place the said edge at right angles to the grain of
the wood without looking at the point.
The nails as illustrated in figures 4. 5 and 6 are provided with a ridge or web x
but it is evident that any other kind of indication may be employed for the same
purpose.
The thread forming rolls may be manufactured as follows For this purpose the
cylinder on which the helical grooves are to be formed is set up between the centres
of a lathe. The tool for cutting the grooves is illustrated in figure 7 and consists
of a rotating cutter y provided with both circular and longitudinal grooves so as to
present a number of cutting points or gravers with a large clearance. This rotary
cutting tool is mounted on a slide or carrier to which a slow motion is imparted by
means of suitable endless screws and worm wheels and this motion is combined.
with or proportioned to the rotary motion of the cylinder or roll according to the
pitch of the helical grooves which are to be formed thereon.
In order to form a gimlet point or taper on the ends of wood screws simulta-
neously with the formation of the thread the thread forming rolls are made so as to
gradually contract the space between the pair of rolls at the parts which form the
point of the screw as indicated in figure 8 In this case the grooves on the curved
parts ware finished by hand by the aid of a pattern or template corresponding with
the external form of the cylinder or roll.
The mode of rolling by differential speed and action herein before described is
applicable to forming or shaping other round articles such as screw and bolt heads
and the like as well as for forming screw threads in general and may be employed
separately or combined with other machines.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is. :
First. Forming screw threads upon nails, screw blanks, bolts and other like
articles by passing them between rolls provided with helical grooves and revolving
at different circumferential speeds and also the improved articles resulting from
this operation all substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Second In machinery for the manufacture of nails screws bolts and other like
articles the employment of the said rolls for forming the screw threads in combi-
nation with devices for forming the shanks and other parts of the nail or other
article substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Third The special combination of devices forming the improved apparatus for
the manufacture of screw threaded nails substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in figures 1. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The nails produced substantially as hereinbefore described and having
a screw thread and chisel point in combination with a ridge depression or other
mark for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in figures 4. 5 and 6 of
the accompanying drawings
Fifth. The improved arrangement of rotary cutter for forming the grooves on
the thread forming rolls substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Sixth. The improved rolls or cylinders for forming a taper or gimlet point on
wood screws substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in figure 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas James Sloan have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of March One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
THOMAS JAMES SLOAN (L.S.)