IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS, SPIKES, RIVETS, AND SCREW BLANKS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Groom Grice, of West Bromwich, in the
County of Stafford, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS, SPIKES, RIVETS, AND SCREW
BLANKS."
Sealed the 10th July 1868, and dated the 2nd February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Groom Grice
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd February 1863.
I, FREDERIC GROOM GBICE, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS, SPIKES, RIVETS, AND
SCREW BLANKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of an arrangement of machinery for the manufacture
of bolts, spikes, rivets, and screw blanks, consisting of a combination of rolls
for forming the iron from which the bolts, spikes, rivets, and screw blanks
are to be made, and machines for shaping and turning the heads of the said
bolts, spikes, rivets, and screw blanks. The iron is prepared by rolling it into

page_text: the desired form in suitable lengths by rolls of the ordinary construction.
Immediately the bar of iron leaves the rolls one of its ends is placed so as to
be fed into the machine herein-after described by a feeder, which may either
be a pair of rolls having an intermittent rotary motion, or consist of a slide
grip worked by a rod from a crank connected to the main shaft of the
machine. The heated iron as it is fed into the machine is forced through a
steel cutter with a hole bored to suit the size of the iron used, and placed
between a pair of dies. The figure of the interior of the said dies when
closed is the figure to be given to the shank of cup or half-round head bolts
or rivets, and the shank and head of square, hexagonal, or similar shaped
heads. One of the dies is then made to advance by the action of a wedge or
other pressure on its side, and sever the iron from the bar, forcing it over the
cutter, and holding it tightly between the dies, a projecting portion being left
to form the head. While the iron is held in this position, a die having inter-
nally the figure of the head when half-round heads are required is made to
press on the projecting end of the iron and shape the head. The heading
die is worked by a crank acting on a slide carrying the heading die. When
bolts with square necks are required, the parts of the dies forming the neck
have the required shape given to them, and the pressure by which the head
is formed is sufficient to force the iron into the square part of the dies where
the neck is formed. In making bolts with oval necks the iron is rolled of
that figure, the pressure of the dies making the stem cylindrical. When a
projection is required on one side only, I proceed in a similar manner, that is,
the iron is rolled with the required projection, and that part of the dies which
forms the neck has the figure of the iron, the other parts of the dies having a
cylindrical figure. In the case of square or hexagonal bolts the head is
formed by forcing the projecting metal by means of a punch into a space in
the end of the dies, having the shape of the head to be made. After the
bolts are headed, the dies open by the withdrawal of the pressure on the side
and the insertion of a wedge between the dies, or by the action of a spring.
Immediately the dies are opened the bolt is forced from the dies by the
action of a rod striking the bolt which falls from between the dies. During
the shaping of the bolt in the dies a small portion of the iron is forced between
the dies; this is removed, and at the same time the end of the bolt is turned
round or sharp where necessary in the following manner:-A number of bolts
are placed in an inclined rail, sufficiently large to allow them to slide down
freely. They are removed one at a time from the said rail by means of a
pair of springs, which after taking hold of a bolt descend and hold the bolt in

page_text: front of a pair of clams or jaws on the end of a hollow rotating or lathe
spindle. The bolt is forced into the clams or jaws by a rod working in front,
the part of the head requiring to be dressed or turned being brought opposite
a pair of cutters. The clams or jaws are closed by the action of a cam on a
second shaft working at the back, and a rotary motion is given to the bolt.
The cutters are then made to press upon that part of the head requiring
to be turned, and remove the seam or other projection left by the action of
the dies. Simultaneously with the turning of the head the shaping of the
point is effected by means of a cutter carried by a rod inserted in the hollow
spindle, and made to press against the end of the bolt by means of a cam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Groom Grice. in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
GROOM GRICE, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the-Second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Frederic Groom Grice, Her special licence that I, the said Frederic
Groom Grice, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Frederic Groom Grice, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS,
SPIKES, RIVETS, AND SCREW BLANKS," upon the condition (aniongst others) that
I, the said Frederic Groom Grice, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said Frederic Groom Grice, 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 of an arrangement of machinery for the manufacture
of bolts, spikes, rivets, and screw blanks, consisting of a combination of rolls
for forming the iron from which the bolts, spikes, rivets, and screw blanks are
to be made, with machines for shaping the said bolts, spikes, rivets, and screw
blanks; also of machinery for turning the heads and points of bolts and spikes.
The iron is prepared by rolling it into the desired form in suitable lengths by
rolls of the ordinary construction. Immediately the bar of iron leaves the
rolls one of its ends is placed so as to be fed into the machine herein-after
described by a feeder, which may either be a pair of rolls having an inter-
mittent rotary motion, or consist of a slide grip worked by a rod from a crank
connected to the main shaft of the machine. The heated iron as it is fed into
the machine is forced through a steel cutter with a hole bored in it to suit
the size of the iron used, and placed between a pair of dies. The figure of the
interior of the said dies, when closed, is the figure to be given to the shank of
cup or half-round head bolts or rivets, and the shank and head of square,
hexagonal, or similar shaped heads. One of the dies is then made to advance
by the action of a wedge or other pressure on its side, and sever the iron from
the bar, forcing it over the cutter and holding it tightly between the dies, a
projecting portion being left to form the head. While the iron is held in this
position, a die having internally the figure of the head when half-round heads
are required is made to press on the projecting end of the iron and shape the
head. The heading die is worked by a crank acting on a slide carrying the
beading die.
When bolts with square necks are required, the parts of the dies
forming the neck have the required shape given to them, and the pressure by
which the head is formed is sufficient to force the iron into the square part of
the dies where the neck is formed. In making bolts with oval necks the iron
is rolled of that figure, the pressure of the dies making the stem cylindrical.
When a projection is required on one side only, I proceed in a similar manner,
that is, the iron is rolled with the required projection, and that part of the dies
which forms the neck has the figure of the iron, the other parts of the dies
having a cylindrical figure. In the case of square or hexagonal bolts the head
is formed by forcing the projecting metal by means of a punch into a space in
the end of the dies having the shape of the head to be made. After the bolts
are headed the dies open by the withdrawal of the pressure on the side and

page_text: the insertion of a wedge between the dies, or by the action of a spring.
Immediately the dies are opened the bolt is forced from the dies by the action
of a rod striking the bolt which falls from between the dies. During the
shaping of the bolt in the dies a small portion of the iron is forced between
the dies; this is removed, and at the same time the end of the bolt is turned,
so as to make it round or pointed where necessary, in the following manner:-
A number of bolts are placed in an inclined rail, sufficiently large to allow
them to slide down freely. They are removed one at a time from the said
rail by means of a pair of springs, which, after taking hold of a bolt, descend
and hold the bolt in front of a pair of clams or jaws on the end of a hollow
rotating or lathe spindle. The bolt is forced into the clams or jaws by a rod
working in front, the part of the head requiring to be dressed or turned being
brought opposite a pair of cutters. The clams or jaws are closed by the action
of a cam on a second shaft working at the back, and a rotatory motion is giveu
to the bolt. The cutters are then made to press upon that part of the head
requiring to be turned, and remove the seam or other projection left by the
action of the dies. Simultaneously with the turning of the head the shaping
of the point is, effected by means of a cutter carried by a rod inserted in the
hollow spindle, and made to press against the end of the bolt by means of
a cam.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same
is to be performed..
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent the several forms I give to the iron to be
made into bolts and spikes. Figure 1 represents the form of iron I prefer to
employ in making dog-headed spikes; and Figures 2 and 3 represent the
forms of iron I prefer to employ in making bolts of a cylindrical figure. The
iron in each case is introduced into the machine in such a position that the
dies compress it in the direction of its longest diameter, and thereby form a
cylindrical shank, leaving the neck of the figure of the iron: Immediately the
bars of iron leave the rolls, by which the required size and figure are given to
them, and while they are still hot, they are fed into the machine represented
in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings; Figure 4 being a plan, Figure 5 a
side elevation of the machine, and Figure 6 a longitudinal vertical section of a
portion of the machine. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts
in Figures 4, 5, and 6.
For convenience of description I will describe the said machine with
reference to the mauufacture of bolts. The iron may either be fed into the

page_text: machine by a pair of rolls having an intermittent rotatory motion, or by means
of the feeder represented in the Drawings. The feeder represented consists of
a grip a, worked by the slide b, the said slide 6 having a reciprocating motion
given to it by the crank c on the main shaft d of the machine. The rod e
gives motion to the lever f, turning upon the shaft g. The upper end of the
lever passes through a slot in the slide b, and gives motion to the said slide.
The end of the slide 6 is inclined, as represented, and in its advance motion it
first strikes against the grip a and causes it to press the small lever h firmly on
the bar of iron i being fed. The bar of iron i is thus gripped firmly in the
slide b, and the lever f continuing to advance, the slide 63 and bar i are carried
forward. When the bar i has been advanced sufficiently far into the machine,
the lever f makes its return motion, first releasing the grip a and detaching
the slide from the bar i, and afterwards carrying back the slide. The bar i
passes through the guides k, k, the upper one of which being pressed
upon by the lever l holds the bar i with sufficient force to prevent its return
with the feeder. The bar i passes through a hole in the fixed steel cutter m
into the dies n, o, between which it is held. The figure of the interior of the
said dies n, o, is the figure to be given to the shank and neck of cup or
half-round head bolts, or the shank and head of square, hexagonal, or similar
shaped heads. The dies n, o, are opposite the bar i when the said bar is fed
into the machine. The die o is forced into the position represented in
Figure 4 (after the bar has been fed into the machine) by means of a
wedge p acting against the wedge-shaped end of the die. The wedge p is
actuated by the cams 9, 9, on the driving shaft d, the said cams acting on the
rollers r, r, carried by the forked end of the slide 8, which carries the wedge p.
The die o in its advance cuts off the bar i against the fixed cutter m, and
holds it against the die n. The continued motion of the die o brings the two
dies, with the cut-off portion of the rod held between them, into the position
represented in Figure 4. The die n coming against the stop or shoulder t
its motion is arrested, and the cut-off portion of the iron marked
pressed between it and
is com-
the die o, and the required form given to the shank
and neck of the bolt. The essential novelty in this part of my Invention
consists in giving to the dies n, o, such a figure internally that during their
action on the bar of iron they compress that portion of the iron which forms
the shank into a cylindrical figure, while they leave unchanged that portion
of the iron constituting the neck of the bolt, the pressure of the heading
die compressing the iron into that portion of the cavity of the dies in which
the neck of the bolt is formed. While the partly-made bolt is held in this

page_text: position, the heading die u advances and compresses the projecting portion of
the bolt into a head. The heading die u.has the figure proper. to form the
head required. The said heading die u is fixed by set screws v, v, in the
slide w, to which slide a reciprocating motion is given by the crank on the
shaft d and the connecting rod y. When bolts with square necks are required
the parts of the dies n, o, forming the neck have the required shape given to
them, and the pressure by which the head is formed forces the iron into the
square part of the dies where the neck is formed. In making bolts with oval
necks the iron is rolled of that figure, the pressure of the dies n, o, making
the stem cylindrical. When a projection is required on one side only I
proceed in a similar manner, that is, the iron is rolled with the required pro-
jection, and that part of the dies n, o, which forms the neck has the figure of
the iron, the other parts of the dies having a cylindrical figure. In the case of
square or hexagonal bolts the head is formed by forcing the projecting end of
the cut-off rod by means of a flat punch or heading die into a space in the
end of the dies n, o, the said space having the shape of the head to be made.
After the bolt is headed the dies n, o, open by the withdrawal of the wedge p
and the action of a spring z, Figure 6, between the dies. The dies are now
brought opposite the hole in the fixed cutter m, through which the bar is fed
ready for the reception and cutting off of another portion of the said bar.
This return motion of the dies is effected by the rod 1, which passes through
the shoulder t. The motion of the rod 1 is effected by the cam 2 on the face
of the toothed wheel 3 acting through the lever 4, to the end of which lever
the rod 1 is jointed. The lever 4 is kept to its bearing on the cam 2 by the
coiled spring 5. If the bolt which has been headed does not fall from the
machine on the opening of the dies n, o, it is pushed out by the portion of
the bar inext fed into the machine.
As the bolts sometimes stick in the dies after they are opened, a rod or
striker situated over the dies, and having motion in a vertical plane may be
employed to strike the bolt from the dies. The said striker is fixed on one
end of a lever, the other end of which is acted upon by a cam on the driving
shaft d. During the shaping of the bolt in the dies a small portion of the
iron is forced between the said dies, forming a fin or burr immediately under
the head. This is removed, and the end of the bolt turned so as to round or
point it, where necessary, by the machine, shewn in plan in Figure 7. The bolts
are fed into the machine, Figure 7, by being placed in an inclined and slit
rail, down which they slide freely. They are removed one at a time from the
said rail by means of a pair of springs, which, after taking hold of the bolt,

page_text: descend and hold it in front of a pair of clams or jaws on the end of a hollow
rotating or lathe spindle. These, clams are marked a .in Figure 7, and the
rotating hollow spindle is marked b. The feeder I have described I have
not represented in the Drawing, as it is commonly employed for like purposes
in other machines, and constitutes no part of my Invention. The bolt is
forced from the feeder into the clams a by a rod working in front. The
clams a are closed and made to hold the bolt c by means of the lever d acted
upon by the cam e on the back shaft f. The bolt c being made to rotate, the
cutters 9 are made to press upon the parts of the head requiring to be turned,
and thereby remove the fin or burr left by the action of the dies. Simul-
taneously with the turning of the head, the shaping of the point is effected by
means of a cutter'h carried by a rod i, passing through the hollow spindle b.
The said cutter h is made to press against the end of the bolt c by means of a
cam k on the shaft f. The said cam k acts on the cranked lever 1, so as to
effect the advancing and retiring motions of the rod i, in the manner which
will be understood by an examination of the Drawing. Rotation is given to the
hollow shaft 6 carrying the bolt c by means of a band and the pulley m. The
back shaft receives. a slow rotation from the hollow spindle 6 by means of a
train of wheels. During the turning of the bolt it is supported by the support o,
into which it is pressed by the pin head p. The support o is fixed on the top
of a lever q actuated by the cam r. The pin p is fixed on the top of the lever
which carries the cutter g, which lever is actuated by the cam s. As the parts
by which the cutter g and support o are actuated are similar to those employed
for like purposes, I do not think a further description of the said parts neces-
sary.
After the head and point of the bolt have been turned, the clams a are
opened by the action of the lever d, and the bolt c falls from the machine.
Although I have only described my Invention in connection with the
manufacture of bolts, yet it is equally applicable to the manufacture of spikes,
rivets, and screw blanks.
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,-
Firstly, the general arrangement or combination of parts of the machinery,
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the accom-
panying Drawings, for cutting off-and heading and forming the shanks and
necks of blanks for the manufacture of bolts and spikes.

page_text: Secondly, the combination of rolls, by which the iron to be made into
bolts, spikes, rivets, and screw blanks is rolled, with machinery for cutting
off and heading blanks, so as to cut off and head the said blanks while the
iron from which they are made is still hot from the rolls by which it is rolled.
Thirdly, the general arrangement or combination of the parts of the
machinery, herein-before described and represented in Figure 7 of the accom-
panying Drawings, for turning the heads and points of bolts and spikes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Groom Grice, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
FREDERIC GROOM GRICE. (L.S.)