IMPROVE- MENTS IN MANUFACTURING SCREWS, BOLTS, SPIKES, AND RIVETS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED FOR SUCH MANUFACTURE, PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY ARE APPLICABLE FOR FORMING SCREW-THREADS, MOULDINGS, AND ORNAMENTS ON METAL
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel McCormick, of No. 14, Fleet Street,
in the City of Dublin, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MANUFACTURING SCREWS, BOLTS, SPIKES, AND RIVETS, AND
OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED
FOR SUCH MANUFACTURE, PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY ARE APPLICABLE
FOR FORMING SCREW-THREADS, MOULDINGS, AND ORNAMENTS ON METAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel McCormick
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 22nd March 1853.
I SAMUEL MCCORMICK of Number Fourteen Fleet Street in the
City of Dublin, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING SCREWS, BOLTS SPIKES
AND RIVETS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS USED FOR SUCH MANUFACTURE, PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY ARE
APPLICABLE FOR FORMING SCREW-THREADS MOULDINGS AND ORNAMENTS ON
METAL" to be as follows

page_text: My Invention consists in a certain arrangement and combination of
machinery or apparatus capable of performing the several operations of
cutting off the required portion of metal for each screw bolt &c.
hending and discharging the same from the holding dies also of forming
or impressing upon the bolt or screw-blank the scrow-tbread or the
moulding or ornament required on the plain surface of the metal.
The machinery or apparatus for this purpose consists essentially of the
following working parts. There is a main shaft on which are fixed a
cam for producing by means of levers the feeding and discharging
motions at their proper intervals; also a double cam for actuating the
lever to which is connected the knife or cutter for separating the
required portions of metal in succession; also an excentric for advancing
the heading die and also a cam for bringing up and removing by
means of levers the holding dies containing the short piece of metal
before and after the operation of heading.
The machinery or apparatus also contains a strong frame or press
against which the holding dies abut or have their bearing. There is
only one set of feeding fingers. The holding dies consist of two parts
the body die and neck die the body die being formed in halves and
united by spring bolts passed through flanges. These holding dies are
fixed on to a vibrating plate worked by a cam and lever as above
mentioned.
The cutter is fixed on a lever (worked by a cam as above mentioned)
and on the same lever is fixed a presser to press upon the holding dies
during the operation of heading and to be withdrawn by the lever so
as to admit of the discharge of the headed bolt from the holding dics.
The heading die is inserted in a slide actuated (as above mentioned) by
an excentric and rod. The headed bolts are successively discharged from
the holding dies by means of rods projected forward by levers actuated
by a cam (as above mentioned) after the holding dies have been brought
opposite to such rods by the movement of the vibrating plate above
mentioned. Tho process of forming the screw-thread moulding or
ornament is effected by means of a machine or mechanism either
separate from or connected with the machine or mechanism above de-
scribed. The essential feature in the mechanism now to be mentioned

page_text: is the employment of three circular screwing or ornamenting dies fixed
on spindles actuated by toothed gear, such dies being arranged so as
mutually to act upon the bolt screw-blank &c. as it is introduced
between them. The uppermost of these dies is raised and depressed at
suitable intervals by means of a lever operated upon by a cam the rate
of motion of which is regulated by speed pulleys. In each of the above-
named machines or pieces of mechanism the metal bar or the bolt,
screw blank, &c. is introduced in a heated state if it be composed of
iron or copper.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel McCormick, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 22nd September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I
SAMUEL MCCORMICк of No. 14 Fleet Street in the City of Dublin
Engineer send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Letters Patent bearing date the Twenty-second day of March in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three in the six-
teenth year of Her reign did for Herself Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me the said Samuel McCormick Her special
licence that I the said Samuel McCormick my executors adminis-
trators and assigns or such others as I the said Samuel M Cormick
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 MANUFACTURING SCREWS BOLTS SPIKES AND RIVETS
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED
FOR SUCH MANUFACTURE PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY ARE APPLICABLE POR
FORMING SCREW-THREADS MOULDINGS AND ORNAMENTS ON METAL" upon
the condition (amongst others) that I the said Samuel McCormick
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal should par-

page_text: ticularly 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 Samuel McCormick do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement reference being had to the drawings hore-
unto annoxed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say.)
My invention of "improvements in manufacturing screws bolts
spikes and rivets and other similar articles and in the machinery
or apparatus used for such manufacture parts of which machinery
are applicable for forming screw-threads mouldings and ornaments
on motal" has for its object the manufacture of screws bolts spikes
rivets and other articles out of iron or copper when heated to a red
heat and out of softer metals without previous heating the rod or
bar of metal out of which such articles are required to be formed being
fed into the machinery or apparatus and operated upon so as to pro-
duce the entire screw or piece of ornamented metal or formed into a
screw-blank or plain shaft with a head upon it and taken to a separato
machine in order to have the screw-thread or ornament formed or
impressed upon its plain surface.
And this object is accomplished by means of the particular arrange-
ment and combination of machinery or apparatus herein-after described
and consisting of mechanism by which are performed the several
operations of holding the rod or bar of metal and cutting off the
required portions of the same in succession then heading such
portions and discharging them in a heated or cold state (according
to the nature of the metal used) and afterwards forming or impressing
thereon the required screw-thread or ornament.
In order however that my Invention may be fully understood I
will proccod to describo inore particularly the mechanical means by
which the several operations referred to are performed and which aro

page_text: represented in the accompanying drawings. And for the greater clear-
ness I will describe the two operations of forming the screw-blank or
headed shaft of metal and screwing or ornamenting the same as per-
formed separately or in two separate machines: but the two machines
may be combined.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
1. Machine or apparatus for forming screw-blanks &c.
Fig. 1. is a plan or horizontal view of the machine with some por-
tions removed for the sake of clearness: Fig. 2 is a side elevation ;
and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section of the machine; Fig. 4 is an end
view of the same with portions removed; Figs. 5. to 14 are represen-
tations of portions of the machine or apparatus on enlarged scales.
A A are the fast and loose pulleys for driving and stopping the
machine; B the fly-wheel for regulating its motions. These are
placed on a horizontal shaft C suitably mounted in bearings in
standards of the machine; D. and E are a pinion and wheel for
communicating motion to the shaft F also suitably mounted. The
pinion D may be thrown into and out of connection with the shaft C
by means of an ordinary clutch-box as shewn at Fig. 1; G is an
excentric on the shaft F by which the heading motion is performed
through the connecting rod and slide I;-H is a cam on the shaft F
and consisting of two parts placed one on each side of the excentric G.
The object of this cam is to elevate and depress at the required times
the lever which carries the presser for pressing upon the dies for
holding the bar of metal to be operated upon and also the knife or
cutter. This cam is thus divided and placed on each side of the
excentric in order to balance the pressure on the lever 0 (hereafter
mentioned.) L L are wrought-iron rods or standards bolted to the
main standards of the machine and carrying brasses through which
the shaft F is passed. These rods have screws on their end by which
the strong cross-bar M is adjusted and secured in its position by
means of the nuts N N ;-N* N* are nuts for steadying a vibrating
plate or disc herein-after mentioned. O is the lever which carries the
presser and knife or cutter before referred to; O¹ is the heading die ;

page_text: PPP are levers which move the feeding fingers and the discharging
slides; R is the cam which actuates these levers through the con-
meeting rod S. U is a plate or disc which carries the holding dies
and is made to vibrate so as at one time to present an empty die to
the rod of metal as it is fed into the machine and at another time to
present the die with a headed shaft to the action of one of the dis-
charging rods. V is the cam on the shaft F by which the required
vibration of the plate is produced by means of the lever W and con-
necting rod X. 1 is the knife or cutter suitably fixed by connecting
links 2 and pins to the lever O; 3 is the presser on the same lever for
closing firmly the holding dies 4. 3 is another presser which comes
into use where a die plate is employed as herein-after mentioned.
These dies hold the body of the piece of metal or shaft to be headed
and are hence called the body dies. They are represented detached on
an enlarged scale at Figs. 5. 6. and 7 with the neck die marked 5
which holds the piece of metal or shaft at the part between the body
and the head-The body dies 4 it will be seen are formed in two
pieces and united by spring bolts passed through flanges the neck
clic 5 consisting of a single piece with a hole in it-6 is the rod or
bar out of which the bolts are to be made (see Figs. 1. and 13); 7. 7.
and S. S. are the discharging slides and rods; 9. 9. are links connecting
the levers P P with the discharging slides.
I proceed now to describo the action of this machine-The rod or
bar 6 whether heated or cold (according to the nature of the metal of
which it is composed) being introduced into the machine is advanced
by the feeding fingers 10 (shewn to nearly full size with the discharg-
ing slides and rods in the plan and side views Figs. 12. and 13) the said
finger being made to embrace firmly the lower side of the rod 6 the
upper side being thereby pressed against the fixed piece 14-The
rod 6 is thus seized by the feeding finger and it is advanced the
required distance, that is so far as to cause a sufficient quantity of
metal to produce the head to project beyond the neck dio 5 the
dies 4 and 5 having been brought into suitable position to receive the
said rod by the vibration of the plato or disc U in the manner herein-
after described-This advancing of the rod 6 is regulated by the mode

page_text: in which the lever P is connected with the connecting rod S which is
actuated by the cam R on the shaft F-It will be seen on reference
to Fig. 4 that to the lever P is attached a screw rod P* on which
works a nut or stud p by which the lever P is connected to the rod S.
By turning the screw P* the nut or connecting stud p may be regu-
lated in its required distance from the fulcrum of the lever P-Through
the upper part of the centre lever P is passed a screw 11. Fig. 13.
upon which the nuts 12 and 13 may be made to act so as to adjust
the position of the screw 11 which carries the fingers 10 to that of the
stud p. By the means just described the rod is advanced so as to supply
the required length of metal into and through the dies.
Then follows the operation of cutting off this length.
This is effected by means of the knife or cutter 1. at the end of the
lever O which is brought down forcibly upon the rod 6 close against the
inner side of the strong cross bar M by the action of the cam H on the
opposite end of the lever,-By this movement of the lever O also the
presser 3 is brought down with force on to the body dies 4 so as to
cause them to hold the length of metal rod firmly between them in
order that it may be subjected to the operation of heading.
This operation is performed by means of the heading die or punch O¹
projected by the slide I acted upon by the excentric G on the shaft F
the strong cross head M forming an abutment to bear the pressure of
the heading die.
This heading die may be varied in its form according to the form of
head required to be produced on the end of the bolt or shaft. It may
also be dispensed with and a punch substituted; a heading die inserted
in a die plate herein-after mentioned being employed in lieu thereof.
This heading die is formed of the shape required and the metal is
forced into the same by the punch. In such case the vibrating plate or
disc U may have the dies inserted in it in the manner represented at
Figs. 8. 9. 10 and 11. Fig. S. is a view of that side of the plate or
disc which is nearest to the punch shewing the heading dies guard plate
&c. Fig. 9. is the same with the guard plate removed. Fig. 10 is
the same with all the parts in front of the neck dies removed. Fig. 11
is a vertical section through the same taken in the line A B of Fig. 8.

page_text: is the die plate or holder. 6 is the guard plate screwed over the
plate a to keep the heading dies and tightening wedges in their places
c. c. are the heading dies made in halves and of the required form.
d. d. are wedges for tightening the same. e. e. pins for pressing down
tightening wedges during the operation of heading and acted upon by
the
presser 3 before referred to on the lever O (see Figs. 2 and 3)
f.f. spiral springs to return the tightening wedges when the pressure is
removed by the rising of the lever O-g. g. the neck dics. the axis
or shaft of the vibrating disc U. i. i are the body dies which may be
made of any required length and which have been herein-before
described. is the vibrating stud to which is connected the rod X
which is again connected to the lever W which is actuated by the
cam V as above described.
The parts just referred to and consisting of the heading dies, die
holder guard plate tightening wedges pins and spiral springs are
used only when making bolts with parallel heads (for example square
hexagonal or circular) and in these cases a punch of the required form
is placed within the slide I (see Fig. 1.) and used for pressing the metal
into the heading dies in the die plate to form the head.
When making bolts for railways or with countersunk or hemi-
spherical heads or tapering bolts and rivets for boilers or other purposes
the parts just referred to are removed from the vibrating disc U which
in such case presents the appearance shewn at Fig. 10 and a heading
die (O' Fig. 1 and 3) of the form required is used to form the head
as herein-before described.
The blow or thrust of the slide or punch bar is of sufficient force to
form the head on the bolt or rivet screw-blank or shaft which may now
be discharged.
The discharging of the headed bolt or other shaft is thus effected. By
the continued rotation of the shaft F the punch bar or slide I is drawn
back by the excentric G. By the same movement also the cutter 1.
and pressers 3. and 3* are raised by the elevation of the end of the
lever to which they are connected by the action of the cam upon the
other end of the said lover-By this means the dies 4 are released
from pressure and consequently their hold of the metal between them

page_text: is loosened By the same rotation of the shaft F the cam V causes
the lever W and connecting rod X to move the vibrating disc U a
sufficient distance to one side to bring the dies 4 and 5 with the
headed bolt opposite one of the discharging slides 7. and its rod 8.
The apparatus connected with these discharging slides and rods are
shewn on an enlarged scale at Figs. 12 and 13 and in the cross section
of the machine at Fig. 14-The shaft F continuing to revolve the
cam R, is made to act upon the lover P through the connecting rod S
as above described and the discharging slide and rod is thereby made
to force the headed bolt from the dies whence it falls into a suitablo
receptacle. By the same movement also the feeding finger 10 is
made to bring forward another length of metal to be formed into a
bolt as before by being first submitted to the action of the knife or
cutter 1 then headed by the slide or punch and heading dies and
eventually discharged as described-and these operations continue in
succession by the working of the machine-The bolt screw-blank or
shaft is now ready to have the screw-thread or the ornament impressed
upon its plain surface by means of a machine or mechanism either
separate from or connected with that above described.
I proceed now therefore to describe this machine or mechanism for
screwing or ornamenting the bolts scrow-blanks &c.
DESCRIPTION OF MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW-THREADS.
Fig. 15. is a side elevation-Fig. 16. a plan. Fig. 17. a front eleva-
tion and Fig. 18 a section through the line X-X of Fig. 15-A A
is the framework or standards of the machine-B.B. fast and loose
pulleys actuated by any prime mover-C. is a toothed pinion gearing
with the wheel D. E is a case of metal fixed on the shaft F and con-
taining the wheel G with teeth on the inner circumference as shewn
detached and full size or nearly full size at Fig. 19-1. 2. 3. are pinions
which drive the die spindles 4. 5. 6. shewn in Figure 18-These spindles
are supported on pedestals I. I. in which also the shaft F is mounted-
One of these spindles with its die is shewn separately to an enlarged
scale in Fig. 20-7. 8. 9 are dies having formed upon them in reverse
the screw-thread or ornament to be impressed on the bolt or article

page_text: under operation. K is a rod for communicating an upward and down-
ward motion by the revolution of the cam N (see Fig. 17) to the
lever L which is connected with and transmits the same motion to
the upper spindle 4 and its dic. O is the cam shaft which also
carries the wheel P taking into the pinion P which pinion may be
connected with a system of change wheels (which are well known) so
as to vary the speed and adapt it to different kinds of screw-threads
or ornaments when the speed is increased the length of the thread or
ornament is decreased and when the speed is diminished the length
of thread or ornament is increased: Q₁ and Q' are conical drums
the taper in one of which is placed reversely to that in the other the
smaller drum Q driving the larger drum Q by means of a strap or
band in the usual well-known manner. The speed can also be altered
by moving the band on these drums.
The action of this mechanism is as follows. The three die spindles
4. 5. 6 are set in motion simultaneously by the wheel G taking into
the three pinions (each having the same number of teeth) on their ends.
These three spindles carry three dies 7 8. 9. which have formed upon
them in reverse the screw-thread or ornament to be impressed on the
bolt or plain shaft introduced between them and by introducing the
article to be operated upon between these dies the screw-thread or
ornament will become impressed upon its plain surface.
By the revolution of the cam N the lever L and the uppermost
spindle and its dic are raised through the medium of the connecting
rod K and it is during this time that the bolt or screw-blank in intro-
duced in the central space beneath the uppermost dic-by the continued
revolution of the cam N the uppermost die is immediately and
forcibly depressed on to the article under operation by which depres-
sion the article or bolt is forced into the interstices of the revolving
dies which by their revolution impress a screw-thread or moulding on
the surface of the said article or bolt.
On or before the next opening of the dies the article either falls out of
itself or is forced out by the revolution of the dies, or is removed by the
attendant.
If it is desired to impress a screw-thread on a bolt or screw-blank

page_text: the revolving dies are cut into a screw-thread of the required pitch and
shape in reverse if for a right-hand screw they require to be cut left
band and vice versa.-Also the dies require to be placed out of parallel
with each other to such an extent as that the angle of the thread on the
revolving dies may coincide with the angle of the thread on the bolt,
If it is desired to impress a circular ornament the spindles are placed
parallel to each other. Attention must be given to placing the dies on
their spindles so that the corresponding parts of the design shall agree
with each other when acting-The material of the dies may be cast
iron, or steel, or steel and iron combined or iron case-hardened.
I would here remark that although I have just described an
arrangement of mechanism by which this part of my Invention may
be advantageously carried into effect yet I am aware of other modos
of arrangement by which similar results may be produced. But I have
described the above mode as being that which I prefer for the
purpose.
I would also remark that the mode described of revolving the dies,
regulating the speed and other details may be varied so long as the
peculiar character of my Invention be retained which is the placing of
the three revolving dies triangularly and causing them to revolve
simultaneously for the purposes described the uppermost one being
raised and depressed at short intervals by suitable mechanism.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I would have it understood that I
do not intend to confine myself to the precise forms and arrangements
of all the parts shown and described-But what I claim as of my
Invention is
First the general combination and arrangement of the parts described
by means of which the several operations of feeding in a bar cutting off
the required length of metal from the bar to form a screw-blank or
other required article heading the same and discharging it when headed
are performed as described.
And secondly the moulding or impressing of a screw-thread or orna-
ment on the plain surface of the screw-blank or shaft by means of three
revolving dies placed triangularly on a suitable frame and made to

page_text: revolvo by any suitable mechanical arrangement so as to produce the
results described.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel McCormick have hereunto
set my hand and seal this Twentieth day of 'September Ono
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Signed scaled and delivered
in the presence of
Robert Gunn of 23 Claren-
don Place Glasgow.
John Cameron 14 Flect St,
Dublin.
SAMUEL MCCORMICK. (L.S.)