Improvements relating to Spikes, Nails, Pegs, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Spikes, Nails, Pegs, and the like.
I, ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON, of the firm of Ibbotson Brothers &
Company, Limited, Globe Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates, to spikes, nails, pegs and the like and is intended to improve
the efficiency of the same. My said invention also relates to apparatus for making
my improved spikes, nails and the like.
According to my invention I so form the said spikes, uails or the like that that
surface of the same which is intended to press against the ends of the fibre when
the said spikes or the like are driven into wood or that is intended to face the
direction of the line of greatest resistance in the material in which the spike or the
like is driven is of much greater area or extent than in spikes or the like of the same
weight or even of greater weight as heretofore constructed.
I moreover make my improved spike or nail or the like of such a form that it
will cut its way easily through the material in which it is driven with the least
possible injury or disturbance to the said material, as for instance when driven into
wood or other fibrous material the fibres will be cut clean with a minimum of
splitting, and the ends of the fibres will be curved downward by the face of the
spike or the like and will then offer by their position a considerably increased
resistance to the withdrawal of the spike as compared with spikes of the forms
heretofore made.
An important feature of my said invention is the provision in the shank of a spike,
nail or the like of one or more longitudinal grooves. 1 preferably make the
said shank of much greater width than thickness and I form the said groove
or grooves in that face or those faces of the shank that has or have the
greatest width, that is to say, in the front and sometimes also at the back of
the shank, and I may also form one or more longitudinal grooves in the sides of
the shank.
I may make
I may make one large and deep groove in each face of the shank or
two or more smaller grooves according to the requirements. The said grooves are
preferably made of a rounded form but they may be of other suitable shape. 1
moreover prefer that the cross section of the shank, neglecting the aforesaid grooves,
shall be rectangular or nearly so, but in some cases I form the said shank of other
cross section.
My improved spike, nail or the like may be formed with a sharp knife or chise!
like edge at the end or with one, two or more sharp points, which edge or points
may be case hardened or hardened and tempered. In some instances I form the sides
of the shanks likewise with cutting edges. I may form the said spikes with any
of the well known heads in common use.
Spikes or the like formed according to my invention have much greater holding
power than those heretofore in common use, arising from the fact that a much
smaller surface is presented to the plane of least resistance while a much greater
surface is presented to the plane of greatest resistance than is the case in spikes as
heretofore constructed.
1001

page_text: "
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Spikes, Nails, Pegs, and the like.
I, ALFRED BUCKINGHAM IBBOTSON, of Ibbotson Brothers and Company,
Limited, of Globe Steel Works, Sheffield, in the County of York, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :--
My invention relates to railway-spikes, nails, tent-pegs and the like, and comprises
improvements which are advantageously applicable to spikes for fastening flanged
railway rails to wooden railway sleepers (such spikes being known to railway
engineers as dog-spikes) and also to spikes for fastening railway rail-chairs to
wooden railway sleepers (such spikes being known to railway engineers as chair-
spikes) and also to pegs for fastening down tents (such pegs being known as tent-
pegs) and also to spikes, nails, or pegs for tethering horses in camp, and for other
purposes, and my said invention is intended to increase the efficiency of such spikes,
nails or pegs.
I preferably make my improved spike, or the like, of steel.
According to my invention I so form the said spikes, nails or the like, that one
or both of those surfaces of the same which are intended to press against the ends
of the fibre when the said spikes or the like are driven into wood, or which are
intended to face the direction of greatest resistance in the material into which the
spike or the like is driven is or are of much greater area and extent than in spikes
or the like of the same weight or even of greater weight as heretofore constructed.
That is to say, I provide the said surface or surfaces with one or more longitudinal
grooves, indentations, corrugations, or the like, or I otherwise form the said
spike or the like, so that the area of the said surface or surfaces shall be made
considerably greater than that which would be due merely to the width of the
spike.
The aforesaid grooves, indentations, corrugations, or the like, in addition to
increasing the area of the surfaces of the spike which face the direction of greatest
resistance in the material in which the said spike or the like is driven, may also give
the spike or the like the advantage of having two or more sharp longitudinal cutting
edges throughout nearly the whole length of the same, which cutting edges
terminate in gouge or shell like form in the tapering part of the sharp chisel point
hereinafter described. These cutting edges greatly assist and facilitate the driving
of the spike into say a wooden sleeper without danger of splitting the sleeper. In
the case of chair-spikes, holes have usually hitherto been bored in the sleeper
to avoid splitting the said sleeper, but with my improved spikes, having sharp chisel
points, and longitudinal cutting edges, the time and labour of boring holes are saved,
and the spikes may be driven home without fracturing, tearing, or bruising the fibre
of the sleeper around the spike.
To facilitate the driving in of my improved spike or the like I provide the same
with a sharp chisel point at its end and parallel with its broadest face. The said
chisel point when the spike or the like is used for securing rails and chairs is
intended to be driven into the sleeper with its greatest breadth across the grain of
the wood so that it will cut its way easily and truly, transversely across the fibre
of the wood with the least possible injury to, or disturbance of, the said fibres ;
the fibres will be cut clean through across the grain without splitting the wood,
and the ends of the fibres so cut apart will be curved slightly downward or inward
by the broadest faces of the said spike in the direction in which the spike is
driven, and the ends of the said fibres will. then offer by their ratchet teeth
like position a considerably increased resistance to the withdrawal of the
spike as compared with the resistance offered by spikes of the forms heretofore
made.

page_text: To increase this true cutting action prefer to grind and harden or temper the
chisel point of the spike, or I may case-harden the same. I may further assist
this true cutting action and make the spike still easier to drive, by grinding and
hardening or tempering or by case-hardening the side cutting edges of the grooves.
throughout their whole length. This grinding and hardening or tempering, or
case-hardening of the chisel points, or the side cutting edges of the grooves improves
the cutting i.e. inakes it more keen, and makes the spike easier to drive. I some-
times harden or temper the said spikes or the like without grinding, and I sometimes
grind the same without hardening or tempering.
I preferably make the shank of my improved spike or the like where it can be so
made (as for instance in a dog-spike or tent or tethering peg) of much greater
width than thickness, and I form the groove or grooves, or their equivalent,
chiefly in that face or in those faces of the shank that has or have the greatest
width, that is to say, in the front face and sometimes also in the back face of the
shank, and 1 sometimes also form one or more narrower longitudinal grooves in
the sides of the shank. 1 may make one large and deep groove in one of the
broadest faces of the shank, or I may make one large and deep groove in each of
the broadest faces of the shank, or I may make two or more smaller grooves in one
of the broadest faces or in each of the broadest faces of the shank according to the
requirements. The said grooves are preferably made of rounded form but they may
be of other suitable shape in cross. section.
I moreover prefer that the cross section of the shank, apart from the aforesaid
grooves shall be rectangular, or nearly so, but in some cases as for instance in a
chair spike I may make the said shank of other form in cross section.
I may form the said spikes with any of the well known heads in common use.
Another portion of my invention involves the use of railway rail-chairs which
have formed in them two grooves or slots in the sides of the spike holes so as to
admit of the entrance of a spike, the point and most of the shank of which is,
broader than the neck of such shank, the original circumference of the hole
continuing to fit the neck of the spike accurately as heretofore but the grooves or
slots permitting the entrance of a wider point than in the absence of such grooves
or slots could be inserted. Such grooves or slots should be formed in such a position
in and beyond the circumference of the holes that when the chair is put in place on
the sleeper and the broadest face of the sharp chisel point is inserted therein,
the said chisel point will enter the wood and be driven home at exactly right angles
with the grain or fibre of the wood. This is important as it prevents unskilled
labourers from losing the advantages obtainable by this important feature of my
invention through their ignorantly driving the spike into the wood in any other
position with regard to its broadest faces than that specified.
Another portion of my invention involves the use of railway rail-chairs which
while having their trenail holes formed of the usual round shape, have their spike
holes formed of a rectangular shape, so as to admit of the entrance of my broad
rectangular "grooved and sharp chisel-pointed chair-spike" the whole shank of
which is as broad as the neck of the spike. Such rectangular spike holes should
be formed in such a position in the chair, that when the chair is put in place on
the sleeper and the broadest face of the sharp chisel point is inserted in the
rectangular spike hole, the said sharp chisel point will cut and enter into the wood
and be driven home with its broadest face at exactly right angles with the
grain or fibre of the wood. As before explained with reference to the grooved
or slotted spike hole, this caution, when inanufacturing the chair, as to the
position with reference to its broadest side of the rectangular spike hole, is
important.
*
sometimes find it advantageous to use in connection or in combination with my
improved broad rectangular grooved and sharp chisel pointed chair spike Ibbotsons
railway rail-chair having a loose dove-tailed jaw dispensing with the necessity and
cost of using keys, but in such case I form the spike holes in the said Ibbotsons
railway rail-chair of a rectangular shape so as to admit of the entrance of

page_text: this form of my grooved and sharp chisel pointed chair spike the holes being placed
in the chair with regard to their broadest side in the manner described above.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated by way of example some of
the forms and cross sections of spikes, nails, tent-pegs and the like, all constructed
according to my invention. In these figures A indicates the shank which
is provided with a longitudinal groove or with grooves A' A' and with a sharp
chisel point B.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of spike to be used for fastening
railway rail-chairs to wooden railway sleepers and ordinarily called chair-spikes.
The said spike has four grooves A¹, two only of which are seen. It will be
observed that the grooves terminate gradually in gouge or shell like form in the
tapering part of the sharp chisel point B, which sharp chisel point is parallel with
the broadest grooved faces of the spike and is intended always to be driven into the
railway sleeper with its gratest breadth across the grain of the wood so that it may
effect a clean truc cut.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the spike illustrated in Figure 1 shewing the narrow
grooved side of the spike and the side of the sharp chisel point.
Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of one of the broadest grooved faces and of the
sharp chisch point of the spike illustrated in Figure 1 shewing the width of the
sharp chisel point in this particular pattern..
Figure 4 is a cross section of the same spike.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of another form of spike to be used for fastening
railway rail chairs to wooden railway sleepers ordinarily called chair-spikes. The
said spike it will be observed has its round neck, that is to say, the part immediately
under its head of longer dimensions than that shewn in Figure 1 in order that when
the spike is driven home into the sleeper with its head close down on the chair the
hole in the chair through which it has been driven shall be approximately filled up
and the whole of the grooved part of the spike embedded in the sleeper so as to
avoid, after the spike has been driven home, a possible lodgement in the spaces
left in the hole in the chair between the grooves of the spike and the sides of the
hole of any water or ballast splashings, such as might cause rust-binding, were
the grooves to be continued so close up to the head as shewn in Figure 1.
Instead of making the grooved part of this form of spike of an oval or round
section as in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, 1 make it, starting from the bottom of its round
neck, of a rectangular form, or nearly so, and of the same width as the neck, but with
its thickness reduced to about one third of that of the neck, and I make one groove
on each of the two broadest faces, that is to say, one groove on the front face, and
one groove on the back face, both terminating in gouge or shell like form in the
tapering part of the sharp chisel point, which sharp chisel point is parallel with
the broadest grooved faces of the spike and is intended always to be driven into
the railway sleeper with its greatest grooved breadth across the grain of the wood
so that its sharp chisel point may effect a clean true cut.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the spike illustrated in Figure 5, showing the narrow
side of the spike and the side of the sharp chisel point.
Figure 7 is a plan of one of the broadest grooved faces and of the sharp chisel
point of the spike illustrated in Figure 5 shewing the width of the sharp chisel
point in this particular pattern.
Figure 8 is a cross section of the same spike.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of chair spike. Instead
of making the rectangular grooved part of the spike of the same width throughout
its length as the neck of the spike, as in Figure 5, 1 cause it to be widened out
from the bottom of the neck down to the point so as to be wider than the said, neck
and thus to offer by reason of its extra width (but without adding materially to its
weight) still greater resistance to withdrawal, but in such case as before mentioned
I form two grooves or slots in the sides of each spike hole of the chair as herein-
after described so as to admit of the entrance of the sharp. chisel point thus made
wider than the ordinary spike hole of the chair.

page_text: Figure 10 is an elevation of the spike shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a plan of one of the broadest grooved faces and of the sharp chisel
point of the spike illustrated in Figure 9 shewing the breadth of the sharp chisel
point in this particular pattern.
Figure 12 is a cross section of the said spike taken on the line x Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of another type of spike to be used for fastening
Hanged railway rails to wooden railway sleepers and ordinarily called dog-spikes
and having a single groove only terminating in gouge or shell like form in the
tapering part of the sharp chisel point.
Figure 14 is a plan of a portion of the shank of the broadest grooved faces and
of the sharp chisel point of the spike illustrated in Figure 13 shewing the width of
the sharp chisel point in this particular pattern.
Figure 15 is a cross section of the spike shown in Figure 13.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the shank of another pattern of dog-spike
showing one of two broad grooves in the two broadest faces, as well as one of two
narrower grooves in the narrow sides of the spike, the grooves terminating in gouge
or shell like form in the tapering part of the sharp chisel point.
Figure 17 is an elevation of the narrow side of the spike illustrated in Figure 16
shewing the narrower groove and side of the sharp chisel point.
Figure 18 is a plan of one of the broadest faces and of the sharp chisel point of
the spike illustrated in Figure 16 showing the width of the sharp chisel point in
this particular pattern.
Figure 19 is a cross section of the spike shewn in Figure 16.
Figure 20 is a perspective view of another pattern of dog-spike having one groove
in each of its broadest faces terminating in gouge or shell like form in the tapering
part of the sharp chisel point. Instead of making the shank of the spike throughout
its length of the same width as the part immediately under the head of the spike
I cause it to be widened out from a short distance under the head down to the
point so as to be wider than the said part immediately under the head thus
obtaining by reason of its extra width (but without adding materially to its weight)
a spike possessing still greater resistance to withdrawal from the sleeper and to the
tendency of the rails to spread under the rolling loads of heavy fast trains.
Figure 21 is a plan of the spike shown in Figure 20.
Figure 22 is a cross section of the said spike.
Figure 23 is a perspective view of another pattern of dog-spike, being similar to
that shown in Figure 20 except that it has two grooves in each of its broadest
faces terminating in gouge or shell like form in the tapering part of the sharp
chisel point instead of one groove in each.
Figure 24 is a plan of the spike shown in Figure 23.
Figure 25 is a cross section of the said spike.
Figure 26 is a perspective view of another pattern of spike to be used for
fastening railway rail-chairs to wooden railway sleepers. When spikes of this
pattern are used, the spike holes of the chair are made of rectangular form to
correspond to the cross section of the neck of the spike.
Figure 27 is an elevation of the spike illustrated in Figure 26 showing the narrow
side of the spike and the side of the sharp chisel point.
Figure 28 is a plan of one of the broadest grooved faces and of the sharp chisel
point of the spike illustrated in Figure 26.
Figure 29 is a cross section of the said spike.
Figure 30 is a perspective view of another pattern of spike, for fastening down
Hat-bottomed rails to their wooden sleepers.
Figure 31 is an elevation of the spike illustrated in Figure 30 showing the
narrow side of the spike and the side of the sharp chisel point.
Figure 32 is a plan of one of the broadest grooved faces and of the sharp chisel
point of the spike shewn in Figure 30.
Figure 33 is a cross section of the said spike.

page_text: Figure 34 comprises a series of examples of cross sections and plans of grooves
and sharp chisel points of spikes, tent pegs, nails, and the like, all constructed
according to my invention.
'
Figure 35 shews one form of a tent or tethering peg constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 36 is a side elevation of the tent or tethering peg shown in Figure 35.
Figures 37 and 38 shew alternative forms of cross sections of the said tent or
tethering peg
The
Figure 39 is another form of a tent or tethering peg constructed in a manner
similar to that shown in the chair-spike shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11.
advantage of the deep round neck in this application is that the peg can have a
ring fitting the neck of the peg closely and attached loosely or otherwise to the
usual tethering ring fitted thereupon thus leaving the head of the peg quite free
from any obstruction to driving.
Figure 40 is a side elevation of the tent or tethering peg shewn in Figure 39.
Figure 41 is a cross section of the said peg, shewing the direction of the tethering
pull.
Figure 42 is a perspective view of an ordinary railway rail chair shewing the
slots or grooves d to be formed in the sides of the spike-holes for the purpose
mentioned under the brief description of Figure 9.
Figure 42 is a plan of a railway rail chair shewing the usual round trenail
holes and the slots or grooves d, d above referred to.
Figure 43 is a plan of a railway rail chair showing the rectangular spike holes e, e
and the usual round trenail holes when the same is intended to be fastened
down to the sleeper with the usual trenails and my improved broad rectangular
"grooved or sharp chisel pointed chair spike as shown in Figures 26, 27, 28
and 29.
::
Figure 44 is a plan of Ibbotson's railway rail-chair formed with rectangular spike
holes e, e, and the usual round trenail holes in order that my improved broad
rectangular "grooved and sharp chisel pointed chair spike" as shown in Figures 26,
27, 28 and 29 may be used in combination therewith.
It will be observed that in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and in Figures 16, 17 and 18
four grooves are provided upon the spike, although of course only two can be seen
in the perspective views, and that there are eight side cutting edges c, e in the
spike shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and four side cutting edges c, c in the spike
shown in Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 along the whole length of the grooves.
These edges may in some instances be made sharper by grinding and hardening
or tempering, or by case-hardening. In Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 only two grooves are
provided upon the spike, thus giving four side cutting edges instead of eight as in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4. In Figures 13, 14, and 15, but one groove A and two
cutting edges c, care provided; these edges may be made sharper by grinding and
hardening or tempering, or by case-hardening.
d, d Figures 42 and 42 are the grooves or slots to be formed in and beyond the
circumference of the spike holes in the railway chair when it is found desirable to
use the form of chair spike shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12. e, e Figure 44 are
the rectangular spike holes to be formed in railway rail-chairs when it is found
desirable to fasten the chairs to the sleepers with the form of chair spike shown in
Figures 26, 27, 28 and 29.
Spikes or the like formed according to my invention have the advantage of
offering much greater resistance to the tendency the rails have to spread under the
rolling loads of heavy fast trains than those spikes heretofore in common use,
which advantage arises from the fact that a much greater surface is presented when
in use to the plane of greatest resistance. The gauge of the rails is thus much
better preserved.
Moreover my improved spikes and the like have also the advantge of possessing
much greater holding power that is to say much greater resistance to being with-

page_text: drawn than those spikes heretofore in common use. This advantage arises from
the fact that in the act of driving home the spike, in a sleeper for example, the
fibre of the wood having been cleanly and truly cut directly across the grain as
distinguished from fractured torn and bruised, as is the consequence of using those
spikes heretofore in common use and the said fibres having been slightly and
uniformly curved downward or inward by the sharp chisel point of the spike,
assisted by the cutting edges of the grooves, the ends of the said fibres so curved
bear upon the broadest faces of the spike and being tightly compressed within the
grooves when driven home act by reason of their ratchet teeth like position to
prevent withdrawal.
Another advantage peculiar to chair-spikes made according to my invention is
that they dispense with the serious cost and necessity for previously boring holes
in the wooden sleeper for receiving the spikes. The use of my said improved spike
thus effects an economy of time and labour and tools.
In addition to all the above mentioned advantages acquired by the use of this
invention a further advantage is secured owing to the fact that a much larger
number of these improved spikes may be made out of one ton of material than is
possible with ordinary spikes of the same length. My invention therefore not
only provides a more efficient spike, but it follows also that the freight per 1000
spikes for supplying my improved spike to foreign countries will be much less than
with spikes as heretofore constructed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. A spike, nail, tent-peg, or the like having the area of one or more of its
surfaces increased by the formation therein of grooves, depressions, corrugations,
or the like, for the purpose above specified.
Second. A spike, nail, tent-peg, or the like having a tapering portion ending in
a sharp chisel point, and a longitudinal groove or grooves in one or more of its
surfaces, said groove or grooves ending in gouge or shell like form in the tapering
portion, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. A. spike, nail, tent-peg or the like, so grooved or corrugated longitudinally,
that the angles of its cross section constitute cutting edges, substantially as
described.
Fourth. A spike having a tapering portion ending in a sharp chisel point, a
round neck, and grooves extending from such neck to the said tapering portion,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. A spike having a round neck and having the remainder of its shank of a
rectangular form or nearly so, and of the same width as, but of less thickness than,
the neck, and ending in a tapering sharp chisel point, with a longitudinal groove
in each of the broadest surfaces of the rectangular portion only, said grooves ending
in gouge or shell-like form in the tapering portion, substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
Sixth. A spike having a round neck, and having the remainder of its length of
a rectangular form, or nearly so, the thickness of which is less than that of the
neck, and spread out from the bottom of the neck downwards so as to be wider
throughout the whole length of its rectangular part than at its neck, and ending in
a tapering sharp chisel point with one or more longitudinal grooves in the said wide
rectangular portion only, said grooves ending in gouge or shell-like form in the
tapering portion, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Seventh. A spike or the like having a rectangular neck and a tapering portion
ending in a sharp chisel point, and having the remainder of its shank spread out so
that it is thinner and wider than the neck, with one or more longitudinal grooves
in the widened part of the shank, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Eighth. A tethering peg having a round neck and a tapering portion ending in a
sharp chisel point, and having the remainder of its shank spread out so that it is

page_text: thinner and wider than the neck, with one or more longitudinal grooves in the
widened part of the shank, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of February 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.