IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR MANUFACTURING AND FINISHING RIVETS, SPIKES, HEADED PINS FOR SCREWS AND BOLTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS, PARTS OF THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR STAMPING OR PUNCHING ARTICLES REQUIRING A HOLE OR INDENT.” PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edmeston, Engineer, at Messieurs
Charles de Bergue and Company's, Strangeways Iron Works, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR MANUFACTURING AND FINISHING RIVETS,
SPIKES, HEADED PINS FOR SCREWS AND BOLTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS,
PARTS OF THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR STAMPING OR
PUNCHING ARTICLES REQUIRING A HOLE OR INDENT.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edmeston at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th December 1872.
I, THOMAS EDMESTON, Engineer, at Messieurs Oharles de Bergue and
• Company's, Strangeways Iron Works, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR MANUFACTURING AND FINISHING RIVETS,
SPIKES, HEADED PINS FOR SCREWS AND BOLTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS,

page_text: PARTS OF THE SAME BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR STAMPING OR
PUNCHING ARTICLES REQUIRING A HOLE OR INDENT," to be as follows:-
In the improved machinery for manufacturing rivets, spikes, headed
pins for screws and bolts, and other similar fasteners, there is a strong
frame with bearings carrying a hollow die shaft or cylinder, having
outside the frame an enlarged part or die stock, in which there are four
or other desired number of holes passing from the periphery to the
centre at equal distances apart, and the outer ends of the holes are
enlarged to receive steel or other metal dies, the ends of which project
a short distance beyond the periphery of the die stock, and are slightly
conical, and each die has a hole for the reception of the metal of which
the rivets or bolts are to be formed. In the centre of the die shaft there
is a stationary shaft having an eccentric shaped end in line with and
under the centre of the dies, and through a hole in the length of this
eccentric shaft is fitted a bolt or rod having a wedge-shaped part
at the eccentric end of the shaft, and a screw or nut at the other end;
and at or nearly the lowest part of the eccentric there is a cavity
extending to the wedge-shaped part. Into this cavity is fitted a corre-
sponding wedge shape piece or packing, the outer surface of which is of
a circular form corresponding or nearly so with the curve or surface of
the eccentric, and so arranged that by the act of screwing on or off the
nut at the end of the bolt or rod this wedge shape piece or packing will
be elevated or depressed.
In the small diameters of the holes in the die stock are placed steel
blocks of such length and diameter that they shall slide freely between
the bottom of the dies and the eccentric, the steel blocks having holes
of the required depth, in which are placed the heads of steel pins or
studs, the smaller parts or shanks of such pins passing into the holes in
the dies, the pins being of the required length and diameter suitable to
the length of the bolts or rivets to be made.
At the side of the frame there is a cutter having a hole of suitable
size to admit the iron or other metal bars freely into the dies, the cutter
being so arranged as to touch the face of the dies as they pass it.
Above the die shaft there is a sliding ram, the lower end of which is
recessed to receive a steel sliding centreing bush projecting a short
distance below the end of the ram, the projecting end of the bush being
bell-mouthed, curved, or inclined to correspond with the conical end of
the dies, and through a hole in the length, and in the centre of the bush.

page_text: is fitted a steel heading cup, which is firmly secured in the sliding ram
above the centreing bush. That part of the sliding ram into which the
centreing bush is fitted is recessed to receive a spiral or volute spring
around the steel heading cup, the centreing bush being secured in the
sliding ram by a pin passing through the ram, and partially through one
side of the centreing bush, such part being cut away to allow the bush
to slide into the ram to the required distance.
The sliding motion of the ram is obtained by a crank, eccentric, or
lever driven by a wheel and pinion in connection with a fly wheel
actuated by a strap or by a separate engine. The die shaft has an
intermittent motion revolving one-fourth or other portion of a revolution,
according to the number of dies in the dic stock, the motion being
given by a ratchet or pawl, quadrant, crank, or other well-known
contrivance.
In order to form rivets, spikes, headed pins for screw, bolts, and othor
fasteners a heated bar is passed through the hole in the cutter into one
of the dies, and pressed against the regulating pin or stud which deter-
mines the length of iron to be cut off at the movement of the die shaft,
the die and cutter being in contact, which movement also brings the die
containing the piece of heated bar from a horizontal to a vertical
position. The sliding ram then descends, and the steel centreing bush
encircles the conical end of the die drawing and at the same time
securely fixing the die concentric to the heading cup, which at this part
of its stroke is barely in contact with the cut off piece of the heated bar;
and as the ram continues its downward motion the heading cup is forced
upon the heated metal, and the head is formed, the heading cup being
now in contact with the top or face of the die, and the spring above the
centreing bush compressed. At this time a second die is opposite the
hole in the cutter, and if the heated bar is again forced forward into the
die another shank or length of the heated bar will be cut off at the next
movement of the die shaft, at which time the steel block and pin below
the die will be forced by the gradual increasing elevation of the eccentric
outwards to the ends of the dies, the pin being in contact with the
rivet, bolt, spike, or pin will force it out of the die, the die being then
ready to receive another shank or piece of heated bar upon its arrival at
the face of the cutter.
To fin or dress the heads of the rivets, spikes, headed pins, or other
articles. I remove some parts of the machine before described, and

page_text: supply their places with others, or I employ a separate machine; but in
either case there is a horizontal die shaft having a hole through its
diameter of sufficient size to allow the head of the largest rivet or other
article to be operated upon to pass through it freely, and the upper part
of the hole is enlarged to receive a steel die of the same diameter as the
head when finned or dressed, the die shaft having an oscillating motion
at each revolution of a crank or cam. Above the die shaft in line with
the die there is a sliding ram recessed at its lower end to receive a
sliding centreing bush, also recessed or bell-mouthed at its outer end to
admit the head of the rivet or article to the extent of its fin or frill, and
through the centreing bush there is a hole to receive a punching or
forcing pin fixed to the ram, and having its outer end slightly concave
or recessed, and around the punching pin there is a spiral or volute
spring. At the front of the die shaft, in line with the centre of the die,
there is an inclined shoot or slide to guide the rivet or bolt into the dic
when the oscillating die shaft shall cause the top of the die to be pre-
sented to it.
When a rivet or bolt with its point downwards is placed in the inclined
shoot it will slide to the die shaft, which as it oscillates will bring the
die opposite the end of the rivet or article so that it can slide into the
die the length of its shank. As the die shaft recedes the die and rivet
or other article will be brought into a vertical position, at which position
there is a dwell or rest to allow the sliding ram to complete its downward
motion, and the bell mouth of the lower end of the centreing bush is
pressed upon the head of the rivet, thereby drawing or forcing and at
the same time retaining it in a position concentric with the hole in the
die, the die and centreing bush being also concentric to each other at
this time. The punching or forcing pin in this position has barely
come into contact with the upper part of the head, but as the sliding
ram continues its downward motion the centreing bush is forced into the
recess above, and the spiral or volute spring being in contact is com-
pressed, and as the punching or forcing pin is rigid the rivet or other
article is forced through the die and the fin or frill is cut off.
At the retreating motion of the sliding ram the cam gives a return
motion to the die shaft, and the fin or frill which remained upon the
die comes in contact with one or more scrapers, by which means it is
forced or lifted off the die as the latter returns to its first position, when

page_text: it again receives another rivet or other article as before, which operation.
is repeated at every stroke of the machine.
Rivets or other articles may however be finned or dressed by this
machine without the reciprocating motion, or without the inclined shoot,
or without either by the attendant placing the shanks of the rivets or
pins by hand into the die at the time of the upward motion of the sliding
ram, and it is not necessary for the attendant to place the rivet or bolt in
the centre of the die, as the centreing bush performs that part of the
operation with the greatest precision and accuracy, inasmuch as it is
perfectly rigid at all sides, and sliding only in a vertical direction when
coming in contact with the outer edges of the head of the article operated
upon, and also that only one cutting die is required for each size or form
of head.
In the manfacture of washers, plates, blocks, or other articles requiring
holes or indents either central or at any other place, I use a centreing or
guiding bush in connecting with the punch or stamp, the internal part
of the bush determining the position of the hole or indent, the bush
being pressed upon the article by a spring.
-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Edmeston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
EDMESTON, Engineer, at Messieurs Charles de Bergue and Company's,
Strangeways Iron Works, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Edmeston, Her special license
that I, the said Thomas Edmeston, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Edmeston, 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

page_text: 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 USED FOR MANUFACTURING AND FINISHING RIVETS, SPIKES, HEADED
PINS FOR SCREWS AND BOLTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR FASTENERS, PARTS OF THE SAME
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR STAMPING OR PUNCHING ARTICLES
REQUIRING A HOLE OR INDENT," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Thomas Edmeston, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Edmeston, 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 Figures on the
accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters of reference
marked thereon (that is to say) :-
On Sheet 1 Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the improvements I apply
to machinery for manufacturing rivets, spikes, headed pins for screws
and bolts, and other similar fasteners.
On Sheet 2 Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side elevations of my improved
machinery for finning or dressing the heads of rivets, bolts, spikes, or
headed pins; and Fig. 4 on Sheet 1 is an enlarged section of part of the
same.
In a strong frame there are bearings carrying a hollow die shaft or
cylinder having outside the frame an enlarged part or die stock a, Fig. 1,
in which there are four or other desired number of holes passing from
the periphery to the centre at equal distances apart, and the outer ends
of the holes are enlarged to receive steel or other metal dies 6, the ends
of which project a short distance beyond the periphery of the die stock
and are slightly conical, and each die has a hole for the reception of the
metal of which the rivets or bolts are to be formed. In the centre of
the die shaft there is a stationary shaft having an eccentric shaped end
in line with and under the centre of the dies, and through a hole in the

page_text: length of this eccentric shaft is fitted a bolt or rod having a wedge
shaped part at the eccentric end of the shaft, and a screw or nut at the
other end, and at or nearly the lowest part of the eccentric there is a
cavity extending to the wedge-shaped part of the bolt or rod. Into this
cavity is fitted a corresponding wedge-shape piece or packing the outer
surface of which is of a circular form corresponding or nearly so with the
curve or surface of the eccentric, and so arranged that by the act of
screwing on or off the nut at the end of the bolt or rod, this wedge-shape
piece or packing will be elevated or depressed.
In the small diameters of the holes in the die stock are placed steel
blocks c of such length and diameter that they shall slide freely between
the bottom of the dies and the eccentric; the steel blocks having holes
of the required depth in which are placed the heads of steel pins or studs
d, the smaller parts or shanks of such pins passing into the holes in the
dies, the pins being of the required length and diameter suitable to the
length of the bolts or rivets to be made.
At the side of the frame there is a cutter having a hole of suitable size
to admit the iron or other metal bars freely into the dies, the cutter
being so arranged as to touch the face of the dies as they pass it. Above
the die shaft there is a sliding ram e, the lower end of which is recessed
to receive a steel sliding centering bushf projecting a short distance
below the end of the ram, the projecting end of the busk being bell
mouthed or curved or inclined to correspond with the conical end of the
dies, and through a hole in the length, and in the centre of the bush is
fitted a steel heading cup g which is firmly secured in the sliding ram
above the centering bushi. That part of the sliding ram into which the
centering bush is fitted is recessed to receive a spiral or volute spring h
around the steel heading cup. The centering bush being secured in the
sliding ram by a pin i passing through the ram and partially through
one side of the centering bush, such part being cut away to allow the
bush to slide within the ram to the required distance.
The sliding motion of the ram is obtained by a crank, eccentric, or
lever driven by a wheel and pinion in connection with a fly wheel
actuated by a strap or by a separate engine. The die shaft has an
intermittent motion revolving one-fourth or other portion of a revolution
according to the number of dies in the die stock, the motion being given
by intermittent wheels, a ratchet or pawl, quadrant, crank, or other well
known contrivance.

page_text: In order to form rivets, spikes, headed pins for screws, bolts, and other
fasteners, a heated bar is passed through the hole in the cutter into one
of the dies 6, and pressed against the regulating pin or stud d which
determines the length of iron to be cut off at the movement of the die
shaft, the die and cutter. being in contact, which movement also brings
the die containing the piece of heated bar from a horizontal to a vertical
position; the steel block c and pin d sliding upon the wedge-shape pack-
ing, the piece of heated bar cut off will be projected to the required dis-
tance above the face of the die to form the head of rivet, bolt, or spike.
The sliding ram then descends, and the steel centering bush fencircles
the conical end of the die b, drawing and at the same time securely
fixing the die 6 concentric to the heading cup g, which at this part of its
stroke is barely in contact with the cut off piece of the heated bar, and
as the ram continues its downward motion the heading cup is forced
upon the projecting heated metal and the head is formed, the heading cup
being now in contact with the top or face of the die, and the spring above
the centering bush compressed. At this time a second die is opposite
the hole in the cutter, and if the heated bar is again forced forward
into the die another shank or length of heated bar will be cut off at
the next movement of the die shaft, at which time the steel block and
pin below the die also will be forced by the gradual increasing elevation
of the eccentric outward to the ends of the dies; the pin being in contact
with the rivet, bolt, spike, or pin will force it out of the die, the die
being then ready to receive another shank or piece of heated bar upon
its arrival at the face of the cutter; or the heated bar may be cut into
the required lengths by a separate cutter actuated by the same or
another machine and afterwards placed into the dies by an attendant; in
so doing the wedge-shaped rod and packing will be dispensed with, the
fixed eccentric being required only to force out the rivets, bolts, or
spikes when finished.
To fin or dress the heads of the rivets, spikes, headed pins, or other
articles, I remove some of the parts of the machine before described, and
supply their places with others, or I employ a separate machine, as
shewn in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, but in either case there is a horizontal die
shaft / having a hole through its diameter of sufficient size to allow the
head of the largest rivet or other article to be operated upon to pass
through it freely, and the upper part of the hole is enlarged to receive
a steel die m of the same internal diameter as the head when finned or

page_text: dressed, the die shaft having an oscillating motion at each revolution of
a crank or cam n; above the die shaft in line with the die there is a
sliding ram o recessed at its lower end to receive a sliding centering
busk p, also recessed or bell mouthed at its outer end to admit the head
of the rivet or article to the extent of its fin or frill; and through the
centering bush there is a hole to receive a punching or forcing pin q
fixed to the ram and having its outer end slightly concave or recessed;
and around the punching pin above the centering bush there is a
spiral or volute spring r; and the rivets or bolts are placed with
their shanks into the die m at that part of the oscillation of the die
shaft when the face of the die is outwards, as shewn in Figs. 2
and 3.
As the die shaft recedes the die and rivet or other article will be brought
into a vertical position, at which position there is a dwell or rest to allow
the sliding ram o to complete its downward motion, and the bell mouth
of the lower end of the centering bush is pressed upon the head of the
rivet, thereby drawing or forcing and at the same time retaining it in a
position concentric with the hole in the die m, the die and centering
bush being also concentric to each other at this time. The punching or
forcing pin 9 in this position has barely come into contact with the upper
part of the head, but as the sliding ram continues its downward motion
the centering bush is forced into the recess above, and the spiral or
volute spring being in contact is compressed, and as the punching or
forcing pin is rigid the rivet or other article is forced through the die,
and the fin or frill is cut off. At the retreating motion of the sliding
ram the crank or cam gives a return motion to the die shaft,.and it
returns to its first position, when it again receives another rivet or other
article as before, which operation is repeated at every stroke of the
machine.
Rivets or other articles may however be finned or dressed by this
machine without the reciprocating motion by the attendant placing the
shanks of the rivets or pius into the die at the time of the upward

page_text: head of the article operated upon, and also that only one cutting die is
required for each size or form of head.
In the manufacture of washers, plates, blocks, or other articles
requiring holes or indents either central or at any other place, I use a
centering or guiding bush in connection with the punch or stamp, the
internal part of the bush determining the position of the hole or indent,
the bush being pressed upon the article by a spring.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be
understood that in machinery used for manufacturing and finishing
rivets, spikes, headed pins for screws, bolts, and other similar fasteners,
and for stamping or punching articles requiring holes or indents, I
claim,―
First. The use of a centering bush for adjusting and retaining the die
and heading cup concentric to each other when used for making rivets,
bolts, spikes, and headed pius, as described and shewn in Fig. 1, Sheet 1,
or any modification thereof."
Secondly. The use of a centering bush for adjusting and retaining the
heads of rivets, bolts, spikes, and headed pins concentric to the die or
cutter used for finning or dressing the heads of the same, as described
and shewn in Fig. 4, Sheet 1, or any modification thereof.
And, thirdly. The use of a centering or guiding bush for centering or
guiding and retaining washers, plates, blocks, or other articles in any
required position during the operation of punching or stamping the
same.
-
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edmeston, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.