Improvements in Apparatus for Heading Bolts, Rivets, or the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Heading Bolts, Rivets, or
the like.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES STEWART SEATON and JOHN AMBROSE
SEATON, of Cleveland, in the County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, United States
of America, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The objects of this invention are to reduce the cost of heading bolts and like
articles, to make the head thereof uniformly of the desired shape and size, and to
improve the quality and strength of the finished article.
In most practical bolt-heading machines, the head is formed by upsetting the end
of a heated rod, and then giving to this upset end its required configuration by a
series of blows or compressions, successively delivered by mechanically moved
hammers or pressure dies. With some machines, it is also necessary that a skilled
operator shall turn the rod to just the proper extent during the interval between the
successive blows, in order that the head may be made square, hexagonal, or in any
other desired shape. The successive blows or compressions delivered to the rapidly
cooling iron tend to crystallise it and destroy its fibre, and many bolts made in this
manner are imperfect. The employment of skilled labour also adds to the cost of the
bults, and even such workmen are unable to turn the rod, in the machine where it is
required, with such accuracy at all times as to make the heads uniformly of the
desired shape.
By the use of the invention hereinafter described, those and other objectionable
features are done away with, and the head is formed automatically by a single blow
and uniformly in the desired shape. The invention relates to the dies employed for
forming the bolt head. It consists of a female die having a socket of the shape and
size of the head to be formed in all respects except that it is deeper than the thickness
of said head, which socket is provided with outwardly heveled outer edges; and a
male die having substantially the same cross sectional area and configuration, and
having an orifice which occupies the same position relative to said die that the bolt
body will occupy with respect to the head formed thereon.
The shape and size in cross section of the male die are substantially that of the
bolt head which is to be formed. An orifice passes through the die in a position
relative thereto exactly like the position which the body of the bolt is to occupy
relative to its head. The head of a bolt is generally placed centrally on the body, and
the orifice is therefore generally in the centre of the die, and will be so described.
The die described is designed to make a square head upon the bolt body, but any
form of head may be formed with properly shaped dies. The die is described as
split into two parts, but it may as well be in a single piece, if the machine in which
it is to be used requires it. The die proper is also in this instance formned on a
block of metal and integral with it, but this is only desirable for the purpose of
reinforcing and strengthening the die, and for making it more convenient to work
with.
It is provided
The female die in this art is generally called the heading tool.
with a socket, which is slightly deeper than the thickness of the bolt head to be
formed in it, and the edges of said socket are beveled outward for the purposes
hereinafter mentioned. Otherwise it is of substantially the same shape and size as
the male die, and of such a shape and size that it will slide smoothly over the same.

page_text: My correspondents are aware that a heading tool of substantially the shape of the
head to be formed has been employed to upset the ends of the metal rod in rivet
machines and also that attempts have been made to form bolt heads in a similar
manner but these dies bave, in most cases, crowded the metal against the flat face
of a die, thereby forming almost invariably a fin of metal between the meeting
surfaces of the header tool and the flat face of the die. This fin on a rivet is not
very objectionable, but it is of great importance that it should not be present on a
bolt head. With the improved dies, above described, the bolt head is formed, by a
single blow, perfect and uniform in shape and without any fin whatever. These dies
are also applicable to use in machines for making rivets, and other similar articles.
My correspondents are also aware of a United States Patent, No. 83,377, granted
October 27, 1868, to Robert Gracey, and, therefore, do not desire that their invention
shall be construed to include dies therein shown and described.
The improved dies differ from the dies shown in said patent in two important
particulars, which aro material to the successful practical operation thereof in modern
bolt-making machines, and which enable a bolt to be made with them of uniform
size. The improved die differs first in the omission of the die blocks, which surround
the male die, shown in said patent, which die blocks are stated in the patent to be
and, as a matter of fact arc, essential features of said die; and second, to the
provision of the beveled outer edges of the socket of the female die. One purpose
of the die blocks shown in the Gracey patent above mentioned is to so guide the
movable die that the male die shall accurately enter the socket in the female die, but
the employment of these die blocks, while useful for the above named purpose, is in
other respects objectionable, and renders said dies unfit for use in the rapidly acting
modern bolt-making machines, because all of the heat of the rod being headed is
enclosed, and the die soon becomes hot. Were not some means provided for
introducing water or some other cooling medium at each stroke of said dics, they would
quickly become inoperative, and this necessary use of water would make the process
of making bolts with said Gracey dies far slower than the rate at which modern bolt-
making machines commonly operate, and at which they must operate in order that
their product may compete in cost with the products of other machines.
The accurate entrance of the male die into the socket of the female die is, in the
present case, secured by means of the beveled outer edges of said socket. These
dies are not enclosed, and are not, therefore, as quickly heated. If the circumstances
require it, they may be kept sufficiently cool by a stream of running water, which in
no wise interferes with the rapidity or continuity of their action. Moreover, these
beveled edges of the socket of the female die are the features of construction whereby
bolt heads, of any number and of substantially the same size, may be made. When
the female die begins its movement toward the male die, in which the hot rod is
being held, the rod is upset, and the metal spreads. If some of the metal spreads
outside of the socket aforesaid either because the metal at that point is softer, or
because the rod is bent, or for any other reason, the end of the male die will push
said metal back, up the beveled edges into the socket, until the same is completely
filled. If there is any excess of metal, it is sheared off as the die enters that part
of the socket above said beveled edges. The male die should move past the beveled
part of the socket, perhaps one-thirty-second of an inch, and this compress the
enclosed metal. With the dies shown in the Gracey patent above mentioned, any
metal which spreads outside the socket is not pushed back, but is sheared off, and
there is therefore no certainty that the same amount of metal will be enclosed within
said socket at all times, and, to obtain heads of perfect form with said dies, the male
die must be crowded into the socket as far as it will go, and, consequently, the
thickness of the head will vary as the amount of metal enclosed within the socket
varies.
Dated this 24th day of March 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Heading Bolts, Rivets, or
the like.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES STEWART SEATON and JOHN AMBROSE
SEATON, of Cleveland, in the County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, United
States of America, Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.1.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester hoth
in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer 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 :-
The objects of this invention are to reduce the cost of heading bolts, and like
articles, to make the head thereof uniformly of the desired shape and size, and to
improve the quality and strength of the finished article.
In most practical bolt-heading machines, the head is formed by upsetting the end
of a heated rod, and then giving to this upset end its required configuration by a
series of blows or compressions successively delivered by mechanically noved
hammers or pressure dies. With some machines it is also necessary that a skilled
operator shall turn the rod to just the proper extent during the interval between the
successive blows, in order that the head may be made square, hexagonal, or in any
other desired shape. The successive blows or compressions delivered to the rapidly
cooling iron tend to crystallise it and destroy its fibre, and many bolts made in this
manner are imperfect. The employment of skilled labor also adds to the cost of the
bolts, and even such workmen are unable to turn the rod in the machine where it is
required with such accuracy at all times as to make the heads uniformly of the
desired shape
By the use of the invention hereinafter described those and other objectionable
features are done away with, and the head is formed automatically by a single blow
and uniformly in the desired shape. The invention relates to the dies employed for
forming the bolt head. It consists of a female die, having a socket of the shape and
size of the head to be formed, in all respects, except that it is deeper than the
thickness of said head, which socket is provided with outwardly bevelled outer edges,
and a male die, having substantially the same cross sectional area and configuration,
and having an orifice which occupies the same position relative to said die, that the
bolt body will occupy with respect to the head formed thereon.
Referring to the drawings-
Figure 1 is a side view of the female die shown partly in section.
Figure 2 is a side view of the male die.
Figure 3 is an end view of the latter, and
Figure is an end view of the former.
Referring to the parts by letters-
A represents the male die. Its shape and size in cross section are substantially
that of the bolt head which is to be formed. An orifice a passes through the die in
a position relative thereto, exactly like the position which the body of the bolt is to
occupy relative to its head. The head of a bolt is generally placed centrally on the
body, and the orifice a is therefore generally in the centre of the die and is so shown.
The die shown is designed to make a square head upon the holt body, but any form
of head may be formed with properly shaped dies. The drawing shows the die A
split into two parts, but it may as well be in a single piece, if the machine in which
it is to be used requires it. The die proper is also shown formed on a block of metal
and integral with it, but this is only desirable for the purpose of re-inforcing and
strengthening the die, and for making it more convenient to work with.
The die B is a female die, and in this art is generally called the heading tool.

page_text: head to be formed in it, and the edges of said socket are bevelled outward for tho
purposes hereinafter mentioned. Otherwise it is of substantially the same shape and
size as the male die, and of such a shape and size that it will slide smoothly over the
die A.
My correspondents are aware that a heading tool of substantially the shape of the
head to be formed has been employed to upset the ends of the metal rod in rivet
machines, and also that attempts have been made to form bolt heads in a similar
manner, but these dies have in most cases crowded the metal against the flat face of
a die, thereby forming almost invariably a fin of metal between the meeting surfaces
of the header tool and the flat face of the die. This fin on a rivet is not very
objectionable, but it is of great importance that it should not be present on a bolt
head. With the improved dies, above described, the bolt head is formed, by a single
blow, perfect and uniform in shape, and without any fin whatever. These dies aro
also applicable to use in machines for making rivets, and other similar articles.
My correspondents are also aware of a United States Patent No. 83,377, granted
October 27, 1868 to Robert Gracey, and therefore do not desire that their claim shall
be construed to include dies therein shown and described.
The improved dies differ from the dies shown in said patent in two important
particulars, which are material to the successful practical operation thereof in modern
bolt making machines, and which enable a bolt to be made with them of uniform
size. The improved die differs first in the omission of the die blocks which
surround the male die, shown in said patent, which die blocks are stated in the patent
to be, and as a matter of fact are, essential features of said die, and second, to the
provision of the bevelled outer edges of the socket of the female die. One purpose
of the die blocks shown in the Gracey patent above mentioned, is to so guide the
movable die, that the male die shall accurately enter the socket in the female die, but
the employment of these die blocks, while useful for the above named purpose is in
other respects objectionable, and renders said dies unfit for use in the rapidly acting
modern bolt making machines because all of the heat of the rod being headed is
enclosed, and the dies soon become hot. Were not some means provided for
introducing water, or some other cooling medium at each stroke of said dies, they
would quickly become inoperative, and this necessary use of water would make the
process of making bolts with said Gracey dies far slower than the rate at which
modern bolt making machines commonly operate, and at which they must operate in
order that their product may compete in cost with the products of other machines.
The accurate entrance of the male die into the socket of the female die is in the
present case secured by means of the bevelled outer edges of said socket. These dies
are not enclosed and are not therefore as quickly heated. If the circumstances
require it, they may be kept sufficiently cool by a stream of running water which in
no wise interferes with the rapidity or continuity of their action. Moreover, these
bevelled edges of the socket of the female die are the features of construction
whereby bolt heads of any number and of substantially the same size may be made.
When the female die begins its movement toward the male die in which the hot rod is
being held, the rod is upset, and the metal spreads. If some of the metal spread
outside of the socket aforesaid, either because the metal at that point is softer, or
because the rod is bent, or for any other reason, the end of the male die will push
said metal back, up the bevelled edges into the socket until the same is completely
filled. If there is any excess of metal it is sheared off as the die enters that part of
the socket above said bevelled edges. The male die should move past the bevelled
part of the socket, perhaps one-thirty-second of an inch, and thus compress the
enclosed metal. With the dies shown in the Gracey patent above mentioned, any
metal which spreads outside the socket is not pushed back, but is sheared off and
there is therefore no certainty that the same amount of metal will be enclosed within
said socket at all times, and to obtain heads of perfect form with said dies, the male
die must be crowded into the socket as far as it will go, and consequently the
thickness of the head will vary as the amount of metal enclosed within the socket
varies.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :--
The herein described dies for bolt heading and other similar machines, which
consist of a female die provided with a socket, the outward edges of which are
bevelled outward, said socket inside said bevelled part being of the same shape and
size as the bolt head to be formed therein, except that it is slightly deeper than the
thickness of said bolt head; and a male die adapted to enter said socket and fit
snugly therein, provided with an orifice, which occupies a position relative thereto,
similar to the position which the bolt body occupies relative to its head in a finished
bolt.
Dated ibis 20th day of September 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.