IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS, SPIKES, AND NAILS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EZRA
JENKS COATES, of Bread Street, Cheapside, in the City of London, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the First day of June, and thirteenth of Her reign, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Ezra Jenks Coates,
Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Ezra Jenks Coates, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Ezra Jenks Coates, my exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOLTS, SPIKES, AND
NAILS," partly communicated to me by a certain Foreigner residing abroad,
and partly my own Invention; in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso that I, the said Ezra Jenks Coates, should cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Ezra Jenks Coates, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon.

page_text: PRELIMINARY to the DESCRIPTION of the DRAWINGS to enable a Workman the
more readily to understand the Machine herein-after to be described.
I think it proper to state in what form I use the iron out of which I fashion
the bolts, spikes, or nails. The commonest description of fender plate or strip
iron I find will produce a nail or spike possessing all the malleable properties
of the best hand-hammered nail, and I prepare the same for the machine in
the following manner :-I take a strip or fender plate of iron, of a guage
suitable for the weight and size of the nail, spike, or bolt required, and cut
the same in a common cutting machine in lengths about one-eighth of an inch
less than the nails, spikes, or bolts intended to be made, and then heat the
same (an ordinary white heat) in, a small furnace, which, having been done,
the plates are continuously and regularly fed by hand tongs into the machine
in that part of it which will be herein after-particularly described, each plate
producing a regular number of bolts, spikes, or nails, corresponding with the
width of the plate, and according to the guage and weight of nail, spike, or
bolt required. It will be observed, by this process of cutting the iron into
short plates across or transversely with the grain, and then feeding the same
into the machine in a line with the grain, I retain all the natural malleable
properties of the rolled iron, and add greater malleability thereto by an
additional and peculiar process of rolling herein-after to be described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents an elevation of the machine on the driving side. The
frame is of iron and cast in one piece; in the front it is cast in the shape of
two columns, and in the form of one at the back, the top and bottom of the
frame at the back being circular. The object of this peculiar form is to give
freedom in the working parts of the machine in front, and lightness and
strength throughout. The letters a, repeated on the four sides, shew the outline
or frame of the machine. is the loose rigger or pulley running upon the
crank c, upon which is also fixed the driving pulley d. This pulley d is con-
nected in the usual manner to a driving.shaft by an endless band or strap giving
motion to the crank and to all the working parts of the machine, which I now
proceed particularly to describe. e is a spiral motion fixed upon the fly-wheel
d, which works a lever f, connecting with a small undershaft g, giving motion
to a bell-crank lever h, which regulates the feed, moving to and fro, and keeping
a constant and regular pressure upon the plate of iron by means of a weight i
attached at the bottom. j is a rod that gives support to the bell-crank lever
whilst the plates of iron are successively fed into the machine. is a connecting
rod which supports a small frame, which I call a roll head, as shewn by the

page_text: dotted lines. . is a steel roll proportioned to the guage of the nail, spike, or
bolt intended to be made, and is slightly concave. m is a metal jointed plate,
which I term a shape, as it gives the form of the nail, spike, or bolt, which
form can be varied at pleasure by means of three regulating screws marked n
respectively. The shape m works against a friction shoe o, which again acts
directly upon the roll head 7, and thus gives the required form to the nail, spike,
or bolt. p is a cast-iron frame supporting the shape m, and is attached to the
bottom of the machine marked a. 9 is a regulating tie bolt to regulate and to
support the cast-iron frame p. + is a forcing slide connecting with the con-
necting rod k by means of a regulating rod s, the office of which is to guide
that portion of iron cut off from the plate, and intended for the nail, spike, or
bolt, by means of cutting shears hereafter to be described, and to guage with
accuracy the quantity of iron necessary to form the head of the bolt, spike, or
nail. t is a wrought-iron support to the forcing slide r. u is a steel spring
connected by the rod v to the connecting rod k, keeping the rod k in its vertical
motion given by the crank c against the metal shape m. w is a wrought-iron
frame, as shewn by the dotted lines, containing a steel header, which may be
changed at will, to produce heads upon the bolts, spikes, or nails of various
forms, working in bearings, receiving its motion from the regulating
eccentric y on the crank.shaft c. z is a lever with a friction roller, receiving
its motion from the cam a 1, as shewn by dotted lines. a 2 is a regulating
spring working upon the top of lever z, keeping it in the path or travel of the
cam a 1. 1 is a set screw to regulate the pressure upon the spring a 2.,
6.2 is a binding bolt to fasten the cutting shear in the swinging head, both of
which will be described hereafter. c, 1, marked respectively, are two set screws
to advance swinging head. c 2 is an adjusting screw to bring the swinging
head back. d 1 is a steel spring acting upon the front shear, which will be
hereafter described.
.
Description of Figure 2.-Figure 2 is a front elevation. In proceeding
with this description I shall only notice such parts as are necessary to explain
the machine in its various details, omitting such as have been particularly
noticed in the preceding Figure; and this remark will apply to the description
in the subsequent Figures or representations of the machine and its parts, as
shewn in sections and detail, but corresponding letters to corresponding parts
will be preserved throughout. 2. is a regulating guide for the spring d 1.
e 1 is an adjusting screw for cutting shear in swinging head. e 2 is an
adjusting screw for the front shear f1. f 2 is an adjusting screw in
the swinging head to adjust the shear f1 to the exact guage required
for the iron to form the bolts, nails, or spikes. g1 shews the

page_text: front of the swinging head. g 2 is a wedge connecting with the lever z,
receiving its motion from the cam a 1, which wedge, working upward against
a back surface, forces the swinging head out of its natural or straight line,
thereby cutting the heated iron requisite for the nail, spike, or bolt, by means
of the cutting shear attached, which will be hereafter described.
h 1 is a
shear fixed to the frame of the machine by bolt h 2, and adjustable by means
of the set screw i 1.
Figure 3 is a front view of the machine with the crank shaft and eccentric,
omitted for the purpose of showing the position of the shears; the wrought
iron frame and small steel header in the position of heading a nail, bolt, or spike.
i 2 is an adjustable guide for the lower end of the forcing slide. j 1 is a small
header attached to the wrought-iron frame w by means of the two bolts or
screws 2, which are adjustable. The dotted lines in j 1 represent the head
of the nail, bolt, or spike, which form can be varied as may be wished.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the machine, shewing the roll head and
connecting rod k, and front die k 1, which is attached to the connecting rod k
by means of a small connecting rod k 2, passing through its motions to form
one portion of the head of the spike, bolt, or nail; the two screws, marked li
respectively, are for the purpose of adjusting the front die k 1 to the proper posi-
tion to form the portion of the head of the bolt, spike, or nail. 1 2 is a steel
forcing slide, as shewn by dotted lines, and receiving its motion from the bell-
crank lever h. m 1 is the feed box into which the heated iron is placed, and is
adjustable by two screws marked m 2 respectively. n1 is a steel spring, as
shown by dotted lines; the object of it is to keep the forcing slide 12 in its
position while at work.
n2 is an adjusting screw for the cast-iron frame p.
o 1 is two adjusting screws in the upper end of the front die k 1. o 2 is the
bearing for the lower end of front die k 1, which is adjustable. p 1 is
two bearings, marked respectively, for the shaft g.
Figure 5 is a Plan shewing the machine in its various details. p 2 is two
set screws, marked respectively, in the swinging head 9 1, for the purpose of
adjusting the cutting shear placed therein. g 1 is a steel spring connecting
the swinging head g 1 to the frame a by means of the bolts marked 2. 71
is a hole or chamber in the swinging head g 1, for the purpose of conveying
cold water through the shears during the process of cutting the hot plate of
iron, by which means they retain their natural temper. 2 is a leaf spring
connected to the swinging head g 1, to hold the same back in its straight or
natural position whilst the iron is entering between the shears for the purpose
of being cut. s1 is an adjustable plate, by means of the screw s 2 in the
swinging head
1, for the purpose of adjusting the space in the feed box m,

page_text: wherein the horizontal forcing slide 12 operates. T 1 is a wrought-iron guide
upon which the lever j rests to support the bell-crank lever h. t 2 is a set
screw through the frame for the purpose of adjusting the wedge g 2.
Figure 6 is a section of the three shears in their relative position when at
work; u 1 being the fixed cutting shear in the swinging head g 1, and
forming the back of the nail, bolt, or spike. 1 is the fixed shear in the
frame a against which the shear u 1 cuts the iron and forms one side of the
nail, bolt, or spike, the shear f 1 being a guide shear and forming a third side
to the nail, bolt, or spike, and is worked by the spring d 1, and is adjustable by
the screw f 2 and the screw e 2, to form the required guage and weight of the
nail. u2 is the space through which the roll works, forming the fourth side
of the nail, bolt, or spike. v 1 is the steel cutting edge of the shears, as
sectioned, fixed to the wrought-iron shears marked h 1, 1, and f1. The
mode of fastening here represented is by rivets, but I do not confine myself to
rivets, as the same may be screwed or welded on, or may be made entirely of
steel or iron.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the shears, corresponding to Figure 6.
Figure 8 is the front view of the frame I term the roll head, containing the
steel roll . Figure 9 is a side view of the frame I term a roll head. v 2
(marked respectively) is two steel cheeks between which the roller freely
works on a small fulcrum pin. Figure 10 is a section of the frame I term the
roll head, shewing the space w 1 wherein the roll cheeks v2 freely work.
w 2
is a small spiral wire spring acting constantly on the back of the roll cheeks
v2, and by its operation upon the roll cheeks and the roll, it presses the roll
forward against the piece of iron about to be forged or worked, and thus keeps
it in its proper position until the operation of rolling the point and moulding
the head are accomplished, when the finished nail, spike, or bolt, by its own
gravity, falls beneath into a perforated shoot or guide, through which the
water from the working parts of the machine rapidly escapes, and leaves the
nail, spike, or bolt gradually to cool, and thus to retain the bloom of the iron.
Figure 11 is a plan of the frame which I term the roll head, shewing an
aperture 1, through which a stream of cold water is constantly flowing
when the machine is in operation, and passing between the roll cheeks v2,
keeping the roll constantly cold, thereby retaining its natural temper.
It
will be observed that as the roll / freely revolves upon the fulcrum pin between
the cheeks v2, that a fresh surface is constantly being presented to the hot
iron in the process of rolling, thereby preventing any alirasion, and thus
causing the wear of the roll to be uniform, and to remain still perfectly circular,
as originally inserted.

page_text: Figure 12 is the front view of the swinging-head 9 1, wherein the shear u 1
is fixed.
Figure 13 is an elevation of the lever z, to which is attached the wedge
piece g 2. x2 is a friction roller working in the lever z upon the cam a 1,
which prevents abrasion, and enables the cam a 1 to retain the proper
surface first given to it. The peculiar form of the cam a 1 causes the wedge
92 suddenly to rise when upon its highest point, thereby giving motion to the
swinging head g 1, which operation cuts the iron.
Figure 14 is an elevation of the connecting rod k and front die k 1, to which
is attached a second form of header marked y 1, which may be substituted in
lieu of the frame w, described in the preceding Figures. y 2 is a steel tappet
adjustable by the set screws z 1, marked respectively, giving motion to the
header y 1 in the process of working. 2 is a plate which covers the header
y 1, fastened by means of screws represented upon the Figure, thereby forming
a bearing in which the header y 1 freely works.
Figure 15 is a front view of Figure 14, shewing the space or bearing
through which the header y 1 works to form the head of the nail, spike, or bolt ;
and it is obvious that the top of the heading die is counter-sunk according to
the shape and size of the lead required, as specified in the first header given
in Figure 3, and there particularly shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ezra Jenks Coates, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.