IMPROVEMENTS IN FORGING AND SHAPING BOLTS, SPIKES, AND NAILS, ALSO IN IMPARTING TO SUCH ARTICLES A SPIRAL FORM, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Burch, of Adswood Grove, Stockport, in the
County of Chester, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FORGING AND SHAPING BOLTS, SPIKES, AND NAILS, ALSO IN IMPARTING TO
SUCH ARTICLES A SPIRAL FORM, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED."
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 21st January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Burch at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st January 1878.
JOSEPH BURCH, of Adswood Grove, Stockport, in the County of Chester, Gentle-
man. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORGING AND SHAPING BOLTS, SPIKES, AND NAILS, ALSO
IN IMPARTING TO SUCH ARTICLES A SPIRAL FORM, AND IN THE MACHINERY
EMPLOYED."
My Invention relates to the production (for some purposes) by one single process,
and also for other purposes by a succession of processes of various kinds, of plain
and twisted bolts, spikes, and nails, such process and processes consisting first in
making by preference from rods or bars of round bolt iron, steel, or other metal, plain
bolts, spikes, and nails, with heads either square, hexagonal, hemispherical, pyra-
midal, or otherwise shaped, and with points or ends, blunt, tapering, or otherwise.
These plain bolts, spikes, and nails, taken in this state, are marketable articles.
Second. Taking such plain bolts, spikes, and nails, and by one or more compress-
ing or swaging processes reducing the shank to a quadrilateral, trilateral, or oher
desired or special form, such reduced portion commencing a short distance from the
head, and terminating at or within a regulated distance from the point or end, is
either made parallel, tapering, or a special combination of those forms or otherwise.
These bolts, spikes, and nails taken in this state are also marketable and useful for
many purposes.
Third. Taking such trilateral or other form of bolts, spikes, and nails respectively,
and by the machine or machines hereafter described in the 3rd and 4th parts

page_text: of this Invention, or by other means, twist the whole length or nearly the whole
length of the swaged or reduced portion of the shank until it assumes a spiral form,
the extreme ends of some of such bolts, spikes, or nails, being shaped for slitting
longitudinally during one or other of the processes, or afterwards for the purpose of
double clinching. Such spiral bolts, spikes, and nails, may (it is known), be driven
into solid wood without boring, but I prefer that a hole of a given or near a given
size in the case of all bolts or spikes of medium or large size be previously made to
receive them; they turn as they enter, according to the amount of twist they have
received, and if required at any after time to be withdrawn, it is effected as with
ordinary coach screws, by the use of a screw wrench; other kinds of these bolts
having according to this Invention their reduced ends slit, can be permanently
fixed by double clinching, for which purpose I use a peculiar kind of screw cramp,
whereby also at any subsequent time I am enabled to tighten them up when used
for fastening chairs to railway sleepers, for which purpose they are specially adapted,
if in consequence of the shrinking of the wood caused by the heat of the weather or
otherwise they become loose.
Such is the nature of my Invention, and the means I have devised for effecting
the different parts and processes consist in,-
1st. Cutting up the iron, steel, or other metal rods or bars into pieces, each of
sufficient size lengthwise to form two bolts, spikes, or nails, passing such pieces in
succession through a furnace so constructed that the two ends and a portion of the
mid length of each piece become heated to or approaching a white heat, receiving
such heated pieces in succession, and forming thereon simultaneously by means of
suitable dies in a duplex heading machine of special construction, a head of a
peculiar form, or otherwise at both ends of such pieces, and immediately afterwards
by a rolling process reducing the diameter of each piece more or less at or about or
towards its mid portion, according to the style or kind of bolt, spike, or nail
required, and finally by continuing the process, or by a cross cut or otherwise at the
centre or mid length of the reduced part, I divide such double-beaded pieces respec-
tively into two plain bolts, spikes, or nails of equal length, or when such are in-
tended for further treatment, into what term "plain blanks." These blanks may
be produced by other processes, and not necessarily for the purposes of this In-
vention, in the manner herein-before described.
2nd. This part of the Invention, which may be performed whilst the plain blanks
are still hot or after the heat has been revived, relates to the shaping by swaging
or otherwise of the plain blanks preparatory to the twisting process, and which if
desired may be effected either by hand labour or by any of the ordinary swaging
machines, but I prefer to do it by the machine I have contrived for the purpose of
reducing the shank of the plain bolt or blank nearly or entirely throughout its
whole length to or approaching to a quadrilateral or a trilateral form taking in
transverse section, to which latter form and a modification thereof herein-before
mentioned, as combining a parallel form externally with a tapering core, and which
I greatly prefer for some purposes.
I will confine the further description of my Invention, it being understood that
according to the number of sides and intervening angles formed on the blank, so in
proportion when it is afterwards twisted, it will carry a corresponding number of
separate threads or spirals, that is to say, each angle will then constitute a distinct
spiral thread. These trilateral bolts or spikes, when prepared for subsequent treat-
ment, I denominate "swaged blanks."
The said machine, which as before stated I prefer to employ to reduce the shank
of the plain blank to the trilateral or other desired form, operates by means of three
disc rollers, the axes whereof are so mounted at suitable angles relatively, that their
peripheries meet and mutually form between them a trilaterial passage or opening,
at first the approximate, and afterwards the desired size of what is intended to be
the shape of the spiral portion of the finished bolt, spike, or nail. The swaging
rollers are all alike in size and form, and they are caused to rotate either inter-

page_text: mittently or otherwise at a uniform speed relatively by suitable gearing, their
several peripheries being divided into corresponding segmental sections, which are
Beverally shaped to reduce the plain blank to the required form progressively, by a
succession of operations or passes, one section operating after the preceding upon
the shank of the same blank in a way to produce the effect gradually, and not by a
single crush.
This operation is intended to follow the first process, and be performed (if possible)
without reheating the plain blank.
The longitudinal slitting of the reduced and of the blank that are intended for
such treatment may be done by means of a circular saw, or otherwise, at the end of
the first or after this stage of the process, or if preferred it may bo performed at the
final or twisting operation, or afterwards.
3rd. This part of my Invention relates to a twisting machine designed for
operating upon the trilateral portion of the shank of the swaged blanks for the
purpose of imparting to such portion a spiral form. This machine consists of three
essential parts, one being a stationary instrument for holding the blank; the second,
a partially rotating instrument operating by a lever arm, for twisting it; and the
third, a drawing instrument for pulling it endwise through the other two by means
of grippers or other appliance adapted for seizing the head of the blank after it has
been inserted, the said appliance having liberty to turn during the operation.
Through both the holding and the twisting instruments there is a central operation,
shaped to correspond with the transverse sectional form of the trilateral swaged
blank, and before the blank is inserted the opening in each instrument in order to
admit it is brought coincident one with the other by the operation of the lever arm.
The distance apart of the holding and twisting instruments in relation to the
position in which the lever arm is set or placed during the twisting operation
determines the pitch of the spiral, which will, as already explained, be composed of
as many threads as there are angles on the blanks. This machine is best adapted
for spirals of a very coarse pitch, say in a six inch bolt or spike of about one turn and
a quarter, but when a three inch or a finer pitch of spiral is required I prefer to use
the machine I am now about to describe.
4th. This part of my Invention relates to the construction of a machine adapted
to twist to any required fineness of pitch or otherwise such bolt, spike, and nail
blanks as have passed through the swaging process, and either whilst such blanks
retain sufficient heat, or in the case of bolts or spikes of large size, after the heat has
when necessary been revived, it being capable of twisting small spikes and nail
blanks in the cold state. By this machine the spiral twist is imparted to the
trilateral or other form of blank by a positive action that cannot deviate, so that
every bolt, spike, or nail of a sort or class receives precisely the same amount of
twist, and the pitch of the spirals relatively is always exact and uniform. This
result is obtained by means of a number of tootched discs or wheels, respectively
graduating progressively in size, and piled or disposed one upon another between a
top and a bottom frome plate in a vertical machine, or beside each other, between
side plates, in a horizontal machine. These discs are all maintained in a position
relatively concentric by means of annular projections and corresponding recesses
with which at each side respectively they are furnished, the projection on the
upper side of one disc fitting into the recess on the under side of the next, and so
on, and all the discs, by means of a corresponding number of tooth wheels rigidly
mounted on a counter shaft are caused simultaneously to move or rotate relatively
at progressively accelerated speeds from the upper, which moves very slowly, to the
bottom or end disc, the rotative action of which is equal to all the twist that is
received by the blank. Through each disc there is a central hole of a trilateral or
other form, corresponding in shape and slightly larger in size than the transverse
section of that part of the length of the swaged blank it is intended to operate upon,
and after each blank in succession is twisted the discs are simultaneously returned
to their normal position, so as to bring all the central holes in the several discs so

page_text: coincident with a hole in the upper stationary frame plate that a free passage is
opened to receive the next blank, which passes in succession through all the rotating
discs, until it reaches and enters the hole in the bottom disc, its point or end
resting on the stationary plate beneath.
The several dises relatively progressively decrease in diameter from the upper
rotating disc, which is the largest, to the lower or smallest disc, and the wheels on
the counter shaft severally increase in diamater, the upper wheel in gear with the
largest disc being the smallest, whilst the largest wheel is in gear with the smallest
disc at the bottom. By this means all the discs separately from the upper to the
lowest are ceased to move round severally at progressively accelerated speeds, that
is to say, the number of teeth carried by the several discs respectively, and by their
companion wheels is so regulated and proportioned that whilst the counter shaft
and wheels make one and a half or two relations, the upper disc by reason of the
relative difference between its size and its companion wheel with which it is in
gear is caused to move only (say, for example, one-sixth of a revolution, whilst the
second disc is caused to move two-sixths, the third disc three-sixths, the four
disc four-sixths, the fifth disc five-sixths, and the sixth disc a complete rotation,
the seventh disc a rotation and one-sixth, and so on; the twisting of the blank,
which only occupies a few seconds, being thus effected by progressive acceleration in
the speed of the discs relatively, and by this means the amount of twist given may
be either increased or diminished in proportion to the amount of rotation to the discs,
and in all cases the pitch of the spirals is certain to be uniformly correct. After the
discs have operated, the twisted blank is withdrawn by a pair of grippers, which
seize the blank by the head, and having liberty to rotate, or, if needs be, being com-
pelled to do so whilst pulling by them, the twisted blank is extracted from the discs,
which then, by reversing the action of the countershaft, are returned to their
normal position, ready to receive the next blank.
According to a modification of the above machine I substitute a fixed plate for
the central disc, and I cause all the discs above to rotate in one direction with
gradually diminishing speeds upwards, and all the discs beneath the plate to rotate
in the opposite direction at gradually accelerated speeds downwards, there being two
countershafts respectively carrying a set of wheels to gear one with each section of
the discs. By this arrangement the action of the machine is reduced one half, and
although the spiral produce is not quite so perfect as it is made by the first
described arrangement, yet it is found to be sufficiently true for most practical
purposes, and quite superior to all the previous attempts which have been made
to produce twisted bolts, spikes, and nails with spiral threads of uniform
pitch.
5th. This, the last part of my Invention, relates to the construction of the
furnaces mentioned, viz., that employed for heating the pieces of bolt iron or steel,
which are caused to pass through it in succession, being so constructed internally
that only the two ends and a portion at the mid length of such pieces is exposed to
the fiercest heat.
The furnace employed for heating or reviving the heat of the blanks when
necessary is constructed as follows:-Along the ridge of the furnace there is formed
an open narrow crevice or slit, which is covered by an endless flexible metallic
band or flat chain to which either a constant or a regular intermittent movement
is imparted. Formed along the center of this band or chain is a close series of holes
made to receive the blanks, which are held by the neck, their shanks severally
hanging inside the furnace exposed to the heat are supported by their heads, which
remain outside.
The bands or chains are caused to move at a speed regulated to correspond with
the requirements of the machine and which the furnace is associated, the blanks
being fed at one end of the furnace as fast as they are, in a heated state, removed
at the other.
The duplex heading machine mentioned in the first part of my Invention operates

page_text: by means of one broad pair of holding dies, and two heading dies, one of the latter
acting at each side or end of the holding dies. The pieces of bolt iron in a heated
state are so placed and held in the grooved hollow of the holding dies that a
corresponding portion or length of the metal projects at each end when the holding
dies are closed, and against these projecting portions respectively the heading dies
advance on the same plane from opposite directions relatively directly against the
projecting ends with sufficient force to mould the ends into whatever form of bolt
head is required, which is of course determined by the shape of the cavity in the
dies. By this means a head is formed simultaneously at both ends of the piece of
bolt iron which, when the dies relax, falls between two forming rollers, which by
pressure reduce or shape the central portion, and finally divide it at its mid-
length.
The screw cramp herein-before mentioned as being employed for double clinching
the slit-ended bolts and spikes has the form of an ordinary portable cramp with
a C shaped frame, in one, the upper end of which is inserted a suitable tightening
screw, which when turned advances in the direction of the opposite end of the
cramp, wherein a wedge-shaped piece or instrument is fitted. When in use a plain
or twisted bolt or spike with slit end having been driven through a railway chair
and sleeper the edge of the cramp wedge piece is inserted in the slit at the reduced
end of the bolt or spike, which end projects through the sleeper; the cramp screw is
then applied to the head of the bolt or spike, and upon being turned the wedge is
drawn or forced into the slit, and by this means the two parts are opened and bent
outwards in opposite directions, one away from the other, and this I call double
clinching, which it will be seen is effected without in the slightest degree disturbing
or loosening the bolt in the wood, wherein it is then permanently fixed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Burch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th July 1878.
JOSEPH BURCH, of Adswood Grove, Stockport, in the County of Chester, Gentle-
man. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FORGING AND SHAPING BOLTS, SPIKES, AND NAILS,
ALSO IN IMPARTING TO SUCH ARTICLES A SPIRAL FORM, AND IN THE MACHINERY
EMPLOYED."
My Invention relates to the production (for some purposes) by one single process
and also for other purposes by a succession of processes, of various kinds of plain
and twisted bolts, spikes, and nails, such process and processes consisting,
First. In making by preference from rods or bars of round bolt iron, steel, or other
metal, plain bolts, spikes, and nails, with heads either square, hexagonal, hemi-
spherical, pyramidal, or otherwise shaped, and with points or ends blunt, tapering,
or otherwise. These plain bolts, spikes, and nails, taken in this state are marketable
articles.
Secondly. Taking such plain bolts, spikes, and nails, and by one or more com-
pressing or swaging processes reducing the shank to a quadrilateral, trilateral, or
other desired or special form, such reduced portion commencing a short distance
from the head, and terminating at or within a regulated distance from the point or
end, is either made parallel, tapering, or a special combination of those forms or
otherwise. These bolts, spikes, and nails taken in this state are also marketable
and useful for many purposes.
Thirdly. Taking such trilateral or other special form of bolts, spikes, and nails,
made respectively with heads of a pyramidal shape, and by the machine or machines
hereafter described in the third and fourth parts of this Invention, or by other means
twist the whole length or nearly the whole length of the swaged or reduced portion
of the shank until it assumes a spiral form, the extreme ends of some of such bolts,
spikes, or nails, being shaped or left plain for slotting or slitting longitudinally by
sawing or punching during one or other of the processes, or afterwards for the
purpose of double clinching. Such spiral bolts, spikes, and nails, may (it is known)
be driven into solid wood without boring, but I prefer that a hole of a given or
near a given size, which is about one-half the diameter of the shank in the case of
all bolts or spikes of medium or large size, be previously made to receive them; they
turn as they enter, according to the amount of twist they have received, and if
required at any after time to be withdrawn, it is effected as with ordinary coach
screws, by the use of a screw wrench. Other kinds of these plain and twisted bolts
having, according to this Invention, their plain or reduced ends slit or slotted (see
Figures 2, 8, and 9, Sheet 2), can be permanently fixed by double clinching, for
which purpose I use a peculiar kind of screw cramp herein-after described, and
whereby also at any subsequent time I am enabled to tighten the slit or slotted
ends of plain or twisted bolts up when used for fastening chairs to railway sleepers
(for which and similar purposes they are specially adapted), if in consequence of
the shrinking of the wood, caused by the heat of the weather or otherwise they
become loose.
Such is the nature of my Invention and the means I have devised for effecting
the different parts and processes consist in,-
First. Cutting up the iron, steel, or other metal rods or bars into pieces, each of
sufficient size lengthwise (see A 1, Figure 1, Sheet 1), to form two bolts, spikes, or
nails, passing such pieces in succession through a furnace (shown on Sheet 3,
Figures 1 and 2) so constructed that the two ends and a portion of the mid length
of each piece shall become heated to or approaching a white heat, receiving such
heated pieces in succession, and forming thereon simultaneouly by means of suitable
holding and heaing dies sliding in guides in a duplex heading machine of special con-
struction, one pair moving in a direction at right angles to the movement of the other
pair (as shown on Sheet 1, by Figures 1, 2, and 3), a head of a peculiar or pyramidal

page_text: form (see Figure 2, Sheet 1, and Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 3), or a head otherwised
shaped at both ends of such pieces is formed, and immediately afterwards when
required by a rolling process (as shown on Sheet 1, Figures 4 and 5) reducing the
diameter of each piece, more or less, at or about or towards its mid portion (see
Figure 8), according to the style or kind of bolt, spike, or nail required, and finally
by continuing the process, or by a cross cut or otherwise at the centre or mid
length of the reduced part, I divide such double-headed pieces respectively into two
plain bolts, spikes, or nails, of equal length, or when such are intended for further
treatment, into what I term "plain blanks, the reduced ends of such blanks being
intended to be afterwards slit by a sawing process or otherwise for double clinching
(see Figure 2 and 9, Sheet 3), and in the case of the ends of plain parallel bolts
(see Figure 8, Sheet 3, and Figure 6, Sheet 2), intended to be double clinched, the
slotting is done in an ordinary punching machine by a suitably shaped punch, the
end of the bolt during the operation being confined in a slightly tapering socket or
die through which the punch passes. These blanks may be produced by other processes,
and not necessarily for the purposes of this Invention, in the manner herein-before
described.
The duplex heading machine before mentioned and exhibited on Sheet 1 by
Figures 1, 2, and 3, operates by means of one broad pair of holding dies marked A 2,
and two heading dies marked A 3, one of the latter acting at each side or end of the
holding dies. The pieces of bolt iron A 1 in a heated state are so placed and held
in the grooved hollow of the holding dies that a corresponding portion or length of
the metal projects at each end when the holding dies are closed (see Fig. 1), and
against these projecting portions respectively the heading dies advance on the same
plane from opposite directions relatively directly against the projecting ribs of A 1
with sufficient force to mould the ends into whatever form of bolt head is required,
which is of course determined by the shape of the cavity in the dies. By this means
a head is formed simultaneously at both ends of the piece of bolt iron (see Figure 2),
which when the dies relax is transferred to two forming rollers (see Figs. 4 and 5,
Sheet 1), which by pressure reduce or shape the central portion, and finally divide
it at its mid length. The holding dies A 2 and the heading dies A 3 are intended
to be operated either by levers, toggle-jointed or otherwise, or by strong connected
rods, severally actuated either by cams, eccentrics, or any of the other devices
employed for transmitting motion, and well known to mechanicians, and which
form no part of this Invention, save and excepting when the dies A 2 and A 3 are
directly connected or attached to the piston of a steam engine for the purposes
herein described, and are actuated direct by steam. The series of cavities A 5 shewn
in the holding dies A 2 are made to lessen the surface of the metal that comes in
contact with the heated bolt.
Also, in respect to the other machines and apparatus herein-after described in
relation to the other parts of my Invention, the diagrams relating thereto are inten-
tionally not complicated by representations of any kind of driving gear nor any
complete arrangements of framing. Such forming specially no part of the In-
vention, are susceptible of divers, all tending to a common end; for example, the
framing in design may be either angular or curved, and flanged, ribbed, or solid,
and the driving power to the operation may be applied in various ways. It will
therefore be found that in most cases the diagrams exhibit chiefly only those
operating details in combination which, for the purposes described, comprise the
several parts of the Invention.
The machine employed to reduce the diameter of the mid portion of the two-
beaded bolt piece A 1 is exhibited on Sheet 1 by Fig. 4, which shews a front view,
and Fig. 5, a plan of the same.
The operating parts of this machine comprise two paracentric discs C1, the axes
whereof C2 find bearings in a suitable frame shewn in the plan at C, and they are
respectively caused to rotate in opposite directions by tooth wheels marked 03. By
referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the width of the periphery of both discs
gradually increases round the circumference from a certain part marked on each 04

page_text: to the same point, where the difference in the thickness and length of radius is indi-
cated. Immediately after the heading of the bolt piece A 1, the latter (to save
reheating) is transferred to a position between the discs C1 level with the plane of
their axes, the ends of the bolt piece finding a support on the resting piece C 5. The
discs are shewn in a position for starting, the two-headed bolt piece being disposed
crosswise between the narrowest part of their respective peripheries is, as the discs
rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows, gradually reduced at its mid length
(shewn by Fig. 8), and is finally transversely cut through the reduced part when
the cutters C6 at the end of the rotation of the discs come into shearing contact.
The tooth wheels C3 fixed axis of each disc are of corresponding size, and these
wheels are in gear with an intermediate wheel C7, so that both discs are rotated in
the same direction at one uniform speed.
Second. This part of the Invention (which may be performed whilst the plain blanks
are still hot, or after the heat has been revived by passing them through a furnace,
shewn on Sheet 2 by Figs. 3 and 4 relates to the shaping by swaging or otherwise
of the plain blanks preparatory to the twisting process, and which, if desired, may
be effected either by hand labour or by any of the ordinary swaging machines; but
I prefer to do it by the machine I am about to describe, or a modification thereof,
both of which machines I have contrived for the purpose of reducing the shank of
the plain bolt or blank nearly or entirely throughout its whole length to or
approaching to a quadrilateral or a trilateral form taken in transverse section (see
Sheet 3, Figs. 1 and 3, to which the latter form and a special modification thereof
herein-before mentioned (and shewn by the sections of Figures 2 and 9 on the same
Sheet) as combining a parallel form externally with a solid central tapering core,
and which I greatly prefer for some purposes.
I will confine the further description of my Invention, it being understood that
according to the number of sides and intervening angles formed on the blank, so
in proportion when it is afterwards twisted it will carry a corresponding number
of separate threads or spirals, that is to say, each angle will then constitute a
distinct spiral thread. The simple quadrilateral trilateral bolt or spike blanks
are not new, excepting they be furnished with the pyramidal form of head, and
when prepared for subsequent treatment I denominate them "swaged blanks."
The said machine G, with the operating parts shewn in section, is exhibited on
Sheet 2 by Fig. 5, and which, as before stated, I prefer to employ (or the modi-
fication thereof) to reduce the shank of the plain blank to the trilateral or other
specially desired form, operates by means of G 1, which mark three disc rollers,
the axes whereof G 2 are so mounted in bearings G 3, at suitable angles relatively,
that their peripheries meet and mutually form between them a trilateral or other
special form of passage or opening (a) 1, at first the approximate and afterwards the
desired size of what is intended to be the shape of the spiral portion of the finished
bolt, spike, or nail. The swaging rollers G 1 are all alike in size and form, and
they are caused to rotate by the axis G 2*, which transmits motion to the other
two, either intermittently or otherwise, as required, at a uniform speed relatively by
suitable level gearing marked G4; their several peripheries being divided, as
shewn by the diagrams of the modified machine (see Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 1),
into corresponding segmental sections; which sections are severally grooved or
shaped to reduce the plain blank to the required form progressively by a succession
of operation or passes, one section operating after the preceding upon the shank
of the same place in a way to produce the effect gradually and not by a single
crush.
The modified machine shewn on Sheet 1 by Fig. 6, which is a side elevation,
and Fig. 7 a plan, operates by means of only two disc rollers respectively marked
H 1, which are fixed on axes H 2, that also carry H 3, which mark two tooth wheels
corresponding in size, whereby the discs are caused to rotate in opposite directions
at one uniform speed. The segmental sections in which the periphery of each
disc roller is divided come together or meet in pairs as the discs rotate, the same
section of one disc always pairing with the same section of the other disc, and they

page_text: thus form a succession of pairs of swages, the groove in the several pairs 1, 2, 3,
and 4, varying in size progressively, that is to say, sections (1) with the largest
grooves operate first upon the blank, which immediately after it is delivered is
again pushed back to be operated upon by the next pair (2); and the same is
repeated, and pair (3) operate, and finally pair (4). The discs have then made a
complete revolution, and the grooves of the largest section (1) are in position to
receive the next blank.
The longitudinal slitting of the reduced end of the blanks that are intended
for double clinching as shewn by Figs. 2, 8, and 9, on Sheet 3, and Fig. 6,
Sheet 2 may be done at the end of the first, or after this stage of the process, or
if preferred it may be performed at the final or twisting operation, or afterwards.
The screw cramp, herein-before mentioned as being employed for double clinching
the slit or slot ended bolts and spikes, is shewn on Sheet 2, Fig. 6, to have the
form of an ordinary portable cramp, with (E) a¹ C shaped frame in one, E¹, the
upper arm or end of which, E 1, is inserted E 2, a suitable tightening screw, which,
when turned by E 3, a double-handled wrench, advances in the direction of E 4,
which marks the opposite arm or end of the cramp, wherein E 5, a wedge-shaped
piece or instrument suited to open the slotted end of a plain bolt, is fitted see also
Figs. 2, 8, and 9, Sheet 3. When in use a plain or twisted bolt or spike, with
slit or slotted end, having been driven through a railway chair E 6 and sleeper E 7,
the edge of the cramp wedge piece E 5 is inserted in the slit at the plain or reduced
end of the bolt or spike, as the case may be, and which end projects through the
sleeper; the crank screw cap is then applied to the head of the bolt or spike, and
upon the screw being turned, the wedge piece is drawn upwards and forced into the
slit or slot formed in the end of the bolt or spike, and by this means the two parts
of the slit or slotted end are opened and bent outwards in opposite directions, one
away from the other. And this I call double clinching, which it will be seen is
effected without in the slightest degree disturbing or loosening the bolt in the wood,
wherein it is then permanently fixed.
Third. This part of my Invention relates to a twisting machine designed for
operating upon the trilateral portion of the shank of the swaged blanks, for the.
purpose of imparting to such portion a spiral form. This machine is shewn on
Sheet 2 by Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, and consists of three essential parts; one (K 1)
being a stationary instrument for holding the blank; the second, K 2, a partially or
intermittently rotating wheel or instrument operated by a lever arm or wheel rim
for twisting it; and the third, K 3, a screw or instrument for shifting or pulling it
endwise at intervals through the other two, each time a limited regulated distance
by means of a socket holder (K. 4), or by grippers or other appliance adapted to the
end of the screw for seizing the head of the blank after it has been inserted therein;
the said appliance being either fixed on the screw end, or it may have liberty to
turn during the operation if required. Through both the holding and the twisting
instruments, respectively shewn by Fig. 5 and 6, there is a central opening
shaped to correspond with the transverse sectional form of the trilateral or the special
swaged blank, shewn by Figures 2 and 9; and before the blank is inserted, the
central opening through each instrument, in order to admit it, is brought coincident
one with the other by the operation of the wheel rim or the lever arm of the
twister.
The amount of rotation of the screw K 3, and distance apart of the holding and
twisting instruments in relation to the position in which the the latter is set or placed
prior to the twisting of each length or section, determines the amount of twist or
pitch of the spiral, which will, as already explained, be composed of as many threads
as there are angles on the blanks. The machine twists at each moment a regulated
portion or section of the nail or spike equal to the distance apart of the openings
marked * (see Fig. 4) in the holder and the twister respectively, the screw K. 3,
which passes through a fixed screw-threaded nut, being rotated the necessary
portion of a revolution by means of the wheel K 5; this machine is best adapted
for twisting such spikes. or nails as are shewn by Fig. 3, Sheet 2, or spirals of a
,
>

page_text: coarse pitch, say, in a six-inch bolt or spike of about one turn and a quarter; but
when in moderate or large size bolts a three-inch or a finer pitch of spiral is required,
I prefer to use the machine I am now about to describe.
Fourth. This part of my Invention relates to the construction of a machine
adapted to twist to any required fineness pitch or otherwise such bolt, spike, and nail
blanks as have passed through the swaging process, and either whilst such blanks
retain sufficient heat or in the case of bolts or spikes of large size after the heat
bas when necessary been revived, it being capable also of twisting small spikes
and nail blanks in the cold state. By this machine (which is shewn by the
diagrams on Sheet 4, Figure 1 being a plan on a small scale; Fig. 2, a side
elevation; Fig. 3, a full size section shewing the central fittings of the discs, and
the drawing grippers and screw; Figs. 4 and 5, twisting plates or dies; and
Fig. 6, socket grippers. The spiral twist is imparted to the trilateral or other
form of blank by a positive action that cannot deviate, so that every bolt, spike, or
nail of a sort or class receives precisely the same amount of twist, and the pitch of
the spirals relatively is always exact and uniform. This result is obtained by
means of a number of toothed discs or wheels marked respectively L1, L2, L3,
L4, L5, and L 6, relatively, graduating progressively in size, and piled or disposed
one upon another between M 1, a top, and M 2, a bottom frame plate in a vertical
machine, or beside each other between side plates in a horizontal machine. These
discs are all maintained in a position relatively concentric by means of the annular
projections P, shewn on the upper side of each disc, and corresponding recesses
with which the under side respectively of each is furnished, the projection on the
upper side of one disc fitting into the recess on the under side of the next, and
so on, and all the discs by means of a corresponding number of tooth wheels marked
J 1, J 2, J 3, J 4, J 5, and J 6, and shewn rigidly mounted on a countershaft Q, are
caused simultaneously to move or rotate relatively at progressively accelerated speeds
from the upper L1, which moves very slowly to L6 the bottom or end disc, the rotative
action of which is equal to all the twist that is received by the blank. Through
each disc there is a central opening on which is fitted a steel twisting plate; and
each of these plates has coincident with its centre a hole of a trilateral or other
form corresponding in shape and slightly larger in size than the transverse section
of that part of the length of the swaged blank it is intended to operate upon.
After each blank is twisted the discs are simultaneously returned to their normal
position, so as to bring all the central holes in the several steel twisting plates or
dies marked O 1, 02, 03, 0 4, O 5, and O 6, so coincident with a central hole in K,
a steel holding plate that is fixed in the upper stationary frame plate L7, that a
free passage is opened to receive the next blank which is passed through the fixed
holding plate, and in succession through all the twisting plates or dies in the
rotating discs until it reaches and enters the hole in the bottom disc, its point or
end resting on the end of R, a regulating screw fitted in the stationary plate
beneath.
The several discs relatively progressively decrease in diameter from the upper
rotating disc L1, which is the largest, to the lower or smallest disc L 6 and the wheels
on the countershaft severally increase in diameter the upper wheel J1 in gear
with the largest disc, L 1 being the smallest, whilst the largest wheel J 6 is seen
in gear with the smallest disc L 6 at the bottom. By this means all the discs
separately from the upper to the lowest are caused to move round severally at
progressively accelerated speeds, that is to say, the number of teeth carried by the
several discs respectively, and by their companion wheels is so regulated and pro-
portioned that whilst the countershaft and wheels make one and a half or two
rotations, the upper disc L 1, by reason of the relative difference between its size
and its companion wheel J 1, with which it is in gear, is caused to move only say
for example, one-sixth of a revolution in the same time that the second disc L 2 is
caused to move two-sixths, the third disc L 3, three-sixths, the four disc L 4, four-
sixths, the fifth disc L 5, five-sixths, and the sixth disc L 6, a complete rotation,
and so on, the twisting of the blank, which only occupies a few seconds, being thus

page_text: effected by progressive acceleration in the speed of the discs relatively; and by this
means the amount of twist given may be either increased or diminished in pro-
portion to the amount of rotation given to the discs, and in all cases the pitch of the
spirals is certain to be uniformly correct. After the discs have operated the twisted
blank is withdrawn by N 4, a pair of spring sockets grippers, which are fixed on
the end of and are brought down by the screw N 1 that passes through the nut N 2,
and they seize the blank by the head, and having liberty to rotate, or, if needs be,
being compelled to do so whilst pulling by turning the wheel N 3 in a backward
direction; and by this means the twisted blank is extracted from the discs, which
then, by reversing the action of the countershaft, are returned to their normal
position ready to receive the next blank.
According to a modification of the above machine (not shewn in the Drawings
I substitute a fixed plate for the central disc, and I cause all the discs above to
rotate in one direction with gradually diminishing speeds upwards, and all the discs
beneath the plate to rotate in the opposite direction at gradually accelerated speeds
downwards, there being two countershafts respectively carrying a set of wheels
to gear one with each section of the discs. By this arrangement the action of
the machine is reduced one-half; and, although the spiral produced is not quite
so perfect as it is made by the first-described arrangement, yet it is found to
be sufficiently true for most practical purposes, and quite superior to all the previous
attempts which have been made to produce twisted bolts, spikes, and nails with
spiral threads of uniform pitch.
Fifth. This, the last part of my Invention, relates to the construction of the
furnaces mentioned, viz., that employed for heating the pieces of bolt iron or
steel, which are caused to pass through it in succession, being so constructed
internally that only the two ends and a portion at the mid length of such pieces is
exposed to the fiercest heat. This furnace is shewn on Sheet 2 by Figure 1, which
exhibits a transverse section and Figure 2 a longitudinal section, wherein D marks
the walls and arched roof of the furnace, and D1 two bearers that extend the
whole length, and project beyond each end. Each of these bearer has a small
internal water channel D 2 from end to end, through which cold water is caused to
flow to protect them from the heat. One of the double-length bolt pieces A 1 is
shewn lying crosswise upon the bearers; and, as shown in Figure 2, the bolt pieces
are made to roll along the bearers by small studs D 3; the upper ends thereof are
fixed in D 4, which marks two endless metallic bands that pass through the furnace,
one directly over each bearer, and in a line therewith, so that they in a measure
escape the fiercest heat of the fire draught.
The furnace employed for heating or reviving the heat of the blanks when
necessary is also shewn on Sheet 2 by Fig. 3, which is transverse section, and
Figure 4 a longitudinal section taken of C-D; it is constructed as follows:-Along
the ridge of the furnace F there is formed an open narrow crevice or slit between
two cast-iron bearers F 1, which slit is covered by an endless flexible metal band
or flat chain F 2 formed of short plates jointed together, each link or plate having
through it a central hole, and to this chain either a constant or a regular inter-
mittent movement is imparted. The holes in the link plates formed along the
centre of this band or chain, a close series of holes that receive the blanks F 3, which
are held by the neck, their shanks severally hanging inside the furnace exposed to
the heat, are supported by their heads which remain outside above the chain.
The bands or chains are caused to move at a speed regulated to correspond with the
requirements of the machine with which the furnace is associated, the blanks being
fed at one end of the furnace as fast as they are in a heated state removed at the
other. The bearers F 1 have cold water channels F, and are kept moderately cool
thereby for the purpose of protecting the chain.
Having now described the several parts of my Invention, and the manner in
which it may be practised, I wish to state that either iron or steel will generally
be employed in the construction of the several apparatus described or for the details
thereof, and that the strength and general dimensions of such apparatus will in

page_text: most cases depend upon the nature and size of the articles to be produced; and,
lastly, in respect to the features of novelty embodied in the several parts of my
Invention I make the following claims, viz.,-
First. Forming at one operation simultaneously a head of a pyramid or an
ordinary shape at both ends of a double-length piece of bolt iron or steel sufficiently
long when afterwards divided to make two bolts or spikes, as described with
reference to the Figs. 1, 2, and 3 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. Forming a pyramid-shaped head on such bolts and spikes and are intended
to be twisted and inserted by driving.
Third. Reducing as shewn by Figure 8 on Sheet 1) at the mid length, such
double-headed bolt pieces, in the manner described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5,
Sheet 1, or otherwise for the same purpose.
Fourth. The swaging or shaping of bolts and spikes by means of the bi-roller
machine (shown on Sheet 1 by Figures 6 and 7, and by the triple roller machine
shewn on Sheet 2 by Figure 5, such bolts and spikes being intended to be afterwards
either left plain for use or twisted.
Fifth. The special form of bolt or spike blank to be used either plain or twisted,
and having either a pyramid or an ordinary shaped head, as shewn by the sections and
Figures 2 and 9 on Sheet 3; such specially shaped spike having the parallel trilateral
form combined with a solid tapering core may be made either with or without ends
for double clinching.
Sixth. Slitting or slotting the end of both swaged or plain bolts and spikes, and
afterwards double clinching such divided ends by the application of a wedge piece
or spreader; the effect whereof is shewn by Figures 2, 8, and 9 on Sheet 3.
Seventh. Applying such wedge piece by means of a cramp, in the manner and
for the purposes described with reference to Fig. 6 on Sheet 2, and otherwise.
Eighth. Twisting trilateral or other form of spike blanks by the twisting machine
described, with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 on Sheet 3.
Ninth. The twisting machine and appliances, wherein as shewn by the diagrams
on Sheet 4) are employed a number or pile of discs which graduate in size, and are
severally caused to rotate simultaneously at progressive accelerated speeds relatively;
such discs being placed concentrically one above another are furnished with central
twisting plates or dies, and are rotated independently of each other by a corre-
sponding number of different sized tooth wheels in the manner and for the purposes
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Burch, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOSEPH BURCH. (L.S.)