IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SPIKE, NAILS, BOLTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES FROM RODS, SHEETS, OR BARS OF IRON, OR OTHER METAL OR MALLEABLE SUBSTANCES, AND IN PREPARING. SHAPING. SLITTING, AND MANUFACTURING SAME, AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR HEATING IRON, OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Sedgwick, of Codnor Park, in the County of
Derby, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SPIKE, NAILS, BOLTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
FROM RODS, SHEETS, OR BARS OF IRON, OR OTHER METAL OR MALLEABLE
SUBSTANCES, AND IN PREPARING. SHAPING. SLITTING, AND MANUFACTURING
SAME, AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR HEATING IRON, OR FOR
OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Sealed the 17th September 1867, and dated the 22nd March 1867.
ROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Sedgwick at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd March 1867.
I, SAMUEL SEDGWICK, of Codnor Park, in the County of Derby, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for 'IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SPIKES, NAILS, BOLTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR
ARTICLES FROM RODS, SHEETS, OR BARS OF IRON OR OTHER METAL OR MALLEABLE
SUBSTANCES, AND IN PREPARING. SHAPING, SLITTING, AND MANUFACTURING SAME,
AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR HEATING IRON, OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention first relates to an apparatus which I employ when I roll
spikes: nails, or bolts from round, square, or flat rods or sheets of iron or other
metal or malleable substance. In this apparatus a pair of standards are
[Price 8d.]

page_text: bolted to a foundation plate, and support a pair of shafts caused to revolve
simultaneously by toothed wheels fast on them outside the standards. The
bearings of the upper shaft are made adjustable towards and from the lower
shaft, being capable for that purpose of sliding vertically in the standards, and
being suspended to the standard heads by bolts passing through such heads
and the ends of the bearings. Between the standards and shafts these bolts
have nuts at either end to adjust the bearings more easily, and when adjusted
they are kept in place by a screw passed through the head and pressing upon
the top of the bearing, whereby the rising of the top shaft is prevented; this
upper shaft is provided with two collars, between which is placed a plate
forming the upper half of one or more dies or formers; this die plate and the
collars are held together by bolts, and keyed on their shaft. The lower shaft
is provided with a like die plate, and there are two other plates, one on each
side of the die plate and standing somewhat higher than the die plate, which
is of smaller circumference than the outer plates; the portion so standing above
the die plate on the lower shaft embraces the die plate on the upper shaft.
If as the shafts revolve a rod is fed between the die plates, it will receive on
its upper side the shape or contour of the upper die plate, and upon its lower
side the shape or contour of the lower die plate, and when these die plates are
recessed, such recesses coming opposite each other, a projection will be formed
upon each side of the piece of metal, and such projection will form a head to
the article being made. Where the circumference of the two die plates stand
up so as to approach each other the article will as fast as formed be separated
or nearly separated from the rod or piece of metal or material out of which it
is being formed. Upon the same shafts may be as many sets of die plates
as the width between the standards will permit, and each such set of die
plates may be alike, or the sets may produce differently shaped articles or
series of articles.
My Invention next relates to an arrangement in which a pair of standards
carries shafts revolving in bearings as above described. The shafts carry rolls
formed on their circumference of a desired shape, one roll being provided with
a collar at each end larger in circumference than the roll, and in such manner
that the collars embrace the ends of the roll upon the other shaft; these rolls
are of such width that they take in a sheet of iron or other metal or malleable
substance of the required width to form the length of one or more of the
articles to be made. The sheet of iron or other metal or substance when
passed between these rolls will be of such shape that when it is slit across at
right angles to the way it is rolled each such piece will form one or more
spikes, nails, or bolts slightly connected on their ends.

page_text: My Invention relates, thirdly, to a furnace for heating spikes, nails, bolts,
or similar articles, or the sheets or rods from which these articles are to be made
It consists of a wrought or cast metal plate lying horizontally in a furnace, or
forming part of a furnace in such manner that the flame can pass on the
under side of the plate and return over the top of the same; this plate has a
number of holes in each of its edges, in each of which a spike, nail, or bolt
may be placed to be heated when the heading of the article is to be made
after it is cut or severed from a rod or sheet of metal. The rods or sheets of
metal, when to be heated, before being passed through the rolls may be placed
upon and beneath the said wrought or cast metal plate which is in or forms
part of the furnace.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Sedgwick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
SEDGWICK, of Codnor Park, in the County of Derby, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Samuel Sedgwick, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel
Sedgwick, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Samuel Sedgwick, 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 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 "Iк.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SPIKES, NAILS, BOLTS,
OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES PROM RODS. SHEETS. OR BARS OF IRON, OR
OTHER METAL OR MALLEABLE SUBSTANCES, AND IN PREPARING, SHAPING, SLITTING,
AND MANUFACTURING SAME, AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURNACES FOR HEATING
IRON. OR FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Samuel Sedgwick, 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

page_text: nied in the Great Seal Patent mice wium Six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Sedgwick, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say:
roll spikes,
My Invention first relates to apparatus which I employ when
nails, or bolts from round, square, or flat rods or sheets of iron, or other metal
or malleable substance. In this apparatus a pair of strong standards are bolted
to a foundation plate, and support a pair of shafts lying in bearings supported
by the standards; these shafts are caused to revolve simultaneously by toothed
wheels gearing into each other and secured fast on the shafts outside the
standards. The bearings which carry the upper shaft are capable of adjust-
ment towards and from the lower shaft, such adjustment being effected by
having the bearings made capable of sliding vertically in the standards; the
bearings are also suspended to the standard heads by two strong bolts passing
through the heads, and also through the ends of the bearings. Between the
standards and the shafts these bolts have nuts at either end to facilitate the
adjustment of the bearings, which when adjusted are kept in their place by
strong screws passed through the standard heads and pressing upon the top of
the bearing, whereby the rising of the top shaft is effectually prevented; this
upper shaft is provided with two strong collars, between which is placed a
plate of metal which forms the upper half of one or more dies or formers; this
die plate and the collars are held together by bolts, and they are securely
keyed on the shaft. The lower shaft is provided with a like die plate, and in
addition thereto are two other plates, one on each side of the die plate (either at
top or bottom), which plates stand somewhat higher than the die plate which
is of smaller circumference than the outer plates; the portion of the outer
plates so standing above the die plate on the lower shaft embraces the die plate
on the upper shaft, so that as the shafts revolve a rod or piece of metal fed
between the die plates will receive on its upper side the shape or contour of
the upper die plate, and upon its lower side the shape or contour of the lower
die plate, and when these die plates are each recessed, and such recesses fall
opposite each other, a projection will be formed upon each side of the piece of
metal, and such projection will form a head to the article which is being made
Where the circumference of the two die plates stand up so as to approach each
other the article will as fast as it is formed be separated or nearly separated
from the rod or piece of metal out of which it is being formed. Upon the

page_text: same shafts may be placed as many sets of die plates as the width between the
standards will permit, and each such set of die plates may be alike, or the die
plates may be made so that cach set may produce a different shaped article or
a series of articles. The apparatus above mentioned may be modified by
placing the projecting side plates or outer plates on each side of the upper
die plate instead of the lower die plate.
My Invention next relates to an arrangement of apparatus which I may
call a modification of the apparatus just described. In this arrangement or
modification a similar pair of standards carry shafts lying in bearings like those
above described, which shafts are caused to revolve by means of toothed wheels,
also as above described. The shafts carry rolls which are formed on their cir-
cumference of a desired shape, one roll is provided with collars, one at each
end, larger in circumference than the roll and so disposed that they embrace
the ends of the roll upon the other shaft; these rolls are of such width that
they will take in a sheet of iron or other metal or malleable substance of the
required width to form the length of one or more of the articles to be made
The sheet of iron or other metal or malleable substance after being passed
between these rolls will be of such shape that when it is slit in the direction
of its length at right angles to the way it is rolled each such piece will form
one or more spikes, nails, or bolts slightly connected at their ends.
My Invention relates, thirdly, to a furnace for heating spikes, nails, bolts,
or other similar articles, or the sheets or rods from which these articles are to
be made, and consists of a wrought or cast metal plate lying horizontally in a
furnace or forming part of a furnace, in such manner that the flame can pass
on the under side of the plate and return over the top of the same, or vice
versa. This plate has a number of holes in each of its edges, in each of which
a spike, nail, or bolt may be placed to be heated when the heading of the
article is to be made after it is cut or severed from a rod or sheet of metal.
The rods or sheets of metal when required to be heated before being passed
through the rolls may be placed upon and beneath the aforesaid wrought or
cast metal plate, which is in or forms part of the furnace.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention I now proceed more
particularly to describe the manner of performing it with reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
i
Figures 1. 2. 3. and 4, represent my first arrangement, being the apparatus

page_text: view, Figure 2 a side view, and Figure 3 a plan of this apparatus; Figure 4
is a view of the apparatus which I employ for adjusting the upper die plate
or plates or rolls to the lower ones.
A, A, are a pair of strong standards bolted to a foundation plate B firmly
secured to the floor or other foundation C; the standards A support a pair of
shafts D, E, lying in bearings supported by the standards; the bearings which
carry the upper shaft are rendered capable of adjustment towards and from the
lower shaft by causing the bearings to be capable of sliding vertically in the
standards. The recesses in which the bearings slide are shewn by dotted lines,
Figures 1 and 2. The bearings are also suspended to the standard heads by
two strong bolts F passing through the heads and also through the ends of the
bearings. To render the bearings easier of adjustment the bolts are provided
with nuts at each end, and when the bearings are adjusted they are kept in their
places by a strong screw G passed through the heads and pressing upon the
top of the bearings, whereby the rising of the top shaft is effectually pre-
vented. The shafts are caused to revolve simultaneously by means of toothed
wheels gearing into each other and secured fast on the shafts outside the
standards. The top shaft carries two strong collars H, between which is placed
a plate I of iron, steel, or other metal, which plate forms the upper half of one
or more dies or formers; this die plate and the collars are held together by
bolts and are also securely keyed on the shaft. The lower shaft is provided
with a die plate I like the upper one, and in addition thereto the shaft carries
two other plates K, one on each side of the die plate I, which said plates K
stand somewhat higher than the die plate I, which is of smaller circumference
than these outer plates K, the portion so standing above the die plate I on the
lower shaft embraces the die plate I on the upper shaft, so that as the shafts
revolve a rod or piece of metal fed between the die plates will receive on its
upper side the shape or contour of the upper die plate, and upon its lower side
the shape or contour of the lower die plate, and when these die plates are
each recessed, and such recesses fall opposite each other, a projection will be
formed upon each side of the otherwise shaped piece of metal, such projection
will form a head to the article which is being made; and when the circum-
ference of the two die plates stand up so as to approach each other the said
article will as fast as it is formed be separated or nearly separated from the
rod or piece of metal out of which it is being formed. Upon the same shafts
may be placed as many sets of die plates as the width between the standards
will permit. Figure 5 represents a front view of a pair of standards carrying
three such sets of die plates, each set of die plates may be alike. or they may
be made so that each set may produce a differently shaped article, or a series

page_text: of articles having the points formed point to point, as seen at Figure 17, or
partly set up as seen at Figures 24 and 25, and the articles may be headed
subsequently by an ordinary heading machine, or by hand; or the die plates
may be so formed as to produce the articles of such shape that the point of
one will be slightly connected with the head of the next or with a thicker part,
which thicker part may be formed into a head as before stated. Enlarged views
of one of the die plates are shown at Figures 12, which are an edge view
and side view of one of the two die plates of the requisite shape for forming a
square or round rod into the shape shewn at Figure 17, where the length from
point to point, if cut in two parts centrally between the points, will form two
headless nails or spikes, which may be headed by hand power or by a machine
as before stated. Figure 18 shows a length for two nails, showing the side
next the dic plate, and Figure 19 represents one such length scen edgewise.
Figure 13 show a side view and edge view of one of the plates K on the
shaft E. Figure 1, and where several die plates I are used on the shaft E, as
in Figure 5, such plates are separated by intermediate plates K', shown in
both side and edge views at Figures 14; Figures 15 are an edge and side
view of the collar H, and Figures 16 are an edge and side view of one of the
collars H, which is used when the metal is required to be left thicker than
the stem of the nail, spike, or bolt. Die plates of the forms shown in edge
and side views at Figures 20 and 21 will produce rolled rods or strips of the
form seen at Figures 24 and 25; onc length of that seen at Figure 24 when
cut in two at the thickest part, and such thick part may be formed into a head
by hand or by machine; a pointed nail, bolt, or spike is produced, having a
square, round, or other shaped stem with a head of either of the shapes shown
at Figures 30 or 31; the die plates, as seen in edge and side view at Figures 21,
producing a gradually tapering stemmed nail, bolt, or spike, as seen at
Figure 30, with a head, as seen at Figures 30 or 31. The die plates, hereto-
fore described, at each revolution of the shafts for each rod or strip presented
to and passed through them will form four lengths of metal, cach length when
cut at the middle will form two nails, bolts, or spikes, but by increasing the
diameter of the die plates six or other number of lengths may be made at one
revolution of the shafts; die plates for forming six lengths being shown at
Figures 26 and 27, which produce respectively rods or strips of the forms
shown at Figures 28 and 29.
Figure 7 is a front, and Figure 8 a side view of my second arrangement,
which is a modification of the preceding machine for producing spikes, nails,
bolts, and other like articles from strips or sheets of iron or other metal or
malleable material.
1
1

page_text: The standards A, like those above described, carry shafts D. E, lying in
bearings like those above described; these shafts are caused to revolve by
means of toothed wheels, as above described. The shafts carry rolls L formed
on their circumference of a desired shape; one of these rolls is provided with
collars M, one collar being at each end; cach collar is of larger circum-
ference than the roll. The collars are so disposed that they embrace the ends
of the roll upon the other shaft; these rolls are of such width that they will
take in a strip or sheet of iron or other metal or malleable material of the
width required to form the length of one or more of the articles to be made.
The strip or sheet of iron or other metal or malleable material after being
passed between these rolls will be of such shape that when it is slit in the
direction of its length each such piece will form one or more spikes, nails, or
bolts slightly connected at their ends; or the rolls may be of such form that
when the metal is slit in the direction of its length, at right angles to the way
in which it is rolled each such piece will form one or more spikes, nails, or
bolts slightly connected at their ends.
Figures 22 and 23 shew rolls of the width required for forming respectively
a two and a half inch strip and a four inch strip of metal into the form seen
at Figure 25, the two and a half inch strip when slit forming when each piece
is cut in two twenty spikes, nails, or bolts and the four inch strip forming
when each piece is cut in two thirty-two spikes, nails, or bolts ready for having
a head formed upon each by hand or by an ordinary heading machine.
The rolls or discs for slitting the two and a half inch strip are shown on
their respective shafts at Figure 9, where N are the discs kept apart by the
intermediate discs O; one of the discs N is shown in side view at Figure 11,
and one of the discs O in side view at Figure 10.
For the purpose of accurately adjusting the die plates upon each shaft with
respect to each other I employ the arrangement shown in side view at
Figure 4, in which a ring or collar P is firmly keyed upon the shaft, and has
two arms or projections, through each of which is passed a screw bolt, which
also passes through a stud or projection Q upon the side of one of the toothed
wheels. Between the arms of the ring or collar P and the studs Q I drive
wedges until an accurate adjustment of the die plates or rolls is effected, such
adjustment being then secured by the tightening of the nuts upon the screw
bolts, or I effect the adjustment by equivalent means.
In the above arrangements power to cause the shafts to revolve may be
applied by extending the lower shaft, as seen at Figure 1, and connecting it
direct with the motive power employed, or, as seen at Figures 5 and 6, where
the upper or lower shaft is provided with a toothed wheel R driven by a spur

page_text: wheel S upon a shaft having one end supported by a bearing in or upon one
of the standards A, and also lying in a bearing on the additional standard T,
the said shaft being furnished with a belt pulley U driven by the motive power
employed, or a fly wheel V may carry the belt, thereby dispensing with the
pulley U; or a shaft moved by the motive power employed may be placed
intermediately between and be coupled at either end to the ends of the upper
or lower shafts D or E so as to drive two pairs of shafts carrying forming
plates or splitting discs or rolls. Other ordinary arrangements for transmitting
motion to the shafts may be employed, though I prefer the arrangements
described.
When it is convenient to perform the two operations of forming the strips
or sheets of metal and slitting them when so formed with one heating, I place
the slitting rolls or discs as close to the forming machine as convenient, so that
the slitting machine may receive the formed strip or sheet and slit it as fast
as it is formed, thereby obviating a second heating of the metal previous to
slitting it. Of course it will be understood that I can employ forming plates,
discs, or rolls of such shape that the articles may be produced with the head
next the point (as shown at Figure 19") of the adjoining one, so that if
the article produced requires heading it can drop from the forming plates,
discs, or rolls direct into the heading machine or machines. I place the front
of the forming machines in convenient proximity to the mouth of a furnace
in which the rods, strips, or sheets of metal to be operated upon are brought
to the required heat; the construction of such furnace forms the third part of
!
my Invention.
Figure 32 is a cross section of my improved furnace; Figure 33 a side
view of the same for a portion of its length; the length will depend upon the
amount of metal to be heated at once. W is a wrought or cast metal plate-
of the required length and width lying horizontally (or nearly so) in a furnace,
or forming part of a furnace, in such manner that the flame from the fuel
placed in the receptacle, fire-place, or fuel chamber X passes in the direction
of the arrows on the under side of the plate and return over the top side of
the same, whence the products of combustion may pass away up the flue or
chimney shaft; the fuel chamber X may have fire-bars on the bottom to
support the fuel, and it may be provided with a slab or door to close its front.
The plate W has a number of holes in each of its edges; in each of these
holes a spike, nail, or bolt is placed to be heated when the heading of, the
article is required to be made after it is cut or severed from a rod, strip, or
sheet of metal. When the plate is made of cast metal the holes are formed
by casting around cores, or the plate may be formed in two halves, half holes

page_text: being cast in each half, so that when such plates are placed together they form
one whole plate, as seen in section at Figure 36; a portion of one such plate
is seen in plan, Figure 37.
A second furnace is shewn partly in cross section at Figure 34, and partly
in section in the direction of its length at Figure 35, in which the furnace is
provided with two horizontal (or nearly horizontal) plates W connected
together at one end by a semicircular plate W placed in the furnace, or
forming a part of a furnace, and so disposed that the flame from the fuel used
in the fire-place X may pass under the lower plate W round its end and the
end of the upper plate W and over the same, so that the rods, strips, or
sheets of metal placed between the plates W may be heated when required
prior to being passed through the forming or slitting rolls above described,
without the said metal coming in contact with the flame. The products of com-
bustion pass away up the flue or shaft in the direction indicated by the arrows.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim the arrangement
and combination of parts, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Sedgwick, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
SAMUEL SEDGWICK. (L.S.)