IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORGING NAILS, SCREWS,. BOLTS, RIVETS, AND RAILWAY SPIKES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victor Hippolyte Laurent, of Plancher-les-Mines,
Département de la Haute Saone, France, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORGING NAILS, SCREWS,.
BOLTS, RIVETS, AND RAILWAY SPIKES."
Sealed the 12th March 1861, and dated the 20th September 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Victor Hippolyte Laurent
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th September 1860.
I, VICTOR HIPPOLYTE LAURENT, of Plancher-les-Mines, Département de la
Haute Saone, France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORGING NAILS,
SCREWS, BOLTS, RIVETS, AND RAILWAY SPIKES," to be as follows:-
Five operations are performed by my improved machine for forging nails ;
firstly, feeding with red hot iron rods supplied by a workman; secondly, forging
the stem or shank of the nail: thirdly, introducing the forged nail into a stamp
and cutting off; fourthly, punching down the head; fifthly, driving the nail out
of the stamp. The red hot iron rod is introduced progressively by lever between
the forging hammers and then delivered to the stamp. The shank is forged
by four sliding hammers so combined that the rod is forged on its four sides
A

page_text: without being turned about. The four hammers are placed at right angles,
and move with a regular alternate motion; they are disposed in such a way
that two opposite hammers strike at once and recede when the other set moves
down. The most important improvement is a contrivance for automatically
lengthening or shortening the hammers during the forging so as to produce
shanks of the required tapered shape. The forged shank is introduced by the
same feeding apparatus into a stamp, which stamp moves away at the same
time as a cutter, but in an opposite direction, for the purpose of cutting off the
rod. When this is performed the feeding lever moves away, and a stamping
punch punches down the head of the nail into the stamp. The nail is then
driven out of the stamp either by a piece striking on the point, or by pincers
taking hold of the shank a little under the head, and pushing it out. My
improved machine can forge nails of all descriptions but horse shoe nails
requiring very sharp points; such nails after forging are placed by hand in
pincers or holders, and there held fast during the sharpening of the point which
is effected either by cutting or filing off.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Victor Hippolyte Laurent in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, VICTOR
HIPPOLYTE LAURENT, of Plancher-les-Mines, Département de la Haute Saone,
France, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs. and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Victor Hippolyte Laurent, Her special licence that I, the said Victor Hippolyte
Laurent, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as. I, the
said Victor Hippolyte Laurent, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORGING NAILS, SCREWS, BOLTS,
RIVETS, AND RAILWAY SPIKES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said. Victor Hippolyte Laurent, my exccutors or administrators, by an instrument

page_text: in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particu
larly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within. six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Victor Hippolyte Laurent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, numbered from 1 to 9 inclusive, and to the letters of reference
marked thereon.
Forged nails can be divided in two classes from the form of their cross
section. The horse nail is a specimen of the first kind, with a rectangular
cross section, as shewn, Figures 10 and 31, Sheet IV., and the boat nail is a
specimen of the second kind, with a square section, as shewn, Figure 12, same
Sheet. The Figures 10 and 31 shew the French horse nail in full size, whilst
the Figures 11 and 32 represent the English horse nail.
The chief operations performed by my machine are, 1st, forging the stem or
shank of the nail; 2nd, feeding the machine; 3d, introducing the forged nail
in a heading stamp or die and cutting off; 4th, stamping the head of the nail;
5th, driving it out of the heading stamp.
I will proceed to describe successively the said operations required to perfect
the various kinds of nails just mentioned, excepting the English horse nail, the
head of which being of the same size as the rod from which it is made, does
not require stamping; therefore, for forging such kind of nails in my machine,
all the mechanical parts for working or holding the stamping die and punch
can be dispensed with, as well as those for driving out the nail, which will fall,
down alone as soon as it is cut off by the cutter...
I will now proceed to describe in order the several performances of my
machine, which will be easily understood by referring to the annexed Draw-
ings, on which all the general views are drawn to the scale of. On the VIII.
and IX. Sheets there is a separate machine, intended to point the nails by
cutting, when, as in some circumstances, my machine will not make them.
Figure 1, Sheet I., is a longitudinal section of my nail forging machine;
Figure 2 is an end view, shewing side of the forging hammers; Figure 1, Sheet
II., is a plan; and Figure 1, Sheet III., a general side view of the machine,
as seen from A of the plan; Figure 2, Sheet II., is a similar general side view,
as seen from B. The other Figures drawn on the said Sheets as well as on
Sheets IV., V., VI., VII., are particular or detached pieces of the machine
2

page_text: drawn sometimes on a larger scale, as will be explained hereafter. In all the
Figures of those seven Sheets of Drawings mentioned, the same pieces are
indicated by the same letters. All the different parts composing the machine
are supported by a stout cast-iron frame p, p.
I will now describe the forging. Ist, forging the stem or shank of the nail.
Motion is given by means of a band running on the pulley a, which works in
the same time as a fly wheel; this pulley is keyed fast on the main shaft b,
which also carries a pinion c; the latter actuates the shaft e through the cog
wheel d; the shaft e revolves only once during the completion of a nail; the
shaft b runs in bearings f.and 9; a wheel h carried by said shaft drives the
four pinions j,j, which are keyed on the shafts k, i, l, m; the latter run in bear-
ings n, n, and r, r; the bearings n are bolted fast on a cross cast-iron stand o,
which is shewn in section, Figure 1, Sheet I., in plan, Figure 1, Sheet II.,
and in elevation, Figure 2, Sheet II., and Figure 1, Sheet III.; the same
piece o is shewn in front, Figure 3. Sheet III.; the four forging hammers are
fitted on the vertical side of the stand o, opposite to the side shewn, Figure 3,
and as it is exhibited, Figure 2, Sheet III. The bearings r, r, are bolted fast
to a cross piece q, shewn in front, Figure 11, Sheet VI.; the bearing g of the
shaft 6 is also carried by the cross piece q; the stand o and cross piece q are
bolted fast on lugs cast together with both parts of the frame p,p. The shafts
i, k, l, m, are cranked near their ends at s; these cranks impel the hammers u
carried by each shaft; each hammer hinges with a rod t, and slides in a brace
v, bolted fast to the stand o.
Figure 2, Sheet III., shews in front the four braces v with their hammers;
the pinions are keyed on their cranked shafts in such manner that when the
hammers driven by the shafts k and are farthest apart, the two other ones
driven by the shafts i and m nearest together. It is evident from this dispo-
sition, that if a red hot iron rod to be forged is brought in a horizontal direc-
tion according to the touching line of the four hammers, the four sides of this
rod will be forged, without requiring that it be turned round. The end of each
hammer is provided with a forging stamp a, which is shewn full size, Figures
7 and 8, Sheet IV. The iron is forged only as it enters between the stamps;
the portions a' and 6 (are the only forging surfaces, the inclined surface b¹)
begins the forging, the surface a' completes it, whilst the lower surface =,
situated at a suitable distance from the latter so as not to strike the hot iron,
is intended only to prevent the stem or shank of the nail bending as it issues
from the inclined surface a. The said surface as shewn, Figure 7, Sheet IV.,
is provided at its beginning with a small projection, for the purpose of prevent-
ing the iron receding. The forging stamps are made from well tempered steel,

page_text: or better still, of chilled iron. Now if the hot iron were to be gradually intro-
duced according to the touching line of the four hammers, the forged nail
would be of the same thickness in its whole length, except the part which
would have been last acted on by the inclined surface 6'; this of course would
not answer for forging the shank or stem of the nail.
The Figure 12, Sheet IV., shews that if the respective pressure of the
hammers be regulated for the purpose of shaping the stem or shank of the nail
from point to head, the said hammers must recede froin one another according
to a certain rule, in proportion as they work nearer the head of the nail. As.
for the horse nail, though I could make its point by forging, I only forge the
stem' or shank, as shewn, Figure 9, so as to be certain it is very sound, and
the point is made by cutting off in a cold state, as will be hereafter described..
I commonly forge the horse nail in such wise that the two wider sides are
shaped by the two vertical hammers.
Now, this being understood, Figure 9, Sheet IV., shews that the stem must
be wider near the head than at the other end; it follows that if the pressure of:
the horizontal hammers has been regulated to produce a sufficient width
towards the point, this pressure must gradually and proportionally diminish as
it nears the head. As to the two vertical hammers which forge the two other
faces, the Figure 31 shews that their pressure being regulated to give a
suitable thickness to the end, it must be increased for shaping the thinner
part, and lessened till near the head of the nail, in order to produce the pro-
gressive increase of thickness. I will now explain how I obtain this result:-
The crank which actuates the hammer being of a constant length, it is evident
that either the length of the hammer or its connecting rod must be increased
or lessened. The Figures 26, 27, 28, (Sheet IV.), shew that the connecting
rod t, hinged to the hammer u and on the cranked shaft, is provided in its
junction with the latter with an eccentric die c', which is held fast in the
rod t by a press screw d"; the pointed end of which enters a set of small holes.
quite near each other, and corresponding to the divisions marked on the outer
surface of the rod, Figure 26. Accordingly, if it be desired to increase or
lessen the pressure of the hammers by means of the button " attached to the
die c', this eccentric die is turned of the required quantity to obtain the desired
effect, then the press screw d" is screwed up. In order to know how much!
the die is turned round, corresponding divisions are marked on the outside of
the connecting rod, and the button el carries a little bent rod, which stops
opposite the divisions marked on the connecting rod; by this means I regulate
the pressure of each hammer when beginning to forge each. kind. of nail, and
also the curved shape of the forging stamps.

page_text: I will now describe the means by which I cause the said pressure to De
modified while the nail is being forged. To obtain this result.there are but
two means to be employed; 1st, either to bring nearer to or farther from the
central shaft 6 the cranked shafts of the hammers; 2nd, either to shorten
or lengthen the distance of the end of the hammer to the shaft of the crank
or eccentric which drives it. I prefer to employ. this latter, means, because it
works more satisfactorily. It is as follows:-The connecting rod t, Sheet IV.;
is provided at its end with a pin f1, Figure 25, which enters the eye of a
pin g', Figures 29 and 30. The pin g¹ enters freely its whole length in a hole
pierced through the hammer. The end of this pin is furnished with a nut,
which bears on a helical spring lodged in a cylindrical recess h¹; this spring,
being sufficiently strong, ties the hammer to the connecting rod t. The
lower part of this rod, which is beyond the axle f¹, bears on a steel die i¹, on
which it can vibrate. The die is carried by a steel wedge j¹, as shewn,
Figure 23; it is kept in its place by the inner side of the fore part of the
guide or brace, which is properly cut on each side for the free passage of the
wedge as the hammer is moving. When the wedge is forced in, the spring h' is
squeezed, and the forging stamp is driven away from the centre of the crank,
whilst, if the wedge is pushed out, the spring expands, and the-stamp is brought
nearer to the centre of the same crank. It must be inferred from this result
that, for increasing or lessening the pressure of the hammers, according to
established rule, the wedges must be forced in or drawn according to the
same rule.
I will now describe how this action is produced.
viously herein mentioned, the shaft e, Figure 1, Sheet I., .rotates only once
while the complete nail is being forged; the grooved eccentric p³, carried by
the shaft e, communicates at proper intervals a vibrating motion to the lever'r¹,
through another lever t¹, keyed as the former on a shaft s¹, moving freely.
on the bearings g³ and h², bolted fast on the frame. The end of the lever t¹ is
provided with a roller, which runs in the groove of the eccentric p³. The.
lever is connected by a rod to a centre pin i, carried by a flat ring 7, on
the fore part of which work the hammers. The ring l' is shewn in section,
Figure 1, Sheet I., in front, Figure 3, Sheet III., and in detail at Figure 4,
Sheet IV. The same Figure 3 shews the hind part of the frame with all
parts belonging to it; Figure 2, same Sheet, shews the opposite face, as
before stated. The ring l¹ can move round freely on the edge of a collar k³,
screwed fast on the plate of the cross frame o, 'o. The ends of four
screws carried by the collar k¹ run. freely into a groove cut all round the
internal periphery of the ring ; their object is to maintain it on the collar,
allowing it to move round; it follows that the ring is actuated by the:
As pre-

page_text: lever 7. Four small steel eccentrics m², n', o', p³, are carried by the ring 1,
and the levers u, t, x, v', provided with small rollers, bear on the eccentrics.
m², n', o, pl: Each of the said levers is fitted on the square part of a small.
shaft, and held thereon by a screw. The round part of said shaft runs
through the ring 1, Figures 2 and 3, Sheet III. This ring is thickened
by bosses cast thereon in the proper places for the passage of the said shaft,
which can turn freely therein. The other end of the same shafts is square
also, for the fitting of forked pieces a³, a³, Figure 2, Sheet III, as the levers.
provided with rollers before mentioned. The details of the forked piece are
shewn, Figures 20, 21, 22, and 24, Sheet IV. It carries a roller, Figure 20,.
the axle of which embodied with it can turn freely in one of the branches of
the forked piece and in a hole pierced in a steel screw 2 fastened in the
other branch. The rollers carried by the forked parts a enter freely into the
rectangular hole m2, Figures. 27 and 28, Sheet IV., as shown, Figure 2,
Sheet III. The hole m² must be long enough, so that the two small inner
faces shall never touch the roller during the working of the hammer.
The forked part a is provided with a lug 63, as shewn, Figure 24,
Sheet IV. The said lug hinges with the rods c, d, e, f, which rods,.
except e, can slide freely in sockets n², provided with round pins, which
can turn freely in an eyed piece p¹ bolted fast to the frame o, Figure 1,.
Sheet II. The rod e2 is connected to the forked piece a² through the rod o
which runs freely through the frame p; a helical spring is wound round this
rod, and plays freely between the nut and frame for the purpose of with-
drawing constantly the wedge out of the hammers. The rods d², c, f, are
provided with a similar spring, the end of which bears against the rest, and acts
in a similar manner on the wedges of the other hammers. As the forked
pieces just mentioned are attached on the same shafts as the rollers carrying
levers v', u', t, x, it is evident that the action of the springs; ever tending to
pull out the wedges, will also cause the rollers of the said levers to bear on the
small eccentrics o¹, m³, n', pl. Now on account of the motion given to the
lever when the forging takes place, the wedges of both vertical hammers
shall be forced in or pulled out according to the rule of the shape given to the
eccentrics o¹ and n³, whilst the wedges carried by the horizontal hammers will
be acted upon by the eccentrics m² and p¹. If now we look at the eccentric p³,
Figure 2, Sheet III., it will be seen that the ring actuated by it has a.
turning movement, while the roller carried by the lever t" moves from 1 to 2,
and during this movement the stem or shank of the nail is forged. The small
eccentrics shewn on the Drawing are shaped according to the rule previously
explained as regards horse-shoe nails. If a regular tapered nail was to be

page_text: forged, the four small eccentrics of the ring should be similar to the
eccentrics m² and p' of the horizontal hammers; but their shape may always
be ascertained.either by calculation or by experiment, as the stem of the nail is
always thicker under the head than in any other place; the eccentrics must be
shaped so that their lowest part corresponds to the end of the forging of the
nail. At this moment the hammers have the least pressure, and then the
roller of the lever t" has moved on to the position 2 of the eccentric p³. It is
also at this moment that the stem or shank of the forged nail gets out of the
hammers which retain their least pressure, while the roller of the lever t
ひ
moves on from 2 to 3, and during this time the eccentric p³ leaves the said
lever motionless. Now the small eccentrics of the ring are brought back
to the same position they occupied in the beginning of forging, while the
roller of the lever t" moves along the space from 3 to 1. It will be easily
understood that it is necessary to have a stopping action provided on the
eccentric p³, in order to avoid that the hammers which are constantly moving
might strike the stem of the nail when it. is getting out of the stamps. In
the details shewn, Figures 2 and 3, Sheet III., the eccentric p³ is in a position
nearly corresponding to forging the mildle part of the nail. In the general
views the position of the same eccentric is as it must be in the beginning of
the forging operation. This position corresponds with all the other movements
shewn in the said general views. In order to prevent the cranked arms
actuating the hammers to yield, the said shafts are provided at their end near
the crank with a journal or pivot s; on the same line with the shaft an iron
ring p, Figure 2, Sheet III., and Figure 1, Sheet V., carrying four arms q²,
shewn more particularly, Figures 15, 16, 17, Sheet IV. The said arms in
order to be more solid are let partly in the iron ring, and they are bolted fast
by two bolts u³, u². Each of the arms 12 carries a brass die for the
pivot s to run in. This contrivance of the ring på and its four arms q³ is
screwed fast on the hammer's braces by screws t³. I will remark that
the end of each arm q² is provided with a screw t³, holding the die of
the pivot and allowing it to help against the wearing out of the
said die..
The screws are furnished with stopping pins to maintain them and
prevent their becoming unscrewed; one of the ends is tapped and screwed
down in the arm 92, whilst the other end is sharp and enters into a set of
points punched very near each other under the head of the screw . The
section of the hammers, Figure 5, Sheet IV., shews the details of the fittings
just mentioned. To insure a suitable forging of the nail it is important to
maintain the iron rod by means of a contrivance placed the nearest possible to

page_text: the entrance of the forging stamps, which contrivance holds fast the hot iron as.
ong as the hammers strike it, and release it as soon as they touch it no more.
This result I obtain as follows: In the Figures 5 and 6 of Sheet IV., which.
represent the details of the vertical hammers, there is a round rod which can:
slide freely in the two bearings and a³, this rod has a round eye through its.
lower end, through which runs the screw h³, the end of which enters a hole.
bored in a small hardened steel or chilled iron square sliding piece y, which is:
kept against the hammer by means of a covering plate f³, under which it can
slide freely. The upper end of this slider is inclosed in a groove cut in the
brace, as shewn in the plan of the latter, Figure 1, Sheet VI. A helical.
spring lodged between the bearing 23 and shoulder y³ of the rod a³, the spring
constantly pushes up the said rod a, and of course the slider y which is
attached to the latter by the screw h³. The upper part of the rod is fork
shaped at , and provided with a roller which bears constantly on the
excentric, which eccentric is attached to the pivot of the upper cranked
shaft by means of a tail-piece and screw, shewn in Figure 5, Sheet IV.; there
is a resting block d³ fastened with two screws on a projecting edge of the.
lower brace v, upon which rests the iron rod during the forging operation:
when the slider y bears upon it. The eccentric is so formed that the
slider y moves down twice as the shaft i revolves once, in short, that the said
slider is always bearing upon the rod when either the horizontal or vertical
hammers squeeze it, whilst it leaves it when the said hammer's action is over..
The tail-piece or stem of the forked piece b³ is tapped, and runs freely into
the rod, the end of the said tail-piece has a narrow groove, into which
enters a pin which runs through the rod a³. The forked part rests on a nut c³,
which regulates at pleasure the pressure of the slider y³ upon the iron rod..
This small slider could be replaced by the contrivance shewn, Figures 6 and 7,.
Sheet VI. At the lower part of the rod as a cross piece is attached by
means of a pin; the said cross piece is connected by means of two rods to
the arms of the steel piece ³, shewn in plan, Figure 8. The piece hinges.
between two lugs carried by the piece attached by two screws on the edges.
cast together with the lower brace; the piece carries by means of a screw
the lower resting block, on which the cross branch of the piece bears upon
the hot iron when the rod is moving up; it is obvious that the motion of.
the rod a is the same as before described, but now it is the action of the
spring which causes the piece to bear upon the hot iron rod. As the
portion of the piece which bears upon the hot iron wears out in a short
time, I prefer making the said piece as shewn in Figures 9 and 10, Sheet VI.;.
the portion m³ which bears on the hot iron is made of chilled iron and of a

page_text: square shape; it can be held by a press screw n³ in the cross part of the
piece through which a mortice should be cut. A setting screw 03 serves to
adjust at pleasure the position of the piece m³. The contrivance which I have
adopted for holding the hot iron rod before the forging stamps might be
replaced by a mere ring, but if this ring were not to open when the nail is
taken out after it is forged, it might often happen that it (the ring) would
retain the nail because the iron is always bent a little before the forging
stamps. If this ring were so combined that it should open when the rod is
getting out, this would be about the same disposition which I have just
described; I will observe that the upper shaft of the hammers carries a fly
wheel, intended to allow the workman to motive the machine by hand when
he desires to regulate it.
2nd feeding. A number of iron rods. intended to be turned into nails are
heated at their ends in any convenient furnace, when hot enough they are
introduced into the feeding apparatus, which brings their ends, according to a
certain rule, to the forging action of the hammers, which shape the stem or
shank of the nail. When this operation is completed the feeder moves out
and drives the said stem or shank into a heading stamp, then a cutter cuts
from the rod the part intended for the nail, the stem of which is already
forged. The heading stamp moves away with its nail and stops before a
stamping punch, whilst another hot iron rod having been introduced by the
workman into the feeding apparatus while the first one was being forged, is
brought now to the forging action of the hammers: The feeder must answer
to those various conditions in order to accomplish the rule according to which
the rod is introduced between the hammers, as well as that by which the
pressure of the hammers is varied. The lever movement of the feeding
apparatus is shewn separately in Figures 4 and 5, Sheet V.; it is shewn also
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet I. Figures 1 and 2, Sheet II., and Figure 1,
Sheet III.; a shaft q3 runs in two supports 1 and 2 attached to the frame p, p,
of the machine; this shaft is grooved in its whole length; a little filling block
carried by the bearing 1 enters this groove to prevent the shaft turning round
in the bearings 1 and 2, but it can have a sliding motion; the piece ³, which
I call feeding lever, turns freely on the shaft q3 running through it; two rings
t' and ' keyed fast on the shaft q3 maintain the lever v³ on each side, so that
it can turn round on this shaft. while it is carried along in sliding movement
of the said shaft. The lever v³, as shewn in the Figures 4 and 5, Sheet V.,
carries two similar sockets a³ and at; shewn separately half size in Sheet VII.,
but without the lever v³ cast together with its two sockets. The end of each
one carries a chilled iron plug as attached to the socket.by a press screw ;

page_text: this plug is opened at its top for the purpose of receiving the pressing lever b
The iron rod is introduced in the socket through the funnel k, held fast itself
in the socket by the setting screw do. The pressing lever 6 bears upon. the
hot iron rod through the action of two helical springs rolled around the
cylindrical rods r, s, which hinge on the same axle e. The rod gets in a
long eye cut through the end of the lever h*, and the top part of the rod s' gets
in a similar eye cut through the piece 9*. The levers g' and h' hinge on the
same axle f. It is evident that the action of the springs on the rods r* and s
will cause the lever to bear upon the iron rod when the levers g* and ho are
bearing upon the end of the screws 9" and he carried by the pressing lever b. :
will be brought in turn' on
Figure 4, Sheet V., shews'
fixed rod i carried by the
In the Figure 4 the axle
I will now explain the working of the lever vs. The Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet I., and Figures 1 and 2, Sheet II., shew the machine provided with a
shaft a', an end of which runs in a bearing embodied on the forepart of the
frame, Figure 1, Sheet III., the other end running in the chair m' bolted fast
inside of the frame p, p. A tooth wheel 1 is keyed on the said shaft, it gears
with the pinion keyed on the shaft e; the diameter of this pinion is half that
of the wheel 10, which 'turns half round when the pinion revolves once.
On 'the
shaft a' is keyed the eccentric 13, against which bears (at all times) the steel
peg y carried by the lower branch of lever v³; the peg y³ is long enough
always to touch the eccentric, while the latter is driven away by the shaft q³..
The symmetrical outline of the eccentric r³, Figure 4, Sheet V., shews that for
each half revolution of the shaft a the lever will be moved in such manner:
that each of the two sockets carried by the lever
the line of intersection of the forging hammers.
that the lower arm of the lever h* can rest on a
frame of the machine, by means of two chairs j.
of the left socket is on the. intersecting line of the four hammers, whilst 'the'
other socket is out of the said line. The branch his so bent, that in the
position represented in the Drawing, the portion of the said lever on which
the spring is ascending, and in its ascent it rests on the end of the screw h
to cause the lever 6' to compress the hot iron rod, which by this means is
firmly held in the plug a, Figure 6, Sheet VII. The squeezing lever will be:
relieved from the action of the spring s when the socket removed by the
eccentric shall be out of the intersecting line of the forging hammers, as
is the case with the socket that is on the right side in Figure 4, Sheet V.
The evident effect of this combination is, that the springs' applied against the`
levers h and h act on the squeezing lever only when the axle of the socket to
which the said levers belong is on the intersecting line of the hammers. The
spring tending to push upward the lever g, shewn-in front plan and section in

page_text: the Figures 4, 5, and 6, Sheet VII., bears constantly against the screw
of
the squeezing lever 6. The strength of this spring must not be so great as
to prevent the workman either taking out the hot iron rod from the socket, or
introducing it easily therein; its effect must be only to hold the hot iron rod
when the spring s no longer acts on the squeezing lever. Figure 6 shews
that the funnel is provided at its upper part with a cranked branch n, in
which enters freely a round rod carried by a square frame 1*, shewn Figure 9,
Sheet VII. One of the vertical slides of this frame can slide against the
inner surface of the funnel; the sliding side is notched below, this notch being
a little narrower than the iron rod introduced in the socket. A helical spring
inserted between the branch n of the funnel, and a nut screwed on the end of
the round rod of the frame, tends constantly to raise the piece . When the
lever h' acts on the squeezer b, it presses no longer on the tail-piece of the
frame, which ascends by the action of its own spring. Now, the two
inclined surfaces of the notch press close the rod introduced into the socket ;
this pressing action, which takes place on the touching points of the inclined
planes with the iron rod, causes this rod to stick faster in the socket. When.
the lever h bears no more on the squeezer b', it bears on the tail-piece of the
frame 1, causing the said frame to move down to release the iron rod. The
end of the squeezing lever ought to be very hard; it is advisable to make the
said lever of chilled iron; in this case the lever should be provided with
two eyes, Figures 7 and 8, Sheet VII., within which steel plugs should be.
riveted, for the purpose of receiving the screws and f. Instead of being
entirely made of chilled iron, the lever b' may be furnished only with a piece
of chilled iron, as shewn Figure 6, Sheet VII.
I will now explain how the shaft q³ gives to the feeding lever the re-
quired to-and-fro or backward and forward motion. The Figures 1 and 2 of
Sheet II., and Figure 1, Sheet I., shew that the end of shaft q³ is provided.
with a roller turning freely on an axle, bored at its upper end for attaching a
chain, the last link of which is attached in the groove of a pulley s, round
which the said chain can be rolled up and unrolled; the pulley &³ is keyed on
a shaft t running in holes through the frame p. Two other pulleys to are fixed
on the ends of the said shaft; in the grooves of said pulleys chains are
attached, to the ends of which hang the weights w³, which are intended to
force the roller of shaft to bear constantly against the eccentric 13, causing
the said shaft to move according to the various curved lines of the eccentric.
In Figure 1, Sheet I. and Sheet II., the feeding lever begins to introduce the
hot iron rod between the forging stamps. The form of the curved surface l³
which governs this introduction must be so, calculateil, that the rod be:

page_text: introduced quicker for the forging of thicker portions of the nail than for the
thinner ones; or, in other words, it must enter either quicker or slower in
proportion as the pressure of the hammers either decreases or increases.
When the axle of the socket x' of the feeding lever is on the intersecting
line of the hammers, the other socket is opposite to the stopper o, when on the
reverse it is the axle of the latter's socket which is on this intersecting line,
the axle of the socket is opposite to the stopper p°, Figures 2 and 3,
Sheet III. I will now explain what those two stoppers are. It is evident
by looking at the Figures that when the two sockets are the one opposite to
the stopper o, and the other opposite to the stopper p, at this moment only is
it possible to take out the iron rod which has just furnished a nail to fill its
place by another; the former one can be taken off when the levers h* or h³ have
depressed their respective springs by resting on the rods i, Figures 4 and 5,
Sheet V. To limit the length of the stem or shank of the nail, the rod
introduced to be forged must be pushed against a guide stop placed before the
socket, but as the latter moves backward and forward as the nail is being
forged, the
stop must, of course, follow the same movements, in order that the
space which separates it from the end of the socket which it is feeding should
not vary during the feeding. For this purpose a branch q is furnished at its
lower end with a concave piece screwed fast on the shaft 3, Figure 3,
Sheet III. A notch is cut into the frame o, o, for the free passage of the
branch , which is bent for placing thereon the stoppers 0° and p; the
latter are screwed down in the eyes left in the branch 2, and press screws
allow of their being maintained in a regulated position to proportion the
length to the nails. The stop rod o runs through both one of the hammers
and its brace, a mortice must be cut through the said hammer to allow it to
work without touching the stop; this mortice or slot is shewn Figures 28
and 27, Sheet IV. The other stopper p runs only through the edge of the
brace, as shewn, Figure 2, Sheet III.
Figures 16, 17, and 18, Sheet VI., shew a modification of a mechanical
arrangement, which I have described for holding the iron rod in the feeding
apparatus. The iron rod is held in the socket by means of the lever b' acting"
as before described, but a weight tied to its end part causes it to open when
the lever h presses it no more. The funnel k is tapped and used as a nut on
a steel screw u¹³, the sharp joint of which enters one side of the hot iron rod'
when the said screw is pushed forward by the lever 713 acting at the other end.
When the workman wants to fill the place of the iron rod, which is no more'
squeezed by lever b', he slacks the screw u¹³ by pulling the lever 3; and
pushes it back after the introduction of a fresh iron rod. In order to prevent

page_text: the screw slackening during the forging of the nail, the lever 13 is provided
on one side with an inclined. plane s, against which the rounded end of a
cylindrical rod t is constantly pressed. The rod 3 is furnished with a
cylindrical tail piece of a smaller diameter, round which a helical spring is
wound up as shewn, Figure 17. In the funnel & there is a cylindrical recess,
in which slides freely the rod t as a piston, which is constantly pressed
against the inclined plane by the action of the spring just mentioned, which is
clearly shewn in Figure 17, when the iron rod is pressed upon by the point
of the screw us, the opposite side of the rod bears upon the end of a
fixed screw carried by the funnel to serve as fulcrum for regulating as
required.
3d. Introducing the forged nail in a heading stamp or die and cutting off.
-The movement of the heading stamp is shewn separately in Figures 18 and
19, Sheet IV.; Figure 18 is the front view, and Figure 19, the back view of
the said stamp. The lever v6 carrying the heading stamp to is raised by a
helical spring wound round the rod 77 hinging in lugs embodied over the
lever ; the said rod can slide freely in a pivoted guide or socket t' moveable
in a bearing u, bolted fast to the plate p³, Figure 1, Sheet III.; this pivoted
socket is quite similar to the one before described for actuating the wedges.
The lifting spring bears on one part against the bearing t", on the other against
the nut v, Figure 1, Sheet I., and Figure 1, Sheet II. The branch & carrying
the plug hinges in the bearing u, bolted fast on the frame; this branch is con-
nected to another so, the end of which provided with a roller bears on an
eccentric keyed on the shaft e. By the action both of the spring wound
round the rod r, and the eccentric r, the beading stamp is brought to the
various positions required for working the machine. A lever is provided at
one of its extremities with a steel cutter a', held fast by a bolt c running
through an elongated hole cut through the lever y; the vertical position of the
cutter is obtained by means of a setting screw b', bearing on the body of the
bolt screw c. This disposition will be understood by looking at Figure 13,
Sheet IV., which is a section of the cutter and lever through the centre of the
screw 6. The army' hinges in a bearing e fastened on the frame of the
machine; it is joined to a tail piece yº, the end of which is furnished with a
roller. A rod with helical spring a³, Figure 2, Sheet I., quite similar to that.
described for the lifting movement of the heading stamp, constantly tends to
raise the cutter. A cam screwed fast to the plate keyed on the shaft c
causes the cutter to move down by its action on the roller carried by the tail
piece y. When the cutter is up the roller rests on the shaft e. Thus when
the stem or shank of the nail is forged, the eccentric & pushes back the feeding,

page_text: ever, and the ascending motion of the heading stamp to takes place till a
houlder & carried by the rod r' be arrived to rest against the socket.t; this,
topping shoulder serves to regulate the ascending course of the heading stamp ;
or this purpose the eccentric must be hollowed deeper than it would other-
vise be. The centre of the heading stamp being then opposite to the inter-
ection line of the hammers stops a while, and in this moment the eccentric P
llows the feeding lever to introduce in this stamp the portion of the nail just
orged. While it is being introduced the cutter has moved down, being quite.
hear above the iron rod to be cut off, when the nail is quite in the stamp..
The feeding lever then stops and the cutter moving on cuts off the iron rod;
the steel plug a of the feeding lever fills the office of under cutter; this plug
touches the cutter a' as soon as the latter is ready to cut off the iron rod. The
portion of the nail intended to form the head has a length from the heading,
stamp to the plug a" of the feeding lever. If it were required to give more or,
less iron for stamping the head, the plug. a should be drawn out more or less
by pushing in so much more or less the cutter a', against which it stops; the
cutter a can be pushed forwards or backwards by placing thinner or thicker,
washers betwixt the cutter and levery'. After the cutting off of the iron rod,
the heading stamp to furnished with its nail moves down for stopping opposite
to the punch, which is to stamp the head, but it is important that the heading
stamp begins moving down as soon as the cutter begins pressing on the iron.
rod, which it is to cut off; now during the whole cutting action the stamp moves
down with the same speed as the cutter, because if it were moving faster the
portion of the rod intended to form the head of the nail would be bent in the.
opposite side to the direction of the movement of the stamp; this bending would
be in a contrary direction, if the speed of the stamp were slower than that of
the cutter.
The eccentric which impels the cutter downward should be shaped so as to
give a perfect corresponding speed to both the cutter and heading stamp, but
it is more advisable to leave this matter under the control of the attendant, in
order to obtain perfectly stamped heads. To obtain this result I cause the
eccentric, which works the down motion to move a little slower, and I
adapt to the lever of the knife or cutter (y) a screw d'. Figures 13 and 14;
Sheet IV., which is so regulated that the lower end of the said screw comes
to bear on the lever vs carrying the heading stamp or die, Figure 18; when
the knife or cutter begins to touch the iron rod which it is to cut off, the effect
is that the lever y' depresses the spring wound up around the rod 2, which
tends to raise the lever v; the heading stamp is then forced down, with the
same speed as the cutter, which rises as soon as the rod is cut off. The stamp
.
'

page_text: keeps moving down, because it is actuated by the excentric, which brings it
opposite to the heading punch. The form of the stamp to, shewn Figure 18,
Sheet IV., and Figure 1, Sheet I., is that intended to form the head of a
horse-shoe nail; the widening made on the fore part helps much to introduce
the stem or shank of the nail pushed in by the feeding lever. Such a heading
stamp could not be used for manufacturing nails of the form shewn Figure 12,
Sheet IV., because the nails of that kind are forged out of iron rods of the
same thickness as directly under the head. In this special case, heading
stamps of a single piece can no longer be used, because the stem of the nail
would not be resistant enough to prevent it sinking in the stamp during the
heading operation. Instead of using a stamp as for the horse nails, dies
should be fitted, which should open to allow the nails to be introduced, and
being then closed would hold it firmly enough to resist to the heading opera-
tion. For this purpose I merely replace the lever v6, 86, by the lever ss, vs,
Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet IV., the latter being fitted with suitable dies ',,
which can slide in guides attached to the lever v8. The said dies are hinged
to the levers f and g' on pivots do and screwed fast on the piece 8; the
levers f, g, are connected by means of hinged levers to the rod m', and also
by a guiding rod sliding freely in a hole bored through the piece v. A lever n
placed behind the branch shinged on a pivot e carried by this branch is
attached by a bolt f to the rod m'. Figure 1, Sheet IV., shews the whole of
the said arrangement; Figure 2 is a side view; and Figure 3, a plan of the
whole mechanism attached to the branch se; the bent part of the lever n' bears
constantly on a lever p', the other end of which is moveable on a pivot g
screwed fast to the frame of the machine; the lever p' bears on an eccen-
tric o carried by the shaft e near the eccentric, against which bears the roller
carried by the cranked arm of the branch s. From this disposition it follows,
that while the eccentric 70 causes the dies 7 and 7 to move up or down, the
eccentric o actuates the branch n' by help of the lever p'. A rod x², which
can slide freely in a guide s attached to the branch is connected to the
upper part of the branch n' by means of a hinged forked piece f; the rod x
carries a spring t, the action of which tends to open the dies. The duty of
the eccentric is to give at the proper moments the ascending or descending
motion, whilst the eccentric o causes the dies to open, or suffers them to be
closed at the required moments.
4th. Stamping the head of the nail.-As herein-before explained, as soon as
the forged nail has been cut off from the rod, the feeding lever v³ has moved
round on its axle q³ by the action of the eccentric 2, and the socket has
brought at once to the forging stamps the hot iron rod, which the workman'

page_text: a
had placed into that socket. In the same moment the heading stamp or die
provided with a forged nail is brought down by the action of the eccentric,
and it stops when arrived perfectly opposite to the stamping punch c. The
particulars of the heading mechanism are represented in Figures 6, 7, and 8,
Sheet V., and Figure 3, Sheet VI. The heading punch c', as shewn Figure 1.
Sheet I., slides freely in the braces d' attached to the frame p by means of
two branches shewn in Figures 7 and 8, Sheet V. This punch is actuated by
a connecting rod e, impelled itself by an upright cranked shaft f' carrying
bevel wheel ko, which gears with a similar one keyed on the shaft e.
The lower end of the cranked shaft f runs in a socket made on the covering
piece of the bearing of shaft e, Figure 6, Sheet V. The shaft fo is main-
tained in a kind of sleeve h with two apertures, one for the shaft f, the other
by a transom running through the frame p as a bolt. A key shewn Figure 1,
Sheet I., holds the sleeve or box h on the transom 2. When the heading
stamp is arrived opposite to the punch the lever carrying the said stamp
engages itself before the hooked piece n°, Figure 3, Sheet VI., the cylindrical
tail piece thereof runs through both the braces do, and a hole m³, (produced
through the piece h' by casting) against which bears a key o³, forced through
the end of the hook 2, upon which rests the lever 2, during the stamping
pressure, which can be increased or lessened by shifting the eccentrical die g³,
carried by the connecting rod..
Figure 1, Sheet I., shews the special disposition and shape of the stamping
punch for punching the head of horseshoe nails. The heading punch a' is
run through by the thinner end of a peg 6º. When the stamping takes place
the head of the nail pushes back the peg out of the recess of the punch,.
whereby the action of the spring lodged in the punchholder p it strives always
to re-enter. The effect of that spring peg is to prevent the nail from sticking
to the heading punch when it moves back. The punch holder p³ is provided
at its end with a ring-shaped edge, entering a circular groove cut into the
lever v6 around the holding stamp. This jointing is for the purpose of forming
the head in the very centre of the nail. For nails with round, square, or
diamond-shaped heads the movement of the peg b' becomes useless. In order
to maintain firmly the nail in the heading stamp when it comes opposite
the punch, the lower end of a steel blade 2, Figure 19, Sheet VI., which
can slide freely in a mortice cut in the lever behind the die presses on the stem
of the nail; this blade is furnished with an inclined plane, allowing the nail
to lift it up as it gets in the heading stamp. The upper end of this blade ¹s is
provided with a cranked.branch which enters
the end of the piece y hinged on a pivot a
an elongated aperture cut through
fixed to the hind part of the
B

page_text: lever v. A spring a¹³ constantly pushes the lever, y¹ on a stopping screw v¹³, it
results from this contrivance, that when the nail is introduced in the heading
stamp it raises the blade 13 by depressing the spring as, which then pushes it
back down as far as the stopping screw v¹³.
5th. Driving the nail out of the heading stamp.-After the nail has been
headed the stamp to holding this nail remains motionless opposite the punch
until the latter has entirely retired; at this moment it must be expelled from
the stamp to to allow the latter to reascend at once to receive another, nail for
stamping; this can be done by means of the mechanism shewn on the general
views of the machine and the particulars in Figures 2 and 3; Sheet V.,
plan and elevation of the mechanism which is composed of a shaft q' the ends
of which can vibrate in the frame p of the machine; a lever t¹, carried by the
shaft q' is furnished with a pivot 610, shewn in dotted lines, Figure 2, Sheet V.;
the end of this pivot pressed by the spring rests against the toothed wheel to.
The rod carrying the spring runs freely through the pieces of the frame, and
is connected to the lever t¹ by means of the rod 0%. The upper end of the
lever is also connected by the rod v to a horizontal rod a, which can slide
freely in a guide y, screwed fast underneath the braces d'. The rod is
furnished with a branch º, the cranked end of which is behind the stamp
holding the nail.
Figure 2, Sheet V., shews there is a notch a cut in the edge of the tooth
wheel be. The position of this notch is so arranged that the pivot 610, carried
by the lever t, falls in the said notch just when the nail must be driven out.
The result is a quick movement imparted to the branch º, which strikes on
the end of the stem or shank of the nail and drives it out of the stamp. The
inclined plane carried by the notch a then brings back the cranked part of
to its former position. But for performing this work I prefer the arrange:
ment exhibited on Sheet VI. The Figures 4 and 5 shew half-size pincers
applied to the lever directly behind the stamp bearing the nail. The said
pincers are composed of two branches c and d hinged on the pin k¹.
The branch do is carried by an axle 70, which is maintained in the eye of
the latter by means of a tongue, Figures 14 and 15. The 'axle ° can turn
freely in lugs or projecting edges of a bearing e screwed fast to the lever 'v;
a screw h¹o, carried by the branch d, bears against the bearing e¹0 through
the action of the spring m applied on the end of the axle 70, attached to the
tongue in the aperture of the lever d. The office of the screw h¹0 is to
regulate the position of the pincers' jaws with regard to the hind part of
the heading stamp. It can be observed in Figure 4, Sheet VI., that the jaws
of the pincers are furnished with small inclined planes on the side of the

page_text: stamp to facilitate introducing the stem of the nail. If the nail has been
introduced in the pincers as shewn, Figure 4, some portion of it will be driven
out of the stamp by pushing back the lower end of the branch clo, which is
shewn in Figures 7 and 8, Sheet V. An eccentric is fitted on the edge of
the tooth wheel to, which eccentric by its action on the pivot 610, pushes
forward the lever t, and with it the horizontal rod a, which is connected
with it by another rod, as previously described. A sleeve provided with a
stopping screw 10, slides on the end of the rod a³, the sliding sleeve is shewn
in plan Figure 9, it is constantly pressed upon by a spring which pushes it
against a pin fixed in the rod x, the pin runs through a groove cut in the
sleeve which is thus prevented from turning round on the rod x. The position
of the eccentric a10, attached to the tooth wheel to, is so combined that it
pushes the stopping screw, 20, against the tail end of the pincers in the required
moment for driving the nail out of the stamp. The spring placed behind
the sleeve carrying the stopping screw 20, yields when it is necessary either
if the nail be thicker than usual or for any other cause. When the nail is
partly out of the heading stamp, the pincers stops motionless till the mechanism
which I will presently describe takes hold of the nail behind the head, the
pincers then let loose the nail and recede, because the eccentric a¹0, allows
the spring tending to draw back the lever t¹, to drive back the stopping screw
210. The mechanism taking the nails entirely out of the heading stamp is
shewn in the Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet V., and Figure 3, Sheet VI., this latter
Figure is the plan of a cylindrical horizontal rod a", which can turn and slide
freely in the bearings e", and f", the first one is attached under the braces, the
second one is attached on the transom of the frame. A rod e¹², fixed to the
heading punch, pushes the rod a", forward when it catches the ring e", tied
on the rod, and it drives the latter backwards when it bears against the
ring d. Now when the pincers have driven the head of the nail out of the
stamp, the forked piece b", keyed on the end of the rod a", moves down so
that the part of the stem just behind the head of the nail is engaged in the
round part of the forked piece, then the heading punch will drive out entirely
the nail when the rod e catches the ring d". But when the punch begins to
ascend to suffer it to advance.
move forward again the forked piece bu must
The up or down motion of the forked piece takes place as follows:-The
5 shaft a, Figures 6 and 7, Sheet V., carries an excentric 9", against the
periphery thereof bears the end of a lever h", which can swing on a pivot j
fixed to the bearing 1, a spring compelling the lever h₁ to bear. on the
periphery of the eccentric is attached to the bearing 1. The upper end of the
lever h", is fork-shaped and a rod k¹, carried by the rod a¹¹; can slide freely

page_text: in this fork, it will be evident that the action of the eccentric g" will cause
the fork to move up or down. As the shaft a moves only half round
during the perfecting of a nail, it is formed of two equal and symmetrical parts.
It is evident that the rings c and d must be so removed from one another
that they can only catch the forked piece when the latter is at its proper
position. There is much difficulty in driving the horse-shoe nail out of the
heading stamp, because sometimes the pincers before described do not nip
it hard, enough to pull it out. In order to insure a good result, I have
combined another mechanism shewn in detail in the Sheets VI. and VII.;
Figure 19, Sheet VI is a front view; Figure 1, Sheet VII., is a longitudinal
section, and Figure 2 a plan thereof, all the pieces already described are marked
with the same letters, the cylindrical rod a slides freely in the bearing e",
fixed to the cylinder d, which carries the heading punch. A cranked piece
els carries a socket attached with a pin on the end of the rod a¹¹, a helical
spring on this rod, betwixt the socket of the piece e¹³ and bearing e", constantly
pushes the said piece in the position exhibited in Figure 1, Sheet VII. The
piece es, shewn in front Figure 22, Sheet VI., and in plan Figure 23, is
provided with a forked piece o¹³, within which hinges the lever f13, shewn in
Figures 24 and 25, Sheet VI. This lever is provided with a hinged piece h¹³,
resting on the flattened end of the two branched lever g¹³, which can swing on
a pivot q, tied on the ring p³, the lower end of this lever is furnished with
a roller bearing on the eccentric 6. A press screw 7¹³, and a nut p¹³,
carried by the axis of the roller, serve to bring it to a suitable position. The
piece e¹s, is bored through, and in the hole the pin k¹³ can slide freely, this
pin having a tapped shoulder screwed in the brace v, is used to maintain the
piece e, in a suitable position. Figure 19 shews that the branches f¹³
and g¹s, form by their joining pincers, which when open allow the free
passage of the nail, when the stamp brings it before the heading punch
the said pincers can be shut by the action of the eccentric a. This being
understood I will explain the motion of the rod a", carrying the pincers just
described. The Figures 1 and 2, Sheet VII., shew that a hook a¹³, is hinged in
the end of the rod a", this hook bears on a roller d's, the pivot thereof is carried
by a bearing, screwed fast on the piece h³, before mentioned. A piece b¹³
attached by screws under the heading punch is furnished with a cranked
branch lodged under the hook a. When the heading punch moves back this s
branch is pushed against the vertical surface of the hook, which it carries
along in its movement. Figure 1 shews that the portion of the piece a¹³,
which rests on the roller. d¹³, is composed of a horizontal and an inclined
surface, the latter touching the hook; when, this inclined plane runs on the

page_text: roller d the hook scrapes the piece 613, then the helical spring brings back
the pincers to its first position. It will be easily understood that as soon as
the head of the nail has been stamped the eccentric a causes the pincers to
shut up through the action of the lever g¹³, these pincers then nip the stem
of the nail against the die m¹³ attached on the piece e¹³, Figures 22
and 23, Sheet VI. When the stamping punch recedes it carries along this
piece till the nail is out of the stamp sufficiently to allow the hook before
mentioned to take hold of the nail behind the head to pull it out entirely.
Now the hook as leaves the piece 613, and the opened pincers returns to its
first position; during this advance and recoil motion the piece h, carried by
the branch f13, does not leave the lever g¹³, on the end of which it slides. The
form of the eccentric a is so combined that the pincers shut a little before the
head is completely stamped, and it opens anew only when the nail has been
seized bebind the head to be completely pulled out.
Machine for shaping and filing off the point of nails. My nail-forging
machine before described could shape the point of the horse-shoe nail just in
the same manner as the boat's nail, but as it is most important to have a
perfectly sound point for the former, I prefer to finish it by shaping the point
afterwards when in a cold state, but this shaping operation by cutting off
cannot. form a small sloping cut, which in the machine which I will now
describe, is made almost simultaneously.
This machine is represented in. Sheets VIII. and IX. The Figures 1 in
both Sheets are elevations of the machine; Figure 2, Sheet VIII., is the
plan; and Figure 2, Sheet IX., a vertical section; the Figures 3 and 4 are
particulars of the piece carrying the cutting and filing tools; the Figures 3, 4,
5, and 6, Sheet VIII., are various views of the cutting-off tools; in said
Sheets the same letters indicate the same pieces in all the Figures. a, a,
driving pulleys; b, fly wheel; c, pinion driving the wheel d, and causing the
lever fto swing on the end of the screws 9, 9, carried by the frame-k, k. The
lower end of the lever f is furnished with a steel bit h, bearing on the periphery
of the eccentric e, through the action of the spring 1, wound round a rod m,
hinged with the lever f, and capable of sliding freely in an eye cut through a
rod, which moves round freely in the frame k. The lever f carries the cutting
tool o, shewn in section, Figure 3, and in plan, Figure 4. Below this tool,
Figure 2, Sheet IX., is a stop p, which can advance or retire by means of a
setting screw q. The workman props the end of the nail which is to be shaped
against the stop p. The lower tool r; shewn in front, Figure 9, and in plan,
Figure 6, is held in a seat s, embodied with a tapped pin squeezed by a nut in
a cross piece t, which cross piece is attached to the frame by means of four

page_text: screws u, t.
The hole of the cross piece t, through which runs the tapped
pin, is longer than the diameter of said pin, to allow it to shift as required by
means of the regulating screws v, v. The nail to be sharpened is placed
between the jaws of the pincers formed by the two levers a, a, hinged on the
pivots y, y; the outer end of the levers x is connected to the rods, fork-
shaped at both ends, which forks are furnished with two pressure screws; the
points thereof enter in suitably countersunk holes of the knob e', fitted and
moveable on the end of the levers x. The other ends of the rods are con-
nected in a similar manner to the levers a¹, a', keyed on the same shaft as the
lever b', provided with a roller resting on the periphery of the eccentric c', and
the said eccentric by its rotary motion causes the lever x to open whilst the
spring tends to close them, and thus hold the nail firmly while the cutters
shape the point. The connecting rods are tapped on one end with a right
thread, and on the other with a left thread. The two threaded portions of the
rods are engaged in the forked parts f¹, so that the said rods can be either
shortened or lengthened at pleasure to bring the nail to the suitable position
corresponding to the sharpening tool. Whatever may be the breadth of a nail
to be sharpened its centre remains always on the same line, and the spring d
yields more or less. When the cutting tool o by its descending movement has
shaped the point of the nail, the eccentric e is so formed that the cutter keeps
on descending till a cutting circular file'g', fixed on a revolving shaft fitted in
the upper forked part of the lever f, stops upon the end of the nail's point
which feather edges. The pulley h', fixed on the shaft carrying the circular
file is actuated by the shaft, driven by a grooved pulley ", carried by the
fly wheel.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, which is clearly illustrated by the annexed Sheets of Drawings, I would
observe that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details or arrange-
ments of the various parts which I have described and illustrated, as such parts
may require some modifications, which may be made without deviating from
the principle or essential features of my said Invention; but what I consider
as novel and original, and therefore claim as of my Invention, and so secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
For, forging the stem or shank of the nail.-1st, the application of a
mechanical combination composed of four sliding hammers working in a same s
plan, capable of being automatically lengthened or shortened as they work, the
one pair working in a vertical, the other pair in a horizontal direction, forging
thus at once on the four sides the stem or shank of the nail without the hot
iron rod producing the nail being turned round; 2d, producing an increase or

page_text: decrease in the pressure of the hammers, according to the calculated form or
shape of particular cams, the effect of which is to cause the working part of
the hammers to draw nearer to or farther from the rod in process of forging,
thus permitting any required shape to be given to the stem of the nail from the
point up to under the head thereof; 3d, the mechanism described for holding
the hot iron rod as near as possible to the forging stamps while the hammers
are working; 4th, the particular form of the forging stamps, consisting, 1, of
an. inclined surface which begins the forging; 2, of another small surface.
nearly at right angle to the motion of the hammers; 3, of another surface in
the same direction, but a little lower, intended to prevent the stem of the nail
being bent, the whole as herein-before described and shewn.
For feeding or supplying the machine with hot iron rods.-I claim, 1st, the
means of introducing between the forging stamps: the hot iron rod to furnish
the nail with a calculated speed derived from the peculiar arrangement of the
mechanism employed; 2d, the means of providing the feeding apparatus in the
same time with two hot iron rods, one of which is forged, whilst the other
is taken out to be replaced by a fresh one; 3d, of causing the iron rod to be
squeezed or nipped either completely or partially in this feeding apparatus by
self-acting mechanism, causing the said iron rod to be completely squeezed or
nipped when it is on the intersecting line of the hammers, and to be released
sufficiently to allow it to be easily taken off as soon as it is out of the said line,
the whole as herein described and shewn.
In the movement of the heading holder or stamp and cutter. -I claim, 1st,
cutting off the nail.from the iron rod after the forged stem has been introduced
in the heading stamp; 2d, giving to the part carrying the heading stamp some
elasticity, so as to allow the said stamp to be driven off while the rod is being
cut off, and to move on with the same speed as the cutter; 3d, in some cases
to fill out the place of the heading stamp by dies capable of opening and shut-
ting, and to yield in the same time to the required motion for the introduction
of the nail and the stamping of the head; 4th, to give to the cutter such a
motion that it may be quite near the iron rod to be cut off when the steel plug
which acts as a lower cutter bears against the upper cutter, to remain so during
the whole cutting action, which insures a fair and clean cutting, and prevents
the cutter catching the plug as it moves down, as herein-before described and
shewn.
For stamping the head of the nail.-I claim, 1st, giving to the heading 'stamp
an efficient prop, procuring a complete solidarity between the power and resist-
auce; 2d, increasing or lessening at pleasure the pressure produced on the
head of the nail by means of an eccentrical die carried by the rod actuating the

page_text: heading punch; 3d, using a spring pin fitted in the heading punch, to preven
the nail from sticking into the recess of the said punch, the whole as herein
befor described and shewn.
For driving the nail out of the heading stamp or die.-I claim the exclusive
use of either of the systems herein-before described for driving out the nail
the first one consisting of means to strike a quick blow lengthways on the end
of the stem of the nail. Both the other systems consist in a mechanism which
pinches strongly the stem of the nail behind the stamp, and pushes it out till a
special piece takes hold of the nail under the head, and so pulls it entirely
out of the stamp, as described and shewn.
This machine can forge rivets, bolts, railway spikes, and all similar pieces as
easily as nails; it is only required to fill the place of the forging stamps by
other stamps appropriate to the purpose, and to modify the form of the cams
and eccentric, to increase or lessen the pressure of the hammers as well as the
form of the feeding eccentric. As regards that kind of railway spike having
the head bent quite on one side, the heading stamp must be placed so that the
longer part of the head is in the direction of the stamp's motion, then by
causing the said stamp to move either in advance of or after the cutter, the
portion intended to form the head will be bent either upwards or downwards,
which is obtained by means of the screw placed under the cutter's lever.
And, lastly, in the mechanism for producing the point of the horse-shoe nail.
I claim the exclusive use, 1st, of the means of shaping the point of the nail
when cold; 2d, the use of a circular file making the required sloping cut to
the end of the point; 3d, using pincers or jaws of any kind combined in such
manner that the centre of the nail may be maintained in the very centre of
the cutting-off tools, whatever may be the breadth of the stems of the nails
brought to the machine shaping the point, the whole essentially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Victor Hippolyte Laurent, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
A. DAGUENET.
V. H. LAURENT. (L.s.)