IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORGING SHOES FOR HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Shanks, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR FORGING SHOES FOR HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Shanks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th February 1879.
WILLIAM SHANKS, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORGING SHOES FOR HORSES AND
OTHER ANIMALS."
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
machinery for forging shoes for horses and other animals.
In the improved machinery lengths cut successively from a heated iron rod or bar
are each bended round a core, and then compressed by a die, after which each shoe
is automatically discharged. The framing of the machine is made of extreme
massiveness, as are also the main moving parts in order that the bending and com-
pressing operations may be performed with adequate force and with a certainty
and completeness not obtainable with any yielding of the parts. The lower part
of the framing is a rectangular table-like iron structure, and the whole of this
table together with the jaws carrying the die lever and guides is cast in one piece.
The core is projected up through an opening in the front part of the table top, and
the rod length is entered in a transverse horizontal direction behind the core by.
the action of a pair of entering rollers. The length or blank is held at its middle
against the back of the core by a small block pressed against it by a lever, which
lever also serves to finally discharge the shoe, being at the proper time allowed to
do so by the downward withdrawal of the core. The ends of the blank are bended
round the core by means of a massive slide moved forward in guides formed for it
on the table top, concave pieces or rollers being made to bear on the blank by the
action of the slide and to bend the ends into close contact with the core ready for
the action of the die which descends immediately on the completion of the bending
operation.
The die, the construction of which is of great importance, is made with a recessed
face; or in other words, with a downwardly projecting outer rim, which is internally
of a bevilled form, and which confines the shoe whilst the die acts on it, and at

page_text: the same time gives its outer edge a bevilled form. The die is provided with parts
for forming the creases and nail indentations on the shoes, the body of the die
being made with curved slots passing vertically through it, into which slots steel
crease pieces are fitted; the action on these crease pieces is unavoidably severe, and
the construction described is designed to admit of easy renewal of their acting
edges, as the pieces can be moved downwards in their slots in the die when their
edges become worn and fresh edges can be formed on them. The die is also
formed with three sockets fitted with rods, to which springs are applied inside of
the sockets, which rods prevent the die from lifting the shoe, as on the die rising
the springs force them downwards out of their sockets. The parts are prevented
from becoming overheated by a jet of water directed by a pipe having a stopcock,
the lever of which is connected to the die or the block holding the die so as to let
on the water when the dio rises and shut it off when the die descends.
In another modification the parts are simplified and arranged to operate on short
lengths cut froin bars to which the desired section and creases have been previously
imparted by rolling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Shanks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd August
1879.
WILLIAM SHANKS, of Johnstone, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORGING SHOES FOR HORSES AND
OTHER ANIMALS."
My said Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action
of machinery for forging shoes for horses and other animals.
In working with my improved machinery according to one modification lengths
cut successively from a heated iron rod or bar are cach bended round a core, and
then compressed by a die, after which each shoe is automatically discharged. The
framing of the machine is made of extreme massiveness, as are also the main
moving parts in order that the bending and compressing operations may be per-
forined with adequate force and with a certainty and completeness not obtainable
with any yielding of the parts.
The die, the construction of which is of great importance, is made with a recessed
face, which confines the shoe whilst the die acts on it. The die is provided with
parts for forming the creases and nail indentations in the shoe, being formed with
vertical slots to receive steel pieces, the acting edges of which can be renewed, the
pieces being moved down in the die slots as the edges wear.
The die is also pro-
vided with spring rods or pins which facilitate the detachment of the shoe when
the die rises. The parts are prevented from becoming overheated by one or more
jets of water arranged to act when the die is raised.
In a second modification the parts are simplified and arranged to operate on
short lengths cut from bars to which the desired section and creases have been
previously imparted by rolling.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append four Sheets of explanatory
Drawings, to be hereinafter referred to and representing my improved machinery.
In these Drawings the same reference nuinerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings are a plan and a
front elevation of my improved horse-shoe forging machine; Figures 3 and 4 on
Sheet 2 are enlarged horizontal and vertical sections; Figure 5 ou Sheet 3 is a
horizontal section as taken at a lower level than Figure 3; Figure 6 is an inverted
plan of the die; and Figures 7, 8, 9 are vertical sections of the die; Figures 10,
11, 12 are a plan, a longitudinal section, and a cross section of a specially rolled
blank used in a simplified modification of the machine; Figures 13 and 14 on
Sheet 4 are front and side elevations showing the apparatus for applying jets of
water, and the mechanism for feeding in the rod or bar of which the shoes are to
be made.
The principal parts are carried upon and within a massive castiron table or
frame 1, and the principle movements are derived from a slowly rotating horizontal
main shaft 2 carried in strong bearings at the back of the table 1. The main
shaft 2 is driven by means of a spurwheel 3 fast on it, and having in gear with it
a pinion 4 on an intermediate shaft 5, on which there is also fast a spurwheel 6 in
gear with a pinion 7 on a first-motion shaft 8 carrying a fly wheel and fast and
loose pulleys 9 for a driving belt. The pinion 7 is loose on the shaft 8, being put
into gear therewith by a clutch 10 connected by levers 11 and a rod 12 to a hand
lever 13. A hand lever 14 is also provided for shifting the driving belt, being
connected by a rod 15 to the belt fork 16. In order to impart sufficient rigidity.

page_text: and massiveness to the machine to admit of the severe operations of forming the
shoe being effected with desirable force, certainty, and completeness, the entire
table 1, together with the jaws 17 carrying the die lever 18, is all cast in one piece.
The die lever 18 (as best. seen in Figure 4). is centered on a strong pin 19 fixed
across the jaws, and has its back end jointed to the forked upper end of a rod 20,
the other end of which is jointed to a crank 21 on the main shaft 2. The short
front acting end 22 of the die lever 18 projects into a slot in a die block 23 fitted
to work in vertical guides formed at the forward parts of the jaws 17. A. movable
block 24 with a handle is set in the slot of the die block 23, and being easily
withdrawn admits of the operation of the die being at any time rendered ineffectual
in the event of accidental obstruction or derangement, as when the block 24 is not
in its place the die will not be forced to the bottom of its stroke.
The core 25 round which the rod length is bended to form a shoe is projected up
through an opening in the front part of the top of the table 1, a spindle carrying it
being acted on by a pair of short levers 26 on a rocking shaft 27, which has also
fast on it a lever 28 acted on by a grooved-face cam 29 on a shaft 30 driven by
means of a pair of equal spurwheels 31 from the main shaft 2. The rod length is
entered in a transverse horizontal direction behind the core 25, either by hand or
by mechanism, such as is hereinafter described with reference to Figures 13, 14,
and is pushed up against a stop 32 adjusted by means of a screw at the side (at the
upper part of Figure 3) opposite to that of its entrance, and it serves itself as the
stop for the next length whilst the latter is being cut from the rod. The cutting
or shearing lever 33 is fixed on a transverse horizontal spindle 34, and the rod is
entered through a hole in it and passes on through a guide 35 fixed to the table 1.
The cutting lever 33 is worked by means of a lever 36 fixed on its spindle 34 and
actuated by a cam 37 on the shaft 30. The rod is cut by the descent of the
lever 33 which retains the end of the remainder of the rod, and on again rising
brings it opposite to the guide 35 to admit of the next length being pushed in.
The length or blank about to be shaped is held at its middle against the back of
the core 25 by a small block 38 on the upper end of a lever 39 centered loosely on
the spindle 27, and having a spring 40 applied to its lower end. The lever 39 is
fitted with a steel bit at its middle and projecting bebind to be acted on by a
cam 41 on a shaft 42 driven by a pair of equal spurwheels 43 (Figure 5) from the
shaft 30, the cam 41 being shaped to hold back the lever 39 and block 38, whilst a
fresh length or blank is being inserted, and to allow the spring 40 to act at the
proper time to cause the block 38 to throw forward the shoe when the core 25 is
withdrawn on the forging operation being completed. The ends of the rod longth
or blank are bended round the core 25 by means of a massive slide 44 moving
horizontally backwards and forwards in guides upon the top of the table 1.
the front of this slide 44 two arms or benders 45 are jointed with rollers on their
front ends to bear upon the sides of the blank, and with pins on their under sides
to work in guide grooves 46 shaped to suit the intended form of shoe, and made in
a movable plate 47 which can be changed for different sizes or forms of shoe.
Fixed guides 48 are also provided for the outsides of the rollers to bear against
when acting on the horns or heels of the shoe in order to reduce and taper the
metal near the ends. The slide 44 which works the benders 45 is moved forward
by a wiper 49 on the main shaft 2, this wiper being an extension of one of the
crank cheeks of that shaft, and having an antifriction roller at its end which bears
on the back end of the slide 44. The return movement of the slide 44 is effected
by means of a bell crank lever 50 centered loosely on the shaft 30 and acted on by
the wiper 49 after the latter has moved the slide 44 forward.
To
When the bending is completed and the benders 45 have retired, a die or stamp
51 is brought down vertically on the shoe, this die 51 being fixed to a holder 52.
which is bolted to the bottom of the die block 23 hereinbefore referred to. The
die 51 shewn in inverted plan view in Figure 6, and in vertical section as by
planes at right angles to each other in Figures 7 and 8 is made with a recessed face,

page_text: or in other words with a downwardly projecting outer rim 53, which is internally
of a bevilled form, and which confines the shoe whilst the die acts on it, and at the
same time gives its outer edge a bevilled form. The die 51 is provided with steel
crease pieces 54, the body of the die being made with curved slots passing vertically
through it to hold these crease pieces; Figure 9 is a vertical section of the die as
taken across the crease pieces 54. The action on these crease pieces 54 is
unavoidably severe, and the construction described is designed to admit of the easy
renewal of their acting edges, as the pieces can be moved downwards in their slots
in the die when their edges become worn, and fresh edges can be formed on them.
As the crease pieces 54 are moved down in this way filling up pieces are put above
them in the slots. The die 51 is also formed with three sockets fitted with pins 55
to which springs are applied inside of the sockets, which pius prevent the die from
lifting the shoe, as on the die rising the springs force them downwards out of their
sockets.
The parts shown in Figures 13 and 14 on Sheet 4 for entering the rod consist
of an under roller 56 and an upper roller 57, which is fixed on a horizontal spindle
driven by bevil wheels 58, 59, from a vertical shaft 60 driven in any convenient
way. The lower roller 56 however is carried by an arm 69 fixed on the lever
spindle 34, and it carries the rod up into contact with the upper roller 57 only
when the lever 33 is raised into the position for running in a length. A clutch
is applied to the bevil wheel 59 and the lever 61 is worked by a treadle by the
attendant, so as to put the wheels out of gear if found necessary. The apparatus
for cooling the die 51 with water is also shown in the same Figures, and consists
of a water supply pipe 62 having connected to it two branches 63, which terminato
in nozzles 64 directed towards the die 51 in its raised position. The lever 65 of a
stopcock on the pipe 62 is raised by a rod 66 on the die block (23) to open the
stopcock when the die rises, and when the die descends the stopcock is closed by
the weight of its lever 65 and of a rod 67, which last acts as a stop by encountering
the top of the die block. A higher stopcock 68 is provided for regulating the rate
of supply or shutting it off altogether.
The form of blank or rod length shown in Figures 10, 11, and 12, on Sheet 3
is made from rods rolled in long lengths with the creases, bevilled sides, and
tapering thickness shaped by the rolls, such rods being divided into short lengths,
the ends of which are rounded, as shown in Figure 10, in any convenient way.
With this form of blank the die 51 may be simplified, its face being merely shaped
suitably to bear on all parts of the top outer surface of the blank.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details
herein described and delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbeforo
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of machinery for forging
shoes for horses and other animals, substantially in the improved manner herein-
before described.
2. The making of the entire table (1) with the jaws (17) in one massive casting
as hereinbefore described and as shown on the accompanying Drawings.
3. The arrangement of entering rollers hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 13 and 14 on Sheet 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
4. The mode of constructing the die (51) with movable crease pieces, as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, on Sheet 3 of the accoun-
panying Drawings.
5. The fitting of the die with spring pins for preventing it from lifting the
shoe, as hereinbefore described.
6. The arrangement of water pipes and self-acting stopcock mechanism herein-

page_text: before described with reference to Figures 13 and 14 on Sheet 4 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shanks, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
WILLIAM SHANKS. (L.S.)