CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING OF IRON AND MAKING WIRE, NAILS, BRADS, AND SCREWS
Year: 1818

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
TODD, of Swansea, in the County of Glamorgan, Organ. Builder, send greeting..
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster; the Seventh day of May now last past, for Himself, His heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Todd, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, His special licence, full power, sole privilege
aud authority, that I, the said Thomas Todd, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, and every of them, by myself and themselves, or by my and their
deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such others as I, my executors,
administrators or assigns, shall at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter, during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLING OF IRON AND MAKING WIRE, NAILS,
BRADS, AND SCREWS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso obliging me, the said Thomas Todd, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereto had,
will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in fulfilment of the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Todd, have executed this Instrument, by which I do declare that my

page_text: several Improvements in the Rolling of Iron and Making of Wire, Nails,
Brads, and Screws, are described and ascertained in manner following, that
is to say :-
First, the improvement in rolling of iron consists in the means of forming
or rolling bars or rods of iron of very regular and cquable form and size
throughout their whole length, at the same time leaving the corners or angles
of such bars sharp and free from flaws or burrs. This is effected by passing
the metal between a pair of rollers, each mounted on an axis in a strong iron
frame, in the manner of ordinary rolling or laminating mills for metal. The
form and construction of the rollers being the principal object of this part
of my improvement, I will describe them with reference to the Drawing
annexed to this Instrument.
Figure 1 in the Drawing shews a front elevation of the rollers with their
appendages mounted in a strong frame, and Figure 2 an edge view. The
same letters of reference refer to the same parts in both Figures. A, A, is a
strong frame of cast iron or other fit material, of an oblong form, having studs
or projections B, B, C, C, formed out of it to contain and support the brasses
a, a, c, c, for the roller spindles to turn in. One pair of the brasses are stationary,
and the other adjustable by screws b, b, which are tapped through strong
projections D, D, on the main frame. These screws move the rollers nearer
or farther from each other to form bars of different widths. The form of the
rollers is seen clearly at E and F, Figure 1. They consist each of a strong
circular plate of metal, which is firmly fixed upon an axis so as to turn round
with it. The two faces of the said plate must be rendered perfectly flat near
the outside diameter, by turning them upon their own axes, and one of the
angles cut down on the circumference to form a step, as seen at e, e, Fig. 1
and 2. This step is the part which operates immediately upon the metal,
and must consequently be made with its surface of tempered steel, or very
hard cast iron. The two rollers must be exactly similar in the width of the
step, so that when placed together in a proper situation in their frame, the
circumference or edge of the steps, together with the flat face of each roller
overlapping, forms a square opening, as explained by the Figure at i.
It is through this opening that the metal is passed to render it of an equable
and regular form. The width of the opening will always be decided by
the width of the step e, which cannot be varied, and consequently all bars
formed in such pair of rollers must be of the same dimensions in one direction,
but the breadth of the opening may be increased or diminished by turning the
screws b, b, and placing the circumference of the rollers farther from or nearer
to each other, the flat surfaces being always kept or pressed into close contact

page_text: by the action of two small rollers G and H fixed in frames; the frame
of G being stationary, and that of H pressed up by the action of a screw k
passing through a part of the main frame A, A. These small rollers bear
against the back surface of the rollers E and F exactly in a line, or opposite to
the opening i, thro' which the metal is passed. The axes of the rollers are truly
cylindrical, to allow of a slight motion endways through their brasses a, a, c, c,
by the action of the small rollers G, H. The roller brasses a, a, c, c, and
frames of the small rollers G, H, are kept in their places by two strong bars of
metal I, K, passing over them, and secured at one end by hooking under a
part of C, and at the other by strong iron bolts L going through the main
frame. The rollers are caused to turn together by the action of a pair of equal
cog wheels M, N, fixed on their axes, and the motion communicated to the
same through the end of the axis O from any convenient first moving power.
My second improvement is in the making of wire. It consists simply in a
different application of the rolling machine already described. The only modi-
fication necessary is in the form of the step c, e, Fig. 1, on the circumference
of the rollers. The framing and small rollers G, H, remaining unaltered, it will
not be requisite to repeat the description, but we shall refer to those parts of
the Figures 1 and 2. Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawing will serve to explain the
form of the step on the rollers adapted to the making of wire. E and F are
the two rollers, and e, c, the form of the step rounded out nearly to semi-
circle, so that when the two rollers are properly situated in their frame (as
before described for the rolling machine) the two semicircles form a round
opening, as explained more clearly at i, Figure 4. Now if a piece of metal is
caused to pass through this opening by the motion of the rollers, it will
be formed to an equal figure and size through its whole length. The side
surface of the rollers being firmly pressed into contact, as before mentioned,
prevents any rib or inequality on the side of the rod. The same rods may,
if required, be passed through several times and operated upon by degrees, by
placing the axes of the rollers so far asunder as to leave the opening i,
Figure 3 and 4, of an oval or elongated form, and approaching the axes of
the rollers a small quantity cach time (by means of the screws b, b, Figure 1,
before described), until the opening i, Figure 4, between the rollers forms
a true circle, in which situation if a rod of any irregular form is passed through
it will be reduced to a regular and uniform cylinder in its whole length so as
to form wire.
My third improvement is for the making of brads, and is also an application
of the rolling mill described in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawing, with a modi-
fication in the form of the rollers only. The frame and appendages remaining

page_text: the same, I shall not repeat the description in this place, but refer for those
parts to Figures 1 and 2. An inspection of Figures 5 and 6 will give a clear
idea of the form of the step on the circumference of the rollers used for making
brads. E and F, Figures 5 and 6, are the two rollers; c, e, the steps; and i
the opening through which the metal is passed. The two rollers are prepared
in a similar manner to the rolling machine, Figures 1 and 2, the circumference
or edge of the steps being truly cylindrical. Now, in order to adapt these
rollers to the making of brads, one roller must have its step cut into indenta-
tions on its circumference corresponding to the desired form of the brad, as
seen as F, Figure 6, and notching in a small space at n, n, to form a projection
or head on one side of the brad. The other roller must be left quite plain and
cylindrical on it's step; and they must be both mounted in the frame, as
Figure 1, the screws b, b, being turned round till the circumferences of the
steps on the rollers are in contact. In this situation, if the rollers are put in
motion, and a small square rod of iron of proper dimensions is presented
between the rollers, it will be drawn in by the action of the lower roller F,
Figure 6, and forced into the indentations on its circumference by the action
of the plain roller so as to form brads, which will be delivered out on the
opposite side of the rollers. To prevent the point of the brad turning upon
quitting the rollers, I fix a piece of metal, which I call a scraper, as shewn at
G, Figure 6. The object of placing the edges of the steps on the rollers in
close contact is to divide the rod at the length of each brad, which otherwise
would remain a continued string of brads, and require to be divided by a
subsequent operation.
°
.
If it be
head, the
Figure 7 shews another form of rollers for the making of nails. In Figure 7
the lower roller F, which has the indentations on its step, is considerably
larger than the roller E, that the nails may not be much curved.
required to produce nails with a projection on each side forming
upper roller E may have small notches on its edge to correspond with the
notches on the great roller I', in which case the metal, in passing between the
rollers, will be pressed into the indentations on each roller, and formi nails with
heads. The cog wheels M and N, shewn in Figure 1, would always cause the
indentations on the two rollers to meet or fall opposite to each other in their
revolutions. In making long nails it will be necessary to have a large roller
which has the indentations on its edge, or when that is found inconvenient a
segment of a circle of any required radius may be used, having a plain or
indentated roller placed against it, and the segment caused to move backward
and forward in contact with the roller by the action of a crank or other con-
venient mechanism. In this construction the metal is introduced between the

page_text: roller and the segment, and carried forwards, forming the nails according to
.the number of indentations on the edge of the segment. It then returns, and
the nails fall out, bringing the machine into a position to receive another
length of rod, and 'so on.
Another of my inprovements in the making of brads consists in the means
of supplying the iron to brad-cutting machines, or feeding them, as it.is
generally termed. In order that my improvements may be more readily
understood, I will first endeavour to give some idea of the simple brad-cutting
machine as used by the generality of brad makers. It consists of two pieces
of tempered steel, called cutters, ground with straight and sharp angles, the
one being firmly fixed, and the other caused to move up and down, between
guides, through a small space, so that one angle of the moving cutter passes
by the angle of the other in the manner of a pair of shears; and a slip or fillet
of plate iron or other metal being introduced in an inclined direction to the
cutting face, it is divided, leaving the end of the slip of metal inclined. Now,
if the slip of metal is turned over or inverted, and then advanced a short space
over the fixed blade, the moving blade, in descending, cuts off a brad or piece
pointed at one end and gradually widening to the other. Thus, if the metal is
regularly turned over, and advanced a sufficient degree, each descent of the
cutter will form a brad corresponding in length to the width of the slip of
metal made use of. Figures 8. and 9 of the Drawing hereunto annexed will
serve to explain how my improved feeding apparatus is constructed. L, L,
Figures 8 and 9, is a bar of wood or metal having a groove e, e, through its
whole length, but not so deep as the thickness of the bar which forms a trough,
as seen clearly by Fig. 9. This bar moves horizontally upon a fixed centre of
motion at a, situated about the middle of its length. The fillet of metal
intended to be cut into brads is prepared of a proper width, and laid down
lengthways upon the bar L, L, as seen at F. One end is introduced between
the jaws of the pincers G, which are closed and caused to gripe it fast by the
small lever h acting upon their tail; the other end of the fillet is passed under
two small projections n, n, to keep its end from rising. The lower half of the
pincers enters the groove e, e, so as to allow the fillet F to lie flat upon the
surface of L, L. The lower tail of the pincers turns down, and has a cord
fastened to it, which is extended in the groove e, and passes over a small
pulley & fixed in the bottom of the trough. The cord then returns beneath
the bottom, is conducted over a pulley f fixed to the framing of the machine,
and has a weight W suspended from it. The action of this weight always
tends to draw the pincers towards the pulley d, and to advance the fillet of
metal over the edge of the fixed cutter A till it meets with the stop or

page_text: guage i fixed in a recess in the piece D beneath the cutter B. The piece D
with its cutter B then descends and cuts off' a brad from the end of the fillet F.
This feeding apparatus is adapted to supply two pairs of cutters or two separate
brad machines, as seen by Figure 8, where A represents the upper or cutting
edge of the fixed cutter, which is of a breadth equal to twice the fillet to be
operated upon; or it may be formed of two pieces placed side by side. The
moving cutters B and C are each equal to the width of the fillet, and placed
close by the side of each other. They are fixed by screws S to the pieces
D and E, and have an alternate motion up and down given to them by a
double crank or cogged and tapped wheels connected with the upper parts
of D and E, or any other convenient means may be used which will cause
them to rise and fall alternately. The operation of this feeding apparatus is
as follows-Suppose the bar or trough L, L, turned upon its centre of
motion till its side comes against the end of the fixed stop screw I, in which
situation the fillet E is oposito the cutter C, and will be advanced by the
weight W till its end meets the stop i, Figure 9; the piece E with its
affixed cutter C then descends by the attached machinery and cuts a brad off
the end of the fillet; at the same time the piece D with its cutter B has risen
to its highost situation. At this instant the bar L is moved on its centre of
motion into the position shewn by the dotted lines in Figure 8. When the side
of the bar meets the fixed stop screw K, the fillet comes opposite to the
cutter B, and is advanced by the weight W beneath the same. This motion
is given to the bar L by the rod R, and is connected with some convenient part
of the machinery, all that is required being to move the bars sideways so as to
bring the fillet of metal under the two cutters alternately; and immediately
after the brad has been cut off by one cutter the movement ought to shift
the fillet beneath the other.
The application of my improvement in the making of screws will be
explained by Figures 12 and 13 of the annexed Drawing. The piece of metal
being prepared ready for the screws being cut, is introduced between the jaws
of the pincers A, and griped fast by the action of the handle a.
These pincers
are formed on the end of a spindle which has a cog wheel B upon it, and its
end C capable of receiving a pattern screw c, which works in a nut fixed upon
a swivel or universal joint at D to allow the spindle and pincers to be raised
up, as shewn in Figure 13, for the purpose of introducing the screws to be cut.
The circular saw or cutter E is fixed upon the end of an inclined spindle F,
and is put in motion by a cord passing round a pulley G on the other end of
the spindle. A bent spring S is fixed to the frame of the machine, and has
notches in its upper ends to support the screw against the drift of the cutter

page_text: at the beginning of the cut, and before it enters the die pincers H. The
bent spring then closes and allows the pincers A to approach the die pincers HI,
which are firmly held by their joint K in a direct line with the spindle
and pincers A, and are caused to close up and cut the screw clean by the action
of a spring or weight suspended from the end of the cord I, which is linked
to their handles. The cog wheel B with the spindle and pincers A is caused
to turn round first in one direction and then in the other by a reciprocating
rack R, and when the screw is completed and withdrawn from the die pincers
H, the attendant raises up the pincers A and disengages the wheel B from the
tecth of the rack R, when the finished screw may be taken out, another
fixed in the pincers, and the spindle pressed down till the screw enters the
notches in the bent spring S, when it is put in motion by the action of the
rack R, and advanced forwards by the pattern screw c till it comes first into
contact with the cutter or saw E, and then enters the dic pincers H, which
are adapted to finish the thread of the screw. The rack R then moves back-
ward so as to turn the cog wheel B in a contrary direction till the screw is
withdrawn from the die pincers, it may then be raised up and taken out of the
pincers A in the same manner as before described.
I shall now mention particularly in what my various claims of improve-
ments consist, since I have been obliged to enter into a description of many
different parts to enable my said improvements to be clearly understood, but
which I lay no claim to.
First, in the rolling of iron, I make claim to the construction of rollers
which are pressed into and kept in close contact by the application of small
rollers at their back side, and forced up by screws or wedges, which enables
me to form bars of very equal size and figure throughout their length.
Second, in the making of wire, which is only another application of my
before-mentioned rollers, pressed into contact in a similar manner, the only
variation being in the form of the edge of the rollers, which is hollowed out
to semicircle, or nearly so.
Third, in the making of nails and brads. One part of this is also a modifi-
cation of my improved rollers, and consists simply in forming a number of
indentations round one of the rollers, of the form which the brads are intended
to be, so that when a piece of metal is passed through between them, it is
forced into the indentations by the plain edge of the other roller and forms
nails or brads according to the form of the indentations round the roller.
My next improvement in brad making consists in the means of feeding or
introducing the fillets of metal to a double brad-cutting machine. I make use
of two brad-cutting machines placed side by side, and the fillet of metal has

page_text: such a movement given to it that it first passes under one cutter and then
under the other, at the same time it is pushed forward under the cutters by a
weight or spring, instead of turning the fillet over on each cut as is usually
practised in brad cutting. Another of my improvements. consists in a par-
ticular form given to the cutters, which enables them to produce a brad with a
head and point, although cut from a fillet or metal in the same manner as
the former. This will be understood by inspecting Figure 10 of the annexed
Drawing. C shews a section of a cutter which always presents the same form
of edge, though the section be taken any where through its length, as the
form is grooved out lengthways on its face, as seen at Figure 11, and it is
sharpened or ground upon the end only. The fixed and moving cutters are
similar in their section, so that their edges move by each to cut in the same
manner as a straight-edged pair of shears would do. Any desired form.may be
given to them, but the form of Figure 10 is, I consider, a very good one, as
brads made by such cutters would not be liable to split the wood into which
they are driven.
Fourth, my improvement in the making of screws consists in applying
a revolving cutter or saw to take out the substance of the thread, whilst it is
advanced forwards regularly by a pattern screw, and immediately after passing
the cutter it enters a pair of dies closed by a weight or spring, which clears out
and finishes the thread, thereby forming a very neat and regular screw in a
short space of time.
In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand and seal, the Fourth
day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred