Improvements in the Manufacture of Horse Shoes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES HENRY PERKINS of the City and
County of Providence in the State of Rhode Island United States of America,
Manufacturer.]
Improvements in the Manufacture of Horse Shoes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My said invention relates exclusively to the manufacture of blank bars and blanks
for making what are known as "toe weighted" shoes, wherein the main proportion
of the weight of the metal is located in the front or toe portion of the shoe. The
special value of the "toe weighted shoe" is widely recognized, and particularly so,
for use upon animals having prompt foot action, because of the fact that the shoe
being mainly weighted at the front or toe of the hoof, the latter in swinging forward
on the aukle joint as a pivot is caused to promptly recover its proper elevated
position before next touching the ground, thus greatly obviating stumbling
With a broad
tendencies and securing desirable ease and freedom of movement.
toe and the narrow heels, the metal is as well distributed for durability as with
ordinary shoes of similar tread area, but in the latter the narrowing of the heel
tread has been accompanied with increased thickness, so as in fact to render the shoe
either of a balanced weight, or with an excess of weight at the heels.
As a rule toe weighted shoes have heretofore been made from suitable but
comparatively short lengths of bar metal, which constitute blanks having a sectional
area approximating more or less closely to the sectional area of the toe of the shoe,
and the ends of these blanks have been elongated by forging operations, the heels of
This mode of
the shoes being narrowed without increasing their thickness.
operation involves much expensive skilled labour with a minimum waste in metal.
For lessening the labour I have heretofore rolled blanks of a length corresponding
substantially with the curved line length of the shoes desired, and provided the
blanks with appropriate nail scores, but the distribution of the metal was substantially
uniform throughout the length of the blank, although varied more or less in its
sectional contour, and then either before or after the blank was bent, the metal at
the inner portions of the shoe adjacent to the heels was clipped or sheared away for
securing the desired excess of metal at the toe of the shoe.
I have now, as I believe, for the first time in the art of horse shoe making, and by
a novel method or process, produced a toe weighted horse shoe blank, in which the
metal is so accurately distributed that it is fitted for bending, and when it is bent into
shoe form no labour or machining is required for varying any portion of its sectional
contour and when produced by my most approved methods and apparatus, no
waste of metal is involved, except that which must inevitably occur at the stubs or
ends of bars, incident to unavoidable variations in their length.
Broadly stated the main feature of my invention consists in rolling a straight
edged bar of metal, and then forming therein, two sets or series of nail scores offset,
or so located with reference to each other as to form a blank bar, which contains
horse shoe blanks side by side, but having opposite the toe portion of each blank,
the heel portions of two laterally adjacent blanks.
My invention further consists in forming in a blank bar appropriate nail scores,
and then dividing the bar on lines diagonal or inclined to the longitudinal centre of
each blank. This parting of the blanks on said diagonal lines results in each
instance in forming a receding edge from the toe portion of the blank toward its

page_text: heel portion, and secures in each blank a gradual diminution of metal from the toc
to cach heel. This main portion of my invention does not necessarily involve any
variation from a substantially rectangular cross sectional area in any portion of each
blank or shoe, it being desirable that shoes for heavy service should present as
broad a tread area as possible. My invention, however, further consists in forming.
a blank bar with appropriate nail scores and with a zig-zag groove which affords
bevelled edges at one side of each blank, and then parting the blanks on lines
diagonal or inclined to the longitudinal centre of each blank, thus affording in each
blank the varied distribution of bulk and weight of metal, required in a toe weighted
shoe; and also any desired variation in sectional contour, so that a shoe may have on
its inner side either a uniform bevel, or when in its best form, it will be flatly
bevelled at the toe, and more steeply bevelled at the heels.
It is well known that the forming of nail creases of proper depth, closely adjacent
to the outer edges of a blank or shoe (other than by the use of hand tools.) involves
a liability of distortion when formed in blanks singly formed, and hence in the first
step of my process the nail creasing is performed prior to the separation of the blanks
from each other; and in the development of blank bars in accordance with certain
portions of my invention, the blanks are formed in two series side by side in each
bar, and although each bar broadly considered is a "double blank bar," it is
radically unlike such prior double blank bars as were devised by me and disclosed
in my United States Letters Patent Nos. 174,924, and 192,127.
In my said prior blank bars, the blanks lie side by side, and they are divisible on
central lines parallel with the longitudinal centre of each blank, and the nail scores
with their nail head prints or recesses are located in any one blank exactly opposite
those of the adjacent parallel blank, and the bar when cut into proper lengths
affords two blanks in each length. In a blank bar involving my present invention
the nail score may be continuous near each edge of the bar without departure from
my invention, but said score should be in proper lengths, and whether provided with
nail head prints or not, such scores in any one blank should be alternated in their
location and arrangement with reference to the scores in the laterally adjacent
blank, because in my blank bars, the toe portion of any one blank is alongside
of, or laterally opposite the heel portions of two adjacent blanks, and in one form
of my bars, these two heel portions are at one side of the toe portion of the
laterally adjacent blank, and in another form the heel portions of two blanks are
separated by the toe portion of the laterally adjacent blank, and the division of
either form of bar into blanks, on the diagonal lines referred to, secures a
gradually reversed taper from the middle of each blank toward its ends, although
in the one case the diagonal parting lines constitute a central zig-zag line, and in
the other case the diagonal parting lines extend from one edge of the blank bar to
the other edge, thus affording the gradually reversed taper in the blanks cut from
both bars, although in one blank both tapers are formed on two cut lines, and in the
other blank one taper is on one cut line, and the other taper is what was originally
a portion of the straight edge of the bar.
In working my novel method or process the mechanical means employed may be
widely varied without departure from my invention, it being practicable to form my
blank bars either by die rolling operations, or by die presses, although with a view
to the best economic results rolling operations will always be preferable. In the
separation of the blanks various cutting or shearing tools may be employed, and in
the separation of some of my blanks, the die rolls may be relied upon to so far
perform the dividing operation, that complete separation may be accomplished
without the aid of cutting or splitting mechanism..
To more particularly describe my invention I will describe the working of my
method or process in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate
different forms of mechanism employed by me, as well as the various blank bars and
blanks produced and also two varieties of "toe weighted" horse shoes.
Referring to the aforesaid drawings:
Figure 1, illustrates a toe weighted horse shoe in its most approved form, with

page_text: inner edge of the shoe.
Figure 2, illustrates that form of my blanks which is embodied in shoes of the
kind shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3, illustrates a plain toe weighted shoe with several sectional views
thereof.
Figures 4 and 5, illustrate two forms of my blanks for use in making shoes like
that shown in Figure 3.
Figure 6, illustrates in plan view, side view, and several sections, a blank bar,
embodying blanks like that shown in Figure 2.
Figure 7, in cross section illustrates the form of the bar from which the blank bar
Fig. 6, is developed.
Figure 8, in front view illustrates the working portions of a pair of rolls devised
by me for producing the blank bar Figure 6.
Figure 9, in front view illustrates the operating parts of a splitting machine
devised by me for separating the blanks on their diagonal or angular lines.
Figure 10, in front view illustrates a pair of rolls for forming the straight metal
bars, and these may be also used for specially finishing the blank bar Fig. 6, and
fitting the blanks for use in the manufacture of specially finished or fancy shoes.
Figure 11, illustrates a pair of dies, the bed die having a working contour
corresponding to a position of the contour of the die roll of Fig. 8.
Figure 12, illustrates a die roll for the production of a blank bar.
Figure 13, shows a blank bar produced by the said die roll which embodies
blanks like that of Figure 4.
Figure 14, in front and bottom edge views, and in plan view, illustrates the
working parts of a cutting press for diagonally separating the blanks of the bar
Figure 13.
Figure 15, in front view illustrates a die roll for the production of a blank bar
like that in Figure 16, which embodies blanks like that of Figure 5.
Figure 17, illustrates a blank bar embodying four lines of blanks, or, in other
words, two such blank bars as are shown in Figure 6.
Figure 18, illustrates a blank bar embodying two such blank bars as are shown in
Figure 16.
In comparing "toe weighted" shoes with ordinary shoes, it should be noted that
the latter have heels thicker than the toes. The toe wears faster than the heels,
and the latter being thicker than they need be, the toe weighted shoe is more
durable than an ordinary shoe of the same size, weight, and tread area, and its broad
toe can readily receive à toc calk.
I will first describe my novel method or process in connection with the production
of the best forms of shoe, as illustrated in Figure 1, the single blank, Fig. 2, and
the blank bar Figure 6.
Commencing with the shoc, Figure 1, it will be seen that it is substantially
uniform in thickness although the wide toe a has a broad inner bevel a', and the
narrow heels have a narrow bevel, and that the top e of the shoe is substantially
flat although sometimes slightly inclined inwardly from the outer edge.
These several parts of the shoe are correspondingly designated in the blank A,
Figure 2, it being understood that the blank is of the same length as the shoe on
its central curved line, and consequently blanks are prepared for each size of shoe.
Now referring to the blank bar Figure 6, it will be seen that it is a double blank
bar, but it is unlike any other in that it has opposite the toe portion a of each
blank A, the two heel portions of two parallel blanks, and that the blanks of the
two parallel series are almost separated by a zig-zag groove, which varies in its
form, in accordance with the coincident variations between the broad bevels a', and
the narrow bevels. It will also be seen that at the bottom of the zig-zag groove
there is a well defined parting line on which the blanks are to be separated, and
that each straight portion of said line is diagonal or inclined to the longitudinal
centre of each of the adjacent blanks.

page_text: For forming this blank bar with a view to the best economic results. I employ
rolls, as illustrated in Figure 8. The two rolls B and C are geared together and I
prefer that the working face of the bed roll C, should be a trifle greater in diameter
than the greatest diameter of the die roll B. This die roll is controlled in the
usual way by screws at each end, and it is provided with a zig-zag tongue d, which
is circular in its outline, but varies in its form or sectional area, in exact conformity
with the zig-zag groove in the blank bar, thus securing the diagonal parting lines
as well as the varied bevel between the toe and the heel portions of each blank.
Again referring to the double blank bar of Figure 6, it is to be understood that
it further differs from any prior double blank bar known to me, in that the nail
scores e in the blanks at the one side of the parting line, are not as heretofore
exactly opposite the scores in the blanks of the other side, but said scores are now
for the first time offset with reference to each other in any two closely adjacent or
opposite blanks, so that each score will be appropriately located in each blank
nearer the toe portion than the heels.
While forming these nail scores (other than by hand,) it is of great practical
advantage that the blanks be integrally connected laterally with other blanks for
preventing undue distortion during the operation of the creasing tools, and
especially if the scores contain the usual deep recesses or head prints el for well
housing nail heads, as well as for facilitating the usual punching operations.
In the forming of the preferred bar Figure 6, with the variably bevelled zig-zag
groove, the developing of the nail scores e, and also the head prints can be
performed either simultaneously with the shaping of the blanks, or subsequently,
but in the simultaneous operation the most perfect and most economic results will
accrue; therefore provide the die roll B with scoring creasers or tongues and
head print spurs f¹, these being appropriately disposed to secure the offset
arrangement before referred to.
The bed roll C is grooved, or, which serves the same purpose, is provided with
collars, which can be made adjustable. Front and back guides are usually
employed with these rolls, but they are of a common form, and require no
illustration.
After the bar has been formed by these rolls, the two lines of blanks are separated
on the diagonal parting lines, by any suitable cutting or slitting mechanism,
although the edge of the zig-zag tongue of the die roll, being quite sharp and well
defined, may be so far advanced toward the face of the bed roll as to leave the
metal so thin and weak that it may be easily broken apart, the rough edges being
readily smoothed or rounded by a properly formed centre die in a bending machine,
or by a lightly operating milling tool. The parting of the blanks in this form of
bar can however be most satisfactorily performed by means of a slitting machine
devised by me for that purpose, as illustrated in Figure 9. This machine embodies
a driven bed roll D, having a groove h, or a pair of collars. On top of this roll, a
rotary slitting tool E is mounted on a shaft, and is free to revolve with its edge in
contact with the face of the groove in the driven roll, and said shaft is free to slide
in its boxes longitudinally. The boxes at the ends of said shaft have a broad
bearing on top of the shaft provided with mere supporting stirrups below, and on
each box a screw k is arranged to bear for securing close slitting contact between
the edge of the tool E and the underlying surface of the bed roll.
The diameter of the tool E is so small that it can freely follow the diagonal lines,
when a blank bar is inserted endwise between it and the bed roll, the shaft sliding
to and fro in conformity with each change of direction, the groove in the bed roll
confining the bar to a right line movement.
The separation of the blanks at their heels is performed in the usual way by
shearing, and as in prior double blanks the shearing points are well defined by the
scores, but unlike those in any prior double blank, these scores alternate in
position, or are offset with relation to those next adjacent at the opposite edge of
the bar, and for forming these scores the die roll B is provided with appropriately
arranged wedge shaped spurs l.

page_text: In the manner and by the means thus far particularly described, my novel method
or process can be most successfully practised for the production of blanks required
for the weighted shoes of the highest grade, and I will now describe the production
of blanks suitable for toe weighted shoes of the variety shown in Figure 3, and
especially the blank A' shown in Figure 4. This blank is formed in the blank bar
Figure 13, and this blank bar differs from the bar Figure 6, in having no zig-zag
groove, but it has the same arrangement of nail scores e, head prints e¹ and heel
scores, the latter in this bar serving not only to indicate shearing points for the
blanks in one line, but also as gauge points during the cutting operation in separating
the blanks on the diagonal lines. The die roll B', Figure 12, for producing the
blank bar Fig. 13, differs from the previously described roll B, only in that it has
no zig-zag tongue, but this roll has the same nail score creases f, head print spurs fl
and heel spurs 1.
Although this blank bar is to be divided on a zig-zag line, it is not material, that
any parting line should be indicated by the roll. The latter may, however, have a
mere working score or tongue, but it will be of little service, because the indentations
or recesses, between the heel portions of the blanks, afford reliable gauge points,
for properly locating the bar with reference to an angular cutter F, Figure 14.
This cutter has a shearing edge, which conforms to the shearing edge of a reversely
angular bed F, the latter at one side having a vertical guide, with which one edge
of the blank bar is kept in contact, while being moved step by step, longitudinally,
after each operation by the cutter thus separating the several blanks at the outer
side of the bar, and leaving the others connected in one line, to be separated by
means of ordinary shears.
Both of the blanks thus far particularly described, have one edge reversely
diagonal, or inclined, from the toe toward the ends, and these diagonal edges are
developed by shearing or cutting tools, but in the blank A2, Figure 5, one half of
the reversely diagonal edge is developed by shearing, and the other half is a part
of the original side line, or edge of the blank bar.
If a blank of this variety has one edge afterwards bevelled, it will of course be
necessarily bent in one direction; but if the blank be plain as shown, and without.
nail scores, it may be bent in either direction, for forming a shoe.
This blank is formed in a double blank bar, Figure 16, preferably by means of a
die roll, as shown in Figure 15. This die roll B differs from either of the others
previously described, in that its nail score creasers are alternately arranged so
that only one-half of them are in line with each other, and therefore they locate
one nail score in each blank closely adjacent to and parallel with one edge of the:
blank bar. The remainder of the nail creasers, alternate with the others and are
diagonal thereto, and parallel with the diagonal lines on which the blanks are to be
separated, and these lines mare indicated in the blank bar by means of diagonal
working tongues m¹ on the die roll. A blank bar thus formed is readily separated
into blanks by means of ordinary shears, cutting on the lines m, an angularly
arranged guide serving to properly present the bar to the shears. In forming this
blank the ends are of course in a pointed form, and as these must be clipped off,.
some little waste of metal is involved, although but little metal need be removed,.
if the shoes be for winter use, because the narrow ends can be readily converted
into such sharpened or roughened heels as are needed on solid snow and ice.
It will be seen that in each of the blank bars shown, the nail creases are in two
series, and that each crease in either series is offset with relation to the laterally
adjacent crease or in other words in each bar, the nail creases are so located as to.
be nearer the toe portion of each blank than the heel portion, and this offset.
arrangement is imperative because in each of the blank bars there are two heel
portions of two blanks opposite the toe portion of the laterally adjacent blank.
It will be understood that in the manufacture of my blanks and blank bars, the
most economic results will accrue by working the metal from billets, into ordinary
bar form, as indicated in Figure 7, and then while the metal is still in good heat,.

page_text: passing it through the die rolls thus completing the blank bars without further
heating of the metal. Considering facility in handling the metal while rolling,
I prefer that my blank bars be so rolled that in each bar the blanks will lie,
substantially side by side, and with the heel ends of two blanks opposite the toe or
central portion of a laterally adjacent blank, but the blank bars may be duplicated,
or even triplicated, in any one complex bar without in any manner departing from
my invention. As, for instance, as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18. In these
instances my double blank bars are duplicated, but are separable on a straight line
parting groove n, which can be obviously formed deeply enough to enable a ready
separation, and with but little fin at the parted line, and especially if the die
roll and the bed roll be each provided with tongues to co-operate in a manner well
known.
While the best economic results will obviously accrue by the use of die rolls in
the practice of my method or process, I do not restrict myself thereto, because
I am well aware that practicably desirable results will accrue from the use of
dies and compressing mechanism for forming the nail creases and locating them
with reference to each other as described, with a view to the separation of the blanks
on diagonal lines.
In Figure 11, I have illustrated a pair of dies for forming the blank bar Figure 6,
a drop press or toggle press of suitable power being required for forming one
complete blank, and one-half of two others, the metal bar being advanced after
each compression. This operation would involve light jets of flaming furnace gas
or other means for keeping the dies from over-cooling, and the blank bars could
not be conveniently worked in such desirable lengths, or with the same economy as
to heat as with rolling, but notwithstanding all this, and an incident waste in metal,
substantial economy would be involved when compared with the production of toe
weighted shoes, by methods heretofore practised.
With such dies provided only with the nail creasers of the die rolls B² and B³ of
Figures 12 and 15, the forming of the blank bars, Figures 13 and 16, can be readily
accomplished by compressing operations.
It is to be understood that the double blank bars and the separated or single line
blank bars, and also the single blanks herein disclosed, are valuable novelties in the
art of horse shoe making, and hence as products of my novel process or method they
constitute substantial portions of my present invention; and further that the die
rolls also involve valuable novelty, and hence they will be made the subject of a
separate Application for Letters Patent contemporaneous herewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The method or process of manufacturing blank bars containing blanks for
toe weighted horse shoes which consists in rolling a straight bar of metal, and then
forming therein two series of nail scores, which in one series are offset with relation
to laterally adjacent scores, substantially as described, whereby the bar may be
divided on lines diagonal or inclined to the longitudinal centre of each blank.
2nd. The method or process of manufacturing blanks for toe weighted horse shoes,
by forming in a bar of metal, nail scores appropriate for cach blank, and then
dividing said bar on lines diagonal or inclined with reference to the longitudinal
centre of cach blank, substantially as described.
3rd. The method or process of manufacturing blanks for toe weighted horse
shoes which consists in forming in a bar of metal nail scores appropriate to each
blank, and a longitudinal zig-zag groove, variably bevelled at its sides, and then
dividing said bar on the zig-zag line at the centre or bottom of said groove.
4th. The method or process of manufacturing blanks for toe weighted horse
shoes, which consists in forming in a metal bar, nail creases which are offset with
relation to the next laterally adjacent nail creases for locating the heel portions of

page_text: each two of the blanks laterally opposite the toe portion of an adjacent blank, and
then dividing the bar on lines which are diagonal or inclined to the longitudinal
centre of each blank.
5th. A toe weighted horse shoe blank substantially uniform in thickness, having
one straight edge, a wide toe portion, and narrow heel portions tapered in both
directions from the centre of said toe portion, and provided with appropriate nail
scores.
6th. A blank bar containing toe weighted horse shoe blanks, in two series,
separated from each other by a zig-zag groove, and each blank having appropriate
nail scores.
7th. A blank bar containing toe weighted horse shoe blanks, in two lines or
series, separated by a zig-zag groove having variably bevelled sides affording a
wide bevelled edge at the toe portion of each blank, and a narrow bevel at the
heels, said toe portion being opposite the two heel portions of adjacent blanks.
8th. A straight edged blank bar containing toe weighted horse shoe blanks,
said bar having on one side near both edges, appropriate nail scores, the nail
prints in the scores near one edge being diagonally opposite the laterally adjacent
scores.
9th. A straight edged blank bar provided with nail scores near and parallel with
both edges, and gauge marks which at one edge are diagonally opposite the
adjacent gauge marks at the opposite edge, said marks defining the ends of blanks,
and indicating a parting line from each gauge mark to the nearest gauge mark at
the opposite edge of the bar.
10th. A toe weighted horse shoe blank bar, containing a single line of blanks,
each having one straight edge and one edge reversely inclined from the middle
toward the ends, and each provided with appropriate nail scores, substantially as
described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.