IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES AND MACHINERY FOR POINTING OR TAPERING METALLIC RODS FOR WIRE DRAWING, AND FOR POINTING OR TAPERING OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wakefield, of Birmingham, in the County of
. Warwick, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES AND
MACHINERY FOR POINTING OR TAPERING METALLIC RODS FOR WIRE DRAWING,
AND FOR POINTING OR TAPERING OTHER ARTICLES."
Sealed the 6th March 1877, and dated the 17th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wakefield at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1876.
65
JOHN WAKEFIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Machinist.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES AND MACHINERY FOR POINTING OR TAPERING METALLIC
RODS FOR WIRE DRAWING, AND FOR POINTING OR TAPERING OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention consists of the dies and machinery herein-after described for
pointing or tapering metallic rods for wire drawing, and for pointing or tapering
other articles, such as nails, by a drawing process.
The pair of dies which I employ for effecting the said pointing or tapering have
their acting faces of such a shape that when when brought together they enclose a
space having nearly the figure of two truncated cones joined together at their smaller
ends, the part of the said space of smallest diameter being situated in the middle
of the dies, and forming the acting part of the draw hole of the dies; the said
acting part is not circular, but has nearly an elliptical figure. A double draw hole
in the same line is thus made in the dies, each draw hole being used at pleasure,
according to the direction in which the dies are turned to the rod or article to be
pointed or tapered. The faces of the dies opposite to those described may be
similarly fashioned so as to form four draw holes in the same pair of dies.
The machine by which in combination with the said dies I effect the pointing or
tapering of the metallic rods or other articles is constructed as follows:-The said
machine consists essentially of a horizontal shaft or bolt having a reciprocating
sliding motion, and also a motion of partial rotation, as herein-after explained. I
will call this shaft the draw shaft. On the front end of the said draw shaft a die
box is fixed for containing the pair of dies herein-before described, and at the front

page_text: of the machine and in a line with the axis of the said draw shaft is a screw clamp,
vice, or holder for holding the rod or article during the action of the sliding draw
dies upon it. Joiuted to the opposite sides of the said die box is a pair of gripping
levers for opening and closing the said dies at the proper times. At the rear end
of the said gripping levers is a tubular stationary collar, through which the draw
shaft passes. On the exterior of this stationary collar are four equi-distant longi-
tudinal inclined ribs constituting two pairs. The ends of the long ams of the
gripping levers of the dies are provided with rollers, which when the draw shaft
makes its advance stroke travel up one of the pairs of inclined ribs on the
stationary collar, the draw dies in the die box are thereby gradually closed,
and the required taper or point given to the end of the fixed rod being operated
upon.
In order to effect the opening of the dies when the draw shaft and parts carried
by it make their return stroke the said shaft has two intermittent motions in one
direction given to it, and afterwards two intermittent motions in the opposite
direction given to it, cach motion carrying the shaft through one-eighth of a
rotation. After the draw shaft has made its advance stroke and the end of the
stationary rod has been drawn and partly pointed by the action of the dies upon it
the shaft moves through one-eighth of a rotation, bringing the rollers of the gripping
levers between the inclined ribs and opening the dies. The shaft now makes its
back stroke, the rollers of the gripping levers travelling between the ribs of the
stationary collar. The shaft coming to the end of its back stroke a further motion
through one-eighth of a rotation in the same direction is given to it. By this last
motion the rollers of the gripping levers are brought opposite the other pair of
inclined ribs of the stationary collar, and on the shaft making its second advance
stroke the rollers of the gripping levers travel up the last-mentioned pair of ribs
and again close the dies and cause them to effect a second drawing upon the end of
the fixed rod. A partial rotation in the opposite direction is now given to the shaft
to remove the gripping levers from the ribs, and after the shaft has made its back
stroke a second partial rotation in the same direction is given to it and the gripping
levers are brought opposite that pair of inclined ribs up which they first
travelled.
By the first advance stroke of the draw shaft the draw dies give a slightly taper
figure to the end of the rod, the said end having a flattened or elliptical figure in
cross section. By the second advance stroke of the draw dies they operate upon
the edges of the taper end of the rod so as to further point or taper the said end,
and by compression to give it a circular figure in cross section.
The motions of partial rotation described which are given to the draw shaft are
effected by a short collar upon the draw shaft, the said short collar being connected
to the shaft by a sliding key. The required motions are communicated to the
short collar and from it to the draw shaft by a box cam on a rotating shaft parallel
to the draw shaft, operating upon a lever and the latter through a connecting rod
upon an arm on the said short collar.
The reciprocating sliding motion of the draw shaft is effected by a cam on a
rotating shaft at right angles to the draw shaft operating upon a rocking lever at
the rear end of the machine, the said rocking lever acting upon a cross head con-
nected with the rear end of the draw shaft. Motion is transmitted from the
driving shaft to the shaft carrying the draw shaft cam by spur wheels, and the
motion of this cam shaft is transmitted to the shaft carrying the can which works
the rotating collar described by bevil gearing.
Although I prefer to use in the machine described draw dies of the construction
herein first described, yet I do dot limit myself thereto, as the draw dies or plates
of other constructions may be employed in the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Wakefield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th April
1877.
_JOHN WAKEFIELD, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Machinist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DIES AND MACHINERY FOR POINTING OR TAPERING METALLIC
RODS FOR WIRE DRAWING, AND FOR POINTING OR TAPERING OTHER ARTICLES."
My Invention consists of the dies and machinery herein-after described for point-
ing or tapering metallic rods for wire drawing and for pointing or tapering other
articles such as nails by a drawing process.
The pair of dies which I employ for effecting the said pointing or tapering have
their acting faces of such a shape that when brought together they enclose a space
having nearly the figure of two truncated cones joined together at their smaller
ends, the part of the said space of smallest diameter being situated in the middle of
the dies, and forming the acting part of the draw hole of the dies; the said acting
part is not circular but has nearly an elliptical figure. A double draw hole in the
same line is thus made in the dies, each draw hole being used at pleasure according
to the direction in which the dies are turned to the rod or article to be pointed or
tapered. The faces of the dies opposite to those described may be similarly fashioned
so as to form four draw holes in the same pair of dies.
The machine by which in combination with the said dies I effect the pointing or
tapering of the metallic rods or other articles is constructed as follows-The said
machine consists essentially of a horizontal shaft or bolt having a reciprocating
sliding motion and also a motion of partial rotation as herein-after explained. I
will call this shaft the draw shaft. On the front end of the said draw shaft a die
box is fixed for containing the pair of dies herein-before described, and at the front
of the machine and in a line with the axis of the said draw shaft is a screw clamp,
vice, or holder for holding the rod or article during the action of the sliding draw
dies upon it. Jointed to opposite sides of the said die box is a pair of gripping levers
for opening and closing the said dies at the proper times. At the rear end of the
said gripping levers is a tubular stationary collar through which the draw shaft
passes. On the exterior of this stationary collar are four equidistant longitudinal
inclined ribs constituting two pairs. The ends of the long arms of the gripping
levers of the dies are provided with rollers, which when the draw shaft makes its
advance stroke travel up one of the pairs of inclined ribs on the stationary collar;
the draw dies in the die box are thereby gradually closed, and the required taper
or point given to the end of the fixed rod being operated upon.
In order to effect the opening of the dies when the draw shaft and parts carried
by it make their return stroke the said shaft has two intermittent motions in one
direction given to it, and afterwards two intermittent motions in the opposite
direction given to it, each motion carrying the shaft through one-eighth of a rotation.
After the draw shaft has made its advance stroke and the end of the stationary rod
has been drawn and partly pointed by the action of the dies upon it the shaft
moves through one-eighth of a rotation bringing the rollers of the gripping levers
between the inclined ribs and opening the dies. The shaft now makes its back
stroke, the rollers of the gripping levers travelling between the ribs of the stationary
collar. The shaft coming to the end of its back stroke a further motion through
one-eighth of a rotation in the same direction is given to it. By this last motion
the rollers of the gripping levers are brought opposite the other pair of inclined ribs
of the stationary collar, and on the shaft making its second advance stroke the
rollers of the gripping levers travel up the last-mentioned pair of ribs and again
close the dies and cause them to effect a second drawing upon the end of the fixed
rod. A partial rotation in the opposite direction is now given to the shaft to
remove the gripping levers from the ribs, and after the shaft has made its back
stroke a second partial rotation in the same direction is given to it, and the

page_text: gripping levers are brought opposite that pair of inclined ribs up which they first
travelled.
By the first advance stroke of the draw shaft the draw dies give a slightly taper
figure to the end of the rod, the said end having a flattened or elliptical figure in
cross section. By the second advance stroke of the draw dies they operate upon the
edges of the taper end of the rod so as to further point or taper the said end and by
compression to give it a circular figure in cross section.
The motions of partial rotation described which are given to the draw shaft are
effected by a short collar upon the draw shaft of the said short collar, being con-
nected to the said shaft by a sliding key. The required motions are communicated
to the short collar, and from it to the draw shaft by a box cam on a rotating shaft
parallel to the draw shaft operating upon a lever, and the latter through a connect-
ing rod upon an arm on the said short collar.
The advance sliding motion of the draw shaft is effected by a cam on a rotating
shaft at right angles to the draw shaft operating upon a rocking lever at the rear
end of the machine, the said rocking lever acting upon a cross head connected with
the rear end of the draw shaft. Motion is transmitted from the driving shaft to the
shaft carrying the draw shaft cam by spur wheels, and the motion of this cam shaft
is transmitted to the shaft carrying the cam which works the rotating collar
described by bevil gearing.
Although I prefer to use in the machine described draw dies of the construction
herein first described, yet I do not limit myself thereto, as draw dies or plates of
other constructions may be employed in the machine.
I will now describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents the acting side or face of one of the dies of the pair of dies
which I use for pointing or tapering metallic rods and other articles; Figure 2 is a
horizontal section; and Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are front elevations of two of the said
dies arranged in position for use, that is, with their acting sides or faces brought
together or opposed to one another.
By an examination of Figures 1 and 2 it will, be seen that the acting face of each
die a has nearly the figure of the half of a double truncated cone, the half cones
being joined together at their smaller ends, which smaller ends are situated in the
middle of the die. The half truncated cones of the dies a, a, are marked respectively
b, b². When the acting faces of the two dies a, a, are brought together, as illustrated
in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, they enclose a space having nearly the figure of two
truncated cones joined together at their smaller ends, the part c of smallest diameter
forming the acting part of the draw holes of the dies. The acting part c of the dies
has nearly an elliptical or pear-like figure, as best seen in Figure 4. By construct-
ing the dies in this way a double draw hole in the same line is formed, one of the
said draw holes being marked b, b, and the other draw hole 62, 62, each draw hole
being used at pleasure, according to the direction in which the dies a, a, are turned
to the rod or articles to be pointed or tapered, that is to say, when the dies a, a, are
moved upon the stationary rod or article to be pointed in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 2, the shoulder at c of the draw hole b, b, acts upon the rod or article, and
when the draw hole b, b, is worn the dies a, a, are inverted so as to present the
unworn draw hole 62, 62, to the arrow, Figure 2; the shoulder c of the said draw
hole b², 62, now acts upon the rod or article, as will be understood by an examination
of the Drawings. The faces 63, 64, of the dies a, a, opposite the faces b, 62, are
similarly fashioned to the said faces b, 62, so that when the draw holes b, b, and
62, 6, are worn, the opposite faces 63, 64, of the dies a, a, may be presented to each
other so as to form a fresh pair of draw holes. Four draw holes in the same pair of
dies are thereby made.
Figure 3 represents the dies a, a, open, and the end d of the stationary rod (shown
separately in Figure 3A) to be pointed between the open dies.
Figure 4 represents the two dies closed upon one another, and the rod e (Figure 4^)

page_text: drawn by the operation of the dies so as to give to it a nearly elliptical or pear-like
figure in cross section, that is to say, the dies a, a, taper the end of the rod d
(Figure 3) and flatten it on its opposite sides, the breadth of the rod on its other
sides remaining of the original breadth, as seen in the cross section of the drawn
rod e, Figure 4A.
Figure 5 represents the pair of open dies arranged for operating a second time
upon the end of the rod e, that is to say, the pair of dies are turned through a
quadrant so that they operate upon the flattened edges of the end of the rod.
Figure 6 represents the pair of closed dies after they have operated a second time
on the rod e so as to further point it, the said dies at the said second drawing com-
pressing the edges of the rod formed by the first operation so as to give the end
of the rod a circular figure in cross section, as represented in the pointed or tapered
rod f in the dies, Figure 6, and in the separate view, Figure 6ª.
Dies constructed according to my Invention may either be used for acting upon
a stationary rod or article as described or the said dies themselves may be stationary
and the rod or article be drawn through them as in ordinary wire drawing.
Figure 7 represents in side elevation and Figure 8 in plan, a machine for pointing
or tapering metallic rods, for wire drawing, or for pointing or tapering other articles
constructed according to my Invention; Figure 9 is an elevation of the front or
feeding end of the machine; and Figure 10 is an elevation of the back end of the
machine.
Figure 11 is an end elevation of the die box and dies of the draw shaft, the end
plate of the die box being removed.
Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal section of the die box, dies, and front end of
the draw shaft.
Figures 13 and 14 are cross sections of parts of the machine, the section, Figure 13,
being taken on the line A, A, and the section, Figure 14, on the line B, B, Figure 8.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 are drawn to a larger scale than the other Figures of the
machine.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 7 to 14, both
inclusive.
g, h, is a screw clamp, vice, or holder at the front of the machine for holding the
rod or article during the action of the draw dies upon it. The upper die g of the
screw clamp or holder is worked by the handle 92, and the lower die h is adjusted
by the bolt h², so that the axis of the rod gripped by the said dies g, h, may be
coincident with the draw shaft i of the machine. The said draw shaft i works in
bearings 2, 2, and has a reciprocating sliding motion and also a motion of partial
rotation given to it. Fixed on the front end of the said draw shaft i is the die
box k, containing the pair of dies a, a, constructed as herein-before described.
Jointed at 1, 2, to opposite sides of the die box k, is a pair of gripping levers L, L,
for closing the dies a, a, in the die box k at the proper times. The short arms of
the said levers 1, l, act upon the ends of the dies a, a, through the set pins 14, 14, and
packing pieces, 15, (see Figure 11), and the long arms of the said levers 1, 1, carry
rollers 13, 13. The dies a, a, are opened so as to release the rod, being pointed when
the pressure of the gripping levers 7, 1, on the said dies is relaxed by the operation
of the wedges m, m, pressed upon by the springs m², m², (see Figure 12), the said
wedges bearing against the inclined ends at a², a², of the dies a, a, (see Figure 11).
On the closing of the dies a, a, by the gripping levers l, l, the wedges m, m, are
pushed outwards by the inclines a², a², of the dies, and the springs m², m², put into
a state of tension ready to open the dies when the gripping levers l, l, are opened.
At the rear end of the gripping levers 1, 1, and around the draw shaft i is a tubular
collar n, which for convenience of description I will herein-after call the stationary
collar, but the said collar is capable of a rotation through a small angle in its
bearing n², so as to let it have a little play for the purpose and in the manner
herein-after described. On the exterior of the said stationary collar n are four
equidistant longitudinal inclined ribs constituting two pairs, one of the said pairs

page_text: being marked p, p, and the other pair q, q. When the draw shaft i makes its
advance stroke, that is, moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8,
the rollers 13, 13, on the long arms of the gripping levers i, l, travel up one pair of
the inclined ribs p, p, or 9, 9, on the stationary collar n. By this travel of the
gripping levers the draw dies a, a, in the die box k are gradually closed upon the
end of the fixed rod in the holder g, h, and the required taper or point given to the
said rod. The draw shaft i coming to the end of its advance stroke it makes its
back stroke, the draw dies a, a, being opened in the manner next described.
For the purpose of opening the dies a, a, that is, removing the pressure of the
gripping levers 1, 1, from them as the draw shaft makes its back stroke, and also
for changing the positions of the draw dies a, a, with respect to the stationary rod
in the holder g, h; the draw shaft i has two intermittent motions of partial rotation
in one direction given to it and afterwards two intermittent motions of partial
rotation in the opposite direction given to it, each motion carrying the shaft and
parts thereof through one-eighth of a rotation.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The end of the rod to be pointed or
tapered is fixed in the holder or screw clanp g, h, when the draw shaft i is at the
end of its advance stroke. As the said draw shaft i makes its back stroke the open
dies a, a, pass over the protruding end of the rod to be pointed, and the tubular
part of the draw shaft (see Figure 11) passes into the end of the said fixed rod.
On the draw shaft i making its advance stroke in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 8, the dies a, a, are closed on the end of the rod situated between them by
the action of the inclines q, q, of the stationary collar n upon the rollers 1³, 13, of
the gripping levers 7, 1, and the end of the rod is pointed or tapered in the manner
illustrated in Figure 4. The draw shaft i coming to the end of its advance stroke,
the said shaft turns through one-eighth of a rotation, bringing the rollers 1³, 18, of
the gripping levers 7, 1, opposite the spaces 7, 7 between the inclines p, q, of the
stationary collar n. The pressure of the short arms of the gripping levers 7, 1, is
thus removed from the dies a, a, and the said dies open by the action of the wedges
and springs m, m², and release the rod under operation. The draw shaft i now
makes its back stroke, the rollers 13, 13, of the gripping levers 7, 7, travelling in the
spaces, r, between the inclines of the collar n and the open dies slide over the
stationary rod fixed in the screw clamp or holder g, h. The draw shaft i coming
to the end of its back stroke, a further motion through one-eighth of a rotation in
the same direction as last described is given to it. By this last motion the
rollers 13, 13, of the gripping levers are brought opposite the pair of inclined ribs q, q,
on the collar n, and the acting parts of the dies a, a, in the die box ½ of the draw
shaft are brought oppposite the flattened edges of the stationary rod, which rod has
been partly pointed by the first advance stroke of the draw shaft. The draw
shaft i now makes its second advance stroke, and the rollers 13, 13, of the gripping
levers 7, 1, travel up the pair of inclined ribs q, q, again closing the dies a, a, and
causing them to effect a second drawing upon the end of the stationary rod, and
thereby completing the pointing of the said rod in the manner illustrated in
Figures 5 and 6. The pointing of the rod having been thus completed it is removed
from the screw clamp or holder g, h, and the end of a fresh rod fixed in its place.
The draw shaft i has now a partial rotation given to it in the opposite direction
to that described so as to remove the rollers 13, 13, of the gripping levers 7, l, from
the inclined ribs q, q, and bring them into the spaces r, r, between the ribs p, q, and
after the shaft i has made its back stroke a second partial rotation in the same
direction is given to it, and the rollers 13, 13, of the gripping levers l, 1, are brought
opposite the pair of inclined ribs p, p, up which they first travelled, when the series
of operations herein-before described is repeated and the end of the second stationary
rod pointed or tapered, and so on.
In case the pointed rod should be wedged in the dies a, a, its removal is effected
by introducing a pusher into the hole in the draw shaft i and operating upon
the said pusher by a lever introduced into the cross hole is in the draw shaft, as
will be understood by an examination of Figure 12.

page_text: In order to permit the collar n furnished with the inclined ribs p, p, and q, q, to
have a little play so as to provide for the slightly irregular motion of the gripping
levers 7, 7, the said collar n is capable of a partial rotation in its bearing n². The
under side of the said collar n has a quadrant groove n³, which works upon
the
guide pin n. To the bottom of the said quadrant groove n3 a weighted chain n³ is
suspended, the said chain working between the rollers nº (see Figure 9). By means
of the said weighted chain 5 the collar n is returned to the normal or central
position represented in the Drawing, should it be moved to one or other side of that
position by the action of the rollers of the gripping levers 7, 1, upon it.
The motions of the several parts of the machine are effected in the following
manner The sliding advance motion of the draw shaft i is effected by the cam 8
on the shaft t operating upon the rocking lever u at the rear end of the machine,
the cross head or upper end of the said rocking lever u being connected by the
rods u, u², to the rear end of the draw shaft i, in the manner best seen in Figures 7
and 8. The return or back motion of the draw shaft i is effected by coiled springs,
not shown in the Drawings. The motions of partial rotation which are given to
the draw shaft i are effected by the short collar on the said draw shaft, the said
collar v being connected to the said draw shaft by the sliding key w (see Figure 14).
The required motions are communicated to the short collar v, and from it to the
draw shaft i and parts carried by the said draw shaft, by the box cam x (best seen
in Figure 9) on the shaft y parallel with the draw shaft i, the said box cam x
operating upon a lever z (the roller of which works in the said box cam), and the
said lever through the connecting rod 1 operating upon the arm 2 of the said
collar v.
3 is the driving shaft carrying the fast and loose pulleys and fly wheel.
Motion is transmitted from the driving shaft 3 to the shaft t of the draw shaft
cams by the spur wheels 4, 5, and the motion of the cam shaft t is transmitted to
the cam shaft y working the rotating collar v by the bevil gearing 7, 7.
For the purpose of cutting off the rough ends of the rods prior to pointing thein
a sliding cutter may be combined with the machine. This cutter is marked 8, and
is worked by the lever 10 operated by the cam 11 on the driving shaft 3 of the
machine. The rod to be cut is introduced into the guide 12, and on the descent of
the cutter 8 the end of the said rod is cut off between the said cutter and the inner
end of the guide 12.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied with-
out departing from the nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Invention,―
First. The improvements in dies for pointing or tapering metallic rods for wire
drawing, and for pointing or tapering other articles, herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say, making the acting faces of the pair of dies by which the pointing or tapering
is effected of such a shape that when brought together they enclose a space having
nearly the figure of two truncated cones, joined together at their sinaller ends so as
to form a double draw hole in the same line, the middle or acting part of the double
draw hole having nearly an elliptical or pear-like figure, substantially as described
and ilustrated.
Secondly. The improvements in machinery for pointing or tapering metallic rods
for wire drawing, and for pointing or tapering other articles, herein-before described
and illustrated in Figures 7 to 14, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say, the combination of the draw shaft i having a reciprocating sliding
motion and an intermittent motion of partial rotation in opposite directions given
to it, and carrying the draw dies a, a, and gripping levers l, l, with the inclined
ribbed collar n, by which collar n the closing of the draw dies upon the stationary
rod or article is effected and the dies permitted to open for releasing the rod or
article, the several parts of the machine being constructed, arranged, and working
substantially as described and illustrated. Also the arrangements or combinations

page_text: of parts for giving the advance sliding motion to the draw shaft, and for giving
the intermittent motion of partial rotation in opposite directions to the said draw
shaft, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wakefield, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOHN WAKEFIELD. (L.S.)