IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF HORSE-SHOE AND OTHER WROUGHT NAILS AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1884

page_text: J DAVID HIGGS of Halesowen in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF HORSE-SHOE AND OTHER WROUGHT NAILS AND MACHINERY
AND TOOLS TO BE USED THEREIN " to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the process or combination of processes hereinafter
described; whereby wrought or forged nails are produced at one heat in a simpler
and more efficient manner than heretofore.
The nails produced being uniform in size, tough, smooth, finely pointed and
rightly curved; and in the case of a horse-shoe nail they drive with freedom into
the hoof of an animal and the pointing and curvature being such, that the point
presents itself or comes out of the hoof, at its proper place, for cutting off and
clenching.
The process of production is mainly effected by the successive blows of a tool
attached to a heavy hammer or oliver alternating on each side of the square shank,
being drawn out of a rod at a welding heat, and as the drawing out process
proceeds, and so the tapering down of the metal under the impulses of the hammer
which are delivered on either side as the rod is successively turned on the tool of
the anvil, so as to present alternating sides to the action of the said hammer, and
as the drawing out proceeds to the point, so the number of blows increase, while
the impact decreases.
The nail blank having been thus formed it is subsequently operated upon by a
die or tool on the face of an impact hammer, which flattens and shapes the shank,
gives the requisite form to the point, and at the same time shapes and and cuts off*
the nail rod from the top of the conical shoulder, by coming in contact with a
properly shaped die and fixed cutton on the anvil.
I will now proceed to describe in detail the tools, machinery and appliances for
the production of horse-shoe nails-a nail rod-the end of which is at a welding
heat, is drawn from a hearth or heating furnace, and placed upon the drawing out
anvil, the operater at the same time holding the unheated part of the rod-The
operater then by means of his foot, presses a treadle lever, which is attached by a
connecting rod to a cranked arm, fixed to an axis working in side bearings on the
fixed framing.

page_text: This moveable axis works a trip hammer or oliver of considerable weight; and on
the face of this hammer a steel tool or half die is fixed the lower or acting face of
which is of the figure or contour of one side of the nail blank to be drawn or
fashioned; which nail blank is afterwards formed into shape by a second process
hereinafter described.
Fixed upon the bed of the anvil, is a second half die, the acting or upper face of
which is of a corresponding shape or conformation to that carried by the head of
the trip-hammer and when the die on the hammer, and the die in the anvil comes
together, the intervening space between them is the exact longitudinal form of a
nail blank to be drawn under the hammer or rather between the half dies.
So that the operater brings down the hammer by means of his foot upon the
heated end of the rod; that is to say, the square rod is successively turned on the
anvil die, so as to present alternating sides of the nail blank being fashioned to
the successive blows of the hammer die, and as the shank of the nail blank is
fashioned into the required form as the drawing down proceeds to the point, so the
number of blows increase while the impact decreases-There is thus fashioned
square in cross section, a tapering pointed blank having a conical .shoulder adjoining
the nail-rod.
This nail blank is then placed upon the face of a half-die on the finishing and
cutting off anvil, when the operator by his foot on a second pedal again, falls a
heavily weighted hammer having a second half die on its face; which on the
acting faces coming together, or rather the nail blank between them, gives the
exact conformation necessary to constitute a perfect nail, and at the same time
severs the nail from the rod at the top of the conical shoulder; that is, the last
process transforms the previously formed blank by flattening and swelling out the
top and bottom sides of the blank, curving the point and giving the proper
inclination to the head and tapering shoulder.
We will now again return to some points in the production and also the
appliances connected therewith.
The axis carrying and working the drawing down hammer, as a shifting or
moveable centre, so that the face of the die on the hammer head, is made to tip or
rise from the front on first operating on the heated end of the nail rod, that is, the
axis carrying the hammer is raised by a compound lever, acting through a handle
worked by the operator, which alters the plane of the die, as the drawing out first
proceeds and gives the blank being drawn down, a sort of wiping forward
movement.
The hammers and compound lever for operating the tilting, or altering of the
plane of the die of the drawing down hammer, are taken back to their normal
positions by suitable springs on liberating the treadles and lever respectively.
The proper positions of the fixed tools or dies in the anvils are effected by
adjustment screws working through a frame encircling the said anvils.
In order to reduce the percussive action or the too sudden impact of the tools
upon the metal under operation, I interpose between the operating parts of the
machines, viz., pedals and stocks of the haminers, rubber cushions or other springs,
so that on the falling of the hammer or hammers the acting and operating part or
parts slightly yield.
Dated this First day of January One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.

page_text: I, DAVID HIGGS of Halesowen in the County of Worcester, Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF HORSE SHOE AND OTHER WROUGHT NAILS AND MACHINERY
AND TOOLS TO BE USED THEREIN," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to the process or combination of processes hereinafter
described; whereby wrought or forged nails are produced at one heat in a simpler
and more efficient manner than heretofore.
The nails produced being uniform in size, tough, smooth, finely pointed and
rightly curved; and in the case of horse shoe nails they drive with freedom into
the hoof of an animal, and the pointing and curvature being such, that the point
presents itself or comes out of the hoof at its proper place, for cutting off and
clenching. The process of production is mainly effected by the successive blows of
a tool attached to a heavy hammer or oliver alternating on each side of the square
shank, being drawn out of a rod at a welding heat, and as the drawing out process
proceeds, and so the tapering down of the metal under the impulses of the hammer,
which are delivered on either side, as the rod is successively turned on the tool of
the anvil, so as to present alternating sides to the action of the said hammer, and
as the drawing out proceeds to the point, so the number of blows increase, while
the impact decreases. The nail blank having been thus formed, it is subsequently
operated upon, by a die or tool on the face of an impact hammer, which flattens
and shapes the shank, gives the requisite form to the point, and at the same time
shapes and cuts off the nail rod from the top of the conical shoulder, by coming in
contact with a properly shaped die and fixed cutter on the anvil.
I will now
proceed to describe in detail the tools, machinery and appliances for the production
of horse shoe nails.
The nail rod, the end of which is at a welding heat, is drawn from a hearth or
heating furnace, and placed upon the drawing out anvil, the operator at the same
time holding the unheated part of the rod. The operator then by means of his
foot, presses a treadle lever, which is attached by a connecting rod to a cranked
arm, fixed to an axis working in side bearings on the fixed framing. This moveable
axis works a trip hammer or oliver of considerable weight; and on the face of this
hammer a steel tool or half die is fixed, the lower or acting face of which, is of
the figure or contour of one side of the nail blank to be drawn or fashioned, which
nail blank is afterwards formed into shape by a second process hereinafter
described.
Fixed upon the bed of the anvil, is a second half die the acting or upper face of
which, is of a corresponding shape or conformation to that carried by the head of
the trip hammer, and when the die on the hammer, and the die on the anvil come
together, the intervening space between them, is the exact longitudinal form of a
nail blank to be drawn under the hammer, or rather between the half dies.
So that the operator brings down the hammer by means of his foot upon the
heated end of the rod; that is to say, the square rod is successively turned on the
anvil die, so as to present alternating sides of the nail blank, being fashioned, to
the successive blows of the hammer die, and as the shank of the nail blank is
fashioned into the required form, as the drawing down proceeds to the point, so the
number of blows increase, while the impact decreases.

page_text: There is thus fashioned, square in cross section, a tapering pointed blank, having
a conical shoulder adjoining the nail rod.
This nail blank is then placed upon the face of a halt die on the finishing and
cutting off anvil, when the operator by his foot on a second pedal again, falls a
heavily weighted hammer, having a second half die on its face; which, on the
acting faces coming together, or rather the nail blank between them, gives the exact
conformation necessary to constitute a perfect nail, and at the same time severs the
nail from the rod at the top of the conical shoulder; that is, the last process trans-
forms the previously formed blank by flattening and swelling out the top and
bottom sides of the blank, curving the point, and giving the proper inclination to
the head and tapering shoulder.
We will now again return to some points in the production and also the
appliances connected therewith.
The axis carrying and working the drawing down hammer, has a shifting or
moveable centre, so that the face of the die on the hammer head, is made to tip or
rise from the front, on first operating on the heated end of the nail rod; that is,
the axis carrying the hammer is raised by a compound lever acting through a
handle worked by the operator, which alters the plane of the die, as the drawing
out first proceeds, and gives the blank being drawn down, a sort of wiping forward
movement.
The hammers and compound lever for operating the tilting, or altering of the
plane of the die of the drawing down banimer, are taken back to their normal
positions by suitable springs, on liberating the treadles and lever respectively.
The proper positions of the fixed tools or dies in the anvils are effected by
adjustment screws, working through a frame encircling the said anvil.
In order to reduce the percussive action or the too sudden impact of the tools
upon the metal under operation, I interpose between the operating parts of the
machine, viz. pedals and stocks of the hammers, rubber cushions or other springs ;
so that on the falling of the hammer, or hammers, the acting and operating part or
parts slightly yield.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a machine for manufacturing or producing
horse-shoe and other wrought nails constructed according to my Invention. The
olivers or trip hammers carrying the dies which fashion the iron into nails, and cut
off the fashioned nail from the rod is represented in their normal or raised positions.
The dotted lines of this Figure represent the fashioning oliver or trip hammer in
the position in which it takes when the nail-rod has been drawn down to the
contour of the faces of the fixed and moveable dies.
Figure 2 is a back elevation of Figure 1 showing the relative positions of the
parts with respect to each other. This view also shows the axis or cross-bar which
works the slide carrying the fashioning or drawing down oliver axis; so that the
die carried by the hammer or oliver can be canted or tilted so as to bring its nose
or front part in contact with the iron, when the first drawing of the rod into a nail
is effected. The canting or tilting of the hammer prevents the heels or backs of
the dies from coming into contact, by the springing or slightly yielding of the axis,
when an oscillatory movement is imparted thereto.
Figure 3 is a front elevation which best shows the positions of the parts with
respect to each other.
Figure 4 shows the tilting of the hammer or oliver for the purpose as before
described, and Figure 5 represents on a larger scale the said cutting off oliver with
the face of its die cutting off, shaping, setting, pointing and stiffening the nail
previously fashioned.
Figure 6 represents a plan of the anvil or block and showing the respective
positions of the lower fashioning die and the cutting off and shaping die; it also

page_text: represents the framing for adjusting the exact position of the block supporting the
lower drawing down die, and the cutting off and shaping die.
Figure 7 shows the back of the machine partly in section so as to exhibit the
moveable tilting slide carrying the fashioning oliver axis.
Figure 8 shows the dies and the position which they assume, when the nail rod
is introduced between them, the tilting of the upper die is shown in the said
Figure, which is gradually lowered, or its angle lessened as the drawing down of
the iron proceeds as represented in Figure 9. In Figure 10 the dies are shown
parallel with the partially formed nail blank between them.
Figure 11 shows the upper and lower die closed with the nail blank drawn to
the contour of the adjacent faces, or drawn to the shape of the intervening space
between the dies. In Figure 12 the nail rod is shown with the nail blank upon
its end. Figure 13 is taken under the cutting off and shaping die which is shown
at Figure 14.
Figure 15 is an edge view, and Figure 16 is a front or plan view of a finished
nail made according to my Invention.
Figure 17 is an end view of the head of the nail, while Figure 18 is a cross
section of the shank of the nail.
Figure 13 is a plan of the faces of the upper and lower fashioning or drawing
down dies.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawings.
a is the fashioning or drawing down oliver or hammer carrying the die a²; the
said oliver is worked from the centre c by the lever c² operated by the pedal c³
through the intervention of the link or rod -b is the cutting off, shaping and
finishing oliver which carries the die 6' upon its face; this oliver is worked from
the centre d and actuated by a long arm d' connected with the link d³ the bottom
end of which, a pedal is hung or suspended, e is the lower or drawing down
blank fashioning die, while f is the block or anvil supporting the said die, m is the
lower cutting off, shaping and finishing die upon which the blank nail fashioned
between the dies a² and e is taken for cutting off from the nail rod and shaping the
blank. g is the tilting slide for the tilting or canting of the haminer a, for the
purpose hereinbefore described, when the upper die is brought down upon its lower
fixed die on starting to draw down the blank. The slide is operated by the
handle g, turning upon the fulcrum support g³ and connected by a link to the
curved lever g' attached by knuckles to the slide g.
In producing horse shoe nails made according to my Invention, I feed the nail
rod on to the face of the die e and bring the oliver a carrying its die a² down
upon the nail rod by the operator placing his foot upon the treadle c³, and at the
same time that the operator lowers the hammer through the intervention of the
lever and rod c2, c, he also raises the handle 2 which cants or tilts the hammer or
oliver a, and consequently brings the nose or front part of the die a³ on to the
heated end of the rod has best seen in the enlarged view Figure 8 Sheet 4; and
by imparting a series of blows by the reciprocation of the oliver upon its centre c,
the tilting handle g' is gradually relaxed, allowing the tool to graduate itself or to
gradually square itself or approach the plane of the lower die, as represented in
Figures 8, 9 and 10; that is to say, the rod h after receiving the impact of the
upper die, is turned to an adjactent flat or side, and slightly advanced forward upon
the face of the die, so as to present new metal and alternate sides to the impact of
the fashioning die a², until the nail blank upon the end of the nail rod has been
fashioned upon the end of the nail rod into the form represented in Figure 13. By
the fixed and movable dies a, e, coming together as represented in Figure 11, the
metal of the nail rod having been moulded or fashioned by the adjacent faces of
the dies laminating or drawing out the ductile metal of the rod and thereby
producing the nail blank Figure 13.
The drawing down and fashioning of the nail blank Figure 13 on the end of the
rod h, is assisted by a hand hammer which the operator uses, alternating with the

page_text: .
oliver. This hammer for assisting the drawing down is not absolutely essential in
the production of the nail blank, although I prefer to use a hand hammer of the
kind in combination with an oliver or tilt hammer. The slide g which carries the
axis of the oliver and the moving up and down within its guides imparts a
changing angle to the stem of the said oliver, the weight of the parts on the handle
being liberated, brings the sliding axis to its normal position, or the drawing down
of the slide may be assisted by a coiled or other spring. The movement of the
slide is also limited by set pins or screws i-i, which determine the exact movement
of the slide, and so limits the angular movement of the oliver handle or stem. The
return movement of the hammer is effected by means of a chain or connecting
links attached to a spring situated at the upper part of the frame of the machine.
The returning arm of the hammer is marked l.
The fashioning dies a³ and e as before described, consists essentially of two half
dies with their acting faces cut away to the exact contour of the nail blank to be
formed, so that when two half dies come together, the intervening space between
the faces of the dies, forms the shape of the nail blank. A is the head, B is the
shank, and c is the point see Figure 11-This nail blank Figure 13 is then
presented to the cutting off and shaping die m. as best seen by referring to the
enlarged view Figure 12, the operator then by means of his foot presses the
treadle d, lowers the lever d² through the connecting rod d³, and thereby falls the
hammer b, the face of the die d² strikes the nail blank against the cutting edge m²,
and thereby severs the nail blank from the rod, and gives to the head the incline
or shamphering, as best seen in Figure 14, where the metal of the nail blank has
been forced between the adjacent faces of the two dies b², m. as represented in the
said Figure 14. By this last process, a horse shoo nail has been produced with a
properly formed head, and inclined upon its top, also a properly shaped shank,
which is pointed, set and stiffened ready for driving. The stiffening being
assisted by an ordinary blast impinging upon the nail during the cutting off and
finishing.
The cutting off and shaping oliver b, turns within fixed centres d, d, in the frame
of the machine; the return movement is effected by the arm d³ on the foot of the
operator being removed from the treadle. A coiled spring is attached to the arm d³,
for effecting its return. The died on the face of the hammer b is nearly flat
which gives the shape to the underside of the nail Figure 15, while the inner
inclined side m² of the cutting edge and face of the die, gives the exact
conformation that should be given to the upper side of the nail Figure 15; the
intervening space between the meeting dies gives the exact conformation or shape
to the nail to be formed.
Figure 17 is the shape of the head, and Figure 18 is a section of the shank
on the dotted lines Figure 16, which is a favourable shape for the free driving. of
the nail. Figure 20 is a plan of the cutting off and shaping die.
The adjustment of the block upon which the lower dies are placed, is effected by
screw bolts passing through a frame encircling the block, in order that the dies
may be most accurately adjusted, with respect to the dies on the faces of the
olivers is the block, and n, n, n, is the framing and o o' are screw bolts on
opposite sides of the said framing; so that by unscrewing the bolts o² on the one
side, the block can be moved in that direction and affixed in that position by the
screwing up of the bolts o.
The cutting off and shaping die m may also be adjusted independently of the
block, by the screw bolt p; also the lower die e may also be adjusted in the same
way as the die m. Figures 21 and 22 represent in elevation and plan, appliances
for producing two or more wrought nails at a time, by interposing between the
nail rods under operation pegs or dividing fingers, which keep the rods apart, and
allow the operator to turn the said rods with facility and ease, q. q. are the dividing
pegs or fingers for separating the nail rods, as seen in Figures 21 and 22.
Figure 22 shows a plan of the die and pegs with three nail blanks under
operation.

page_text: The dies bereinbefore described may be made graduating or taper as in
Figure 23. r. r are the top and bottom dies in cross section, so that the rod h is
first introduced into the left hand end of the die, as represented; and as it is
gradually fashioned out in a nail blank, it is moved to the right hand side, so as to
gradually draw down the metal of the rod between the graduated acting faces of
the dies the contour of the die faces being the same as already described and
represented.
Figure 24 represents a transverse section of a pair of dies, for effecting the
production of a nail blank as before described. The part of the lower die when
the drawing down operation takes place, is recessed or grooved, which determines
the exact depth or gauge of nail to be made. Figure 25 shows a plan of the
grooved die.
My Invention consists further in producing nail by first operating upon nail
rods by means of the dies Figure 26, and drawing out a blank Figure 27, on the
end of the nail rod, and then further drawing out and shaping the blank Figure 27
into the blank nail Figure 28. By then bringing the dies Figure 26 square, with
respect to their acting faces, and then operating upon the nail blank Figure 28, the
perfect nail Figure 29 is thereby produced which is severed from the nail rod on
the dotted lines.
Although I have described the production of horse shoe nails by the machinery
and tools hereinbefore described, yet I wish it to be understood that the said
machinery and tools are equally applicable to the production of other wrought
nails; the shape of the acting faces of the dies have only to be changed to suit the
character of nail to be produced; and although I have described the production of
the aforesaid nails by the first tilting of the upper die which is not absolutely
necessary in the production of nails as described, from the fact that dies working
parallel will produce nails with almost equal facility.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,
First. Manufacturing or producing horse-shoe and other wrought nails, from iron
or steel rod preferably rectangular in cross section, by the use of, or by means of
dies of the kind herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings;
for producing the head, shaping and drawing down the shank and point, so that
the nail produced (in the case of a horse shoe nail) shall be set, pointed and
stiffened ready for driving; that is to say, the process or processes of production is
or are mainly or wholly effected by successive blows of a tool attached to an oliver
or heavy hammer; which elongates or draws out the end of a nail rod so as to
form the head, shank, and point of the nail, which is afterwards finished and cut
off by a second tool which shapes and finishes the nail ready for use, as described
and illustrated in Figures 1 to 18 both inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Drawing down or elongating nail rods, by the use of, or between a
pair of dies a, e, so as to produce nail blanks as represented in Figure 13 of the
accompanying, Drawings; that is to say, the intervening space between the acting
faces of a pair of dies when brought together, give the exact shape or conformation
to the nail blank to be produced, as described and illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10,
11, 13 and 13 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. Cutting off, shaping, and finishing nail blanks by means of a pair of
tools b², m as described and represented in Figures 12, 14, and 20 of the
accompanying, Drawings, so as to produce a nail, Figures 15 and 16, with its head
properly formed, its shank flattened, shaped, set, pointed and stiffened ready for use.
Fourthly. Tilting or canting the top die so as to bring the front or nose thereof
upon the rod to be drawn down or elongated, and acting in the way and for the
purpose as described and represented in Figures 1, 4, 8 and 9 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifthly. The arrangement or combination of the parts of mechanism for drawing
down nails by first forming a nail blank and afterwards shaping and cutting off

page_text: the same, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the several
Figures of the Drawings.
Sixthly. The arrangement or combination of the parts of mechanism for changing
the angular motion of the stem of the hammer, for the purpose of tilting or
.inclining the face of the hammer head, whether the said face carries a die or be
plain, for the purpose as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4,
5 and 7 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The method of adjusting the block and fixed dies with respect to the
upper or moving dies, as described and represented in Figure 6 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Eightly. The arrangement of the dividing or separating pegs marked q, for the
purpose and substantially, as described and illustrated in Figures 21 and 22 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Lastly == The production of horse shoe and other wrought nails by drawing
down or elongating the end of a nail rod, on successive blows being imparted
thereto by means of a pair of tools or dies, the acting faces of which, are of the
exact shape to be imparted to the nail, as described and represented in Figures 26,
27, 28 and 29 of the accompanying Drawings.