IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR, MANUFACTURING SHOES FOR HORSES, MULES, AND OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Burden, of the City of Troy, County of.
Rensselair, and State of New York, in the United States of America,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR,
MANUFACTURING SHOES FOR HORSES, MULES, AND OTHER ANIMALS."
Scaled the 16th December 1856, and dated the 19th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Burden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the.
19th August 1856.
I, HENRY BURDEN, of the City of Troy, County of Rensselair, and State of
New York, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MANU-
FACTURING SHOES FOR HORSES, MULES, AND OTHER ANIMALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a machine for manufacturing shoes from bar iron
as it is discharged from the rolling mill without reheating. The bars are to
be rolled square, of a size adapted to the dimensions of the shoe, and are placed
(upon leaving the mill) into a trough which is supported in a suitable manner,
and is in connection with the horse-shoe machine. The successive operations.
of the machine upon the bar are as follows:-Firstly, a portion of the bar is
drawn into the machine, and cut off. It is then bent around a mould into the
shape of the letter U. The heels of the shoe are then bent still further inwards, .

page_text: 1
whilst it is next passed between two revolving swaging dies that compress and
roll it into its proper form. It is then creased or grooved, and punched, and
finally it is taken from the dies, and flattened and dropped in a finished state
upon a travelling chain or belt that conveys it to the storehouse. Whilst on
shoe is being grooved and punched, another portion of the bar is being drawn
into the machine and cut off, and thus it proceeds continuously. The feeding
apparatus consists of two rollers driven at equal speed, one revolving in fixed
bearings, and the other one so arranged as to be capable of approaching to and
receding from the former. The latter roller is mounted upon a moveable frame
which is so connected to the shearing or cutting apparatus as only to feed in
the bar whilst the cutting apparatus is inactive. The length of bar is cut of
by means of a fixed cutter and a moveable cutter acted upon by a cam; con-
nected with the feeding apparatus are a self-acting arrangement to stop its
action, when a portion of the bar remains too short to form a perfect shoe;
and also an arrangement to commence the feeding at the right time with
reference to the other "machinery, when a fresh bar is fed into the machine.
The means of bending the rod into the form of the letter U are as follows:
The rod, when it is fed into the machine, passés under two holding guides,
and above a bending tongue, which is mounted on a vibrating frame actuated
by cams. As soon as the desired length is cut off, the tongue advances against
the centre of the bar, and carries it forwards between the holders until it is bent
into the required form. The tongue then recedes, and the holding guides then
bend the heels of the shoe closer together, and at the same time the shoe
passes between two revolving swaging dies, which flatten the toe, and bevil
the inside, the upper die being furnished with a projecting rim to prevent the
iron from spreading outwards. The shoe then passes under a scraper, which
separates it from the upper die, and proceeds under the grooving and punching
dies, which are attached to another roller, and which form the grooves or
creases, and punch the-nail holes nearly through the shoe. The shoe is also
prevented from adhering to this die by means of a scraper; "perfect accuracy
in the working of these dies is attained by making the
spur wheels which
drive them in two sections or plates, one being keyed upon the journal of the
roll, and the other Being loose and attached to the former section by bolts
passing through curved or concentric slots, so that when the teeth wear, the
bolts are loosened, and the moveable section advanced till the teeth gear closely
witlibut shaking: The nuts are then tightened, and the shaking or "back-
lash" of tlio gearing entirely prevented." The shoe is next taken off the lower
die by means of two scrapers, and conducted between a fixed frame and a
moveable flattener Which divests it of the concave form given to it by the rol!.

page_text: Upon the flattener receding, the finished shoe is pushed out by a fixed pin, and
falls on to a travelling chain or belt, which carries it to the storeroom or other
convenient place.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Burden in the Great Seal Patent Office 'on
the 18th February 1857..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BURDEN, of the City of Troy, County of Rensselair, and State of New York,
in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Burden, Her special licence that I, tho said Henry Burden,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Burden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SHOES FOR HORSES, MULES, AND
OTHER ANIMALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Burden, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
.NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Burden, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the annexed Drawings, that is
to say-
This Invention consists of a machine for manufacturing shoes from bar iron
as it is discharged from the rolling mill without reheating. The bars are to
be rolled square, of a size adapted to the dimensions of the shoe, and are

page_text: placed (upon leaving the mill) into a trough, which is supported in a suitable
manner, and is in connection with the horse-shoe machine. The successive
operations of the machine upon the bar are as follows:-Firstly, a portion of
the bar is drawn into the machine and cut off. It is then bent around a
mould into the shape of the letter U. The heels of the shoe are then bent
still further inwards whilst it is next passed between two revolving swaging
dies that compress and roll it into its proper form; it is then creased, or
grooved and punched, and finally it is taken from the dies and flattened, and
dropped in a finished state upon a travelling chain or belt that conveys it to
the storehouse. Whilst one shoe is being grooved and punched, another
portion of the bar is being drawn into the machine and cut off, and thus it
proceeds-continuously. The feeding apparatus consists of two rollers driven at
equal speeds, one revolving in fixed bearings, and the other one so arranged
as to be capable of approaching to and receding from the former. The latter
roller is mounted upon a moveable frame, which is so connected to the
shearing or cutting apparatus as only to feed in the bar whilst the cutting
apparatus is inactive. The length of bar is cut off by means of a fixed cutter
and a moveable cutter acted upon by a cam.
Connected with the feeding
apparatus are a self-acting arrangement to stop its action when a portion of
the bar remains too short to form a perfect shoe, and also an arrangement to
commence the feeding at the right time with reference to the other machinery,
when a fresh bar is fed into the machine.
The means of bending the rod into the form of the letter U are as
follows: The rod, when it is fed into the machino passes under two
holding guides and above a bending tongue, which is mounted on a
vibrating frame actuated by cams. As soon as the desired length is cut
off, the tongue advances against the centre of the bar, and carries it forwards
between the holders until it is bent into the required form. The tongue
then recedes, and the holding guides then bend the heels of the shoe closer
together; and at the same time the shoe passes between two revolving
swaging dies, which flatten the toe and bevil the inside, the upper die
being furnished with a projecting rim to prevent the iron from spreading
outwards. The shoe then passes under a scraper which separates it from the
upper die, and proceeds under the grooving and punching dies, which are
attached to another roller, and which form the grooves or creases, and punch
the nail holes nearly through the shoe. The shoe is also prevented from
adhering to this die by means of a scraper. Perfect accuracy in the working
of these dies is attained by making the spur wheels, which drive them, in two
sections or plates, one being keyed upon the journal of the roll, and the other

page_text: being loose and attached to the former section by bolts passing through curved
or concentric slots, so that when the teeth wear, the bolts are loosened, and
the moveable section advanced till the teeth gear closely without shaking.
The nuts are then tightened, and the shaking or "back-lash" of the gearing
entirely prevented. The shoe is next taken off the lower die by means of two
-scrapers, and conducted between a fixed frame and a moveable flattener which
divests it of the concave form given to it by the roll. Upon the flattener
receding, the finished shoe is pushed out by a fixed pin, and falls on to a
travelling chain or belt, which carries it to the storeroom or other convenient
place.
In the annexed Drawings, Sheet 1 represents a front elevation of the
machine; Sheet 2 shews an elevation of the feeding end; Sheet 3 is an
elevation of the driving end; and Sheet 4 is a vertical section through about
the line B, b, in Sheet 1. In Sheet 5 of the Drawings, Figure 1 is a side
elevation of the punching die and its roller; Figure 2 is a vertical section at
A, a, in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial side view of the gearing C, c, in
Sheet 3, shewing the mode of adjustment; Figure 4 is a vertical section at
Z, 2, in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front view of the flanged die B in Sheet 1;
Figure 6 is a vertical cross section at X, X, in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a
detached view of the cutting lever A and feed rollers D, D', in Sheet 2;
Figure 8 is a detached view, shewing the movement of the bending tongue E
in Sheets 1 and 4; Figures 9 and 10 are front views of the lower die and
cross section at X, X; Figure 11 is a plan view of the punching die. The
red lines in Figures 7 and 8 indicate the chango of position.
The Drawings are made to a scale of about one-sixth the actual size, and
similar letters of reference mark corresponding parts in all the figures.
The trough is made of cast iron, or other suitable material; it is repre-
sented in the Drawings at A2, Sheets 1 and 2, and is most conveniently made
in sections of about twelve feet each. The end nearest to the machine is
supported by a standard E', attached to the side of the machine by bolts; the
other end may be supported by legs, or other appropriate means.
The feeding apparatus consists mainly of two rollers D and D¹; they revolve
continuously and are connected by two equal spur wheels L' and L' upon their
shafts near the lower journals. The upper roller is fixed in its position, the
lower one is capable of approaching or receding from it, and when they are so
near as to embrace the bar, it is fed into the machine; when farther apart,
their action upon the bar ceases. The bearings of the upper shaft are fixed on
projections L' and L', cast or attached to the frame; those of the lower shaft
are in a moveable frame D2, D2, which has its centre of motion on the shaft k.

page_text: The other end of this frame is attached to and receives its motion from the
short arm of the cutting lever A, A, A, Sheets 1, 2, and 5. The connection is
made by means of an arm extending from one to the other through the
frame, with shoulders on the inside, and screws with nuts p, p, on the outside.
A slot Y is made in the frame of sufficient length to allow the motion of the
arm, and a hole O' for the passage of the bar. The bevil wheels G and Do
with teeth, in the proportion of one to two, communicate motion to the feeding
rollers from the shaft k. To cut off the requisite length of bar, a stationary
cutter g, Figure 7 and Sheet 5, is attached by a screw bolt to a projection on
the inside of the frame, in such a position that the bar slides over it on its
passage to the machine; the moveable cutter g¹ is affixed by screw bolts to the
cutting lever A, A, which has its fulcrum at Q, attached..to_the_inside of the
frame. Its long arm rests upon the cam P, which revolves with the shaft k,
and when raised thereby, the upper cutter is brought down upon the bar and
cuts it off; at the same time the lower feeding roller recedes from the upper
one and suspends the feeding action. A spring W aids the weight of the arm
to raise the cutter after the bar has been cut off, and to recommence the
feeding action by pressing the lower feeding roller against the bar. Connected
with the feeding apparatus are both a self-acting device to stop its action when
a portion of the bar remains too short to form a perfect shoe, and also a means
to commence the feeding at the right time, with reference to the other ma-
chinery, when a new bar is to be fed into the machine. The former object is
effected by means of the catch u, u, u, fully shown in Sheet 2; it moves oasily
upon its centre X, and, when in a perpendicular position, its two arms balance
each other. When it is inclined to the right and rests on its stopping pin x, it
has no effect upon the feeding rollers; but when it is inclined to the left, as
represented in the Drawings, it catches the projection d on the moveable
frame D2, and holds the upper cutter down and the feeding rollers apart. An
indicator B, attached to the arm C³ that moves easily on its bearing Bi, slides
upon the heated bar as it passes under it into the machine. Its distance from
the feeding rollers is just equal to the length of bar required to form a shoe,
and when less than that quantity passes from it to the rollers it slides over
the end of the bar, drops down through a hole in the feeding trough, and at
the same time a pin P¹, Sheet 1, projecting from the arm Cs, strikes against
the catch, and inclines it into a position to prevent the further action of the
feeding rollers.
The feeding action will recommence on disengaging the catch, but it is
manifest that this must be done during the time that the cam P would hold
the feeding rollers apart, otherwise a portion of the bar would be fed into the

page_text: machine less than enough to make a perfect shoe, and injury might result
to the machinery. And as the unlocking at the right moment (when the
machinery is in rapid motion), could not safely be entrusted to the attendant, it
is necessary that it should be done by the machine itself; and for this purpose,
there is provided the lever v³, having its fulcrum on the side of the machine.
Its lower arm when moved presses against the pin x on the catch and forces
it back; a spring v holds it forward and against the stop u³ to prevent any
interference with the catch when not required. At the end of the other arm is
attached the connecting rod F by a joint at f; it has a notch at f', which
when caught by the projection G' on the rocking shaft J (the motions of
which are at the right time for this purpose), moves the lever v¹ and unlocks
the catch. The lower end of the connecting rod is supported by a loop fon
the side of the spring handle F2, which holds it out of contact with the pro-
jection G', unless the handle is pressed down by the operator. When a new bar.
is to be fed into the machine, the attendant raises the indicator until it is
caught and held up by the spring y, he takes the scrap from the machine and
moves the bar up against the cutter; then the indicator is let down upon it,
and placing his hand upon the handle F*, holds it down to the stop R until at
the proper moment the projection G¹ catching into the notch f¹ unlocks tho
feeding rollers, and then the action recommences.
The means of bending the portion of the bar that forms the shoe, which
are next to be described, are most fully represented in Sheets 1 and 4,
and Figure 8, Sheet 5. The bar when it is fed into the machine passes
into the moveable guides or holders I, I, against the stop O, and in
front of the bending tongue E, and when it is cut off they hold it in its
place. These guides are fully represented in Sheet 1, supporting the bar
on three sides; there is one on each side of the large. roller H³, and
these are placed on moveable standards H2, H2, for purposes herein-after
mentioned. Immediately after the rod is cut off. the bending tongue E,
having a small projecting edge in front (as shewn by the dotted lines in
Sheet 1), to prevent the bar from slipping, moves up against the centre of
the bar, and carries it forward between the holders until it is bent round the
tongue into the desired shape. The frame II, to which the tongue is attached
by screw bolts, has two lips, one on each side of the large roller H³, terminating
in rings fitted to move on the shaft F. Its motion forward is given by two.
cams M and M on the shaft k, which bear against the projections and lin
the frame; to ensure its backward motion, an arm K, proceeding from the
rocking shaft J and resting on the frame II, is raised by it until the bending.
tongue has attained its proper height, when the cam L on the shaft k strikes

page_text: against the other arm i projecting from the shaft J, and forces down the frame
and bending tongue. On the periphery of the large roller II' are two swaging
or forging dies J and M', placed opposite to each other; their surfaces are
fitted to impress upon the upper side of the horse-shoe the precise form which
it is desired to give it. It is shown in Figures 9 and 10 on Sheet 5. The
central portion e, the sides of which give shape to the inner edge of the shoe,
is elevated above the rest as much as the thickness of the shoe. The surface
of the upper swaging die B, D, is fitted to make the plain even surface of the
under side of the shoe, and as the inner edge is properly made thinner than
the outside, the natural tendency of the swaging process is to force the bar out
from under the swages:
This has heretofore constituted one of the greatest obstacles to the forming.
of shoes by means of revolving dies, and (so far as I have known) it has
never, before my Invention, been overcome. I have entirely removed the
difficulty by making upon the upper dic a flange b, b, projecting downwards
to nearly the thickness of the shoe, and, except at the toe, embracing it
entirely on the outside. The tendency to straighten is thus entirely prevented,
and a smooth and perfect surface given to the outside edge of the shoe. It
is best represented in Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 5. The canis M, M, are so
formed that the forward motion of the bending tongue cominences when the
portion of the lower die which forms the toc of the shoe comes in contact
with or is opposite to its point; it then moves forward with the dic as if it
formed a part of it, and the rod when bent around it is directly over the
position at the toe it would occupy on the die. The toe of the shoc is properly
made wider than the sides, and the front of it much thicker than the interior
bevilled edge, and to allow the iron at the toe to be spread inwards for that
purpose, immediately after the toe of the shoe has been caught between the
swaging dies, the bending tongue is drawn back out of the way, at the same
time the two cams S, S, on the shaft N', are brought in contact with the
guides I and I, upon the moveable standards Hand H, and these cause
the guides or holders I and I to approach each other and press the ends of
the shoe against the elevated central portion of the lower die, and within the
flange in the upper die. The standards are attached at the bottom by a joint
to the arms J' and J', cast upon the inside of the frame; at the top they
slide on the cross piece M. Another cam moves back the holders to their
first position. Instead of making the swaging dies upon the surfaces of the
rollers Hand II, I make them in separate pieces, and attach them to those
roilers by bolts and screws. They can thus be readily repaired or "shifted,"
to make different forms and sizes of shoes. A recess is cast on the periphery

page_text: of the rollers, as shown by Sheet 4, into this the dies are accurately fitted..
Slots or mortices are also made in the rollers, into which the tenons at the
end of the dies, shown in Figures 5 and 9, Sheet 5, accurately fit, and prevent
their lateral displacement. A bolt with a countersunk head passes through
the middle of each die and into the roller, and fastens it by a screw and nut
on the other side. After passing between the dies the shoe is liable to adhere
to the upper one, by which great injury may result to the machinery. It is
therefore indispensable to the practical working of the machine that means
should be provided to make the shoe adhere with certainty to the lower die,
and pass on to be subjected to the next operation. Two projections V³ and
V, Sheet 4, are cast upon the frame of the machine; to these is attached, by
screws and bolts, an arm M³, Sheets 1 and 4, and to this is screwed what
I term the scraper m³. This is made of steel, and its front edge scrapes
along against the surface of the upper die and separates the shoe from it; a
portion of the flange at the toe is cut away to admit its passage. The elevated
portion of the under die passes nearly in contact with its under surface; a
similar device takes the shoe from the creasing and punching die. The last
named die, to which the shoe is next subjected, is made also in parts, that
the creasers m and m may be replaced or shifted to other sizes and forms.
Its construction will be readily seen from Figures 1, 2, and 11, Sheet 5. The
creasers are firmly held by the clamps n² and n³ on the outside, drawn together
by bolts with heads n' on one side, and nuts and screws on the other.
Two adjusting screws o and o regulate the depth of the creases and holes.
It is essential that the upper and lower dies should accurately meet each
other in their proper relative positions.
In horse shoe making machines, hitherto employed, adjusting screws were
provided at the ends of the dies, but they did not hold them to their places so
firmly and securely as the mode adopted in this machine; besides, they aro
liable to be displaced by the wearing of the cogs on the gearing, and what is
termed "back-lash." I have devised a new mode of effecting the adjustment
and providing for wearing. The cog wheels C and S¹ are made in two
sections; those of the wheel C are represented at C and C', Figures 3 and 4,
Sheet.5, and by the same letters on Sheet 1; the section C is moveable on C³,
and the two are held together by three bolts e, e, and e, with the heads on
one end, and screws and nuts on the other. Slots are made for the passage of
the bolts through C, so as to admit of the requisite motion. A projection g'
is dove-tailed into or cast upon the section C¹, and extends into the mortice
on section C. Two wedges 95 and 9' are fitted into the mortice on each side
of the projection g*, so that, by loosening one and driving in the other, the

page_text: relative positions of the sections may be changed, and thus the dies adjusted,
and the "back-lash or shaking prevented. It remains to take the shoe
from the lower die and (as it has the curve of the surface of that die) to
flatten.it..
..Aibrace t, Sheet 4, extends from one side of the frame to the other, to
which it is attached by bolts and screws t³, Sheet 2, and helps. to, support it.
A portion of it at t4 is made plain, and the shoe is Hattened by being pressed
against it by the flattener t. To the brace are attached two scrapers v²,
having an edge ou_the. inside of each that scrapes the surface of the lower die,
(permitting the elevated portion to pass between them) takes the shoe from
it, and conducts it down between the sides of the flattener on to the projection
sat its lower end. The flattener is attached to the shaft r, Sheet 2, at the
end of which is fixed the lever U, by the spring w, on. to. the cam V, which
being.connected with the shaft F of the large roller revolves with it, & gives
to the flattener. the requisito inotion. A. strap S' is attached to the brace, to
hold the pin 2, extending into-a-slot-in t. By tho shape of the cam the
flattener is. first held open.sufficiently to receive the shoe, it then closes to
flatten the shoe, and afterwards opens so wide that the pin z pushes the shoe
off from the projections, and it drops upon an endless chain below (not
shewn in the Drawing) to be carried to the storehouse or other convenient
place.
The form of the frame Q', attached to the bed plate Q, and the arrangement
of the gearing, are fully shewn by the Drawings. The machine may be driven
by a belt on the large fly wheel. The wheels S¹, C, and K2 are cach one-
half the diameter of the wheel c, and revolve twice, making two shoes to one
revolution of the latter.
I am aware that several attempts have been heretoforo made to perform
that portion of the above-described operations which consist in swaging or
forging the shoe, by passing it between two revolving dies, but all these
attempts have, I believe, been attended with no practical benefits for the want
of those particular means I have above set forth for performing that process.
I do not, however, claim the process of passing the shoe between revolving
dies generally, but limit myself to the particular devices by which I have
rendered it practicable. What-I claim as now & desire to secure by Letters
Patent, is as follows:-
Firstly, I claim the above-described feeding apparatus, and in connection
therewith the mode-set forth of cutting off the bar; also the self-acting
'device for stopping the feeding rollers, and the mode of renewing their action
at the proper time,

page_text: Secondly, I claim the mode of bending the bar, and placing it in its proper
position between the swaging or forging dies, as above set forth.
Thirdly, I claim the flange on the upper swaging die for the uses and
purposes specified.
Fourthly, I claim the combination of the revolving, creasing, or grooving
and punching dies, with the revolving swaging dies, by which both operations
are successively and automatically performed.
Fifthly, I clain the devices set forth for taking the shoo from the upper
die and confining it to the lower die, and finally taking it from the lower die
and conducting it to the flattener.
Sixthly, I claim also the means described for flattening the shoe.
Seventhly, I claim the mode described of adjusting the dies and preventing
what is termed "back-lash" or shaking.
Eighthly, I claim the combination and arrangement of machinery by which
the several processes above described are performed successively by one
machine and without aid from attendants.
I do not mean to limit myself to the precise means of performing the
operations above set forth, as they evidently admit of considerable variations;
but I claim those devices or their equivalents which, shall substantially affect
the same purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Burden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
H. BURDEN. (L.S.)
GEORGE DAVIES, Civil Engineer & Patent Agent,
1, Serle St., Lincoln's Inn.