IMPROVEMENTS ON THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOE NAILS AND ON MACHINES FOR MAKING THE SAME, AND FOR WORKING AND SHAPING IRON
Year: 1876

page_text: - LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and Company
Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS ON THE MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOE
NAILS AND ON MACHINES FOR MAKING THE SAME, AND FOR WORKING AND
SHAPING IRON." A communication from abroad by John Bowman Wills, of
the Village of Keeseville, in the County of Essex, in the State of New York,
one of the United States of America, Nail Manufacturer.
Sealed the 13th June 1876, and dated the 7th April 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1876.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of 67,
Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer." "IMPROVEMENTS ON THE
MANUFACTURE OF HORSE-SHOE NAILS AND ON MACHINES FOR MAKING THE SAME,
AND FOR WORKING AND SHAPING IRON." A communication from abroad by John
Bowman Wills, of the Village of Keeseville, in the County of Essex, in the State
of New York, one of the United States of America, Nail Manufacturer.
My Invention relates with other things to the whole process and mechanism for
the manufacture of horse-shoe nails from bars or plates of iron, rolled or otherwise
formed to the proper configuration for cutting the nail blanks which are afterwards
finished into horse-shoe nails, and may be divided into the following heads :-
1st. Improvements in a machine for cutting blanks cold from a suitable rod of
iron, which may be afterwards further treated and finished into horse-shoe nails.
2nd. Improvements in a machine for cutting blanks hot from a suitable rod
of iron, which may be afterwards further treated and finished into horse-shoe nails.
3rd. An improved manufacture of horse-shoe nails by which the nails are
produced, having hardened points and annealed bodies by a process of rolling or
working.
4th. Improvements in a machine for elongating the blanks produced by the first
and second parts of my Invention, and by the use of this machine forming the
4th part of my Invention, in the manner herein-after described, in accordance as
to whether the nail blanks have been produced by the machine forming the first
or second parts of my Invention, the third part of my Invention is accomplished.
The 5th part of my Invention relates to improvements in a machine for pointing

page_text: and finishing the elongated blanks, and thus forming them into complete norse-sh
nails.
The 6th part of my Invention has reference to improvements in machines for
welding the "short ends" of bars or, rods of iron used in making varieties of nails,
arranged to reduce the weld down to the size of the original bar. This machine
may also be used in welding other scrap bars or bars together.
I will now describe my Inventions under the several heads separately in the
order in which they have been given, and will refer to the Figures in the Drawings
applying to cach head by similar letters of reference respecting the part of the
Specification referring to that head.
In preparing the iron to be used under the first head of my Invention, I roll it
into long plates of the greatest width practicable for the kind of iron required for
horse-shoe nails, say about twelve inches, and of a thickness substantially that of
the thickness of the shank of the nail blank to be produced; these plates are then-
cut across into strips, in width equal to the length of the nail blanks to be made,
plus sufficient length to head up to form the nail blank head, these strips are cut
and headed by the mechanism shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, where letter
is a frame having upon it two plumber blocks b, carrying a cam shaft c; d is a head
carried in centre bearings e; fis an arm or lever made in one with the head d,
having its extremity resting or working upon the cam g, this is of suitable size
and configuration to cause the cutter h, which is held within the head d, to operate at
the time required by the other parts of the machine about to be described. The form
of the cutter is made to agree with one edge of the blank shewn in Fig. 4 which
illustrates a plan of the blank produced by this machine, and to this configuration
the end of the bed die i is made to agree. This die i is attached in a die rest
made in one or attached to the frame, so that by turning over the plate after each
cut of the dies h, i, the proper shape of the edge of the blanks is formed. In the
head d and immediately beside the cutter a small stop bar is placed against
which the plate from which the nails are cut is fed, and by means of which the
quantity of metal required for each nail is regulated; m is a cam of suitable size
and form placed on the shaft c for the purpose of actuating a lever n which is
attached to a head o partially rotating on centres 2, this head is provided with a
projection q carrying a die rand block s coming immediately under the cutter h,
as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3; t and u are set screws for setting up the die and block;
v is a spring attached to the frame a, having a vertical end w fitting into a recess
cut in the side of the die ; again on the shaft c another can a¹ of suitable size and
shape is placed; this is for the purpose of working the lever b attached to a head c¹
held in centres d¹.
In the part of the lever b¹, immediately below the cutter head d, a die bed is
formed in which a die e¹ is placed; this die has its end formed to agree with the
shape of the plan of the blank shewn in Fig. 4, and is for the purpose of com-
pressing the blank on its edge after it is cut off. The shaft c extends beyond the
plumber blocks, and on one extension of it the ordinary means are attached for
rotating it by power, while on the other cam I is secured actuating a lever gl
pivoted at to the frame a; to this lever the header is attached and by it worked.
The header is constructed as follows, and as more particularly shewn in Fig. 3-
To the frame a a bracket i¹ is secured, holding a spindle, e, in which is inserted the
headerm is a spiral spring pressing between the end of the bracket i¹ and
the collar n of the spindle ; o is a set screw screwed into the end of the lever g',
and passing through it, has its end received within a recess formed in the end of the
spindle. By this arrangement the spiral spring keeps the roller p¹ in the end of
the lever g pressed upon the face of the cam f¹, and also keeps the header drawn
back unless pressed forward by the projection of the cam f; s is a stop secured
or made in one with the frainc a, governing the action of the lever and pre-
venting any spring of the parts, causing the header to be pressed in between the
dies a greater amount at one time than another. The pulley i and cam f are.
arranged to bring the end of the lever g¹ to a fair and full bearing on the stop

page_text: every time, so that the action of the header is completely controlled by it. In
like manner stops will be provided in any convenient position for controlling the
diesel and h; ³ are springs attached between the framing and the levers f, b²,
and n, for the purpose of keeping the ends of the levers down on their respectivo
cams.
The machine is operated as follows:-A piece of iron plate of the proper thickness
having been cut to the required width is placed upon the die i, and entered to bo
acted upon by the die h, the amount being guaged by the stop bar l. The first pieco
cut off will be waste on account of its edge not having the necessary configuration
for the next cut; the plate is turned over for the next cut.
The cams being so arranged that the die comes immediately under the die h
just as the blank is being cut from the plate and by the end of the spring v; the
blank is sufficiently held at one end as to prevent its turning over or on one side or
changing position while it is being carried downwards, and such change of position
thus preventing the dies from acting fairly upon it. The die e' is timed in its
nction to come forward and press upon the back side of the blank just as the blank
is carried down by the die , so that immediately after the blank is cut off a box is
formed by the four dies h, i, r, el, for the reception of the head of the blank, and for
compressing it in by means of the header.
It will be observed that the die extends à considerable distance beyond the
length of the head of the blank, and that the die is chamfered off at q₁ to agree
with the length of the blank, so that the blocks forms a guide for the header on
the bottom side while the die h forms a guide on the top, and the dies i and e' are
similarly guides to the sides by being cut away a sufficient amount to receive the
header, therefore forming a box in which to guide the header. After the nail blank
has been acted upon by the header the dies release the nail blank and it falls out of
the machine. The plate from which the nail blanks are cut being turned over is
again presented to the cutter h. The blanks thus cut are of the form as herein-
before stated, shown in Fig. 4, which represents a plan, and Fig. 5 a side elevation
of the same, while Figs. 6 and 7 represent the blank as afterwards elongated under
the 4th head.
I will now proceed to the second head of my Invention, which consists in improve-
ments in machines in use for manufacturing horse-shoe nails, and I arrange the
machine to manufacture blanks hot, of the configuration shewn in Figs. 12 and 13,
and by my present Invention blanks are manufactured with greater rapidity than
in any of the machines at present in use. These blanks are afterwards elongated.
cold, thereby hardening their points as will be described under the 3rd and 4th heads
of this Invention, and then pointed and finished to make the perfect nail. It
consists in attaching to the ordinary cam shaft a cam of double form for working
the feed slide, double tips or cams for actuating the cutting shaft, to which the
cutter for cutting off the blanks is attached, and a drum having double projections
for actuating the feed gripe.
By the above arrangement two blanks are made during one revolution of the cam
shaft instead of one as heretofore.
The Drawings referring to this part of the Invention are Figs. 8, which is a plan;
Fig. 9, a side elevation; Fig. 10, a front view; Fig. 11, a detail of cam shaft and
parts attached thereto; and Figs. 12 and 13 which show the product of the
machine.
Letter a is the framework of the machine for carrying the moveable parts and
supporting them at the required height; bare plumber blocks cast in one with the
frame; c is a guide also cast with the frame, in which the feeder slide d moves; e is
the rocking cutter bar maintained in place by bearings f, the cutter being carried
in the ordinary way in the head g, similar to those at present in use with the
exception of its being carried backwards, the cutter being formed with similar
curve, as shewn only in Fig. 9; i is the spring attached to the frame a at one end
and to the shaft e in the ordinary manner at the other, for causing the cutter to rise
immediately after it has been depressed in the ordinary manner; is a shaft having

page_text: a lever made in one with it, actuated by cams. Towards the other end and in the
position shewn in Fig. 8, the shaft k has formed on it a lever m for operating the
gripe attached to the feed slide d; n is the rock shaft situated as shewn in the
Drawings provided with an extension o made in one with it, acted upon by a cam
herein-after more particularly described. It is also provided with another pro-
jection or arm p attached to the slide d, and imparting motion given to the rock
shaft to it. The shaft and gears working in the plumber blocks are not shewn
as they are of ordinary construction, it being only necessary to say that they will
be so arranged, either directly or with intermediates that the shaft in the plumber
blocks will make twenty revolutions for one of the cam shaft q. The shaft will
also be provided with the ordinary eccentric and rod for working the hammer, which
will be supplied to the machine in the ordinary way at present in use. The machines
heretofore in use have been arranged to make eighteen revolutions of the shaft
in the plumber blocks b for one revolution of the cam shaft q, with this exception
and the curving of the cutter and head, the machine in its above-mentioned parts
is as at present largely in use and well known in the business of horse-shoe nail
making.
My Invention consists, firstly, in the configuration of the cam ? situated on the
cam shaft acting upon the projection o of the rock shaft n; this cam is of the
double form, shewn in Fig. 11, having two projections a and b, which act upon the
projection o of the rock shaft u, and by the arm p draws back the feed slide d.
These projections a¹ and b¹ occupy a sufficient amount of the circle in which their
periphery moves, to give time for the cutter actuated by the strips c and d to
cut off the nail, at the same time drawing back the slide and maintaining it in the
proper position for the above purpose. It will be remarked that the sides of the
two cans a and b are not alike, that is to say, the sides el are not like the sides f!,
two jerks being formed at g¹, g. These are for the purpose of straightening the
rod by their action on the roller imparted through the rock shaft n and arm p to
the slide d. In the depressed parts of the cam and a nail in each is formed by
the action of the roller on the shaft in the journals b, and dies attached to the bed
of the ordinary construction at present in use. During these periods of the
revolution of the cam the nail bar is acted upon by the hammer in the ordinary way
for forming the blanks.
It will be observed that two strips or cams c¹ and are provided each of them in
the proper position to act in causing the cutter to cut off the blank at the proper
time; is a drum situated under the lever on the cam shaft having two
projections or cams m¹ and n' to operate the gripe attached to the slide it, and
releasing the nail bar twice during the revolution of the cam shaft q. These will
be situated to cause the action to take place at the proper time.
In Fig. 11 the relative positions of the cams a and b, depressions and ¹,
strips c and d¹, and projections or cams m¹ and n¹, with regard to their relative
positions in the circle of their revolutions are shewn as nearly as I am able to give
them on the small scale the Drawing is made to.
The parts of iny Invention under the third and fourth heads, are so intimate
with one another as necessarily to be taken together, and under these heads refer to
Fig. 14, which is a plan of a machine for elongating blanks; Fig. 15, an end
elevation of Fig. 14; and Fig. 16, a side elevation.
Fig. 17, a detail of dies.
Fig. 18, a horizontal central section of end of shaft with dies attached.
Figs. 19 and 20, views of dies.
Fig. 21 is a plan of the two dies forming a quarter of the circle, the periphery
being straightened out to a flat surface; Fig. 22 is a section of Fig. 21, shewing the
roll reduced also to a flat surface, and applied to it as used for the first treatment of
the blank.
Fig. 23 is a section of the die and roll under the same circumstances as in
Fig. 22, but in this case the dies are modified for the second treatment of the nail

page_text: manufacture of horse-shoe nails, by which the difficulty attending cold rolled horse-
shoe nails is obviated; this difficulty is as follows:-If the nails are rolled or
worked cold they are made stiff, hard, and brittle throughout, causing them to.
break when driven or clenched, or after being driven and in use. If then the nails
are annealed after they are made, the points being fine, they bend too easily and are
in danger of taking a wrong direction in the hoof, or of being doubled or bent
under the blow of the hammer while being driven when the hoof is hard.
the nails are annealed the hardening of the points of each nail in an ordinary
manner is too tedious and expensive.
When
In my improved manufacture or process the nails are produced in a forin having
annealed bodies with hardened points, thus removing the objections arising as
above mentioned, when they are either hard or soft throughout. This part of the
Invention is accomplished by first treating the blank shewn in Figs. 4 and 5 in a
system of dies or rolls that are capable of extending the blank (cold) and pressing
head, and extending the part of the body next to it or between it and where the
pointing commences into the exact or nearly the exact shape required, while the
material which is to form the point is left comparatively of considerable thickness.
These blanks are then taken and put into a furnace in quantity and annealed, after
which they are treated cold by a second set of dies, which acting on the
comparatively thick point ends extends them to the desired form, that is to say, to
the shape as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and at the same time hardens the iron
throughout that portion of the nail where the point extends. The blanks are then
ready to be pointed. With regard to the blanks shown in Figs. 12 and 13, or
under the second head of my Invention as they are produced hot, and are identical
in form with the blank shown, as formed by the dies in Fig. 22, and therefore only
requiring to be elongated cold by the dies shewn in Fig. 23, which will harden and
stiffen the point end, as in the case of the annealed blanks produced under the first
head; in either the blanks will then be ready for finishing and pointing, which will
come under the fifth head of my Invention.
The fourth part of my Invention consists in the machinery shewn in the
Drawings, as above mentioned, from Fig. 14 to Fig. 23 inclusive of both.
Letter a is any suitable framework for holding the bearings of the shafts band c;
these bearings are of any ordinary description used in similar cases. On the
shaft ba gear wheel dis secured, and on the shaft c teeth are cut forming a portion
of it into a gear wheel e, otherwise the gear wheel e may be made separate from the
shaft c and secured thereon in the ordinary manner, as shown in the Drawings, the
relative proportions of the wheels d and e are as four to one, so that the shaft c will
make exactly four revolutions to one of the shaft b. On the end of the shaft bis
formed a disc f; this may be made in one with it, as shewn in Fig. 18, which
represents the end of the shaft enlarged to form the dise, or it may be made
separate and secured upon the end of the shaft, in this case reduced to receive it;
g, are four dies inserted and secured in openings cut in the disc to receive them,
care being taken to place them exactly at four equally distant points in the circle; h,
are segmental dies, as shewn in Figs. 15 and 17, in the latter two of them are
moved out of place to show them more clearly. The object of thus constructing the
dies in parts g and h is that in case the grooves (which will herein-after be
described) in them shall become imperfect from use or in any way defective, the die
in which the defect occurs may be reinoved and another one put in its place, or it
may be repaired.
This arrangement of the dies also in a great measure obviates the difficulty of
twisting or taking an improper shape when being tempered, as they would do
if they were all in one piece, that is to say, forming a ring. Fig. 19 shows the
reverse side of the dies to that shewn in Fig. 17; and Fig. 20 shews an end elevation
of Fig. 19. The dies are attached to the disc by a plate a placed on the screwed
extension of shaft d. This plate is provided with a projection engaging with
a projection on each of the dies having a miter form, and retaining therein
their proper places down upon the periphery of the disc f, while it also holds them

page_text: firmly against its face for the purpose of giving the plate a certain amount of
spring to cause it in a measure to act separately on each of the dies. In case of
any little irregularity in them cuts e" are made in it, as shewn in Fig. 15.
The dies are provided with a groove i extending around the whole of the periphery
formed by the four dies and four dies g. This groove is made in two forms, in
either case, the plan of the groove is as shewn in Fig. 21, and for the first treatment
of the blank, shewn in Figs. 4 and 5. The groove is of the configuration in depth as
shewn in Fig. 22, and in this case the end of the shaft c is provided with a roll
attached upon it, as shewn, having a recess for the first treatment of the blanks.
This recess is made the exact shape of the head of the nail, and in depth, as shewn
at 1 in Fig. 22. The grooves & cut or engraved in the dies and g are of fourfold
configuration; each configuration is complete in one of the dies and its adjacent
die g.
The two being taken together are equal in length to the circumference of
the roll, and the configuration of the grooves i is so situated that as the shafts b
and c revolve, the recess comes to the exact position with each of the four con-
figurations, as shewn in Figure 22.
It will be observed that the blank to form the nail (delineated by being made
black) is reduced at the head and body down to about the required size, that is to
say, to about the point 2, from which point the extremity begins to increase in
thickness, as shown.
.
It will be seen that the diameter of the circle made up of the dies g and is
four times greater than that of the roll k.
I have found by experiment that the greater the difference of diameter between
the two the better the action of the dies and roll will be in elongating the
blank.
Before proceeding further with the description of the Drawing referring to this
part of my Invention, I wish to state that I do not confine myself to the fourfold
construction of the dies gand and the fourfold configuration of the grooves i;
they may be made in any number from two upward, and the shaft c made to
revolve a corresponding number of times to one revolution of the shaft b.
The blanks shewn in Figures and 5 are fed to the dies by any desired means
already in use, forming no part of my Invention, and having been acted upon as
described; they are taken to a furnace and annealed, ready to be treated by the
second dies, the first dies having been removed and the second ones put in their
place. In this case, a roll is provided not having any recess 1, the groove i
is modified to the configuration shown in Figure 23, by which the point end of the
blank from the point 2 in Figure 22 is pressed or drawn out, giving the blank the
configuration shown in black in Figure 23, and also illustrated by Figures 6 and 7.
It will be observed that the blank is turned with its opposite side towards the
roll in the second operation of the dies to that in the first; this is for the purpose
of giving a good smooth edge, so that the dies in the second instance have little or
nothing to do with forming the head or part of the body down to the point 2, in
Figure 22, beyond straightening the head with the body. Their action in elongating
the point end stiffens and hardens that portion of the blanks which are now ready
for pointing, thereby forming them into complete nails. As shewn in Figures 15
and 16 guides are attached on the under side of the dies g, h, and ; these are
constructed as follows:-To the side of the frame a are attached blocks m and n,
the one m having a projection o extending upward to the dies and forming a guide
to the blank on one side as it passes through the dies, and also forming a guide on
one side of the guide bars p and q. The guide on the inner side of the blank is
formed by a plate or supplementary piece attached to the frame a, and being in
form similar to that of the projection o. The upper extremity of the guide bar q is
provided with a point to run in the groove and be continually pressed against the
bottom of the groove by the action of a springs, the bar being pivoted between
two pins t; u is a set screw acting upon the end of the bar q for the purpose of
adjusting its height and raising it as it is shortened by wear. The upper extremity
of the guide bar p is suited to act in a similar manner on the roll k, it being

page_text: similarly pivoted with the pins t and provided with a springs and a set screw u.
Thus, by the plater at the back, the projection o.at the front, the guide bar p on
one side, and the bar q to the other, a passage a little larger than the head of the
blank is formed, thereby preventing the blank from following round the roll or
remaining in the groove i, and becoming in either case a dangerous obstruction to
blanks being fed to the dies.
It will at once be seen from the above that to elongate the blanks produced under
the second head of my Invention, I have only to introduce them cold into the dies,
shown in Figure 23, which with their other particulars of construction will at once
bring them to an even equality with the blanks produced by the first head of
my Invention and treated by the dies shown in Figure 22, then annealed, and
afterwards elongated by the dies in Figure 23.
I now come to the fifth head of my Invention, which provides a machine for
treating the elongated blanks, as described, to be produced or formed under the
fourth head of my Invention. This machine has a three-fold action, which after the
blanks have been fed to it first presses out of them any improper bend or crookedness,
bringing them on the "fat" to the required form or shape; the machine next shears
or cuts the point to the exact required shape sideways; and, lastly, it bevels the
extremity of the point, all of which actions will more clearly herein-after appear
under this head.
The Drawings referring to this part of my Invention are Figures 24 to 35
inclusively.
Figure 24 is a plan of the machine; Figure 25 is a side elevation of Figure 24.
Figure 26 is a detail plan.
Figures 27, 28, 29, and 30 are details of dies.
Figure 31 is a detail of arm and cam.
Figure 32 is a detail of projection and dies.
Figure 33 is a sectional detail of revolving plate with parts thereto relating; the
fingers are however omitted.
Figure 34 is a detail shewing in elevation a portion of the revolving plate in
Figure 33 with a finger attached.
Figure 35 is a detail of staple for holding the dies shown in Figure 29.
Letter a is any suitable framework for holding the moving parts, &c., in their
proper relative positions; bare plumber blocks (preferably made in one with the
bed a) for carrying the revolving shaft c; d is a shaft held between centres in the
projection e of the frame a; to this shaft an arın f is attached or made in one with
it; the arin is of the configuration shown clearly, with a strap h to engage with on
being acted upon by the eccentric g, preferably made in one with the shaft c,
revolving within the space formed between the strap and arm, and thus raising and
depressing the arm as the eccentric revolves; i is a projection made on the shaft c,
preferably in one therewith, being of the form clearly shown in Figures 24, 25, and
32; to this are attached dies herein-after described; is an enlargement of the
shaft c, made for the purpose of accommodating the relative position of the die
carrier m, and provided with a cam projection for actuating the die carrier; n is
a cam formed on the part of the shaft shewn in the Drawings for the purpose of
actuating a lever o; p is a pulley and balance wheel to rotate the shaft c, connected
therewith in the ordinary manner; to the front of the frame a is attached a sub-
frame q, a part of which forms a bed for the discs 8, and u; v is a central hub
formed in one with the frame q, on which is placed a wheel 20 provided with
ratched teeth. This wheel is operated by the cam n upon the shaft c acting upon
the lever o, which in its turn operates the pawl bar, the whole being arranged
so that one revolution of the shaft c will cause the wheel w to advance or rotate the
amount of one of the teeth of the wheel. y is an annula plate carried on armas
of the frame q; these arms are three in number, one extending to the front, as
shewn in Figs. 25 and 33, and two extending to the side, one only of which appears
in Fig. 25, but it will be easily understood that there is another one on the opposite
side. As shown in Figure 25, the pawl bar c is carried on one of the arms; it is

page_text: 1
kept pressed up to engage with the teeth of the wheel w by a spring a¹ on its back;
it is also caused to retire by means of a spring b¹, attached at one end to the pawl
bar a and at the other end to the guide c¹, for retaining the lever o in its proper
position on the face of the cam n; this guide c¹ consists of a simple bracket bolted
to the frame a.
Returning to the annular plate y, the opening in the centre of it is made to fit a
projection on the upper side of the wheel w, so that the wheel can freely revolve
within it. It will also be observed, in Figure 33, that the surface on the upper side
of the projection d¹ comes fair with the surface of the annular plate y; and in
Figure 26 it will be seen that a piece is cut out of the annular plate y to cause it to
fit about the bed r.
Another opening e¹ is cut in the annular plate y for the nails to fall through, as
will herein-after be more clearly described. Upon the surface formed by the upper
side of the projection d' and annular plate y is laid a circular plate f¹, agreeing with
the configuration of the surface and having an opening fitting upon the hub b. By
this arrangement of the parts it will be seen that the central portion of the circular
plate, on its under side, and the upper surface of the projection d', come
together. They are, furthermore, attached by dowel pins, screws, or other devices,
to oblige the plate and wheel to revolve together. It will also be observed that the
upper surface of the plate f¹, and the hub b, agree with one another. On this
upper surface of the hub bis attached by dowel pins or screws (keeping it sta-
tionary with the hub), a cam plate g; h¹ is a bolt passing through the hub and cam
plate, and further securing all the parts together. Thus it will be seen that the
parts y and g¹ are stationary, while the wheel and plate f¹ revolve. The plate 1
is provided with radial slots i, extending all around it at equally distant intervals
in the circle. Their number, and the number of the teeth of the wheel w, before
described, will agree. The slots are furthermore configurated to have one side to
agree with one side of the head of the nail blank and the adjacent half of the body,
the other side of the slot being sufficiently cut out to receive a projection or lip p¹
of the finger shown in Figure 34, projecting downwards the depth of the plate ;
m are finger pieces or levers pivoted at n¹ to the plate f', and of the configuration
shewn, having their lips p configurated to agree with the opposite side of the head
and body of the nail blank that the side agrees with, so a nail can be freely laid in
the opening existing between the lip 2' and side l, the fingers being rotated on their
pivots, and caused to close upon the nail by their other extremities acting on the
edge of the cam plate g¹.
It will be seen in Figure 24, by the formation of the cam g', that the action of the
fingers m to grip a nail laid in any of the slots i is continued throughout the
portion of the periphery of the can from the point 1 to the point 2 on the side on
which the arrow is drawn, which arrow also indicates the direction of the revolu-
tion of the plate f¹, while throughout the balance of the periphery the configuration
of the cam allows the finger to retire from gripping the nail by the spring q¹
attached on each of their backs, pressing against suitable stops ¹¹.
It will, furthermore, be observed that the point 2 above referred to occurs a little
in advance of arriving at the opening c¹, so that a nail that has been gripped
throughout the portion of the circle above described will be free to fall through the
opening when it arrives at it.
It will be seen by the action of the pawl bar, operated by lever o and cam n,
that the plate f¹ is made to rotate the amount of from one slot i to the next, at
each revolution of the shaft c; and it will be also seen by reason of the configura-
tion of the cam n that this is not a continuous motion, the plate rotating as the
pawl bar is pushed forward and remaining stationary as it retires, thereby enabling
nails to be introduced in the slots in the lower part of the circle. In situating the
dies 8, t, and u in the bed 2, I place them to exactly agree with the positions of the
slots i when the plate fl is at rest. They may be placed as shown in the Drawings
with one slot i intervening between each, or without, or with a greater number.
The dies is shewn more clearly in section on an enlarged scale in Figure 27, and in

page_text: plan Figure 25, where the nail blank is also delineated as lying upon it.
Its upper
surface agrees exactly with the proper configuration of the nail blank; s¹ is a die
attached to the end of the arm in a suitable position to come down upon the nail
blank lying upon the die s in the position shewn in Figure 28, its plan being the same
or nearly the same as the plan of the nail blank, the parts being so arranged that
a nail held in position by one of the fingers m¹ on the die 8, the die s¹ comes down
upon it with sufficient force to press out any crooks or bends that may improperly
exist in it, but not to crush or extend the nail in any way. The position of the
cam on the shaft being arranged or timed to bring down the dic s during the
interval that the plate is at rest, as herein-before described. The dies t¹ attached
to the projection i on the shaft c are shown in end view in Figure 24, a part side
view in Figure 25, and a complete side view in Figure 32, and the under plan view in
Figure 29; they are made in two parts, the inner sides dowelled together, while their
ends u are cut away, leaving an acute V form, as seen in Figure 29, being the exact
form that the ends of the blank nails require to be cut down to. They are also cut
away on their upper sides, giving them an amount of clearance. The extremities
of the ends u² are also provided with projections ¹, which come first in contact
with the blank and prevent any tendency of escape or displacement of it, being
slightly bevelled off before the cutting edge, so that they enter upon the blank and
bring it to the proper position should it be slightly out just before the cutting
odge begins to operate. These cutting edges are shown at wl in Figure 29.
The manner of attaching these dies to the projection is as follows:-In the
projection a horizontal recess is cut to receive a staple x¹ of the configuration shown
in Figure 35, and a hole being bored at the bottom of the recess for the end y' to pass
through and receive a nut on its screwed end for tightening up the staple. This
staple is made a very "snug" fit in the recess in i to receive it, so that it cannot
shake or twist about. It is provided with an opening to receive the dies t¹. This
opening is inclined to agree with the outer inclined sides of the dies t, and is
of such size that the dies will not come to the bottom a, but will come to about
the position of the line 6. Thus the tighter the nut is screwed upon the end y
the tighter the two dies are drawn together, and are also drawn up in their
recessed bed in the projection i.
The diet being the punch or bed die of the dies t¹, it is provided with an upper
surface, the section of which would be exactly like the section of the die's in
Figure 27. Its point is exactly in plan the size and shape of the nail, but being
sufficiently small not to engage with the cutting edge w¹ (see Fig. 29) and injure
them.
The dies t', as will be clearly understood, revolving with the shaft c bring down
their ends u¹ on each side of the point e, paring or cutting off the portions of the
blank extending beyond the point of the die t. .It will be seen that as the centre
of the shaft c is raised at a considerable height above the level of the diet and nail
thereon held, the dies are enabled to give a drawing cut from the body towards the
extremity of the point in contradistinction to a dead shear cut, which would be the
case if the edges w and the point 2 of the diet came together in a straight line in
any portion of the revolution of the dies t. By this oblique action of the dies upon
the nail a slight amount of bevel is given to the sides and end of the point, which
could not be given by dies coming down vertically upon the nail with a dead shear.
This amount of bevel is of considerable importance in the action of the next dies
about to be described. The lies are timed in their action to cut the blank while
the plate is stationary. The die carrier m is attached by a pivot e to a bracket ²
made in one or attached to the frame a.
The upper
end rests against the pro-
jection of the shaft c, and is rotated on its pivot e by the cam projection / being
caused to return by the spring f²; thus, by the revolution of the shaft a nodding
action is given to the carrier, the parts being situated so that the die secured in
the carrier will come down over the die u in the bed in the manner clearly shewn
in Fig. 30, thereby pressing and finishing the extreme point of the nail to any
desired chamfer, or bevel, or angle which is determined by the configuration given

page_text: to the bottom face of the die g². As the extremity of the point is compressed it is
slightly widened or enlarged by the action of this dic, but only to a sufficient
amount to compensate for the beveling cut made by the dies t', as before described,
and said to be of considerable importance, so that between the two a beautifully
finished and perfect point is obtained.
It will be observed that as the pivot e is placed at a considerable angle above the
end of the die g² the action of the die g² on the nail is not merely a compression,
but a compression combined with a draw or rub of the die upon the point, giving a
tendeeny to elongate rather than to widen. The die g², like the others above described,
is timed to act when the plate f¹ is at rest. It will therefore be seen that the nails.
fed to the slots i in the plate f¹ are first gripped by the finger m', which carry
them forward, and present them to the action of the dies s, s¹; they then carry them
forward, and similarly present them to the action of the dies t, t', and lastly present
them to the action of the dies u and g, the nails arriving at the opening e', being
released, as herein-before described, fall out of the machine.
The sixth part of my Invention has reference to a machine by which the welding
and reduction of the weld to an equal size of bars or rods of iron can be more
readily accomplished than by the means at present in use. Its advantages will be
more apparent in cases where an equal size of bar or rod is used for a particular
purpose, and where the bars are used down to "short ends," as in the case of the
bars or rods used in making many varieties of nails. These "short ends" in nail
works of any considerable size soon accumulate into a large quantity, and are of no
further use for the purpose, unless welded into bars or rods of considerable compa-
rative length and uniform in size throughout to the size of the original bar or rod;
otherwise the "short ends" are only valued as scrap of the quality of iron of which
they are made.
Fig. 36 is a plan of a machine embodying my Invention; Fig. 37, a sectional
elevation on line A, A, Fig. 36.
Fig. 38 is a detail of the position of the dies when closed together upon a bar or
rod.
Fig. 30 is a modification for round bars or rods.
Letter a is any suitable frame for attaching the working parts to; bare plumber
blocks made in one with or attached securely to the frame a; c is a shaft carried in
any ordinary manner in the plumber blocks, having cam projections d and e; fis a
rock shaft carried in centre bearings g in the ordinary manner. This rock shaft is
made with an extension to the front, forming a die carrier h, and one to the back
forming a lever i, in the end of which is inserted a roller arranged with its
periphery to roll upon the periphery of the cam e; is a spring attached to the
frame a and lever i to keep the roller down on the came; m are cross bars
forming part of the franic a, and by being provided with caps n and recesses to
receive the slide bar o they form guides to the bar. At the rear end of this bar is
privoted a roller p, its periphery rolling upon the cam d, and by the cam d the bar is
pressed forward at each revolution of the shaft c; is a spring attached to one of
the cross bars m and to the bar o, as shewn in Fig. 37, causing the bar to retire as
the cam projection passes the roller p; is a die attached within the bar o in the
ordinary manner, having its end formed into a true surface parallel with the surface
of the diet; s is a dic rest carrying the die t, having its bottom surface indicated in
Figs. 37 and 38, by the dotted line 1; this rest also carries a vertical die u, indicated
by the dotted lines 2 and 3, Figs. 37 and 38, and being in width equal to the width
of the die t, and situated so that the front edge of its flat upper end comes fair with
the back lower edge of the die t, or it may pass slightly beneath the diet. These
flat ends of the dies t and u form planes at right angles to one another, or they
constructed to be, if desired, at any particular angle; v is a die secured in the
headh, being preferably made equal in thickness to the die u, and equal in width
to the dies t and u, having its flat lower end arranged so that when the head is
depressed by the came to the position shewn in Fig. 38 the surface of the lower
end of the die v will be parallel with the upper surface of the die u. The end of

page_text: the die is of such thickness as to be able to slide freely in between the dies vand u
when brought to the position shown in Fig. 38, and fill the space between them,
w is a set screw, by which the diet is held up to its position with the other dies,
and as the die wears and in case it requires to be refaced this may be taken out and
done, and the die again set up to its new position; x is a set screw for securing the
diet; laterally, in like manner, the set screws y and apply to the die v, while the
die may be similarly supported and maintained in place. On the lead is a
surface arranged so that when the head is depressed, as shown in Fig. 38, this
surface is brought down forcibly upon the surface b¹ of the rest s¹; c' is a set screw.
inserted in the slide bar o, and having its head resting against the end of the die ?,
and supporting the die, and by the setting out or in of the set screw c¹ the die ? is
caused to come to a nearer or a further position from the end of the bar t, and thus
accomodate a variety of widths of finishing sizes of bar iron to be given by the
operation of the machine.
To enable the machine to act upon different thicknesses of bar the die will be
raised or lowered as required, but it will be necessary to provide a number of
dies ?, one of which will agree with each thickness of bar to be formed by the
machine.
The operation of the Invention is as follows:-Having inserted the die 7, laving
its end of the desired thickness required for the scrap bar, and adjusted its position
with the set screw el, to bring it to the position, giving it the desired width to the
scrap bar, the position of the dio is then adjusted. The shaft c is now put in
motion by power applied in the ordinary manner. Any two pieces of scrap to be
united having been heated to a welding heat the heated ends are brought together
and placed the one upon the other in the ordinary manner for welding upon the
die, when my Invention is in the position shown in Fig. 37. As the shaft
revolves the came first causes the die v to descend upon the pieces of scrap, and by
the came being arranged to bring the surface a to a full bearing on the surfaces b
all spring of the parts in action is compensated for, and the space between the
dies and u in the position shown in Fig. 38 rendered a certain or positive amount.
By making a portion of the cam e, that is to say, from the points to 6, concentric
with the shaft c, the die v is thus maintained in its depressed position, while the
die comes forward and presses the side of the bar and begins to retire. In case of.
wear upon the end of the dic causing ragged corners or fins upon the corners of
the bar, it, the scrap bar, may be turned over, presenting the edge that was before
acted upon by the die to the diet, and in this position receive a second action of
the dies, and press in the rrgged corners or fins.
It is evident that the dies t and u may be made in one by cutting a recess in the
block of iron or steel, &c., giving the faces formed by the ends of the dies, and
inserting this block in the rest s, maintaining it with set screws, &c., to bring the
faces to the desired position.
To adapt the above Invention to act upon round bars or rods it is only necessary
to provide the machine with a series of dies for each particular size of round bar
or rod, the dies v, u, and having their ends configurated, as shown in Fig. 39.
Here the dies v, u, and are each made to act upon one-third of the circumference
of the bar or rod, while the diet becomes only a support to the die v, as against the
thrust of the die 1.
What I claim as my Invention under the 1st head, referring to Figs. 1 to 7,
inclusive of both, and the part of the Specification relating thereto, is as follows:-
1st. The combination of the dies h, i, r, and e¹, forming a box for the head of the
nail blank to be compressed in, and a head , substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
2nd. The combination of the die 7, adjustable block 8, and header 1, substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth.
3rd. The combination of the dies h and with spring v, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.

page_text: 4th. The combination of the stop bar with die h, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
What I claim as my Invention under the 2nd head, referring to Figs. S to 13,
including both, and the part of the Specification relating thereto, is as follows:-
1st. The cam 2, with double projections a and b, and double depressions
and, in combination with the projection o and arın 1, operating the feeder
slide d, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. The combination of the rocking cutter bar e with two trips c¹ and d¹, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3rd. The combination of the shaft and lever with the drum l, having two
projections m¹ and n³, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4th. The novel combination in a nail blank cutting machine, constructed as
described, of cam 7, two trips e¹ and ', and drum, having two projections m¹
and n, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
What I claim as my Invention under the 3rd head is,―
1st. The improved inanufacture of horse-shoe nails in first forming them cold to
the configuration, shown in Figs. 12 and 13, then annealing them, afterwards
elongating them cold, as under my 4th head, and finally forming them into com-
plete nails, as under my 5th head, whereby a nail with an annealed body and
hardened or stiffened point is produced.
2nd. The improved manufacture of horse-shoe nails by forming blanks hot, of
the configuration shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and afterwards elongating them cold,
as under my 4th bead, and afterwards pointing and finishing them, whereby a nail
with an annealed body and hardened or stiffened point is produced.
What I claim as my Invention under the 4th head, referring to Figs. 14 to 23
inclusive, and the part of the Specification relating thereto, is as follows:-
1st. The combination of the small roll, with or without the recess l, segmental
dies hand g of enlarged diameter, having groove i¹, substantially as described.
2nd. The dies of the configuration shown in Figure 22, whereby the blank is
left with a comparatively thick point, and as shown and described in the first treat-
ment of the blank in combination with dies h, as shown in Figure 23, for afterwards
elongating the point end of the blank, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3rd. The combination of the dies g and h, having projections with the plate a³,
having projections and cuts c³, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4th. The combination of the guides p, q, 0, and 2, constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially as set forth.
What I claim as my Invention under the 5th head, referring to Figures 24 to 35
inclusive, and the part of the Specification relating thereto, is as follows:-
1st. The dies t¹, having cutting edges w arranged to act obliquely upon the
blank nail, whereby a beveled edge is given to the point end of the nail, and the
extreme point also beveled off, in combination with the bed diet, substantially as
and for the purposes described.
2nd. The dic 2 (pivoted at 2 at a considerable angle above the end of the die,
whereby the die g not only comprises the point but draws it also) in combination
with the die u, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3rd. The combination of the dies and bed die t, arranged to act obliquely as
described with the dies and u, whereby the beveled cut of the former com-
pensates for the widening or enlargement caused by the latter, substantially as
described.
4th. The revolving plate f, having openings or slots l, in combination with the
finger, having lips p', substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5th. The combination of the revolving plate j and fingers m for holding the
nail blank throughout a portion of its circumference, with the three sets of dies 8, 8¹,
t, t, and u, g, substantially as described.
·
6th. The combination of the plate 1, fingers m', and cam g', substantially as and
for the purposes described.

page_text: 7th. The combination of revolving projection ¹, staple ¹ provided with
openings (whereby the dies t' are not only drawn up tight upon the projection ¿',
but are also drawn together), and dies t¹, substantially as described.
What I claim as my Invention under the 6th head, referring to Figures 36 to 39
inclusive, and the part of the Specification relating thereto, is as follows:-
1
1st. The combination of the dies r, u, t, v, arranged to operate on flat-sided bars
or rods, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. The combination of the dies , v, and compound die t, u, made in one
piece, arranged to operate on flat-sided bars or rods, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3rd. The combination of the dies 1, v, and arranged to act upon round bars or
rods, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. J. HADDAN. (L.S.)