IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND RASPING WOOD FOR DYEING PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Pickles, Samuel Smithson, and Thomas'
Pickles, all of Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, in the County of York, Drysalters,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR
CUTTING AND RASPING WOOD FOR DYEING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st May 1880, and dated the 24th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Pickles,
Samuel Smithson, and Thomas Pickles at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 24th November 1879.
$6
CHARLES HENRY PICKLES, SAMUEL SMITHSON, and THOMAS PICKLES, all of
IMPROVEMENTS
Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, in the County of York, Drysalters.
IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND RASPING WOOD FOR DYEING
PURPOSES."
This Invention has reference to what are known as logwood cutting and rasping
machines, and which have hitherto consisted of one feed box and one face plate with
the cutting knives attached. This construction of machine has resulted in consider-
able loss of time and power in consequence of the action of the face plate being
Our Invention consists in
unproductive whilst the attendant is refilling the feed box.
fixing two face plates upon one shaft, and having an additional feed box so arranged
that either one or other of the face plates are always cutting. By this combined
arrangement we are enabled to operate upon considerably more wood with the same
power that is now required to drive a single machine. The improvements also
relate to a means of cooling the face plates and knives, and in damping the wood to
prevent the loose bits or dust from getting into the room, as is now the case; and
this we accomplish by the use of a jet of water, which is caused to play on to each
face plate and in the bottom of the pit into which the wood falls after being cut.
Also to a means of lifting the cut or ground wood out of the pit, and this we
accomplish by the use of a travelling chain or belt having projections or buckets
thereon, and so arranged as to lift the wood out of the pit and deposit it into any
suitable receptacle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Henry Pickles, Samuel Smithson, and Thomas Pickles in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th May 1880.
CHARLES HENRY PICKLES, SAMUEL SMITHSON, and THOMAS PICKLES, all of
Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, in the County of York, Drysalters. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND RASPING WOOD FOR DYEING
PURPOSES."
Firstly. This Invention has reference to what are known as logwood cutting and
rasping machines, and which have hitherto consisted of one feed box and one face
plate with the cutting knives attached. This construction of machines has resulted
in considerable loss of time and power in consequence of the action of the face plate
being unproductive whilst the attendant is refilling the feed box. Our Invention
consists in fixing two face plates upon one shaft, and having an additional feed box
BO arranged that either one or the other of the face plates are always cutting. By
this combined arrangement we are enabled to operate upon considerably more wood
with the same power that is now required to drive a single machine.
Such being the nature and object of the first part of our improvements, we will
now proceed to more fully describe the same, reference being made to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is front elevation and Fig. 2 is a plan
view of a machine constructed according to our Invention. A is the driving pulley
turning the main shaft B, upon which is fixed the face plates C and D having knives
or cutters attached thereto in the ordinary manner; E and F are the feed boxes in
which the wood is placed to be cut by the knives in the face plates. The wood is
fed or kept up to the face plates in the usual manner by the block G attached to
the rack H, which has the necessary travelling motion communicated to it by a
pinion driven by worm and wheel I and J, the latter receiving their motion from
the bevil and spur wheels K and L from the main shaft B. By this arrangement it
will be seen that one or both of the face plates will always be operating upon the
material, whereby considerable more wood will be cut in a given time than could
be done by a machine having only one face or cutting plate, whilst the power
required to drive the same is very little more than is required to drive a single
machine.
Secondly. The improvements also relates to a means of cooling the face plates and
knives, and in damping the wood to prevent the loose bits or dust from getting into
the room, as is now the case; and this we accomplish by the use of a jet of water,
which is caused to play onto each face plate and into the bottom of the pit into
which the wood falls after being cut.
This part of our Invention is shewn in the plan view at Fig. 2, where M is a pipe
having branches N and O for the purpose of distributing or throwing water on the
face plates and knives, and thereby cooling them. The water also falls into the
bottom of the pit amongst the ground wood, and prevents the loose bits from
spreading about the room.
Thirdly. Also to a means of lifting the cut or ground wood out of the pit, and
this we accomplish by the use of a travelling chain or belt having projections or
buckets thereon, and so arranged as to lift the wood out of the pit and deposit it
into any suitable receptacle.
This part of our Invention is shewn at Fig. 3, which is a cross section through
the line a, b. After the material is cut it falls into the pit or opening P, and by
means of the endless travelling belts or chain R and plates or buckets S the material
is lifted and removed to the upper floor T, or it may be removed elsewhere and
allowed to drop into any suitable receptacles. By this means a considerable saving
of time and labour is effected, as the ground wood is removed whilst the machine is
at work.

page_text: Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves
to the precise details herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of our
Invention, but we claim as our Invention,-
Firstly. The use and employment of two face plates C and D in combination with
the feed boxes E and F, arranged in manner and for the purpose substantially as
herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The means or method herein shewn and described for cooling the face
plates and knives.
Thirdly. The use and employment of travelling belt or chain R with plates or
buckets S for the purpose substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Henry Pickles, Samuel Smithson, and
Thomas Pickles, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
T DICKT S