IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT-BUILDING AND IN MACHINERY FOR SHAPING WOOD THEREFOR
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St.
John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT-BUILDING AND IN MACHINERY FOR SHAPING WOOD
THEREFOR."
Sealed the 23rd October 1868, and dated the 16th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th July 1868.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOAT-BUILDING AND IN MACHINERY FOR SHAPING WOOD
THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in boat-building and in
machinery for shaping wood therefor, and consists, first, of an improved form
or mould which in the Specification of a former Patent, dated the 18th of
September 1860, No. 2209, was designated an "assembling form;" it was
composed of a series of bars of rectangular section sawn to form; these
bars were arranged longitudinally of the frame, and suitably notched out to
receive and have the ribs accurately fitted to them.
Now according to the present Invention I employ round longitudinal bars bent
to form, and the notches and bevils formed thereon, in lieu of the 'square bars
described in the former Specification, with the round longitudinal bars set

page_text: on supports carried by strong transverse frames suitably blocked up and fixed;
these supports are bolted to the frames, and the bolts passing through slotted
openings in the transverse frames and through slotted openings in the stems of
the supports readily admit of adjustment. The round longitudinal bars of the
"assembling form" are first steamed, and then bent upon proper lines marked
upon a flooring or other suitable even surface, chocks being fixed thereto to
retain them until cooled and set. The transverse frames which carry the adjust
able supports are preferred to be of cast iron. The bow or most forward of
such frames instead of carrying supports as above mentioned is provided on
each side, with eyes, and bolts are passed through the forward ends of the
longitudinal bars; these bolts have forked heads, and are to embrace the eyes on
the bow frame, to which they are then secured by pins passing both through
the forked heads of the bolt and the eyes. The longitudinal round bars having
been each separately secured at their forward ends, as above stated, to the bow
frame,. are bent down on to their supports on the transverse frames until
arriving at the last or stern frame where they are firmly held, the round
longitudinal bars at that end having holes for bolts to pass through and
recessess for nuts to enter, and the bolts are made with hooked ends, which
catch into slots in the stern frame. After having placed correctly all the round
longitudinal bars on their supports and fixed them securely, and having also
set up the keel and the stem and stern post in their proper places, and fixed
them to other supports on the transverse frames which are provided to carry
them, the next thing to be done is to set out and mark the distances for the
ribs upon the keel as well as upon the "gunwale seat," which is a piece
passing all round the frame where the gunwale of the boat comes. Then the
gunwale is fixed on its seat, and the strips of wood to form the ribs or
frame of the boat are each fixed to the under side of the keel in their proper
places, and they are then successively bent down over the round longitudinal
bars and made fast to the gunwale. This mode of forming the frame by
bending down the strips of wood to form the ribs over the round longitudinal
bars may
be carried on readily until arriving at the parts near to the stem and
stern, where the ribs assume a double curve or S form, such parts must then
where requisite by the change of curve, be clamped on to the longitudinal
round bars, or, if preferred, such stem and stern ribs may be sawn out instead
of being bent into form. The ribs having thus been correctly placed are
ready to receive the planking or skin. In constructing assembling forms
for very large boats it will be difficult to bend the longitudinal round bars
sufficiently, in this case I sometimes cut them roughly to form, and then bend
them if necessary on their supports exactly to the shape required.

page_text: This Invention also consists of an improved machine for rabbetting the keels
of boats together with the stem and stern posts. The keel to have the rabbets
formed in it to receive the garboard streak is first fitted and fixed to stem and
stern posts, which are to be rabbetted to receive all the other streaks. The
necessary bevilling and also the tapering having been previously performed by
sawing or otherwise, the keel thus prepared is placed on to a travelling bed having
a rising piece at each end, the form of the rising piece at one end being suitable
to receive the stem, while that at the other end is suitably formed to receive the
stern post, the travelling bed is made up of short lengths or saddle pieces, each
two feet long or thereabouts, so that by removing some of such portions or saddle
pieces from between the pieces which carry the stem and stem standards, or
by introducing a greater number between them, the bed may be accommodated
to any length of boat's keel required. The saddle pieces composing the bed
or table are each secured to the upper surface of a long bar, and at the under.
surface of this bar is formed or affixed a toothed rack, which is taken into
and driven at a slow speed by a pinion mounted on a shaft which receives
motion from a steam engine or other power. The rabbetting is effected by
means of circular cutters corresponding in form with the rabbet or groove to be
produced in the keel and in the stem and stern posts. The cutters and parts
connected therewith are carried in a frame which is counterpoised and
capable of sliding up and down vertically between standards at right angles
to the travelling bed, in this manner the cutters can be brought to work at any
required height from the bed. This rising and falling frame carries an inner
frame which is capable of swinging on centres therein, and on arms carried by
this inner frame the cutters are mounted in a manner herein-after described.
The swinging frame allows of the cutters following a curve or incline in cutting
the rabbets in the stem and stern posts, this being done by traversing the-
outer frame between its standards whilst the work with its bed is stationary.
The arms which carry the cutters are not fixed on the swinging frame, but are
mounted so as to be able to rotate partially on centres, and they are capable
of being moved round by a wheel and pinion worked by hand so as to set the
cutters to act, in the direction of the length of the rabbet to be produced;
otherwise the form of the rabbet would not correspond with the form of the
cutters as it ought to do. When the outer frame is lowered or raised in
making vertical or nearly vertical cuts, as in rabbetting the stem, the inclination
of the swinging frame is regulated by guide pieces on the standards, or it may
be by guides in connection with the work, or by both, and in making horizontal
or nearly borizontal cuts, as in rabbetting the keel, the height of the rising and
falling frame and of the cutters is regulated by guide pieces on the travelling.

page_text: bed. The arms carrying the cutters, and which come one on each side of the
work, are capable of being set, at any required distance apart according to the
thickness of the keel or work, and the bearings of the cutters are not fixed to
the armis, but are capable of sliding on circular arcs at right angles to the
work, and the inclination of the rabetting can be changed as may be required
by sliding the bearings of the cutters around the arcs; this is done by guide
pieces in connection with the work, and the centre of the arcs of each circula
cutter is at one of its cutting angles, so that the tilting of the cutters do not
change the position of this angle.
Another part of this Invention refers to improvements in machinery for sawing
wood suitable for boat-building. When sawing irregular or varying bevils, 1
employ a saw, by preference a band saw, with a table arranged to swing or turn
its motion being about a line in the plane of the saw and also in the plane of the
surface of the table, an ordinary fence being secured to the table to support the
wood as it is pushed past the saw. By means of such a saw, table, and fence a
piece of wood may readily be cut to any bevil, and varying as may be required
in the length of the piece, whilst the lower surface of the piece is kept of uniform
width throughout, as the tilting the table will not alter the line along which the
saw cuts out at the bottom of the piece of wood. By working the saw and
table without a fence, the width also of the lower surface may be made to vary
in width in any manner which is required.
Another part of my Invention relates to machinery for shaping and bevilling
the edges of planks: For this purpose I employ two circular cutters, one for
each edge of the plank, and these I mount each on a slide or carriage capable
of moving between guides on the frame, so that by traversing the slides or
carriages to or from each other the cutters may be brought to any required
distance the one from the other according to the width of the plank at the part
which is being operated upon. The bearings of the axes of the circular cutters
are not fixed to their slides or carriages, but are formed on a block which is
capable of moving on circular ways on the slides or carriages so as to bring
the rotating cutters to the proper inclination to cut the bevils required. The
slides or carriages are pulled towards each other by means of cords and
weights, but are, when the machine is at work, kept apart to a distance
corresponding always to the width, of the plank at the part under operation
by a pattern piece of wood, which is passed through the machine together
with the plank to be shaped and bevilled at is edges. In order to regulate
the inclination of the circular cutters and their axes, and consequently
the bevil which they will cut, grooves are formed in the under side of
the pattern plank and into these fingers or pieces of metal enter, and

page_text: these fingers are connected by pins to levers turning on studs on the slides or
carriages. The further ends of the levers come in contact with the blocks,
which carry the bearings of the circular cutters, and they incline them in
accordance with the direction taken by the guide grooves in the pattern plank.
The plank to be shaped and bevilled together with the guide plank are carried
through the machine past the circular cutters by rollers receiving a slow motion
from suitable gearing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHAN
THOMPSON, of No. 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Nathan Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Nathan
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Nathan Thompson, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BOAT-BUILDING AND IN MACHINERY FOR SHAPING WOOD THEREFOR," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Nathan Thompson, mý
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 bo
performed; and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Pätent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Nathan Thompson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in boat-building and in

page_text: machinery for shaping wood therefor, and consists, first, of an improved form
or mould, which in the Specification of a former Patent, dated the 13th of
September 1860, No. 2209, was designated an "assembling form;" it was
composed of a series of bars of rectangular section sawn to form; these bars
were arranged longitudinally of the frame, and suitably notched out to receive
and have the ribs accurately fitted to them..
Now according to the present Invention I employ round longitudinal bars
bent to form, and the notches and bevils formed thereon (in lieu of the square
bars described in the former Specification) with the round longitudinal bars
set on supports carried by strong transverse frames suitably blocked up and
fixed; these supports are bolted to the frames and the bolts passing through
slotted openings in the transverse frames, and through slotted openings in the
stems of the supports readily admit of adjustment. The round longitudinal
bars of the "assembling" form" are first steamed, and then bent upon proper
Jines marked upon a flooring or other suitable even surface, chocks being fixed
thereto to retain them until cooled and set. The transverse frames which
carry the adjustable supports are preferred to be of cast iron. The bow or
most forward of such frames instead of carrying supports as above mentioned,
is provided on each side with eyes, and bolts are passed through the forward
ends of the longitudinal bars; these bolts have forked heads, and are to
embrace the eyes on the bow frame, to which they are then secured by pins
passing both through the forked heads of the bolt and the eyes. The longi-
tudinal round bars having been each separately secured at their forward
ends, as above stated, to the bow frame, are bent down on to their supports on
the transverse frames until arriving at the last or stern frame, where they are
firmly held, the round longitudinal bars at that end having holes for holts to
pass through and recesses for nuts to enter, and the bolts are made with
hooked ends which catch into slots in the stern frame. After having placed
correctly all the round longitudinal bars on their supports and fixed them
securely, and having also set up the keel and the stem and stern post in their
proper places, and fixed them to other supports on the transverse frames.
which are provided to carry them, the next thing to be done is to set out and
mark the distances for the ribs upon the keel as well as upon the "gunwale
seat," which is a piece passing all round the frame where the gunwale of the
boat comes. Then the gunwale is fixed on its seat, and the strips of wood to
form the ribs or frame of the boat are each fixed to the under side of the keel
in their proper places, and they are then successively bent down over the
round longitudinal bars and made fast to the gunwale, This mode of forming
the frame by bending down the strips of wood to form the ribs over the round

page_text: longitudinal bars may be carried on readily until arriving at the parts near to
the stem and stern, where the ribs assume a double curve or S form, such
parts must then, where requisite by the change of curve, be .clamped on to
the longitudinal round bars, or, if preferred, such stem and stern ribs may be.
sawn out instead of being bent into form. The ribs having thus been correctly:
placed are ready to receive the planking or skin. In constructing assembling
forms for very large boats it will be difficult to bend the longitudinal 'round.
bars sufficiently; in this case I sometimes cut them roughly to form, and
then bend them, if necessary, on their supports exactly to the shape required.
Figure 1 is a plan of an assembling form constructed as above described;
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken at
the line 1, 1, Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken respec-.
tively at the lines 2, 2, and 3, 3, in Figures 1 and 2.
a, a, are longitudinal supports on which the transverse bearers 6, b, are
secured ; c, c, are two transverse frames of cast iron; they are placed inter-*
mediate of the stem and stem frames, and are bolted to the bearers b; they
have slotted holes c¹ formed in them; d, d, are the adjustable supports for the
round longitudinal bars e; the supports d have slots d' in them, and bolts d
are used to clamp the supports to the frames c. The slots cand d¹ give, as.
will be remarked, considerable latitude for the adjustment of the positions
of the outer ends of the supports, hence within certain limits the same
assembling form may be used for boats of different shapes and sizes. The
bow and stem frames differ somewhat from the frames c. The frame f:
(shown separately at Figures 6) is a plate of cast iron flanged and, slotted.
at f,f; it is bolted to the most forward of the transverse bearers b. Through
the slots links or short pieces of metal 9 are passed; they have eyes at each.
end which receive pins, by which they are attached to the forked heads of the
screw bolts h; these bolts, as the Drawings shew, are passed through the
longitudinal bars e near their forward ends. In Figure 5 the stern frame i
is clearly shown; it is very similar to the midship frames c, except that in place.
of being furnished with adjustable supports d, it has holes i¹ formed in it
which receive the hooked bolts j, the .stems of which are passed through the-
longitudinal bars e near their hinder ends, and secured nuts on the outside ;--
thus it will be seen that each of the round longitudinal bars.e is securely held:
at each end, and is supported at two or it may be other convenient number of
intermediate points, but subject to this constraint it is free to take the curve-
to which it most readily adapts itself; the curves thus obtained are easy and ·
regular, and very well suited for the lines of a boat. k, k, k, are the keel, the

page_text: stem or cutwater, the stem and stern post, which parts are shaped and built
together before they are brought to the assembling form. They are supported.
in their places on the form by other adjustable supports 1, l, to which they are
held by wood screws or other convenient fastenings; the stem or cutwater
and the stern post are also similarly secured to two of the transverse bearers
b, 6; these transverse bearers also have fixed to them the gunwale seat m,
which is a curved piece of timber made to correspond with the form of the
gunwale of the boat which it is intended to construct. On the gunwale seat,
before commencing to arrange the ribs of the boat, the pieces of wood u to
form the gunwale are laid, fitted, and fixed in their places; the ribs o are then
added; they are formed of straight strips of wood, which are nailed or secured
at one end to the keel, and then bent down over the round longitudinal bars e,
and then similarly fastened to the gunwale; or near the midships of the boat.
the same strip is conveniently made to run through from gunwale to gunwale,
being attached to the keel at the centre. When required, clamps or similar
temporary fastenings are employed to hold the ribs in contacts with the
longitudinal bars e. The frame of the boat having thus been set up, it is.
planked whilst still on the form, so that when the boat is removed only the
clenching and a few fittings will be required to finish it.
.
This Invention also consists of an improved machine for rabbetting the keels
of boats together with the stem and stern posts. The keel to have the rabbets
formed in it to receive the garboard streak is first fitted and fixed to stem and
stern posts, which are to be rabbetted to receive all the other streaks. The
necessary bevilling and also the tapering having been previously performed by
sawing or otherwise, the keel thus prepared is placed on to a travelling bed
having a rising piece at each end, the form of the rising piece at one end being
suitable to receive the stem, while that at the other end is suitably formed to
receive the stern post. The travelling bed is made up of short lengths or
saddle pieces, each two feet long or thereabouts, so that by removing some of
such portions or saddle pieces from between the pieces which carry the stem
and stem standards; or by introducing a greater number between them, the
bed may be accommodated to any length of boat's keel required. The saddle
pieces composing the bed or table are each secured to the upper surface of a
long bar, and at the under surface of this bar is formed or affixed a toothed
rack; which is taken into and driven at a slow speed by a pinion. mounted on a
shaft which receives motion from a steam engine or other power. The
rabbetting is. effected by means of circular cutters corresponding in form. with
the.rabbet.or groove to be produced in the keel and in the stem and stern posts.

page_text: The cutters and parts connected therewith are carried in a frame which is
counterpoised and capable of sliding up and down vertically between standards
at right angles to the travelling bed, in this manner the cutters can be
brought to work at any required height from the bed. This rising and falling
frame carries an inner frame which is capable of swinging on centres therein,
and on arms carried by this inner frame the cutters are mounted in a manner
herein-after described. The swinging frame allows of the cutters following a
curve or incline in cutting the rabbets in the stem and stern posts, this being
done by traversing the outer frame between its standards whilst the work with
its bed is stationary. The arms which carry the cutters are not fixed on the
swinging frame, but are mounted so as to be able to rotate partially on centres,
and they are capable of being moved round by a wheel and pinion worked by
hand so as to set the cutters to act in the direction of the length of the rabbet
to be produced, otherwise the form of the rabbet would not correspond with the
form of the cutters as it ought to do. When the outer frame is lowered or -
raised in making vertical or nearly vertical cuts, as in rabbetting the stem,
the inclination of the swinging frame is regulated by guide pieces on the
standards, or it may be by guides in connection with the work, or by both, and
in making horizontal or nearly horizontal cuts, as in rabbetting the keel, the
height of the rising and falling frame and of the cutters is regulated by guide
pieces on the travelling bed. The arms carrying the cutters, and which come
one on each side of the work, are capable of being set at any required distance
apart according to the thickness of the keel or work, and the bearings of the
cutters are not fixed to the arms, but are capable of sliding on circular arcs at
right angles to the work, and the inclination of the rabbetting can be changed
as may be required by sliding the bearings of the cutters around the arcs;
this is done by guide pieces in connection with the work, and the centre of
the arcs of each circular cutter is at one of its cutting angles, so that the tilting
of the cutters does not change the position of this angle.
Figure 7. is a side elevation of a rabbetting machine thus constructed;
Figure 8 is a plan; Figure 9, a longitudinal section; and Figure 10 is a
transverse vertical section of the same.
.
: a, a, are bearers, on which are fixed guide rails a', a¹; b is a bar placed
between the bearers a; it is supported on small friction rollers, and has two
toothed racks 61 and 62 upon it; c is an axis underneath and at right angles to
the bar b; it has upon it the two pullies c and c; these turn loosely on the
axis, and are driven in opposite directions and at comparatively slow speed
by driving belts, one of which is crossed. The pullies c¹ and care prevented
from moving sideways by collars in the bearings or in other convenient manner.

page_text: The axis c is capable of being moved endwise through the pullies by means of
the handle c*, and it has a clutch upon it which renders it fast with the
pulley towards which it is slidden. The axis c has also fast upon it the two
pinions and c; the pinion c³ is to gear with the rack 6', and is to traverse.
the bed whilst the work is progressing, and the pinion c and rack 62 are to
bring back the bed at a faster speed when no work is being done. d, d, are
the saddle pieces of which the travelling bed is made up; they fit to the guide
rails a³, and can slide longitudinally thereon; d is the standard formed on one
of the saddle pieces d for the stem and d² is a standard for the stern post
carried by another of the saddle pieces. The saddle pieces d are secured to 1
the rack bar 6 by pins dropped into holes which are formed in each. e is the
keel of a boat with the stem and stern posts properly shaped and fitted; it
rests on the saddle pieces, and is held in its place by the patterns f, f, one on
each side, and the bolts f¹ passing through the standards d' and d², and the
pattern pieces secure the work in its place; 9, 9, are standards, one on each 1
side of the travelling bed, and h is a counterpoised frame capable of sliding
up and down in guides between them; h¹ is a rope connected with this frame
and passing over pullies at the top of the standards; it has the counterpoise
weight attached to it at its other end. This weight is not in itself quite
sufficient to raise the frame, but it is as nearly so as may be, and hence the 2
frame can readily be raised by hand. To lower it the windlass i, i, is employed;
by means of it another rope or a chain attached to the counterpoise is
wound up.
The frame is shown separately at Figures 11; at 6, b', it is made to
receive in sockets or bearings the axes of the swinging frame k, of which a 2
front view, a back view, and a vertical section are shown at Figures 12. In
the front view some other parts are also indicated.
, k, are sockets into which the stud axes on which the frame turns are
fixed; is a flanged disc or piece fastened to the frame k; and k³ is a similar
flanged disc or piece opposite the first, and capable of being set at any required 8
distance therefrom; this distance is adjusted according to the thickness of the
work; are guide stems on the disc ³; they enter between V guides k³ on
the frame k; l, l, are rings which fit over the flanged discs or pieces and ³;
the cutter arms m, m, are fixed to the rings 1, on which also are formed
toothed segments at P, P.
A side view and a front view partly in section of the parts k, l, and m, are
shown at Figures 14.
n, n, are pinions gearing with the segments A, and the axis n¹ of these
pinions, which is carried in bearings ke ou the frame k, is made to receive a
3

page_text: handle, by turning which the rings with the parts they carry can be partly
rotated;,, are the bearings of an axis o; this axis carries the pulley o';
and round this a driving strap o³ passes; the strap o² receives motion by means
of another pulley p on the shaft p³, of which the bearings are carried by
standards g. In order to keep the strap-o* tight, whatever may be the position
of the frame h in its guides, a pulley o³ is employed; it is carried in suitable.
arms, and bears constantly on the strap with its own weight. . The shaft p' is
driven in any convenient manner. o* is another pulley on the axis o, and
round it a band passes which also encircles a pulley r on the axis r¹; the
bearings of this axis are on the frame k, and are marked k³, k³; 1ª,²,
are other pullies on the axis r¹, and from these the cutters are driven by
bands.
Figure 15 is a view on a large scale of the outer side of the lower parts of
the cutter arms m, together with the cutters and some other parts, and
Figure 16 is a view of the inner side of the same, one of the rotating cutters.
with its bearings and other parts being removed and the other being shown in
section.
Each pair of arms m carries a cradle consisting of two side or cheek plates s
having between them the bearings of the cutter axis &, on which is the cutter
heads, and to this the cutting tools are affixed in the usual manner, and these,
tools are of ordinary construction. The sides or cheeks 8, s, have upon them,
curved ribs fitting into the grooves m³, m³, in the cutter arms m;
these grooves.
are portions of circles struck from the angle s* of the cutter head. *, s', are
pullies on the cutter heads; they receive the bands by which the cutters are
driven. These bands pass from the pullies s around guide pullies P³, 1; on
arms &, also fixed to the rings 1; afterwards the bands pass over the pullies ².
which are driven by means already described. The guide pullies are for the
purpose of keeping the bands clear of other parts of the machinery, and the
guide pullies so, s, serve a similar purpose; 8, 8, are stops to prevent the.
bands slipping off the pullies s when the cradless are considerably inclined i
ss, are friction pullies carried by the crádles s; by running on the inclines -
ff, of the patterns f, f, they regulate the inclination of the cutters to the
work; m³, m³, are other friction pullies carried by the cutters arms m; they.
run in grooves f,ƒ³, of the pattern, which thus serve to regulate the height
or position of the cutters when the work is being carried past them by the
travelling bed, or when by giving motion to the cutter arms the cutters are.
carried past the work; m³, m³, are steadying pieces; they are made with
blunt edges which bear on the work inmediately in front of the cutters; they
serve to check vibration both in the cutters and the work.

page_text: In order to rabbet a keel with its stem and stern post when the parts have
been set up on the travelling bed together with a properly grooved and bevilled
pattern, as already described, the workman by turning the handle on the
axis n¹ brings the cutter arms m to stand at right angles, or as nearly so as may
be, with the commencement of the rabbet at the top of the stem or cutwater,
and he brings the point where the rabbet is to begin immediately under the
cutters, a side view of a portion of the machine with the several parts in these
positions is shown at Figure 17; and a plan partly in section of the same at
Figure 18. The workman then, by drawing down the frame h and all the
parts which it carries, commences the cut, and this is kept truly in its place by
the guide grooves f³ of the pattern into which the pullies m³ enter, and in
which they travel; the frame k is in this manner tilted to compensate for any
deviation of the rabbet from the vertical line. In conjunction with the guide
grooves in the pattern, I employ another pattern g¹ adjusted in position on
the standards g; the pattern also as the frame h is lowered causes the frame k
within it to incline as is required by acting on the friction pullies which the
frame k carries. The inclination of the cutters to the work is regulated by
the inclines of the pattern, as already explained. As the work progresses,
the workman by turning the axis o¹ continues to keep the cutter arms mat
right angles to the part of the rabbet which he is cutting, and when the rapidly
curved portion at the bottom of the stem is arrived at, he will produce the
work entirely by turning the handle o¹, the pattern groove f³ producing any
adjustment or compensation which may be required. When the arms m have
been brought to a vertical position the travelling bed is started and the cut
continued, the guide groove f³ then regulating the height of the frame b and of
the cutters where the cut is not truly horizontal. In cutting the rabbet at
the centre portion of the keel where the cut is horizontal and similar through-
out, in order to dispense with unnecessary guide pieces the cradles which carry
the cutters' axes are blocked or held stationary in the arms m, and the motion
of the travelling bed is continued. When the cut again deviates from the
horizontal, the hinder piece of the pattern comes into operation, and the work
is continued as before, the curve at the stern being cut in a similar manner to
that at the stem; usually the stern post is bevilled or thinned away above the
keel so that the rabbet gradually cuts out.
Another part of this Invention refers to improvements in machinery for
sawing wood suitable for boat-building, and consists in a special method of
carrying out a portion of the Invention for which a Patent was granted to me,
dated the 25th February 1863; and has already been described in the Specifi-
cation of the said Patent. This description I will now repeat. When sawing

page_text: irregular or varying bevils, I employ a saw, by preference a band saw, with a
table arranged to swing or turn, its motion being about a line in the plane of
the saw, and also in the plane of the surface of the table, an ordinary fence
being secured to the table to support the wood as it is pushed past the saw.
By means of such a saw, table, and fence a piece of wood may readily be cut
to any bevil, and varying as may be required in the length of the piece, whilst
the lower surface of the piece is kept of uniform width. throughout, as the
tilting of the table will not alter the line along which the saw cuts out at the
bottom of the piece of wood. By working the saw and table without a fence,
the width also of the lower surface may be made to vary in any manner which
is required. Figure 19 is a.front view, and Figure 20 a side view of a band
saw with a table so arranged.
a, a, is the framing, and b, b, the pullies round which the saw cruns; d is a
lever with a weight at the end; by means of the rod dit presses the bearing of
the upper pulley 6 constantly upwards so as to keep the saw always tight; this
arrangement is ordinary, as is also the apparatus e for steadying and lubricating
the saw.
The tilting table has bolted to its under side the pieces f¹, f',
which carry the circular segments f³, f, and these fit into corresponding
grooves in the bearing pieces 9, 9; these bearing pieces are secured by bolts to
the frame a. The table is so balanced, either by the weight of the timber upon
or it or otherwise, that it tends constantly to return to a horizontal position, but
by applying a moderate force it may, if the work be not very heavy, be tilted
to any extent which may be required. 9 is a lever carried by the frame, it is
used when the work is heavy to tilt up the table; when the outer end of this
lever is depressed, its inner end presses on the under side of the table and raises
it. The curved dotted line marked on the piece of wood.h, which in Figure 20
is shown in the process of cutting, is a line for the saw to follow; the inclined
lines on the piece of wood h in Figure 19 indicate the variation in bevil which
will be produced by following the said curved line in Figure 20.
Another part of my Invention relates to machinery for shaping and bevilling
the edges of planks. For this purpose I employ two circular cutters, one for
each edge of the plank, and these I mount each on a slide or carriage capable
of moving between guides on the frame, so that by traversing the slides or
carriages to or from each other the cutters may be brought to any required
distance the one from the other according to the width of the plank at the
part which is being operated upon. The bearings of the axes of the circular
cutters are not fixed to their slides or carriages, but are formed on a block
which is capable of moving on circular ways on the slides or carriages so as
to bring the rotating cutters to the proper inclination to cut the bevils required.

page_text: The slides or carriages are pulled towards each other by means of cords and
weights, but are, when the machine is at work, kept apart to a distance corre-
sponding always to the width of the plank at the part under operation by a
pattern piece of wood, which is passed through the machine together with the
plank to be shaped and bevilled at its edges. In order to regulate the inclina-
tion of the circular cutters and their axes, and consequently the bevil which they
will cut, grooves are formed in the under side of the pattern plank, and into
thèse fingers or pieces of metal enter, and these fingers are connected by pins
to levers turning on studs on the slides or carriages. The further ends of the
levers come in contact with the blocks, which carry the bearings of the circular
cutters, and they incline them in accordance with the direction taken by the
guide grooves in the pattern plank. The plank to be shaped and bevilled
together with the guide plank are carried through the machine past the
circular cutters by rollers receiving a slow motion from suitable gearing.
Figure 21 is a longitudinal section, Figure 22 a.plan, and Figure 23 a
transverse section of a machine constructed as above described for shaping
and bevilling the edges of planks.
a, a, is the frame of the machine; b, b, are guides passing transversely
across the machine, on which the slides or carriages c, c, of the circular
cutters d, d, are able to traverse. The slides c, c, are caused to tend con-
stantly to approach each other by cords e being attached to them, which after
passing over guide pullies e¹ are connected with the weights f. 9 is a treddle,
when it is depressed the weights fare lifted, and the slides c will then remain
at any distance apart at which they may be placed; this is required for entering
the work and pattern between the slides; h, h, are blocks which carry the
bearings of the axes of the circular cutters d, they are made semicircular at
the back, and fit the inner ends of the slides c, which are made of corres
sponding form; the blocks are held in their places by the half rings h¹ screwed
to them, these rings having flanges which fit grooves formed in the back of
the slides c, as is clearly seen in Figure 21. c', c', are tables to support the
plank and pattern; they are attached to the slides c, and have holes through
them to allow free passage to the circular cutters. c³, c³, aré fences on the
tables c'; by resting against the pattern they keep the slides at the required
distance apart. i is the pattern, and ke the plank to be shaped and bevilled
at the edges; 1, 1, are fingers or strips of metal which fit into grooves ¹, i,
at the under side of the pattern i, and which regulate the inclination of
the circular cutters and the bevil of the work. A pin on the under side
of each of the strips 2 drops into a hole in an arm on one of the axes m
carried by the tables c¹, and each of the axes m carried by the tables c',

page_text: and each of the axes m has also another arm upon it against which the
blocks carrying the circular cutters d constantly rest, their own weight
causing them to do so; thus it will be seen that as the pattern and
the work are carried through the machine between the slides c, if the
grooves,, approach each other (whilst the width of the pattern remains
uniform) the upper ends of the cutter axes will be brought nearer together,
whilst the lower ends of the same will be moved further apart, and a corres-
ponding change is made in the inclination of the cutters. The cutters are
driven by means of pullies d' upon their axes, round which cords n pass to other
pullies o on the axis p, and this axis is driven in any convenient manner; the
cords n are kept tight by means of pullies 7 carried in suitable arms made to
bear on the cords by springs g². The pattern and work (which are secured the
one to the other) are when in the machine held between the two pairs of
rollers r, r, and s, s, are drawn forward by them as the work progresses.
The upper roller of each pair has adjustible bearings, which, by means of
screws and s, can be traversed up or down as required. Springs are
interposed between the screws r¹ and s', and the bearings to compensate for
slight irregularities in the thickness of the work. In order that the rollers
may allow sufficient freedom of motion to the work they are not fixed on their
axes, but are able to slide lengthways thereon; feathers compel them to revolve.
with the axes, and springs and tend to keep them constantly in a central
position. The rollers r and s are driven from the axis p, at the end of which
is a worm p¹ driving a worm wheelt on the same axis, with which is a chain
wheel, and this by a chain drives another chain wheel u having on its axis &
pur wheel u', which gears with pinions 3 and 3 on the axes of the lower
ollers r and s; the upper rollers are geared with the lower by means of pinions
with long teeth, as is shown.
In witness whereof,
whereof, I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixte theon