IM- PROVEMENTS IN LATHES FOR TURNING WOOD
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN LATHES FOR TURNING WOOD." A communication from abroad
by James Davies and Foster Burnett Chidester, both of Jersey City, New
Jersey. United States of America.
Sealed the 2nd January 1880, and dated the 12th September 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th September 1879.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES FOR TURNING
WOOD." A communication from abroad by James Davies and Foster Burnett
Chidester, both of Jersey City, New Jersey, United States of America.
The said improvements relate to the construction of lathes used in turning articles
from wooden blanks, such as balusters, table and chair legs, and rungs, handles for
various kinds of tools, stair rods, and a great variety of similar articles, and
especially to the construction and arrangement of the cutters employed to form the
mouldings or ornamental parts upon any of these or similar articles.
The said improvements are illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lathe with a finished baluster.
Figure 2 is a plan of the lathe.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a moulding cutter near its cutting edge, and a
baluster partly in section and partly in elevation.
Figure 6 is a plan of the moulding cutters and gauges.
Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line z, z, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of a gauge showing the vertical cutting spur,
hereinafter described.
'
A represents the bed of a lathe, which in general form and operation is like the
lathes in common use for turning various articles of wood. This bed may be of
any material and of any construction adapted to the purpose designed. b and b¹
are the ordinary spindles connected with their respective head, and tail-stocks B
and B, which also are constructed, and operated in the usual manner of spindle

page_text: lathes, the power being applied to the driving pulley Z. C is a carrier for the
cutters D and E, and for the expanding ring F, and is moved to and fro between
and on the line of the spindles by means of appropriate mechanism, its forward
movement towards the head-stock B being effected by means of the revolving feed-
screw G, journalled at H and H¹ near the bed of the lathe, and having one of its
ends connected to the centre of the wheel I, by which it is revolved, the wheel I
being driven by connection with the pulley a on the spindle b, or by other suitable
means. The feed-screw passes through the lower part of the carrier C, and is
brought into and thrown out of engagement with it by means of an adjustable
lever J, pivoted to the carrier, and provided with a threaded half nut to conform
to the screw G. To the lower part of the carrier are attached supports c, c, which
slide in the ways d, d, as the carrier is moved forward and backward. When the
carrier has advanced to the end of the work the projecting arm of the lever J rides
up the incline of a check-bar Q secured to the bed, and thus throws the threaded
head of the lever out of engagement with the screw. The carrier may be returned
to its former position next the tail-stock by reversing the revolution of the screw G
by bringing it into engagement with a second coarse threaded screw, or by attaching
it to an endless rope or band, or by any other means in common use. The cutter D
is made adjustable on its holder or frame e by means of a screw f, whereby its
cutting edge can be elevated or depressed to trim the blank to varying diameters
as may be desired, so that it will pass through different rings, or through the same
ring, which is practicable by reason of the expanding capacity of the ring, as herein-
after explained. The cutter D may be pivoted to the carrier, and when adjusted may
turn upon this pivot. The expanding ring F. consists of a metal case with an aperture
through its centre to permit the passage of the blank after it has been trimmed by
the cutter D, and is made capable of slight automatic expansion to accomodate
itself to any inequalities or varying condition of moisture, or otherwise, of the
trimmed blank, which would cause it to cling to the ring by being divided, as
shown at g in Figure 3, and by the insertion of blocks of india-rubber or other
elastic material in connection with bearing screws. This construction is also shown
in Figure 3, the elastic material being indicated at h, h, and the screws at i, i. By
turning the screws down upon the blocks of india-rubber the case of the ring will
be pressed down from the frame in which it is fixed, and the opening g partially
closed, so that when a greater pressure is exerted upon the interior of the ring it
can expand by contracting the rubber blocks and increasing the width of the
opening 9 until the ring strikes against the frame.
From this description it is readily seen that if for any reason the cutter D should
fail to trim the blank so that it would not pass readily through the ring, or if by
reason of the moist state of the blank it would bind too firmly against the ring if it
were solid and unyielding, the ring thus constructed would automatically accomodate
itself to these conditions of the blank, permitting it to pass through the ring with-
out too great friction, and at the same time clamping it sufficiently firmly to enable
the cutters to operate upon it to the best advantage by preventing the spring and
tremble of the blank, which prove a source of serious difficulty when the blank is
supported only by the spindles. This ring F is secured in a frame or socket K in
such a manner that its centre is on a line with the spindles, and is so constructed
and applied that it can be readily removed and other rings for different sized blanks
be substituted. Small holes p, p, p, p, are formed through the case of the ring to
admit a current of air to prevent it from becoming overheated by the friction of
the blank.
The cutter E is pivoted between its cutting edge and the pattern or form L by
which it is adjusted, and which gives general shape to the baluster, and the edge of
this cutter is dove-tailed with one wing inclined upward, while the other is nearly
level. This dove-tailed shape brings the cutting edge diagonal to the grain of the
wood, and produces smoother and more even work with less power than the
ordinary form of cutters. The pattern bar or form L is fixed to the standards k, k,
secured to the bed of the lathe, and has its upper edge of the reverse shape or con-

page_text: figuration to be given to the blank by the cutter E. This pattern-bar may be made
adjustable by means of set screws and slots formed in the standards k, k. The arm
of the cutter E may be provided with a friction-roller r, and thereby gives a reverse
motion to the cutting edge and a reverse shape to the blank. This friction-roller r
is, mounted in a block v pivoted to the cutter arm, and on each side of this block
are stops 8, 8, one of which keeps the block in nearly a vertical position when the
cutter is advancing, while the other is so located as to permit the block to take an
inclined position, and thus raise the cutting edge so as not to cut or mar the finished
work when the cutter is being moved back. The friction of the roller r upon the
bar L adjusts the block between the stops 8. 8. The friction-roller may be omitted
and the end of the block v be permitted to drag over the edge of the bar L. By
pivoting the arm of the cutter E nearer the bar L than it is to the cutting edge the
curves of the bar can be made less abrupt, and the friction of the arm of the cutter.
on the bar considerably diminished.
I will now describe the construction and operation of the cutters for forming
mouldings or other ornamental parts upon balusters or other turned work.
Referring to the Drawing, m, m, are cutters whose edges are of the reverse shape.
or configuration of the forms to be cut upon the blank or turned piece. These
cutters may be of almost any shape capable of forming the most ornamental and
elaborate mouldings upon the work; n, n, are gauges, and are of substantially the
same shape as the cutters themselves. Both the cutters and the gauges are mounted
upon holders M, M, in such a manner that when they are brought down upon the
piece to do their work the gauges will be located slightly in the rear of the edges
of the cutters, and will occupy a slightly higher plane. There is a narrow space q
between the cutters and their gauges, and extending up through the holders for the
passage of the shavings taken off by the cutters. The cutters m, m, are made
adjustable upon the holders M, M, by the use of set-screws passing through the
holde, so that they can be made to take a thinner or thicker shaving at will.
The holders with the cutters and gauges mounted upon them, as described, are
arranged in any convenient manner in connection with the lathe, so that after the
work has been brought into the desired form they can be brought to operate upon
it at the required points to form mouldings or other ornamental parts. The holders
may be conveniently hinged to a stationary bar N located at the rear of the lathe,
and may be swung down upon the work by means of handles on the holders or
treadles, located beneath the bed of the lathe and properly connected with the holders.
The holders may be made adjustable longitudinally on the bar N by means of
collars held in place by set-screws, and by these means the mouldings may be cut
at different points on the work.
It will be observed that the holders M, M, and the cutters mounted thereon in
no respect partake of the motion of the cutter-carrier C, but that they are stationary
as they have no longitudinal travel while the lathe is in operation. It follows that
while the carrier C is moving over the work to give it its general form the cutters
m, m, or any one of them, can be brought down upon the piece after the carrier C
has passed over it to form the desired moulding or ornament without in any degree
interfering with the work of the cutters D and E, so that the mouldings may be all
formed by the time the carrier C has reached the head-stock of the lathe. It is
desirable, especially in pieces of considerable length, that the cutters m, m, should
be brought into operation upon that part of the piece over which the ring F has
just passed, so that the ring may clamp this piece fast and firm and prevent the
shake and tremble which would otherwise result from the pressure to form the cut.
By operating in this way the advantage of the ring for supporting the piece can be
made nearly as available to the action of the cutters m, m, as to the cutters D
and E attached to the carriers C.
S is a cutter provided with saw-teeth, and attached to the cutter holder M next
to the head-stock of the lathe to cut a kerf near the end of the baluster at the same
time the moulding near it is cut. This kerf is to assist to form the usual dovetail
by which the baluster is secured to the stairs. The use of saw-teeth which can be

page_text: set to clear themselves on a cutter for forming a narrow vertical kerf prevents in a
large degree the burning of the wood, which is liable to happen in the use of cutters
with continuous edges.
R is a cutting spur, seen in Figure 8, and is preferably attached to the gauge
wherever it is desired to make a smooth vertical cut. Instead of being attached to
the gauge it may be attached to the cutter m. Its cutting point should drop a little
lower than the edge of the gauge or the edge of the cutter, so that the wood will be
separated along a vertical line before the cutter m reaches that depth, and thus
prevent any tearing of the fibres, and the cut be left straight and smooth. This
spur is attached to the gauge by a screw, and is provided with a slot through which
the screw passes, which enables it to be moved forward as it is worn off. The
cutters m, m, and their gauges n, n, may be constructed so that they can be readily
slipped into grooves in the holders and secured by screws or other, means, and thus
can be easily removed and different shapes substituted.
In the working of short pieces like the handles of awls or other tools the cutter
carrier C with its cutters D and E and ring F may be dispensed with, and the
desired shape or configuration given to the piece by means of the cutters m, m,
inasmuch as these may be made to cut with great rapidity and in almost any variety.
of forms.
Heretofore it has been practicable on a large scale to turn mouldings only in the
form of coves and beads from the lack of some proper devices to govern the cutting
tools, but with the construction herein described of the cutters m, m, and gauges
n, n, it is easy to form feather edges, vertical cuts, and many other styles without
marring or defacing the wood, and which formerly could only be produced with
great care and difficulty..
The operation of the lathe is as follows:-When the carrier C is in proximity
with the tail-stock and the spindle 6¹ projects through the ring F the blank is
inserted and the carrier brought into engagement with the screw G. As the carrier
advances the cutter D. being properly adjusted trims the blank to a cylindrical
form, which will permit it to pass through the ring F. The cutter E guided by the
pattern bar L operates just behind the ring F, where the blank is firmly clamped
and shapes it to the reverse of the pattern. Whenever it is desired to form &
moulding upon the piece one of the moulding cutters is brought down upon it as
closely to the cutter E as convenient, in order to avail of the support given by the
clamping ring F. When the carrier has reached the limit of its travel as many.
mouldings as desired may have been cut and the piece finished, as shown in
Figure 1.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated, to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. In a turning lathe a cutter-carrier, arranged to move in the line of the
spindles, in combination with an automatically expanding ring to clamp the work
near the point where the cutters operate, substantially as set forth.
Second. An adjustable cutter D in combination with the automatically expanding
ring F when such cutter and ring are attached to a moveable carrier of a lathe,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
"
"
Third. The combination in a lathe of the expanding ring F, the cutter E pivoted
to the movable carrier C, and the form or pattern bar L, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination in a lathe of the pivoted cutter E, the adjustable
block v, the stops 8, 8, and the pattern bar L, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Fifth. In combination with a holder M provided with an aperture for the exit of
the shavings a cutter m and gauge n, both of substantially the reverse shape of the
moulding desired, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. A cutter-holder M. hinged upon a rod at the rear of the lathe and capable
of longitudinal adjustment thereon, and provided with a cutter m and gauge n
i

page_text: beneath an aperture in the holder for the escape of shavings, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The combination in a lathe of moulding cutters and gauges attached to
a holder and detached from the moveable cutter-carrier, substantially as and for the.
purpose set forth.
Eighth. The combination of a moulding cutter-holder and a cutter provided with
saw-teeth when constructed and arranged to form a moulding and kerf at the
same time, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. In combination with the gauge n a cutting spur R to form a smooth
vertical cut, substantially as described, and as shown in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
HENRY H. LAKE. (L.S.)