IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNEL AND OTHER GROOVES OR ANGULAR CUTTINGS OUT OF TIMBER, SLATE, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Kershaw, of Widnes, in the County of
Lancaster, Timber Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MODE OF AND
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNEL AND OTHER GROOVES OR ANGULAR CUTTINGS
OUT OF TIMBER, SLATE, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 26th June 1877, and dated the 2nd January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Kershaw at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY KERSHAW, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster, Timber
Merchant. "IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNEL AND
OTHER GROOVES OR ANGULAR CUTTINGS OUT OF TIMBER, SLATE, AND OTHER SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES."
In cutting spouts out of the solid it is the custom to make a V cut, and waste the
remainder of the substance to be removed, or to waste the whole by planing it out
under rotating cutters; now my Invention is designed to save a large part of the
material cut away, to make a neater and more sightly spout, and to complete it in
one operation. It consists,-
1st. Of a machine armed with two parallel circular saws to saw two vertical
grooves, forming the sides of the channel. Midway between these, in a transverse
direction, and either in front of or preferably behind them longitudinally in the
direction of the spout to be cut, I fix a horizontal circular saw; this latter is fixed
to the end of an upright spindle armed with a small revolving cutter. The two
vertically cutting circular saws cut the sides, the horizontal saw the bottom of the
trough, and the revolving cutter cuts out a path for the spindle of the horizontal
saw; this is under the supposition that the trough is cut in its natural position, or
still better, upside down. If cut vertically or on its side the position of the saws
would be altered to suit, but the principle remains the same.
•
This machine is used also for cutting my patent channel or Z shaped roofing
boards, as exhibited.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Kershaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
July 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY KERSHAW, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster,. Timber
Merchant. " IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNEL AND
OTHER GROOVES OR ANGULAR CUTTINGS OUT OF TIMBER, SLATE, AND OTHER SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES."
•
In cutting spouts out of the solid it is the custom to make a V cut, and waste the
remainder of the substance to be removed, or to waste the whole by planing it out
under rotating cutters; now my Invention is designed to save a large part of the
material cut away, to make a neater and more sightly spout, and to complete it in
one operation. It consists,-
saw,
1st. Of a machine shown in Figures 1 and 2. In these two parallel circular
saws A, A, saw two grooves forming the sides of the channel. Midway between
these, usually on the same spindle, I place a thicker (grooving) saw B, or a drunken
to saw out a regular groove; behind these, and comfortably clearing them, I
place on a vertical spindle a horizontal circular saw C. This latter is fixed to the end
of an upright spindle, sometimes armed with a small revolving cutter, in which case
the grooving saw B need not be used. The two saws A cut the sides, the saw
the bottom of the trough, and the revolving cutter, or preferably, grooving saw B
cuts out a path for the spindle of the horizontal saw C. The words horizontal and
vertical are used under the supposition that the trough is cut in its natural position,
or still better upside down. If cut vertically or on its side the position of the saws
would be altered to suit, but the principle remains the same. In the Drawing C is
shown as a simple saw; as, however, an ordinary saw is lessened in diameter every,
time it is sharpened, I prefer sometimes to use a saw with adjustable teeth, especially
in small establishments, where there could be found little use for the circular saws
when they had become too small.
In some cases too I prefer to swell the saw out in the centre, especially when
sawing shallow troughs, so that it may split off the strip and clear itself for the
sawdust to escape; the escape is also aided by making the horizontal circular saw
in segments. The spindle of the vertical and other saws I run in bearings adjustable
vertically as shown, and well known as raising and lowering" spindles. The
horizontal circular saw is placed at the end of a vertical spindle passing up through
a slot in the table; its height can be accurately regulated by wheel and screw E, or
other application of a similar nature. F, G, are the pulleys for driving the respective
spindles.
The mode of working is as follows:-The saws being adjusted to their requisite
height I place the plank to be cut on the table, or preferably on two narrow parallel
packings on the table, outside the two outer horizontal saws; the timber then being
set to travel, the plank is drawn through the saws, cutting the board H, Fig. 3,
entirely away. The swage shape of the horizontal saw C, together with the weight
of the board itself, causes the latter to bend down and to fall off when the cut is
completed. Similar troughs could be made by placing two broad saws where
saws A are, removing saws B, and using a band saw round two pulleys placed in the
grooves formed by the vertical saws; I do not, however, consider this plan equal to
the one already described, so will not dilate on it further. By placing two boards
side by side, as in Figure 4, this machine could saw out my patent Z boards
described in Specification No. 4652, of 1876.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire to
protect under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The combination in a simple machine of a saw with two or more other saws
at right angles to it, cutting out approximately rectangular pieces, so as to form a
groove or trough, substantially as and for the purposes described.

page_text: 2nd. The mode described of sawing out grooves in timber or other material by
means of one saw, partially or wholly embedded in the wood while working in
combination with other saws, or saw to cut off the piece in a contrary direction,
and a groove or grooves left or cut for the spindle or other guiding apparatus of the
partially embedded saw to clear itself.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Kershaw, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM HENRY KERSHAW. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM P. THOMPSON,
British & Foreign Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.