A PORTABLE SAWING MACHINE AND TREE FELLER
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Smyth, of San Francisco, California, U.S.,
Draughtsman, for the Invention of "A PORTABLE SAWING MACHINE AND TREE
FELLER."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Henry Smyth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th November 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY SMYTH, of San Francisco, California, U.S., Draughtsman.
PORTABLE SAWING MACHINE AND TREE FELLER."
"C. A
My Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of apparatus known
as portable sawing machines or tree fellers, said machines being intended to cut
down trees, and to reduce the felled logs to convenient lengths for any purpose
which may be desired.
My improvements consist in the employment of a reciprocating saw which has a
connecting rod uniting it with a cross head moving upon or between suitable guides.
These guides are loosely united at their rear end with the driving axle, so that they
move about it as a center as the saw makes its cut. The driving crank is formed
in this axle between the guides, and is connected with the cross heads by a
connecting rod or pitman. In combination with this device I employ a novel
feeding apparatus which operates to feed the saw forward into the cut at each
revolution of the crank and reciprocation of the saw. The whole is mounted upon
a frame and provided with holding clamps, so that it may be casily attached to the
tree or log in any desired position to cut either vertically or horizontally; and the
mechanism will be adjustably connected with the driving power, so as to be moved
from one tree or point to another without disturbing the power, as will be more
completely described by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which,―
Fig. 1 is a view of my apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a section showing the feed mechanism.
Fire 2 shows ni enneratua in nacition for auction se human
1

page_text: Letter A represents a suitably constructed frame in which the operating
mechanism is mounted. At the outer end of this frame are formed the jaws or
steadying forks B, which are intended to hold the frame steady by being pushed
firmly against the tree or log. On the sides of the frame are pivoted the dog
arms C, one long and one short, one on each side, so that after the frame or carriage
is in position the dogs are driven into the wood and hold the frame firmly in place.
The log or tree is then, as it were, grasped by the dog arms, so that there is no
motion to the frame or carriage as the saw is operated.
When the apparatus is to be used upon fallen logs the short arms or dogs will be
secured below, being made short so as to be easily secured in this position; but it
will be seen that the apparatus may be easily secured at any angle in which the
log lies.
The saw D is secured on the end of the connecting rod E, which rod passes
through the bar F connecting the guides G, herein-after described, and is attached
to the cross head H, as shown. The pitman I connecting the cross head with the
driving shaft V is journalled to the driving crank K, which is formed on said driving
shaft V at its center, as shown. On the outer end of this driving shaft is the driving
wheel M by which power is applied. As this wheel M is rotated the pitman
operates the cross head on the guides, and a reciprocating motion is given to the
saw.
In order to ensure an automatic feed to the saw the rear ends of the guides G
are hinged or journalled on to the driving axle on each side of the pitman crank K,
so that the guides may move about said shaft as a center as the saw makes its cut.
These guides are connected at their front ends by the bar F, said bar extending
each way from the guides, and having connected with it the gear wheels N, N¹,
which mesh with the curved rack bars O secured on the frame, as shown.
The gear wheel on one side is secured to the rod P, said rod extending back and
being journalled on the guide so as to have the same motion about the center of
the driving shaft as the guides have. At the rear end of said rod P is a ratchet
wheel Q, and a pawl on the end of a trip bar or lever S engages with this ratchet.
On the rear end of the pitman is a lug T, which at each revolution of the crank
shaft engages with the end of the trip bar or lever S, thus turning the ratchet
wheel by means of the pawl. As the rod P is rotated by the ratchet wheel Q
the outer gear wheel N is rotated, and by engaging with the curved rack bar moves
the guides and saw so as to give the required feed to the saw at each revolution of
the crank and reciprocation of the saw.
The frame may be adjusted to a standing tree or fallen log, so that the tree may
be felled and afterward cut up into suitable lengths.
It will be seen that the feeding mechanism is adjustably connected with the
driving power, so as to be moved from one place to the other without disturbing
the power, and the rack bars may be of any suitable length, so that the saw will be
fed through a log of any thickness.
The power will be applied preferably by means of a chain or belt passing over
the pulley M from the power wheel. The power may be derived from an engine,
horse, or other convenient source, and may be connected over uneven ground by
tumbling rods to the driving shaft. This shaft is mounted upon a frame, as shown
in Fig. 3, and the driving chain pulley is driven from this shaft by a bevel gear.
The pulley and gearing are mounted in a supplemental frame, and as the main gear
slides on a feather the whole device may be moved from one end to the other of the
main frame, thus allowing the machine proper to be shifted, while the belt wheels
are always in line. This device furnishes power to fell standing trees; but in
sawing fallen logs the pulley goes directly upon the horizontal shaft.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is,―
1st. The guides G having the cross head H moving upon them, and connected
with the saw D by the rod E which passes through the cross bar F, said guides

page_text: having their rear ends journalled upon the driving shaft, which forms a centre about
which the saw moves while making its cut, substantially as herein described.
2nd. The guides G, with their cross head H, saw D, connecting rod and crank
shaft V, in combination with the frame A having the steadying forks B and the
holding dogs C, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
3rd. The saw D, with the guides and cross head journalled to move about the
operating crank shaft, in combination with the feeding device consisting of the rack O,
gears N, N¹, shaft P, the pawl and ratchet Q, and the operating lever S, so fitted as
to be moved at each revolution of the crank, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described.
4th. An adjustable sawing device consisting of the saw-supporting and directing
guides, and cross head journalled to move about the driving crank axle V which
turns in boxes at one end of a frame A, said frame being provided with the steadying
fork B and holding dog C, whereby the machine may be set at any angle, and an
automatic feeding device by which to feed the saw forward, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eight
Witnesses,
GEO. H. STRONG.
FRANK A. BROOKS.
WILLIAM HENRY SMYTH. (L.S.)