Improvements in Lathes or Machines for Turning or Shaping Wood and other Materials.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Lathes or Machines for Turning or Shaping Wood
and other Materials.
A communication from abroad from W. P. PREBLE, of Havemeyer Building, New
York, U.S.A., Patent Expert.
I, JULIUS HERMANN WEISS, of 9, Endsleigh Street, in the County of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of turning or shaping machinery which
produces objects of polygonal cross-section, such as Indian clubs, chair legs,
posts, balusters and the like, by the operation of a series of revolving cutters
acting simultaneously upon a block of wood or other material, the action of which
is controlled by the motions of the reciprocating bed-plate.
The object of the invention is to provide such machinery with two simul-
taneously operating sets of revolving cutters and the necessary auxiliary mechanism
whereby two distinct objects can be shaped at the same time by a single operation
of the machine. The two series of cutters may be set up in accordance with the
same design in which case the objects shaped will be duplicates of each other,
or the cutter series may have different designs in which case the two objects
produced by the machine may be of quite dissimilar appearance.
In other words, the object of the invention is to produce a double arbor lathe
or machine provided with two series of revolving cutters adapted to be operated
simultaneously and their operating mechanism and with a chuck carriage
adapted to present material to be cut independently to each of the said two series
of revolving cutters, whereby two objects of the same or dissimilar outline may
be formed at a single operation of the lathe.
In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are front, rear, and end
elevations respectively of the machine.
Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the double arbor clutch upon which depends the
simultaneous engagement and disengagement of the stock carried by the chucks
and from which the objects are to be cut.
Same letters indicate similar parts in the different figures.
A is the framework of the machine upon which the moving parts are mounted.
B is the driving pulley mounted upon the shaft a journalled in the framework
and driven by belting from a source of power not shown. The shaft a carries
near its outer end the small gear c which meshes with the gear C mounted upon
the shaft a' which turns in the arm & upon the cam shaft a journalled in the
framework.
The cam shaft a² also carries the gear C¹ which meshes with and is driven by
the gear C. At the inner end of the shaft as is the cam D which operates the
rock-shaft and through it the reciprocating bed-plate as hereafter explained,

page_text: E-E are the two series of revolving cutters mounted upon the independent
cutter arbors a³-a. These cutter arbors are preferably placed vertically over
each other as shown, but might be placed horizontally on opposite sides of the
chuck-reel, if desired, or otherwise. These arbors are removably journalled in
the boxes d-d, so that the whole series of cutters may be removed with the
arbor when desired to re-sharpen the tools or for other purposes.
Continuous rotation is communicated to both of these cutter arbors by the
cords e and pulleys f suitably mounted in journal boxes on the framework. Both
cutter arbors are mounted in such a way as to be capable of being moved laterally
by the hand-wheel G into and out of positions in which the cutting edge of the
cutter comes in contact with the revolving stock to be shaped. This is accom-
plished as follows: The lower cutter arbor and its journal boxes are mounted
directly on the cutter carriage which is carried by the sliding bed-plate H.
This bed-plate is moved backwards and forwards upon the track h by a rack
not shown on the under side of the said bed-plate which engages with a pinion
not shown upon the shaft of the hand-wheel G. Other means of moving this
bed-plate might be adopted, if desired, the purpose being to allow the operator
to turn the bed-plate cautiously into position to have the cutters engaged with
the stock.
The upper cutter arbor is reciprocated in a similar manner by means of the
rock-arm J, the lower end of which is pivoted to the bed plate H and the upper
end of which is connected with a slide-bar K which serves the same purpose for
the upper arbor that the bed-plate H does for the lower.
It will thus be evident that both cutter arbors will revolve continuously as
long as power is applied to them by means of the cord and pulley devices shown,
and that the operator can regulate the depth of cut at pleasure by manipulation
of the hand-wheel G, or keep the cutters entirely away from the stock as occasion
requires.
It is well understood that if the stock were continuously rotated without
changing its position, round work only would be produced; and my double arbor
lathe may be so employed if desired, in which case, its advantage over ordinary
round work lathes would consist in the speed and economy of production, the
same frame serving without unnecessary duplication of parts to turn out double
the amount of product.
The most important use, however, of my double arbor lathe is the production
of polygonal work. In this class of work, as is well known, the stock, whether
wood, metal or other substance, is not allowed to remain stationary during the
cutting process, but is caused to reciprocate in definite proportion to its speed
of revolution. As explained in the specification of another application for
Letters Patent No. 11281 of 1898 in respect of so-called polygonal lathes, if the
wood or other stock is made to reciprocate say four times during each revolution,
the result will be an object four-sided in cross section, five reciprocations pro-
ducing five-sided cross sections and so on. It is, therefore, evident that the
wood or other stock which is to be operated upon by the two series of cutters
in my double arbor lathe must be endowed with the proper proportionate recipro-
cation and revolution. I will now describe the devices by which these motions
are brought about.
Reciprocation of the chuck carriage is derived from the rock-shaft at which
is journalled in the framework and carries the rocking arm L. This arm is
made double, the ends of the two arms being connected by the tension spring i.
Each of the arms carries a cam roller ; which is held in contact with the varying
surface of the cam D by the tension of the double spring i. It is evident that in
this way, a rocking movement is communicated to the rock shaft a** from the
cam D and that this rocking will vary in accordance with the character of the
cam which may be employed.
M M are short rock-arms provided at each end of the rock-shaft a** and con-
nected by cranks not shown with the bed-plate upon which the chuck reel N is

page_text: mounted. This chuck reel is provided with three chucks n, two of which are
in use while the third is free for the removal and substitution of the stock. This
reel turns when occasion requires around the shaft as which is journalled in
uprights supported by the sliding bed-plate not shown which reciprocates below
the bed-plate H upon a track not shown.
The desired proportionate revolution to the two active chucks is brought about
as follows:-By means of the bevelled gear and a worm not shown, motion is
communicated from the driving pulley B to the worm P mounted upon the lower
clutch-shaft a journalled in the framework. This clutch-shaft bears on its inner
end a clutch, preferably conical, which is adapted to engage the end of the
chuck and thereby communicate revolution thereto. The clutch shaft is so
constructed that it will slide longitudinally in its journal boxes without inter-
fering with its revolution by means of the operating devices shown on an enlarged
scale in Figs. 4 and 5. Clutches are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as disengaged.
The lower clutch-shaft a communicates its motion to the upper clutch-shaft a
by the gear-wheels R-R and R, so that the two shafts revolve in unison.
It is of great importance that the upper and lower clutches should engage
and disengage their respective chucks in unison. To accomplish this, there is
employed a clutch operating mechanism S which consists of an arm pivoted at s.
The upper end of the upper arm S₁ engages in the grooves 3 of a collar t secured
to the outer end of the shaft a7. In the same way, the lower arm S engages
the grooved collar of the lower clutch-shaft a. This arm and thereby both
shafts are moved bodily toward or from the chuck-reel by the lever $3 pivoted
at to a projection from the framework A. One end of this lever S3 is connected
with the handle T which reaches along the machine so as to be in easy reach of
the operator standing at the hand-wheel G. The other end of the lever S³ is
pivoted to the arm S₁ by a yoke and pin connection. This connection possesses
great advantages, as during the first part of the motion, the yoke Y recedes from
the pin w which afterwards follows it, making the connection again rigid. In
this way, all jar or binding is obviated and the two clutches move easily into and
out of engagement with their chucks.
Having thus described the means by which both a rotation and a reciprocating
movement can be communicated to the wood or other material in the chuck, it
only remains to add that the desired proportion between the revolution and recipro-
cation is brought about by altering as occasion requires the proportion of the
gear to the gear C¹. In other words, the intermediate gear C is removed and
another gear with a different number of teeth substituted. In this way, the
chuck carriage may be caused to reciprocate two, three, four, five or any desired
number of times for each revolution of the wood in the chuck, and a correspond-
ing polygonal cross-section is communicated to the product.
Improvements in Lathes or Machines for Turning or Shaping Wood
and other Materials.
A communication from abroad from W. P. PREBLE, of Havemeyer Building, New
York, U.S.A., Patent Expert.
I, JULIUS HERMANN WEISS, of 9, Endsleigh Street, in the County of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to that class of turning or shaping machinery which
produces objects of polygonal cross-section, such as Indian clubs, chair legs,
posts, balusters and the like, by the operation of a series of revolving cutters
acting simultaneously upon a block of wood or other material the action of which
is controlled by the motions of the reciprocating bed-plate.
The object of the invention is to provide such machinery with two simul-
taneously operating sets of revolving cutters and the necessary auxiliary mechanism
whereby two distinct objects can be shaped at the same time by a single operation
of the machine. The two series of cutters may be set up in accordance with the
same design, in which case the objects shaped will be duplicates of each other,
or the two series of cutters may have different designs in which case the two
objects produced by the machine may be of quite dissimilar appearance, or one
series of cutters may be used to produce the round work on the same object on
which the other series of cutters has produced the polygonal work.
In other words, the object of the invention is to produce a double arbor lathe
or machine provided with two series of revolving cutters, adapted to be operated
simultaneously, and their operating mechanism, and with a chuck carriage
adapted to present material to be cut independently to each of the said two series
of revolving cutters, whereby two objects can be formed at a single operation of
the lathe.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings show respectively in front, rear
and end elevation, a double arbor lathe or machine constructed according to
this invention.
Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the double arbor clutch upon which depends the
simultaneous engagement and disengagement of the stock carried by the chucks
and from which the objects are to be cut.
A is the framework of the machine upon which the moving parts are mounted.
B is the driving pulley mounted upon a shaft a journalled in bearings in the
framework and driven by belting from a source of power not shown. The shaft a
carries near its outer end the small gear wheel which meshes with a gear wheel C
mounted upon the shaft a which is carried by an adjustable arm & mounted
upon a cam shaft a journalled in the framework to which the said arm is detach-
ably fixed. The cam shaft a² also carries a gear wheel C which meshes with
and is driven by the gear wheel C. At the inner end of the shaft a is a cam ])
which operates a rock-shaft a* and through it the reciprocating bed-plate as
hereafter explained. E are the two series of revolving cutter holders mounted
upon the independent cutter arbors a. These cutter arbors are preferably
placed vertically over each other as shown, but might be placed horizontally on
opposite sides of the chuck-reel, if desired, or otherwise. These arbors are each
removably journalled in the boxes d, d, so that the whole series of cutters can
be removed with the arbor when desired to re-sharpen the tools or for other
purposes.
Continuous rotation is communicated to both of these cutter arbors by cords e
and pulleys suitably mounted in journal boxes on the framework. The cords
for driving the upper arbor a pass under the pulley f therefor, then over an
intermediate pulley (not shown) pivotted to the frame, and then under a pulley
fixed to the arbor. Both cutter arbors are mounted in such a way as to be
capable of being moved by the hand-wheel G into and out of positions in which
the cutting edges of the cutters come in contact with the revolving stock to be
shaped. This is accomplished as follows: The lower cutter arbor and its
journal boxes are mounted directly on a cutter carriage which is carried by
the sliding bed-plate H. This bed-plate is moved backwards and forwards upon
the track by racks, not shown, fixed on the underside of the said bed-plate and
engaging with pinions, not shown, upon the shaft of the hand wheel (as in
known constructions of baluster lathes. Other means of moving this bed-plate

page_text: might be adopted, if desired, the purpose being to allow the operator to move
the bed-plate cautiously into a position to cause the cutters to engage with the
stock.
The upper cutter arbor at is reciprocated in a similar manner by means of the
rock-arm J the lower end of which is pivoted to an upward extension of the bed
plate H and the upper end of which is connected to a forwardly projecting arm
or bar K which serves the same purpose for the upper arbor that the bed-plate H
does for the lower.
For this purpose the arm or bar K is so pivoted to the frame-work A at a
point, not shown, that as the lower end of the arm J moves backward and forward
it depresses the upper arbor and cutters into position to act upon the stock to be
cut and then raises the said arbor and cutters out of the field of action, that is
to say, as the arm J carries the rear end of the said arm or bar K up or down, the
forward end of the said arm, to which the upper cutter arbor is connected, moves
in the opposite direction carrying the cutter arbor with it. The journal boxes d
for the upper cutter arbor are swivelled to the frame.
The driving cord e for the upper arbor are tightened when the arbor is depressed
and slackened when the arbor is raised.
It will thus be evident that both cutter arbors will revolve continuously as
long as power is applied to them by means of the cord and pulley devices shown,
and that the operator can regulate the depth of cut at pleasure by manipulation
of the hand-wheel G, or keep the cutters entirely away from the stock, as occasion
may require.
'
It is well understood that if th stock were continuously rotated without
changing its position, round work y would be produced, and the double arbor
lathe herein described may be so er ployed if desired, in which case, its advantage
over ordinary round work lathes would consist in the speed and economy of pro-
duction, the game frame serving, without unnecessary duplication of parts, to
turn out double the amount of work.
The most important use, however, of the double arbor lathe herein described
is the production of polygonal work. In this class of work, as is well known,
the stock, whether wood, or other substance is not allowed to remain stationary
during the cutting process, but is caused to reciprocate in definite proportion to
its speed of revolution. As explained in the specification of another application
for Letters Patent No. 11281 of 1898 in respect of so-called polygonal lathes,
if the wood or other stock is made to reciprocate say four times during each
revolution, the result will be an object four-sided in cross section, five recipro-
cations producing five-sided cross sections and so on. It is, therefore, evident
that the wood or other stock which is to be operated upon by the two series of
cutters in a double arbor lathe according to this invention must be endowed with
the proper proportionate reciprocation and revolution. I will now describe the
devices by which these motions are brought about.
Reciprocation of the chuck carriage carrying the stock is derived from the
rock shaft a which is journalled in the framework and carries the rocking arm L.
This arm is made double, that is to say it is provided with a second arm which
is mounted to turn upon the boss of the arm L, or upon the rock shaft a*, the
ends of the two arms being connected by a double tension spring i. Each of the
arms carries a cam roller ; which is held in contact with the varying surface
of the cam D by the tension of the double spring i. It is evident that in this
way, a rocking inovement is communicated to the rock shaft a* from the cam D,
and that this rocking will vary in accordance with the character of the
cam which may be employed. This mechanism is similar. in operation to the
chuck carriage reciprocating mechanism shown and described in the specification
of another application for Letters l'atent filed by me No. 14194 of 1898.
M, M are short rock-arms provided at each of the rock shaft a³, and. con-
nected by rods or links, not shown, with a sliding bed-plate, not shown, upon
which the chuck reel N is mounted. This chuck reel is provided with three

page_text: chucks n, two of which are in use while the third is free for the removal and
substitution of the stock. This reel turns, when occasion requires, around the
shaft as which is journalled in uprights supported by the said sliding bed-plate
which reciprocates below the bed-plate H upon a track, not shown. The chuck
reel N is prevented from turning by suitable catches whilst in use, as well i
understood.
The desired proportionate revolution of the two active chucks is brought about
as follows: By means of bevelled gearing p and a worm 21 motion is com-
municated from the driving pulley B to a worm wheel P mounted upon a lower
clutch-shaft a journalfed in the framework. This clutch-shaft bears on its inner
end a clutch, preferably conical, which is adapted to engage the end of the
chuck and thereby communicate rotation thereto. The clutch shaft is so con-
structed and arranged that it can be caused to slide longitudinally in its journal
boxes by means of the operating devices shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 4
and 5 without interfering with its being rotated, for which purpose it may be
feathered to a sleeve that is mounted in a suitable bearing and to which the
rotary motion is imparted, as in the arrangement of clutch shaft described and
shown in my said other specification No. 14194 of 1898. The clutches are shown
in Figs. 1 and 2 as disengaged. The lower clutch-shaft a communicates its
motion to the upper clutch-shaft a² by gear wheels R, R¹ and R³, so that the two
clutch-shafts revolve in unison.
It is of great importance that the upper and lower clutches should engage and
disengage their respective chucks in unison. To accomplish this, there is employed
a operating mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5 which comprises an arm
or b
having a projecting pin or pivot at s. The upper end of the upper
portion che arm engages in the groove t* of a collar t secured to the outer
end of the upper clutch shaft a'. In the same way, the lower armi S3 engages
the grooved collar t¹ of the lower clutch-shaft a which is constructed arranged
and operated in a similar manner to the upper one. The said arm S¹, S³ and
thereby both clutch shafts a, a, are moved bodily toward and from the chuck-
reel N by a lever S3 pivoted at v to a projection from the framework A. One
end of this lever $3 is connected to a hand operated rod T which reaches along
the machine so as to be within easy reach of the operator standing at the hand-
wheel G. The other end of the lever S³ is jointed to the arm S1, S2 by a yoke
and pin connection comprising a yoke piece y carried by the upper end of the
lever S3 and freely engaging the pin or pivot of the arm S¹ S³, and pin wo
fixed to the portion S₁ of the said arm so as to be in the path of a projection yl
on the yoke piece. By means of this flexible connection between the lever $3
and arm S¹S, the two clutches on the shafts as, a can be easily moved into
and out of engagement with their chucks, and all jar or binding that might
otherwise result between the arm S1 S2 and adjacent parts, by reason of the
angular movement of the operating lever S³, will be avoided.
Having thus described the means by which both a rotation and a reciprocating
movement can be communicated to the wood or other material in the chuck, it
only remains to add that the desired proportion between the revolution and
reciprocation is brought about by altering, as occasion requires, the proportion
of the gear wheel C to the gear wheel C¹, which may be done by removing the
intermediate gear wheel C and replacing it by another gear wheel having a
different number of teeth. In this way, the chuck carriage can be caused to
reciprocate two, three, four, five or any desired number of times for each revo-
lution of the wood in the chuck, and a corresponding polygonal cross-section be
communicated to the product.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The hereinabove described double arbor lathe provided with two series of

page_text: revolving cutters, adapted to be operated simultaneously, and their operating
mechanism, and with a chuck carriage adapted to present material to be cut
independently to each of the said two series of revolving cutters.
2. The improved lathe or machine for turning or shaping wood or other
materials, constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described and
shown.
Dated this 29th day of May 1899.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.