IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OP APPARATUS FOR CUTTING ORNAMENTAL FORMS, BEADS, RECESSES, AND MOULDINGS IN WOOD, STONE, AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
IRVING, of Regent Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Tenth day of February, in the eighth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Irving, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and anthority,
that I, the said William Irving, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said William Irving, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OP APPARATUS FOR CUTTING ORNAMENTAL FORMS, BEADS, RECESSES, AND MOULDINGS
IN WOOD, STONE, AND OTHER MATERIALS;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso obliging me, the said William Irving, by an instrument in
writing under my band and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain tho
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per
forined, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of

page_text: Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Irving, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thercon (that is to say):-
My Improvements in the Construction of Apparatus for Cutting Ornamental
Forms, Beads, Recesses, and Mouldings in Wood, Stone, and other Materials
consist in certain novel combinations of known mechanical parts, by means of
which a rotary cutter, mounted in a rising and falling frame, is made to
operate for the purpose of cutting away or carving out portions of a slab or
block of wood, stone, &c. placed upon a table below, the table, with the said
slab or block, being made to traverse longitudinally and transversely for the
purpose of bringing every part of the block under the action of the said
cutter.
In the accompanying Drawings this improved construction of apparatus is
shewn in various positions in complete working order.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a transverse
sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a horizontal view looking down upon
the machine, the driving pullies and wheels, and some of the other parts
above, being removed, to avoid confusion. a, a, is the lower framework or
standards, the upper horizontal edges of which may be of an angular or V form,
for the purpose of steadying and guiding the longitudinal movements of the
bed frames b, b, b, b. Upon these bed frames are mounted the transverse
sliding bars c, c, that carry the table d, d, whereon the block A is to be fixed;
and, by means of these two sliding movements, the table, with the block, is
moved both longitudinally and transversely, in order to produce any variety of
form or figures on the block. The bed frames b, b, are connected together
by means of a longitudinal toothed rack, shewn by dots (see Fig. 1), by which
the bed is moved longitudinally by the agency of a toothed pinion e moulded
on the middle of the shaft f. On the end of this shaft is another pinion g,
which gears into and is driven by a pinion on the pulley shaft h. This
shaft carries two pullies i and j (see Figures 1 and 3), which are driven
by bands and coming from the pullies k, k, above. The band of the
pulley is straight, and the band of the pulley j is crossed; consequently
the two pullies i and revolve in opposite directions. A double-action

page_text: clutch box is mounted on the pulley shaft h, immediately between the
two pullies i andj; and by bringing the said clutch into gear with either of
the pullies i and j by means of a corresponding clutch on the bosses of the said
pullies the pulley shaft may be made to revolve in either direction; or by
withdrawing the clutch l, and leaving it midway between the pulleys and out
of gear with both of them, the shaft h, and consequently the bed frame b, b,
and transverse bars c, c, carrying the table d, d, will remain stationary. The
attendant has the clutch box under perfect command, and is enabled to work
the same by means of the long horizontal lever m and rod n. It will now be
evident, that as the pullies and are constantly kept revolving the longi-
tudinal movement of the table forwards and backwards may be altered or
arrested at pleasure, by merely altering the position of the clutch box 7. It
may be desirable for some purposes to make this part of the machine self-
acting, (that is to say,) when the bed plate or table has proceeded onwards it:
certain distance, to make it return again to the original starting point without
the assistance of an attendant to alter the clutch. This is effected by means
of an apparatus somewhat similar to those in use in planing machines to effect
a similar operation. o is a lever mounted horizontally, and securely fastened
iuto a vertical shaft p (as seen best in Figures 3 and 4). The outer end of
this shaft is connected to the clutch box l, as seen in the plan view. A second
lever is also mounted on and firmly secured to the shaft p at right angles to
the lever o, its outer end extending over a flat horizontal bar r connected to
the bed frame b, b, and consequently partaking of its movements. This bar
,, has a number of holes made all along it, and is furnished with two pins
or pegs, which may be inserted into the holes before mentioned according to
the distance that the bed plate, with its block, is required to travel. One pin
or peg is inserted in a hole in a bar r corresponding with one end of the
distance, and the second peg in another hole corresponding with the opposite
end, the horizontal lever g being situated between them. Then, when the
block is fixed on the bed plate in its position and firmly secured, one
or the other of the sides of the clutch is, by means of the hand lever m
and rod n, brought into gear with one of the pullies i or j, and a longitudinal
motion is thereby communicated to the bed plate or table, and immediately
that it has arrived at the end of its course, that is, when one of the pins of the
bar & strikes against the lever g, this latter is driven back, thereby causing the
vertical shaft p to turn on its centre, and also alter the position of the other
lever o, whereby the clutch box will be moved along the pulley shaft out of
gear with the pulley with which it was formerly in connection, and into gear
with the other one, thereby instantaneously changing the course of the
advancing or receding bed plate, and causing it to proceed in the opposite.
q

page_text: direction. In order to make this self-acting apparatus act with greater
certainty and instantaneousness, I have connected a weighted tumbling lever s
thereto, which when acted upen, a short lever or arm t, extending from
the upper part of the vertical shaft p, is gradually raised out of its
inclined position, as seen in Fig. 3, and when it passes over the centre
of gravity it suddenly falls forward, thereby giving the vertical shaft p
and consequently the clutch lever o connected therewith, a sharp jerk round,
and throwing over the clutch more suddenly than if it were gradually
forced over by the slow onward progress of the horizontal bar r, 1. The
transverse motion of the bed plate or table is effected by means of two screwed
shafts, u, which are mounted in bearings in the bed frame b, b, and pass
through screw boxes attached to the under sides of the bed plate or table, as
seen by dots in the plan view, Fig. 3, or to the transverse bars c, c, which are
also secured to the bed plate, and slide in the bed frames b, b, as seen in the
front view, Fig. 1. The screwed shafts u, u, are actuated by hand by means
of the winch handle on the shaft w, which carries a bevil pinion that gears
into a corresponding bevil pinion & on the longitudinal shaft y, y. This shaft
also carries two other bevil pinions,, of the same diameter and number of
teeth, and which gear into corresponding bevil pinions on the ends of the
screwed shafts u, u; and, consequently, when the winch handle is turned, it
actuates the longitudinal shaft y, y, and the transverse screwed shafts u, u, and
thereby causes the bed plate to move transversely.
laving described and explained the construction and movements of the bed
plate, I would merely observe, that the block must be secured thereon in such
a manner that when once the operation of carving is commenced the block
will not alter its position. The means I have adopted for effecting this object
is by the employment of clamps 1, 1, which are made to slide in metal or other
grooved pieces 2, 2, made in the upper side of the bed plate, and when
brought up against the block they are tightly screwed up, so as to be perfectly
immoveable. If the block is of stone it may be secured in a similar manner,
or other means may be employed, if thought more convenient. The drill is
mounted vertically in bearings made in the moveable frame 3, 3, which is
capable of rising and falling in grooves made in the cast-iron standards 4, 4,
as seen best in Fig. 1. This sliding frame is suspended by means of a chaim
from a sector at one end of the long lever 5, 5, which has its fulerum in the
framing, and is connected at its opposite end to a rod 6, 6, the lower end of
which is furnished with a chain or cord by which it is connected to the barrel
7. This barrel 7 is mounted in bearings connected to the standard a, a, a, a, and
part of the chain at the end of the rod 6 is wound thereon. Another chain S,
attached to one end of this rod 9 (see Fig. 3), is also connected to the barrel, and

page_text: partially surrounds its periphery. The opposite end of the rod 9 is slotted or
branched, and has a female screw or screw box made thereon, for the purpose of
receiving a screwed shaft 10. At the outer end of this shaft, which is mounted
in a bearing in the side framing, is a winch handle, by turning which in
one direction the screw shaft 10 draws back the rod 9, and pulls round the
barrel 7, thereby coiling a portion of the chain at the lower end of the rod 6
thereon. By these means the longer arm of the long lever 5, 5, is depressed,
and the other end consequently raised, thereby lifting the frame 3, 3, which
carries the cutter drill. If the machine is to cut plain or straight mouldings,
then, when the drill has been raised to its proper elevation, the frame 3, 3,
may be firmly secured thereat, and prevented from rising or falling, by
means of a bolt and nut 11. The manner in which the drill is actuated will
be seen in Fig. 1; and when properly adjusted to the desired height, and in
rotary motion, the workman shifts the clutch into gear, which gives the
table a longitudinal movement, and brings the slab or block in contact with
the drill, for the purpose of cutting or carving longitudinally the desired form.
If curves or transverse angular or other figures are required, the transverse
movements of the table on which the slab or block is fixed are effected by
the winch and gearing before described.
If my improved machinery is to be employed for cutting or carving figures
or foliage or subjects in bas relief, I then attach an indicator or tracing point,
which shall at all times act simultaneously and parallel with the traversing as
well as up and down movements of the rotary drill. A mode of adapting this
indicator or tracing point is shewn in the partial view of the machine at
Figures 4 and 5, the former of which is a longitudinal section of part of the
machine, and the latter a horizontal view of the same, in which it will be
seen that the tracing point and drill are mounted in distinct pieces, but when
in use they are firmly connected together, either by screws and nuts or other-
wise, so as to prevent them from changing their relative positions. If, how-
ever, it should be thought desirable or more convenient, the parts which carry
the tracing point and drill may be made in one piece, as is shown by dotted
lines in Figures 4 and 5. The bolt and nut 11, by which the sliding frame
is fastened to the standards when cutting mouldings, must be loosened, and
the framing 3, 3, allowed to rise and fall freely whenever the winch handle of
the screwed shaft 10 is turned in either direction. The drill or cutting instru-
ment 12, which may be of any required shape, is, as before mentioned,
mounted in bearings made in the rising frame 3, and is furnished with a fast
and loose pulley driven by a band from a large horizontal drum 18, 13, seen
in the plan view, Fig. 3, and front elevation, Fig. 1. The tracing point 14

page_text: (see Figs. 4 and 5) is mounted in a moveable piece or arm 15, which is firmly
secured to the lower arm of the rising frame by means of a bolt at 16, Fig. 5;
and by being furnished with a sector slot at its inner end, as seen in the plan
view, this arm may be secured in any position by screwing up a second screw
bolt in the sector slot, as seen at Figure 5. When the proper altitude of the
tracing point is ascertained, it is secured in its hole in the head of the arm 15
by means of a screw, as shewn in the Figures. It will now be clearly under-
that as the onward longitudinal and transverse motions of the bed plate
brings the model under the tracing point, and the block under the cutter, the
attendant must, by means of the handle of the screwed shaft 10, make the
tracing point accurately follow all the inequalities of the model; and as, in
order to do this, the sliding framing 3, 3, to which the tracing point is con-
nected, must be alternately raised and depressed, according to tho nature of
the design, it will be evident that the drill or cutting instrument will be made
to perform precisely the same evolutions, and will consequently cut away the
block to the depth indicated by the tracing point. If small and light work is
to be executed, I propose to dispense with the gearing which actuates the bed
plate or table on which the block to be operated upon is placed, and I
manoeuvre this table, with its block, under the drill by hand. If circular or
curved mouldings are required, the block to be operated upon must be secured
upon a curved or semicircular table, which is to be connected to a vibrating
arm extending laterally beyond the machine; and by mounting this arm hori-
zontally on a centre I am enabled to move the table round, with the block
thereon, in a curve or portion of a circle. And in order that curves of
different radii may be produced, I make the centre of motion of the projecting
arm adjustable; that is to say, capable of being placed nearer to or further
from the drill or cutting instrument, as may be required. As I have already
stated in relation to the other machine, if small blocks only are operated
upon, the table may be easily moved under the drill by the workmen, without
the assistance of any mechanical contrivance; but when weighty blocks of
large dimensions are employed, it will then be necessary to employ some
mechanical means to assist the workman, and which will readily suggest them-
selves to any intelligent mechanic. One plan which I intend to employ
consists in attaching a cord or chain to one end of the curved or semicircular
table, and after passing it round the curved part or edge of the said table
it is to be connected to a barrel or roller; and by causing this latter to turn
slowly on its axis the cord or chain becomes wound thereon, and the table and
block gradually drawn round in a circular direction.
Having now described my Improved Constructions of Apparatus for Cutting

page_text: Ornamental Forms, Beads, Recesses, and Mouldings in Wood, Stone, or other
Materials, I desire it to be understood, that I do not intend to claim under the
above in part recited Letters Patent the exclusive use of any of the parts of the
said apparatus, taken separately. But that which I do claim, and consider to
be the essential feature of novelty in my present improved apparatus, is, a
combination of machinery by which longitudinal and transverse movements
can be given to a slab or block of wood, stone, or other material to be cut or
curved into ornamental raised fornis, figures, mouldings, foliage, and other
shapes by the agency of a rotary drill, the drill being capable of rising and
falling in vertical directions, so as to form bold inequalities on the face of the
wood, stone, or other material operated upon.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Irving, have hereunto set iny
hand and seal this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-five
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Ninth day of August, in
the year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Irving came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case, made and provided.
Inrolled the same Ninth day of August, in the year above written.

page_text: En the Matter of Letters Patent granted the Tenth day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five,
to WILLIAM IRVING, for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING ORNAMENTAL FORMS, BEADS, RECESSES, AND
MOULDINGS IN WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS."
DISCLAIMER, entered pursuant to an Act passed in the fifth and sixth
years of King William the Fourth, entitled An Act to amend the Law
touching Letters Patents for Inventions.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, WILLIAM
IRVING, of Regent Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, and CHARLES
STEPHEN HASSELLS, of Fox Earth, in the County of Stafford, Assignee of the
said Letters Patent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her mest Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Tenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five, in the eighth year of
Her reign, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, did give and grant unto the
said William Irving, his exccutors, administrators, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that the said William
Irving, his executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as the said
William Irving should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times hereafter during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the
Dominion of Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, his Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR CUTTING ORNAMENTAL
FORMS, BEADS, RECESSES, AND MOULDINGS IN WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS;" and
whereas the said William Irving, in pursuance of a proviso in the said in part
recited Letters Patent contained, did particularly describo and ascertain the
nature of his said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal commonly
called the Specification, and did cause the same to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery on the Ninth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five; and whereas the said
Specification, after describing, by reference to certain Figures numbered 1, 2,
and 3 of the Drawings thereto annexed, the Improvements in the Construction

page_text: of Apparatus for Cutting Ornamental Forms, Beads, Recesses, and Mould-
ings in Wood, Stone, and other Materials, proceeds to describe, by reference
to certain other Figures, numbered 4 and 5, of the said Drawings, the appli-
cation and adaptation of the said machinery to and for cutting or carving
figures or foliage, or subjects in bas relief, by attaching an indicator or tracing
point in the mode shewn in the said Figures 4 and 5; and whereas the said
Letters Patent were not intended to be granted for improvements in
machinery for cutting or carving figures or foliage or subjects in bas relief, or
for the Invention, use, or application of an indicator or tracing point for that
purpose, nor did the said William Irving intend to claim as any part of his
Invention either the cutting or carving figures or foliage or subjects in bas relief,
or the use or application of a tracing point or indicator, as described in the said
Figures 4 and 5; and whereas the said Charles Stephens Hassels hath become
interested in the said Letters Patent of the said William Irving; and whereas
we, the said William Irving and Charles Stephen Hassels, are desirous, for
the reasons aforesaid, to disclaim so much of the said Specification as relates
to the cutting or carving figures or foliage or subjects in bas relief, and so
much thereof as relates to the Invention, use, and application of an indicator
or tracing point, as described in the said Figures 4 and 5, and have obtained
leave of Her Majesty's Attorney General to do so, certified by his fiat and
signature, according to the form of the Statute in such case made and
provided.
KNOW YE therefore, that we, the said William Irving and Charles
Stephen Hassells do, and each of us doth, hereby disclaim so much of the said
Specification as relates to cutting or carving figures or foliages or subjects in
bas relief by an indicator or tracing point, and to the Invention, use, and
application of an indicator or tracing point, as described in the said Figures 4
and 5 of the said Drawings.
In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Thirtieth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-six.
above-
Signed and sealed, by the
named William Irving, in the
presence of
WILLIAM IRVING. (L.S.)
C. S. HASSELLS. (L.s.)
JOHN GWILLIAM.

page_text: To the Clerk of the Patents of England.
This is to certify that William Irving, of Regent Street, Lambeth, in the
County of Surrey, and Charles Stephen Hassells, of Fox Earth, in the County
of Stafford, has applied to me for leave to enter with you the above-written]
Disclaimer of a certain Invention for which Letters Patent were duly
granted to the said William Irving, under the Great Seal, date the 10th day of
February 1845, and to which the Specification was duly enrolled; and, on
considering of the said application, I directed them to advertize their said
Disclaimer in the London Gazette, and in the Times and Morning Chronicle
newspapers; and such advertizements have been duly made in the said
London Gazette of the 29th Jan 1847, and in the Times and Morning
Chronicle newspapers of the 30th January 1847. And no objection having
been made to the said application, I have accordingly granted leave to the
said William Irving and Charles Stephens Hassells to file their said Dis-
claimer, pursuant to the Statute passed in the 5th and 6th years of His late
Majesty King William the 4th, entitled "An Act to amend the Law touching
Letters Patent for Inventions.
L.S.
Temple.
Received by the Clerk of the Patents, this Third g
day of March, One thousand eight hundred and,
forty-seven.