CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR SCULPTURING AND CARVING
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Zephirin Boitteux, of Epinal (France), and of 16,
Castle Street, Holborn (City), London, for the Invention' of CERTAIN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Zephirin Boitteux at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
March 1854.
I, ZEPHIRIN BOITTEUX, of Epinal (France), and of 16, Castle Street,
Holborn (City), London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MACHINERY FOR SCULPTURING AND CARVING,"
to be as follows, viz.:-
My improvements consist of a new machine or apparatus by which
I obtain in. a self-acting way the resultant of the three motions in space
which a tool must in general be possessed of in order to cut out Figures in
relief, viz., those termed bas-reliefs. These component motions, whose directions
are at right angles to each other, may be termed backward and forward motion,
up and down motion, and transverse motion. I obtain the first of these
motions, viz., the backward and forward motion, by means of a horisontal
carriage, which is capable of being moved backwards and forwards by proper
gear; on this carriage are fixed transversely a set of boring, carving, or
sculpturing tools. Whilst the carriage travels, these tools are driven in a way
similar to that in which. the spindle shaft of a spinning-mule carriage is driven,
viz., an endless strap set in motion by a driving pulley, and passing over

page_text: guide pulleys, drives one or more counter shafts fixed on the carriage, and these
again communicate motion to the tool shafts, which are thus turned with the
proper speed at any point of their travel. I obtain the second or up and down
motion of the set of tools, by means of a vertical carriage having at each end
one or more racks, and sliding on the same frame as the horizontal carriage.
I drive these racks by pinions which are turned one way or the other by means
of a worm and driving gear, which is combined with a reversing apparatus
(similar to that used for reversing the motion of planing-machine carriages),
viz. the driving gear and reversing apparatus may be arranged in the following
or any similar manner :-The driving shaft for the tools drives also two counter
shafts, which by means of a wheel on each can alternately be thrown in gear
with the first wheel of the driving gear. This wheel, by means of inclined
planes on the vertical carriage (set at the proper distance), levers, clutch box,
spur wheel keyed loose on a weighted shaft, bevel gear, and upright shaft, on
what is fastened a double lever, can throw into gear either of the aforesaid counter
wheels with the first wheel of the driving gear, and thus reverse the motion
of the driving gear. The vertical carriage may also have fixed at proper
distances two hinged levers which act on opposite sides of the toothed circum-
ference of a star wheel, so as to give it a portion of a turn at every second passage
of each lever. Thus by proper gearing the star wheel is made to drive the
rack of the horizontal carriage at an uniform rate; this may also be effected
by any other suitable contrivance. Lastly, I obtain the third or transverse
motion of the tools by fixing on one side of the vertical carriage a hollow
counterpart, fac simile, or model of the sculpture or carving to be produced; on
the opposite side of the carriage is fixed the material to be carved or sculptured
upon. The tool shafts are capable of sliding in their bearings, and at their
extremities opposite the tools carry feeling points, which follow the cavities of
the model travelled over by means of the motions above described.
The tools opposite turning at a proper speed will thus be forced to reproduce
an exact relief copy of the model.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent; filed
by the said Zephirin Boitteux in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th September. 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ZEPHIRIN
BOITTEUX, of Epinal, in the Empire of France, and of 16, Castle Street,
Holborn (City), London, send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the.
said Zephirin Boitteux, Her special licence that I, the said Zephirin Boitteux,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Zephirin
Boitteux, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MACHINERY FOR SCULPTURING AND CARVING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Zephirin Boitteux, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Zephirin Boitteux, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment (that is to say) :-
My improvements consist of a new machine or apparatus, by which I obtain
in a self-acting way the resultant of the three motions in space which a tool
must in general be possessed of in order to cut out figures in relief, viz.
those termed bas-reliefs. These component motions, whose directions are at
right angles to each other, may be termed backward and forward motion, up
and down motion, and transverse motion. I obtain the first of these motions,
viz., the backward and forward motion, by means of a horizontal carriage which
is capable of being moved backwards and forwards by proper gear. On this
carriage are fixed transversely a set of boring, carving or sculpturing tools.
Whilst the carriage travels, these tools are driven in a way similar to that in
which the spindle shaft of a spinning-mule carriage is driven, viz., an endless
strap set in motion by a driving pulleys, and passing over guide pulleys drives
one or more counter shafts fixed on the carriage, and these again communicate
motion to the tool shafts, which are thus turned with the proper speed at any
point of their travel. I obtain the second or up & down motion of the set
of tools by means of a vertical carriage having at each end one or more racks,
and sliding on the same frame as the horizontal carriage. I drive these racks.
by pinions, which are turned one way or the other by means of a worm and

page_text: driving gear, which is combined with a reversing apparatus similar to that
used for reversing the motion of planing-machine carriages, viz. the driving
gear and reversing apparatus may be arranged in the following or any similar
manner: The driving shaft for the tools drives also two counter shafts, which
by means of a wheel on each can. alternately be thrown in gear with the first
wheel of the driving gear. This wheel, by means of inclined planes on the
vertical carriage (set at the proper distance), levers, clutch box, spur wheel,
keyed loose on a weighted shaft, bevil gear, and upright shaft, on which is
fastened a double lever, can throw into gear either of the before said counter.
wheels with the first wheel of the driving gear, & thus reverse the motion of
the driving gear.
The vertical carriage may also have fixed at proper
distances two hinged levers, which, act on opposite sides of the toothed cir-
cumference of a star wheel so as to give it a portion of a turn at every second-
passage of each lever. Thus, by proper gearing the star-wheel is made to
drive the rack of the horizontal carriage at an uniform rate; this may also be
effected by any other suitable contrivance. Lastly, I obtain the third or
transverse motion of the tools by fixing on one side of the vertical carriage a
hollow counterpart, fac simile, or model of the sculpture. or carving to be
produced. On. the opposite side of the carriage is fixed the material .to.
be carved or sculptured upon. The tool shafts are capable of sliding in their
bearings, and at their extremities opposite the tools carry feeling points, which
follow the cavities of the model travelled over by means of the motions above
described. The tools opposite turning at a proper speed will thus be forced to.
reproduce an exact relief copy of the model..
4
Having thus summarily described the principles of my improvements in
machinery for sculpturing and carving, I shall now enter.. upon a complete:
description and. Drawing of the way in which the said improvements are or
may be carried into effect. On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1
is: a longitudinal elevation of my improved machinery for sculpturing; Fig. 2
is an end or transverse elevation of the same; Fig..3 is a plan or top view of
the reversing apparatus; Fig. 4 represents a tool and feeling point.. with
drum. The same letters of reference stand for like parts in the different
Figures.....
"
The fixed parts of the machine consist, as is seen, of a stout' outer framing.
a, a, and foundation b,-6, carrying the driving shaft c; and pulley and spur
gearing d, e, f, and of an inner framing 9, 9, which carries the tool driving
counter shaft h. Within this inner frame slides the horizontal. or. tool
carriage i, on proper slide beds k, k. On its outer surface slides the vertical
or pattern carriage, on four uprights m, supporting the inner frame 9, 9.

page_text: Although I have represented these frames as being entirely of wood, yet they
may as well be made partly or wholly of wrought iron. or cast iron. I shall
now enter upon describing the three motions which the surface or object to; be
carved or sculptured, and tool must be possessed of relatively to each other; and
for the purpose of causing the action to be better understood, I shall begin
with the up and down motion of the vertical carriage, from which the other
two motions are derived..
c, is the driving shaft, with driving pulley d and drum f. This drum drives
by a strap either of the pulleys n or o, for the purpose of reversing the
motion of the vertical carriage; p and q are two parallel shafts, the former of
which carries the bevel wheels r and s, the spur wheels t, u, and v, and three
pulleys n, o, and w.
The counter shaft q carries three spur wheels a; y, and z. The three pulleys
n, o, w, are loose on their shaft, the-same-as-the-wheels t, u,-with-which-the
pulleys. n, o, are in gear. The wheel y is. driven from the wheel u,_by_an
intermediate wheel on a stud. The three wheels x, y, and z, are fast on q, and
so is von p: It.will be seen, then, that if the pulley n turns in the direction of
the arrow A, Fig: 3, all the other wheels and the pulley o will turn in the
direction indicated by, arrows on their left;, if the pulley o.turns in the direction
of the arrow A, all the other wheels and the pulley n will turn in the direction
of arrows placed on their right side. The middle pulley. w facilitates the
passage of the strap: between the pulleys n, o. By this gearing, then, the
motion of the shaft p is reversed by shifting the strap, which may be done.in
the following way::-On the end of the-shaft p is a bevel gear 8, 8, for turning
a vertical shaft with a worm a'; this worm gears into a worm wheel b',
on. which is cast'a pinion c¹, both turning on a stud fixed; on the outer
frame...
This pinion gears into a rack d sliding on a rail fixed at f, on the outer
frame: At proper distances on this rack are two studs, pins, or projections e!,
which, when the motion is reversed, strike the stem of a tumbling ball g', acting
in a way similar to those used in. planing machines, viz., the pin on the rack
turns ball g¹ through such an angle that it is no longer in equilibrium, and
then it tumbles over to the end of its angular travel, when the strap having
been shifted, the shaft p-will turn the strap shifting gear the other way, and at
the end of the traverse of the vertical carriage cause the ball to tumble back
to its original position. .:.
-..For this purpose the ball is loose on a little horizontal shaft turning in
proper bearings on the outer frame. The stem of the ball has a slotted part h¹,
into which enters. a pin on. an arm keyed fast on the ball shaft. The ball

page_text: shaft drives by means of bevil gear k³, k³, the vertical fork shaft, on which
the strap fork m' is keyed. The length of the slot h³, and the angular travel
of the ball is so calculated as to cause the strap fork m¹ to shift the strap from
the pulley h to the pulley o at each end of the traverse of the vertical carriage,
and thus reverse the motion of the same when required. Although I prefer
this method of shifting the strap, yet there may be other ways equally efficient
for effecting the same, such as moving the ball by means of the horizontal
carriage.
The rotary motion of the horizontal shaft p is transmitted by bevel wheels
r, n', n', n', on the horizontal and on the vertical shaft to two horizontal
shafts q, q', carrying worms at their ends. These worms gear into worm
wheels r',, which are keyed on shafts carrying at their ends the pinions s¹, s¹,
which gear into the four vertical t¹, t¹, racks fixed on the vertical carriage 1, 1,
thus causing the latter to ascend or descend as the case may be.
This reciprocating motion is assisted by the carriage 1, 1, being counterpoised
by any suitable means, such as a cord fastened to the upper part of four up-
rights m passing over the guide pulley v', and under the purchase pulley w¹ up
again and over a pulley fixed at any suitable height; a weight being hung at
the end of the cord or chain, said weight being intended to balance double the
weight on the carriage 1, 1.
The backward and forward motion of the horizontal carriage is obtained
from the up and down motion in the following way: a" is a shaft with a worm
gearing into a worm wheel 6", on whose shaft c" are fixed two pinions d", d",
gearing into the racks e", e", of the horizontal carriage. This shaft c¹¹ runs
in suitable bearings fixed on the uprights m, m; it is driven through the
shaft a and bevel gear g" by a small cross shaft " running in bearings fixed
on the beams g, g, on which the horizontal carriage slides. This little cross
shaft carries a star wheel at one or each end; a lever touches this star:
wheel at each passage of the vertical carriage to which the said lever is hinged.
The lever is so shaped that it acts on the star wheel at the ascent or descent
of the carriage only, a spring allowing it to give way when said carriage travels
in the opposite direction.
The star wheel is thus moved through one-sixth turn at each second passage
of the vertical carriage, and the horizontal carriage receives a corresponding
portion of traverse, as described.
As to the motion of the tools transversely to the carriage, this is obtained,
as above described, by fixing the hollow counterpart of the carving to be pro-
duced on the side of the vertical carriage which is opposite to that on which
the material to be carved or sculptured is fixed, and also by mounting the tool

page_text: shafts in bearings which allows them a certain longitudinal travel. Fig. 1
shews longitudinal slotted rails ",, upon which these two objects are bolted.
In the same Figure will be seen an indefinite number or set of tools, which
serve to equalize the work by their great number. The revolving or carving
motion of the tools, which is represented at Fig. 4, is obtained by means of a
wheel e gearing into the spur wheel m¹¹ on the countershaft h, on which is keyed
the pulley o". A strap or band passes from this pulley over guide pulleys p",
p", q, q, fixed on the framing 9, 9, and from these pulleys over and under
the drums fixed on the tool shafts. Thus a constant rotary motion is given
to the tools whilst the carriage travels backwards forwards.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements, and the manner of
carrying the same into practice, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend
to confine myself to the precise shape and dimensions of the machine described,
nor to the materials which they are stated to be constructed of, as all these
particulars can be changed in various ways without departing from the principle
of the Invention; but what I consider as novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is,―
First, the vertical carriage 1, 1, 1, 1, carrying in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 at the
same time both the surface of wood, stone, or other sculpturing material to be
operated upon, and the hollow fac simile or pattern, the form and contour of
which is to be produced in relievo on the said surface, the fac simile directing
the action of the tools, which are moveable in the direction of their axes, in the
particular manner as described.
Second, the particular combinations of the vertical or pattern carriage with
the horizontal or tool carriage, the former imparting to the latter a transversing
motion, as described.
Third, the particular application of the motion for reversing the vertical
carriage by means of the tumbling ball and gearing, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Zephirin Boitteux, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord 1854.
ZEPHIRIN BOITTEUX. (L.S.)