NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SHEARING METALS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Claridge, of Bilston, in the County
of Stafford, Engineer, for the Invention of "NEW OR IMPROVED
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SHEARING METALS."
Sealed the 3rd November 1853, and dated the 3rd May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Claridge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd May 1858.
I, THOMAS CLARIDGE, of Bilston, in the County of Stafford, En-
gineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "NEW
OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SHEARING METALS" to be as
follows:-
Fig. 1, is a front view, Fig. 2, a side view, and Fig. 3, a plan of
my Invention. a, b, are the steelings or cutting edges; the lower one b,
being fixed to the block c, and adjusted by the dovetail d, and screws
and nuts e. The upper steeling a, is attached to the shear head f, turn-
ing upon the axis g; and the upward pressure on the said axis is borne
by the friction plate h, against which the arc k, carried by the axis g,
bears. 1, is a plate which connects the support m, with the base of the
machine. o, is a plate of steel, against which the plate f, carrying the
upper steeling a, bears. p, is the arm or lever, by giving a recipro-
cating motion to which the upper steeling a, is worked.

page_text: The advantages of my method of construction are, the facility afforded
of cutting a large plate into two smaller ones (see Fig. 2), which
cannot be effected by the ordinary shears, and the absence of a ten-
dency to force the plate being cut from the shears, which occurs when
the centre of the upper steeling is below the level of the edge of the
lower steeling, as in the ordinary shears. By my method of construc-
tion, the plate being cut is drawn into the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Paten
filed by the said Thomas Claridge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,
THOMAS CLARIDGE, of Bilston, in the County of Stafford, Engineer
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Claridge, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas Claridge, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Claridge,
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 "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SHEAR-
ING METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Claridge, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause 3
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calen-
dar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Claridge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
illustrative Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thercon (that is to say):
Figure 1, is a front view, Figure 2, a side view, and Figure 3, a
plan of my Invention. a, b, are the steelings, blades, or cutting edges
of the shears. The lower stationary steeling or blade b, is fixed to the
block c, by means of the screws and nuts d, d; and the said block slides
in the, dovetail e, on the base of the machine, and is fixed by the bolts
and mits ff. The upper steeling blade or cutting edge a, is attached
to the shear head g, which said shear head turns upon the axis h; and
the upward pressure on the said axis h, is borne by the friction plate k,
against which the arc 1, fixed on the axis 7, bears. The said friction
plate &, is adjusted by means of the cotter m; and the axis h, is adjusted
by means of the pins and nuts n. o, is a plate or rib which connects
the bearing or support p, of the axis h, with the base of the machine.
q, is a vertical plate of iron, against which the shear head g, carrying
upper blade or steeling a, bears during its motion. By the adjust-
ment of the plate 1. by means of the screwed pins and nuts, the said
upper shear head and steeling a, are maintained in a proper position
with regard to the lower steeling or blade b. %, is an arm or lever
connected with the upper blade g, and by giving a reciprocating motion
to which the upper steeling a, is worked.
the
The advantages of my improved machinery are, the facilitics afforded
of cutting a large plate of metal into two smaller ones, as indi-
cated in Figure 2, and which cannot be conveniently effected by
the ordinary shears; also, the absence of the tendency to force
the plate being cut from the shears, which occurs when the centre
of the upper steeling or blade is below the level of the edge of
the lower steeling, as in the ordinary shears. In my improved
machinery the plate of metal, while being cut, is drawn into the
machine, or between the cutting edges. My new or improved
machinery is particularly adapted for cutting or shearing rolled metal

page_text: plates, such as boiler plates, or sheet iron, copper plates, and strip
iron; also for splitting boiler and other plates, as well as shearing
the waste or scrap from the edges of the plates, which said waste or
scrap, when sheared by my machine, is left straight instead of being
coiled up, as it is when cut by ordinary shears.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be perforined, I wish it to be under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise methods of carrying my
Invention into effect herein described and represented in the accom-
panying Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my said Invention; but I claim.-
Firstly, placing the centre, on which the upper blade of a shearing
machine turns, above the plane in which the plate to be cut moves, so
as to permit the plate to be cut to pass freely through the machine, as
herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing:
Secondly, taking the pressure from the centre pin by means of a
friction plate or are on the shear head, aud adjusting the said centre
pin or axis, as herein-before described, and illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawing:
Thirdly, guiding and adjusting the shear head by means of a guide
plate, as herein-before described, and illustrated by the accompanying
Drawing:
And, fourthly, the method of adjusting and securing the lower or
fixed cutting edge of shearing machinery, as herein-before described,
and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Thomas Claridge, have hereunto
set my band and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
THOMAS CLARIDGE. (L.S.)
Witness, GEORGE SHAW.