FORMING PERFORATIONS OR THROATS TO THE CUTTING EDGES OF FILES OR RASPS, FOR ALLOWING THE PARTICLES CUT AWAY TO PASS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION ALINGLES TO PASS THROUGH, AND TO PREVENT THE INSTRUMENT FROM CLOGGING OR CHOKING
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hiram Powers, of Florence, in Tuscany, Sculptor,
for the Invention of "FORMING PERFORATIONS OR THROATS TO THE CUTTING
EDGES OF FILES OR RASPS, FOR ALLOWING THE PARTICLES CUT AWAY TO PASS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hiram Powers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
April 1855.
I, HIRAM POWERS, of Florence, in Tuscany, Sculptor, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "FORMING PERFORATIONS OR THROATS TO THE
CUTTING EDGES OF FILES OR RASPS, FOR ALLOWING THE PARTICLES CUT AWAY TO PASS
THROUGH, AND TO PREVENT THE INSTRUMENT FROM CLOGGING OR CHOKING," to
be as follows:-
The nature of said Invention consists in forming perforations or throats to
the cutting edges of files or rasps, for the purpose of enabling them to clear
themselves of the material cut away by the cutting edges, and thus preventing
their filling & choking by the accumulation of particles, said particles passing
out through said throats or perforations.
The Invention is applicable to files of any size or shape, and files or rasps

page_text: made in this way are especially applicable to work upon the softer metals, and
upon vegetable substances, wood, stone, ivory, bone, gypsum, &c., &c.
My improved rasps or files may be made entirely by machinery & at a
small cost. They may be made of any metal that may be preferred, & of
any degree of fineness, regard being paid to the nature of the work they are 5
to perform..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hiram Powers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd October 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HIRAM
POWERS, of Florence, in Tuscany, Sculptor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, givo and grant unto me, the
said Hiram Powers, Her special licence that I, the said Hiram Powers, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Hiram
Powers, ny 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 "FORMING PERFORATIONS OR THROATS
TO THE CUTTING EDGES OF FILES OR RASPS, FOR ALLOWING THE PARTICLES CUT AWAY
TO PASS THROUGH, AND TO PREVENT THE INSTRUMENT FROM CLOGGING OR CHOKING,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Hiram Powers, 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hiram Powers, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, on
which are represented various forms of my improved file or rasp.

page_text: The nature of my Invention consists in forming perforations or throats to
the fin feather or other cutting surfaces of rasps or files, for the purpose of
enabling them to clear themselves of the material cut away by them, and to
prevent their filling or cloaking, or allowing the particles to pass through said
perforations or throats.
In the Drawings, A represents the improved rasp or file, which resembles
somewhat the ordinary grater in appearance, though entirely different in its
operation and effect.
The perforations 1, 1, 1, &c. in the plate of which the instrument is formed
may be round, oblong, oval, or angular; and the cutting edges 2, 2, 2, &c.,
which partially surround each perforation or throat, may be either curved,
straight, or pointed, plain or serrated, as the different purposes to which it is
to be applied may require. The cutting edges do not entirely surround the
perforations, but are raised on one side of them only, and are inclined at such
an angle as to cut to the best advantage, and at the same time to throw the
particles removed by them into and through the perforations or throats.
The files or rasps may have cutting edges raised on one or both edges, as
may be found best, and they may be made of any desired form, whether flat,
curved, angular, or hollow; or they may be made in rods or bands and applied
to cylinders or wheels, and in these various forms may be employed for reducing
fruit and roots to pulps or dust; and also for reducing the surfaces of wood,
stone, ivory, bone, metals, and other substances, and generally for all purposes.
where the combination of substance is required.
The common rasps or files now in use cast the dust or filings from the
toothed or cutting sides, and thus these instruments are liable to be clogged or
filled with obstructions when used upon tough or adhesive substances. My
improved rasp or file is free from this liability to clog or fill. The form of the
cutting edges, their position relative to the perforations or throats, which allow
the particles to escape and pass through or by the body of the instrument,
render filling and clogging almost impossible; and it can be used upon lead,
zine, copper, and tin, or other adhesive substances, as well as upon the harder
metals, the perforations serving the same purpose that the throat of a common
hand plane serves in cleaning the file from the shavings removed by it.
These files or rasps can be made entirely by machinery and at small expence,
and may be made of various metals, and of almost any degree of hardness,
having due regard to the material as well as the use to which they are to be
applied.
Having thus fully described the nature of my Invention, what I claim

page_text: therein as new, and desire to have secured to me by the above in part recited
Letters Patent, is, the forming of perforations or throats to the cutting edges
of files or rasps, for allowing the particles cut away to pass through, and to
prevent the instrument from clogging or choking, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hiram Powers, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-five.
HIRAM POWERS. (L.8.)