IMPROVEMENTS IN STONE CUTTING MACHINERY
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STONE CUTTING MACHINERY."-A communication
from abroad by George Stacey, of Nannet, County of Rockland,
and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 22nd July 1873, and dated the 5th June 1873.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 5th June 1873, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STONE CUTTING MACHINERY," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters

page_text: Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has
been communicated to me from abroad by George Stacey, of Nannet,
County of Rockland, and State of New York, United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under my
hand and seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings, hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):
―:
The leading object of this Invention is to adapt the cutting action to
the nature of the material to be acted upon, and to this end it consists
in having the cutters mounted in stocks which are connected by hinged
joints forward of the cutting edge, with a rotary shaft, and at a distance
from the axis of rotation not much less than the cutting edges, in
combination with a stop to limit the distance that the cutting edge
shall be carried from the axis of rotation, and with or without a spring
to force the cutter out against the gauge stop. The mode of operation
resulting from this combination is that the cutter can yield when the
hardness of the stone requires, and finally by successive cuts to remove
the refractory parts, the stop gauging the ultimate depth of cut, so that
the surface of the stone can be dressed to a proper and even surface no
matter how much it may vary in texture.
And another leading feature of the Invention consists in combining
with rotating cutters so mounted an intermittent feeding mechanism so
organized that each cutter shall act more than once on any one part of
the stone, such feeding mechanism being adapted so that it can be set
relatively to the rotation of the cutters, so to increase or decrease
the number of cuts of each cutter for each intermission of the feed.
The minor parts of the Invention will be pointed out in the following
description:-
Figure 1 is a front view of the improved machine; Figure 2 is a top
view of the same; Figure 3 is a side view of the same; Figure 4 is a 35
detail section taken upon the line y, y, Figure 2; Figure 5 is a detail

page_text: Figure is a top view of one of the cutter stockS.
Figure 10 is a detail view of another modified form of the cutter
stock attachment.
Figure 11 is a detail view of another modified form of the cutter stock
attachment.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the base, and B the framework of the machinc. To the
base A are attached ways C to support the carriage; D is the carriage
to receive the stones to be cut; E is a shaft or cylinder, the journals of
which are fitted to boxes, which may be fixed or adjustable towards or
from the carriage at the election of the constructor. The cutter stocks
may be connected with a cylinder E or with the shaft as shown with the
cylinder, as shown in Figures 1, 6, 7, and 8, or the shaft, as shown in
Figures 10 and 11; F is the cutter stock, which I prefer to make curved,
and the forward end of which is pivoted to a stud G attached to or
formed upon
the cylinder or shaft E. The pivoting pin may be
provided with an clastic or other washer to prevent wear, as shown
in Figure 7. The play of the rear end of the stock F to which the
cutter J is attached is limited in its outward motion by a stop or
guide pin H or its equivalent, attached adjustably and firmly to the
cylinder or shaft E, or to a stud I attached to or formed upon said
cylinder or shaft. The pin H passes through a slot in the stock F,
which slot may be in the body of the stock in front of the cutter, as
shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, or it may be in the rear of the cutter, as
shown in Figures 10 and 11, or in any other equivalent position.
In the outer side of the head of the stock F there is formed a recess to
receive the cutter J, which recess is flat on that side against which the
cutter is to be secured, and upon its other side of a semi-cylindrical
form or nearly so, to receive a similarly shaped key K by which the said
cutter J is secured, and at the same time in such a way that it can be
readily detached when desired. That face of the recess in the cutter

page_text: stock which I have described as flat may be bevelled as represented in
Figure 6, so as to interpose a bevelled platej between the cutter and the
face of the recess whenever it is desired to change the tangent position
of the cutter, the opposite face of the recess being in the form of a
segment of a cylinder; the fastening key or wedge which is of a corre-
sponding form adapts its flat face to the face of the cutter. As the
cutter is secured to the stock at a considerable distance back of the stocks
hinged connection with the shaft in the rotation, the cutters in that
part of their circuit in moving to the top are thrown back, that is towards
the axis of rotation, and after passing the vertical line by their weight
aided by a spring L interposed between the stock and shaft (or semi-
equivalent part) are thrown outward from the axis of rotation against
the head of the gauge rod H which gives force to the cutting action,
while at the same time the cutter can yield to pass over the face of the
stone when too hard to be reduced at one operation to the extent required.
Rubber washers N may be interposed between both faces of the stock
and the stops of the rod H to ease off the concussions.
In case the cylinder E is made in the form of a shaft I prefer to make
the two studs G, I, in one piece with a hole in its middle part to fit upon
the said shaft when it is secured in place when adjusted by a key and
grooves, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The pivoting points of the
stocks F should be provided with oil reservoirs M formed in or connected
with the studs G to keep them lubricated. Any desired number of
stocks F may be attached to the cylinder or shaft E, and they should be
so arranged as to operate successively. The forward or pivoted end of
the stocks F should be covered with rubber or other suitable material E
to protect the joint from the dust and sand.
To one end of the shaft or cylinder E is secured a small gear wheel O,
the teeth of which mesh into the teeth of a large gear wheel P, the
journals of which rotate in boxes attached to the frame B, and to which
motion may be given by any convenient power. To one or both sides
of the carriage D is attached a rack Q, into the teeth of which mesh
the teeth of a small gear wheel R attached to a shaft S which revolves
in bearings in the lower part of the frame B, and to the outer end of
which is attached a ratchet wheel T, upon which the pawl U acts to
move the carriage D forward and thus feed the stone to the cutters.
The stem of the pawl U is made long and its upper end is pivoted to
the end of a lever V, several holes being formed in the said stem to

page_text: receive the pivoting pin so that it may be adjusted as required. The
middle part of the lever V is pivoted to the frame B by a pin, several
holes being formed for said pin, so that the fulcrum may be adjusted as
required.
The forward end of the lever V projects beneath the shaft of the
wheel P so that it may be operated by a pin W attached to the wheel P.
Several holes are formed in the said wheel P at different distances from its
centre to receive the pin W, so that the throw of the pawl, and
consequently the extent of movement at each stroke of the pawl may be
regulated at will. By using one pin the carriage will be fed forward at
each revolution of the wheel P, and by increasing the number of pins W
used the carriage may be fed forward two or more times at each
revolution of said wheel P.
To produce a rapid intermittent feed a circle of pins may be used, or a
small scroll wheel × may be placed upon the shaft of the wheel P so as
to be moved up against said wheel P, with which it may be rigidly
connected by the pin W entering a notch, slot, or groove in said wheel.
The face of the wheel × should be scolloped or recessed to enable it to
operate the lever V.
The pawl U is kept from dropping too low when the forward end of
the lever V escapes from the pin W by a stop Y secured to the frame B
by a clamping screw Z which passes through a slot in the said stop, and
screws into the said frame.
In using the machine the stone to be cut is laid upon the platform of
the carriage D, the feed is adjusted as the character of the stone and of
the work to be done may require, and the machine is started. As each
cutter comes round it strikes the stone in the plane of its face and
instantly rebounds, the rapidity of its motion being such as to carry the
cutter during its rebound over the inequalities of the surface of the
stone, so that it will strike the stone but once during each revolution.
The driving gearing and feed should be so arranged that each cutter
may strike one or more times before the stone is fed forward according
to the character of the work being done.
The machine may be provided with a vertical shaft or cylinder similar
to the shaft or cylinder E, and provided with a set of cutter stocks in a
similar manner, except that they should be supported against the action
of gravity by a bracket A' attached to said shaft or cylinder below said

page_text: stocks, or by a link connected with the stock and attached to the shaft
or cylinder above them. The side cutters are designed to cut one side
of the stone while its top is being cut by the others. The side cylinder
may be so connected that it and its adjuncts can be moved out of the
way.
The side cylinder or shaft may be driven from the cylinder or shaft E
by bevel gear wheels B or other convenient means. C¹ is a shaft which
revolves in bearings D¹ attached to the front bar of the frame of the
carriage D, and to one of its ends is attached a hand wheel. To the
shaft C¹ are attached or upon it are formed endless screws E¹ the threads
of which mesh into the teeth of worm wheels F¹ which are attached
to the forward ends of two shafts G¹ which revolve in bearings attached
to the frame of the carriage D, and to each of which are attached two
cams H¹ upon which the platform of the carriage D rosts, so that by
turning the shaft C¹ the platform of the carriage may be raised and
lowered to adjust it according to the size of the stone to be operated
upon. One of the bearings D' should be secured in place adjustably, so
that it may be raised to throw one of the endless screws E¹ out of gear
with its screw wheel F¹, so that one side of the platform will be raised
and lowered independently of the other to enable an inclined surface to
be cut for water drips and other purposes. It is a frame placed upon the
platform of the carriage D, and hinged at its rear end to said platform.
The frame I is designed for holding stones to be cut tapering, round,
conical, scroll shaped, arched, and of other forms.
For cutting round, tapering, and conical stones with straight sides,
one end of the stone is placed against the clutch J¹, and the point K¹
screwed up against the other end of the stone.
The shaft of the clutch J¹ revolves in bearings in the rear part of the
frame I' and to it is attached a pulley L' around which passes a band M¹
which also passes around the roller or long pulley N¹ pivoted to the
platform of the carriage D, and around which passes a band O' which
also passes around one part of the double pulley P¹ pivoted to supports
attached to the base of the machine, and to which motion is given by a
band from the shaft or cylinder E by means of the side shaft or cylinder
or other convenient means.
For cutting scroll and other forms of pillars the stone is supported and
rotated by a screw noint K¹ and clutch J'. which clutch receives motion

page_text: from the roller Q₁ by means of a pulley L' and band M¹, as hercin-
before described. The roller Q receives motion from a stationary
pin R attached to the base A and the upper end of which is bent over
to enter a spiral groove in the roller Q¹ so as to rotate the roller and
through it the stone slowly as the carriage is moved forward by the
feed.
The tapering and curving forms are given to the stone by means of a
guide or pattern S₁ made of the required form and attached detachably
to the side of the hinged frame I', and which is operated upon to raise
and lower the forward end of the said hinged frame by a pin T¹ inserted
through a hole in the frame B. If desired the stone may be smoothed
as it passes from the cutters by a horizontal smoothing wheel U', the
spindle of which is made hollow and has a hopper V₁ attached to its
upper
end to receive the smoothing material, and which is provided
with a sieve to prevent any coarse particles from passing to the stone.
The spindle of the smoothing wheel U revolve in brackets W' which
move up and down in a slide X' formed upon a projecting arm Y¹ of the
frame Z', which is pivoted to the journals of the side shaft or cylinder,
or to some other suitable support, and held in position by a curved and
slotted arm A, one end of which is secured to the base A, and which is
connected with the said pivoted frame Z¹ by a hand screw B² which
passes through the said slot.
The smoothing wheel U¹ is raised to adjust it to the height of the
stone by a lever C pivoted to the projecting arm of the pivoted
frame Z and is driven by a band D from the side shaft or cylinder, or
other rotating part of the machine.
The edges of the cutters may be made of any desired form or pattern
according to the work to be done, and so tempered or formed thicker in
some parts than in others, so as to wear nearly uniform in all parts of
said edges to adapt it for cutting mouldings and similar uses.
The plane of motion of the carriage instead of being horizontal may
be inclined.
It will be obvious that instead of lifting or depressing the carriage
relatively to the cutters for stones of different thicknesses the shaft of
the cutters can be mounted in adjustable boxes, which can be moved up
and down relatively to the carriage, and it will be obvious that instead

page_text: of one shaft or cylinder with its series of cutters, two or more may be
used, the stone being caused; to pass successively under all of them, and
in such case the cutting edges may be of different form, some to rough
dress, and the succeeding ones to smooth.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as new, and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. Connecting the cutter stocks by hinged joints with the rotating shaft
at some distance forward of the cutting edges and at a less distance
from the axis of rotation than the cutting edge, in combination with
stops to gauge the distance from the axis of rotation, beyond which the
cutting edges shall not be carried, substantially as and for the purposes.
specified.
2nd. In combination with cutter stocks connected with a rotating
shaft, substantially as described, the intermittent and adjustable feeding
mechanism, substantially as described.
3rd. Securing the cutters in a recess in the stock, one face of which
recess is flat, and the other in the form of a segment of a hollow
cylinder, in combination with a wedge of corresponding form, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)