IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDE RESTS FOR LATHES AND IN GEARING FOR OPERATING THE SAME, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Seth Wyle Wilson, of Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania, United States of America, now of No. 8,- Southampton
Buildings, London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SLIDE RESTS FOR LATHES AND IN GEARING FOR OPERATING THE SAME, AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th April 1874, and dated the 30th October 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Seth Wyle Wilson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 30th October 1878.
3
I, SETH WYLE WILSON, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SLIDE RESTS FOR LATHES AND IN GEARING FOR OPERATING THE SAME, AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to the novel construction and combination
of the parts of slide rests for self-acting lathes, as herein-after described,
and also to peculiar mechanism to be used in the place of the ordinary
-

page_text: like purposes.
:
For carrying into practice the part of my Invention relating to the
construction of the aforesaid slide rests, I use a saddle or base plate,
upon which all the operative parts are supported. Upon the under side
of the said saddle I secure a plate whereon I mount a series of rollers.
The intermediate part or cross bar of the said saddle-has attached to it a
block whose upper face forms an inclined plane, and under whose front
end is firmly attached a plate; the latter is provided with a shoulder
extending under the front of the saddle, thereby forming a clamp whose
inner end touches the outer face of the front bar of the saddle. Under
the rear end of the said inclined block I fasten rigidly a long block,
making a close joint with the back part or bar of the saddle, the outer
edge of this bar inclines inwardly towards a correspondingly inclined
edge, the two edges forming a dovetail. By reason of this construction
the inclined block, the shouldered plate, and the dovetail block embrace
the top and sides of the said saddle and will move freely upon the same
to the right or left, but cannot be moved lengthwise, and they are con-
fined in close contact with the upper surface of the saddle and are
further guided by the aforesaid shoulder and dovetail.
My improved gearing is constructed and applied to the lathe as
follows:-I combine with a series of rollers arranged along the front of
the saddle, as above described, a snail plate or spiral cam consisting of a
spiral or volute projecting from a plate or disc of iron or other suitable
metal. This snail plate is mounted on a shaft carried by the said saddle,
and when the said shaft is revolved motion is imparted to the saddle by.
the action of the said snail plate on the rollers. The said rollers are not
cquidistant from each other, but are arranged, in pairs throughout the
entire series, that is to say, the distance between the two rollers of each
pair is less than that between any two adjacent pairs of the said rollers.
The spiral portion of the said snail plate is so proportioned in relation to
the rollers that its two extremities will embrace between them one pair´
of the said rollers. If the said rollers were so arranged in relation to the
snail plate that two extremities of the latter would only embrace one
roller the result would be a loss of power. It will therefore be readily
understood that this peculiar relative arrangement of the snail plate and
rollers is a very important feature of my Invention.
,

page_text: The forward or backward movement of the apparatus by endwise
pressure will be impossible because of the peculiar curvature of spiral or
volute of the snail plate and the binding contact of the said rollers with the
same; and the apparatus will be immoveably locked when the power
applied to produce the rotation of the snail shaft is withheld.
My said Invention also relates to the following devices:-The afore-
said block with the inclined plane on its upper surface has a channel to
receive a screw shaft which operates the upper block of the rest, it also
has a recess whose inner edges are provided with cleats which form
grooves for the reception of tongues or flanges on the upper block, so
that the said upper block has only an endwise motion, and when moved
by the aforesaid serew shaft toward the front of the lathe it raises all
the parts resting on the lower inclined block, and lowers them when
moved in the opposite direction. To further insure the true and uniform
movement of the said upper block the same is formed with a longi-
tudinal dovetailed groove in which I insert a dovetail bar which is
secured in such a manner to the box of the rest that the said box is
firmly held at its proper level while the said upper block is moved in
either direction. The said box is kept from lateral displacement by side
pieces which confine it to the bridge of the saddle, and from endwise
displacement by end pieces provided with vertical grooves' or guides.
Its front end furnishes a suitable bearing for the screw shaft which
operates a sliding cap, the latter fitted to work upon the top of the said
box, and is guided and retained thereon by side pieces attached to the
said cap by adjusting screws and formed to embrace the edges of tlic
said box. With this construction of the slide the screw shaft of the said
cap will not be drawn out of its true line by the adjustment of the said
screws.
Upon the aforesaid sliding cap I place the apparatus for holding the
turning tools, and which is made capable of a horizontal rotating move-
ment or adjustment. For this purpose I employ a worm wheel fitted

page_text: down the vertical screw bolt the worm wheel may be locked in any
required position.
The aforesaid countersunk plate furnishes a bearing for another hori-
zontal screw shaft whereby the said tool rest is moved across the said plate,
and this plate moreover by its upper surface and edges and a dovetail
channel formed in it confines the said tool rest within its proper limits
and prevents its yielding to the resistance of the work. Upon the said
tool rest is mounted the tool holder which consists of a crown plate
supported by four posts and provided with set screws so arranged that in
whatever position the tool may be placed in the said holder two of them
will bind and hold it. This arrangement of the set screws insures a
firm grasp of the tool and an effectual resistance to any force tending to
displace the same.
Instead of using the aforesaid snail wheel and rollers in combination
with the other parts of my Invention, as herein set forth, I may employ
a rack and pinion or screw shaft as will be readily understood. And
the aforesaid snail wheel with the peculiar form specified in combination.
with a series of rollers arranged in pairs as described, forms gearing
which is designed to be employed as a substitute for racks and pinions,
screw shafts and other gearing, not only for lathes and similar
machinery but for all purposes where it is desirable to obtain a steady
and uniform motion, either vertically, horizontally, or otherwise; and
where it is necessary or advantageous to have an apparatus which
cannot be moved or move itself except by force applied to the said snail
wheel or its shaft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Seth Wyle Wilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 30th April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SETH
WYLE WILSON, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, 30
now of No. 8; Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the

page_text: thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Seth Wyle Wilson, Her
special licence that I, the said Seth Wyle Wilson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Seth Wylo
Wilson, 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
66 IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDE RESTS FOR LATHES AND IN GEARING FOR OPERATING
THE SAME, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Seth Wyle Wilson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, 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 Seth Wyle Wilson, 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 statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification :—
My said Invention relates to the novel construction and combination
3 of the parts of slide rests for self-acting lathes, and also to peculiar
mechanism to be used in the place of the ordinary gearing employed for
operating the slide rests of lathes, and for other like purposes, and as
herein-after set forth.
The manner in which my said Invention is carried into effect may be
clearly understood by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved slide rest; Figure 2 is a
front elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a plan or top view thereof;
Figure 4 is an elevation of the right side of the same; Figure 5 is a
vertical section on the line x, x, Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 6 is a rear view in detail of the snail plate, and the series of
rollers mounted upon pins and arranged in line and in pairs, upon which

page_text: it is designed to operate to produce the peculiar movement herein-after
described; Figure 7 is a plan view in detail of the same rollers upon
their pins, arranged as aforesaid.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 illustrate details of the said Invention herein-after
described.
A, A¹, A³, indicate the base plate or saddle upon which all the
operative parts are mounted. Upon the under side of the front end of
the saddle the plate H bearing the rollers h, h, h, is fastened edgewise,
as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Lengthwise of the cross bar A extends
the block B¹, and under the front end of the block B¹ is firmly fastened
the plate C, provided with a shoulder extending under the front of the
saddle, thus forming a clamp, so that its inner face touches the outer
face of the bar A¹ of the saddle. Under the rear end of the block B¹ is
rigidly fastened a long block a, making a close joint with the plate A³.
The outer edge of the latter inclines inwardly, and the inner edge of the
block a outwardly, so that their touching edges form a dovetail. By
reasons of this construction the block B¹, plate C, and long block a
embrace the top and sides of the saddle, and move freely upon
the same
to the right or left. They cannot be moved lengthwise, and are confined
in close contact with the upper surface of the saddle, and are further
guided by the aforesaid shoulder, as well as by the dovetail described;
therefore when the shaft G¹ is revolved, the block B¹ will have a true
and accurate movement to the right or left, and will impart the same to
the other devices mounted upon it.
"
'
My improved gearing is constructed and applied to the lathe as
follows: I combine with a series of rollers arranged along the front of
the saddle as above described a snail plate or spiral cam consisting of a
spiral or volute projecting from a flat plate or disc of iron or other
suitable metal. This snail plate is mounted on a shaft carried by the
said saddle, and when the said shaft is revolved motion is imparted to
the saddle by the action of the said snail plate on the rollers. The said
rollers are not equidistant from each other, but are arranged in pairs
throughout the entire series, that is to say, the distance between the two
rollers of each pair is less than that between any two adjacent pairs of
the said rollers. The spiral portion of the said snail plate is so pro-
portioned in relation to the rollers that its two extremities will embrace
between them one pair of the said rollers. If the said rollers were so

page_text: arranged in relation to the snail plate that two extremities of the latter
would only embrace one roller, the result would be a loss of power. It
will therefore be readily understood that this peculiar relative arrange-
ment of the snail plate and rollers is a very important feature of my
Invention.
The forward or backward movement of the apparatus by endwise
pressure will be impossible because of the peculiar curvature of spiral or
volute of the snail plate, and the binding contact of the said rollers with
the same; and the apparatus will be immovably locked when the power
applied to produce the rotation of the snail shaft is withheld.
.
It will be observed that in revolving the outer end g¹ of the snail
plate when first mounting above the roller barely touches it, but
gradually increases its pressure upon it in just the same degree that the
inner or lower end 9* diminishes its pressure upon the roller h³, until
there is a complete transference of the force exerted upon the shaft G₁
from roller ³ to roller *. The movement cannot be other than a steady
one provided. All the parts described are properly adjusted. The slipping
forward or backward of the device upon the rollers is impossible, because
of the constant curve of the snail plate, and the binding contact of the
rollers on both faces of the same. Another advantage of this movement
is that the device stands locked the moment the force to revolve it is
withdrawn.
My said Invention also relates to the following devices:-The aforesaid
block with the inclined plane on its upper surface has a channel to
receive a screw shaft which operates the upper block of the rest. It
also has a recess whose inner edges are provided with cleats which form
grooves for the reception of tongues or flanges on the upper block, so
that the upper block has only one endwise motion.
Figure 8 shews the recess in the upper face of the block B¹, and the
path of the screw shaft'b, which drives the upper block H2, having the
inclined lower face, as shewn in Figure 9. The inner edges of the recess
in the face of the block B¹ are provided with cleats in such a manner as
to furnish grooves level with and parallel to the inclined plane for the
reception of corresponding tongues or flanges upon the sides of the
upper block H2, so that the blocks H³ is restricted to endwise motion
merely, and when it is driven by the screw shaft 6 in the direction of the

page_text: .
front it necessarily wedges up and raises all the parts that rest upon the
block B', but when driven the other way depresses them. As an
additional means for securing true and uniform action in the block H³,
it is provided in its top side with a longitudinal groove from end to end,
much wider at the bottom than at the top thereof. Its sides are inclined
and into the same is inserted from either end a bar J of corresponding
form to fill it; screw bolts 1, 1, pass down through the top of the box B,
which encloses both blocks B¹ and H³, and furnishes a bearing for the
heel of screw shaft b. The said screw bolts also extend into the
bar J, so that the box B is held firmly to its level, and the sliding
block H may more freely back and forth, while the bar J is held fast
by the said attachment to the box B. The said box is incapable of any
lateral movement because of its side pieces shewn, and of endwise
motion because of its end pieces provided with vertical grooves or
guides m, m. Its front end with its collar C¹ furnishes a bearing for
this screw shaft C³, which operates the sliding cap C that rides upon it.
The upper edges of its top are beveled, and the under side of the
cap 0
is grooved to fit upon and around its edges so that when the cap O is
moved back and forth from front to rear by the screw shaft C³, as it is
designed to move, it is strictly confined by its bearing to that movement
alone. The advantage of this construction of slide over that heretofore
known and used is obvious. For instance the operation of the adjusting
screws n, n, can never draw the screw shaft C³ out of line. Above the
cap C is a combination of devices by which horizontal revolving motion
is imparted to the device for supporting and confining in its bearing the
turning tool T above them. F is a worm wheel which turns upon the
screw shaft F'; the latter is provided with a head having the general
form of an inverted cone, and which passes down through the
plate D and into the cap C, as shewn. The said plate is properly
countersunk for the head of the screw shaft. The periphery of the
wheel F is grooved, and its groove is cut into alternate small diagonal
cross grooves and wedges in correspondence with the screw shaft F³, so
that when the said shaft is turned the wheel is revolved. The collar F*
encloses the wheel, and through its ends the shaft F2 is extended and
properly sustained for the performance of its work. By means of the com-
pressive force exerted by the screw shaft F³, with its head so imbedded
in the plate D, the worm wheel F may be locked at any point within its
revolution. The adjustability thus afforded the tool holder is manifestly
independent of any of the other movements of the machine..

page_text: Another use of the plate D is to furnish a bearing for the blank
portion or heel of the screw shaft E¹, by which the tool rest E is operated,
and further by its smooth top surface and inwardly inclined side edges
in correspondence with the dovetailed channel formed as aforesaid on the
under side of the tool rest E it confines the movement of the latter
precisely within the limits designed. It also prevents the dipping or
yielding thereof under the resisting force opposed by the work to which
it may be applied. Upon the tool rest E is mounted the tool holder I,
which is supported by four posts i, i, i, i, and through the crown plate
thereof, and arranged in the manner shewn extend the four set screws
,,,, in such a manner that in any position of the tool two of them
will always impinge upon and hold the same. Two set screws thus
impinging at the same time upon the tool at different points along its
length will exert a much more effective holding force than one set screw
only, not only against a force tending to spring the tool but also against
a force tending to displace it in a lateral direction.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that with regard to the
combination of the snail device, and my aforesaid arrangement of the
rollers in pairs to move the box B laterally, I do not confine myself to the
particular combination to produce the movement, as the same may be
produced by a rack and pinion or by a screw shaft in combination with
any of my other improvements herein described, and that I claim,-
First. The improved snail device composed of the disc shaft and curved
plate g in combination with a series of rollers mounted on pins and
arranged in pairs or sets of two each in the manner above described and
for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination of the block B¹ with its inclined plane and
cleats, the block H³ with its inclined plane and lateral flanges, the
box B, the bar J attached thereto by screws, and the screw shaft, all
constructed and arranged as herein set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Third. The combination of the cap, the worm wheel, the screw bolt,
the screw shaft, the collar, and plate, all constructed and arranged as
herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The combination of the sliding cap operated by the screw
shaft, and the plate I supported upon the cap by the posts i, and the

page_text: four vertical set screws, all constructed and arranged substantially as
herein set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Seth Wyle Wilson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
H. J. NOONE,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
S. W. WILSON. (L.S.)