CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, TOOLS, OR APPARATUS FOR PLANING, BORING, AND CUTTING METALS OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WHITWORTH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-nine, in the third year of Her reign, did, for Herself,
Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Whit-
worth, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Joseph Whitworth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Joseph Whitworth, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should agree with, and no other, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY,
TOOLS, OR APPARATUS FOR PLANING, BORING, AND CUTTING METALS OR OTHER
SUBSTANCES;" in which Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said.
Joseph Whitworth, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my'
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled.
in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as
in, and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Whitworth, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements in machinery, tools, or apparatus for planing, boring, and
cutting metals or other substances apply, first, to my patent planing machine;
secondly, to the boring or turning lathe; and, thirdly, to machines for cutting
the threads of screws.
My improvements on the planing machine apply to the apparatus for
reversing the tool, described in Specification of my Patent, bearing date the
Eleventh day of June, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, which was
duly enrolled in Chancery in the Office of the Rolls Chapel. They consist in
a more advantageous mode of moving the tool socket in its bearing to reverse
or vary the position of the cutter.
In Sheets I. and II., Fig. 1 is a front view of my patent planing machine
with the improved apparatus attached; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a
plan of the same, with certain parts shewn in section. The endless band a is
connected to the pulley by screw pins c, d, moveable in mortices to regulate
the action. Proceeding from c, the band after going round the pulley e
passes successively over the pulleys f, g, round h, j, k, over l, m, and termi-
nates at d. The pulleys f, g, h, k, l, m, run loosely on their axes, and are
introduced to give the proper direction to the band in the varying positions of
the cross and down slides. For this purpose, the pulleys f, g, l, have their
axes in brackets fixed on the cross slide n, and the pulleys h, k, in a bearing o
attached to the down slide q. The pulley j is fixed by the screw pin p to the
tool socket p', which revolves in the conical bearing q. The band is lapped
twice round this pulley, and is kept at the proper tension by the action of the
lever r carrying the pulley m, and having attached on the other side of the
fulcrum a ratchet s, taking into the fixed wheel t. Reciprocating rotary
motion being given to the pulley b, corresponding motion is communicated by
the band to the tool socket, and the position of the cutter is thereby reversed
or otherwise changed. Rotary motion may be given to the pulley 6 in various
ways. In the machine shewn in the Drawing it is obtained from a table u,
the motion of which is communicated by the stops v, w, x, to the rack rod
working the pinion z on the axis of the pulley b. The table is moved by a
screw acting against friction rollers, the axes of which revolve in adjustable
bearings attached to the table. The mode of this action is described in my
former Specification. The arrangement of the parts in the present machine
3,

page_text: is somewhat different to that therein described. Thus, the table is moved
instead of the cross slide; one screw is employed in the centre of the machine
instead of two screws at the sides of it; the rollers are placed parallel to the
screw instead of making an angle with it, and a single pair only is used, the
same rollers acting in both directions. These variations, however, do not affect
the principle of the action of the screw and rollers described and claimed as
my Invention in my former Specification. The same principle I am about to
apply to an upright planing or slotting machine, in which the position of the
screw will be vertical instead of horizontal. The advantages of moving the
tool socket in the manner now described are simplicity and economy in
the construction of the apparatus, and its general applicability to the various
operations of planing. By the improved apparatus, the tool is reversed with
the same facility when planing any angle as when moving horizontally or
vertically; the setting-down motion is also conveniently obtained from the
same source. To the pulley j on the tool socket p' is connected the moveable
pin 1, working in a groove in the lever 2, which it moves at each revolution
of the pulley j; the lever 2 moves on a boss on the plate 3 surrounding the
screw 4 in the down slide; a ratchet 5 on the lever 2 taking into the wheel 6
on the screw 4 gives the setting-down motion, the amount of which is regu-
lated by the position of the pin 1. When planing up to a stop, the tool
instead of being reversed is relieved in the following manner:-The tool
socket p¹ is fixed to the bearing by the pin at 7, and the pulley j is made to
revolve loosely on the tool socket by withdrawing the screw pin at p. The
motion of the lever 2, before described, is communicated to the lever 8 by a
pin fixed on the former and working in a groove in the latter. The lever 8 is
fastened to the screw 4 by tightening the clasp 9, and thus the tool without
being reversed is alternately raised and lowered with the down slide by the
action of the band, before described.
In Sheet I. I have shewn two detached views (Figs. 4 and 5) of the
apparatus for setting down and relieving the tool, similarly lettered with the
corresponding parts in Figures 1, 2, and 3. I have also given in Sheet I.
two detached sectional views of the tool socket and its bearings on the
down slide, see Figs. 6 and 7. That of the section through the dotted
line 10 shows the action of the stop 11 (with which the projecting pieces
12, 13, on the pulley j come in contact), whereby the tool is supported in
cutting. The sectional view through the dotted line 14 shews the tool
socket in its conical bearing q; the screw 15 on the tool socket, for tightening
it up to the bearing by means of the clasp nut 16; the hoop 17, intended as

page_text: an extra bearing for the holding screws of the planing tool, and the pulley j
fixed to the tool socket by the screw pin p.
.
My improvements on the lathe are shewn in Sheet III. They consist of
an apparatus for connecting the mandril with the guide screw, and obtaining
a self-acting motion for various purposes, herein-after described.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a twenty-one inch slide lathe with the
apparatus attached; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; and Figs. 3 and 4 are
end elovations. a, a, a, is a solid base plate of cast iron, supporting the
fast headstock b, and one end of the bed c, of which the other end is
supported on a similar foundation plate d. The shaft e, e¹, supported on
bearings in the foundation plate, and in the frame of the bed, receives
rotary motion from the mandril fby means of the bevil wheels g, h,
and j, k, l, connected by the shaft m. The bevils k, l, run loose on the
shaft e, e', in opposite directions. A sliding clutch n, moved by the lever o,
connects either bevil with the shaft e, e¹. The motion of this shaft thus
obtained in either direction is communicated to the guide screw p by change
wheels at the opposite end of the bed, as shewn, Figures 1, 2, 4. The
parte of the shaft e, e¹, is connected to the part e¹ by a coupling box E, to
which the part e is attached by pins in the ordinary way, and the part e¹ by
a key and groove, so as to allow the part e' to slide within the coupling box
while it partakes of the rotary motion given by the bevils k, l, as before
described; hence the bed may be moved from the headstock into the position
shown in the Drawing without disturbing the connection between the mandril
and guide screw, already explained. The bed is moved in the following
manner is a half nut sliding in the plate d, and by the lever r may be
brought into gear with the screws on the sliaft e, e', which, having rotation as
before described, will carry the bed along the foundation plates in the line
of the centres. A self-acting motion for boring, turning, or surfacing may be
derived from the same shaft by means of pulleys keyed thereon, connected by
bands with pulleys on the poppet head or top rest, the application of which
will be sufficiently obvious to practical men.
My improvements in machinery for cutting screws apply, first, to a machine
for cutting the threads of bolts, commonly called a bolt machine; and, secondly,
to a machine for cutting the threads of smaller screws, commonly called wood
screws.
My improvements on the bolt machine consist of a self-acting apparatus for
reversing the action of a spindle. In Sheet IV. are various views of a bolt
machine with the improved apparatus attached. Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2,

page_text: a side elevation; and Figure 3, an end view, with a section through the bed,
taken through the dotted line a, b, Figure 2. The cone pulley c is driven
from the corresponding pulley d by the strap e, and gives motion to the
spindle by the pinion g and wheel h. On the axis of the pulley ċ is the
worm j, geering with the wheel k on the axis k¹ of the screwed drum l, to
which reduced motion is thus communicated from the pulley c. The piece m
works in the space of the thread, and slides on the bar n, which forms the arm
of a lever o, of the third kind, having its fulcrum at p on the axis k¹ of the
screwed drum l. The stops q, r, fixed in the space of the thread coming in
contact with the piece m, act on the lever o, and carry it through a portion of
a revolution, till a reverse takes place in the motion of the pulley d, produced
by the action of the lever o, in the manner hereafter explained. The stops
q, r, are moveable, and the distance at which they are fixed will determine
the length of the screw on the bolt. The driving apparatus is shewn above
the machine in Figures 2 and 3. The pulleys s, t, are fixed on the axis of the
driving cone d, and the intermediate u, v, w, run loose thereon. The rod x,
sliding in bearings attached to the hangers y, z, carries the strap guides 1, 2,
through which straight and crossed straps embracing the same drum are
supposed to pass over the pulleys. In the position of the guides, shewn
Figure 2, t is the driving pulley of the cone d. When the position is changed,
so as to bring the guide 1 opposite to the pulley 8, the motion of the cone d
will be reversed; in the intermediate position of the guides the cone d will
remain at rest. The rod x is moved by the lever 3, having its fulcrum at 4
in a bearing 5, 5, attached to the hanger y, and to the bed at 6. The
lever 3 is connected to the lever o by the screw pin 7 in the grooves 8, 9, to
either of which it may be fixed by the nut 10 at the proper distance from the
fulcrum to regulate the action of the levers on the strap guides, according to
the speed of the machine.
My improvements in machinery for cutting wood screws are shewn in
Sheets V. and VI. Figure 1 is a plan of an entire machine, with certain
parts shewn in section; Figure 2 and 3 are end elevations. Machines similar
to this in certain parts are described in the Specifications of my Patents,
bearing date the Eleventh day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
thirty-five, and the Fifth day of October, One thousand eight hundred and
thirty-seven, which were duly enrolled in Chancery in the Office of the Rolls
Chapel, to which Specifications I beg to refer. In the present machine the
apparatus for driving and reversing the spindle is simplified, and the fingers.
for taking out the finished screw are superseded, together with the slide and
cam for giving them side motion. a is the driving pulley; b, a bevil pinion on

page_text: the same axis, geering with two bevil wheels c, d, running loosely in opposite
directions on the spindle e, and kept in their proper places between the
bearings f, g, of the spindle by the bush h and pinion j. The motion of the
bevils is communicated to the spindle by the double friction cone k, sliding
on the bush h, and having its surfaces alternately brought into close contact
with conical bosses l, m, on the wheels. The spindle e is made, hollow, and
has within it the tuben, to which the double cone k is connected by the key o,
passing through grooves in the spindle and bush. These grooves. are elongated,
that the key o, while it carries the tube and spindle round with the cone k,
may not prevent their having a motion endways. The motion endways of
the tube is required to carry the cone k into contact with the wheels c and d
alternately; it is obtained from the double-threaded screw p.on the end of
the tube by means of the nut q, which being prevented revolving by the pins
r, r, is carried along the screw p in a straight line by the rotation of the tube.
When the nut q comes into contact with the stops s, t, a strain endways is
thrown on the tube n, which draws the cone from one bevil into contact with
the other, and thereby reverses the rotary motion both of the tube and spindle.
The cone is held in contact with the bevils by means of the springs u, u,
acting on the collar v on the tube n; w, w, are screws for fixing the guide
screw on the spindle; y is a bearing for the spindle. The action of the
remaining parts of the machine will be sufficiently understood by reference
to my former Specifications before mentioned. z, z, z, z, are the intermediate
wheels for communicating motion from the spindle to the cam shaft 1, by the
rotation of which the cams 2, 3, 4, and levers 5, 6, 7, respectively, govern the
action of the toggle joint 8, the die box 9, and feeding fingers 10. When
the latter carry the screw blank 11 into the chops 12 of the toggle joint 8,
the finished screw 13 is pushed back into the tube n, which being open
through to the other end allows a continuous series of finished screws to be
slided back one by another till they drop out at 14. By this means the
second pair of fingers for taking out the finished screw, and the apparatus for
giving them side motion, is dispensed with. To render this feeding action
more perfect, the fingers 10 are made to hold the screw blank very firmly,
and while the finished screw is pushed back into the tube the chops of the
toggle joint are at first only partially opened that they may act as bearings for
the screw. After the head of the screw blank has been carried through the
chops they are first partially closed, and the fingers 10 in returning draw the
head of the screw blank against the inner edges of the chops before the latter
are made to close on the screw blank, and withdraw it from the feeding fingers.
By this means the screw blanks are all held in the same position, whatever.

page_text: may be that of the spindle at the time of the chops closing. The partial
opening and closing of the holding chops is regulated by the cam 2.
Though in the preceding description and the accompanying Drawings are
included various parts of mechanism described in my former Specifications,
or already in general use, it is not my intention to include such parts in
my present claim.
In the planing machine I claim the apparatus (lettered a, b, c, d, f, g, h,
j, k, l, m, o, p, r, s, t, 1, 2, in Sheets I., II., of the Drawings,) for moving
the tool socket in its bearing to change the position of the cutter, and also for
working the down slide.
In the lathe I claim the parts (lettered e, e¹, E, q, r, s, in Sheet III.,)
whereby motion is communicated from the mandril to the guide screw in
various positions of the bed. The bed itself is moved endways, and self-acting
motion is obtained for various purposes.
In the bolt machine I claim the self-acting apparatus (letter j, k, k', l, m,
n, o, p, q, r, in Sheet IV.,) for reversing the action of the spindle.
And in the machine for cutting wood screws I claim generally the mecha-
nism described for driving and reversing the spindle, and more particularly
the parts lettered c, d, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, in Sheet V.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Whitworth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty
JOSEPH (L.s.) WHITWORTH.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of February, in the
third year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said Joseph
Whitworth came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.