Improvements in Machinery
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1886 ·
Complete Left, 7th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 7th Dec., 1887
I, WILLIAM WILSON HULSE, of the Ordsal Tool Works, Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
In a Machine constructed according to the present improvements the cutting
operations may be performed both rotarily and rectilineally, but so that only one of
these two systems of cutting is in operation at once. In some cases the apparatus
for rectilineal cutting may be omitted. The rotary cutting is performed by tools or
cutters fixed in a vertical spindle mounted on a slide moveable up and down in guides
on a carriage. The carriage, by means of a screw and nut, can be traversed to and
fro horizontally along a cross slide carried by two uprights. The vertical spindle
slide may be similar to that described in the Specification of the Letters Patent
No. 1487 dated 28th March 1882 granted to me for Improvements in Machinery for
cutting metals by means of rotating tools or cutters and the spindle may be driven
through a long pinion as described in the same Specification. The uprights are
secured to a bed (in order to add to the steadiness to the Machine's action) which
may be widened out at the part to which the uprights are secured, and may at this
part be extended downwards so as to rest on the ground. The work is secured upon
a horizontal table which can be traversed to and fro longitudinally along guides
formed on the bed, by means of a screw and nut, the nut being secured to the table
and being made by preference in two parts provided with means for adjustment, for
the purpose of taking up wear. With very wide tables twin screws and nuts may be
employed. The table may be provided with a slide strip at each side, adjustable by
means of set screws (preferably hollow and without projecting heads) which serve
also for locking the table in any desired position along the bed. Mechanism is
provided for traversing the table by hand when required; the handle for actuating
this being situated so that it can be worked by the attendant while in his usual place
at the Machine. The table can however also be traversed to and fro automatically.
For this purpose the traversing screw is actuated from the driving gear of the
machine through suitable mechanism, in which is a clutch for communicating rotation
to the screw in alternate directions by engaging alternately with two toothed wheels.
The disengagements of the clutch from each toothed wheel are effected by adjustable

page_text: "
stops on the table acting through other mechanism in connection with the clutch.
This mechanism also serves to store up energy alternately in two springs
(corresponding respectively with the alternate directions of the table's traverse)
shortly before each disengagement of the clutch with one or other of the toothed
wheels occurs. By the time that the disengagement with one or other of the
toothed wheels takes place the energized spring is released by means of an
escapement, and acts upon the clutch so as to cause it to engage with the other
toothed wheel. Thus it will be seen that the disengagements of the clutch are
effected by positive action transmitted from the table, and its reengagements by the
action of the energized springs. The adjustable stops also actuate through other
mechanism, a ratchet wheel carried by a feed motion shaft, so as to give motion to
the ratchet wheel once for each traverse to and fro of the table. The feed motion
shaft is also provided with a worm wheel which through suitable mechanism can be
driven continuously at different speeds corresponding to different rates of "feed
traverse of the spindle downwards. The ratchet wheel and worm wheel are each
free to rotate on the shaft except when in gear with a clutch which is situated
between them on the shaft. This clutch can be held out of gear with both wheels
when no "feed"
traverse of the spindle is required, or can be put into gear with
one or other of them according as it is required to impart either an intermittent
or a continuous "down feed" to the spindle. The feed motion shaft is connected
with the spindle by suitable mechanism, and it also serves to transmit automatic
horizontal traverse to the spindle carriage along the cross slide through suitable
mechanism. Two friction clutches are provided in the mechanism for transinitting
traverse to the spindle and the spindle carriage respectively, by means of which the
mechanism can be put in or out of gear in either case as required. Adjustable stops
may be employed for limiting the traverse of either the spindle or the spindle
carriage; the effect of the stops, when they come into action, in either case, being to
cause the corresponding friction clutch to slip, and so prevent injury to the machine.
The automatic traverse of the spindle carriage transversely may be made reciprocatory
by employing a stop or stops on the spindle carriage to actuate (through other
mechanism) the reversing mechanism already described; and in this case the same
stop or stops, acting through other mechanism, serve also for imparting "feed'
traverse to the spindle. To adapt the machine for profiling with a milling tool, the
nut for traversing the spindle carriage is made disengageable and the spindle carriage
is acted upon and traversed by a weight suspended to a chain which passes over a
pulley and is connected to the carriage. The means described for effecting the to
and fro traverse of the table or of the spindle carriage are useful in slot drilling
when the lengths of the slots to be cut are greater than what a crank action (as
commonly employed) is suitable for. For cutting the teeth of wheels or the like
work, milling cutters are employed fitted to the spindle, and the objects to be cut
are held on a headstock or between two headstocks secured to the table of the
machine and provided with suitable dividing mechanism. The headstock or head-
stocks are adjustable so that their axis can be set suitably for cutting straight teeth
or grooves either parallel with or obliquely to the axis of the object or objects. The
cutting feed is supplied by traversing the table in the manner already referred to.
When it is required to cut spirally formed teeth or grooves or surfaces, suitable
mechanism is employed for imparting rotary movement to the objects, while the table
is being traversed longitudinally under the cutter. For cutting rectilineally a tool
slide for holding tools such as are used in Planing Machines is applied either upon
the spindle carriage, or separately upon the cross slide. The cutting operation is
performed by traversing either the work to and fro longitudinally or the cutting tool
to and fro transversely.
"

page_text: I, WILLIAM WILSON HULSE, of The Ordsal Works Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
In a Machine constructed according to the present improvements the cutting
operations may be performed both rotarily and rectilineally, but so as that only one
of these two systems of cutting is in operation at once. In some cases the apparatus
for rectilineal cutting may be omitted. The rotary cutting is performed by tools or
cutters fixed in a vertical spindle mounted on a slide moveable up and down in guides
on a Carriage. The carriage, by means of a screw and nut, can be traversed to and
fro horizontally along a cross slide carried by two uprights. The vertical spindle
slide may be similar to that described in the Specification of the Letters Patent
No. 1487 dated 28th March 1882 granted to me for Improvements in Machinery for
cutting Metals by means of rotating tools or cutters and the Spindle may be driven
through a long pinion as described in the same Specification. The uprights are
secured to a bed which (in order to add to the steadiness of the Machine's action)
may be widened out, at the part to which the uprights are secured, and may at this
part be extended downwards so as to rest on the ground. The work is secured upon
a horizontal table which can be traversed to and fro longitudinally along guides
formed on the bed, by means of a screw and nut, the nut being secured to the table
and being made by preference in two parts, provided with means for adjustment, for
the purpose of taking up wear. With very wide tables twin screws and nuts may be
employed. The table may be provided with a slide strip at each side, adjustable by
means of set screws (preferably hollow and without projecting heads) which serve
also for locking the Table in any desired position along the bed. Mechanism is
provided for traversing the table by hand when required; the handle for actuating
this being situated so that it can be worked by the attendant while in his usual place
at the Machine. The Table can however also be traversed to and fro automatically.
For this purpose the traversing screw is actuated from the driving gear of the
Machine through suitable mechanism in which is a clutch for communicating rotation
to the screw in alternate directions by engaging alternately with two toothed wheels.
The disengagements of the clutch from each toothed wheel are effected by adjustable
stops on the table acting through other mechanism in connection with the clutch.
This mechanism also serves to store up energy alternately in two springs (corre-
sponding respectively with the alternate directions of the table's traverse) shortly
before each disengagement of the clutch with one or other of the toothed wheels
occurs. By the time that the disengagement with one or other of the toothed wheels
takes place the energized spring is released by means of an escapement, and acts
upon the clutch so as to cause it to engage with the other toothed wheel. Thus it will
be seen that the disengagements of the clutch are effected by positive action

page_text: transmitted from the table, and its re-engagements by the action of the energized
springs. The adjustable stops also actuate through other mechanism, a ratchet wheel
carried by a feed motion shaft, so as to give motion to the ratchet wheel, once for
each traverse to and fro of the table. The feed motion shaft is also provided with a
worm wheel which through suitable mechanism can be driven continuously at
different speeds, corresponding to different rates of "feed" traverse of the spindle
downwards. The ratchet wheel and worm wheel are each free to rotate on the shaft
except when in gear with a clutch which is situated between them on the shaft. This
clutch can be held out of gear with both wheels when no "feed" traverse of the
spindle is required, or can be put into gear with one or other of them according as
it is required to impart either an intermittent or a continuous "down feed" to the
spindle. The feed motion shaft is connected with the spindle by suitable mechanismı,
and it also serves to transmit automatic horizontal traverse to the spindle carriage
along the cross slide through suitable mechanism. Two friction clutches are provided
in the mechanism for transmitting traverse to the spindle and the spindle carriage
respectively, by means of which the mechanism can be put in or out of gear in either
case as required. Adjustable stops may be employed for limiting the traverse of
either the spindle or the spindle carriage; the effect of the stops, when they come
into action, in either case, being to cause the corresponding friction clutch to slip,
and so prevent injury to the machine. The automatic traverse of the spindle carriage
transversely may be made reciprocatory by employing a stop or stops on the spindle
carriage to actuate (through other mechanism) the reversing mechanism already
described; and in this case the same stop or stops, acting through other mechanism
serve also for imparting "feed" traverse to the spindle. To adapt the machine for
profiling with a milling tool, the nut for traversing the spindle carriage is made
disengageable and the spindle carriage is acted upon and traversed by a weight
suspended to a chain which passes over a pulley and is connected to the Carriage.
The means described for effecting the to and fro traverse of the table or of the
spindle carriage are useful in slot drilling when the lengths of the slots to be cut are
greater than what a crank action (as commonly employed) is suitable for. For
cutting the teeth of wheels or the like work, milling cutters are employed, fitted to
the spindle, and the objects to be cut are held on a headstock or between two
headstocks secured to the table of the Machine and provided with suitable dividing
mechanism. The headstock or headstocks are adjustable so that their axis can be set
suitably for cutting straight teeth or grooves either parallel with or obliquely to the
axis of the object or objects. The cutting feed is applied by traversing the table in
the manner already referred to. When it is required to cut spirally formed teeth or
grooves or surfaces, suitable mechanism is employed for imparting rotary movement
to the objects, while the table is being traversed longitudinally under the cutter. For
cutting rectilineally a tool slide for holding tools such as are used in planing
machines is applied either upon the spindle carriage, or separately upon the cross
slide. The cutting operation is performed by traversing either the work to and fro
longitudinally or the cutting tool to and fro transversely.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. A is au end elevation, Fig. B a side
elevation and Fig. a part plan of a Machine constructed in accordance with the
present improvements and Figs. D, E, F, are respectively a side elevation, plan (partly
in sections) and end elevation of part of the reversing mechanism of the machine. 1 is
the bed of the Machine, 2, 2 the uprights secured to the bed, which is at this part
widened as shown and extended downwards so as to rest solidly on the ground: 3 is
the horizontal table for holding the work, and which can be traversed to and fro
longitudinally along the bed in guides as shown. The table is provided with a slide
strip at each side adjustable by set screws (preferably hollow and without projecting
heads) which serve also for locking the Table in any desired position on the bed.
4 is the cross slide carried by the uprights 2, 2, and provided with the Carriage 5
which can be traversed to and fro along it transversely by the screw 6. 7 is the
vertical spindle for holding the cutters; it is carried in a hollow square slide
moveable up and down vertically in guides 9, 9 on the carriage 5, and has keyed

page_text: upon it a spur wheel which is covered by the casing 10 (forming part of the slide 8)
and is driven by the long spur pinion 11. This arrangement of spindle, square slide
and spur wheels is similar to that described in the Letters patent No. 1487 referred
to above. 12 is the driving pulley of the machine and 13 the driving shaft, which is
driven either through the pulley direct or through back gear as shewn in Fig. A.
The long pinion 11 is driven from shaft 13 through a pair of bevel wheels of which
the one on the long pinion shaft is shown at 14 in Fig. A. The table 3 is actuated
automatically from the shaft 13 through the spur wheels 15, 16, shaft 17, cone
pulleys 18, 19, the set of three bevel wheels 21, 22, 23, clutch 24, shaft 25, worm 26,
worm wheel 27, clutch 271, shaft 28, bevel wheels 29, 30, and traversing screw 31
which works in a nut on the underside of the table. This nut may be made in two
parts adjustable for taking up wear. According as the clutch 24 is in gear with one
or other of the bevel wheels 22, 23, so the table traverses in one direction or the
other. The mechanism for throwing the clutch in gear with these two bevel wheels
alternately is actuated by two adjustable stops on the table of which one is shewn
at 32 in Fig. B and the other being hidden. These stops alternately actuate a
lever 33 keyed on a vibratory shaft 34 which is carried by the bracket 35. The
shaft 34 through a lever 36 keyed upon it actuates a connecting rod 37, the right
hand end of which and of the mechanisin which it operates being shown on an
enlarged scale in Figs. D E F; it is connected to a bar 38 which slides to and fro in
guides in a bracket 41 as shown secured to the bed 1, and has bolted to its upper
side 4 blocks 39, 39¹, 40, 40¹ into each of which is fitted a screwed stop as shown,
held in position by corresponding lock nuts and capable of adjustment so as to act
as hereinafter described when required. As the bar 38 is moved to and fro the stops
in the blocks 39, 39¹ act alternately upon one prong, 42, of a two pronged lever 43,
(the second prong being numbered 42' in Figs. E, F), and the stops in the
blocks 40, 40 act alternately upon two levers 44, 441 (working on fixed pivots)
which operate two catches 45, 45¹ respectively. The lever 43 is pivotted to the
bracket 41 and actuates the clutch 24. 46, 46¹ are two plungers having their inner
ends enlarged as shown, and guided in bosses 47, 47' cast upon the bracket 41 and
act as hereinafter described upon the prong 42¹ of the lever 43. The other ends of
the plungers are fitted with locknuts as shown which serve for retaining on the
plungers the sleeves 85, 85¹ and for adjusting the positions of the sleeves on the
plungers. The sleeves are guided in the blocks 40, 40' and have collars at their outer
ends which are acted upon alternately by the blocks so as to compress two respective
spiral springs contained in the bosses 47, 471 and retained therein by the
glands 86, 86' and by the enlarged ends of the plungers. In the drawings the
table 3 is shown in forward traverse; the adjustable stop on the table 3 referred to
above as being hidden is acting upon the lever 33 and sliding the bar 38 from left to
right, the stop in block 39 has just come in contact with the prong 42, the spiral
spring on plunger 46 is in its compressed position and is prevented from extending
and thus forcing the plunger to the right hand by the catch 45 being engaged with
the sleeve 85; and the clutch 24 is engaged with the wheel 23. At the same time
the block 40 is acting upon the collar on sleeve 85¹ and is compressing the spiral
spring on plunger 46 by sliding the plunger from left to right in the boss 47', the
catch 45¹ being out of engagement with the sleeve 85. Commencing with these
positions, the cycle of operations of the mechanism for actuating the clutch 24 is as
follows As the bar 38 continues to slide from left to right, the stop in block 40
acting on the prong 42 disengages the clutch 24 from the wheel 23 and thereupon
the forward traverse of the table is arrested. At or about the same instant the stop
in block 40 acting through the lever 44 liberates the catch 45 from its engagement,
with the sleeve 85, and thereupon the spiral spring in the boss 47 being free to recoil
and acting through the plunger 46 and prong 42' of the lever 43 forces the clutch
into engagement with wheel 22. The table then commences its backward traverse.
During the movement of the bar 38 from left to right as above described, the
block 40' acting through the collar of the sleeve 85' and its corresponding locknuts
and plunger compresses the corresponding spiral spring, the catch 45' becoming
==

page_text: engaged with the sleeve and preventing the recoil of the spring until released. The
bar 38 then remains stationary until the adjustable stop 32 on the table 3 acts upon
the lever 33 and slides the bar 38 from right to left, thus producing corresponding
reverse actions, to those already described, arresting the backward traverse of the
table 3, and again setting it into forward traverse; whereupon the bar 38 again
remains stationary until the stop 32 acts upon the lever 33 and brings the parts into
the positions shown in the drawings, thus terminating the cycle of operations. It
will be seen that (through the mechanism described) the disengagements of the
clutch with the bevel wheels 22, 23 are effected in a positive manner such that the
limits of the tables traverse in either direction can be determined with precision.
The action of the spiral springs is aided by that of the balance weight shown on
lever 43. Sometimes the balance weight may be dispensed with, and sometimes a
weight or weights may be employed so as to render the use of the springs and their
accessory parts unnecessary. For traversing the table by hand, a hand wheel 48
within easy reach of the attendant, is provided which operates the shaft 28 through
belt pulleys 49, 50; and the automatic traversing and reversing mechanism is put out
of gear by disengaging the clutch 27¹ through the fork 58, shaft, 59 and hand lever 60.
For enabling the Carriage 5 to be traversed to and fro automatically along the cross
slide 4, a sliding rod 51 having two adjustable stops 52, 52¹ is mounted in guides
attached to the cross slide. A stop on the carriage acts upon the stops 52, 52¹
alternately so as to operate the shaft 34 (previously described) of the reversing
mechanism, through the sliding rod 51, finger 53, lever 54, shaft 55, lever 56 and
lever 57, which last is keyed upon the shaft 34. 61 is the feed motion shaft for
feeding the spindle 7 downwards and the carriage 5 horizontally it is actuated
either continuously, at different speeds, through the shaft 25, worm 62, worm
wheel 63, and clutch 64 (which last is keyed upon it); or intermittently through
the clutch 64 and two ratchet wheels 65, 66 gearing into each other and having
pawls so arranged that one rotates its ratchet wheel when moved in one direction
and the other when moved in the contrary direction. When required either or both
of the pawls can be put out of gear or their action be reversed. The pawls are
actuated from the lever 57 through the connecting rod 67 and lever 68. The
clutch 64 can be put in gear either with the worm 62 or ratchet wheel 65 according
as it is required to feed continuously as in ordinary drilling or intermittently as in
slot drilling, or it may be kept out of gear with both, when no feed will take place,
as the worm wheel and ratchet wheel are each free to rotate upon the shaft 61 when
not in gear with the clutch. The feed motion is transmitted from the shaft 61 to the
spindle 7 through bevel wheels 69, 70, spur wheels 71, 72, horizontal shaft 73
mounted on the cross slide, and thence through a pair of bevel wheels (not shown in the
drawing) a shaft 75 bevel wheels, 76, 77', shaft 78 and spur wheels 79, 80, the latter
being keyed upon a feed screw at the top of the spindle. And the feed motion is
transmitted to the Carriage 5 from the spur wheel 72 through the spur wheel 81
mounted on the traversing screw 6. Adjustable stops are provided for limiting the
traverse either of the table or the. carriage either when traversing them by hand or
when the automatic reversing mechanism is out of gear; and there is also an
adjustable stop for limiting the downward traverse of the spindle. Friction clutches
as shown are provided at the ends of the screws 6 and 31 and shaft 73 which slip
and thus prevent injury to the machine when any of these stops come into action.
These clutches also serve for putting the trains of mechanism in which they
respectively occur, in or out of gear. 82 is a handle for disengaging the nut on
the carriage 5 from the traversing screw 6 when the machine is required for
profiling, and 83 the weight suspended as shewn by a chain passing over a pulley
and attached to the carriage, for acting upon and traversing the carriage under these
circumstances. 84 is a headstock with dividing mechanism which is bolted to the
table and adapted for holding wheels so as to have teeth cut in them by milling
cutters carried by the spindle, and for similar work. The toolholder for cutting
rectilineally as in planing is not shown in the drawing.
It will be seen that the various movements of the spindle, spindle carriage, and

page_text: table with which the machine now described is provided; together with the back
geared driving apparatus and the toolholder (not shown in the drawing) on the cross
slide or the carriage, enable it to be used alternatively as a milling, Drilling, Slot
drilling, Boring or planing machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In machinery for cutting metals in which a reciprocatory movement is imparted
either to the work or to the cutting tool, such as planing machines, slot drilling
machines, and some kinds of milling machines, the employment of a reversing
apparatus by which the termination of the reciprocatory movements is effected by the
positive action of the table or carriage which carries the work or the cutting tool,
and by which the re-engagements of the driving apparatus are effected by the action
of springs or weights which have been put into conditions of energy for the purpose,
all substantially as shown and described.
2. In a Milling Machine having a spindle mounted upon a carriage which may be
traversed to and fro along a slide, the employment of a square slide which carries
the spindle and slides in guides in the carriage; the spindle being driven
(through a spur wheel keyed upon it) by a long pinion, substantially as shown
and described.
3. The general arrangement of a combined Milling, Drilling, Slot drilling, Boring
and planing machine substantially as shown and described.
HY. C. CARNS,
Agent for Applicant.