AN IMPROVED METHOD OF JOINING OR CONNECTING WOODEN PLANKS AND TIMBER GENERALLY, AND IN MACHINERY FOR THE PREPARATION OF SUCH PLANKS OR TIMBERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of the Office for British and Foroigu
Patents, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patont Agent, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF JOINING OR CONNECTING WOODEN PLANKS
AND TIMBER GENERALLY, AND IN MACHINERY FOR THE PREPARATION OF SUCH
PLANKS OR TIMBERS." A. communication from abroad by William Edward
Brock, of the City, County, and State of New York, in the United States of
America
Sealed the 20th December 1878, and dated the 26th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th June 1878.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF JOINING OR
CONNECTING WOODEN PLANKS AND TIMBER GENERALLY, AND IN MACHINERY FOR
THE PREPARATION OF SUCH PLANKS OR TIMBERS." A communication from
abroad by William Edward Brock, of the City, County, and State of New York,
in the United States of America.
The Invention relates to an improved method of joining or connecting wooden
planks and timber generally, and in machinery for grooving or channelling the
surfaces of such wooden planks and timbers to be thereafter put together.
It has been customary hitherto to form the tongues or grooves by means of a
cutter provided with cutter teeth having parallel sides, and arranged to cut out
the channels or grooves lengthwise, removing the fibre of the wood therefrom, and
leaving the tongue standing undisturbed in the position or density of the fibres
thereof.
The objections to this method are that the cutter being necessarily provided with
fine teeth-like cutting edges do not endure the rapid action required to perform any
considerable and profitable amount of work, but become easily heated, injured, and
useless until re-shaped and sharped again at considerable expense, and that when
the tongues and grooves are so formed, the tongues not being compressed, are liable

page_text: to shrink so as to become smaller than the grooves in which they lie, and are wanting
in capacity for elastic pressure outward on each side against the two adjoining
tongues.
In this Invention, the rolls and ribs are solid and firm, do not cut, tear, nor
split the timber, but, on the contrary, hold firm for treatment timber already split
or cracked without injury, and form elastic tongues having such properties as to clo
away with any necessity for glue or cement, and at the same time produco timber
of greater strength and solidity than the original.
The objects of this Invention are to provide a new system of making the tongues
and the grooves for the purpose of making compound timber or lumber therefrom
by compression; to provide a machine with properly grooved rolls, bed, and feeding
rolls to make the same rapidly and accurately; and to produce an improved article
of manufacture consisting of compound timber or lumber, the tongues and grooves
of which are composed of compressed wood.
The Invention consists in the improvement in the art of forming tongues and
grooves in the surfaces of timber by compression; in the improved article of com-
pound timber or lumber produced therefrom; in the combination of the two rolls
provided with annular ribs, arranged to operate in the same grooves in the timber,
in the order and for the purposes herein-after named; in the combination of the
two annular ribbed rolls and the cutter for producing a smooth surface for their
operation; and also of these with a feed roll; and in the combination of the two
annular ribbed rolls, separately and together, with a novcable carriage for moving
and supporting the timber or lumber in contact therewith during its treatment
thereby.
The bed or frame of the machine is provided with an upright pillar block on
each side to receive the ends of the rolls and a cutter shaft; one of the rolls carries
annular shaped grooves, the other, the finishing roll, carries annular ribs having
parallel sides, and the third is the feed roll. These, like the whole structure,
should be made strong enough to withstand the strains incident to the kind of
wood or material to be worked therein.
The bed is provided with two guides, on which slides a carriage passing under
the cutter, which is placed between the feed roll and the roll carrying annular
V shaped grooves, so as to leave the timber true from end to end. It may be made
in the form of an endless carriage or bed, or it may consist of rollers.
The operation of the machine is as follows-The piece of timber or lumber to be
operated upon is placed on the carriage so as to be engaged by the feed roll, and is
thereby carried under the cutter, which planes its upper surface in the usual
manner. The feed roll forces the piece beyond the cutter under the roll, having
annular V shaped grooves, which are then produced in the piece, and thereafter
under the finishing roll to produce the grooves with parallel sides. The thus
grooved faces of two pieces of timber being brought together and subjected to
pressure, even without glue, will engage and be held together by their respective
tongues.
The roll with the annular ribs having parallel sides may be used alone, if suffi-
cient power be applied, to form the parallel tongues and grooves, but it is preferred
to use both.
The annular ribs on the rolls should be in each respectively of the same size and
distance apart, and the two rolls should be so fixed in the machine that the ribs of
the last in order shall follow and strike uniformly in the incipient V shaped grooves
for the purpose of pressing the wood evenly to each side, and of forming the
tongues with parallel sides, having a somewhat uniform tendency to expand
laterally in reaction from the effects of compression.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th Decem-
ber 1878.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF JOINING OR
CONNECTING WOODEN PLANKS AND TIMBER GENERALLY, AND IN MACHINERY FOR
THE PREPARATION OF SUCH PLANKS OR TIMBERS." A communication from abroad
by William Edward Brock, of the City, County, and State of New York, in the
United States of America.
This Invention relates to a machine for grooving or channeling the surfaces of
woods, to be thereafter put together in the forms and shapes shown in the Drawings;
to the improvement in the art of vencering or joining the surfaces of lumber or
timber, and to the improved product thereof.
This product, where a thin layer of more desirable wood is secured to a backing
of more common wood, or wood having desired qualities, as strength, weight, or
lightness, cheapness, &c., &c., may be considered as the result of a new method of
vencering, by which glue or other adhesive materials may be dispensed with, and
the veneer is held in place mechanically.
It is not necessary, however, to discard glue or other cementing media, as where.
increased strength and durability is desired, say in case of out-door exposure,
exposure to moisture, or in panel work, white lead or other cement, or in some cases
glue, may be used between the grooved surfaces, according to the wishes of the
user..
Where, however, increased strength, freedom from warping, checking, &c., is
desired, two or more layers of wood tongued and grooved in miniature, in like
manner upon the adjoining surfaces, may be secured together mechanically, with or
without the aid of a cementing medium, so as to form compound lumber or timber
suited to be thereafter worked up into any desired shapes or articles.
I am not aware that hitherto it has ever been attempted to form miniature
tongues and grooves in the faces or sides of boards or other kinds of lumber or
timber by means of compressing grooved rollers or other grooving tools, the tongues
and grooves being intended to be thereafter brought together under pressure, so as
to be solidly joined as one piece.
In attempting to form such miniature tongues and grooves by means of an
ordinary cutter provided with cutter teeth having parallel sides, and arranged to
cut out the channels or grooves lengthwise, removing the fiber of the wood there-
from, and leaving the tongue standing undisturbed in the position or density of the
fibers thereof, serious practical difficulties have been met.
The objections to this method are that the cutters being necessarily provided with
fine teeth-like cutting edges do not endure the rapid action required to perform any
considerable and profitable amount of work, but become easily heated, injured, and
useless, until re-shaped and sharpened again at considerable expense, and that when.
the tongues and grooves are so formed, the tongues not being compressed are liable
to shrink, so as to become smaller than the grooves in which they lie, and are
wanting in capacity for elastic pressure outward on each side against the two
adjoining tongues.
Whereas, in my Invention, the roils and ribs are solid and firm, do not cut, tear,
nor split the lumber or timber, but, on the contrary, hold firm for treatment lumber
already split or cracked without injury, and form elastic tongues having such
properties as to do away with any necessity for glue or cement, and at the same
time produce lumber or timber of greater strength and solidity than the original.
The objects of my Invention are to provide a new system of making the tongues.
and grooves for the purpose of making compound lumber or timber therefrom by

page_text: compression; to provide a machine with properly grooved rolls, bed and feeding
rolls, making the same rapidly and accurately; and to produce an improved article
of manufacture consisting of compound lumber, the tongues and grooves of which
are composed of compressed wood.
The Invention consists in a ribbed grooving roll for forming miniature tongues
and grooves on the faces of lumber or timber, the ribs being so disposed as to form
coinciding tongues and grooves in any two pieces operated upon, or tongues and
grooves capable of coinciding when placed face to face and subjected to lateral
insertion; in the combination of the two rolls provided with annular ribs, arranged
to operate in the same grooves in the lumbeer or timber, in the order and for the
purposes herein-after named; in the combination of the two annular ribbed rolls
and the cutter for producing a smooth surface for their operation; and also of these
with the feed roll; and in the combination of the two annular ribbed rolls,
separately and together, with a moveable carriage for moving and supporting the
lumber or timber in contact there with during its treatment thereby; in the im-
provement in the art of veneering, and of forming coinciding tongues and grooves
in the surfaces of lumber or timber by compression; and in the improved article of
compound or veneered lumber or timber produced therefrom.
In the accompanying Drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like
parts,―
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine for making tongues and grooves,
showing the working parts; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of same.
Figure 3 is a front view of the roll, with annular V shaped ribs, represented at
bottom as embedded in the wood surface as in forming grooves therein.
Figure 4 is a similar view of the tongue and groove finishing roll.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the finished compound lumber or timber.
Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a modification of the grooving
roll.
And Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of veneered or compound lumber or
timber, the tongues and grooves of which are sc formed as to constitute locking
joints.
F is the frame of the machine, provided with the upright pillow blocks P, P, on
each side, to receive the ends of the rolls and cutter shaft. These, like the whole
structure, should be made strong enough to withstand the strains incident to the
kind of wood or material to be worked therein. Each end of the roll shafts may
have a pulley of proper size, according to width and depth of groove, or width and
depth of groove, or width or hardness of material to be worked, for the purpose of
giving motion of any desired extent or speed to the grooving rolls. Or, especially in
the making of the softer woods, the grooving rolls may have only the same speed
and direction of motion upon the surface as the lumber or timber itself, and act by
direct pressure without rubbing friction to compress the surface fibres of the wood
into the tongues. When rubbing pressure is desired, the notion of the rolls should
be against that of the material which is to be forced against and under the same.
The bed B is provided with the guides G, G, on which slides the carriage C. The
carriage should be level, and pass under the cutter C¹, so as to leave the lumber or
timber true from end to end. It may be made in the form of an endless carriage or
bed, or it may consist of rollers. R is the roll which carries the annular V shaped
ribs; R the finishing roll, with annular ribs having parallel sides; and R³ is the
feed roll.
The number of rolls may be increased to any desired extent, and the angles
formed by the intersection of the two sides of the V shaped ribs in them may be
made as acute as desired, according to the hardness of the wood, and increasingly
obtuse in cach from the first roll to the finishing roll. In this way the work may
be distributed, and the machine, as well as the lumber or timber, be relieved of any
undue or injurious strain at any point. And whero rollers are used instead of a flat
bed or endless carriage, to support the lumber or timber for grooving, they must be

page_text: large enough to properly sustain the material directly under each grooving roll. It
will be understood that lumber or timber of any thickness may be used to form
compound lumber or timber.
Where very thick material is to be worked the effect of the direct pressure of the
grooving rolls is distributed through the mass of it, but where thin veneers are
treated, care must be taken according to the nature of the wood, to so apply and
distribute the pressure as not to crush or injuriously curl the veneers.
The grooving ribs upon the finishing roll at least should be deep enough to form
tongues and grooves large enough to hold the surfaces together, say, one-sixteenth
of an inch, or slightly more, and the spaces between the ribs should be slightly
greater than the width of the faces of the ribs on the finishing roll, in order that
the tongues formed therein may fit snugly with some degree of compression when
forced together laterally by pressure. In this manner the best results may be
obtained, but highly satisfactory results may be secured where the ribs and spaces
between are of the same width, since the elasticity of the compressed tongues may
be relied on to expand the tongues continuously after they are inserted in the
coinciding grooves of the opposite piece of lumber or timber.
The two coinciding surfaces may be tongued and grooved upon different machines,
the grooving rolls of one of which form tongues a little deeper than those of the
other, and when put together under pressure the longer tongues will, if sufficient
pressure be applied, especially if made in the softer wood, be compressed vertically,
and caused to expand laterally against the adjoining tongues on each side of them.
The operation of the machine is simple, as follows:-The piece of lumber or
timber to be operated upon is placed on the carriage C, so as to be engaged by
the feed roll R2, and thereby carried under the cutter C, which planes its upper
surface in the usual manner. The feed roll forces the piece beyond the cutter under
the roll R, which produces therein the grooves V, V, and thereafter under the roll R¹,
which produces the grooves U, U, with parallel sides. The thus grooved faces of
two pieces of lumber or timber L being brought together and subjected to pressure,
even without glue, will engage and be held together by the tongues T, T.
The roll R¹ with U shaped grooves and ribs in cross section may be used alone if
sufficient power be applied to form the parallel tongues and grooves, but in that
case the wood will be more condensed in the bottomns of the channels and grooves
than in the tongues, resulting probably in a tendency to swell when exposed to
moisture, and to push the tongues out of the grooves, whereas by using, first, the
roll R with V shaped ribs, the wood of the entire surface, and to the depth to which
the ribs penetrato, is pressed laterally and left in V shape as to its cross section, and
also partly condensed or solidified. The ribs on the roll R' being then made to
follow in the same grooves in the wood, their edges first come in contact with the
bevelled sides of the groove, somewhat below the surface of the board, and force the
fibers of the wood sidewise, so as to leave it condensed in the tongues, and putting
the two tongued and grooved surfaces together, as in Figure 5, under pressure, the
tendency under that pressure, and also under the influence either of the natural
resilience of the recently compressed wood, or under the influence of expansion
at any time resulting from the absorption of moisture or other causes, will be to
press outward at right angles to the general surface of the wood, and in opposite
directions, so as to cause the tongues to hold each to other by a constant pressure and
grip sufficient to do away with all necessity for glue or cement between the surfaces
and tongues and grooves of the parts composing the compound lumber or timber.
As shown in Figure 5, the number of tongues and grooves per inch is about
sixteen. This number may be varied to some extent, and in case of employing
thicker lumber or timber may be made deeper at will.
The annular ribs on the rolls R and R¹ should be in cach respectively of the
same size and distance from center to center; and the two rolls should be so fixed
in the machine that the ribs of the last in order R¹ shall follow and strike uniformly
in the incipient V shaped grooves for the purpose of pressing the wood evenly to

page_text: each side, and of forming the tongues T with parallel sides having a somewhat
uniform tendency to expand laterally in re-action from the effects of compression.
Figure 6 shows a modification of the rolls R, R', for forming the tongues and
grooves. This tool, as shown, consists of longitudinal sections S, S, of the surface
of rolls R or R¹ secured to a shaft or mandrel M. This tool may be used in either
of two ways to form the tongues and grooves, viz.,-1st. By rubbing or frictional
action forming them by compression of the fibers of the wood into the tongues;
and, 2nd, By reversing the tool and its motion, so as to act by the front edges of
the ribs as cutters to cut out enough of the wood surface to form the grooves and
allow entrance of the somewhat wider-faced tongues. The sections S, S, are set
into longitudinal grooves in the mandrel, which are deeper at the back B, and
support the sections solidly on the under side as also at the back. They may be
held in position by screws or in any known way. One edgo E, E, stands out from
the mandrel so as to present the surfaces of the ribs back of the edges E, E, when
used frictionally, excentrically to the wood surface, and when used as a cutter, so as
to present a prominent cutting edge. When the edges E, E, are to be used for
cutting they will act better if undercut at the front so as to present a sharper edge.
But when used in the other way the edges E, E, will be more enduring if made
more obtuse.
The arrows in Figure 6 show the direction of motion when the tool is used as a
cutter; but to operate as a cutter the tool must be reversed, so as to run against
the board L, moving as indicated by the two arrows shown near its surface, so as
to make an upward instead of a downward cut. These sections S, S, may be
formed solid on and with the shaft or mandrel M; but they are most easily made
as follows: Take or make a steel tube of sufficient length to reach across the width
of lumber or timber to be grooved, and of a proper thickness, say from one-quarter
of an inch to one-half of an inch, more or less, and form annular ribs thereon with
V shaped, U shaped, or right-angle shaped sides and edges. Then divide each tube
by longitudinal cuts into, say, four sections, more or less, leaving that edge of each
which is to constitute its front or operating edge E, E, undercut where the edge is
intended to be used in cutting channels, as herein-after described, or square-cut
where the same is to be used for grooving by pressure.
Motion is given to this tool by means of a pulley on the end of the shaft M or
on each end of the same in the usual manner. The rods R and R' may be operated
n the same way if desired, and so be assisted in producing the tongues and grooves
by frictional action, also added to the direct downward pressure of the ribs into the
wood as the lumber or timber is fed through the machine.
Both the grooved rolls and the modified tool described may be used without an
accompanying cutter or planer in the same machine.
The planing of the surface before grooving may be done upon a separate machine,
or it may be omitted entirely. It is desirable however, if not necessary, to have
the plank or boards reduced to a uniform thickness throughout, as then the grooving
is more uniformly done, and a more uniform pressure can be exerted upon the two
or more grooved pieces in putting the parts together.
The putting together is done as follows:-Where the pieces are not long they
may be laid one upon the other, tongues opposite grooves in each, and forced
together laterally by pressure applied in any ordinary manner.
Whore the pieces
are long, one way is to insert the tongues of each surface into the grooves of the
other at one end, place this end between two revolving rolls operating on the plan
of the rolls of a rolling mill, and set so as to force the parts together when the
joining of the two parts will be effected rapidly and perfectly. In this manner of
tonguing and grooving and joining very thin layers or veneers may be attached to
the surface of more common wood without the aid of glue, or when glue or other
cement is used a small quantity will be sufficient. When thus applied this method
of treating wood becomes in fact a new system of veneering.
In Figure 5 appears the veneered or compound lumber, or timber, the tongue and

page_text: grooves being shown in the shapes originally given them before the tongued and
grooved surfaces are joined. Instead of the rectangular shapes shown these tongues
and grooves may be rounded at the corners slightly, and still they will hold the
adjoining surfaces together.
In putting any two pieces together the variations in the hardness of the tongues
on each part may cause variation in the original shapes, to some extent giving a
more irregular appearance than that shown in Figure 5. These irregularities help
to hold the parts tightly together.
Figure 7 shows the tongues and grooves so formed as to constitute locking joints,
which absolutely prevent separation except by splitting off the tongues.
One side or both sides of each tongue of each layer of wood is cut or otherwise
moulded or shaped so as to present a re-entering line and angle between planes U
and U', Figure 7; and the tongues of each piece may be formed by. the same
groover or cutter. The adjoining pieces are put together by lateral insertion of the
tongues of each into the corresponding grooves of each, when, pressure being applied,
as in the case of the plain tongues and grooves, the two projecting angles of each
will be forced by and beyond the other, and continued pressure will then force out
the wood beyond these angles so as to form locking joints between each continuous
tongue of the opposite pieces. Of course the softer wood, if such be present, will
yield somewhat to the harder in this operation; and, further, the tongues of the
softer wood may be inade a little deeper with straight sides, and when inserted, as
before described, the continued pressure after the softer tongue has reached the
bottom of the opposite groove will force out the lower or outer edge of the soft
tongue, so as to fill the space beyond the projecting angle of the adjoining tongue
of the harder wood, and thereby make a locking joint of similar shape and action.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
saine may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The improvement in the art of forming tongues and grooves in the
adjoining surfaces of the parts used in making compound lumber or timber
described, consisting in forming the grooves and intermediate tongues by com-
pression.
Second. As an improved article of manufacture, compound lumber or timber
composed of two or more layers of wood, the adjoining surfaces of which are
provided with interlocking tongues and grooves, and the tongues of which consist
of the original surface of wood to the same depth condensed therein.
Third. In combination the rolls R and R', the former provided with annular ribs
having bevelled V shaped sides, and the latter with annular ribs having parallel
sides, the latter arranged to run in the grooves first made by the former, as shown
and described.
Fourth. In combination the roll R provided with annular ribs having V shaped
sides, the roll R¹ having annular ribs provided with parallel sides and spaces between
the same, and the cutter C' provided with a knife or knives for preparing a sinooth
surface for the operations of the rolls R and R', substantially as described.
Fifth. The rolls R and R', the cutter C, and the roll R², in combination, as shown
and described.
Sixth. The roll R provided with annular ribs having beveled or V shaped sides
in combination with a moveable carriage arranged to support and carry lumber or
timber under the ribs to be grooved, as shown and described.
Seventh. The roll R¹ provided with annular ribs having parallel sides in com-
bination with a moveable carriage arranged to support and carry lumber or timber
under the ribs to be grooved, as shown and described.
Eighth. The roll R, the roll R¹, and the carriage C or moveable bed, in com-
bination, as and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth. A tonguing and grooving tool provided with ribs cut across to form
cutting edges therefrom, so disposed as to form coinciding tongues and grooves in
succeeding surfaces of wood subjected to its action, as shown and described.
Tenth. A tonguing and grooving tool provided with ribs formed in sections from

page_text: solid continuous metal, the ribs being so disposed as to form coinciding tongues and
grooves in succeeding surfaces of wood subjected to its action by frictional
compression of the fibers of the wood, as shown and described.
Eleventh. Compound lumber or timber consisting of two or more layers of wood
provided with coinciding ribs and grooves held together by laterally engaged
locking joints.
Twelfth. The improvement in the art of attaching and securing the adjoining
faces of layers of wood composing compound lumber or timber provided with
coinciding tongues and grooves held together by. laterally engaged locking joints
consisting in engaging the tongues and grooves by lateral insertion and by com-
pression, as shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the year One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.