IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, SHAPING, AND POLISHING OR FINISHING MARBLE AND OTHER STONE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, SHAPING,
AND POLISHING OR FINISHING MARBLE AND OTHER STONE."-A com-
munication from abroad by Alonzo Stockbridge Gear, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 22nd February 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.

page_text: along or over the general line of the moulding or panel to be produced,
or else by moving the work along such line, the cutter having only its
rotative movement with sometimes a feed movement by which the depth
of cut may be regulated, as the cutting effect produced will be the same
whether the relative longitudinal movement between the cutter and the
material is produced in one way or the other.
When the cutting is to be performed mostly on what may be termed
a horizontal face, as for example in the bottom of a depression or panel,
I make use of a solid head preferably of steel or iron, in which I mount
the diamonds or carbon points in the manner before described, that is to
say, so that while each point has its distinct line or path of action it also
blends its action into the lines or paths of action of the next adjacent
points, so that the surface cut will be the same as in cases where the
material is wood and the cutters are of steel with a continuous sharpened
edge fitting the whole transverse line of the moulding.
When the moulding is to be produced on an edge, say like the edge
of a table top, I make the cutter head similar in one respect to the
cutter head used in working wood, that is to say, with provision for
holding bits of steel, but instead of sharpening such bits to a cutting
edge I leave them quite blunt and stud them with black diamonds or
carbon points, observing carefully that the path of action of each point
blends with the paths of action of the points cutting the next
adjacent path, or the cutter head may be made with a hub and arms
forged together of iron or steel, and the arms instead of being radial may
be curved, while the edges of the arms whether straight or curved arc
made to approvimate to the profile of the surface to be produced.
The carbon point cutter may be used with or without a guide ring,
roll, or collar on the cutter shank or spindle. For working straight
mouldings on the edge of a slab the slab can be moved and guided with
relation to the cutter without contact of the slab, or of a pattern
connected thereto with such guide ring or collar on the cutter shank or
spindle, and many forms of marble or other similar material may be
guided relatively to the cutter by positive carrying devices without
resort to guiding contact with the guide ring, roll, or collar on the cutter
shank or spindle of the edge to be wrought, or of a guiding pattern.

page_text: But in the majority of instances, and especially where the outline to be
moulded is irregular in form, it is preferable to make use of the guide
near the cutter and concentric therewith in connection with a pattern or
form, whether the material be moved relatively to the cutter or vice
versa. In practice it is preferred to work the diamonds or carbon
points submerged in water, or to have a stream of water running
constantly on them and the work.
In setting the diamonds they should be so arranged that the stress
brought upon them in action has a tendency to hold them firmly in
their settings. When a carbon point or diamond has more length than
width it should be set with its length in the direction of the path to be
cut, so as to be presented endwise and not sidewise to the material to be
removed.
The Drawing represents two forms of cutter heads embodying this
Invention. A shows in side view and B in end view one of these
cutter heads; C and D show similar views of the other cutter head.
The head a is designed particularly for cutting a groove like that
shown beneath it, the head entering the stone as the latter is held up to
and pressed against it or as the head is pressed down against the stone.
The cutter head has at its extreme lower point a centre diamond or
carbon point b, this point cutting the deeper groove c.
Above the point
b the head is made tapering or conical and in its face are set the carbon
points d, e, which unitedly (and with the aid of the point 6 that cuts the
centre) form the groove bounded by the side concaves g, h. Above the
cutters d, e, are the carbon points i set in the periphery k, forming the top
of the cutter head for cutting the upper parts of the groove. The
carbon points are arranged as seen at A and B, and as above described,
so that the paths of movement of adjacent bits blend to form smooth
surfaces. Each point is inserted in a recess in the head, being confined
in place by brazing or soldering. The form shown at E having been
produced by the upward movement of the work or downward movement
of the cutter head, the work or the cutter head may then be moved
laterally to make a continuous groove either straight or curved, or with
a combination of curved and straight lines. Of course the cutter may
be so made (or furnished with carbon points so arranged) as to cut any
desired form of groove.

page_text: The cutter head shown at C and D is more particularly designed for
cutting the edges of stone or for producing moulded edges, there being
several radial sets m, n, of carbon points, the points of each set
being arranged in rows so that their paths of rotation merge. To this
head is applied the guide p, which being moved against a pattern or the
pattern against it, effects the shaping of the moulded edge in the
direction of its length, or the continuity of an edge corresponding to the
shape produced by the movement of the head against the head sufficient
to bring all of its cutting points into action against the same.
After the operation of the cutters a rotary tool with a smooth or
polishing face corresponding to the form in section of the groove or face
formed by the cutter head may be used to smooth or polish the surface
of the work. Such a tool is shown at F, the said tool being shaped to
finish, smooth, or polish the groove shown at E cut by the cutter head
shown at A and B. This tool is preferably made of brass, but may be
made of other metal or alloy.
The second part or phase of the said Invention shewn at G relates
more particularly to cutting as with a saw into marble; for this purpose
a small round vertical spindle is used the surface of which is studded
with black diamonds or carbon points; recesses or slots are made to
receive the large ends of the said points, and the walls of the recesses
are closed upon the bases of the points, suitable solder being used to
firmly confine the points in place. The cutting points are so arranged
in rows that the cutting points of the different rows merge their paths of
action so as to cut the whole length of the cutting plane of the shaft ;
the rod or shaft being thus made and moulded in a suitable frame
between horizontal arms thereof, very rapid rotation is imparted to the
shaft, and the block of stone to be slotted or divided is held up to the
shaft, much as the work is held up to a jig saw; or the shaft is moved
against the stone the shaft cutting rapidly into the stone, and in
whatever direction may be desired, the cutting shaft acting readily
under the manipulations of the stone or the shaft, and the lines to be
cut being marked or drawn upon the stone or a suitable pattern being
used.
The cutting is thus very rapidly effected by a sort of milling process,
and by this Invention the curved outlines of stone slabs may be very
easily quickly and beautifully cut

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same,
I wish it understood that I claim the improvements in apparatus for
cutting, shaping, and polishing, or finishing marble and other stone as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of February,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two
Witness,
W. J. Lowe.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)