IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED WITH CIRCULAR SAW BENCHES FOR STEADY- ING THE SAWS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Casson, of Arundel Buildings, in the Parish of
Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED WITH CIRCULAR SAW BENCHES FOR STEADY-
ING THE SAWS,"
Sealed the 15th March 1878, and dated the 22nd September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Casson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd September 1877.
JOHN CASSON, of Arundel Buildings, in the Parish of Sheffield, in the County
of York, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED WITH CIRCULAR
SAW BENCHES FOR STEADYING THE SAWS."
The apparatus ordinarily used for steadying circular saws consists of a standard
screwed to the bench top, which standard carries jaws which are provided with
bosses of leather or wooden screws, which when the apparatus is in use are caused
to nearly bear on the sides of the saw and tend to prevent lateral motion of the
said saw at the upper part thereof. This apparatus is difficult of adjustment, acts
very imperfectly, and is applicable only to the steadying of one saw.
My Invention consists of improvements on the said apparatus by which it is
rendered more efficient, easily adjustable, and capable of being used for steadying
one, two, or more saws affixed to the same spindle.
I will first describe my apparatus as arranged for one saw:-I prefer to make
the standard hollow and of cast iron, by which means great rigidity and lightness
are obtained, and I bolt it to the bench top in such a position that its free end shall
overhang the saw slot in the bench top. In the said free end is a socket through
which passes a rod capable of being slidden in a vertical direction and of being fixed
in the said socket by a set screw. On the lower end of this rod a pair of jaws is
formed, in each of which a sliding jaw is mounted, which sliding jaws may by means
of screws be caused to advance toward or retire from each other in a line at right
angles to the plane in which the saw works. To the inner faces of these sliding

page_text: jaws strips of wood or other suitable material may be secured, which when the
apparatus is in use prevent lateral motion of the saw. In the said wooden strips
I prefer to form holes or recesses, which I fill with a suitable lubricant, for
reducing as much as possible the friction on the saw when it bears against the
said strips.
This apparatus is used as follows:-The saw having been fixed on the spindle in
the bench, the sliding rod carrying the jaws aforesaid is lowered and the screws in
the jaws are turned until the strips of wood on the faces of the sliding jaws nearly
touch the sides of the saw. By this arrangement the saw is caused to work very
steadily, and very thin saws may be used.
When my apparatus is to be used for steadying two saws mounted on the same
spindle, I fix between the jaws on the sliding rod a piece of metal, which forms a
third jaw, in which is inserted loosely a block, the thickness of which corresponds
with the space between the saws, and I place between the saws a bar which rests
in the saw slot in the bench top, and is prevented from being displaced when the
saw is revolving by a pin or shoulder at the back end of the said bar, which pin or
shoulder engages with the under side of the loose plate; or any other suitable means
may be used for fixing the said bar, which is provided with blocks of a thickness
corresponding with the space between the saws. These blocks I term distance blocks.
The sliding rod is then lowered and the screws in the outer jaws are turned until
the faces of the sliding jaws or the strips of wood- affixed to them are nearly in
contact with the outer sides of the saws. The apparatus is then ready for use.
pro-
When my apparatus is to be used for steadying three or more saws on the same
spindle I remove from the pair of jaws carried by the sliding rod aforesaid the piece
of metal forming the third jaw, and I fix in its place a fork having two or more
branches, according to the number of saws, each of which branches carries a distance
block of a width equal to the distance apart of the saws between which such block
will lie, and I remove from the saw slot the bar herein-before described, and replace
it by two or more bars, according to the number of saws, each of which bars is
vided with distance blocks of the necessary thickness. I then close the sliding jaws
until the strips of wood affixed to them nearly bear on the outer saws, and the
apparatus is ready for use. By thus varying the number of the jaws or forks carried
by the sliding rod and the number of bars in the saw slot, and by providing the
said jaws and bars with distance blocks of the required thickness, the apparatus
may be used with any required number of saws set at any required distance
apart.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Casson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd March
1878.
JOHN CASSON, of Arundel Buildings, in the Parish of Sheffield, in the County
of York, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED WITH CIRCULAR
SAW BENCHES FOR STEADYING THE SAWS."
The apparatus ordinarily used for steadying circular saws consists of a standard
screwed to the bench top, which standard carries jaws which are provided with
bosses of leather or screws, which, when the apparatus is in use, are caused to nearly
bear on the sides of the saw, and tend to prevent lateral motion of the said saw at
the upper part thereof. This apparatus is difficult of adjustment, acts very imperfectly,
and is applicable only to the steadying of one saw.
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the said
apparatus, by which it is rendered more efficient, easily adjustable, and capable of
being used for steadying one saw, or two or more saws affixed to the same spindle.
I will first describe my apparatus as arranged for one saw. I prefer to make the
standard hollow and of cast iron, by which means great lightness and rigidity are
obtained, and I bolt it to the bench top in such a position that its free end shall
overhang the saw slot in the said bench top. In the said free end is a socket,
through which passes a bar or rod capable of being slidden in a vertical direction,
and of being fixed in the said socket by a set screw. The lower end of this bar is
forked, so as to form a pair of jaws, in each of which a sliding jaw is mounted,
which sliding jaws may by means of screws be caused to advance towards or retire
from each other in a line at right angles to the plane in which the saw works. To
the inner faces of these sliding jaws strips or blocks of wood or other suitable material
may be secured, which strips when the apparatus is in use prevent lateral motion of
the saw.
Holes or recesses may be formed in the said strips or blocks for the recep-
tion of a suitable lubricant, in order to reduce as much as possible the friction on
the saw when it bears against the said strips or blocks.
This apparatus is used as follows:-The saw having been fixed on the spindle in
the bench, the sliding bar carrying the jaws aforesaid is lowered, and the screws in
the jaws are turned until the strips of wood on the faces of the sliding jaws nearly
touch the sides of the saw. By this arrangement the saw is caused to work very
steadily, and a very thin saw may be used.
When my apparatus is to be used for steadying two saws mounted on the same
spindle, I fix between the jaws on the sliding bar a piece of metal, which forms a
third or intermediate jaw, in or on which is mounted loosely a block, the thickness
of which corresponds with the space between the saws, and I place between the
saws a bar, which rests in the saw slot in the loose plate of the bench top, and is
prevented from being displaced when the saw is revolving by a pin or shoulder at
the back end of the said bar, which pin or shoulder engages with the under side of
the said loose plate; or any other suitable means may be used for fixing the said
bar, which is provided with blocks of a thickness corresponding with the space
between the saws; these blocks I term distance blocks. The sliding fork bar
having been lowered into position, and the intermediate jaw having been fixed in
its place, the screws in the outer jaws are turned until the faces of the sliding jaws
or the strips of wood affixed to them are nearly in contact with the outer sides of
the saws; the apparatus is then ready for use.
When my apparatus is to be used for steadying three or more saws on the same
spindle I remove from the pair of jaws carried by the sliding bar aforesaid the piece
of metal forming the intermediate jaw, and I fix in its place a fork having two or

page_text: I
more branches, according to the number of saws, each of which branches constitutes
an intermediate jaw, and carries a "distance block" of a width equal to the distance
apart of the saws between which such block will lie, and I remove from the saw slot
the bar herein-before described, and substitute two or more bars, according to the
number of saws, each of which bars is provided with a "distance block" of the
necessary thickness. I then close the sliding jaws until the strips of wood affixed
to them nearly bear on the outer saws, and the apparatus is ready for use. By
thus varying the number of the jaws or forks carried by the sliding bar aforesaid
and the number of bars in the saw slots, and by furnishing the said jaws and bars
with "distance blocks" of the required thickness, the apparatus may be used with
any required number of saws set at any required distance apart.
Having now described the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe the
manner in which it is to be performed, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
I will describe my improvements as applied to a saw bench, in which two saws
are mounted.
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings represent in side elevation and in plan respec-
tively the said saws, part of the bench in which they are mounted, and my improved
apparatus for steadying the said saws.
Figure 3 represents in section that part of the bench to which the steadying
apparatus is fixed, the said apparatus and the saws being represented in end
elevation.
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 represent details herein-after referred to.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the said Figures.
A is the saw bench; B is the saw spindle; and C, C, are the saws mounted
thereon; D is a standard bolted to the bench A, at the upper end of which standard
is a socket d¹, through which passes the bar E, which can be slidden up and down
in the said socket as required, it being fixed at any height at which it may be
adjusted by means of set screws e', e², the screw e' serving to affix upon the said bar
a collar e, which limits the descent of the said bar, and the screw e² serving to hold
the said bar firmly in position. e, e, are jaws formed on the forked bar E, on
which jaws are mounted jaws F, F, which slide in recesses formed in the said jaws
e, e es, es, are plates which are affixed to the lower parts of the jaws E, E, and
support the jaws F, F. fl, f¹, are screws which pass through the parts f2, f2, of
the jaws F, F, and are kept in position therein by pins or keys f³, f³, fixed in the
said parts ff, which pins engage in annular grooves formed around the said
screws, which engage in female screws formed in the jaws et, e. f, f, are strips or
blocks of wood, which are bolted to the jaws F, F, and which I prefer to make of
the form shown, in order to obtain as long a bearing surface as possible.
By referring to the Drawing it will be seen that the screws f', f', serve merely
to move the jaws F, F, towards and withdraw them from the saws, and do not
either bear against the said saws or take the whole strain of the parts which bear
against the saws, as is the case with the screws used in some existing kinds of
saw-steadying apparatus. e is a dovetail groove, in which is fitted the inter-
mediate jaw F', the said groove being slightly tapered towards the front of the
bar E to prevent the said jaw F¹ from being drawn out in that direction. The
said jaw is held in position by an excentric e7 on a shaft e8; the lower part of the
said jaw is formed with dovetails fo, f', (as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1) so
as to be capable of having either a "distance block"ƒ³ of the same size as the
blocks ff, fitted on the dovetail fe, or of having a smaller "distance block"
fitted into the dovetail f7. In either case the "distance block" is so fitted as to
be capable of lateral motion on or in the jaw F¹.
Figure 4 represents the modification of my Invention, which I use when more
than two screws are mounted on the same spindle. In this case I remove the single
intermediate jaw F¹ (Figure 3) from the fork e, and substitute a piece of metal

page_text: F formed with several such intermediate jaws, which are furnished with the
"distance blocks" ƒ³, f³, one of which jaws is interposed between each two adjacent
saws.
When only one saw is used the "intermediate jaw" and "distance block," herein
described, are not required.
Figure 5 is a plan of the loose plate used with a single saw.
Figure 6 represents in plan the loose plate and "intermediate bars" to be used
when the several saws are mounted on the same spindle.*
Figure 7 is a section of the said plate, showing one of the said bars mounted
therein.
In this case I make grooves g¹, gl, in the loose plate G, and insert therein the
"intermediate bars" H, H, one of which is interposed between each two of the
saws C, C. These bars are formed with recesses at h¹, in which are fitted "distance
blocks" h2, h3, (see Figures 8, 9, and 10), preferably made of wood of a width equal
to the distance between two adjacent saws.
Figure 8 is a plan of the under side of one of these blocks.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the said block, and Figure 10 is a cross section of
the said block.
Each block has a groove h³ in its under side, and a rib h* on its upper side,
between which rib and the adjacent saws a packing of greased hemp may be placed
to warm and lubricate the said saws; h³ is a shoulder, which engages under the
loose plate G, and prevents the bar H from being displaced. By this arrangement,
when it is required to cut boards of different thicknesses, all that is necessary (after
mounting the saws at the requisite distances apart on the spindle, and adjusting
the jaws herein-before described), is to remove from the bar or bars H the distance
block or blocks last in use, and to substitute a thinner or thicker block, or thinner
or thicker blocks, according to the thickness of the boards next to be cut, and the
consequent distance of the saws from one another. The spaces between the saws
being sufficiently closed by the said "distance blocks," no adjustment of the hemp
packing is necessary, whereas the "intermediate bars" now in use have pieces of
wood permanently fixed thereto, which are not wide enough to fill up the space
between the saws, and the workman consequently has to pack the said bars with
hemp or other packing, according to the best of his judgment.
I form an annular groove c¹ around the washer c between the saws, in order to
admit the intermediate bar without reducing the diameter of the bearing faces
of the said washer.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to the use
of steadying screws working in the jaws of the forked bar, herein-before referred to,
as I am aware that that is old, neither do I limit myself to the precise details herein-
before described, as they may be varied without departing froin the nature of my
said Invention; but I claim as my said Invention,―
Firstly. The application to the jaws on the forked bar, herein-before referred to,
of sliding jaws adjustable by screws, essentially as and for the purpose described.
Secondly. The modification herein-before described, and illustrated in Figures
1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying Drawings, whereby the steadying apparatus is
adapted to the steadying of two or more saws mounted on the same spindle, that is
to say, mounting in the fork of the aforesaid bar an "intermediate jaw" or "inter-
mediate jaws" furnished with a "distance block" or "distance blocks," one of the
said "intermediate jaws" being interposed between every two adjacent saws,
essentially as and for the purpose described.
Thirdly. The improved construction and arrangement of the bars placed in the
saw slots of saw benches, in which several saws are mounted on the same spindle,
that is to say, forming recesses in the fore parts of the said bars, and fitting therein
suitably formed "distance blocks" of a width equal to the distance between the

page_text: adjacent saws, and mounting the said bars in the saw slots of the loose plates of the
said bench, essentially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Casson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN CASSON. (L.S.)