IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS, PART OR PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
ISAAC DODDS, of Horsley Iron Works, in the Parish of Tipton and
County of Stafford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the
Fourth, by His Royal Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the
Twenty-ninth day of January, in the fifth year of Ifis reign, did, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant to me, the said Isaac
Dodds, His special licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Isaac Dodds, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Isaac Dodds, might at any time agree with, and
no others, 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 Towns of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
AND SHAPING WOOD AND OTHER MATERIALS, PART OR PARTS OF WHICH
MACHINERY ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Isaac

page_text: Dodds, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particu-
larly to discribe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in His 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 thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Isaac Dodds, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be carried into effect,
will be fully understood by the following discription thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereto appended (that is to say):
My improvements in machinery for cutting and shaping wood and
other materials, part or parts of which machinery are applicable to
other useful purposes, consists in certain mechanical arrangements
designed for the purposes of grinding saws or other cutting instruments
in machinery employed for cutting and shaping wood or other materials
into various forms, or in shifting or sliding the bed or carriage upon
which the wood or other article to be cut is fixed, in order that such
saws or other cutting instruments may be so brought into operation
upon the wood or other material intended to be cut, or that the wood or
other material may be so brought under the operation of the saws or
other cutting instruments, as to cause the described forms to be given
to the material by the action of the saws or other cutting instruments
when put into operation.
In order to render these improvements perfectly evident, I have,
in the accompanying Drawings, represented my novel arrangements
of machinery in several Figures and under several modifications, suited
to different purposes; that is, to the cutting of different shapes in
wood and other materials. Fig. 1, a side elevation of a machine
for cutting irregular forms out of planks, boards, or blocks of wood
or other material; Fig. 2, is a plan or horizontal view of the same;
and Fig. 3, is a vertrical section taken transversely through the
machine, nearly in the plane of the saws; the respective letters of
reference pointing out the same parts in these three Figures.

page_text: This machine is designed to cut out and produce the first rough forms
in wood for gun stocks, staves for casks, curved pieces for the felloes
of wheels, backs, arms, and other erregular shaped parts of chairs and
sofas, ships timbers of various descriptions, and for a great variety of
other erregularly shaped pieces required in carpentering, cabinet
making, coach and boat building, pattern making, and many other
purposes. A, A, denotes the side standards of iron which support the
machinery, mounted upon foundations of stone, iron, timber, or other
substantial base. B. B, are the side bars, railways. or ribs of the
framing on which the carriage C moves longitudinally. This framing
B, supporting carriage C, is mounted upon transverse bars, railways, or
ribs D, D, which allow of its moving laterally, the rails D being fixed
upon pillars or walls resting upon the foundation. E, E, E, represent
three pieces of timber intended to be cut into erregularly curved
shapes. These pieces are fixed upon the carriage C, by clamps or other
fastnings, and are supported by transverse blocks or bearers bencatlı,
resting upon the rails of the carriage. These three pieces of timber
are so fixed upon the carriage as to correspond with the the situations
of three vertical saws F, F, F, mounted in a vibrating frame G, G,
which saws are intended to act simultainously in cutting the three
pieces of timber into similar curved shapes by a parollel action. The
vibrating saw frame G, slides up and down vertically upon perpen-
dicular guide rods H, II, fixed to the side standards, and is actuated
by means of a rod I, connected to it and to a crank K. below. The
crank shaft L, which is the main driving shaft of the machine. is
driven by a pully and band leading from any first mover. On this.
crank shaft there is an excentric M, carrying a click 0; this click
falls into the teeth of ratchet wheel P, fixed on the end of the
axle or shaft Q. Aong pinion R on the shaft Q takes into the teeth
of a rack in the under side of the horrizontal bar S, which bar is
affixed to the carriage C; hence it will be perceived that by giving
rotary motion to the ratchet P, and its axle Q, the carriage C,
with the planks, boards, or blocks of wood or other material placed
thereon, will be made to advance slowly against the edges of the saws.
On the side of the carriage is to be affixed the pattern or model T,

page_text: which shall direct the cutting or shape to be given to the planks, boards,
or blocks by the action of the saws. The manner of effecting this will
be best explained by the horrizontal view of the machine, Fig. 2.
A friction roller.or any other smooth surface intended to operate as a
wiper is mounted in one of the side standards of the machine at V, and
two weighted levers W, W, are mounted on the opposite side, carrying
anti-friction rollers X, X, which press against the side of the frame
B, B, for the purpose of forcing up the frame B, and the carriage C
so that tlie model T shall, as the carriage advances,, continually bear
against the wiper V.
Having now explained the construction of the several parts of this
machine a very slight description of its mode of operating will be
sufficient to render the improvement evident. The rotary motion of
the crank shaft L driven by the band and rigger causes the vibrating
frame G, G, carrying the saws F, F, F, to move rapidly up and
down upon its perpendicular guide rods H, H; at the same time
the rotation of the excentric M, gives such reciprocating movements
to the rod N, and clik O, as to cause the ratchet wheel P to be
gradually driven one tooth every rotation of the crank. This rotary
movement of the ratchet wheel P, with its axle Q and pinion R,
gradually advances the carriage C, upon the longitudinal railways
B, B, bringing forward the planks, boards, or blocks E, E, E, against
the cutting edges of the vibrating saws F, F, F. This simple pro-
gressive movement of the carriage would cause the saws to slit the
planks, boards, or blocks, in longitudinal right lines; it is, however, to
be remembered that the frame B, B, slides upon the transverse rail-
way D, D, and that as the carriage C advances its lateral position is
determined by the inequalities on the edge of the model T, which is
pressed against the wiper V, by the weighted levers W, W; it follows,
therefore, that as the carriage C, with the planks, boards, or blocks
advances, it will, with the frame D, D, be made to slide laterally to
and fro, in obedience to the form of the guide or model T, and con-
sequently that the saws as they vibrate will cut the material under
operation is certain curved lines in perfectly parallel coincidence with
the fixed pattern or model T.
3

page_text: It remains now to explain the manner in which the blades of
the saws are at all times made to assume positions coincident with
the direction of the cutting lines, that is, parallel to the face or
figure of the model. The clips or hilts a, a, into which the ends of
the saw blades F, F, are inserted, are attached to the top and bottoni
rails of the vibrating frame G, G. by means of pivets or centers, as
shewn in the detached view of one of the saws at Fig. 4, which
mode of attachment allows the blades of the saws to turn horri-
zontally, for the purposes of assuming positions which shall at all times
be parallel with the operating part of the surface of the model T. In
order to preserve this parallelism of the saw blades a small tail lever
b, b, extends from the hilts of each saw, and these tail levers are all
connected by a rode to one end of a parallel lever & turning on pivets
fixed in the rails of the saw frame. The reverse end of these parallel
levers are connected to arms e, e, extending from a sliding piece f in-
serted into a long slot in the side frame of the carriage. It will now
be perceived, by thus connecting the saws to the sliding piece f, that as
the carriage C is made to slide to and fro laterally by the erregular
surface of the model T, the saw blades will be turned to different
angles, at all times preserving their correct cutting positions and perfect
parallelism with the model.
Having explained the construction and operation of the several parts
of my improved machine for cutting of different shapes in wood and
other materials into various forms for useful purposes, I desire it to be
understood that I do not intend to claim as new all the parts of the said
machine, as many of those parts are common to other sawing machinery;
neither do I intend to confine myself to the particular arrangement
shewn in the foregoing Figures; but I claim as the particular feature
of novelty invented by me in connecting with a sawing machine for
cutting and shaping wood and other materials, first, the adaptation of
the transverse railways or ribs D, D, upon which the frame with the
material to be cut may be slidden laterally; secondly, the longitudinal
railways or ribs B, B, upon which the carriage for conducting the
articles to be cut is gradually advanced, to the saws; thirdly, the attach-
ment of a model or pattern T. for the purpose of determining the forms

page_text: of the pieces to be cut by the action of the saws; and, fourthly, the
manner of mounting the saw blades so as to enable them to turn into
the correct cutting lines.
My machine for cutting grooves, mortices, tenans, and which may
be employed for plaining small surfaces, is shewn in the Drawings
at Fig. 5, a side elivation, and Fig. 6, a plan or horizontal view.
A, is rigger affixed to a rotary shaft, carrying a crank B; to this
crank is connected a rod C, which at the reverse end is attached to
the sliding carriage E, holding the cutter. D. D, D, D, are four
cranks or levers, on the ends of which the frame II is mounted; this
frame His formed with grooves or ribs within, for the carriage E
to move to and fro upon. G, is the frame supporting the machinery,
which rests upon the foundation. I, is a vertical table to which the
article intended to be cut must be made fast. First this table is
intended to slide in two directions, for the purpose of adjustment, to
suit the dimensions of the hole intended to be cut, which adjustable
movement is affected by screws. The table I, may be brought to any
desired angle, by means of a quadrant rack, as shewn by dots, for
the purpose of cutting the mortices or groves at any desired angle of
obliquity. The rotary action of the shaft and crank B, gives the reci-
procating movement to the cutter fixed in the carriage E, by sliding
the carriage to and fro on the groves or ribs of the frame H. In order
to increase the depth of the grove or recess to be cut in the article
placed upon the table I, the carriage H, mounted on the cranks or
levers D, D, D, D, must be lowered. This is done by a click connected
to an excentric on the crank shaft B, the end of which click takes into
a ratchet wheel L. The axle of this ratchet wheel carries two pinions
M, M, which respectively take into two segment racks or toothed
wheels F, F, on the shalf or axle of two of the cranks or parallel
levers D, D. It will now be perceived that by the gradual rotary
movement of the ratchet wheel L, the frame II upon the cranks or
parallel levers D, D, will be gradually lowered to such an extent as
shall cause the sliding cutter to cut the mortice or groove to any
required depth. K, is a balance weight attached to an arm extending
from one of the parallel levers D, by means of which the frame and

page_text: carriage is balanced in whatever position it is placed. I sometimes
apply, in place of the guide frame H, and parallel levers D, D, a
parallel motion, shewn detached at Fig. 7, which is peculiarly adapted
to the machine last described for cutting at right angles to the face
plate or table. This parallel motion carries the cutting point at all
times perfectly parallel to itself, by means of the peculiar arrange-
ments and exact proportions of the levers a, b, c, d, e, shewn in Fig. 7,
and also by outlines in the situation in which it would be applied at
Fig. 5. Instead of the chissel-pointed cutter last described, I some-
times insert into the socket of the carriage E, Fig. 5, or into the
socket f. Fig. 7, a key-hole saw for cutting wood, and then give to
the chuck placed in front of the table on which the wood to be cut is
fixed, such a rotary or reciprocating motion, or any other erregular
movement by hand or by machinery, as shall enable me to cut out shapes
or forms of various descriptions. The paralell motion last described
may be applied to other useful purposes, for instance, to steam engines
commonly denominated vibrating pillar engines," as it is capable of
communicating an extra paralell motion, by attaching the bars, links,
or levers c and d to engines of that description for the purpose of
working the rod of an air pump or other pump attached at f. Fig. 8,
represents an elivation, an apparatus for cutting the eyes of spade,
shovel, or screw handles. Fig. 9, is a plan or horrizontal view of the
same; a, is the base or bench; b, a standard supporting an axle driven
by a rigger or pulley; at the end of this axle a crank c is fixed, to which
is attached a rod d, connecting the crank to a sliding bar e, e. This
bar moves in slots in standards f. f (one of which is shewn in the front
view, Fig. 10.) To this sliding bar e, the cross heads g, g, of a saw h,
are affixed; these cross heads are also connected to the square guide
rods i, i, which slide through square apertures in the pullies k, k,
turning on hollow bushes in the standards f. f. A block or poppet
head 1, is affixed on the bench a, and a large bush passes through it,
one end of the bush carrying a pulley m, and the other end receiving
the chuck plate n, on which the chuck, with the piece of wood o to be
cut, is fixed in the ordinary way. The saw p is attached to the two
guide rods i, i, and is streched by right and left handed screws q. The

page_text: saw having been passed through a hole previously perforated in the
shovel head or piece o intended to be cut, rotary motion is given to
the crank, which causes the saw to move reciprocally in a horizontal
direction. The piece to be cut may, during the action of this saw, be
turned round by hand, so as to bring the saw to act upon it in any
desired way, or it may be driven round by giving to the pullies slow
motions by racks, screws, or any other convenient means which are
well understood by mechanics.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Dodds, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day of
July, in the sixth year of the reign of His Majesty King William the
Fourth, the said Isaac Dodds came before our said Lord the King, in
His 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.
Tnrolled the Twenty-ninth day of July. One thousand eight hun-