IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS AND TOOL-HOLDERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Milton Bibbins, of Williamsport, in Lycoming,
County and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, temporarily of
the Office for Patents, 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, for
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Milton Bibbins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1881.
JOHN MILTON BIBBINS, of Williamsport, in Lycoming, County and State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, temporarily of the Office for Patents,
323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS AND
TOOL-HOLDERS."
The tool I prefer to use is in section rectangular, and thin, flat, and straight;
this tool is supported as nearly as possible to its cutting edge upon the tool holder.
One form of tool is broad, flat, and thin, and the holder consists simply of a square
or other convenient form of holder, having a single flange or raised edge, which
serves to keep the tool from slipping sideways. By turning this holder end for
end the flange will be on the other side, so that the tool can get well into a corner,
either to right or left. Two flanges can be used on the holder if desired, but I
prefer one only. This form of holder is also adapted for using up old files as
turning tools, particularly flat ones, such as are known as parallel files; these are
laid upon the holder similarly to the previously mentioned tools.
My Invention also relates to a method of keeping tools from slipping back.
This is accomplished by serrating or forming notches in one or both edges of the
tool, and serrating the tool holder to match it, or using a serrated nut or
equivalent where such device is employed to secure the tool. These serrations it is
obvious are equally applicable to curved tools as to straight ones.
In the case of very long holders for large work, such as boring out cranks and
the like, it is sometimes necessary to employ a cramp and set screw or equivalent
to keep the tool firm to the holder.
For using these thin tools upon edge for roughing out, etcetera, I generally
employ a holder in two pieces, having a channel left for the tool to be in. Part of
this divided holder is swelled out for strength, and also to leave room for a bolt to
be put through and clamp the two firmly together. These tools are generally
suitable for either lathes or planing and other similar machines.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Milton Bibbins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th July 1881.
JOHN MILTON BIBBINS, of Williamsport, in Lycoming, County and State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, temporarily of the Office for Patents,
323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOOLS AND
TOOL HOLDERS."
The tool I prefer to use is in section rectangular, and thin, flat, and straight;
this tool is supported as nearly as possible to its cutting edge upon the tool holder.
One form of tool is broad, flat, and thin, and the holder consists simply of a square
or other convenient form of holder, having a single flange or raised edge, which
serves to keep the tool from slipping sideways. By turning this holder end for
end the flange will be on the other side, so that the tool can get well into a corner,
either to right or left. This form of holder is also adapted for using up old files as
turning tools, particularly flat ones, such as are known as parallel files; these are
laid upon the holder similarly to the previously mentioned tools.
My Invention also relates to a method of keeping tools from slipping back.
This is accomplished by serrating or forming notches in one or both edges of the
tool, and serrating the tool holder to match it, or using a serrated nut or
equivalent where such device is employed to secure the tool. These serrations it
is obvious are equally applicable to curved tools as to straight ones.
In the case of very long holders for large work, such as boring out cranks and
the like, it is sometimes necessary to employ a cramp and set screw or equivalent
to keep the tool firm to the holders.
For using these thin tools upon edge for roughing out, etcetera, I generally
employ a holder in two pieces, having a channel left for the tool to be in. Part of
this holder is swelled out for strength, and also to leave room for a bolt to be put
through to secure the tool. These tools are generally suitable for either lathes or
planing and other similar machines.
Reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, in which like letters
represent like parts, Fig. 1 is an end view of part of a slide rest with
one form of tool holder and tool in which the tool C lies upon the flat
top of the holder A, and is held down by the clamps of the slide rest, which
are screwed down upon it and the cover D in the ordinary manner, the
flange B at the side preventing the tool or cover from slipping sideways; by
turning this holder end for end the flange will be at the other side, and the tool can
thus get right into a corner against a face, either to right or left. The tool, as
shown, is a thin straight tool or an old flat file. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of
Fig. 1.
When using this form of holder for old files or other tools which may not
be quite flat, or the sides not quite parallel, I find it well to lay a thin cover of
metal D on the top of the file; this adapts itself to the shape of the tool, and
being clamped down in the slide rest holds it securely, and in the case of files
saves them from a very probable fracture. It also tends to prevent jarring, as
with a broad flat smoothing tool, for instance, by pressing it almost up to the
cutting edge, as shown in Fig. 2. I find the old file forms a most excellent and
useful tool, and will take a moderate "roughing" cut, and smooth at the same time
the fine metal shearings, fill up the space from the end of cover D to the cutting
edge, and hold the cooling water, and smooth up the job. When a long tool
(preferably not a file) and holder are employed extending far beyond the edge of
the slide rest, I find it better to employ a clamp similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but
without the holder or shank, which should be placed as near the cutting edge as

page_text: practicable to prevent jarring, and give increased rigidity; or the clamp may be
formed in one piece with the holder. F 3 (end elevation) is suitable for a square
file or tool, or is recessed, as shown, for a. triangular file, and is especially useful in
small lathes, so as to get the cutting edge of the tool below the centre line of the
work. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 3. In the Figs. 3 and 4 the holder is
clamped to the slide rest, and the tool is secured in the large end of the holder by
the set screws G. Fig. 5 shows a way of holding a straight thin tool on edge, and
is intended to supply a want which I have experienced in using other tools, such
as curved tools, generally set on edge. I find that in heavy work especially they
are liable to slip. Now I find in the first place that a straight tool is less liable to
slip than a curved one, and in the next place I employ, where necessary, teeth,
serrations, or corrugations upon the tool, and corresponding corrugations upon the
bolt head or holder, or both; the teeth or equivalent are applicable to curved as
well as straight tools. Fig. 6 is a section upon line y, z, Fig. 5, and it will be
seen that the tool fits into a dovetail groove in the head of the holder, the slanting
portion E¹ of the head of the bolt E pressing it firmly against the bottom of the
groove, and the serrations upon the edge of the tool and upon the slanting portion
of the bolthead render it almost impossible for the tool to slip back; and in
practice I find that such a tool so fixed shows no signs of stirring even after hours
of heavy work. The edge of the recess which contains the bolt head is in line
with the edge of the hole through which the bolt passes, so that there is nothing to
prevent the full power of the nut when screwed up coming upon the slanting
portion, and so upon the tool. In ordinary work it is not really necessary to use
the serrations, though in general I prefer to employ them.
I have chiefly described and illustrated my Invention as applied to lathes, but I
do not confine myself to lathes only, the Invention being applicable to most kinds
of ordinary machine tools.
Having now described my Invention and the method of performing the same, I
wish it to be understood that I am aware that old files have been already used as
machine tools, and that I do not claim any exclusive right to use them for that
purpose, except as hereinafter set forth, but that what I do claim and desire to
protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of the flanged holder A, B, with the file or tool C and
cover D, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.
Second. As a machine tool holder the stock or holder A having a single
projecting flange B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.
Third. As a tool and holder the combination of the clamp head and screws
with the thin tool and projecting shank or holder, substantially as set forth and
shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. As a machine tool the employment with a suitable holder of the thin
straight tool C, substantially as set forth and shown.
Fifth. The method berein set forth of preventing the tool from slipping in its
holder by serrating or grooving the tool and holder, or portion or attachment
thereof, substantially as set forth and shown.
Sixth. As a means of securing a tool in its holder, the bolt E provided with a
head bevelled to fit the tool, and serrated or plain, as needed, substantially as set
forth and shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wilton Bibbins, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN WILTON BIBBINS. (L.S.)