Improvements in or Connected with Wood Planing Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Wood Planing Machines.
I WILLIAM SMITH, of Cleveland Terrace, Wellington, Salop, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the arrangement and construction of parts constituting the
mechanism of a circular planing machine for wood working; and the primary objects
of my invention are to provide a hollow circular plane, which shall receive the shavings
towards the centre, and throw them off from such centre, the knives being in most
cases fitted with back irons, to ensure more perfect work; to provide an adjustablo
spring yielding fence for flat planing, to keep the work up to its position; and also to
provide a combined vibrating and sliding frame, to carrying irregular forms, when
being operated upon by the circular plane; and in connection with such mechanism
to provide an indicating adjustable stop or centre, for placing and holding the piece
being operated upon, at any given position or angle.
The spindle carrying the plane, may be vertical or horizontal, generally the former,
and carried in or upon a suitable frame, and driven with convenient pulleys &c. The
plane is constructed after the following manner; 1 provide a circular flange of a
suitable diameter and depth according to the work to be done; the plate upon which
this flange is carried, being screwed or otherwise formed for attachment to the main
spindle of the machine. At suitable angles in this flange, I make one, two, or more
slots or plane mouths, to receive a corresponding number of plane irons, and arrange
that these shall be secured to the said flange upon the inside; thus the shavings would
be thrown from the plane mouth into the centre or hollow portion of the plane, and
thence fall away. The contour of the knives or "irons" would be variously shaped to
suit the articles to be planed, such as flat, round, hollow, moulded or otherwise.
1 further provide, for certain work, a fence substantially of the following construction;
Upon a table which may be adjusted in height and also horizontally, I prepare a fenco
situate upon each side of the revolving plane, allowing the said plane to stand forward
the depth of the cut or shaving. To this fence is also given a backward and forward
adjustment independent of the table.
In some instances it happens, particularly in thin wood, that the piece being planed,
is uneven in thickness, or from other causes, which makes it difficult to keep tho
planed side or surface up to its fence. To obviate this, I provide a second fence upon
the opposite side of the piece being planed. This fence is provided with lateral
springs, by which it is in constant pressure against the work in hand, maintaining
its proper position in contact with the plane cutters.
For planing many irregular forms 1 modify the table and fence, and arrange it to
carry upon centres, the piece to be tooled. Upon a suitable bed or frame, 1 provide
an adjustable longitudinal slide, which in its turn carries a transverse slide. Upon this
transverse slide provide a vibrating frame, which carries the piece to be tooled, and
also a dummy or copy. This vibration or transverse motion, duo to the longitudinal
irregular shape of the dummy or copy, is permitted or caused by springs which
always tend to press the frame, (and dummy) towards a fixed point coinciding with
the periphery of the circular plane. Thus when the dummy is fixed, and also the
piece to be tooled, the former resting against a fixed stop, and the latter against the
circular plane, upon a forward motion being given to the frame, the piece is presented
to the surface of the plane in a line in comformity to the dummy, and thereby
reproducing its shape upon the piece.
Again, it frequently happens that pieces are required having several sides which
should be planed. To do this at one setting, I have devised the following: I provide
that the draw back or loose centre, shall be of a chisel or other suitable holding form

page_text: and in addition to its forward and backward motion, shall bo capable of a rotating
motion, actuated from the rear, by reason of the screw being made tubular, and
permitting the "centre" to pass therethrough, the latter being provided with a collar
to prevent any longitudinal motion independent of the screw. At the rear end of the
screw is a hand wheel or its equivalent, for turning the screw and thus drawing the
centre in or out, securing or releasing the piece. The central spindle is extended to
the rear, beyond the screw, and at its termination is provided with arm, handle, finger,
or catch, which shall take into a recess, or other provision upon an indicator plate.
Thus, having set the piece in a given position, and planed the one surface, a second
surface may be presented to the tool, without its removal from the machine; the
dummy being operated upon in like manner where necessary.
Dated this 30th day of October 1888.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Wood Planing Machines.
I WILLIAM SMITH, of Cleveland Terrace, Wellington, Salop, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to bo particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to the arrangement and construction of parts constituting
the mechanism of a circular planing machine for wood working; and the primary
objects of my invention are, to provide a hollow circular plane, which shall receive
the shavings towards the centre, and throw them off from such centre, the knives
being in most cases fitted with back irons, to ensure more perfect work; to provide
an adjustable spring yielding fence, for flat planing, to keep the work up to its position;
and also to provide a combined vibrating and sliding frame, to carry irregular forms,
when being operated upon by the circular plane'; and in connection with such
mechanism, to provide an indicating adjustable stop or centre, for placing and holding
the piece being operated upon, at any given position or angle.
In order to more clearly explain these my improvements, and how they are to be
performed, I have appended hereunto illustrative sheets of drawings upon which are
figures and letters of reference, similar letters referring throughout the several views
to the same thing or part, and in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side view of a machine adapted to suit these my improvements.
Fig. 2, is a front view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a detailed sectional view of the circular plane.
Fig. 4, is a cross sectional view in elevation of Fig. 3, on line A-B.
Fig. 5, is an elevation of the plane shewing mouth of cutters.
Fig. 6, is a sectional plan of Fig. 3, on line C-D.
Fig. 7, is an inverted plan of the plane shewing cutters &c.
Fig. 8, is a front elevation of the table carrying the yielding fence, and also the
fence regulating the depth of cut.
Fig. 9, is a side view of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10, is a plan view of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11, is a front view of the modified form of fence &c. to suit irregular
forms.
Fig. 12, is an end elevation of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13, is a plan view of Fig. 11.
Fig. 14, is a sectional end view of Fig. 11, about line E-F.
Figs. 15 & 16, are views of detail parts hereinafter explained.
Figs. 17, & 18, are enlarged views shewing combined indicating and centreing
mechanism.
The spindle a, carrying the plane b, is illustrated (see Figs. 1 & 2) as being
vertical, this being most suitable for work accomplished with the other parts herein

page_text: described and illustrated, nevertheless it will be readily seen that apart from these
particular forms of tools, the said plane may also be used in an horizontal form.
The precise form of machine frame way if desired be modified to suit requirements,
that which is illustrated shewing one way in which these my improvements may be
applied.
The plane, is constructed after the following manner, (see Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 ;)
I provide a circular flange c, of a suitable diameter and depth according to the work
to be done; the plate d, upon which this flange is carried, being screwed or other-
wise formed for attachment to the main spindle a, of the machine. At suitable angles
in this flange, I make one, two, or more slots or plane mouths e, to receive a corre-
sponding number of plane irons f, and arrange that these shall be secured to the said
flange, upon the inside by pins and bolts g; thus the shavings would be thrown
from the plane mouth into the centre or hollow portion of the plane, and thence fall
away. The contour of the knives or "irons" would be variously shaped to suit the
articles to be planed, such as flat, round, hollow, moulded or otherwise.
I further provide, for certain work, a fence K, substantially of the following con-
struction, (see Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, & 10). Upon a table i, which may be adjusted in
height by bolts, or other equivalent device, I prepare a fence k, situated upon each
side of the revolving plane b, allowing the said plane to stand forward the depth of
the cut or shaving.
To this fence is also given a backward and forward adjustment independent of the
table, by means of screw pins l, or other similar means.
In planing the opposite side of a piece of wood it is desirable that both sides of the
piece may be planed, or more than one operation of planing be performed upon the
same surface, without readjusting the fence; that is to say, the object and use of this
fence is, to substitute the yielding pressure of the hand (as ordinarily) in pressing
the work up to the cutters; this I provide for, after the following manner-Upon
In most
the opposite side of the piece being planed, I arrange the yielding fence m.
cases this fence m, is provided with rollers n, n, & o. These rollers may if desired
each and all have imparted to them a rotary motion by means of wheels, or by bands p,
upon pulleys, &r, pulleys being driven by band t, from main driving spindle u,
(see Fig. 1). As illustrated however only two of such rollers are rotated, while tho
roller o, is an idlo one. These rollers rotate in the opposite direction to that of the
plane, in order to counteract the pulling in tendency of the plane cutters.
This fenco is provided with a lateral spring v, by which it is in constant pressure
against the work in hand, maintaining its proper position in contact with the plane
cutters.
In the slide w, which carries the fence m, &c., are two adjusting slots c, x, and
below them, in the table, are two narrower slots y, y; bolts 2,, are made to engage
in these slots, so as to serve as adjustable stops to regulate the nearest approach of
the fence to the plane b. It will be seen (see Fig. 9) that the upper part or neck of
these bolts, fit freely in the slots a, a, permitting the to and fro motion of the slide,
while the nut grips it firmly to the table at any desired point along the slots, .. In
these slots y, y, an adjustable stop bolt a', is also secured at any desired suitable
point, and against which the spring v acts.
For planing many irregular forms, I modify the table and fence, and arrange it to
carry upon centres, the piece to be tooled, see Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive. Upon a
suitable hed or frame 1, I provide an adjustable longitudinal slide c¹, which in its turn
carries a transverse slide di. Upon this transverse slide, I provide a vibrating frame e',
which carries the piece to be tooled, and also a dummy or copy g'. This vibration
or transverse motion, due to the longitudinal irregular shape of the dummy or copy,
is permitted or caused by springs ', which always tend to press the frame e, with the
duminy g', towards a fixed point i, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13, which said point
coincides with the periphery of the circular plane, also shown in dotted lines in the
same figure.
Thus when the dummy g', is fixed, and also the piece to be tooled, the former
resting against the fixed stop it, and the latter against the circular plane b; upon a

page_text: forward motion being given to the frame el, that is longitudinally along the bed b
the piece, is presented to the surface the plane in a line in conformity to the
dummy, and thereby reproducing the shape of the latter upon the piece f¹.
The rear part 1, of the vibrating frame el, is carried upon a slide which permits of
adjustment by means of the T headed bolt ', and the slot l, whereby the part j',
may be secured at any desired point to suit the length of piece to be tooled.
The vibrating frame el, is actuated by a spring h¹, upon each of the guide rods n³, n'.
The relative position of the frame e', to the slide d¹, and also the pressure of the
springs, are regulated by the stops o', & p', along the slots respectively q. &
Again. It frequently happens that pieces are required having several sides which
should be planed. To do this at one setting, I have devised the following: (see
Figs. 17, & 18,) I provide that the draw back or looso centre s', shall be of a chisel or
other suitable holding form, and in addition to its forward and backward motion,
shall be capable of a rotating motion, actuated from the rear, by reason of the screw t¹,
being made tubular, and permitting the "centre" spindle u', to pass therethrough,
the latter being provided with a collar el, at the one end, and the indicating disc w¹,
keyed on at the other end, to prevent any longitudinal motion except by means of the
screw t; at the rear end of the screw is a hand wheel al, or its equivalent, for
turning the screw and thus drawing the centre in or out, securing or releasing
the piece. The central spindle u¹, is extended to the rear, beyond the screw, and at
its termination is provided with a disc w¹, having divided notches ¹, or marks
which shall engage with a catch a², carried upon a bracket b².
This catch a, being held up to the recess in the disc, by means of the spring c²,
a finger piece d², being provided whereby the catch may he readily depressed while
the position of the disc is adjusted. Thus, having set the piece in a given position,
and planed the one surface, a second surface at any angle thereto may be presented
to the tool, without its removal from the machine; the dummy being operated upon
in like manner where necessary.
The stop, will be carried or supported from the table or frame in any suitable
convenient manner, generally the former.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a wood planing machine the combination of the inverted hollow circular
plane b, with the cutting knives. or irons f, the said cutting knives, being fixed
angular-wise; constructed and operating substantially as described and illustrated in
Figs. 3 to 7 inclusive, and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination in a wood planing machine with the circular plane, of the
parts constituting the yielding fence arrangement, constructed and operating
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, & 10, and for the purposes
specified.
3. The combination in a wood planing machine with the circular plane of the
vibrating frame el, carrying the dummy and the piece to be tooled, the whole constructed
and operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive.
4. In a circular planing machine the combination and arrangement with the
vibrating mechanism, of the parts constituting the indicating mechanism, constructed
and operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 17 & 18, and for the
purposes specified.
5. The modification of the combination with the vibrating frame c', of the parts
constituting the indicating mechanism, substantially as described and illustrated in
Figs. 11 & 13.
Dated this 30th day of T.L. 1000
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.