IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO PLANING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Laysell, of No. 95, Burngreave Road, in the Parish
of Sheffield, and County of York, Armour Plate Manager, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO PLANING MACHINES."
Sealed the 28th March 1877, and dated the 6th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Laysell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1876.
GEORGE LAYSELL, of No. 95, Burngreave Road, in the Parish of Sheffield, and
County of York, Armour Plate Manager. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO
PLANING MACHINES."
My Invention has for its object the adaptation of planing machines for planing
curved armour plates and other curved surfaces of metal, and consists in adapting
and applying to existing machines the mechanism herein-after described.
In the first place, there is fixed to the ordinary travelling table of the machine an
additional table (or tables) mounted on bearings or trunnions, so as to be capable of
moving or vibrating on either a transverse or a longitudinal axis in such a manner
as to correspond with the curve of the surface to be planed. The said movement of
the vibrating table is regulated by a copying bar or bars of the required curvature
fixed to this table, and caused to pass between fixed rollers, thereby communicating
to the upper surface of the table the changes of vertical level induced upon the bar
or bars. The ordinary traversing to and fro along the machine of the travelling
table will cause the vibrating table (or tables) to move on its axis or trunnions, and
its surface will be thereby made to describe any curve or irregular course that may
be arranged for by means of the particular form of the copying bar as it passes
between the fixed guiding rollers. By the said movement of the vibrating table on
its axis as it is carried to and fro along the machine, every part of its surface will be
brought in succession to an equal distance from the cutting tool, when the axis of
the table is transverse to it, and the angle of the cutting tool to the cross section of
the plate or other article fixed to the table will be constantly varied when the axis
of the table is longitudinal in relation thereto.
And my Invention consists, in the second place, in mounting the cross slide upon
bearings or trunnions at each end fixed to the standards of the machine, so that if
required the cross slide can be caused to move to and fro on its axis, and thereby

page_text: maintain the cutting tool always at right angles to the surface of the vibrating
table. This movement of the cross slide is intended to be regulated by means of a
lever fixed to the back of the slide, such lever being acted upon by a screw worked
from the gearing of the machine and a nut fixed in a slot in the lever, so as to raise
and depress the end of the lever at each traverse of the travelling table; or the same
effect may be produced by means of a segment of a worm wheel fastened to the
lever, and driven by a spiral worm on a vertical shaft.
The right proportion of movement on its axis to be given to the cross slide can
be obtained either by alteration of pitch in the screw and nut or worm and wheel,
or by alteration of speed made by change wheels connecting the same with the
driving gear of the planing machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Laysell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th April 1877.
GEORGE LAYSELL, of No. 95, Burngreave Road, in the Parish of Sheffield, and
County of York, Armour Plate Manager. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO
PLANING MACHINES."
My Invention has for its object the adaptation of planing machines for planing
curved armour plates and other curved surfaces of metal, and consists in adapting
and applying to existing machines the mechanism herein-after described.
or bars.
In the first place, there is fixed to the ordinary travelling table of the machine an
additional table or tables mounted on bearings or trunnions, so as to be capable of
moving or oscillating on either a transverse or a longitudinal axis in such a manner
as to correspond with the curve of the surface to be planed. The said movement of
the oscillating table is regulated by a copying bar or bars of the required curvature
fixed to this table, and caused to pass between fixed rollers, thereby communicating
to the upper surface of the table the changes of vertical level induced upon the bar
The ordinary traversing to and fro along the machine of the travelling
table will cause the oscillating table (or tables) to move on its axis or trunnions, and
its surface will be thereby made to describe any curve or irregular course that may
be arranged for by means of the particular form of the copying bar as it passes
between the fixed guiding rollers. By the said movement of the oscillating table on
its axis as it is carried to and fro along the machine, every part of its surface will be
brought in succession to an equal distance from the cutting tool, when the axis of
the table is transverse to it, and the angle of the cutting tool to the cross section of
the plate or other article fixed to the table will be constantly varied when the axis
of the table is longitudinal in relation thereto.
And my Invention consists, in the second place, in mounting the cross slide upon
bearings or trunnions at each end fixed to the standards of the machine, so that if
required the cross slide can be caused to move to and fro on its axis, and thereby
maintain the cutting tool always at right angles to the surface of the oscillating
table. This movement of the cross slide is intended to be regulated by means of a
lever fixed to the back of the slide, such lever being acted upon by a screw worked
from the gearing of the machine and a nut fixed in a slot in the lever, so as to raise
and depress the end of the lever at each traverse of the travelling table; or the same
effect may be produced by means of a segment of a worm wheel fastened to the
lever, and driven by a spiral worm on a vertical shaft.
The right proportion of movement on its axis to be given to the cross slide can
be obtained either by alteration of pitch in the screw and nut or worm and wheel,
or by alteration of speed made by change wheels connecting the same with the
driving gear of the planing machine.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the

page_text: accompanying Drawings, in which are represented planing machines with oscil-
lating tables having their axes respectively crosswise and lengthwise in relation to
the table.
'
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Sheet 1 Fig. 1 is a plan or horizontal view, Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 3 is a transverse section in the line Y, Z, of Figures 1 and 2 of a planing
machine with an oscillating table having its axis crosswise in relation to the table.
A is the bed or frame of an ordinary planing machine; B, B, are the standards of
the same; C is the ordinary planing machine table, having the usual to-and-fro
motion imparted to it in the usual manner; E is the cross slide mounted on an axis
or trunnions; F is the saddle, vertical or down slide, and tool holder; G is the
oscillating table; H is the axis or trunnions on which the oscillating table moves;
I, I, are the bearings or pedestals for supporting the oscillating table, and which are
bolted to the ordinary table C, as shewn; J is the copying bar, which is adjustable
as required in the supporting brackets K, K, bolted to the oscillating table; L is
the bracket fixed to the cross slide to carry the fixed guiding rollers M, M, and the
spring N, with rollers at each end for the purpose of steadying the oscillating table
when its axis is opposite to the guiding rollers; O is the axis or trunnion of the
oscillating cross slide; P is the lever by which the cross slide is moved by means of
the screw Q, set in motion by the bevil wheels R, R, from the horizontal shaft S, by
means of which the connection with the ordinary driving gear of the planing
machine can be made in any convenient manner; T, T, are the bearings on which
the cross slide is supported; U is the sliding nut in the slot of the lever P in which
the screw works; V, V, are the plates by which the cross slide is retained in the
bearings T, T.
It will be obvious that upon the ordinary table C being set in motion in the
direction of the arrow, the oscillating table G, being connected to it by the bearings
or pedestals I, I, and the axis or trunnion H, must move with it in the same direc-
tion;
but at the same time the table G is elevated or depressed by the copying bar J
passing between the fixed guiding rollers M, M; these rollers being kept at a con-
stant distance from the cutting tool F by the bracket L, cause the table G also to
move upon the axis or trunnion H, and the surface is thereby kept at an equal
distance from the tool, and the curved armour plate or other article fastened to the
table G is planed with nearly as much facility as if it were straight.
It will be observed that when the axis H is opposite the tool holder F, the tool
is then at right angles to the table G, and in order to enable the tool to maintain
this the best cutting position throughout the whole movement of the table, there are
fixed upon the standards B, B, the bearings T, T, which support the cross slide E
upon them by the axes O, O, and plates V, V. There is also fixed at the rear of the
cross slide E, and near one end, the lever P, which has a sliding nut U placed in a
slot near the end, and through the nut U there passes the screw Q, supported at
each end and obtaining a revolving motion from the wheels R, R, through the
shaft S, which is driven from the table C or gearing in any convenient and ordinary
way. Now as the table C moves in the direction of the arrow, the shaft S revolves
in the same direction, and the screw Q being made to revolve by the wheels R, R,
draws down the end of the lever P by the nut U (the nut at the same time sliding
in the slot so that the screw is kept straight), and the cross slide E is made to move
upon its axis O, and the tool is thereby kept at right angles to the curve of the
table G notwithstanding its changing position, and will continue to do so through
every to-and-fro motion of the tables.
The table G can be used if desired without the cross slide being made to oscillate.
In Sheet II. Fig. 4 is a plan or horizontal view, Fig. 5 a side elevation, and
Fig. 6 a front view of a planing machine with an oscillating table having its axis
lengthwise in relation to the ordinary table.
A is the bed or frame of an ordinary planing machine; B, B, are the standards of
the same; C is the ordinary planing machine table, having the usual to-and-fro

page_text: motion; E is an ordinary planing machine cross slide; F is the saddle, vertical
down slide, and tool holder; G, G, are the oscillating tables; these are shewn in
two parts, each being easily moved to suit the length of armour plate to be planed,
but they can be made in one length if any less rigid article require planing; I, I, are
the bearings upon which the oscillating tables are supported; J is the copying bar;
K is the girder connecting the tables and supporting the copying bar; L is the
bracket carrying guiding rollers; M, M, are the guiding rollers.
It will be clearly seen that by the ordinary table C being set in motion in the
direction of the arrow, the oscillating tables G, G, being fixed to it by the bearings
I, I, must move with it in the same direction, but at the same time they have an
up-and-down movement given to them by the copying bar J being caused to pass
between the fixed. guiding rollers M, M, which are held by the bracket L; the
amount of this movement is regulated by raising or lowering cither end of the
girder K, so as to alter the angle at which the girder is placed with regard to the axis
of the tables G, G, and also by altering the position or curving the bar J.
The use
of this movement in planing armour plates for ships' sides in which there is a large
amount of twist or wind will be obvious, as the edge can be made to any desired
bevel at any part of the plate with but one setting on the machine.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my Inven-
tion is,―
First. The adaptation and application to planing machines of an oscillating table
or tables and the mechanism represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and described,
whereby the oscillating table is caused to move on a transverse axis in such a
manner as to correspond with the curve of the surface to be planed, as herein-before
described.
Secondly. The adaptation and application to planing machines of an oscillating
table or tables and the mechanism represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6, and described,
whereby the oscillating tables are caused to move on a longitudinal axis in such a
manner as to correspond with the curve of the surface to be planed, as herein-before
described.
And, lastly. The mounting of the cross slide upon bearings or trunnions, and its
movement to and fro on its axis by the means described, in order to maintain the
cutting tool always at right angles to the surface of the vibrating table, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Laysell, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GEORGE LAYSELL. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN C. DUNCAN,
Atlas Works,
Sheffield,
Secretary of John Brown & Co., Limited.