IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING STONE
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
-
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING STONE."
A communication from abroad by Thomas Glaister, of Melbourne,
in the Colony of Victoria, Contractor.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 22nd April 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING
STONE," a communication, to be as follows:-

page_text: 3rd. An improved method of avoiding wear on the sides of the saw
frame.
4th. An improved mechanical arrangement for preserving the con-
necting rod at or very near to the level of the saw frame which it
works.
5th. A new mechanical arrangement for supplying sand and water to
the saws when at work.
5
The improved method of supporting the saw frame consists in
suspending it from hanging supports in contradistinction to suspending
it direct from a wheel supported by the upper framing and to supporting 1
it by rollers underneath.
The improved method of constructing the hanging supports consists
in providing each with friction rollers grooved on their periphery so as
to travel on suitable rails or guides attached to the upright framing.
The improved method of avoiding wear on the sides of the saw frame 1
consists in the use of friction rollers attached to the sides of such frame
or to the upright framing before referred to, and also in the use of
brushes (that may be of steel) made so to rest on the edge of the upper
sides of the saw frame, and to travel up and down (but not lengthwise)
with them, so as to sweep off any sand or dust which might otherwise 2
get between the saw frame and the upright framing.
The improved mechanical arrangement for preserving the connecting
rod at or very near to the level of the saw frame which it works, consists
in providing means for the elastic suspension of the weighted end of
the connecting rod which travels up and down on a pendulous beam 2
from which it receives its motion. The means which I prefer are either
a slight shaft proceeding from and being a continuation of the shaft
from which the hanging supports are suspended, which slight shaft
would be capable of "giving" to the motion of the saw frame or an
elastic suspender supporting the weighted ond of the said connecting 3
rod.
The new mechanical arrangement for supplying sand and water to
the saws when at work consists of a pipe across and above the saw,
frames perforated on its lower side. This pipe is to be supplied with
sand and water from a suitable reservoir, and to have an agitator 3
through it worked by means of a toothed wheel on its extremity
attached to and receiving lateral motion from the pendulous beam

page_text: referred to in the last paragraph, and having a revolving or partially
revolving motion imparted to such agitator by means of a rack gearing
into the said toothed wheel, which rack is to be jointed to the upright
framing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thercafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR SAWING STONE," a communication to me from abroad by
Thomas Glaister, of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Contractor,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: These improvements consist in,→
1st. An improved method of supporting the saw frame.
2nd. An improved method of constructing the hanging supports, and 5
of suspending the saw frames from the same.
3rd. An improved method of avoiding wear on the sides of the saw
frame.
4th. An improved mechanical arrangement for preserving the
connecting rod at or very near to the level of the saw frame.
5th. A new mechanical arrangement for supplying sand and water
to the saws when at work.
1
The improved method of supporting the saw frame consists in
suspending it from hanging supports in contradistinction to suspending
it from a wheel supported by the upper framing or supporting it by 1
rollers underneath.
The improved method of constructing the hanging supports consists
in providing cach with friction rollers grooved on their periphery to
travel on suitable rails or guides attached to upright framing.
The improved method of avoiding wear on the sides of the saw frame 2
consists in the use of friction rollers attached to the sides of such frame
or to the upright framing before referred to, and also in the use of
brushes (that may be of steel) made to rest on the edge of the upper
sides of the saw frame and to travel up and down (but not lengthwise)
with them so as to sweep off any sand or dust which might otherwise
get between the saw frame and the upright framing.
The improved mechanical arrangement for preserving the connecting
rod at or very near to the level of the saw frame consists in providing
means for the elastic suspension of the weighted end of the connecting
rod that travels up and down on a pendulous beam from which it
receives its motion. I may use a slight shaft proceeding from and
being a continuation of the shaft from which the hanging supports
are suspended, the said slight shaft being capable of "giving" to
the motion of the saw frame, or an elastic suspender supporting
the weighted end of the said connecting rod. Or I may employ a
toothed wheel, rack, and suspender connected to the aforesaid shaft and
operating as herein-after set forth.
2

page_text: The new mechanical arrangement for supplying sand and water to the
saws when at work consists of a pipe extending across and above the
saw frames and perforated on its lower side. This pipe is to be supplied
with sand and water from a suitable reservoir and to have an agitator
through it worked by means of a toothed wheel on its extremity, the
same being attached to and receiving lateral motion from the pendulous
beam referred to in the last paragraph. A revolving or partially
revolving motion is imparted to the agitator by means of a rack gearing
into the toothed wheel, which rack is to be jointed to the upright
saws when at work consists of a pipe extending across and above the
saw frames and perforated on its lower side. This pipe is to be supplied
with sand and water from a suitable reservoir and to have an agitator
through it worked by means of a toothed wheel on its extremity, the
same being attached to and receiving lateral motion from the pendulous
beam referred to in the last paragraph. A revolving or partially
revolving motion is imparted to the agitator by means of a rack gearing
into the toothed wheel, which rack is to be jointed to the upright
traming.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the same; Figure 3
is an end elevation partly in section on the line x, x, Figure 2;
Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew portions of the machine detached. Like letters
indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
His
A. is the saw frame which may be of the ordinary construction; B is
the connecting rod with two joints C, C; D is the pendulum for
driving the saw frame suspended at E, and working at its lower end
on a guide F, the said guide being provided with friction rollers or
other similar contrivances. The pendulum D is driven by the
connecting rod G attached to the steam engine or other motor.
an axle for suspending the saw frames. I, I, are pulleys from which
the saw frames are suspended by the hangers J; K and L are pulleys
which may be placed in any position on the axle, the pulley K
being for balancing the frames, the other for lifting them from or
lowering them into their cuts. K' is the balance chain, and L' the lifting
chain. M is a pulley to which the axle H is extended from the main
framing Z. This pulley is connected by an endless chain or belt to
the upper pulley N. O is a toothed wheel placed on the same axle
as the pulley N, and which works the connecting rod suspender P
through the rack Q on the upper end of the said suspender; the latter
is secured to the connecting rod B and works in guides upon the
pendulum, it therefore keeps the said connecting rod on the same level
as the frame and travels up and down the guide R at the same speed
as the frames. The pulleys I, K, L, are turned slightly by the rising
and falling of the saw frames at each stroke, but this motion extends
no further than the clutch M' which drives the pulley M. This clutch

page_text: is keyed to allow the axle to work freely during the lift of the frame
(which is considerable) at each stroke, and communicates no motion to
the pulley N, or to the cog wheel O which works the connecting rod
suspender, except that arising from the progress of the cut. The frame
is suspended directly from the hangers J, the pulleys K, L, being on
the same axle as the pulleys I. The said hangers work in vertical
guides S, S, provided with friction rollers T, which are adjusted when
worn by set pins; the suspending rods U can also be altered at V to
regulate the sweep or vibration of the frame. Attached to the sido
of a pulley or otherwise carried on the main axle H is a break
for regulating the lift of the frame at each stroke, the action of the
break being controlled by a weight. W, W, arc friction rollers secured
by brackets at each end, the same being adjusted when worn by set
pins X; Y, Y, are brushes to keep the friction rollers and sides of
the frame clean, and prevent excessive wearing of the same.
The contrivances for keeping the connecting rod at its proper level
with the best effect necessitate the shortening or lengthening of the
stroke when the frame is in motion so as to give it the same swing
or stroke when lifted to its greatest height as when it is at the lower
part of the cut. The method of accomplishing this purpose is illustrated
in Figures 4, 5, and 6. Figure 4 shews the face of a driving disc.
Figure 5 is a central section, and Figure 6 a plan of the same. The face
of the disc is strengthened at the upper side and revolves on an axle g;
h is a slot in which a block is fitted with overlapping flanges, holding
the driving pin i and sliding up and down in the slot; k is a strong s
rod which passes through the block. This rod passes through the
block, it is froe to turn therein, and is kept in place by a collar at the
top and bottom of the said block. The rod k passes through the rim
of the disc which is tapped, and the said rod is provided with a small
wheel. A friction bar is arranged on each side of the wheel 1, and
by bringing one of these bars in contact with the wheel on the side m,
this wheel will at each revolution of the disc revolve in the direction
of the arrow o, Figure 6, pressing down the block and shortening the
stroke, and by bringing the other friction bar in contact with the wheel
on the side n, the wheel will be caused to take the direction of the g
arrow pand lengthen the stroke while the machinery is in full
motion. The sand feeder a is a hollow tube extending across the cuts
in the stone, with perforations for the discharge of sand and water. . It
is driven by a connecting rod b attached to the pendulum D. This

page_text: feeder can be raised or lowered to suit the material to be cut by a rack
above (not shewn) and the rack c below. Inside the tube is the afore-
said agitator, which is kept in constant motion by a segment wheel d,
and is supplied with sand and water by a pipe from a hopper above.
The debris and water from the cuts fall into a pit or cistern, which is
then raised by elevators to a shaking table, where the silt is separated
from the grit, the latter passing to an agitating cistern above with the
fresh sand, and thence to the feed pipe.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim the
several improvements in machinery for sawing stone, as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hero-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
Wч. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)