Improvements in and relating to Planing Machines for Iron and other Hard Materials.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 17th June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Planing Machines for Iron and
other Hard Materials.
I, GEORGE BIRD, of Western Iron Works, Notting Hill, in the County of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The objects of my invention are to increase the efficiency of planing machines,
and to provide self-acting devices and appliances for effecting automatically the
various mechanical motions required and at the proper times, and also to auto-
matically prevent the possibility of damage to any part or parts of the machine
through carelessness or inattention of the attendant or otherwise.
My improvements relate particularly (1) to a novel arrangement of duplex
cutting tools, their mounting and accessories whereby I utilise both forward and
return strokes of the tools or the work, as the case may be, instead of idly returning
tools or material as is generally the practice; (2) to the means of adjusting such
tools; (3) to the means of effecting the automatic lateral feed of the tools and also
an automatic vertical feed when required and of controlling the same; (4) to an
arrangement for automatically reversing the motion of the tools at each end of the
stroke and for controlling same and preventing overwinding; and (5) to sundry
minor arrangements of mechanisms for rendering the parts self-acting and controlling
same, and obviating the possibility of overwindings of the feed gear, breakages, or
other damage.
I will fully describe my invention in reference to the accompanying drawings in
which similar letters of reference are used to indicate similar parts.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 an end view of the upper part
of a machine showing my invention as adapted more particularly for planing the
edges of plates, wherein the traversing screw and its saddle are stationary as
regards vertical motion, this being derived by manually raising or lowering either
the tool holders or the work; in the figures belt driving is illustrated, though not
essential.
Figs. 3 and 4 are the same views of a modified arrangement wherein the screw,
saddle and cross bed are capable of reciprocal vertical motion in guides by hand
and bevel gear, thereby imparting same to the tools, the guide screw being driven
by bevel gear adapted to slide on a vertical shaft driven as illustrated or in any
convenient manner.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional elevation, Fig. 6 a section on line 1-2 of
Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 a plan partly in section showing my improvements.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 8 is a front elevation of feed saddle and slide;
Fig. 9 a vertical section on centre-line of Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 a plan thereof.
Fig. 11 is a front elevation of feed regulating gear, Fig. 12˚a side elevation
thereof; and
Fig. 13 a plan of Fig. 11 illustrating locked position of parts.
Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrative of lines of motion of feed regulating gear; and
Fig. 15 an elevation of a modified arrangement of feed gear, change of positions
being shown in dotted lines.
On Sheet 3, Fig. 16 is a front elevation, Fig. 17 a plan, Fig. 18 a side view, and
Figs. 19, 20, 21 and 22 details hereinafter referred to of arrangements for
maintaining automatically the feed and reversing stop motions in constant relative
positions for adjusting the feed and preventing damage.
Figs. 23, 24 and 25 are respectively a sectional front elevation, a part side

page_text: elevation, and a sectional plan of an arrangement of part of my invention where
the work is travelled under stationary tools to which lateral feed is given by a
screw motion.
In these figures AA are the vertical standards of the machine fixed to the
usual foundations, and A' the head girder or bed. B is the traversing or guide
screw, journalled in the end webs of A¹ and driven by ordinary fast and loose
pulleys in Figs. 1 and 2; or as in Figs. 3 and 4 the screw B is journalled in
blocks A sliding on the standards A and driven by bevel gear and clutches &
sliding on a vertical spindle & having the usual feather 6, the driving power being
applied as shown or in any convenient manner. C is the main traversing saddle
mounted on the bed A¹ and connected to the screw B by a nut in the box B',
closing thereon after the manner of the nut used in lathe saddles.
According to my invention (1) In reference to the novel arrangement of
duplex cutting tools. To the saddle C is fitted a strong slide C' capable of
vertical reciprocal motion by hand screw c, or it may be automatically operated as
hereinafter described. To slide C are fixed two strong spindles D, D', projecting
at right angles to its lines of motion and coupled together at the outer ends by_a
plate D' and made rigid by any required number of supplementary bolts such as D³
or other suitable struts and ties. These two spindles D D' are in the same
vertical plane and parallel to each other and upon the upper one D I hang and
dispose the two tool flaps T₁ T¹ which are made with slots across their faces for
carrying ordinary dogs for fixing the two tools T T. A novel feature of the
arrangement is that the two flaps T₁ T¹ are both hinged, upon the same spindle
in such manner as to form a kind of butt-hinge, well shown in Figs. 5 and 7 at e,
and the two tools T T are arranged back to back as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 23.
The lower spindle D' forms the thrust bar which always takes the thrust of that
tool which is at work and directs same to the bed of the machine, the other tool
following idly; or instead of this arrangement of tie bars and struts a strong
casting may be substituted, and in some cases instead of a cantilever arrangement,
such as
I have described and illustrated, I may support both ends of the
bars D D' in similar saddles running on parallel beds and traversed by screws or
suitable means in the known manner, the duplex arrangement of flaps hung upon
the one spindle remaining the same.
(2) In order to adjust the tools T T against each other with the cutting edges at
the same level I provide a projecting lugt at the top and on the centre line of each
tool flap T. These lugs are drilled and tapped and fitted with finely threaded
studs arranged to project down immediately over the top end of the tools T and
lineable therewith, so that by screwing these studs down a very fine adjustment is
given to the cutting edges of the tools. An important advantage following upon
this arrangement is that the necessity for the usual slides and V's is dispensed with
and by the hanging of the flaps on one and the same spindle, the horizontal distance
between the cutting edges of the tools can be reduced to a minimum, which serves
to reduce the distance of the idle stroke before the next tool commences action and
so save time. The required vertical feed is given to the slide C¹ of saddle C by
hand gear c of any suitable type, or automatically as hereinafter described. In
the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the work is fed to the tools by the
vertical bed screws a' a' both operated through the mitre gears a³ a³ and horizontal
bar a,
hand power being applied at a³; or in cases where heavy work requires to be
lifted the shaft a may be worked by belt or other suitable mechanism operated by the
main driving shaft. In the arrangement in Figs. 3 and 4 the saddle and tools are fed
to the work by the vertical bed screws a¹ a¹ screwed through the vertical sliding
blocks A A² which carry the screw B and operated as above by the parts a³, a².
(3) The automatic lateral and horizontal feed motion of the two tools T T takes
place simultaneously at the end of each stroke of the machine and is effected as
follows.
The knuckle joint e of the two tool flaps T¹ T" is mounted upon a sleeve or
bush E capable of sliding on the spindle D; at its ends it carries vertical arms e¹, e³,

page_text: the upper end of the one e¹ embracing a threaded nut working on the feed screw F,
and the other e being a guide. The feed screw F is mounted in bearings in the
plate D' and slide C₁, and may be actuated by a hand wheel F' at the required
times, but preferably this is effected by an automatic arrangement hereinafter
described. An obvious mechanical equivalent for the arrangement described would
be to screw the spindle D and tap and mount the sleeve E thereon and
arrange for revolving the sleeve E in any suitable manner when required to feed
the tools along the spindle D as illustrated by way of example in Fig. 4. The
automatic feed motion I prefer to employ is arranged as follows:
The feed screw F has a plain extension F beyond and behind the saddle slide C¹
and upon it is mounted a ratchet wheel with radial teeth, the boss of which is
provided with a sliding clutch f¹, Fig. 5, constantly pressed into operative position
by a spring such as the whole being arranged in such manner that any rotation
of the wheel will turn the feed screw F, but when the clutch is out of gear, the
wheel turns inoperatively on the extension F. The required intermittent
rotation of the wheelf is effected automatically at the proper times by means of
two double-ended spring-pressed pawls P, P' carried at the outer ends respectively
of a pair of oppositely disposed levers G G', Figs. 5, 11 and 12, each free to
revolve with its boss upon the extension F behind the wheelf, both being moved
over at the required times by any convenient mechanical appliance such as is, for
example, hereinafter set forth. In one arrangement shown in Figs. 5, 11, 12 and 14,
each lever G G' has a slot g in which work operating pins pp' mounted upon a
vertically moving "pinslide" k, Figs. 5, 8 and 9, which is itself mounted in a
horizontally moving "feed saddle" K, carried by and adapted to slide upon a flat
horizontal feed bar" K running the full length of the machine. The feed bar
carries two feed stops 1, 2, Figs. 1, 3, 16, 17, 21 and 22, adapted for adjustment
to the required points of reversal of the machine. The feed saddle K is driven
normally through its stroke by the engagement of the pins p, p', of the pinslide k
engaging the slots g in the levers G G which being mounted as described on the
feed screw extension F are travelled therewith by the main traversing saddle C
and screw B. At midstroke the two levers G G are in the same straight line,
as in Figs. 11 and 12, and the free end of the extension F engages in the centre
of a slot in the pinslide k, by which the feed action is effected by a compound
motion as follows.
Towards the end of the stroke and just before the reversing motion commences,
the feed saddle K engages and is brought to rest by one or other of the adjustable
feed stops on feed bar R, and while the reversing action is taking place, the
main saddle C and with it the feed screw F, its extension F, the wheel and
the levers G, G', continue their forward travel and so carry the end of 12 along
to the end of its slot in the pinslide k. This continued motion of F2 has the
effect of causing the levers G Gi (at the time held at rest as regards their outer
ends by the pins p. p of the now stationary feed saddle K) to be turned on
their centres in opposite directions; for example: Assuming the direction of
travel to be from left to right the levers and parts at the moment of com-
mencement of feed would take the positions shown in hard lines in Fig. 14;
the dotted lines indicate the position of levers and final position of wheel f
after the feed by the continued advance of F as above described. During
this advance one pawl P would engage and give a part rotation to the wheel f
thereby partly rotating the extension F and (the clutch f¹ being in gear)
giving the feed through F, e', E, e. to the tool flaps T¹ and tools T, the other
pawl P during this action travels idly over the teeth of wheel and assumes
the proper position for its own similar operative action at the other end of the
next stroke, when the same action of the pawls and parts is repeated, and so
the feed is automatically given at the end of each stroke. The pinslide is
introduced in order to counteract the effect of the reciprocal vertical motion of
the slide C, otherwise the feed bar R would require to be raised and lowered
in conjunction with the slide C¹. Any required vertical motion of the

page_text: pinslide k can be effected through the connections F by the hand gear c
operating the saddle slide C' as and when required as above set forth. It is
obvious that a mechanically equivalent method of effecting the motion of the
levers G G and dispensing with the saddle K and slide k would be to fix
projecting pins to the levers themselves adapted to engage with the stops r¹, ³,
which would then be made of sufficient vertical height to meet the said pins in
whatever vertical position they may have been placed by the action of the lifting
screw c¹.
In planing machines it is customary to arrange the work upon a bed-table
mounted upon slides and adapted to be travelled with the work at right angles to
the direction of motion of the cutting tool so as to feed the work to the tool as
required. By my above described arrangement of automatic lateral feed this
usual lateral traversing bed may be dispensed with in small machines and the work
fixed; but in large machines it is advisable to retain it, and in such cases in order to
intermittently rotate the said bed table feed screw at the required times (viz.: at
each end of the stroke of a tool or tools travelling at right angles to it as in case
of Fig. 3, Sheet 1, or the arrangement shown in Figs. 23, 24 and 25, Sheet 3,
hereinafter described) the motion of the levers G. G' for giving the feed may be
accomplished by connecting them at any convenient point in their length by links
such as q. q., Fig. 15. to a cross bar Q having a central rod q' to which is given a
reciprocating motion at each end of the tool stroke by connecting the rod gl
through a system of multiplying levers to any convenient reciprocating part of
the machine, such for example as the sliding rod a above described. The change
of position of parts after the feed is represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 15.
In order to prevent the possibility of both pawls P P simultaneously taking
the positions in which both of them would operate the wheel at the same time
but in opposite directions (and thereby causing strain or fracture of some part) in
combination with the reversing levers G G I provide an automatic locking gear
illustrated in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, which consists of a light spindle H H mounted
in bearings hh. on each reversing lever G. G¹; the outer end of each spindle H H'
carries a fork and on the inner end is formed a small crank 3 adapted to engage
in a groove in a collar free to slide on the boss of one of the levers G or on
the spindle F if desired. By sliding the collar i follows that the same turning
motion will be produced upon both the similarly arranged rotary spindles H. H
and their forks 2, and hence their action will be the same. For example, when
one fork is turned forward the corresponding one of the other spindle will also
turn forward.
At starting, when one pawl, say P on lever G, is put into gear with the wheel,
it passes over and forces down one arm of its adjacent fork and elevates the other
arm thereof.
The cranked end of its spindle H then operates the sliding collar *.
This serves to actuate the opposite crank and rotate the corresponding spindle F'
on the other lever G' and a corresponding motion is thus given to its fork, one
arm of which, corresponding to the elevated arm on lever G, then presents a stop
effectually holding the other pawl P¹ out of gear with wheel in the opposite
direction to the first pawl P, but allowing the second pawl P₁ to pass over the
depressed arm of its fork and so gear with wheel f. The pawls P and P' then
both necessarily lie in the same direction, viz. the operative or feeding direction.
When neither pawl is in gear the first one to be put in action will push down one
side of its fork, and the contact surfaces of both parts are suitably bevelled off
to prevent a dead stop being presented on both sides, and to facilitate the
action.
A simple arrangement of mechanism for giving an automatic vertical feed to
the main saddle slide C' is illustrated in Fig. 5. W is a mitre wheel free to
revolve with the wheelf and W₁ is a corresponding mitre wheel free to revolve on
the vertical feed screw c', a clutch w being arranged to connect the two when
required. The wheels W W₁ normally run inoperatively, but when the automatic.
feed is required the clutch'f' is disengaged and the clutch 2 is thrown into gear,

page_text: and then the screw c' is driven and so imparts the required vertical feed to the
slide C and thence to the tools T. T.
With the automatic feed motion above described overwinding might occur
owing to the tool carrier E on spindle D being overwound and engaging its end
stops. To automatically prevent this I adopt an arrangement shown in Fig. 5.
V. V' are levers of different orders centred as shown upon the end plate D' and
the main carriage slide C₁ and having corresponding striking pieces v. v
respectively. They are connected by a light rod v pivotted to them and
extended and arranged to operate the before-mentioned clutch fl on the
boss of the reversing wheel f, the spring f being applied as shown.
By this
simple arrangement when the carrier E arrives at either end of its stroke it takes
against one or other of the striking pieces v. ol and pushes over the lever thereof,
thereby disengaging the clutch f₁; then further motion given to the wheelf by
the pawis P. Pas above set forth serves only to turn the wheel inoperatively on
its centre until the tool carrier E has been readjusted, the spring then
automatically re-engaging the clutch fin operative position. A similar arrange-
ment may be applied to the clutch w of the vertical feed above described.
(4) Referring to the arrangement for automatically reversing the motion of the
tools at each end of the machine stroke, the reversal of the main tool saddle C is
effected by means of a striker such as S fixed to same and adapted to come in
contact with one of a pair of adjustable stops 81 82 Figs. 1, 16, 17, arranged upon
a horizontal bar capable of sliding motion and adjacently disposed.
In cases where a horizontal shaft such as a is arranged for working the lifting
screws a' a' of the bed plate or table as described and illustrated, I utilize it for
the purpose of a striking shaft, both it and the mitre wheels a working the said
vertical screws a¹ as described being provided with feathered keys and key ways
to allow the shaft a to slide as required to operate the belt shifting appliances.
To prevent the possibility of overwinding of the saddle C in either direction I fix
on the striking shaft a two rigid stops 3s, so that if the adjustable stops s¹²
should work or happen to be loose such a one will be pushed along by the striker S
until it meets one or other of the rigid stops by which then the whole shaft a
will be slidden in its bearings, thus altering the position of the belt levers and
throwing over the driving belt or belts and so causing the required reversal of
direction of travel of the saddle C at the proper times.
(5) To obviate the chance of either stop r¹² on the feed bar R getting so far
in advance of either stop s¹³ on the reversing or striking bar a that the feed screw
extension F carrying the wheel and reversing gear would arrive at the end of the
slot k in the pin slide k before the proper reversal occurs, I fix to each reversing
stop sa pointer or lever L shown separately in Fig. 18. The free end of this,
see Figs. 16 to 20, is arranged to slide ou the feed bar R and carries a bell crank
lever ', one arm of which is arranged to lie normally at right angles with said
pointer L and parallel with the feed bar R. The arm is of such length that wheu
its feed stop, say ¹, is brought up to it, said feed stop will be in such relative
position to the corresponding reversing stop s¹ as to cause in action the reversing
motion to have taken place and the saddle to have started on the return stroke
before the feed screw extension F' can have arrived at the end of its slot in the
pinslide k. The longitudinal arms of the bell crank levers are so arranged that
they will engage and cannot when in normal position pass the feed stops, and
in order to remove them from normal position at the proper times and no other,
(i.e. when the feed saddle K comes up to either feed stop + 2) to either face of the
said feed saddle I fix a projection which engages the shorter arm of the bell
crank and lifts its longer and horizontal arm 1, so that when either of the reversing
stops is advanced carrying with it the pointer L as described (to effect the reversal
of the machine) the end of that bell crank lever is able to pass over the adjacent
feed stop and so permit the reversing bar to be slidden and operate the driving
gear as set forth. In case it should happen that one of the feed stops s¹² be left
or work loose on the bar a the saddle would continue to advance carrying with it

page_text: the spindle F2 and the pinslide until its saddle K met one of the feed stops r
or then the spindle F (on arriving at the end of its slot ) would be met by
the resistance of the same stop and breakage, bending, or other accident would
occur. To obviate this I form a way through the upper part of each feed
stop into which I introduce a leaf spring as shown in Figs. 21 and 22 upon
which the set screw acts, and then the stop cannot be fixed to the bar R with
absolute rigidity but will slide thereon when undue pressure is applied to it as above
indicated.
In Figs. 23, 24 and 25 I have illustrated a modified arrangement of certain parts
of my invention above described. The work is travelled to and fro beneath the
two tools T. T. in the directions of the arrows, Fig. 23, the two tools and tool flaps
being hung on the spindle D and the adjusting appliances being arranged as before,
but in this case they are stationary as regards longitudinal motion (i.e. in directions
of the work). The spindles D D₁ are each fixed in and supported by strong cross
frames M M the end bearing surfaces of which are adapted to slide with the tools
upon the guide bars m m disposed across the machine between suitable side
standards and arranged for vertical reciprocal motion with the tools. These
bars m m take the whole thrust of the cutting tool and may be made of such strength
as is required, and by this arrangement work of practically indefinite length may
be undertaken. In practice it is desirable that any planing machine be capable of
cutting in a diagonal plane and in order to effect this automatically with a machine
arranged according to my invention, to the face of each tool flap T' I adapt and
Then in
fix a slide mounted upon a disc capable of rotation in the known manner.
order to give the feed to the slides in whatever positions they may be fixed I use a
system of bevel gear of usual construction which derives its motion from a pinion
carried upon the tool flap and driven by a spur wheel upon the tool-carrying
spindle D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a planing machine the arrangement of duplex cutting tools disposed back
to back and carried by tool holders hinged upon the same spindle and constructed
and mounted as set forth in such manner that one tool cuts at each single forward
and return stroke, the said tools being provided with mechanism for imparting
lateral and vertical feed motions substantially as set forth.
2. The construction and arrangement of the tool holders and their attachment to
the carrying and thrust spindles and bars in combination with the means of
adjusting the tools consisting of the lugs t and screwed studs t' substantially as set
forth.
3. The mechanism for giving an automatic lateral feed at the end of each stroke
which consists in the arrangement of two levers such as G G' mounted upon one
traversing spindle such as F each said lever carrying a pawl serving to operate one
and the same feed wheelf (and thereby give the required feed), said levers G G¹
being moved over at the proper times substantially as hereinabove set forth.
4. The combination with the feed levers G G₁ of the arrangement of mechanism
described and illustrated for operating same to give the feed at the required times
consisting of the feed slide K carrying a slotted pinslide k driven by the traversing
feed screw extension F, and the feed stops such as 2, all disposed and adapted to
co-act substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the feed pawl levers G G₁ of the gear for locking and
controlling the action thereof consisting in the cranked and forked spindles H H'
and the operating collar substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 11,
12, and 13.
6. The means of controlling and automatically preventing overwinding of the
lateral feed mechanism consisting of the stop levers V, V, rod v', spring-pressed
clutch controlling the action of the feed wheel f arranged and adapted to operate
at the times and in the manner described and illustrated in Fig. 5.

page_text: 7. The arrangement of mechanism for maintaining in their true relative positions
the feed and reversing stops, and for obviating damage to any part or parts, sub-
stantially as described in reference to Figs. 16 to 22.
Dated this 11th day of February 1893.
For the Applicant,
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.