IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING MORTICES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Phillips, of White Hart Street, Kennington, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING MORTICES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Phillips at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1879.
JOHN PHILLIPS, of White Hart Street, Kennington, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING MORTICES."
The object of my Invention is to construct in a simple and economical manner
a combined boring and morticing machine, in which the several tools are worked
up and down by one and the same lever, and may be thrown in or out of work,
and the position of the cutting edge of the chisel reversed without dismounting any
of such tools. By thus avoiding the dismounting and refixing of the tools, a con-
siderable saving of time and labour in the operation of making mortises is effected.
To produce a perfect mortice (especially in hard wood) three separate tools are
usually required, namely, a boring tool, drill, or auger, to commence the hole; a
chisel or chisels to cut the long mortice by means of a series of vertical blows,
while the work or piece of wood to be operated upon is moved intermittently along
under the tool; and thirdly, a core driver for cleaning the hole and driving out
the debris therefrom.
.
In my improved mortising machinery these working tools are either arranged
radially round a disc, ring boss, or hollow socket, or bearing which is capable of
being rotated on its axis for the purpose of bringing the working tools in succession
(as they may be required) into the position for use. Or the tools may be adapted to
a flat plate secured to the vertical plunger so as to be worked up and down there-
with. In this case the tools will be mounted side by side so that they may be
turned up or down, or drawn up or down as may be required. The boring tool in
all cases must be provided with toothed gear, whereby it may be rotated when
required to bore holes.

page_text: In one arrangement the boring tool or auger is adapted to a socket at one end
of a spindle or shaft, and the cutting chisel to the opposite end of the same spindle,
so that both these tools will be rotated together. Of course when the cutting
chisel is in use it does not require to rotate, the spindle must therefore be provided
with a spring, bolt, or other locking device whereby it can be held steady, except
when it is required to reverse the position of the cutting edge, which is done by
the same gearing which actuates or rotates the boring tool.
Instead of the boring tool and cutting chisel being mounted at the opposite
ends of the same spindle, they may be adapted to two separate short spindles
arranged at opposite sides of the axis of motion and provided with bevil gear,
whereby both may be actuated by the same driving wheel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Phillips in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1879.
JOHN PHILLIPS, of White Hart Street, Kennington, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING MORTISES."
The object of my Invention is to construct in a simple and economical manner
machinery for cutting mortises, in which the tools required for this operation are so
arranged that they can be worked by one and the same lever, and may be thrown
in or out of working position, and the chisel reversed without removal from its
holder. By thus avoiding the dismounting of the tools, a considerable saving in
time is effected in the operation of making mortises. To produce a perfect mortice
in hard wood, three separate tools are usually required, namely, a boring tool, drill,
or auger; to commence the hole, a chisel or chisels to cut the long mortise by means
of a series of blows, while the work or piece of wood to be operated upon is moved
intermittently along under the tool; and thirdly, a core driver for cleaning the hole
and driving out the debris therefrom. In order to properly cut the mortise and
complete the two ends thereof, the position of the cutting chisel after roughly
forming the mortise must be reversed in its socket, to do which it is usual for the
chisel. to be dismounted, turned round, or reversed in position, and then refixed in
the socket, operations which require time. In order to avoid this dismounting and
refixing of the chisel, it has been proposed to employ two chisels which are secured
in reversed positions, and are so arranged that either of them may be brought into
operation by merely moving one temporarily aside, and bringing the other into its
place. But this arrangement necessarily complicates the construction of the
machine, and is otherwise objectionable. It also has been proposed to adapt to the
same head which carries the vertical chisels a drilling tool or auger, which may be
brought into operation when required, without dismounting either of the chisels.
This arrangement necessitated the throwing into and out of gear of spur pinions
used for rotating the drill besides introducing other inconveniences, and therefore
proved impracticable. I am aware that in some mortising machines a singlo chisel
has been mounted and arranged in such a manner that by means of suitable
devices it may be turned round or reversed in its socket without dismounting it,
but then no boring tool, drill, or auger, nor yet any core driver could be used in the
same machine without first dismounting the chisel to make room for the other tool.
This is an operation which occasions a considerable loss of time, and it is to avoid
this without necessarily complicating the working parts of the machine, which is
(as I have already explained) the object of the present Invention.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1, Sheet L, shews in front elevation, and
Fig. 2 in side elevation a mortising machine of the ordinary construction with my
improvements adapted thereto, the same being constructed in its simplest form and
suitable for mortising soft wood.
In these Figures A is a standard carrying a pair of guide arms B, B, in the
sockets of which works a vertical sliding rod a carrying at its lower end a tool
holder; b is a hand lever for raising and lowering the sliding rod a, and it is
connected thereto in such a manner as to admit of the rod receiving an axial
motion. This lever b has its fulcrum at the upper end of a rocking arm or link c,
whose centre of motion is at c" on the frame C of the machine.
The sliding rod a terminates at its lower end in a boss a¹, which is drilled
through transversely to receive a pin d which serves to connect the rocking tool
holder D therewith.
This tool holder is furnished with two radial sockets, the one to receive the
stem of a chisel e, and the other the stem of a core driver f. For retaining etther
one of these tools in the vertical or working position, a stop pin a² or its equivalent
is employed. By inserting this pin through corresponding holes in the boss a¹ and

page_text: in the holder D, the latter is securely held in position with either the chisel or the
core driver vertical, as indicated in Fig. 1.
An axial motion is given to the sliding rod a for the purpose of reversing the
position of the chisel e. This is effected by means of a handle g attached to the
sliding rod by a collar h, which is provided with a feather that takes into a vertical
groove in the sliding rod a. For retaining the chisel in its proper position for
cutting, spring catches i are provided for locking into the underside of the handle g.
These spring catches are carried by lugs projecting from the lower guide arm B.
When the chisel is in position for work, the attendant by means of the hand
lever b depresses it, and brings it into contact with the wood to be mortised, which
is secured by clamps to a travelling table as usual. By repeated blows of the
chisel upon the soft wood, accompanied by a slow traverse of the work, a rough
mortise is rapidly formed. On the chisel arriving at the end of the mortise its
position is reversed by turning round the tool holder D, as explained, and by
traversing back the work to its starting position, the chisel will arrive at the
opposite end of the mortise, which it will thus finish off. The next operation of
the attendant is to withdraw the stop pin a, and bring the core driver from the
drawn position into the dotted position of Fig. 1. On securing the tool holder in
this shifted position, the attendant by means of the hand lever b forces down the
core driver and clears the mortice of all chips and cuttings. The machine is then
to be reset for commencing a fresh mortice.
Fig. 3, Sheet II., is a front elevation, and Fig. 4, a side elevation of a combined
boring and mortising machine constructed according to my Invention and intended
to be used on hard woods. The fixed standard A is provided with vertical
guides B on which the moveable plunger a is worked up and down in the usual.
manner by means of the hand lever b. The moveable table D and the clamping
arrangements for securing thereon the wood to be operated upon are of the usual
construction, and therefore need not be further described. The working tools are
the boring tool or auger d, the cutting chisel e, and the core driver f. These three
tools are mounted in sockets connected with the sleeve bearing g. This part of the
machine is shewn drawn to an enlarged scale in elevation at Figures 5 and 6,
Sheet III., and in sectional elevation corresponding thereto at Figures 7 and 8,
Sheet IV.
In these Figures a disc g³, which carries the sleeve bearing or boss g, is supported
in a circular countersunk socket h cast on or fixed to the plunger a, and carries on
its inner end a spindle g², which as well as the spindle g³ at the opposite end is
cast in one piece with the pieces 9 and g'. The cylindrical piece h₁ at the rear of
the socket forms a bearing for the spindle g³, and a short socket i on the side of
the piece h¹³ serves as a bearing for the spring, bolt, or catch j, whose inner end
projects through the circular socket h and enters a hole made in the back of the
disc g¹, and therefore holds the latter (together with the parts connected therewith)
securely while the particular tool then in use is in operation. As the disc g¹ and
bearing or boss g must be capable of being secured in different positions, according
to the particular tool that is to be used, the-disc g¹ is provided with holes or
notches to receive the end of the spring bolt or catch j, the holes or notches being
arranged on the disc at points corresponding to the position in which it is desired
to secure the respective tools. On the outer end of the spindle g³ is mounted a
bevil wheel l, the boss of which is provided with a winch handle whereby it may
be rotated when required.
The boring tool d and the cutting chisel e (Figures 3 and 4) are mounted at
opposite ends of a solid bar or spindle m, which passes through the bearing g (see
Figures 7 and 8). At one end of this spindle is fixed the socket d* for the boring
tool d, and this socket is provided with a bevil wheel n, whereby it may be rotated
by means of the bevil wheel 2 on the spindle g³. At the opposite end of the
spindle m is the socket e* to receive the cutting chisel e, which therefore rotates
with the boring tool d. It will of course be understood that although provisiou
must be made for reversing the cutting edge of the chisel by turning the latter

page_text: round in its bearings, the chisel when in use must be prevented from moving in its
socket or the socket itself from turning round. To effect this latter object the
socket e* is provided with a collar e, in which are made two holes on opposite
sides, and into one or the other of these holes the inner end of a spring plug or
bolt o is inserted. The operations of the several parts are as follows:--The piece
of wood to be operated upon having been secured by clamping or otherwise on the
moveable or travelling table D of the machine in the usual manner, and its position
adjusted to cominence the work, the spring plug is drawn back so as to release the
disc. The boring tool d is then turned down into the position shewn at Figures 3
and 4, Sheet II., and the spring plug or bolt is allowed to enter the hole in the
disc g corresponding to the new position. The spring plug o is then drawn back
so as to release the collar e³ of the socket e*, and is held in that position by turning
up the handle of the plug to a position at right angles to its former position. The
sockets d* and e* with the tools mounted thereon may then be rotated by the
attendant turning the winch handlo and bevil wheel with one hand, and a hole
will be bored in the wood by depressing the whole plunger a by means of the hand
lever b. When the hole is finished the boring tool or auger must be drawn up
again from the table D, and the wood theroon moved forward so as to bring under
the boring tool the place where the next hole is to be bored, when the same
operations may be repeated. When both holes have been bored the disc g may
be unlocked by drawing back the spring bolt j, and the boring tool and chisel may
then be reversed in position, that is to say, the chisel may be turned down into the
position formerly occupied by the boring tool, which will then be uppermost. The
sockets d* and e* nay then be locked by letting the spring plug or bolt o drop into
one of the holes in the collar e³ of the socket e*, the chisel may then be operated
by raising and lowering the plunger by means of the hand lever b, and the mortise
will bo cut in the manner well known to all persons conversant with mortising
machines. When it is required to reverse the cutting edge of the chisel this may
be done by simply making a half revolution of the bevil wheel and winch
handle, taking care to previously unlock the collar e by drawing back the spring
bolt o and then relocking the collar in the new position. When the chisel is done
with and the core driver f is required the disc g¹ must be again unlocked and
turned round a quarter of a revolution, until the core driver fis brought into the
position of the boring tool or auger d. The core driver is worked up and down by
the same hand lever b as that by which the other tools are moved up and down.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that all the tools are connected
with the same plunger, and are operated by one and the same lever, and that all
the tools necessary to form a complete mortise can be brought into successive
operation without the necessity of dismounting either of them, or of using duplicate
tools in reversed positions in order to cut in opposite directions. By this arrange-
ment of parts the time heretofore required for dismounting and refixing the tools
is saved, and therefore a great deal more work can be done in a given time than
with mortising machines of the ordinary description
.
Fig. 9, Sheet V., is a sectional front elevation, and Fig. 10 a side elevation of a
modification of the arrangement shewn in Figures 3 and 4. In this arrangement
the tool holder is carried in bracket bearings from the front of the plunger a, which
is slotted to allow room for the tools to turn into and out of position; and the
devices for locking and unlocking the various parts are changed. In this case, as in
the former, the boring tool or auger d and the cutting chisel e are mounted at
opposite ends of the same spindle, to which rotary motion is imparted when required
by means of the winch handle and the bevil wheels and n. When the chisel
requires to be locked in position this is effected by means of the bolt o, Fig. 9, at
the end of the spring finger levor w. The end of the bolt o enters a hole made in
the side of the plunger, and thereby prevents the handle land the bevil wheel 7 from
being moved, consequently the chisel cannot be reversed in its socket until it is
released; but it is capable of being brought down into the position now occupied
by the boring tool or auger d, as shewn in the Figures, and when brought into the

page_text: working position it can be secured by means of the locking bolt ; taking into a
hole in the disc g', as in the former instance. When it is required to rotate the
drilling tool or auger d it must (when brought into position) be secured there by
means of the locking bolt j, as shewn in Fig. 9, and then the handle and bevil
wheel must be unlocked by depressing the spring lever w into the position shewn
by dots in Fig. 9, so as to withdraw the pin or bolt o from the hole in the side of
the plunger a. The spring lever w is held down in the unlocking position by means
of a catch attached to the winch e, as shewn by dots; or it may be held in the
unlocked position by any other suitable device.
Fig. 11, Sheet VI. is a front elevation, and Fig. 12 is a side elevation of another
modification of my apparatus. In this instance the sockets d*, e*, and * to
receive the tools are adapted to the periphery of a movable ring g', which is con-
nected with a fixed ring secured in any convenient manner to the plunger .
In this case the boring and cutting tools are not adapted to the same spindle as in the
plan above described, but are independent of each other. In this arrangement the
short spindle which carries the boring tool is provided at its inner end with a bevil
wheel n, which gears into and is consequently driven by the large bevil wheel L, so
that rotary motion can be imparted to the tool by means of the winch handle l¹, as
in the former instances. The spindle on which the bevil wheel and the winch
handle are mounted turns in a socket bearing * formning part of the inovable
ring g¹, and therefore moves with it.
It will therefore be evident that when the ring g¹ is turned on its axis in order
to bring the operating tools into the working position the position of the winch
handle will be changed also. A similar device to that shewn and already described in
reference to the former machine for locking and unlocking the socket of the auger or
boring tool is employed in the present instance and need not be further described.
The reversing of the cutting tool or chisel is in this modification effected by
means of a handle connected to a ring y, which is secured in any convenient
manner to the spindle of the chisel socket e*. Spring stops are provided on
opposite sides of the socket e* to retain the handle in the position at the time
required.
Fig. 13, Sheet VII., is a front elevation, and Fig. 14 an end elevation of a modi-
fication of the arrangement shewn at Figures 11 and 12. The principal difference
between the arrangements shewn in Sheet VI. and Sheet VII. is that the spindle
on which the winch handle and bevil driving wheel are mounted does not turn
in bearings attached to the movable ring g¹, and consequently does not rotate
therewith. In other words the ring g¹ with the working tools d, e, and f, con-
nected therewith can be turned round on its axis in order to bring the several tools
into their working position without displacing either the bevil driving wheel / or
the winch handle . In these Figures the bevil wheel is keyed on one end of a
short shaft p, which turns in a socket bearing p* (Fig. 14) cast on or attached to
the plunger a. On the opposite end of the shaft p is keyed another bevil pinion q
(Fig. 14), which gears into and is driven by a similar wheel r on a short counter
shaft, on which is mounted the winch handle l' for the purpose of imparting motion
to the gearing when required. In this modification however the spindle of the
socket carries at its inner end a bevil wheel n³, which gears into and is driven
by the large bevil wheel . The locking devices are similar in construction and
operation to those shewn in Sheet IV., and therefore need no further description.
Fig. 15, Sheet VIII., is a front elevation, and Fig. 16 a side elevation of
another modification, in which the winch handle for actuating the toothed
gearing is placed in front of the movable ring g' instead of at the side, as in the
former Figures. The short spindle on which are mounted the winch handle and
the bevil wheel turns in a bearing in an arched bracket s forming part of and
attached to the moveable ring g¹. By this arrangement of parts the bevil wheels
and r of Fig. 14 are dispensed with, and the machine is thereby simplified in con-
struction. Moreover the gearing inside the moveable ring g³ is covered up by the
t

page_text: large bevil wheel Z, and extraneous substances are prevented from getting in and
damaging the gear.
Fig. 17, Sheet IX, is a front elevation, and Fig. 18 a side elevation of
another modification. In this instance the moveable ring g¹ is dispensed with, and
the sockets d*, and_e*, and ƒ* of the three working tools, namely, the boring
tool or augur d, the cutting chisel e, and the core driver f, are provided with
sleeve bearings whereby they are mounted side by side on a horizontal shaft g³,
which turns in bearings h' on a flat plate attached to the plunger a. When either
of the tools is out of use it is turned up into the position indicated by dots in
Fig. 18, and is held there by a spring catch t, which takes into a notch piece u cast
on the sockets. The chisel socket e* does not require a spring catch, as it can
be held in place by the spring bolt j, which takes into a hole in the disc g, as in
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6. The cutting edge of the chisel e may be reversed by turning
round the socket e*, and locking the same by means of the spring bolt o as in the
former instances. When either of the tools is in use, and is therefore in the lower
position (like the boring tool d in Fig. 18), it must be held securely in this position
by means of the spring catch v, which takes into the notch u cast on the socket d*.
When thus locked in position rotary motion may be imparted to the boring tool or
augur d, by means of the bevil gear n and actuated by the winch handle 1. When
the holes have been bored in the wood under operation, and the boring tool d is no.
longer required, it must be unlocked by pressing back the spring catch v.
boring tool may then be turned up into the position indicated by dots in Fig. 18,
and then the cutting chisel may be brought into use by drawing back the spring
bolt j, unlocking the tool, and then locking it again in the new position. When the
cutting chisel e requires reversing in position the socket e* is unlocked from the
collare by drawing down the spring bolt o, then reversing the chisel and relocking
it in the new position. It will of course be understood that the plunger a with the
three tools adapted thereto is worked up and down by means of a hand lever, as in
the former instances. It will now be understood that all the tools may be brought
into use in succession, and the mortice completed without dismounting any of the
tools.
The
Fig. 19, Sheet X., is a front elevation, and Fig. 20 a side elevation of a modifi-
cation of the arrangement shewn in Sheet IX. In Sheet X. the several tools are all
mounted independently on a plate i attached to the plunger. The boring tool or
auger d and the cutting chisele are each secured in a socket at the end of its spindle,
which is capable of being drawn up or down vertically in the sleeve when it is
required to remove them out of the working position. The core driver fis mounted
on a horizontal pin f', so that when out of work it may be turned up into position
shewn in Fig. 19, and when required for use may be turned down into position
shown by dots in the same Figure. When either the auger d or the cutting chisele
are required for use they are either of them lowered into the position shown in
Fig. 19, and they are secured in that position and rendered capable of resisting
vertical pressure by means of the excentric block y', which is pivotted to the lug
fixed on the plate v. The plate v is attached to the plunger a, and is moved up and
down therewith by means of the hand lever as in ordinary morticing machines. It
will be understood that with very slight modification the machine may be adapted
to be worked by steam or treadlo power as well as by the hand lever.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for Cutting
Mortices," and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
would observe in conclusion that I am aware it has been proposed to arrange in a
radial manner a boring tool drill or auger (together with the grearing for imparting
rotary motion to the same), and also a pair of cutting chisels (of peculiar construc-
tion) round the periphery of a circular disc, so that the boring tool or either of the
cutting chisels may be brought into position for use without dismounting either of
the other tools. I am also aware that a single cutting chisel worked by an inde-
pendent lever has been provided with a device whereby it may be turned round in
its socket, so that the position of its cutting edge may be reversed without

page_text: dismounting the tools; I do not therefore mean to claim any such parts takon
separately, but that which I consider to be new, and therefore wish to claim as the
Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,-
First. Actuating a series of tools which are mounted in one and the same holder
by means of a hand lever or its equivalent, whether such holder be capable of
swivelling to reverse the position of the chisel or not.
Second. Constructing and arranging the several parts which carry the working
tools of a mortising machine as above shewn and described, so that the said tools
may (in succession) be changed in position and brought into operation without
dismounting and remounting any of them, as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
Third. Mounting the boring tool or auger at one end and the cutting chisel at the
other end of a spindle mounted in a moveable or rotary socket in which it is capable
of rotating on its axis, such spindle being also provided with a bevil wheel, so that
it may be rotated either for the purpose of actuating the boring tool or auger by
means of a suitable winch handle for reversing the position or direction of the
cutting edge of the chisel, as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. The arrangement and construction of parts shewn at Figures 11 and 12,
in which the boring tool or auger and the cutting chisel are mounted at the ends of
short independent spindles, each of which may be provided with a bevil wheel,
which by gearing into the large bevil driving wheel is capable of being turned
axially or rotated thereby, as and for the purposes herein sot forth.
Fifth. The arrangement and construction of parts shown at Figuros 13 and 14,
whereby the several working tools can in succession be brought into position for
use without displacing the bevil driving wheel or the parts connected therewith.
Sixth. Adapting to the plunger a a plate carrying suitable bearings to receive a
horizontal shaft or spindle on which are mounted (side by side) the sockets of the
several working tools d, e, and f, which are capable of being turned up (on their
shaft or spindle) so as to be out of the way when not in use, but which can in
Buccession be brought into position for use without dismounting any of the other
tools, as herein set forth.
Seventh. As a modification of the above mounting the working tools & and e in
sockets on the plate in such a manner that they may be drawn or slidden up or
down vertically, as may be required (as shewn at Figures 19 and 20), instead of
causing them to turn on centres (as shewn at Figures 17 and 18), when they are:
required to be moved out of the way, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Phillips, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
JNO. PHILLIPS. (L.S.)
40