IMPROVEMENTS IN TREE SAWS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREE
SAWS." A communication from abroad by Johann Christian Schulte, of
Essen an der Ruhr, Germany.
Sealed the 2nd January 1880, and dated the 15th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th July 1879.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREE SAWS." [A communication from abroad by
Johann Christian Schulte, of Essen an der Rubr, Germany.]
According to the present Invention_saws for cutting down trees are constructed
as follows: A rectangular frame of wood or iron has, at a distance apart corre-
sponding to the length of the saw blade and its stroke, two transverse screw
spindles screwing through slides that work on transverse guide bars, so that by
rotating the screw spindles in one direction or the other the slides are made to
travel along their guide bars transversely across the frame. Through the slides in
a longitudinal direction pass bars that are connected to each end of the saw blade,
which is in such a position as. to have its teeth facing towards the one side of the
frame. The bar at the one end of the saw is connected to a chain passing over a
pulley, and carrying a weight or attached to a spring, whereby the saw is kept
stretched. The other bar is connected by a rod to an eccentric fixed on a sleeve
that can slide longitudinally on a transverse driving shaft mounted on the framing,
the sleeve being caused by a feather and key way to revolve with the shaft. Thus
the shaft being rotated by a portable motor engine or by animal power through
any suitable driving gear the eccentric imparts the requisite to and fro motion to
the saw blade, while the slide through which the saw bars work are gradually
advanced by the simultaneous rotation of the two screw spindles. For rotating the
latter a second excentric mounted on the driving shaft outside the framing imparts
a reciprocating motion by a rod to two pawls in gear with toothed wheels fixed on
the screw spindles, the pawls being reversible so that they can rotate the screw
spindles either in one direction or the other. The sleeve of the eccentric that drives
the saw has a collar embraced by the fork of a rod attached to the saw slide, so

page_text: that as this travels forward or backward it carries the sleeve and excentric along
with it on the driving shaft. The part of the frame-facing-the-saw-blade is
-separate from the other part, and is connected thereto by screw bolts or other
fastening, so-that-when it is desired to put the saw in action against the trunk of
a tree the said part of the frame is first removed so as to allow the saw blade
(which has been moved to its most backward position in the frame) to be brought
with its teeth-against-the-tree.-The loose part of the frame is then fixed in position
again, so that the tree is situated within the frame, and the latter having been fixed
to the ground the saw is put in motion by the driving shaft. The frame may be
mounted on wheels for facility of transport, or it may be taken to pieces for this
purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th January
1880.
•
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREE SAWS." A communication from abroad by
Johann Christian Schulte, of Essen an der Ruhr, Germany.
According to the present Invention saws for cutting down trees are constructed
as follows: A rectangular frame of wood or iron has, at a distance apart corre-
sponding to the length of the saw blade and its stroke, two transverse screw
spindles screwing through slides that work on transverse guide bars, so that by
rotating the screw spindles in one direction or the other the slides are made to
-travel-along-their guide bars transversely across the frame. Through the slides in
a longitudinal direction pass bars that are connected to each end of the saw blade, -
which is in such a position as to have its teeth facing towards the one side of the
frame. The bar at the one end of the saw is connected to a chain passing over a
pulley, and carrying a weight or attached to a spring, whereby the saw is kept
stretched. The other bar is connected by a rod to an eccentric fixed on a sleeve
that can slide longitudinally on a transverse driving shaft mounted on the framing,
the sleeve being caused by a feather and key way to revolve with the shaft. Thus
the shaft being rotated by a portable motor engine or by animal power through
any suitable driving gear the eccentric imparts the requisite to and fro motion to
the saw blade, while the slides through which the saw bars work are gradually
advanced by the simultaneous rotation of the two screw spindles. For rotating the
latter a second eccentric mounted on the driving shaft outside the framing imparts
a reciprocating motion by a rod to two pawls in gear with toothed wheels fixed on
the screw spindles, the pawls being reversible, so that they can rotate the screw
spindles either in one direction or the other. The sleeve of the eccentric that drives
the saw has a collar embraced by the fork of a rod attached to the saw slide, so
that as this travels forward or backward it carries the sleeve and eccentric along

page_text: with it on the driving shaft. The part of the frame facing the saw blade is
separate from the other part, and is connected thereto by screw bolts or other
fastening, so that when it is desired to put the saw in action against the trunk of
a tree the said part of the frame is first removed so as to allow the saw blade
(which has been moved to its most backward position in the frame) to be brought
with its teeth against the tree. The loose part of the frame is then fixed in position
again, so that the tree is situated within the frame, and the latter having been fixed
to the ground the saw is put in motion by the driving shaft. The frame may be
mounted on wheels for facility of transport, or it may be taken to pieces for this
purpose.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 to 6 of the accompanying Drawings shew one arrangement of the above
described improved tree saw; Fig. 1 shews a plan; Fig. 2, a side view reversed;
Fig. 3, a part longitudinal_section to an enlarged scale; Figs. 4 and 5 shew
respectively sections at X, X, and Y, Y, of the sliding block D at Fig. 3; and
Fig. 6 shews a section through the eccentric G. The rectangular frame, consisting
of the timbers A, A, and tie rods B, carries the two rotatable screw spindles C, C,
on which are blocks D, D, capable of traversing thereon with threaded holes D¹;
and also sliding on guide bars E, E, with holes D², D². Below the screws C and
bars E the blocks D are provided with other holes D³, through which slide rods
F, F, to the inner ends of which the saw blade S is attached. The outer end of
the rod F is connected to the rod G₁ of the eccentric G, which is caused by a
feather to rotate with the grooved driving shaft H, but which can slide longi-
tudinally thereon. The eccentric has a grooved collar G2, into which takes the
fork I of a rod I, which is screwed to the side of the sliding block D, as shewn at
Figs. 3 and 4, so that as the block D is traversed by the rotation of the screw
spindle C the rod I causes the eccentric to traverse to the same extent upon the
shaft H. This shaft is rotated by hand or any convenient power, thereby causing
the eccentric G to impart a reciprocating motion to the rods F, F¹, and sawblade S.
The bar F has its outer end connected by a chain J passing over a pulley K to a
weight L of sufficient size to keep the saw stretched during its reciprocating motion,
the cutting action taking place when the saw is being pulled by the action of the
eccentric against that of the weight. For effecting the traverse of the blocks D, D,
and consequent forward feed of the saw while it receives its reciprocating motion,
the shaft H has an eccentric M on its outer end, the rod M' of which is connected
to a lever N carrying a pawl N¹ in gear with a ratchet wheel fixed on the one
screw spindle C, so that as the shaft H rotates a step by step rotary inotion is
imparted to the screw spindle. The same motion is simultaneously imparted to the
other screw spindle by means of the rod P connecting the pawl lever N with the
lever Q, having a pawl Q1 in gear with the ratchet wheel R on the second screw
spindle C. The lever N has its end slotted, so that by adjusting the eccentric.rod
connection nearer to or farther from its fulcrum the amount of feed of the saw can
be varied.
The pawls N, Q¹, are reversible, so that when the blocks D and saw S have
arrived at the end of their forward feed they can be moved back again by reversing
the pawls, and consequently the motion of the screw spindles.
In operating with this apparatus the part A¹ of the frame is first opened so as to
enable the saw S (which has been moved to its most backward position) to be
brought against the tree, and the part A¹ having then been closed on the other side
of the tree, and secured by bolts or other fastenings, the frame is fixed in position
in any convenient manner, such, for instance, as will be presently described with
reference to the modified construction shewn at Figs. 7 to 11, which I will now
proceed to describe.
Fig. 7 shews a side view; Fig. 8, a plan; Fig. 9, a cross section at X, X; Fig. 10,
a section at Y, Y; and Fig. 11, a section of the silent feed. The general con-
struction is the same as that above described; A is the frame, which in this case is

page_text: made wholly of metal; A¹ is its opening part; C, the screw spindles; D, tho
sliding blocks; E, the guide rods, which-act-also-as-tie bars.; E, F, the rods
carrying the saw S; G is a cranked-shaft, serving in place of the eccentric in the
previous arrangement for imparting motion to the saw, the crank being made the
entire width of the frame, and the rod F-being connected thereto by the stiff con-
necting rod G', the eye of which slides along the cranked shaft as the blocks D and
saw-are traversed. The crank shaft is rotated by means of crank handles T and
speed increasing gearing U carried by a standard frame V on the framing A.-On-
the crank shaft is a flywheel W with slotted crank M formed or fixed on it, which
crank is connected by the rod M₁ to the lever N. loose upon the screw spindle C,
and imparting a step by step rotary motion to it by the ordinary "silent feed
mechanism, that is to say, a wedge pawl N' on the lever is caused during its back-
ward motion to bite in the V groove of the pulley O fixed on the screw spindle, a
second wedge pawl N2 fixed on the frame A preventing the return motion of the
pulley on the forward motion of the lever. The rotation of the pulley and screw
spindle is communicated simultaneously to the second screw spindle by the pulley R
and endless band P.
"7'
The amount of feed is regulated by adjusting the position of the connecting
rod M' in the slotted crank M.
The saw S is in this arrangement kept stretched by means of a caoutchouc
band L attached to the sliding block D, and to a pin on the rod F¹.
For fixing the frame in position for sawing transverse bars B carry screws a,
which after the part A' of the frame has been opened, and the saw brought up
against the tree, are screwed tight up against the sides of the latter, while other
screws b, b, serve to adjust and fix the position of the frame on the ground.
Both the above described arrangements may be made readily transportable by
fitting small road wheels on the projecting ends of the tie bars. It will be evident
that they may also be temporarily fixed in an upright position for cross-cutting
trees or other timber lying upon the ground.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim,―
First. The construction of tree saws wherein a saw blade has its rods sliding
through blocks caused to traverse in a frame by means of screw spindles actuated
by gearing from the driving shaft that imparts reciprocating motion to the saw
blade, the mechanism by which such motion is imparted to the saw being so
arranged with a sliding connection as to allow of the traversing of the saw as it
reciprocates, substantially as herein described.
Second. In combination with a tree saw, arranged and operating as above set
forth, the use of a frame, a portion of which opens or is removeable so as to allow
of the tree or timber being brought against the saw, substantially as berein-
described.
Third. The combination of the frame A, A¹, screw spindle C, sliding blocks D,
with holes through which the saw rods work, and saw S receiving reciprocating
motion by mechanism having a sliding connection with the driving shaft, the said
parts being arranged and operating substantially as herein described with reference
to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Simon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand