An Improved Apparatus for Turning Metals.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Turning Metals.
JOHN HARRIS EVANS No. 1 Alpha Villa Calton Road Bath Mechanical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
An improved apparatus capable of turning all kinds of metals. The apparatus
can be fixed upon an ordinary turning lathe or upon a machine specially designed
for it.
By a combination of cutters, guides, and burnisher this apparatus will turn metals
at a rapid rate producing most accurate results, and superior finish.
My invention relates to an improved method of turning metals. This improved
apparatus enables me to centro the work to be operated upon, and turn it to any
given, or various diameters, with the greatest accuracy, cutting the work up to
any given lengths, and re-centreing the remainder of the work, to be turned and cut
up, as may be desired, without removing the work from the machine.
My apparatus is so constructed, that the cutters all remain stationary, while the
work to be operated upon, revolves.
This enables me to fix my improved apparatus upon any ordinary turning lathe.
The work is put into the lathe in the usual way. The lathe being put into
notion, passes the work through my improved apparatus, thus finishing the work
in a most accurate and superior manner, with an immense saving of time and
labour.
I construct my improved apparatus, with five cutters; all of which are adjustable.
Each cutter can be removed, and replaced at will, without removing the work to be
operated upon. I have also, two sets of self-centreing and self-adjusting guides
which carry the work to be operated upon.
I have also one other guide and burnisher.
A portion of the cutters are operated upon in a very ingenious manner, and their
movements are registered by an index to every 400th of an inch: which I will fully
explain hereafter.
The combination of my cutters and the combination of the aforesaid self-centreing
and self-adjusting guides and cutters.
My improved apparatus for turning consists of one main casting and all the
cutters, guides, burnisher, and adjustable arangements, as before mentioned, are
fixed thereto. To fix this apparatus upon an ordinary turning lathe, I have only
to remove the slide rest then bolt the apparatus firmly upon the saddle of the lathe,
and it is ready for use.
The work to be turned is put into the centres, exactly as before the apparatus
was applied. The guides are brought into position, the cutters set, and the lathe
set in motion. The work then passes through the apparatus, all the cutters are
operating at the same time so that the work passing once through the apparatus is
accurately turned and highly finished.
In the machine I specially designed to work my improved turning apparatus
(as mentioned before) I dispense entirely with the centres, and rely upon the self
adjusting, self centreing guides; to bring the work central, and support it while the
tools operate thereon. The apparatus is fixed upon the traviling bed of this
machine and the work to be operated upon revolved. The traviling bed upon
which the apparatus is fixed, begins to travil as soon as the machine is put into
motion, and as the apparatus passes over the work it is turned and finished to any
given diameter within certain limits, and the diameter will be uniform throughout
the whole length of the work.
Of the combination of cutters used in my improved turning apparatus,-two are

page_text: roughing cutters, one of which cuts from the back and one from the front, both are
brought into action at the same time, this enables me to get an equal pressure of
cut on either side of the work being operated upon, and so mentains the work steady,
and free from bending, the three remaining cutters are broad chisel ended with
corners slightly rounded. These cutters are fixed into a steel head, this head is
provided with three slots made exactly to fit the cutters.
The cutters being incerted have a sliding movement inward and outward only.
The ends of the aforesaid cutters project over the outside of the head in which
they are held, and the said ends are so shaped as to fit into three grooves in a cone-
this same cone passes over the head before mentioned and the three grooves in the
cone receives the ends of the three cutters, which are made to fit into these
grooves, and as the said cone slides forward, it presses the cutters inward, and when
the cone slides backward the cutters are opened, all three cutters are operated upon
by the one same movement of the cone, and the same movements of cutters, in or
out determines the diameter of the work being done.
The aforesaid cone, slides only backward and forward. This is performed by
means of a tooth wheel, fixed at the back of the aforesaid cone. It is attached to
the cone by small clamps fastened on to the cone, the lips of the aforesaid clamps
fitting over a flange on the tooth wheel beforementioned, which allows the wheel to
revolve, while the cone only slides backward and forward. This said wheel has a
thread cut into its centre hole, which same thread fits over the tail end of the
stationary steel head before mentioned, over which the aforesaid cone slides; and
as the tooth wheel is revolved right or left, so the cone is pushed forward or drawn
backward, and thus the cutters are opened or closed as may be desired.
The thread before mentioned is a locking thread so that it is locked at every
point.
The cutters cannot shift unless the wheel be revolved, I may use either a hand
wheel and pinion, or a lever and paul to actuate the before mentioned tooth wheel.
The stationery steel head, before mentioned has a large hole bored quite through
its centre, and the work to be turned, passes through the head in which the
cutters are fixed, the said cutters being brought in until the desired diameter is
obtained.
The whole of the cutter head with its cutters, and adjestable arangement as
described are fixed upon the centre of the main casting before mentioned and stands
in a horizantal positi...
The roughing cutters before mentioned are fixed upon two adjestable heads,
which heads have their position upon the front of the main casting before mentioned,
so that the work first passes betwen the roughing cutters and on to the finishing
cutters as before described, where it is finished to the diameter required.
The guides before mentioned are for bringing the work to be operated upon,
into a central position; and mentaining it in the same. These consist of two
sets and one single guide all of which are fixed upon the main casting before
mentioned.
My first set of guides stands immediatly in front of the roughing cutters, these
receive the rough shaft about to be turned and are brought to a central position by
a self centring arangment and hold the work in that position while the roughing tools
turn off a portion of the metal sufficient to give a true surface, my second set of
guides are exactly same as the first and are fixed immediatly behind the roughing
cutters.
As soon as sufficent work has passed the roughing cutters, to enable the
seccond set of guides to take hold, they are immediately brought into position
exactly in the same manner as the first set where, and the first set are then
released.
The work is now being carried steady and central and in a few more inches it
reaches the finishing cutters.
My other single guide and burnisher is fixed upon the before mentioned main
casting and its position is at the back of the finishing cutters.

page_text: This guide receives the, work, when it leaves the finishing cutters; and is
designed to deal with long lengths of work such as engine shafts, machine shafts &c.,
when it at once becomes both a steady guide and burnisher.
January 2nd 1892.
JOHN HARRIS EVANS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Turning Metals.
JOHN HARRIS EVANS 1 Alpha Villas Calton Road Bath Mechanical 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 object of this invention, is for rapid, and accurate turning, to any given
diameter, within certain limits; roughing and finishing its work at the same time ;
thereby saving considerable time and labour.
Fig. 1, represents front view of sliding cone, and cutter head, with front plate
removed. A, B and C, are the finishing cutters in position. D, the cutter head,
and E, the sliding cone. The cutters A, B and C, are fitted into the grooves, as
shewn in cutter head D, Fig. 1. The said grooves, holding the finishing cutters in
position. The top ends of the said finishing cutters A, B and C, are shaped as
shewn in Fig. 3, to fit and slide in the cone E, the said cone being grooved to
receive these cutters, A, B, and C, as shown in Fig. 2, at E'.
Fig. 2, shews side elevation, with front plate G, in position: the said front
plate G, is for securing the cutters A, B, and C, in the cutter head D; sufficient
clearance being allowed for the free movement of the cutters A, B and C;
D' represents shank end of the cutter head D; the end of which is screwed with
a special locking thread as shewn; and H is a spur wheel, bored through its
centre, and screwed to fit upon the screw end of D', as shewn at H¹. The
cone E, is bored plain through its centre, and slides upon the plain part of the
shank end of the cutter head at D¹. The clamps K, fitting into the recess, as
shewn in the spur wheel H, are secured on the back of the sliding cone E, by
means of screws; thus sliding the cone E, backward or forward when wheel H, ís
revolved, and opening and closing the cutters A, B, and C, as may be desired,
for the various diameters of work to be turned. The pointer J, is to mark the
register number on spur wheel H, for gauging the various diameters of work to
be turned.
Fig. 4, shews a complete side elevation of my improved apparatus. M, is the
hand wheel actuating the roughing cutters, and N, is the hand wheel actuating
the vertical adjusting guide of my first set of guides. N', is the hand wheel
actuating the vertical auljusting guide of my second set of self-centreing and self-
adjusting guides.
L, is the hand wheel actuating the self centreing horizontal guides of my first
set of guides and L', is the band wheel, actuating the self centreing horizontal
guides, of my second set of guides. D, represents cutter head in position.
O, represents pinion working into spur wheel H; the said pinion being actuated by
hand wheel F, for regulating finishing cutters. R, is a guide and burnisher, used.
for long lengths of work. P, shews manner of fixing cutter head in main casting,
and is held in position by suitable screws.
Fig. 5, represents front view with centreing and adjusting guides in position.
S, is the centreing plate, sliding upon pillars T, T, thereby maintaining the
centreing plate S in a vertical position. U, is the hand wheel actuating the
screw V, the said screw V, being screwed into centre boss of centreing plate S, and
anchored in bridge V'. When the hand wheel U, is revolved, right or left, the
centreing plate S, is raised, or lowered, and the bevil ends of centreing plate S,
striking upon the grooved ends of self centreing guides W, W, opens or closes the

page_text: said. self- centreing guides, to suit the various diameters of work to be turned'; or
I may dispense with the screw V, and depend entirely upon the centreing plate S,
to bring the self centreing guides up to their work by their own weight, which
is all sufficient for light work. Z represents the adjustable arrangement for
adjusting vertical guide Y, which is a self centreing and self adjusting guide.
The shank end of %, being screwed, the hand wheel N, is screwed through its
centre boss to fit upon said tail end of Z. The centre boss of hand wheel N,
being attached to main casting X by clamps same as shewn at K, (Fig. 2), thus
sliding the wedge Z, backward or forward when wheel N, is revolved.
When hand wheel N is revolved, right or left, the adjusting wedge arrange-
ment Z, raises or lowers the guide Y, to a suitable position for the diameter of the
work to be turned. Here again, I may dispense with the screw on Z, and hand
wheel N, simply pushing the adjusting wedge Z, in or out; which action, raises or
lowers the vertical guide Y to its required position; this method, being all
sufficient for light work. The screw on shank end of Z is specially designed for
heavy work. My second set of self centreing, and self adjusting guides, are exactly
same as the first set, I have described. Q, represents work to be operated upon in
its position.
Fig. 6 shews the arrangement, and combination of cutters, all 5 cutters being
shewn in working positions. 1, 1, represents the roughing cutters, and A, B, and C,
the finishing cutters, particulars of which are given at A, B, and C, on Fig. 1.
The roughing cutters 1, 1, on Fig. 6, fit into the sliding holders 3, 3, which
are operated upon by the screws 2, 2, these said screws being attached to
hand wheels M, M. The roughing cutier holders slide in main casting at X, X.
When the hand wheels M, M, are revolved, right or left, the roughing cutters, 1, 1,
are pressed forward, or drawn backward as may be desired for the various
diameters of work to be turned. The manner of adjusting the finishing
cutters, is shewn in Fig. 2, and at F, on Fig. 4, which manner has already
been described.
}
The manner of working my invention upon an ordinary turning lathe, is to place
my improved apparatus as shewn of Fig. 4, quite central upon the saddle of the
said lathe, and bolt it firmly to the said saddle. The work to be turned is put into
the lathe in the usual way. An ordinary screw or dog chuck may be used in
place of the back centre, to hold and drive the work or the usual centre may be
used, and the work driven in the ordinary way. The saddle carrying the turning
apparatus must be slid into position until the extreme end of the work Q, Fig. 5, to
be turned, comes up to the first set of guides shown on Fig. 5, at W, W, and Y..
The centreing plate, S, is then allowed to drop, or in case of heavy work, is
screwed down; in either case, the bevil ends of centreing plate S, strikes upon the
grooved ends of centreing guides W, W, Fig. 5, and forces the said guides upon
the work to be turned, fixing the said work central. The shank end of regulating
wedge Z, is then pushed forward-or forced forward by hand wheel N, Fig. 5, in
case of heavy work ;-this said pushing or screwing forward of the adjustable
wedge Z, raises the adjustable, self centreing guide Y, until it comes in contact
with the work to be turned, which completes the centreing.
The machine is now ready to commence work. The lathe is started in the usual'
way, and the sliding gear put into motion, exactly same as for turning in the.
ordinary way.
"The saddle of the lathe now commences to slide; the turning, apparatus fixed
upon it is carried along with the saddle. The work to be turned, is held central by
the guides W, W, and Y, on Fig. 5, and is enabled to revolve and slide on, through
. the said guides. When the work to be turned, reaches the roughing cutters 1, 1,
shewn on Fig. 6, the tools are brought into position and regulated to take the
necessary cut by hand wheels M, M, Fig. 6. The said cutters being forced'
forward or drawn backward as desired by turning the said hand wheels M, M,
Fig. 6, right or left.
f
The work being turned passes on rapidly and soon reaches the second set of

page_text: guides, the arrangement of which is shewn at L¹, and N¹, on Fig. 4. These second
set of guides are now brought into position, the same as the first set described
on Fig. 5.
The said guides take their position upon the work already turned by the
roughing cutters before mentioned. The first set of guides are now released, by
lifting the centreing plate S, on Fig. 5, when the centreing guides W, W,
immediately slide back. The adjusting wedge Z, is now drawn back, when the
vertical adjusting guide Y Fig. drops, leaving the work to be turned, to be
carried forward in the second set of guides, herein before mentioned,-upon that
part of the work already turned true by the roughing cutters 1, 1, Fig. 6, the said
roughing cutters continuing to rough turn the work through its entire length. The
bringing into position of the second set of guides, and the releasing of the first set
of guides, as described above, can be performed while the machine is in motion.
The work being turned, is now fast reaching the finishing cutter head D, on Fig. 4.
The finishing cutters A, B, and C,-of which I may use any number, more or less
according to the different varieties of work to be turned,-
-are shown in position
on Fig. 1, are now regulated by hand wheel F, Fig. 4, until the register number
on spur wheel H, Fig. 2, indicates the register number necessary for the diameter
required. Any diameter within certain limits may be acquired by revolving hand
wheel F, Fig. 4, right or left, thus opening and closing the cutters as may be
desired. The finishing cutters A, B, and C, Fig. 1-the top ends of which are
shaped and grooved to slide in the grooves on an inclined plane, are shewn at E'.
The form of the said cutters are shewn on Fig. 3.
The top ends of finishing cutters A, B, and C, Fig. 1, being inserted into the
grooves shewn at E', Fig. 2.
When cone E, on Fig. 4 is pressed forward, the finishing cutters are forced
in, enabling them to turn smaller diameters, and when the said cone E is
drawn backward, the aforesaid cutters are opened, enabling them to turn larger
diameters.
Each register number on spur wheel H, Fig. 2, may register 400th of an inch in
diameter, upon the work being turned, or I may make it register any other given
fraction of an inch desired.
The work is now being finished and passes on through cutter head D, and R
on Fig. 4, when the desired length of work is turned; the finishing cutters may be
opened by hand wheel F, as before mentioned. The saddle of the lathe, is slid
backward, until the front roughing cutter, marks the exact length of work required.
Then by pressing the roughing cutter 1, Fig. 6, inward by revolving hand wheel M,
the turned portion of the work will be cut off to the length required finishing of
the ends at the same time.
The portion of work cut off may now be removed and the remainder of the
bar may be proceeded with; exactly in the same manner already described for the
first piece of work.
may also fix my turning apparatus upon a machine, which I have specially
designed for it. The manner of working it, is exactly same as herein before
described; no alteration being necessary in the apparatus, and no alteration
whatever is required to an ordinary turning lathe, to fix and work my improved
apparatus upon the same.
Fig. 6, shews the combination of cutters A, B, and C, and also 1, 1, which
cutters all operate at the same time; the said cutters being perfectly fixed and
remaining quite stationary while the work is being performed; at the same time
being under the perfect control of the man in charge; the adjustable arrangements
of the whole combination of cutters having been fully described.
Fig. 5, shews my combination of guides at W, W, and Y, with their adjustable
arrangements all of which have been fully described. The combination of these
said guides, together with the aforesaid combination of adjustable cutters-
remaining stationary while the work is turned-and the roughing cutters at
1, 1, Fig. 6. The whole of the aforesaid cutters operating at the same time,

page_text: enables my improved apparatus to turn both long and short lengths of work,
perfectly true throughout its entire length.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed,-I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1.) The finishing cutters, of which I may use three, or any number of same
cutters, suitable for different varieties of work; the said cutters being shaped
and grooved on an inclined plane, to enable them to be adjusted and locked
at pleasure as herein before described and illustrated on drawing No. 3 at
Figs. 1 and 3.
(2.) The adjusting and fixing-or locking-arrangement of cutters, fitting
into; and being held in position in cutter head-or holder,-and adjusted by conc
arrangement, fitting on grooved ends of said cutters, the said cone being recessed
or grooved to receive, and slide over the said cutters backward and forward, by a
wheel, or nut-screwed through its centre with a locking thread and working upon
the shank end of cutter head together with manner of attachment of aforesaid cone,
enabling cone to slide over cutters when the before mentioned wheel or nut is
revolved, opening or closing and locking the said cutters in any desired position;
also manner of registering the various diameters as herein before fully described and
illustrated on drawing No. 3 at Fig. 2.
(3.) The combination of cutters of which I may use any number of same pattern
and design. The roughing cutters, going before as shown viz. :-one front and one
back, giving an equal pressure of cut upon either sides of the work: thus preventing
all springing or tendency to bend. The finishing cutters coming up after, receive
the work perfectly true. All the said cutters working at the same time as
herein before fully described and illustrated on drawing No. 4 at Fig. 6, and
drawing No. 3 at Fig. 1.
(4.) The adjustable arrangement of my self-centreing and self adjusting guides
by centreing plates, screws, wedges, guides, and manner of their arrangements.
The lower and upper guides have for their object, the carrying, centreing and
holding in position of the work while it is being turned, together with the complete
mechanical arrangement of same as herein before fully described, and illustrated on
drawing No. 1 at Fig. 5 and drawing No. 2 at Fig. 4.
(5.) The combination of guides; my first vertical guide, lifts up the work to the
desired position, for the horizontal guides to engage the same, until sufficient work
has been turned to enable my second set of guides to engage the work; the
said double set of guides having for their object, first, to hold and guide the
rough work, secondly, holding and guiding the turned work, and finally, both
sets holding the finished work while it is being cut off, as herein before fully
described and fully illustrated on drawing No. 1 at Fig. 5, and drawing No. 2
Fig. 4.
(6.) The main casting X with its arrangement, and manner of attachment, of
all the before mentioned parts claimed, enabling my improved apparatus to be
fixed on an ordinary turning lathe, as herein before fully described and fully
illustrated on drawing No. 2 at Fig. 4.
(7.) The combination of guides and cutters working collectively and all at the
same time, passing the work from one to the other, and distributing the work
automatically, to each cutter and guide; the said guides taking all the strain,
thus enabling the work to reach the cutters, free from vibration, as sub-
stantially described and illustrated on drawing No. 2 at Fig. 4 and drawing No. 1
at Fig. 5.