IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING WOOD
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Jeffrey, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Packing-box Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING
WOOD."
Sealed the 24th March 1857, and dated the 17th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Jeffrey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th October 1856.
I, WILLIAM JEFFREY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,.
Packing-box Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING WOOD," to.
be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an arrangement of traversing circular saw for
cross-cutting timber with rapidity and accuracy, as well as to a contrivance
of a saw table or bench for insuring accuracy of cut.
The driving connections
pulley kind. An endless
for the traversing circular saw are wholly of the belt
belt from the main driving pulley or drum passes round a small guide or
directing pulley running in stationary bearings upon the fixed frame of the
saw at such a distance off as to allow of the required traverse between the
two pulleys of the saw and its particular connections. The endless driving
belt passes in a horizontal direction, and its upper length or portion passes
beneath a small guide pulley, thence up and over a pulley on the circular saw

page_text: spindle, and finally down and beneath another guide pulley on the other side
of the saw spindle; from this point of course it passes over the end guide
pulley already mentioned.
The circular saw spindle, together with the two guide pulleys, one on each
side of it, are all carried upon a traversing saddle-piece set upon a planed bed
frame, and arranged like the slide rest of a lathe. This slide is fitted up with
a handle, or with a screw or other traverse apparatus for giving the necessary
traverse movement to the saw. This movement is, of course, in the line of
the driving belt, and the two under sides of the guide pulleys on the saw slide
and the upper side of the end guide pulley being all in the same horizontal
line, it follows that the saw may be traversed back and forward from end to
end of its bed, to bring it into and take it out of cut without interfering with
its legitimate sawing action, as the tension of the endless driving belt is always
the same. Instead of this belt pulley arrangement, an endless cord may be
used, with merely. a single pulley on the saw spindle. Instead of passing the
cord over the set of three pulleys, as herein-before described in reference to
the belt plan, the endless cord merely passes once round the saw spindle pulley,
just as is done in a bow drill; the saw table as fitted up for a stationary
circular saw, and has upon it a horizontal slide piece set in a recess running
in a line parallel with the saw's disc. The further end of this slide has a
graduated ledge piece upon it, set accurately square, so that when the operator
has to saw a board he presses one squared end against this ledge, and the slide
is then traversed forward to bring the wood into cut in an accurately straight
line. A counterweight is attached to the end of the slide, so that when the
operator relieves the slide from forward pressure, it returns to its original
position in readiness for the succeeding cut. It will be obvious to the practical
man that sawing apparatus of this kind may be employed for various branches
of the wood-worker's pursuits.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Jeffrey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30
16th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JEFFREY, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Packing-box
Maker, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth, day of October, in the year of our

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Jeffrey, Her special license that I, the said William
Jeffrey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Jeffrey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
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 OR APPARATUS FOR SAWING OR CUTTING WOOD," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Jeffrey, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 Jeffrey, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
1
My said Invention relates to an arrangement of traversing circular saw for
cross-cutting timber with rapidity and accuracy, as well as to a contrivance of
a saw table or bench for insuring accuracy of cut. The driving connections
for the traversing circular saw are wholly of the belt pulley kind. An endless'
belt from the main driving pulley or drum passes round a small guide or
directing pulley running in stationary bearings upon the fixed frame of the
saw at such a distance off as to allow of the required traverse between the two
pulleys of the saw and its particular connections. The endless driving belt
passes in a horizontal direction, and its upper length or portion passes beneath
a small guide pulley, thence up and over a pulley on the circular saw spindle,
and finally down and beneath another guide pulley on the other side of the
saw spindle. From this point, of course, it passes over the end guide pulley
already mentioned. The circular saw spindle, together with the two guide*
pulleys, one on each side of it, are all carried upon a traversing saddle-piece
set upon a planed bed frame, and arranged like the slide rest of a lathe. This
slide is fitted up with a handle, or with a screw or other traverse apparatus for
giving the necessary traverse movement to the saw. This movement is of
course in the line of the driving belt, and the two under sides of the guide

page_text: pulleys on the saw slide and the upper side of the end guide pulley being all
in the same horizontal line, it follows that the saw may be traversed back and
forward from end to end of its bed, to bring it into and take it out of cut,
without interfering with its legitimate sawing action, as the tension of the
endless driving belt is always the same.
Instead of this belt pulley arrangement, an endless cord may be used, with
merely a single pulley on the saw spindle. Instead of passing the cord over
the set of three pulleys, as herein-before described in reference to the belt
plan, the endless cord merely passes once round the saw spindle pulley, just as
is done in a bow drill. The sawing table, as fitted up for a stationary circular
saw, has upon it a horizontal slide piece set in a recess running in a line
parallel with the saw's disc. The further end of this slide has a graduated
ledge piece upon it, set accurately square, so that when the operator has to
saw a board he presses one squared end against this ledge, and the slide is then
traversed forward to bring the wood into cut in an accurately straight line. A
counterweight is attached to the end of the slide, so that when the operator
relieves the slide from forward pressure it returns to its original position in
readiness for the succeeding cut. It will be obvious to the practical man that
sawing apparatus of this kind may be employed for various branches of the
wood-worker's pursuits.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory Sheet
of Drawings which I have hereunto appended, for the purpose of showing
certain modifications under which my improvements may be judiciously carried
out in practice.
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is a longitudinal elevation of one madi-
fication of machinery or apparatus for sawing or cutting wood, as arranged
according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figure 3 is an
end view, partially in section, of another modification of machinery or appa-
ratus for sawing cr cutting wood; Figure 4 is a plan, corresponding to
Figure 3. In the arrangement of sawing machinery shown in Figures 1 and 2
of my Sheet of Drawings, the saw traverses to and fro while the wood is held
stationary. The main framing A consists of two cast-iron vertical side
standards, connected by a bed plate B, at each end of which are fixed the
bearings of a screw shaft, by means of which the saw is caused to traverse to
and fro. Motion is given to the moving parts of the machinery by means of
the main driving pulley or drum C, round which is passed the endless band or
belt D, which is carried round a pulley E, the bearings of which are fitted in
brackets projecting from the opposite end of the machine. The shaft of the

page_text: pulley E has upon it the two loose bevil wheels F and G, the bosses of which
are notched, so that either of them will readily couple with the clutch or
coupling H, which slides to and fro on a feather made on the pulley shaft.
By means of this arrangement, either of the bevil wheels F or G may be made
to cause the wheel I, which is fast to the screw shaft J, to turn in either direc-
tion, as desired. The screw shaft J is entered through a nut attached to the
lower part of the carriage K, which supports the circular saw L and its driving
pulley M. The spindle N of the saw is carried in a bearing O, bolted to the
saw carriage K, and on each side of the pulley M is a guide pulley P, sup-
ported by a spindle bolted to the vertical plate of the traversing carriage K.
The driving belt D is passed under the first guide pulley P, thence over the
pulley M, and under the second guide pulley P, and thence passes round the
pulley E, as before described. The upper surface of the side standards A are
planed smooth to facilitate the motion of the saw carriage to and fro. A self-
acting reciprocatory motion is given to the saw by means of the horizontal side
rod Q, which is caused to act upon a weighted lever connected to the
coupling H, and by means of the bevil wheels F and G moves the screw
shaft J alternately in opposite directions. The side rod Q is fitted in guides
projecting from the side of the framing, and one end of this rod is turned
upwards and forms a stop R, and at some distance along the rod, near the
end of the traverse of the saw carriage, another stop S is fitted to the rod, and
secured by a pinching screw. At each side of the saw carriage is bolted a
pin, which projects beyond the carriage, so as to come in contact with the
stops R and S as the carriage moves to and fro. To one end of the side rod Q
is attached a link T, which is connected to the bell-crapk lever U, the column V
forming a fulcrum for it. The other end of the bell-crank lever U is attached
to a forked lever, one end of which is attached to the coupling H, the other
being fast to the shaft W, on which is a weighted lever X. When the pin on
the right of the saw carriage K comes in contact with the stop S, the side rod Q
is moved forward until the end R of the rod comes against its nearest guide.
This motion of the rod Q causes the link T to turn the bell-crank lever U
upon its axis, and thereby lift the weighted lever X until it is just beyond the
vertical line; the equilibrium being thus overcome, the lever falls on the other
side of the shaft, and this action causes the forked lever Y, which is connected
to the coupling H, to move it along the shaft of the pulley E, and put the oppo-
site bevil wheel in gear with the wheel I, and thereby move the saw in the
opposite direction. The tumbling motion of the weighted lever is so arranged
as to take effect just at the point when the saw carriage has reached the limit
of its traverse, so that the saw is caused to travel backwards and forwards

page_text: without requiring personal attention. The saw may be instantly thrown out
of action, if required, by means of the hand lever Z, which is attached to the
weighted lever X; when the hand lever is lifted to a horizontal position it
turns the shaft W on its axis, and throws the coupling out of
gear with the
wheels F, G, thereby stopping the traverse of the saw. The hand lever Z may
be retained in the horizontal position by means of the sliding bar a, which is
forked at its outer end, for the purpose of holding the hand lever when pushed
forward by means of the handle b. Above the moving parts of the machinery
is fitted the table c, supported on suitable columns, and upon this table is fitted
the wooden bed or table d, on which the timber to be cut is placed. The
wooden table d has a number of antifriction rollers fitted in it, the peripheries
of which project just above the surface of the table; by this means the timber
laid upon the table is capable of being moved with facility up to or away from
the teeth of the saw. One edge of the timber e, which is to be cut, is pushed
against the beam or bulk or "fence" of wood f, and is firmly held in that
position by the screws g, which are actuated by the cross handles h. The
screws g are supported in overhanging brackets i, which are fitted with rollers j
made to travel on the upper side of the metal plate k, and with a roller lon
their under side; this latter roller works in a step carried in the beam of
wood f. The outer part of the brackets i is made to form a clip on the edge
of the plate k, which serves to retain the brackets in a horizontal position, but
does not interfere with their motion to and fro on the plate k. By means of
this arrangement, although the timber e is held firmly during the operation of
cutting, it may be easily pushed forward preparatory to making a fresh cut;
the rollers in the table d and on the brackets i admit of the timber e being
moved when a moderate force is applied thereto. This movement of the
timber must, it is obvious, be made when the saw has passed it on its back-
ward traverse. A machine or apparatus, arranged and constructed according
to the foregoing modification of my improvements, will perform its work with
accuracy and speed, and requires no other attention than that of moving the
timber which is being cut up to the saw.
Another modification of my improvements in machinery or apparatus for
sawing or cutting wood consists in using an endless rope for driving the
moving parts of the machinery, instead of a belt or band, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2 of my Sheet of Drawings. In this modification the endless
rope is passed once round a pulley on the saw spindle, and the use of the
guide pulleys on each side is dispensed with. The arrangement of the other
portions of the machinery or apparatus is the same as that herein-before
described.

page_text: The next part of my Invention has reference to machinery or apparatus for
sawing or cutting wood in which a fixed saw is used.
One modification of the improvements is shown in Figures 3 and 4 of my
Sheet of Drawings. The table A of the machine is supported on four
columns, two of which are shown broken off in the end view, Figure 3, and
their position indicated by the dotted lines in the plan, Figure 4. The cir-
cular saw blade B works through a longitudinal slot or opening made in the
table A, and is keyed fast to the shaft C, the bearings of which are bolted to
the under side of the table. On the outer end of the shaft C aro fitted a fast
and loose pulley, by means of which a rotatory motion is given to the saw as
required. A longitudinal groove or opening D is made in the table, parallel
with the circular saw B; a metal plate E is bolted to the under side of the
table at each side of the opening D. The metal plates E project a little
beyond the sides of the opening, and form a groove in which the plate of
metal F slides to and fro. This plate has attached to it, by means of the
rope G, a counterbalance weight II, which draws the sliding plate F back
along in the groove. Across the groove, and in a direction at a right angle to
the saw, the ledge or stop I is fixed to the plate F; the upper side of the
ledge is divided into inches or other suitable divisions. The wood to be cut is
squared at one end, and this part is pushed against the graduated ledge, which
must be brought back so as to be clear of the saw. To allow of the wood
travelling easily on the table, the sliding plate is made slightly higher than the
surface of the table A. The wood is placed against the ledge so that the side
furthest from the saw corresponds to the number of inches the piece is to be
when cut. The part projecting beyond the ledge is then brought against the
saw by pushing the timber along the table, over the surface of which it slides
easily by the motion of the plate F. When the cut has been made the work-
man releases the wood, which then travels back by the action of the weight H
on the plate F, and is in readiness for a fresh cut. The graduated ledge I
also affords considerable facility for cutting timber into planks or portions of
uniform thickness, the piece of timber being moved across the path of the saw
a predetermined distance after each cut.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be

page_text: novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or apparatus
for sawing or cutting wood, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of sawing or cutting wood by means of a
traversing circular saw actuated by an endless belt and triple pulley arrange-
ment, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of actuating a traversing circular saw by means
of an endless driving belt or band, guided or directed by pulleys traversing
with the saw round or over the saw pulley, for the purpose herein-before
described.
Fourth, the system or mode of sawing or cutting wood by means of
machinery or apparatus in which the saw is caused to travel to and fro by
means of a self-acting mechanical arrangement, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of holding or retaining the timber while being
cut, by the means herein-before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of sawing or cutting wood by means of machinery
or apparatus in which a fixed saw is used in conjunction with a sliding plate
for facilitating the motion of the timber, and a graduated ledge for measuring
off the quantity to be cut, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Jeffrey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.