Improvements in the Art of and Machinery for Dressing Stone.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HENRY THOMAS BROWN, of No. 261, Broadway,
in the City of New York, in the United States of America, Patent Attorney.]
Improvements in the Art of and Machinery for Dressing Stone.
I, PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON of The Office for Patents, 6 Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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 :-
One object of this invention is to obtain on granite or other stone a more perfect
dress or surface than has heretofore been obtained by machine dressing, or even by
hand dressing, and to this end an important feature of the invention consists in
subjecting the surface of the stone, at the point where it is acted upon by the
cutting instrument by which the dressing is performed, and subjecting the said
instrument itself to the action of a blast of air, which follows all the movements of
the said instrument over the surface. The effect of this blast of air is two-fold,
mz.: in the first place, it blows away the loose particles of stone cut away by the
dressing instrument, and thus ensures the operation of the cutting edge or point of
the said instrument directly upon the solid surface of the stone, and obviates the
bruised or ground effect which is produced by the operation of the said edge or
point on the said loose particles of stone lying on said surface, and, in the second
place, it keeps the edge or point of the instrument cool, and thereby serves to
preserve its temper. In carrying out the above mentioned feature of this invention
by machinery, the inventor may employ what is called a pneumatic tool,"
consisting of a cylinder containing a piston which is operated as a haminer by
compressed air, and a chisel or cutting instrument carried by or attached to said
cylinder, to be operated upon to dress the stone by the percussive action of said
hammer, and the exhaust pipe from said cylinder, or a blast pipe connected with
said exhaust pipe, is so arranged that it discharges the air from said cylinder, as
a blast, at a point near the cutting edge or point of said chisel or instrument.
66
Another feature of this invention, which relates to a stone dressing machine in
which a pneumatic tool such as is the above mentioned, or any power-operated tool,
is arranged in a carriage with which it is capable of moving to and from and round
about a fixed support, consists in so fitting the cutting instrument to the cylinder
or cutter chuck of said tool, that it may be turned therein freely by hand, for the
purpose of giving the edge of the tool any desired direction, according to the lines
in which the dress is to be produced.
Other features of the invention relate to stone dressing machines in which a
pneumatic tool or a power operating tool. comprising a power operated hammer,
and a chisel or cutter, is moveable relatively to the stone on which it is to operate.
Heretofore, the adaptability of such tools has been practically limited to light
work, but by this invention such tools are adapted to heavier classes of work, by
providing a carrier or support in or on which the power operated tool is so
supported and counterbalanced, and easily movable in all directions, as to relieve
the operator from the weight of the said tool, and to give him such control of it as
to render it adaptable to stone-work of all grades, and to enable such work to be
performed with a great saving of labor.
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings of a stone dressing machine, and the novelty of the improvements will
afterwards be pointed out in claims.
Eu renresents a side alreation of the maching

page_text: Fig. 2 represents a plan of the same, with all the parts represented above the
line a. in Fig. 1 omitted.
Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of the pneumatic tool used in said machine,
and a portion of the carrier to which it is attached.
Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section in the line y.-y. of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the upper part of the column on which the
tool carrier is supported.
Figs. 6 & 7 represent part of the carrier with the tool at different angles.
Fig. 8 represents some details which will be hereinafter explained.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is a base, upon which is erected a cylindrical column or standard B, which
constitutes a support for all the moving parts of the machine. The said base is
represented as mounted on wheels C, for the purpose of enabling it to be moved
casily from place to place. The standard is represented (see Figs. & 5) as
hollow, for the purpose to be hereinafter explained.
D, a, a, b, designate the tool carrier, consisting of two parallel bars D, spacing
pieces o blocks a a¹ between said bars, and nuts 66 applied to screw threads on
the ends of the said spacing pieces. The spacing pieces or blocks hold the bars at
such a distance apart that they may move vertically or horizontally on the
standard B. The spacing piece or block a at the one end of the carrier, serves
also for the adjustment of the power-operated tool E.
F, c, designate what may be called the tool carrier frame, represented as consisting
of two rings F arranged on opposite sides of the standard B and carrier D, and
shafts c, which serve to hold the rings at the proper distance apart, close to the
sides of the carrier, and serve also as the axles for rollers G G and H H, of which
there are four pairs, viz. two pairs G G, arranged respectively in the upper and
lower parts of the frame F, r, and so spaced as to travel upon opposite sides of the
standard B, and the other two pairs H H arranged in front and rear of the frame,
and so spaced that the side bars D of the carrier may run back and forth
between them. The top and bottom rollers G G are grooved to fit the standard,
and the front and rear rollers H H are flanged at their inner edges, to fit within
the side bars D of the carrier, for the purpose of preventing any lateral displacement
of the said bars.
On the top of the standard B is a revolving cap or collar I, in the lower part of
which is a groove corresponding with a groove in the top of the standard, for the
reception of a number of balls d, which constitute an antifriction bearing. The
cap I has, ou opposite sides, two brackets I', to contain bearings for the axles of
two pulleys JJ, over which runs a rope or chain K, the opposite ends of which
are connected with the front and rear parts of the carrier frame F. c.
From a loop
or bight of this rope or chain depending between the pulleys, there is suspended
a weight L, contained within the standard B, which is made hollow for the reception
of the said weight. The weight is hung in the bight of the rope or chain by a
pulleye attached to the upper end of the weight. The weight serves as a
counterbalance to the tool carrier D, the power-operated tool E, and the frame F, c.
One end of the rope or chain K is fastened permanently to some part of the carrier
frame F, c, as, for instance, to one of the axles c, and the other end is attached to
a windlass f, the axle of which turns in bearings in the carrier frame, and is provided
with a hand crank g, by which the rope or chain may be lengthened or shortened
between the carrier frame and the weight, to vary the limit of play of the carrier
frame, and the upward and downward movement of the carrier frame and tool
carrie, upon the hollow standard B.
By the provision of the revolving cap 1 on the top of the hollow support or
standaid B, and the conforming of the rollers G. G. to the cylindrical body of the
said standard or support B, the carrier frame and tool carrier are free to be laterally
turned upon the support or standard in such manner as to permit the tool to operate
upon work within the radius of the bars D of the tool carrier without moving the
machine, while the counterbalancing of the carrier frame, carrier, and tool, by the

page_text: weight L, allows the tool to be easily raised and lowered by the operator, according
to the height of the work.
The power-operated tool selected for the illustration of the present invention is
not of itself a part of the said invention, ex :ept as to the fitting of its chisel
or cutter h, which will be hereinafter described, & therefore needs no further
description in this place, beyond saying, that it is what is commonly known as a
pneumatic tool, consisting, in part, of a cylinder E, to the lower end of which is fitted
a chisel or cutter h, and which contains a piston i, which is made to operate as a
hammer by the induction and eduction of compressed air or other fluid under
pressure, above and below the said piston alternately. The manner in which it is
preferred to attach this tool to the carrier will be best understood by reference to
Figs. 3 & 4, and is as follows:-
The spacing piece or block a, hereinbefore described as placed between the
parallel bars D of the carrier, has threaded extensions 7, which extend through
openings in the said bars, and is clamped between said bars by means of nuts 8 and
washers 9 upon the said threaded extensions 7. The said block has in it a
transverse central opening for the passage through it of a clamping bolt 10, which
also passes through a transverse central opening in the tool clamp M.
The tool clamp M consists of a bar having its upper and lower ends screw-
threaded. These screw threaded ends receive upon them brackets or lugs i¹, which
are provided with openings to receive the upper and lower ends of the cylinder of
the pneumatic tool E, as shewn at j.j in Fig. 3. These brackets or lugs are
clamped upon the ends of the cylinder by means of nuts k upon the screw
threaded ends of the clamp M. By this adjustment of the tool clamping bar to the
block a of the carrier, the pneumatic tool may be adjusted to any desired lateral
angle, as indicated in Fig. 7, and clamped at the desired adjustment by means of
the nut 11 on the clamping bolt 10. The angular adjustment of the tool in a
backward and forward direction, as indicated in Fig. 6, is provided for by the
threaded extensions 7 of the block a, and the nuts 8 and washers 9 thereon.
The pipe p for the induction of the compressed air to the tool for operating the
piston hammer, has a flexible connection with a compressor, or a reservoir of com-
pressed air.
The exhaust pipe p' is prolonged by, or has connected with it, the blast pipe p².
The said pipe p₁ is represented as a piece of flexible tubing which extends
from the exhaust port of the tool cylinder El to a coupling 12, which connects
the said pipe with the carrier frame, and which coupling has connected with it a
cock 13, to which is connected the blast pipe p³, the end of which is directed, as
shewn in Fig. 1, towards the point or cutting edge of the cutter or dressing
instrument h, and terminates in such proximity thereto that it will deliver a blast
of the exhaust air upon the stone at the point where the said instrument is in
operation, and also upon the said instrument itself, thereby blowing away the
cuttings of the stone out of the way of said instrument, and serving to cool the
said instrument.
The cutting or dressing instrument h may be a bit, chisel, or cutter of any known
or suitable kind, and has a round shank h². The lower head j of the cylinder E,
which constitutes a chuck for the said cutter, is simply bored with a round bore
corresponding in size with the shank of the cutter, so that the cutter may be freely
turned by the hand of the operator, and its cutting edge may be directed to
produce an aligned cut, notwithstanding that the tool moves both to and from, and
also around the central support, and therefore in curved lines. This is especially
important in the use of cutters having several parallel cutting edges, for producing
a multiple cut.
In the operation of this machine, the cutter / may be held by one hand of the
attendant and moved by him over the surface of the stone in any and every
direction desired, while at the same time keeping its edge true to any desired
line without regard to the direction in which the tool carrier points, or in which

page_text: the tool is moved over the stone.
This movement of the tool is permitted by the
movement of the frame F, c, and carrier D, a, a', around and up and down the
standard, and by the longitudinal novement of the said carrier in the said frame,
and in the said movement the cutter is accompanied or followed by the blast pipe,
which, being connected with the cutter, always supplies the blast of air at the
point required.
For some kinds of dressing, in which there is used, as the cutting instrument,
a cross bit, such as is shown in plan in Fig. 1, the blast pipe p² may be directed to
one side of the centre of the bit, as shown in Fig. 8, which represents an inverted
plan view of such a bit, and of the end of the blast pipe. By this arrangement,
the blast may be made to give a rotary motion to the bit in the chuck. When
such a bit, so rotated, is used, the operator, instead of taking hold of the bit to
direct it, will take hold of the tool-carrier somewhere near the tool.
In that part of the invention which consists in subjecting the cutting instrument,
and the surface to be cut, to the action of a blast, the inventor does not confine
himself to the use, for the blast, of air exhausted from the cylinder of a
pneumatic tool, as it is obvious that a blast of air from any source may be
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. An improvement in the art of dressing stone, consisting in simultaneously
subjecting the surface of the stone to the operation of a cutting instrument
percussively acted upon, and causing a blast of air to act upon the stone at the
point where said cutting instrument is so in operation, substantially as herein
set forth.
2. An improvement in the art of dressing stone, consisting in simultaneously
subjecting the surface of the stone to the operation of a cutting instrument
percussively acted upon, and causing a blast of air to act upon the said cutting
instrument while so in operation, substantially as herein set forth.
3. An improvement in the art of dressing stone, consisting in simultaneously
subjecting the surface of the stone to the operation of a cutting instrument
percussively acted upon, and causing a blast of air to act both upon the stone at the
point where said cutting instrument is so in operation, and upon the said cutting
instrument itself while so in operation, substantially as herein set forth.
4. An improvement in the art of dressing stone, consisting in subjecting the stone
to the operation of a cutting instrument which is percussively acted upon, and
which is moved over said surface, and at the same time subjecting both the surface
of the stone so operated upon, and the said instrument so in operation, to the
action of a blast which follows the movement of the said instrument, substantially
as herein set forth.
5. The combination with a cutting instrument movable over the surface of stone
for dressing the same, of an air blast pipe connected to and movable with said
cutting instrument, and directed into proximity with the point or edge of said
instrument, and means of supplying air to said blast pipe while moving with
said instrument, substantially as aud for the purposes herein set forth.
6. In a machine for dressing stone, the combination of a cutting instrument, a
pneumatic hammer comprising a cylinder and piston, and means of admitting air to
and exhausting it from said cylinder, for producing the percussive action of said
piston upon said instrument, a carrier for supporting said hammer movably over the
stone to be dressed, and a blast pipe movable with said hammer, for conducting the
air exhausted from its cylinder to a point in proximity to the cutting edge or point
of said instrument, substantially as herein set forth.
7. The method herein described of producing, ou stone, a multiple cut surface in
a desired alignment, wherein the cutting instrument is held by the hand of the

page_text: workman and thereby directed over the stone with its edges in the desired
alignment while the bodily movement of the said instrument may be in curved
lines, substantially as herein set forth.
8. In a machine for dressing stone, the combination of a support and a tool
carrier movable around said support, of a power operated tool attached to said
carrier, and movable therewith in arcs around said support, and a cutter fitted to
said tool, to turn freely therein, that its edge may be directed in any alignment,
substantially as herein set forth.
9. In a machine for dressing stone, the combination of a pneumatic hammer
comprising a cylinder and piston, and means of admitting steam and exhausting it
from said cylinder, for producing the operation of said piston, said cylinder being
provided with a chuck for a cutting instrument, a carrier for supporting said
hammer movably over the stone to be dressed, and a cutting instrument fitted to
said chuck, and capable of being turned freely therein, substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth.
10. In a stone dressing machine, the combination with a chuck and a cross bit
fitted to rotate freely therein, a blast pipe directed towards said cutter, at one side
of the centre thereof, and means of supplying air to said blast pipe, substantially as
and for the purpose herein set forth.
11. In a stone dressing machine, the combination of a power-operated tool, a
carrier to which said tool is attached, a frame within which the carrier is adjustably
supported, and a standard upon which said frame is suspended, substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
12. In a stone dressing machine, the combination of a standard, a fiame arranged
both to move vertically on, and to turn about said standard, a carrier arranged to
move horizontally in said frame, and to move with it relatively to the standard,
and a power-operated tool attached to said carrier, substantially as herein set
forth.
13. In a stone dressing machine, the combination of a standard, a frame movable
vertically upon, and horizontally around standard, a tool carrier movable
horizontally relatively to said frame and standard, a power-operated tool attached
to said carrier, and a counterbalance for said frame, tool carrier, and tool,,
substantially as herein set forth.
14. The combination of a base, a standard supported thereon and provided at its
upper end with a pulley, a counterbalanced roller frame, and a carrier suspended
from said pulley, and a hammer adjustably secured to one end of the carrier,
substantially as described.
15. The combination with a standard, of a frame and a tool carrier supported on
said standard, and provided with a cord and weight, rollers arranged on said frame
to travel on the standard, and rollers carried by said frame and adapted to receive
and support the tool carrier, substantially as described.
16. The combination with the standard and carrier, of a suspended frame
for supporting said carrier provided with counterbalancing devices within the
standard, rollers mounted in the sides of said frame, a tool carrier supported by
said rollers, and a hammer secured to one end of the carrier, substantially as
described.
17. A portable stone dressing machine consisting of a base on wheels, a standard
erected on said base, a frame on said standard, a tool carrier supported within said
frame, and having attached to it a power operated hammer, a cutting tool or chisel,
and a counterbalance for said frame, carrier, and tool, substantially as herein set
forth.
18. The combination with the tool carrier and a support therefor, of a windlass
and a rope or chain for raising and lowering the carrier on the support, substantially
as herein described.
19. The combination with the supporting standard, the carrier frame adjustable
vertically on said standard, the tool carrier adjustable horizontally in said frame,

page_text: and the windlass on said carrier frame, for raising and lowering the said frame and
carrier on the standard, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of September 1894.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.