IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD MOULDING AND PANELING MACHINES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD MOULDING AND PANELING
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Alonzo Stockbridge
Gear, of the City and County of New Haven, United States of
America.
Sealed the 10th June 1870, and dated the 15th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th December 1869.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOD MOULDING AND PANELING
MACHINES," a communication to me from abroad by Alonzo Stockbridge
Gear, of the City and County of New Haven, United States of America,
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in moulding machines, the
object being to recess the surface of the wood in order to form a panel

page_text: thereon, and at the same time to mould the edge of the recess, and the
Invention consists in a vertical centre spindle arranged in a jointed
frame and attached to the driving shaft with carrying pulleys arranged
at the joint, so that the cutter spindle may have a universal movement
over the surface of the wood combined with a form or pattern held upon
the wood to govern the form of the panel..
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the
machine; Fig. 2, a front view; Fig. 3, a top view; Figs. 5 and 6 an
arrangement for adjusting the clevation of the cutter spindle; Figs. 7
and 8, the fan for blowing the chips from the path of the cutter.
A is the table arranged upon a support B; C, the driving shaft
supported vertically in bearings D, D, and so as to be raised up or down
therein by means of a lever E having its fulcrum at a and held in
position by a latch 6, the said latch operated by a lever F, as seen in
Fig. 1, so that by taking hold of the lever E and clamping the lever F
down the latch b is withdrawn from the notch on the frame and the
lever raised or depressed, as the case may be, and when at the required
elevation flies back into the corresponding notch in the frame. To the
driving shaft above the table a frame G is hung which supports the
shaft H upon which is arranged a pulley H' corresponding to a pulley G¹
on the driving shaft, so that a belt extending around the two pullies
will cause the pulley H¹ to revolve when the driving shaft is revolved.
To the shaft H another swinging frame I is fixed carrying the cutting
spindle L, and on the cutter spindle is arranged a pulley L and on the
shaft H a corresponding pulley H" from which a band extends to the
pulley L. By this construction the cutter spindle may be swung over
the surface of the table, retaining its vertical position and elevation and
revolving in the same manner in whatever position it is turned. The
raising or lowering of the shaft of the lever E adjusts the elevation of
the cutter spindle.
The cutter spindle as illustrated in Fig. 4 is formed with a detachable
guide N above the cutter n. The object of this guide is to work against
the pattern and govern the line or movement of the cutter. W is the
wood surface which is to be operated upon. It is laid upon the table,
and over this the pattern P is placed, the pattern being first cut to the
form which is desired for the edge of the recess as seen in Fig. 3. Placed
on the table the pattern and wood are clamped by any suitable device,
here represented by clamping screws S. For convenience of moving the

page_text: cutter spindle frame I fix thereto handles R, R. The operator when
the machine is in motion and properly adjusted places his hands upon
the two handles and moves the cutter within the pattern so as to cut
away the surface of the wood, the pattern governing the line of
movement around the edge. Patterns are applied whenever any portion
of the original surface is to be retained. The guide N on the cutter
spindle works against the edge of the pattern, and the cutters are
constructed to give whatever form or mould it is desired for the edge.
I have represented the cutter spindle as being elevated by adjusting
the whole of the swinging frame. For some purposes this is doubtless
the best plan, but in others it may be well to have the elevation of the
frame fixed and the movement of the spindle vertically independent of
the frame. This is done as seen in Fig. 5, where the part I of the frame
is represented as formed with guides a constructed to receive a vertical
carriage B' in which the spindle L is arranged. The said carriage has
upon its rear a toothed rack F¹ into which works a segment F³, so that
by the turning of the said segment the carriage with the spindle is
raised or lowered, as the case may be, the said segment being operated
by a lever F. To secure the spindle carriage when set at the desired
elevation the segment F is hung upon a bearing L' which is fixed to the
segment turning on the said bearing. Around the said bearing a loop n.
is placed with a rod m therefrom passing up to the handle F on the
lever and threaded so that the handle screws on to the said rod. The
said handle being turned draws the loop and rod hard against the
bearing I so as to bind the segment thereon and hold it in position, and
when it is desired to vertically adjust the spindle the handle is unscrewed
so as to free the loop from the bearing, then the segment turned until
the spindle carriage is brought to the desired elevation, and secured again
as before.
It is necessary to the successful working of the machine that a blower
be so arranged as to drive the chips from the path of the cutter. To
this end I place a blower of peculiar construction around the spindle L
at a convenient distance above the cutter. T is a ring fitting the cutter
spindle, to which several wings T are attached extending spirally and
tangentially from the said ring and curved downward, as seen in Fig. 7;
the said wings are supported by an outer ring T, and partially covered
by a plate T. The form of these blades as described is such that when
the spindle is revolving the wings gather air and force it down directly on

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence
that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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
WOOD MOULDING AND PANELING MACHINES," a communication to me from
abroad by Alonza Stockbridge Gear, of the City and County of New
Haven, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of
their hands and seals, 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to improvements in moulding machines, the
object being to recess the surface of the wood in order to form a panel

page_text: thereon, and at the same time to mould the edge of the recess; and the
Invention consists in a vertical cutter spindle arranged in a jointed
frame and attached to the driving shaft with carrying pulleys arranged
at the joint so that the cutter spindle may have a universal movement
over the surface of the wood combined with a form or pattern hield upon
the wood to govern the form of the panel.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of the
machine; Fig. 2 is a front view; Fig. 3, a top view; Figs. 5 & 6
an arrangement for adjusting the elevation of the cutter spindle; and
Figs. 7 & 8 the fan for blowing the chips from the path of the cutter.
A is the table arranged upon a support B; C, the driving shaft
supported vertically in bearings D, D, and so as to be raised up or down
therein by means of a lever E, having its fulcrum at a and held in
position by a latch h, the said latch operated by a lever F, as seen in
Fig. 1, so that by taking hold of the lever E and clamping the lever F
down the latch is withdrawn from the notch on the frame and the
lever raised or depressed as the case may be, and when at the required
elevation flies back into the corresponding notch in the frame. To
the driving shaft above the table a frame G is hung which supports the
shaft II, upon which is arranged a pulley H' corresponding to a pulley G'
on the driving shaft, so that a belt extending the two pulleys will cause
the pulley H to revolve when the driving shaft is revolved. To the
shaft H another swinging frame I is fixed carrying the cutting spindle
L, and on the cutter spindle L is arranged a pulley L', and on to the
shaft H a corresponding pulley H" from which a band extends to the
pulley L. By this construction the cutter may be swung over the
surface of the table, retaining its vertical position and elevation and
revolving in the same manner in whatever position it is turned. The
raising or lowering of the shaft of the lever E adjusts the elevation of
the cutter spindle.
The cutter spindle as illustrated in Fig. 4 is formed with a
detachable guide N above the cutter n. The object of this guide is to
work against the pattern and govern the line or movement of the
cutter. W is the wood surface which is to be operated upon; it is laid
upon the table, and over this the pattern P is placed, the pattern being
first cut to the form which is desired for the edge of the recess, as seen
in Fig. 3. Placed on the table the pattern and wood are clamped by any

page_text: suitable device, here represented by clamping screws S. For convenience
of moving the cutter spindle frame I fix thereto handles R, R. The
operator when the machine is in motion and properly adjusted places
his hands upon the two handles and moves the cutter within the pattern
so as to cut away the surface of the wood, the pattern governing the
line of movement around the edge. Patterns are applied whenever any
portion of the original surface is to be retained. The guide N on the
cutter spindle works against the edge of the pattern, and the cutters are
constructed to give whatever form or mould it is desired for the edge.
By thus governing the cutters the operator can adapt the movement of
the cutter to the nature of the wood which he is cutting. If having
cut one depth it is desired to cut still another by the same pattern, that
is to say, so as to make a "double sink" in the panel, different sized
guides N may be applied one after the other to accomplish the desired
result.
I have represented the cutter spindle as being elevated by adjusting
the whole of the swinging frame. For some purposes this is doubtless
the best plan, but in others it may be well to have the elevation of the
frame fixed and the movement of the spindle vertically independent of
the frame. This done as seen in Fig. 5, where the part I of the frame
is represented as formed with guides a constructed to receive a vertical
carriage B' in which the spindle L is arranged. The said carriage has
upon its rear a toothed rack F¹ into which works a segment F, so that
by the turning of the said segment the carriage with the spindle is
raised or lowered, as the case may be, the said segment being operated by
a lever F. To secure the spindle carriage when set at the desired
elevation the segment F is hung upon a bearing I which is fixed, the
segment turning on the said bearing. Around the said bearing a loop n
is placed with a rod m therefrom passing up to the handle F' on the
lever and threaded so that the handle screws on to the said rod. The
said handle being turned draws the loop and rod hard against the
bearing L so as to bind the segment thereon and hold it in position, and
when it is desired to vertically adjust the spindle the handle is unscrewed
so as to free the loop from the bearing; then the segment turned until
the spindle carriage is brought to the desired elevation and secured again
as before.
It is necessary to the successful working of the machine that a
blower be so arranged as to drive the chips from the path of the

page_text: cutter. To this end I place a blower of peculiar construction around
the spindle Lat
L at a convenient distance above the cutter. The
peculiarity of this blower consists in its construction so as to concentrate
the wind directly upon the cutter. T is a ring fitting the cutter spindle,
to which several wings T are attached extending spirally and tangentially
from the said ring and curved downward, as seen in Fig. 7; the said wings
are supported by an outer ring T2 and partially covered by a plate T.
The form of these blades as described is such that when the spindle is
revolving the wings gather air and force it down directly the
cutter with very great force, sufficient to drive the chips entirely away
cutter with very great force, sufficient to drive the chips entirely away
therefrom.
I claim,--
First. In combination with the driving shaft C and jointed swinging
frame arranged thereon, carrying the cutter spindle L, I claim the
pattern P fixed to and clamped upon the work W, and so that the
spindle may be mechanically moved over the surface of the work
guided by the said pattern, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Second. In combination with the above I claim the adjusting lever E
operating so as to vary the operation of the spindle L, substantially as
set forth.
Third. The arrangement of the spindle in a vertically moving carriage
combined with a swinging frame, and so that the cutter spindle may be
adjusted vertically, substantially in the manner set forth.
Fourth. The arrangement upon the cutter spindle of a blower or fan,
the wings of which are constructed as described, so as to concentrate
the wind directly upon the cutter.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Fourteenth day of Junc, in the
year of our Lord 1870.