IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR SAWING IRREGULAR FORMS OF WOOD
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR SAWING IRREGULAR
FORMS OF WOOD." A communication from abroad by Henry Vrooman, of
New York, in the United States of America.
-
Sealed the 18th November 1863, and dated the 31st August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st August 1863.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR SAWING IRREGULAR
FORMS OF WOOD," to be as follows :-
This Invention is intended for and adapted to sawing timber for ship-
building or other purposes, whether curvilinear, straight, bevilling, or
winding.
The log or timber during the process of sawing receives but one motion, and
that is in a straight line, as in mills for sawing logs into straight lumber, all
the other motions, whether for curves or bevils of any degree, being given to
the saw by means of two longitudinal flexible steel guides, one being set
vertical and the other horizontal. These guides are capable of being adjusted
so as to control the motion of the saw, and adapt it to the winding of the log.

page_text: The saw is strained in a reciprocating gate or sash, so that it can be turned
therein to any angle desired relatively to the plane of motion of the log, the
motions for so turning the saw being derived from the vertical flexible guide,
which is secured to the timber carriage, and may be bent and set to any form
desired. The saw gate is mounted to slide on ways attached to a turning
frame, which frame is so mounted that it can be turned to any requisite
degree in a vertical plane at right angles to the plane of motion of the carriage
which carries the log or timber to be sawn, so that the plane of the reciprocating
motion of the saw can be either set or moved during the cutting action to any
inclination with the horizon, and thereby the saw may be made to cut at any
angle desired, whether for square, bevilled, or winding work, the motions for
this frame when automatically performed being derived from the horizontal
flexible guide, which admits of being bent and set to any desired form. The
like movement of the frame may however be effected by means of a segment
and worm. The turning frame, which carries the guides or ways of the saw
gate, is mounted in a vertical frame capable of sliding with the turning frame
and saw gate at right angles with the plane of motion of the carriage which
carries the log or timber to be sawn, the said sliding motion being derived
from the same flexible and adjustable guide from which are derived the
motions for turning the saw on its longitudinal axis to make it take the
direction of the intended kerf. This motion is transmitted through two pairs
of antifriction rollers, mounted one on a shaft carried by a bracket arm of the
sliding frame that has the lateral motion, and the other rollers are mounted on
arms affixed to the aforesaid shaft. These rollers embrace the vertical
flexible guide. As, therefore, the guide is traversed forward together with
the log, it will impart the requisite motions to the saw frame. Another set of
antifriction rollers acted upon by the same pattern guide conveys through
rocking arms the axial motion to the saw blade.
The steam engine by which the saw gate is operated by direct connection is
mounted on the turning frame which carries the ways on which the saw gate
slides, so that the engine and its connections with the saw gate follow the change
of position of the saw gate, whether it be moved to the right or left in sawing
curves, or turned in a vertical plane to saw bevils. The carriage which carries
the log derives its motion from the sawgate, the connection being so arranged
that the feeding motion when set will not be varied by the change of positions
that determine the line of cut, whether curvilinear, bevilling, or winding. To
this end the saw sash is connected to a lever which carries a pair of pawles for
working a ratchet wheel on a shaft which is fitted with bevil wheels for
transmitting motion through other bevil wheels and spur gearing to a trans-

page_text: verse shaft, having at its opposite end a pinion which gears into the ordinary
rack of the log carriage. The connection between the saw sash and pawle
lever is effected by fitting to the lower part of the saw sash a segment bar,
and applying thereto a sliding sleeve on a pin, projecting from which the
pawle lever works. As the sleeve is free to slide either way on the segment
bar, the saw sash may be thrown in oblique positions either way, and an
up-and-down movement still be given to the end of the feed lever from the
action of the saw sash.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 29th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR SAWING IRREGULAR FORMS OF WOOD,"
being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, 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

page_text: following statement, reference being had to the Drawings bereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
:-
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, is
intended for and adapted to sawing timber for ship-building or other purposes,
whether curvilinear, straight, bevilling, or winding.
The log or timber during the process of sawing receives but one motion, and
that is in a straight line, as in mills for sawing logs into straight lumber, all
the other motions, whether for curves or bevils of any degree, being given to
the saw. The saw is strained in a reciprocating gate or sash, so that it can
be turned therein to any angle desired relatively to the plane of motion of the
log, the motions for so turning the saw being derived from a guide, which is
flexible, and which may be bent and set to any form desired. The saw gate is
mounted to slide on ways attached to a turning frame, so mounted that it can
be turned to any requisite degree in a vertical plane at right angles to the
plane of motion of the carriage which carries the log or timber to be sawed,
so that the plane of the reciprocating motion of the saw can be either set or
moved during the cutting action to any inclination with the horizon, and
thereby the saw may be made to cut at any angle desired, whether for square,
bevilled, or winding work, the motions for this frame being derived from a
guide which is flexible, so that it can be bent and set to any desired form.
And the turning frame which carries the guides or ways of the saw gate is
mounted in a vertical frame capable of sliding with the turning frame and saw
gate at right angles with the plane of motion of the carriage which carries the
log or timber to be sawed, the said sliding motion being derived from the
same flexible and adjustable guide from which are derived the motions for
turning the saw on its longitudinal axis to make it take the direction of the
intended kerf.
The steam engine by which the saw gate is operated by direct connection is
mounted on the turning frame which carries the ways on which the saw gate
slides, so that the engine and its connections with the saw gate follow the
change of position of the saw gate, whether it be moved to the right or left in
saying curves, or turned in a vertical plane to saw bevils. And the con-
nections between the saw gate and the mechanism for giving the feeding
motion to the carriage which carries the log are so arranged that the feeding
motion when set will not be varied by the change of positions that determine
the line of cut, whether curvilinear, bevilling, or winding.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of the
improved machine a, a, on Fig. 3, showing the plane of the said section;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section-y, y, on Fig. 1, shewing the plane of

page_text: said' section; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section z, z, on Figure 1 showing. the
plane of said section; and Fig. 4 is a separate view of a modification.
a represents a rectangular frame having two ways or guides b, b, placed
longitudinally on its upper part, and c is a carriage which works on said ways
or guides; d, d, are two uprights placed on each side of the frame à at
opposite points; the upper ends of these parallel uprights are connected by a
cross piece e, and just below the middle of the frame said uprights are con-
nected by another cross piece f, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; g represents an
upright frame fitted to slide laterally between ways h, h, said ways being
connected with the cross pieces e, f; frame g has an opening. in its centre (see
Fig. 1), through which the timber passes as it is being sawed. To the frame g
is connected another frame i, having an opening in the centre corresponding to
that in frame g. The upper and lower ends of frame i are segments of circles
fitted to and working within corresponding concave surfaces ; s
so attached to
frame'g as to be easy of adjustment in taking up play or wear. Clasps k attached
to surfaces; extend over the front side of frame i (see Fig. 1) thereby confining
frame i in its position, said clasps. I being graduated in their action upon
frame i by set screws 1. Frame i may thus be lield firmly in position or left
free to be tilted or inclined either way, and at the same time rendered' a' per-
manent combination with the frame ġ so far as shaking is concerned from the
action of the engine m attached thereto in driving the saw sash n. The saw
sash or gate n is provided with suitable boxes to slide on four parallel rods
0, 0, 0, 0, the ends of which are fitted to and secured in projecting pieces from
plates p, p, secured to the frame i, the parallel rods 0, 0, 0, 0, being in a vertical
position when the frame i is vertical; so that with the said frame the saw can'
be worked at any desired inclination to suit the bevils required to be sawed.
The saw sash is formed of one upright and two horizontal parts. The outer
ends of the said horizontal parts are connected by a rod q, which is fitted in'
bearings r, r, (see Fig. 1) at each end so as to allow of its being turned: To
the frame g (see Fig. 3) is attached an arm s by bolt t, the said arm having-on'
its outer end friction rollers u, u, properly fitted on a shaft v, said shaft passingi
through and being secured in arms; w is a spring steel pattern or guide (see
Figs. 1, 2, & 8), held and controlled by screws or rods x, x; which are'
secured to the carriage by screw nuts as represented, or other equivalent'
means, so that the rods a, x, may be moved and secured so as to obtain the
desired form in the pattern w; pattern w is attached to the screws or rods'
x, x, by means of small flat bars y (see Figs. 2' and 3) rivetted loosely in a
slot formed in the rounded ends of rods x, x, said bars y' passing through
slots formed in the pattern (see Fig. 2), and a pin confined in their ends so

page_text: as to hold the pattern up against the ends of the screws or rods x, x. The
flat bars y being so secured in the ends of the screws or bars x, x, as to leave
their opposite ends free to move horizontally are thus enabled to take any
position the pattern may be made to assume, while at the same time the length
of the slots in the pattern allows the bars y to slip or move horizontally in said
slots so as to compensate for the lengthening and shortening of the pattern
resulting from its being made to assume different forms. To insure graceful
and easy curves and shapes in the pattern perforations a¹ of the diameter of the
width of the slot 2 are made at intermediate spaces between said slots (see
Fig. 2). Against the pattern w the friction rollers u, u, bear on the one side.
On the upper and lower ends of the shaft u flat bars 6' are fitted so as to turn
on the shaft and extend over and beyond the edges of the pattern w, so as to
allow of other rollers c¹ being attached to their inner surfaces, which bear or
act against the other side of the pattern w, see Figs. 1 and 3. The frames g
and are thus connected with the pattern w by the rollers u and c' and con-
trolled by it in their lateral position in the degree corresponding to the " sweep
or irregularity of its form as it (the pattern) moves along with the carriage to
which it is attached. As the bars 6' at their outer, ends accommodate their
position to the form of the pattern, and from the bearing of the rollers. c
against the pattern fall in the direction of the movement of the pattern, a close
bearing is thus had against both sides of the pattern, and all play or wear
thereby automatically taken up. To the side of the bevilling or turning
frame i is attached a segment flanch d' (see Figs. 1 and 3.) To the opposite
ends of this flanch are attached two chains e¹ and f¹ which cross each other on
the outer curved surface, their opposite ends being secured to the upright bar g'
at opposite points (see Fig. 1.) The lower end of bar g' is fitted around
the arm h¹ of a vertical bar ¹ (see Fig. 1), so as to slide laterally on an arm h³,
when the frames 9 and i are moved laterally on the ways h. The upper end
of the bar is attached to a spring steel bevilling pattern or guide j¹
(see Fig. 1), in the same manner and by similar means to those employed
in connecting arms to the crooking pattern w. This bevilling pattern is
similar to pattern w, but lies below, and it is attached to the side timbers of
the carringe; the fastenings and means of operating are situated in positions
transverse to those securing and controlling pattern w, as seen in Fig. 1 in the
Drawings; is a common up-and-down web saw placed in the sash n. The
upper and lower ends of said saw are secured in the usual way in pieces A; the
outer ends of said pieces are bent horizontally, see Fig. 2, and fit into corre-
sponding bent portions of vertical bars m². Bars m³ are hook-shaped at their
outer ends and fit over the horizontal parts of the saw sash (see Figs.
g

page_text: and 2). The bent portions of the pieces A have pivot points n¹ which bear in
corresponding shaped cavities in bars m', which allow of the saw being turned
in the saw sash with but little friction. The bars m' have screws o¹ passing
through their outer ends which bear against the saw sash, by means of which
the saw can be properly strained for use. The pieces have projecting
arms p¹ (see Figs. 2 and 3). To these arms links q' are attached so as to
turn the saw in the sash. These links q' are connected at their opposite ends
to arms of bell cranks s³, said bell cranks being firmly attached to rod q
near the horizontal parts of the saw sash. Arms of bell cranks s¹ are con-
nected at their opposite ends by a flat guide rod u¹, said guide rod being so
fitted in its bearings in the arms t¹ as to allow of being turned; v¹ is what I
denominate a guide bar (see Figs. 1 and 3), having two sides at right angles
with each other, the one part lying and moving in the direction of the length
of the main frame a and in a mortise in the arm s, and the other part trans-
verse (see Fig. 3.) Through the transverse portion of the guide bar v¹ is a
vertical slot w¹, through which the guide rod u¹, when the saw sash n and
bar v are moved up and down, passes the length of this slot, allowing the
required amount of play laterally, so that the saw sash and guide rod u¹ may
be worked in any required oblique position without restricting the freedom of
the said guide rod u¹. The slot w¹I prefer to have lined with wood so that
the guide rod u may operate in it at any degree of speed with but little
friction or wear. On the upper and lower ends of vertical shaft v are fitted
what I shall call guide forks a¹ (see Figs. 1 and 3), said guide forks are
allowed to turn on the shaft v. Those portions of the guide forks lying
parallel with the pattern w are connected by a small vertical shaft y¹ (see
Fig. 3), on which shaft are friction rollers 2¹ which bear against the pattern w.
Bars a² are also fitted on shaft y' and project over the edges of the pattern,
and on their inner surfaces other friction rollers 62 are attached which bear
against the other side of the pattern. Those portions of a lying parallèl with
the pattern are thus connected with and controlled by it, so as to follow the
sweep or crook of the pattern, while the other parts or ends of a², extending
out at right angles from the pattern w, are forked and embrace pins c² which
project from the upper and lower sides of the guide bar v³ (see Fig. 3.). Now
when the pattern w is moved along with the carriage c the guide forks a¹ will
be turned on the shaft by the curvature of the pattern, and according to the
extent of such curvature will move the guide bar v¹ together with the guide
rod u in or out, and by means of levers t¹, t, and 2, 72, and links q², q², with
the saw, keep the sides of the saw parallel with the sides of the pattern in.
guiding its teeth in the intended direction of the kerf or cut in sawing curvi-

page_text: linear work.
A reciprocating motion of the saw and saw sash is obtained by
the action of the engine m, which is bolted firmly to the bracket or seat d³,
said bracket being attached to the upper part of the bevilling frame i, the
piston rod of the engine being attached directly to the saw sash (see Fig. 1.)
Attached to and projecting downwards from the lower part of frame i is a
rigid bar e, in the lower end of which journals for the crank shaft fare fitted.
The lower end of the bar e extends out laterally on each side and in front
(see Figs. 1 and 2) so as to have a rectangular vertical opening therein, in
which opening the crank g plays. The crank 93 and the saw sash n are con-
nected to each other by a common pitman connection h³, see Fig. 2. The valve
of the engine is operated from an excentric or crank on the rear end of crank
shaft f³, see Fig. 1, the motion being transmitted through the small pitman
lever, rod, and lever, to the valve piston m³ (see Figs. 1 and 2), the dead
points in the movement being overcome by the action of the fly wheel n² on the
crank shaft f. The carriage is fed in the usual way by racks o* and pinions p².
underneath each side of the carriage (see Fig. 1), the pinions being attached
to and driven by the transverse shaft 92, said shaft being supported by the
frame a at the one end, and by the arm projecting forward of and bolted to.
the back side of the cross piece f at the other end. Feed motion is imparted
to the carriage by the reciprocating motion of the saw sash n through lever s³,
pawls and ratchet wheel u³, shaft v³, bevil wheels w³, x², shaft y², and gear
wheels 23, 23, to the transverse shaft q, on which are the pinions p², p² (see
Figs. 1 and 3.) On the lower part of the saw sash is secured a segment
bar. a³, and around this bar is fitted a sliding sleeve ³ (see Fig. 3), and on a
pinc projecting out from and forming a portion of sleeve 63, the end of the
feed' lever s³ works. As the sleeve 6 is free to slide either way on the
segment bar a, the saw sash may be thrown in oblique positions either way,
and an up-and-down movement still be given to the end of the feed lever s³
from the action of the saw sash. The carriage is gigged back at double the
speed of the forward feed movement through bevil wheels d³ and e³, being
brought into action by a shift of the clutch f³ (see Fig. 3.). The upper end
of the saw is inclined forward to give it "rake," so that when it is moved up
the timber is moved or fed forward, and the saw changed in its position to
agree with the form of the patterns, and when it is moved downwards the
timber is at rest, and the saw does its work. Thus it will be seen that the
guiding, bevilling, and lateral movements of the saw are obtained when all
the parts are free from strain or binding consequent upon the cutting of the
saw, and therefore but little force is required to be exerted by the guides or
patterns to produce the desired effect upon the saw. Steam is applied to the

page_text: engine m through a stout vulcanized gutta percba steam pipe g³, which from
experience proves to possess all the requisites for strength, flexibility, and
durability. The exhaust steam pipe is designated by h³ (see Figs. 1 and 2);
,, are head and tail blocks, seen in Figs. 2 and 3, resting upon the
transverse timbers of the carriage c, and held in position and moved laterally
in the usual way by nuts and bolts 3 and slots k³, a lever in the hands of the
attendant resting against the fulcrums, P, and taking effect in teeth m³, m³,
Fig. 3; n³ are dogs in the head and tail blocks, and secured after being driven
into the timber by nuts and hook bolts o³, 0%. The timber, after having the
lines described upon its upper surface showing the form of curves or crooks
required, and the figures marked thereon indicating the degree of bevil
required at the different points, is firmly secured in the carriage. The
crooking pattern is then set to conform to the lines marked on the timber by
so moving the screws or rods a longitudinally as to produce a uniform distance
between the said pattern and lines marked on the timber throughout their
entire length. The plane or line p³, .seen in the vertical central section,
Fig. 2, shows a point of elevation or depression of the bevilling pattern j¹.to
produce a vertical position of the saw, and in the ratio of deviation from said
line p³, either above or below the saw, takes a corresponding inclined or bevilled
position to be determined by measurement from the line p³, or any other fixed
line from which to measure.
Having thus described the construction and adjustment of this Invention, as
represented, I will now describe its operation. Steam is admitted into the
engine which moves the saw up and down; the carriage is fed with the
patterns in the proper direction to feed the stuff to the saw, causing the one
pattern w to move the frames 9 and i and the saw laterally in the degree
corresponding to the form of the pattern, and at the same time guide the
teeth of the saw in the intended direction of the kerf or cut, while the other
pattern will move the frame i and saw more or less obliquely in the degree
corresponding to the position of the pattern above or below the plane or
line ps. As the action of the patterns upon the saw are wholly independent
of each other, each may be used without the other in mills of different. con-
.struction and for different use, or combined in one mill, as above represented,
and their action so blended and combined as to produce forms of an endless
variety of the most complex and varying character used in the building of
ships, &c., or by so adjusting the patterns in a straight line straight work may
be done with the precision equal to any common up-and-down saw mill. By
using a circular carriage and pattern, crooked surfaces equal to such found in
ships' knees may be sawed by adjusting the pattern out of its circle to

page_text: conform to the shape desired. In some instances it may be desirable to saw
bevilling or winding without the use of a pattern; in such cases I attach to
the upper circular edge of the bevilling or turning frame i, a concentric
cogged sector (see Fig. 5), and to these cogs I fit an endless screw or
.worm. The shaft s³ of this worm is mounted in suitable boxes t³ attached
to the frame g, and one end of this shaft extends to and through a hollow
arbor u³ mounted in one of the standards d of the frame of the mill; this part
of the shaft slides in and is feathered to the said hollow arbor, so as to be
turned by it. There is a crank handle 3 on a parallel shaft w³ provided with
a pinion, which engages the cogs of a wheel on the hollow arbor, so that
an attendant by turning the said crank handle v³, and communicating motion
to the worm ³, can at any time, and during the operations of the saw, turn
the frame i, and thus give any desired inclination to the saw, while at the
same time the turning frame i and saw sash n are free to be moved laterally
för sawing curves, the shaft of the screw sliding in the hollow arbor ³.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of improved machinery
for sawing irregular forms of wood, and explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part
recited Letters Patent I claim,—
First, the reciprocating saw sash, the turning or bevilling frame to give
any desired inclination to the saw, and the horizontally sliding frame to move
the saw gate laterally for sawing curves, in combination with the engine or
other power for driving the saw sash, when the said engine or equivalent is
connected and moves with the bevilling frame to be always in the same
relations with the saw sash, substantially as described.
Second, I claim the employment of the pattern, which, by its flexibility and
mode of adjustment,, can be readily set to any configuration required,
substantially as herein described, in combination with the saw mounted in the
sash, so that it can turn on its centres, substantially as described, whereby the
saw is automatically guided to cut in the curve determined by the set of
the pattern.
Third, I claim the employment of the pattern, which, by its flexibility and
.mode of adjustment, can be readily set to any configuration required, sub-
stantially as described, in combination with the saw sash and laterally sliding
frame, substantially as described, for the purpose of moving the saw laterally
to saw any curve corresponding to the form to which the pattern may be set,
as described.
"
Fourth, I claim the employment of the bevilling pattern, which, by its
flexibility and mode of adjustment, can be readily changed in form, sub-

page_text: stantially as described, in combination with the saw sash and bevilling frame,
substantially as described, whereby any desired bevil or winding surface can be
sawed, as set forth.
Fifth, I claim the two patterns, which, by their flexibility and mode of
adjustment, can be readily set to any desired configuration, substantially as
described, in combination with each other, and with the saw mounted in the
sash so as to turn on its centres, the bevilling or turning frame, and the
laterally sliding frame, substantially as described, whereby any curved bevilled
or winding surface to which the patterns are set can he sawed, as set
forth.
Sixth, I claim giving compensating play or movement to the connections
between the pattern and the turning saw, substantially as described, whereby
the required motions for turning the saw on its centres for curvilinear sawing
may be derived from a pattern without being affected by the inclination of the
saw in sawing bevilled or winding curved surfaces.
Seventh, I claim the lever s³, the sleeve b³, and the segment bar a³, in
combination with the saw sash and bevilling frame, substantially as described,
as a means of communicating a regular feed motion to the carriage from the
saw sash whatever may be the varying inclination of the saw in sawing
bevilled or winding surfaces.
Eighth, I also claim the cogged sector and screw or the equivalent thereof,
substantially as described, in combination with the frames 9 and i and saw
sash, as described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)