IMPROVE- MENTS IN PLIERS FOR CUTTING WIRE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Neighbour, of No. 36, Lismore Road,
Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PLIERS FOR CUTTING WIRE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Neighbour
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th November 1880.
JOHN THOMAS NEIGHBOUR, of No. 36, Lismore Road, Kentish Town, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLIERS FOR CUTTING WIRE."
This Invention has for its object improvements in pliers for cutting wire.
My improved pliers are adapted especially for cutting stout wire, such as is used
in telegraph work and in fencing.
They resemble ordinary wire pliers in so far that they are composed of two
levers or principal parts jointed together, such levers at one end being fashioned
into jaws, and at the other into a pair of handles, which being grasped the jaws
are closed together. The joint also is formed in the usual way, there being a
mortice or slot in one of the levers through which the other lever passes, and a
rivet forming the pin of the joint fastens then together.
In place however of forming cutting edges upon each of the jaws as is the usual
practice, or providing the jaws with similar but removable cutting edges; as has
sometimes been done, I provide a wheel cutter in one of the jaws.. The jaw which.
is thus armed is that on the lever in which the mortice hole formed. The wheel
cutter is inserted into the mortice, which is prolonged so as to extend into the
jaw. A screw passing through the jaw secures the cutter in its place, and serves
as an axis about which it may turn. The other jaw of the pliers need not be
provided with a cutter, but is formed simply with a smooth transverse groove in
which the wire lies, whilst the cutting wheel is forced against it by the closing of
the pliers. The pliers are to be worked to and fro around the wire, and so a niche
may be cut in or around it. The jaws at their ends are as usual roughened for
holding.
Sometimes I make these
front of the other, and then
pliers with two wheel cutters in the mortice, one in
form the transverse grooves in the other jaw in such
a position that the wire to be cut lies between, the two, wheel cutters.
I also sometimes make these pliers with three cutters, two in the mortice, one in
front, of the other; and one fixed in opposite jaw or plier in a position between the
two opposite cutters.

page_text: a and b are the two main parts of the pliers jointed together with a pivot at c,
and formed with jaws and handles as ordinary wire pliers.
One of the jaws is provided with a wheel cutter d. The cutter is free to revolve
about a pin or screw e, which retains it in a mortice in the jaw. The jaw which is
thus armed is that on the lever in which the mortice hole is formed.
In Figures 1 and 2, the mortice in which the cutter is lodged is formed separately
from the mortice required for the joint; this is done in order to bring the cutter
near to the side of the jaw. Nevertheless, the mortice of the joint may serve also
to receive the wheel cutter. Such a construction is shown at Figure 3. The
wheel cutter is inserted into the mortice, which is prolonged so as to extend into
the jaw. A screw e passing through the jaw secures the cutter in its place, and
serves as an axis, about which it may turn. The other jaw of the pliers need not
be provided with a cutter, but is formed simply with a smooth transverse groove f
in which the wire lies, whilst the cutting wheel is forced against it by the closing
of the pliers. The pliers are to be worked to and fro around the wire, and so a
nick may be cut in or around it. The jaws at their ends are as usual roughened
for holding.
Sometimes to facilitate the movement of the pliers around the wire to be cut I
provide a roller within the retaining groove f. Figure 4 is a side view and
Figure 5 an edge view of pliers having such a roller; it is marked g. The roller
is inserted into a mortice similar to that which receives the cutter, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, but in the other jaw.
Sometimes I make these pliers with two wheel cutters in the mortice, one in
front of the other, and then I form the transverse groove in the other jaw in such
a position that the wire to be cut lies between the two wheel cutters.
.
I also sometimes make these pliers with three cutters, two in the mortice, one in
front of the other, and one fixed in opposite jaw of plier in a position between the
two opposite cutters.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim, my improved pliers
for cutting wire, comprising the parts a, b, c, d, and e in combination, substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Neighbour, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. T. NEIGHBOUR. (L.S.)