IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING MARBLE, STONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Burke of Newman Street, Oxford Street
in the County of Middlesex Statuary, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING MARBLE, STONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES"
communicated to him from abroad by Messieurs Puissant frerès of Merbes
le Chateau in the Kingdom of Belgium
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Burke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1883.
WILLIAM HENRY Burke of Newman Street, Oxford Street in the County of
Middlesex, Statuary "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING
MARBLE, STONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES. [communicated to him from abroad by
Messieurs Puissant frerès of Merbes le Chateau in the Kingdom of Belgium]
دو
The present invention relates to improvements in machines for cutting and
dressing marble, stone and other substances. The object of the present improve-
ments is to enable continuous lengths of marble and stone to be moulded, or cut
so as to form a complete moulding along one edge of or all round the block, at
one traverse of the cutter; or more expeditiously than heretofore.
To this end the improvements, relate first to the construction of the table on
which the stone or marble to be cut is held and the means for adjusting the said
table and imparting the requisite motion thereto; and secondly to the construction
of the cutter and cutter-holder and the means for imparting motion thereto.
The invention also relates to means for varying the movements of the table and
cutter and also their speed.
The principal table is arranged to slide in longitudinal channels upon a massive
bed or frame, the sides of which are connected together by stays so that the said
bed or frame shall not be liable to vibration.
By means of an endless screw the table is caused to move forward at a speed
which may be varied considerably. The said screw is actuated by a driving belt

page_text: acting on a pulley and giving rotary-motion to a shaft upon the end of which is a
pinion in gear with a series of change wheels fixed in position by means of bolts
and nuts, thus enabling the speed to be readily varied between 6 and 27 inches
per minute.
The last toothed wheel of the series gives rotary motion to a second shaft 5
having upon its end a pinion which gives rotary motion to a bevel pinion, the
coupling box of which is loose upon the first shaft. The bevel pinion gives rotary
motion to a counter shaft which by means of bevel wheels communicates motion
to the endless screw, thus causing the table to advance.
To obtain a quick return motion of the table, the driving bevil pinion is thrown 1
out of gear by means of a lever suitably actuated from any convenient part of the
machine, and the driving belt is shifted to another pulley which acting on a
sleeve concentric with the main shaft gives motion to the endless screw in
a contrary direction by means of a bevel pinion keyed upon the said sleeve.
A loose pulley is arranged between the two driving pullies.
]
For the purpose of fixing and placing in position the piece of marble or stone to
be operated upon, the said piece is gripped in suitable vices. The two moveable
jaws of each vice are moved separately by screws. In general, a series of these
jaws is set in a line exactly perpendicular to the cutter-holder, and the position of
the piece of marble is regulated according to this line. Upon the bottom of the s
vice which is formed with slides for the jaws to work in, is placed a straight iron
edge or ruler, upon which the marble to be moulded is fixed with plaster. This
ruler prevents the marble from bending vertically. Between the jaws and the
marble are interposed pieces of wood or sheets of india rubber in order to allow of
the jaws being screwed up tightly notwithstanding any irregularities in the sides of
the marble. After the marble has been clamped it must be brought exactly under
the cutter-blades, which have been previously adjusted in position. For this
purpose the vices are fixed upon a bench formed with longitudinal grooves. The
two shorter sides of the said bench are provided with screws upon the ends of
which are bevelled pinions gearing with two bevelled pinions keyed on the ends of
a rod running lengthwise of the bench. The transverse screws engage in screw
nuts fixed to the table, and when rotatory motion is communicated by hand to the
rod by means of a handle or lever, in either direction, it causes the bench to slide
in the transverse grooves of the table either from left to right, or from right
to left.
At or near the middle of the main frame two strong cast iron upright cheeks or
standards support the cutter holder and its gearing; the outer and inner faces of
the said checks form slides upon or against which slides a cross-head fitted at its
ends with plummer blocks in which the cutter holder is mounted to rotate. The
said cross-head is supported by two vertical screws situated within the slides of the
two upright cheeks which screws allow of the cross-head being raised or lowered
vertically by means of a series of bevelled wheels and rods actuated either by
hand through a hand wheel when setting the cutter-holder in position; or
automatically as hereinafter described in the case of vertical mouldings having to
be made. When the cross head of the cutter holder has been brought into position
it is secured to its slides by means of set screws. Motion to the cutter holder is
communicated by special gearing; thus allowing the velocity of its rotation to be
varied as required by means of the said gearing without interfering with the
direction or speed of traverse of the table carrying the marble, or with the
automatic downward motion of the cutter-holder.
The cutter holder is driven by a train of three wheels which take their motion
from a separate shaft and pulley.
It is necessary that the cutter holder shall be free to move up or down in a
vertical or nearly vertical direction and yet remain in gear with its driving shaft.
To this end the pinion on the driving shaft and the toothed wheel on the cutter
holder axle are connected together by an intermediate wheel mounted upon a

page_text: simple nave connected by double links capable of motion in all directions and
jointed to the ends of the two shafts:
In the cutter holder are formed four grooves or slots the sides of which in
section are perpendicular to the circle of the cutter holder and near the bottom of
the said grooves or slots, and on one of their faces, are smaller slots formed to
receive the shoulders of the cutter blades. The cutter blades are caused to take
into these grooves by means of wedges which are forced in against the cutter
blades by screws engaging in screwed holes and acting on a small flat ledge formed
in front of the groove. In order to facilitate the adjustment of the cutter blades
the cutter holder, is graduated in metrical measures engraved upon its cylindrical
surface.
The blades which constitute the cutting tools are preferably four in number.
They are cut out from steel bars to fof an inch thick, and about five inches
long; and are bevelled like the ordinary bits or cutters used for working
wood.
In some cases, depending on the hardness of the marble or stone to be moulded,
or on the size of the mouldings, it is advantageous to use only two cutter blades,
which are then placed diametrically opposite the one to the other.
Another arrangement to be mentioned consists in the use of cutters formed
with a double profile to serve in the case of a non-symmetrical moulding. The
double profiles are formed of two similar symmetrical profiles joined together, and
they act upon their two pieces of marble bound together with plaster, and screwed
up together simultaneously in the vices. This arrangement presents the following
advantages.
1. It reduces to one-half the time required for grinding the cutter-blades.
2. It does double the work in the same time.
3. They produce symmetrical profiles which are always more advantageous
than unsymmetrical profiles as regards the resistance to breakage of the pieces to
be moulded, as the amounts of pressure exerted in opposite directions upon the
two faces of the moulding are equal and counteract each other.
It has been already stated that by a special arrrangement in this moulding
machine, the cutter holder is allowed to descend automatically. During this
downward motion of the cutter holder the motion of the bench carrying the
marble is arrested, so that the piece of marble may be moulded in a vertical
direction and consequently mouldings may be made on the two sides of a right
angle without interruption.
In carrying out this arrangement the bevel pinion engaging with the table
traversing gear is thrown out of action and this arrests the forward motion of
the bench.
At the same time another pinion is thrown into gear and through a rod and a
series of bevelled pinions communicates rotatory motion to the screws which give
a vertical motion to the cross head and plummer blocks carrying the cutter
holder. Here also the velocity of the rotation of the cutter holder may be varied
by means of the driving pulley and the velocity of the descent of the cutter-
holder may be varied by means of the change-wheels mounted upon moveable slide
arms, already alluded to.
To preserve the edges of the cutter-blades they must be continually watered.
The water is distributed by a small sieve and is collected with the marble dust in
a gutter which surrounds the table, and it runs off through openings made in the
ends of the gutter and falls into a channel formed in the floor of the foundation
from which it passes to the sewers.
It will thus be seen that the machine for moulding marble and stone, above
described, performs the following functions viz:-
Clamping the piece of stone or marble; placing it in position by means of the
upper bench; giving a forward motion at variable speeds to the whole bench and
quick return motion to the said bench after the moulding is completed.

page_text: It also permits of the descent of the cutter holder being effected by hand for
placing it in position, and automatically for working in a vertical direction.
The cutter holder can also be driven at variable speeds.
The machine can make at one pass finished mouldings of large size up to
8 inches in width.
With most kinds of stone it is preferable to roughen down the pieces by means
of cutter blades of a more simple profile somewhat similar to the figure to be
obtained. The cutter holder may be provided with several series of cutter blades,
as many as may be suitable for the length of the cutter holder and the power
that is available.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Burke in the Patent Office on the 28th May 1884.
WILLIAM HENRY BURKE of Newman Street, Oxford Street in the County of
Middlesex, Statuary "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND DRESSING
MARBLE, STONE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES "
a communication to me from abroad by
Messieurs Puissant frerès of Merbes le Chateau in the Kingdom of Belgium
The present invention relates to improvements in machines for cutting and
dressing marble, stone and other substances.
The object of the present improvements is to enable marble and stone to be
moulded or cut so as to form a complete moulding along one or more edges of the
block or slab at one traverse of the cutter, or more expeditiously and economically
than heretofore.
To this end the improvements relate first to the construction and fittings of the
table on which the stone or marble to be cut is held and the means for adjusting
the said table and imparting the requisite motion thereto; and secondly to the
construction of the cutter and cutter holder and the means for imparting motion
thereto.
The invention also relates to means for varying the movements of the table and
cutter and also their speed.
The nature of the several improvements will be understood on reference to the
accompanying Drawings in which Fig: 1 is a side elevation, Fig: 2 a plan view
and Fig: 3 an end, or front elevation of a machine constructed according to this
invention.
:
Fig 4 is a front view, on a larger scale than the three former figures, of the
cutter and cutter holder; and Fig: 5 is a section on the line 1. 2 of Fig: 4.
In all these Figures the same letters indicate like or corresponding parts of the
machine.
The machine comprises two main portions viz: a moveable table for the
reception and movement of the stone to be moulded, and a cutter holder with
mechanism for operating the same.
A is the principal table arranged to slide in longitudinal channels upon a massive
bed or frame B, the sides of which are connected together by stays or otherwise
constructed so that the said bed or frame shall not be liable to vibration. This
table A is, by means of an endless screw, b., caused to move forward at a speed
which may be varied considerably. The said screw b. is actuated by a driving belt
acting on a pulley C and giving rotary motion to a sleeve upon a shaft D, upon the
end of which is a pinion in gear with and giving motion to a series of change
wheels (1. 2. 3. 4) fixed in position by means of bolts and nuts, thus enabling the
speed to be readily varied between six and twenty-seven and a half inches per
minute.
The last toothed wheel (4) of the series, gives rotary motion to a second shaft E
having upon its end a pinion F which gives rotary motion to
spur wheel G and
bevel pinion G'; loose upon the first shaft D. The said bevel pinion G¹ gives
rotary motion to a counter shaft H which by means of the bevel wheels I, I,
communicates motion to the endless screw b. thus causing the table A to advance.
To obtain a quick return motion of the table, the driving spur pinion F is thrown
out of gear by means of a clutch and hand lever or arm K situate in the motion
tself, or by a lever K' and rods suitably actuated from any convenient part of the
machine, as for instance from the uprights of the cutter holder, the dividing belt
being simultaneously shifted to another pulley L which being keyed, on the main

page_text: shaft D gives motion to the endless screw in a contrary direction by means of the
bevel pinion M also keyed upon the said shaft.
A loose pulley N is arranged between the two driving pullies.
of 5
For the purpose of securely holding and bringing into position the piece of
marble or stone to be operated upon, the said piece is gripped in suitable vices
which there are preferably four. The two movable jaws of each vice are moved
separately by screws. In general a series of these jaws is set in a line exactly
perpendicular to the cutter holder and the position of the piece of marble is
regulated according to this line. Upon the bottom of the vice which is formed
with slides for the jaws thereof to work in is placed a straight iron ruler, or plate, 1
upon which the marble to be moulded is fixed with plaster. This ruler or plate
prevents the marble from bending vertically. Between the jaws and the marble
are interposed pieces of wood or sheets of india-rubber, in order to allow of the
jaws being screwed up tightly, notwithstanding any irregularities in the sides of the
marble.
After the marble has been properly clamped, it must be brought exactly under
the blades of the cutter which blades have been previously adjusted in position.-
For this purpose the vices O are fixed upon a bench P formed with longitudinal
grooves. The two ends of the said bench are provided with screws p. upon the
ends of which are bevelled pinions gearing with two bevelled pinions keyed on the
ends of a shaft p'. running lengthwise of the bench.
The transverse screws p. engage in screw-nuts fixed to the table and when rotary
motion is communicated by hand to the shaft, by means of a winch handle or lever,
in either direction, it causes the bench to slide in the transverse grooves a. of the
table A either from left to right or from right to left. (see fig: 2)
I will now describe the construction and operation of the cutter holder.
At or near the middle of the main frame two strong cast iron upright cheeks or
standards R R support the cutter-holder and its gearing.
Adapted to slide upon or against the faces of the said cheeks, is a cross-head R¹.
fitted at its ends with plummer blocks in which the cutter holder is mounted to
rotate. The said cross-head is supported by two vertical screws situated within
the slides of the two upright cheeks R, (see Figure 3) which screws allow of the
cross-head being raised or lowered vertically by means of a series of bevelled
wheels and shafts (not shewn in the drawing) actuated either by hand through a
hand wheel S, as for instance when setting the cutter holder in position, or
automatically as hereinafter described in the case of vertical mouldings having to
be made. When the cross-head of the cutter holder has been brought into position
it is secured to its slides supposing the stone is to be cut horizontally by means of
steel set screws.-Motion to the cutter holder is communicated by special gearing
thus allowing the velocity of its rotation to be varied as required by means of the
said gearing without interfering with the direction or speed of traverse of the
table carrying the marble, or with the automatic downward motion of the cutter
holder.
The cutter holder is driven by a train of three wheels seen best in Fig: 1 which
take their motion from a separate shaft T and pulley U.
It is necessary in cutting vertical mouldings that the cutter holder V shall be
free to move up or down in a vertical or nearly vertical direction, and yet remain
in gear with its dividing shaft. To this end the pinion on the driving shaft T and
the toothed wheel keyed on the end of the cutter holder axle are connected
together by an intermediate wheel W mounted upon a stud axle connected by
double links X capable of motion in all directions and jointed to the ends of the
two shafts T and V.-The cutter holder consists of a strong cylindrical shaft, one
end of which receives motion from a spur wheel, and its other end abuts against a
pressure screw carried by a projection from the plummer block of the cross-head
so as to prevent its endway motion.
In the cutter holder are formed four grooves or slots the sides of which in section
are perpendicular to the circle of the cutter holder, and near the bottom of the said

page_text: grooves or slots, and in one of their faces are smaller slots formed to receive the
shoulders of the cutter blades.-The cutter blades are caused to take into these
grooves by means of wedges which are forced in against the cutter blades by
screws engaging in screwed holes and acting on a small flat ledge formed in front
of the groove. In order to facilitate the adjustment of the cutter blades, the cutter
holder is graduated in metrical measures engraved upon its cylindrical surface.
The blades which constitute the cutting tools are preferably four in number.
They are cut out from steel bars one-half to five-eighths of an inch thick, and about
five inches long, and are bevelled like the ordinary bits or cutters used for working
wood.
In some cases depending on the hardness of the marble or stone to be moulded,
or on the size of the mouldings, it is advantageous to use only two cutter blades,
which are then placed diametrically opposite the one to the other.
Another arrangement to be mentioned consists in the use of cutters formed with
a double profile to serve in the case of a non-symmetrical moulding. The double
profiles are formed of two similar symmetrical profiles joined together, and they are
intended to act upon their two pieces of marble bound together with plaster and
screwed up together simultaneously in the vices.-This arrangement presents the
following advantages.―
First: It reduces to one-half the time required for grinding the cutter blades.
Second: It does double the work in the same time.
Third: They produce symmetrical profiles which are always more advantageous
that unsymmetrical profiles as regards the resistance to breakage of the pieces
of marble or stone to be moulded, as the amounts of pressure exerted in opposite
directions upon the two faces of the moulding are equal and counteract each
other.
It has been already stated that by a special arrangement in this moulding
machine the cutter bolder can be caused to descend automatically.-During this
downward motion of the cutter holder the motion of the bench carrying the marble
is arrested, so that the piece of marble may be moulded in a vertical direction, and
consequently mouldings may be made on the two sides of a right angle without
interruption.
In carrying out this arrangement the bevel pinion I engaging with the table
traversing gear is thrown out of action by the lever y. and its clutch, and this
arrests the forward motion of the bench. At the same time the motion of the
lever y. causes another pinion z to be locked and thrown into gear, and through a
suitably arranged longitudinal shaft and a series of bevelled pinions (not shewn in
the drawing) communicates rotatory motion to the screws which give a vertical
motion to the cross head and plummer blocks carrying the cutter holder as will be
well understood. Here also the velocity of the rotation of the cutter holder may
be varied by means of the driving pulley, and the velocity of the descent of the
cutter holder may be varied by means of the change wheels 1. 2. 3. 4 mounted
upon moveable slide arms and already alluded to.
To preserve the edges of the cutter blades they must, be continually watered.
The water is distributed by a small sieve and is collected with the marble dust in
a gutter a¹. which is cast with and surrounds the table A. and it runs off through
openings made in the ends of the gutter and falls into a channel formed in the
floor of the foundation from which it passes to the sewers.
The mode of using the machine may be briefly described as follows.-The piece
of marble or stone to be moulded is placed in position and screwed up in the
vices. The upper bench is then shifted so as to bring the axis of the piece to be
operated on into line with the axis of the cutter blades which have been previously
placed and adjusted in position.
The cutter blades are then adjusted to the required height by the band wheel S.
The wheel F is next thrown into gear, the bevel pinions I I being in gear, and
the machine is started.

page_text: .
When the moulding is finished the cutter holder is slightly raised, the wheel F is
thrown out of gear and the belt shifted onto the pulley L.-The bench then returns
to its first position where the moulded piece can be removed and the machine is
again ready for work.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that in this improved machine 5
for cutting mouldings in marble and stone the following functions are provided
for.—
Clamping the piece of stone or marble, placing it accurately in position by means
of the upper bench, and giving a forward motion at variable speeds to the bench
and table on which it is mounted; and a quick return motion to the said bench and 1
table after the cutting of the moulding is completed.
It also permits of the descent of the cutter holder being effected by hand
for placing it in position and automatically for working the cutters in a vertical
direction.
The cutter holder can also be driven at variable speeds.
The machine can make at one pass finished mouldings of large size up to eight
inches in width.
With most kinds of stone it is preferable to roughen down the pieces by means
of cutter blades of a more simple profile somewhat similar to the figure to be
obtained. The cutter holder may be provided with several series of cutter blades,
as many as may be suitable for the length of the cutter holder, and the power that
is available.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in
Machines for cutting and dressing Marble, stone and other substances" as commu-
nicated to me from abroad by my foreign Correspondents and having explained in
what manner the same may be carried into practical effect I wish it to be under-
stood that I claim.
First A Machine for cutting mouldings in stone or marble constructed arranged
and operated substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the drawings,
in which machine a block of stone or marble while securely held, can be traversed
at variable speeds beneath a series of cutters rotating around a fixed axis, or may
be held stationary while the rotating cutters are caused to descend, thereby enabling
mouldings to be formed at a single passage of the cutter on adjacent sides or edges
of a block or slab, as set forth.
Secondly In a machine for cutting mouldings in marble or stone, the traversing
table fitted and operated as above described for adjusting the position of the work
and presenting it to the action of the rotary cutters.
Thirdly The adaptation to Machines for cutting mouldings in marble or stone of
a cutter holder and cutters constructed arranged and operated as hereinabove set
forth, whereby provision is made for cutting mouldings on the sides and edges,
horizontally or vertically, at one continuous operation.
In witness whereof I the said William Henry Burke have hereunto set my hand
and seal the twenty sixth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
ז ב-A
WHENRY. DURKE
(LA.N.)