IMPROVEMENTS IN PLANES AND PLANE IRONS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Heinrich Baecker, of Remscheid, Germany, of the Firm
Baecker & Busch, of Remscheid aforesaid, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PLANES AND PLANE IRONS."
ealed the 25th January 1878, and dated the 31st July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Heinrich Baecker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1877.
HEINRICH BAECKER, of Remscheid, Germany, of the Firm Baecker & Busch, of
Remscheid aforesaid. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLANES AND PLANE IRONS."
This Invention relates to improvements in carpenters' planes and plane irons.
The plane irons generally used are made chiefly of iron, and have a more or less
conical form. The cutting edge is made of steel, which is laid upon or inserted in
the lower part of the plane iron.
A plane iron constructed according to my said Invention is made entirely of steel,
and consists of a thin sheet of steel of equal thickness, and is sharpened at its bottom
edge.
When the said plane iron is to be used it is brought between two plates, that is to
say, an upper and a lower one. These plates are connected with each other by
means of a screw passing through a slot cut in the plane iron, so as to allow the
latter to move up and down, but to prevent its assuming any side motion. If this
screw is screwed up it will bring the said two plates together, and they will bear
upon both sides of the plane iron, holding it fast and keeping it in a steady position.
The lower plate is bent at its upper end; through this bent part passes an adjusting
screw connected by a pin with one of two holes in the plane iron. If this screw is
screwed up or down the plane iron is forced to follow its movements..
The advantages secured by my said Invention consist in abolishing the trouble-
some and expensive method of forging and steeling plane irons as now practised,
and in enabling the manufacturer to cut plane irons out of sheets of steel, rendering
n

page_text: thereby their manufacture far cheaper, and at the same time producing a much
better article than has been heretofore produced.
Another advantage is that when being used my said improved plane iron can be
adjusted and ground much easier than those manufactured heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Heinrich Baecker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th January
1878.
HEINRICH BAECKER, of Remscheid, Germany, of the Firm Baecker and Busch, of
Remscheid aforesaid. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLANES AND PLANE IRONS."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the construction of planes and
plane irons or blades.
The planes generally used consist of the stock of the plane and the plane iron or
blade, which is fastened to the former by means of wedges. The plane irons or
blades used are made chiefly of iron, and have a more or less conical form. Their
cutting edge is made of steel, which is laid upon or inserted in the lower part of the
plane iron.
These planes have many disadvantages,-
First. Because they are expensive by reason of the forging and steeling the plane
irons must undergo; of many a plane iron being ruined during the process of forging
and steeling the same; of their becoming worthless as soon as the layer of steel is
ground off.
Second. They are unhandy, because it is but with difficulty that the irons may
be adjusted and ground.
Third. Their quality of steel can never be relied upon.
My Invention removes all these defects. It is illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing by Figures 1 to 13, herein-after referred to.
My plane iron or blade forming part of my Invention is made entirely of steel; it
consists of a thin sheet of steel of equal thickness, which is sharpened at its bottom
edge. Its shape is shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a front and a side view.
When it is to be used it is brought between two plates, that is to say an upper
plate, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a lower plate, as illustrated in Figures 5 and
6; these plates are connected by means of a screw passing through a slot a cut into
the plane iron, so as to allow the latter to move up and down, but to prevent its
assuming any side motion. This drawing screw can be turned by different means.
In Figure 7 it is turned by means of a toothed wheel x connected with its end, and
a worm 6 catching in the same said worm being turned by a key, as shown in
Figure 8.
The toothed wheel is separately shown in Figure 9 in connection with part of the
drawing screw. As soon as the worm b is turned to the right, the drawing screw
passing through the hole c in the lower plate, the slot a in the plane iron, and the
hole e in the upper plate will bring the said two plates together; these will bear
upon both sides of the plane iron, holding it fast and keeping it in a steady position.
In order to keep the plane iron entirely steady a pin f is united with the lower
plate. This pin passes likewise through the slot te in the plane iron, and catches in
the hole in the upper plate when the drawing screw is screwed up.
g

page_text: Figure 10 shows an adjusting screw which passes through a hole h in the bent
top part of the lower plate, and catches in a nut i. A pin k is connected to this
nut i, said pin passing through a slot in the lower plate, see Figure 6, and catching
in one of the two holes m and m' in the plane iron, see Figure 1. The adjusting screw
is turned by means of the same key, as shown in Figure 8. If this screw is screwed
up or down the plane iron is forced to follow its movements in consequence of the
pink catching in one of the holes m or m¹.
I may in some instances dispense with the adjusting screw and means for con-
necting the same with the plane iron or blade.
Figures 11 and 12 show the front and side views of a rabbit plane iron of my
construction; and Figure 13 illustrates a more simple method of fastening the
same.
This said Invention being intended for planes of every description, the plane
iron need not necessarily be provided with a slot, as divers other arrange-
ments may be made for fastening the same between the said two plates herein-before
referred to.
The advantages secured by my Invention consist in abolishing the troublesome
method of forging and steeling plane irons as now practised, and in enabling the
manufacturer to cut plane irons out of sheets of steel, rendering thereby their
manufacture far cheaper, and producing a much better article than has been hereto-
fore produced.
Another advantage is that when being used my said improved plane iron can be
adjusted and ground much easier than those manufactured heretofore, and an enormous
amount of material will be saved, as my said improved plane iron can be used as
long as it can be held by the plates.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,―
First. A plane iron or blade made entirely of steel of equal thickness, as herein
specified for the purposes set forth.
Second. An upper plate and a lower plate, as herein set forth.
Third. A drawing screw uniting the said two plates, as herein specified.
Fourth. An adjusting screw and the means of connecting the same with the plane
iron in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. A plane consisting of a plane iron or blade made entirely of steel, two
plates, and the fastening and adjusting mechanism, substantially in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The method of turning the drawing screw by means of a toothed wheel
connected to its one end, and a worm catching in the said toothed wheel, as herein
set forth.
Seventh. The method of turning the drawing screw by means of prolonging its
shaft and applying a key or a handle to the same, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Heinrich Baecker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
LOUIS BUSCH.
HEINRICH BAECKER. (L.S.)
In Firma Baecker & Busch.