IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEARS FOR CUTTING BARS OR RODS OF IRON AND OTHER METAL OR MATERIAL
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEARS FOR CUTTING
BARS OR RODS OF IRON AND OTHER METAL OR MATERIAL."-A communi-
cation from abroad by William X. Stevens, of East Brookfield, in
the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, in the United
States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd February 1874.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
5 Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEARS FOR CUTTING
BARS OR RODS OF IRON AND OTHER METAL OR MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
The more particular object of this Invention is to shear off iron
or other metal bars or rods of large dimensions in their transverse

page_text: sections, and to shear or cut with facility metal bars of smaller
dimensions. To these ends the Invention consists of a combination (in
a pair of shears) of dies or shearing edges held respectively in separate
arms or levers, the cutting dies or edges being nearer the centre of revo-
lution of the lever or levers than the circular bearing of the trunnion
and socket joint on which the arms or levers oscillate or revolve, whereby
a very powerful and steady action is obtained.
The improved machine or shears comprises a combination of one
stationary arm or lever, carrying one of the dies, with a movable arm or
lever carrying the other die, and having a single trunnion outside of the
die for operation within a fixed socket in the stationary arm, and pro-
vided with means consisting of an adjustable collar and bolts for holding
the dies in contact.
The Invention also includes a shaft, crank, or excentric pawle and
teeth upon the arm or lever carrying the movable cutting die, whereby
the power and action of the shears generally is improved.
Furthermore it is proposed to construct the arms or levers of the
shears and dies by first shaping the perimeter of the die or blade, then
casting the arm or lever which holds it on or around the same, whereby
a most accurate fit of the parts is obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st August 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in tho
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward

page_text: Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHEARS FOR CUTTING BARS OR RODS OF IRON AND
OTHER METAL OR MATERIAL," being a communication to [me from abroad
by William X. Stevens, of East Brookfield, in the County of Worcester,
and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my
executors or administrators, 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
Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward 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 following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
The principal object of this Invention is to shear off iron or other
metal bars or rods of large dimensions in their transverse sections, and
to shear or cut with facility metal bars of smaller dimensions. To these
ends the Invention consists of a combination (in a pair of shears) of
dies or shearing edges held respectively in separate arms or levers, the
cutting dies or edges being nearer the centre of revolution of the lever
or levers than the circular bearing of the trunnion and socket joint on
which the arms or levers oscillate or revolve, whereby a very powerful
and steady action is obtained.
The improved machine or shears comprises a combination of onc
stationary arm or lever, carrying one of the dies, with a moveable arm or
lever carrying the other die, and having a single trunnion outside of the
dic for operation within a fixed socket in the stationary arm, and pro-
vided with means consisting of an adjustable collar and bolts for holding
the dies in contact.

page_text: The Invention also includes a shaft, crank, or excentric pawl and
teeth upon the arm or lever carrying the movable cutting die, whereby
the power and action of the shears generally is improved.
Furthermore the arms or levers of the shears and dies are constructed
by first shaping the perimeter of the die or blade, then casting the arm
or lever which holds it on or around the same, whereby a most accurate
fit of the parts is obtained.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents a front view of a
shears constructed in accordance with the Invention; Fig. 2 is a side
or edge view of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the irregular 1
line x, x, in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line y, y,
of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a front view of the dies shown in the previous Figures in
changed positions relatively with each other to effect the cut.
Fig. 6 is a front view of a die for cutting square or flat bars.
Fig. 7, a front view on a larger scale of a pair of dies for cutting
railroad bars in shearing position relatively with each other.
1
In referring to the parts shown in the Drawing it will here be observed
that the shape of the cutting edges of the dies may be varied according
to the work they are required to perform, and that the several modifica- 2
tions represented in the Drawing will be referred to by like letters.
D is the movable cutting blade or die arranged within the trunnion b
of the oscillating arm B of the shears for operation in connection with
a similar die C, seated within or held by the stationary arm A of the
shears, the dies C and D lying face to face. The arm A encases and
serves as a bearing c to the trunnion portion 6 of the arm or lever B as
the latter is oscillated.
The arm A forms the body of the shears or machine, and for economy
may be made of cast iron; C is represented as a square die made of
steel and having holes cut through it corresponding in shape and
size to the rods or bars to be cut. This die is held securely in a recess
of corresponding form in the arm frame or body A.
The die D which lies facially against the die C and has a similar
arrangement of holes through it and corresponds with the die C is
seated or held within the hollow trunnion 6 of the oscillating arm B.

page_text: than any mechanic by the usual or any known tools could fit them, and
at much less cost.
By means of the lever J the shaft I is given a reciprocating motion
through an arc (preferably of about one hundred degrees) or a complete
revolution of the shaft I may be effected by power. The crank pin H
draws the pawl G back one tooth, then by pushing against such tooth turns
the whole arm B and its die D through the minute arc of a circle subtended
by the base of the tooth, and each repetition of the motion produces the
same result until the whole segment of teeth on the arm B passes beyond
reach of the pawl G, or until the bar which has been inserted in the die
has been cut off .After this the pawl G is held away from the teeth and
the arm B is returned to its original position by hand. Or the pawl
may be swung over so as to point the other away, and thus cause the
opposite edges of the dies to cut so that either side of the machine may
be its front, and the dies give double wear. By this combination of
parts it is possible to multiply the leverage to an extent limited only by
the power of each tooth to resist crushing.
In Fig. 5 the turning of the die D to effect a cut is indicated by
the arrow, the die C being stationary.
For cutting round iron it is preferred to make the largest hole in the
dies with one edge of the hole at the centre of revolution of the die
or dics in order to reduce to a minimum the leverage against the
operator; and experiment has shown that common iron severs when
penetrated about one-fifth its diameter by the shear blade, therefore a
segment of gear teeth on the arm B, equal to an arc of ninety degrees, is
generally enough for practical purposes. It has also been proved
that bars in any form, except round, may be partly sheared and partly
twisted off by using a hole of corresponding shape exactly in the centre
of the dies as represented in Fig. 7. By this means the point of
greatest resistance may be placed at the shortest possible distance from;
the centre for the purpose before stated.
Having now described the Invention which has been communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me
by Letters Patent as aforesaid, constructing shears or machines for a
cutting metal and other bars or rods with cutting plates or dies con-

page_text: structed, arranged, and operated, substantially in the manner herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.