IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, DRESSING, PLANING, TURNING, AND SHAPING STONE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Dickinson Brunton, of 6, Leighton Crescent,
Kentish Town, Middlesex, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, DRESSING, PLANING, TURNING,
AND SHAPING STONE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Dickinson Brunton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1868.
JOHN DICKINSON BRUNTON, of 6, Leighton Crescent, Kentish Town, Middlesex,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING,
DRESSING, PLANING, TURNING, AND SHAPING STONE."
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of the frame
and working or moving parts of machinery or apparatus to be employed in cutting,
dressing, planing, turning, and shaping stone, whereby a more advantageous and
effectual application of circular or discoidal cutters to the purposes referred to is
effected. Another part of this Invention relates to a new form of cutter, which I
propose to call a "sector," and to the construction and arrangement of the frame
and working or moving parts of machinery or apparatus for the use or application
of the said improved form of cutter.
The main objects to be attained by the use of the improvements herein-before
referred to are,-
1st. To secure rigidity in the moving arm or arms carrying the cutting discs.
2nd. To cause the discs during a part of their motion to pass over the surface of
the stone which is still undressed without touching the same..
3rd. To hold the "sectors" and give them the required notion.
4th. To provide for varying the angle of the discs and "sectors" to suit different
descriptions of stone and different characters of work.
5th. To give to the moving arm or arins carrying the discs or "sectors" such a
motion and to the discs or "sectors" themselves such a position relatively to each
other as either alone or in combination with a motion of the stone itself shall cause
the discs or "sectors" to shape the stone to any required form.
The first two objects have more particular reference to those machines in which
the discs are attached to arms revolving round a central shaft, and in which the
discs incline downwards towards the centre of revolution, and come in contact with
the stone of their inner edge. Instead of such arms being cast upon or fixed
immovably to the boss upon the central shaft I hinge them to the boss upon pins

page_text: I cause the
in such a manner as to admit of their motion at right angles (or thereabouts) to the
plane of their revolution, but in order to secure lateral rigidity I place them
between cheeks upon or securely attatched to the central boss.
extremity of each arm to move in a rigidly fixed circular groove, by which the arm
is guided in cutting, and is made to pass over without touching that portion of the
surface of the stone which is still undressed. Rollers attached to the arms may be
used to reduce the friction in the groove. The "sector" or new form of cutter
may be either plane or curved, I make its cutting edge most commonly an arc of a
circle, but it may have any other figure suited to the work to be perforined. If it
be the are of a circle, or a portion of any other curve, the radius of and the number
of degrees subtended by the arc or other curve may be varied to suit different
requirements. I fix the "sector" by means of screws or wedges firmly in a socket
or holder which is free to revolve in its seat in the arm, and usually but not
invariably the "sector" should be fixed in the holder that the centre of its
revolution in its scat shall coincide with the centre from which the arc of the
"sector" is struck. I make the arm or bar which carries the holder or holders of
great strength and give to it a reciprocating motion by any ordinary and well
known incans.
The length of the stroke of this arm or bar may be varied to suit
the varying requirements of the work. Discoided cutters with suitable holders may
for the same purposes be used either in conjunction with or in lieu of "sectors."
The arm or har above referred to is capable of being rotated on its longitudinal
axis, and provision is made for holding it firmly at any required point of its
revolution; by this arrangement any angle of the "sectors" or discs to the stone
may be obtained. In the case of circular discs (particularly when they are
employed upon arms revolving round a central shaft) I hinge the socket in which
the arbor of the circular cutter revolves upon pivots which fit into holes in the
holder or in the arm on which it is carried. By means of screws the socket is
turned round upon these pivots and held in any required position, and thus a
variation of the angle of the discs to the stone is provided for.
or
By placing several "sectors" or discs side by side on the same bar I am able to
dress or plane surfaces with a speed proportioned to the number of "sectors"
dises employed. And by a suitable arrangement of the several "sectors" or dises
relatively to each other I am able to form or shape out recesses either straight or
curved to any required outline. When two or more "sectors" are working side by
side I link them together so as to ensure their simultaneous and uniform operation.
Should it be desired to give the stone a form other than that of plane surfaces I
place it upon a revolving table lying upon a bed having a rectilinear and
reciprocating motion. I also make the slide in which the reciprocating arm or bar
which carries the cutters moves susceptible of a lateral motion concurrently with
the longitudinal motion of such arm or bar. By varying or adjusting the relative
speeds of the rectilinear and circular motions of the table or bed in which the stone
is fixed in conjunction with the reciprocating movement of the arm or bar, whether
such movement be simply direct, or direct and lateral combined, and variously
proportioned, an almost infinite variety of forms may be given to the stone operated
upon. For the purpose of varying the speeds of the different motions I employed
toothed gear or pullies of various sizes, or rollers revolving against the surface of
cones, towards the base or apex of which they are capable of being moved; or
revolving plates may be employed against the face of which rollers rotate at a
variable distance from their centres of revolution. When turning stone I use a
lathe with ordinary head-stock, but with an additional bed on each side so as to
afford an impending support to the slide rests which carry sockets in which revolve
freely the arbors of the cutting discs. These slide rests receive both rectilinear and
circular motions, by varying which I am able to turn the stone to any required
figure

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Dickinson Brunton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th July 1868.
JOHN DICKINSON BRUNTON, of 6, Leighton Crescent, Kentish Town, Middlesex,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING,
DRESSING, PLANING, TURNING, AND SHAPING STONE."
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of the
frame and working or moving parts of machinery or apparatus to be employed in
cutting, dressing, planing, turning, and shaping stone, whereby a more advantageous
and effectual application of circular or discordal cutters to the purposes referred to
is effected. Another part of this Invention relates to a new form of cutter which
I propose to call a "sector," and to the construction and arrangement of the frame
and working or moving parts of machinery or apparatus for the use or application
of the said improved form of cutter.
The main objects to be attained by the use of the improvements herein-before
referred to are,
1st. To secure rigidity in the moving arm or arms carrying the cutting discs.
2nd. To cause the discs during a part of their motion to pass over the surface of
the stone which is still undressed without touching the same.
3rd. To hold the sectors and to give them the required motion.
4th. To provide for varying the angle of the discs and "sectors" to suit different
descriptions of stone and different characters of work.
5th. To give to the moving arm or arms carrying the discs or "sectors," such a
motion and to the discs or "sectors" themselves such a position relatively to each
other as either alone or in combination with a motion of the stone itself shall cause
the discs or "sectors" to shape the stone to any required form.
The first two objects have more particular reference to those machines in which
the discs are attached to arms revolving round a central shaft, and in which the
discs incline downwards towards the centre of revolution, and come in contact with
the stone at their inner edge. Instead of such arms being cast upon or fixed
immovably to the boss upon the central shaft I hinge them to the boss upon pins
in such a manner as to admit of their motion at right angles (or thereabouts) to
the plane of their revolution; but in order to secure lateral rigidity I place them
between cheeks cast upon or securely attached to the central boss. I cause the
extremity of each arm to move in a rigidly fixed circular groove by which the arm
is guided in cutting and is made to pass over without touching that portion of the
surface of the stone which is still undressed. Rollers attached to the arms may
be used to reduce the friction in the groove.
The "sector" or new form of cutter may be either plane or curved, I make its
cutting edge most commonly an arc of a circle, but it may have any other figure
suited to the work to be performed. If it be an arc of a circle or a portion of any
other curve, the radius of and the number of degrees subtended by the arc or other
curve may be varied to suit different requirements.
I fix the "sector" by means of screws or wedges firmly in a socket or holder
which is free to reciprocate in a circular direction in its seat in the arm and usually
but not invariably the "sector" should be so fixed in the holder that the centre of
its partial revolution in its seat shall coincide with the centre from which the are
of the "sector" is struck.
I make the arm or bar which carries the holder or holders of great strength and
give to it a longitudinal reciprocating motion by any ordinary and well known
Deans. The length of the stroke of this arm or bar may be varied to suit the
varying requirements of the work.

page_text: Discoidal cutters with suitable holders may for some purposes be issued either
in conjunction with or in lieu of "sectors."
The arm or bar above referred to is capable of being rotated on its longitudinal
axis, and provision is made for holding it firmly at any required point of its
revolution by this arrangement any angle of the sectors or discs to the stone may
be obtained. In the case of circular discs (particularly when they are employed
upon arms revolving round a central shaft) I hinge the socket in which the arbor
of the circular cutter revolves upon pivots which fit into holes in the holder or in
the arm on which it is carried. By means of adjusting screws the socket is turned
round upon these pivots and held in any required position, and thus a variation of
the angle of the discs to the stone is provided for.
By placing several "sectors" or discs side by side on the same bar I am able to
dress or plane surfaces with a speed proportioned to the number of "sectors" or
discs employed, and by a suitable arrangement of the several "sectors" or discs
relatively to each other I am able to form or shape out recesses cither straight or
curved to any required outline. When two or more sectors are working side by
side I link or couple them together so as to ensure their simultaneous and uniform
operation.
Should it be desired to give the stone a form other than that of plane surfaces I
place it upon a revolving table lying upon a bed having a rectilineal and
reciprocating motion. By varying or adjusting the relative speeds of the rectilinear
and circular motions of the table or bed in which the stone is fixed in conjunction
with the reciprocating movement of the arm or bar an almost infinite variety of
forms may be given to the stone operated upon.
When turning stone I use a lathe with ordinary headstocks but with an additional
bed on each side, so as to afford an unyielding support to the slide rests which
carry sockets in which revolve freely the arbors of the cutting discs.
These slide rests receive both rectilinear and circular motions, by varying which
I am able to turn the stone to any required figure.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed three Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a sectional elevation of one
form of my improved machine for cutting or dressing stone; Figure 2 is a corre-
sponding plan of the same partly in horizontal section; and Figures 3 and 4 are
details of a slightly modified arrangement of cutter holder to be used if desired
with this machine, as I shall herein-after describe. A represents a fixed bed, along
which slides to and fro upon A rails the table B carrying the rough stone C to be
dressed. The stone is secured to the table by iron clamps or dogs, as is well
understood, but not shown in my Drawings; and the traversing table B has a
continuous slow traversing motion imparted to it in one direction to feed the stone
up to the cutters, and a quick return movement to run the stone back again for
the next cut by any of the mechanical contrivances adopted in planing machines,
but which being well known to mechanics I have not considered necessary to
illustrate in my Drawings. D, D, are four strong uprights, to the lower ends of
which are cast foot plates a, a, which are bolted, as shown in Figure 2, to the
foot plates b of the bed. The upper ends of these uprights are bolted to the
cast-iron rectangular frame E, one half of which is shown in the plan, Figure 2;
F is the cutter shaft supported near its upper end in the collar bearing G in the
centre of the horizontal frame E, and near its lower extremity by the collar
bearing H in the centre of the four radial arins I (two of which only are shewn in
Figure 1. These arms I are connected at their outer ends by bolts and nuts with
the four uprights D, D, vertical slots c, c, being made in the uprights for the facility
of adjusting the height of the lower bearing, H which may then be fixed by
tightening the bolts which pass through the slots c. To the lower end of the
shaft F there is firmly keyed a radial slotted dise K having six or any other

page_text: convenient number of slots d, d, made therein, and serving to carry the several
cutters L, ns herein-after explained. A series of radial arms M are placed, one in
each of the radial slots d before referred to, and are hinged at their inner ends
upon strong joint pins e, e, which pass through both sides of the slots d, and
through a boss cast on the inner ends of the arms M. These arms are thus free to
rise and fall at their outer extremities, but this movement is controlled and
governed by an annular guide N secured to the uprights D by bolts and nuts, the
bolts passing through the same vertical slots c which carry the arms I herein-
before referred to, and consequently the annular guide is also capable of adjustment
to any desired height according to the height of the top surface of the stone above
the table. This adjustment may be effected after the bolts are slackened by tho
four vertical screw spindles N, N¹, actuated by the bevel gearing and connecting
shafts n', n', carried by the horizontal frame E. The annular guide N consists of
two or more segments of a circle bolted together at f, g, h, and having internal
flanges cast therein, as shewn at i, i, in Figure 1, in order to form an annular
guiding groove or channel for the reception of the outer ends i, i, of the hinged
arins M, which may be provided with antifriction rollers working along the groove
or guiding channel if desired.
One portion or segment of the annular guide N, say from f to g, is made perfectly
horizontal, but the remainder of the guide gradually inclines upwards to the
point h, which is the suminit. The object of making one part of the guiding
groove horizontal and the rest inclined upwards is to cause the cutters to remain
in contact with the stone whilst traversing across the end which is being dressed,
or along the horizontal part of the guide, and then to rise clear above the rough or
undressed portion of the stone whilst coming round for the next cut as will be
understood on referring to Figure 1. The cutters themselves are of a circular or
descoidal form, each one revolving on its own axis at the same time that it
describes an orbital motion or revolution round the vertical main shaft F, which is
driven by bevel gearing O or otherwise, either direct from a prime mover or
through a driving shaft P, as shown in Figure 1. These discoidal cutters aro
adjusted at an acute angle to the surface of the stone, such angle varying according
to the toughness and brittleness of the stone; but I have found that an angle of
from 12° to 15° from the horizontal surface of the stone will answer well in most
In constructing these cutters I prefer to make then annular, as shown at L
in Figure 3, and to secure them to a long hollow socket by a central spindle
provided with a circular flat head m bevelled at the edge, which fits against a
corresponding bevel made in the inner edge of the annual cutter. This spindle
passes up through the socket k, and has a nut screwed on to its upper end; the
lower end of the tubular socket k has a flat disc o formed upon it which constitutes
the bearing surface against which the annular cutter is held firmly on tightening
the nut by the flat head m of the screwed spindle bolt . Facility is thus
afforded for readily changing or removing the cutters for repairs or grinding. Tue
spindle with the socket / thereon turn freely in the holder Q, and are prevented
from falling out by subsequently adjusting the nut n, which is rather larger than the
hole in the holder. This holder Q has a flat plate cast on its upper surface by
which it is bolted to the face plate p of one of the hinged arms M; slots may
le provided for enabling the position of the holder Q to be adjusted after it has
been bolted to the arm M. Figures 3 and 4 show a mode of adjusting the angle of
the cutter after it has been placed in the mealine. For this purpose the holder Q
is pivotted on centres q, q (Figure 4), and is free to move on such centres inside
the casting R, which is bolted to the face plate of the arm M (Figure 1) by bolts
at r, r. This casting carries two adjusting screws 8, 8, the ends of which bear
against the opposite ends of the segment of a cylinder t cast on the lower end of
the holder Q, and sliding over the corresponding curved face of the casting R.
By suitably adjusting the screws it is obvious that any desired angle may be
given to the cutter.
In using this machine the stone to be dressed having been firmly fixed upon its

page_text: travelling table B and the several cutters L properly adjusted to the best angle to
suit the nature of the stone to be operated upon the shaft F is started, and one end
of the stone is gently brought within the range or sweep of the cutters which
remove or chip off the surface of the stone as they roll over it. It will be seen that
the inner edge of the cutters act upon the stone, so that the cut will always bo
made inwards in lieu of outwards, and consequently there will be less liability to
damage the angles of the stone by chipping pieces off at the points where the
cutters enter and leave the surface.
In order to allow of the vertical adjustment of the cutter shaft F through the
driving wheel O a keyway is made in the shaft which slides through the boss of
the wheel.
Figure 1, on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, represents a section, and Figure 2 a plan
of my improved sector-shaped cutter, which has a reciprocating motion imparted
to it, as herein-after described when operating on the stone in lieu of being carried
over the stone in one direction only as in the last-described machine.
Figure 3 is a detail in vertical section of the cutter holder.
Figure 4 is a corresponding plan of the same.
Figure 5 is a detail sectional elevation, showing the cutter in its holder and
indiating the angular position it bears with reference to the stone.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a stone-dressing machine in which the sector
cutter is employed.
Figure 7 is a corresponding plan and partial horizonal section of the same; and
Figure 8 is an end view also partly in section. A is the cutter, the cutting edge
of which from a to b is curved, and I prefer to make such cutting edge a curve
struck from the centre of vibration of the cutter, although I do not confine myself
to such a curve. Each cutter is fitted into a holder B by a set screw c, and is
adjusted therein by the adjusting screws d, d; the stem e of the holder works in
a bushflet into the cross bar C of the machine; this cross bar may be made
of any length according to the greatest width of stones to be dressed in the
machine. In my Drawings I have shewn a bar containing 6 cutters; the distance
between each 2 adjoining cutters and the amount of vibration must be so
arranged as that one cutter shall always overlap slightly the work of its neighbour
so as to leave no portion of the surface untouched. The stone D to be dressed
is secured to a traversing table E sliding on A guides in the bed F, any well-
known feed mechanisin being employed for moving the table slowly along
so as to feed the stone up to the cutters and then to run back the table
again after the entire length of the stono has passed under the cutters;
G, G, are uprights situate on each side of the table and resting on foundation
plates of their own, between which uprights slide vertically the frames H, H,
which carry bearings for the reception of the cylindrical ends C, C, of the cross
bar C, which ends are thus free to turn partially in their bearings or supports and
enable the cutters to be adjusted to any desired angle with: the stone, as shewn
more clearly in Figure 5. In order to facilitate this adjustment a worm wheel I is
keyed on to one end of the cross bar C, and a worm K is geared there with so that
by rotating the worm the bar C may bo turned or inclined to any angle required
and there fixed by the aid of bolts or screws / passing through curved slots in the
worm wheel and entering the frame H. The vertical adjustment of the height
of the cutters to suit stones of different thicknesses is effected by means of the
4 vertical screw spindles L, L, actunted in pairs by the bevel gearing M on the
cross bars which connect the uprights in each pair. A longitudinal reciprocating
motion about equal to the distance from centre to centre of the cutters is imparted
to the cross bar C so that the several cutters carried by it will receive by their
coutact with the stono a to-and-fro rolling or rocking motion transversely to the
direction of the feed motion of the stone. The reciprocating motion of the cross
bar may be derived either directly or indirectly from a steam engine or other prime
mover by coupling the end of a connecting rod with the eyo N on the end of the

page_text: cross bar or by any other suitable arrangement. In order to ensure the uniform
and simultaneous rocking motion of the whole of the cutters their spindles are
each connected to the other by a coupling rod g and short lever arms h. As the
stone is slowly and continuously fed forward under the reciprocating or rocking
cutters, its surface will be dressed and smoothed, and should it be desirable to take
a second or deeper cut at the next traverse of a stone then the cross bar must be
allowed to descend a little by turning the screw spindles L, L. In lieu of running
the stone back after the cutters have arrived at the end of their work the cutters
may be simply turned half round or reversed so ns to cut in the opposite direction,
it being simply requisite to disconnect the coupling rod y and turn the several
cutter holders half 'round in their sockets. Sheet 3 of my Drawings illustrates my
improvements ns adapted to the production of lathe work in stone. Figure 1 is a
Diagram showing the node in which I cause my discoidal rotary cutters to attack
a block of stone whilst in the lathe. Figure 2 is an end elevation, and Figure 3 a
corresponding plan of one of the adjustable slide rests for carrying the circular
revolving cutters; Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the slide rests in its place
upon the lathe bed; Figure 5 is a detail plan of a portion of the slide rest; and
Figures 6 and 7 are details of one of the tools or cutters and its holder detached.
A is the lathe bed, having an additional bed B, B, on each side for carrying the
slide rests which hold the cutters. One of these slide rests is fitted on to each of
the beds B, B, so that their respective cutters may operate simultaneously on
opposite sides of the block of stone to be turned, as shown in the Diagram, Figure 1.
C is the base plate of the slide rest, which is capable of adjustment along the
bed B, by a rack and pinion motion, as shown at C, and may be fixed in any
desired position by the ordinary clamp, which I have not shown in my Drawings.
Upon the surface of the plate C parallel dovetail guides a, a, are fitted, or formed
transversely to the lathe bed B, and between these guides slides the rectangular
plate D (shown in detached plan at Figure 5), which plate has a circular dovetailed
opening E made therein for the reception of the corresponding bevelled edged.
disc F, which is screwed to the under side of the worm wheel G, thus enabling the
worm wheel and all it carries to revolve on a vertical axis when actuated by the
worm H fast on the spindle I, which is carried in bearings b, b, on the plate D
(Figure 5). To the upper surface of the worm wheel G there is secured the male
dovetail K, along which slides the plate L by the action of the screw spindle M
and nut N, the latter being secured to the plate L. On the top of the plate L
there is formed another male dovetail at right angles to the one last referred to,
and along this slides the plate O by the action of a second screw spindle P and
nut secured to such plate. On the surface of the plate O rests the circular.
plate R, which is held down thereon by two bolts c, c, passing through curved
sluts d, d, in the plate R, to allow of a certain amount of circular adjustment with
a view to the adjustment of the angular position of the cutter. A socket fis
formed upon the surface of the plate R for the reception of the spindle or axis T
of the circular cutter U, which inay be constructed as herein-before described with
reference to Sheet 1 of my Drawings, the axis of the cutter revolving freely in the
socket S by its contact with the surface of the revolving block of stone, which
is supported in the well known manner between headstocks. V is a second socket,
into which the shank of the holder W carrying a discoidal cutter U (Figures 6
and 7) is inserted and held secure by the set screws X, the object of such cutter U
being to cut the ends or faces and mouldings shown in Figure 1, whilst the opposite
cutter acts as the roughing tool upon the curved or cylindrical surface of the block
as in the first described machine; the cutters must be adjusted at a suitable angle
to the work, and they derive their rotatory motion from their forcible contact with
the stone itself.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of machinery or
apparatus for cutting, dressing, planing, turning, and shaping stone, as herein-before
described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
Second. The peculiar construction of cutter herein referred to as a "sector," and
the mode of applying the same to the cutting, dressing, and planing of stone, as
herein-before described.
Third. The combination of an annular guide having one portion inclined upwards,
with one or more hinged arms carrying discoidal cutters, as and for the purpose
herein-before described in reference to Sheet 1 of my Drawings.
Fourth. The combination of a longitudinal reciprocating bar or beam with a
series of "sector" or discoidal cutters placed side by side in such bar or beam,
as and for the purpose herein-before described in reference to Sheet 2 of my
Drawings.
Fifth. The imparting to the said longitudinally reciprocating har or beam an
angular adjustment in its bearings for the purpose of bringing the cutters to the
proper angle with the surface of the stone, as herein-before described in reference
to Sheet 2 of my Drawings.
Sixth. The application and use to and in the turning and shaping of stone of
slide rests carrying rotatory discoidal cutters and capable of receiving a rectilinear
and circular motion for the purpose of turning the stone to any required figure, as
herein-before described and illustrated on Sheet 3 of my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Dickinson Brunton, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JOHN DICKINSON BRUNTON. (L.S.)