IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING FILES AND OTHER SERRATED TOOLS"
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ambrose Shardlow of Sheffield in the County of York
Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
FILES AND OTHER SERRATED TOOLS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ambrose Shardlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st October 1883.
AMBROSE SHARDLOW of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING FILES AND OTHER SERRATED
TOOLS
"
My invention relates to improvements in Machinery for cutting the teeth of
Files, Rasps, and other toothed or serrated tools or cutters, and has for its object
to increase the durability, to obtain greater accuracy in the working parts, and to
simplify the construction of such machines.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a File cutting Machine for example,
I construct the machine with a single-side standard carrying the cain shaft, the
slide or ram, and the chisel, thus leaving the bed upon which the file or rasp is
fixed to be cut, and the mechanism connected therowith, most conveniently
accessible to the attendant in every part, which is not the case with the double
standard, which is arched over the bed, and forms an obstruction where it is most
desirable to have a clear space to get to the work. Instead of making the slide or
ram to turn in the bearings when an angular cut is required, which renders it very
difficult to prevent a small amount of play or shake in the slide or ram and the
cutter, I make the slide square, or of such a shape that may be readily "set up
tightened in its bearings, and the toolholder I make cylindrical and fitting accurately
into a correspondingly shaped hole through the centre of the slide, it is made long
enough to project out of the top of the slide, and to pass through a spring and into
a moveable guideblock. The head and tool holder project on the underside of the
slide, so that by this arrangement the cutter or chisel can be turned to any desired
angle with the bed, and may be secured by locknuts or other similar devices,
without interfering with the position of the slide in its bearings, and thus ensuring
greater regularity in the cutting of the teeth.
"
or

page_text: I construct the feed motion for traversing the bed, on which the file is placed
to be cut in the following manner; I fix an eccentric on the driving shaft (or cam
shaft) and carry the rod direct to the lever of the ratchet feed wheel, which is
fixed upon a short hollow shaft or sleeve carrying also a clutch wheel, and fitting
upon a shaft placed at right angles to the bed of the machine, which also carries
the sliding clutch wheel and a bevil wheel gearing into a corresponding bevil wheel
fixed upon the traversing screw which actuates the bed.
The action of this part of the mechanism is as follows; when the ratchet feed
wheel on the hollow shaft is rotated by the action of the eccentric on the cam
shaft, and the clutch wheels are put into gear the inside shaft with its bevil wheel
is made to revolve, and transmits its motion to the traversing screw. The traversing
motion is stopped by throwing the clutch wheels out of gear, the bed may then
be moved backwards or forwards by means of a handle applied to the end of the
traversing screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ambrose Shardlow in the Patent Office on the 31st March 1884.
AMBROSE SHARDLOW of Sheffield in the county of York, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING FILES AND OTHER SERRATED
TOOLS
"
My Invention relates to improvements in Machinery for cutting the teeth of
files, rasps, and other serrated or toothed tools or cutters, and has for its object,
increased accuracy of work, and simplicity of construction.
In carrying out my invention, in the construction of a File cutting Machine (for
example), and which I illustrate in the drawings, I make the machine with a single
side standard, so that all the mechanism requiring the attention of the attendant,
is most conveniently accessible, which is not the case with the double standard
machines, one side of which generally forms an obstruction, where it is most
desirable to have a clear space to examine the work under operation.
Instead of making the slide or ram which carries the cutter, to rotate or turn in
its bearings when a diagonal cut is required, which alteration in position renders it
very difficult to prevent a slight shake or inaccuracy of motion in the slide, and
consequent irregularity in the cut; I make the slide preferably of a square cross
section or such other shape that may be readily "set up" in its bearings or
guides; and I make the toolholder with a long cylindrical shank, fitting accurately
into a corresponding hole made through the longitudinal centre of the slide, and
projecting from the top, where it passes through a spiral spring, and, into a
moveable guide block.
".
The head of the toolholder projects from the underside of the slide and can be
secured at any desired angle with the bed, by means of locknuts."

page_text: And in order that my invention may be clearly and fully understood I shall
refer to the aunexed sheet of drawings, premising that similar letters indicate the
same parts in all the drawings and figures,
Fig, 1, is a front elevation of a File cutting Machine made according to my
invention.
Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the same machine
Fig 3, is a plan of the feedmotion and brake.
A A are the driving pulleys upon the cam shaft B, C is the cam, D, the:
adjustable tappit attached to the ram or slide E, which is preferably made square
in cross section, but may be of any suitable shape, that can be readily "set up'
and adjusted in the bearings E¹.
"
The toolholder G is provided with a long cylindrical shank G¹ fitting accurately
into a corresponding hole through the longitudinal centre of the ram E, from
which it projects, and passes through the spiral spring F, and the moveable
guide F-It can be rotated or turned round in the ram, so that the cutter G²,
may be set to any desired angle, without disturbing the position of the slide or
rain; the regularity of the cut is thus accurately maintained.
The feedmotion to regulate the number of teeth or cuts, is accomplished by
means of an eccentric H, fixed upon the cam shaft, acting through the connecting
rod I, and the pawl engaging with the index wheel J, and imparting an
intermittant rotary motion to the short hollow shaft or sleeve M, carrying the
clutchwheel N.
To prevent the hollow shaft with the wheels J and N. being carried forward by
its momentum, or being drawn back by the action of the pawl, it is gripped
between the adjustable brakeblocks L, L, which effectually prevent any irregular
or jumping motion. It will thus be understood that until the clutch wheels are
put in gear, the hollow shaft or sleeve revolves upon the shaft which remains
stationary, but that when the clutch is in action, the hollow shaft and the shaft
itself revolve, and motion is imparted to the sliding bed upon which the work is
fixed.
The clutch wheel N is thrown in and out of gear with N, by means of the
handle P, actuating the clutch fork O.
When the clutch is in gear, the rotary motion of the wheel P, is imparted to
the screw Q, through the medium of the bevil wheel P¹; this screw is connected to
the sliding bed R, by means of a nut, and thus the bed is drawn forward at every
revolution of the cam shaft, the exact distance required for the next cut. The
bed proper is supported in a concave part of the sliding bed R, this is usually
moved when cutting halfround files by ineans of a lever, but I prefer to swivel the
bed proper by means of a worm and worm wheel applied to one end of the bed, and
thus am able to control the movement much better than heretofore. To run the
sliding bed quickly back to its original starting place I fix on the top end of the
screw Q, a pinion S in connection with a wheel T, upon a short shaft and operated
by a handwheel U.
To regulate the strength or force of the blow given by the cutter G³, which in
taper files must be lighter as it nears the point of the file, I arrange a travelling
roller V, which is raised or lowered by the shape or configuration of a templet
fixed upon the sliding bed, and upon which it rests. The rising and falling
motion of the wheel V is communicated to the lever X, which raises or depresses the
moveable guide F', a corresponding degree, which also compresses or releases the
spring as the case may be.
The exact amount of power required is arranged by means of the hand wheel W,
and the right and left hand screws.
Y is a simple holding down motion, for keeping the file firmly down upon
the bed.
To enable the foot (b) to be readily taken off and changed as required, I make
it in the following manner; a stud (c) projects from the back of the foot, and fits
into an open slot in the end of the bar Y, the top of the foot, and the shoulder

page_text: that it bears against in the bar, are shaped to the arc of a circle struck from the
centre of the stud (c) as is also an open ended slot, through which the screw (a)
passes, so that when the screw (a) is slackened, the foot may be turned upon
the stud (c) until the slot is disengaged from the screw (a) when it may be
removed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and the manner in which it is put into practice; I declare that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the invention secured to
me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent, is :-
1st In Machines for cutting Files, and other serrated tools, the general
construction and arrangement of such Machines as hereinbefore described
and illustrated.
2nd In Machines for cutting Files, and other serrated tools, the construction and
arrangement of the toolholder and the ram, substantially as described and
illustrated.
3 In Machines as above described, the arrangement of the Stud C and the slot
with open end, in connection with the foot (b) for the purpose, and
substantially as described and illustrated.
4th In machines as above described, the arrangement of the parts constituting
the brake and feed motion, substantially as described and illustrated.
In Witness whereof, I the said Ambrose Shardlow have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this twenty ninth day of March, in the year of Our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.