Improvements in Band Saw Guides.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Band Saw Guides.
I, CHARLES ERSKINE WRIGHT, of 6 Franklin Street, City of Waterbury, County
of New Haven, State of Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention has for its object to produce a guide for band saws which shall be
simple, durable, and economical in construction, which shall hold the saw firmly in
any desired position, and in which actual friction or pressure of the parts upon either
the sides or back of the saw shall be wholly dispensed with, the important features
of my invention being that the back of the saw rests against the side of a disk
which is loosely journaled as as to be carried by the saw, and that the sides of the
saw rest between adjustable steel guide plates.
In order that others may understand and use my invention, I will describe the same,
referring by numbers to the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification,
in which
Figure 1, is a side elevation of my novel guide complete ;
Figure 2, a front elevation corresponding therewith;
Figure 3, a horizontal section looking down;
Figure 4, a rear view corresponding with Figure 1;
Figure 5, a side elevation corresponding with Figure 1;
Figure 6, a front elevation corresponding with Figure 2 ;
Figure 7, an inverted plan view;
Figure 8, a rear elevation as in Figure 5; and
Figure 9 a rear elevation of a form of my novel guide in which I have introduced
slight changes in the details of construction, which I preferably adopt in guides for
heavy saws, it being understood of course that the principles of my invention are
equally adapted to all classes of band saws from the heaviest to the lightest.
1 denotes the body of the guide, which is provided with an arm 2 by which the
device is held in place. This arm passes through the horizontal portion of a
Tsleeve 3, where it is locked at any desired position by a set screw 4. In practice
the vertical portion of the T sleeve is cast solid and is bored out to fit the special
vertical arm, not shown, with which it is to be used, it being secured thereto by a set
screw 5. The first important feature of my invention consists of a disk 6 rigidly
attached to a spindle 7 and carried by the movement of the saw, said spindle turning
freely in a socket 8 which slides in the body being locked at any desired adjustment
by a set screw 9. This disk may be made of vitreous material, for example glass, or
of metal if preferred. In practice 1 ordinarily make the disks of hardened steel.
The exact diameter of these disks is not of the essence of my invention. They may
be made large or small as preferred, depending to a certain extent upon the class of
saws upon which they are to be used, and the work to bo performed thereby. In
practice, I preferably make the parts of about the proportions shown in the drawings,
the disk being for ordinary sized saws three inches, more or less, in diameter.
Heretofore in this class of guides the backs of the saws have rested against solid
supports, against the peripheries of disks, or else against the faces of disks at or
None of these
near the centres, special mechanism being provided to rotate the disks.
systems have proved satisfactory in use. Where a solid back is used the friction
quickly causes sufficient beat to ruin the saw, destroying the temper, causing it to
check and frequently to break. If oil is used, it quickly destroys the rubber faces of
the large wheels by which the saws are carried.
If the back of the saw is placed
against the periphery of a disk the bearing is too short and the saws bend and
[DQ37

page_text: frequently break if subjected to any strain.
and
When the saw passes over the face of
a disk, if the latter does not rotate a groove is quickly worn; if the disk is caused
to rotate a complicated mechanism is required and no advantage is. gained as the
scraping of the disk on the saw back heats and quickly ruins it. If oil is used to
overcome thai trouble the large wheels are ruined. In my improved guide, the back
of the saw rests against the face or side of the disk near the edge thereof, as is
clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6, thereby giving to the saw a firm, straight bearing,
which may be given any reasonable length depending upon the size of the disk. I
thus secure ample bearing surface for the saw, said surface moving with the saw,
at the same time I avoid friction, avoid complicated mechanism, and avoid the use of
oil in connection with the saw itself. The second important feature of my invention
consists of the adjustable tilting guide plates between which the saw rests. 10 denotes
the inner guide plates which are secured firmly to the body in any suitable manner,
ordinarily by screws. 11 denotes the outer guide plates which are held in position by
central and outer screws 12 and 13 respectively. The outer plate is adjusted to the
gauge of the saw by means of the central screw 12, which passes through plate 11
and is locked in position by means of the outer screws 13 which pass through the
outer guide plates and bear against the surface of the inner guide plates. Slight
sockets may be provided to receive the points of these screws. It will of course be
understood that it is frequently desirable that the guide plates between which the saw
runs should be farthest apart at their outer edges on account of the thinness of the
blade toward the back, or for various other reasons. This readily accomplish and
tilt the outer plate to any desired angle by turning the outer screws 13 in or out as
may be required, ordinarily by turning one in and the other out. Should it be
required to turn the entire guide upon the arm, not shown, by which it is supported,
that is accomplished by loosening set screw 5, and turning the T sleeve more or
less. It will be seen that by these adjustments I am enabled to furnish a guide and
support for the entire side of the saw, or for any portion of it as may be required,
and without perceptible pressure or friction upon the saw. In changing from wide
saws to narrow or vice versa the disk is adjusted in or out by loosening set screw 9,
and moving socket 8 and the disk in or out as may be required. In the form illustrated
in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, instead of adjusting the disk in or out for different widths
of saws I adjust the guide plates in or out. This I accomplish by securing the guide
plates to blocks 14 which slide upon guides 15 upon the body, said blocks, and with
them the guides, being locked in position by bolts and nuts 16 which pass through
both sliding blocks and the body. In this form I provide an additional adjustment
which enables me to move the entire body and parts carried thereby laterally relatively
to the saw. In this form, arm 2, instead of being connected to the body, is connected
to a slide 17 in the end of the body which is locked in position by a bolt 18 which
passes through a slot in the slide and engages the body.
I wish it distinctly understood that do not limit my invention to the details of
construction illustrated and described, as it is obvious that they may be greatly varied
without departing from the principles of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A saw guide consisting essentially of a body, a disk mounted therein at one
side of the track of the saw, so that said saw will bear against the face of the disk
near the edge thereof, and guide plates between which the saw passes, the disk giving
a firm support to the saw, and the latter acting to rotate the disk.
2. In a saw guide, a disk capable of rotation and mounted at one side of the track
of the saw which bears against the face of the disk, near the edge thereof, so that
the forward movement of the saw imparts rotation to the disk, as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In a saw guide, the combination with a disk mounted at one side of the track
of the saw, so that the saw will rest against the face of the disk near its edge, of

page_text: tilting guide plates on opposite sides of the saw, and screws whereby said plates may
be adjusted farthest apart at their outer edges.
4. The combination with a body and a disk mounted therein at one side of the
track of the saw, so that the latter will bear against the face of the disk near its
edge, of guide plates 10 and 11 on opposite sides of the saw track, and screws 12
and 13, whereby said guide plates may he adjusted to saws thinnest at the back.
Dated this Eighteenth day of July 1890.
CHARLES ERSKINE WRIGHT.