IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING STONE, SLATE, MARBLE, AND PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archibald Munro, of Arbroath, in the County of
Forfar, North Britain, and William Bennet Adamson, of Glasgow,
in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING STONE, SLATE, MARBLE, AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archibald Munro and
William Bennet Adamson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 2nd August 1871.
WC, ARCHIBALD MUNRO, of Arbroath, in the County of Forfar, North
Britain, and WILLIAM BENNET ADAMSON, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING STONE, SLATE, MARBLE,
AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE TOOLS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be
as follows, that is to say:
-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in machinery for
cutting and dressing stone, slate, marble, and other similar substances,

page_text: and in the tools employed therefor, consists in constructing the machine
on which the stone is cut or dressed with more than one cutting or
dressing saw or barrel, the said dressing barrels being by preference
constructed in sections according to the arrangements set forth in the
Specification of Letters Patent, No. 1426, A.D. 1868, granted to the
said Archibald Munro, or according to the arrangement herein-after set
forth.
The cutting or dressing barrels are arranged as one or more roughing
barrels and one or more finishing barrels, and in the same horizontal
plane, or at right angles to the table or tables of the cutting or dressing
machine. The object of thus employing more than one dressing barrel
being that the stone may be roughly cut and finished at one operation of
the machine.
In the case of saws or barrels being arranged to revolve upon vertical
axes it is to be understood that the stones may be arranged on either or
both sides thereof, thereby in the latter case cutting or dressing two or
more stones at one time.
Another part of the Invention consists in constructing machines used
for sawing, cutting, or dividing stone, slate, marble, or other similar
substances with saws, whose teeth are composed of long and thin strips
of metal, whose extremities are either flat or square, or formed with a
conical hollow, so as to give a cutting edge, these being held in a frame
which descends with the saw teeth, or the teeth may be fed downwards
by screws or wheelwork without the frame descending as the sawing,
cutting, or dividing operation is proceeding. These teeth may be made
either of steel, chilled iron, or of casehardened malleable iron, or of case-
hardened malleableised cast iron, as herein-after mentioned.
The machine for finally dressing or finishing stone, slate, or marble
consists of one or more discs or barrels of iron or stone, or the discs or
barrels may be built up of sections of iron or stone, these being mounted
upon revolving vertical or horizontal shafts, on either side of which is a
reciprocating or travelling table upon which the stones to be finished
are carried, and by being pressed against the revolving discs or barrels
the surfaces of the stones are with or without the aid of sharp sand
reduced to a smooth and even state. This last-mentioned machine may
either be used alone or it may be combined with the cutting or dressing
machines herein-before described, in which case the stones are finished
at one operation.

page_text: The tables of stone cutting or dressing machines according to this
Invention may be constructed in sections, so as to be removed when
required from off the machine, thus the stones to be dressed may be
fixed to the tables ready to be placed on the machine immediately after a
table or tables with the stones which have been dressed thereon have
been removed, and in this manner an economy of time is effected.
The barrels herein-before referred to may be made so that the tools
and tool holders project from the barrels at various distances, so as to
correspond with or approximate to the contour of the surfaces to be cut
or dressed, this being effected by fixing a series of tool holders in the
jaws of the barrels, and keeping them at the required distance apart, the
whole being secured in the barrel by one or more pinching screws.
In holding the tools for finishing the surfaces of stone dressed by the
barrels herein-before described each of the said tools may be held in a
tool holder of shape corresponding to the cutting edge of the tool, or
each tool may be held in a series of tool holders projecting from the
barrel at various distances corresponding to the said shape.
A roughing tool to be used in the barrels hercin-before described
consists of a thin plate of steel, chilled iron or steel, malleable iron case-
hardened, or of malleablised cast iron caschardened, and whose surfaces
are corrugated.
Another improvement in tools for cutting or dressing stone, slate,
marble, or other similar materials consists in the employment of case-
hardened malleable cast iron as the material of which such tools are
formed, and in constructing the said tools of such substance they are first
cast in moulds of the required shape, then malleablised in the ordinary
manner by cementation at a red heat in an oxide of iron, after which
they are casehardened in boxes by contact with carbonising materials.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Archibald Munro and William Bennet Adamson
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd February 1872.

page_text: WILLIAM BENNET ADAMSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the 36th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Archibald Munro and William Bennet Adamson,
Her special license that we, the said Archibald Munro and William
Bennet Adamson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Archibald Munro and William Bennet Adamson,
our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING STONE, SLATE, MARBLE, AND OTHER
SIMILAR SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE TOOLS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that we, the said Archibald Munro and William
Bennet Adamson, by an instrument in writing under our 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Archibald Munro and William
Bennet Adamson, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :—
Our said Invention, which relates to improvements in machinery for
cutting and dressing stone, slate, marble, and other similar substances,
and in the tools employed therefor, consists in constructing the machine
on which the stone is cut or dressed with more than one cutting or
dressing saw or barrel, the said dressing barrels being by preference
constructed in sections according to the arrangement set forth in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to the said Archibald Munro,

page_text: bearing date the 1st day of May A.D. 1868, and numbered 1420, or
according to the arrangement herein-after set forth.
The cutting or dressing barrels are arranged as one or more roughing
barrels and one or more finishing barrels, and in the same horizontal
plane, or at right angles to the table or tables of the cutting or dressing
machine, the object of thus employing more than one dressing barrel
being that the stone may be roughly cut and finished at one operation
of the machine.
In the case of saws or barrels being arranged to revolve upon vertical
axes it is to be understood that the stones may be arranged on either or
both sides thereof, thereby in the latter case cutting or dressing two
or more stones at one time.
Another part of the Invention consists in constructing machines used
for sawing, cutting, or dividing stone, slate, marble, or other similar
substances with saws whose teeth are composed of long and thin strips
of metal whose extremities are either flat or square, or formed with a
conical hollow so as to give a cutting edge, these being held in a frame
which descends with the saw teeth; or the teeth may be fed downwards
by screws or wheelwork without the frame descending as the sawing,
cutting, or dividing operation is proceeding. These teeth may be made
either of steel, chilled iron, or of casehardened malleable iron, or of
caschardened malleablised cast iron, as herein-after mentioned..
The machine for finally dressing or finishing stone, slate, or marblo
consists of one or more discs or barrels of iron or stone, or the discs or
barrels may be built up of sections of iron or stone, these being mounted
upon revolving vertical or horizontal shafts, on either side of which is a
reciprocating or travelling table upon which the stones to be finished
are carried, and by being pressed against the revolving discs or barrels
the surfaces of the stones are, with or without the aid of sharp sand,,
reduced to a smooth and even state. This last-mentioned machine may
either be used alone, or it may be combined with the cutting or dressing
machines herein-before described, in which case the stones are finished
at one operation.
The barrels herein-before referred to may be made so that the tools
and tool holders project from the barrels at various distances so as to
correspond with or approximate to the contour of the surfaces to be cut

page_text: or dressed, this being effected by fixing a series of tool holders in
the jaws of the barrels and keeping them at the required distance
apart, the whole being secured in the barrel by one or more pinching
screws, and if necessary the depth in which they enter the jaws may be
regulated by "packing" pieces of different thicknesses.
In holding the tools for finishing the surfaces of stone dressed by the
barrels herein-before described each of the said tools may be held in
tool holder of shape corresponding to the cutting edge of the tool, or
cach tool may be held in a series of tool holders projecting from the
barrel at various distances corresponding to the said shape.
A roughing tool to be used in the barrels herein-before described
consists of a thin plate of steel, chilled iron or steel, malleable iron case-
hardened, or of malleablised cast iron caschardened, and whose surfaces
are corrugated.
Another improvement in tools for cutting or dressing stone, slate,
marble, or other similar materials consists in the employment of case-
hardened malleable cast iron as the material of which such tools are
formed; and in constructing the said tools of such substance they are
first cast in moulds of the required shape, then malleablised in the
ordinary manner by cementation at a red heat in an oxide of iron, after
which they are casehardened in boxes by contact with carbonising
materials.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say:-
On Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a side
elevation of our improved machine for cutting or dressing stone, slate,
marble, or other similar substances, as constructed under one modi-
fication; Figure 2 is a plan thereof, whilst Figure 3 is a transverse
section of the same on the line x, x, Figure 2. As shewn by Figures 1
and 2 this machine is constructed with three vertical dressing barrels
A, B, and C, respectively supported in a framing D, the barrel B being
that which is employed for roughing or first cutting the stone or other
similar material, and those marked A and C for finishing the cutting
operations. These said roughing and finishing barrels are driven by the

page_text: bevil wheel H, which is keyed upon the same vertical shaft as the
roughing barrel B, being geared to the pinion G on the driving shaft K.
The roughing and finishing barrels are geared together by means of the
spur wheels M and stud pinions N, N. E and E¹ are travelling or
reciprocating tables placed on each side of the vertical dressing barrels
upon which the stones t to be dressed are carried. The tables E
and E are caused to travel in contrary directions to each other by
means of screws 8, 8¹, driven by the bevil wheels w, w, and pinions p, p,
from off the shaft F; and when the tables E and E¹ have respectively
reached the termination of their forwards and backwards travel the
direction of motion of each of the screws 8, 8, is reversed at quick specd
by pushing the clutch c into gear with the wheel h, furnished with a
like clutch c, and at the same time drawing the pinion x out of gear
with the wheely, the wheel h, through the intermediate pinion z, gearing
with the wheel u, causing the shaft F to revolve in the opposite direction
required. The gear for effecting the engagement and disengagement of
the clutches c and that of the pinion x with the wheel y is not shewn in
the Drawings, being of the character usually employed for effecting such
changes as are herein described. It will be observed, on referring to
Figures 1 and 2, that the roughing or first cutting barrel B is of greater
diameter than the finishing barrels A and C, and that the axes of the
said finishing barrels are not in a straight line parallel with the longi-
tudinal axes of the tables and driving screws E, E', and s respectively,
but are each placed on alternate sides of the longitudinal centre line of
the machine, so that a tangent to their peripheries at either side lies
parallel with the line of motion of the tables E and E', the object of so
placing the said finishing barrels being that only one roughing or first-
cutting barrel may be required, at the same time enabling one or more
stones on each side of the roughing and finishing barrels to be roughly
cut and finished at one operation of the machine, and also to allow the
rough stone to pass clear of the finishing barrel before coming into
contact with the roughing barrel, which is obvious on reference to the
Drawings, the arrows thereon indicating the direction of motion of the
tables E and E¹. The dressing barrels are by preference constructed or
built up in sections according to the arrangement set forth in the Speci-
fication of Letters Patent granted to Archibald Munro, bearing date the
1st day of May, A.D. 1868, and numbered 1426; or they may be con-
structed in the manner herein-after described. Each of the dressing

page_text: barrels A, B, and C is furnished with a collar fat the upper and lower
extremities, in order that the dressing barrels may be adjusted as
required, and also that they may with facility be brought to such
positions on their respective shafts that the plain surfaces alone of the
barrels come in contact with the stones to be dressed, as, for example,
in dressing stones for plain ashlar masonry; or the moulded portions
as required, such, for example, as in Figure 3, Sheet 1, where the
barrel B is shown cutting the mould and projecting members on the
front face of a stone step t. The bolts a, a, and parts connected there-
with, shewn in the transverse section, Figure 3, indicate the method
used for gripping and holding steady the stones whilst being operated
upon.
On Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram plan of a machine
for cutting or dressing stone, slate, marble or other similar substances
constructed in accordance with a second modification of our said
Invention.
As shewn by Figure 1, Sheet 2, this machine is constructed with two
vertical dressing barrels I and K respectively, the barrel I being that
which is employed for roughing or first cutting the stone or other
similar material, and that marked K for finishing the cutting operation;
the said barrels I and K are used in conjunction with two travelling or
reciprocating tables m, n, both of which travel in the same direction, by
which one or more stones on each side of the dressing barrels can be
roughly cut and finished at one operation, It will be observed on
referring to Figure 1, Sheet 2, that the finishing barrel K is by pre-
ference made a little wider in diameter than the roughing barrel I, but
they may be made of the same diameter.
Another modification of this Invention, not illustrated on the Drawings,
consists in constructing stone dressing machines with travelling or reci-
procating tables similar to those now last described, but with one barrel
only revolving on a vertical shaft, to be employed for rough cutting
stone, or other similar material, in cases where such do not require to
be finished and polished.
Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a plan, and Figure 3, Sheet 2, a tranverse section
on the line x, x, Figure 2, of a machine constructed with two horizontal
dressing barrels A and B, respectively supported in a framing D, the
barrel A. being that which is employed for roughing or first cutting the

page_text: stone or other similar material, and that marked B for finishing the
cutting operation; C is a travelling or reciprocating table situated
below the horizontal dressing barrels A and B, upon which the stones to
be dressed are carried. The table C is traversed by means of a screw s
in the same manner as that already described in reference to Figures
1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1. The dressing barrels A and B are raised or
lowered according to the size of the stone that is to be dressed by means
of the screws k, k, which are geared to the hand wheel W by means of
the bevil pinions d, d, d', d'. The three wheels E, F, and G, arc for
driving the dressing barrels A and B, and these may be placed either
inside or outside of the standards, as may be found most convenient.
The wheel F runs loose upon a stud e, so that the dressing barrels A
and B may be driven in the same direction. The stud e is carried in a
slit or groove formed in the plate f to enable the barrel B to travel
upwards and downwards without shifting the rough or first cutting
barrel A, and that the said finishing barrel B may be always in gear. The
stones whilst being operated upon are held firmly in position by means
of two jaws b, b, and a movable plate c, shewn at Figures 2 and 3,
Sheet 2. The said plate c is made movable, so as to suit different sizes
of stones, and it is tightened up against the side of the stone t, being
dressed by a pinching screw g. In lieu of arranging the roughing and
finishing barrels in a vertical or horizontal plane these barrels may be
adapted and arranged so as to work at an angle, it being always
understood that at whatever angle the roughing barrel or barrels is
or are arranged the finishing barrels are placed at a corresponding
inclination.
Figures 6 and 7, are an end and side elevation respectively of the
roughing or first cutting barrel, and Figures 8 and 9 are an end and
side elevation of the barrel used for finishing the cutting operations.
These barrels are used by preference, as herein-before mentioned, ac-
cording to the arrangement set forth in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to Archibald Munro, bearing date and numbered as
herein-before set forth. Or in lieu of constructing the roughing and
finishing barrels as now last set forth they may be constructed according
to the modification illustrated in longitudinal sections and end eleva
tion at Figures 15 and 154, Sheet 2. This modification consists in
arranging the tools in holders of different lengths round a shaft Y, as

page_text: shewn, so as to correspond with or approximately correspond to the
contour of the surfaces to be cut or dressed. The tool holders / may
either be placed close together, as shown, or they may be separated to
the required distance by placing strips or blocks of metal between them.
When the roughing or finishing barrel is thus made up the tool holders
are firmly secured in position by means of pinching screws ", acting
upon jaws S, S, placed at each end of the series of tool holders, as shewn ;
if the tool holders should in any case not be of sufficient length to
admit of the required projection small blocks of metal v of the same
thickness as the said tool holders may be placed at the back of each,
corresponding in length to the projection required. Figure 5 is a
diagram representing a side elevation of a vertical disc R, which is
used for finally dressing or polishing the stones t. The vertical disc R
may be built up of sections of iron or stone, upon either or both sides
of which is a travelling or reciprocating table or tables O, upon which
the stone or stones t to be finished is or are carried, and by being pressed
against the revolving disc R the surfaces of the stone or stones are
without the aid of sharp sand or other similar material reduced to
a smooth and even state. In lieu of the above-mentioned vertical disc
a vertical or horizontal barrel L may be used, as shewn at Figure 4,
Sheet 2. This last-mentioned machine may either be used alone,
or it may be combined with the cutting or dressing machines herein-
before described, in which case the stones are finished at one operation.
Figure 4, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of a horizontal saw or disc g and
collar, capable of cutting or checking" one or more stones on both
sides of the said saw or disc at one operation of the machine, and this
may be worked by itself with travelling tables on a vertical axis in
the same manner as the dressing barrels already described, or the said
saw or disc may be worked in conjunction with any of the herein-
before described modifications of the dressing machines, having their
dressing barrels situated on a vertical axis.
66
Another part of this Invention used for sawing, cutting, or dividing
stone, slate, marble, or other similar substances is illustrated at Figure 14,
Sheet 2, which is a side elevation of the saw, the teeth T of which
consist of long and thin strips of metal, which may be made either of
stecl, chilled iron, or of caschardened malleable iron, or caschardened
malleableised cast iron, as hercin-after mentioned, and whose extremitics

page_text: are either flat or square, or formed with a conical hollow so as to con-
stitute a cutting edge; each of the teeth T is provided with a shoulder q
to give it additional strength, and which is situated in a groove or slot in
the cross bar V. The teeth Tare kept firm by means of the pinching
screws P, upon loosening which the teeth may be adjusted as required.
The saw now last described may be applied according to the arrange-
ments set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to us the
said Archibald Munro and William Bennet Adamson, bearing date the
18th day of February A.D. 1869, and numbered 494.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a full-sized tool for finishing step
breasts, or it may be made square at the ends for finishing plain ashlar.
Figure 11 is an elevation of a full-sized tool for finishing step fronts,
and may be of any shape to correspond with the mouldings required.
Figure 12 is an elevation of a full-sized tool for finishing coping for
garden or other walls.
It will be observed on referring to Figures 10 and 12, Sheet 2, that
each is provided with a semicircular recess which fits on to a projection
on the barrels, which prevents the tools when working from shifting
their positions.
Figure 13 is an clevation of a roughing tool to be used in the barrels
herein-before described, it consists of a thin plate of steel, chilled iron,
malleable iron casehardened, or of malleableised cast iron caschiardened
and whose surfaces are corrugated.
The last part of this Invention consists in constructing the various
kinds of tools used for cutting or dressing stone, slate, marble, or other
similar materials, and whether employed mauually or in machines of
malleablised cast iron case hardened; this being effected by the various
processes of treatment set forth in the carlier part of this our
Specification.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used
or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that
what we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement or construction of machinery having one or
more vertically situated roughing barrels, in combination with one or

page_text: more vertically situated finishing barrels, and having a travelling table
on each side thereof moving in the same or contrary directions, each
table carrying a stone or stones to be simultaneously dressed as herein-
before described, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The arrangement or construction of machinery having one or
more vertically situated roughing barrels and with a table on each side
thereof moving in the same or contrary directions, each table carrying a
stone or stones to be simultaneously dressed, as herein-before described,
or any mere modification thereof.
Third. The arrangement or construction of machinery wherein a
horizontal finishing barrel or barrels is employed in conjunction with a
roughing barrel or barrels, as herein-before described and shewn at
Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2, of the appended Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
Fourth. The use or employment of a polishing barrel, either alone or
in combination with roughing and finishing barrels in a dressing
machine provided with tables for carrying the stone, as herein-before
described and shewn at Figure 4, Sheet 2, of the appended Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.
Fifth. The adaptation to stone dressing machines of one or more
roughing and finishing or polishing barrels inclined at an angle, as and
for the purpose herein-before set forth.
Sixth. The use or employment of a disc for polishing the surfaces of
stone or other materials, as herein-before described and shewn at Figure 5,
Sheet 2, of the appended Drawings.
Seventh. The employment of a horizontal saw or disc, either alone
or in combination with dressing barrels in stone dressing or cutting
machines, wherein two tables moving in the same or in contrary
directions are employed, each table carrying one or more stones to be
dressed at one operation of the machine.
Eighth. Constructing dressing barrels by forming the tool holders to
project at various distances from the surface of the barrel according to
the contour of the surface to be dressed, as herein-before described and
shewn at Figures 15 and 15*, or any mere modification thereof.
Ninth. The construction of a reciprocating saw with strips of metal,
as herein-before described and shewn in Figure 14, Sheet 2.

page_text: Tenth. The application of casehardened malleable cast iron as the
material for tools used for cutting stone, slate, marble, or other similar
substance, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bennet Adamson, on behalf
of the said Archibald Munro and myself, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.