AN IMPROVED APPARATUS POR CUTTING OR DIVIDING GLASS
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Louis Henry Dennis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th June 1869.
I, LOUIS HENRY DENNIS, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS POR CUTTING OR DIVIDING GLASS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to an apparatus for cutting or dividing glass
in which apparatus a steel cutter operated in a peculiar manner forms
a substitute for the ordinary diamond tool employed by glaziers, the
said apparatus affording the means whereby the glass may be cut in
any desired form with greatly increased facility and rapidity, and
being furnished at a very slight cost. The cutter of my improved
apparatus is a small rotating spindle or rod of hardened steel, which
has one end so formed and arranged that the circular corner or edge
formed by the junction of the periphery with the end of the shaft can
be conveniently held in contact with the surface of the sheet or plate
of glass to be cut or divided when the apparatus is moved across or
over the same. The said spindle or rod is supported near this circular
cutting edge by two antifriction rollers, which are fitted to turn freely

page_text: on centres or pivots supported in a block or frame whereby the
apparatus is held when being used. The rear end of the said spindle
is preferably reduced to a conical point or centre and fitted to turn in
the end of an adjustable screw. The said spindle is also formed with
a collar or shoulder which runs against a loop or staple fixed in the
block, and which with the conical centre serves to keep the spindle
from being displaced endwise.
The block or frame of my improved apparatus may be of wood, metal
or other suitable material, but I prefer to construct it of brass. The said
block should be made of such a size and form as to allow of its being
conveniently held and manipulated. The front of the block is provided
with a smooth straight edge to be placed against a rule or guide in cutting
the glass. I prefer to provide the block with an arm at the rear, to
carry the adjusting screw which supports the conical end of the spindle,
the said arm being extended considerably beyond the block to allow
the said spindle to be of such a length as will ensure its firm support
and steady rotation in its bearings.
The antifriction rollers are
preferably thin discs of iron which run together near the cutting edge
of the spindle, and which are so arranged that when the apparatus is
moved across the sheet or plate of glass with the edge or corner of
the end of the spindle pressed with the necessary force thereon the
said spindle will be firmly supported at its upper side while the said
edge runs upon the glass. The cutting edge or corner of the spindle,
which is made as hard as the nature of the metal will allow being
thus caused to rotate upon the surface of the glass will produce a deep
cut or division partially through the same, the said division being either
made in a straight or curved line as required, and the glass may then
be readily separated with a fair and even fracture upon this cut or
division.