An Improved Tool Sharpener.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tool Sharpener.
I, EDWARD HOULBROOK, of Rossall, Hendon, in the County of Middlesex,
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to improved apparatus for sharpening wood-cutting and
similar edge tools by means of oil stones.
The method hitherto adopted of sharpening such edge tools upon oil stones
consists in rubbing the same by hand. This method, however, is open to objection,
especially with amateur carpenters and wood carvers, owing to the fact that it is
difficult to hold a tool at a uniform angle to ensure the proper level of the edge
being retained.
According to my invention I overcome this difficulty by moving the stone
whilst the tools are held stationary. For this purpose I arrange the oil stone to.
slide in a frame and I advantageously move the stone in the frame by means of a
cord looped to receive the foot.
I also preferably arrange upon one side of the frame a gauge for enabling the
person using my sharpening apparatus to ascertain whether the tool is being held
at the required angle. Or I may employ rests against which the tool may be held
while being sharpened.
Dated the 18th day of November 1801
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tool Sharpener.
I, EDWARD HOULBROOK, of Rossall, Hendon, in the County of Middlesex,
Surgeon, 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 relates to improved apparatus for sharpening wood-cutting and
similar edge tools by means of oil stones.
The method hitherto adopted of sharpening such edge tools upon oil stones,
consists in rubbing the same by hand. This method, however, is open to objection.
especially with amateur carpenters and wood carvers, owing to the fact that it is
difficult to hold a tool at a uniform angle to ensure the proper level of the edge
being retained.
According to my invention I overcome this difficulty by moving the stone whilst
the tools are held stationary. For this purpose I arrange the oil stone to slide in
a frame and I advantageously move the stone in the frame by means of a cord
looped to receive the foot and passing over a pulley at the end of the frame.
also preferably arrange rests against which the tool may be held whilst being
sharpened.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved tool-sharpener; and,
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line, z, Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line
Y. Y Figure 1.
a indicates an oil stone, and indicates a carriage in which the same is mounted,
the said carriage, as shown in the drawings, consisting of the two end pieces b¹,

page_text: and the bolts 63, 63. The end piece is loosely carried upon the bolts ³, so that
by tightening the nuts, the stone may be tightly clamped upon the carriage
between the end pieces 1, 2 thereof. The said bolts are preferably screw-threaded
for a considerable portion of their length in order that the end piece 6' may be
rendered capable of considerable adjustment relative to the end piece ² to enable
stones of considerable variation in length to be fixed in the carriage.
c is the frame in which the carriage slides, the said frame, as shewn, being
provided with longitudinal slots d in which rollers e, e supporting the carriage
roll during the reciprocations of the stone. At one end of the frame is a lug c¹
having a hole e² in which a screw can be inserted to attach the frame to a bench.
el is a cord, belt, or chain, which is advantageously connected at one end with a
treadle or provided with a loop or stirrup to receive the foot, the said cord passing
over a pulley and at the other end being connected to the carriage to enable
the same with the stone to be reciprocated. is a spring secured at one end to
the frame e and at the other end to the end piece of the carriage, the said
spring serving, after the carriage has been moved in one direction by means of
the cord e', to move the said carriage in the reverse direction. In the drawings I
have represented the spring as a spiral spring but it is to be understood that any
other suitable form of spring may be employed.
9, 9 are rests against which the tool may be placed in the manner shewn in
Figure 3 for the purpose of holding the same at a uniform angle during the
sharpening operation, each of the said rests being provided with a roller & revolving
on a spindle. The rests are connected to the frame c by screws 1, 1, slots j, j being
provided for the purpose of permitting the said rests to be adjusted in height
according to the angle at which it is required to sharpen the tool.
It is to be understood that in carrying out my invention I do not confine myself
to any particular method of imparting motion to the stone as such may be effected
by any desirable means.
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. An improved tool-sharpener the sharpening stone of which is mounted in a
carriage or older adapted to reciprocate in suitable guides and having a rest for
the tool, all substantially as, and for the purpose, described:
2. A tool-sharpener comprising a carriage or holder for the stone, a frame in
which the said carriage or holder slides and a rest for the tool, substantially as
described.
3. The manufacture and use of the improved tool-sharpener hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of May 1892.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.