IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR SAW BENCHES."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Alfred Upstill, of Chard, in the County of
Somerset, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCULAR SAW BENCHES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Alfred Upstill at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1878.
RICHARD ALFRED UPSTILL, of Chard, in the County of Somerset.
MENTS IN CIRCULAR SAW-BENCHES."
"IMPROVE-
The objects of this Invention are mainly to save power, to shorten manual labour,
and to cut up heavy timber with greater facility than heretofore, say, one hundred
and fifty cube feet or more in the log, thus saving " pitting" and pit sawyers'
work, but also to cut small or general work or "scantle" in the same saw bench;
this bench can also be worked by less experienced men than those heretofore
used.
Saw benches made according to this Invention may be made of iron alone, but
preferably of iron and wood combined, say wood framing and wrought-iron plate
top; this is especially the case where portability is an object.
The bench itself is divided in two parts, the stationary part or framing to carry
the saw and gear connected therewith, and a movable part or table for carrying
the timber to be cut; this traversing part or table runs on two rails or ways on the
left of the circular saw. These rails, which I call the middle and left rail, are also
made to carry a trolly for supporting the end of log or heavy timber. There is a
third or right-hand rail on the right side of the circular saw; on this rail and on
the middle rail I support a trolly for catching the falling cut off piece.
The traversing or drag motion of the bench may be performed by hand or by
self-acting or other gear.

page_text: The part which carries the circular saw and the belt adjustment or striking gear
is made to slide in or on the framing.
When the bench is used for ordinary or light work I bolt the traversing table to
the sliding half of bench which carries the saw, and use a trolly running on the two
outer rails (the right and the left hand rail) for supporting the work to be cut.
Saw benches constructed according to this Invention possess many advantages;
thus, for instance, the parallel slide for adjusting the driving strap offers facility for
shifting the same, rough logs may be cut without previous hewing, the vertex is
kept right through the cut, thus saving power; the traversing motion saves labour,
there is much bench room, and generally the bench is simple to make, fix, and
transport.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Alfred Upstill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
January 1879.
RICHARD ALFRED UPSTILL, of Chard, in the County of Somerset. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CIRCULAR SAW BENCHES.".
The objects of this Invention are mainly to save power, to shorten manual
labour, and to cut up heavy timber with greater facility than heretofore, say, one
hundred and fifty cube feet or more in the log, thus saving pitting and pit
sawyers' work, but also to cut small or general work or scantles in the same saw
bench; this bench can also be worked by less experienced men than those hereto-
-fore used.
Saw benches made according to this Invention may be made of iron alone, but
preferably of iron and wood combined, say, wood framing and wrought-iron plate
top; this is especially the case where portability is an object.
The bench itself is divided in two parts, the stationary part or framing to
carry the saw and gear connected therewith, and a moveable part or table for
carrying the timber to be cut; this traversing part or table runs on two rails or
ways on the left of the circular saw. These rails, which I call the middle and left
rail, are also made to carry a trolly for supporting the end of log or heavy timber.
There is a third or right-hand rail on the right side of the circular saw; on this
rail and on the middle rail I support a trolly for catching the falling cut off
piece.
The traversing or drag motion of the bench may be performed by hand or by
self-acting or other gear.
The part which carries the circular saw and the belt adjustment or striking gear
is mado to slide in or on the framing.
When the bench is used for ordinary or light work I bolt the traversing table to
the sliding half of bench which carries the saw, and use a trolly running on the
two outer rails (the right and the left hand rail) for supporting the work to
be cut.
In order that the Invention may be fully understood I have annexed hereunto a
Sheet of Drawings,
Figure 1 of which is a side elevation.
Figure 2, a sectional elevation through the line, x, y, of Figure 3.
And Figure 3 is a plan of saw bench constructed according to my Invention.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are views of parts in detail referred to hereafter.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
A is the stationary part of the framing; B, the frame carrying the saw; C, the
saw; and D, the moveable part or table. a, a, are the rails on which the table D
travels; E is the trolly which supports the log or heavy timber; and G is the other
trolly for catching the falling cut pieces.
The frame B slides parallel with the rails or roads, having its bearing upon the
undergrooved framework (as shown more clearly in Figure 2), thus rendering it a
parallel slide to adjust driving belt. This slide may be moved to and fro by means of
lever, worm, cog, ratchet, screw, or any other suitable gear, but I prefer to use a
screw, and when it is in the required position it is clamped to the framework by
means of the bolts r. This frame B that carries the saw also carries the guide b in
a slot iron in bench top parallel with the saw, and capable of being moved to and
fro by means of a parallel motion lever d fastened to bench top. The guide b is
fixed in position by means of screw c; this simple arrangement saves the time of
screwing it to and fro.
The guide is preferably adjusted to its carriage with three screws, but this and
also its lever movement may be performed in any, other convenient way, as
desired.

page_text: In this frame B under the top plating I fit a sliding bar of iron e, which slides
to and fro against the side of saw, and which may be adjusted by two screws f in
bench top. By this arrangement packing may be adjusted at any moment by simply
turning these screws f.
On and bolted to the frame B and on the working side of saw I place a packing
bar g, which bar g is fitted with fender plate h and adjusted by means of two
screws. The use of this bar g is to pack the saw on "trairo" side, and the fender h
conducts the sawdust under the bench, thereby keeping the roads clear.
The travelling part D consists of the left hand or outer half of bench, which is
fitted with four wheels, and travels upon the left-hand pair of rails. This part D,
together with a short trolley E placed in front of same, bears the timber to be sawn,
which, being placed upon these two parts of the machine, remains thereon without
moving from them until the saw is passed.
By this arrangement neither the vertex nor the straight line is disturbed, thus
. ensuring straight and even cuts.
The travelling part D, and also its companion trolley E, are fitted with transverse
trollies F, shewn on a larger scale at Figures 4, 5, and 6; these transverse trollies
may be worked with a pinch bar i, Figure 4, in the workman's hand like a lever;
or instead of the bar i, which is preferable because of its simplicity, these transverse
trollies F may be moved by means of screw or worm gear, or may be used with a
single wheel, or even a disc or plate with rollers under it and capable of being
pushed more or less in under the trolley F, so as to raise or cant it as required.
There is one of these transverse trollies F at each end of the travelling table D and
one to the trolley E. These transverse trollies F may work on two or four wheels
or rollers cach (I prefer two wheels, as then the trolley can be raised and traversed
at one lift).
By the use of these transverse trollies F any piece of timber deviating from a
straight line may be so oscillated or adjusted as to allow the straight line to be
followed and the true thickness to be kept.
Figure 7 is a view of the part D with trollies F removed, these trollies not being
required except in the manipulating of heavy timber. The holes m directly under
the pinching trolley F are to put a bar into to "skeat" or guide a piece of timber
on to the bench when the trollies are removed.
In the tail end of the pinching trolley F there is a hole n, another hole p being
at the end of bench in the corner of trolley carriage. These holes n and p stand in
an oblique position to one another. The mode of operating these transverse trollies F
is as follows:-Through the hole n in the tail of trolley F a bar i, see Figure 4, is
inserted into the hole p in the corner of trolley carriage, and by pressing down on
this bar and wrenching it either inwards or outwards the head of the trolley F
will be lifted, as shewn at Figure 4, the piece of timber being raised with it and
oscillated at the same time.
The screw jacks q in the trollies are to screw up to take an uneven piece of
timber, if required, as shown at Figure 4.
At the right-hand corner and feed end of bench D there is provided a gauge bar j,
fitted so as to swing back of its own accord when passing the saw.
This bar is
marked with suitable divisions, corresponding with the rule on the bench top, so as to
give the workman the true thickness as indicated by the guide on the bench. This
gauge bar may be used in other ways; for instance, it may be used as an
accidental carriage bar by applying a guard rail to keep down on the rail outside
the traveller, and it may also be made to have the effect of an auxiliary trolley
hereafter explained, but not possessing the same utility. This auxiliary trolley H
works on the middle and right-hand roads at feed end of bench and in harmony
with gauge bar, as it also serves to shew thickness in some cases where the distance
exceeds the limits of this bar. By such cases I mean such pieces as require only
two "slobs" from them and not having square sides. If such a piece is cut to
gauge this trolley is required for the second cut, although it may be done on the

page_text: travelling table by turning the piece over.
accurate.
This method is easier but not so
The falling or bearing off trolley G runs on the left-hand road at the full out end,
and is intended to take the falling piece from the saw and carry it away or transfer
it to the traveller D to be cut again, as may be required.
The drag motion may be performed in any suitable manner, as by self-acting
crab, roller, winder, or travio, or other gear. The simple roller will be found to be
very efficient.
The traveller D should be provided with brooms k or dust sweepers in front of
wheels to keep the roads clear of straggling dust.
This bench may be fitted or modified in other ways and still attain similar results
without departing from the Invention; for instance, the traveller may be made to
slide on rails, or the roads may be fitted with a series of rollers so that the traveller
may ride upon them; or it may be done by two short trollies, or in other
equivalent ways, but the arrangement above described I consider the most useful
and simple.
The roads should be kept at a sufficient height from the ground or floor to allow
of the workman's feet passing under, so that he shall not be impeded whilst at work;
they may be made any length required.
The timber to be sawn may be loaded on to the traveller at any place within the
range of the roads.
The bench may be made of any size, and of any suitable material. When used
for light work the traveller is bolted to the saw carriage part by means of the bolt
or bolts sliding through saw carriage into traveller part underneath top of bench,
and by a bolts for clamping it to the framework to prevent it from travelling,
thereby making it an ordinary saw bench. When thus used a broad trolley may
be employed, travelling on the two outer roads, for carrying the timber to be
sawn.
Saw benches constructed according to this Invention possess many advantages;
thus, for instauce, the parallel slide for adjusting the driving strap offers facility for
shifting the same, rough logs may be cut without previous hewing, the vertex is
kept right through the cut, thus saving power; the traversing notion saves labour,
there is much bench room, and generally the bench is simple to make, fix, and
transport.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Firstly. The construction of the part B containing the saw, and made to shift.in-
position on the bench, all substantially as described, and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and mode of application of the part D so as to make
the bench suitable for heavy or for light work, substantially as described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The construction and mode of application of the trollies and parts con-
nected therewith for supporting the timber, substantially as described, and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination of the parts B and D and the trollies all arranged on
a bench with three rails, and operating substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Alfred Upstill, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
RICHARD ALFRED UPSTILL. (L.S.)