CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING METAL SURFACES
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
MARCH HOE, late of New York, in the United States of America, but now
residing at the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twelfth day of June, in the first year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
March Hoe, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that
I, the said Richard March Hoe, my executors, administrators, or assigns, and
such others as I, the said Richard March Hoe, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time,
and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING METAL SURFACES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Richard March Hoe, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard March IIoe, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, referenco
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):-
:-
My Invention of certain improvements in machinery or apparatus for
grinding and polishing metal surfaces applies more particularly to the grinding
and polishing of sheets or plates of steel, such as blades or plates of saws of
all kinds, either long or circular, and consists of two different arrangements
and constructions of machines or apparatus for grinding and polishing such
metal surfaces. The arrangement and construction of the one I shall first
describe being the most adapted for grinding and polishing long saws or
surfaces, and the second for performing the same operation upon circular saws
and square or other shaped plates of metal. And I will first briefly state the
necessary component parts of these machines or apparatus, and then refer
to the accompanying Drawings for the better illustration of my Invention, and
the manner of carrying the same into effect, although I do not mean or intend
to confine myself to the precise form or arrangement of the parts therein
shewn, as the same may be varied to suit different purposes to which they may
be applied without departing from the nature of my Invention. The first
machine or apparatus consists of a moveable or travelling horizontal table or
bed for receiving and carrying the metal plates or surfaces to be ground or
polished; this bed is supported upon adjustable rollers turning in bearings in
the side frames or standards. The machine is also furnished with other rollers
for holding or pressing the plates or surfaces to be ground upon the moveable
table, and ensuring their being properly carried under the operation of the
grinding or polishing lap or drum. One set of these rollers are capable of
being readily raised from off the plates or table, for the purpose of more
readily supplying fresh surfaces, or removing them when ground or polished.
The travelling motion of the table or bed may be obtained by a screw motion,
like the slide rest on the bed of a lathe, or it may be obtained by toothed
racks on the bed actuated by toothed pinions or spur wheels on the axis of one
or more of the rollers, as shewn in the Drawings, or in any other convenient
manner. The revolving grinding or polishing lap wheel or drum is mounted
on an horizontal axis or shaft, the grinding or polishing surface being its outer
diameter or periphery. The shaft of the drum turns in suitable bearings
placed between grooves or guides in the side frame or standards of the
machine, which bearings are furnished with strong screw adjustments, by

page_text: means of which the position of the grinding drum or lap wheel towards tho
table can be regulated, as required, to suit plates of metal of different thick-
ness, or the degree of pressure given to the grinding surface of the drum upon
the plate of metal under operation. The revolving lap wheel or drum has a
horizontal traversing motion given to it from side to side of the machinc, for
the purpose of shifting or changing the parts of the grinding or polishing
surface over that of the sheets or plates of metal, and thereby preventing the
constant wear in any particular part. This traversing motion may be given to
the shaft of the drum by a revolving or oscillating crank and a connecting rod
coupled to the shaft, as shewn in the Drawings, or by means of a grooved
snail or cam wheel acting upon the end of the shaft, or by any other
mechanical means which will gradually traverse the shaft backwards and
forwards across the machine, and shift the grinding surface upon the plate or
saw blade under operation. The whole of the machine or apparatus being
actuated or set in motion by suitable toothed wheels or gear and riggers and
bands passed from a steam engine or other first mover.
Having now mentioned the component parts of this machine, I will refer to
the accompanying Drawings to more particularly describe the same. Fig. 1
is a side elevation of the machine complete, excepting that a part of the ends
of the travelling bed or table are broken off; Fig. 2 is a plan or horizontal
view of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section
taken longitudinally through the machine, to shew the interior. A, A, is a
strong framework and standards of cast iron securely fixed on a foundation or
groundwork, and properly connected together by cross bolts or braces; B is
the travelling horizontal table or bed, resting upon and supported by several
rollers C, C, C, the axis of which turn in bearings or brasses a, a, placed
between grooves or guides in the framework; these bearings are supported by
adjustable screws b, b, on cach side of the machine (by means of which the
surface of the table can be placed transversely) a little out of the horizontal
line, or at a small angle to the axis of the grinding drum, whenever it is
required to grind plates a little thicker on one edge than the other, which
should be done in all long saw blades, the thickest edge being for the tee:h
and the thinner for the back of the saw, in order that the saw, when in use,
may pass through any material with greater ease. The middle roller C* carries
the toothed wheels or pinions c, c, which take into the racks d, d, of the table,
and give it the required travelling motion. The roller C* receives its alternate
rofatory motion from either the one or the other of the bevelled toothed
wheels e, e, mounted on its axle, both wheels turning loosely thereon, and are,
either one or the other, clutched or locked thereto by the clutch piece f, which

page_text: slides readily along the shaft, but is made to revolve therewith by a key and
groove; g is the driving or spur wheel for giving motion to the bevelled wheels
e, and is mounted on a short shaft m, turning in proper bearings, and carrying a
rigger or pulley on its end, which receives rotatory motion by a band from the
first mover. The clutch piece ƒ may be readily shifted into or out of gear with
one or other of the wheels e as the table arrives at the end of its motion (by any
mechanical means); that shewn in the Drawings is the following:-The arms 1 of
the bent or bell crank lever 2 take into the groove of the clutch piece f, the other
end of this bent lever is connected to a rod 8, which is attached at its other end to
the top part of the upright lever or arm 4, on the rocking shaft 5, which turns
in à proper bearings, and carries at its reverse end the tappet arm 6. Upon the
side of the table are placed two adjustable tappets (not shewn in the Drawing),
which act upon the tappet lever arm 6, and by moving this arm from one side
to the other (as shewn by dots), cause the clutch piece f to be shifted from one
wheel e to the other at the end of each movement of the table, the clutch
being held in gear with either wheel by the tumbling weighted lever 7. The
distance which the table will travel one way or the other being determined by
the situation of its tappets, or by their sooner or later coming into action
upon the tappet lever 6. D* and D are the top or pressing rollers; the first
pair D are mounted in the frame or carriage E, which is capable of being
raised or lowered at pleasure, for the purpose of more readily applying fresh
plates or blades of metal, or removing those which have been ground or
polished. The pressure of these rollers upon the plates or surfaces under
operation is regulated by the weights at h; and in order that the rollers may
not touch the grinding drum, the frame E is held by a rod i, attached to the
carriage and framework. When it is desired to raise or lower the frame E,
the attendant turns the small winch handle j, on the end of the shaft k, around
which is coiled the chain or rope l, attached to the carriage E, the shaft k being
retained by a pall and ratchet wheel. The other rollers D are mounted in
bearings or brasses z, z, in a similar manner to the under rollers C, and are
pressed upon the plates or blades under operation to any required degree by
means of the weighted levers and rods f. f. G is the grinding or polishing
drum or cylinder or lap wheel, which may be formed of metal, supplied with
emery or other powder, and oil or water, as required, in any convenient
manner, or it may be formed of stone or other material, and covered or not
with any other substance, as required, either to grind or polish different
surfaces; it is mounted on the shaft or axis H. passing through carrier
bearings I, placed between guides in the grooves of the standards. Upon one
end of the shaft H is fixed the driving drum or rigger J, which receives its

page_text: rotatory motion by a band passed from the first mover. As the revolution of the
drum requires to be much more rapid than any other part of the machine, say,
about three hundred revolutions per minute, the drum or grinding cylinder is sup-
plied with different sized pullies or riggers to give different speeds thereto. The
adjustment of the grinding cylinder with the bed or surface under operation may
be regulated by any mechanical means; I prefer the screw or wedge, as being
the most safe and delicate in adjustment. The mechanical arrangement
shewn in the Drawings is as follows:-The bearings I are connected by
collars and stirrup pieces to the screws K, K, which pass through the female
screws L, L, fixed in the cross heads of the standards A. In order to turn
the screws K, K, simultaneously, they are each furnished with a screw
wheel M, M, into which are geared the two endless screws N, N, placed on
the shaft O, turning in bearings in brackets on the top of the screws K. The
shaft O being furnished with a small winch handle to give it revolution. The
traversing motion of the grinding drum or wheel before alluded to across the
bed of the machine, may be effected by the following means:-
s:-On the shaft m
of the driving wheel g is placed a rigger n, from which is passed a band giving
rotary motion to the pulley o on the shaft p, which is mounted, turning in
proper bearings. On the other end of this shaft is placed a crank arm'
or lever 9, with an adjustable crank pin r, attached to the connecting rods,
the other end of this rod being attached by a coupling piece t to the end of
the axis of the grinding drum or wheel, the coupling piece t embracing the
shaft in a groove at its end, and by the rotation of the crank the shaft H,
together with the drum, will be gradually and progressively moved across the
bed of the machine, and thereby the position of the actual grinding surface
constantly shifted across the surfaces or plates under operation as the work
goes on.
I will now proceed to describe the second of my improved arrangements
and constructions of machines or apparatus for grinding or polishing metal
surfaces shewn in Fig. 5, 6, and 7, of the accompanying Drawings, in which the
travelling bed or table for receiving the plates or surfaces to be ground or
polished is a revolving circular disc or table, furnished with proper means for
holding or retaining the surface to be ground, similar to the face chuck of a
lathe, and it may be placed either in a vertical or horizontal position; I prefer
the vertical, and will therefore accordingly describe it. This rotary bed or
able is set in motion by an arrangement of riggers and wheels, similar to the
head gear of a lathe, and is mounted in suitable framework, within which- and
opposite the face of the revolving table is placed a double V, or other shaped
bed, like that of a lathe, upon which bed is placed one, two, or more frames

page_text: or rests, carrying rotary grinding or polishing wheels or drums, having a tra-
versing motion given to them along their bed, whereby they are made to pass
across the face of the table, or to or from its centre, and consequently to move
over the surface of circular saws or other metal plates placed thereon; the
grinding rums being made to revolve with great rapidity, such revolving
grinding or polishing wheels being constructed so as to be capable of adjustment
in their situation as regards the distance they are from the table, and their
pressure upon the plates or surfaces under operation, and so that the one or
the other of them may be brought into operation as required. Fig. 5 is a
plan or horizontal view of the machine; Fig. 6 is a side or front elevation;
Fig. 7 is a cross or transverse section of the same. A, A, is the framework of
the machine; B is the revolving table, mounted on the end of the horizontal
shaft C, turning in proper bearings and furnished with the differential pulleys
and wheels like the head gear of a lathe, as shewn in the Drawings; D is a
double V or other shaped bed, its ends resting upon the framework A, and is
capable of being moved nearer to or further from the surface of the table by
means of the screw adjustments E, E, which are to be turned simultaneously;
the screws E carrying screw wheels upon their ends, which take into the
endless screws F, F, formed upon the shaft G, placed in bearings, and turned
by means of a winch handle on its end; II is a grinding wheel or drum mounted
on a shaft turning in bearings in the slide rest or carrier I, which is made
to travel to and fro along the bed by means of the leading screw K. The
grinding drum or wheel is made to revolve by a band passed from the first
mover over the pulley L; on its axis M is another drum or polishing wheel,
mounted and made to revolve in a similar manner to the drum or wheel II;
this drum may be used as a polishing wheel to complete the work after the
former has been in operation. The traversing motions of the carriers I, and
consequently the grinding or polishing drums or wheels, is obtained in the
following manner :-The leading screw K turns in suitable bearings within
the bed D, and carries at one end the bevilled wheel N, which is placed in
gcar with both the toothed wheels O, O, revolving loosely on the shaft P, but
locked thereto by means of the clutch piece Q, which is keyed on to the shaft
P, as in the former machine; this shaft receives its rotary motion by means of
the riggers or pulleys R, and bands passed from other pulleys S, on the shaft C
of the head gear of the revolving table; the clutch piece Q is shifted into or
out of gear with one or other of the wheels 0, 0, and the alternate traversing
motion of the drums obtained by means of the bent lever U, and rod W, upon
which is placed adjustable stops or tappets, as at X, X, against which the ends
of the rests I act when they arrive at the end of their movement, either one

page_text: way or the other, and thereby shift or change the clutch from one wheel to
the other and cause the drums to move in different directions.
IIaving now described the nature of my improvements, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would, in conclusion, remark, that the grinding
or polishing drums or wheels H or M may be moved nearer to or further
from the surface of the table and their requisite positions adjusted by other
means than shifting the bed D, which means will be readily suggested by any
practical engineer; also that I do not mean or intend to coufine myself to the
precise detail of arrangement or construction of the minor mechanical parts of
these machines, or their motions or movements, as shewn in the Drawings, as
the same may be varied without materially changing the nature or operations
of these machines or apparatus, or departing from their general arrangement
and construction, and that I claim as my Invention, secured to me by the
above in part recited Letters Patent, the arrangement and construction of ma-
chinery or apparatus for grinding and polishing metal surfaces hercin set forth
and described, consisting of the several necessary component parts, viz³, the
travelling beds or tables for receiving the plates or surfaces to be ground or
polished, together with the revolving lap wheels or grinding or polishing drums
or cylinders, having alternate traversing movements across or in front of the
said beds or tables, for the purpose of continually shifting the grinding surfaces
upon the metal plates or blades under operation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard March Hoe, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.
RICH M. (L.S.) HOE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twelfth day of December, in
the second year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said Richard
March Hoe came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein con-
tained and specified. in form above written. And also the instrument afore