IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR CHOPPING AND SPLITTING WOOD AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Holmes, of Malvern Lodge, St. James, New
Cross, in the County of Kent, and Richard James Harris Saunders, of Ventnor,
Isle of Wight, County of Hampshire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR CHOPPING AND SPLITTING WOOD
AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES.”
Sealed the 29th March 1878, and dated the 1st October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Holmes and
Richard James Harris Saunders at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 1st October 1877.
FREDERICK HOLMES, of Malvern Lodge, St. James, New Cross, in the County of
Kent, and RICHARD JAMES HARRIS SAUNDERS, of Ventnor, Isle of Wight, County
of Hampshire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR
CHOPPING AND SPLITTING WOOD AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the working and construction
of chopping or splitting machinery, whereby each separate block to be split receives
two or more distinct blows, the one being delivered moreover at right angles with
the other, and consists chiefly of a bed plate or trough, marked E on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, into which the blocks I to be split are fed either by hand
or otherwise, and two or more chopping knives A, B, working in suitable guide
frames C, D, arranged, as shewn, at right angles with one another; also a cross feed
or slide F, by means of which the slices K, K, or first choppings are pushed under
the second chopping knife B. These chopping knives A, B, may be driven direct
by a crank and connecting rod either from above or below. We also provide, where
necessary, spring guides for the blocks or slices, feed rollers, and a support for the
slices issuing from the first knife A; A, B, are the chopping knives; C, D, guide
frames for knives A, B; E, bed plate or trough; F, the cross feed or sliding piece
driven from below by a cam and lever; and G, G, the feed rollers; H, support for
first choppings K, K; I, I, the blocks; K, K, slices or first choppings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Holmes and Richard James Harris Saunders in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 30th March 1878.
FREDERICK HOLMES, of Malvern Lodge, St. James, New Cross, in the County of
Kent, and RICHARD JAMES HARRIS SAUNDERS, of Ventnor, Isle of Wight, County
of Hampshire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR
CHOPPING AND SPLITTING WOOD AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the working and construction
of chopping or splitting machinery, whereby much greater accuracy and economy in
working is secured than hitherto.
In carrying out our Invention we construct a T shaped bed or trough of suitable
dimensions for the blocks to be split, and over two arms or portions of the same we
arrange the chopping knives to work, suitable guide frames or standards being
secured on either side of the bed for this purpose. These standards moreover serve
to carry the crank shafts above by which the chopping knives are worked. By this
arrangement the chopping knives are caused to work at right angles to one another,
and thus operate upon the blocks in an opposite or cross direction to each other; also,
at one end of the bed or trough, and immediately in front of the first knife, we
arrange two or more feed rollers, to which motion is imparted from the crank shaft
above by means of a cam and lever operating upon a ratchet or friction wheel
secured on to the end of the roller spindle. These feed rollers receive and carry
forward the blocks to be split under the first chopping knife. We also construct
within the third or remaining portion of the bed or trough a sliding ram or plunger,
actuated by means of a lever and counterweight, the said counterweight being
raised and released by the action of a cam seeured upon the shaft above. By means
of this sliding ram or plunger the slices or choppings issuing from the first knife
are driven under or between similar feed rollers working directly in front of the
second chopping knife, and by which they are carried on to or under the said
knife.
In addition to the above we also provide a suitable spring fence, or the same may
be actuated by means of a counterweight arranged so as to bear against and support
the slices or choppings issuing from the first knife or chopper, until the requisite
number having been cut they are driven by the ram or plunger under the feed
rollers, as above-described. The chopping knives may be driven from either above
or below by a crank and connecting rod in the usual manner, whilst the relative
number of blows or choppings may be regulated by suitable gearing in the ordinary
manner.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood, we will now proceed to
describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, similar letters having reference to
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 illustrates a front elevation of a machine embodying our Invention; Fig. 2
is an end view of the same.
Fig. 3 represents a plan of the above.
A is the bed or trough; B, C, the chopping knives; D, D, standards or guides for
same; E, E, crank shafts; F, sliding ram or plunger; G, feed rollers for first knife
B; H, do. do. for second knife C; I, cam for working feed G ; K, cam for lifting
counterweight P; L, toothed quadrant; M, rack gearing with same, and secured on
to under side of plunger F; N, spring fence; 0, friction roller; P, counterweight;
Q, tappet action; R, blocks; S, slices.
The action is as follows:-The machinery having been started, the blocks R to be
split are fed either by hand or otherwise between the feed rollers G, by which they
are driven under the first chopping knife B, whence they issue in the form of slices
S. Immediately behind this first chopping knife is a spring fence N, which receives
and bears back the said slices until a certain number having issued, the counter-
weight P below is released by the cam K, and the sliding ram or plunger F driven

page_text: forward. By this means the slices S are driven in a cross direction and under the
feed rollers Himmediately in front of the second chopping knife C, by which they
are at once reduced to sticks or splints, as required. In noving forward, the sliding
ram or plunger F operates upon a cam or tappet Q in such a manner as to cause the
outer feed roller H' to be raised slightly, and so facilitate the entrance of the slices S.
The counterweight P having in the ineantime been raised by the cam K, and the
plunger F brought back to its normal position, the operation is repeated.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, we desire it to be understood that
we do not confine ourselves to the precise details above given, as the same may be
varied whilst retaining the essential features of our Invention, but what we do claim
as secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The arrangement and combination of the chopping knives, as described.
Secondly. The sliding ram or plunger in combination with the feed rollers,
actuated in the manner shown and described.
Thirdly. The whole constructed and adapted to operate substantially in the manner
and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Holmes and Richard James Harris
Saunders, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of
March, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.