Improvements relating to Machines for Sawing Railway Rails:
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 4th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH ROBISON, of Greenbush, State of New
York, United States of America, Machinist.]
Improvements relating to Machines for Sawing Railway Rails: .
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relatos to that class of machines for sawing railway rails described
in the specification of Letters Patent No. 12,757 A.D. 1888 and dated September 4th.
According to the invention referred to, the saw, which is mounted in a swinging
frame, is operated by a cog-gear driven from a convenient source of power and
ntermeshing with apertures or perforations arranged at equal distances from each
other in a circle near the periphery of the saw.
The present invention consists, in the first place, in making the sides of the
apertures or perforations referred to, radial to the centre of rotation of the saw ;
and furthermore in providing the cog-gear intermeshing with the said apertures or
perforations, with involute teeth or cogs, and so mounting the cog-wheel within
he frame-work of the machine that its axis shall be radial to the centre of
he saw.
Dated this 4th day of July 1880
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant...
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Machines for Sawing Railway Rails.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to machines for sawing railway rails metal bars, pipes and
the like.
The machine as illustrated in the drawings is of that general type wherein the saw
which performs the cutting operation is provided near its periphery with a series of
holes or apertures equidistant from each other and from the centre of rotation, so as
to receive and intermesh with the driving teeth of cog-gearing driven from a suitable
source of power.
In such machine as heretofore constructed the holes or apertures referred to have
been elliptical or otherwise symmetrical in contour, and the cog-teeth entering the
ellipses have been of corresponding regularity and located in a plane at right angles
to the saw-blade. This construction is attended with the disadvantage that the entire
strain of the sawing operation is practically thrown upon a single tooth and at a single
point of the saw, and further, that the power exerted is not in the line of greatest
resistance but at an angle thereto considerations which weaken the machine and lessen
its effective action for a given power exerted. To obviate these defects, I have made
the sides of the saw-blade apertures radial to the centre of the saw and the inter-
meshing cog-teeth involute and have inclined the axis of the cog-wheel shaft, so as to
make it point to the centre of rotation, thereby distributing the strain upon the teeth
and saw and fully utilizing the transmitted power. Incident to these changes I have
also simplified the power-transmitting gearing and have strengthened and made more
Prins 71

page_text: compact the main frame-work, besides adapting the machine to be readily
transformed either into a power-machine for shop work or a hand-machine for outside
uses.
In the class of machines to which my invention belongs the saw-blade is mounted
in a movable or swinging frame connected by intermediate gearing with the power-
shaft, so that said frame and saw-blade may be swung or fed forward toward the work
as the cutting operation continues. The feed mechanism has heretofore been so
arranged as to make the feed constant and uniform for a given number of revolutions
of the power-shaft, the saw-blade when cutting material of varying thickness (as for
instance, a railway rail) being compelled to cut with the same rapidity through the
thickest portion as through the thinnest portion thereof. As a given source of power
to be used most economically should be drawn upon uniformly, these disproportionate
demands upon it are of great disadvantage. If the machine be driven by hand, the
operator becomes unduly fatigued in making the deepest part of the cut, the feed
being too fast, while on the other hand the work required in making the lighter parts
of the cut is not sufficient to employ his full powers, and the feed at that time is con-
sequently too slow. Where the machine is driven from an artificial source of power,
it is of course evident that the feed cannot at any time exceed in rapidity that admis-
sible in making the deepest part of the cut, and that in making the lighter cuts the
machine is not working up to its full capabilities.
My invention is designed to obviate the disadvantages referred to by employing
feed mechanism of such construction as to compensate automatically for the varying
thickness of the material operated upon, so that with a given source of power the saw
will be fed forward at a rate strictly proportionate to the work to be performed the
arrangement being such that the feed mechanism, set for a normal rate of progression
appropriate to the lesser depths of cut, will permit sufficient slip as the saw reaches
the deeper parts to enable it to pass through the latter more slowly and to again
automatically resume the normal speed thereafter.
My invention further relates to an improved construction of gripping jaws at the
base of the main frame-work, whereby the material to be cut may be held in place, or
if itself stationary may support the machine in position.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents in perspective my machine as adapted to operate by power.
Figure 2 represents also in perspective a view of the machine without power
attachment and adapted to be operated by hand.
Figure 3 represents, in side elevation and partial section, an enlarged view of the
feed mechanism.
Figuro 4 represents, in elevation, the improved form of the apertures whereby the
saw is driven, and
Figure 5 represents substantially graphically, the relative rate of feed in cutting,
with the machine as shown, through a railway rail.
Figure 6 represents on a larger scale a bottom plan view of a portion of the saw-
operating cog-wheel.
Figure 7 represents a side elevation of the entire machine.
Figure 8 represents a section taken on a plane indicated by the line 8, 8, of
Figure 7 and
Figure 9 represents a section taken on a plane indicated by the line 9, 9 of
Figure 7.
Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.
; The main frame of the machine consists of a stout standard or pedestal 1 of cast-
iron, suitably strengthened by ribs, as shown, and having a basal portion 2, provided
with screw holes whereby. the machine may be set up for shop use. At its middle
portion the pedestal is cast hollow for the reception of the body portion 3 of a
movable jaw 4 adapted to be operated by the vice-screw 39 and lever 5 so as to clamp
the object to be sawed between it and a fixed jaw formed by the shoulder 6 integral
with the pedestal. The vice-screw 39 passes through an internally-screw-threaded
block 40, held in place within the hollowed out portion of the pedestal in any con-

page_text: venient manner for instance, by the shoulder 41 and pin 42. By means of this
arrangement the machine can grip pieces of metal of various shapes and sizes, or may
be clamped to a stationary object, such as a track-rail or pipe-line, so as to be sustained
thereby while cutting through the same.
In the upper portion 7 of the pedestal is mounted an arbor or shaft 8 extending
outwardly on both sides of the pedestal and terminating in screw threaded ends as 9
Figures 1, 7 and 8 for the reception of the removable operating handles 10
Figure 2.
Upon a stationary, sleeve 43 which contains the bearings 44 for the shaft 8 is
mounted loosely a hollow sleeve 11, forming an oscillatory bearing for the swinging
frame which supports the saw 12. In the outer portion of the swinging frame is
mounted a revoluble gudgeon upon which are fixed the straight gear 13 inter-
meshing with a like gear 14 fixed upon the shaft 8 and a bevel gear 15. The
latter intermeshes with a crown-gear 16, fixed to the upper end of a shaft 17,
supported in bearings in a cross piece 18 forming a part of the swinging saw-
frame.
At the lower extremity of the shaft 17 is fixed the cog-wheel 19 having involute
teeth intermeshing with apertures or holes 20 near the periphery of the saw 12,
which is mounted to revolve freely in swinging frame, as shown. It will be noted
that the axis of the shaft 17 is in a direction pointing toward the centre of rotation
of the saw, and that the sides of the teeth 20 are likewise radial thereto. This
arrangement and construction in connection with the involute form of the teeth of
the driving-cog 19 enables the power to be applied to the driving of the saw with
the greatest advantage and with the minimum strain upon the material of the saw,
while the resistant strength of the teeth is greatly increased by their shape and
the manner in which they enter the apertures 20.
In Figures 1, 7 and 9 I have illustrated a simple and efficacious way of adapting the
hand-machine (shown in Figure 2) to be driven by power. In carrying out this part
of my invention I employ a two-part clip 21, provided with ears or lugs as shown,
whereby it may be bolted and clamped firmly upon the hollow sleeve 11 forming a
part of the swinging frame. Within the clip is contained a stud 22, upon which is
mounted loosely a sleeve 23 bearing the pulley 25, adapted to be fixed thereon and
the gear 24. The stud is excentric as shown so that by turning said stud in its
bearings within the clip the gear 24 may be made to mesh accurately with the
gear 14 upon the driving shaft 8, whereupon the stud is clamped against rotation by
means of the end nut 26 (see Figure 8).
I will now describe the means whereby the saw is fed forward toward the work as
the depth of the cut increases. Upon the inner end of the driving shaft 8 is fixed
the worm 27 mmeshing with a worm-gear 28 fixed upon the upper end of a vertical
shaft 29 mounted in a bearing 30 attached to the side of the main casting 1. A
worm 31 is formed on the lower end of the shaft 29 and meshes with a worm-gear 32
mounted loosely upon a horizontal shaft 33 revolving in bearings attached to the main
casting and having at its opposite end pinion 34 meshing with a quadrant 35 fastened
to the swinging saw-frame by a pin 45 or otherwise. As shown more fully in
Figure 3, the loosely mounted worm-gear 32 abuts against a collar 36, fixed upon the
shaft 33 by the pin 37. The worm-gear 32 has also a circular recess on its outer
face, within which circular recess fits a friction-disc 38, of leather rubber, or other
material. A metallic washer 39 is feathered upon the shaft 33, and outside of the
washer is mounted upon the threaded end of the shaft a nut 40, which by being
screwed up can be made to. exert a greater or less pressure against the washer 39 and
(through the friction-disc 38) against the worm-gear 32.
In Figures 1, 2, 7 and 9 of the drawings the vice-like base of the machine is shown
as clamping a pipe 46.
The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: The driving-shaft 8 during
the revolution of the saw 12 will transmit motion to the loose-worm-gear 32
through the intermediary of the worm 27, worm-gear 28, and worm 31. Driving-
connection between the worm-gear 32 and the shaft 33 is established wholly by the

page_text: friction devices at the end of said shaft. The nut 40 is screwed up, so as to exert
pressure against the washer 39 and friction-disc 38, and consequently against the
worm-gear 32, thereby establishing driving-connection between the pinion 32 and its
shaft. The degree of this pressure can manifestly be regulated at the will of the
operator. It is in general such that when the saw is making the lesser depths of cut
the resistance offered by the material to its forward feed and to the revolution of the
shaft 33 shall not be sufficient to affect the frictional connection between it and
the worm-gear 32, so that for the said lesser cuts the swinging frame and saw will be
fed forward toward the work at the normal speed due to the ratio of the gearing
between the worm 27 and the segment 35. When, however, the saw enters the
deeper portions of the cut, the shaft 33 meets with resistance, and the frictional con-
nection not being sufficient to overcome this resistance, the worm-gear 32 will slip,
thereby temporarily interrupting the revolution of the shaft 33. Consequently the
forward feed of the swinging frame and its saw will be proportionately interrupted,
although the saw's revolution remains constant. The saw will therefore progress more
slowly through the deeper portions of the cut.
In Figure 5 is roughly illustrated the manner in which the saw when hung in a
swinging frame will cut through a railway-rail of the ordinary kind. The distances
between the sectional lines in said figure indicate, respectively, the rapidity of feed of
the saw in passing through the varying thicknesses of the cut, beginning at the upper
left hand corner of the head of the rail. It will be noted that in the beginning the
feed is normal, but decreases as the distance through which the saw cuts increases,
until the head is cut through. In passing through the web of the rail the feed becomes
once more normal, decreasing again at the rail-foot, and once more increasing at the
basal flanges.
A suitable cup 47, having a dependent tube 48, provided with a regulating-cock,
as shown, may be employed to supply oil to the saw's periphery. It may conveniently
be connected to one of two check-pieces 49, 50, which serve the purpose of guiding
the saw at the point where it passes the cog-wheel 19, so that it may not be deflected
by the movement of the cog. These check-pieces are respectively on opposite sides
of the periphery of the saw, and are fastened to the swinging frame by means of a
bolt as indicated at 51.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw having peripheral
openings, of a cog-wheel meshing with said openings, the axis of the cog-wheel shaft
being directed to the centre of the saw and inclined to its plane, substantially as
described.
Second. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw having peripheral
openings of a cog-wheel meshing with said openings, the teeth of said cog-wheel being
involute, and the axis of the cog-wheel shaft being directed to the centre of the saw
and inclined to its plane, substantially as described.
Third: In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw having peripheral
openings, of a cog-wheel meshing with said openings, the teeth of said cog-wheel being
involute, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw having peripheral
openings whose sides are radial to the centre of the saw, of a cog-wheel meshing
with said openings, the teeth of said cog-wheel being involute, substantially as
described..
Fifth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw having peripheral
openings whose sides are radial to the centre of the saw, of a cog-wheel meshing with
said openings, the teeth of said cog-wheel being involute, and the axis of the cog-
wheel shaft being directed to the centre of the saw and inclined to its plane,
substantially as described.
Sixth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw having peripheral

page_text: openings and supported in a swinging frame, of a cog-wheel meshing with said
openings, the axis of the cog-wheel shaft being directed to the centre of the saw and
inclined to its plane, a crown-wheel upon the inner end of the said shaft, and bevel-
gear meshing with the crown wheel and geared to the driving-shaft of the machine,
substantially as described.
Seventh. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the main-frame and the
driving-shaft mounted in bearings therein, of the swinging saw-frame provided with
a hollow sleeve portion mounted upon the driving-shaft, a clip adapted to be clamped
to said hollow sleeve portion and containing a stud, a driving-pulley and cog mounted
to revolve upon the stud, and a cog mounted upon the driving-shaft and meshing with
the pulley-cog, substantially as described.
Eighth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the main frame, and the
driving-shaft mounted in bearings therein, of the swinging saw-frame, provided
with a hollow sleeve portion mounted upon the driving-shaft, a clip adapted to be
clamped to said hollow sleeve portion and containing a stud adjustable within the
clip, a driving-pulley and cog mounted to revolve upon the stud, but excentric
thereto, and a cog mounted upon the driving-shaft and meshing with the pulley-
cog, substantially as described.
Ninth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw, of power-transmitting
gearing such as hereinbefore described for rotating the saw, a movable frame within
which the saw is mounted, a feed shaft geared to the saw-frame, a gear mounted
loosely upon said feed-shaft and meshing with the power transmitting gearing, and
a friction grip for making frictional connection between the feed-shaft and said
gear, substantially as described.
Tenth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw, of power transmitting
gearing such as hereinbefore described for rotating the saw, a movable frame within
which the saw is mounted, a feed shaft geared to the saw-frame a gear 32, mounted
loosely upon the feed-shaft and meshing with the power-transmitting gearing, an
adjustable nut 40, mounted upon the end of the feed-shaft, and friction discs
between said nut and gear, substantially as described.
Eleventh. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw, of power trans-
mitting gearing such as hereinbefore described for rotating the saw, a swinging
frame within which the saw mounted, a rack connected to said swinging frame,
a feed-shaft having a fixed pinion meshing with the rack, and gearing connecting
the feed-shaft with the power transmitting mechanism, substantially as described.
Twelfth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw, of power transmitting
gearing such as hereinbefore described for rotating the saw, a swinging frame within
which the saw is mounted, a rack connected to said swinging frame, a feed-shaft
having a fixed pinion meshing with the rack, and friction-gearing connecting the
feed-shaft with the power-transmitting gearing substantially as described.
Thirteenth. In a sawing-machine, the combination, with the saw, of power trans-
mitting gearing such as hereinbefore described, for rotating the said saw, a worm 27
at the end of the driving shaft, a vertical shaft 29, having the gear 28, meshing with
said worm, and having the worm 31, a feed-shaft 33, having the loose gear 32,
meshing with the worm 31, and having the nut 40, and friction-discs 38, 39, and the
movable frame within which the saw is mounted, said frame being connected to the
rack 35, geared to the feed-shaft, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. As a new article of manufacture, a saw having peripheral openings
whose sides are radial to the centre of the saw, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of March 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.