IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SPLITTING WOOD." MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SPLITTING WOOD
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Frederick Lackersteen, of Young Sircet,
Kensington, Civil Engineer, for the invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SPLITTING WOOD."
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SPLITTING WOOD."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Frederick Lacker-
steen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition..
on the 28th May 1858.
I, JAMES FREDERICK LACKERSTEEN, of Young Street, Kensington, Civil.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SPLITTING WOOD," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for cutting'
and splitting wood. For these purposes the pieces of wood are placed or fed
into a suitable rectangular frame. through which they are pressed at intervals
a quantity or distance equal to that which is to be cut or split off by the
passing knife. The ends of the rectangular frame are so formed as to admit
of a series of lancet or other suitably formed short cutters to pass and cut
into the wood to a depth somewhat greater than that which is to be cut or
split off at the next cut of one of the knives. The pieces of wood may be
fed through the rectangular frame in any suitable manner, but it is preferred
to use a pair of rollers, which acting on the ends of the pieces of wood, force
them forward at each movement a distance equal to that which is to be cut
[Price 8d.]

page_text: off. The form of the cutting or splitting knife used is a straight edge, which
is by preference set in an inclined direction, and I prefer to combine two such
knives back to back in the same holder or frame, and between such knives
I apply, as before stated, a series of short knives, which are set parallel to
each other, and at right angles to the plane of action of the cutting or
splitting knives in such manner that as one of the culting or splitting knives
is passing through the piece of wood which is presented beyond the rec-
tangular frame the short knives or cutters penetrate into the wood and cut to
a depth somewhat greater than that which is to be cut off by the other
cutting or splitting knife in the return motion, so that at each passage of the
cutter frame across the rectangular frame through which the wood is fed
there will be a quantity cut or split off, and the surface of the wood beyond
the cut will be cut in parallel lines longitudinally of the wood in preparation
for the next cut.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Frederick Lackerstéen in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
FREDERICK LACKERSTEEN, of Young Street, Kensington, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Frederick Lackersteen, Her special licence that 1. the said James
Frederick Lackersteen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as 1, the said James Frederick Lackersteen, my executors. adminis-
trators, and assigns. should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING AND SPLITTING
Wood," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Frederick
Lackersteen, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Frederick Lackersteen. do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for cutting
and splitting wood. For these purposes the pieces of wood are placed or fed
into a suitable rectangular frame. through which they are pressed at intervals
a quantity or distance equal to that which is to be cut or split. off by the
passing knife. The ends of the rectangular frame are so formed as to admit
of a series of lancet or other suitably formed short cutters to pass and cut
into the wood to a depth somewhat greater than that which is to be cut or
split off at the next cui of one of the knives. The pieces of wood may be
fed through the rectangular frame in any suitable manner, but it is preferred
to use a pair of rollers, which, acting on the ends of the pieces of wood. force
them forivard at each movement a distance equal to that which is to be cut
off. The form of the cutting or splitting knife used is a straight edge. which
is by preference set in an inclined direction, and I prefer to combine two such
knives back to back in the same holder or frame. and between such knives
I apply, as before stated. a series of short knives, which are set parallel to
each other, and at right angles to the plane of action of the cutting or splitting
knives, in such manner that as one of the cutting or splitting knives is passing
through the piece of wood which is presented beyond the rectangular fraine,
the short knives or cutters penetrate into the wood and cut to a depilli soine-
what. greater than that which is to be cut off by the other cutting or splitting
knife. in the return motion, so that at each passage of the cutter, frame across
the rectangular frame, through which the wood is fed, there will be a quantity
cut or split off, and the surface of the wood beyond the cut will be cut in
parallel lines longitudinally of the wood in preparation for the next cut?"
In order that my Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto anñesed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure represents a side elevation of the machine; Figure 2 is a. plan of
the same, shewing that this machine may be formed with two distinct working
sides; that is to say, a double or two distinct machines connected to the same
framing and sole plate, and worked by the same gearing. Figure 3 is a

page_text: vertical section of part of the machine, taken at the line 1. 1. Figures 1
and 2. Figure 4 represent different views of the knife employed to cut or
split the wood, drawn to a somewhat larger scale. 1. in Figure 4. shows the
knife formed in one piece. with the slots or openings f. 1. cut through it on
the back to carry a series of lancets or short ntlers to score or cut into the
wood previons to the wood being cut or sliced' by the cutting edges h, k, of
the knife, which cutting or slicing will be at right angles to the direction
of the scoring of the lancets, causing the wood to be cut into distinct sticks.
H. in the same Figure, shews that the knife may be formed of three distinct
pieces, so as more easily to replace either of the parts that may be damaged
in the working: and J. in the same Figure, shows a side or edge view of the
knife with the lancets L. L. attached to it. Fl and 1, in Figure 5, show
cross sections of the knives H and 1. in Figure 4: that at H shewing the
plan adopted to combine the three parts of the knife together: viz., the two
parts k, k. with the middle part carrying the lanceis by rabbit or lap joints
properly fitted, and made as effective in its working as the knife I. which is
formed in one piece. The dotted or red line. as shewn in the sections H
and T, in Figure 5, represents a piece of steel or iron let into the back of the
knife over the slots . . dovetailed and otherwise secured to prevent the
lancets from being forced back out of the knife when they are in the act of
scoring the wood. The lancets are driven in tight from the back of the knife
and so fitted to prevent them from falling out from the front of the knife. I
prefer making these lancets of cast steel. The knives may be made either of
cast or shear steel, or of steel and iron combined and properly tempered.
Figure 6 represents the frame or slide to which the knife with the lancets
are fixed, and worked by the crank and connecting rod, as shewn in the
elevation and plan in Figures 1 and 2. The frame or slide works in suitable
guides and bearings. see Figure 3, and has a backward and forward hori-
zontal motion. Figure 7 is a lancet drawn to a large scale, nearly full size.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of the rectangular frame or feed. box, in which
the wood is placed, and it is driven forwards at regular intervals by the action
of the rollers a, a, to be operated upon by the lancets and knife; it is drawn
somewhat to a larger scale, in order belter to show the openings or slots o, o,
in front of one of the vertical sides of the feed box, through which the lancets
in the knife are intended to pass freely in a horizontal direction during the
action of the knife frame or slide. The knife . and lancets L, L, in
Figure 8, are purposely placed a little distance from the front edge of the
feed box to show the position of the lancets with regard to the slots or
openings o, o.

page_text: The action of the machine is as follows:-The wood being previously cuf
or sawn transversely, that is, across the grain, into suitable lengths by circular
saws, or otherwise, is placed in the rectangular frame or feed box T, which it
is cut to fit as nearly as possible, so that the wood may be kept steady while
being operated upon by the lancets and knives. The wood is placed in the
feed box with the grain running longitudinally, and it is pressed or driven:
forwards at regular intervals by the action of the two vertical rollers a, a,
which are grooved or cut in ratchet fashion, so as better to act on the ends
of the wood. The rollers derive their motion from the worm D, fixed on the
crank shaft, and working into the worm wheel C. which gives motion to
the bevil wheels E, E, and consequently to the spur wheels b. b. attached
to the same spindles as the rollers. The worm D is so constructed as to give
two feed motions to the vertical rollers at each revolution of the crank shaft,
so that at each passage of the cutting knife across the feed box both back-
wards and forwards a quantity of wood will be cut or split off, and the surface
of the wood beyond the cut will at the same time be scored or divided in
parallel lines longitudinally of the wood by the lancets through the openings
or slots o, o, in the front edge of the feed box in preparation for the next feed
and the next cut of the knife.
In witness whereof, I, the said James. Frederick Lackersteen, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. PITT.
JAMES F. LACKERSTEEN. (L.S.)