IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GRINDING PIT, FRAME, CROSS-CUT, MILL, CARPENTERS', HAND, BACK, AND OTHER SAWS, AND OTHER. LIKE METAL SUR- PACES WHERE GREAT TRUTH AND ACCURACY IS REQUIRED
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Atkin, Edwin Atkin, and Alfred Amos Atkin,
trading under the Style or Firm of Atkin and Sons, of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Saw Manufacturers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GRINDING PIT, FRAME, CROSS-CUT, MILL,
CARPENTERS', HAND, BACK, AND OTHER SAWS, AND OTHER. LIKE METAL SUR-
PACES WHERE GREAT TRUTH AND ACCURACY IS REQUIRED."
Sealed the 8th June 1866, and dated the 13th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. George Atkin, Edwin Atkin,
and Alfred Amos Atkin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 18th December 1865.
We, GEORGE ATKIN, EDWIN ATKIN, and ALFRED AMOS ATKIN, trading under
the Style or Firm of Atkin and Sons, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Saw Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR GRINDING PIT, FRAME, CROSS-CUT, MILL, CAR-
PENTERS', HAND, BACK, AND OTHER SAWS, AND OTHER LIKE METAL SURFACES WHERE
GREAT TRUTH AND ACCURACY' IS REQUIRED," to be as follows (that is to say):-
Our improvements consist in mounting upon a substantial base frame an
ordinary grinding stone, say, from five to six feet at the commencement, with
a fast and loose pulley applied to the axis of the same for receiving a band

page_text: from a prime mover, which may be obtained from steam, water, or other
auxiliary power. In connection with the base or frame for the lower stone
I use two strong vertical standards, by preference of cast iron, planed and
fitted for receiving the attendant parts for carrying the top stone, the propor-
tions of which I prefer to be about one-third of the diameter of the lower,
but may be more or less as may be found most convenient. The axis of the
top stone is fitted to glands in connection with a carriage, which stone is
elevated or depressed according to the thickness of blade desired to be
ground. On each end of the axis of the top stone cog or frictional wheels are
placed, which's
gear into pinions working on the same carriage that supports
the top stone, and on the axis of the said pinions the driving and loose
pulleys are fixed for receiving motion by means of a band, also from the
first or primary mover. From side to side of the standards an axis or shaft
is placed in suitable carriages, having a worm formed at or about its middle
part, with. a bevilled wheel on each end, which gears into corresponding
bevilled wheels placed on the top of vertical screws, which passing through
Jugs formed on each side of the carriage that supports the top stone, and in
connection with the worm before referred to a worm wheel is applied, the axis
of which is brought sufficiently forward for the convenient use. of the operator.
In the front and parallel with the periphery of the top and bottom stone two
small guides rolls are placed for receiving the work and guiding it on to the
operation of the stones, and in like manner at the back two small guide rolls
are placed for receiving the saw or blade as it is being ground; and which have
an independent motion by being geared together and worked with a band and
pulley from, by preference, the driving motion that actuates the top stone; the
velocity of these rollers are slightly in advance of those placed in front of the
stones, so as to produce a drawing or pulling effect on the saw or blade being
ground. From this it will be seen that our arrangements are so constructed
for driving the lower or grinding stone at a high velocity, while the top stone
and back pulleys are made to work slow in order that the blade shall be
held and gradually passed through its length, while its lower surface is sub-
jected to the action of the face or periphery of the lower or grinding stone;.
the worm wheel being put in motion by the operator for the purpose of.
elevating or depressing the top stone at pleasure by the action of the vertical
screws before referred to, as we only purpose grinding one side at a time,
leaving it to the operator to so humour his work and the lower stone that if
he desires to grind his saw blades thinner on the back he may do so, whilst
on the lengthway great truth or parallelism will be obtained, and this too by

page_text: the use of medium skilled labour; with this mode of grinding saws the opera-
tor is not required to stand immediately over the stones, thereby preventing
the injurious and unhealthy condition of the workman as with the old or
common mode of grinding, and also attain great perfection with less cost of
production.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Atkin, Edwin Atkin, and Alfred Amos Atkin in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
ATKIN, EDWIN ATKIN, and ALFRED AMOS ATKIN, trading under the Style or
Firm of Atkin and Sons, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Saw
Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said George Atkin, Edwin Atkin, and Alfred Amos Atkin, Her
special license that we, the said George Atkin, Edwin Atkin, and Alfred
Amos Atkin, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said George Atkin, Edwin Atkin, and Alfred Amos Atkin,
our executors; administrators, or 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 GRINDING PIT, FRAME, CROSS-CUT, MILL, CARPENTERS', HAND,
BACK, AND OTHER SAWS, AND OTHER LIKE METAL SURFACES WHERE GREAT TRUTH
AND ACCURACY IS REQUIRED," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said George Atkin, Edwin Atkin, and Alfred Amos Atkin, by an instrument
in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal, or hands and
seals of either one or more of us, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Amos Atkin, do hereby declare
the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
Our improvements consist in mounting upon a substantial base an ordinary
grinding stone, say, from five to six feet at the commencement, with a fast
and loose pulley applied to the axis of the same for receiving a band from a
prime mover, which I may be obtained from steam, water, or other auxiliary or
convenient power. In connection with the base or support for the lower stone
we use two strong vertical standards, by preference of cast iron, planed and
fitted for receiving the attendant parts for carrying the top stone or roller,
the proportions of which we prefer to be about one-third of the diameter of
the lower or grinding stone, but may be more or less as may be found most
convenient from the.wearing away of the lower or grinding stone. The axis
of the top stone or roller is fitted to glands in connection with a carriage that
the said roll may be elevated or depressed according to the thickness of
blade desired to be ground. On each or one end of the axes of the top stone
(as may be desired) cog or frictional wheels are placed which gear into pinions
working on the same carriage that supports the top stone or roller, and on the
axis of the said pinions the driving and loose pulleys are fixed for receiving
motion by means of a band, also from the first or primary mover. From side
to side of the standards an axis or shaft is placed, for convenience at or near
the the top, in suitable carriages, having a worm wheel fixed or formed on it at
or about its middle part, with a bevilled wheel on each end, gearing into corre-
sponding bevilled wheels placed on the top of vertical screws or wormed shafts
which work through lugs formed on the outside of the brackets or carriages
that support the top stone or roller, and in connection with the worn wheel
before referred to a worm is applied, the axis of which is elongated and sup-
ported in brackets or arms, the axis extending sufficiently forward for the
convenient use of the operator, that by means of a small wheel or handle he
may elevate or depress the top roll. In the front and parallel with the meeting
of the periphery of the top roller and bottom stone two small guide rolls are
placed, mounted in suitable brackets for receiving the work and guiding it on
to the operation of the stones, and in like manner at the back of our improved
machine or apparatus two small guide rolls are mounted in two other arms of
the said brackets for receiving the saw blade or other metal surface as it is
being ground, and which roll or rolls have an independent motion by being
geared together and the upper roll prolonged and worked with a band and

page_text: pulley from (by preference) the driving motion that actuates the top stone or
roller; the velocity of these rollers are slightly in advance of those placed in
front of the stones before referred to, so as to produce a drawing or pulling
effect on the saw blade or other work that is being ground. From this it will
be seen that our arrangements or appliances are so constructed for driving the
lower or grinding stone at a high velocity, while the feed rolls, top stone, or
roller, as also the back delivery rolls, are worked slow in order that the blade
or other work shall be held and gradually passed through its length, while its
lower surface is subjected to the action of the face or periphery of the lower
or grinding stone, the worm wheel being put in motion with all its attendant
parts by the operator for the purpose of elevating or depressing the top stone
or roller at pleasure by the action of the vertical screws or wormed shafts
before referred to, as we only purpose grinding one side at a time, leaving it
to the operator to so humour his work and the lower stone that if he desires'
to grind his saw blades or other work thinner on the back or other parts he
may do so, whilst on the lengthway great truth and paralellism will be
obtained, and this too by the use of meditim skilled labour, while the operator
is entirely protected from the unhealthy effect and consequences usually
attendant on metallic grinding.
But in order that we may be fully comprehended and understood as to the
true nature and character of our Invention we will proceed to describe the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and will observe that in order to simplify the
description we have lettered the several parts as they appear in their respective
views in the Drawings with the same letters of reference, that is to say :-
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents in a top view our Invention as arranged and set up on
a substantial base, such as the wood housing A, A, and B, B, resting on solid
brickwork or masonry below the ground or floor line; Figures 2 and 8 are
-side and front elevations of the same. C and C are two strong standards,
which we prefer forming, as here shown, of cast iron, resting on forged or cast
plates, best shown at Figures 1 and 2, marked D, D, which is secured to the
sills and masonry by strong holding-down pins, partly shewn in dotted lines,
the standards c, c', being also held down by strong pins passing through the
sills and plate D, and through a flange, marked E, E, cast or formed with the
standards C and C¹; the plates D also carry and support the bearings and
glands that the axis G of the grinding stone F works in; which grindstone is
set up with collars a and b and set screw c on its axis, as here shown, for the

page_text: i
purpose of holding' and retaining the stone steady and secure in position; and
on the same axis G we apply the fast and loose pulleys H and I, by which we
purpose imparting motion to the grinding stone only by any convenient or
suitable power.
The top ends of the standards are connected by a metal
cross head, represented in Figures 3, and appropriated as a name plate; on the
outside of the standards at the top ends lugs or projections are formed for.
supporting and holding the two vertical screws or wormed shafts J, J; and
which screws are attached to bevilled wheels at the top for gearing with cor-.
responding bevilled wheels working on the axis K, which work through.
brackets secured to the top of the standards and marked e, e; this axis K
can be put in motion by the cross handle L, or by the worm fastened on the
axis f, which is supported at the top or back end of the bracket g secured to,
the back of the cross head, likewise by the bracket & secured to the front of
the cross head or name plate, and on the front or lower end of the worm axis f
a worm wheel handle is secured marked i for carrying the small or attendant
handle j, the use of which will be herein-after described with its indispensable.
and important effect. On the front side of the two standards C and C¹ slots are,
formed, which act as guideways for two brackets M, M, having lugs formed:
on their outer sides marked k, through which the vertical screws J, J, work,,
attached to or, what we prefer, formed with the brackets M. We have con-
structed the carriages N, N, with glands for supporting the axis O of the.
roller P, and which roller (as the stone below) is set up with collars 1, 1, and
set screw m, and on the axis that supports the roller P we apply, in
preference to a toothed spur wheel, a grooved friction wheel marked Q, which
gears with the corresponding grooved pinion R, which is secured to the
axis S, S, that carries the cone or speed pulley T, the frictional contact being
regulated by an elastic packing beneath the glands marked V, V. This mode
of gearing and communicating motion, wether applied on both sides or only
on one as here shown, we prefer to toothed or cog wheels, as the continuous
and regular contact of their peripheries ensures a perfect uniformity of
pressure, and consequently prevents the pulsating motion arising from the
backlash by the use of cog wheels, which latter motion imparts to the work
a minute wavy or chequered surface by the uncertain pressure of the top
roll on the work applied between it and the acting grinding surface of the
stone beneath it.
To the brackets M additional brackets are applied by means of set screws y
for general adjustment; these brackets are marked n, o, and p, q, and their utility
consists in supporting and carrying the feed and delivery rolls marked respec-

page_text: tively r, r, and s, s, which are mounted in suitable carriages fixed to arms pro-
jecting from the said brackets, one of the front arms being. seen at o, Fig. 2;
on the axis of the upper feed roll a wheel handle is attached for imparting a
lead motion to these rolls, shown in the Drawings marked t, and although it
is here represented marked with that letter as placed on the left-hand side,
still it may be also on the right hand, or both, if so preferred. The
delivery rolls are actuated in a different manner; these rolls derive their
action from one of their axes extending beyond the standard, as at U, for
receiving a pulley, over which a band may be passed to connect it with a
corresponding pulley secured to the axis S. Thus the motion of these rolls
is continuous and regular; and it may be remarked that their speed of tra-
velling is in excess of the front or feed rolls, which excess produces a drawing
or pulling effect upon the blade or other metal surface which is passing
through or over the grinding surface of the stone, and which is thus delivered
and received by an attendant or allowed to fall on a receiver placed there. for
that purpose, as will be seen on referring to the Drawings; these rolls, together.
with the front rolls, are capable of very nice lateral adjustment by means of
the set pins v, v,.and w, w.
We will here explain that as the surface of the stone wears away it becomes
essentially important that means should be provided whereby the top:roll,
together with the feed and receiving rolls and all their attendant parts, might
be set up in such a way as to meet this consequence; hence the important use
of the side slots or guideways in the standards for carrying the sliding side
brackets M and N, as also the arrangement which is shewn in the Drawings
marked for adjustment and regulation, which is effected by putting in motion
the worm spindle ƒ by the handle j or wheel i, the worm gearing into a
worm wheel secured to the axis K, and causing the bevil wheels on each end
to act on the corresponding bevil wheels on the top ends of the vertical
screws J, which working simultaneously through the lugs attached to the
sliding brackets M, marked k, cause them to rise, or fall according to the
gradual wear of the stone or the thickness of the blade or metal that is being.
ground; thus by this arrangement, the top roll with its attendant wheel,
driving pinion, cone pulley, and feeding and receiving rolls are,elevated or
depressed simultaneously at will and as desired; and as uniformity of speed:
of the grinding, surface of the lower stone is desirable, we recommend the use
of graduated smaller fast and loose pulleys for actuating the same.according
to the wear of the stone, a mode generally adopted and..commonly. practised.
by grinders with the ordinary.. grindstone.

page_text: By preference we use a roll, as marked P in the Drawing (which is
drawn to a scale of 1 inch to a foot), of from 25 to 30 inches in diameter,
and to revolve at the rate of from 3 to 9 revolutions per minute, but which
may be regulated by additional speed on the cone pulley T. The grindstone
of the diameter shown, which would be, say, 6 feet, we recommend to be
driven at the rate of from 160 to 180 revolutions per minute, and it is for
the maintenance of this velocity of the grinding surface that we recom-
mend, as the stone diminishes from use, that smaller driving pulleys be
substituted.
At Figure 1 we have omitted to show the "horse" or protection from the
splashing action of the stone, as well as to protect the operator in case of the
stone breaking, but which protection, commonly termed the "horse," we have
shown in Figure 2, marked W, confined by strong chains to side hooks, but
which of course may be otherwise fashioned.
The dotted perpendicular line marked X, X, indicates the position of the
operator, and as the stone and the top roll move in the direction of the arrows,
it will be evident that the fine particles of metal and grit that flies off during
the operation of grinding are taken from the operator, so that the use of our
improve apparatus will be found as healthly to the attendant as any other
employment; nor is it essential that skilled labour should be employed, as it
an important element in our Invention that the truth, regularity, and
ubormity of the work is ensured by the arrangement, and not subject to the
caprice of the operator, who has simply to apply the work between the feed
rolls, and by thus moderately continuing his labour more work will be done
from this apparatus without fatigue, of a highly superior kind, than could be.
effected by four skilful workmen adopting the ordinary mode of grinding.
Having thus given a general description of our Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be carried into effect, it will be obvious to any skilled
machinist or engineer that the same may be effected with considerable modi-
fication of the parts and the arrangements here shown without departing
from the spirit of our Invention, as, for instance, the friction gearing may be
applied on both sides, and made wider on the face, or the facial contact may
be regulated as to render its application only necessary on one side, as here
shown; but what we claim as of our Invention, and desire to protect by these
our in part recited Letters Patent, is the general arrangement, as herein
described and exhibited, or its equivalent, for grinding the blades of pit, frame,
cross-cut, mill, carpenters', hand, back, and other saws of a parallel, taper, or
rectangular form (in contradistinction to circular saws), and other like metal

page_text: surfaces, whereby we are enabled to ensure great accuracy and truthfulness of
surface, and to economise the cost of production.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Amos Atkin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
ALFRED AMOS ATKIN. (L.S.)