Improvements in Machines for Dressing Stone.
Year: 1899

page_text: Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 24th June. 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Dressing Stone.
We, THOMAS ALEXANDER CURRIE, Foreman, and GEORGE EDWARD CURRIE
Contractor, both residing in the City of Detroit, Michigan, United States o
America, and doing business at 1250, Jefferson Avenue, in said city, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
5 performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
1
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stone-dressing
machines, and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter
fully set forth and pointed out particularly in the claims.
The objects of the invention are to provide simple and efficient means for
surfacing and dressing stone, in which the arrangement is such as to enable a
series of hammers or dressing tools to operate on different surfaces of the stone
at various angles; to provide for dressing the stone down to a given line; to
obviate the breaking or cracking of the stone by undue force or pressure from
the hammer or dressing-tool; and to provide for the rebound or recoil of the
hammer and the swinging of the hammer against the stone by its own momentum.
These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying
drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine, as on line 2-2
of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the hammers contain-
ing the blades or cuts which dress the surface of the stone.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section as on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Referring to the letters of reference, A designates the frame of the machine
which may be of any construction suitable for mounting the operative
mechanism.
Crossing the upper portion of the frame at one end and journaled in suitable
boxes b thereon, is the main shaft B carrying at one end the driving pulley B
which may be connected by a belt to any suitable source of power, or, if desired,
aid shaft may be driven by cranks attached directly thereto.
Mounted upon the shaft B is a series of eccentrics C which are adjustably secured
said shaft by means of set screws a passing through the hubs thereof. These
ccentrics are preferably set on the quarter with respect to one another so that
o two of the levers driven thereby operate in unison, but instead, all of the
vers will be moved in reciprocal succession.
Two of the eccentrics are connected through suitable eccentric straps with the
per horizontal connecting rods D which extend rearwardly and whose rear ends
e pivoted at d to the upper ends of the vertical levers E which are fulcrumed
e upon the transverse shaft F which is mounted in the frame.
The fulcrum e of said vertical levers is in a block H attached to each of said
vers through which the shaft F passes. Pivoted at fin said block is a handle I
on which the hammer is hung. The hammer consists of the onnosed plate.
D. 077
C

page_text: between which the handle I is secured by means of the transverse bolts g. The
rear ends of the side-plates G of the hammer are separated and held approximately
parallel by means of the interposed block J secured in place by the bolts /
passing therethrough and through said plates, while between the forward ends of
said plates are secured the cuts or tool-blades K by the bolts passing there-
through, whereby said cuts are removably held in place, enabling them to be
readily exchanged for coarser or finer cuts according to the character of the
work. The forination of hammer described and shown, leaves. an open slot L
between the hammer-handle I and the rear block J into which the end of the
lever E extends, permitting the hammer to swing upon the pivot f of its
handle to the limit of said slot in both directions, said hammer being arrested in
its forward movement by contact of the buffer of rubber or other resilient
material mounted upon the inner face of the block J with the edge of the
lever E, and in its backward movement said hammer is arrested by the handle I
thereof swinging against the opposite edge of said lever.
The hammers operated by the levers. just described are adapted to work
against the vertical face of the stone Mas. shown in Fig. 2, while the hammers
carried by the horizontal levers N are adapted to work upon the horizontal face
or edge of the stone, as also shown in. said figure. These levers N are pivoted
on a transverse shaft crossing the frame of the machine, there being a ful-
crumed block H¹ attached to each of said levers through which said shaft passes
and to which the handles I¹ of said hammers are pivoted, as at f'. The hammers
operated by the lever N are in every respect like the hammers operated by the
levers E and will need no separate description.
The movement of the levers N is effected through the medium of the connecting
rods P which are strapped to their respective eccentrics C, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the two sets of hammers are so set as to engage the
face and top of the stone, respectively, said stone being mounted on a suitable
carriage R so as to be passed before said hammers to cause them to operate
upon the surface of said stone, enabling the dressing and cutting of more than one
face of the stone at a time.
In the operation of this machine the stone to be dressed or cut is placed in
position upon the carriage so as to be properly operated upon by the hammers.
The shaft B is then driven through the medium of the pulley B', causing the
eccentrics thereon to actuate their respective connecting rods and impart a
vibratory movement to the levers E and N, thereby causing the hammers carried
by said levers to successively strike a blow upon the surface of the stone which
is moved slowly along under said hammers and is dressed as required.
The levers which operate the hammers, working against the vertical face of the
stone, are so actuated as to arrest their lower ends in their movement toward
the stone before the hammers have engaged the stone's surface, thereby causing
the hammers to swing, by the force of their own momentum, against the stone,
the end of the operating levers lying freely in the slot L of said hammers,
permitting this movement.
The hammer, swinging freely upon the pivot of its handle, after delivering
its blow, may rebound from the stone, obviating the chipping and possible crack-
ing of the stone as would result were the hammers driven with unyielding force
against the stone's surface to a given or definite line. The pivoting of the
hammer-handle in the manner described, and the providing of the slot in the
hammer to receive the end of the actuating lever, enables a blow to be struck
against the surface of the stone which resembles in force and character a blow
delivered by a hand-hammer.
Because of the fact that the forward movement of the hammers, or their move-
ment in the direction of the stone, is arrested by engagement of the buffer upon
the rear block J of said hammer with the edge of the lever, said hammers may

page_text: stone or enabling
a certain line, thereby insuring a perfect surfacing of
of the hammers. In like manner, the hammers, working upon the upper surf
to be cut down to any desired thickness by the operat
of the stone, are operated and controlled, the hammers dropping upon the surf
5 of the stone by the force of their own momentum and being free to rebou
therefrom.
10
By confining the operating levers in the slot between the opposed sides of t
hammers, said hammers are prevented from twisting or turning sidewise, and a
directed truly and perfectly to their work.
It will be understood that by moving the point of fulcrum of the operati
levers and changing the point of attachment of the connecting rods thereto, th
hammers may be made to work upon the corners of the stone as well as upo
the flat surfaces thereof.
The ends of the operating levers are provided with a series of apertures it
15 enable the connecting rods to be attached at different points thereto, whereb
the force of the blow delivered by the hammers may be regulated as desired.
While we have shown a series of eccentrics upon the main shaft for operating
the levers carrying the hammers, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the use o
eccentrics for this purpose, as it is evident that a series of cranks formed in said
0 shaft will accomplish the same result.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;--
1. In a machine for dressing stone, the combination of the reciprocatory lever,
the hammer pivoted thereto adapted to be actuated by and to move therewith but
having a limited movement independent of said lever.
2. In a machine for dressing stone, the combination of the reciprocatory arm,
the hammer having its handle pivoted to said arm, said hammer being adapted
to move with said arm and having movement independent thereof, and means for
restricting the movement of said hammer with respect to the movement of said
arm.
3. In a stone-dressing machine, the combination with a movable arm or support,
a hammer movably connected with said arm or support adapted to move therewith
but having movement independent thereof, and means for restricting the move-
ment of said hammer with respect to said arm or support in either direction of
its movement.
4. In a stone-dressing machine, the combination of the pivoted levers, the
driving shaft, connecting rods operated by said shaft attached to said levers, the
ammers carrying cuts or blades having their handles pivoted to said levers and
tanding approximately parallel thereto, said hammers having a slotted opening
n the head thereof, the free ends of said levers extending into said slotted
penings in said hammer-heads whereby said hammers are given a limited move-
ent independent of said levers.
5. In a stone-dressing machine, the combination of the reciprocatory arms or
vers, the hammers pivoted to said levers, means limiting the independent move-
ent of said hammers with respect to said levers, and means for varying the
ovement of said levers to regulate the blow of said hammers, substantially
set forth.
6. In a machine for dressing stone, the combination with the driving mechanism,
the reciprocatory arm or lever operated thereby, the hammer carrying the
rking cuts or blades having a handle pivoted to said lever, said hammer having
lotted opening in the head thereof, the free end of said lever extending into
opening of the hammer-head, and a buffer or cushion within said slotted
ning adapted to encounter said lever to arrest the movement of said hammer.
In a stone-dressing machine, the combination with the driving mechanism,
series of reciprocatory arms or levers, a series of hammers pivoted to said

page_text: levers adapted to move therewith and having a restricted movement independent
thereof, and means connecting said reciprocatory arms or levers with the driving
mechanism whereby said hammers are alternately caused to strike a blow upon
the surface of the stone.
Tutal 1 1
1000