Improvements in Machinery for Sawing Metal.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Sawing Metal.
We, ALEXANDER DOWNIE, of The Ashes House, Stanhope, Engineer, and Joux
ARMSTRONG SNOWDON, of Wolsingham, Engineer, both in the County of Durham,
do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to sawing machinery for cutting off the
runners and rising heads of iron or steel castings as for example projectiles, hoops for
guns, (both ends of which can be ent at one operation), for cutting off the crop ends
of forgings, or for cutting bars or other articles to length either while they are in a
hot state or when cold, but the invention is also applicable to cutting other metals
besides iron or steel.
For the purpose of cutting iron, steel or other metal while hot, we employ an
ordinary hot cutting saw to which we apply an apparatus consisting of a cradle like
receptacle, to carry the material to be cut, arranged to revolve in suitable bearings
mounted on a sliding table.
A portion of one end of this cradle is hinged and
contains a series of fixed or moveable teeth for holding the material firmly in the
cradle. The article to be cut is laid in the cradle and guided and adjusted into proper
position therein by stops or other suitable menus.
flien closed and secured so as to hold the article firmly in the cradle which is provided
The hinged part of the cradle is
with means whereby it can be rotated in its bearings along with the article contained
therein. The article is then moved, by means of the sliding table, against the
revolving saw, and is caused to rotate along with the cradle until eut nearly through
circumferentially by the saw, when it is withdrawn from the cradle and, if a hollow
article, such as a projectile for example, and the core spindle has been removed, a
blow from à hammer will sever the runner or head or other portion from the rest of
the casting.
When the material to be operated upon is of such a nature that it has to be cut
cold we employ an arrangement with two saw spindles placed parallel to each other.
Each of these spindles carries preferably a circular saw at each end, thus making two
pairs of saws. The two saws composing a pair revolve in the same plane, and with
their peripheries within a short distance, say / or of an inch of each other. The
material to be operated upon is placed in a cradle at right angles to a pair of the
saws. The cradle in this case does not revolve, but is secured on
vertical and horizonial motions effected by hand or self-acting mechanism. By
a table having
means of the horizontal motion of the table ilic material to be operated upon can be
moved at right angles to the plane of the saws to adjust the article so as to be cut
o the correct length by the saws, and by means of the vertical motion the material is
submitted to the action of the saws which cut one on each side leaving only a thin
cut portion between the two cuts, which portion is easily broken through by the
low of a hammer. If preferred, the material may be submitted to the action of a
ingle saw only; but by using two saws on one article the operation of sawing
ccupies only half the time as compared with one saw. By using two pairs of saws,
hat is a pair at each end of the spindles, each pair being furnished with the requisite
radle and vertically and horizontally moving table, one attendant can work both
airs of saws, as he can employ his time in removing an article that has been cut, and
placing and securing another at one side of the machine, while the saws at the
ther end of the machine are at the same time cutting off the end of another
rticle.
In some cases the machine above described with four saws may be provided with
revolving cradle and suitable table to each saw, which enables each saw to operate
a small article independently of the others.

page_text: By the above described duplex action, that is to say the simultaneous action or two
saws on one article, the time of the cutting operation is reduced by one half as
compared with a single saw cutting right through while the surface of the saw in
The saws may also be much smaller in
contact with the hot metal is much less.
Hollow castings can also be cut
diameter and require less power to drive them.
without cutting the core spindles and without the saws being injured by the action
of the sand composing the core.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Sawing Metal.
We, ALEXANDER DOWNIE, of the Ashes House, Stanhope, and Joux ARMSTRONG
SNOWDON, of Wolsingham, both in the County of Durham, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention, and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying four sheets of drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
This invention relates more especially to sawing machinery for cutting off the
runners and rising heads of iron or steel castings, as for example, projectiles, hoops
for guns, (both ends of which can be cut at one operation) for cutting the crop ends
of forgings, or for cutting bars or other articles to length, either while they are in a
hot state or when cold, but the invention is also applicable to cutting other metals
besides iron or steel.
For the purpose of cutting iron, steel or other metal while hot, we employ an
ordinary hot cutting saw to which we apply an apparatus consisting of a cradle-like
receptacle, to carry the material to be cut, arranged to revolve in suitable bearings
A portion of one end of this cradle is hinged and
mounted on a sliding table.
contains a series of fixed or moveable teeth for holding the material firmly in the
cradle. The article to be cut is laid in the cradle and guided and adjusted into
The hinged part of the
proper position therein by stops or other suitable means.
cradle is then closed and secured so as to hold the article firmly in the cradle, which
is provided with means whereby it can be rotated in its bearings along with the article
contained therein. The article is then moved, by means of the sliding table, against
the revolving saw, and is caused to rotate along with the cradle until nearly cut
through circumferentially by the saw, when it is withdrawn from the cradle and, if a
hollow article such as a projectile for example, and the core spindle has been removed.
a blow from a hammer will sever the runner or head, or other portion, from the rest
of the casting.
These arrangements are illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a front elevation, Figure 3 a plan, Figure 4
a sectional elevation of the rotating cradle with a projectile placed therein, and
Figure 5 is an end view of the said cradle.
A is the bed of a hot cutting saw of ordinary type. A are bearings mounted
upon the bed A. and adapted to carry the saw spindle A on which the saw A³ is
is mounted. The spindle A2 and saw A³ are driven by the belt pulley A, or they
may be driven by a steam or other engine connected directly with the spindle A
On the bed A is fitted a sliding table B adapted to travel towards or away from the
saw A3 and in some cases it may also be arranged to move parallel with the saw
spindle. It is moved by means of the screw B to which it is connected by the
nut B2 which is made in halves to allow of its being thrown out of gear with the screw
at the proper time in a manner well understood in connection with machine tools.
The table B, in its advance towards the saw A³, comes in contact with a stop B³ fixed

page_text: ou the rod „B³× pin-jointed to the lever B which acts on a clutch B and stops. the
action of the screw B by disconnecting the said clutch from the worm, wheel 16 which
is driven, by the worm B on the shaft B, to which motion is communicated, from
the saw. spindle A2 by the train of wheels B", 1", B3, B³. The cradle C is caused
to revolve, by means of the mitre wheel C fixed to the wheel B or to, the shaft
carrying, the same, the mitre wheel C fixed on the shaft C. the worm also
fixed on the same shaft and the worm, wheel. C" fixed on the end of the rotating
cradle C, and, although the advance of the table B is stopped, as above described, the
said cradle C continues to revolve, until it has made a complete revolution, when it
throws itself out of action by the stop C. which is adjustable in the dovetail
groove C on the cradle C, coming in contact with the finger CS fixed on the
rod pin-jointed to the lever C which disengages the clutch C¹³ at the same
moment that a pin C on the revolving cradle comes in contact with the
lever C and thereby throws the collapsing nut Be out of gear with the screw Band,
the cutting being now completed, the table B is immediately drawn back from the
saw either automatically by means of the balance weight C³, or by means of the foot
lever or treadle C, or the hand lever C². as the case may require. Referring to
Figure 4. Crepresents the part of the cradle fixed to the table B and in which the
open sided hollow mandril C revolves. The bearing C7 remains constant as shown.
but the upper part or keep of the bearing CS requires to be opened each time a
projectile or other article is inserted. The keep has a hinge-joint and is secured
at the front side by a self locking pin C acted on by a spring. The operation of
opening the keep CS at same time opens the mandril keep C (which is also hinged)
by means of the connecting bolt. C. A certain amount of clearance is given in the
hole of the keep C through which the bolt C" passes to allow for any difference that
may arise through the teeth CE formed in the inside of the bearing C" sinking more
or less deeply into the projectile or other article being operated upon. The teeth
marks, made by such sinking of the said teeth into a projectile, are removed when
turning out the groove for the driving band, C is the bolt for securing the
keep in the closed position and is made to swivel out of the way, so that
the nut never requires to be taken off but only to be slacked back.
of saws.
When the material to be operated upon is of such a nature that it has to be cut
cold, we employ an arrangement with two saw spindles placed parallel to each other.
Each of these spindles may carry a circular saw at each end, thus making two pairs
The two saws composing a pair revolve in the same plane, and with their
peripheries within a short distance, say or ½ of an inch of each other. The
material to be operated upon is placed in a cradle at right angles to a pair of the saws.
The cradle in this case does not revolve, but is secured on a table having vertical and
horizontal motions effected by hand or self-acting mechanism. By means of the
horizontal motion of the table the material to be operated upon can be moved at right
angles to the plane of the saws to adjust the article so as to be cut to the correct.
length by the saws, and by means of the vertical motion the material is submitted to
the action of the saws which cut one on each side, leaving only a thin uncut portion
between the two cuts: which portion is easily broken through by the blow of a
ammer. If preferred the material may be submitted to the action of a single saw
only, but by using two saws on one article, the operation of sawing occupies only half
he time as compared with one saw. By using two pairs of saws, that is a pair at each
nd of the spindles, each pair being furnished with the requisite cradle and vertically.
nd longitudinally moving table, one attendant can work both pairs of saws, as he can
mploy his time in removing an article that has been cut and in placing and
ecuring another at one side or end of the machine, while the saws at the other
ide or end of the machine are at the same time cutting off the end of another article.
This arrangement is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, Figure 6
eing a front, and Figure 7 a side elevation.
On an iron bed A are mounted two saddles or headstocks B B furnished with
pindles each carrying two saws C C and C C³ respectively, that is to say, four
ws in all: The said saddles or headstocks B B
2
with their spindles and saws, may

page_text: be traversed to and from each other on the bed A. by hand or self acting motions as
may be required either for the purpose of feeding the saws up to their work or for
adjusting them in relation to each other according to their diameters, or they may
be fixed in any desired position on the said bed, and they may be arranged to act
separately and independently of each other. They are shown arranged to cut off the 5
heads of projectiles DD' which are secured in cradles or rests E E which are them-
selves secured on the tables FF which are arranged to rise or fall on suitable
slides prepared on the sides of the table A, such rising and falling movements being
manner well understood in
effected by means of hand or self acting motions in a
connection with machine tools. In some cases each saw may have its own independent
table, and the saws may traverse while the tables remain stationary, or vice versa, as
may be preferred. The tables F and F are preferably furnished with slides having
both transverse and longitudinal movements effected byhand or self acting feedmotions
in the usual way.
The saws are driven by belt pulleys fixed on the shaft ( which carries two
worm wheels HH' secured
worms GG gearing with and giving motion to
respectively on the saw spindles I 1. One of the said worms. G₁ for example, gears
with and gives motion to the worm wheel J which has cast with it, or secured thereto.
two bevil wheels gearing respectively with other bevil wheels J³ J* fixed on the
shafts JJ which give motion to the cone pulleys K K' from which motion is trans-
If preferred
ferred by belts to the cone pulleys K K³ fixed on the shafts K K².
inotion can be transmitted from the shafts JJ to the shafts K4 K5 by means of
toothed gearing. The shafts KK carry worms (not shown in the drawings) which
gear with worm wheels K K', (carried by brackets such as that shown at L in
Figure 7 for example) forming nuts which work on screws such as that shown at M
in Figure for example for the purpose of raising and lowering the tables F F¹ in
a manner well understood. N N are handles for throwing the clutches 0 in and out
of gear with the pulleys K K for starting and stopping the feed gear for raising or
lowering the tables. The dotted circle D in Figure 7 shows the position of the
projectile D when it has been raised by the table and has been acted on by the
saws C² 0.
In some cases the machine above described, and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 with
four saws, may be provided with a revolving cradle such as that described in reference
to Figures 1 to 5. and with suitable tables to each saw, which enables each saw to
operate on a small article independently of the other.
Figures 8 to 11 inclusive illustrate a modification of the duplex arrangement last
above described adapted for use in cutting large ingots or heads of large castings or
other work, the two saws in this case being adapted to cut in either a vertical or
horizontal position. Figure 8 is an end elevation of the machine. Figure 11 a
sectional elevation taken on the line X X of Figure S. Figure 9 is a section at Y Y
of Figure S and Figure 10 a detail section.
a massive cross
The two saws A A¹ are mounted on saddles B B' working on
slide C carried by and fixed between a pair of fixed standards CC². On the ends
of the cross slide C trunnions are turned which fit into blocks adapted to slide
Into
up and down in the standards C, C as shown more clearly in Figure 10.
these sliding blocks are fitted nuts D D' through which pass screws E El carrying the
To the upper ends of these
slide C and giving thereto a self-acting motion.
screws E E are fixed the worm wheels FF into which gear the endless screws or
worms G G secured on the shaft (2 which is rotated by the toothed wheels GP GA
On the top of a vertical shaft is fixed a mitre wheel G which gears with a mitre
wheel G cast in one with the wheel G4, or otherwise secured thereto. The shaft
carries a clutch H₁ for the purpose of throwing the self-acting motion in or out of
gear at pleasure, a lever H. placed within easy reach of the attendant, being con
ected therewith for that purpose. A worm H³, arranged to slide on a featlier o
the said shaft H, gears with a worm wheel H which gives motion to the horizonta
This shaft I carries two mitr
shaft I carried by and turning in the cross slide C.
wheels I which slide on a feather in the said shaft and transmit motion to th

page_text: saw spindles 11 by means of the mitre wheels carried on the ends of the latter as
shown clearly in Figure 11. The said saw spindles are carried some distance beyond
the face of the slide C to enable the saws A A' to cut off greater lengths of
material.
The saddles B 13 carrying the saws can be moved to any part of the cross slide by
means of the screw J which can be rotated in either direction by the shaft I through
the intervention of the reversing clutch on the latter, consisting of two sliding bevil
wheels Je either of which can be made to gear by means of the lever J' with the bevil
pinion giving motion to the shaft which carries a
worm wheel fixed on the screw J, see Figure 9.
worm gearing with the
The saws can be fed by hand by
throwing both the bevil wheels put of gear with the pinion on shaft J by means of
the lever and by turning the said shaft by means of a suitable handle. Each saw
maybe operated independently of the other byclosing or opening either of the collapsing
muts by which each saddle B B is connected to or disconnected from the screw J,
and in some cases one saddle may be removed from the cross-slide C altogether to
permit of a wider cross cutting action of the saw belonging to the other saddle.
When required, the position of the saws may be changed from the vertical to the
horizontal by means of the worm wheel mounted on the cross-slide and the
worm K carried in bearings on the slide block in the standard C, or the change can
be more quickly effected by the motion of the machine itself by taking the work K
out of gear with the worm wheel K and securing the coupling K on the shaft I to
the cross slide C so that when the said shafi I is rotated it will carry the
cross-slide round with it and bring the saws A A' into the horizontal or any
other desired position when the cross slide is to be firmly secured by the bolts K³
and the coupling K' disconnected therefrom. When the saws are in the required
position, the work to be operated upon is placed on and carried by the table L
shown half front elevation in Figure 8, and sectional side elevation in Figure 11.
LELB L' constitute a train of gearing from the driving pulleys which
gives a self-acting feed motion to the table, which can however be stopped
at pleasure by means of a clutch connected with the wheel Land the feed
can then be effected by hand by means of the hand wheel IF. A portable table M. is
shown in half front elevation in Figure 8 and in side elevation in Figure 11, the
object of which is to increase the usefulness of the machine and to enable certain
classes of work to be done with the saws when in the vertical position as shown; the
work being fixed to the table, it is traversed to the required position for being acted
on by the saws, by means of the hand wheel M³, and the saws are then run quickly
down to the work by means of the vertical shaft N which is geared by bevil wheels N
to the horizontal shaft 1.
In the section of the standard C', shown in Figure 10, the bearing carrying the
eross slide C is shown tapered to provide for wear.
Figures 12 to 15 inelusive illustrate another modification of the duplex arrangement.
Figure 12 is a side elevation, Figure 18 a half front elevation, Figure 14 a plan and
Figure 15 a portable table to be placed in any position required to suit the work.
being operated upon.
It will be seen that in this arrangement there are two jibs employed upon each of
which a saw can be worked, an arrangement whereby comparatively thick material can
be cut with small saws, and the twisting action, that would ensue if only one jib and
one saw were used, is reduced. When required the saws can be worked at any angle
between the horizontal and vertical planes. One jib may be removed to suit cases
that may require it..
On a strong bed A is fitted the pillar B in such manner that it can be swung round to
any point in a circle described by the radius of the jibs or arms CD. by means of the
worm 1 and worm wheel B. One side B2 of the pillar B is faced to receive a cross
slide B on which the jibs C and D are mounted. These jibs can be adjusted laterally
by means of the slides D' and screws D which enable the jibs to be moved towards
one another to compensate for the reduction in diameter of the saws by wear and tear.
The jibs or radial arms are moved to the required angle by means of worms and worm

page_text: wheels C and D³. Cand are saddles sliding on the jibs CD and carrying the
saws. Motion is given to the saws by the belt pulley E on the spindle of which is
keyed the bevil wheel El gearing with another bevil wheel E driving the vertical
shaft which carries a bevil wheel F free to slide thereon by turning therewith by
means of a feather so as to enable the said bevil wheel F¹ to gear with and drive the
bevil wheel F at whatever height that it, with the jibs or radial arms CD, may be
placed. On the short shaft on which the gevil wheel F is secured, is fixed a worm F
gearing with and driving the worm wheel F which gives motion to the horizontal
shaft carrying the bevil wheels transmitting motion by the bevil wheels 11* to
the shafts J K which drive the spindles to which the saws are attached, by means of
bevil gear as shown. The outer ends of the shafts J and K carry pinions J K
gearing with the wheels J on the screws L M which pass through nuts fixed in the
Clutches D and C³,
saddles C² D thereby giving a self-acting feed to the saws.
operated by levers Dª, are placed on the shafts J and K respectively for the purpose
of enabling either saw to be stopped or started independently of the other. The saws
may be traversed by hand, instead of by the self-acting gear, by disengaging the
gearing connecting the shafts JK with the screws L M by means of clutches provided
for that purpose and then turning the said screws L M by hand.
pinion F giving motion, when
On the top of the vertical shaft F is secured a
required, to a train of wheels acting on the screw G passing through a nut G¹ fixed to
the cross-slide B³, whereby the latter, with the jibs or radial armus C and D thereon,
can be raised or lowered by power.
4
The jibs or radial arms C and D are connected together at their outer ends by a tie
rod or stay N.
By the above described duplex action, that is to say the simultaneous action of two
saws on one article, the time of the cutting operation is reduced by one half as
compared with a single saw cutting right through, while the surface of the saw in
contact with the metal is much less. The saws may also be much smaller in diameter
and require less power to drive them. By the aid of the revolving cradles above
described, hollow castings can be cut without cutting the core spindles and without
the saws being injured by the action of the sand composing the core.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First In machinery for sawing metal the use of a rotary cradle or holder for
holding and rotating the material or article while it is being operated upon by the
saw, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the
Drawings hereto annexed.
Second- machinery for sawing metal the combination, with two saws revolving
in the same plane and the spindles of which are placed parallel to each other, of a
plane
table carrying the material or article to be operated upon, and moving in a
parallel with that of the saws in such manner that the said material or article is
operated upon by both saws at once, substantially as herein before described, and
illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Third In machinery for sawing metal the use of two saws adapted to act simul
taneously one on each side of the piece of metal to be cut substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the Drawings hereto annexed.
1. f 1880