IMPROVEMENTS IN FRET SAW MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard David Sanders at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1882.
RICHARD DAVID SANDERS, of Acton, in the county of Middlesex, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FRET SAW MACHINES
"
This invention relates to certain improvements in fret saw machines for cutting
ornamental designs.
In carrying out my invention the vibrating arms for holding the saw are firmly
fixed to a block working upon a fulcrum at one end of the table or platform upon
which the material to be cut is laid, in such a manner that one arm extends above
the table and the other arm below it.
The two said arms are inclined to each other at such an angle that the distance
between their respective ends to which the saw is attached is greater than the
length of the saw, but when the saw is in place the ends are sprung closer and by
their elasticity put the required tension upon the saw without any regulating
screws or tightening up bolts as commonly used in other machines.
The top arm above the table carries a revolving spindle projecting downwards
and the bottom arm below the table carries a revolving spindle projecting
upwards through a hole in the table when the saw is at the extremity of its
upward stroke.
The top spindle is provided with a screw socket or the like to receive a drill at
the bottom end and has a handle at the top end by which handle a rotary motion
can be given to the drill.
A handle is also attached to the bottom spindle, which handle serves the double
purpose of working the machine and also of turning the lower end of the saw in
any required direction.

page_text: The saw is provided with a knob at each end which being respectively inserted
into suitable notches in the top and bottom spindles hold the saw in place when
in tension.
It will be seen that the top spindle serves the double purpose of drilling holes
in the work and holding the saw in any required position whilst the bottom
spindle can also be turned in a corresponding angle and the saw thus made to cut
in any desired direction.
A stop on the underside of the table is provided for holding the bottom arm
whilst the top arm is pulled down for the insertion of the saw into the said notches
in the manner before described.
Lugs are fixed to the table by which the machine can be secured to any bench
or table as desired.
It is preferred to work the machine by hand but it can be worked by the foot or
any other available power.
E&W,
A wheel and crank may also be applied to impart a reciprocating motion to the
but on account of simplicity and delicacy in handling the saw and to obtain
the benefit of the full length of the saw in cutting it is preferred to work the
machine by hand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard David Sanders in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th May 1883.
RICHARD DAVID SANDERS of Acton in the county of Middlesex, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FRET SAW-MACHINES
"
This invention relates to certain improvements in fret saw machines for cutting
ornamental designs.
In carrying out my invention the vibrating arms for holding the saw are firmly
fixed to a block working upon a fulcrum at one end of the table or platform upon
which the material to be cut is laid in such a manner that one arm extends above
the table and the other arm below it.
The two said arms are inclined to each other at such an angle that the distanco
between their respective ends to which the saw is attached is greater than the
longth of the saw, but when the saw is in place the ends are sprung closor and by
their elasticity put the required tension upon the saw without any regulating
screws or tightening up bolts as commonly used in other machines.
The top arm above the table carries & revolving spindle projecting downwards
and the bottom arm below the table carries a revolving spindle projecting
upwards through a hole in the table when the saw is at the extremity of its
upward stroke
The top spindle is provided with a screw socket or the like to receive a drill at
the bottom end and has a handle at the top end by which handle a rotary motion
can be given to the drill.
A handle is also attached to the bottom spindle which handle serves the double
purpose of working the machine and also of turning the lower end of the saw in
any required direction.
The saw is provided with a knob at each end which being respectively inserted
into suitable notches in the top and bottom spindles hold the saw in place when in
tension.
It will be seen that the top spindle serves the double purpose of drilling holes
in the work and holding the saw in any required position whilst the bottom
spindle can also be turned in a corresponding angle and the saw thus made to cut
in any desired direction.
A stop on the underside of the table is provided for holding the bottom arm
whilst the top arm is pulled down for the insertion of the saw into the said notches
in the manner before described.
Lugs are fixed to the table by which the machine can be secured to any bench or.
table as desired.
It is preferred to work the machine by hand but it can be worked by the foot
or any other available power.
A wheel and crank may also be applied to impart a reciprocating motion to the
saw, but on account of simplicity and delicacy in handling the saw and to obtain
the benefit of the full length of the saw in cutting it is preferred to work the
machine by hand.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, is a plan and
figure 2, a side elevation of a fret saw machine constructed according to my
invention and with a saw applied thereto, the parts of the machine being in their

page_text: normal position or position of rest; figure 3, is a side elevation shewing the
position of the parts of the machine when the arms have been partially pulled
down in working the machine the saw working in the opposite direction to that
shewn in figure 2; figure 4 is a plan of the underside of the top arm; figure 5, is
a plan of the bottom arm; figure 6, is a section of a portion of the top arm
shewing a drill applied thereto; figure 7, is an edge view of the saw employed
with my improved machine. Similar letters in all the figures represent similar
parts.
a, and b, are the top and bottom vibrating arms respectively for holding the
saw c; d, is the block to which the arms a, and b, are firmly fixed or they may be
fixed thereto by screws so as to allow of their adjustment; e, is the fulcrum on
which the block d, works placed as shewn at one end of the table or platform fi
upon which the material g, to be cut is laid. The arms a, and b, are inclined to
each other as shewn in figure 2, at such an angle that the distance between their
ends to which the saw c, is attached is greater than the length of the saw but
when the saw is in place the ends are sprung closer and by their elasticity put the
required tension upon the saw without any regulating screws or tightening up
bolts as commonly used in other machines, the dotted lines in figure 2, shew the
position of the arm a, when no saw is placed between the arms a, and b, and the
arm a, is consequently out of tension, h, is the revolving spindle in the top arma,
and i, the revolving spindle in the bottom arm b, which latter spindle projects
upwards through a hole j, in the table f, when the saw is at the extremity of its
upward stroke as shewn in figure 2; k, is the screw socket in the top spindle h,
to receive a drill j¹, when required as shewn in figure 6; 1, is the handle of the
spindle h, for giving a rotary motion to the drill j¹; n, and o, are the knobs on the
upper and lower ends respectively of the saw c, which knobs are inserted in
the notches p, and q, in the top and bottom spindles and serve to hold the saw c,
in place when in tension; r, and 8, are spring catches taking into notches t, and u,
in the spindles h, and i, and serving to keep the saw in four different positions but
it will be evident that the number of notches may be varied; v, is the handle
attached to the bottom spindle and serving to work the machine and also to turn
the lower end of the saw in a corresponding angle to that of the upper end in the
arm a, and the saw may thus be made to cut in any desired direction; w, is the stop
on the underside of the table f, for holding the bottom arm b, whilst the top arm a,
is pulled down (from the position shewn in dotted lines figure 2) for the insertion
of the saw c, into the notches t, and u; x, x', are the lugs fixed to the table and
serving to secure the machine to any bench or table as desired by any suitable
means such as by screw clamps; y, is a spiral spring between the arms a, and b,
for assisting the upward movement of the arms in the upstroke.
To make use of the machine the work g, is placed on the table f, and brought
against the saw c, to which a reciprocating motion is communicated by moving
the handle v, up and down, the upward movement being assisted by the spring y.
It will be evident that the machine may be worked by the foot or other
available power and a fan may be adapted to the upper arm for blowing away the
sawdust.
Having thus described my said invention and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that what
I claim is
Firstly. The improved fret saw machine constructed arranged and operating
substantially in the manner berein before described and represented in the
accompanying drawing.
Secondly. In a fret saw machine the revolving spindles h, and i, having
notches p, and q, for receiving and holding the saw and provided with spring
catches, and 8, for setting and retaining the saw in different positions substantially
as herein before described and represented in the accompanying drawing
Thirdly. In a fret saw machine providing the upper spindle h, with a screw

page_text: socket k, for receiving a drill to allow of drilling holes by turning the said spindle
by means of the handle with which it is provided as herein before described.
Fourthly. Providing the ends of fret saws with knobs or enlargements as and
for the purpose herein before described and represented in figures 2, 3 and 7 of the
drawing annexed.
In Witness whereof I the said Richard David Sanders have hereto set my
hand and seal this twenty third day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
R. D. SANDERS (L.S.)