IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, GRINDING, AND FINISHING MARBLE AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brookes, of 62, Chancery Lane, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, GRINDING, AND
FINISHING MARBLE AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS."A communication
from abroad by James W. Maloy, of Boston; in the County of Suffolk,
and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 12th February 1867, and dated the 15th August 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Brookes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
August 1866..
I, WILLIAM BROOKES, of 62, Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, GRINDING,
AND FINISHING MARBLE AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS," (a communication) to
be as follows:-
The improvements are represented in the accompanying Plate of Drawings,
of which Figure 1 is a top view, Figure 2 a side elevation, Figure 3 a frout
elevation, and Figure 4 a central vertical transverse section, of the improved
machine. Figures 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, are detail views of the several implements
used on the said machine for cutting, grinding, and polishing the marble or
other similar materials.

page_text: The Invention has for its object the cutting and finishing of the edges of
slabs of marble and other similar materials by machinery in lieu of the mode of
hand labor ordinarily heretofore practised, the results obtained being economy
in the manufacture and a nearer approach to perfection in the work produced.
The following description of the construction and operation of the machinery
for working slabs of marble or other similar material will explain its essential
features:-
a, a, a, in the Drawings represent the framework of the machine; b, b, is
a vertical shaft supported by and turning in standards c, c, and d, d. The
shaft b, b, is actuated by a belt on the drum e, e, and has on its upper end a
bevel gear f, f, which engages with two other similar gears 9, 9, and h, h,
attached to and operating a horizontal shaft i, i, which turns in and is sup-
ported by brackets k, k. On the ends of the shaft i, i, are formed worms
1, 1, which engage with gears m, m, connected with and operating screw
shafts n, n, placed at right angles to the shaft i, i, and which turn in and are
'supported by bearings formed by the sides of the frame a, a. On the shaft i, i,
between the gears 9, 9, and h, h, is a clutch o, o, having teeth p, p, formed on
its ends; this clutch o, o, is allowed to play laterally either way on the shaft i, i,
so as to engage with or be disengaged from either or both of the gears 9, 9,
and h, h, for the purpose of reversing or stopping the motion of the shaft i, i.
The clutch o, o, is operated by means of rods q, q, attached to a plate r, r,
formed with slots 8, 8, which play backwards and forwards over pivots t; t: To
the bottom of the plate r, r, is attached an arm u, u, which works in a groove v
formed in the centre of the clutch o, o. x, x, are travelling tables or plat-
forms, so constructed as to travel transversely upon or longitudinally with
under tables or platforms y, y, on suitable ways z, z, and a¹, a', attached
respectively to the platforms y, y, and frames 61, 61. The lateral return move-
ments of the upper tables or platforms x, x, and the marble or other material
carried thereby, is induced by spiral springs c', c', attached to both ends of the
tables x, x, and y, y. The upper tables a, a, are connected with and held to
the lower tables y, y, by the guides or ways 2, 2, and both are fed along
laterally by means of half screw nuts d', d', engaging with the screw shafts n, n.
The screw nuts d', d, play on pivots e, e', supported by bearings f¹, f, formed
on plates g', g', which are attached to the under sides of the lower tables or
platforms y, y, and are made to be engaged with or disengaged from the screw
shafts n, n, by means of cams h¹, h¹, that can be brought to bear against or
be loosened from the sides of the screw nuts d', d'; the said cams h', h', are
connected to rods i', which pass through and find a bearing or support in
the lower portion of the screw nuts d', d', and are operated by handles k¹, k',

page_text: attached to the opposite ends of the rods, . Springs P, P, are formed on the
pivots, e, between the upper portions of the screw nuts d, d, for the
purpose of throwing apart the separate sections of the screw nuts d', d', when
the cams h¹, h¹, are loosened therefrom.. Attached to cross bars m', m', are
boxes: n', n', which form bearings for screw nuts o¹, o¹, which engage with
and operate vertical screw shafts q', q', in such a manner as to raise and lower
but not to revolve them, the rotation of the screw shafts q', q', being prevented
by dogs, r, that engage with slots s', s, formed in the circumferences of the
shafts q, q. The tops of the screw shafts 9', q', form steps or seats, upon
which rest the bottoms of vertical shafts or spindles t', t', having dogs u', u',
which revolve in-and yet are held by slots v', ', in the clamps w¹, w', on the
tops of the screw shafts q', q'. The shafts t¹, t, are rotated by belts on the
drums a, a, and are raised or lowered for the purpose of adjustment according
as the shafts q', q', are elevated or depressed by the operation of the screw
nuts o', o'; these shafts or spindles t¹, t, extend up through the top of the.
table
a, a, and screw threads are cut on their ends to receive and hold either
of the implements y', y', z¹, z¹, or a", a", used for preparing and finishing the
mable 6, 6. y', y', (Figures 1 and 5) represent the implement used for
cutting the marble or other similar material of any peculiar form of moulding.
The teeth being made of the desired shape, and independently of each other,
are held in place upon the shafts t¹, t¹, by washers c", cl, and d", "d", placed
above and below the cutters y', y', and nuts e", e", which screw down upon
the upper washers c¹¹, c; cutters y', y',. (Figure 6) formed in a single.
piece of any desired shape can also be used. ¹, 2, (Figures 8 and 9) repre-
sent an implement used in sanding and rubbing or grinding the marble or
other similar material, and is screwed on the shaft t, t, and held by a nut and
washer. a, a, (Figure 10) is a polisher or buffer of felt or other suitable
material, made to fit on and revolve with the shafts t¹, t¹, for the purpose of
polishing and finishing the marble or other similar material after being cut
and sanded or rubbed by the implements y'; y', and ', ¹. The instrument >¹, *',
is formed hollow, as shewn in Figure 8, to receive the sand or other material
used in rubbing, which is made to pass out through apertures formed
its
bottom which extend in an inclined direction through the outer periphery of
the lower portion of the tool z, ¹, which is formed of the required shape of
the moulding, and made to screw on the upper portion of the tool z', z¹. A
pivot g, g, is attached to the centre of the table a, a, upon which an arm
h", h" is made to turn or be raised or lowered thereon, and is securely held
in any desired position by. means of a screw working in the end of the arni
h", h; on the other end of the arm h, h, at right angles with the same

page_text: f¹¹.
are prongs k", ", which fit into the box 21, 21, for the purpose of preventing
the sand or other substance employed from flying out, and also to press it
through the apertures f", ". The tops of the upper platforms x, x, are
formed with grooves ; ", and m", .m"; at right angles with each other, in
which are held in any desired position or allowed to travel either transversely
or longitudinally the bottom plates 'n", n", of screws o", o", which work
vertically in the ends of lever arms 'p", p", the other ends of which pass
through slots 9", 9", formed in standards r, r, the bottom plates's", ", of which
are also held by or allowed to travel in the grooves ", ", and m"; m". The
lever arms p", p", turn upon pivots t", "; passing through their opposite
ends and attached to standards u", u, formed on plates ; ", which are
pressed upon and securely hold the marble b", 6", in place by means of the
pressure exerted upon the lever arm p", p", by the screws w", w", which
work through the top of the standards, 1, and are brought to bear upon
the said lever arms p", p". The plates s", ", are adjusted to the required
thickness of the marble on which they rest by raising or lowering the lever
arms p, p, to which they are attached by means of screws o", o", that
operate the same.
The apparatus may be arranged with other number of spindles, carriages,
and parts connected therewith, although but two sets have been herein-above
described; moreover, whilst one or more slabs are being cut others can at the
same time be rubbed or polished.
| SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Brookes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BROOKES, of 62, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer
and Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
Brookes, Her special licence that I, the said William Brookes, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Brookes, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein

page_text: 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 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING,
GRINDING, AND FINISHING MARBLE AND OTHER SIMILAR MATERIALS," communi-
cated to me from abroad by James W. Maloy, of Boston, in the County of
Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Brookes, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under iny, 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 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 William Brookes, 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:-
The improvements are represented in the accompanying plate of Drawings,
of which Figure 1 is a plan view, Figure 2 a side elevation, Figure 3 a front
elevation, and Figure 4 a central vertical transverse section of the improved
machine; Figures 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, are detail views of the several implements
used on the said machine for cutting, grinding, and polishing marble or other
similar materials.
The Invention has for its object the cutting and finishing of the edges of
slabs of marble and other similar materials by machinery in lieu of the mode
of band labor ordinarily heretofore practised, the results obtained being
economy in the manufacture and a nearer approach to perfection in the work
produced.
The following description of the construction and operation of the machinery
for working slabs of marble or other similar material will explain its essential
features:-
a, a, a, in the Drawings represent the framework of the machine; b, b, is a
vertical shaft supported by and turning in standards c, c, and d; d. The
shaft b, b, is actuated by a belt on the drum e, e, and has on its upper end a
bevel gear f, f, which engages with two other similar gears g, g, and h, h,
attached to and operating a horizontal shaft i, i, which turus in and is
supported by brackets k, k. On the ends of the shaft i, i, are formed
worms 1, 1, which engage with gears mm, m, connected with and operating
screw shafts n, n, placed at right angles to the shaft i, i, and which turn in
and are supported by bearings formed by the sides of the frame a, a.. On the

page_text: shaft i, i, between the gears 9, 9, and h, h, is a chutch o, o, having teeth p, p,
formed on its ends; this clutch o, o, is allowed to play laterally either way on
the shaft i, i, so as to engage with or be disengaged from either or both of the
gears g, g, and h, h, for the purpose of reversing or stopping the motion of
the shaft i, i. The clutch o, o, is operated by means of rods 9, 9, attached to
a plate r, r, formed with slots 8, s, which play backwards and forwards over
pivots t, t. To the bottom of the plate r, r, is attached an arm u, u, which
works in a groove formed in the centre of the clutch o, o. x, x, are
travelling tables or platforms so constructed as to travel transversely upon or
longitudinally with under tables or platforms y, y, on suitable ways z, z, and
a¹; a¹, attached respectively to the platforms y, y, and frames b¹, b'. The
lateral return movement of the upper tables or platforms x, x, and the marble
or other material carried thereby is induced by spiral springs c¹, c', attached
to both ends of the tables x, x, and y, y. The upper tables x, x, are
connected with and held to the lower tables y, y, by the guides or ways 2, %,
and both are fed along laterally by means of half screw nuts d', d¹, engaging
with the screw shafts n, n. The screw nuts d', d', play on pivots e', e',
supported by bearings f¹, f, formed on plates g', g¹, which are attached to the
under sides of the lower tables or platforms y, y, and are made to be engaged
with or disengaged from the screw shafts n, n, by means of cams h, h¹, that
can be brought to bear against or be loosened from the sides of the screw
nuts d', d¹. The said cams h¹, h¹, are connected to rods i¹, ¹, which pass
through and find a bearing or support in the lower portion of the screw nuts
d', d', and are operated by handles ¹, k, attached to the opposite ends of the
rods, Springs I, I, are formed on the pivots e³, e¹, between the upper
portions of the screw nuts d', d, for the purpose of throwing apart the
separate sections of the screw nuts d', d', when the cams h³, h', are loosened
therefrom. Attached to cross bars m', m³, are boxes n', n¹, which form
bearings for screw nuts o¹, o¹, which engage with and operate vertical screw
shafts q', ', in such a manner as to raise and lower but not to revolve them,
the rotation of the screw shafts q', ', being prevented by dogs r', r', that
engage with slots s', s¹, formed in the circumference of the shafts q', q'. The
tops of the screw shafts q', q', form steps or seats upon which rest the bottoms
of vertical shafts or spindles t, t, having dogs u', u', which revolve in and yet
are held by slots v³, v', in the clamps w³, w, on the tops of the screw shafts q', q'.
The shafts t¹, t, are rotated by belts on the drums ³, 1, and are raised or lowered
for the purpose of adjustment according as the shafts q', q', are elevated or
depressed by the operation of the screw nuts o³, o¹; these shafts or spindles t¹, t¹,
extend up through the top of the table a, a, and screw threads are cut on their

page_text: ends to receive and hold either of the implements y', y, z, zl, or a", a", used for
preparing and finishing the slab of marble 6", 6". y', y', (Figures 1 and 5)
represents an implement used for cutting the marble or other similar material
to a peculiar form of moulding. The teeth being made of the desired shape
and independently of each other are held in place upon the shafts t, t¹, by
washers c, c, and d", d", placed above and below the cutters y', y', and
nuts e, ell, which screw down upon the upper washers c", c"; cutters y', y',
(Figure 6) formed in a single piece of any desired shape can also be used.
2, 2, (Figures 8 and 9) represent an implement used in sanding and rubbing
or grinding of the marble or other similar material, and is screwed on the
shaft t', t, and held by a nut and washer. a", a", (Figure 10) is a polisher
or buffer of felt or other suitable material made to fit on and revolve with the
shafts t', t, for the purpose of polishing and finishing the marble or other
similar material after being cut and sanded or rubbed by the implements y', y',
and 2, z. The instrument 1, 2, is formed hollow, as shown in Figure 8, to
receive the sand or other material used in rubbing, which is made to pass out
through apertures f", f", formed in its bottom, which extend in an inclined
direction through the outer periphery of the lower portion of the tool 21, 2³,
which is formed of the required shape of the moulding, and made to screw on
the upper portion of the tool ', . A pivot g", gl, is attached to the centre
of the table a; a, upon which an arm h", ", is made to turn or be raised or
lowered thereon, and is securely held in any desired position by means of a
screw working in the end of the arm h", ". On the other end of the
arm h", ", at right angles with the same are prongs k", k, which fit into
the box ¹, z, for the purpose of preventing the sand or other substance
employed from flying out, and also to press it through the apertures f", ".
The tops of the upper platforms x, x, are formed with grooves ", ", and
m", m, at right angles with each other, in which are held in any desired
position or allowed to travel either transversely or longitudinally the bottom
plates n", n, of screws o", o", which work vertically in the ends of lever
arms p, p, the other ends of which pass through slots q", q", formed in
standards r, r, the bottom plates 8", s", of which are also held by or allowed
to travel in the grooves ", ", and m", m". The lever arms p", p", turn upon
pivots t, t, passing through their opposite ends and attached to standards
ul, ul, formed on plates v", ", which are pressed upon and securely hold the
marble 6, 6, in place by means of the pressure exerted upon the lever
arm p, p, by the screws wl, w, which work through the top of the
standards,, and are brought to bear upon the said lever arms p", p".
The plates s¹, s, are adjusted to the required thickness of the marble on

page_text: which they rest by raising or lowering the lever arms p", p, to which they
are attached by means of screws o", o", that operate the same.
From the foregoing description, reference being made to the Drawings, it
will be seen that the marble 6", 6", or other material to be operated upon
being placed upon the upper table or platform x, x, is securely held thereon by
the pressure exerted by the screw w, w, upon the lever arm p, p, the
plate v", v, being adjusted to the proper height by means of the screw o", o",
working in the opposite end of the lever arm p", p". The cutter y', y¹ being
fixed on the shaft or spindle t¹, t, between the washers c", c", and d", d", is
held thereon by the nut el, e", and is revolved with the shaft t', t, by means
of a belt connected with the drum æ¹, x. The shaft t¹, t, is adjusted to the
required thickness of the marble or other material under operation by means
of shaft q', q', operated by the screw nut o', o'; in such manner as to raise or
lower the said shaft g', q', but not to rotate it as herein-before described.
The slab of marble or other material is caused to bear with a firm and
constant pressure against the cutter y', y', by means of the lateral force
exerted by the spring c, c', upon the table or platform x, x, which travels
transversely on the ways z, 2, and it is fed along longitudinally together with
the upper and lower tables or platforms x, x, and y, y, by the motion imparted
to the screw shaft n, n, by the power applied to the drum e, e, of the shaft b, b,
which by means of the gears f,f, rotates the gears 9, 9, and h, h, and revolves
the shaft i, i, worms 1, 1, and gears m, m, attached to the screw shaft n, n. By
disconnecting the clutch o, o, from one gear 9, g, and engaging it with the
other h, h, the motion of the shaft i, i, is reversed, or by disengaging it from both
they may be thrown wholly out of gear. By unlocking the half screw nuts
d', d', the tables x, x, and y, y, are disengaged from the shaft q', q', and are
allowed to play freely backwards and forwards on their ways z, z, and a', a'.
The marble 6, 6", being cut to the form of the moulding desired, the tables
a, x, and y, y, are disengaged from the screw shaft q', q', by the means above
described, and are pushed back to their original position. The cutter y', y', is
then removed from and the box z¹, z, is attached to the shaft t, t, and
supplied with sand or other grinding material, and the marble is fed along as
before; the box 21, 1, revolves with the shaft t, t, against the marble, which
is brought to bear against it by the lateral pressure exerted upon the tables x, x,
and y, y, thereby rubbing the sand, which passes through the apertures f", f",
upon the slab, and effecting the desired result. The arms or prongs k11 k11 ,
formed at right angles with the arm h¹¹, h", are turned so as to fit over and
into the box, 2, in such a manner as to allow a free passage for the sand
between them, and at the same time to prevent its being thrown out of the

page_text: box 1, 1, as it revolves.
After the marble has been sufficiently sanded and
rubbed by the process above described, the box z¹, ¹, is removed and replaced
by the polisher or buffer a", a", which is revolved against the marble as it is
fed along, the operation being performed in a manner precisely similar to that
already described for the cutting and rubbing of the marble. It will be obvious
that by making the teeth of the cutter y', y', separate so as to be easily inserted
between the washers c", c", and ", d", on the shaft t', t, any one can be
readily taken out for sharpening or repairing or for inserting a new one without
displacing the remainder.
The apparatus may be arranged with other number of spindles, carriages, and
parts connected therewith, although but two sets have been herein-above
described, moreover whilst one or more slabs are being cut others can at the
same time be rubbed or polislied.
Having thus described the improvements, I would have it understood that
what I claim as the Invention communicated to me is,-
First, the combination of a revolving tool or tools with a feeding table or
platforın susceptible of two motions, one tangential to the circle described by
the said revolving tool or tools, and the other at right angles to that of the
first, as set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second, the combination of the two travelling tables or platforms operating
together as described.
Third, the so arranging and operating the table or platform that supports
the marble or other material to be acted upon as to convey the latter auto-
matically to the revolving tool or tools.
Fourth, the arrangement of the clutch nut d', d', screw shaft q', q', revolving
shaft i, i, and vertical shaft b, b, operating as described, for the purpose of
feeling the travelling table along and yet permitting its disengagment from
the said devices, as specified.
Fifth, the use of the adjustable lever swivel clamp for holding the material
to Le acted upon firmly in its place, as described.
Sixth, the use of a revolving, grinding,.or rubbing cylinder so arranged and
constructed as to contain the grinding material and deliver it through apertures
to the material to be acted upon, as set forth.
Seventh, in combination with the revolving, grinding, or rubbing tool the
pronged lever arm h", h, for the purpose specified.
Eighth, the arrangement of devices for feeding the revolving tool or tools
up and down, the same consisting of the screw shaft q', q', the screw nut o¹, o',
and shaft t, t, as described.

page_text: Ninth, the arrangement of devices for holding the sectional cutters in their
places, and so that they can readily be inserted or removed, as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Brookes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WILLIAM BROOKES. (L.S.)