IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES AND OTHER MACHINERY USED BY POTTERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER LATHES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Simpson, of Lomas Street, Heaton Chapel, in the
County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES AND
OTHER MACHINERY USED BY POTTERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER LATHES."
71
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Simpson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st April 1880.
JOSEPH SIMPSON, of Lomas Street, Heaton Chapel, in the County of Lancastor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES AND OTHER MACHINERY USED BY POTTERS, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER LATHES.”
This Invention relates to improvements in lathes for potters, and other uses, also
certain improvements in connection with potters' throwing wheels; also in the
chucks for receiving the mould in the potter's jolly, as well as the method of
driving the same; also for a machine to be used by potters in making oval or
other geometrically formed ware, as, for instance, the oval baking dish.
In performing my Invention I use a fly wheel in connection with the lathe
spindle, either fixed upon the spindle or connected thereto by cog wheels, the
object being in the first place to obviate the suddenness in starting the lathe, when
driven by power, the effect of which suddenness having been found to be detrimental
to the introduction of engine power to such lathes, by demolishing the fragile
articles formed in wet or damp clay. A suitable fly wheel causing the rope or belt
to slip a little at starting modifies the suddeness of this part of the operation. I
further use for modifying the speed of the lathe an intermediate driving shaft
between the strap pulleys and their shaft and the shaft for giving motion to the
spindle of the lathe. Upon this intermediate shaft I place two plate wheels or
discs, one fast, the other loose on the shaft, but still sliding upon a fast key, and
forced by a spring or screw, or both in the direction of the fast disc, the inside
faces of such discs being truly turned and slightly conical. Upon the shaft
carrying the pulleys is fixed also a disc truly turned to work between the pair of
discs described above. Upon the shaft which gives motion to the spindle is fixed a
similar plate, also working between the two plates first referred to; it will be
obvious that the first two plates being pressed towards each other by the spring
or screw will pinch or bite the two single plates which are between them, and the
[Di 71

page_text: double plates being slightly conical will only nip the single plates near to their
outer edges. Upon motion being given through the first shaft by strap or other
incans to the first single plate, it will by friction cause the pair of plates to move at
the same speed in proportion to their respective diameters, the pair of plates will
also in turn communicate motion to the single plate No. 2, which is fixed upon the
shaft giving motion direct to the spindle of the lathe. The shaft which carries the
pair of plates is made movable at the will of the workınan either by the action of
his foot or hand, or body, by pressing upon a suitable lever or treadle; this set
shaft being intermediate to the two others may be brought nearer to either the
first or the third shaft, thus causing the single wheels or discs to be brought nearer
to the centre of the pair of discs or nearer the outer edge, thus bringing a variety
of diameters into use which changes the speed. I am aware that this arrangement
is in use for variable speeds of light nature, as, for instance, the feed..motion to a
slide lathe or other machine, but the adaptation of it as a full power mover to the
machines, where a variable speed is required over the work to be done, as in the
potter's lathe, is new.
In the potter's throwing wheel a similar variable speed is required. In the first
part of his work, after the workman has thrown the ball of soft clay upon the wheel or
disc which is fixed upon the upper end of a vertical spindle usually driven by a wheel
and rope turned by hand, the compact body of clay bears a high speed and enables
the workman to perform his shaping process of the clay rapidly. When the clay is
formed hollow, as in the case of a jar or cup, the high speed is modified, or the work
in hand is broken to pieces by centrifugal force. In this Invention I propose to
drive the throwing wheel by power, and to enable the operator by a movement of
the foot or other part of the body to act upon a set of friction discs similar to those
above described for the lathe, and by this means to reduce or increase the speed of the
wheel as he finds desirable for his work. In the potter's jolly i.c. a machine used
for forming the vessel or article partly by means of a mould of plaster of Paris,
which is placed upon or into a conical cup or chuck revolving upon the upper end
of a vertical spindle. The inside of the clay article being formed by means of a
flat metal form or template cut to the sectional form of the vessel to be made this
template is affixed to a lever or slide, and is depressed by hand to the required
depth into the plaster mould. When fully depressed the inside or movable form
corresponds to the inner surface of the plaster mould, leaving a space between the
two for the thickness of the clay vessel being made. In practice it is found difficult
to place the plaster mould into the revolving cup on the spindle in such a manner
that the inside of the plaster mould runs perfectly true, thus causing the vessels
made to have a thick sido and a thin one, and this arises from various causes, as,
for instance, a small portion of wet clay adhering to the hands of the workinan,
in some cases is transferred to the plaster mould unobserved, and so causing the
effect referred to. To obviate this I form the interior of the metal cup which
revolves at the top of the spindle instead of being turned to a smooth conical form
similar to a common flower pot I cast within the metal cup three strips or facings
of suitable width, and extending vertically down the sides of the metal cup, these
facings strips only being turned truo the plaster mould corresponding in the taper
will fit upon the surfaces of the three strips with perfect steadiness, small adhesions
of clay being scraped off the mould upon the first contact of the mould in the cup,
and the steadiness being secured upon the same principle as a tripod stand, always
resting equally upon each foot. For giving a variable speed to this machine when
driven by power I use the set of friction plates, as described before applied to the
lathe, &c. For making oval or geometrical forms in clay I use a vertical spindle,
as used for the throwing wheel and jolly, placing thereon a plaster mould; to form
the inside of the vessel or oval dish a flat cake of clay is spread upon the plaster
mould and a sectional form cut in metal and attached to a lever or slide is brought
down upon the clay to form the outside of the dish, as now used, to produce tho
oval form, working against the fixed form or template. I fix the bearings of the
spindle upon a radiating arm or pair of arms, swivelling at one side upon a firm

page_text: framing or wall of building similar to a wicket or gate, the revolving spindlo
revolving in bearings at the opposite side or edge of the swinging or radiating
frame, thus admitting of a movable spindle to advance to and recede from the fixed
template or mould, this movement to and fro being controlled by a suitable metal
plate, or form, or eccentric, fixed upon the spindle. The said form by means of a
spring or other force is held tightly up to a fixed roller or other bearing. Thus
according to the configuration of the forin, or plate, or eccentric, the to and fro
motion will give out and repeat the form to the dish by causing it to be brought in
contact with the fixed or sectional form. The revolving motion to the spindle is
communicated by a cord or belt passing round guide pulleys, coincident, or nearly
50, with the radiating or swinging centres of the swing frame, a variable speed
being used when required by a set of friction discs, as before described. This
machine can be applied to form the interior of the dish on the principle of the
"jolly," using the plaster mould for the outside, and the form for the inside. In
applying the fly wheel to other uses than potters I adapt it either directly fixed
upon the lathe spindle, or connected thereto by cog wheels, or other means, the
object of it being to regulate the motion of the lathe. In turning metal and hard
substances the first part of the operation is to cut off the larger projections from the
article turned; thus, for instance, in the case of turning an iron shaft, the latter
being rough and out of truth, the larger side having a much heavier cut than the
opposite, frequently causes the driving strap to slip, often stopping the lathe, whilst
the opposite side of the shaft has in some cases no cut at all. In such cases the fly
wheel gathers power from the driving power, whilst little or no work is doing, and
when the heavy cut comes on the fly wheel gives out its accumulated power and so
carries the heavy cut through, thus causing the work to be carried on with moro
regularity, producing a greater result in a given time.
I am aware that fly wheels are employed in other machine tools having a
reciprocating motion, as in the slotting machine, where the work done is always
by an intermittent action, in which case the fly wheel renders important service.
In applying the fly wheels to lathes where the motion is intermittent until the
shaft is turned true greater regularity is insured, and when done the fly wheel, if
connected by cog wheels, may be readily disengaged, and the lathe used in the
ordinary way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
September 1880.
Joseph Simpson, of Lomas Street, Heaton Chapel, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LATHES AND OTHER MACHINERY USED BY POTTERS, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER LATHES."
-My-Invention-relates..to improvements in potters' and other lathes, also certain
improvements in the potter's throwing wheel; also the chucks for receiving the
mould in the potter's jolly, as well as the method of driving the same; also for a
machine to be used used by potters in making oval or other geometrically formed ware,
as for instance, the oval baking dish, also applicable to other machines used by
potters.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will describe tho accompanying four Sheets of Drawings, reference
being had to the Figures and letters marked thereon.
On Sheet 1 Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections
of a potter's lathe to which my Invention is applied. a is the framing or bench; b is
the headstock; c is the fly-wheel on the spindle; d is the friction brake or check
action;e is-the-treadle-for working the same; f is the driving wheel; g is the
driving shaft; is the fast pulley for driving the lathe; i and are two loose"
pulleys on shaft g; k is the bar carrying the strap guides, and l, l, are wood rollers
between which the workman's leg rests, and by which he starts, reverses, or stops
the lathe.
The addition of the fly wheel moderates the speed of the lathe at starting by
causing the strap to slip a little; the speed is further retarded by the application
of the brake, thus allowing steam power to be used for the formation of fragile
articles, which might otherwise be demolished. On Fig. 3 I have shewn the
spindle placed at the front side of the lathe to allow the shavings to drop readily
into a box placed on the floor. Fig. 4 is a cross section, and Fig. 5 is a plan of a
potter's lathe to which the second part of my Invention is applied. a is the framing
or bench; b is the headstock; c is the fly wheel; & is the fast pulley; e and ƒ are
loose pulleys on the shaft ; g is a friction plate; h, h, are a pair of friction plates
working loose upon their axes, and pressed towards each other by the spring o;
i is a friction plate fast on the shaft j; is a weighted T shaped lever carrying the
plates h, h, one arm of which lover forms a treadle marked m; by the use of this
lever the pair of plates h, h, are moved nearer to or further from the centre of the
plate g to increase or diminish the speed of the lathe.
On Sheet 2 Fig. 6 shows a potter's jolly to which my Invention is applied. a is
the framing; b is the spindle; c is the fly wheel, also used as a brake wheel; dis
the treadle and brake; c is the bell chuck; fis the plaster mould; g is the "form"
for shaping the interior of the vessel; h is the main hand lever for moving the
form vertically; i is a small hand lever for moving the "form" laterally; j is a
spring for withdrawing the form, and there are two radius rods for guiding the
form into and out of the mould; is the counterweight to the levers, and m is the
counterweight to the treadle and brake.
"
Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged views of my improved bell chuck, shewing the three
facing strips which hold the plaster mould. For giving a variable speed to this
machine when driven by power, I use a set of friction plates similar to those shewn
on Figs. 9 and 10. When the clay is thrown into the plaster mould the form is
brought down by the lever h and spreads the clay; the lever i is then pressed
down, which brings the form to the requisite distance from the plaster mould, and

page_text: so completes the formation of the vessel.
When the lever i is released the
spring causes the form to move into the position ready to be raised from the
mould; the radiating link causes the form to rise almost vertically.
Fig. 11 shews a potter's "jigger" to which my Invention is applied. a is the
framing; bis the spindle; c is the fly wheel; d is the brake; c is the weighted
lever which forms the treadle and carries the brake; f is the weight; g is the
face plate; is the plaster mould; is the plate or dish being formed by the
former j.
Figs. 9 and 10 shew my improved method of driving the jigger or jolly by
friction plates. bis the spindle; c is the fly wheel; is a friction plate on the
spindle b; e, e, are a pair of friction plates on a shaft carried by the lever f, and g
is a friction plate on the driving shaft h; i and jare fast and loose pulleys. On
Sheet 3 Fig. 12 shews a potter's throwing wheel to which my Invention is applied.
a is a segmental friction disk on the driving shaft; b and c are a pair of seginental
friction disks carried by the foot lever g, and d is a segmental friction disk on
the upright shaft, which communicates motion to the throwing wheel. The
speed of the throwing wheel is varied by the foot of the operator actuating the
lever g.
Figs. 13 and 14 are elevations, and Fig. 15 is a plan of a machine for making
oval or other forms in clay. a is the frane shewn fixed to a wall; b, b, are two
pedestals which support the swing frame c carrying the vertical spindle d; e is the
driving pulley on the spindle d; f is the first motion pulley; g is the face plate;
is a plate or cab for moving the lever i; j is a rod with screw joint for
imparting motion to the lever k; is a link connecting to the lever m, which is
pivotted at the bottom end, and carries the mould or form n for shaping the sides
of the dish; o is a hand lever for carrying and bringing down the moulds or
forms n, n, for forming the sides and bottom of the dish; p is a slide on the
lever o carrying the moulds n, n; q is an adjusting screw for regulating the
thickness of the dish; and s are a screw and hand wheel for regulating the size
of the dish; t is a counter lever with balance weight for raising the lever o and
moulds n, n, previous to removing a completed dish or other article; u is the dish ;
vis a guide plate against which the plate 9 rests, and wis a spiral spring for
keeping the plate g up to the guide plate v; x is the plaster mould which forms the
inside of the dish.
On Sheet 4 Fig. 16 is a side elevation, and Fig. 17 is an end view of a
modification of my Invention for reproducing oval or other forms in clay. d is the
spindle; is the chuck; u is the article being formed; c, c, is a swing frame, to one
side of which is fixed the tracer v, and to the other side of which is fixed tho
tool or former n; g is the template or pattern on the back shaft t; motion is
communicated from the spindle to the shaft t by the gears d', d, and t', when the
spindle d and back shaft t revolve, the shape of the template or pattern g is
through the swing frame c reproduced on the article u. The swing frame c is
traversed longitudinally by a screw and toothed wheels.
Having stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
3 performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the exact details given, as they may be varied or modified, but what I claim is,-
1. The fly wheel and brake, as shewn and described, for preventing potter's and
other lathes from attaining a high speed suddenly, and for regulating the speed,
also placing the spindle at the front of the lathe, as shewn and described in
reference to Fig. 3; also the application of the fly wheel and brake to other machines
used by potters, substantially as shewn and described.
2. The friction plates, substantially as shewn and described, applied to the above-
mentioned machines; also the application, formation, and arrangement of the
friction plates, as shewn and described in reference to Fig. 12, for transmitting
motion from one shaft placed at an angle to the other.
3. The lever and link k shewn on Fig. 6; also the improved bell chuck shewn
enlarged on Fire 7 and 8

page_text: 4. The swing frame c, the face plate g, the guide plate v, and the camb h,
substantially as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 13, 14, and 15; also tho
swing frame c, and template g, as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 16
and 17:
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Simpson, have hereunto set my hand 5
and seal, this Twenty seventh day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
JOSEPH SIMPSON. (L.S.)