Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Cutting Tenons in Woodwork, and likewise for Shaping Timber.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th May, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Cutting Tenons
in Woodwork, and likewise for Shaping Timber.
1, THOMAS EDWARD OWEN of 121 Beatrice Street, Bootle in the County of
Lancaster, Wood Working Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a method of and apparatus for cutting tenons in
woodwork more especially in the heavy framing timbers such as are used in the
construction of dock-gates, though it must be clearly understood that the invention
is not limited to this purpose, as it is applicable for cutting tenons in the various
other classes of timber as well.
My invention is designed to cut square or oblique tenons and likewise to work
the tenons on each end of the timbers without turning them round, thus obviating
the necessity of shifting the timber on the travelling carriage as in systems hitherto
adopted, to which my present invention is in every way superior. The invention is
also applicable for shaping timber.
In carrying my invention into effect, the plan I prefer is to provide an adjustable
saddle or frame on which the cutter spindle is mounted in suitable bearings. This
cutter spindle is fitted with cutters at each end projecting outside and clear of the
saddle. The saddle is so arranged that it can be adjusted on its axis, whereby the
cutter spindle can be placed truly parallel with the timber carriage or diagonally
thereto. The saddle is also capable of being adjusted on a pivot at the bottom so
as to stand upright or to stand sloping on either side of the perpendicular. This
enables the cutter spindle to be exactly horizontal when required to cut straight
tenons, or sloping when required to cut oblique ones. The supports which carry
the bearings of the cutter spindle can be adjusted up and down in the saddle by
means of screws. These screws being preferably coupled together by bevel wheels
or other suitable gear so that both bearings can be raised or lowered simultaneously,
thereby gauging the thickness of the tenon or depth of the shoulder. Means (such
as a handle and feed screw) are provided for moving the cutter spindle transversely
across the timber. The saddle is formed with a gap which enables the timber
carriage to be passed from one side of the saddle to the other.
The mode of action is as follows:-
:-
The piece to be cut is placed on the carriage and held there in any suitable
manner or by its own weight. The carriage is fed forward, presenting one end of
the timber to the action of one of the rotating cutters on the spindle, which is fed
It will be seen that if
forward transversely by turning the hand wheel aforesaid.
the cutter spindle is horizontal and parallel to the timber carriage a straight tenon
or relish is cut in the piece, but if the cutter spindle is placed diagonal to the
carriage, then an oblique tenon is cut; or if the cutter spindle is adjusted to slope
downward or upward (as the case may be) then a tenon with a shoulder oblique
to the face of the timber is formed by the cutter. The tenons are worked in each
end of the timbers without turning the latter round, by simply passing the timber
carriage lengthwise through the gap in the saddle, previously raising the cutter
spindle out of the way. The other end of the timber is then tenoned by the cutter
on the opposite end of the spindle. The same mechanism is employed for cutting

page_text: tuskins in the timber, the cutters in that case being preferably formed with cutting
edges of the required angle.
Dated this 24th day of August 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents, for the Applicant.
COMEDIE
DIEVIETOALIN
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Cutting Tenons
in Woodwork, and likewise for Shaping Timber.
I, THOMAS EDWARD OWEN of 121 Beatrice Street, Bootle in the County of
Lancaster, Wood Working Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a method of and apparatus for cutting tenons in
woodwork, more especially in the heavy framing timbers such as are used in the
construction of dock-gates, though it must be clearly understood that the invention
is not limited to this purpose, as it is applicable for cutting.tenons in various other
classes of timber as well.
My invention is designed to cut square, diagonal or oblique tenons, and likewise
to work the tenons on each end of the timbers without turning them round, thus
obviating the necessity of shifting the timber on the travelling carriage as in
systems hitherto adopted, to which my present invention is in every way superior.
An important feature of my invention is arranging the rotatable cutter spindle
so that its plane of rotation may be readily varied relatively to the timber to be
cut, instead of being permanently fixed to revolve in one uniform position.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and numerals
marked thereon:
Figure 1 is an elevation of the machine;
Figure 2, a longitudinal section on the line a b of Figure 1;
Figure 24, a detail view;
Figure 3, chain and wheels for vertically adjusting the saddle I and to regulate
the depth of cut ;
Figure 4, a plan of the machine with top cross girder removed;
Figure 5, a plan of half the top bed; and
Figure 6, a plan of half the bottom bed.
In these figures,
A is the timber to be cut: B, the traversing carriage on which it is carried
beneath the cutter head: C the longitudinal frames carrying the rollers on which
the carriage travels to avoid friction, and which enable the timber to pass entirely
from under the cutters if required: D, the bottom bed with grooves d: E, the
pivoted top bed with uprights E' and E2 at each side: E³, its pivot: e, rack and
worm for adjusting this top bed on its axis: G, the side standards pivoted at g to
the uprights E' and E2: H, the top cross girder: I, an adjustable saddle or frame
fitted to move up and down between the standards G so as to vary the thickness of
the tenon or depth of the shoulder as required: G', a bearing or second saddle
that has a transverse movement across the machine, the adjustment being effected
by the hand wheels 9' and screw g³, or, if preferred, by driving belts if the nature
of the work demands it: i, the rotary cutter spindle mounted in the bearing or
second saddle G': ', cutter head (with suitable cutters) mounted at each end of
the cutter spindle, and projecting outside clear of the saddle I: and J, pulley for
driving the cutter spindle i froin a countershaft. The vertical adjustment of the
saddle I between the standards G is made by the wheel at top, or chain 2, the

page_text: gearing and screws. The movement of the rotary cutters may be about
2,250 revolutions per minute, but of course this speed is entirely optional, and may
be greater or less as required. It will be seen that the saddle I is adjustable
axially by turning the worm e. This rotates the entire machine on the bottom
bed D, and enables the cutter spindle to be placed truly parallel with the timber
carriage or diagonally thereto. The saddle is also capable of being adjusted on the
pivots g at the bottom of the standards by rotating the worm M, which operates
the quadrant rack m³ through the worm wheel m, shaft m' and pinions m², so that
the standards will stand upright or cant on either side of the perpendicular, thus
enabling the cutter to be exactly horizontal when required to cut straight tenons,
or sloping when required to cut oblique ones.
The mode of action is as follows-
The timber to be cut is placed on the traversing carriage B, and held there
in any suitable manner or by its own weight so as to be cut by the cutters as
hereafter described. The carriage is then moved forward by hand power into
such a position that one end of the timber is presented to the action of one of
the rotary cutters and in that position is held stationary. The saddle I is
lowered so that the cutter shall cut the required depth into the wood, and is
locked by the screws 9³: The saddle being thus held firmly in position, the
saddle I with cutter is fed forward across the timber by. turning the hand
wheel, thus cutting away the wood to the depth required. The tenons are
worked in each end of the timber without turning the latter round by simply
raising the saddle slightly or moving the cutters out of the way sideways and
passing the timber carriage lengthwise through the gap between the standards G.
The other end of the timber is then tenoned by the cutter on the opposite end
of the spindle i. If it is required to cut the other face of the timber it must
of course be turned over on its opposite side and the operation repeated. It
will be seen that if the cutter spindle i is horizontal and parallel to the timber,
a straight tenon or relish is cut in the piece, but if it is required to cut a
diagonal tenon all that is necessary is to slacken the nuts K and rotate the
worm wheel e, thus rotating the apparatus on the pivot E³, so that the spindle
shall be diagonal to the timber, then tightening the nut up again, and thus a
diagonal tenon will be cut in the piece, the cutter being fed diagonally across
the wood, the wood always remaining longitudinal. Moreover if a tenon oblique
to the face of the timber is required, the wheels L' (shown in Figure 2 but
omitted in Figure 1) and the screws L are slackened and the worm M turned
so as to cant the uprights G out of the perpendicular and thus the cutter
spindle will slope downward or upward, as the case may be, and will give the
result desired. The same mechanism is employed for cutting in the timber
straight or diagonal tenons with the shoulders oblique to the face of the wood,
the cutters in that case being preferably formed with cutting edges of the
required angle. The oval hole and knuckle joint enable the uprights to be
canted without any danger of bending the screws 1. By this invention a very
neat joint is obtainable, as the ends of the timbers can be fitted close, no space
or opening being left. It will be obvious that a circular saw may be fitted on
the spindle and thus timber can be cut diagonally or obliquely as required,
the timber being raised slightly above the carriage B to enable the saw to cut
right through. Similarly drills may be affixed to the spindle ; to form diagonal
or oblique holes in timber for making double tenons or the like. It will also
be obvious that the mechanism I have described for varying the plane of
rotation of the cutters may be applied to planing or certain other machines and
thus tenoning may be performed on machines that can also be used for other
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that the foregoing being a description of my first machine. I do not limit myself

page_text: to exact arrangements set forth, as these may be altered without departing from
the principle of my invention, but I declare that what I claim is―
1. In tenoning machines, arranging the rotatable cutter spindle and its supporting
framework, so that the plane of rotation of the said spindle may be readily varied
relatively to the timber to be cut, instead of being permanently fixed to revolve in
one uniform position as hitherto substantially as described.
2. The improvement in apparatus for cutting tenons in woodwork, whereby
straight, diagonal or oblique tenons with shoulders square or oblique to the face
and of any required angle or obliquity, may be worked in each end of the timbers,
without turning the latter round on the traversing carriage or changing their
position longitudinally substantially as described.
3. In a machine of the kind described, a travelling carriage such as B, upon which
the pieces to be tenoned or cut are placed longitudinally, in combination with a
rotatable spindle i capable of adjustment transversely across the timber, a saddle 1
on which the bearing or slide carrying the rotatable spindle is mounted, and means
whereby the said spindle can be adjusted on the vertical axis E³ and horizontal
axis g to vary its plane of rotation substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The general arrangement or construction of parts forming my improved
apparatus for cutting tenons in woodwork substantially as described or any mere
mechanical equivalent thereof.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, and London,
Patent Agents.