IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PLANING CURVED, CURVILINEAR, IRREGULAR, AND OTHER FORMS IN IRON, STEEL, AND OTHER METALS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Thompson, of New Charlton, in the County
of Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PLANING
CURVED, CURVILINEAR, IRREGULAR, AND OTHER FORMS IN IRON, STEEL, AND
OTHER METALS."
Sealed the 9th February 1864, and dated the 21st August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Thompson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
August 1863.
I, ROBERT THOMPSON, of New Charlton, in the County of Kent, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHI-
NERY FOR PLANING, CURVED, CURVILINEAR, IRREGULAR, AND OTHER FORMS IN IRON,
STEEL, AND OTHER METALS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of improvements in machinery for planing curved,
curvilinear, irregular, and other forms in iron, steel, and other metals, such as
the edges of armour plates, plates for iron ships, and other purposes where
curves, twists, or bevelings are required with any of the ordinary tools at
present in use for planing iron, steel, and other metals.
The accompanying Sheets of Drawings shew three different methods of
carrying out my Invention. The arrangement of the gear as shown on Sheet 1
is on the self-acting principle, the tools are held firmly to the work by guides,
rolls, or guides acting on one or both sides of the substance to be planed. The
precise position of these guides will depend in some measure on the shapes
required to be planed, and must be so arranged as to work either before, or
behind, or on the side of the tool or tools either in a vertical, horizontal, or
angular position, thus enabling the tool to execute the intended work; but when.

page_text: the substance required to be planed differs from the straight line or lines in
the breadth then I guide the tool or tools to the line either by a guide or
guides acting on a template or templates, or by gear acting on the slide of the
cutter holder. When the tool is required to execute twisting work, either
straight or curved, the tool is moved from one position to any other required
position by means of a worm and worm quadrant or other suitable gear with a
level and paul pinion on the worm wheel shaft, the other end of the lever
acting on a template in a suitable position. Sheets Nos. 2 and 3 show other
novel systems by which some of the above named work can be performed.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1, a, a, are two strong saddles, the one at the end of the racks e, e, is
bolted to racks e, e, that at the other end of the plate sides on the top of the
racks e, e, to suit the length of the substance required to be planed; b, b, are
the two shafts on which the chucks d, d, are keyed, these two shafts and the
chucks d, d, are brought into position by the worm wheels h, h, which hold
the plates in the required position till the work is executed; c, c, plumber
blocks; e, e, the rocks for carrying the work backwards and forwards to the
tools; ff, slide way for the travelling racks to work on; 9, 9, the jaws or vices
for securing the material; h, h, worm wheels; i, i, represent an armour plate
under operation; j, j, side frames; k, k, is a cross head for supporting shaft m,
and slides up and down to accommodate the form of the work; Z is a radiating
beam,-this beam keys on shaft m, has dovetailed slides, slide boxes n, n, with
tool holders. The work or guide templates move the beam / into the
necessary position by the action of the guide rolls or guides 3, 3; 3, 3, are
guide rolls for keeping the tools to the work; o, o, are the tools. The
radiating chucks p, p, are acted on by worm wheels 5, 5; 4, 4, are brackets
to carry guide rolls 3, 3; 6, 6, paul, pinions, and levers acting on templates
7., 7., working.the tool or tools in the required positions, when performing twisted
or beveling work; 2, 2, 2, are the pulleys for working the racks or bed; ris a
spur-wheel; s is a pinion; t, t, are plumber blocks; u, u, pinions; v, v, are
shafts; w is the cross head of the stand frame; x, x, are two small shafts
for supporting guide rolls; y, y, two sockets for holding the small shafts x, x;
2,2, are the guide arms; 9 are sockets and vertical shafts; 8 are the guide
rolls to guide the tools to the required line or lines 10; 10 are set screws;
11, 11, are two small vertical shafts; 12 is a template for guide rolls to
work against; 13 is a collar fitted in the tool holder with arms, acted on by
guide rolls 8 for facing the tool or tools to the required shapes of the work;
14, screws for raising cross head k.

page_text: Sheet No. 2, a, a, are the two saddles for carrying the chucks and shaft;
b, b, chuck shafts; c, c, bearings for chuck shafts; d, d, chucks for carrying
jaws or vices in the required position; e, e, worm wheels for working chuck
d, d; ff, worm wheel shaft; 9, 9, jaws or vices for securing the material
whilst the work is being executed; h, h, are four pair of mitre pinions for
working the worm wheels e, e, and chucks d, d; i, i, are brackets for worin
shaftsf, f; jj, a grooved shaft for connecting the mitre wheels at worm shafts,
and conveying the motion from one worm shaft to the other; k, k, racks or
travellers, in lieu of bed; is a V slide way; m, m, side stand frames; n, a cross
slide; o, slide box ; p, a tool; q, q, tool holder; r, a screw for raising and setting
down the tool; 8, 8, 8, are pulleys; t, spur wheel; u, a pinion; v, plumber blocks;
w, shafts;, x, x, are four pinions; 1, sliding bevel; 2, a quadrant on which the
workman marks the required bevels; 3 is a hand wheel with pinion 4; 5 is
a spur wheel; by this gear the workman places the material to be worked in
the proper position, and by the aid of the slide bevel 1 and quadrant 2 ho
twists the work to any given angle or angles whilst the machine is in operation;
6 is a standard for supporting one end of beam; 7 is a bracket for supporting
the other end of Leam; 8, a radiating bar; 9, a set screw for securing the.
quadrant at the desired point to radiating bar 8; 10, beam.
Sheet No. 3, a, a, are two saddles; b, b, chuck shafts; c, c, bearings; d, d,
chucks; e, e, worm wheels; ff, worm shafts; 9, 9, jaws or vices; h, h, are-
four pairs of pinions; i, i, are four brackets; j,j, is a grooved shaft, the
duties of this gear have been described in the explanation of Sheet No. 2; k;
vertical shaft; l, l, bevel wheel with barrel socket grooved for reversing lever,..
and to give to the work a right or left handed twist or beveling ;. m, bevel.or
mitre wheel gearing into h, h, on vertical shaft; n, horizontal shaft.; o, tooths
wheel; P, PP, P., are radiating levers with links and pauls.; 9,9, rocking lever
to give the required motion to the whole of the gear for twisting or beveling.
through horizontal shaft n, and vertical shaft k, gearing into the long grooved.
horizontal shaft j, j, and worm shafts ff; r, r, slide blocks; s is a connecting
link for connecting the two slide blocks; is a regulating screw and hand>
wheel, this screw passes through one slide r. By working these blocks.
r, r, to or from the centre of the rocking lever 9, 9, a greater or lesser
speed is given to the whole of the twisting gear; u, a connecting rod; v, crank
pin; w is a pinion with crank pin, this gives motion to rocking lever q, q;
is a spur wheel driving pinion w. I do not confine myself to the precise-
details and arrangements herein laid down.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
THOMPSON, of New Charlton, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Thompson, Her special license that I, the said Robert Thompson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Thompson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might makė, 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 MACHI-
NERY FOR PLANING CURVED, CURVILINEAR, IRREGULAR, AND OTHER FORMS IN IRON,
STEEL, AND OTHER METALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Robert Thompson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,
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 Robert Thompson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereto annexed, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of improvements in machinery for planing curved,
curvilinear, irregular, and other forms, in iron, steel, and other metals, such
as the edges of armour plates for iron ships, and other purposes, where curves,
twists, bevels or bevelings are required, with any of the ordinary. tools at
present in use for planing iron or other metals.
My improvements consist in placing between the stand side frames of the
ordinary planing machine a carrying beam fitted with a centre shaft for
the V beam to radiate upon, and free to slide up and down, so as to follow any
curve, the V slide beam is caused to radiate, and to raise and depress the
carrying beam by means of guide rolls, which follow the various forms of the

page_text: plates or templates over which they work, these rolls are connected with the
ordinary slide saddles by an arm forming part of the rest or chuck of the tool
holder. The saddles are worked laterally to and fro to suit the desired shapes
by means of toothed wheels socketted into brackets fixed to the saddles, and
worked by reversible pawls and levers, the levers are brought into operation
by adjustable brackets or templates or other gear, these brackets are secured
to the travelling table or bed, or to any other suitable part of the machine, the
same arrangements of pawls and levers are used to give the chucks or rests
with the tools the required angle for cutting bevels or twists, by these arrange-
ments any curves or twists can be planed. In planing armour plates and
the like, the travelling bed is fitted at each end with chucks, with vices or
jaws mounted on shafts and fitted with plumber blocks and slide saddles,
these slide saddles are worked across the table by racks and pinions, and one
of the chucks is fitted with a worm and worm wheel for canting the plate
or material under operation, to the most convenient position for planing,
the other chuck slides backwards and forwards to suit the various lengths.
. My improvements also consist in the application to the ordinary planing
machine of levers and spur wheels on vertical shafts, which give motion to
mitre pinions on the transverse screw shafts, by this means the cross saddles
carrying the tools are made to work to and fro along the V slide beam so as
to plane any curve or taper, the levers working this gear are brought into
action by studs secured to the travelling bed.
I have also another arrangement by which I cant the plates to be planed
to the tools by means of self-acting gear.
In order, however, that my Invention may be more fully understood, I
will now proceed to describe it by the aid of the accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1, a, a, are two strong sliding saddles, one is bolted to the travelling
bed or table; e, e, the other slides on the top of the table, so as to suit the
length of the plate or material to be planed; b, b, are the two shafts, on
which the chucks d, d, are keyed, these two shafts, and the chucks are
brought into position by the worm and worm wheel h, h, which hold the
plate in the required position till the work is executed; c, c, plumber blocks;
ff, slideways for the travelling table or bed to work upon; 9, 9, jaws or vices
of the chucks d, d, for securing the material to be planed; i, i, represent an
armour plate under operation; j,j, side frames; k, k, cross head or carrying
beam for supporting the shaft m, and sliding up and down between the side
frames; radiating V slide beam keyed on to the shaft. m, and having slide

page_text: saddles and slide boxes n, n, with tool holders; o, o, are tools; p, p, radiating
chucks or rests; 7, 9, are the pullies for working the racks or beds; r, r,
spur wheels; &, s, racks for working the tables backwards and forwards;. t, t,
are plumber blocks; u, u, are bevel pinions ; is a shaft; w, is a cross head
of the stand frame; x, x, two small shafts for supporting the guide rolls;
y, y, are the guide arms; z, z, are indexes to set the guide levers; 1, 1, are
guide rolls; 2, 2, are brackets for carrying the guide rolls; 3, 3, worm and
worm wheel for radiating the chucks; 6, 6, pawl, pinions, and levers acted on
by templates or brackets 4, 4.
Sheet 2, Figures 1, 2, and 3, represent different views of an ordinary
planing machine with my improvements applied; a, a, are tooth wheels
gearing with each other, and giving motion to vertical and grooved shafts g,
which work mitre pinions h, and transverse screw, which latter gives lateral
motion to the slide saddles and tools i, i; b, pawls; c, c, pawl levers worked
by studs f, bracketted on the travelling bed, at suitable distances to give a
continuous motion to the gear while in operation; d, d, are counter levers,
for reversing the motion, the other parts of the machine are of the ordinary
construction, in this arrangement I use saddles similar to those shewn in
Sheet 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew the arrangement for canting the edge of the plate to the
tool while the machine is in operation.
.
a, a, canting beam; b, vertical connecting rod; c, horizontal rod; d, d, 2
links; e, e, 2 radiating levers; f, f, 2 pawls; 9, 9, pinions; h, crank pin;
i, small shaft; j, spur wheel; k, feed pinion; l, spur wheel; m, mitre wheels ;
n, bevel wheels; o, indicator.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, but what I claim
and wish to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is
the employment, arrangement, and use-
1stly, of the beam or cross head working between the side frames:
2ndly, of the radiating motion of the V slide beam, and centre shaft.
3rdly, of the guide rolls, brackets, and arms connected with the rests or
chucks, tool holders and saddles for regulating the motion of the V slide
beam, and cross head or beam, and acting as guides to the working of the
tools.
4thly, of the pawls, levers, pinions, shafts, brackets, arms, and indexes
connected with slide saddles, and rests or chucks for working the tools to the
required shapes.

page_text: 5thly, of the adjustable brackets or templates for giving motion to the pawl
lever gear.
6thly, of the chucks fitted with jaws or vices, bolt shaft, worm, worm wheel,
bearings, & saddles, with racks and pinions.
All as herein-before described and represented in Sheet 1 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
I further claim the application and arrangement of pawl, levers, and spur
gear for giving the required motion to the vertical shaft and transverse screws,
as herein before described and shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, of Sheet 2 of the
accompanying Drawings.
I also claim the application and arrangement of the gear for canting
the edge of the plate under operation to the tool, as herein-before des-
cribed and shewn in Figures 4 and 5, in Sheet 2, of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
R. THOMPSON. (L.S.)