Improvements in Steadies for use with Capstan and other Lathes, and in the Means of Holding and Adjusting the Position of Capstan and other Lathe Tools.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1900-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steadies for use with Capstan and other Lathes, and
in the Means of Holding and Adjusting the Position of Capstan and
other Lathe Tools.
I, HERBERT AUSTIN, Works Manager to the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine
Company, Limited, of Sydney Works, Alma Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has the following objects:-namely, to construct a steady for
use with a capstan or other lathe which as it is lowered onto the metal to be
steadied will readily adjust itself thereto, and to improve the means of holding
and adjusting capstan and other lathe tools.
A lathe steady constructed according to this invention has the movable por-
tion formed in two main parts, namely, of an inner part which is capable of
sliding in guides which are carried by the saddle, and of an outer part which
is pivoted thereto so that it may be capable of rocking sideways. The lower or
working face of the said outer part is formed, to the shape of a re-entrant
angle. A bolt passes through both the inner and outer parts, aforesaid, and
through the portion of the saddle which carries the guides. The hole through
which the boit passes in the rocking part of the steady is slotted sideways, the upper
and lower sides of the slot being struck from the pivot centre, and the hole
through which the bolt passes in the inner or sliding portion of the steady is
slotted lengthways thereof. When the bolt is slackened the steady will fall
upon the metal to be steadied and the rocking portion can turn upon its pivot
axis to allow the angle-shaped face to adjust itself to the cylindrical surface of
the metal. The bolt is tightened up to secure the working face of the steady
rigidly in position.
A tool holder is formed with a head or portion which projects beyond a face
of the lathe rest, and with a cylindrical portion which fits within a circular hole
formed through the rest, and terminates at its hinder end in a screwed shank
which passes out through the opposite face of the rest and is fitted with a nut
which may be tightened up against such face. A transverse hole is formed
through the head or forward end of the holder, through which the tool is passed,
and the tool is fixed by tightening up the nut and thereby clamping the inner
side of the tool against the face of the rest. The tool is shaped at one end to cut
right-hand and at the other end to cut left-hand. When the tool is set with its
right-hand end towards the metal to be cut, the tool holder is turned as required
to give the tool the required sideway inclination before the nut is tightened
up to clamp to tool tightly to the rest; and when the tool has been turned
end-for-end, the holder is turned in the opposite direction to give the tool the
required opposite inclination, before the tool is again clamped to the rest.
turn-button of peculiar construction may be used to provide additional security
against the tool moving sideways when at work. This turn-button is carried
in a suitable seating or bearing which is formed with the rest. The turn-
button is formed with a shoulder across its face which comes immediately across
A

page_text: a portion of one face of the tool. When the tool has been removed to replace it
the opposite hand, the turn-button is turned to bring its shoulder the proper
way round to suit the intended new position of the tool.
According to an alternative arrangement, a shank is fitted into the head of
the turning tool holder, and this shank is formed at one end for fixture thereto,
by means of a transverse pin, of a circular cutting tool, having a notched or
gapped part to admit of the formation of the cutting edge, namely, of a tool
of the character frequently used with capstan lathes, for sideway cutting. The
turn-button stop may be used, also, if desired, in connection with the shank;
but according to a convenient arrangement, the outer end of the shank may be
moved sideways, and held in any desired position, to suit a right or left hand
cutter, by means of a spindle which is transverse thereto. This spindle is
provided with collars which come at opposite sides of the shank, and may be
screwed inwards or outwards within a hole of the rest, and the pin is provided
with a milled head, for convenience of manipulation.
An adjustable stop, to fix the inward position of the rest, is formed by means
of a spindle which is journalled within à lug of the rest, and is screwed with-
in a sleeve which is a sliding fit within a hole formed in a lug of the saddle,
which is closed at its inner end to form a stop. Collars upon the spindle at
opposite sides of the lug of the rest, prevent the spindle moving endways
in relation to the rest, and one of these collars is formed as a milled head,
for convenience of manipulation. The sleeve has a longitudinal groove
for a portion of its length, into which the end of a set-pin enters to
prevent the sleeve from turning. The adjustment is effected by turning the
screw and thus moving the sleeve endways as by this means the distance which
the rest can travel from a given point until the inner end of the sleeve comes
against the end of the hole within which it is fitted, may be varied.
The
spindle may be clamped from turning by any suitable appliance, such as a
transverse pin which fits around a portion of the circumference of the spindle
and may be moved endways by means of a milled nul. According to an alter-
native arrangement, a plug may be fitted in place of the sleeve, and be
formed with a shank which is screwed through the lug of the rest, the end
of the shank being provided with a milled collar for manipulation; but this
arrangement is not so convenient as the other, because it will frequently happen
that the shank will project considerably beyond the outer face of the lug.
Dated this 21st day of September 1899.
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Steadies for use with Capstan and other Lathes, and
in the Means of Holding and Adjusting the Position of Capstan and
other Lathe Tools.
I, HERBERT AUSTIN, Works Manager to the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine
Company, Limited, of Sydney Works, Alma Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, 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 the following objects: namely, to construct a steady for
use with a capstan or other lathe which as it is brought against the metal to
be steadied will readily adjust itself thereto; and to improve the means of
holding and adjusting capstan and other lathe tools.

page_text: A lathe steady constructed according to this invention is illustrated by
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings herewith, of which Figure 1 shews the steady
in front elevation as applied to a turret or capstan of a turret or capstan lathe,
that is to say, in the instance shewn, to a tool holder which is adapted to be
carried in one of the holes of the turret or capstan. In Figure 2 the steady,
and the part with which it is immediately connected, are shewn in section; and
in Figure 3 the steady is shewn as seen looking down upon the top thereof,
and the part to which it is immediately connected is shewn in transverse
section.
The steady is formed in two main parts, namely, of an inner part A which
is capable of sliding along a dovetail guide B which is carried by an arm C
of the tool holder D, and of an outer part E which is pivoted to the inner
part by means of a pin a so that it may be capable of rocking sideways in
relation thereto. The lower or working face bb of the part E is formed to the
shape of a re-entrant angle. A bolt c passes through both the parts E and A
and through the arm C of the tool holder, and the hole d through which this
bolt passes in the rocking part. E of the steady is slotted sideways, the upper
and lower sides of the slot being struck from the centre of the pivot pin a,
and the hole e through which the bolt passes in the arm C is slotted lengthways
of such arm. When the bolt c is slackened, the steady will drop upon the
metal to be steadied, and the rocking portion E can turn upon its pivot axis
and allow the angle-shaped face 66 to adjust itself to the cylindrical surface
of the metal. When the steady has adjusted itself to the metal, the bolt is
tightened up again to secure the working face of the steady rigidly in position.
The portion immediately adjacent to the head of the bolt is enlarged in diameter
and formed with flats at opposite sides to prevent the bolt turning. The steady
may be raised by means of a pinion which engages with teeth formed in
one of the side edges of the part A of the steady.
The steady is shewn, in the instance given, as applied to a tool holder of a
turret or capstan lathe, the turret or capstan being carried, as is usual, by a
part which constitutes in such a lathe the saddle thereof; but a steady of sub-
stantially the same construction may be carried by the saddle of other construc-
tions of lathe, as will be obvious without need for further description or illus-
tration.
A further part of the invention is illustrated also by Figure 1, which shews
an entire front view of a tool holder of a turret or capstan lathe; and also by
Figures 4 and 5, which latter figures illustrate inner end views of a sliding
rest of the tool holder D shewn by Figure 1.
A tool holder F is formed with a head f which projects beyond the inner
end of the sliding rest G which is fitted to the tool holder D and with a cylin-
drical portion 9, (shewn by broken lines only) Figure 1, which fits within a
circular hole formed through the rest and terminates at its hinder end in a
screwed portion which passes out through the opposite end of the rest and is
fitted with a nut H which may be tightened up against such end of the rest.
A transverse hole is formed through the head for forward end of the holder F
through which a tool J is passed, and the tool is fixed by tightening up the
nut H and thereby clamping the inner side of the tool against the face of the
rest. The holder F may thus be readily turned, after slackening the nut H.
to adapt it for holding a tool to cut either right hand or left hand, as required
and in Figure 4 the holder is shewn as turned into a position for a tool cutting
one hand, and in Figure 5 is shewn as turned into position for a tool cutting
the opposite hand. To provide additional security against the tool moving side-
ways when at work, a turn-button K (shewn also by detached plan view
Figure 4) is carried in a suitable seating or bearing of the rest G. as shewn.
The turn-button is formed with a shoulder k across its face, which results
from cutting away a portion of the head of the button, and this shoulder comes
immediately across a portion of one face of the tool. When the tool has been

page_text: removed, to be replaced by itself or another tool to cut the opposite hand, the
turn-button K is turned to bring its shoulder the proper way round to suit
the intended new position of the tool.
corre-
An alternative arrangement, to that described in the last preceding para-
graph, is illustrated by Figures 6, 7 and 8; of which, Figure 6 is a
sponding view to Figure 1, but with the upper portion broken away; Figure 7
is an inner end view of the parts shewn by Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a section
taken on line xx of Figure 6, some of the parts below the plane of the section
being omitted to simplify the view.
A shank L is fitted into the head f of the turning tool holder F, which
corresponds with the tool holder F shewn by Figures 1, 4 and 5; and this
shank is formed at one end for fixture thereto, by means of a transverse pin i,
of a circular cutting tool M having a notched or gapped part to admit of
the formation of the cutting edge, namely, of a tool of the character frequently
used with turret and capstan lathes for sideway cutting. The turn-button
stop K, previously described, may be used, also, if desired, in connection with
the shank L; but, according to a convenient arrangement, the outer end of the
shank may be moved sideways, and held in any desired position to suit a right
or left hand cutter, by means of a spindle m which is transverse thereto. This
spindle is provided with collars n which come at opposite sides of the shank,
and may be screwed inwards or outwards within a hole of the rest G (which
corresponds with the rest G shewn by Figures 1, 4 and 5), and the spindle m
is provided with a milled head o for convenience of manipulation.
The turning tool-holder F may, of course, be adapted to the slide rest of
other descriptions of lathe, as also may the turn-button for maintaining in posi-
tion sideways a tool carried by such holder, and also the means for adjusting a
shank L which passes through the head f of the turning tool-holder.
a
A further part of this invention is illustrated, also, by Figures 6, 7 and 8.
According to this part of the invention, an adjustable stop, to fix the inward
position of the rest G, or other lathe rest, is formed by means of a spindle p
which is journalled within a lug N of the rest and is screwed within a sleeve P
which is a sliding fit within a hole formed in a lug of the tool holder Dor
other part carried by the saddle of the lathe. The hole is closed at its inner end
to form a stop to the inward movement of the sleeve, and as the sleeve is just
sliding fit within the hole dirt is completely excluded from between the inner
end of the sleeve and the inner end of the hole. Collars q' upon the spindle p
at opposite sides of the lug N of the rest. prevent the spindle moving endways in
relation to the rest, and the outer collar is milled for convenience of
manipulation. The sleeve has a longitudinal groove (see also Figure 8ª
which is a detached transverse section through the sleeve), into which
the end of a pegs enters to prevent the sleeve from turning. The adjustment
is effected by turning the spindle p, and thus moving the sleeve P endways,
as by this means the distance which the rest can travel, from a given point,
until the inner end of the sleeve comes against the end of the hole within which
it is fitted, may be varied, and, owing to the exclusion of dirt from between
the sleeve and the inner end of the hole, the adjustment may be given to the
greatest nicety. The spindle p may be clamped from turning, by any suitable
appliance, such as a transverse pin (shewn, also, as a detached vertical sec-
tion by Figure 8b) which fits around a portion of the circumference of the spindle
and may be moved endways by means of a milled nut t
According to an alternative arrangement to that described in the last pre-
ceding paragraph, a plug may be fitted in place of the sleeve and be formed
with a shank which is screwed through the lug N of the rest, and the end of the
shank be provided with a milled collar for manipulation; but this arrangement
is not so convenient as the other, because it will frequently happen that the
shank will project considerably beyond the outer face of the lug.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A lathe steady which when it is slackened adjusts itself to the metal to
be steadied and may then be securely clamped in its self-adjusted position,.
substantially as described.
2. A lathe steady having its supporting face formed as a re-entrant angle at
the end of a portion which when slackened may be moved both endways and
sideways and be thus brought against the metal to be steadied with the result
that it adjusts itself thereto, substantially as described.
3. A self-adjusting lathe steady having two portions fitted together one of
which is capable of endway movement in relation to a part by which it is carried
and the other of which is capable of sideway movement in relation to such
part, with means by which such portions may be securely clamped to the part
by which they are carried, substantially as described.
4. A lathe steady having a portion which is capable of sliding in relation to
a fixed part by which it is carried and a portion which is pivotally connected
with the sliding portion and is formed at its inner end with a re-entrant angle
and means by which the sliding portion may be securely clamped from moving
in relation to the part by which it is carried and means by which the pivoted
portion may be clamped from moving in relation to the sliding portion, sub-
stantially as described.
5. A lathe steady, having a sliding portion and a pivoted portion, constructed
substantially as described and shewn by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings
herewith.
6. A lathe tool-holder mounted to be capable of being turned within a rest
and having a projecting portion at the forward or inner end of the rest through
which a transverse hole is formed to receive the tool or the shank of a sub-
sidiary tool-holder, with means by which the holder may be drawn back to
tighten the tool or shank against the face of the rest, substantially as described.
7. A lathe tool-holder mounted to be capable of being turned in relation to
the rest, in combination with a turn-button formed with a sideway shoulder
to support a tool, or shank of a subsidary tool-holder, carried by the holder,
substantially as described.
8. The shank of a lathe tool-holder pivoted to the rest in combination with
a spindle which is transverse to the shank and is screwed into the rest and by
means of which the shank may be moved in a direction to alter the inclination
of the tool, substantially as described.
9. The turning tool holder F constructed and mounted in the rest and pro-
vided with means by which it may be drawn back to tighten the tool or shank
which passes through its projecting end against the face of the rest, substan-
tially as described and shewn by Figures 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, of the drawings
herewith.
10. An adjustable stop to fix the inward position of a lathe rest, which com-
prises a portion which slides within a hole of a part which carries the rest, a
closed end to such hole, and a portion which passes from the sliding portion
and is connected with the rest and by means of which the forward end of the
sliding portion may be adjusted in relation to the rest, substantially as described.
11. The means by which the inward movement of a lathe rest may be adjusted
substantially as described and shewn by Figures 6, 7, and 8, of the drawings
herewith.
1000
STEPHEN WATKINS & GROVES,
Chartered Patent Agents, Wolverhampton, Agents for the Applicant.