US233409A - Set-work for saw-mills - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. GOWEN.

Set Work for Saw Mills.

No. 233,409. Patented Oct. 19, 1880.

,FEIERS. PHQ O-UTHQGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D c 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. GOWEN. Set Work for- Saw Mills.

No. 233,409. Patented Oct. 19,1880.

N. FEYERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER. WASHXNGTON. D c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAMGOWEN, OF WAUSAU, WISCONSIN.

SET-WORK -FO R SAW- MILLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 233,409, dated October 19, 1880.

Application filed March 1-8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GOWEN, of Wausau, in the county of Marathon and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Set-Works and Dogs for Saw-Mills, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to set-works and dogs for saw-mills; and the invention consists in certain improved devices, and in certain conibinations and arrangement of devices, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view of the setworks and dogs made in accordance with my improvements; and Figs. 2, 3,4, 5, 6, and 7 are views of portions shown more in detail.

In the drawings, A represents thebase-block at the end of the carriage where the operator stands, upon which is mounted the operating mechanism, there being the usual number of additional head-blocks a a, on which the slidin'g knees d, with their dogs 8, are mounted.

The knees d are made of cast-iron, with a vertical face next to the log, and with a base having a flange at each side to fit and slide in a T-shaped groove in the upper side of a separate base-plate, b, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

The vertical and base portions of the knee d are connected by a segmental portion, at, in one face of which, as shown in Fig. 2, there is a series of notches.

To one side of the knee there is pivoted a lever, t, on the lower end of which there is a segmental rack or gear arranged to engage with a rack, k, on the slide b, by which the knee "d can be adjusted or moved forward or back on the slide b, it being locked in position by a spring-catch lever, l, which is pivoted in a recess in the side of lever t, and has a lug projecting through a hole in the lever i oppo site the brace m, so as to engage in the notches thereof. By this arrangement each knee is capable of being quickly adjusted independent of the others, and independently of the general adjustment to which allvaresubjected by the operation of the mechanism to behereinafter described, and thus the'knees can be set forward or back to accommodate any crooks there may be in the log, andalsofor sawing to a taper, as is often desired.

As shown in Figs. land 6, therhead-blocks, instead of being made double, as 'usual, and

having the knee or a separate rack-bar working in the central space, are made of a single solid piece like an I rail or girder, and the slide 1) is fitted to slide on it, while the knee d is fitted to slide separately on the slide b. This construction is much cheaper, and prevents the possibility of chips, pieces of bark, sawdust, &c., getting into the head-block or the rack and gearing that operate the slide and interfering with their operation.

The dogs for holding the log consist of a series of straight bars, 8, having sharp chiselshaped points, these dogs being fitted to slide in oblique grooves in the side of the knee d, as shown in Fig. 1. They are each pivoted at their upper ends to a vertical bar, 0, provided at its upper end with a transverse slot, 0 by which it is connected to an elbow-lever, n, pivoted at r to the knee, so that by throwing back the lever n the dogs 8 W111 all be simultaneously thrust forward and downward into the log.

As shown in Fig. 7, the dogs 8 areeach provided with a projection, 00, which, as their points enter the log, ride on the inclines w in the grooves s, thereby causing their points to swing inward sufficiently to draw the log tight up against the face of the knees and hold it firmly in place.

To hold the dogs back out of the way, I socurea bent spring, 19, to the back side of the knee, as shown in Fig. 1, upon which a bolt or ing, a, projecting from the side of lever it, bears, so that when the lever is raised to an upright position, as it is when the dogs 8 are drawn back, the friction and tension of the spring will hold it there.

As before stated, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, each knee (1 is adjustably secured upon a base-plate or slide, 1), which, in turn, moves to and fro on the head-blocks a. Each of these slides b has firmly secured to it on one side a rack-bar, c, in the outer edge of which is a groove, t, in which engages a guide, h, made in the form of a bracket, and. firmly bolted to the side of the head-block a, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the object of which is to hold the rack-bar e in gear with the pinion g, which operates it, and also to hold the knee uprightand prevent it from tipping and binding on the block a, on which it slides.

The operating mechanism by which the slides b and their knees, with the dogs, are moved consists of a rotating shaft, Y, having its bearings in the blocks A a a and bracket 1) and arranged lengthwise of the carriage, as shown in Fig. 1,'it being provided with a pinion, g, arranged to engage with each of the racks e, as shown. Between the block A and the bracket D there is a gear-wheel, W, keyed upon this shaft Y, arranged to engage with a pinion, G, secured to a counter-shat't,Z,arran ged directlyovertheouterend of shaft Y,as shown in Fig. 1, and from which shaft Y receives its motion. This shaft Z has its bearings in a box formed in the center of a quadrant or segmental setrack, B, which is bolted upon the top of the block A and in the upper tubular portion of a vertical artn, 1), which may be either cast solid with or bolted to the bracket 1). 3y this method of motmting the shaft Z the ratchetwheel, with its operating-lever, and the setrack and dial are all brought close up before the operator in the most convenient position to enable him to perform quickly the operations required.

The set-rack B is provided with ratchet'teeth on both sides, and having its box or hearing for the shaft Z at its center, the set-rack can readily be turned end for end and be used with equal facility when it is desired to reverse the knees, so as to take the log from the opposite side of the carriage.

The stop-lever II, which engages with the teeth of set-rack B, is jointed, and has a spring arranged to press it against the rack, as shown in Fig. 1, the inclined face of the teeth permitting it to be readily drawn toward the operator, while their right-angled faces hold it securely against accidental displacement when struck by the projecting bolt 0 of the set-lever M. Motion is imparted to this shaft Z by means of a ratchet wheel, J, secured rigidly thereto, and which, in turn, is operated by a hand'lever, M, and pawl M, arranged to engage therewith, as shown in Fig. 1, there being also a hand-wheel, P, with handles Q secured to the outer end of the shaft, as shown, for the purpose of operating the parts when it is desired to run the knees back or to move them an unusual distance either way.

The peculiar construction of the lever and pawl is shown in Fig. 3. It is mounted in a stirrup composed of one or two arms, K, generally of two, though I sometimes use btit one. These arms are provided at their lower ends with eyes m to tit upon the hub of the ratchet-wheel J, one on each side, and at their upper ends with a hub, 11', projecting inward far enough to meet at the center when placed as shown in Fig. 1. This hubn is provided with a recess, 0 as shown in Fig. 3, to form a seat or hearing for the hand-lever M and its pawl M, as shown in the left-hand part of Fig. 3. As there shown, this recess has an opening at the top, through which the handle M projects, while there are two openings at the sides,

through either of which the pawl M may pro ject, thus enabling the lever and pawl to be reversed or set so as to turn the ratchet-wheel in either direction at will. The recess 0 and its openings are made of such a size in relation to the lever and pawl as to permit the latter to oscillate therein.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lever M and pawl M are formed of a single rigid bar, so that by oscillating the lever the pawl is raised and lowered. Through the center of the hub n there is a hole, in which is placed a bolt, 0, (shown detached in Fig. 4,) which serves, with its nut, to clamp the parts K together, and as a pivot for the lever and pawl. Its square projecting end also serves as a means of limiting the movement of the lever, and consequently of the ratchet-wheel and the parts driven thereby, as hereinafter explained.

The object of thus constructing the lever and pawl is to prevent the point of the ratchet slipping past the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, as the ordinary loosely-pivoted ratchet is liable to, and more especially when used with a ratchet-wheel having its teeth made V-shaped, as in this case, to enable it to be operated in either direction by merely reversing the lever and ratchet without reversing the wheel also. Inasmuch as the power necessary to operate all the parts and also move the log has to be transmitted by means of the ratchet-wheel and its ratchet and lever, it is important that any slipping of the ratchet on the teeth of the wheel should be securely guarded against, as otherwise the log will fail to be moved the requisite distance, and this is fully accomplished by the use of a lever and ratchet coir structed as described, because, being rigidly united, the force applied to the lever is at the same time so applied to the ratchet as to hold its point in contact with the teeth of the wheel, while when the leveri drawn back the ratchet is raised from the wheel, thereby preventing the wear of its point and of the teeth that would otherwise occur.

The set-rack B is provided on each side with a series of ratchet-teeth, arranged at specified distances, in which a spring stop-lever, H,engages, said lever being journaled on a hub of the box in set-rack B, in which the shaft Z has its bearing, and is therefore concentric with said shaft, on which it may be mounted direct, though I prefer to mount it on the hub, as described.

It will thus be seen that this stop-lever can be moved forward or back and made to engage in any of the notches of set-rack B, which latter is provided on its face with a series of graduated marks, with figures to indicate the point at which the lever H is to beset for any desired thickness of lumber.

0n the face of set-rack B, in rear of lever M, there is a lug provided with a set-screw, against the head of which the projecting end of bolt 0 strikes when the lever is drawn back, and which thus forms a stop to limit its motion in that direction, this being a common device, and therefore not shown in the drawings. It will therefore be evident that the distance that the lever M can be moved will be from this stationary stop in rear to the set-lever H in front, the end of bolt 0 striking the latter as the lever M is moved forward, and that, as the motion of the lever M is transmitted to the knees d through the medium of the ratchetwheel J and theintermediate gearing, the distance that the knees and the log will be moved will be regulated or governed by the position of the stop-lever H.

In order, however, to provide for a still liner adjustment, so as to make the lumber either of scant or extra full thickness, as is sometimes desired for special cases, I pivot on the face of the projecting end of bolt 0, where it strikes the set-lever H, two thin plates or buttons, 1 and 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the bolt 0, as shown in Fig. 4, being provided with a lip or stop, f, on which these buttons rest, so as to prevent them from dropping below the horizontal position when turned eitherway. By turning these buttons Over, so as to bring them between the bolt and the set-lever H, the distance that the log will be set over will belessened according as one or both are turned, while by turning them back out of the way the thickness will be correspondingly increased. It is obvious that they maybe attached to the set-lever H instead of to the bolt 0, and that, instead of being pivoted to turn over, they may be slotted so as to be moved endwise, and be made to produce the same results; but I prefer the plan shown, first, because they are more convenient to reach when thus located, and, second, because they are less likely to become accidentally displaced when pivoted to turn over than they would be it arranged to slide. These adjustable buttons or plates also serve as a means of compensating for the different thickness of saws used, and thus by their use, in connection with my other improvements, the workman is enabled to regulate the thickness of the lumber to a degree and with a uniformity seldom if ever equaled.

In practice I construct the set-works to vary the lumber by quarter-inches by means of the stop-lever H and set-rack B, while the buttons are made to vary it by twenty-fourths of an inch, though it is obvious that they may be made to vary it at any desired degree by making them thicker or thinner, and that any desired number of them may be used.

In order to enable the operator to see at a glance how to set the works for any desired thickness, and to prevent mistakes, I provide a dial, T, as shown in Fig. 1. This dial is provided with graduation marks and figures to indicate the various thicknesses of lumber; and in order to enable the operator to more readily see these marks and figures and to prevent their being obscured by the accumulation of dust, 860., I make the dial of a conical form, as shown, and mount it on the inner end of shaft Z, upon which it is rotated by a pinion, F, on shaft Y, which engages in a corresponding wheel, F, secured to the dial, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. A pointer or index, U, is secured upon a hub projecting from the side of arm D of bracket D in such a position as to reach across the face of the dial, to which the marks on the dial are adjusted, and these being directly before the operator enables him to see them at a glance.

In some cases it is desirable to arrange the ratchet-wheel and lever at right angles to the position shown in Fig. l-that is, so that the lever M will be worked lengthwise of the carriage instead of crosswise, and in that case I arrange the cone-dial in a horizontal instead of a vertical position, as shown at T, Fig. 1. The manner of mounting the dial and index when so located is shown in detail in Fig. 5. A tubular hearing or sleeve, X, is slipped over the shaft Y, and is clamped and held in place by a clamp, It. The sleeve X is provided with a vertical stud, R, which forms a journal for the dial, and to the upper end of which the index Uis secured by one or more set-screws, as is also the index of the other dial, T, so they can be set or adjusted to correspond accurately with the marks on the dials.

By loosening the clamp R the dial and its support can be moved or adjusted to any desired position on the shaft, and so as to engage with a bevel-pinion, I, thereon, which serves to impart motion to the dial.

It will be understood that when it is desired to arrange the ratchet-wheel and lever longitudinally instead of transversely of the carriage beveled gear will be used instead of the plain gear shown, and that the shaft Z, with its attachments, together with the setrack 13, will be turned and secured at right angles to their present position, all of which is within the range of the mechanical skill of persons skilled in the art, and need not therefore be described in detail.

In order to assist in gigging back the knees at when a fresh log is to be placed on the carriage, I secure to the edge of the carriage, in rear of the head-blocks, a steel rod or shaft, to, one end of which is secured rigidly to the carriage by a strap, l, or any suitable means, while the other end is provided with a wheel or drum, to, to which one end of a chain, to, is secured, its opposite end being connected to the slide b directly in front, as shown in Fig. 1. As the knees are thrown forward during the operation of sawing a log, the shaft or rod w will have applied to it a torsional strain, which, when the set-works are released from the holding action of the ordinary holdingpawls, will at once tend to draw back the knee to which the chain is attached, and thereby the others also, they all being connected by means of shaft Y and its pinions g. A lever, O, is pivoted on the shaft Z alongside of setbracket B, as shown in Fig. 1, which lever has its opposite end provided with a rigid pawl arranged to engage with notches or teeth formed on the side of wheel \V, and thus serve to hold the parts against any backward movement until released. This lever-pawl and the notches or teeth in which it engages are so made that by removing the lever and revers' ing it on the shaft it will operate equally well when the knees and the ratchet-lever are-reversed, as before described.

By making these parts so they can be thus reversed it will be seen that the apparatus can be readily and quickly changed, so as to take the log either on the right or left hand side of the carriage, and that thus these set-works can be used either way, and can be easily changed from one side to the other, by which they are rendered far more useful and valuable.

From the foregoing description the m de of operation will be readily understood by any one skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination with the head-block a, composed of a single solid I-shaped piece, and the slide 1), fitted to slide thereon and provided with the rack A, the knee d, mounted on said slide, and having the sector-lever i, with its spring-catch l pivoted thereto, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. The holding-dogs 8, provided with the projections .r, in combination with the knee (1, provided with grooves having inclines 1r, substantially as shown and described.

3. I11 combination with the lever n for operating thedogs, the spring p, arranged to bear against the stud u or other portion of the moving parts, so as to hold the dogs back by friction created by the pressure of the spring, substantially as described.

4. The slide b, mounted on the block a, and

provided with the grooved rack-bar e, in combination with the bracket-guide h, secured to the block a, substantially as shown and described.

5. In combination with the ratchet-wheel J, provided with V-shaped teeth, the set-lever M, provided with the rigid pawl M, pivoted in the triangular recess 0 of the hub it upon the swinging arms K, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

6. In combination with the set-rack B, provided with ratchet-teeth on its sides, and the spring stop-lever H, the ratchet-lever M, provided with the projecting bolt 0, arranged to strike against stop-lever H to limit the movement of the parts, as set forth.

7. In set-works for saw-mills, the reversible set-rack B, provided with ratchet-teeth on its opposite sides, and the spring stop-lever H, both combined and arranged to operate as set forth.

8. In combination with the stop-lever H, the set-lever M, provided with the projecting bolt 0, having one or more plates, 1 2, &c., secured thereto, substantially as described, whereby they can be thrown into or out of action, and will so remain until again moved by the operator, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In combination with set-works for sawmills constructed to operate substantially as described, the rotating conical dial T and the stationary index U, arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In combination with the conical dial T the tubular support X, provided with the stud or support R and clamp R, for securing and adjusting the dial, as set forth.

WILLIAM GOWEN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. W. HARGEN, 0. A. KLUETZ.

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