US1654770A - Method of and apparatus for automatically splitting or cleaving slate blocks - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1928.

H. G. WILLIAMS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SPLITTING OR CLEAVING SLATE BLOCKS Filed Jan. 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney Jan. 3, v1928.

. H. G. WILLIAMS' Y METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SPLITTING 0R CLEAVING SLATE BLOCKS Filed Jan. 21. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 agmwa I I I I l I I I I I l I I l I I s l I I .J I I I .L

y bZ/M//z q Attorney Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED sfra=1'11;. g,

HUGI-IzG. WILLIAMS, 0F GRANVILLE, NEW YORK.

METHOD or vAnn APPARATUS Fon AUTOMATICALLY sPLITTING von GLEAVING isLA'rn BLOCKS. i

Application filed January 21, 1926. SerialzNo. 82,714. I

This invention relates broadly tov a method of automatically splitting or cleaving slate blocks, together with certainmechanism employed in carrying yout the method, the primary object. residing inl such a method and such a mechanism wherein slate blocks may be accurately cleaved or split other than by medium of the hand chisel which is the only` method known at this time,

,A Vfurther object is to provide a method and means for use in carrying out thesamc for permitting of the use of a power driven chisel Yforaccomplishing the splitting or cleaving operation which is absolutely an impossible expedient in so far as VI ram aware. i

An additional object resides in a method and 4mechanism forvyuse in carrying out the method wherein blocks may be cleaved`r or split to a plurality vof slate slabs in a much more expeditious manner thanis now possible. .l

A final salient object is to provide mechanism for use in Carrying out the method that is of relatively simple construction, and easy of manipulation, thus pern'iittiiig the method to be carried out byA ordinarily skilled stone workers.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of the invention will be better understood. my'method comprises the novel steps hereinafter more fully'pointed` out together 4with certain mechanism shown' in. the accoml'ianying drawing, hereinafter more fully described and shown.

In the drawingsl wherein there is dis# closed one manner whereby the present method may be carried out:

Figure l is an end elevation of a slate block with which is associated certain mechanism for permitting the sameto be' split or cleaved by a power driven impact chisel, certain element of which in a power driven chisel are old, while certain other elements thereof have been'perfected in order that this method maybe carried out.

Figure 2 is a side'elevation thereof, the power driven chisel being fragn'ientarily shown. l Figure 3 is a top plan view of the means adapted to be frictionally disposed over the top side of a slate block to be split or cleaved in order that this method may be carried out.

ycleawing operation.

Having yparticular reference to the draw- Figure et is an enlarged fragmentary section of one corner of said means. l

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective ot' 'one of the power driven chisel guide bars of the means. y i

' Figure 6 is a section through the connecting end 'of a conventional form of power hammer and a particular form of chisel blade provided for the proper carrying out of the method, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially upon the line 7 7 of Figure 6. i

Before describing vmy method and the means for use in carrying outA the" same, it may be well to herein state 4thatyup to the present time it has been an impossibility to cleave or splitslate through the medium of a power driven chisel or other tool, mainly for the reason that it is a physical injipossi bility to maintainthe cuttingedge of v the chisel or tool against transverse vibratory movement upon the face of the block being split, thus making it a necessity to split yor cleave these slate blocks through .the medium of a hand Ychisel and impact deliveringmallet in the hands of yan unusually skilled stone worker. In my method, use is made of a power driven splitting or cle'avingrchisel that is maintained against rotation and transverse vibration during the splitting orA ing, A designates a conventional slate block that is to be split or cleaved into a plurality "of slate slabs through reason of the present method and mechanism for use in carrying vout the same.l y

In carrying out my method I provide a chisel guiding and bracing frame 5, of sub-v stanti ally rectangular shape that is adapt-v edto be disposed upon the upper edgeA of the blockto be operated upon. rlhis frame comprises a pair of-spaced relatively elongated parallel rods 6-6 headed atene end as at 7 and threaded at their opposite ends as at 8, Figures l and 3. Pendent from the opposite ends of said rods are rect-angular shaped boards or plates 9 9 between which and freely slidable uponsaid rods are longitudinally extending chisel guiding and bracing bars 10 of flat-like material that are maintained in spaced relation through the medium of washers ll, encircling the rods, Aand being removable and interchangeable with other washers of in creased or diminished thickness for regulating the thickness of the slate slabs produced from the block A.

Encircling the rods 6 6 between the boards 9-9 and the adjacent cross bars are relatively strong eXpansible helical springs 12 that serve to maintain the bars 10 and washers 11 in close contact, but permitting of the sliding of the same upon the bars when the power driven cleaving or splitting chisel is inserted between adjacent predetermined ones of the bars, and for also maintaining predetermined ones of the bars in tight engagement with the opposite faces of the spring or cleaving chisel for preventing` transverse vibrations of the same. l

As previously mentioned, the frame 5 is adapted to be disposed over the top side of the block A in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 1, and in order thatl this frame will be maintained in friCtio'nal engagement with the block I provide arcuate shaped leaf springs 13 secured at their upper .ends to the boards 9 9 adjacent the outer edges thereof for contacting the opposite sides of said block as clearly shown also in Figure 1. The lower ends ofthese springs Contact the boards 9-9 for preventing the outward bending of the same which would otherwise reduce their block securing power. Y

The frame just described permits the use of a power driven chisel in the splitting or cleaving of the block which in this instance constitutes Vthe provision of a generally conventional type of blade 14 associated with an air or steam cylinder 15 of a conventionalv type of impact hammer within which is the usual impact 'delivering plunger or bullet. In the use of such power driven splitting chisel it is' necessary that a connection be provided between the cylinder and blade 15 and 14 respectively in order that said blade will not rotate during operation thereof. To this end, the blade 14 is formed at its upper end with aiiat shank 16, the upper end of which is rounded as at 17 for engagement within the usual externally threaded circular neck 18 upon the lower end of the cylinder 15.

Directly beneath the rounded portion 17 of the shank is a cross tang 19, and in order that theblade may be slidably but non-rotatably Connected to the neck 18 of the cylinder, there is provided an internally threaded thirnble 20 for threaded engagementr upon said neck, the bottom" wall of which is formed with a circular opening 21 at diametrically opposed .points of which are notches 22-22 for permitting the tang 19 of the shank 16 to be passed therethrough. The inner face of the bottom wall of said thimble is formed with cross slots 28-[23 between the notches 22-22 for receiving the ends of the tang after the shank has been passed through the opening and then given a quarter turn,

The upper end of the cylinder 15 is adapted to have communication with a source of compressed air or steam supply through rea-` son of a quick acting thumb control valve 24 of conventional construction. l i l It will thus be seen that I have provided highly novel and eliicient mechanism wherein slate blocks Vmay be split .or cleaved through a method of applying a power driven chisel to the surface of the block and then operating the same without the consequent rotation of the blade as well as the transverse vibrations thereof, resulting in a clean split and for permitting the block to be split or cleaved into slabs of desired vthickness in an expeditious manner. f

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters vpatent is l C l. In a structure of the class described, a multiplicity of bars adapted to be disposed across thetop surface of a slate block, and a supporting and retaining frame structure upon which said bars are mounted, said frame including yieldable b-lock vengaging springs for frictionally holding the frame upon the block.

2. In a structure ofv the class described,

a pair of plates adapted lfor vertical disposition, horizontally disposed rods connectingy said plates together' in spaced relation, a plurality of guide bars supported upon said rods for sliding movement, means for 1naintaining the bars in spaced parallelism also carried by said rods, springs surrounding the end portions of the rods and bearing against the plates, land bowed springs car ried by said plates and adapted to press against the block.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HUGH G. WILLIAMS.

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