US417519A - Pavin g - b log k-c u tying mac mine - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(-No Model.)

' L. T. SOUTI-IWORTH, PAVING BLOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 417,519. Patented Dec. 17, 1889'.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

L. T. SOUTHWORTH. PAVING BLOCK CUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LORENZO T. SOUTHl/VORTH, OF EVART, MICHIGAN.

PAVl N e- BLOC K-CUTTI NG MACH IN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,519, dated December 17, 1889. Application filed March 1, 1889. Serial No. 301,633. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORENZO T. SOUTH- WORTH, a .citizen of the United States, residing at Evart, in the county of Osceola and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paving-Block- Outting Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for trimming paving-blocks for wooden pavements, the primary object of my invention being to remove the bark and to utilize as much as possible such paving-blocks as are now rejected on account of not being within the specification as regards the size, shape, or soundness of the blocks.

The wood-paving specifications mostly in vogue specify the diameter of the round blocks as generally used not to be above a certain figuresay twelve inchesand larger blocks are therefore thrown out. The same is the case with blocks having certain defects, such as too much sap on the outside, a rotten core, or too irregnlarshape. By a judicious manipulation in trimming a large number of these paving-blocks can be worked up to make good blocksas, for instance, the large-sized blocks can be reduced in size, if otherwise good, making the largest allowable size of them; or, if such large blocks should be rotten in the center, they may be divided and then the sections trimmed to form smaller blocks; or, if the blocks are rotten or have too much sap on the outside, they may be trimmed around the periphery to form ground-blocks Another proviso generally found in specifications is that there shall be no bark adhering to the outside of the blocks. As the peeling of the timber is often very difficult, I propose to cut the blocks without removing the bark and then trim them just enough on the outside to remove the bark. This .is more expeditious and makes better blocks. I

A further objectof my invention is to make larger-sized timber available for pavingblocks by merely trimming them down to the size or by dividing them into sections and trimming the same around.

To this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of circular or polygonal dies of graduated sizes with reciprocating followers, by means of which the blocks to be trimmed are forced into the dies, and in combining such devices with an automatic feeding device for the blocks, all as more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional plan view showing the relative arrangement of the dies and followers. Fig.2 is a plan view on a larger scale with the feed-troughs partly broken away, so as to disclose the oscillating feedshafts near the bottom of the feed-troughs. Fig. 3 is a vertical central cross-section 011 line X X in Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a cross-section on line Y Y in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a crosssection on line Z Z in Fig. 2.

A are parallel bed-timbers connected by suitable cross-timbers A to form a support-- ing-frame for the operating parts of the machine.

B is a main shaft journaled transversely 7 circular heads G and wrist-pins H, which engage into the grooves of the cams, respectively. The shanks of the followers are provided with the slots 1, through which the shaft B passes to guide the rear ends of the followers, while the front end of the followers is supported and guided in suitable boxes J.

K, K, K and K are cylindrical or polygonal dies, secured in axial line with the followers against a strong abutment of the bedframe. The dies for the different followers are graduated, the die K being the smallest and the die K being the largest. The head of each follower and its respective die are located in a well L, formed between the timbers of the bed-frame, and on the bottom of said well is secured a bearing M, suitably curved upon its upper side to form a rest for the paving-block, so as to present it endwise to the die and to the head of the follower.

Communicating with each well are inclined troughs None for each welland which are suitably inclined and large enough to form a rollway for the blocks to be subjected to the operation of the machine. 011 the bottom side, near the lower end of each rollway, is journaled a feedshaft O, whichis provided within the rollway with the two sets of arms P and P. This shaft is provided upon one side with a crank-disk Q, to which a pitman R is pivotally secured. The lower end of this pitman is pivotally secured to a vibrating lever S, which is fulcrumed at a. This lever S is actuated intermittently by means of the tappet-arm T, which is preferably formed integral with the cams E, and which isadapted with its free end I) to strike during the revolution of the cam against the free end 0 of the lever S, and thereby depress it suiticiently to oscillate the feed-shaft 0 about a quarter of a revolution.

U is a retracting-weight connected to the chain V, which passes over a pulley V and is secured with its free end directly to the most distant crank-disk Q and indirectly through the medium of the chains V to all the intermediate crank-disks. Upon each of the oscillating feed-shafts O is also secured a suitable retracting-spring V. Each rollway is further provided with a shaft (1, journaled near the top side of each rollway and provided with the stopd, adapted to project into the rollway, and the free end of this shaft is provided with the crank (1 which is connected by means of a rope or chain (1 to the crankdisk Q.

In practice, the parts being constructed and arranged as shown and described, they are intended to operate as follows: The shaft B is continuously revolved by suitable power, and thereby, through the medium of the cams E, the followers are reciprocated from or toward the dies. \Vhen fully retracted, the space between the head of the follower and its opposite die is sufficient to admit a paving-block, and when fully projected the head is in close proximity to the cutting-edge of the die. The cams E are so set upon the shaft B in relation to each other that the followers operate at succeeding and like intervals for the purpose of distributing the power required to trim the blocks. By examining the configuration of the cam E, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that at the point of its greatest retraction the wrist-pin of the follower is in the most concentric portion of the cam, and as the cam turns in the direction of the arrow it will be seen that the follower is projected at its slowest speed, but with its greatest power; but gradually the speed of the follower increases and becomes fastest toward the end of the stroke, and then it is quickly reversed again, fastest at the beginning, and gradually slower until it is fully reversed. To aid the follower at the point of reversal, where the cam is very abrupt, a spring 0 may be secured at the free end of each follower to act by its tension. From this action of each follower it will be seen that if a block is inserted between the head of the follower and its respective die, so as to present its flat ends thereto respectively, the block, if larger than the die, will be pressed with great force at first against the die, and then will be rapidly forced into it, causing it to be trimmed all around, and then the follower will quickly withdraw, rcmainin g practically ata standstill for a short time to ail'ord an opportunity fora new block to fall into place. The supports of the blocks to be trimmed are adjusted in such relative positions to the dies and followers as to center each block in relation to the die, providin g the block has been presented to the proper die. The blocks trimmed by the dies force each other out through the open end of the dies and may fall onto a carrier which deposits them away from the machine, and the waste from the trimming falls through the open bottom of the well and may be similarly removed to be used as fuel or otherwise. The automatic feed which I combine with this device is actuated at the proper time by the tappet-arm T of each cam. At the time when the follower is completely reversed, or nearly so, the tappet strikes the free end 0 of the lever S, thereby imparting an oscillating motion to the shaft 0 through the medium of the pitman R and crankdisk Q.

If blocks to be trimmed are in the rollways, as shown in Fig. 4, the lowest one rests against the arms P during the normal position of the feed-shaft. As soon as the feedshaftbegins to oscillate, this arm moves into the position shown in the uppermost rollway in Fig. 4. In this position the block is free to fall into the well between the die and follower, and enough time is provided to allow it to do so and resume a quiescent position before the follower takes hold of it. The remaining blocks in the rollway are prevented from falling out by the arm (1 on the shaft (1, which is simultaneously projected into the path of the blocks in the rollway bymeans of its connection with the crank-disk Q.

As soon as the feed-shaft O is operated to release one of the blocks it is moved back to its position again, while the arm d simultaneously therewith is released to allow the blocks in the rollway to be brought down against the feed-arm. To make the passage from the rollway into the well smooth and unobstructed, I secure a curved guide f to form the connection between the well and rollway. The weight of the blocks in the rollwayis prevented from actuating the feedshafts by the retracting-springs ',which are under sufficient tension to resist it. In 0011- nection with this provision the incline of the rollways is provided with the direct view of limiting or reducing the weight of the blocks to act with just enough force to allow them to gently slide down the rollway whenever they are free to do so.

The retracting-weight U is for the purpose of retracting the levers to their normal posi- 417,519 r I I 3 tion, in which position they are arrested against suitable stops, such as the under side of the follower, as shown in Fig. 5.

The operator having in his mind the different sizes of the dies will readily be able to judiciously feed the blocks into the open ends of the rollways to bring them to the proper cutters for trimming.

By meang of my machine I am enabled to do the work in a very expeditious manner, as it will be seen that the parts are all automatic.

I do not intend to confine myself to any number of dies, as the same may be more or less, as practical considerations may dictate, without altering the spirit of my invention.

Without an automatic feed a' machine of this kind would not only be impracticable but dangerous on account of the eminent danger of maiming an operator, who would be obliged to present the blocks byhand, and therefore I claim that the combination of the automatic feed with my device is of great practical value. The other movable parts of the machine are suitably covered, so as to exclude all danger of accidents.

By means of the grooved cams I am e11- abled to work the machine at high speed, and at the same time give the necessary time for allowing the blocks to fall into place between the follower and die, as the machine defers all motion at this instant.

shaft, the dies, the inclined rollways, the

feed-shafts in the rollways, and the vibrating lever and connections operating the feedshaft, substantially as described.

2. In a block-cutting nachine, the combination of the cams having tappet-arms, of

the vibrating levers operated by said arms, the pitmen connected to the vibrating levers, and the feed-shafts connected to the pitmen and operated thereby, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the following elements: the horizontally-reciprocating followvers, the fixed graduated dies, the centeringrests, the inclined rollways communicating therewith, and the oscillating feed-shafts provided with the two sets of arms, substantially as described.

4. In a block-cutting machine, the combination of the driving-shaft, the cams having the tappet-arms, the followers having slots to receive the driving-shaft, the dies, the rollways above the dies, the feed-shafts in the rollways, the pitmen connected to the feedshafts, and the vibrating levers connected to the pitmen and adapted to be operated by the tappet-armsof the cams, substantially as described.

5. In a block-cutting machine, the frame having the wells, the driving-shaft mounted I having two sets of arms, the crank-disks and retracting-springs on the feed-shafts, the pitmen connected to the crank-disks, and the vibrating levers connected to the pitmen and adapted to be operated by the tappet-arms on the cam, substantially as described.

6. In a paving-block machine, the combination, with a frame A, of the grooved cam E, provided with a tappet T, the reciprocating follower F, a fixed die K, the centeringrest M, the Well L, in which the centering-rest and die are located, the inclined rollway N, communicating therewith, the lever S, the oscillating feed-shaft 0, provided with the arms P and P, and the stop d, substantially as described.

7. In a paving-block machine, substantially as described, the combination, with the shaft 0, the cams E, and means for operating the feed-shafts, of the inclined rollways N, the feed-shafts 0, provided with the arms P and P, the crank-disks Q, the levers S, pitmen R, the retracting-weight U, the idler V, the chains V and V .and the retracting-springs W, all combined to operate substantially as described.

8. In a paving-block-cutting machine, the combination, with the dri ving-shaft and cams, of the followers having pins traveling in the cams, slots to receive the driving-shaft, and the springs connected to the followers, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a paving-block-cutting machine, the combination of the frame having the wells, the supports or bearing-blocks therein, the inclined rollways communicating With the Wells, the feed-shafts in said rollways, the stops in the rollways above the feed-shafts, the vibrating levers, pit-men and tappet-arms for operating the feed-shafts and stops, and the guides in the rollways for guiding the blocks to the supports or bearing-blocks, substantially as described.

10. In a paving-block-cutting machine, the combination of the frame, the inclined roll- Ways, the driving-shaft, the cams on the driving-shaft having the tappet-arms,the followers operated by the cams, the vibrating levers adapted to be struck by said arm, the pitmen connected to the vibrating levers, the crank-disks connected to the pitmen, the feedshafts, and'the shafts having the stops connected to 'and operated by the crank-disks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature,

in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of January, 1889.

I LORENZO T. SOUTHWORTH.

WVitnesses:

J. PAUL MAYER, A. B. EATON.

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