Tag: John J. Tower

No. 716,386 – Plane (Maschil D. Converse) (1902)

[paiddownloads id=”576″]716386

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

_________________

MASCHIL D. CONVERSE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO
JOHN J. TOWER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

PLANE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,386, dated December 23, 1902.
Application filed October 29, 1901. Serial No. 80,470. (No model.)

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MASCHIL D. CONVERSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Planes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in planes, and more particularly to means for securing and adjusting the irons thereof; and the objects of my invention are to improve the efficiency of such and to simplify the construction and reduce the cost of manufacture.

My invention is comprised in certain novel mechanisms, construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a plane, of a type commonly known as “iron corrugated-bottom” planes, showing my invention incor-porated. Fig. 2 is a plan view of important parts of my invention, compassing the principal means for accomplishing vertical adjustment of the plane-iron. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the plane-iron and lateral-adjustment mechanism. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line x x of Fig. 1; and Figs. 5 and 6 are views, partly sectional, illustratrating modilied constructions of my invention, all showing construction, application, and operation of my invention, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in detail.

My invention may be applied to all types of planes, although I have shown it as applied to iron planes, as hereinbefore stated.

Planes have been made with mechanisms for vertical adjustment of the irons comprising bell-crank members and transverse grooves in the plane-irons to be engaged thereby pivoted to the body. Others have been made with mechanisms for vertical adjustment of the irons comprising bell-crank members and transverse slots in the plane-irons to be engaged thereby and pivoted to the body above the fulcrum-screw, and still others have been made with mechanisms for vertical adjustment of the irons comprising bell-crank members pivoted through the longitudinal slot of the plane-iron to a bed-piece at points above the fulcrum-screw and in engagement with notches in the cap-plate. Planes of such construction are expensive of manufacture, involving careful and accurate dimensioning of the throat and finishing of the ways and channels by difficult and tedious machining. In my present invention I overcome these disadvantages by novel arrangement and form of parts, dispensing entirely with the notches in the cap-plate and with the transverse grooves or slots in the plane-irons, rendering it wholly unnecessary to perform any expensive machining or fitting to compass a proper and accurate adjustment and holding of the plane-irons, all of which will be clearly seen and understood by those skilled in the art from the descriptions following.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

A is the body of the plane, B a knob attached to the front portion thereof, and C the handle proper attached to the rearward portion.

D is a post and saddle-rest, which in case of iron-body planes is preferably cast integral centrally thereof. The apex of this post l prefer to make A-shaped, (distinctly shown at a, particularly in Fig. 4,) and the face thereof sloped to correspond with the incline b at its forward and broadened base c, the latter forming pivotal points and a rest for the extreme lower end of a vertical-adjustment lever d, which is pivoted thereto by a screw e. Upon the flattened upper surface of the pivoted end of the lever d rests the lower end of a flat saddle-plate f, which lower end is slotted longitudinally and recessed or countersunk on the upper side at g to receive the said pivot-screw e, which also serves to hold it in place, though admitting of a vertical sliding movement. Adjacent to the upper end of this saddle on the nether side a projection i is cast or formed, and a V-shaped groove h is formed therein to rest in slidable engagement with the sloping A-shaped apex a of the post D, which also serves to retain the same against lateral movement, a condition necessary for the carrying out of part of my invention. At a point centrally thereof and between the V-grooved projection i and above the slot g and pivot e is another opening in the saddle at j, the narrower lowermost end of which is recessed or countersunk on the under side at k to receive the head of the fulcrum screw or stud l when the same is slipped under the laterally-overhanging edges thereof. This fulcrum screw or stud l is secured in a clamping-plate m from its under side, (and I prefer to use a screw for convenience of adjustment.) In the upper end of the clamp-plate is a gnarled-head cramp-screw n, the rounded end of which engages a depression o of a lateral-adjustment lever p, serving as a pivot therefor. The vertical-adjustment lever d is provided at its upper end with a button q for operating. Midway of the ends and laterally of the slot g in the saddle f there is a hole r (see Fig. 2) for reception of a stud s, (freely fitting it, see same figure,) which stud is fixed (preferably rigidly) upon or in the vertical-adjustment lever d at a like position laterally relatively the axis thereof and pivot-screw e. This stud s and the hole r are located on a transverse line at right angles to the longitudinal vertical centers of the lever d and sliding saddle f, respectively, directly opposite the center of the pivot-screw e and sufficiently distant therefrom that it may not bind by describing an arc of too small a radius when the lever is operated.

For convenience and so that post D and projection i may not interfere therewith the lever d is open or divided at u and joined again above at the button q.

T is the plane iron or bit, which has a slot t longitudinally its center to admit of passage of the head and shank of the fulcrum-screw l therethrough.

In the modifications shown by Figs. 5 and 6 the principles of my invention hold, these modifications being such as render my invention applicable to what are known as “block-planes.” In the case of Fig. 5 the cramp-screw n5 is inverted and screw~socketed within and on the under side of the shell-like extension of the clamp-plate m5. The gnarled head of the screw being enlarged somewhat is accessible from the lateral sides, while in the case of Fig. 6 instead of a cramp-screw a projecting point n6 serves to engage the lateral-adjustment lever p6 as its pivot, and a gnarled head cramp-screw l6 is entered from the forward upper side through the clamp-plate m6 and engages a threaded hole k6 in the saddle f6.

The operation of my invention is as follows: To raise or lower the plane-iron T, push the button q to the left or right hand, which will cause the stud s to carry the saddle f up or down as the lever is rocked on its axis at e. To square the cutting end of the plane iron or bit with the throat of the plane, push the lever p to the right or left, as may be required, which causes the eccentric v to move the bit till the desired lateral adjustment is had. All these movements may be made without loosening the cramp-screw.

I do not limit myself to the specific form of the vertical-adjustment lever described herein, except that it should be located beneath the saddle f, which rests upon its lower end, and have its pivotal axis e and saddle-engaging stud s at its lowermost end or below the transverse plane of the fulcrum-screw and the apex of the post D, nor do I limit myself to the particular form of the post or of the saddle herein described, as manifestly they may be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the novel construction and arrangement of the parts in my present invention, as well as their simplicity, make it possible to cast the same in metal to substantially finished form and dimensions, excepting the screws, thus saving the laborand cost of fitting.

I do not herein claim the lateral-adjustment mechanism shown, except in combination with the leading features of my present invention, for the reason that the same was allowed to me broadly by Letters Patent of the United States No. 619,394, dated February 14, 1899; but,

Having described my invention, what I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is —

1. In a plane a vertical-adjustment mechanism comprising a laterally-movable lever pivoted centrally to the plane-body at a point below the transverse plane of the fulcrum-screw and of the apex of the post; a stud located thereon on the top side and laterally opposite its axis, a saddle engaged by said stud held in place by the pivot-screw of said lever, and slidably resting upon the pivoted end of the same and upon the apex of a post above said fulcrum-screw, in combination with a plane-iron and means for clamping the latter upon said saddle.

2. In a plane a laterally-movable lever pivoted centrally to the plane-body at a point below the transverse plane of the fulcrum-screw and of the apex of the post; a stud located thereon on the outer side and laterally opposite its axis; a saddle engaged by said stud held in place by the pivot-screw of said lever and slidably resting upon the pivoted end of the same and upon the apex of a post, above said fulcrum-screw; a plane-iron and means for clamping the same upon said saddle, in combination with mechanism for lateral adjustment of the plane-irons.

3. In a plane a vertical-adjustment mechanism comprising a laterally-movable lever pivoted centrally to the plane-body at a point below the transverse plane of the fulcrum-screw and of the apex of the post; a saddle slidably resting upon the pivoted end of said lever and upon the apex of a post; a laterally-located stud operatively connecting said saddle and said lever below the transverse plane of the fulcrum-screw, and a plane-iron, in combination with a lateral-adjustment lever eccentrically pivoted at the upper end of a clamp-plate.

4. In a plane a vertical-adjustment mechanism comprising a laterally-movable lever pivoted at its lower end; a saddle slidably resting upon the pivoted end of said lever and upon the apex of a post removed from the pivoted end of said lever, in combination with means for operatively connecting said lever and said saddle at their respective lower ends to accomplish vertical movement of the latter.

5. In a plane a laterally-movable pivoted vertical-adjustment lever, having an opening u centrally thereof, in combination with a saddle operatively engaged by said lever and having a groove h longitudinally central thereof on its under side contacting with the apex of a central post D within the plane-body and held in place by the pivotal screw of the lever.

6. In a plane a laterally-movable pivoted vertical-adjustment lever, having an opening fa centrally thereof, in combination with a post D projecting within said opening.

MASCHIL D. CONVERSE.

Witnesses:
WARREN W. WHITNEY,
J. MEACH.

No. 392,425 – Carpenter’s Plane (James Hartness And John J. Tower) (1888)

[paiddownloads id=”442″]392425

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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JAMES HARTNESS, OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT, AND JOHN J. TOWER,
OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK; SAID HARTNESS ASSIGNOR TO SAID TOWER.

CARPENTER’S PLANE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,425, dated November 6, 1888.
Application filed January 14, 1888. Serial No. 260,769. (No model.)

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES HARTNESS, of Torrington, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, and JOHN J. TOWER, of the city of Brooklyn, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Carpenters’ Planes, of which the following is a specification.

Carpenters’ planes have been made in which the cutter-iron is held within the stock and is adjusted to cut thicker or thinner shavings by the action of a screw or a lever, and this cutter-iron is clamped to its place by a lever having hooks or lugs that catch behind the portion of the stock or movable cradle upon which the cutter-iron rests. A plane of this character is represented in Letters Patent No. 126,519, granted May 7, 1872, to O. R. Chaplin.

Our present improvement is made for preventing a difliculty that has been experienced in this character of plane-namely, that the cap-iron cannot easily be adjusted and held in the proper position to the cutting-edge of the cutter-iron, because the cap-iron has been attached to the clamp and is moved by and with the clamp when the same is placed upon the cutter-iron, and with planes, especially those having a wooden face, the cutting-edge is within the mortise and cannot be easily seen, and hence the cap-iron may slip down and injure the edge of the cutter, or it may be too far away from the edge of the cutter, and hence not act in the desired manner to break the shavings transversely and prevent the wood splitting.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of our improved plane. Fig. 2 is a I detached view of the cap-iron and cutter. Fig. 3 is a separate view of the clamp. Fig. 4 is a section at the line x x, Fig. 1.

The face of the plane and the stock are of any desired character; but our improvement is especially available when the face A of the plane is of wood, to which the metal stock B is attached, having a handle, C, and the inclined bearing D for the cutter-iron E, and this inclined bearing D, is capable of being moved up and down by the action of a screw or lever. We have represented a screw-segment, F, and lever G for adjusting the cutter-iron, as in the aforesaid patent, and the clamp H is made slightly concave upon the under side and provided with hooks or lugs I, that hook behind the inclined bearing D by moving the clamp H down over the cutter-iron, so that the hooks pass along under the bearing D, and there is a screw, K, that acts against the face of the cutter-iron at the upper end of the clamp-lever to force the lower end of such clamp against the capiron L and cutter-iron E.

Instead of connecting the cap-iron L to the clamp H by pins or otherwise, as in said patent, we make the cap-iron L with a longitudinal slot, 2, and with a narrower upper portion, 3, within which such slot is formed, and the lower end, 4, of the cap iron L is of a width corresponding to the width of the cutter-iron E, and the under side of the cap-iron L is slightly concave, as usual in cap-irons, and we make use of a screw, O, passing through the slot 2, for fastening the cap-iron L firmly to the cutter-iron E, and the slot 2 allows for the adjustment of the cap-iron L to bring the end 4 to the proper distance from the cutting-edge of the cutter-iron E. This is done after the cutter has been sharpened and before it is placed in the plane-stock, and this operation in itself is thesame as that which is performed in ordinary carpenters’ planes, and it is usually preferred by carpenters to be able to adjust the cap-iron to the cutter in this manner; but an ordinary cutter-iron and cap-iron are not adapted to the stock and clamp with which our improvement is used, because the hooks I render it necessary to make the cutter-iron narrower at the upper part than in the lower part, and to adapt the cap-iron to the cutter-iron we make the cap-iron narrower, as shown at 3, so that it may extend upwardly the desired distance on the cutter-iron and not be in the way of the hooks I, and we place the screw O with the head above the cap-iron, so that the cutter-iron may rest down flat upon the inclined bearing D; and we may stiffen the upper portion of the cap-iron L by the ribs 5, that are bent up at the edges of the narrower portion, 3, of such cap-iron. The clamp H, being slightly concave on its under side, is adapted to set over the screw o and narrow portion of the cap-iron.

In the ordinary plane-irons the cutter-iron is slotted longitudinally and the screw passes through the slot in the cutter-iron into the cap-iron. This cannot be used in the character of plane upon which our improvement is made, because the screw in that case comes at the back or under side of the cutter-iron.

The ribs 5 upon the cap-iron stiffen the same sufficiently to insure the proper contact of the end 4 of such cap-iron against the surface of the cutter-iron, and the pressure is also increased by the lower end of the clamp-lever H, that is pressed upon the same to hold the cutter in place by the action of the screw K.

The adjustment of the cutter to cut the thicker or thinner shavings is effected in the usual manner without varying the distance between the end it of the cap-iron and the cutting-edge of the cutter-iron E.

We claim as our invention —

1. The combination, with the plane-stock and the inclined bearing D, of the cutter-iron E, the slotted cap-iron L, a screw passing through the slot and attaching the same to the cutter-iron, and the clamp H, made concave to set over the screw and narrow portion of the cap-iron, having hooks I, that catch behind the inclined bearing D, and the clamping-screw K at the upper end of the clamp H for pressing the lower end of the clamp upon the cap-iron and holding the same and the cutter in place, substantially as set forth.

2. The cap-iron L, having a slot, 2, and the ribs 5 at the edges of the narrower portion, 3, of said cap-iron, in combination with the cutter-iron E and the screw O, for connecting the cap-iron to the cutter-iron, and the clamp H, having hooks I, and the screw K, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the cutter-iron E, of the cap-iron L, corresponding in width at its lower end to the width of the cutter and the upper portion, 3, being narrower and provided with a slot, 2, the screw O, for attaching the cap iron to the cutter, the clamp H, having hooks I, and the screw K, and the inclined bearing D and plane-stock, substantially as set forth.

Signed by us this 29th day of December, 1887.

JAMES HARTNESS.
JOHN J. TOWER.

Witnesses:
JOHN W. BROOKS,
W. H. COLE.

No. 379,346 – Plane (John J. Tower) (1888)

[paiddownloads id=”431″]379346

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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JOHN J. TOWER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PLANE.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,346, dated March 13, 1888.
Application filed November 1, 1886. Serial No. 217,674. (No model.)

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. TOWER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Irnprovement in Planes, of which the following is a specification.

Bench planes are extensively manufactured with wooden handles fastened into a metal plate that is screwed upon the wooden body of the plane, and this plate extends forward of the handle and is provided with vertical flanges, between which the plane-iron is received. Difficulty has heretofore been experienced in attaching the handle in such a manner that the same will not work loose when in use and so that the handle can be disconnected with facility for packing or be rapidly and firmly replaced. I make use of a screw passing through the handle at an inclination to the plane, so as to strengthen the handle, and this screw enters the iron plate so as to clamp the handle thereto, and the bottom portion of the handle is extended forward and passes in between undercut lugs upon the iron plate, so that the weight of the plane when it is lifted by the handle is partially taken upon the undercut lugs, and any tendency to bend the screw is prevented and the thrust upon the handle when the plane is in use is received jointly by the clamping-screw and the undercut lugs.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section through the handle and part of the iron plate. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the plate and an elevavation of the handle; and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan below the line x x, Fig. 1.

The plate A is usually of iron and provided with side flanges, between which the plane-iron is received, and my improvement is available with planes having a face formed of the iron plate; but l have shown the said iron plate as fastened to a wooden base, B, forming the face of the plane.

The handle C is of wood or similar material and of the desired shape for being grasped by the hand. The long part of the handle is extended forward, as at E, and its edges are inclined inwardly.

Upon the plate A are straight parallel flanges having the lugs F, which are in a position adjacent to the forward part of the base of the handle. These lugs are undercut or dovetailed, which can be most conveniently effected by a rotary cutter, so that the inner faces of the lugs correspond to the inclined sides of the bottom and forward part of the handle, and the handle is to be slipped in between the straight parallel flanges, and the forward end passes below the said lugs.

There is a hole passing through the handle in a position diagonal to the plate A, and the screw H, having a countersunk head, is passed through this handle into a threaded hole in the plate A. By this means I am able to firmly attach the handle to the plate and to allow for removing the handle with facility for packing the plane or for replacing the handle when desired for use, and the handle is not weakened by any dovetailed grooves on its edges.

In cases where a screw has been passed through the handle the weight and leverage of the plane tend to bend the screw, and when dovetailed ribs on the iron plate have received the edges of the handle such edges have been grooved on a bevel and the handle weakened, and there is nothing to prevent the handle drawing back out from the ribs.

By my improvement the lugs F only pass over the forward lower end of the handle, but they effectually hold this end from lifting and with the screw form a strong and reliable attachrnent.

If a screw were passed through the forward lower end of the handle, it would not hold the parts as strongly and reliably as the dovetail lugs.

I claim as my invention —

The combination, with the plane-handle and the screw passing through the sarne, of a metal plate into which the screw passes, and which plate has straight parallel flanges for receiving between them the lower part of the handle, and the lugs F, that come over the forward beveled end of the base of the handle, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 26th day of October, 1886.

JOHN J. TOWER.

Witnesses:
GEO. T. PINCKNEY,
WILLIAM G. MOTT.

No. 179,494 – Improvement In Bench-Planes (John J. Tower) (1876)

[paiddownloads id=”264″]179494

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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JOHN J. TOWER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BENCH-PLANES.

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Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,494, dated July 4, 1876; application filed May 29, 1876.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. TOWER, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Metal Plane-Handles, of which the following is a specification:

Metal planes have heretofore been constructed with handles of wood, and also with globular knobs at the forward end of the plane.

My improvement relates to a hollow cast-metal handle, secured to the plane by dove-tailed projections, so that the connection is very strong and durable, and at the same time the handle is very light, and of a size and shape to be grasped by the hand.

The handle is represented in the drawing by a vertical seetion, Figure 1, horizontal section, Fig. 2, and cross-section, Fig. 3.

The handle a is of cast metal, preferably of iron. It is made hollow, so as to be as light as possible and maintain the requisite strength. The general shape of this handle is similar to those made of wood, and hence it is as convenient in use. In order to strengthen the lower part of the handle, and prevent the same being bent by the attachment to the plate b of the plane, I introduce the cross-bar c, cast with the rest of the handle. Dovetails that taper slightly are employed for fastening the base of the handle to the plane-stock. These dovetails are made by lips inside the base of the handle, as seen at e. The dove-tail block f upon the plane-stock b is shorter than the base of the plane-handle a, and the dovetail portions e do not extend the whole distance along the inner edges of the handle, so that the handle a can be put over the dove-tail-block f by slipping it from the back forward, and keeping the back edge down, in order that the handle may receive the dove-tail-block, and the parts tapering, the handle may be secured firmly by driving it forward upon the dovetail block. By this construction it is not necessary to have any opening at the forward part of the base of the handle, as such base sets down flat upon the plane-stock, and makes a neat, handsome, and durable connection, the dovetail not being visible.

This hollow cast-iron plane-handle may be plated or otherwise finished, and as the handle extends to the upper surface of the bottom of the plane, the hand of the operator can be as near to the surface of the wood as possible, so that the power can be exerted to good advantage.

I do not claim a plane with a hollow knob or handle with dovetail projections for holding the plane-iron to the stock, as this has been used; neither do I claim a hollow metal plane-handle.

I claim as my invention —

The metallic plane-handle cast hollow, with a cross-bar, c, and dovetail lips e extending a part of the distance along the inner portion of the base, in combination with the dovetail block f upon the stock of the plane, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 22d day of May, A. D. 1876.

JOHN J. TOWER.

Witnesses:
GEO. T. PINCKNEY,
CHAS. H. SMITH.