received within bearings in the bifurcated rear-end extension, w2, of another rod, W, which latter is made in two sections in front of the bifurcated portion joined by a sleeve, W', so as to be adjustable in length, and secured in said adjustment by setscrews, w', w'. The front portion of this rod is tubular and loosely receives the rear end or shank of a shaft bearing, W2, whose front end receives a flexible shaft, X, whose lower end connects with the cutting-tool, R', in similar fashion to the flexible shafts of dental engines, while the upper end of said shaft is connected to a pulley, x, from which an endless belt, X', extends to and around a large pulley, X2, on the shaft, w, which shaft also bears a smaller pulley, x', from whence leads a belt, x2, to a source of power. (Not shown.) The projecting rear ends of the extensions, w2, of the bifurcated rod, W, are each provided with a weight, w3, to

Fig.2.

2

counterbalance the forward projecting end of the rod, W, and the flexible shaft, X. It is necessary, however, that the driving mechanism be more or less flexible, and a directly-connected single belt, such as has been heretofore commonly used in carving-machines, cannot be employed in our machine, since any movement of the driven cutting-tool toward the driving-pulley would slacken the belt and diminish or check the motion of the tool.

"We adopt the device of the flexible shaft shown and described herein in lieu of a single belt or other power-transmitter which does not permit the free movement of the cutting-tool from back to front and side to side of the work-table without interfering with the motion of the cutting-tool. The necessary speed of rotation imparted to this tool is very great, and, though it depends upon and varies with the material worked and size of tool em

ployed, we have found that ordinary woods are best treated with tools not larger than a quarter to five-sixteenths of an inch (and in finishing much smaller tools are used), and running at a speed of from ten thousand to fifteen thousand revolutions per minute. To maintain this high speed, it is desirable to have the most effective means of transmission possible, and, in order to make the machine delicate in movement, the traveling parts must be light, as otherwise the momentum of these parts in their movement would interfere with fine work. It will, of course, be understood, also, that any suitably-constructed framework may be employed to support and carry the operative mechanism of our machine, and the words 'timber' and 'timbers,' etc., occurring in the specification, are intended to include any corresponding

Fig.3.

or equivalent parts of a frame of metal or other material that may be adopted.

"Y is the operating-table, the preferred form of which is shown in detail in Fig. 15, and which is cut out to receive two circular plates, y, y, flush with the top thereof, and having downwardly-extending hubs, y', y', slots, y2, y2, and holes for central removable screw-points, y3. The table is supported on the front projecting portions of the longitudinal horizontal timbers, B', B', and bolted to the under sides of said timbers is a transverse timber, B2, to which are attached the boxes, b2, b2, of the vertical spindles, Z, Z, and the lug, b', carrying a downward-projecting stud, b3, which supports an intermediate gear, Z', meshing with the gears, Z2, Z2, which are fast upon the vertical spindles, Z, Z, which latter are stepped in a base-plate, z, and to whose upper portions the hubs, y', of the plates, y, are also secured, while the removable screw-points, y3, are fastened in the tops of these spindles. Thus

any movement of one spindle will produce a corresponding movement in the other, and the two attached plates, y, y, will always move together equally. "We will next proceed to describe the operation of our machine. As already described, the guiding-tool and cutting-tool are so connected that any movement of one will be faithfully duplicated by the other, the said movement being wholly unrestricted in direction, and limited only in extent. The preferred cutting-tool, R', is a sphere pierced by a cylindrical hole of diameter smaller than the sphere, tangent to the sphere at one point, and two of the edges of the hole thus formed being made cutting-edges, and the rest of the spherical surface cut away to form a clearance, while the guiding-tool is necessarily of the same outline as the cutting-tool before the hole and cutting126 F.-12

440

edges are formed in the latter. For carving objects in high relief-groups of statuary, figures, etc.-we place the model or pattern upon the plate, y, under the guiding-tool, and fasten the screw-point, y3, firmly into the top of the corresponding vertical spindle, Z, and into the base of said model, as clearly indicated at the right in Fig. 15, and, if necessary, additional screws may be inserted from below the plate, through the slots, y2, therein, into the base of said model or pattern, and then upon the other plate, y, below the cutting-tool, the block to be carved is similarly secured (said block being preferably roughly cut into the general outlines of the model, so as to remove wholly the superfluous material), and then the guiding-tool is held by the operator and passed over the model, so as to bring it into contact with every portion of the surface thereof, the cutting-tool making the same motions simultaneously, and as the latter is revolved at the necessary speed (according to the material being carved) by means of the power transmitted through the belt, X', flexible shaft, X, and attachments, the said tool will cut out the block into the exact configuration of the model. When the surface nearest the operator is entirely carved, he has only to grasp one of the gear-wheels, Z2, and give it a slight movement, to bring a fresh surface of both model and block before him, and thus he can always work to the greatest advantage with the part of the model to be copied and block to be carved directly in front of him. When a panel, bas-relief, or other flat object is to be carved, the model and block are simply fastened in place on the table, Y, and carved as before, except that in such instances the said model and block do not have to be rotated. In case a very long object is to be carved, we find it expedient to remove the screw-points, y3, and employ an auxiliary table (merely a flat board) placed on top of the table, Y, and with the model and block secured to said auxiliary table, so that the design can be copied in sections within the limits of movement of the tool-rod and attachments; and, in order to insure the perfectly-straight movement of the auxiliary table when it is to be moved to bring a fresh section into place, we prefer to employ an ordinary adjustable gauge of any suitable construction, as shown at Y' in Figs. 2 and 3, to make a straight-edged guide for said auxiliary table. When operating on long pieces whose periphery is to be carved-as, for example, furniture-legs, stair-posts, canes, umbrella-handles, and the likea modification in the arrangement of the operating-table is necessary, and illustrated in Figs. 18, 19, and 20. This change is practically merely substituting a vertical position of the parts for their former horizontal position, and vice versa; the gear-wheels, Z2, Z2, and intermediate gears, Z', and plates, y. being vertically arranged, while the spindles, Z, and shaft, bз (which takes the place of b3), are now horizontal. When the model and piece to be carved are of moderate length, no further support than that offered by the screw-points, y3, and screws through the slots in the plates, y, is necessary; but, if the said model and block are unusually long and heavy, it becomes essential to provide a support for their opposite ends, as indicated in Figs. 18 and 20, and to this purpose (and to further provide for varying lengths of the articles to be carved) the upper surface of the table, Y2 (which takes the place of table, Y, and rests on the longitudinal timbers, B' B'), is provided with two longitudinal T-slots, y4, y4, which receive tongues b4, depending from the bases of the boxes b2, and similar tongues b5, depending from the bases of the foot-stocks b6, which carry the centers b7, so that the said foot-stocks may be moved within the said slots to any point to or from the plates y necessary on account of the length of the model and block and then fastened at the desired point by tightening the T-bolt bs, as shown best in detail view, Fig. 20, while by reason of the described slots, y4, the centers, y3 and b7, will always be kept in line. For greater convenience in operating the gears, Z2, Z2, to turn the model and block, the shaft, b3, of the intermediate gear, Z', is extended to beneath the front of the table, Y2, and there supported in suitable bearing, bo, and provided with a hand-wheel, b10.

"In order to accommodate the table, Y2, to work which is so long as to require to be done in sections, the said table may be grooved, as at y5, on the under side, so as to rest upon suitable tracks, B3, secured to the upper surfaces of the timbers, B', and thus the table may be moved back and forth, after the fashion of the auxiliary table hereinbefore described, for accom

plishing a like purpose with flat work, the described grooves and tracks serving the purpose of the gauge, Y', in section work.

"While we have described our two parallel motions as 'vertical' and 'horizontal,' respectively, this was merely for convenience, and we wish it understood that our said combined two motions may be suspended at any variation to a right angle found convenient in any given instance, or that either motion may be suspended at any desired inclination."

The claims in patent No. 443,802, of which infringement is alleged, are numbered and read as follows:

"(8) In a carving machine, the combination with a suitable supportingframe, of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connected therewith, and so constructed as to permit the free movement of said tool carriage while the latter is kept constantly parallel to a fixed line, a guiding tool and a cutting tool connected with each other and with the tool carriage by a jointed connection, permitting the simultaneous movement of the same, and permitting the inclination of the cutting tool at a varying angle to the tool carriage, and mechanism for imparting motion to the cutting tool, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

"(9) In a carving machine, the combination, with a suitable supporting frame, of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connected therewith, and so constructed as to permit the free movement of said tool carriage while the latter is kept constantly parallel with a fixed line, a guiding and cutting tool connected with each other and with the tool carriage by a universally-jointed connection, permitting the simultaneous movement of the same, and the inclination of the cutting tool at any angle to the tool carriage, and the mechanism for imparting motion to the cutting tool, substantially as and for the purposes set forth."

"(12) In a carving machine, the combination, with a suitable frame, of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connected therewith, a guiding tool and a cutting tool pivotally connected with the tool carriage, a connection from one tool to the other, and a flexible power-transmitter connecting the cutting tool with a source of power, said parts being arranged substantially as set forth, whereby the movement of the guiding tool over a pattern is caused to produce like movement of the cutting tool, and said cutting tool is rendered capable of inclination.

"(13) In a carving machine, the combination, with a suitable frame, of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connected therewith, a guiding tool and a cutting tool connected with the tool carriage by a universal-joint connection, and connected with each other so that the movement of the guiding tool over a pattern shall produce similar movements in the cutting tool, and a flexible power-transmitter connecting the cutting tools with a suitable source of power, substantially as and for the purposes set forth."

"(19) In a carving machine, the combination, with a suitable frame, of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connecting the same with said frame, connected guiding and cutting tools having a jointed connection with the tool carriage, permitting their simultaneous movement and the inclination of the cutting tool to said carriage, mechanism for imparting motion to the cutting tool, and a sliding work support or table, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

"(20) In a carving machine, the combination, with a supporting frame, of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connecting the same with said frame, connected guiding and cutting tools having a universal joint connection with said tool carriage, and a sliding work support or table, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

"(21) In a carving machine, the combination, with a suitable supporting frame, of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connecting the same with said frame, connected guiding and cutting tools having a jointed connection with the tool carriage, permitting their inclination thereto, a flexible power-transmitter connecting said cutting tool with the source of power, and a sliding work support or table, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

“(22) In a carving machine, the combination with a supporting frame of a tool carriage, a parallel motion connecting the same with said frame, connected guiding and cutting tools having a universal joint connection with