U.S. patent number 3,809,049 [Application Number 05/203,527] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-07 for apparatus for cutting rough-surfaced stone bodies.
This patent grant is currently assigned to H. E. Fletcher Co.. Invention is credited to Ralph A. Fletcher, Joseph R. Oliver.
United States Patent |
3,809,049 |
Fletcher , et al. |
May 7, 1974 |
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING ROUGH-SURFACED STONE BODIES
Abstract
Rough-surfaced blocks of stone are cut into a number of smaller
pieces of a desired thickness by means of specially designed
guillotine cutting apparatus in which isostatically held cutting
elements are engaged against an upper side of a block and cooperate
with a lower set of cutting elements of conventional form
engageable with the underside of the block to apply hydraulically
actuated cutting forces. The invention method and apparatus
provides for the isostatically held cutting elements being
removably contained in a vertically adjustable retaining structure.
Each of the cutting elements is specially designed to work against
a very rough-surfaced block, for example, one having a top side
presenting sloping surfaces and projections whose deviations from a
plane surface exceed the capacilities of conventional guillotine
cutters. Spring means are combined with the cutting elements to
provide rapid cutter positioning both during and after a cut is
made and sides of the cutting elements are yieldably supported to
absorb lateral displacement forces when angularly engaged against
the sloping surface portions of the block.
Inventors: |
Fletcher; Ralph A. (Bedford,
NH), Oliver; Joseph R. (Lowell, MA) |
Assignee: |
H. E. Fletcher Co. (Westford,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
22754346 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/203,527 |
Filed: |
December 1, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
125/23.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B28D
1/222 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B28D
1/22 (20060101); B28d 001/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;125/23R,23C,23T
;145/62,61J |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Whitehead; Harold D.
Assistant Examiner: Godici; Nicholas P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hamilton; Munroe H.
Claims
1. A machine for cutting a rough-surfaced block of a mineral body,
said machine including spaced vertical sides, upper and lower
transverse frame members mounted between the sides in vertically
spaced relation, a set of cutting elements adjustably supported in
the lower frame member and movable into contact with the block, a
second set of cylindrically shaped cutting elements attached to the
upper transverse frame member and movable into an opposite side of
the block, hydraulic ram means for forcing the sets of cutting
elements toward one another, said cutting elements being formed
with ring retaining ribs and sealing rings received therein,
cylindrically shaped chamber means for independently supporting
each of the upper cylindrically shaped cutting elements for
vertically reciprocating movement to define fluid retaining spaces
of varying volume, a supply manifold, a quantity of fluid for
filling the manifold and fluid retaining spaces, and spring means
located around the cylindrical cutting elements and cooperating
with the cutting elements and their sealing rings to normally hold
the cutting elements in a position of horizontal
2. In a stone cutting machine of the class which includes a
conveyor for moving a block of stone along a desired path of
travel, upright support members located at opposite sides of the
conveyor, hydraulic rams received in the upright support members,
upper and lower transverse frame elements vertically adjustable
between the upright support members and responsive to movement of
the hydraulic rams, and upper and lower sets of cutting means
mounted in respective frame elements, the combination of an
auxiliary cutting apparatus usable in place of the said upper set
of cutting means, said cutting apparatus including a
cutter-retaining body (formed at its upper side with a
channel-shaped bearing section), means for rotatably securing the
cutter retaining body to the upper transverse frame element and
moving the channel-shaped bearing section into and out of abutting
relationship with an underside of said upper frame element to
enclose the said upper set of cutting elements in protectively
housed relationship, means for detachably holding the
cutter-retaining body in said abutting relationship with the frame
member, a fluid containing manifold mounted along one edge of the
cutter-retaining body, a plurality of spaced tubular enclosures
solidly mounted on the retaining body and having cylindrical
retainers detachably secured therein, cylindrical cutter elements
sealably received in the cylindrical retainers, each of the cutter
elements being formed with annular sealing means arranged to define
a fluid-containing chamber which is connected to the
fluid-containing manifold, means for supplying a volume of fluid
under pressure to the manifold and to the fluid containing chambers
of the enclosures, and spring means disposed around the cylindrical
cutter elements for engaging the annular sealing means externally
of the fluid-containing chambers and maintaining said chambers of
normally equal
3. In a stone cutting machine of the class which includes a
conveyor for moving a block of stone along a desired path of
travel, upright support members located at opposite sides of the
conveyor, hydraulic ram means received in the upright support
members, upper and lower transverse beams vertically adjustable
between the upright support members and responsive to movement of
the hydraulic ram means, a set of cutting elements mounted in the
lower transverse beam, said upper transverse beam including a
depending frame structure, a second set of cutting elements
supported for vertical adjustment in said frame structure, said
frame structure presenting a horizontally disposed base member, a
plurality of separated cylindrical enclosure bodies rigidly
suspended from the underside of the base member and having
cylindrical chambers therein, respective cylindrically shaped
cutting elements received in the cylindrical chambers for
vertically reciprocating movement, each of said cutting elements
being formed at an intermediate part with an annular rib occurring
in spaced relation to an adjacent end wall of a respective
cylindrical chamber to define a variable fluid retaining space,
each of said annular ribs being formed with a ring groove and a
sealing ring located therein to retain fluid in respective fluid
retaining spaces, a fluid supply manifold supported at one side of
the frame structure, conduit means connecting the manifold with
each of the said variable fluid retaining spaces in the cylindrical
chambers, each of said cylindrical chambers at a lower end thereof
being provided with a threaded closure member through which a
respective cutting element may be slidably adjusted, coiled spring
members located around each of the cylindrically shaped cutting
elements, and each coiled spring member being compressibly
contained between a respective threaded closure at a lower end and
a respective annular rib of a cutter element at an upper end, a
quantity of fluid confined in the manifold and fluid retaining
spaces and being of a volume corresponding to the combined volume
of the manifold and the fluid retaining spaces, and said coiled
springs being of a uniform size and compressibility to yieldably
maintain each of the said fluid retaining spaces of uniform volume
when the cutting
4. A structure according to claim 3 in which the upper transverse
beam is recessed to receive a third set of cutting elements which
project downwardly, and said frame structure is supported for
rotation about a horizontal axis into and out of a horizontally
disposed position below the said downwardly projecting cutting
elements and said frame structure further including a channel
shaped bearing portion which is operative to enclose the said third
set of downwardly projecting cutting elements when the frame is
held in a horizontally disposed position.
Description
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting a
block of stone with a machine of the type generally referred to as
a guillotine machine in which the block is supported between upper
and lower sets of hydraulic pressure-operated cutting elements and
the block is cut into a number of smaller pieces of a desired
thickness.
In one specific aspect, the invention is concerned with a method
and apparatus for cutting into usable form waste pieces of granite
resulting from flame channelling and other granite quarrying
operations. These waste pieces are commonly referred to in granite
working as "rough-backs." The rough-back pieces usually have one
side relatively smooth as a result of wire sawing and an opposite
side presenting a rough exterior characterized by sloping surfaces
and projections extending outwardly, for example, throughout a
range of from 2 to 5 inches or more. It is found that rough-back
blocks and similar rough-surfaced mineral bodies cannot be handled
satisfactorily by conventional sets of cutting elements employed in
guillotine machines as presently used. A chief difficulty arising
in working rough-back blocks or other very rough-surfaced blocks is
due to limitation in the distance through which conventional
cutting elements may be moved in adjusting to the surface to be
engaged. For example, in using a guillotine machine such as a
Hydrasplit Machine, manufactured and sold by Park Tool Company of
St. Cloud, Minnesota, the wedge adjusting mechanism utilized to
permit individual chisel blocks to be retracted or lowered in
accordance with the contour of an irregular surface against which
the set of chisels is applied cannot accommodate many
rough-surfaced blocks. Up to the present time, therefore,
substantial quantities of stone pieces such as rough-backs and the
like have not been regarded as usable and have been treated as
waste, thus increasing cost of quarrying generally.
It is a chief object of the invention to cope with the problems
indicated and to devise improved methods and means for cutting
rough-surfaced blocks of stone such as rough-backs and the like
into usable form in a practical and economical manner.
Another object of the invention is to devise an improved method of
engaging individually adjusting cutting elements along a
rough-surfaced block of stone having a relatively large deviation
from a plane surface.
Still another object is to provide a method of applying hydraulic
cutting pressure utilizing a set of isostatically held cutting
elements to engage an upper rough-surface of a block in cooperation
with a lower set of cutting elements of conventional nature
engageable against the underside of the block.
Another object is to devise an attachment for a guillotine machine
by means of which a set of isostatically held cutting elements may
be detachably received to a guillotine type machine to take the
place of an upper set of conventional wedge operated chisel
blocks.
Still another object is to provide a set of isostatically held
cutting elements combined with spring means to provide for rapid
cutter positioning both during and after a cut is made so that a
minimum of operative time is required and cutting may proceed at a
much faster rate than has heretofore been possible.
The nature of the invention and its other objects and novel
features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the
following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a guillotine type machine
having combined therewith adjustable cutting means of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is another elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1
as viewed from an opposite side thereof;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view further illustrating the adjustable
cutting means of the invention in a typical operative position;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine
showing the cutting means of the invention partly in cross
section;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view of an adjustable
cutting means of the invention further illustrating its use as an
attachment to a conventional stone cutting machine;
FIG. 6 is a detail view, partly in cross section, illustrating in
dotted lines a position assumed by the adjustable cutting means of
the invention when the machine is used in the conventional
manner.
FIG. 7 is an elevational view illustrating a modified form of the
cutting means of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a block of stone having rough
surfaces of the nature dealt with in the invention.
Referring more in detail to the drawings, attention is directed to
FIGS. 1-5 in which we have illustrated one preferred embodiment of
our invention constructed in the form of an attachment for use with
a conventional guillotine machine of the general class indicated
above. It should be understood that the method and apparatus
disclosed hereinafter in the detailed description of the FIGS. 1-5
is not intended to be taken as limiting the invention to use in the
form of an attachment only, and the basis concept and mode of
operation together with the isostatic holding principle may be
desired to be employed as a permanently constructed part of
guillotine machines of various types.
The principal parts of the apparatus of the invention include a set
of individually contained cutting elements; fluidically controlled
means for isostatically holding the cutting elements in varying
positions of adjustment with respect to an irregular surface of a
block of stone; and an adjustable retaining structure for moving
the set of cutting elements and the fluidically controlled means
into and out of an operative position.
One desirable form of adjustable retaining structure is illustrated
in FIGS. 1-6. FIG. 7 illustrates another desirable form. Indicated
in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1-6 is a rotary frame secured in
hinged relationship to a transverse beam component of the
guillotine machine in a position to be swung into and out of an
operative position immediately below upper cutting elements
conventionally employed in the machine. The rotary frame is of
rugged construction and specially designed with bearing means
capable of receiving heavy loads and large pressures normally
exerted by the hydraulic rams mechanism of a guillotine machine. In
combination with the rotary frame is provided a set of cutting
elements isostatically held in cylindrical enclosure bodies secured
at one side of the rotary frame. Each of the enclosure bodies is in
sealed communication with a fluid body of a constant volume
confined in a manifold member which is also mounted at one side of
the rotary frame.
Considering these parts in greater detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate
a guillotine type machine of the class used in cutting stone and
generally denoted in the drawings by arrow M. As shown therein, the
machine M is constructed with spaced vertical sides 2 and 4 in
which are contained hydraulic ram means of a type well known in the
art. Located between the vertical sides 2 and 4 are upper and lower
transverse beam members 6 and 8 which are vertically adjustable in
response to movement of the hydraulic rams in the well-known
manner. Two sets of conveyor rolls, C1 and C2 are arranged between
the sides 2 and 4 for receiving a block B of granite or other
mineral and moving the block along a longitudinal path of
travel.
The block B is intended to be illustrative of a very rough-surfaced
stone body which is normally classified as a waste piece. Such a
waste piece results from the operations indicated diagrammatically
in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 8, a relatively large section of
granite is obtained from a granite quarry by means of quarrying
operations such as flame channelling, splitting and wire sawing. In
the granite body indicated in FIG. 8, the outer sides S1 and S2
have been formed by flame channelling and present roughened
surfaces of pronounced irregularity. Wire saw cuts have been made
to separate the mass into blocks B1, B2, B3 and B4. The block B1 is
thus formed at one side with a relatively uniform wire-sawed
surface S8, while the opposite outer side of this block presents a
roughened surface S1.
It will be observed that with three of the cuts having been made to
produce the blocks B1, B2, B3 and B4, there are obtained two blocks
B2 and B3 which do not have a roughened surface, however, both
blocks B1 and B4 do have roughened surfaces as S1 and S4, and this
has in the past resulted in two pieces of stone not usable in a
guillotine machine and thus regarded as waste. It will be
understood that the invention is particularly suited to handle the
type of rough-surfaced blocks represented by blocks B1 and B4.
FIG. 1 illustrates the conveyor mechanism and the block B as viewed
from the entering side of the machine, and FIG. 2 illustrates the
same apparatus as viewed from the discharge side. FIG. 3 also
illustrates the assembly described and further shows
diagrammatically a roughened top surface S which is characteristic
of rough-back blocks of granite as described above having sloping
surfaces and projections whose deviation from a plane surface are
of a substantial nature varying from at least 2 to 4 inches and
more.
Midway of the conveyors C1 and C2 is provided a cleared space
through which a set of cutting elements 10 are vertically
adjustable when actuated by hydraulic ram means located in the
lower section of the sides 2 and 4. The cutting elements are
designed to be first raised into a position of engagement against
the bottom of the block B as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and thereafter very
large hydraulically exerted pressure may be transmitted through the
cutting elements.
As shown in FIG. 4, each of the cutting elements 10 are
conventionally adjusted by means of a spring-loaded wedge mechanism
moved in bracket means 11 indicated at the lower left hand side of
FIG. 4 and including wedge means 12 operated by cylinder means 14
and spring means 16 to raise and lower the cutting elements 10 as
suggested in dotted lines in FIG. 4.
This arrangement provides for locating cutting elements through a
range of travel of from one to two inches and allows the cutting
elements to engage against a bottom side of the block whose surface
irregularity is at a minimum, as occurs with a wire sawed surface
of the type described above and noted at S3-S8 in FIG. 8.
Arranged to cooperate with the lower set of cutting elements
described is an upper set of cutting elements of the class
conventionally employed to engage against an upper side of a wire
sawed block. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutting elements indicated by
numeral 18 are adjustably supported in the transverse beam 6 and
each cutting element is individually positioned against an
irregular surface by means of spring loaded wedge adjusting
mechanism contained in the bracket part 20 as shown at the left
hand side of FIG. 4, and similar to the wedge adjusting mechanism
12.
In accordance with the present invention, we provide an adjustable
cutter attachment which is readily combined with the conventional
cutting mechanism above-described and which is capable of handling
large deviations of the order of from 2 to 5 inches relative to a
plane surface. In use, the cutter attachment replaces the upper set
of conventional cutting elements.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the attachment located in an operative
position immediately below the conventional cutting elements 18, as
viewed from front and back sides of the machine M. As shown in
these FIGURES, the attachment includes retaining plates 22 and 24
rigidly secured as by welding at opposite sides of the transverse
beam member 6 and movable vertically with the beam member. Secured
in hinged relationship to retaining plate 22 is a rotary frame
structure 26 indicated in further detail in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6,
and having suspended from the bottom sides thereof a plurality of
cylindrical cutter elements occurring in spaced relation to one
another.
The rotary frame structure comprises an elongated cutter supporting
base which has fixed to its upper side a pair of separated bearing
walls 28 and 30. The bearing walls are spaced apart a distance
suitable for forming a cutter enclosure within which the upper set
of conventional cutters 18 are protectively housed as suggested in
FIG. 6. Upper bearing edges of the bearing walls 28 and 30 are
constructed and arranged to lie in abutting relationship against
adjacent bottom surfaces of the member 6 in which position it will
be appreciated that very large pressures may be contained.
Hinging arms 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 are welded or otherwise anchored
to the bearing wall 28 as shown in FIG. 6 and at their opposite
extremities the hinging arms are pivotally supported on pivot pins
as 42 in hinge brackets 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 welded to the
underside of retaining plate 22. By means of this hinging
arrangement, the rotary frame may, as suggested in dotted lines in
FIG. 6, be swung in a clockwise direction and held in a
non-operative position which allows the cutters 18 to be used in
the conventional manner.
When in use, however, the rotary frame may be solidly held in the
abutting position shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 by means of adjustable
holding rods as 60, 62, 64 and 66 which are attached to lug
portions as 68 on adjacent cutting units as shown in FIG. 2. Upper
ends of the holding rods are detachably fastened in some suitable
manner as by threaded fastenings 70.
The rotary frame, as earlier noted, serves to support isostatically
held cutting elements of the invention, and an important feature of
the invention resides in the construction and operation of a set of
spaced apart cutting units 25 in which the cutting elements of the
invention are contained. As shown in more detail in FIG. 5, each of
the cutter units comprises piston and cylinder means for
isostatically holding cutting elements in a suitably adjusted
position. As will be observed from an inspection of FIG. 5, each
cutter unit 25 includes an outer cylindrical enclosure body rigidly
secured to frame base 26, an inner cylinder body 72 and an
elongated cutting element 80, formed with a piston head portion 84.
Each cylinder 72 is closed by upper end walls 74 which solidly abut
against the frame base 26. Located around the lower end of each
cutting element 80 is a threaded cap as 76 which normally contains
a lower end of a coiled spring 90 located around the cutting
element 80, as shown, in a lightly compressed position. The upper
end of the coiled spring 90 is yieldably contained by means of an
annular shoulder portion 86 formed as an integral part of the
piston head portion 84. The annular shoulder is further formed with
a ring groove for securing a sealing ring member 88 in sealing
relationship with an inner peripheral wall of the cylinder 72.
It will be observed that each annular shoulder is so located as to
define an upper fluid-containing chamber as 96. In combination with
this fluid-retaining chamber 96 we further provide a manifold
member 92 which is mounted along one side of the frame base 26 as
indicated in FIG. 5 and which is connected to a supply source for a
hydraulic fluid. Connected between the manifold member 92 and
respective fluid containing spaces 96 and the several enclosure
bodies 25, are connecting pipes 94, which provide a passageway
through which hydraulic fluid may be moved into and out of the
spaces 96 in accordance with positioning of the cutting elements 80
when engaging against an irregular surface such as shown in FIGS.
1, 2 and 3. It should be understood that the manifold member 92 is
completely filled with a volume of hydraulic fluid which is large
enough to also fill all of the fluid containing chambers 96 when
the cutting elements are in a position of uniform horizontal
alignment. The manifold is then closed off and there is thus
produced a confined volume of fluid of constant volume. When there
occurs movement of one or more of the cutting elements downwardly
into a position such as the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5,
with other cutting elements moving upwardly, portions of the
constant volume of fluid will be displaced through the connecting
pipes 94 and manifold 92 and into adjoining spaces 96 which become
larger or smaller, as the case may be.
There is thus realized a means of isostatically holding the cutting
elements so that regardless of the relative position of the lower
ends of the cutting elements, they will all be held by the constant
volume of hydraulic fluid and each of the cutting elements can
thereafter transmit very large loads hydraulic pressures against
the rotary frame base 26.
It will also be seen that with the arrangement of parts described,
movement of the cutting element from one position to another
changes the tension of the springs 90 normally set to maintain all
of the cutting elements in a horizontally aligned position. As a
result, immediately upon a cutting operation taking place, as
suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2, pressure against the cutting elements
is discontinued and the springs instantaneously return the cutting
elements to their normal position of horizontal alignment.
Attention is further directed to the cutting elements 80. These
members, in order to deal with large deviations from a plane
surface in a rough-surfaced block, are required to be of an
elongated nature. For example, in dealing with deviations in a
range of from 2 to 5 inches or even more, we have found that the
cutting elements may be made with a length of approximately 8
inches and are required to be of heavy construction of solid steel
cylindrical section having an outer diameter of approximately 2 to
21/2 inches. Such a cutting element construction when contained in
the manner described above is found to provide a stroke or travel
distance of from 6 to 61/2 inches, thus adequately accommodating
the type of deviation earlier described. It will be further
appreciated that extremely heavy loads in the 8,000 to 10,000 pound
range is exerted in the cylinder units and the inner cylindrical
sleeve units 72 are also required to be of relatively heavy
construction and may be an outer diameter of from 3 to 31/2
inches.
Another important feature has to do with the shape of the cutting
elements and the manner in which they are held when applied against
a sloping or angled surface. In one preferred form the cutting
elements 80 of the 8-inch length and 21/2 inches outer diameter
noted, may be formed at their lower ends with rounded extremities
as 82. These rounded extremities are designed to most effectively
engage against a sloping surface of stone and transmit pressure
thereto. It will also be understood that some slight lateral
displacement may result from a rounded cutting element extremity
engaging at an angle to a sloping surface and to contain such
lateral displacement forces, we have further provided cushioning
sleeves as 78 formed of rubber or rubber-like material. These
sleeves are snugly fitted between each cylinders 72 and its outer
cylindrical enclosures 25. This arrangement of parts is most
clearly illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.
It has been found in actual working conditions over a period of
time that replacement of springs and sealing ring means may become
necessary and for this purpose, it is pointed out that each cutting
element with its piston head portion and sealing ring, together
with coiled spring, may be readily removed from the enclosure body
25 by unthreading the sealing cap 76 and replacing the entire unit
with new units. Thus the time and expense of replacement or repairs
is greatly minimized.
FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of attachment of the same
general nature as that shown and described in connection with FIGS.
1-6, inclusive. Conventional frame parts having the same numbers,
but primed, of those in FIGS. 1 to 6 are again present and likewise
a set of cutting elements are mounted for engagement with a block
B1. The set of cutting elements include a series of cylindrical
bodies 25' which adjustably contain elongated cutting elements 80'.
Manifold means for providing a constant volume of fluid in
communication with the upper ends of the cutting elements is also
used in the same manner as already described.
In place of the rotary frame structure 26, however, we provide
channel brackets 100 and 102 which are solidly fastened by bolts
104 and 106 to the underside of a beam section 6'. A slidable frame
having rail portions 108 and 110 containing the set of cutting
elements 25' in a position such that the frame may be slidably
adjusted along a horizontal path of travel to provide for locating
bearing members and cutting elements at a desired point of register
with the lower set of cutting elements 10'. In other respects this
modified form of the invention operates in the manner already
disclosed.
In carrying out a typical guillotine cutting operation in
accordance with the invention, a block of stone having a rough
surfaced top side is loaded on to the conveyor mechanism C1, C2 and
advanced into the guillotine machine until it is located in a
position to undergo a cut of a required thickness. This usually is
accomplished by moving the block against stop means arranged to
provide for desired gauging and to arrest the block in a short
interval of time of about 2 to 5 seconds. The machine operator then
moves the top section downwardly and the isostatically held cutting
elements engage against sloping or angled surfaces of the block B
as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The cutting elements are variably
displaced in accordance with the surface irregularity of the top
side S1 and almost immediately assume adjusted positions as the
constant volume of confined fluid is displaced in accordance with
changes in volume of the fluid-containing chambers 96. This
operation can be accomplished in from 1 to 2 seconds by a single
operator.
With the isostatically held cutting elements in suitable positions
of adjustment, the lower set of cutting elements is moved upwardly
to engage the underside of the block. Thereafter hydraulic pressure
in a range of from 8,000 to 10,000 p.s.i. is exerted and a cut is
made.
The cut takes place almost explosively with the block being
suddenly displaced on the conveyor. As this occurs, the cutting
elements, in response to spring loading forces of the coiled
springs in the cylinder units, quickly move into their normal
horizontal position of alignment and thus adequate time is provided
for the machine operator to turn the block into a squared position
and advance it against a stop so that a series of cuts can be made
in rapid succession and at a rate which is economically feasible. A
typical rate of cutting, for example, may be one cut every 12 to 15
seconds.
It is intended that cutting with isostatically held cutting
elements resiliently contained by a confined body of fluid of
constant volume may also be utilized in the manner described above
to adjust cutting elements against various other forms of blocks
such as one with a lower side having a very rough surface and in
some cases cutting may be desired to be carried out against blocks
having vertical or angularly disposed rough sides, and this may be
done either separately or in conjunction with top and bottom side
cutting.
* * * * *