IMPROVEMENTS ADDADATUITS TO BE USED FOR GETTING COAL STONE AND OTHER MINERALS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Grafton Jones, of Blaina, near Newport, ir
the County of Monmouth, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
ADDADATUITS TO BE USED FOR GETTING COAL STONE AND OTHER MINERALS"
Sealed the 13th December 1867, and dated the 18th June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Grafton Jones
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th June 1867.
I, JAMES GRAFTON JONES, of Blaina, near Newport, in the County of
Monmouth, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR GETTING COAL, STONE, AND OTHER MINERALS,'
to be as follows:-
This Invention bas for its object improvements in apparatus to be used for
getting coal, stone, and other minerals, and relates, firstly, to an arrangement
of apparatus to be employed when driving headings in coal mines, and is
applicable when machines are employed for cutting grooves into the coal to
facilitate its removal.
When using machines of this description for driving headings much time
is now wasted (after the machine has made the required grooves) in moving
away the machine to allow of the detached coal being removed. According
to this part of my Invention I employ a moveable frame of a width nearly
equal to the width of the heading; the frame is composed of three or more
wrought-iron rails or bars which lie transversely of the heading tied together

page_text: by longitudinal bars, and supported at their ends on small rollers or wheels
on which the frame can be moved forwards along the heading. On the
transverse rails of the frame are supported a pair of parallel rails which run
lengthwise of the heading; this pair of rails is tied together, and can be
moved to and fro across the transverse rails which support them. On the
pair of rails is supported the machine employed for cutting the grooves into
the coal, and the rails are of sufficient length to allow of the machine being
run back upon them to be out of the way whilst the coal is being wedged or
broken down. The machine is usually somewhat less in width than half the
width of the heading, and when working it is caused to make a nearly vertical
cut into the coal at the end of the heading close up to one of its sides,
afterwards when this cut is completed the pair of rails supporting the
machine is moved across the frame to bring the machine into position for
forming a similar cut at the opposite side of the heading. The machine
might also be caused to undercut the coal, but in most cases this is unneces-
sary. The machine is afterwards run back to get it out of the way whilst
the coal is being broken down, which may readily be effected by inserting into
one of the vertical grooves an hydraulic wedging-down apparatus, such as is
herein-after described. To facilitate the removal of the coal the machine
can by moving the rails which support it be moved close up to either one or
other side of the heading. In order to move the pair of rails to and fro as
above described a roller or axis running longitudinally along the centre of
the frame is carried below the transverse bars of which it is composed; near
each end of this roller are attached two chains which pass to and are connected
with the opposite ends of tie bars which connect together the pair of rails.
When the roller is turned in one or other direction one or other of the two
chains at each end of the roller will be wound on to the roller, whilst the
other is unwound therefrom, and thus the pair of rails may be drawn to and
fro across the frame, and the cutting machine can thus be brought opposite
any portion of the end of the heading.
The next part of my Invention relates to improved arrangements of
hydraulic apparatus for wedging or breaking down coal, stone, or other
minerals.
8
1
One arrangement of apparatus is suitable for being used when grooves are
first formed in the coal or mineral by cutting machine. For this purpose
I employ an hydraulic cylinder of any desired diameter, say of about 6 to 8
inches, and of a length to fit loosely in the groove cut in the coal (which is
commonly about 2 inches in width) by the pick or cutter of the cutting
machine. The cylinder is open at one end and closed at the other, through

page_text: the open end works a solid ram; when the ram is within the cylinder its
outer end is flush or even with the end of the cylinder, by which I am enabled
to obtain a comparatively long stroke for the ram, as the cylinder may be made
of a height almost equal to the width of the grooves in which the apparatus
is to be used. The inner end of the ram is provided with a suitable cup leather.
The cylinder is formed with a short tubular projection standing out from its
side, the passage through this tube opening into the cylinder. On the
exterior of this tube is screwed a tube which forms a handle to the apparatus,
the tube is of somewhat less diameter than the height of the hydraulic
cylinder, so that it will not interfere with the cylinder being inserted to any
desired depth into a groove in the coal, and the tubular handle is of such a
length that the cylinder may be pushed to any desired depth into the groove.
Into the interior of the tubular projection from the cylinder is screwed the
end of a tube which passes out to the end of the tubular handle; the exterior
of the outer end of the tube is made conical, and over this coned portion of
the tube is placed the end of a flexible pipe, which is for supplying water
under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder; the flexible pipe is pressed firmly on
to the coned end of the tube by a short tube (formed internally with a corre-
sponding cone) being screwed into the end of the exterior tubular handle, and
thus a tight joint is made. In place of this arrangement segments or pieces
may be forced out from opposite sides of a tube by a wedge forced between
them by the ram of an hydraulic cylinder. For this purpose I employ a tube
of small diameter so that it may be inserted into a shallow groove or hole of
small diameter formed in the coal or mineral. Portions of opposite sides of
this tube are cut away near one of its ends, the parts so cut away are filled in
with moveable segments, the inner surfaces of which are formed with inclines,
between which is received the pointed end of a wedge, the base of the wedge
fits within the tube, and can be moved to and fro within it. The opposite end
of the tube is screwed on to or formed into an hydraulic cylinder, the ram of
which bears against the rear end of the wedge before mentioned, so that when
the ram is moved forward it causes the wedge to force apart the moveable
segments. The rear end of the hydraulic cylinder is formed with a tube
projecting from it, the outer portion of which is coned to receive the end of a
flexible supply pipe, and a screw cap formed with a similar cone is screwed
on to the base of the projecting tube, and thus the two cones are caused to nip
between them the end of the flexible supply pipe. In place of the moving
segments and wedges being made suitable for inserting into a circular hole they
may be made of a broad flat form to enter a groove in the coal or mineral.
When lever picks are employed carried by an axis to which a reciprocating

page_text: rotating motion is imparted to cause the picks to cut a groove it is desirable to
have a ready means of adjusting the position of the pick upon the axis so as
to vary the angle between the pick and the crank arm employed for giving
motion to the axis in order that the depth, to which the pick is caused to
cut may be varied. For this purpose I place upon the axis; which is square in
section, a short tube or collar which fits upon it; projecting from this tube
or collar is an arm carrying a segment with a number of teeth formed on one
of its sides. A portion of the exterior of this collar is made circular and forms
a centre around which the end of the cutter arm or pick can turn. On the
side of the cutter arm are formed teeth to enter between and engage with
the teeth on any part of the segment on the collar, and when the teeth are
so engaged the segment and cutter arm can be locked together by a bolt
passing through both of them. In place of the cutter arm or pick being thus
made adjustable around the axis the crank arm by which motion is transmitted
to the axis may be made adjustable, and be locked or held on the axis in a
similar manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Grafton Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GRAFTON JONES, of Blaina, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year, of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Grafton Jones, Her special licence that I, the said James Grafton
Jones, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Grafton Jones, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS TO BE USED FOR GETTING COAL, STONE, AND OTHER, MINERALS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Grafton
Jones, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under

page_text: my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Grafton Jones, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be used for
getting coal, stone, and other minerals, and relates, firstly, to an arrangement
of apparatus to be employed when driving headings in coal mines, and is
applicable when machines are employed for cutting grooves into the coal to
facilitate its removal.
•
When using machines of this description for driving headings much time is.
now wasted (after the machine has made the required grooves) in moving
away the machine to allow of the detached coal being removed. According
to this part of my Invention I employ a moveable frame of a width nearly.
equal to the width of the heading; the frame is composed of three or more
wrought-iron rails or bars which lie transversely of the heading, tied together
by longitudinal bars, and supported at their ends on small rollers or wheels
on which the frame can be moved forwards along the heading. On the
transverse rails of the frame are supported a pair of parallel rails which ruut
lengthwise of the heading; this pair of rails is tied together, and can be
moved to and fro across the transverse rails which support them. On the
pair of rails is supported the machine employed for cutting the grooves into:
the coal, and the rails are of sufficient length to allow of the machine being:
run back upon them to be out of the way whilst the coal is being wedged or
broken down. The machine is usually somewhat less in width than half the
width of the heading, and when working it is caused to make a nearly vertical cut
into the coal at the end of the heading close up to one of its sides, afterwards
when this cut is completed the pair of rails supporting the machine is moved
across the frame to bring the machine into position for forming a similar cut
at the opposite side of the heading. The machine might also be caused to.
undercut the coal, but in most cases this is unnecessary. The machine is
afterwards run back to get it out of the way whilst the coal is being broken
down, which may readily be effected by inserting into one of the vertical,
grooves an hydraulic wedging down apparatus, such as is herein-after.
described. To facilitate the removal of the coal the machine can by moving

page_text: the rails which support it be moved close up to either one or other side of the
beading. In order to move the pair of rails to and fro as above described a
roller or axis running longitudinally along the centre of the frame is carried
below the transverse bars, of which it is composed; near each end of this
roller are attached two chains which pass to and are connected with the
opposite ends of tie bars which connect together the pair of rails. When
the roller is turned in one or other direction one or other of the two chains at
each end of the roller will be wound on to the roller, whilst, the other is
unwound therefrom, and thus the pair of rails may be drawn to and fro
across the frame, and the cutting machine can thus be brought opposite any
portion of the end of the heading..
Figure 1 is a plan view, Figure 2 an end view, and Figure 3 a side view of
a moveable frame such as is above described to be employed when driving
headings. a, a, a, are three wrought-iron rails which lie transversely of the
headings; the ends of these rails are rivetted to two angle-iron bars b, b, the
square frame so formed is strengthened at its angles by diagonal bars c, which
are also of wrought iron. d, d, are small wheels or rollers upon which the
square frame is supported at its sides; c, e, are two parallel rails on which
the cutting machine is to be supported; these rails are tied together near
their two ends by two tie bars f, f. 9 is the axis placed longitudinally along
the ceutre of the frame, the axis being supported by straps or bearings bolted
to the under sides of the rails a; h, h, are chains passing from opposite ends of
the tie bars f, f, to the axis g; i is a ratchet wheel at the back end of the
axis g, and k is a lever handle carrying a ratchet which engages with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel, so that the axis may be turned in one direction by
moving the lever handle backwards and forwards; if it be desired to turn the
axis in the opposite direction then the ratchet wheel is taken off, the square
end of the axis is turned round, and is again placed upon it, the ratchet teeth
will then be in the opposite direction, and if the lever handle be then worked
to and fro the axis will be revolved in the opposite direction to that in which
it previously turned. 7 are bent pieces of wrought iron which are rivetted on
each side of the axis g to the rail a, which is at the back of the frame; these
pieces act as skids or supports to. keep the ratchet wheel from coming in
contact with the ground..
Figure 4, Sheet 2, shows a perspective view of a coal cutting machine a
supported on a frame y, such as above described. The mode in which, it is.
preferred to proceed when driving a heading is to cause the cutting machine to
first cut two vertical cuts into the coal at the end of the heading, one vertical
cut being at one side of the heading and the other at the centre; the cutting.

page_text: machine is then shifted sidewise, so as to cut the vertical groove at the
opposite side of the heading; whilst this is being effected the block of coal
between the two cuts first formed is wedged down by the wedging down
apparatus which will presently be described. If the heading which is being
driven inclines upwards the block of coal so broken down will fall forward on
to the frame y, but as this frame is all of wrought iron and can readily bend
so as to rest upon the ground no injury will arise if the coal will not of itself
fall forward it can be drawn forward in any suitable manner and be broken up
and removed. For narrow headings two vertical cuts only may be made one
at each side of the heading; in this case the cutting machine should be run
back to the rear end of the travelling frame before wedging down the coal.
The next part of my Invention relates to improved arrangements of hydraulic
apparatus for wedging or breaking down coal, stone, or other minerals. One
arrangement of apparatus is suitable for being used when grooves are first formed
in the coal or mineral by a cutting machine. For this purpose I employ an
bydraulic cylinder of any desired diameter, say of about 6 to 8 inches, and of
a length to fit loosely in the groove cut in the coal (which is commonly about
2 to 3 inches in width) by the pick or cutter of the cutting machine. The
cylinder is open at one end and closed at the other; through the open end
works a solid ram.; when the ram is within the cylinder its outer end is flush
or even with the end of the cylinder, by which I am enabled to obtain a com-
paratively long stroke for the ram, as the cylinder may be made of a height
almost equal to the width of the grooves in which the apparatus is to be used.
The inner end of the ram is provided with a suitable cup leather. The
cylinder. is formed with a short tubular projection standing out from its side,
the passage through. this tube opening into the cylinder; on the exterior of
this tube is screwed a tube which forms a handle to the apparatus. The tube
is of somewhat less diameter than the height of the hydraulic cylinder, so that
it will not interfere with the cylinder being inserted to any desired depth into
a groove in the coal, and the tubular handle is of such a length that the
cylinder may be pushed to any desired depth into the groove. Into the
interior of the tubular projection from the cylinder is screwed the end of a
tube which passes out to the other end of the tubular handle; the exterior of the
outer end of the tube is made conical, and over this coned portion of the tube
is placed the end of a flexible pipe, which is for supplying water under
pressure to the hydraulic cylinder; the flexible pipe is pressed firmly on to the
coned end of the tube by a short tube (formed internally with a corresponding
cone) being screwed into the end of the exterior tubular handle, and thus a
tight joint is made.

page_text: Figure 5 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 6; a side view of an hydraulic
wedging down apparatus constructed as above described. This apparatus is
more especially applicable for wedging down coal after that grooves have been
cut into the coal by a cutting machine. a is the hydraulic, cylinder which
may be óf. any desired diameter, and is of such a length that it may readily
be inserted into a groove which has previously been cut into the coal, such
grooves being usually between 2 and 3 inches in width. One end of
the cylinder is closed, as shown at Figure 5; the hollow of the cylinder is
bored truly from end to end, and in it is received a plunger 6 fitted with a
cupped leather, as shown. c is a short tubular projection standing out from
the side of the cylinder; on the exterior of this projection is screwed the tubular
handle d. Into the interior of the tubular handle is screwed the pipe e which
is to convey water to the hydraulic cylinder; the outer end of, this pipe is
made conical on the exterior, as shown; and over it is placed the end of a
pipe f, which is of vulcanized india-rubber. The flexible pipe is pressed firmly
against this coned end of the pipe by a short.tube.g screwed on to the end of
the tubular handle d, and which is formed internally to a corresponding coned
end, as shown. A portion of the outer circumference of the short tube g has
flat sides or surfaces formed upon it, so that it may be held by a spanner
whilst being screwed on to the end of the tubular handle. In place. of this
arrangement segments or pieces may be forced out from opposite sides.of a
tube by a wedge forced between them by the rain of an hydraulic cylinder.
For this purpose I employ a tube of small diameter, so that it may be inserted
into a shallow groove or hole of small diameter formed in the coal or mineral.
Portions of opposite sides of this tube are cut away near one of its ends; the
parts so cut away are filled in with moveable segments, the inner surfaces of
which are formed with inclines, between which is received the pointed end of
a wedge. The base of the wedge fits within the tube, and can be moved to
and fro within it. The opposite end of the tube is screwed on to or formned
into an hydraulic cylinder, the ram of which bears against the rear end of the
wedge before mentioned, so that when the ram is moved forward it causes
the wedge to force apart the moveable segments. The rear end of the
bydraulic cylinder is formed with a tube projecting from it, the outer portion
of which is coned, to receive the end of a flexible supply pipe, and a screw
cap formed with a similar cone is screwed on to the base of the projecting
tube, and thus the two cones are caused to nip between them the end of the
flexible supply pipe.
Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section, and Figure 8, a side view of a
wedging down apparatus thus constructed. a is the tube, having near one of its

page_text: ends portions of two opposite sides cut away to receive moveable segments b,
the inner surfaces of which are inclined, as shown, and which receive between
them the wedge.c. The opposite end of the tube is screwed on to or formed
into an hydraulic cylinder d, in which is a ram e bearing against the base of
the wedge, so that when the ram e is moved forward it presses forward the
wedge c; f is a small length of tube screwed on to the end of the tube, of which
the hydraulic cylinder is composed; the outer end of this tube is conéd inter-
nally, and serves to compress the end of a vulcanized india-rubber tube against
a small conical tube g of metal, the base of which bears against the end of the
hydraulic cylinder d; the connection between the end of the flexible pipe and
the cylinder is then made perfectly tight, as in the arrangement of apparatus
first described. For supplying water through the pipe to the cylinder I employ
an ordinary force pump actuated by a lever handle, I however prefer to cause
the pump to draw water from an air-tight reservoir, so that after the hydraulic
wedging down apparatus has been used the water in the hydraulic cylinder may
be drawn back into the reservoir merely by opening a tap. In place of the moving
segments and wedges being made suitable for inserting into a circular hole they
may be made of a broad flat form to enter a groove in the coal or mineral.
When lever picks are employed carried by an axis to which a reciprocating
rotating motion is imparted to cause the picks to cut a groove it is desirable to
have a ready means of adjusting the position of the pick upon the axis, so as to
vary the angle between the pick and the crank arm employed for giving
motion to the axis, in order that the depth to which the pick is caused to cut
may be varied. For this purpose I place upon the axis, which is square in
section, a short tube or collar which fits upon it. Projecting from this tube
or collar is an arm carrying a segment with a number of teeth formed on one
of its sides; a portion of the exterior of this collar is made circular and
forms a centre, around which the end of the cutter arm or pick can turn. On
the side of the cutter arm are formed teeth to enter between and engage with
the teeth on any part of the segment on the collar, and when the teeth are
so engaged the segment and cutter arm can be locked together by a bolt
passing through both of them.
Figure 9 shows an end view, and Figure 10, a section of a joint, so con-
structed for connecting a lever pick with its axis, and Figures 11 show
separately views of the cutter arm or pick. a is the axis, which is square in
section where the lever pick is to be connected to it; b is the collar placed
upon this portion of the axis; ', the segment carried by the collar; this
segment has a number of teeth 62 formed around it. c is the end of the cutter
arm or pick which can turn freely around a cylindrical portion of the collar b;

page_text: caré teeth formed on the side of the cutter arm; these teeth are to enter
between and engage with the teeth 62 on any part of the segment 61. d is a
bolt for locking together the segment and cutter arm when the teeth are so
engaged with 'one another. In place of the cutter arm or pick being thus
made adjustable. around the axis the crank arm, by which motion is trans-
mitted to the axis,, may be made adjustable and be locked or held on the axis
in a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Grafton Jones, have hereunto
set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. GRAFTON JONES. (L.s.)