IMPROVEMENTS IN COAL GETTING MACHINERY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Burnett senior and Cuthbert Burnett both of
Spennymoor in the County of Durham for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COAL GETTING MACHINERY"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Burnett, senior,
and Cuthbert Burnett at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
30th January 1882.
MATTHEW BURNETT senior and CUTHBERT BURNETT both of Spennymoor in the
County of Durham "IMPROVEMENTS IN COAL GETTING MACHINERY
"
According to this Invention we employ a revolving and advancing head or
carrier provided with cutters for the purpose of cutting the coal the said carrier
being by preference worked by an engine by means of compressed air or other
motor fluid, and we also employ means for conveying the coal when cut to the
surface or place where it is to be used, all as hereinafter described.
The revolving carrier or head may have the cutters arranged on its open or
grated end face and with central guide drill or cutter so as to cut the coal up
into thin rings or parts which crumble or fall to pieces as the head advances and
find their way out back through the open or grated parts; this is more particularly
applicable where the small coals thus produced are intended for coking purposes.
Or the carrier or head may be formed with long cutters all round or may be
formed with an annular projection with helical or longitudinal openings which is
fitted with cutters so as to cut the coal in the form of a cylindrical core which may
be removed by wedging. When the machine or apparatus is worked by power,
the driving cylinders may be two in number and by preference actuated by com-
pressed air and have plungers the connecting rods of which take on to a crank
shaft arranged in a framing which may be in parts bolted together and closed up
as much as possible so as to exclude the dust and grit, the crank shaft transmits
motion by a tooth pinion to a tooth wheel which by feather and groove is con-
nected to a feed screw that also forms the shaft for the aforesaid head or carrier;
the nut for the feed screw forms a bearing for the feed screw or carrier shaft and

page_text: is fixed in or on the engine or machine framing; the feather and groove connection
causes the feed shaft to partake of the revolving motion of the aforesaid tooth
wheel, while the said shaft thus revolving in its nut is fed forward with the head
or carrier mounted thereon. One or more screw stays or jacks set between the top
of the machine and the roof of the mine serve to steady the machine in position.
The machine may be mounted on wheels for easy transport. When the cutter
head has advanced to a convenient depth into the coal, the engine is reversed so as
to run the machine back; the machine is then moved laterally to a distance a
little less than the diameter of the hole cut, another similar hole is then cut and
the operation is thus repeated as desired. We may in some cases form tiers of
such holes.
The carrier is fixed so as to be easily removed and changed for another size or
form so as to suit various thicknesses and qualities of seams.
The coals so worked may be carried to the surface in ordinary tubs and dis-
charged into suitable boxes, but we prefer to put the coal when cut into the form
of a core or cylinder, into specially constructed cases made say of steel and in two
halves united by staples and pegs or otherwise and with hooks or eyes for lifting
by. To fill the tubs with small coals we prefer using a tube with compressed air
jet; these tubs may be made of a form suitable for discharging directly into the
coke oven.
The compressed air used may be from the main air supply or from the engine
exhaust, and in that case by preference when the engine is running light that is
when the cutter head is being run back after a cutting operation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Matthew Burnett, senior, and Cuthbert Burnett in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 29th July 1882.
MATTHEW BURNETT senior and CUTHBERT BURNETT both of Spennymoor in the
County of Durham "IMPROVEMENTS IN COAL GETTING MACHINERY"
According to our Invention we employ a revolving and advancing head or
carrier provided with cutters for the purpose of cutting the coal the said carrier
being by preference worked by an engine by means of compressed air or other
motor fluid, and we also employ means for conveying the coal when cut to the
surface or place where it is to be used all as hereinafter described.
The revolving carrier or head may have the cutters arranged on its open or
grated end face and with a central guide drill or cutter so as to cut the coal up
into thin rings or parts which crumble or fall to pieces as the head advances and
find their way out back through the open or grated parts: this is moro particularly
applicable where the small coals thus produced are intended for coking purposes.
Or the carrier or head may be formed with long cutters all round or may bo
formed with an annular projection with helical or longitudinal openings which is
fitted with cutters so as to cut the coal in the form of a cylindrical core which may
be removed by wedging. When the machine or apparatus is worked by power
the driving cylinders may be two in number and by preference actuated by com-
pressed air and have plungers the connecting rods of which take on to a crank
shaft arranged in a framing which may be in parts bolted together and closed up
as much as possible so as to exclude the dust and grit; the crank shaft transmits
motion by a tooth pinion to a tooth wheel which by feather and groove is con-
nected to a feed screw and also forms the shaft for the aforesaid head or carrier i
the nut for the feed screw forms a bearing for the feed screw or carrier shaft, and
is fixed in or on the engine or machine framing: the feather and groove connection
causes the feed shaft to partake of the revolving motion of the aforesaid tooth
wheel while the said shaft thus revolving in its nut is fed forward with the head
or carrier mounted thereon. One or more screw stays or jacks set between the
top of the machine and the roof of the mine serve to steady the machine in position.
The machine may be mounted on wheels for easy transport. When the cutter
head has advanced to a convenient depth into the coal the engine is reversed so as
to run the machine back; the machine is then moved lateraly to a distance a little
less than the diameter of the hole cut, another similar hole is then cut and the
operation is thus repeated as desired. We may in some cases form tiers of such
holes. The carrier is fixed so as to be easily removed and changed for another
size or form so as to suit various thicknesses and qualities of Beams.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood we will now describe the
same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a view in partial vertical longitudinal section and Figure 2 is an end
view of a machine constructed according to our Invention for getting coal wherein
the same is driven by hand or manual power. A is the cutter head; B is the
screw for operating the cutter head, C is the nut D is a spur wheel E intermediate
wheel F pinion worked by crank handle G; which is adjustable by means of
slide G'. H is a radial arm on which are mounted the wheels E and F. This
radial arm is free to move on a circular projection cast with lower or fixed half of
nut C and this arm H may consequently be placed at any angle that may be found
most convenient for the attendant or workman to work the crank handle G. We
prefer to use two driving keys although only one H¹ is shown.
The key is carried by spurwheel D which works on the projection Ċ the

page_text: wheel D having a collar H" which fits into a groove in said projection. I I are
the standards and I' I' are bars connecting the same and for further strengthening
the machine; K, K, K, K, are screw nuts and keys for holding and adjusting the
position of the standards while the machine is in operation-L is the cylinder to
which the cutter head is connected. The cylinder may be perforated as shewn
with holes say one inch in diameter or the openings in the cylinder may be
longitudinal spiral or otherwise; we find however from experience that holes such
as those shown in the Drawing, bring away the coal dust better than the cylinder
is at the same time more rigid than with longitudinal or spiral openings or aper-
tures. O is a standard for supporting the end of the cylinder; P1 P2 P3 are rollers
for guiding the cutting cylinder; The roller P¹ is removable when it is required to
shift the position of the cutting and perforated cylinder and this is necessary after
the cylinder has travelled into the coal the required distance. The top half of
nut C is then removed by eye bolt J when by taking hold of the feeding screw B
and lifting it clear of thread in the nut the cylinder may be pulled back to position
ready for cutting another block. By giving motion to the spur wheel D the
key H¹ working in a longitudinal slot in screw B communicates a revolving motion
to same and the fore part of the screw working in the fixed nut C will give the
cylinder La revolving and advancing motion. Figure 3 is a side elevation and
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the cutter's carrier and Figures 5 are views of the
cutters which we prefer to use; M is the central drill for guiding the cutter head
and for leaving footstep for succeeding operations. For cutting blocks we propose
to use say four cutters two say five eighths of an inch wide and two one eighth of
an inch longer and a quarter of an inch wide. The quarter inch will cut in advance
of the five eighths of an inch but cutters narrower or of other shapes and sizes may
be employed. Figure 6 is a sectional plan through the line X Y of Figure 7 which
latter is an end-view of the same-portion-of-the-machine-as-that-shown-by-the-
sectional plan of the motive power portion of a machine constructed according to
our Invention, Figure 8 is a sectional elevation through the cylinders; viz. through
line T U of Figure 6 and Figure 9 is a horizontal section of the machine through
the line V W of Figure 7. Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in theso
four Figures. 00 are the two cylinders with the plungers O'O' in same being a
single acting motor or engine combined for communicating motion to the feeding
screw B to which the cylinder carrying the cutters as before described is connected
at B¹, c is the nut with flat sides having flange at each end to prevent lateral displace-
ment and through which the feeding screw B passes; & is the crank shaft to one
end of which the wheel e is keyed for communicating motion to the fly wheel f
which is fixed to a casting carrying the key g¹; the fly wheel fis caused to rotato
carrying with it the casting to which the key g' is fixed and the nut c being
stationary the screw B will be advanced at a rate according to the pitch of the screw
and the speed at which it may be caused to rotate and consequently the cylinder
carrying the cutters will advance into the coal. The reversal of the engine with-
draws the cylinder and cutters.
Figure 10 shows a seam of coal or a portion of a seam of coal shewing the effect
produced on the seam when operated upon by cutters shown at Figures 3. 4. 5.
Figure 11 shows a scam or portion of a seam of coal when operated upon by such
a machine as that shown at Figures 1 and 2. Figure 12 shows a seam or a
portion of a seam of coal wherein the lower half is only cut by the machine the
top portion being forced away in the ordinary manner. We do not limit
ourselves to the number or position of the cylindrical holes which we bore.
The coal so worked may be carried to the surface in ordinary tubs and discharged
into suitable boxes, but we prefer to put the coal when cut into the form of a core
or cylinder, into specially constructed cases made say of steel and in two halves
united by staples and pegs or otherwise and with hooks or eyes for lifting by. To
fill the tubs with small coals we prefer using a tube with compressed air jet;
these tubs may be made of a form suitable for discharging directly into the coke
oven

page_text: The compressed air used may be from the main air supply or from the engine
exhaust, and in that case by preference when the engine is running light that is
when the cutter head is being run back after a cutting operation. Figure 13 shews
an arrangement for filling the tubs with small coal in the manner just described
and Figures 14 and 15 are views in side elevation and plan of a case or shield for
the protection of the blocks when cut.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed we declare that we claim―
First The construction and employment of machines for getting coal substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying Drawings together with any mere modification thereof.
Second-The general arrangement and construction of machinery for getting
coal when the same is driven by compressed air or steam substantially as described
and illustrated with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying
Drawings together with any mero modification thereof.
Third In coal cutting machines the construction and employment of cylindrical
and disintegrating cutter heads substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated with reference to Figures 3. 4. and 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth-The mode and means described and shown for driving the coal into
waggons substantially as and with reference to Figure 13 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth The mode and means described for the getting of coal in cylindrical blocks
with reference to Figures 10. 11. 12. of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof we the said Matthew Burnett senior and Cuthbert
Burnett have hereunto set our hands and seals this Twenty-seventh day
of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty
MATTHEW BURNETT.
(L.S.)
CUTHBERT BURNETT. (L.S.)