Improvements in Apparatus for Breaking Down Coal or other Minerals.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Breaking Down Coal or other
Minerals.
I THOMAS NICHOLSON of 17 Cromwell Terrace Gateshead on Tyne in the
County of Durham Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BREAKING DOWN COAL OR OTHER
MINERALS" to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for
breaking down coal or other minerals it being arranged so that an equal pressure
is obtained along the hole in the coal or other mineral into which the instrument is
introduced and also so that the apparatus can be pushed right up to the end of the
said hole so that the hole need not be bored so deeply as is necessary for apparatus
as hitherto constructed An apparatus constructed according to my Invention
cousists of an outer portion consisting of two longitudinal parts forming the said
outer portion when placed together-In the interior of this outer portion are two
longitudinally situated inclined recesses with their wider parts presented towards
each other and in these are situated correspondingly inclined pieces which are
capable of being moved longitudinally the one forwards and the other backwards
both at the same time by means of a rod screwed through the hinder inclined piece
and bearing at its end against or in the forward inclined piece-The said rod is
continued out beyond the hole in the coal or mineral and is supported at the
projecting part by any suitable struts or plates or their equivalents and is rotated
by any suitable means such as by a simple handle or through gear for multiplying
speed or power the motion being conveyed if desired from the position of operation
of the turning gear by any suitable arrangement of gearing or levers or the like
which may be carried by an upright between the top and bottom of the seam.
The parts of the apparatus are placed together so that the parts of the outer
portion are closed together and the apparatus is placed in the hole in the coal or
other mineral which may conveniently be effected by a rammer which is provided
with a handle at the outer end and at its inner end is furnished with means for
engaging in the parts of the outer portion and holding them together whilst the
apparatus is rammed into place. A number of projections on the rammer each
engaging in a hole in each of the parts of the outer portion will be a convenient
arrangement for the purpose. When this has been done the rammer is withdrawn
and the screw is rotated by the means provided for the purpose whereby the
inclined internal pieces are moved apart and the parts of the outer portion are
moved outwards with an equalized force and break the coal or other mineral.
Doted this 9th dow of Angust 1985

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Breaking Down Coal or other
Minerals.
I, THOMAS NICHOLSON of 17 Cromwell Terrace Gateshead-on-Tyne in the
County of Durham Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
L
My Invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for
breaking down coal or other minerals it being arranged so that an equal pressure
is obtained along the hole in the coal or other mineral into which the instrument is
introduced and also so that the apparatus can be pushed right up to the end of the
said hole so that the hole need not be bored so deeply as is necessary for apparatus
as hitherto constructed.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 is
a cross section on the line 1. 2 of Figure 1 of an apparatus constructed as arranged
according to my Invention shewing the parts in their unexpanded position
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views shewing the parts in their expanded position.
The outer portion of the apparatus consists of two longitudinal parts A. In the
interior of this outer portion are two longitudinally situated inclined recesses a
shaped as shewn and with their wider parts presented towards each other and in
these recesses are situated correspondingly inclined pieces B, B¹ which have flat
surfaces as shewn and are capable of being moved from each other by means of a
rod C screwed through the inclined piece B and bearing at its end against or in
the inclined piece B¹. The rod C projects out beyond the hole in the coal or mineral
and is supported at the projecting part by any suitable sheets or plates or their
equivalent. Figure 5 shews a suitable form of collar which can be supported by
any convenient standard and through the said collar the rod C passes. The said
rod is rotated by any suitable means such as by an ordinary ratchet lever placed
on the squared end c or it may be rotated through an ordinary wheel and pinion
or other gear for gaining power, the motion being conveyed if desired from the
position of operation by means of gearing levers or the like which may be carried
by an upright, fixed between the top and bottom of the seam. The parts of the
apparatus are placed together so that the parts of the outer portion are close
together as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 (they may be held together by elastic rings
placed in the grooves a²) and the apparatus is placed in the hole in the coal or
other mineral which placing may conveniently be effected by the rammer D (shewn
in side and end view in Figure 6 and 7) which is provided with a handle d at the
outer end and at its inner end with projections d². for engaging in corresponding
holes as in the parts A and thereby steadying the apparatus whilst being rammed
up to end of hole. When the apparatus has been placed in and rammed to the end
of the hole the rod C is rotated a little so as to tighten the instrument. The
rammer D is then withdrawn and the rod C is rotated by the means provided for
the purpose whereby the inclined internal pieces B B' are forced apart thus moving
the parts A outwards (see Figures 3 and 4) with an equalized force and the coal or

page_text: other mineral is broken down. Figure 8 shews a modification wherein the
parts B B are mounted on right and left handed screws formed on the rod C so
that when the said rod is rotated the said parts B B¹ are moved in opposite
directions or apart from each other and force the parts A outwards into the
position shewn in the Figure and substantially as described with regard to the
arrangement Figures 1 to 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. An apparatus for breaking down coal or other mineral constructed or
arranged and operated substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
Second. In apparatus for breaking down coal or other mineral the outer parts A
formed with doubly inclined recesses narrowing from the central or inner part
outwards and means for acting thereon to move the parts A outwards substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In apparatus for breaking down coal or other mineral the outer parts A
formed with doubly inclined recesses as shewn and described and two corre-
spondingly inclined inner parts capable of being moved longitudinally apart the
one acting on one set of inclines and the other on the other set of inclines of the
parts A substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In apparatus for breaking down coal. the "rammer" described with
reference to figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying Drawings and holes or the
equivalents in the extensible parts of the apparatus for the engagement of the said
" rammer."