IMPROVEMENTS IN COAL AND ROCK CUTTING MACHINES
Year: 1874

page_text: '
ETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN COAL AND ROCK CUTTING MACHINES."-A communica-
tion from abroad by Horace Fowler Brown, of Indianopolis, MarioD
County James Gray Niblock and William Henry Zimmerman,
both of Brazil, Clay County, and all in the State of Indiana; and
John Stirling Alexander, of the City and County of Philadelphia,
State of Pennsylvania, all in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL¨ SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson,
at the Office' of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th July 1874.
11
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for * IMPROVEMENTS IN COAL AND ROCK CUTTING MACHINES," a com- '
munication to me from abroad by Horace Fowler Brown, of Indianopolis,
Marion County; James Gray Niblock and William Henry -Zimmerman,
[Price Sd.]
'

page_text: both of Brazil, Clay County, and all in State of Indiana; and John
Stirling Alexander, of the City and County of Philadelphia, State of
Pennsylvania, all in the United States of America, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the mining of coal and the
quarrying of slate, marble, and other rocks by means of a rotating ring
having cutters on its periphery, such ring being carried by framework so
constructed and so adapted to ways that the ring may be raised and
lowered, turned laterally, and moved in a horizontal plane in two
directions, one at right angles to the other, and be thus caused to
penetrate and cut channels in the rock or coal, as desired.
In order to effect these objects the apparatus is arranged in the
following manner :-The revolving cutter ring is carried by a horizontal
arm projecting from and bolted to a vertically adjustable bracket
adapted to guides on a frame, which frame is fitted to a bed plate in
such a manner as to admit of its turning freely therein without being
susceptible of any other movement independently of the said bed. The
cutting ring is supported by small antifriction rollers carried by the arm
which is contained within the cutter ring, except where it is connected
with the frame. On the cutting ring is an annular rack, to the teeth of
which is adapted a bevel pinion on the shaft of, a rotary or other steam
engine, which is carried by the frame and driven by steam or compressed
air.
The bracket before referred to may be adjusted vertically on its guides,
and retained after adjustment by screws engaging in threaded pro-
jections formed on the said bracket, so as to admit of the cutter, ring
being raised and lowered in order to cut a channel in the coal or rock at
any suitable height. For the purpose of enabling this vertical adjust-
ment to be effected without throwing the cutter ring out of gear with
the driving mechanism, the engine shaft is made in sections connected
by universal joints, one section of the said shaft being also squared
and adapted to a corresponding squared socket in the adjoining section,
which admits of the longitudinal extension or contraction of the said
shaft.
By turning the frame upon the bed plate the cutter ring may be
adjusted laterally to any angle without throwing it out of gear. This
adjustment of the frame is effected by rotating a shaft provided with
worms which gear into worm wheels on short vertical spindles carrying

page_text: at their lower extremities toothed pinions, which in their turn engage
with segmented racks on the inner edges of the open bed plate.
The bed plate is supported at each of its four corners by wheels, the
bearings of which are so pivoted that the said wheels may be turned
upon the bed plate to either of two positions at right angles to each-
other, according as they are to run upon either of two railway tracks
which cross each other at right angles. The wheels are unprovided with
flanges, and are maintained upon the rails of the track by horizontal
rollers suspended beneath the bed plate, and arranged to bear against
the inner sides of the rails. At the intersections of the rails of the two
tracks segmental plates are provided, which are susceptible of adjustinent
upon vertical pivots, so as to form continuations of either of the said
rails.
When a machine is to be moved in the direction necessary to cause
the rotating cutter ring to penetrate the coal or rock, the wheels of the
bed plate are adjusted to the rails of one track and the segmental plates
are turned into such a position as to form continuations of such track,
and after the wheels have crossed the segmental plates, and the rotary
cutter has penetrated to the required depth, the said wheels and
segmental plates are adjusted to the other position, and the machine is
then caused to traverse the other track and cut a deep channel in the
coal or rock.
As the tracks are of the same gauge as the tracks usually laid for the
mine trucks, the latter may be caused to follow the machine to receive
their loads; all that is necessary in order to transfer the trucks from one
track to the other being to lay curved rails at the intersection.
The machine is moved automatically upon both of the tracks by the
following mechanism :-Upon the driving shaft of the engine is a worm
to which are adapted the teeth of a worm wheel, the latter transmitting
motion by means of suitable spur gearing to the spindle of a vertical
capstan, around which is passed one or more times a chain which is
made fast at its opposite ends. When the capstan is turned through the
medium of the gearing described the chain is traversed, and the machine
thus moved along one track or the other, according to the direction in
which the chain is extended. The capstan and its driving gear are
secured to and rendered vertically adjustable with the bracket, thus

page_text: preventing any interruption of the feed when the cutter ring is raised or
lowered.
By turning the frame on its bed plate, while the latter is stationary
and the cutting ring is in operation, the cutting ring will be gradually
withdrawn from the rock, and the channel cut therein gradually
terminated.
In order to facilitate the entrance of the cutter into the rock, and its
withdrawal from the same, and to admit of the cutters working well
into the corners at the ends of the channel, it is proposed to so arrange
the ring and its driving mechanism and the cutters that the apparatus
may be operated by a reverse as well as by a forward movement of the
said ring. For this purpose the cutters may be made reversible upon
the periphery of the ring in the manner hereinafter described.
As the arm which carries the cutter, ring is contained almost entirely
within the ring the latter may be inserted to almost its entire extent
into the narrow opening which it cuts, and such opening may therefore
be cut much deeper than by ordinary machines in which narrow cutters
are unable to penetrate to the extent of one-half of their diameter.
When the cutter ring is required to work above the coal the arm may
be turned round or reversed upon the bracket, but in those cases in
which it is necessary to work on a level with the floor of the pit or
beneath the coal a pinion hung to the arm may be interposed between
the driving pinion and the rack on the cutting ring.
When an ordinary reciprocating engine is used for the purpose of
transmitting motion to the cutting ring, the shaft carrying the bevel.
pinion may be provided with a spur wheel driven by a train of spur
gearing from the engine shaft.
According to a modified arrangement of feeding mechanism a line of
rails is laid up to the face of the coal to be worked, and upon these rails
runs a frame or carriage on which are two transverse rails designed to
support the wheels of the bed plate of the machine. When the latter
rails are brought opposite or in line with another line of rails arranged
at right angles to and at a higher elevation than the former line of rails,
the machine may be run off the carriage, and on to the said elevated
rails. Between the rails of each line there is arranged a toothed rack,
and a section of a rack placed at an elevation and forming a continuation
of the rack, which is situate between the elevated rails, is also secured to

page_text: the carriage. On the frame is a pinion having an elongated hub, into
which extends the spindle of another pinion, the said spindle being
provided with a feather, so as to admit of it, together with the latter
pinion, being raised and lowered towards and from the former pinion
without turning independently of the same. The pinion on the frame is
operated from the engine, and transmits its motion to the other pinion,
which when lowered gears into the lower rack, and thus moves the
carriage and machine towards the working, while when raised it gears
into the other or elevated racks, and thus transfers the machine from the
carriage on to and along the elevated track.
Cutters of various descriptions may be secured to the periphery of
the cutting ring, but they should in all cases be reversible upon the
latter.
According to one arrangement the cutter consists of a block pivoted
to ears or projections on the periphery of the ring, and carrying two sets
of cutting points facing in opposite directions. The cutting points have
spaces between them, and are so arranged in respect to each other in the
several cutters that the points of one cutter will remove the coal passed
The blocks are turned upon
by the points of the preceding cutter.
their centres when the motion of the cutting ring is to be reversed.
The cutter may also consist of a block having three cutting edges and
intermediate chaunels, the next cutter having but two cutting edges so
arranged as to remove the material left by the spaces between the three
In addition to these cutting edges
cutting edges of the former cutter.
each block may be furnished with two side cutters, secured side by side
in transverse slots or recesses formed in the block. This cutter may also
be made reversible, if desired.
Another form of cutter consists of a block secured to the ring by a
single screw which serves as a pivot upon which the tool can be turned,
so as to cause the cutting points to face either way, according to the
direction of the movement of the ring, the block being secured after
adjustment by a spring catch at its rear end adapted to either of two
projections provided on the ring. The cutters are retained in position
Three cutting
by a block which is forced against them by a set screw.
points are employed, the outermost of which are inclined so as to give
clearance at the sides.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
38th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
liceuse that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 COAL AND ROCK CUTTING MACHINES," a communication to
me from abroad by Horace Fowler Brown, of Indianopolis, Marion
County ; James Gray Niblock and William Henry Zimmerman, both of
Brazil, Clay County, and all in the State of Indiana; and John Stirling
Alexander, of the City and County of Philadelphia, State of Penn-
sylvania, all in the United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
to be naufarmed to ha particularly described and ascertained in

page_text: Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say—
The object of the said Invention is to facilitate the mining of coal and
the quarrying of slate, marble, and other rocks by means of a rotating
ring having cutters on its periphery, such ring being carried by frame-
work so constructed and so adapted to ways that the ring may be raised
and lowered, turned laterally, and moved in a horizontal plane in two
directions, one at right angles to the other, and be thus caused to
penetrate and cut channels in the rock or coal, as desired.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures....
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a machine constructed
in accordance with the said Invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional plan
of the same. A is the revolving cutter ring, to the periphery of which
the cutters are secured in the manner herein-after described. This ring
is carried by an arm B, projecting from and bolted at a to a vertically
adjustable bracket C on a frame D, which frame is fitted at 6 to a bed
plate E in such a manner as to admit of its turning freely thereon
without being susceptible of any other movement independently of the
said bed. The cutting ring A is supported by small antifriction
rollers d, d, carried by the arm B which is contained within such cutter
ring, except at the part where it is connected with the frame. On the
cutting ring A there is formed an annular rack e, to the teeth of which
is adapted a bevel pinion E' mounted on the shaft F of a rotary or other
steam engine G which is carried by the frame D, and is driven by steam
or compressed air.
The bracket C before referred to is adapted to Guides C¹ on the
frame D, and is capable of being adjusted vertically thereon and of being
retained after adjustment by means of screws C² engaging in threaded
projections formed on the said bracket, as shewn in Figure 2. The
object of this arrangement is to admit of the cutter ring A being raised
and lowered, in order to cut a channel in the coal or rock at any suitable
height, as shewn by the dotted lines A', Figure 1. For the purpose of
enabling this vertical adjustment to be effected without throwing the

page_text: cutter ring out of gear with the driving mechanism the engine shaft F
is made in sections connected by universal joints fand f¹, one section of
the said shaft being also squared and adapted to a correspondingly
squared socket in the adjoining section, which arrangement admits of
the longitudinal extension or contraction of the said shaft.
By turning the frame D upon the bed plate E the cutter ring may be
adjusted laterally to any angle without throwing it out of gear. This
adjustment of the frame D is effected by rotating a shaft G¹ provided
with worms H¹, which gear into worm wheels H mounted on short
vertical spindles carrying at their lower extremities toothed pinions H,
which in their turn engage with segmental racks on the inner edges of
the open bed plate E.
The bed plate E is supported at each of its four corners by wheels g,
the bearings of which are so pivoted that the said wheels are capable of
being turned upon the bed plate to either of two positions at right
angles to each other, according as they are to run upon one or other of
two railway tracks J or J', which cross each other at right angles. The
wheels g are unprovided with flanges, and are maintained upon the rails
of the track by horizontal rollers g¹ suspended beneath the bed plate, and
arranged to bear against the inner sides of the rails. At the intersections
of the rails J and J¹ there are provided segmental plates I, which are
capable of adjustment upon vertical pivots, so as to form continuations
of either of the said rails.
When the machine is moved in the direction of the arrow 1, in
order to cause the rotating cutter ring to penetrate the coal or rock y,
the wheels g of the bed plate are adjusted to the rails J, and the
segmental plates I are turned into such a position as to form con-
tinuations of the latter, all as shewn by full lines in Figure 2, and after
the wheels have crossed the segmental plates, and the rotary cutter
has penetrated to the required depth, the said wheels and segmental
plates are adjusted to the positions indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2,
and the machine is then caused to traverse the track J¹ in the direction
of the arrow 2, or in the reverse direction, as the case may be, the result
of which operation will be the cutting of a deep channel in the coal or
rock.
As the tracks J and J¹ are of the same gauge as the tracks usually
laid for the mine trucks, the latter may be caused to follow the machine

page_text: The cutter ring A may be adjusted through the medium of the
bracket C to work at different heights, as already described, but when
it is desired to work above the coal it will be generally found necessary
to reverse the arm B upon the bracket C, as indicated by dotted lines B¹
in Figure 1. When it is required to work on a level with the floor of the
pit or beneath the coal, a pinion E2 hung to the arm B may be interposed
between the driving pinion E¹ and the rack on the cutting ring, as shewn
in Figure 3.
When an ordinary reciprocating engine is used for the purpose of
transmitting motion to the cutting ring, the gearing shown in Figure 4
may be employed.
A modified arrangement of feeding mechanism is illustrated in the
sectional elevation, Figure 5, and plan view, Figure 6. The rails J are
laid up to the face of the coal to be worked, and upon these rails runs a
frame or carriage M, on which are two transverse rails J³ designed to
support the wheels g of the bed plate E of the machine. When the said
rails J2 are brought opposite or in line with the rails J¹, which are
disposed at right angles to and at a higher elevation than the rails J,
the machine may be run off the carriage M and on to the said rails J¹.
Between the rails J there is arranged a toothed rack P, and between the
rails J¹ a similar rack P₁, a section of the latter, marked P2, being also
secured to the carriage between the rails J2. On the frame D (Figure 5)
is a pinion S having an elongated hub S¹, into which extends the
spindle T of a pinion T, the said spindle being provided with a feather,
so as to enable it together with the pinion T to be raised and lowered
towards and from the pinion S without turning independently of the
same. The pinion S is operated from the engine on the frame D, and
transmits its motion to the pinion T, which when lowered gears into the
rack P, and thus moves the carriage and machine towards the working,
while when raised it gears into the racks P2 and P¹, and thus transfers
the machine from the carriage on to and along the track J'.
Cutters of various descriptions may be secured to the periphery of the
cutting ring A, but they should in all cases be reversible upon the
latter.
The cutter illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9 consists of a block V
pivoted to ears i, i, on the periphery of the ring, and carrying two sets
of cutting points ; and ; facing in opposite directions. The cutting

page_text: points have spaces between them, and are so arranged in respect to each
other in the several cutters that the points of one cutter will remove the
coal passed by the points of the preceding cutter, as shewn in Figures S
and 9. When the movement of the cutting ring is to be reversed the
several blocks V are simply turned upon their pivots, in a manner which
will be readily understood without explanation.
The cutter illustrated in the perspective view, Figure 10, consists of a
block W having three cutting edges w₁, the next cutter having but two
cutting edges, so arranged as to remove the material left by the spaces
between the three cutting edges of the cutter W. In addition to these
cutting edges each block is furnished with two side cutters x, x, secured
in a manner clearly explained by the Drawing...
Another form of cutter is illustrated in the sectional view, Figure 11.
This consists of a block secured to the ring A by a single screw which
serves as a pivot upon which the tool can be turned, so as to cause the
cutting points w' to face either way, according to the direction of the
movement of the ring, the block being secured after adjustment by a
spring catch at its rear end adapted to either of two projections on the
ring. The cutters w¹ are retained in position by a block 2 forced against
the same by a set screw v³. There are three cutting points w³, the outer-
most of which are inclined so as to give clearance at the sides. The
cutter illustrated in Figure 10 may also be made reversible.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. A channelling machine in which a cutter ring A is carried by
an arm B contained within the said ring, except. at the point where it
joins the frame, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawings,
Second. The cutter ring A and its carrying arm B in combination with
a frame D adjustable upon a bed E, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The cutter head A in combination with the arm B and its
antifriction rollers d.

page_text: Fourth. The combination of the cutter head A and its annular rack
with the arm B and pinion E¹ on the shaft F.
Fifth. A channelling machine in which a cutter ring A is carried by
an arm B, and rendered vertically adjustable upon a frame D by and
5
with the said arm, without being thrown out of gear with the driving
mechanism.
Sixth. The combination of the adjustable bracket C and its screws C2
with the frame 1 of the machine, and with the arm B carrying the cutter
ring, all substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.
Seventh. The combination of the frame D, the universally jointed and
longitudinally adjustable driving shaft F, and the adjustable bracket C
carrying the cutting arm.
Eighth. The combination of the frame D, the driving shaft F, the
worm K on the latter, and the worm wheel K¹, pinion K², spur wheel K³ 1
and capstan L attached to and rendered adjustable with the bracket C.
Ninth. The combination of the bed E and its frame D carrying the
cutting ring A with ways on which the said bed may be traversed in
two directions at right angles to each other.
Tenth. The bed plate E, its adjustable supporting wheels g, and 2
guide rollers g, the whole being constructed and operating substantially
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and as illus-
trated by the accompanying Drawings.
Eleventh. The tracks J and J' in combination with the adjustable
segments I arranged at the intersections of the said tracks, substantially 2
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and as illus-
trated by the accompanying Drawings.
Twelfth. The combination of an intermediate pinion E2 with the
driving pinion E' and rack on the cutting ring, for the purpose
specified.
Thirteenth. The combination of the track J, the track J₁ at right
angles thereto, but at a higher elevation, and the carriage M having a
track J2 which may be brought into line with the track J' by the move-
ment of the carriage.
30

page_text: Fourteenth. The combination of the said tracks J, J', and J2, and the
carriage M, with the racks ', P', and P2, and the vertically adjustable
feed pinion T attached to and operated by the machine.
Fifteenth. The reversible cutter block V with two sets of cutting
points, either of which may be brought to the face of the coal, according
to the direction of the movement of the cutter ring, the whole being
constructed and arranged substantially in the manner herein-before
described and illustrated by Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Sixteenth. The cutter block W having cutting edges w' and inter-
mediate channels and attached to the cutter ring, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by Figure 10 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventeenth. The pivoted cutter block X and its spring catch in
combination with the projections v₁ on the cutter ring, substantially as
herein-before described and illustrated by Figure 11 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, bave to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of
January One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (LS.)