IMPROVE- MENTS IN COAL-CUTTING MACHINERY
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Richard Bower, of Moor Allerton, near Leeds, in
the County of York, John Frederick Augustus Pflaum, of Potternewton, near
Leeds aforesaid, and John Thomas Tannett, of Victoria Foundry, in Leeds
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Richard Bower, John
Frederick Augustus Pflaum, and John Thomas Tannett at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 25th November 1881.
JOHN RICHARD BOWER, of Moor Allerton, near Leeds, in the County of York,
JOHN FREDERICK AUGUSTUS PFLAUM, of Potternewton, near Leeds aforesaid, and
JOHN THOMAS TANNETT, of Victoria Foundry, in Leeds, aforesaid. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COAL-CUTTING MACHINERY."
This Invention has for its object improvements in coal cutting machinery.
The coal cutting machine consists of a wrought iron framing mounted on
wheels, and travelling on a line of rails in front of the face of coal to be worked.
On this frame are mounted two pairs of powerful electro magnets with their
poles facing each other. The armature of these magnets forms part of a horizontal
lever turning on a pin fixed in the side of the horizontal framing. The opposite
end of the lever is shaped like a quadrant and carries on the circumference a
number of steel forks, each one a little in advance of the other measured from the
centre.
When the machine is at work the cores of the magnets are alternately
magnetized and de-magnetized, and thus the armature receives a short quick
reciprocating motion, which it communicates to the quadrant carrying the picks.
At the same time the wrought iron framing is travelled along slowly either by
hand or self acting in front of the coal, and in this manner a groove will be cut in
the coal of any required depth and width.
The power is derived from a dynamo electric machine, such as is used for

page_text: producing electric light, fixed at the top of the pit in any convenient position, and
driven from any available source of power.
This electric machine forms no part of the Invention.
The current is conveyed in the first place to a commutator fixed near the dynamo
electric machine, and from the commutator two wires are conducted to the coal
cutting machine at the bottom of the pit. One wire communicates with one electro
magnet, the other with the opposito one; the commutator is worked by an eccentric
and suitable gearing from the dynamo engine, so as to send the current alternately
to the electro magnets on the coal cutting machine, thus producing the necessary
motion and regulating the number of strokes per minute. There is a suitable
provision to keep the connection of the wires with the machine whilst it is
travelling on the rails.
Several machines may be worked from the same circuit.
The return current may be sent either by wire or through earth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Richard Bower, John Frederick Augustus Pflaum, and John
Thomas Tannett, in the Great Seal Patont Office on the 25th May 1882.
JOHN. RICHARD BOWER, of Moor Allerton, near Leeds, in the County of York,
JOHN FREDERICK AUGUSTUS PFLAUM, of Potternewton, near Leeds aforesaid, and
JOHN THOMAS TANNETT, of Victoria Foundry, in Leeds aforesaid.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN COAL-CUTTING MACHINERY."
This Invention has for its object improvements in coal cutting machinery.
The coal cutting machine consists of a wrought iron framing mounted on
wheels, and travelling on a line of rails in front of the face of coal to be worked.
On this frame are mounted two pairs of powerful electro-magnets, with their poles
facing each other. The armature of these magnets forms part of a horizontal lever
turning on a pin fixed in the side of the horizontal framing. The opposite end of
the lever is shaped like a quadrant, and carries on the circumference a number of
steel picks, each one a little in advance of the other measured from the centre.
When the machine is at work the cores of the magnets are alternately magnetized
and de-magnatized, and thus the armature receives a short quick reciprocating
motion, which it communicates to the quadrant carrying the picks. At the same
time the wrought iron framing is travelled along slowly, either by hand or self-
acting in front of the coal, and in this manner a groove will be cut in the coal of
any required depth and width.
The power is derived from a dynamo-electric machine, such as is used for
producing electric light, fixed at the top of the pit in any convenient position, and
driven from any available source of power.
This electric machine forms no part of the Invention.
The current is conveyed in the first place to a commutator fixed near the dynamo
electric machine, and from the commutator two wires are conducted to the coal-
cutting machine at the bottom of the pit. One wire communicates with one electro
magnet, the other with the opposite one; the commutator is worked by an eccentric
and suitable gearing from the dynamo engine, so as to send the current alternately
to the electro magnets on the coal cutting machine, thus producing the necessary
motion and regulating the number of strokes per minute. There is a suitable
provision to keep the connection of the wires with the machine whilst it is
travelling on the rails. Several machines may be worked from the same circuit.
The return current may be sent either by wire or through earth.
In order that our said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: segment G. The centre E is fitted at the upper end with a lever H, which gives
a ratchet feed motion to the wheel I. This motion is cominunicated by the worm
and worm wheel J to the chain wheel K, then by pitched chain to the chain
wheel L, and thus to the chain barrel M. The movement of the ratchet wheel can
be adjusted by means of a cover plate, which can be so set that the pawl may ride
upon it for a part of the stroke. A short linked chain, one end of which is made
fast to the upright N, is slowly wound on the barrel by the self neting motion,
and thus the machine is travelled along the face of coal to be worked, and by the
action of the picks a groove of the required width and depth is produced. The
machine can also be travelled by hand by turning the hand wheel O. Two volute
springs P, P, pressing on the armature in opposite directions serve to equalize the
power exercised by the magnets on the arminture during each stroke. The picks
in the segments G are so arranged that the one at g is nearest to the centro E, and
also the least in width, and the distance from the centre and the width of the picks
gradually increase, so that g' is at the greatest distance from the centre and also
the widest. The distance of the picks from each other and the length of stroko
are so arranged that at the end of the return stroke all the picks are liberated for
the moment, and just then the selfacting feed-motion is given preparatory for the
next stroke.
"
.
The power to work the coal cutting machine is derived from a dynamo machine
or generator fixed near the top of the shaft of the coal mine, and driven from any
available source of power. Such a machine is indicated at Q, see Figure 4. The
current is conveyed by the wire R to the commutator S, which is worked by a
erank pin T on a shaft driven by belt at a fixed number of revolutions per minute
from the same shaft which drives the generator. By the commutator the current
is sent alternately on the wires U or V; U communicates with the electro
magnet C, V with C' on the coal cutting machine, thus producing the required
motion of the armature and regulating the number of strokes of the machine. The
commutator is so constructed that contact is made with U just before being broken
with V, and vice versa.
f
By turning the switch W on the machine the workman may place both U and V
in communication with both magnets at the same time, and so stop the action of
the machine if required. The circuit is completed by a third wire connecting the
wires on the magnets with the generator. All the wires are long enough to allow
for the travel of the machine along the face of the coal to be worked.
In case the rails are not sufficiently firm to resist the lateral strain of the action
of the picks we use runners X working against flat bars like Y, supported by
uprights Z, fitted with screws and forced tightly against the top and the bottoni
of the working.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim our improved
coal cutting machine having electro-magnets and an armature imparting motion to
a lever carrying cutters, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Richard Bower, John Frederick Augustus
Pflaum, and John Thomas Tannett, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Twenty third day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.