IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPLITTING STONE OR OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, of the Firm of J.
Brandt and G. W. v. Nawrocki, of 2, Koch Strasse, Berlin, Germany, Patent
Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPLITTING
STONE OR OTHER MATERIALS." A communication from Gottlieb Johannes
Schmidt, of Gaumitz, Germany).
Sealed the 12th February 1878, and dated the 14th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von
Nawrocki at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August
1877.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, of the Firm of J. Brandt and G. W. v.
Nawrocki, of 2, Koch Strasse, Berlin, Germany, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR SPLITTING STONE OR OTHER MATERIALS." (A communication
from Gottlieb Johannes Schmidt, of Gaumitz, Germany.)
The object of this Invention is to produce a machine suitable for splitting stone
or other minerals, and more particularly for the production of granite or other
cubes for street pavement, to supersede the hand labour now used therefor.
The granite is naturally found in perpendicular, horizontal, or inclined layers of
varying thickness; these layers are split off by means of wedges or by explosives,
and are then by means of steel wedges split off into parallelepipedical blocks, which
are then split off into smaller parts or cubes by the machines constructed according
to this Invention. It is made in a form similar to a steam hammer.
The hammer head or block is fastened to the piston rod, and has a long stroke ;
it falls by its own weight only, no steam being applied to the upper surface of the
piston. The block has below a prismatic steel edge, and the anvil has an exactly
corresponding prismatic steel edge, so that both edges meet and are parallel.
The two side frames are forked or open to give room for the granite block to pass
through. The latter rests on rolls, and is moved along by chains winding on the
drum of a winch worked by gearing and spoke wheel. The cutting edge on the
anvil lies a little higher than the top of the rolls, so that the granite block has to

page_text: be raised thereonto. For this purpose two or more rolls are arranged to be lifted,
their beaings being in a framing worked by levers.
The hammer frames are on the same foundation plate. The anvil rests on a
granite block with wood underneath.
The hammer frames form guides for the hammer head, and are joined and
stiffened by cross bars or stays; the frames carry the steam cylinder. The steam is
let in and exhausted by separate slide valves worked by suitable lever appliance.
There is a steam stop valve worked by screw spindle and hand wheel.
To prevent the hammer head from lifting too far, it has a roller, which, at the
top of the stroke, touches a bell-crank lever, which automatically closes the inlet
slide valve. There is a tap in the lower part of the steam cylinder for letting off
the condense water; this tap is moved by a lever.
For holding the hammer head in a raised position there is a peg, which by means
of a lever can be pushed into a cavity in the head.
To operate this machine the block is first pushed into the right position, so that
the lower cutting edge comes fair with marks on the block; the latter is then let
down and held in place by two stretched wires on both sides. The hammer head
is then made to give several light blows with a low lift; thereupon one heavy blow
with a high lift, whereby the block is split exactly and vertically. The block is
then pushed forward to the next mark, and another piece cut off in the same way.
The flags thus cut off are then marked off by lines into smaller cubes, which are
cut off by means of a smaller hammer of similar construction, only that the flags
are brought under the hammer head by means of tables resting on spiral springs,
which are quite compressed by the weight of the flag, so that the latter rests on the
lower cutting edge.
When these machines are properly used, only very little touching up is needed
for the cubes.
The sides of the cutting edges form, by preference, about 60°, so that each prism
has three like cutting edges, which can be used one after the other. The prisms
may be made under the same steam hammer and used at once. A piece of sheet
copper should be placed between the upper and lower cutting edge when the
hammer is not in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th February 1878.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, of the Firm of J. Brand and G. W. v.
Nawrocki, of 2, Koch Strasse, Berlin, Germany, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SPLITTING STONE OR OTHER MATERIALS." (A communication from
Gottlieb Johannes Schmidt, of Gaumitz, Germany.)
The object of this Invention is to produce a machine suitable for splitting stone
or other minerals, and more particularly for the production of granite or other
cubes for street pavement, to supersede the hand labour now used therefor.
The granite is naturally found in perpendicular, horizontal, or inclined layers of
varying thickness; these layers are split off by means of wedges or by explosives;
and are then, by means of steel wedges, split off into "parallelopipedical " blocks,
which are then split off into smaller parts or cubes by the machines constructed
according to this Invention.
And in order that this Invention may be completely understood I will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings, of
which,-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine or hammer; Figure 2, a plan of same;
and Figure 3, a side elevation.
t
'
A is the hammer head or block keyed to the piston rod B; B' is the steam
cylinder. The block A is lifted by the steam acting on the under side of the cylinder
piston, which has a long stroke; the piston and block fall down by their own
weight, by preference, unassisted by steam; C is a steel prism fastened to the
block A by keys a, a, and E is a similar exactly corresponding and parallel prism
similarly keyed to the anvil D, the said prisms meeting exactly edge to edge.
The two side frames F, F, are forked or open below, as shewn, thus leaving space
for the block of granite G to be operated upon to pass through. This latter rests
on rollers b, b, and is moved along on the same by means of chains passing round
the drum H of a winch, the drum being turned by spoke wheel o and tooth wheel
gearing. The upper edge of the prism E is slightly above the top of the rolls 6 or
under side of the granite block G, so that the latter has to be slightly raised when
it is to be moved on to the prism E. For this purpose the two rollers b nearest to
the prism are arranged to be lifted, their bearings being in a frame f, which by
means of an eccentric or cam e and a lever g, keyed on the weigh shaft of the latter,
can be raised as required.
The block is guided on the sides by means of rollers h, h.
The frames Frest on the same bed plate M; the anvil E¹ rests on a block k and
wood planking k¹, k, k³, k, underneath.
The frames F are formed with guides for the hammer block A, and are braced
and stiffened together by cross bars or stays l; m, m³, are separate slide valves
respectively for the steam inlet and exhaust; these slide valves are actuated through
the intervention of the levers n, n¹, n², the rods and n, by means of the
handle o¹; J is the stop valve; the prolonged screw spindle p is fitted with a hand
wheel pl; q is the steam outlet.
The hammer block is fitted with a roller r, which at the top of the stroke
comes in contact with one arm 8 of a bell-crank lever, the other arm s¹ of which
passes through a slot in the rod n², and automatically closes the steam inlet slide
valve. The hammer head A is thus prevented from lifting too far; t is a tap in
the lower part of the steam cylinder B¹ for letting off the condensed water there-
from; it is worked by a rod t and lever t2. If the hammer block A is to remain
in the raised position, the peg or rod x is by means of the lever y pushed forward,
so that the block A rests thereon.
To operate this machine the granite block G is first pushed into the right position, so
that the lower cutting edge E comes fair, with marks on the block G ; the latter is

page_text: then let down and held in place by two stretched wires on both sides. The hammer
head A is then made to give several light blows with a low lift; thereupon, one
heavy blow with a high lift, whereby the block G is split exactly and vertically.
The block is then pushed forward to the next marks, and another piece cut off in
the same way. The flags thus cut off are then marked off by lines into smaller
cubes, which are cut off by means of a smaller hammer of similar construction,
only that the flags are brought under the hammer head by means of tables resting
on spiral springs, which are quite compressed by the weight of the flag, so that the
latter rests on the lower cutting edge.
When these machines are properly used, only very little touching up is needed
for the cubes.
The sides of the cutting edges of the prisms C and E form by preference about
60°, so that each prism has three like cutting edges, which can be used one after the
other. The prisms may be made under the same steam hammer, and used at once.
For making such prisms on this hammer, it is only necessary to insert a small anvil
and a small hammer head instead of the prisms Cand E, and thus the hammer may
also be used for forging generally. A piece of sheet copper should be placed
between the upper and lower cutting edge when the hammer is not in use.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I declare
that I claim,-
Firstly. The application of two steel prisms with cutting edges exactly opposite
one another, the upper one being lifted by steam for splitting stone or other minerals,
as set forth.
And, Secondly. The construction of the machine for splitting stone or other
minerals, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GERARD WENZESLAUS V. NAWROCKI. (L.S.)