Improvements in Quarrying Machinery.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quarrying Machinery.
We, JOHN THOMAS, of 8, Nant Terrace, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, Slate
Manufacturer, WILLIAM STAINTON, of 11, South Castle Street, Liverpool, Civil
Engineer, and FREDERICK CHARLES SANDERS, of 81, Esmond Street, Liverpool,
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery for quarrying slate and other minerals, and
is more especicially applicable to slate and other quarries the sides of which are
stepped or galleried.
According to this invention the slate or other mineral being quarried is cut by
revolving circular saws which are guided by a travelling frame and platform, the
motive power of the saws, frame and platform being derived from a steam or other
motor carried by a truck on said frame.
The travelling frame may consist of horizontal girders arranged to travel along
the top of the rock or gallery upon wheels running on a rail laid on said rock, and
vertical girders arranged to travel along the face of the rock or gallery upon wheels
running on a rail laid on the top of the next gallery below, said girders being laced
or otherwise connected together.
'
On the horizontal portion of the travelling frame is mounted a truck adapted to
travel from front to back of the rock or gallery top. Said truck carries a steam
or other motor from which is derived the motive power of the revolving saws,
travelling frame, and platform.
Depending from the truck are four worm shafts, reaching down the face of the
rock to the top of the next gallery below. Each of said shafts passes through a
nut or matrix in each corner of an oblong platform, which is adapted to descend
and ascend as said worm shafts are rotated.
Mounted on each end of a horizontal spindle carried by said platform is a circular
saw, said saws being adapted to make a vertical saw-cut in the face of the rock or
gallery as the spindle revolves and the platform descends.
A fifth shaft-not a worm shaft-also depends from the truck and passes through
the centre of the platform. On this shaft are mounted two, three or more circular
saws spaced apart and adapted to make horizontal saw-cuts in the face of the
rock or gallery as the frame travels along the gallery.
The saws are kept up to their work by stays or arms carried by the travelling
frame.
The upper and lower running wheels of the travelling frame are driven by the
motor on the truck by means of horizontal and vertical shafts on which are keyed
bevel wheels. Such horizontal shaft is preferably square and passes loosely
through its driving pinion as the truck and motor travel inwardly as the rock is
cut away. The four vertical worm shafts, and also the fifth shaft, are rotated by
the motor on the truck, by means of toothed, worm, and bevel wheel gearing
disposed on the truck and platform.
The propelling gear of the frame, and the gear by which the five vertical shafts
are rotated, are capable of differential speeds, in order that the frame and platform
may travel at a speed of about three inches per minute when the saws are cutting,
and at a much quicker speed when it is desired to return these parts to their former
position. This may be accomplished by alternately throwing into gear a slow worm
motion and a fast spur-and-pinion motion.

page_text: Depending from the truck C are four worm shafts D, reaching down the face of
the rock nearly to the top of the next gallery below. Each of said shafts passes
through a nut or matrix d fixed in each corner of an oblong platform E, which is
adapted to descend and ascend on said shafts by means hereafter described.
A fifth shaft F-not a worm shaft-also depends from the truck C and passes
loosely through the platform E. On this shaft F are moanted two, three, or more,
circular saws G, spaced apart and adapted to make horizontal saw cuts in the face
of the rock B as the frame A travels along the galleries.
Mounted on horizontal spindles 4, carried by the platform E, are two circular
saws H, said saws being adapted to make vertical saw cuts in the face of the rock B
as the platform E descends."
It must be understood that when the platform saws H are making vertical saw
cuts in the face of the gallery B the horizontal saws G upon the fifth shaft F are
disconnected and removed; and similarly when horizontal saw cuts are being made
in the face of the rock, the platform saws H are disconnected and removed.
A system of gearing is employed for operating the several portions of the
apparatus, which gearing is driven by the engine e', and comprises several
distinct gears each capable of being worked independently of the others and of
heing disconnected when not required; and upon reference to the gear illustrated
in the annexed drawings it must be understood that the component spur, bevel,
and worm wheels, and worms, are-where necessary-put into and out of gear
by any well known appliance for this purpose.
The running wheels a and of the frame A are driven by the horizontal
shaft a and vertical shaft , on which are keyed bevel wheels a and respec-
tively. The shaft a² is preferably square and passes loosely through its driving
pinions when the truck C travels forward and backward, being prevented from
sagging by the pivotted and weighted standards at which are pushed out of the
way as the truck passes over them.
When the saws G are cutting the rock a slow motion is given to the shafts a², b
by the crank axle e, through the bevel wheels e, shaft e, wheels e, worm c", and
worm wheel e, whereby the frame A travels about three inches per minute.
A quick motion is given to the shafts a, , by the belt e and spur wheels e,
whereby the frame A travels quickly, as for instance when returning to the
starting point, co being loose pulleys.
Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft F by the bevel wheels f, shaft /
spur wheel, and the spur wheel mounted on the shaft e' above referred to.
From the shaft F the platform E and saws G and H derive their motion.
The saws G are mounted directly on such shaft. The saws H are rotated by
the bevel wheels f, spur wheels f, shaft, and spur wheels f", of which latter
wheels one is mounted on each of the saw spindles h.
A slow downward movement is given to the platform E (about three inches
per minute) by the spur wheel ", shaft, bevel wheels f, worms d', and worm
wheels d, which latter have an internal thread meshing with that of the shafts D..
The ascension of the platform may be accomplished by reversing the motion of
this gear, but to raise it more quickly the internally threaded worm wheels d' are
rotated by the bevel wheels d³ attached to them, instead of by the worms d¹, by.
means of the shafts d' and h and spur wheels a meshing with the spur wheels f
before referred to.
An alternative method of quickly returning the platform may consist in
revolving the shafts D themselves within the fixed nuts d by means of the bevel
wheels do, one of each pair of which is mounted on the shaft f¹ before referred
to, and the bevel wheels d', shaft do, shaft d' and the bevel wheels d¹º.
The truck C runs on wheels y and is propelled by the spur wheel g', mounted
on the axle of one pair of such wheels, said spur wheel gl meshing with the
spur wheel before referred to.
The platform saws H commence at the top of the rock and cut downwards.
After two of such cuts are made the slate between them is removed to provide

page_text: 7. The particular arrangement and construction of quarrying machiuery herein
described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 26th day of September 1896.
J. A. COUBROUGH,
Registered Patent Agent (Qual. by Exam.),
10, St. George's Crescent, Liverpool, Agent for the Applicants.