IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPA- RATUS TO BE USED IN CUTTING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Gledhill, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Mechanical
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPA-
RATUS TO BE USED IN CUTTING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Gledhill at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
November 1866.
I, PETER GLEDHILL, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CUTTING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be used in
cutting coal and other minerals.
I employ a carriage arranged to traverse on rails or guides parallel to the
face of the coal or mineral, from the side of this carriage there projects a jib
or arm with a pulley at its end, and an endless chain passes around this pulley
and also around another pulley on an upright axis on the carriage, the chain
works in guides on the jib or arm, and has two cutting tools fixed upon it, so
that immediately after one tool has gone out of action the other comes into
work, or. more than two cutting tools may be employed. The chain with the
cutters upon it receives its motion from an air engine mounted on the carriage,
[Price 8d.]

page_text: and geared with the axis of one of the pulleys round which the endless chain
passes so as to communicate a slow motion thereto. It is not essential that
the endless chain should receive its motion from an air engine; other fluids
under pressure may be used in place of air to give motion to the endless
chain. Usually I mount the carriage on two pair of wheels, and I arrange
the axle of one pair to swivel on a stud, so that the carriage may be steadily
supported even should there be slight irregularities in the laying of the rails.
The hinder axle of the carriage has a worm wheel upon it gearing with a
worm with a hand wheel on its axis by which the carriage can be fed forward
whilst at work. The jib or arm is arranged in such manner that it can be
turned in underneath the carriage when out of work to enable it to travel
through narrow ways. The same arrangement is available to facilitate the
entry of the cutters into the coal or mineral, the jib or arm being turned
outwards gradually (by means of a worm wheel and worm with a hand wheel
on its axis), and the chain with the cutters which are in motion are brought
up against the face of the coal or mineral, and they cut their way into it until
the jib or arm is at right angles or nearly so with the rails or guides; this
being accomplished the forward motion of the carriage is commenced, and so
the cut is continued. In some cases in place of the jib or arm with the
endless chain and cutters already described I joint to the side of the carriage
a segment arm with three or other number of teeth fixed in sockets at its
periphery. The segment arm receives a slow oscillating movement on its
centre by means of a connecting rod from a crank on an upright axis on the
carriage driven at a comparatively slow speed by gearing connecting it with the
small engine which the carriage carries as already described. The forward
motion of the carriage may be obtained in the manner already stated, or in
other convenient manner; thus the carriage being moved forward on the
completion of each vibration of the segment arm the teeth are caused to cut
their way into the coal or mineral. The stroke of the segment arm is some-
what in excess of the distance between the cutters which are at different
distances from the centre, so that they may clear themselves for the forward
motion to be given to the carriage.
1.
In arranging machines for cutting coal and other minerals by the action of
a rapidly reciprocating pick worked directly by the engine I employ a carriage
mounted on three wheels, two on one side and one on the other, or the side
next the face of the coal or mineral; this last-mentioned wheel is at or near
the centre of the length of the carriage, and close to it is a vertical axis, to
which the pick is fixed; there is a socket on this axis which can receive the
pick on either side, so that the machine may work either right or left handed;

page_text: thus far the machine is similar to a machine described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to me and another, and dated the 23rd day of November
1864 (No. 2929).
According to my present Invention I actuate the pick axis by means of a
cylinder, so placed that the pick axis is immediately alongside of the cylinder;
a piston working in this cylinder gives motion to a cross head working on
guides on the carriage, and a return connecting rod passing from the cross
head over the top of the cylinder connects it to an arm on the pick axis which
thus receives motion, if there is sufficient room there may advantageously be
another similar connecting rod underneath the cylinder, but this somewhat
increases the height of the carriage. A. similar method of actuating the pick
may be adopted when a four-wheeled carriage is employed. Where it not
required that the machine should work both right and left handed I prefer to
employ to actuate the pick a cylinder and piston with a piston rod of large
diameter, so that the effective area of the piston is considerably larger on one
side than the other; then to make the stroke; the air or fluid under pressure
is admitted to the cylinder on the side of the smaller area, and then when the
stroke is made the valve allows the passage of the air or fluid from one side of
the piston to the other, and in expanding to the larger area it causes the return
of the pick. In order to avoid the necessity of laying a very solid line of
rails in the mine for the machine to work upon, as is now usual, I employ a
light and stiff frame or girder, by preference of wrought iron or steel, and of
considerable length; and rails or guides are fixed on this frame both for the
carrying wheels of the carriage and also for steadying wheels or pulleys at the
top thereof; or instead of placing the steadying rails or guides at the top of
the frame they may be placed above and parallel to the carrying rails, and at
such a distance therefrom as will just clear the top of the carrying wheels;
thus one set of wheels will answer the purpose of both steadying and carrying
wheels, or slides may be employed in place of wheels. The frame or girder is
placed along the face of the coal, and firmly blocked in position, and the
machine then traverses upon it whilst at work without requiring any rails or
permanent way to be laid in the mine. When the machine has cut from end
to end of the frame it is stopped, and the frame is moved on and again set.
In order to assist in moving the frame or girder from place to place it is
fitted with wheels which are capable of being depressed at pleasure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Peter Gledhill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st May 1867.
"TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
GLEDHILL, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant upon me,
the said Peter Gledhill, Her special licence that I, the said Peter Gledhill,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Peter
Gledhill, my executors, administrators, and 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
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CUTTING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Gledhill, my execu-
tors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, 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 Peter Gledhill, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be used in
cutting coal and other minerals. I employ a carriage arranged to traverse
on rails or guides parallel to the face of the coal or mineral; from the side of
this carriage there projects a jib or arm with a pulley at its end, and an
endless chain passes around this pulley, and also around another pulley on an
upright axis on the carriage; the chain works in guides on the jib or arm,
and has two cutting tools fixed upon it, so that immediately after one tool has
gone out of action the other comes into work; or more than two cutting tools
may be employed. The chain with the cutters upon it receives its motion
from an air engine mounted on the carriage and geared with the axis of one

page_text: of the pulleys, round which the endless chain passes, so as to communicate a
slow motion thereto. It is not essential that the endless chain should receive
its motion from an air engine, other fluids under pressure may be used in
place of air to give motion to the endless chain. Usually I mount the
carriage on two pair of wheels, and I arrange the axle of one pair to swivel
on a stud, so that the carriage may be 'steadily supported even should there
be slight irregularities in the laying of the rails. The hinder axle of the
carriage has a worm wheel upon it gearing with a worm with a 'hand
wheel on its axis, by which the carriage can be fed forward whilst at work.
The jib or arm is arranged in such manner that it can be turned in under-
neath the carriage when out of work to enable it to travel through narrow
ways. The same arrangement is available to facilitate the entry of the cutters
into the coal or mineral, the jib or arm being turned outwards gradually (by
means of a worm wheel or segment and worm with a hand wheel on its axis)
and the chain with the cutters which are in motion are brought up against the
face of the coal or mineral, and they cut their way into it until the jib or arm is
at right angles or nearly so with the rails or guides; this being accomplished
the forward motion of the carriage is commenced, and so the cut is continued.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 an end view, and Figure 3 a plan of a
coal-cutting machine thus constructed.
ין
a, a, is the frame of the machine; it is carried on four wheels b, b, c, c,
which run upon thé ordinary rails d of the mine; the hinder wheels b, b, are
keyed on their axis which turns in bearings on the frame,' and the front
wheels c, c, are able to turn on their axle, which is jointed to' the frame by the
pin e, on which it is able to rock, so that the machine stands firmly as it were
on a tripod even when the rails are not truly laid; f is a cylinder fixed on
the frame, it is supplied with compressed air or other fluid under pressure by
means of a flexible pipe; by a connecting rod and crank pin it drives the
axis g, on which is a fly wheel and the eccentric for working the valve; there
is also on the axis g a worm g' gearing with the worm wheel' h" on the vertical
axis h carried by the frame, and which is thus driven; it has "fixed upon it a
chain wheel, around which the endless pitch chain i passes; this chain also
encircles a chain wheel ' at the outer end of the jib k, which is also mounted
on the axis h, but in such manner as to be able to turn upon it. The jib k is
formed with two arms which form the side guides for the chain, having guide
strips & screwed on to them which overlap the chain; between these arms a
block is formed, and through a passage in this block the stem which carries
the pulley k¹ is able to slide; it can be moved outwards "by the adjusting
screw to tighten up the chain; are tool boxes and tools which the chain

page_text: carries. For travelling the jib kis able to turn in under the frame, the inner
wheel b being removed to allow it to pass, it is moved in and out by means of
the worm 1, the axis of which receives a key or handle, and this worm gears
with a quadrant 5 forming part of the arm k. The worm may if desired be
employed in making the first cut into the face of the coal, the engine being
set to work and the endless chain driven whilst the carriage is held stationary
on the rails, and then the jib which at the commencement lies alongside of
the hinder wheel is gradually by, turning the worm pressed up against the
face of the coal until it is brought into a position at right angles to the face
of the coal, as it is shewn in the Drawing, and then the cut is continued by
causing the carriage to travel onwards on the rails which are laid parallel
with the working face. The forward motion is given to the carriage by means
of a hand wheel m, on the axis of which is a worm m¹ gearing with a worm
wheel b¹ on the axis of the hinder wheels b, and by this motion of the carriage
the cut may be continued any distance along the face.
I would remark that the mechanical details of this machine may be varied
from what the Drawing shows, but what I claim as respects this part of my
Invention is the arranging a machine for cutting coal or mineral in such
manner that the cut may be produced by means of cutters carried by an
endless chain and jib projecting from the side of the machine, and forced through
the coal by the forward motion of the carriage parallel to the working face.
I also claim the supporting the chain which carries the cutters as it passes
from pulley to pulley, so that it may not yield and be deflected by the pressure
of the coal or material against it. In some cases in place of the jib or arm
with the endless chain and cutters already described I joint to the side of the
carriage a segment arm with three or other number of teeth fixed in sockets
at its periphery. The segment arm receives a slow oscillating movement on its
centre by means of a connecting rod from a crank on an upright axis on the
carriage driven at a comparatively slow speed by gearing connecting it with
the small engine which the carriage carries, as already described. The forward
motion of the carriage may be obtained in the manner already stated or in
other convenient manner. Thus the carriage being moved forward on the
completion of each vibration of the segment arm the teeth are caused to
cut their way into the coal or mineral. The stroke of the segment arm is
somewhat in excess of the distance between the cutters which are at different
distances from the centre, so that they may clear themselves for the forward
motion to be given to the carriage.
Figure 4 is a portion of a plan of a machine thus arranged. The machine
is in its general arrangements similar to that already described, except that

page_text: in place of the endless chain and jib for carrying the cutters there is substituted
on the other side of the machine an oscillating segment arm n; it is jointed
to the side of the carriage at n', and at n it is jointed to the connecting rod o,
which at its other end embraces the crank pin of the crank h on the vertical
axis h, and which crank takes the place of the chain wheel in the arrangement
previously described; n³, n³, are the cutting tools fitting into sockets on the
segment arm n. In the arrangement shewn there are three of these tools, and
they are set the one in advance of the other 'from the outer tool inwards, the
cut is produced as the tools move towards the front, and the carriage is moved
forward at the end of the return stroke, when, as will be seen, the cutters are
clear of the coal..
As respects this part of my Invention, 1 claim the arranging a machine for
cutting coal or mineral in such manner that the cut may be produced by
means of a segment arm with three or other number of teeth upon it, and
which is caused to oscillate at the same time that the carriage is made to
travel along the working face.
In arranging machines for cutting coal and other minerals by the action
of a rapidly reciprocating pick worked directly by the engine I employ a
carriage mounted on three wheels, two on one side and one on the other, or
the side next the face of the coal or mineral; this last-mentioned wheel is
at or near the centre of the length of the carriage, and close to it is a vertical
axis to which the pick is fixed, there is a socket on this axis which, can
receive the pick on either side so that the machine may work either right or
left handed; thus far the machine is similar to a machine described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to me and another, and dated the Twenty:
third day of November One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four (No. 2929).
According to my present Invention I actuate the pick axis by means of a
cylinder so placed that the pick axis is immediately alongside of the cylinder;
a piston working in this cylinder gives motion to a cross head working on
guides on the carriage, and a return connecting rod passing from the cross head
over the top of the cylinder connects it to an arm on the pick axis which thus
receives motion. If there is sufficient room there may advantageously be
another similar connecting rod underneath the cylinder, but this somewhat
increases the height of the carriage.
Figure 5 is a side view, Figure 6 a plan, partly in section, and Figure 7
is part of a vertical section of a machine thus arranged.
a, a, is the frame of the machine; it may be cast in one piece with the
cylinder b, and its valve case c. d, d, are the two outer wheels of the carriage;
they are made with flanges on both sides so as to embrace the rail, and they

page_text: have worm wheels d', d, upon them which gear with worms on a longitudinal
axis not shewn in the Drawing, and which at its end receives a hand wheel,.
and this when turned causes the carriage to move forward and feeds the tool
up to its work; e is the inner wheel; it turns upon a stud fixed in the frame
immediately under the cylinder; it is made without flanges; f is the vertical
axis of the pick g which is fitted into the socket f; f is an arm keyed on
the upper end of the axis f, it is jointed to a connecting rod which at its
further end is attached to the cross head on the end of the piston rod, and
which works upon guide rods h², h¹, on the end of the cylinder b, and in this
way the pick receives its motion when air or fluid under pressure is supplied
to the cylinder; c', c¹, are piston valves on the valve rod c³, and the air is
admitted by a flexible pipe to the valve case c in the space between the two
pistons c¹; c, c³, are tappets upon the valve rod c, and which are struck by
the arm of the cross head at each end of the stroke; i, i, are levers for
working the valves by hand when required.
As respects this part of my Invention I claim the arranging a machine for
cutting coal or mineral on three wheels and with the pick axis immediately
alongside of the cylinder, and receiving its motion from a connecting rod
passing back from the outer end of the piston rod over the top of the cylinder,
A method of actuating the pick similar to that last described may be
adopted when a four wheeled carriage is employed.
Figure 8 is a side view, Figure 9 a plan, partly in section, and Figure 10
an end view of this arrangement. a, a, is the frame of the machine mounted
on four wheels b, b; they are fixed upon axles carried in suitable bearings; on
the axle of the hinder pair a worm wheel is mounted, and a worm mounted
on the axis of the hand wheel c gears with it so that by turning this hand
wheel the carriage may be caused to move forward parallel with the face of
the coal. d is the cylinder for working the pick, and e its valve; these parts
are herein-after further described, but they may be of ordinary construction.
The piston rod gives motion to a cross head f moving in guides on the frame,
and which by a connecting rod is linked with the arm g' on the vertical
axis g; this axis is carried in bearings on the side of the cylinder d, and
has a socket upon it to receive the pick h.
As respects this part of my Invention I claim the arranging machinery for
cutting coal or mineral in such manner that the pick may receive its motion
by means of a connecting rod passing from the outer end of the piston rod
back over the top of the cylinder to an arm on the pick axis. Where it is
not required that the machine should work both right and left handed I prefer
to employ to actuate the pick a cylinder and piston with a piston rod of large

page_text: diameter, so that the effective area of the piston is considerably larger on one
side than the other; then to make the stroke the air or fluid under pressure
is admitted to the cylinder on the side of the smaller area, and then when the
stroke is made the valve allows the passage of the air or fluid from one side
of the piston to the other, and in expanding into the larger area it causes the
return of the pick.
This arrangement also is illustrated by Figure 9 of the Drawing, in which
the piston rod is represented of large diameter so as to make the effective area
of the cylinder on this side of the piston considerably smaller than on the
other. The cut is produced by the air or fluid under pressure acting on the
piston rod side of the piston to which it is admitted by the valve e, when it is.
so placed' as to uncover the port d' of the cylinder. When the stroke is
"complete the valve is put over by means of the hand lever e¹ into the position
in which it is shown in the Drawing, and then the air expands into the other
end of the cylinder, and in doing so brings back the pick. At the outer end
of the stroke the cross head strikes the lever e¹, and so again puts over the valve
so as to admit air under pressure to the cylinder to make another cut, whilst
at the same time the air previously in the cylinder is allowed to escape from it.
As respects this part of my Invention I claim the arranging a machine for
cutting coal or mineral in such manner that the pick after making its effective
stroke may be brought back by expanding the air or fluid out of the smaller
into the larger area of the cylinder. In order to avoid the necessity of laying
á very solid line of rails in the mine for the machine to work upon, as is now
usual, I employ a light and stiff frame or girder, by preference of wrought iron
or steel, and of considerable length, and rails or guides are fixed on this framo
both for the carrying wheels of the carriage and also for steadying wheels or
pulleys at the. top thereof; or slides may be employed in place of wheels. The
frame or girder is placed along the face of the coal and firmly blocked in
position, and the machine then traverses upon it whilst at work without
requiring any rails or permanent way to be laid in the mine. When the
machine has cut from end to end of the frame it is stopped and the frame is
moved on and again set. In order to assist in moving the frame or girder
from place to place it is fitted with wheels which are capable of being depressed
at pleasure.
Figure 11 is a side view, and Figure 12 is an end view of such a girder or
frame; it consists of four longitudinal angle irons a, a, a, a, connected
together at the top and bottom and on the outer side by a lattice framing of '
flat bars b, b, and at each end by means of a square frame c; the coal-cutting
carriage d runs in this frame having wheels d¹ at the bottom and other

page_text: wheels d at the top, as is shown; e, e, are levers jointed to the girder or frame
at each end; they carry small wheels e¹, e¹, which by means of the levers can
be forced down on on to the floor of the mine so as to facilitate the removal of
the girder or frame from place to place; f, f, are blocks of wood for wedging
the girder or frame firmly from the roof of the mine when it is in use.
As respects this part of my Invention I claim the combining a machine for
cutting coal or mineral with an apparatus consisting of a light and stiff girder
or frame in such manner that the machine may traverse parallel with the
working face within the said girder or frame.
In some cases in place of the arrangement last described I employ to carry
the machine for cutting coal or mineral the ordinary carrying rails. of the line,
and over them and just clear of the tops of the carrying wheels of the machine
I fix other or steadying rails or guides so as to prevent the machine rising off
the lower rails and to keep it truly at its work. A side view of. this arrange-
ment is shown at Figure 13, and an end view at Figure 14. a, a, are the
ordinary rails of the mine; b is the machine, and b¹ its carrying wheels; c, c,
are the steadying rails or guides, one on either side of the machine; they are
connected together at their two ends by cross bars c¹ so as to form a frame,
and they are bent downwards at their extremities and forked to embrace the
rails a as is shown. The frame is secured in its place when in use by the
wooden blocks d resting against the roof of the mine.
As respects this part of my Invention I claim the combining a machine for
cutting coal or mineral with a guide frame, which when in use is firmly
secured, and which has guides passing just over the tops of the carrying
wheels of the machine and parallel with the rails along which the machine
travels.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Gledhill, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand sight hundred and sixty-WAN