IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING COAL, STONE, OR OTHER MINERALS." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Elliott Carrett; of Leeds, in the County of
York, Engineer, John Warrington, of Kippax, in the County of York,
Coal Owner, and John Sturgeon, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
COAL, STONE, OR OTHER MINERALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Elliott Carrett,
John Warrington, and John Sturgeon at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 28th November 1864.
We, WILLIAM ELLIOTT CARRETT, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer,
JOHN WARRINGTON, of Kippax, in the County of York, Coal Owner, and JOHN
STURGEON, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
STONE, OR OTHER MINERALS," to be as follows:-
Our said Invention has for its object "Improvements in Machinery for
Cutting Coal, Stone, or other Minerals," and relates,―
Firstly, to a new and improved mode of actuating picks or cutters used for
the above purpose. Heretofore it has been usual, when actuating picks by
compressed-air engines, to impart to the pick a simple vibratory motion on a
fixed centre attached to a carriage simultaneous with and by the piston of the
air engine, and in order to release the pick from the coal or other substance
after each successive stroke it has been usual to impart a backward movement
to the carriage on which the pick is mounted by manual power.
Now the first part of our Invention consists in imparting to a pick or picks,
or cutters, by the piston of an engine worked by compressed air, steam, gas,

page_text: or other elastic fluid, a compound vibratory action embodying a twofold
movement with every vibration of the pick or cutter, thus including in and
accomplishing by the one movement of the piston that double movement of
the pick or cutter necessary to its efficient and uninterrupted action which has
heretofore been produced partly by the piston of the engine and partly by
hand.
One of the modes of effecting the above-named improved action of the
picks or cutters is to attach the pick or cutter to an axis which is capable of
being shifted on its centre of vibration independently of the lever arm or other
appliance through which it receives its motion from the piston, the piston being
allowed to move a short distance at each end of its path while shifting the
centre of vibration without simultaneously acting on the pick or cutter. This
may be effected in a variety of ways, but an arrangement of parts which will
serve the purpose may be described as follows, that is to say:-The piston
rod of the engine gives motion to a lever arm having a boss on both sides of
sufficient length to be carried in suitable bearings. This boss is bored out
eccentrically to receive a spindle to which the pick is conveniently connected.
The boss of the lever arm is provided with clutch teeth fitting into corre-
sponding clutch teeth on the spindle, but leaving a determinate amount of
side play or clearance between the teeth. The spindle carrying the pick or
cutter is partially rotated by reason of the clutch teeth on the boss of the
lever arm acting against the clutch teeth on the spindle until the stroke is
completed. At the commencement of the return stroke the boss of the lever
arm is, by the action of the piston, turned in the reverse direction through a
certain determinate space before the clutch teeth come in contact at their
opposite sides to carry the pick backwards, and during this movement the
eccentricity of the boss with regard to the spindle shifts the axis of the pick,
thus imparting to the pick the compound action described, whereby the pick
is drawn nearer to the machine, thus assisting its release from the coal or
other substance after each successive stroke.
Another way of effecting this object, and dispensing with the eccentric
action of the axis, is to impart a simple vibratory motion to the fulcrum end
of the pick shaft or stem simultaneously with the piston through the medium
of a lever arm, segmental rack, or other suitable contrivance, whilst the
remaining portion of the pick shaft and pick head thereto attached partakes
of a compound motion. At a convenient distance from the end of the pick
shaft or stem we apply a joint operated on by a spring or springs moving
therewith. The tendency of such spring or springs is to keep the pick shaft
řigid and straight; but when the pick has completed its stroke and penetrated
Y

page_text: the coal or other substance, the momentum (assisted or not by the pressure of
the piston) of the pick shaft and its appliances vibrating therewith causes it
to bend or unstraighten itself so as to cause the pick head to deviate for the
instant from its ordinary curvilinear path and thereby loosen it in or from
the coal or other substance, and thus facilitate its withdrawal for the return
stroke. The same object may otherwise be attained by making the pick shaft
of some suitable elastic material. But in all cases the pick head receives a
compound motion derived from the simple movement of the piston, the effect
of which is to release it more easily, and thereby to form a distinct improve-
ment on the usual rigid pick shaft, having a simple vibratory motion from the
piston, necessitating a backward movement being applied to the carriage by
hand.
We would here observe that where we have for convenience made use of
the term "axis" in relation to the motion of the pick we are aware that such
axis may be so transposed as to form a fixed axis with regard to the parts
which vibrate or partially rotate around the same.
Secondly, our Invention consists in a new and improved combination of the
several working parts whereby the use of a separate "under carriage or truck"
to carry the cylinder, together with the picks or cutters, is entirly dispensed
with, thereby producing a machine of a much smaller and more convenient
size than is practicable where picks are actuated by means of a compressed
air engine mounted on and carried by the same carriage as the picks, as has
heretofore been the case. For this purpose we propose to mount the bearings
carrying the pick axis so as to be attached to and in connection with the
5 working cylinder itself, which cylinder may then be conveniently arranged to
run upon skids or wheels, or upon skids and wheels combined, attached
directly thereto, without the intervention of a separate "under carriage or
truck." These bearings may be either attached in a permanent position on
any convenient part of the entire working cylinder, the cylinder having
attached thereto skids or wheels; or they may be so attached as to be readily
shifted and adjusted so as to enable the pick to be worked at different angles
and in different directions. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways,
some of which we will now proceed to refer to,-
First, the axis bearings may be secured on the cylinder or on the cylinder
5 cover, so as to be conveniently adjustable relatively thereto.
Second, the axis bearings and cylinder cover (through the centre of which
the power is transmitted to the lever arm) may be made so as to be together
relatively adjustable to the remaining part of the cylinder.
Third, the complete cylinder, together with the axis bearings, may be

page_text: arranged so as to be capable of being suitably adjustable relatively to the
skids or wheels on which the whole rests; for example, by attaching the skids
or axles of the wheels to a hoop or hoops within which the entire cylinder,
together with its axis bearings, is capable of being turned as required.
Fourth, the axis bearings may be carried by an adjustable hoop or bracket
passing round and embracing a part or continuation of the cylinder or boss on
the cylinder cover, which cylinder is provided with wheels or skids.
Fifth, the axis bearings and cylinder can be adjusted relatively to the
cylinder covers, which latter carry the whole and are provided with skids or
wheels.
Sixth, the axis bearings and the part of the cylinder against which the
piston rubs can be adjusted relatively to the remaining portion of such cylinder,
which contains the ports and valve and is provided with skids or wheels; and
conversely the axis bearings and outer part of such cylinder and its ports and
valve may be adjusted upon the interior portion or internal cylinder, against
which the piston rubs, the latter being provided with skids or wheels.
We may here observe that we are aware that it has been before, proposed
to vary the angle of the pick axis, a mode of doing which is shown in the
Specification of a Patent, dated the Twenty-seventh day of October 1863,
Number 2659, of which Patent the herein-named John Sturgeon is part
proprietor; we do not, therefore, claim the modes here described as for the
purpose only of varying the angle or position of the pick axis, but what we
claim as new and improved in respect of this part of our Invention is the
modes herein described of so mounting and carrying the pick axis along with
the working cylinder itself, that the use of a separate carriage is thereby
dispensed with.
Our Invention consists, thirdly, in an improved mode of connecting the
pick or cutter to the axis, whereby the pick is enabled to be adjusted so as to
work in any required position along the line of the axis without interfering
with or being interrupted by the bearings of such axis, such picks or cutters
baving heretofore been capable of only a limited amount of variation inter-
rupted by the bearings of such axis and the boss of the lever arm.
This may
be effected by providing a plate, or bar, or other suitable. contrivance connected
to the axis, but in such a manner as to work outside, unobstructed by and
clear of the bearings carrying the axis, along with which the said plate or bar
vibrates. This plate or bar may thus be extended to any required length
beyond the bearings in either direction, and the pick being capable of being
suitably attached to any part along the same may thus be set so as to work at
any point within the length of such plate or bar. We also propose to make

page_text: the cutting part of the pick of a curved or gouge-shaped form; or one or
more cutters of this improved form or of the ordinary form may be attached
separately to the pick head, so as to be easily removed, repaired, and replaced.
In order that the machine shall be effectually held down upon the rails or
trams on which it runs during its operation we propose to apply a bar or
guide of convenient length and suitable form, facility being provided at each
end thereof for securing the same between the roof and floor or roof and rails,
and along which bar the machines slides, and is thereby held down; and upon
which, also, it may traverse itself until it can proceed no further, when the
bar will require to be released, moved forwards, and again secured to allow
of the further progress of the machine. In place of the bar above named one
or both of the rails may be made to serve the purpose of holding, down the
machine, to effect which the machine (besides resting on the rails by its
gravity) is provided with suitable projections partly embracing and sliding
under the head of the rail or rails, such rails being also secured or held down
for the time being by means of portable holdfasts pressing against the roof,
which boldfasts may be from time to time released, advanced forwards, and
refixed to allow the further progress of the machine.
The slide or other valve or valves of the herein-before described machines
may be working by self-acting mechanism, so as to suit a variable length of
stroke, by means of a momentum wheel or moving weight receiving motion
from the piston rod of the engine in such a manner that when the movement
of the piston has ceased, the continued movement of the wheel or weight
caused by its momentum actuates the valve, certain modes of effecting which
have been described in the Specification of a Patent granted to the herein-
named John Sturgeon, dated 24th September 1863, Number 2357. These
machines may also be propelled along the rails by means of a self-acting
mechanism, as also described in the Specification of the said Patent, and so
arranged that the pick must first penetrate to a certain determinate depth into
the coal or other substance before the machine can advance..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Elliott Carrett, John Warrington, and John Stur-
geon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th May 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
ELLIOTT CARRETT, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, JOHN WAR-
RINGTON, of Kippax, in the County of York, Coal Owner, and JOHN STURGEON,
of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign,, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Elliott Carrett, John Warrington, and John Sturgeon,
Her special licence that we, the said William Elliott Carrett, John Warrington,
and John Sturgeon, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said William Elliott Carrett, John Warrington, and John Sturgeon,
our 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
FOR CUTTING COAL, STONE; OR OTHER MINERALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said William Elliott Carrett, John Warrington, and John
Sturgeon, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, 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 William Elliott Carrett, on behalf of
myself and the said John Warrington and John Sturgeon do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
Our said Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for cutting
coal, stone, or other minerals.
Hitherto it has been the practice to impart a simple vibratory motion on a
fixed centre to the pick or picks by means of a compressed air engine
mounted on and carried by the same carriage as the pick or picks, and in
order to release the pick from the coal or mineral after each stroke, it has been
usual to impart a backward movement to the carriage on which the pick is
mounted by manual power.
Now, our Invention consists, in the first place, in imparting a self-acting
compound vibratory motion to the pick or picks in order to release the same
more readily from the mineral after each successive stroke.
Secondly, our Invention consists in a new and improved combination of the
several parts of a pick machine for cutting coal, stone, or other mineral,

page_text: whereby the necessity of a separate under carriage or truck is entirely dis-
pensed with, such several parts being directly and suitably attached to the
cylinder or prime mover.
Thirdly, our Invention consists in attaching the stem of the pick or cutter
at any required place along a line parallel with its axis in such a manner
that it is not interrupted by the bearing or bearings of such axis.
And in order to secure the machine when in operation more effectively on
the rails, we employ a bar or girder (fixed for the time being) parallel with
the rails, along which bar (either over or under) the machine is moved until
it can proceed no further, when the bar must be released, moved, and again
secured for the further operation of the machine.
Fig. 1 represents one mode of producing a compound vibratory motion of
the pick or cutter.
The piston rod of the cylinder or cylinders gives motion to the lever arm A,
having the bosses a, a, on each side carried in bearings b, b. This boss a, a,
is bored eccentrically, and receives a spindle to which the parts c, c, carrying.
the lever arm d are connected. The bosses a, a, drive c, c, by clutch teeth,
having a determined amount of play or clearance between them. The parts
c, c, c, c, and d are partially rotated by the clutch teeth on a, a.
. At the commencement of the return stroke the lever A moves a deter-
mined space before the clutch teeth drive c, c, and during this movement the
eccentricity of the boss with regard to the spindle shifts the axis of the pick,
producing the compound action, before named, thereby assisting its release
from the coal or mineral.
Figs. 2 and 3 are other methods of effecting this object to which the same
letters of reference apply, the parts a, a, and c, c, having the determined
amount of play or clearance which was given to the clutch teeth in the former
instance.
Another way of causing the pick or cutter to have a compound movement
is shewn in Fig. 4, wherein the pick stem d, d, has a simple vibratory motion
on the axis B and is jointed, carrying with it a spring b', the tendency of
which is to keep the pick shaft or stem rigid and straight, but when the blow
is struck the momentum (assisted or not by the pressure of the piston) of
the pick shaft and its appliances causes it to bend or unstraighten, and the
pick head thereby to deviate from its ordinary curvilinear path, and thus
facilitate its withdrawal from the material operated upon.
The whole of the Figures on the Drawing, with the exception of Figs. 1,
2, and 3, represent a further part of our Invention, wherein a separate under
carriage or truck is dispensed with, and the bearings carrying the pick axis

page_text: are attached to and in connection with the parts composing the compressed air
cylinder itself. The position of the pick axis may be varied so as to enable the
pick to be worked at different angles by securing the axis bearings on to
the cylinder or on to the cylinder cover, as shewn in Figs. 13 and 14.
In Fig. 7 the axis bearings B, B, and cylinder cover are together relatively
adjustable to the remaining part of the cylinder C.
...In Fig. 8, the complete cylinder C with axis bearings B, B, are adjustable
relatively with the skids or wheels S, S, on which the machine rests; Fig. 9
is another way of effecting the same.
In Fig. 10, the axis bearings B, B, are carried by a hoop or bracket
passing round a part of the cylinder, or, as in Fig. 5, round the cylinder-
cover.
In Fig. 11 the axis bearings and cylinder are adjustable relatively with the
cylinder covers.
In Fig. 12, the axis bearings B, B, and internal part of cylinder are
adjustable with regard to the remaining portion of the cylinder, and con-
vertly, the axis bearings and outer part of cylinder can be adjusted upon the
interior portion of cylinder which is provided with skids or wheels.
Figs. 6 and 14 shew more particularly how the stem of the pick or cutter
is connected to the axis, whereby the former can be secured at any place
along the line of the axis without being interrupted by the bearings of such
axis.
In order to effectively hold the machine down upon the rails during
operation, we apply a bar g (Fig. 5) fixed at each end h, h, for the time
being between roof i and floor or between the roof and rails in the direct
track of the machine, and along which bar (either over or under according as
the bar is placed below or above the machine,) the machine traverses a
definite amount determined by the length of such bar. This bar is released
for moving along the rails by the screws k, k, or other equivalents, by which
it is again made fast for the further progress of the machine; or, if desired, s
one or both of the rails m, m, may be similarly held down for the time being
by direct pressure from the roof in the track of the machine, as in Fig. 15,
and the machine, besides being carried upon and moving along the rails, is
held down to them by suitable clips i, i, or projections embracing and sliding
under the head of the rail or rails m, m, such clips being attached to, and 3
forming part of the machine; but we make no claim to this arrangement.
The cylinder, in lieu of being ordinary double-acting, may be compound
double-acting, as shewn in Fig. 5, wherein the air or other elastic medium is
admitted first on an inferior area and afterwards on a superior area of piston,

page_text: thereby more effectively to expand the air or other elastic medium, and cause
it to give out more power and also lessen the noise caused by its final exit
into the atmosphere.
The valve motions shewn in Figs. 5, 9, and 13, and the traverse motion in
Fig. 13 form no part of the present Invention.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention of "Improvements
in Machinery for Cutting Coal, Stone, or other Minerals," and in what
manner the same is carried into effect, we claim as the essential features of
our Invention,
Firstly, the imparting of a self-acting cempound vibratory motion in lieu
of a simple vibratory motion to the pick or picks of machines for cutting coal,
stone, or other minerals, as and for the purpose herein specified.
Secondly, the modes of combining the several parts of a coal-cutting machine
in which a pick or picks are used, whereby the necessity of a separate under-
carriage or truck is dispensed with, as herein set forth.
Thirdly, the carrying of the axis of the pick or picks by the motive-power
cylinder in lieu of by a separate under carriage or truck in such a manner
that the angular position of the said axis may be varied.
Fourthly, attaching the stem of the pick or picks at any place along a line
parallel with its axis in such a manner that the said attachment is not inter-
fered with by the bearing or bearings of such axis.
Fifthly, in combining as a part of a coal-cutting machine, in which a pick
or picks are used, a bar or girder g, which is periodically moved along the
track of the machine as the work progresses, as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Elliott Carrett, on behalf of
myself and the said John Warrington and John Sturgeon, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
W. E. CARRETT. (L.S.)