IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING AND REMOVING COAL OR OTHER MINERAL, AND FOR SUPPORTING THE ROOF OR OTHER PORTION OF THE MINERAL TO BE OPERATED UPON BY THE SAID MACHINERY PROVISIONAL SPATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Hurd, of Wakefield, and of 109, Ferry Road
Edinburgh, Mining and Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR EXCAVATING AND REMOVING
COAL OR OTHER MINERAL, AND FOR SUPPORTING THE ROOF OR OTHER
PORTION OF THE MINERAL TO BE OPERATED UPON BY THE SAID MACHINERY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Hurd at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1880.
FREDERICK HURD, of Wakefield, and of 109, Ferry Road, Edinburgh, Mining
and Mechanical Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
EXCAVATING AND REMOVING COAL OR OTHER MINERAL, AND FOR SUPPORTING
THE ROOF OR OTHER PORTION OF THE MINERAL TO BE OPERATED UPON BY THE
SAID MACHINERY OR APPARATUS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The first part of my Invention consists in forming a grooved arm or lever
in one or more parts, in the groove of which an endless chain provided with rollers
and cutters works. This arm is so constructed that the chain runs round it on the
rollers attached to the chain, no guide pulley being needed on the arm; I form
recesses in the arm or lever which I fill with wagon grease or other lubricant ;
I cause this arm or lever to make a partial revolution when necessary in order to
change the direction of the cut from horizontal to vertical without stopping the
machine, thus enabling the operator to "nick on end" any portion of the face
under cut, so that it can be filled out while the machine is in progress, and a radial
motion may also be imparted to the arm when requisite. I place cutters on one half
only of the length of the chain, so that the machine can be advanced or moved
forward when no cutters are operating on the mineral, thus reducing the great
power hitherto required to advance the machine. The rollers are attached to the
inner portion of the chain to reduce the friction, and they fit in recesses in the
driving wheel. I fix the cutters in sockets on the chain by side gibs and cotters,
so as not to weaken the cutter shanks. I drive my improved cutter chain by the
rope gripping driving pulley, patented by me March 13, A.D. 1879, No. 1000, or

page_text: by a compound engine worked by compressed air fitted with the reversing gear,
patented by me June 3, A.D. 1879, No. 2193, so that when the cutters come in
contact with large boulders of pyrites which cannot be cut, the machine is instantly
reversed, and repeated blows are given to the boulder by the cutters till it is
dragged out. When I drive by the grip pulley I communicate a reversing action
to the cutters by combination levers or bevil gear; I attach a self acting brake
actuated by a cam, or its equivalent, to the machine to hold it firm when the
cutters are operating, and which is instantly released when the machine is to be
advanced. Another part of my Invention consists in placing inside a rifled tube
cutter a piston with a hollow shaft, and one end of the rifled tube is closed on to
the hollow shaft so as to form an internal piston, which works inside a carrying
tube which is attached to the hollow shaft. I can thus advance or withdraw the
cutter by air or water pressure, while the cutter tube is in motion or stationary.
The space between the hollow shaft and the rifled tube forms an air tight chamber,
and in the hollow shaft is a piston or other valve which is actuated by hand or
tappet as may be desired. This cutter tube may be set to bore holes at any angle,
leaving a solid core, thus saving a great deal of waste.
When the coal or other mineral is cut I remove it on a second line of rails in
close proximity and parallel to the face being operated upon, thus dispensing with
the customary bye or back roads. I place these rails upon sleepers of flat wrought
iron with projections punched up in such a manner as to hold the rails inter-
locked after the style of Chinese puzzles, dispensing entirely with bolts, pins, or
wedges, and when guide rollers are used similar projections are punched up to
hold their bearings. The roof above these rails is supported by iron "puncheons"
and cross bars or beams, and in some cases I fix T iron rails to the cross beams,
on which I suspend the trucks or trolleys for removing the coal, and these trucks
move by an endless wire rope running over my patent rope gripping driving
pulley gripping levers actuated by eccentric or cam are fixed on the trucks
or trolleys. By this means the trucks can be run on rails of any grade or
curve, as the rope is prevented from coming in contact with the sides, roof, or
bottom of the roads, no matter how great the distance may be; the trucks are
formed and attached to the endless wire rope in such a manner that they can
ascend a vertical shaft without stopping as usual, and they are caused to disconnect
themselves at the top by a self acting motion, the endless rope still being in motion,
and the empties at the top are attached to the descending rope in a similar manner,
and carried down to the bye road parallel to the face of the coal, where they are
caused to release the rope to be reloaded at places convenient to the filler. This
part of my Invention is applicable for drawing water or carrying other material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Hurd in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
February 1881.
FREDERICK HURD, of Wakefield, and of 109, Ferry Road, Edinburgh, Mining
and Mechanical Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
EXCAVATING AND REMOVING COAL OR OTHER MINERAL, AND FOR SUPPORTING
THE ROOF OR OTHER PORTION OF THE MINERAL TO BE OPERATED UPON BY THE
SAID MACHINERY OR APPARATUS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The first part of my Invention consists in forming a grooved arm or lever in one
or more parts, in the groove of which an endless chain provided with rollers and
cutters works. This arm is so constructed that the chain runs round it on the
rollers attached to the chain, no guide pulley being needed on the arm. I form
recesses in the arm or lever which I fill with wagon grease or other lubricant; I
cause this arm or lever to make a partial revolution when necessary in order to
change the direction of the cut from horizontal to vertical without stopping the
machine, thus enabling the operator to "nick on end" any portion of the face
under cut, so that it can be filled out while the machine is in progress, and a radial
motion may also be imparted to the arm when requisite.
I place cutters on one half only of the length of the chain, so that the machine
can be advanced or moved forward when no cutters are operating on the mineral,
thus reducing the great power hitherto required to advance the machine. The rollers
are attached to the inner portion of the chain to reduce the friction, and they fit
in recesses in the driving wheel. I fix the cutters in sockets on the chain by side
gibs and cotters so as not to weaken the cutter shanks.
I drive my improved cutter chain by the rope gripping driving pulley patented
by me March 13, A.D. 1879, No. 1000, or by a compound engine worked by
compressed air fitted with the reversing gear patented by me June 3, A.D. 1879,
No. 2193, so that when the cutters come in contact with large boulders of pyrites
which cannot be cut, the machine is instantly reversed, and repeated blows are
given to the boulder by the cutters till it is dragged out. When I drive by the
grip pulley I communicate a reversing action to the cutters by combination
levers or bevil gear. I attach a self acting brake actuated by a cam, or its
equivalent, to the machine to hold it firm when the cutters are operating, and which
is instantly released when the machine is to be advanced.
Another part of my Invention consists in placing inside a rifled tube cutter a
piston with a hollow shaft, and one end of the rifled tube is closed on to the hollow
shaft so as to form an internal piston which works inside a carrying tube which is
attached to the hollow shaft; I can thus advance or withdraw the cutter by air or
water pressure while the cutter tube is in motion or stationary.
The space between the hollow shaft and the rifled tube forms an air tight
chamber, and in the hollow shaft is a piston or other valve which is actuated by
hand or tappet, as may be desired. This cutter tube may be set to bore holes at
When the coal
any angle, leaving a solid core, thus saving a great deal of waste.
or other mineral is cut I move it on a second line of rails in close proximity and
parallel to the face being operated upon, thus dispensing with the customary costly
bye or back roads. I place these rails upon sleepers of flat wrought iron with
projections punched up in such a manner as to hold the rails interlocked after the
style of Chinese puzzles, dispeusing entirely with bolts, pins, or wedges, and when
guide rollers are used similar projections are punched up to hold their bearings.
The roof above these rails is supported by iron "puncheons" and cross bars or
beams, and in some cases 1 fix T iron rails to the cross beams, on which I suspend
the trucks. or trolleys for removing the coal, and these trucks I move by an endless

page_text: wire rope running over my patent rope gripping driving pulley; gripping levers
are actuated by eccentric or cam are fixed on the trucks or trolleys; by this means
the trucks can be run on rails of any grade or curve as the rope is prevented from
coming in contact with the sides, roof, or bottom of the roads, no matter how great
the distance may be. The trucks are formed and attached to the endless wire rope in
such a manner that they can ascend a vertical shaft without stopping, as usual,
and they are caused to disconnect themselves at the top by a self acting motion,
the endless rope still being in motion, and the emptics at the top are attached to
the descending rope in a similar manner, and carried down to the bye road parallel
to the face of the coal, where they are caused to release the rope to be reloaded at
places convenient to the filler.
This part of my Invention is applicable for drawing water or carrying other
material.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will describe the accompanying nine Sheets of Drawings, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is an end elevation, and Fig. 3 is a
plan of a coal getting machine with my improved grooved arm, and chain, and
cutters. a is the chain on the arm a' fixed on the shaft a², on which is a recessed
wheel a³ to communicate motion to the chain; these parts are carried by a bracket
of the ordinary construction which I raise and lower by two screws b, b', actuated
simultaneously by worm gearing. c, c², c², are bevil gears which form a reversing
motion actuated by the lever and clutch c³ for driving the cutter chain.
Fig. 4 is a side view, and Fig. 5 a plan of a modification of my improved cutter
chain.
Fig. 6 shows my improved clip; d is the bracket fixed to the coal cutting
machine; d¹ are the clips; d² is a wheel, actuated by a cross cam on the chain or
by hand, fixed on a screw with right and left hand threads by which the clip is
caused to open or close on the driving rope to make the machine remain stationary
or advance as required.
Fig. 7 is a section of the valve I use in the compound engine for working the
machines.
On Sheets two and three, Fig. 8 is a side view, Figs. 9 and 10 are end views, and
Fig. 11 is a plan of an undercutting machine to which my Invention is applied.
c, c¹, and c² are bevil gears which constitute a reversing motion and communicate
the power from the clip pulley to the cutters; the lever and clutch for actuating
the reversing gear are marked c³.
On Sheet 4, Fig. 12 shows in section my improved rifled tube cutter; e is the
case or carrying tube formed in two parts; e' is the rifle tube cutter, and e² is the
hollow shaft. 3 is the passage through which the compressed air or other fluid is
adimitted into the chamber between the shaft and the rifled tube cutter to draw
back the cutter tube. c¹ is the passage which admits air to press the tube cutter
forward. e is an equilibrium piston valve (in a cylinder cast to e²) actuated by
hand or by a tappet to admit air to advance or withdraw the cutter as may be
desired. e is a bevil gear fixed to the cutter tube, to which rotary motion is given
by the engine f, shown on Figs. 12 and 13.
On Sheet 5, Fig. 14 is an elevation of one of my improved rifled tube cutters
working vertically, driven by a clip pulley and endless wire rope, and Fig. 15 is a
plan of the same, and Fig. 16 shows the same working at an angle. g is a
segmental rack actuated by a hand wheel g'; there are catches to take into the
rack frame to retain the tube in the desired position. The cutter tube is advanced
and withdrawn by gearing g² instead of by air or other fluid, as, described in
reference to Fig. 12.
On Sheet 6, Fig. 17 shows a modification of my improved tube cutter e¹ driven
by wire rope and clip pulley; this cutter has only a short tube connecting spiral
cutters which leave a solid core, as shown at Fig. 18.
Fig. 19 shows a tube cutter (bearing against a puncheon) to be driven by hand

page_text: lever with ratchet feed. h, h, are puncheons recessed at the head to receive the
ends of the cross beams h¹, which are formed to fit the projections and recesses on
the puncheons h.
Fig. 20 shows an expander to be inserted in the hole when the core has been
removed; this expander is formed of two blocks which fit the sides of the hole; these
blocks are connected by levers to two nuts, through which is passed a long screw
with right and left hand threads at one end, and a handle or lever at the other end
to turn the screw and force the blocks apart, and break down the coal as shown at
Fig. 21.
Fig. 22 shows a steel case which contains charges of gun cotton and water, and
is inserted into the circular hole when the core is removed and worked by electricity
or fuse to bring down large quantities of coal or other mineral as shown. I remove
the coal or other mineral thus broken up, by preference on a second line of rails,
parallel to the rails on which the coal getting machine moves, shown on Fig. 19;
the roof above these rails is supported by iron puncheons ½ connected by cross
beams h, on which rest longitudinal timbers.
Fig. 23 shows the cross section of a vertical seam working downwards; Ţ iron
rails are fixed by brackets to the cross beams, the carrying wheels to which the
truck is suspended run on these rails; to the brackets are also connected guide
pulleys for the driving rope; a gripping lever i with clips is connected to the truck
to attach it to the rope which hauls it to its destination.
Fig. 24 is a side elevation of Fig. 23, showing the clip pulley (fitted with clips,
shown on Fig. 6, to stop the trucks at any desired point) in position, giving motion
to the full trucks descending and the empty trucks ascending.
On Sheet 7, Fig. 25 shows various guide rollers / carried by brackets on different
puncheons along the route, so that the rope cannot touch the top, bottom, or sides
of the way, whatever the curves or grades may be. The rope gripping apparatus
for hauling the trucks may be fixed to a truck, as shown on Figs. 25 and 26,
or to a separate bogic, as shown on Fig. 27; the gripping and releasing apparatus
may be made self acting, or may be worked by hand. When the rope has to go
down a steep incline and then up another incline I pass the rope over a pulley or
pullies, shown at 1, Fig. 27, where it may be made to actuate pumps, as shown.
On Sheet 8, Fig. 28 shows an automatic detaching apparatus for hauling up inclines
or lifting; there are four pegs or rings n, n', fixed on plates, and the levers m are
partially opened by the first pair of pegs n, and the second pair of pegs n¹ open
the levers entirely and release the rope or chain. The levers open as shown in
dotted lines, and are prevented from receding by the first pair of pegs n. Fig. 29
shows vertical rails, from the sides of which various forms of supports or bearings
for guide rollers are punched, so that the rope may be guided in any direction.
Figs. 29, 30, 31, and 32 show views of my improved sleepers for holding rails and
rope guide rollers. The rails are notched at the ends, where they are held by the
coupling sleeper, and portions of the sleeper are punched up and fit into the
notches in the rails, and keep them from moving endwise or laterally. Inter-
mediate sleepers are used to lock and support the rails. On Fig. 34 a tension
weight and pulley p are shown in a vertical shaft hung on the driving rope to
ensure uniform tension of the rope when the machines are advanced or moved.
On Sheet 7, Fig. 27 shows a tension bogie pump on an incline which effects the
same object. On Sheet 9, Fig. 35 is an elevation, and Fig. 36 a plan of a bogie
double acting pump on an incline which causes it to act as a tension weight, and
the clip pulley, instead of the ordinary pulley usually used on tension bogies, allows
a powerful pump to be driven by the rope.
Having stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that I claim,―
1. The continuous groove in the arm a¹ in combination with the chain with
rollers working therein, substantially as shown and described.
2. The chain with cutters on one half only of its length, as shown and for the

page_text: purpose described; also the chain with the cutter fixed with side gib and cotter,
shown on Figs. 4 and 5.
3. The reversing gear shown on Sheet 1, Sheet 2, and Sheet 3 marked c, c¹, c²,
and for driving the cutter chain.
4. The rifled tube cutter forming a piston at one end, and advanced or withdrawn
by air, steam, or other fluid, as shown and described in reference to Fig. 12.
5. The rifled tube cutter advanced or withdrawn by ordinary drilling machine
gearing g², shown on Fig. 14.
6. The use of a second line of rails for removing the coal or other mineral cut,
as shown and described in reference to Fig. 19.
7. The coupling sleeper with projections punched up fitting into slots in the
rails, and with projections punched up to carry the guide rollers, as shown and
described in reference to Figs. 29, 31, 32, and 33.
8. The cast or cast malleable puncheons h and cross beams h', substantially as
shown and described in reference to Fig. 19.
9. The application of the rope gripping and releasing apparatus in combination
with the truck and overhead haulage gear, substantially as shown and described in
reference to Fig. 23; also the rope gripping apparatus, substantially as shown and
described in reference to Figs. 25, 26, and 27.
10. The automatic detaching apparatus shown and described in reference to
Fig. 28.
And, Lastly. The general combination of the various arrangements to accomplish
the objects set forth, as shown and described in the Specification, and in the nine
Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Hurd, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Twenty fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
FREDERICK HURD. (L.S.)