Improvements in Machinery for Cutting or Drilling Coal, Rock, or other Minerals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Cutting or Drilling Coal, Rock, or
other Minerals.
I, JOHN GREY CRANSTON, 52 Grove Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, County of
Northumberland, Mining and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in such machines or apparatus as
cut or drill coal rock, or other minerals, by the rapid rotary action of a cutter bar
attached or fixed to a rotating shaft or spindle connected to suitable gearing, and is
driven either by an electric motor, or compressed air engine, or other source of
power; and my improvements refer more particularly to the parts of such machines
or mechanism, by which the machine or apparatus is fed, regulated or adjusted to
its work; as well as in the arrangement or construction of the cutter bar, boring
shaft or spindle, as is more fully described hereafter.
In carrying out this invention,. I propose to employ a suitable frame or carriage
mounted on four wheels, to which is fitted the electric motor, or compressed air
engine, and the gearing is so arranged that the cutter bar will revolve at a speed of
about 600 revolutions per minute; but it can be revolved at a higher or less speed
if desired, whilst at the same time a suitable feed is provided so that it will propell
and feed itself along the face of coal regularly, or intermittantly according to the
nature or hardness of the coal to be operated upon.
A cupped chain feed wheel is fitted to the main frame, and is provided with a
cone or friction wheel, and being connected with the feed gear shafting, the feed
can be regulated at will by simply adjusting the friction cone with a screw or
leaver according to the nature or hardness of the coal, or the rate of speed, or depth
of cut required.
The cutter bar is made from a hollow tube-or it may be bored out-and is
fitted with short steel cutters, the cutters are made so that they interlock and hold
each other together in their required positions, there being a set bolt at one end,
they cannot work out.
The cutter bar fitted with the cutters is about 3'-4" long x about 2" diameter
next to where it is coupled to the driving shaft, and tapers to about 2" diameter at
the outer end. The cutters are fitted at a slight augle helicaly along the cutter bar
so that the dust or fine coal is drawn out clear of the cutters as it is being scraped
or cut away. A solid cutter bar may be used under certain conditions, and with a
worm thread cut on the flange of the driving or cutter bar shaft, it gears to a
pinion so as to drive an Archimedean screw, or an endless chain fitted with plates,
so that the duff coal can be automatically cleared away immediately behind the
cutter bar if desired. The flanged-shaft on a line with the cutter-bar, can be made
hollow, and fitted with a feather; currying a feedscrew inside with a groove
working with the feather; and as it revolves through a feed nut (a twist drill is
attached to this feed screw) it will bore a hole rapidly into the coal; the cutter-bar
can then be inserted, and connected to the rotating flanged shaft; is ready to cut
through the long wall or face of coal.
A chain may be fixed at any suitable distance from the machine, and working
over the cupped feed chain wheel attached to and revolved by the feed gear, the
machine draws itself along the rails, cutting less or more, at a speed of about
20 to 30 yards per hour, according to the nature of the coal, rock, or other minerals,
and depth of cut required.
There are cupped change wheels provided so that the rate of feed can be
changed to suit. The change wheels can be made seperatly, or two or more can

page_text: be made together of different diameters, they are fixed on a standard on the tram
at the side nearest to the coal so as to give the desired regular pull and feed, and
so as to prevent the machine from cutting itself out, or up over.
The feed chain may be made fast at both ends, and the machine will cut along
the coal in either direction, forward or backward, low down level with the rail if
desired.
By placing the chain over or below the cupped chain wheel, it will alter the
direction of traverse as required.
An endless chain can work over a toothed wheel on the feed wheel, and tram
wheel, or feed shaft or tram shafts, so that the machine or apparatus can propell or
run itself along the tram rails independently of the long feed chain.
Dated this 18th day of July A.D. 1891.
JOHN G. CRANSTON.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Cutting or Drilling Coal, Rock, or
other Minerals.
I, JOHN GREY CRANSTON, 52 Grove Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, County of
Northumberland, Mining and Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to certain improvements in such machines or apparatus as
cut or drill coal, rock, or other minerals, by the rapid rotary action of a cutter bar
attached or fixed to a rotating shaft or spindle connected to suitable gearing, and is
driven either by an electric motor, or compressed air engine, or other source of
power, and my improvements refer more particularly to the parts of such machines
or mechanism, by which the machine or apparatus is fed, regulated or adjusted, as
well as in the arrangement or construction of the cutter-bar, boring shaft or spindle,
as is more fully described hereafter.
In carrying out this invention I propose to employ a suitable frame or carriage,
mounted on four wheels, to which is fitted the electric motor, or compressed air
engine. Or the gearing and cutter bar may be driven by an oil or gas engine or
other source of power, and on being fitted to the frame, will connect and work in
usual well known ways, and the gearing is so arranged that the cutter bar will
revolve at a speed of about 600 revolutions per minute, but it can be revolved at a
higher or less speed if desired; whilst at the same time a suitable feed is provided
so that it will feed and propell itself along the face of coal regularly or inter-
mittantly according to the nature or hardness of the coal to be operated upon.
Should an electric motor, oil engine, or gas engine be used whereon there may be
a spark or flame, such parts may be covered or surrounded with metallic netting or
wire gause-as in a miners ordinary safety lamp so as to protect such spark or
flame from igniting or exploding gases, or coal dust of the mine. Or a dynamo
may be used such as may not have a spark at the comutator or where the contact is
made or broken on the revolving armature.
A cupped chain feed wheel is fitted to the main frame, and is provided with a
cone or friction wheel, and being connected with the feed gear shafting, the feed
can be regulated at will by simply adjusting the friction cone with a screw or
leaver according to the nature or hardness of the coal, or the rate of speed, or depth
of cut required.
The cutter bar is made from a hollow tube, or it may be bored out, and is fitted
with short steel cutters, the cutters are made so that they interlock and hold each
other together in their required positions, there being a set bolt at one end they
cannot work out. The bar fitted with the cutters is about 3'-4" long x about
27" diameter next to where it is coupelled to the driving shaft and tapers to about
2 diameter at the other end. The cutters are fitted at a slight angle helicaly along

page_text: the cutter bar, so that the dust or fine coal is drawn out clear of the cutters as it is
being scraped or cut away.
A solid cutter bar may be used under certain conditions, and with a worm threal
cut on the flange of the driving or cutter bar shafts, it gears to a pinion so as to
drive an Archimedean screw, or an endless chain which may be fitted with plates, or
without plates, so that the duff coal can be automatically cleared away immediately
behind the cutter bar if desired.
The flanged shaft on a line with the cutter bar can be made hollow and fitted
with a feather carrying a feed screw inside with a groove working with the feather,
and as it revolves through a feed nut (a twist drill is attached to this feed screw) it
will bore a hole rapidly into the coal, the cutter bar can then be inserted, and
connected to the rotating flanged shaft is ready to cut through the long wall or face
of coal. A chain may be fixed at any suitable distance from the machine, and
working over the cupped chain wheel attached to and revolved by the feed gear,
the machine draws itself along the rails cutting less or more at a speed of about
20 to 30 yards per hour, according to the nature of the coal, rock, or other minerals,
and depth of cut required.
The change wheels can be made seperately, or two or more can be made joined
together of different diameters, they are fitted on a standard on the tram at the side
nearest to the coal, so as to give the desired regular pull and feed, and so as to
prevent the machine from cutting itself out or up over.
The feed chain may be made fast at both ends, and the machine will cut along
the coal in either direction, forwards or backwards low down level with the rail if
desired. By placing the chain over or below the cupped chain wheel, it will alter
the direction of traverse as required.
An endless chain can work over a toothed wheel on the feed wheel, and tram
wheel, or feed shaft or tram wheel shaft so that the machine can propell itself along
the tram rails indipendently of the long feed chain.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal side
elevation. Fig. 2 a general plan of the gearing and cutter bar attached. Fig. 3 is
a part longitudinal section of the cutter bar; and Fig. 4 is a plan of the cutter bar
looking on the end view.
The details of the apparatus need not be particularly described herein, especially
as such details constitute no part of the subject matter herein claimed, and may be
considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
The frame A as shown in the drawings, is mounted on four wheels, to which
frame is fitted the motor B, or an oil engine, gas engine, or a compressed air engine
may be used in place of the motor B. The shaft C being revolved is fitted with a
pinion wheel D gearing to the spur wheel E keyed on to the shaft F drives the
pinion G and gears to the wheel H, thus revolving the shaft I to which is connected
the cutter bar J. The shaft I also has fitted to it a worm wheel K which drives a
toothed wheel L keyed on to the shaft M. This shaft M has a second worm
wheel N keyed on which gears into and drives a toothed wheel O which drives the
feed shaft P. This shaft P is provided with a flange or friction cone Q which
fits to the cupped chain feed wheel R, and will revolve with the shaft P on screwing
up the nut S against the washer T. This washer is provided with a feather which
works into a groove U, cut along the screwed end of the shaft P. This feathered
washer holds the nut S to its required tightness or adjustments; it revolves with
the shaft P. The feed chain V working over or under the cupped feed chain
wheel R, and the chain being made fast at one or either end, the machine will draw
itself along the rails or face of coal to be cut, at the necessary rate of speed
required. The feed wheel R is free to revolve in either direction on the shaft P.
By unscrewing the nut S the cutter-bar will then revolve without feeding.
The feed chain wheel R may be quickly changed by larger or smaller diameter
wheels when desired.
The feed is altogether much more regular with the chain feed wheel working at
the side nearest to the cutter-bar; than when feeding by a chain coiling round a

page_text: •
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drum, the diameters being different according to the number of times the chain
overlaps itself on a drum the feed will be irregular in proportion, and as the chain
shifted or alternated from one end of the drum to the other it inclines to draw the
cutter bar from the coal when the pull on the drum extends outwards away from
the coal.
Should it be desired, the shaft I may have a worm thread cut on its flange or
collar W and driving a toothed wheel carried by a bracket a¹² at either side, or both
sides of the flange, this will rotate an endless chain, or an Archimedean shaft so as
to clear away the duff coal as it is being cut away.
A feed nut can be supported by one or both of the brackets a¹, x³, and on a
grooved screw bar being placed inside the hollow rotating shaft I which shaft is
fitted with one or more feathers fitting the groove or grooves in the screwed bar,
and working and turning through the feed nut, and having a twisted drill fitted to
the screw-bar outer end, it will feed and drill a hole rapidly into the coal the
required size and distance so as to admitt the cutter bar, it can then be coupeled on
to the shaft I ready to make the cut or kirve along the coal.
The cutter bar as showen in the drawings Fig. 3, and 4, is bored out. It is fitted
with steel cutters, the first cutter is notched on one side and fitted through a slot at
the narrowest end of the cutter bar, the second cutter is also notched or recessed,
and the top or plain edge fits into the notch at the bottom edge of the first cutter ;
when all the cutters are thus fitted into the bar, a set-bolt is screwed against the
recess in the last cutter so that they cannot work out, and the setbolt is fitted so
that it will not work loose; the canted head resting against the inside of the bar or
shaft prevents it unscrewing.
Instead of fitting the cutters at right angles to each other as showen in
Figs. 3, and 4, they can be fitted slightly inclined or twisted spirally along the
cutter bar so that each seperate cutter or tooth will slightly draw or throw the fine
duff coal outwards when rotating and clear themselves quite indipendent of an
endless chain, or Archimedean screw.
The cutter bar as showen in the drawing Fig. 2 is 3′-0″ long, having about
51 cutters altogether.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The combination substantially as herein set forth of the hollow shaft
working a feed screw, the cutter bar, the chain wheel feed gear, the feed regulating
gear arrangement, constructed and operating in the manner, and for the purpose
herein before described, and shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings.