IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR CONDENSING ATMOSPHERIC AIR, AND IN MACHINERY WORKED BY CONDREGGED Åre euploveD IN GRADING COAL STONE AND MINERALS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Grafton Jones, of Blaina Iron Works, near
Newport, Monmouth, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
USED FOR CONDENSING ATMOSPHERIC AIR, AND IN MACHINERY WORKED BY
CONDREGGED Åre euploveD IN GRADING COAL STONE AND MINERALS"
T
Sealed the 25th April 1865, and dated the 11th January 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Grafton Jones,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th January 1865.
I, JAMES GRAFTON JONES, of Blaina Iron Works, near Newport, Monmouth,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY USED FOR CONDENSING ATMOSPHERIC AIR, AND IN MACHINERY WORKED
BY COMPRESSED AIR EMPLOYED IN GETTING COAL, STONE, AND MINERALS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery used for con-
densing atmospheric air, and in machinery worked by compressed air employed
in getting coal, stone, and minerals. For the purpose of condensing atmo-
spheric air the piston rod of a reciprocating steam cylinder is connected to and
works the piston of the air pump, the length of stroke of each piston being
The two cylinders (the steam cylinder and air pump cylinder)
are both fixed on the same bed plate by which they are readily retained true

page_text: to each other. The two end covers of the two cylinders where the stuffing
boxes are constructed, and through which the piston rod works, are as close as
may be together, simply allowing room to get at the two stuffing boxes. The
piston rod does not pass through either of the covers at the other end of the
two cylinders. The air pump cylinder is contained in a trough or vessel so
that such cylinder may be constantly surrounded by cold water continuously
supplied to the trough or vessel. The relative diameters of the two cylinders
will depend on the pressure. of the steam used in the steam cylinder, and the
pressure to which the air is desired to be compressed. The use of a fly wheel
and shaft are dispensed with, and the change of motion of the piston in the
steam cylinder is obtained by tappets or spindles which pass through stuffing
boxes formed in the two end covers of the steam cylinder. The tappet at
each end of the steam cylinder is at its outer end pinjointed to the shorter
end of a lever, which by its other end by means of a connecting rod gives
motion to a slide valve. By this arrangement as the piston arrives nearly to
the end of its stroke it pushes out the spindle or tappet at that end of the
cylinder, and the position of the slide valve is quickly reversed. At each end
of the air pump cylinder are valve boxes, in each of which is an induction and
an eduction valve, which it is preferred should be circular, spindle valves
resting by their outer edges on rings of soft elastic matter as valve seats. A
starting and stopping hand lever is applied to one of the axes of the levers which
work the slide valve of the steam cylinder. The outlets of the two valve boxes
of the air pump cylinder are connected together by a pipe to which is con-
nected the supply pipe to the engines or machines worked by compressed air.
When the engines or machines are necessarily distant from the air pump, two,
three, or more air vessels are employed in connection on the supply main, and
for this purpose cylinders or other forms of vessels are introduced at intervals
along the supply main or pipe of such dimensions as may be desired, and
depending on the size and speed of working of the compressed air engine or
machine which is actuating the picks or instruments used in getting coal, or
stone, or mineral; by these means the supply of compressed air to the engine
or machine will be more advantageously made than when a long length of
supply pipe or main intervenes between the pumping machinery and, the com-
pressed air engine without such enlargements or air vessels or reservoirs.
Heretofore the machines or engines worked by compressed air or other fluid
used for actuating lever picks when getting coal have been arranged to be
moved along the face of the work and to cause the cutting points or edges of
the lever picks to strike against the outer surface and move inwards to the
depth desired.
According to my present. Invention I arrange such engines or

page_text: machines in such manner that the points or cutting edges of the lever picks
used shall commence to act on the back of the material and move outwards so
that when a pick has completed a cut it shall be out of the working, and
require to be moved back into the working before it makes its next cut, by
this means lever picks will bo less liable to be held in the workings than
heretofore when the point or cutting edge penetrated more and more into the
solid mass till it arrived at the end of its stroke. For this purpose the lever
picks are held by the machinery and are worked in a reversed position, and in
commencing to work a chase or cut is first made, by hand or otherwise, to the
depth desired for such a distance as will admit of receiving a lever pick into
it, and at the same time allow of its cutting edge commencing at the back of
the work and to cut outwards, completing its cut at the outer surface of the
work, that is the cutting edge of a lever pick is caused to cut towards the
engine or machinery which works it in place of cutting in a direction from
the engine or machinery as has heretofore been the practice when working
lever picks by like engines or machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Grafton Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th July 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GRAFTON JONES, of Blaina Iron Works, near Newport, Monmouth, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight bundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Grafton Jones, Her special licence that I, the said James
Grafton Jones, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said James Grafton Jones, 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 terin 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 USED FOR CONDENSING ATMOSPHERIC AIR, AND
IN MACHINERY WORKED BY COMPRESSED AIR, EMPLOYED IN GETTING COAL,
STONE, AND MINERALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said

page_text: James Grafton Jones, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should parti-
cularly 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 James Grafton Jones, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the sameis 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 machinery used for con-
densing atmospheric air, and in machinery worked. by compressed air employed
in getting coal, stone, and minerals. For the purpose of condensing atmos-
pheric air the piston rod of a reciprocating steam cylinder is connected to and
works the piston of the air pump, the length of stroke of each piston being
the same.
The two cylinders (the steam cylinder and air pump cylinder) are
both fixed on the same bed plate, by which they are readily retained true to
each other, the two end covers of the two cylinders where the stuffing boxes are
constructed, and through which the piston rod works are as close as may be
together, simply allowing room to get at the two stuffing boxes. The piston
rod does not pass through either of the covers at the other end of the two
cylinders. The air pump cylinder is contained in a trough or vessel so that
such cylinder may be constantly surrounded by cold water continuously sup-
plied to the trough or vessel. The relative diameters of the two cylinders will
depend on the pressure of the steam used in the steam cylinder, and the pres-
sure to which the air is desired to be compressed. The use of a fly wheel and
shaft are dispensed with, and the change of motion of the piston in the steam
cylinder is obtained by tappets or spindles which pass through stuffing boxes
formed in the two end covers of the steam cylinder; the tappet at each end of
the steam cylinder is at its outer end pinjointed to the shorter end of a lever,
which by its other end, by means of a connecting rod, gives motion to a slide
valve. By this arrangement as the piston arrives nearly to the end of its
stroke it pushes out the spindle or tappet at that end of the cylinder, and the
position of the slide valve is quickly reversed. At each end of the air pump
cylinder are valve boxes, in each of which is an induction and an eduction
valve which it is preferred should be circular, spindle valves resting by their
outer edges on rings of soft elastic matter as valve seats. A starting. and
stopping hand lever is applied to one of the axes of the levers which work the
slide valve of the steam cylinder. The outlets of the two valve boxes of the

page_text: air pump cylinder are connected together by a pipe, to which is connected the
supply pipe to the engines or machines worked by compressed air. When
the engines or machines are necessarily distant from the air pump, two, three;
or more air vessels are employed in connection on the supply main, and for
this purpose cylinders or other forms of vessels are introduced at intervals
along the supply main or pipe of such dimensions as may be desired, and
depending on the size and speed of working of the compressed air engine or
machine which is actuating the picks or instruments used in getting coal, or
stone, or mineral; by these means the supply of compressed air to the engine
or machine will be more advantageously made than when a long length of
supply pipe or main intervenes between the pumping machinery and the
compressed air engine without such enlargements, or air vessels, or reservoirs.
Heretofore the machines or engines worked by compressed air or other fluid
used for actuating lever picks when getting coal have been arranged to be
moved along the face of the work, and to cause the cutting points or edges of
the lever picks to strike against the outer surface and move. inwards to the
depth desired. According to my present Invention I arrange such engines or,
machines in such manner that the points or cutting edges of the lever picks
used shall commence to act on the back of the material and move outwards,
so that when a pick has completed a cut it shall be out of the working, and
require to be moved back into the working before it makes its next cut; by
this means lever picks will be less liable to be held in the workings than here-
tofore when the point or cutting edge penetrated more and more into the
solid mass till it arrived at the end of its stroke. For this purpose the lever
picks are held by the machinery, and are worked in a reversed position, and
in commencing to work a chase or cut is first made by hand or otherwise to
the depth desired for such a distance as will admit of receiving a lever pick
into it, and at the same time allow of its cutting edge commencing at the back
of the work, and to cut outwards completing its cut at the outer surface of
the work, that is, the cutting edge of a lever pick is caused to cut toward
the engine or machinery which works it, in place of cutting in a direction
from the engine or machinery as has heretofore been the practice when work-
ing lever picks by like engines or machines.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.

page_text: section on the line 2,2, Figure 1, of an engine and air pump constructed and
combined according to my Invention. a, a, is the steam cylinder, having within
it a piston a', the piston rod 6 of which gives motion to the piston c¹ in the
air pump cylinder c, c; these two pistons are shown to be of nearly the same
diameter, but the relative diameters of the pistons of the steam cylinder and
air pump will be varied according to the requirements of each case. The air
pump cylinder is contained within the trough or cistern d, d, in order that it
may be subjected to the action of cold water supplied to such trough or
cistern. The air pump cylinder has a valve box e, e, at each end connected
together by a pipe f, f. In the arrangement shown the two tappets 9, 9, are
arranged to be one actuated by the steam cylinder piston a', whilst the other
is arranged to be acted on by the air pump piston c', which is the arrangement
preferred; but if desired both tappets 9, 9, may be arranged to be acted on by
the steam piston a¹, or both may be arranged to be acted on by the air pump
piston c. The tappets 9, g, have a hand lever g', by which the tappets may
be moved when required, and such hand lever g¹ gives motion to the slide of
a small steam engine h, by the rod i, which at one end is pinjointed to the
lever g³, and at its other end it is pinjointed to the cranked lever ", which
gives motion to the slide valve of the small engine h. The hand lever g¹ has
also a stud on it which works in slotted links connected to the end of the
spindle or stem j of the slide valve k of the steam cylinder a, a, by which, in
the event of the valve of the small steam cylinder h not acting correctly, the
slide valve k of the engine a, a, will be moved by the hand lever g². The
piston of the small steam cylinder h is on the spindle or stem of the slide
valve k, and there are stops 2, 1, on the other end of the valve spindle which
act against elastic packings in the standard m.
In carrying out the second part of my Invention air vessels are placed at
intervals say about every eighty to a hundred feet, or at any other desired
distances apart. These air vessels I prefer to be of about the same lengths
as the air pipe, which are usually about four inches diameter and about nine
feet lengths, whilst the air vessels are about twelve inches diameter, but these
projections may be varied.
The object of this part of my Invention is to have such a supply of con-
densed air near where the working of the picks is taking place that thero
may be a full supply of air to the condensed air engine or engines working
the picks so as to prevent as much as may be wiredrawing of the air through
the supply air mains between the workings and the air pump.
Figure 6 shows a plan of an engine worked by compressed air, and arranged
to work a pick according to my Invention. The arrangement of the air

page_text: engine and carriage is the same as heretofore employed, and which is now well
known, and is with the exception of the arrangement for working the pick A
the same as is described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to
me, but this part of my Invention may be performed by other constructions
of engines; B, B¹ shows the workings. The cut commences at B, and the
pick moves outwards to B' at each stroke. There is a shield fixed to the side
of the carriage next the workings in order to prevent the coal being thrown
over the rails or trams, and also to protect the man tending the engine who
stands in advance of the carriage. In addition to other advantages when
working the picks in a direction from back to front, in place of working in a
direction from front to back, the pick does not pass across the rails, and conse-
quently the supports to the roof may be comparatively close up to the rails or
trams, there simply requiring room for the passage of the carriage between
such supports and the face of the workings.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
First, the combined arrangement shown and and described with reference
Figures 1 to 5 of the Drawings.
Secondly, I claim the application of air vessels at intervals between the air
pump and the workings in a coal mine.
And, thirdly, I claim the working of the lever picks actuated by an engine on
a carriage in such manner that the cut of a pick commences at the back and
moves outwards towards the front of the workings as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Grafton Jones, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.