Improvements in Coal Cutting Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Coal Cutting Machines.
I, GEORGE FITTON, Mining Engineer, of Nan Tan, Wortley, near Leeds, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention refers to that type of coal cutting machine, in which a hori-
zontal wheel, (provided with cutters on the periphery and carried about a centre
bearing formed in the end of a large bracket attached to one of the side frames
of the machine), is rotated by gearing from a motor or motors on the machine;
and in particular my invention refers to the arrangement and combination of
electric motors and gearing for this purpose.
In a coal cutting machine constructed in accordance with my invention two
motors are mounted on the frame, one towards each end, with the armature shafts
separate, but co-axial. On the inner end of each shaft a bevel pinion is mounted,
and both pinions gear with a common bevel wheel of comparitively large size.
This bevel wheel is mounted on a cross shaft, which is at right angles to the
armature shafts, and also inclined downwards from the top at one side of the
machine towards the bottom of the opposite side of the machine, that is the side
on which the cutter wheel is situated.
On the lower end of this inclined shaft is fitted a bevel pinion, so arranged as
to gear with the teeth formed on the cutter wheel, and thus to drive the latter.
The inclined shaft is carried in correspondingly inclined bearings attached to the
side frames of the machine; and is provided with a collar, bearing against the
upper side of the lower bearing, to take the weight of and any thrust developed
by the inclined shaft.
The advantage of the above described arrangement of inclined shaft and bevel
gears is, that only one shaft is required to transfer the motion with a suitable
reduction of speed from the armatures to the cutter wheel, very considerably
lessening the friction, lowering the original cost, and reducing the cost of upkeep.
of the machine.
In order to obtain a comparitively large size of the large wheel on the inclined
shaft, and consequently the most suitable reduction of speed, and also to keep
down the height of the armature shafts and consequently the total height of
the machine as low as possible, I prefer to place the armature shafts, not centrally,
but somewhat to one side (away from the cutter wheel) of the centre line between
the side frames.
Dated this 3rd day of Awoust 1898

page_text: Improvements in Coal Cutting Machines.
I, GEORGE FITTON, of Nan Tan, Wortley, near Leeds, Mining 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 refers to that type of coal cutting machine, in which a hori
zontal wheel, (provided with cutters on the periphery and carried about a centre
bearing formed in the end of a large bracket attached to one of the side frames
of the machine), is rotated by gearing from a motor or motors on the machine;
and in particular my invention refers to the arrangement and combination of
electric motors and gearing for this purpose.
In a coal cutting machine constructed in accordance with my invention two
motors are mounted on the frame, one towards each end, with the armature shafts
separate, but co-axial. On the inner end of each shaft a bevel pinion is mounted,
and both pinions gear with a common bevel wheel of comparatively large size.
This bevel wheel is mounted on a cross shaft, which is at right angles to the
armature shafts, and also inclined downwards from the top at one side of the
machine towards the bottom of the opposite side of the machine, that is the side
on which the cutter wheel is situated.
On the lower end of this inclined shaft is fitted a bevel pinion, so arranged as
to gear with the teeth formed on the cutter wheel, and thus to drive the latter.
The inclined shaft is carried in correspondingly inclined bearings attached to the
side frames of the machine; and is provided with a collar, bearing against the
upper side of the lower bearing, to take the weight of and any thrust developed
by the inclined shaft.
The advantage of the above described arrangement of inclined shaft and bevel
gears is, that only one shaft is required to transfer the motion with a suitable
reduction of speed from the armatures to the cutter wheel, very considerably
lessening the size, weight and friction of the machine, lowering the original cost,
and reducing the cost of repairs or upkeep of the machine.
In order to obtain a comparatively large size of the large wheel on the inclined
shaft, and consequently the most suitable reduction of speed, and also to keep
down the height of the armature shafts, and consequently the total height of
the machine as low as possible; I prefer to place the armature shafts, not centrally,
but somewhat to one side of the centre line between the side frames, away from
the cutter wheel.
It will be evident that the nature of my invention is not altered, if for the case
of coal seams where the holing or undercut is at some distance from the floor of
the seam, the shaft is inclined in the opposite direction to that above mentioned,
namely, inclined upwards from the bottom of the side of the machine farthest
away from the coal face, to the top of the side nearest the coal face.
Also, though it is preferable to arrange the armature shafts and the
inclined shaft 80 that the central axial line of the latter intersects
the common axial line of the former, this is not necessary; and when the shafts
are so arranged that the said axial lines do not intersect, it is only requisite to
form the large bevel wheel on the inclined shaft, or the small bevel wheels on the
armature shafts, or both, with skew teeth.
Further it will be evident, that my invention is applicable, where only one
electric motor is mounted on the machine.
And in order that my invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, may be more readily and clearly, understood, I have annexed hereto

page_text: the accompanying sheet of drawings of a coal cutting machine constructed in
accordance with my invention; in which:-
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section on line AB of Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 2 is a ver-
tical longitudinal section on line CD of Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is a plan looking
on the top.
In all the figures the same reference letter refers to the same or corresponding
part.
a a are the side frames of the machine.
b is the cutter wheel bracket, and c the cutter wheel.
d is the bevel pinion gearing with the teeth of the cutter wheel.
e is the inclined cross shaft, on the lower end of which the bevel pinion dis
mounted. ff are the bearings for the inclined shaft e, attached to the side
frames a.
E and E are two electric motors, carried towards opposite ends of the machine
from the side frames a. and are the armature shafts of the motors E and E
respectively, which are most suitably situated coaxially, and to one side of the
centre lines HK shewn in the drawings, in which case the teeth on the wheel g₁
(to be immediately referred to), are placed on the under or inner side of the wheel.
g is the large bevel wheel, mounted on the inclined shaft e, and gearing with
the bevel pinions h, h, on the inner ends of the separate armature shafts i, 211,
respectively. It is not necessary that the axis of the inclined shaft g, and the
common axis of the armature shafts i, i, should intersect, the latter may be found
convenient to pass above or below the former; in which case it is only requisite
that the bevel pinions hh', or the large bevel wheel g, or both, should have
correspondingly skewed teeth. As a consequence it is not necessary that the
electric motors should have separate shafts.
I
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In electrically driven coal cutting machines the combination consisting of
an inclined cross shaft a bevel pinion at one end thereof gearing with the teeth
of the cutter wheel and a large bevel wheel mounted on said inclined shaft gearing
with the bevel pinion or pinions on the armature shaft or shafts of the electric
motor or motors, substantially as and for the purpose or purposes set forth.
2. In a coal cutting machine the combination consisting of an electric motor or
motors having the armature shaft or shafts situated to one side of the longi-
tudinal centre line of the machine a bevel pinion or pinions on the armature shaft
or shafts and inclined cross shaft a large bevel wheel mounted on said inclined
cross shaft and gearing with the said bevel pinion or pinions on the arma-
ture shaft or shafts and a bevel pinion on the end of said inclined
shaft gearing with the teeth of the cutter wheel substantially as for the purpose
or purposes set forth.
3. The arrangement and construction of coal cutting machine substantially as
set forth and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1899.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.