AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF WORKING COAL MINES, AND QUARRIES OF STONE, MARBLE, AND SLATE, WHICH MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO THE MAKING OF TUNNELS, BORINGS, OR TO OTHER PURPOSES OF THE LIKE KIND
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66. Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,. by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twentieth day of February, in the sixth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself. Her heirs and, successors, give and grant, unto me, the said William
Newton, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I.
the said William Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said William Newton, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all, times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and. vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, an Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF WORKING COAL
MINES, AND QUARRIES OF STONE, MARBLE, AND SLATE, WHICH MAY ALSO BE APPLIED
TO THE MAKING OF TUNNELS, BORINGS, OR TO OTHER PURPOSES OF THE LIKE KIND,"
being a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad; in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me; the said William Newton,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe
[Price 8d.]

page_text: and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso. I. the said
William Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which-the-same-is-to-be-performed,-are-particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):-
These improvements consist,-
Firstly, in the employment of rotary saws, pecks, or cutters, for the purpose
of severing blocks of coal, stone, marble, or slate, from the masses in which
they lie, or of grinding or pecking away such materials, in order to form a
cavity in the mass.
Secondly, in a peculiar arrangement of apparatus for cutting, pecking, and
grinding the coal or other material; and,
Thirdly, the machinery for extracting blocks of the above materials when
severed by the above-mentioned apparatus, or by other means.
In order to illustrate the principle upon which the first part of this Invention
operates, a Diagram, Fig. 1, is shewn in Sheet 1 of the accompanying Draw-
ings, which may be supposed to represent a portion of the excavated part of a
mine, with the usual mass of stone or other material surrounding it, and in
which excavation it is desired to introduce the circular saw in order to sever
blocks from the uncut mass, the line A, B, representing the face of the mass
up to which the material has been previously cleared. The circular line E, E,
may be supposed to represent a circular saw revolving upon a horizontal axis.
Rotary motion being communicated to the circular saw, and it being caused
to advance, the saw will necessarily cut into the mass of coal, stone, or other
material, in a vertical direction, until it has advanced to the point F, by which
means an incision will have been made into the material represented by the
red line G, F, H. The saw may then be raised towards the point A, or
depressed towards the point B, for the purpose of cutting vertically the
material above and below as it advances. This first line of cutting having
been effected in a vertical direction, another vertical cutting may be made in
the same way, parallel to the former. Then a saw or saws placed upon a
vertical axis may be applied in a similar manner, for the purpose of cutting
horizontal incisions in the mass above and below, in front and on the side,

page_text: after which, the block so severed may be removed by the apparatus herein-
after described, or by any other convenient means. The constructions of saws
to be employed for this purpose may be varied, but I have found it convenient
to use the arrangements which constitute part of the second head of the
Invention represented in the Drawings at Figs. 2 to 13 inclusive. The thick-
ness of the rim or felloe a, a, in this case is constructed in three pieces
of sheet metal, placed side by side, and united by pins or other suitable means,
as shown in the side elevations and top views, Figs. 2 and 3. In the upper
side of this rim there are mortices b, b, b, for the reception of a number of
segmental pieces c, c, one of which is shewn in elevational and plan views at
Figs. 4 and 5, and in cross section at Fig. 6. It will be perceived that these
segmental pieces are formed, like the felloe, of three strips of metal rivetted
side by side, a portion of the strips being removed from each side of the bottom
part at d, d, and at each end as at e, e, in order that they may be fitted into
the mortices b, b, b, of the felloe a, a, in which situation they may be confined
by pins or other convenient means. In the upper side of the segmental
pieces c, c, and felloe a, a, there are mortices I, I, I, for the reception of the
shanks of the teeth g, g, g, in which situation they are held by means of pins,
as represented in the several views at Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Another mode of constructing the circular saw is shewn at Figs. 11, 12,
and. 13. In this case series of dovetailed mortices I, f, j, are formed on the
sides of the rim a, a, into which are introduced the shanks of the teeth g, g,
where they are retained by countersunk screws h, h, h, h, h. These, amongst
other modes, may be employed for constructing the saw, but if desired, a
simple rim with plain mortices may be used for receiving the shanks of the
teeth, or the teeth may be cut out from a solid piece of metal, or fixed in a
variety of other ways, and their shape necessarily varied, according to the nature
of the substance to be operated upon. It may be observed, however, that the
best general form for the teeth of these saws has been found to be that in
which the oblique edges of the teeth are in alternate opposite directions, and
wider at their cutting extremity than at the base, as represented in the several
-Figures above mentioned.
I will now describe the arrangement of machinery for giving motion to the
above circular saws, which also forms part of the second head of this Invention.
Figs. 14 and 15 represent a combination of machinery for actuating the saws
in making incisions into the mass of coal, stone, or other such material, in a
vertical direction. The framework of the machine is shewn at i, i, i, i,
mounted upon wheels i, j, for the purpose of transporting it to any desired
situation. To the frame i, i, there are connected by joints two legs k, k, which

page_text: act as supports to the back of the machine during its operations, and may be
raised and used as handles when it is desired to move the apparatus from one
situation to another. The circular saw above described is shewn at a, a,
mounted upon a horizontal shaft 1, 1, which shaft is capable of sliding backward
or forward in the horizontal groove m, m, and also upward or downward in
the vertical groove n, n*. Each end of the shaft I, I, turns in a carriage o
-furnished-with-guide-rollers,-which-run-upon_ledges_within_the_grooves_m, n,
as shewn detached from the machine, on an enlarged scale, at Figures 16
and 17, Sheet 2, by which means the shaft is at all times kept steadily in its
proper position. To each end of the shaft 1, 1, is also applied a collar p
turning loosely thereon, to which collars are attached cords or chains q, q,
which, after passing over guide pullies r, r, r*, *, are connected at their ends
to the drums s, s, mounted upon a revolving shaft t, t, upon the axis of which is
also another drum u, and around this drum is wound a rope v, v, having
a weight w suspended at its end. By this arrangement the descent of the
weight will cause the shaft t, t, to revolve, and thereby wind the ropes q, 9,
upon the drums s, s, by which means the drawing forward the shaft 1, 1, is
effected, and consequently the saw a, a, a, also in the direction of the arrow in
Fig. 14. The driving shaft is shown at x, x, turning in suitable stationary
bearings on the framework of the machine. Upon this shaft is mounted
loosely the lower end of a lever y, the upper end of which turns loosely upon a
joint pin z; and also there is connected to the same joint pin another lever *,
the lower end of which lever turns loosely upon the axle I of the saw. On the
main driving shaft is affixed a spur wheel 1, and over this spur wheel
an endless chain 2, 2, is passed, which chain at its upper end is conducted
over a smaller spur wheel 3, fixed on the joint pin z of the levers y, y*. At
the other end of the joint pin z is affixed a spur wheel 4, over which is passed
another endless chain 5, which is conducted over a smaller spur wheel 6, fixed
upon the axis 1, 1, of the saw a, a. By this arrangement, when motion is com-
municated to the main driving axis x, x, by the winch 7, or other means, as,
for instance, by the power of a motive engine, the joint pin z will be caused
to revolve by the movement of the endless chains 2, 2, and thereby, through
the intervention of the endless chains 5, 5, communicate rotatory motion to the
saw shaft 1, 1; and it will be obvious that whatever situation in the grooves m
or n the shaft I, I, may assume, this rotatory motion will continue, the centres
of the expanding levers y, *, remaining at the same distance with regard to
each other. It will thus be perceived, that on rotatory motion being given to
the main shaft the saw a, a, a, will be caused to revolve, chipping or grinding
away the stone or other material, and that it will advance into the mass

page_text: as the work proceeds by the pressure of the weight w, which, in descending,
causes the shaft t, t, to revolve, and thereby, by means of the cords q, q, to
draw the shaft 1, 1, forward in the direction of the arrow, that is, toward the
work. The saw a having penetrated into the mass of coal or other material,
and the shaft I, I, arrived at the end of the groove m, m, the carriages o, o, are
received into the upper part of the vertical groove n, n*; the cords q, q, are
then slipped off the guide pullies *, *, and an extra weight attached to the
rope v, v; the shaft l, 1, and its saw will then be carried upwards, the collar p
turning upon the shaft into a vertical position, when the rotatory motion of the
machine, as before, will cause an incision to be made in the mass in a direction
upwards. This having been accomplished the weight or a portion thereof
is to be removed, and the shaft and its appendages allowed to descend into
the lower part of the groove n*, n*, and hence be made to cut downward
through the mass in its progress, as before described.
Another modification of this part of the Invention is shewn at Fig. 16,
which represents in vertical section an arrangement of machinery suitable for
cutting in a straightforward direction only, the shaft I, 1, sliding merely in hori-
zontal grooves. As there is, however, no other difference in this arrangement
of machinery, and as similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts to
those of the former, no further description will be necessary..
A further modification of the two last-described machines is shewn at
Figs. 17, 18, and 19, which represent a machine with three saws applied
thereto, in order to effect that number of parallel cuts at one operation.
Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 18 an end view thereof, and
Fig. 19 a horizontal view, as seen from the top. The saws are shown at a, a, a,
fixed as before upon their shaft I, 1. This arrangement of machinery does not
differ from that previously described, excepting with reference to the mode in
which motion is communicated from the main shaft. In this instance two
winch handles 7, 7, are shown, upon the axis of each of which is aflixed a spur
wheel 8, 8. Over these are passed an endless chain 9, which is conducted over
another spur wheel 10, upon a short shaft 11, which shaft turn's in suitable
bearings attached to the framework of the machine, and carries at its further.
extremity a bevilled pinion 12, taking into gear with a similar pinion 13, upon
a short cross shaft x, which latter shaft supplies the place of the main driving
shaft z,, of the former machine, the lever y and spur wheel 1 being mounted
thereon, as before described. The operation of this machine is precisely
similar to that before explained, and similar letters and numbers of reference
denote the like parts. In this machine, however, a circular guide 16, 16,
(concentric to the main axis x, and in the groove of which the joint pinz

page_text: moves,) is shewn, and if thought desirable may be applied to the other modifi-
cations of the machinery.
A modification of the machinery for cutting horizontally is shewn at Figures
20, 21, and 22, which represent a suitable arrangement of machinery with
three saws. Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the machine, Fig. 21 an end
view, and Fig. 22 a top view of the same. The saws are shown at a, a, a,
mounted upon the vertical-shaft-1,-1,-1,-which shaft turns at its ends in carriages
provided with guide wheels running upon ledges formed on each side-of--the-
horizontal grooves m and n, as seen in the detached enlarged views, Figures
23, 24, 25, Sheet 2. The means by which motion is communicated to the
shaft is nearly the same as in the last described, with the exception of
the expanding levers y, y, spur wheels 1, 3, 4, and 6, and chains 2 and 5,
At the back part
being placed in horizontal instead of vertical positions.
of the machine are two winch handles, which communicates, as before, rotatory
motion to the shaft, and thence, as before described, to the saw shaft 1. The
mode by which the shaft is caused to traverse into its various positions is as
follows: According to the position shewn in the Drawing the saws are sup-
posed to have penetrated into the mass of coal, &c., and are now in progress
To each of the carriages o, o,
of cutting in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 22.
is attached a cord q, q, which cords pass under guide pullies r, r, and from
thence around drums s, s, to which their ends are attached. The drums s, s,
are mounted upon a shaft t, t, revolving in bearings fixed upon the framework
of the machine, which carries at its other end a drum u. Upon this drum is
wound the weighted cord v, v, and by the descent of the weight the shaft t is
made to revolve, and thereby wind the cords q, q, upon the drums s, s, drawing
onward the shaft 1, 1, and saws a, a, a, in the direction of the arrow. When it
is desired to effect the cut in the opposite direction the cords q, q, are to be
attached to the other sides of the carriages o, o, passed over the pullies r, r, s,
and wound upon the pullies r, r, the weighted cord being in this instance
made fast to the pulley c* upon the shaft t* at the other side of the machine.
In order to cause the saws to move in the direction of the groove m, and
thereby penetrate into the mass, the following arrangement is adopted:
Suppose the saw shaft and its appendages to be in the position shown by red
lines, and travelling in the direction pointed out by the red arrow, the cords q, 4,
are to be attached as before to the carriages o, o, and passed around guide
pullies r, r, and proceed thence to the pullies s', s, to which their ends are
made fast. The pullies s',' s¹, are mounted upon a revolving shaft t', ', upon
which shaft at one end is affixed a pulley u', around which is wound a weighted
cord, the descent of the weight whereof causes the shaft
to revolve, and

page_text: thereby wind the ropes q, q, upon the pullies s¹, s', drawing forward the shaft I
and its saws in the direction of the red arrow.
!
Another mode of constructing and applying a circular saw is shown at
Figures 26 and 27. which represent a machine with a circular saw applied
on the edge of a cylinder suitable for cutting out blocks in the form of
a segment of a circle. The framework of the machine is shown at i, i.
mounted upon wheels j. j. The saw consists of a cylinder of metal and
the shaft 1. 1. and provided on its edge with
armis a. a. a. mounted upon
a series of teeth g. g. 9. g.
Upon the hinder end of the shaft 1. 1, there
is affixed a toothed pinion. taking into another of larger diameter upon
the lower shaft x, which latter shaft is made to revolve by means of the
winch handle, thereby communicating rotatory motion to the saw a, a. The
saw is capable of sliding longitudinally upon the shaft in the direction
of its length, but is made to revolve with it by means of a rib or feather m
fitting into a similarly formed groove in the boss or box of the wheel arms
that support the cylinder: and in order that the teeth of the saw may pene-
trate into the mass of coal. stone, or other material, a weighted cord v is
attached, by means of a swivel, to the boss of the cylinder, which cord is con-
ducted over a pulley s, and consequently, by the descent of the weight, the
cylindrical saw is drawn forward as the work proceeds. A cylindrical cut
having been effected in the mass by this machine, an apparatus similar to that
represented at Figures 14 and 15 may be employed to effect the cut which
shall separate the block.
Another construction of cutter I propose to employ, when there are not a
sufficient number of sides of the mass exposed for the above machines to
operate upon so as to detach the required block or when it is desired to form.a
cavity, consists of a number of saws, teeth, or rasps, placed side by side upon a
cylinder, as représented in the partial face view Fig. 28, by reference to which
it will be perceived that each succeeding tooth projects on the side. of the
cutting line of that immediately before, by which arrangement the mass will
be completely chipped away, and a cavity formed equal to the breadth of the
cylinder of saws. These, combined saws may be placed upon the axis of a
machine similar to that shewn at Figures 14 and 15, or Fig. 16, and a cavity
of any breadth may be chipped away by shifting the machine sideways or
allowing the cylinder to rise and fall until a cavity is made large enough to
receive the apparatus before described for effecting lateral cuts. If desired the
combined saw last described may be placed upon the axis 1. 1, of the above
machines, together with the single saw, and chip away a cavity in the mass
while the single saw is effecting its simple cut.
.

page_text: The third part of these improvements, viz., the arrangement of apparatus
suitable for extracting blocks of coal, stone, marble or slate, when severed from
the mass, is shewn in Figures 29. 30, and 31. Sheet 4 of the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 29 is a side elevation of the machine complete,
Fig. 30 an end view of the same, and Fig. 31 a horizontal view. The frame-
work of the machine is shewn at a, a, a, a, supported on wheels b. b. b. b. A
sliding framework c, c, c. c. guided by antifriction rollers d. d. d. d. is placed
within the upright a. a. a. to each-side-of-which-sliding frame a train of toothed
wheels and pinions e, f. g. is attached, capable of being put in motion by means
of the winch handle h. The pinions g. g. take into stationary racks i, i;
attached to the framework a, a, a, a, of the machine, so that by turning the
winch handle the sliding frame c. c. c, e, is caused to rise or fall at pleasure, a
ratchet wheel and pall retaining it at any required elevation. A roller k, k,
extends from side to side of the frame c, e, upon which roller a platform 1. 1, 1.
To the
is mounted, turning freely thereon by means of the sockets m. m.
outward end of the platform 1. 1, 1. are attached two ropes n, n. fastened at
their upper ends to a roller o. o. which roller turns in bearings attached to the
framework a. a. and is caused to revolve when required by means of the winch
handle p and wheel and pinion q. q. by which arrangement the platform 1. 1, 1,
is capable of being turned upwards upon its centre k, h. When it is desired
to remove a severed block the apparatus is brought to the required position.
and the platform 1. 1. 1. is to be raised to the necessary height, as shewn in
Fig. 29 two hooks q. q. are then passed through the incisions in the mass,
and when at the back of the block the hooked ends are turned round into the
positions shown at Fig. 31. To the outward end of each of the hooks q. q. is
attached a rope r, r. r. r, which ropes pass over guide pullies s, s, and from
thence around the roller k, k, to one end of which is attached a toothed wheel t.
driven by a winch u. through the intervention of a pinion . by causing which
to revolve the ropes r. r, are wound upon the roller k. k. and the block of coal,
stone, or other material, is thereby drawn on to the platform 1, 7, which is then
Jowered by turning the winch handle h until it has descended to the height of
the waggon upon which the block is to be removed.
then put in motion, which causes the platform 1, 1, by means of the ropes, to
turn upwards upon its centre k, k, and when at a sufficient height the block of
stone or other material will slide off on to the waggon placed to receive it.
The winch handle his
Lastly, I desire it to be understood that the improvements which I claim
under the above in part recited Letters Patent are,
Firstly, the mode of cutting blocks or pieces of coal, stone, or other
material, from their natural beds by means of saws, rasps, or other rotary

page_text: cutters of suitable forms and dimensions whether worked by manuel labour or
other motive power.
Secondly, the peculiar constructions of machinery shewn in the Drawings,
and described above, for cutting, chipping, and grinding the said substances for
the purpose of separating them from their natural beds. And,
Thirdly, the peculiar construction of machinery for withdrawing or removing
blocks or portions of coal, stone, and other materials after they have been
severed from their natural beds.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Newton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-three.
WILLIAM (..s.) NEWTON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Nineteenth day of August,
in the seventh year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said
William Newton came before our said Lady the Queen in 'Her Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the
fifty-fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Nineteenth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and and forty-throa