Improvements in Boring or Tunnelling Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boring or Tunnelling Machines.
I, REGINALD STANLEY, of Nuneaton Colliery and Engineering Works,
Nuneaton, in the County of Warwick, Colliery Proprietor and Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in that class of machines for boring,
tunnelling or assisting to make headings, tunnels or passages in coal, marl or other
substances described in the Specifications of former Letters Patent granted to me
No. 335, dated 10th January 1885; No. 1449 dated 1st February 1886; No. 2312
dated 14th February 1887, No. 8375 dated 10th June 1887 and No. 1763 dated
6th February 1888.
The said machines are only adapted for forming headings or tunnels of a circular
shape. I have found in practice, however, that in some seams, especially in those
known as "thin" seams, such circular heading or tunnel is too small and has to be
enlarged in width by hand labour or other means.
The object of this invention is to arrange and construct boring or tunnelling
machines to drive headings or tunnels which shall be greater in width than in
height.
For this purpose I employ two or more of such machines placed side by side
but at a sufficient distance apart to allow of the cutter-arms working and cutting
the face of the coal or other substance, the said machines being connected
together by strong screw rods extending from the top of the. frame of one
machine to the bottom of the frame of the other and attached to the frames by
ball and socket joints, or by any other suitable means in such a manner that
one machine will serve to strengthen, steady, keep upright and guide the other,
thus saving much of the time and labour hitherto required in setting and fixing
the machines in the heading or tunnel. I sometimes connect the propelling gear
of the machines by means of chain gear or otherwise in such a manner that
they can be worked together or independently as required, as the machines are
advanced in the heading or tunnel.
Or I do for the purpose of my invention construct one horizontal frame or
bed to which I attach two or more central shafts each having arms and cutters,
the engines and gearing for driving and propelling the same being contained
with or between the said central shafts, and the whole carried on wheels running
on the centre of the floor of the circular headings or tunnels. I thus provide
what is practically one machine with two or more revolving shafts, arms and
cutters working horizontally and attached to one another for the purpose above
described.
For cutting away or helping to cut away the rib or ribs of coal or other
material that is or are left between the circular cuttings which form the heading
or tunnel I employ chain gearing carrying cutters and driven by and working
on wheels upon the central shaft; or other suitable means can be employed for
this purpose. The ribs can however be removed in a similar manner to the
core left by the arms and cutters when an annular groove has been cut.
Dated the 6th day of March 1890
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boring or Tunnelling Machines.
I, REGINALD STANLEY, of Nuneaton Colliery and Engineering Works,
Nuneaton, in the County of Warwick, Colliery Proprietor and Manufacturer, 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 improvements in that class of machines for boring,
tunnelling or assisting to make headings, tunnels or passages in coal, marl or other
substances described in the Specifications of former Letters Patent granted to me
No. 335, dated 10th January 1885; No. 1449 dated 1st February 1886; No. 2312
dated 14th February 1887, No. 8375 dated 10th June 1887, and No. 1763 .dated
6th February 1888.
The said machines are only adapted for forming headings or tunnels of a circular
shape. There are, however, numerous reasons why the headings or tunnels
sometimes require to be made of greater dimension horizontally than vertically.
For instance, in the entries to coal mines it is allowable and necessary in most
veins to have them from 9 to 12 feet wide. In six foot veins a single set of cutters,
while it may reach from top to bottom of the vein, will not open up more than half
or two-thirds of the entry horizontally, and another operation by hand or machine
is necessary. It is desirable to take the material out from the whole entry at one
operation.
In the smaller vein the room is so contracted, if a single cutting apparatus is
used, that it is impossible to readily manipulate the machine and get out the cuttings
and remove them to a point behind the machine.
The object of this invention is to arrange and construct boring or tunnelling
machines to drive headings or tunnels which shall be greater in width than in
height.
For this purpose I employ two or more of such machines placed side by side but at
a sufficient distance apart to allow of the cutter-arms working and cutting the face of
the coal or other substance, the said machines being connected together by screw-
rods extending from the top of the frame of one machine to the bottom of the frame
of the other and attached to the frames by ball and socket joints or by any other
suitable means in such a manner that one machine will serve to strengthen, steady,
keep upright and guide the other, thus saving much of the time and labour hitherto
required in setting and fixing the machines in the heading or tunnel. I sometimes
connect the propelling gear of the machines by means of a cross-shaft, chain-gear or
otherwise in such a manner that they can be worked together or independently as
required, as the machines are advanced in the heading or tunnel.
Or, for the purpose of my invention I construct one horizontal frame or bed to
which I attach two or more central shafts, each having arms and cutters, the engines
and gearing for driving and propelling the same being contained with or between
the said central shafts and the whole carried on wheels running on the centre of the
floor of the circular headings or tunnels. I thus provide what is practically one
machine with two or more revolving shafts, arms and cutters working horizontally
and attached to one another for the purpose above described.
By my improved machine I can not only work over a larger area of the heading
but with it can provide more room for the manipulation of the machine, and of the
materials removed thereby. Again, whatever be the depth of a machine, as hitherto
constructed, or the dimension of the cut made by the machine, it is frequently found
that it is necessary to apply hand tools, of the nature of levers, wedges, drills, or the
like for the purpose of removing the central coal left by the cutters. By my
invention I form two grooves or cuts either overlapping or independent of each other
and am thus enabled to apply to greater advantage tools of the kind referred to and

page_text: can more easily detach, break down, and remove any coal or other material which
may resist the operation of the cutters, or which may be left as a core.
Another important advantage incident to having two sets of more or less
independent cutters, one of which can be thrown out of operation while the other is
acting, is, that not only are less sized engines required in this way but two cutters
can be employed alternately, that is to say, a cut may be made with one of them,
and then while the other cutter is being advanced, the core and débris produced by
the first cutter can be carried back and the intervening web can be detached.
Therefore there is plenty of room at all times for getting at and removing the
loosened material.
It is preferable that the two sets of cutters should move in opposite directions in
order that they shall balance each other in respect to the strains and the reactionary
thrust which they exert upon the machine generally and upon the braces or devices
by which the bed-frame is held stationary during the cutting. With tunnelling or
mining machines of all descriptions one of the most difficult problems has been to
construct and arrange the parts so that there should be no reactionary thrust, either
in a line directly backwards or towards one side or the other, horizontally, or upward
or downward. Such thrust, and the disadvantageous strains incident thereto, have
been experienced in using all machines provided with a single cutter or set of
cutters.
By furnishing the machine with two sets of oppositely moving cutters, as is
herein provided for, I, to a large extent, overcome the difficulty which has been
incident to other machines from this cause.
I am aware of the fact that machines have been heretofore devised com-
prising two sets of oppositely moving chain-cutters, mounted so as to work
horizontally, and am also aware that two sets of oppositely reciprocating cutters
have been used, working horizontally, and I do not claim such mechanism.
But I believe myself to be the first to have arranged two vertically revolving
cutters attached to each other so as to move oppositely and simultaneously, and
produce a kerf of such dimensions that. the entire machine can follow the cutters.
The main frame or bed of the machine may be so constructed 'as to have its two
parts permanently united rigidly together, or so as to have them separable or divisible
as hereinbefore described. Again the two parts of the main frame may be so joined
together by connecting and bracing devices that they shall be more or less adjustable
in relation to each other, and yet have the connecting devices so arranged that they
shall join the two parts of the frame with sufficient rigidity, the one part of the said
frame in this case acting to support and steady the other.
The engine or other motor may be so constructed and arranged as to be
practically inseparable from both of the bed-frames, or it may be made in two
more or less independent parts, each capable of action and each supported on
one of the aforesaid frames or beds.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it
can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which :-
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a plan and rear view of one form of machine
embodying my improvements; and,
Figure 3 is a front view of the same with the cutter-arms removed:
Figure 4 is a detail of the same drawn to an enlarged scale:
'
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation and rear elevation of the.
machine provided with a travelling endless belt for carrying the cuttings from the
front to the rear of the said machine :
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are respectively a plan, side elevation and rear elevation of
another form of the machine.
Similar reference letters indicate similar or corresponding parts throughout the.
drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, A, A indicate the two machines, the cutters,
cutter-arms and central shafts of which, by way of example, are of similar

page_text: construction and operated from the engine through the medium of similar gearing to
that shewn in my said former Specification No. 1763 of 1888, like letters being
used for facility of reference to indicate the said parts, which, therefore, here need
no description.
₁, bare the screw rods (four of which are shewn but this number may be
varied) for connecting the two machines A, A together, the said rods extending
from the top of the frame d of one machine to the bottom of the frame d of the
other machine, as shewn.
c¹, c are the ball and socket joints by means of which the rods b¹ are attached
to the frames d, d.
Each of the rods & consists of two oppositely screw-threaded bars joined by a
central sleeve d' having threaded ends to engage with the bars.
There may be as many of these rods 6 as occasion may require. Preferably
I use two at the front end and two at the rear, and arrange the rods of each pair
so that they cross each other, that is to say, so that each one engages with the
top of one of the parts of the frame, and with the bottom of the other. Hori-
zontal braces 21 are also used.
It will be seen that by means of such devices the parts of the frames d can be
braced in any ordinary way desired.
The cutter-arms m, m of the two cutting mechanisms of the machine can be
arranged so as to alternate with each other in their rotation, as shewn in Figure 1,
that is so that one will be in a vertical position at the time the other is horizontal,
or they can work together, that is, be in vertical positions and horizontal
positions at the same time. But in either case the two sets of cutters revolve in
opposite directions, by preference, so that they will throw the cuttings and débris
to the outer sides of the machine. If they rotated in the same direction, more
or less of the cuttings and débris would be delivered on the central longitudinal
line of the machine. By delivering them at the outer sides they can be easily
reached for removal to the rear of the machine.
In order to have the two sets of shafting and gearing work in proper relation
to each other and the engine of one to assist the engine of the other I connect
them together positively by suitable devices, such as a cross-shaft and gearing, a
sprocket-chain gearing, or their equivalent. In Figures 1,
and 3 a sprocket-
chain e is shewn, connecting two sprocket-wheels f¹, f, one connected to the
pinion of one machine and the other to the wheel g of the other machine, so as
to allow the above described opposite rotation of the two sets of cutters.
Ι
Instead of locking the wheels i to the frames d and disengaging the wheels g
therefrom as described in my said former Specification No. 1763 of 1888, in order
to simultaneously rotate and advance the threaded shafts c and cutter-arms_m,
now, as shewn most clearly in Figure 2 lock the wheel a by means of a wedge a
inserted between the said wheel and one of the bolts a, and as illustrated in
Figure 4 I shift both the wheels i and g connected to the sprocket-wheels f
together out of engagement with the propelling wheels a by means of double
forks g', g¹ embracing flanged bosses h³, h³ on the wheels i and g and moved to and
fro by means of hand screws i¹.
By means of the above described connecting bars or rods b¹, b, zone part of
the bed or main frame serves to strengthen, steady and keep upright the other
part. The sleeve nuts d' can be turned by wrenches so as to lengthen or shorten
the connecting bars b₁ to make the connection perfectly rigid. If the binding or
jack screws Z be loosened, the upper parts of the frame can be moved out or in
as may be desired by the connecting rods 6. When two cutting mechanisms and
a two-part frame are thus employed, a machine is provided which is much more
rigid than when a single cutting apparatus and bed is used, and one which is
adapted to withstand much more advantageously the working of the arms and
cutters. By the described features which allow of lateral or transverse adjust-
ment, the width of the heading can be regulated as desired. I can, if desired,
bring the two cutting mechanisms so close together that their cuts shall be

page_text: tangential or nearly so, in which case little or no rib would be left between them.
If the two sets of cutters are arranged to alternate in their rotation as above
described, they can be brought still closer together and an opening thereby formed
across the entire heading more or less complete. By coupling the shafting and
engines of the two sides of the machine together by cam-shaft chains or otherwise,
as described, the engines are caused to help one another, even when both sets of
cutters are at work. Coal and other materials are in such a condition, naturally,
that there is much variation in hardness within an area of small dimension,
especially where foreign materials such as sulphur and slate are more or less
present; and a cutter in making a revolution will pass through resistances which
vary considerably. When the engines are joined in the way described the one
whose cutters are meeting the least amount of resistance can readily assist the
other having the greater work.
By disconnecting either of the shafts c from its respective engine shaft D by
means similar to that described in my said former Specification No. 1763 of 1888 it
will be obvious that the power of both engines can be utilized to drive the other
shaft and its cutters. Again, by shutting off the motive fluid from either engine or
motor the power of the other engine can be used to drive both sets of cutters; this
being desirable when the cutting is to be made in soft material.
The rib which is left between the two kerfs is small and can be readily removed
by ordinary tools, and thereafter there will be a tunnel with continuous top and
bottom adapted to serve as an entry or passage-way.
Instead of coupling two single machines together in the manner shewn in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 I sometimes couple them, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6, so that
the attendants can pass and an endless travelling belt y' for the removal of the
cuttings can work between them, or a tub for the removal of the cuttings and material
can be run between for loading.
In this arrangement the engines are on the outer sides instead of between the
frames d as in the said former figures, and I employ side steadying wheels a³,
similar to those described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent No. 2312
of 1887. The cutting-arms m are arranged so as to throw the cuttings to the centre
of the heading.
The machines are held together by horizontal rods or braces at the top and
bottom of the machines as in Figures 1 to 3 but the diagonal braces are dispensed
with. The belt y' at or near the front of the machine passes round and is driven
by wheels a on a shaft 62 near the floor of the heading but at the rear of the machine
it passes round wheels c² on a shaft supported by rods d², d³ at a greater distance
from the floor than the wheels a², so that the cuttings carried by the belt can fall
into a tub or other receptacle placed beneath the said wheels c². The belt y' is
placed to one side of the space between the machines so as to allow the attendants
to pass, and it is provided with strips or slats to enable it to lift the cuttings
and larger material from the floor. fare holes formed in the frames of each
machine, in any of which holes the pins d supporting the lower ends of the rods d³
can be fixed so as to adjust the height of the wheels c² and consequently of that
portion of the belt thereon to suit the tubs or the like placed below.
Instead of the chain e as shewn in Figures 1 to 3, I connect the engine shafts by
means of a horizontal shaft 92 and mitre wheels h² and in order to drive the belt y¹
I employ a shaft operated at one end by mitre wheels from the shaft g²,
and provided at its other end with a worm gearing with a worm-wheel 12 on the
shaft 2. The gear-wheels i and y for operating the nut a are, in this case,
manipulated as in my said former Specification No. 1763 of 1888.
Figures 78 and 9 illustrate a modified construction of machine, the general
principle of which is the same as that hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3. In this case the connecting braces ¹, b' which join the side
sections of the beds or main frames d, d are rigidly secured thereto, and are
preferably placed horizontally and may be utilized to support other parts of the
imachine. In this, as in the former case, there are two sets of cutters, two cutter

page_text: carriers, two trains of cutter actuating gearing, and two sets of feeding devices.
But the engine driving shaft D is arranged transversely of the machine and
thus but a single engine is necessary it having two cylinders and two pistons
connected to the one shaft D.
The engine is here placed lower and arranged horizontally and the engine
framework can be utilized as part of the cross connection between the two beds or
frames d. On each side of the machine there is a cutter actuating gearing
comprising the wheel D' on the cutter carrier shaft c, a pinion J' on the counter-
shaft, wheel J₁ also on the counter-shaft j', pinion J and wheel A¹ on a short
intermediate shaft l. m' is a double bevel-wheel on the engine crank shaft D and
is adapted to slide thereon, it having a lever n' for moving it.
When the wheel m' is in engagement with the wheel the engine and power
shaft will rotate the cutters. The feed-nut or propelling wheel a is rotated by the
shaft p¹ having a bevel-wheel g' and a pinion which engages with a wheel s¹ on a
short shaft below the carrier shaft c and having a wheel v¹ which engages the
toothed part of the nut a.
By means of the lever n', the wheel m' can be moved out of engagement with the
wheel to a neutral position, or into engagement with the aforesaid bevel-
wheel q'. When in engagement with the latter, the propelling wheel or nut a is
caused to revolve.
The manner of using the feed mechanism will be readily understood. When the
cutters are to be advanced relatively to the bed, the latter is fastened firmly in
place by the jack screws Z or any other suitable devices adapted to engage with the
walls of the tunnel, and it is held stationary until the cut is completed. At w¹ there
are hinged jacks or braces near the central longitudinal line of the machine which,
when engaging with the bottom of the tunnel, resist any reaction or back thrust and
assist in holding the machine to its work. After the cutters have been advanced
the desired distance, and either after or before the cores have been taken out and
removed, the bed or main frame d can be advanced up to the cutters or as far
as may be desired, as follows :-The jack screws Z together with any other fastening
devices are released, so that the bed is free.
Side screw stays are used to steady the machines when cutting or to change the
direction.
Suitable means for fixing the cutter shaft c are then supplied, such for instance,
as the cows or sprays described and as shewn in my said former Specification
No. 1763 of 1888. Then the bevel wheels m' are moved into engagement with the
wheels g' and the propelling wheels or nuts a are unlocked, whereupon the engine
being in motion, the nuts will be rotated in such a way as to cause the bed to
advance, it moving forward on the wheels y. After it has reached the desired
point it is again fastened in place and the parts are ready for another cut.
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 :-
:-
1. A boring or tunnelling machine consisting of a frame or frames carrying two
or more sets of cutters, adapted to cut an annular groove in the tunnel or to
cut away the face thereof and to rotate in a vertical plane, and two sets of
mechanism for operating them, the said sets of cutters being so connected and
placed relatively to each other as to allow of cutting a heading or tunnel which
shall be greater in width than in height, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved boring or tunnelling machine herein before described, with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The modified construction of boring or tunnelling machine which allows of
an endless belt being employed for the removal of the cuttings, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: 4. The modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, in
which the two engines are arranged horizontally and a common crank shaft
connects the two sets of mechanism, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 6th day of January 1891
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.