IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WORKING BORING, AND MINING OR EXCAVATING TOOLS, AND MINE AND OTHER PUMPS
Year: 1862

page_text: to George Simpson; of Glasgow, in the County
Lanark, North Britain, Civil and Mining Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WORKING BORING, AND MINING
OR EXCAVATING TOOLS, AND MINE AND OTHER PUMPS."
Sealed the 16th December 1862, and dated the 21st June 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Simpson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st June 1862.
I, GEORGE SIMPSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Civil and Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WORKING BORING, AND
MINING, OR EXCAVATING TOOLS, AND MINE AND OTHER PUMPS," to be
as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in a portion. of the machinery
or apparatus described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted
to the present applicant, for "Improvements in Boring Apparatus, such
as is used for Mining Purposes," and dated the 9th November 1861
(No. 2813), also to modifications of such machinery suitable for working
mining, or excavating tools, and to modifications thereof suitable for
working mine and other pumps. In the various operations referred to
of boring, mining, and pumping, it is desirable to give a series of impul-
sive strokes or reciprocations, on the character of which the efficiency
of the operation in each case very much depends. In the earlier Specifi-
cation herein-before referred to, the boring rods are described as worked
by means of a steam cylinder, to the piston rod of which they are con-
nected. The bottom of the cylinder is always in open communication
with the boiler, so as to provide a cushion to moderate the downward
stroke and prevent accidents, and the movements of the piston are
caused by admitting steam upon the upper side of the piston, and
allowing it to escape therefrom alternately.
By the present. Invention the piston is provided with a trunk.or

page_text: enlarged piston rod on its under side, in order that the steam may have
less area of piston to act upon on the under side, whereby a prepon-
derance of pressure can be obtained on the top of the piston to assist
the descent of it and the boring rods if necessary.
A steam cylinder, working similarly to the one for boring, but in a
horizontal or other position, is arranged to impart a reciprocating motion
to a head or ram fixed on the piston rod, and fitted with, by preference,
a series of chisels. The piston is made to have different areas as
described, the steam acting on the larger one to impel the chisels into
the coal or rock face, whilst the smaller side is always in open communi-
cation with the boiler, and the steam acts thereon as a partial cushion
during the outstroke, and returns the piston back with the chisels when
the steam is allowed to escape from the other side. The chisels are by
preference arranged to project in steps, so that a transverse movement
being made between each stroke, each chisel strikes in a place previously
struck by its shorter neighbour, and the cut is thus gradually driven
in to the depth of the longest chisel. The cylinder is mounted on a
frame or carriage on wheels or on slides, and is moved along the face
either by hand by means of a screw and wheel, or by a ratchet or rack
movement, worked by the motion of the piston. If racks or slides are
used they are fixed in position in the mine by means of screws jamming
in between the roof and floor. The cylinder is by preference supplied
with steam from a small boiler upon the frame or carriage. It may,
however, be worked by compressed air or gas, conveyed to it from a
compressing engine above ground. The mining or excavating is pro-
posed to be performed by causing the steam chisels to cut grooves into
the coal, rock, or substratum along the bottom and sides of the block
to be cut out, which is afterwards to be broken down in the ordinary
way.
In adapting the same arrangement of direct-acting steam cylinder to
work mine pumps, the pump rods are attached to a cross head, fast on
the ends of two piston rods, working downwards from two cylinders
mounted upon two girders, placed across the pit mouth. The cylinders
are thus out of the way of the pumps and rods when these have to be
drawn up, for which there is sufficient space between the cylinders and
girders. In this application, as in the others, the under sides of the
pistons are in constant open communication with the steam boiler, but
the proportion of the upper and under areas will depend upon circum-
stances. With lift pumps the areas may be equal, or with the under
area the greater, according to the weight of the rods, whilst with single-
acting force
pumps the upper area may be the greater. The same mode

page_text: of working the pumping cylinder may be adopted with a single cylinder,
and the cylinder or cylinders may act on the pump rods directly or
through the intervention of a cross head, or through a lever or levers.
In all these applications it is an important feature of the system or
mode of working that the reciprocation is due entirely to the alternate
admitting and letting-off of the steam from one side only of the piston
or pistons, a uniform pressure being constantly maintained on the other
side. In addition to the improved character of the action thereby
obtained, the valvular details and movements are simplified, as a recipro-
cating or intermittent valve is not needed for the constant pressure side.
In the case of mine pumps, the risk of accidents to the machinery is
very much reduced, as the weight of the rods is never without an
adequate support and cushion of steam.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent, filed
by the said George Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, GEORGE
SIMPSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Civil and
Mining Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said George Simpson, Her special licence that I,
the said George Simpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Simpson, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times hereafter during the term 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, au Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR WORKING BORING, AND MINING, OR EXCAVATING TOOLS, AND MINE AND OTHER
PUMPS," upon the conditiou (amongst others) that I, the said George Simpson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals should particularly 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Simpson, do hereby declare

page_text: the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say--
My said Invention relates to improvements in a portion of the
machinery or apparatus described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me, the said George Simpson, for "Improvements in Boring
Apparatus such as is used for Mining Purposes," and dated the 9th
November, 1861 (No. 2813), also to modifications of such machinery
suitable for working mining or excavating tools, and to modifications
thereof suitable for working mine and other pumps.
And in order that the nature of my present Invention, and the manner
of performing the same may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended two Sheets of explanatory Drawings illustrating such parts
as appear to require it of the following particular description of my
improvements.
In the various operations referred to, of boring, mining, and pumping,
it is desirable to give a series of impulsive strokes or reciprocations, on
the character of which the efficiency of the operation in each case very
much depends. In the earlier Specification, herein-before referred to,
the boring rods are described as worked by means of a steam cylinder
to the piston rod of which they are connected. The bottom of the
cylinder is always in open communication with the boiler, so as to provide
a cushion to moderate the downward stroke and prevent accidents, and
the movements of the piston are caused by admitting steam upon the
upper side of the piston, and allowing it to escape therefrom alternately.
By the first part of the present Invention, the piston is provided with
a trunk or enlarged piston rod on its under side, in order that the steam
may have less area of piston to act upon on the under side, whereby a
preponderance of pressure can be obtained on the top of the piston
to assist the descent of it, and the boring rods, if necessary.
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto appended, is a vertical
section of the steam cylinder, and is a copy of Figure 5 of my earlier
Specification, herein-before referred to, excepting that it is drawn to a
smaller scale, and that it is altered to embody and illustrate the present
improvement, the piston 1 having attached to its under side a trunk 2,
which renders the effective area below the piston less than that above
it. With equal areas, the downward action was solely dependent upon
the weight of the rods, but with the unequal areas the steam may be
made to impart a downward impetus in excess of that due to the mere
weight of the rods, whereby a short length, and consequently smaller

page_text: weight of rods than hitherto can be made to work efficiently by means
of the steam apparatus.
By the second part of the present Invention, a steam cylinder working
similarly to the one for vertical boring, but in a horizontal or other
position is arranged to impart a reciprocating motion to a head or ram
fixed on the piston rod, and fitted with, by preference, a series of chisels
for the purpose of excavating coal, or other mineral by cutting into the
coal or rock face.
A modification of apparatus constructed according to this part of the
Invention is represented in Figures 2, 3, and 4, Sheet 1 of the accom-
panying Drawings; Figure 2 being a side elevation; Figure 3 a plan; and
Figure 4, a vertical section as taken at the axis of the steam cylinder.
A row of chisels 3 are fixed in a lead 4, formed or fixed upon the piston
rod R, and the piston 1 is, by means of the trunk 2, made to have
different areas, as described, the steam acting on the larger area to
impel the chisels 3 into the coal or rock face, whilst the smaller side of
the piston is always in open communication with the boiler, and the
steam acts thereon as a partial cushion during the out stroke, and
returns the piston back with the chisels when the steam is allowed to
escape from the other side. The steam from the boiler has access by
the pipe M to a valve chamber N, from which passages L, 5, communicate
with the opposite ends of the cylinder G, the exhaust taking place by '
the pipe P. A piston valve n is arranged in the chamber N, so as to
uncover either to the steam or to the exhaust the passage 5 communi-
cating with the larger side of the piston, and the pressure of the steam
on this valve n is balanced by that in the opposite direction upon a
second piston 7, on the valve spindle 8. The passage L to the smaller
side of the piston communicates with the valve chamber N at a part
which is always between the pistons and 7, so that that end of the
cylinder is always open to the full steam pressure. The chisels 3 arc,
by preference, arranged to project in steps, as shown, so that a move-
ment of the apparatus transversely to the direction of the stroke being
made between cach stroke, each chisel strikes in a place previously
struck by its shorter neighbour, and the cut is thus gradually driven
into the depth of the longest chisel. The cylinder G is mounted trans-
versely upon a frame or carriage, consisting of a pair of parallel timbers
or frame pieces 8, connected by cross pieces, and fitted on their under
side with iron bars 9, which rest and can slide upon flanged rails 10;
these rails 10 are fixed down upon parallel bearers 11, framed together
by cross pieces 12, and laid upon the floor of the mine parallel to the
face of the coal or rock to be operated upon, being, if necessary, fixed

page_text: in position by means of screws or struts jammed in between them and
the roof of the mine. If preferred, the carriage 8 may be mounted upon
small wheels, or it may be made to slide, as described, when operating,
wheels being provided to fit to it to facilitate its transportation from
place to place. The intermittent movement of the apparatus along the
face between each stroke may be effected by hand, or by self-acting
arrangements such as are delineated: A rack 13 is fixed upon the cross
pieces 12, and between and parallel to the rails 10, and with this rack
there gears a pinion 14, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1. The
pinion 14 is carried by the carriage or moving part of the apparatus,
being fixed on the lower end of a spindle 15, which turns in a bracket
bearing formed on or attached to the cylinder bed flange. On the upper
end of the spindle 15 there is a star wheel 16, which is acted upon by a
catch 17, upon a rod 1, attached by arms 18 at each end to the piston
rod R (this piston rod R being made to pass out through stuffing boxes
at both ends of the steam cylinder G). The catch 17 is jointed so as
to act on the star wheel 16 only when the piston makes its backward
stroke, and this action on the star wheel causes the oarriage and
apparatus to be moved along the face between each stroke to an extent
depending upon the proportions of the parts, and which proportions
may be varied as circumstances may render desirable. The rod is
provided with stops 19 to act on the lever Q, which works the valve
spindle 80, whereby the apparatus is rendered self-acting, the length
of stroke of the piston being varied, as may be found desirable, by
adjusting the stops 19 upon different points of the rod r.
To prevent
injurious concussion between the parts of the apparatus when the back
stroke is made, a cushion 20, of an elastic material, such as vulcanised
rubber, is fixed by means of a screwed collar 21, upon the front end
of the piston trunk 2, and when the back stroke is made, this cushion 20
comes in contact with the gland of the front stuffing box. The cylinder
G is, by preference, supplied with steam from a small boiler 22, fixed
upon the carriage 8, and, consequently, moving with the excavating
apparatus, or the boiler may be in some other convenient situation; or,
again, the apparatus may be worked by compressed air or gas conveyed
to it by pipes from a compressing engine above ground.
The mining or excavating is to be performed by means of the apparatus
just described by causing the steam chisels to cut grooves into the coal,
rock, or substratum, along the bottom and sides of the block to be cut
out, which block is afterwards to be broken down in the ordinary way.
The practical miner will however at once perceive that he can put the
apparatus to efficient use in a variety of ways. In cases where it is

page_text: desirable to cut the horizontal bottom groove very near the floor of
the mine, the form of the chisel head 4, may be altered to what is indi-
cated by dotted lines in Figure 4, that is to say, so that the chisels may
be fixed in the head at a lower level than that of the piston rod R.
In Figure 5, Sheet 1, a modification of the apparatus is represented in
which the cylinder G is set obliquely to its carriage 8, and to the coal
face 23, by which arrangement the chisels 3 are made to strike obliquely
with the view of clearing themselves more easily.
The apparatus may be further modified by making the cylinder G
adjustable at any angle that may be found most suitable in each
particular case.
In another system of using the apparatus the cylinder is made to work
a single chisel or tool, as in vertical boring, and this is fitted upon the
piston rod in such a way that it can be turned round between each
stroke. With such apparatus it is proposed to bore a series of holes
along the bottom and sides of the block to be cut out and to break
through the small thickness left between each hole by means of a hand
pick, whilst in some cases this last operation may be unnecessary from
the weight of the block crushing the parts left at the bottom, and break-
ing through those left at the sides. Where the apparatus is worked by
steam generated on the spot, the exhaust steam may be made to assist
the draught through the furnace by being introduced into the funnel
after the manner of the well-known locomotive "blasť." The products
of combustion may be conveyed away by a suitable funnel, or by tubing
to a point in the mine where they can be discharged into the uptake
current without injury or inconvenience. Or a small donkey engine may
be fitted up in connection with the boiler to drive à fan, by which air
may be drawn in from the mine to supply the furnace, and to insure the
products of combustion being efficiently propelled along the funnel or
smoke tubing even to the surface of the ground if considéred necessary
or désirable.
The third portion of the Invention' relates to the adapting of my
improved arrangement of direct-acting steam cylinder to work mine
pumps, and a modification of such adaptation is represented in partly
sectioned elevation in Figure 6, and in plan in Figure 7 upon Sheet 2
of the accompanying Drawings.
In this modification the pump rods 31, are attached to a cross head 32,"
fast on the ends of two piston rods R. working downwards from two
cylinders G mounted upon two girders 33; placed across the pit mouth:
The cylinders G, are thus out of the way of the pumps and rods 31, when
these have to be drawn up, for which there is sufficient 'space between'

page_text: the cylinders G and girders 33. In this application as in others the
under sides of the pistons are in constant open communication with the
steam boiler, but the proportion of the upper and under areas will depend
on circumstances. With lift pumps the areas may be equal or with the
under area the greater according to the weight of the rods, whilst with
single-acting force pumps, the upper area may be the greater. The
steam pipe M from the boiler communicates with a box 34, containing a
stop valve, and from this box two branch pipes L, lead to the bottoms
of the two cylinders G, whilst a third branch pipe 35 passes up to a
valve chamber N above. This valve chamber N communicates by two
branch pipes 5 with the tops of the cylinders G, and a piston valve in
the chamber admits the steam to these pipes 5 or allows it to exhaust
from the cylinders, and pass off by the branch pipe P above.
The same mode of working the pumping cylinder may be adopted with
a single cylinder such as is represented in vertical section in Figure 8
Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings. In this modification the piston
rod R is made tubular, or in the form of a trunk extending both ways
from the piston 1, and this trunk or hollow piston rod R is made large
enough for the pump rods 31 to be raised through it.
These pump
rods 31 are attached to a metal rod 41, which passes up through the
hollow piston rod R, being supported at the upper end thereof by means
of a flanged cap 42, beneath which there is an elastic cushion 43. A
similar elastic cushion 44, is fitted to the top of the piston rod R, which
coming in contact with the upper stuffing box gland prevents injurious
concussive action during the down stroke. In the case of force pumps,
the rod 41, may require to be keyed or otherwise rigidly fixed to the
piston rod R, but in most cases it will be advantageous to have the
rod 41, merely suspended as described, so that in the case of the rods
sticking or jamming in descending, the piston and piston rod will simply
leave them and avoid breakage, whilst if the valve action is derived from
the rod 41, instead of from the piston rod R, the valves will not be
shifted to cause the piston to return upwards which might do injury,
but the engine will simply be at a stand-still until the pump
rods descend
to the bottom of their stroke.
According to other modifications the steam cylinder or cylinders may
be arranged to act on the pump rods through the intervention of a cross
head or through a lever or levers.
In all these applications it is an important feature of the system or
mode of working, that the reciprocation is due entirely to the alternate
admitting and letting-off of the steam from one side only of the piston
or pistons, a uniform pressure being constantly maintained on the other

page_text: side. In addition to the improved character of the action thereby
obtained, the valvular details and movements are simplified as a recipro-
cating or intermittent valve is not needed for the constant pressure side.
In the case of mine pumps, the risk of accidents to the machinery is very
much reduced as the weight of the rods is never without an adequate
support and cushion of steam.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and in what
manner the. same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do not
restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but
that what I believe to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. Generally the working of boring and mining or excavating tools and
pumps by improved machinery substantially such as is herein described
for those purposes, and more particularly,-
2. The constructing of steam cylinders and pistons for actuating
vertical boring rods with a larger area on the upper side of the piston
or what corresponds thereto.
3. The actuating of reciprocating chisels or tools for excavating by
means of a direct-acting cylinder substantially in the manner herein-
before described.
4. The actuating of mine and other pumps by means of one or more
steam cylinders arranged so that the underside or corresponding part
of the piston or pistons thereof is always subject to the steam pressure
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Simpson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square,
Glasgow.
GEO. SIMPSON. (L.S.)