IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPERS WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE FOR CRUSHING ORES AND OTHER MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO STEAM OR PNEUMATIC HAMMERS, ROCK DRILLS, OR OTHER RECIPROCATING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Donald and Albert James Atkey,
both of No. 33, Cornhill, in the City of London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPERS WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE FOR CRUSHING
ORES AND OTHER MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO STEAM OR PNEUMATIC HAMMERS, ROCK DRILLS, OR OTHER RECIPROCATING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Donald
and Albert James Atkey at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 10th May 1873.
We, ALEXANDER DONALD and ALBERT JAMES ATKEY, both of No. 33,
Cornhill, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAMPERS WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE
FOR CRUSHING ORES AND OTHER MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO STEAM OB PNEUMATIC HAMMERS, ROCK DRILLS, OR OTHER RECIPRO-

page_text: CATING APPARATUS WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE FOR EFFECTING PERCUSSION,"
to be as follows:-
:-
Our Invention relates to a method of working the reversing valves of
steam or pneumatic stampers for crushing ores or other minerals to
the jacketing of the cylinders of such stampers, to the construction of
coffers for them, and to apparatus for feeding the matter to be crushed
therein, and the method which we will describe for working the
reversing valves of stampers is applicable also for working the reversing
valves of steam or pneumatic hammers, rock drills, or other recipro-
cating apparatus worked by fluid pressure for effecting percussion.
We place two stampers near cach other, and connect the slide or
valve gear of the one to that of the other in such a manner that
the striker of the one in approaching the end of its up stroke moves
its own slide or valve so as to cause itself to make its down stroke, and
at the same time moves the slide or valve of the other striker so as to
cause it to make its up stroke. This movement may be imparted to
the slide or valve gear by causing the respective strikers to move tappets
or other known mechanism by which the reversing of the stroke is
usually effected. By this arrangement it will be seen that the two
strikers are made to move in opposite directions, the one ascending
while the other descends. Usually the descending stroke which gives
the blow is effected by a greater fluid pressure, or by the same pressure
acting on a larger area than for the up stroke; thus there is afforded
ample time for each striker to give its full blow before its movement
can be reversed by the up stroke of the other. A pair of stampers,
connected as above described, may be mounted in the same framing,
or they may be mounted in separate framings, conveniently near
each other, so that their valve gear can be connected as above described.
And it may be readily understood that several such pairs could be
arranged cither in a row like ordinary mechanical stampers, or in a
group.
When for stampers the cylinder is the moving part, the piston being
fixed, we surround the cylinder with a jacket, so as to form an annular
air space round the same, which may be filled in with felt or other non-
conducting material. By this means the cylinder which forms the
striker in descending into the cold liquid matter in the coffer is
protected against its chilling influence. At the same time the cylinder
bottom being enlarged to take the annular casing presents a larger.

page_text: '
surface for the reception of the striker or hammer head, and the cooler
jacket being made to work in the vertical guides instead of the hot
cylinder itself, there is less risk of heating in those bearings..
In the Specification of a Patent granted to the said Albert James
Atkey, bearing date the 31st January 1871, No. 259, was described a
construction of coffer for ore stampers, the sides of which were gratings,
mado inclined outwards, so as to present a larger perforated surface for
the escape of the crushed material from the coffer.
According to our present improvements we make the lower part of
the coffer in a manner similar to that described in the said Specification,
and we surmount this with a set of gratings inclined inwards, which
present a farther perforated surface for the escape of crushed material.
By making the upper and lower gratings of corresponding dimensions
they can be exchanged, and thus the lower gratings which are subject
to the greatest wear can when partially worn be placed in the
upper tier.
A farther improvement in the gratings used for the coffers of ore
stampers, which is applicable whether they be made inclined or not,
or whether in one or two tiers, is the following:- Instead of making
the plates, which when perforated form the gratings flat, we corrugate
them so as to present an enlarged surface, and also to render them
more rigid.
For feeding the ore to be crushed to the coffers we make an inclined
channel to the interior of the coffer from a feeding table or platform
above. The ore placed on this platform is carried forward by screw
creepers or a travelling band or chain, or by a set of rising and falling
bars, to the mouth of the channel, down which it descends to the
coffer. The creeper travelling band or chain, or the rising and falling
bars, are worked cither by ratchet or other suitable gearing connected
to the stamper, or by independent mechanism, their movement being so
timed as to regulate the feed of ore to the strokes of the stamper so as
to prevent the coffer from being choked by over charge.
The connection of the valve gearing, as above described, for a pair
of stampers is applicable to a pair of steam or pneumatic hammers,
as may be readily understood, or to a pair of rock drills, coal cutters, .
or other percusive instruments, worked in a reciprocating manner by
fluid pressure.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Donald and Albert James Atkey in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th November 1873.
Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ALEXANDER
DONALD and ALBERT JAMES ATKEY, both of No. 33, Cornhill, in the City
of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Alexander Donald and Albert James Atkey,
Her special license that we, the said Alexander Donald and Albert
James Atkey, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Alexander Donald and Albert James Atkey, our.
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN STAMPERS WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE FOR CRUSHING ORES AND
OTHER MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO STEAM OR
PNEUMATIC HAMMERS, ROCK DRILLS, OR OTHER RECIPROCATING APPARATUS
WORKED BY FLUID PRESSURE FOR EFFECTING PERCUSSION," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Alexander Donald and Albert James
Atkey, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their hands and seals, or under the hand and scal of
one of us or them, 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 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 Albert James Atkey, on behalf
of myself and the said Alexander Donald, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
-
Our Invention relates to a method of working the reversing valves
of steam or pneumatic stampers for crushing ores or other minerals, to
the jacketing of the cylinders of such stampers, to the construction of
coffers for them, and to apparatus for feeding the matter to be crushed
therein, and the method which we will describe for working the reversing
valves of stampers is applicable also for working the reversing valves of
steam or pneumatic hammers, rock drills, or other reciprocating apparatus
worked by fluid pressure for effecting percussion. We place two
stampers near each other and connect the slide or valve gear of the one
to that of the other in such a manner that the striker of the one in
approaching the end of its up stroke moves its own slide or valve so
as to cause itself to make its down stroke, and at the same time moves
the slide or valve of the other striker so as to cause it to make its up
stroke. This movement may be imparted to the slide or valve gear
by causing the respective strikers to move tappets or other known
mechanism by which the reversing of the stroke is usually effected. By
this arrangement it will be seen that the two strikers are made to move
in opposite directions, the one ascending while the other descends.
Usually the descending stroke which gives the blow is effected by a
greater fluid pressure, or by the same pressure acting on a larger arca
than for the up stroke; thus there is afforded ample time for each
striker to give its full blow before its movement can be reversed by the
up stroke of the other. A pair of stampers connected as above described
may be mounted in separate framings conveniently near each other,
so that their valve gear can be connected as above described. And it
may be readily understood that several such pairs could be arranged
either in a row, like ordinary mechanical stampers, or in a group.
When for stampers the cylinder is the moving part, the piston being
fixed, we surround the cylinder with a jacket, so to form an annular
air space round the same, which may be filled in with felt or other
non-conducting material. By this means the cylinder which forms the
striker in descending into the cold liquid matter in the coffer is
protected against its chilling influence. At the same time the cylinder
bottom being enlarged to take the annular casing presents a larger
surface for the reception of the striker or hammer head, and the cooler

page_text: jacket being made to work in the vertical guides instead of the hot
cylinder itself, there is less risk of heating in those bearings.
In the Specification of a Patent granted to the said Albert James
Atkey, bearing date the 31st January 1871, No. 259, was described a
.construction of coffer for ore stampers, the sides of which were gratings,
made inclined outwards, so as to present a larger perforated surface for
the escape of the crushed material from the coffer.
:
According to our present improvements we make the lower part of
the coffer in a manner similar to that described in the said Specification,
and we surmount this with a set of gratings inclined inwards, which
present a farther perforated surface for the escape of crushed material.
By making the upper and lower gratings of corresponding dimensions,
they can be exchanged, and thus the lower gratings which are subject
to the greatest wear can when partially worn be placed in the upper
tier.
A farther improvement in the gratings used for the coffers of ore stampers,
which is applicable, whether they be made inclined or not, or whether
in one or two tiers, is the following :-Instead of making the plates,
which when perforated form the gratings flat, we corrugate them, so as
to present an enlarged surface, and also to render them more rigid.
For feeding the ore to be crushed to the coffers we make an inclined
channel to the interior of the coffer from a feeding table or platform
above. The ore placed on this platform is carried forward by screw
creepers, or a travelling band or chain, or by a set of rising and falling
bars, to the mouth of the channel, down which it descends to the
coffer. The creeper, travelling band, or chain, or the rising and falling
bars, are worked either by ratchet or other suitable gearing connected
to the stamper, or by independent mechanism, their movement being
so timed as to regulate the feed of ore to the strokes of the stamper,
so as to prevent the coffer from being choked by over charge.
The connection of the valve gearing, as above described, for a pair
of stampers is applicable to a pair of steam or pneumatic hammers, as
may be readily understood, or to a pair of rock drills, coal cutters, or
other percussive instruments worked in a reciprocating manner by fluid
pressure.

page_text: Fig. 1, Sheet I., represents a front view of a pair of stampers,
arranged and connected according to this Invention, the coffer of one of
them being shewn in section; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;
Fig. 3, Sheet II., is a vertical section of the working cylinder and slide
of a stamper to which our improvements are applied; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7,
and 8 shew details of several kinds of apparatus for feeding material to
the coffer, which will be more particularly referred to hereafter; and
Fig. 9 is a front view of three sets of connected pairs of stampers
arranged in one framing.
In Fig. 1, Sheet I., a is a roller mounted on one arm of a lever
working on the frame of one of the stampers. This lever has two other
arms, one of which a' is connected by a rod a² to a lever a³, which works
the slide of the one stamper. The third or lowest arm of the lever
is connected by a rod c to the arm of a corresponding lever mounted on
the frame of the other stamper and similarly provided with a roller on.
one of the arms and connected by its other arm to the slide of the
second stamper. The ram or moving striker of cach stamper is made
with a sloped at its upper part, which, as the striker approaches, the
upper extreme of its stroke coming in contact with the roller a moves
the three-armed lever and thereby moves the slides of both stampers,
altering the steam passages, so that the one is caused to ascend and the
other to descend.
•
The construction of the slide and of the sloping part of the striker is
more fully shewn in Fig. 3, Sheet II., which represents the striker as
a cylinder moving over a fixed piston, in which case the cylinder is
provided, according to our Invention, with the jacket, which at the
same time gives a broader face to the striker and prevents loss of heat
from the cylinder.
It may be readily understood however that the mode described above
of working and connecting the slides of a pair of stampers may be
applied to stampers of other forms, such as those in which the cylinder
is fixed and the piston moves; the sloping face which acts on the slide
lever being in that case formed not on the cylinder but on the striker
at the lower end of the piston rod. Also several sets of pairs of
stampers, connected as above described, may be arranged in one

page_text: framing with a steam supply and discharge pipe common to all, as
shown in Fig. 9, Sheet II., and a similar arrangement and mode
of connection is obviously applicable to one pair or several pairs of steam
or pneumatic hammers or other percussive instruments worked by
fluid pressure.
E
]
The coffer e (Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet I.) is made to expand from the
bottom outwards to the middle of its height, and is then made to
diminish to the same size at top as it is at bottom. The upper and
lower halves being made counterparts of each other, the gratings f,
which fit the oblique sides of the one half, also fit those of the other;
and thus those of the one set which are most worn may be replaced by
those of the other set which are least worn. We prefer to make the
gratings corrugated, so as to give them greater strength, and at the
same time larger porous surface. The coffer is fed by the sloping
passage q, which receives a regulated supply of material from a 1
travelling band g moved by a ratchet wheel % (Fig. 2, Sheet I.), which
is worked by a pawl on a lever i connected to a lever provided with ȧ
roller on which the sloping part of the striker acts at each stroke in
a manner similar to that described for the movement of the slide.
The up stroke of the striker moves the ratchet wheel so as to cause 2
the band to deliver a certain quantity of material to the coffer, on
which material the striker acts in its down stroke. The back stroke of
the pawl lever i may be effected by a weight or spring.
Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet II., shew respectively a side view and plan of
a travelling band suitable for this feeding action, such band being a 2
broad pitch chain n worked by polygonal wheels.
Fig. 8, Sheet II., shews a part plan of another form of travelling
band, consisting of a pitch chain o at either side supporting cross
boards p of wood or sheet metal.
Instead of a travelling band for supplying material rising and falling 3
bars may be employed, as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5, Sheet II.; Fig. 4
being a longitudinal and Fig. 5 a partial transverse section of a set of
such bars. Four shafts m connected by gearing so as to be worked
uniformly together by the ratchet and pawl are cranked, one pair having
their cranks directed downwards, while the cranks of the other pair are 3
directed upwards. A number of bars are mounted near together so
as to form a close grating, cach bar having two forks by which it rests

page_text: on the cranks of two of the shafts m, while cach alternate bar rests on
the cranks of the other two shafts. As the cranks revolve in the
direction of the arrow the bars of the one set are caused to rise and
advance, carrying forwards the material laid on them, while the bars of
the other set descend and recede without moving back the material
raised from them by the advancing set.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, wo claim,―
First. Arranging together a pair of stampers, or of steam or pneumatic
hammers or percussive instruments, and connecting their valve gear
in such manner that the up stroke of the striker of cach causes tho
movement of each to be reversed, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose herein set forth.
Second. Constructing the coffers of stampers with their lower part
expanding and their upper part contracting upwards, the two parts
being made equal and similar, substantially in the manner and for
the purpose herein described.
- Third. The use for giving a regulated supply to the coffer of a stamper
of a travelling band, or rising and falling bars, worked by the up stroko
of the striker, so that the feed is timed to its stroke, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert James Atkey, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.
ALBERT JAMES ATKEY. (L.S.)