Improvements in Tools for Breaking Down Coal or other Minerals.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1897-Accepted. 24th Dec.. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tools for Breaking Down Coal or other Minerals.
·I, WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, of John Street, Hetton-le-Hole, in the County of
Durham, Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
of a screw
My invention relates specially to rending and breaking down coal by the action
upon a wedge, enclosed in an expanding case, fitting into the hole
prepared by drilling, combined with the subsequent action by impact of a heavy
ram upon the wedge.
The tool is portable and when packed is readily taken to the working point.
It consists, as I propose at present to construct it, of a gradually tapering wedge
fitting between the blades of an expanding case the front ends of which, extend
from the "face" and join a trunnion nut in which works a screw forming a tube
through which the shank of the wedge passes, the end of the tubular screw next
the "face" bearing against a collar on the wedge. The ram is mounted so as to
run freely on friction wheels upon guides which may be rods or wire ropes
(provided with tightening screws) extending from the trunnion nut to an upright
screwed pillar, wedged between the floor and roof, on which is an adjustable nut
so as to be adapted to the position of the wedge either close to the "roof" of the
seam or at any lower point.
In operation the case, enclosing the wedge, is inserted into the hole already
drilled in the coal and the tubular screw revolved by a spanner or ratchet, fitting
a canted collar formed upon it, until it has forced the wedge between the blades
of the case and by expanding it has rent the coal to a certain extent and to allow
the blades to expand freely they may be jointed outside the face. When it is
not possible to force the wedge further by the power of the screw, the ram comes
into operation and being taken back on its guides to its greatest distance is pro-
pelled forward with great velocity by the workmen till it strikes the end of the
shank of the wedge, now projecting from the tubular screw, thus by repeated
blows the wedge is further driven into its case which expanding finally rends and
breaks down the coal.
In alternative forms of carrying out my invention the screw action may be dis-
pensed with the wedge being driven forward by the impact of the heavy ram
alone which, where the "roof" is very bad, may be carried on two guides, which
may be rails, from a stand upon the floor with means for adjusting the height of
the ram in line with the wedge.
Where it is not convenient, as may happen, to apply a ram mounted upon guides,
a heavy hammer may be used to drive the wedge forward after the screw action
has so far operated.
Dand this 104L 1
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page_text: Improvements in Tools for Breaking Down Coal or other minerals.
I, WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, of John Street, Hetton-le-Hole, in the County of
Durham, Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of said 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 specially to rending and breaking down coal by the action
of a screw upon wedge, enclosed in an expanding case, fitting into the hole
prepared by drilling, combined with the subsequent action by impact of a heavy
ram upon the wedge.
The tool is portable and when packed is readily taken to the working point.
It consists, as I propose at present to construct it, of a gradually tapering wedge
fitting between the blades of an expanding case the front ends of which extend
from the "face" and join a trunnion nut in which works a screw forming a tube
through which the shank of the wedge passes, the end of the tubular screw next
the "face" bearing against a collar on the wedge. The ram is mounted so as to
run freely on friction wheels upon guides which may be rods or wire ropes
(provided with tightening screws) extending from the trunnion nut to an upright
screwed pillar, wedged between the floor and roof, on which is an adjustable nut
Bo as to be adapted to the position of the wedge either close to the "roof" of the
seam or at any lower point.
In operation the case, enclosing the wedge, is inserted into the hole already
drilled in the coal and the tubular screw revolved by a spanner or ratchet, fitting
a canted collar formed upon it, until it has forced the wedge between the blades
of the case and by expanding it has rent the coal to a certain extent and to allow
the blades to expand freely they may be jointed outside the face. When it is
not possible to force the wedge farther by the power of the screw, the ram comes
into operation and being taken back on its guides to its greatest distance is pro-
pelled forward with great velocity by the workmen till it strikes the end of the
shank of the wedge, now projecting from the tubular screw, thus by repeated
blows the wedge is further driven into its case which expanding finally rends and
breaks down the coal.
In alternative forms of carrying out my invention the screw action may be dis-
pensed with, the wedge being driven forward by the impact of the heavy ram
alone which, where the "roof" is very bad, may be carried on two guides, which
may be rails, from a stand upon the floor with means for adjusting the height of
the ram in line with the wedge.
Where it is not convenient, as may happen, to apply a ram mounted upon guides,
a heavy hammer may be used to drive the wedge forward after the screw action
has so far operated.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings (in which, for space, the length is
broken) I illustrate my invention as it may be applied and as I propose to apply
it practically but various modifications may be adopted, as will hereafter be ex-
plained, without departing from the main feature of the invention.
Fig 1 is a longitudinal view of the apparatus partly in section and Fig 2 is
seam of coal but shortened as to length
a plan shewing it in an ordinary
"
"
between the two ends to save space on the drawing.
"
S is the "sill" and R the roof of the "seam F being the "face" of the coal
in which has been drilled a hole H to receive the apparatus which consists of the

page_text: expanding case 1 enclosing the wedge 2 having formed solid upon it the shank 3
which passes through the tubular screw 4 on which is cut a fine threaded screw
working in a fixed trunnion nut 5 to which are attached by studs 5' the projecting
jaws of the case 1 which are made with sufficient spring to permit of the expanding
of the case by the operation of the wedge 2 as it is forced inward by the tubular
screw 4 as it is screwed forward by the ratchet spanner 6 operating a ratchet
wheel 7 formed on the outer end of the tubular screw.
The ram 8 is mounted by four wheels 9 so as to run freely upon two guides 10
which may be steel wire rope or, preferably, steel wire stretched from a stud 11
on the trunnion nut 5 to a point at a convenient distance from the "face" to a
vertical pillar 12 wedged between the "sill" S and the roof R which carries a
sheave 13 around which the guide passes and returns to the stud 11 to which it
is secured, a sufficient length of rope or wire being provided to admit of the
distance between the "face" and the pillar 12 which carries the return sheave 13,
66 roof." The
being varied if necessary to avoid a rotten place in the "sill" or
sheave 13 is mounted in a bridle 14 in which it can be adjusted by a winged screw 15
in a frame 16 (adjustable on the pillar by wood screws 17) as a fulcrum so as
to regulate the tension of the wire rope or wire guides 10.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
-
"
The apparatus which is readily portable when packed being taken to the "face"
in which the hole H has been drilled the expanding case 1 enclosing the wedge 2
is inserted, the screw 4 and its mountings being supported projecting outside.
The vertical pillar 12 is now wedged between the roof R and the sill S in a suit-
able position the frame 16 and bridle 14 which carries the sheave 13 being ad-
justed in height to suit the position of the drilled hole H by the wood screws 17.
The wire rope or wire girder 10 being made fast to one of the studs on the
trunnion nut is taken round the sheave 13 and back to the other stud where it is
drawn tight and secured by the "nipper" or compressor" 18 behind the stud.
The rope or wire is now stretched rigidly tight by the sheave being screwed back
in the frame 12 and the ram 8 is mounted on it by its wheels.
The screw is now revolved in the trunnion nut by the ratche wheel, operated
by the ratchet spanner, so as to force the wedge into its case and expand it in the
hole commencing the rending of the coal until the expanding effect of the screw
is exhausted, the shank of the wedge now projecting considerably out of the screw.
The ram now comes into operation by being propelled with great velocity till it
strikes the end of the shank and the force of impact drives the screw further home
and beats down the coal.
I may fit with the apparatus a pillar with adjustment screw instead of the wooden
pillar but for economy and saving of weight I prefer to use a timber strut which
is usually readily obtainable in coal workings. The projecting jaws of the case 1
may be jointed where marked to give them expanding scope but I do not think
this will be necessary.
Where the roof is very broken or soft the ram may be mounted on guides, which
may be rails or wire ropes stretched in a frame or stand on the "sill" adjustable
to suit the position of the hole in the face. It is obvious that, in some exceptional
cases, the ram, mounted as described may be used without the preceding application
of a screw upon a wedge enclosed in an expanding case but this will form a rare
use of one portion of my apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The improvements in tools for breaking down coal or other minerals con-
sisting of a wedge enclosed in an expanding case advanced by a tubular screw,
enclosing the projecting shank of the wedge, rotated by a lever spanner or ratchet
brace in combination with the subsequent impact of a heavy ram, running on
guides, upon the shank of the wedge substantially as described.
2nd. The tool or apparatus for breaking down coal or other minerals comprising

page_text: in combination an expanding case 1 enclosing a wedge 2 with a projecting shank 3
traversing a tubular screw. 4 rotated in a tapped nut 5 by a lever ratchet brace 6
engaging with a ratchet wheel 7 on the screw, a heavy ram 8 on wheels 9 on guides 10
stretched round a return sheave 13 and kept in rigid tension by a bridle 14
adjustable in a frame 16 adjustable on a pillar 12 secured in the seam, substantially
as described and illustrated by the drawings herewith.
T. J. DANSON
Agent for Applicant.
Newcastle upon Tyne.