IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR MINING AND WORKING COAL, MINERALS. STONE, AND OTHER EARTHY MATTERS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Beacher, of Chapeltown, near Sheffield, in
the County of York, Colliery Viewer, aud Johu Gillott, of the same
Place, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR MINING AND WORKING COAL, MINERALS. STONE, AND OTHER EARTHY
MATTERS."
Sealed the 14th September 1866, and dated the 19th March 1800.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Beacher and Jolm
Gillott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 19th March 1866.
We, EDWARD BEACHER, of Chapeltown, near Sheffield, in the County of
York, Colliery Viewer, and JOHN GILLOTT, of the same Place, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MINING AND WORKING COAL MINERALS, STONE, AND OTHER EARTHY
MATTERS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in constructing machinery as hereafter described
for cutting, "kirving," and mining coal, minerals, stone, and other earthy
inatters.

page_text: We employ one, two, or more cylinders (by preference, three or four) with
pistons actuated by compressed air, steam, gas, or other elasti: fluid. The
pistons carry cross heads moving in slides or guides, and we fit from one to
four separate cutting bars or tools to each cross head. The cutters are placed
in the cross heads of various lengths to suit the depth or size of the cut
intended to be made. The cylinders are by preference of steel or cast iron and
of diameter and length to suit the strength of the material to be operated
upon. The motion or power imparted by the compressed air, steam, gas, or
other clastic fluid is regulated by the opening of valves or taps to suit thestroke,
according as it is required to be longer or shorter. Each cylinder is mounted
upon a frame which receives a horizontal backward and forward sliding move-
ment by means of the cross head acting upon a lever, such lever operating
upon a crank which works a ratchet and gearing; this sliding movement
continues until the cutters have cut to the required depth. The frame is
attached to a carriage having slides or wheels to move upon the floor or upon
rails or bars laid on the floor to guide the same, and is moved forwards by
convenient gearing, or it may be moved forward by hand labor. The
sliding frames are connected together with gearing, so as to allow the under
or main frame to be turned round upon a centre by means of a pinion and
quadrant to bring the cutters out of the cut or groove for the purpose of
changing them or for removal from place to place. The pistons, cross heads,
and cutters have a reciprocating motion imparted to them by the valves or
taps, being worked by a revolving shaft with cams and tappets fixed to
the cross heads, whereby direct action is given to the piston, cross heads,
and cutters. The strokes of the pistons are made to alternate one with
another, so as to diminish the recoil, and the force imparted to produce the
stroke upon one piston is made to expand and produce the back stroke of the
next piston, and so throughout the number of cylinders. The cross heads
which receive the cutting bars may be made either in one piece or in two
pieces; if in two pieces we employ a joint and retaining spring to allow the
cutters to move out of the cutting line while the machine is moving forwards.
If the cross heads are in one piece then we fit the cutter bars with joints and
springs to answer the same purpose as the joints and springs in the cross
heads.
In the mining or working of coal with our machinery it is intended that
one uniform depth in holing, "kirving," and cutting shall be made by one
moving operation of the carriage or outer frame. We accomplish this by
making the cutters of each cylinder pierce or cut deeper than the cutters of
the preceding one. The cutters may be placed so as to cut either horizontally

page_text: diagonally, vertically, or in any other position to suit the inclination of the
strata or the direction required. When the machine is used for narrow work
and vertical cutting we attach it to a frame of modified form fixed both
horizontally and vertically, and secured in any convenient manner to the top,
bottom, and sides of the opening. Sometimes we hollow out the pistons at
one end, and fit vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic rings or washers
therein, in order to diminish the concussions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Beacher and, John Gillott in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 19th September 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWARD
BEACHER, of Chapeltown, near Sheffield, in the County of York, Colliery
Viewer, and JonN GILLOTT, of the same Place, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Edward Beacher and John Gillott, Her special licence,
that we, the said Edward Beacher and John Gillott, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Edward Beacher and John
Gillott, our executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR MINING AND WORKING COAL, MINERALS. STONE, AND OTHER
EARTHY MATTERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Edward Beacher and John Gillott, or one of us, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or one of our, 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 canse the saine 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 we, the said Edward Beacher and John Gillott,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
. Our Invention consists in constructing machinery, as hereafter described, for
cutting, kirving, and mining coal, minerals, stone, and other earthy matters.
We employ one, two, or more cylinders (by preference, three or four) with
pistons actuated by compressed air, steam, gas, or other elastic fluid. The
pistons carry cross heads moving in slides or guides, and we fit from one to
four separate cutting bars or tools to each cross head. The cutters are placed
in the cross heads of various longths to suit the depth or size of the cut
intended to be made. The cylinders are, by preference, of steel or cast iron,
and of diameter and length to suit the strength of the material to be operated
upon. The motion or power imparted by the compressed air, steam, gas, or
other elastic fluid is regulated by the opening of valves or taps to suit the
stroke, according as it is required to be longer or shorter. Each cylinder is
mounted upon a frame, which receives a horizontal backward and forward
sliding movement by means of the cross head acting upon a lever, such lever
operating upon a crank which works a rachet and gearing; this sliding move-
ment continues until the cutters have cut to the required depth. The frame
is attached to a carriage having slides or wheels to move upon the floor or
upon rails or bars laid on the floor to guide the same, and is moved forwards
by convenient gearing, or it may be moved forward by hand labour. The
sliding frames are connected together with gearing, so as to allow the under
or main frame to be turned round upon a centre by means of a pinion and
quadrant to bring the cutters out of the cut or groove for the purpose of
changing them, or for removal from place to place. The pistons, cross heads,
and cutters have a reciprocating motion imparted to them by the valves or taps,
being worked by a revolving shaft with cams and tappets fixed to the cross
heads, whereby direct action is given to the piston, cross heads, and cutters.
The strokes of the pistons are made to alternate one with another so as to
diminish the recoil, and the force imparted to produce the stroke upon one
piston is made to expand and produce the back stroke of the next piston, and
so throughout the number of cylinders. The cross heads which receive the
cutting bars may be made either in one piece or in two pieces; if in two
pieces we employ a joint and retaining spring to allow the cutters to move
out of the cutting line while the machine is moving forwards. If the cross
heads are in one piece then we fit the cutter bars with joints and springs to
answer the same purpose as the joints and springs in the cross heads.
In the mining or working of coat with our machinery it is intended that

page_text: one uniform depth in holing, kirving, and cutting shall be made by one
moving operation of the carriage or outer frame. We accomplish this by
making the cutters of each cylinder pierce or cut deeper than the cutters of the
preceding one. The cutters may be placed so as to cut either horizontally,
diagonally, vertically, or in any other position, to suit the inclination of the
strata or the direction required.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan, and Figure 2 a back
elevation of a machine constructed according to our Invention in its complete
form; Figure 3 is a plan on a larger scale with the cover or upper casing
removed to show the working parts; and Figure 4 is a side elevation on the
same scale as Figure 3 with the framing in section; Figure 5 is a plan, partly
in section, of a portion of the machine; Figure 6 is a back view of the
machine with the back framing removed; Figure 7 is a vertical section of
one of the cylinders; Figure S is a vertical section of one of the cylinders,
showing the arrangement for working the valve for the return stroke of the
piston of the next adjoining cylinder; Figure 9 is a side elevation, Figure .1.0
a plan, and Figure 11 an end elevation of the mechanism by which the
machine and frame are moved forward on the floor of the pit or mine. The
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all these Figures.
A is the frame of the machine mounted on wheels B, which are free to be
moved along the floor of the pit or mine; C1, C2, C3, C4, are four cylinders
almost on a level with thefloor; D1, D2, D3, D4, are the rods of pistons which
work in the four cylinders. The front end of each piston rod carries a cross
head E made to travel in guides F fixed to the frame A. The cross heads E
are recessed to receive blocks G, which carry cutting bars or tools H; three
of these tools are shown fitted to each block G, but any other desired number
may be employed. The blocks G are secured to the cross heads E by bolts I
on one side, while the other side of each block has connected thereto one end
of a jointed piece or link J, the other end of which is acted upon by a
spring K, as hereafter described; L, L, are tappets secured to the cross
heads E; these tappets on the return stroke of the pistons come in contact, as
hereafter explained, with cranks M on a shaft N, to which an intermittent
rotary motion is thereby imparted. This shaft N carries a series of cams O,
which act upon the rods P' of slide valves Q for opening and closing the
ports R for admitting air to the cylinders, which is conveyed thereto from a
compressed air reservoir by the pipe S; Tis a valve chest. The shaft N carries
another series of cams U, which act upon the rods V connected by links W
to the rods X of valves Y, for allowing the compressed air from their respective
cylinders to pass through a passage Z to the next adjoining cylinders, as here-

page_text: after explained. On the shaft N is a rachet wheel a, into which a claw paul b
on a rod or bar c takes; the front end of the bar cis acted on by a roller d
on a plate connected to one of the cross heads, and the back end of this bar c
is connected loosely to a transverse shaft e; is a slotted bar for guiding the
barc in its vertical movements. On the opposite side of the machine to the
roller d is a roller g on a plate connected to another of the cross heads; this
roller acts upon a bar (Figure 9) on the forward stroke of the cross head
to which this roller is connected. The bar h is fixed at its outer end to the
shaft e. The shafte receives an oscillating motion on its axis, imparted to it
by the bar h, that is to say, this shaft makes a partial revolution in one
direction, and then a partial revolution in the opposite direction, and it com-
municates motion by gearing i to a lever j, forked at one end to embrace the
upper edge of a bark of angle iron secured on the ground by uprights (not
shown). This bar is serrated, as shewn in Figure 11, and the connection
of the fork of the lever ; takes into the serrations successively to propel
the machine forward. The rachet wheel « on the shaft N is formed in a
piece with or firmly secured to a bevil wheel in gear with another wheel mon
a short vertical shaft (not shown) held in a hollow column n. The lower end
of this vertical shaft is cranked, and the cranked portion works in a slot in
the frame A. The lower part of the frame A is formed with dovetail bars o,
on which the machine is free to move laterally when the cranked portion of
the vertical rod just mentioned acts. p is a toothed quadrant towards the
front of the machine geared into by a pinion g, moved by hand when required
to bring the cutters out of the cut or groove.
The working of the machine is as follows:-In the position shown in the
Drawings the cutters and piston connected with the first cylinder C" have just
commenced their forward stroke. In their back stroke the tappet L connected
therewith has struck the corresponding crank M and given a partial rotary
motion to the shaft N; this partial rotary motion has brought the crank M
corresponding to cylinder C³ into position to be struck by its tappet on the
return stroke of the piston of this cylinder, and the striking of this tappet
imparts a further partial revolution to the shaft N, and brings the crank M
corresponding to the tappet of cylinder C² into position, and on this being
struck in the same manner the crank corresponding to cylinder C4 is brought
into position, and so on. This intermittent rotary motion of the shaft N
causes the cams O successively to act upon the corresponding rods P of the
slide valves Q, so that the port R of each cylinder is in turn opened to admit
compressed air at the proper time for the forward stroke. The intermittent
rotary motion of the shaft N likewise causes the cams U successively to act

page_text: presses
upon the corresponding rods V, which through the intermediation of the
links W and rods X successively open the valves Y to allow the compressed
air to pass out of the cylinder to which each of these valves is connected with
the passage which conveys the air to the next adjoining cylinder in front of
its pistou, where the air is allowed to expand so as to produce the back stroke
of this piston. It will be seen by Figure 6 that there is one of these passages
Z communicating from the back of cylinder C to the front of cylinder C²;
another from the back of cylinder C3 to the front of cylinder C; another from
the back of cylinder C³ to the front of cylinder C+; and a fourth passage from the
back of cylinder C' to the front of cylinder C, so that the cylinders work as it
were in pairs. As the cutters of the cylinder (make their forward stroke
the roller connected with the cross head comes against the bar
against the curved portion thereof,and lifts this bar, whereby the shafte receives
a partial revolution and imparts notion through the gearing i to the lever j,
drawing this lever out of the serration in which it is engaged; the lever; how-
ever is not moved out of the serration in which it is engaged until the cutters
have cut to a certain fixed depth,say,six inches, more or less. The bark is held
by a spring catch at the top. of the slot in the slotted bars, in which it works,
while the blow of the cutters connected with the cylinder C¹ is struck; in the
back stroke of these cutters and their piston a bolt t on the cross head E
strikes the spring, knocking it out of the way, so that the bar h falls of its
own weight, and the shaft e moves back into its first position, the lever j
taking into another serration it the cutters have cut to the fixed depth above
mentioned. In the forward motion of the piston and cutters connected with
cylinder C the roller & comes against the bar c, and raises it, and the paul b
causes the ratchet wheela to move the distance of one tooth, thereby producing
a partial revolution of the bevil wheel Z, and through it ofthe wheel mand short
vertical shaft in the column ». The cranked portion of this shaft thereby
through working in the slot in the frame moves the machine a slight distance
forward. In the back stroke of the piston and cutters connected with
cylinder C the bar e falls, and the paul takes into another tooth of the
ratchet wheel, ready to turn this wheel the distance of another tooth at the
next forward stroke. The ratchet wheel shown has seven teeth, and the
cutters by means of the cranked portion of the vertical shaft working in the
slot in the frame therefore receive three and a half intermittent motious
forward, and the same number backward, and the crank and frame return to
their first position during one revolution of the ratchet wheel. The cutters
are thus caused to strike seven times during one revolution of the ratchet
wheel, and upon different portions of coul or other material operated on; the

page_text: number of teeth of the ratchet wheel may, however, be varied. When
required to move the cutters clear of the work the pinion q is rotated, and the
quadrant p imparts movement in a circular direction to the working parts of
the machine upon the frame A. To allow the cutters to move out of the
cutting line when the machine is moving forwards, we employ the jointed
pieces or links J before referred to, one end of each link being connected to
the corresponding cross head, and the other end being acted upon by a spring K.
This spring tends to keep the block G against the cross head E, so that the
cutters carried by the block are drawn back by the spring as soon as the
forward pressure is removed. To guide the frame and machine in the
forward movement, we form the wheels-B at that side of the frame where
the notched bar R is situated with a groove u comprised between the wheel
and a circular plate vfixed thereto; this plate v bears against the bar k, and
guides the frame in its movement. To raise the cutters clear of the ground
when the machine is to be moved from place to place the two wheels B at one
end of the frame A are connected to plates hinged to the frame and formed
with a rack, into which a pinion worked by hand gears by turning the pinion
in one direction or the other; this end of the machine and frame is raised or
lowered as required. Sometimes we hollow out the pistons at the back, and fit
vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic rings or washers or blocks therein, in
order to diminish the concussions, and we form on the inuer face of the back
end of the cylinders a projection corresponding with the hollowed portion of
the pistons for the elastic material to come against.
In constructing a machine according to our Invention for vertical cutting
and narrow work we attach it to a frame of modified form, secured in any
convenient manner to the top, bottom, and sides of the opening. Figure 12
is a plan, and Figure 13 a side elevation, with the framing in section, of a
machine arranged for vertical cutting. The framing is composed of end
pieces A, A, top and bottom pieces B, B, and diagonal bars C, C. The end
piece A is double, and between the two portions is a shaft formed at the
lower part with a right-hand thread D, and at the upper part with a left-hand
thread E. To this shaft sliding blocks F carrying the tools G are connected.
Between the blocks Fand on the shaft is a worm wheel H, in gear with a
worm I on a horizontal shaft J. One end of the shaft J carries a bevil wheel
K, in gear with another wheel L on a horizontal shaft M, to which rotary
motion is imparted by a hand wheel N, whereby the machine is put in motion.
The top and bottom pieces B, B, are double, and between the two parts of
each is a threaded shaft O formed with a longitudinal groove, into which a
feather on a bevil wheel P takes. Each of the wheels P gears into another

page_text: wheel Q, and the wheels P and Q are held in a traversing frame R which
carries two blocks S for supporting four cylinders T. The blocks S are free
to slide in the frame R on a shaft U, formed with a right and with a left-
hand thread, corresponding to the threads D, E. The cylinders T work in
pairs, that is to say, one pair moves upwards to cut towards the roof and the
other pair moves downwards to cut towards the floor. Each of the blocks S
is fitted with a quadrant in manner herein-before described in reference to the
machine shewn in Figures 1 to 11, for the purpose of throwing the cuttersat an
angle, and to facilitate this movement the foremost blocks F are formed so as
to swivel. The compressed air or other motive agent is admitted, and acts as
herein-before described. To fix this machine in place we attach at each
corner of the framing screws V, which take into female threads in the frame,
and we turn these screws to bring their outer ends against the roof and floor
of the mine respectively.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our "Improve-
ments in Machinery for Mining and Working Coal, Minerals, Stone, and other
Earthy Matters,"―
First, the arrangementand combination of parts of machinery herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Second, arranging the cutters or tools in such manner that those connected
with one cylinder are made to cut or pierce deeper than those connected with
the preceding cylinder,substantiallyas herein-before described and represented
in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, arranging the cylinders and parts connected therewith, so that the
compressed air, steam, or other motive agent which has produced the forward
stroke of the piston of one cylinder is conveyed to another cylinder, and
allowed to expand and produce the back stroke of the piston of that cylinder,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth, the arrangement,substantially as herein-before described and repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawings, by which the cutters are made to
repeat their strokes upon the same section of coal or other material, and go to
the required depth before the machine moves forward.
Fifth, forming the cross heads or the cutters with joints and retaining
springs for the purpose of allowing the cutters to move out of the cutting line
while the machine is moving forwards,substantially as herein-before described
and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Sixth, the employment of india-rubber or other elastic rings, washers, or

page_text: blocks, fitted in a hollowed out portion of the pistons, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edward Beecher and John Gillott, have
hereunto set our hands and scals, this Eighteenth day of September,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
EDWARD BEACHER. (L.S.)
JOHN GILLOTT.
(L.S.)