IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CON- STRUCTION OF COLLIERY AND OTHER MINING CORVES OR WAGONS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hadfield, of Southampton Buildings, London,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CON-
STRUCTION OF COLLIERY AND OTHER MINING CORVES OR WAGONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hadfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1881.
ROBERT HADFIELD, of Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF COLLIERY AND OTHER MINING CORVES
OR WAGONS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture and con-
struction of colliery and other mining corves or wagons, whereby the carrying
capacity of the same is greatly increased, and a maximum result can be obtained
with a minimum number of such improved corves or wagons.
To carry out my said Invention I proceed as follows:-I cast the body of the
corve or wagon together, with the bottom and sides thereto in steel or malleable
iron, preferably steel; and at the same time I cast on at each end of such wagon
body suitable buffers, pedestals, and logs for attaching hooks or chains thereto,
thus producing a complete wagon body at a single casting. If preferred however
such pedestals, lugs, and buffers may be cast separately, and afterwards rivetted,
bolted on, or otherwise secured to the wagon body.
When the body is so cast I drop the wheels and axles in their place, and thus
produce a complete corve or wagon ready for use.
When necessary I increase the height of the sides of such corve or wagon body
when so cast as aforesaid by attaching thereto in any convenient manner longer
or shorter auxiliary sides made of steel, iron, wood, or other suitable material, thus
increasing the depth and height thereof, as required; or when wagons of a larger
size than the ordinary tubs or cars are required I cast the same in two or more
parts, and afterwards rivet, bolt, or otherwise fasten such parts together by any
ordinary mechanical means.

page_text: If desired the bottom of my improved cast steel corve or wagon may be made
grooved or corrugated on the inside or outside thereof, so as to strengthen the
same. The space betwixt the wheels now usually occupied by the wooden frame-
work of ordinary wagons is in my said improved steel corve body utilised for
carrying materials without increasing the height of the said waggon.
My improved corve or wagon may be readily attached to existing colliery or
other plant, as it is so constructed as not to interfere with any haulage or
lubricating systems now in use, and does not require any special wheels or other
fittings.
It is moreover not liable to be bent or knocked out of, as at present
frequently occurs with the ordinary built up wagons or corves, the sides of which
are made of thin rolled sheet iron or sheet steel plates, and thus in the case either
of a runaway or of a rope or chain breaking such sheet steel or wooden corves or
wagons get bent and broken, and when so damaged cannot be easily repaired or
the sides replaced, whereas in my improved cast steel corves or wagons only the
woodwork thereof would under similar circumstances be damaged, and such wood-
work could easily be repaired and renewed.
My improved cast steel corve or wagon is therefore practically almost inde-
structible, as it has no parts therein, such as bolts and nuts, to break or work loose,
while there are no rivets, brackets, or other loose fittings to cause loss, annoyance,
and trouble, the corve or wagon when of the ordinary size being one solid homo-
geneous steel corve or wagon complete in itself, exclusive of the wheels, axles, and
woodwork.
One great advantage of my improved cast steel corve or wagon is that no
wooden or iron frame is required therein as in the ordinary built up corves now
in use, and by so dispensing therewith not only is the carrying capacity of the
corve or wagon considerably increased, but the diurnal output from the mine or
colliery is greatly augmented with the same or even a less number of corves; thus,
for instance, in a colliery or other mine drawing ordinarily 1000 tons per day of
eight hours with the ordinary corves or wagons, the same colliery or mine would,
by the employment of my improved corves or wagons, though of the same height
from the rail, would produce about 1150 to 1250 tons per diem.
Another advantage of my improved corve or wagon is that I am enabled to
dispense with the ordinary drawbar, as by casting lugs at each end as already
mentioned for attaching the drag links thereto, the solid bottom of such cast steel
corve or wagon body serves as a drawbar for the same.
Another great advantage of these cast steel or malleable iron bodies is that these
steel bodies occupy little space, and the wheels, axles, and pedestals can be taken
off the cast steel wagon frame and packed inside thereof for exportation or
otherwise, thus effecting an immense saving in bulk, and consequently in the cost
of carriage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Hadfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
April 1882.
ROBERT HADFIELD, of Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF COLLIERY AND OTHER CORVES OR
WAGONS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture and con-
struction of colliery and other mining corves or wagons, whereby the carrying
capacity of the same is greatly increased, and a maximum result can be obtained
with a minimum number of such improved corves or wagons.
To carry out my said Invention I proceed as follows:-I cast the body of the
corve or wagon, together with the bottom and sides thereto, in steel or malleable
iron, preferably steel, and at the same time I cast on at each end of such wagon
body suitable buffers, pedestals, and lugs for attaching hooks or chains thereto, thus
producing a complete wagon body at a single casting. If preferred however such
pedestals, lugs, and buffers may be cast separately or afterwards rivetted, bolted
on, or otherwise secured to the wagon body.
When the body is so cast I drop the wheels and axles in their places, and thus
produce a complete corve or wagon ready for use.
When necessary I increase the height of the sides of such corve or wagon body
when so cast as aforesaid by attaching thereto in any convenient manner auxiliary
side pieces made of steel, iron, wood, or other suitable material, thus increasing the
depth and height thereof as required.
If desired the bottom of my improved cast steel corve or wagon may be made
grooved or corrugated on the inside or outside thereof, so as to strengthen the
same.
The space betwixt the wheels now usually occupied by the wooden framework
of ordinary wagons is in my said improved steel corve body utilized for carrying
materials without increasing the height of the said wagon.
My improved corve or wagon may be readily attached to existing colliery or
other plant, as it is so constructed as not to interfere with any haulage or
lubricating systems, now in use, and does not require any special wheels or other
fittings.
It is moreover not liable to be bent or knocked out of shape as at present
frequently occurs with the ordinary built up wagons or corves, the sides of which
are made of thin rolled sheet iron or sheet steel plates, and thus in the case either
of a runaway or of a rope or chain breaking, such sheet steel or wooden corves or
wagons get bent and broken, and when so damaged cannot be easily repaired or
the sides replaced, whereas in my improved cast steel corves or wagons only the
woodwork thereof would under similar circumstances be damaged, and such wood-
work could easily be repaired and renewed.
My improved cast steel corve or wagon is therefore practically almost inde-
structible, as it has no parts therein, such as bolts and nuts, to break or work
loose, while there are no rivets, brackets, or other loose fittings to cause loss,
annoyance, and trouble, the corve or wagon when of the ordinary size being one
solid homogeneous steel corve or wagon complete in itself, exclusive of the wheels,
axles, and woodwork.
One great advantage of my improved cast steel corve or wagon is that no
wooden or iron frame is required therein, as in the ordinary built up corves now
in use, and by so dispensing therewith, not only is the carrying capacity of the
corve or wagon considerably increased, but the diurnal output from the mine or

page_text: colliery is greatly augmented with the same or even a lesser number of corves;
thus, for instance, in a colliery or other mine drawing ordinarily 1000 tons per day
of eight hours with the ordinary corves or wagons, the same colliery or mine would,
by the employment of my improved corves or wagons, though of the same height
from the rails, produce about 1150 to 1250 tons per diem.
Another advantage of my improved corve or wagon is that I am enabled to
dispense with the ordinary draw bar, as by casting lugs at each end as already
mentioned for attaching the drag links thereto, the solid bottom of such cast steel
corve or wagon body serves as a draw bar for the same.
Another great advantage of these cast steel or malleable iron bodies is that they
occupy little space, while the wheels, axles, and pedestals can be taken off the
wagon frame and packed inside thereof for transit, thus effecting an immense
saving in bulk, and consequently in the cost of carriage.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews a view in end elevation of a
corve or wagon body constructed and cast in the manner herein before described.
D, D, is the cast steel corve body; A, A, buffer boxes cast thereon; B, B, coupling
shackles; C, C, pedestals; E, E, axles; H, H, timber buffers. Figure 2 of such
Drawings shews a view in longitudinal section of such corve body, and Figure 3
shews a view in cross section thereof. The dotted upper portions of Figures 2
and 3 shews how the height and holding capacity of the corve body may be
increased by bolting thereto auxiliary side pieces I enclosed within an angle iron
frame F, and secured at bottom by wrought iron strips G, G. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Having thus particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said
Invention of improvements in the manufacture and construction of colliery and
other mining corves or wagons, and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed, I would have it understood that what I claim and desire to secure by the
bereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The constructing a corve or wagon body of ordinary size complete at a single
operation by casting the same in steel, malleable iron, or other suitable metal, thus
entirely dispensing with bolts and nuts, rivets, brackets, and other loose fittings,
and also greatly increasing the strength and holding capacity of such corve or
wagon body, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hadfield, have hereunto set my band
and seal, this Eighth (8th) day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
G. H. HEMSOLL,
Clerk.
ROBERT HADFIELD. (L.S.)