Year: 1885

page_text: I, SEBASTIAN STUTZ, of No. 326 Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, in the County of
Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, and United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 to coal and ore mining machines for undercutting or under-
mining, slotting and excavating, of the class in which a pick or cutting tool is
operated by a piston reciprocated in a cylinder by fluid pressure and its objects
are, specially, to provide improved facilities for the support and convenient adjust-
ment of the machine when in operation and for rendering the same readily portable,
and further to provide simple and effective means for operating the distribution
valve governing the movements of the main piston. My improvements consist in
certain novel devices and combinations of mechanism as hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of a
mining machine embodying my invention, in position for operation upon a vein of
mineral; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal central
section, on an enlarged scale through the cylinder and valve chest; Fig. 4, an end
view as seen from the right; Fig. 5, a vertical transverse section; Fig. 6, a plan
view of a pick holder and picks, detached; Fig. 7, an end view of the same;
Figs. 8 and 9, vertical longitudinal central sections through the cylinder and valve
chest, illustrating, respectively, different modifications in the valve operating
mechanism; and Figs. 10 and 11, end views, as seen from the right of the machine,
as fitted with the devices shown in Figs. 8 and 9 respectively.
To carry out my invention, I provide a main or working cylinder 1, which is
bored out truly to receive a piston 2, formed with or secured to a piston rod 3,
which fits, so as to move freely, in a long guide 4, projecting centrally from the
front end of the cylinder the rod being, by preference, cast with the cylinder, to
afford an accurate bearing and reduce labor and expense in construction. The
outer end of the piston rod 3, carries a pick holder 5, in which are secured one or
more picks or cutting tools 7, which act upon the material to be cut by the recipro-
cation of the piston 2, in the cylinder 1, by fluid pressure, as steam or compressed
air. The motive fluid is admitted from the valve chest 15, to the cylinder, through
supply ports 8, 9, and is exhausted from the cylinder through exhaust ports 10, 11,

page_text: all of said ports being governed by a slide distribution valve 12. The supply of
motive fluid to the valve chest is effected through a flexible pipe connected to
either of two nozzles 13, opening into a supply pipe 14, controlled by a suitable
cock or valve 16, and the exhaust from the valve chest is led through an exhaust
pipe 17.
The cylinder 1, is supported, at or near its front end, or in advance of its centre
of gravity when fitted with its working connections, upon a pair of lateral sled
frames 28, whose lower sides are horizontal and are provided with shoes or faces 29,
which are roughened or serrated by a series of backwardly extending teeth or
projections 30, to prevent recoil of the machine in operation. The frames 28, are
connected by a transverse brace 31, and carry, at their forward ends, bearings 32,
in which are fitted a pair of side trunnions 33, connected to or cast upon the
cylinder 1, which is thus adapted to be swung, in a vertical plane, about the axis
of the trunnions. The forward ends of the frames are curved upwardly, eccentri-
cally to a pair of carrying wheels 18, mounted upon the trunnions 33, exterior to
the bearings 32 thereof, the diameter of the carrying wheels being such that when
the cylinder is swung either into a horizontal position or one in which its rear end
is downwardly inclined, the carrying wheels shall be entirely clear of the ground,
and the frames 28, will then act as the support of the machine, while, by elevating
the rear end of the frames, the carrying wheels 18, may be brought into contact
with the ground and the frames 28 raised therefrom, to enable the machine to be
transported from place to place upon the carrying wheels, as may be desired.
?
The movement of the cylinder about the axis of its trunnions serves to enable
the vertical position of the points of the picks to be varied, as may, from time to
time become necessary or desirable, while the machine rests upon the supporting
frames 28, as well as to raise the same from the ground, in order to transport the
machine upon its carrying wheels as above stated. Such movement is imparted to
the cylinder, when required, by means of a transverse adjusting shaft 34, mounted
in bearings 35, on the rear ends of the frames 28, and carrying a pair of hand
wheels 36, by which it may be rotated. A spur pinion 37, on the adjusting
shaft 34, meshes with a segmental gear 38, on the rear cylinder head 27, said gear
being concentric with the trunnions 33, and, by the rotation of the adjusting
shaft 34, in one or the other direction, upward or downward movement, as required,
may be imparted to the rear end of the cylinder 1, to correspondingly lower or
raise its front end and the points of the picks carried by its piston rod. A pair of
operating handles 39, projects rearwardly from the frames 28, said handle serving to
enable the operator to resist tendency to upward movement of the machine in
operation, as well as to change the position of the points of the picks laterally,
and also to sustain the rear end of the frames in the movement of the machine
from place to place.
To assist the operator in moving the machine laterally, to change the direction
of the application of the pick, a stirrup or foot piece 25, may be pivoted to a
journal 40, on the outside of each of the frames 28. Each of said stirrups has a
plate 41, projecting upwardly above its bearing on the journal and a tooth or
claw 42, on its under side. Pressure of the feet of the operator against the stirrups
tends to resist the tendency to rearward movement of the machine as well as to
engage the claws 42 with the timbers or other foundation upon which the machine
rests, while by the pressure of the feet upon the plates 41, the stirrups may be
swung upon their journals to release the claws, and thereafter, greater pressure can
be applied to either stirrup, according to the direction in which it is desired to
move the machine.
In order to prevent the turning of the piston rod, as well as to assist in ensuring
accurate longitudinal movement of the piston and rod, a rear guide 44, is secured
to the rear cylinder head 27, and projects inwardly therefrom, coincidently with or
parallel to the axial line of the cylinder, said guide fitting a corresponding opening
in the piston and rod. The form of the guide shown in transverse section, is a
square, but it may be a segment, zone, or any other figure differing from a circle,

page_text: and in lieu of employing a central rear guide, a rod or bar, of cylindrical or any
other desired section, set outside of the axial line of the cylinder, may be used, if
preferred.
One or more picks or cutting tools 7, may be connected to the outer end of the
pick holder 5, and where more than one is employed, they are located in a common
plane coincident with the axis of the piston rod, so as to act simultaneously upon
the face of the material to be cut. The picks may be either of uniform or of
different lengths, and are provided with cylindrical shanks, fitting corresponding
sockets in the divided outer end of the pick holder and clamped therein by trans-
verse bolts 49, having threads upon their ends, engaging nuts which may be
screwed to a tight bearing against the sides of the pick holder. The picks are
thereby firmly held in their sockets, and may, by the slackening of the nuts, be
readily detached and removed as required.
The admission of motive fluid and its exhaust from the cylinder 1, to impart
reciprocating movement to the main piston 2, is effected by a slide distribution
valve 12, which is adapted to reciprocate on a valve face on the upper side of the
cylinder, within a valve chest 15, secured thereto, and to govern the opening and
closure of supply and exhaust ports 8, 9, 10 therein, fluid being admitted to the
valve chest through either of two lateral supply pipes 13 controlled by a cock or
valve 14.
The distribution valve 12 is moved in the direction proper for the admission of
motive fluid to the right hand side of the main piston 2, in order to effect the
forward or left hand stroke thereof, by means of a valve operating lever 75, which
is coupled, at its upper end, to the distribution valve, and is actuated by the
contact of the main piston, during its right hand stroke, with the lower end of the
lever 75, or with a rod or projection thereon. The opposite travel of the distri-
bution valve, that is to say, that which supplies motive fluid for the right hand or
inward stroke, is effected by the pressure of the fluid within the valve chest upon
the larger of two valve operating pistons 76, 77, fixed upon the stem of the .
distribution valve, which is here shown as of the piston type. The valve operating
lever 75, is journalled upon a transverse shaft 78, fixed in the metal of the cylinder,
between the bore thereof and the valve face, and is adapted to vibrate on said
shaft within one of the supply ports 9, which is enlarged for that purpose. The
upper arm of the lever 75, engages a groove in one of the valve pistons, and its
lower arm, which is curved in the direction of the rear cylinder head 27, is so
located as to be moved to the right, by the contact of an upwardly curved or
inclined face 79, formed on the upper side of the main piston 2, at the right
hand end thereof. The larger and the smaller valve operating pistons, 76, 77,
which are fixed upon opposite ends of the distribution valve stem, fit accurately
in chambers 80, at the ends of the valve chest, which chambers, communicate, by
ports, 81, with the atmosphere, beyond the outer ends of the pistons 76, the inner
ends of which are exposed to the pressure within the chest.
The main piston 2, is shown in Fig. 3, as at the commencement of its left hand
or forward stroke, motive fluid to effect the same being admitted through the rear
supply port 9. Upon the traverse of the piston for such distance as to permit its
inclined face 79, to clear the lower end of the valve operating lever 75, the pre-
ponderance of pressure upon the larger valve operating piston 76, forces the
pistons 76, 77, and distribution valve 12, to the right, opening the front supply
port 8, and establishing communication between the right hand side of the piston
and the exhaust port 10. The admission of motive fluid through the front supply
port 8, effects the right hand stroke of the piston 2, towards the termination of
which, the contact of the inclined face 79, with the valve operating lever 75, moves
the valve 12, to the left and admits motive fluid for the next left hand stroke.
It will thus be seen that the movement of the distribution valve towards the
rear end of the cylinder being effected by fluid pressure in the valve chest, is
independent of the length of stroke of the main piston, and that irrespective of
the variable stroke of the piston, induced by variations in the distance between

page_text: the cutting tool and the face of the material to be worked, the distribution valve
will be shifted from left to right, to admit pressure for the return stroke of the
piston.
In the modifications illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, the valve operating
lever 75 is located upon the outside of the cylinder head, and is provided with
a stem 82, passing through a stuffing box therein, said stem transmitting move-
ment from the main piston to the lower end of the lever, the upper end of which
is coupled to the stem of the distribution valve. In Figs. 8 and 10, the lever is
double armed and journalled to vibrate upon a transverse shaft, as in Figs. 3 and 5,
while in Figs. 9 and 11, a journal is dispensed with and a reciprocating, in lieu of
a vibrating lever, is employed. It will be obvious that, in such case, the movements
of the distribution valve must be in reverse direction to those of the valves of
Figs. 3, 5, 8, and 10 and to enable such movements to be effected, the exhaust
ports 10, 11, are located exteriorly to the supply ports 8, 9, that is to say, between
said supply ports and the ends of the cylinder, such location being similar to that
employed in steam hammers and other apparatus in which a movement of the
valve and piston in the same direction is required to be effected. In each instance,
however, the distribution valve is moved in one direction by the contact of the
main piston with the valve operating lever, and in the other, by the preponderance
of pressure upon the larger valve operating piston, as first above described.
In order to quickly relieve the main piston 2, of pressure, prior to the completion
of its stroke, and thereby to prevent injurious shocks resultant upon its contact
with undue force against the cylinder heads, supplemental exhaust openings 92,
(one or more) are formed in the metal of the cylinder, extending from its bore to
the atmosphere. Said supplemental openings are located in such position that one
of them may be uncovered by the piston just prior to the termination of its stroke,
and the motive fluid which has effected such stroke thus finds an outlet, through
which its pressure upon the piston may be quickly relieved, independently of the
opening of the main exhaust by the distribution valve. The supplemental exhaust
openings 92, when located as shown in Figs. 3, 8, and 9, on the lower side of the
bore of the cylinder, serve the additional function of draining from the cylinder
any water which may find entrance thereto, as will be frequently the case whether
steam or compressed air be employed as the operating fluid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. In a mining machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a cylinder,
a piston and rod working therein and adapted to reciprocate a pick or cutting tool,
and a pair of lateral truck frames, upon and between which the cylinder is
journalled, and which are adapted to serve as the supports of the machine when in
operation.
2. In a mining machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a cylinder
provided with lateral trunnions, a pair of supporting truck frames having bearings
adapted to receive said trunnions, and a pair of carrying wheels mounted upon the
trunnions.
3. In a mining machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a pair of
supporting truck frames having bearings at or near their front ends, a cylinder
provided with lateral trunnions which are journalled in said bearings, a segmental
gear secured to the rear head of the cylinder and concentric with the trunnions,
and an adjusting shaft mounted in bearings at the rear of the supporting frames
and carrying a pinion which meshes with said segmental gear.
4. In a mining machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a pair of
truck frames, adapted to support the machine when in operation, a cylinder
provided with lateral trunnions journalled in bearings at or near the front of said
frames, a pair of carrying wheels mounted on said trunnions, and a pair of operating
handles projecting rearwardly from the supporting frame.

page_text: 5. In a mining macbine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a pair of
supporting frames, a cylinder journalled in bearings on the upper sides of said
frames, and horizontal shoes connected to the lower sides of the supporting frames
and provided with rearwardly inclined teeth or projections.
6. In a mining machine, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a steam
or air cylinder, a piston and rod adapted to reciprocate therein, and a series of two
or more picks or cutting tools, connected to the outer end of a pick holder secured
directly to the piston, so as to act simultaneously upon the face of the material to
be operated on, in a plane coinciding with the axis of the piston rod.
7. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a distribution valve adapted to
govern the supply and exhaust passages of a steam or air cylinder, a valve operating
lever connected with said valve and adapted to be moved in one direction by the
contact of the piston of said cylinder, and a pair of valve operating pistons of
different diameters, said pistons being fixed upon a common rod connected to the
distribution valve, and being open, on their inner sides, to the pressure within the
valve chest, and, on their outer sides, to the pressure of the atmosphere.
8. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a cylinder, a main piston and
rod working therein, a valve chest, a distribution valve moving therein and
governing the supply and exhaust passages of the cylinder, a valve operating lever,
coupled at its upper end to the distribution valve and adapted to be moved in one
direction by the action of the main piston upon its lower end, a pair of valve
operating pistons fixed upon a common rod connected to the distribution valve,
a pair of sockets or chambers fitting said pistons and communicating with the
valve chest, and ports or passages connecting said chambers with the atmosphere
on the outer sides of their pistons.
9. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a cylinder, a piston and rod
adapted to reciprocate therein, a distribution valve governing main supply and
exhaust passages in the cylinder, and a supplemental exhaust passage leading from
the bore of the cylinder to the atmosphere and so located as to be uncovered by
the main piston in its traverse, prior to the termination of its stroke.
10. The combination substantially as set forth, of a cylinder, a piston and rod
adapted to reciprocate therein, a distribution valve governing main supply and
exhaust passages in the cylinder, and a supplemental exhaust passage leading from
the bore of the cylinder to the atmosphere, on the lower side of the cylinder.
Dated this twelfth day of November A 1) 1884.
Dated this twelfth day of November A 11 1884.
SEBASTIAN STUTZ.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Witnesses:
J. SNOWDEN BELL.
R. H. WHITTLESEY.