IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GETTING AND HEWING COAL, STONE, AND OTHER MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Rothery, of Waterloo Main Colliery,
near Leeds, in the County of York, Colliery Viewer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GETTING
AND HEWING COAL, STONE, AND OTHER MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES."
Sealed the 9th October 1868, and dated the 13th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Rothery at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 13th April 1868.
I, JOSEPH ROTHERY, of Waterloo Main Colliery, near Leeds, in the
County of York, Colliery Viewer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GETTING
AND HEWING COAL, STONE, AND OTHER MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE APPLICABLE TO MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions, arrangements,
and combinations of the cylinders, pistons, piston rods, and connecting

page_text: rods of machinery or apparatus for working or actuating the vibrating
picks or cutters employed in getting and hewing coal, stone, and other
minerals whereby an economy of power is obtained, the machine is
rendered more steady when in action, and the distance or space between
the pick head and the actuating cylinder of the machine is reduced.
According to one mode of carrying out my said Invention, I propose to
combine together, end to end, two cylinders of different diameters open
at their outer ends and each having a piston working therein. These two
pistons are both fitted on to the same rod, which works through a stuffing
box in a stationary division or partition between the two cylinders.
The object of the smaller cylinder and piston is to produce the return or
back stroke of the pick or cutter, whilst the larger cylinder serves to
give the cutting blow or stroke to the said pick or cutter. The con-
necting rod which transmits motion to the pick axis is partly contained
within the actuating cylinder itself, thus economising space. Two
cylinders of the same or different diameters arranged as above described
may be used as a motive-power engine for various purposes.
h.
According to another modification the outer ends of the two cylinders
are closed, the piston rod passing through a stuffing box in the end
cover of the smaller cylinder. These two cylinders are open to each
other at their inner ends, and are each provided with a separate piston
carried on the same piston rod. The steam or compressed air is admitted
behind the larger piston to produce the cutting blow, and is then
admitted in front of the smaller piston to produce the return stroke of
the cutter.
According to another modification the two cylinders are placed side by
side and are closed at the rear end and open at the front end. The piston
rods of these two cylinders work in opposite directions, and are connected
by connecting rods contained within the cylinders to short lever arms
on opposite sides of the pick axis. The two cylinders and the parts in
connection therewith are carried on an adjustable bed plate, which
turns on a vertical pivot on the truck or carriage of the machine in
order to allow the picks to work on either side of the machine, as
required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Rothery in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
ROTHERY, of Waterloo Main Colliery, near Leeds, in the County of
York, Colliery Viewer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Rothery, Her special license
that I, the said Joseph Rothery, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Rothery, my 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 OR APPARATUS FOR GETTING AND HEWING COAL, STONE, AND OTHER
MINERALS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MOTÍVE-POWER
ENGINES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph
Rothery, [my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 Joseph Rothery, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:-
My said Invention relates to certain peculiar constructions, arrange-
ments, and combinations of the cylinders, pistons, piston rods, connecting
rods, and picks or cutters of machinery or apparatus employed in
getting.and hewing coal, stone, or other minerals whereby an economy

page_text: of power is obtained, the machine is rendered more steady when in
action, and the distance or space between the pick head and the actuating
cylinder of the machine is reduced.
According to one mode of carrying out my said Invention I propose
to combine together, end to end, two cylinders of different diameters
open at their outer ends and each having a piston working therein.
These two pistons are both fitted on to the same rod, which works through
a stuffing box in a stationary division or partition between the two
cylinders. The object of the smaller cylinder and piston is to produce
the return or back stroke of the pick or cutter, whilst the larger cylinder
serves to give the cutting blow or stroke to the said pick or cutter.
The connecting rod which transmits motion to the pick axis is
partly contained within the actuating cylinder itself, thus economising
space. Two cylinders of the same or different diameters arrranged as
above described may be used as a motive-power engine for various
purposes.
According to another modification the outer ends of the two cylinders
are closed, the piston rod passing through a stuffing box in the end
cover of the smaller cylinder. These two cylinders are open to cach
other at their inner ends and are each provided with a separate piston
carried on the same piston rod. The steam or compressed air is
admitted behind the larger piston to produce the cutting blow, and is
then admitted in front of the smaller piston to produce the return stroke
of the cutter.
According to another modification the two cylinders are placed side
by side and are closed at the rear end and open at the front end. The
pistons of these two cylinders work in opposite directions and are
connected by connecting rods contained within the cylinders to short
lever arms on opposite sides of the pick axis. The two cylinders and
the parts in connection therewith are carried on an adjustable bed
plate, which turns on a vertical pivot on the truck or carriage of the
machine in order to allow the pick to work on either side of the machine,
as required.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of

page_text: Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the corresponding figures.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of one
arrangement of machine for getting and hewing coal, stone, and other
minerals constructed in accordance with my said Invention; Figure 2
is a corresponding plan of the same; and Figure 3 is a full-sized detail
of the valve I propose to employ for regulating the ingress and egress
into and from the cylinders of the compressed air, steam, or other.
clastic medium employed for actuating the machine.
A is a carriage or truck mounted on running wheels B, B, and having
secured thereon the horizontal actuating cylinders C, C¹; one of these
cylinders C is employed for giving the blow to the pick or tool D and is
of larger diameter than the other one O', which has simply to bring the
pick or tool back after the blow has been given and need not therefore
be of the same diameter as the actual working cylinder.. Both cylinders
are disposed in the same axial line, and the corresponding pistons E, E',
are secured on to the same piston rod F; this rod works through an
ordinary or other stuffing box in a division piece G which separates one
cylinder from the other. The outer ends of both cylinders are open to
the atmosphere, and the end of the piston rod is jointed to a connecting
rod H which works partly inside the large cylinder and is jointed to a lever
arm I fast on the pick shaft K. The pistons are shewn at their full stroke
by the dotted lines in Figure 2. L, L, are bearings in a double bracket cast
on the large cylinder for the pick shaft to work in; and M is the arm or
shank of the pick or tool, which may be secured by a key or otherwise into a
socket piece O, keyed on to the pick shaft; P, P', (Figure 3) are the ports
which lead into the large and small cylinders respectively; and Q:
is a slide valve which is held against the cylinder face by dovetail.
guides, as shewn in Figure 1; R is a flexible pipe for conveying the
compressed air or steam to the cylinders. A reciprocating, motion is.
imparted to this slide valve by means of a valve rod S jointed to a
short arm T fast on the pick shaft K and provided with adjustable
stops or tappets U, U, between which slides a. block V in connection.
with the end of a horizontal vibrating, lever. W.. This lever works
on a centre X and is connected to the valve. by, the link Y. Z is a.
handle for starting the valve when commencing work, or when by.
reason of the extra hardness of the mineral the pick fails to make a full
stroke, as the tappets or stops U. will act only towards the termination.

page_text: of the full stroke of the pick. As the slide valve reciprocates the
compressed air or steam is directed into the two cylinders successively,
the exhaust taking place into the atmosphere through the port P of
the large cylinder whilst the air or steam enters the other cylinder
by the port P¹, or vice versa. When the pressure acts upon the large
piston the pick gives a blow, and when it operates upon the small
piston the pick makes its return or back stroke. The truck or carriage
may be propelled along its rails as fast as the work proceeds either
by a rachet wheel and pall action worked by a hand lever, as shewn
at a (Figures 1 and 2), or by bevil or spur gearing worked by a winch 1
handle or hand wheel. b, b, are coupling rods for coupling the four
running wheels of the carriage. When the pick is required to work
on the opposite side of the carriage the pick shaft K is removed, the
point of the pick is turned over or reversed, and the shaft is fitted
into the extra or spare bearings at L', in which case the valve rod S
and parts connected therewith will of course be placed on the opposite
side of the cylinders to that shown in Figure 2.
Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of
another modification of my improvements; Figure 2 is a corresponding
plan of the same; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine;
and Figure 4 is a sectional detail of the large and small cylinders
with another form of valve attached. In this arrangement the
vibrating or rocking pick shaft K is dispensed with, and a loose bolt
or pin K is substituted therefor dropped into the bearings L or L',
according as the pick is required to work on one side or other of
the carriage. On this pin K' the pick or tool may work loosely. In
lieu of the vibrating arm I the butt end of the pick stem M is widened
in order that the connecting rod H may be jointed directly thereto,
the pick being maintained nearly in a line with the piston rod so as to
get the power as direct as possible, as will be seen on referring to
Figures 1 and 3. The valve Q may either be the same as that shown
on Sheet 1, or of the form shown in Figure 4, namely a cylinder with
open or closed ends and having double pistons c, c, working therein.
G (Figure 4) is the partition between the two cylinders; P, P¹,
are the relative steam ports of the large and small cylinders C, C';
the valve spindle d is actuated by a vibrating arm e on the rocking
shaft of working in bearings g, g, cast on the large cylinder C. To
this shaft are keyed two other arms h, h¹, to one or other of which
is connected a screw spindle or rod i, provided with adjustable nuts

page_text: or stops k, l.
in a swivel piece
the pick vibrates it
This rod works freely through an elongated eye
fitted into the butt of the pick stem, so that as
will at or near the termination of each stroke
move the valve, as will be readily understood on referring to the
Drawings. Z is the handle for working the valve by hand when
requisite, it being connected with a lever arm m on the rock shaft f
by the rod n. The machine is propelled by the spur gearing o, o, and
hand wheel p mounted on the cross shaft q. In order to regulate
or adjust the height of the pick two elevating and depressing screws
,, are fitted on to the carriage frame and are in connection with
the vertical sliding bearings 8 of the front pair of running wheels.
By turning these screws the front end of the carriage, and with it
the pick, may be readily raised or lowered.
Figure 4 (Sheet 1) represents another arrangement wherein the butt
end of the pick stem is widened for the direct attachment thereto of
the connecting rod. C, O', are the large and small cylinders, fitted end
to end, and supported on trunnions c in the slotted frames A. In this
modification provision is made for enabling the pick stem M to turn
round the end of the cylinder and so work at all angles by attaching
it to a ring D' working loose on the end of the large cylinder, suitable
set screws serving to fix the ring in any desired position. The con-
necting rod H is jointed directly to the butt of the pick (as in the
arrangement last described). The said butt has two pin holes made
therein either of which will receive the joint pin of the connecting
rod, whereby the pick may have a better or longer stroke when making
the first cut. As the cylinders are supported on central trunnions c
they may be readily adjusted to any angle in a vertical plane. Screw
spindles working through fixed nuts in the frames and turning freely
in the bearings or blocks which support the trunnions c serve to raise
or lower the actuating cylinders along the vertical slots in the frames A.
In lieu of screws other well known mechanical contrivances may be.
used. The axes for the running wheels B are rivetted or bolted to
the frames and the wheels are loose upon them. The four wheels,
may be coupled if desired and may be propelled in any convenient.
manner.
Figure 1 on Sheet 3 of my Drawings represents an end elevation
partly in section of another modification of my apparatus; Figure 2
is a corresponding plan of the same; Figure 3 is a side elevation;

page_text: and Figure 4 represents a detail plan and side elevation of an endless
chain of scrapers for removing the debris from the cut as fast as the
tool progresses, as herein-after fully explained. In this arrangement I
employ two cutting tools D, each tool actuated by a large and small
cylinder C, C¹, of its own, and in lieu of the tools being in the form
of picks working or vibrating on a centre, they consist of straight
cutters in a line with the piston rod F and thus operate directly
from the centre of the cylinders. The cylinders morcover, in lieu of
being bolted or otherwise secured down upon a truck or carriage, form
the axles of the running wheels B, B, the latter being mounted loosely
thereon. By this arrangement space is economised and the cutters
are made to work close to the floor. The two cylindrical axes are
connected by a pair of upright frames or standards A, A, which at
their lower ends embrace the cylinders and which support a large
propelling wheel a. This wheel has a roughened or ribbed periphery
and bears against the roof of the working. A pair of adjustable helical
or other springs t contained within spring boxes « in the standards A
serve to keep the vertical sliding bearing of the propelling wheel
clevated and maintain the rim of the wheel pressed by an elastic
or yielding pressure against the roof. In moving the machine along
the attendant simply seizes the rim of the wheel and turns it by hand
as required. Qo are the slide valves for the two pairs of cylinders
worked by the valve rods d, d, which are jointed to upright levers f,ƒ³,
carried on the outer ends of the large and small cylinders and having
their lower arms curved and projecting inside such cylinders. As each
piston E, E, arrives at the outer extremity of its cylinder it strikes
the inner curved end of one or other of the levers for f¹, and thus
moves the slide valve. A flexible pipe (not shewn in the Drawings)
is attached to the upper part of the valve and serves to convey the
steam or compressed air to the large and small cylinders alternately
of each pair (the two cutters cutting at the same time) through the
ports P, and P¹ the exhaust taking place through the port which for
the time being is open to the atmosphere. The handles Z are for
facilitating the working of the valves by hand when requisite. The cutter
actuated by the leading pair of cylinders makes a cut of, say, eighteen
inches in depth and is followed by the rear cutter, which commences its cut
at the bottom of the groove made by the leading cutter, by which
means I am enabled to make a groove three feet in depth at one passage
of the machine. In order to enable the second cutter to work freely

page_text: it is necessary to remove the dust and fragments left in the groove
by the first cutter, to accomplish which I combine with the machine
an endless pitch chain 10 (shewn in red lines in Figure 2, and in
detail at Figure 4) carrying a series of scrapers x, x. This chain
is passed round two chain pullies y, y', which are connected by the
flat top and bottom bars 2, 2, projecting inside the groove. The
pulley y works on a stud pin in one of the pair of tie bars 1, 1,
bolted to rings 2, 2, fitting loosely round the cylinders, and a pin or
bolt 3 is passed through the bars z, z, and opposite tie bar 1 in order
to maintain the bars & steady. If requisite the pullies y, y³, may have
spur teeth formed thereon gearing into corresponding teeth inside the
links of the endless chain in order to prevent any slip. Rotatory
motion is imparted to the pulley y either by a small cylinder for that
purpose or by gearing, or any other suitable mechanical contrivance
which will readily suggest itself to the practical mechanic.
Figure 5. represents a longitudinal sectional detail of a pair of large
and small cylinders C, C', which are closed at their outer ends and
open. at their inner extremities. E, E¹, are the pistons fast on the
same rod F which works through a stuffing box in the cover of the
small cylinder; P, P¹, are the ports leading to the outer ends of the
two cylinders respectively; Q. Q', are the valves consisting of three-
way cocks worked by a valve rod S which connects the levers of both
cocks. On this rod is secured a projecting forked arm V which is
alternately acted upon by the tappets U, U', on the piston rod.. The
exhaust takes place through the nozzles x, x³, and the compressed
air or steam is admitted from branch pipes secured to the nozzles i, i¹,
and communicating with a flexible compressed air or steam pipe.
Figure 1 on Sheet 4 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of
another mode of applying and arranging the large and small cylinders
for actuating the cutters of machines for getting and hewing coal,
stone, and other minerals; Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the
same; and Figure 3 is an end elevation. In this modification I dispense
entirely with a carriage mounted upon wheels for conveying the machine
from place to place and for supporting the machine when at work,
the great object being to obtain a light and portable machine that
can be easily carried in the hand of the collier or miner and worked
and attended to by him as a part of his usual tools or implements
in lieu of requiring a special attendant, as is the case with existing

page_text: coal hewing machines. C, 'C', are the large and small cylinders sup-
ported between two strutts A, A, which are wedged in a vertical,
horizontal, or inclined position between the floor and roof, or between
the two sides of the working, as shewn in Figure 1. A stuffing box
is provided in the partition between the large and small cylinders, and
the two pistons E and E¹ are secured to the same piston rod F which
carries at one end the straight tool or cutter or cutters D. The slide
valve works between dovetailed ledges on the cylinder face and
has a flexible steain or compressed air pipe R secured thereto. d, d
are the rods for actuating the slide valve; they are jointed to each
end of the slide, the one d being connected to a tappet lever worked
by an antifriction roller on the small piston E¹ whilst the other
rod is connected to the hand lever Z for moving the valve by hand
when required. 4 is a helical or other spring for imparting the return
stroke to the valve; 5 is a forked guide hinged on to the end of the
larger cylinder and embracing freely the square shank of the tool, thereby
preventing any tendency it may have to turn round. This guide may
also be applied to the machine illustrated on Sheet 3. The cylinders
are caused to move along their supports as fast as the groove is cut
whether in a vertical or horizontal direction by means of a rack 6 and
pinion. 7, the axis of the pinion being carried on the cylinders whilst
the rack is cast on or secured to the inner face of one of the two
strutts. On the axis. of the pinion there is a ratchet wheel 8, 8, which
is worked by a pall 9 hinged to the hand lever 10. By suitably working
this lever the cutting tool may be readily fed up to its work as fast
as the groove is cut.
Figure 1 on Sheet
of my Drawings represents a side elevation of
a coal cutting machine wherein the cutter or pick is actuated by a
pair of cylinders of the same or different diameters placed parallel to
each other or side by side, in lieu of being in the same axial line as in
the previously described arrangements; Figure 2 is a plan corresponding
to Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional plan shewing a slightly
modified construction. A is the carriage upon which is mounted an
adjustable base plate or frame A¹ carrying the two actuating. cylinders
C, O¹, which are open at one end. The plate A' is connected at its
front end to the pick shaft K, and may be set to any angle required so
as to bring the pick nearer to its work and enable it to work on either
side by simply reversing it. The cylinders are here shewn as being of

page_text: equal diameter, but if preferred the one cylinder C¹ which has merely
to produce the return or back stroke of the pick D may be of smaller
diameter than the cylinder C which gives the cutting blow to the pick.
A pair of cross arms I, I', are keyed on to the shaft K and are
respectively connected by the connecting rods H, H', with the pistons
E, E. The compressed air or steam is supplied to the cylinders from
the flexible pipe R connected to a nozzle which leads to both valves
Q, Q. These valves are situate at the closed ends of the cylinders,
and are cylindrical in form and have pistons working therein. They
are worked by the bell-crank levers W, W', and rods S, S', which latter
are provided with stops or tappets U, U, for actuating the valve levers.
The valve rods S, S¹, derive their longitudinal reciprocating motion from
the small cross arms T, T, on the upper extremity of the pick shaft.
The red lines in Figure 2 shew the base plate and cylinders in their
parallel position. It is obvious that this arrangement of cylinders may
be employed for motive-power engines, the rocking motion of the
shaft K being converted into a continuous rotatory motion by any of
the well known mechanical devices for that purpose. In Figure 3 the
base plate turns on a spiral pivot K³ in or near its centre, and the pick
shaft K passes through a curved slot in the front end of the truck to
allow of the angular adjustment of the base plate.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The general combinations and arrangements of the cylinders,
pistons, piston rods, connecting rods, and picks or cutters of machinery
or apparatus for getting and hewing coal, stone, and other minerals,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Second. The combination of a large and small cylinder placed end
to end for the purpose of actuating vibrating picks or longitudinal
reciprocating tools or cutters employed in the getting of coal and other
minerals, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The combination of two open-ended cylinders of the same or
different diameters placed parallel to each other or side by side and

page_text: operating together, substantiany
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Rothery, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Twelfth day of
October, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.