HEWING AND EXCAVATING COAL, CANNEL, AND OTHER MINERALS, STRATA, AND SUBSTANCES BY CERTAIN MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES THERETO
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Peace, of Haigh, near Wigan, in the
County of Lancaster, Mining Engineer, for the Invention of
"HEWING AND EXCAVATING COAL, CANNEL, AND OTHER MINERALS,
STRATA, AND SUBSTANCES BY CERTAIN MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES
THERETO."
Sealed the 12th December 1853, and dated the 4th October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Peace at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th October 1853.
1, WILLIAM PEACE, of Haigh, near Wigan, in the County of Lan-
caster, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "HEWING AND EXCAVATING COAL, CANNEL, AND OTHER
MINERALS, STRATA, AND SUBSTANCES BY CERTAIN MACHINERY AND AP-
PLIANCES THERETO," to be as follows:-
The machine consists of a frame of metal or wood, or of a combina-
tion of both, or of different metals. Upon this frame are fixed one or
more cylinders so placed as to be capable of turning a cranked

page_text: shaft, which is also fixed by means of journals or steps to the same
frame, as is also another shaft. This latter is capable of being turned
by the former by means of mitre or bevil wheels placed one upon
each shaft. Upon the lower end of the latter shaft is placed a wheel
called the driving wheel, having upon its periphery a groove with
suitable projections, or with the latter alone, for working into and
propelling the chain, rope, band, or strap. Beneath or to the side, or
both, of the frame are fixed, temporarily or otherwise, part or parts of
the machine termed by me the lever. The external extremity of this
lever is so constructed (by being forked or otherwise) as to carry a
wheel called the terminal wheel. A chain, rope, strap, or band, or more
than one, is or are so placed as to pass partially round the driving and
terminal wheels.
In the machine a chain. rope, band, or strap is so placed that by
means of the driving wheel it is caused, when the machine is in action,
to revolve round the two wheels before named. Into or upon this
chain, rope, band, or strap are fixed cutters of various or of the
same shape, which, when the machine is in action, revolve with the
said chain, rope, band, or strap, and which then, upon being pressed or
drawn against coal, cannel, or other matter, erode and excavate the
same; and the machine is capable of so eroding and excavating the coal,
cannel, or other matter to and within a certain distance from the face or
external surface of such coal, cannel, or other matter, which distance is
governed and determined by the dimensions of the machine, and by the
length of the lever, and the distance between the driving and terminal
wheels.
The levers are so constructed as to be capable of moving or vibrating
or partially revolving upon either of the shafts to which they may be
attached, so as to be capable of cutting or excavating a certain distance
on either side of, or above or below the machine, so as to prepare for
a passage, gallery, or excavation larger than the machine itself, and suffi-
ciently capacious to admit of the progress thereof. The levers are con-
structed so as to be capable of being easily fixed upon or detached from
either or both ends of the cranked shaft, and the lower end of the other
shaft, accompanied respectively by a driving and terminal wheel, and a

page_text: chain, band, rope, or strap furnished with cutters; and thus one, two,
or three of such levers so accompanied may be used either separately
or at the same time in the machine under description; but the machine
may be be so modified that the other shaft may be driven without
the intervention of mitre or bevil wheels, and may be so arranged as to
carry more than one such lever accompanied as above described; and
thus it may be capable of cutting or excavating two or more parallel
grooves at the same time, which will also be the case when levers
so accompanied are placed upon both ends of the cranked shaft. More-
over, the driving and terminal wheels, with the chain, cutters, and levers,
may be made to revolve and to act by other applications of cylinders
and machinery than those described.
The method of applying power to drive the machine is to conduct
the medium to be employed for its transmission by means of a pipe or
pipes to the machine from a source of power at a distance to the said
cylinders; and by this means, and according to the number and length
of such pipes, many similar machines may be driven by means of such
medium from one and the same source of power. This medium may
be either steam produced at a boiler or boilers, or it may be water
acting by pressure produced either naturally or by a steam engine or
otherwise. or it may be gas, or a mixture of gases, or it may be atmo-
spheric air, and in the latter case the air may be used after having
worked the machine or machines for ventilating or improving or in-
creasing the ventilation of the mines, pits, or other places wherein such
machine or machines may be employed, and in the intervals of action
of such machine or machines the ventilation may be maintained by
opening a small tap or taps in the pipe or pipes used for conduction.
The power to be employed may be steam, water, horse, or other
power, so as to cause the water, gas. or air to act by pressure. In the
employment of gas or air they or either of them are to be condensed
by means of the power employed in suitable vessels, either under
ground or on the surface, and thence conducted by means of the said
pipe or pipes to the machine or machines to be kept in action. Where
gas or a mixture of gases noxious to human life are used as the medium
it is proposed to conduct it or them, after having operated upon the

page_text: machine, back by means of other pipes to the surface or to some place
where no harm could ensue therefrom.
In case of the employment of water the power may be so applied as
by means of pumps to force it through the said pipes into the cylinders
or other motive parts of the said machine, or it may act by its own
gravity, and after performing the function of driving the machine or
machines it may, where circumstances permit, be allowed to flow freely
away, and in others it may be lifted by means of the power employed,
so as to prevent the flooding of the place or places wherein the machine
or machines may be employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Peace in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st April 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM PEACE, of Haigh, near Wigan, in the County of Lancaster,
Mining Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Ierself. Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Poace, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, Her special licence that I, the said William Peace,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Peace, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "HEWING
AND EXCAVATING COAL, CANNEL, AND OTHER MINERALS, STRATA, AND SUB-
STANCES, BY CERTAIN MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES THERETO," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Willian Peace, by an instru-
inent in writing under my hand and seal. should particularly describe and

page_text: 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 William Peace, 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
this present Specification thereof, reference being had to the ac-
companying Drawings, in each of which similar parts are marked with
similar letters or figures of reference, that is to say:
My said Invention consists of machinery or apparatus for hewing
and excavating coal, camuel, and other minerals, strata, and substances.
In Figure 1, Sheet 1. Figure 2, Sheet 2, and Figure 3, Sheet 3, of
the said accompanying Drawings, I have shewn the manner in which
a machine may be constructed according to my said Invention. Figure 1,
is a plan or bird's-eye view of a machine; Figure 2, is a side view of
the same machine; and Figure 3, is an end view of the same.
In these Figures A, A, A, A, is a frame of metal or wood, or of a
combination of both. Upon this frame are fixed two cylinders B, B,
so placed as, by means of pistons and connecting rods, to be capable of
turning a cranked shaft C, C, which is mounted in journals or steps
upon the same frame, as is also another shaft D; the shaft D being
capable of being turned by the shaft C, C, by means of bevil or mitro
wheels E, E, fixed one upon each shaft. The lower end of the shaft
Dis so constructed (being squared, grooved, or otherwise) and suited
to the aperture of the driving wheel F, F, (described hereafter,) that
when in motion it turns the wheel F.
Upon the lower end of the shaft 1 is placed a wheel F, which I
call the driving wheel. having upon its periphery a groove with suitable
projections for working into and propelling an endless chain, shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 3, and marked M, M. The long lever or beam
G. G. G, is perforated at or near to the middle of it with a round hole.
which receives a corresponding circular projection upon the upper part
of the wheel F. F, which acts as the fulcrum of the lever, and upon
which it may oscillate or vibrate. The lever is fastened to the driving

page_text: wheel F, F, by means of a circular piece of metal f, f, which is also
perforated to receive the shaft D, D, and which piece of metal is
bolted to the aforesaid circular projection. By moving one end of the
lever the other end may be moved in the opposite direction, and vice
versâ. This lever consists of two parts, united by a spigot and faucet
joint g, aud, with its driving and terminal wheels and endless chain, is
suspended upon the shaft D, by means of a small shaft N, having a
handle at its upper and a projection at its lower extremity; see Figures
2, and 3. The aforesaid projection works into a piece of metal 0, 0,
(Figures 2, and 3,) which is firmly fastened to the lever G. By turning
the said handle the said projection may be moved so as to be free from
the piece of metal O, O; and thus the lever G, G, with its driving and
terminal wheels and endless chain, may be easily detached from the
shaft D, D, and placed on either end of the shaft C, C. Now when
the lever G, G, is fixed upon the shaft D, the machine will excavate
grooves, which may, according to circunstances, be either horizon-
tal or parallel to or at any angle with the plane of the stratum or
seam acted upon; and when placed upon the shaft C, it will excavate
grooves either perpendicular or at right angles to the plane of the
stratum acted upon; and such angles might be varied by elevating the
bearing wheels P, P, at one side of the machine. The external
extremity of this lever is forked, and has a wheel H, H, (which I call
the terminal wheel.) mounted and working in appropriate bearings
fixed to the arms of the fork. The periphery of the wheel H, H, is
grooved so as to receive and hold in its proper position the endless
chain M, M, which passes round the driving and terminal wheels F, F,
and H, H. The chain is made of such a length that it will not shake
out of the grooves of the wheels within which it is placed; and by
means of the driving wheel F, F, (when the machine is in action,)
motion is given to the chain, which is thus caused to pass continuously
between and over each of the wheels as they revolve. This chain may
be tightened by means of a screw placed within the said spigot and
faucet joint in the lever G, G, as before mentioned; the head of which
screw is marked with the letter R, in Figure 1. By turning the
screw R. the lever G may be lengthened, and the endless chain M. M,

page_text: thus tightened. Upon the chain M, M, are fixed cutters, which may
be of various shapes, or all of the same shape; and specimens of
cutters which I deem to be of useful shapes are shewn in Figures
4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 8, of the said accompanying Drawings. When
the machine is in action the cutters revolve with the endless chain, and
upon the machine being pushed forward by the means herein-after
described against the face of the coal, cannel, or other material to be
operated upon the edges of the cutters will be pressed against such
face of the coal, cannel, or other material, and the cutters will hew,
erode, or cut away a portion of the material so as to form a groove or
furrow, as shewn in Figure 2, where the machine is represented in
action upon a seam of coal, and having excavated a horizontal or
bottom groove nearly to the depth allowed by the size of the parts of
the machine shewn in the Drawings.
A groove thus cut would not be of a length equal to the width or
height of the machine; and in order to make it of sufficient length
the operation may be repeated, commencing at the face of the material
to be operated upon, and again cutting to the same depth as before;
or the lever G may be caused to vibrate from side to side during the
operation to such an extent as may be necessary to produce a groove
of the requisite length at one cutting or operation; and I have by
dotted lines in Figure 1, represented the lever G, with the apparatus
connected therewith, as moved or turned to one side for the purpose of
cutting in this manner.
By means of grooves cut in this manner, whether made vertically,
horizontally, or otherwise, the excavation and winning of the coal or
other mineral of the mine or quarry may be much facilitated, and
such grooves or cuts may be repeated at convenient intervals for the
purpose of excavating and detaching masses of coal or other mineral
from the mine or quarry. The depth of the grooves or furrows from
the face or external surface of any bed of coal or other material operated
upon which can be cut by a machine constructed in this manner is
governed and determined by the length of the lever G, G, G, and the
size of the wheel H; and when the cutters, as they move with the
chain round the periphery of the wheel H, are brought into action
against the face of the coal or other material, the machine is propelled

page_text: forwards in manner herein-after described, so as gradually to press the
periphery of the wheel H, and the cutters passing over it, into the
groove as the cutters remove the material, and so deepen the groove.
A machine may be furnished with two or more of such levers and
accompanying apparatus as I have described, and they may be so
arranged as to enable the machine to make two or more grooves or
cuts at right angles with each other at the same time. Thus the
shaft C may be furnished with two levers with the accompanying
apparatus, but I have shewn the shaft 1) so constructed as only to
be fitted to receive one such lever, because I believe that a groove
or cut at the top of a mine or seam will be rarely, if ever, required.
The machine may, however, be easily constructed in such a manner
as to fit the upright shaft 1) to receive two levers with their accom-
panying parts. The cutters may, if preferred, be placed upon a strap or
band stretched tight, but I deem a chain to be more efficient. The
levers G, G, are so constructed as to be capable of being easily fixed
upon or detached from either end of the shaft C, C, or upon the lower
end of the shaft I).
The machine is mounted upon four wheels P, P, (Figures 2, and 3,)
each working within a fork Q, Q, the stem of each of which forks
passes through the framework of the machine from the lower to the
upper part thereof. The four stems of these forks are all connected by
levers S 1, S1, and rods S2, S2, (Figures 1, 2, and 3,) jointed together,
so that when any one of the wheels is, by turning the stem of the fork
within which it is mounted, turned in any direction the other three
wheels may be simultaneously turned in a like direction; and the
machine may be thus easily made capable of being moved in any
direction. The fore part of the machine is capable of being elevated
by means of the two levers T, T. (Figures 1, 2, and 3,) one end of
each of the levers T, T, being connected by means of a link l', U, to
the fore part of the machine, and the other end of each of the levers
T, T, being connected by means of links V, V. (Figure 2.) to a crank
npon the shaft W, W. The fulcra of the levers T, T, consist of the
extremities of the stems of the two forks Q, Q. which carry the two
front wheels of the machine. Upon the shaft W, W, which has a
square end, is placed a rack wheel. acted upon by a catch. When the

page_text: shaft W, W, is moved by a key fitting upon the square end of it, the
links V, V, and the corresponding ends of the levers T, T, are depressed,
and the other ends of the levers with the links U, U, and the fore part
of the machine to which they are attached, will be elevated, and the
front of the machine will be maintained at the elevation required by
inserting the catch into a tooth of the ratchet wheel.
Now the mode of propelling the said machine during the operation
of cutting is as follows:-Two bevil or mitre wheels X, X, (Figures
2, and 3,) are fixed one upon the shaft D, and the other upon one end
of the shaft Y, Y, (Figures 1, 2, and 3,) and upon the other end of the
said shaft Y, Y, is an endless screw which takes into the wheel Z, Z,
(Figures 1, 2, and 3;) the wheel Z, is fixed upon and turns a square
shaft a, (Figures 1, and 2,) with proper necks somewhat exceeding in
size the square of the shaft, and turned true so as to revolve in the
journals of the shaft. Upon shaft u, is fixed a toothed pinion b.
(Figure 3.) This pinion b, has a square hole in the centre, and fits
and slides upon shaft a. Upon cach side of the pinion b, is a circular
projection, and upon these projections a hanger c, c, Figure 3, is fixed.
This hanger c, supports a toothed rack k, k, k, (Figures 1, 2, and 3,)
and maintains the same in gear with the toothed pinion b. The ex-
ternal end of the toothed rack k, is forked or otherwise made capable of
being fixed upon a prop, stay, or other resisting matter or thing. Now
when the machine is in action motion is given to the shaft Y, from the
shaft D, by means of the wheels X, X; and the wheel Z, and its
shaft a, a, are moved by means of the endless screw upon the shaft Y.
The toothed pinion b, receives motion at the same time; and the
rack k, k, k, is driven against the prop, stay, or other resisting matter.
or thing, and the machine is thus propelled forward against the face of
the coal or material to be acted upon.
In using my machine I first make a bottom groove or cut of the
required length, and then two lateral cuts a sufficient distance apart
from each other to make an opening large enough to admit the
machine. The mass of coal or other mineral may then be generally
detached from the roof of the mine by wedges or other means with- .
out the aid of a top groove or cnt.

page_text: In making bottom grooves or cuts I have found it convenient to
relieve the cutters by making the groove for about one half of its depth
wider than the remaining part; and this may be effected by using at the
commencement of a cutting wider cutters than those afterwards used.
But I prefer to effect this object by first elevating the front of the
machine by means of the levers T, T, and apparatus connected there-
with, as herein-before described, and then making a cut to the depth
shewn at h, in Figure 2. I then draw back the machine, and after
again lowering it I recommence a cut from the face of the material to
be operated upon, and then cut the groove down to the required depth,
as shewn in Figure 2.
The method of applying power to give motion to the machine may
be varied according to the means to be employed for that purpose, and
such motion may be given either by means of the cylinders B, B, or
in any other manner which may be deemed more economical. When
the inedium for communicating the power consists of compressed air,
water, or steam the same may be conducted to the cylinders, and the
cylinders worked in the same manner as the cylinders of steam engines.
The pipes for conducting the compressed medium being made elastic, or
with joints, so as to be capable of being extended or contracted, and not
prevent the locomotion of the machine; when air or water shall be the
medium employed the reservoir of air or water may be at some con-
venient place without the mine or above ground, the air or water being
conveyed from thence in pipes to the machine in the workings of the
mine or quarry.
Any other mode of communicating motion may be adopted, the
modes of giving motion to the machine forming no part of the Inven-
tion. I may, however, observe that in those mines in which it shall be
desirable to promote ventilation compressed atmospheric air may in
some cases be used, the air after being used for working the machine
or machines in such cases upon being expelled or given out therefrom
ventilating or improving or increasing the ventilation of the mines,
pits, or other places wherein the machines may be employed. And it
may also be observed, that during the intervals whilst the machine
may in such cases be out of action the ventilation of a mine may be

page_text: maintained or promoted by opening a tap or taps in the pipe or pipes
used for conducting the air down to the machine or machines in the
mine. The pipes used for conveying compressed air or water. or such
portions of them as may be immediately in connexion with the
machine or machines, may be made of gutta percha, india-rubber, or
other elastic material, so that they may be coiled up, and thus afford
greater facility for the machine or machines being advanced or moved
from time to time, as may be required, by uncoiling such pipes
without breaking their connexion with the machine. But in case of
metal pipes alone being employed it is proposed to make them with
slide joints, and to apply them so that they shall, at the parts near the
machine or machines, slide within one another, or have universal joints,
so as to be capable of elongation and contraction, and thus allow the
machine to be advanced or moved from time to time as required.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed, I
declare that I do not claim any of the clements or parts of the machi-
nery above described as being separately any part of my said Inven-
tion; and that I claim as of my said Invention the combination of a
moveable lever and wheels, with an endless chain, band, or strap
furnished with suitable cutters, the whole being mounted on any
convenient frame, and receiving motion in any convenient manner for
the purpose of hewing, cutting. or excavating coals and other material>,
in manner above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Peace, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the First day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
WILLIAM PEACE. (L.S.)
Witness.
WILLIAM NICHOLSON GILBANK.
Clerk to Sharpe, Field, & Jackson.
41, Bedford Row, Middlesex, Solicitors.

page_text: COAL SEAM