Improvements in Machines for Tunneling, Drifting, or Heading.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Tunneling, Drifting, or Heading.
We, THOMAS WILKINSON of Netherseal Colliery near Burton on Trent, Colliery
Manager, and ERNEST HAGUE of Castledyke, Sheffield, Mining Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for cutting or boring drifts,
headings, or tunnels, in any kind of strata ; and the invention consists essentially in
the peculiar construction of the revolving cutter-head hereafter described, and in the
means of clearing it of the débris or spoil concurrently with the progress of the work,
also in the means of driving the cutter-head, and in the other adjuncts of the machine
whereby the débris or spoil is conveyed away and loaded into trolleys whilst the
boring is in progress.
The cutter-head is mounted to revolve about an axis coincident with that of the
heading or drift to be cut; and it consists of a frame of radial arms inclined back-
wards so as to generate, by their revolution the figure of a flat cone, chisel-like cutters
being set in the arms and projecting from the face thereof, the cutters of consecutive
arms being set at different radii so as to break joint or act on different zones of the
face of the work, and the cutters of alternate (or other arms) which cutters correspond
in radius being set so as to make a progressively advancing depth of cut. Thus, the
depth of cut or work done upon each zone is distributed or split up by the chisels
having a different lead on alternate arms.
The central portion of the cutting head is set to work in advance of the part near
the circumference, in order to afford more clearance space for the débris, the two
parts of the head turning together and acting as one. The cutting-head is provided
with ploughs or scoops at the circumference which gather the débris and raise and
discharge it into a hopper in rear of the cutting-head whence it is conveyed to the rear
by a chain pump or other conveyor.
The cutting-head is driven by a pair of engines running in reverse directions and
acting through gearing on the cutting head at diametrically-opposite points. These
engines also operate a propelling or feed motion by which the whole machine, together
with the train of trolleys into which the débris is discharged, is continuously advanced
as the cutting proceeds.
The conveyor for the débris extends over the train of trolleys, and is adapted to
discharge into any one of them as required, the trolleys being carried on a platform
running on rails and supporting a framework on which the conveyor is mounted.
Dated this 14th day of January 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Tunneling, Drifting, or Heading.
We, THOMAS WILKINSON of Netherseal Colliery, near Burton-on-Trent, Colliery
Manager, and ERNEST HAGUE of Castledyke, Sheffield, Mining Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement —
This invention relates to improvements in machinery for cutting or boring drifts,
headings, or tunnels; and the invention consists essentially in the peculiar construction

page_text: of the revolving cutter-head hereafter described, and in the means of clearing it of
the débris or spoil concurrently with the progress of the work, also in the means of
driving the cutter-head, and in the other adjuncts of the machine whereby the débris
or spoil is conveyed àway and loaded into trolleys whilst the boring is in progress.
In order that the invention may be readily understood, we will proceed to describe
it with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification,
in which
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional elevation of the entire machine as at
work in the heading, and
Figure 2 shews a plan of the same, the cutter-head only being in section.
Figure 3 is a face view of the cutter-head, and
Figure 4 is an end view of one of its arms.
Figure 5 is a rear end view shewing the conveyor supporting frame.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The cutter A A¹ is mounted to revolve about an axis coincident with that of the
heading or drift to be cut, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and consists of an open
frame of radial arms a strengthened by a ring b, as shewn in Figure 3, inclined back-
.wards on the working faces from the centre to the circumference, as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, chisel-like cutters c being set in the arms a and projecting from the
working faces thereof, as shewn in Figure 4, the cutters of consecutive arms being
set at different radii so as to follow the intervals between the preceding cutters and
so act on different zones of the face of the work. It will be seen, by Figures 1 and 2,
that the cutting edges of the chisels are at the same inclination as the face of the
arms and that in their revolution they describe the figure of a flat cone, the cutters
which coincide in radius (i.e. those of alternate arms, in the example) being set to
make a progressively advancing depth of cut so that the cut or work done upon each
zone is equally divided amongst the cutters working on that zone.
The central portion A of the cutting head is set to work in advance of the part A¹
of greater radius, in order to afford more clearance space for the débris, the two
parts A A¹ of the head turning together and acting as one.
The cutting head is provided at back, near the circumference, with ploughs or
scoops d which in their revolution with the cutter-head gather and raise the débris
and discharge it into a hopper e in rear of the cutting-head whence it is conveyed to
a train of trolleys at the rear of the machine by a chain pump C or other conveyor.
The cutting head is driven by a pair of compressed-air engines D D¹ whose crank
shafts run in reverse directions and are geared through spur and bevel gear fg with
a ring of teeth on the back of the cutting-head. The shaft E is fast in the cutter
head and operates a self-acting feed motion by which the whole machine, together
with the train of trolleys into which the débris is discharged, is continuously advanced
as the cutting proceeds. This feed motion consists of the worm i worm-wheel j
pinion k and spur-wheel 1 fast on the axle of one pair of carrying wheels.
The conveyor C for the débris is supported on the framing of the machine and
extends over the train of trolleys and is supported above the same by an arched
framework F, Figure 5, running on the same rails as the boring machine, the trolleys
running on an inner set of rails. The conveyor tube is provided with doors at the
under side at which the débris may be discharged into any one of the trolleys, as
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;
1. In a tunnel-boring machine, the revolving cutter-head having cutters set therein
for operation, substantially as herein described.
2. In a tunnel boring machine, the combination, with a revolving cutter-head, as
herein described, of a pair of oppositely running engines driving the cutter-head, as.
specified.
3. In a tunnel boring machine, the combination with a revolving cutter-head, as

page_text: herein described, of a pair of oppositely running engines driving the cutter head, and
of a self-acting feed motion for keeping the boring machine up to its work, as
specified.
4. In a tunnel boring machine, the combination, with the revolving cutter head, of
the scoops for raising the débris, as described.
5. In a tunnel-boring machine, the combination, with the revolving cutter head, of
the scoops, and of a conveyor extending to the rear, said conveyor being mounted on
a bridge-shaped wheeled frame to admit a train of trolleys beneath it and provided
with doors for discharging the débris into any one of the trolleys as required.
Th: 14th day of An1000
T. WILKINSON.
E. HAGUE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.