Improvements in Coal Mining Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1895
'omplete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coal Mining Machines.
I, JONATHAN WASHINGTON HARRISON, of Ypsalauti Washtenaw County,
State of Michigan, United States of America, Farmer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :—
My invention relates to an improved coal mining machine and consists in a series
of cutters arranged on suitable bars and means for giving the same a reciprocating
movement, and means for automatically feeding said bars and cutters forward and
means for rapidly moving the same back, and means for elevating or lowering the
machine to the floor, together with the peculiar construction, arrangement and
combination of the cutters and the manner of operating the same, and certain
other details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter
described.
To put my invention into practice. and thereby construct a machine for under-
mining or cutting coal, I provide a frame of a suitable size and firmly mount the
Bame upon wheels in such a manner that the said frame may either be suspended to
axles, or dropped to and resting on the floor. To accomplish this vertical movement
of the frame, the axles are arranged in guides, at the front and rear of the
machine by means of hand levers, pivoted to a frame. When the said levers are
at rest in an horizontal position in the grooves, the same forms a support for the
platform upon which the operator may stand while working the machine. Arranged
at one side of the machine and supported by the frame, are two cylinders, fitted
with steam chests, pistons, slides, slide-bars, valve-rods, and eccentrics, attached to
a drive shaft, secured in bearings at the other side of the machine, together with
all the several other parts of a steam engine common to the art. Each of the
piston rods are connected to a pitman, pivoted by meaus of a wrist pin, to a disk
crank, each of which is rigidly attached to the drive shaft. Attached to this shaft,
between the bearings, is a pinion, which is in mesh with a small toothed wheel,
secured to a counter shaft below. This shaft is suitably mounted in bearings
beneath the upper shaft, and is provided with a gear wheel, which in its turn
transmits its motion to a large toothed wheel, attached to a second drive shaft.
This shaft is arranged in bearings and is provided with large disk. cranks at each
end, which are connected by pitmen to a sliding carriage capable of a reciprocating
movement in the direction of the length of the frame.
By meaus of this chain of gearing above described and the disk cranks and their
connecting pitmen the table or carriage has a rapid reciprocating movement as well
as an increase in the length of the stroke over that of the pistons.
This reciprocating carriage consists of the two side pieces operating along slides,
and connected together through an oblong opening, in each side of the frame by
means of stout bars and wedges. To further strengthen this carriage two flat bars
or braces are securely riveted in a diagonal position beneath the bars mounted in
the bearings supported upon and attached to the cross bars is a shaft which operates
the feed mechanism, hereinafter described. This shaft is provided with four wheels
of a peculiar construction, each of which is provided with a double row of teeth or
pins arranged at regular intervals about the periphery and adapted to engage with
a like number of bars, provided with registering openings and capable of moving
transversely through the carriage. These bars each consist of a steel bar of
suitable length having rounded, edges, and the forward end of each are provided

page_text: with a dove-tail recess to attach the same to the cutter bars, and each provided
with a double row of circular openings, having flaring mouths and adapted to
engage with the teeth of the toothed wheels. Attached to this same shaft are two
worm wheels which engages with two worms mounted on separate and independently
operated shafts. These shafts are each mounted in bearings formed in brackets
attached to or integral with the sliding carriage, and are attached in position by
means of nuts screwed on the threaded ends of the same. One of these shafts is
for the purpose of operating the feed of the left hand cutter bar, and the other for
the right hand bar; therefore the description relating to the one will substantially
cover the other except that the parts are right and left. To operate these shafts
by the reciprocating movement of the carriage, the same are each provided with
small ratchet wheels, each of which is rigidly attached to the said shafts and
provided with an elongated hub, upon which is mounted triangular shaped levers
capable of being oscillated. Each of these levers are fitted with a pawl pivoted in
position by means of a pin and having an upward integral extension, against which
one end of a spring bears, and a portion of said spring coiled about a pin, and the
free end attached to another pin secured in the side of the triangular levers.
Attached to the said levers are bearings which support a pivoted lever to engage
with the upright portion of the pawl. By means of this pawl the lever is locked or
made to revolve with the shaft when oscillated in one direction, and loose when
moved in the other, and by means of the lever the extension may be moved by the
integral portion of the said pawl to disengage the same from the ratchet wheel.
These oscillating levers are operated by a stationary frame attached to the inside
of the main frame by means of bolts. This frame consists in a bent bar having
attached thereto two other bars, each of which support the means for operating
the levers while the same are moving back and forward beneath the same.
Arranged upon each of these bars is a distributing guide plate attached in position
by means of bolts passing through slots formed in the direction of the length of
the same.
Each of these plates is arranged in connection with a slide plate
which projects slightly below the lower edge to form a shallow channel in which
the tip of the levers operate. Formed at one end of each of these guide plates are
inclined surfaces which, in connection with the wedge-shaped portion formed on
the inner ends of two other plates adjustably attached to the sides of the bars,
form passages through which the points of the levers pass to give the same an
oscillating motion to rotate the shafts.
This mechanism above described is for the purpose of feeding the bars forward
slowly and evenly while the machine is engaged in undercutting the coal, and to
provide a device for rapidly recovering the bars when fed to their full length or
bring the same to their former position, the pawls are disengaged from their ratchet
wheels, the device arranged at the forward ends of the shafts for this purpose.
This device consists of a small toothed wheel loosely mouthed upon said shafts
and each formed with a hub upon which ratchet wheels are rigidly connected.
Arranged at one side of each of these sets of wheels is a disk rigidly connected to
the said shafts by set screws and each having pivoted thereto by means of a pin a
pawl to engage with the said ratchet wheels. A spring attached to a lug and
bearing on the pawls serves as a means of keeping the same engaged with the
teeth of the ratchet wheel. Pivoted to the frame above the toothed wheel by
means of a pin is a rack or bar, capable of being elevated out of the reach of
the said wheel or dropped down into mesh with the same. This bar is operated
with a hand lever attached to a shaft suitably journalled in horizontal position
beneath the forward ends of the cylinders. Attached to this shaft is a crank
loosely connected to a bar pivoted to the free end of the rack bar. Arranged in
connection with the hand lever is a curved piece with notches to engage with the
dog lever, and the said curved piece attached to and supported by a bolt passing
through lugs formed integral with the said curved piece and through the cross-
plate in such a manner that when the said lever is thrown down and the
dog engaged with the lower notch, the rack bar is in mesh with the toothed

page_text: wheels, and when in a certain position said rack bar is disengaged from the said
wheels.
By means of this mechanism last described the rack bar may be engaged with
the toothed wheels (having first released the pawls), the bars may be rapidly
moved back after undercutting the coal to the desired depth.
To operate the feed mechanism by hand for the purpose of adjusting the cutter
bars and when fitting the machine together, a hand wheel is rigidly attached to
each shaft, and having hubs of a sufficient length to support the bearing of the
bar and spanning the space between the said shafts and used to support the ratchet
pawls and levers for operating the same. Attached to the said hubs at the
opposite sides of the support are ratchet wheels firmly attached to the said hubs,
each of which is provided with a pawl having a vertical integral lever, pivoted to
the support. These pawls are held in contact with their ratchet wheels by means
of springs and may be disengaged from said wheels by means of hand levers pivoted
to the bearings attached to the support bars and operated in about the same manner
as the levers before described.
By means of these hand wheels each cutter bar may be moved back and forward
and adjusted the one with the other by first lifting the levers to disengage the pawle
after which either of the shafts may be revolved to feed the bars forward or back
by simply revolving the hand wheel.
Operating transversely through the carriage are the bars previously described
which are coupled together in pairs at their forward ends by cutter bars. These
bars are attached in position by means of integral dove tailed projections formed
at the rear of each bar adapted to enter into corresponding recesses formed in the
forward ends of each bar and the several parts held rigidly together by means of
bolts. These cutter bars are arranged in an horizontal position, the one in line
with the other at a certain position and their abutting ends tongued and grooved to
hold the two horizontal but not to prevent the one working independent of the
other. Each of these bars are tapering and formed with a series of recesses
arranged in the top and bottom surfaces of said bars and used for the purpose of
attaching the cutter bars thereto by means of pawls.
The cutters attached to the tapering bars are of the same length from the
shoulder to the points, and as the large ends of the bars are inwards the cutters at
the middle project further than those at either side, making a gradual taper from
the centre of each end of the bar. These cutters are of two kinds, the one being
double pronged and adapted to cut at the top and bottom of the undercut, and
the other to remove the centre of the same. These cutters are arranged in paire
consisting of a single and double entter along the length of the two bars. The
double cutter consist in a clevis adapted to span the cutter bar transversely in one
of the recesses and be secured therein by the bolt, and two outwardly flaring tangs
terminating in bevelled chisel points: These tangs are bent at a right angle to
the clevis and the points curved outwardly in a manner that the same will be in
the lead and the body of the cutter kept at a short distance from the coal to
prevent unnecessary friction and clogging of the parts.
These cutters may be forged from a single piece of steel, but I prefer to have
removable points. These points are fitted in a recess formed in each shank of the
cutter, said recess having an integral rectangular portion and a bevelled V-shaped
end for the reception of the corresponding tongue, having inwardly bevelled
V-shaped shoulders to fit neatly about the V-shaped portion of the shank and a
recess to correspond and fit about the integral portion. A recess formed in the tip
of the point serves as a means of disconnecting said point from the shank by
inserting the point of the chisel or tool and tapping the same with a hammer.
It will be observed that the connection between the points and the shank of the
cutters is completed without the use of bolts or other fastening other than the
integral parts of the same, and the greatest strain of the work upon the points is
parallel with the cutter bars, and any strain towards or away from said bars will be
resisted by the integral portions and bevelled V-shaped portions. A number of

page_text: these points may be kept constantly on hand to replace without loss of time, those
that have become blunted by constant use.
Operating in conjunction with the above described double cutter for the purpose
of removing the centre of the undercut, a single diamond pointed cutter is arranged
between the points and attached to the bars at the rear of each double cutter, in
the manner above described.
These two described cutters are arranged in pairs, the smallest at the onter
extremities of the bars, and gradually increasing in length to the centre, and each
bar consisting of one of the double pointed cutters and one of the single or
diamond; the latter attached to the bar at the rear of the former and the points of
the cutters of each bar extending in opposite directions, thereby dividing the
work of undermining the coal between the back and forward movement of the
carriage.
By thus arranging the cutters the coal is cut in a series of steps which affords
a means of entering or feeding the one set of cutters forward while the other set is
cutting the coal.
To afford a means for holding the machine stationary while in operation two
sockets are formed in a frame, the one at the front and the other at the
rear in which are placed a device which consists of a bar having a tapering
end and a threaded shaft fitting with a large ant. This uut is formed with a
series of radial openings for the purpose of entering a bar to turn the same.
A tube of the proper length to correspond to the height of the room is placed
on the top of the nut and a ball socket in the top of the tube. This socket consists
of a flange having barbs to engage with the roof, a socket to engage with the
ball, the cylinder portion and flange to bear against the top of the tube, and a
socket to confine the same in the mouth of said tube.
The tapering portion of this last described apparatus is placed in the socket,
having first lowered the machine to the floor by the means of the lever as above
described and the several parts are fitted together and the nut operated to lengthen
the device until the desired pressure has been placed on the machine.
The single or diamond pointed cutter at the other ends of the bars are in the
lead or advance of the double pronged cutters, which is preferable, as the same
will plough a groove in the centre of the undercut and lessen the resistance offered
to the double pointed cutters following, while in each of the other pairs the double
cutter takes the lead, as the work is somewhat easier compared with that of the
two leading cutters before mentioned, which are at the end of the stroke brought
against the solid,ends or walls of the undercut.
The operation of the machine constructed as described is as follows:-The
machine is placed in position close to the breast of the coal, the cutters having
been previously run back to their limit. The machine is lowered to the floor by
means of the hand levers and the brace, arranged in position in the manner
described. Compressed air is admitted into the cylinders through the pipe and the
engine operated in a manuer well known in the art. The motion of the pistons is
transmitted through the train of gearing to the shaft giving the disk cranks a
rapid rotary movement. This rotary movement of the disks gives the carriage a
reciprocating movement by being connected thereto by the pitmen. This backward
and forward movement of the carriage operates the cutters to plough a furrow or
undermine the coal which, in practice, would be about three inches high and five
feet long. It will be noticed that the cutters at the centre of the apparatus project
further into the coal than those toward the end of the bars, making a gradual.
taper both ways from the inner ends of the cutter bars, thereby engaging said
cutters at the centre first. This gradual taper of the position of the cutters will
form the breast of the furrow into a series of steps, each of which is of a length
equal to the length of one-half the stroke of the carriage, thereby permitting the
cutters to be fed forward without coming into contact with any portion of the coal.
The pointed cutters at each outer end of the bars ploughs a groove and is followed
by the double chisel-shaped cutter which removes the portion above and below

page_text: said groove, leaving a comparatively smooth surface at the bottom of the undercut,.
and as the feed is regular each set of cutters is brought against the end of thu
steps removing the same in order to form others. The feed of each bar takes:
place at the end of the stroke of the carriage and moves the idle cutters forward
into the step at the rear of their last cut and at the opposite stroke the other bar
is fed forward, thereby undermining the coal to the depth of the movement of the
supporting bars.
This feed of the cutter bars is accomplished by the points or triangular levers
in their movement beneath the stationary frane entering between the inclined
surfaces and small rotating shafts and at the backward movement of the said levers
moves the pawls back to engage with the other teeth of the ratchet wheels to again.
revolve said shafts in the same direction. This rotary motion of the shafts is.
transferred by means of the worms and wheels to the shaft and from the said shaft.
to the stub wheels, thereby moving each set of supporting bars alternately to feed
the cutter bars forward.
After the cutters have undermined the coal to their entire depth or full length.
of the movement of the same, it is necessary to bring the said bars back to their
former position the levers are elevated to disengage the pawls from their ratchet
wheels in the manner described to permit the shaft to revolve freely in their
bearings. The ratchet bar is lowered into mesh with the gear wheels by means of
the hand lever. The engine is started and the table or carriage moved back and
forward or reciprocated, as above described. At this movement of the carriage.
the gear wheels are rapidly rotated in both directions as they move along the
stationary rack bar and by the operation of the pawls the ratchet wheels rotate.
the said shaft in an opposite direction to that when the same are feeding the-
cutters forward.
To operate the bars by hand for the purpose of regulating and otherwise-
adjusting the various parts of the feed mechanism, it is only necessary to
disengage the pawls by means of their levers from the ratchet wheels and.
operate the levers to engage their pawls with the ratchets and by revolving the
hand wheels move the bars to the desired position.
It has been demonstrated by actual working of a machine constructed
substantially as described that an undercut into the solid coal can be made at.
the rate of a square yard per minute, and has been thoroughly tested for rapidity,.
durability and simplicity of operation in the various coal mines.
Dated this 1st day of March 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Coal Mining Machines.
I, JONATHAN WASHINGTON HARRISON of Ypsalanti, Washtenaw, State of
Michigan, United States of America, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of
this 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 an improved coal mining machine, and consists of a
series of cutters arranged on suitable bars, a means for giving the same a
reciprocating movement, a means for automatically feeding the said bars.
forward, a means for rapidly moving the same back, a means for elevating or
lowering the machine to the floor, together with the peculiar construction,
arrangement, and combination of the cutters and manner of operating the same,
and certain other details of construction, and combination of parts as will be fully
described hereinafter.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,-
Fig. 1, is a plan view of my improved coal mining machine, having the cutters
and a portion of the feed bara removed therefrom.
Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same.
Fig. 3. is a rear sectional elevation of the machine, said section taken on the
line 2-2 of Fig. 8.
Fig. 4, is a rear sectional elevation taken on the line W-W of Fig. 8.
Fig. 5, is a sectional plan view taken on the line Y-Ý of Fig. 8.
Fig. 6, is a sectional plan view of the machine taken on the line X-X of
Fig. 8.
Fig. 7, is an end elevation of the machine having the feed bars and cutters
removed therefrom.
Fig. 8, is an end sectional clevation taken on the line C-C of Fig. 2.
Fig. 9, is an end elevation of the machine at work.
Fig. 10, is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 11, is an enlarged detail plan view of the stationary frame for operating the
feed mechanism.
Fig. 12, is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 13, is a sectional front elevation of the frame, said section taken on the
linet of Fig. 11.
Fig. 14, is a cross sectional elevation of the said frame taken on the line s—s of
Fig. 13.
.
Fig. 15, is an enlarged plan view of the feed shafts, and their connected
mechanism.
Fig. 16, is a sectional elevation taken through one of the gear wheels and
ratchet for recovering the feed or bringing the cutters back.
Fig. 17, is a sectional face view taken on the line m of Fig. 16.
Fig. 18, is a perspective view of the left hand triangular lever for operating the
feed of the cutters.
Fig. 19, is a perspective view of the right hand triangular lever.
Fig. 20, is a side elevation of one of the wrist or crank pins used in connection
with the machine.
Fig. 21, is a side elevation of one of the ratchets and support for operating the
feed by means of a hand wheel.
Fig. 22, is an end elevation of the same.
Fig. 23, is a side elevation of one of the triangular feed operating levers
together with its connected ratchet wheel, and means for operating the same.
Fig. 24, is an end sectional elevation of the same taken on the line P-P of
Fig. 23.
Fig. 25, is a front elevation of one of the cutter bars and a portion of the
other.
Fig. 26, is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 27, is a plan view of a portion of one of the feed bars.
Fig. 28, is a sectional end elevation of the said bar taken on the line N―N.
Fig. 29, is a front elevation of one of the feed bars.
Fig. 30, is a side olevation of the device used for holding the machine rigid
while in operation.
Fig. 31, is an enlarged plan view of one of the double cutters, showing a
removable point.
Fig. 32, is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 33, is a plan view of the said cutter having the point removed therefrom.
Fig. 34, is a plan view of the point removed from the shank.
Fig. 35, is a side elevation of the point.
Fig. 36, is a perspective view of one of the single pointed cutters arranged when
in position between the points of the outer or double cutter.
To put my invention into practice, and thereby construct a machine for
undermining or cutting coal, I provide a frame of a suitable size and form, and

page_text: mount the same upon wheels 19 in a manner that the said frame may be either
suspended to the axles 110, or dropped to and resting on the floor. To accomplish
this vertical movement of the frame 1, the axles 110 are arranged in guides 113,
at the front and rear of the machine, and operated by means of hand levars 111,
pivoted at 112 to the frame (see Figs. 7 and 8) and when the said levers 111, are
at rest in a horizontal position in the grooves 127, the saine forms a support for a
platform 135, upon which the operator may stand while working the machine.
Arranged at one side of the machine, and supported by the frame 1, are two
cylinders 2, fitted with steam chests 3, pistons 8, slides 25, slide bars 9, valve
roda 5, eccentrics 6, attached to a drive shaft 7, secured in bearings at the other
side of the machine; together with all the other parts of a steam engine common
to the art. Each of the piston rods 8 of these engines are connected to a
pitman 11, pivoted by means of a wrist pin 125 to disk crauks 10, each of
which is rigidly attached to the drive shaft 7. Attached to this shaft 7,
between the bearings is a pinion 12, which is in mesh with a small toothed
wheel 13, secured to a counter shaft 18 below. This shaft 18 is suitably mounted
in bearings beneath the upper shaft 7, and is provided with a gear wheel 14, which
in its turn, transmits its motion to a large toothed wheel 15 attached to a secon
driving shaft 16. This shaft 16 is arranged in bearings 17, and is provided with
large disk cranks 20, at each end which are connected by pitmen 21 to a sliling
carriage 22, capable of a reciprocating movement in the direction of the length
of the frame 1.
By means of this chain of gearing above described, and the disk cranks and
their connecting pitmen, the table or carriage 22, is given a rapid reciprocating
movement, as well as an increase in the length of the stroke over that of the
pistons. This reciprocating carriage consists of two side pieces 22, operating
along slides 130 (see Figs. 2 and 8) and connected together through an oblong
opening 89 in each side of the frame 1, by means of stout bars 34, and wedges 36.
To further strengthen the carriage 22, two flat bars or braces 35' are securely
riveted in a diagonal position (see Fig. 5) beneath the bars 34. Mounted in
bearings 33, supported upon and attached to the cross bars, is a shaft 35, which
operates the feeding mechanism hereinafter described. This shaft 35 is provided
with four wheels of peculiar construction, each of which is provided with a double
row of teeth or pins 127, arranged at regular intervals about the periphery and
adapted to engage with a like number of bars 23, provided with registering
openings 24, and capable of moving transversely through the carriage 22. These
bars 28, (see Figs. 27, 28 and 29) each consist of a steel bar of a suitable length,
having rounded edges, and the forward ends of which are provided with a dovo
tailed recess 96 to attach the same to the cutter bars 91, and each provided with a
double row of circular openings 24, having flaring months, and adapted to engage
with the teeth of the toothed wheels 126. Attached to this same shaft 35, are two
worm wheels 32, which engage with the two worms 30 mounted upon separate and
independently operated shaft 27-28 (see Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19) above.
These shafts 27-28 are each mounted in bearings formed in brackets 26, attached to
or integral with the sliding carriage 22, and are attached in position by means of nuts
screwed on threaded ends 29 of the same. One of these shafts is for the purpose
of operating the feed of the left hand cutter bar and the other for the right hand
bar. Therefore, the description relating to the one will substantially cover the
other, except that the parts are right and left. To operate these shafts 27-28 by
the reciprocating movement of the carriage 22, the same are each provided with
small ratchet wheels 40, each of which is rigidly attached to the said shafts, and
provided with an elongated hub 39, upon which is mounted triangular_shaped
levers 31, capable of being oscillated. Each of these levers 31, are fitted with a
pawl 43, pivoted in position by means of a pin 45, and having an upward integral
extension 46, against which one end of a spring 47 bears, and a section of said
spring coiled about a pin 48 secured in the side of the triangular levers 31.
Attached to the said lovers 31 are bearings 49 which support a pivoted lever 50,

page_text: to engage with the upright portion 46 of the pawl 43. By means of this pawl 43
the lever 31, is locked or made to revolve with the shaft when oscillated in one
direction, and loose when moved in the other, and by means of the lever 50, thic
-extension 51, may be moved up to the integral portion 46 of the said pawl to
disengage the same from the ratchet wheel 40. These oscillating levers 31 are
⚫ operated by a stationary frame 68 (see Figs. 12, 13 and 14) attached to the inside
of the frame 1, by means of bolts. This frame consists of a bent bar 68, having
attached thereto two bars 69, each of which support a means for operating the
levers 31, while the same are moving back and forward beneath the same.
Arranged upon each of these bars 69, is an adjustable guide 70 attached in
position by means of bolts 71, passing through slots 72, formed in the direction
of the length of same. Each of these plates 70 are arranged in connection with a
side plate 73, which projects slightly below the lower edge to form a shallow
channel in which the top of the levers 31 operate. Formed at one end of each
of these guide plates 70 are inclined surfaces 74, which in connection with a
wedge shaped portion 76 formed or the inner ends of the two plates 75,
adjustably attached to the sides of the bars 69, form passages through which the
points of the levers 31, pass to give the same oscillating motion to rotate the
-shafts 27-28.
This mechanism above described is for the purpose of feeding the bars 23
forward slowly and evenly, while the machine is engage.l in undercutting the
coal, and to provide a device for rapidly recovering the bars 23 when fed to their
full length, or bring the same to their former position. The pawls 43 are dis-
engaged from the ratchet wheels 40, and devices arranged at the forward ends of
the shafts 27-28 for this purpose. These devices each consist of a small toothed
wheel 60 (see Figs. 15, 16 and 17) loosely mounted upon said shafts, and each
formed with a hub 61 upon which the ratchet wheels 62 are rigidly connected.
Arranged at one side of each of these set of wheels is a disk 63, rigidly connected
to the said shafts by set-screws, and each having pivoted thereto by means of a
pin 67, a pawl 64 to engage with the said ratchet wheels 62. A spring 65, attached
to a lug 66, and bearing on the pawls 64, serves as a means of keeping the same
engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 62. Pivoted to the frame 1, above
the toothed wheels by means of a pin 78 is a rack bar 77, capable of being elevated
out of reach of the said wheel 60 or dropped down into mesh with the saine.
bar is operated by a hand lovor 84 attached to a shaft 80, suitably journalled in a
horizontal position beneath the forward ends of the cylinders 2, (see Figs. 3, 4
and 8). Attached to this shaft 80 is a shaft 81, loosely connected to a bar 79,
pivoted to the free end of the rack bar 77. Arranged in connection with the hand
lever 84 is a curved piece 82, with notches 83, to engage with the dog lever 85,
and the said curved piece attached to and supported by a bolt 86 passing through
lugs formed integral with the said curved piece and through a cross plate 87, in a
manner that when the said lever 84 is thrown down, and the dog 85 engaged with
the lower notch 83 of the rack bar 77, is in mesh with the toothed wheels 60 and
when in a position such as shown at F. 7 in the drawings, the said rack bar is
-disengaged from the said wheels.
This
By means of this mechanism last described, the rack bar 77, may be engaged
with the toothed wheels 60 (having first released the pawls 43) the bars 23 may be
rapidly moved back after undercutting the coal to the desired depth.
To operate the feed mechanism by hand, for the purpose of adjusting the cutter
-bars, and when fitting the machine (see Figs. 21 and 22) together, a hand wheel 57
is rigidly attached to each shaft 27-28 and having hubs 42 of a sufficient length
to support a bearing or bar 41, spanning the space between the said shafts, and
used to support the ratchet pawls and levers for operating the same. Attached to
the said hubs 42' each of which is provided with a pawl 43, having a vertical
integral lever 53, pivoted at 52, to the support 41. These pawls 43, are held in
contact with their ratchet wheels by means of springs 46, and may be disengaged
from said wheels by means of hand levers 54 pivoted to the bearings 58 attached.

page_text: to the supporting bar, and operated in about the same manner as the levers 50
before described. By means of these hand wheels 57, each cutter bar 91, may be
moved back and forward, and adjusting the one with the other by first lifting the
levers 50 to disengage the pawls 43 after which either of the shafts 27-28 may
be revolved to feed the bars 23 forward and back, by simply revolving the hand
wheel 57.
Operating transversely through the carriage 22, are the bars previously
described, which are coupled together in pairs at their forward ends by the cutter
bars 91. These Lars 91, are attached in position by means of integral dove tailed
projections 94, formed at the rear of each bar; adapted to enter into corresponding
recesses 96, formed in the forward ends of each bar 23, and the several parts held
rigidly together by means of bolts 95. These cutter bars 91, (see Figs. 25 and 26)
are arranged in a horizontal position, the one in line with the other at a certain
position, and their abutting ends tongued and grooved at 92, to hold the two
horizontal, but not to prevent the one working independent of the other. Each of
these bars 91, are tapering and formed with a series of recesses 93, arranged in the
top and bottom surface of the said bars, and used for the purpose of attaching the
cutters thereto by means of bolts 96.
The cutters attached to the tapering bars 91, are all the same length from the
shoulder to the points, and as the large ends of the bars are inward the cutters at
the middle project farther than those at either side, making a gradual taper from
the center to each end of the bar. These cutters are of two kinds, the one being
double pronged and adapted to cut at the top and the bottom of the undercnt, and
the other to remove the center of the same. These cutters are arranged in pairs,
onsisting of a single and a double cutter along the length of the two bars 91. The
double cutter 97, (Figs. 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35) consists in a clevis 105, adapted to
span the cutter bar 91, transversely in one of the recesses 93, and be secured
therein by a bolt 98, and two outwardly flaring tangs terminating in beveled chisel
points 99. These tangs are bent at right angles to the clevis 105, and the points
curved outwardly in a manner that the same will be in the lead, and the body of
the cutter kept a short distance from the coal to prevent unnecessary friction, and
clogging of the parts.
These cutters as described, may be forged from a single piece of steel, but
I prefer to have removable points such as shown in drawings. These points 99, are
fitted in a recess formed in each shank of the cutter, and said recess having an
integral rectangular portion 102, and a beveled V shaped end 104, for the reception
of a corresponding tongue 103, having inwardly beveled V shaped shoulders 100,
to fit neatly about the V shaped portion of the shank, and a recess 101 to
correspond and fit about the integral portion 102. A recess 107 formed in the
top of the point 99 serves as a means of disconnecting the said point from the
shank, by inserting a chisel or other tool and tapping the same with a hammer.
It will be observed that the connection between the points of the shank and the
catter, is completed without the use of bolts or other fastenings, other than the
integral parts of the same, and as the greatest strain of the work upon the points
is parallel with the cutter bars 91, and any strain toward or away from the said
bars will be resisted by the integral portions 102, and beveled V shaped
portions 104.
A number of these points may be kept constantly on hand to replace without loss
of time those that have become blunted by constant use.
Operating in conjunction with the above described double cutter for the purpose
of removing the center of the undercut, is a single diamond pointed cutter 108 (see
Fig. 36) arranged between the points 99, and attached to the bars 91, at the rear
of each double cutter, in the manner before described. These two described
cutters are arranged in pairs the smallest at the outer extremities of the bara 91,
and gradually increasing in length to the center, and each pair consisting of one of
the double pointed cutters and one of the single or diamond points; the latter
attached to the bar at the rear of the former, and the points or cutters of each bar
B

page_text: extending in opposite directions, thereby dividing the work of undermining the
coal between the forward and back movement of the carriage 22. By thus
arranging the cutters, the coal is cut in a series of steps 134, (see Fig. 10) which
affords a means of entering or feeding the one set of cutters forward while the
other set is cutting the coal.
To afford a means for holding the machine stationary while in operation, two
sockets 109 are formed in the frame 1, the one at the front, and the other at the
rear, in which is placed a device such as shown at Fig. 30 on the drawings, and
also shown in position at Fig. 9. This apparatus consists of a bar 114 having a
tapered end 115, and a threaded shaft 116 fitted with a large nut 117. This
nut 117 is formed with a series of radial openings 118 for the purpose of entering a
bar to turn the same. A tube 119 of the proper length to correspond to the
height of the room is placed on the top of the nut 117, and a ball socket in the top
of the tube. This socket consists of a flange having barbs 124, to engage with the
roof 132, a socket 123, to engage with the ball 122, a cylindrical portion 120, and
a flange 121 to bear against the top of the tube 119, and a socket 125, to confine
the same in the mouth of said tube. The tapering portion of this last described
apparatus is placed in the socket 109, having first lowered the machine to the
floor by means of a lever 111, as above described, and the several parts fitted
together as shown at Fig. 9 and the nut 117 operated to lengthen the device until
the desired pressure has been placed on the machine.
It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 10, on the drawings that the single or
diamond pointed cutter 108 at the outer ends of the bars 91, are in the lead or
advance of the double pronged cutters, which is preferable, as the same will plow a
groove in the center of the undercut and lessen the resistance offered to the double
pointed cutter 99, following while in each of the other pairs, the double cutter
takes the lead, as the work is somewhat easy to that of the two leading cutters
before mentioned, which are at the end of the stroke brought against the solid ends
or walls of the undercut.
The operation of the machine constructed as described is as follows:
The machine is placed in position close to the breast of the coal, the cutters
having been previously run back to their limit. The machine is lowered to the
floor by means of the hand levers 111, and the braces 119 arranged in position in
the manner described. Compressed air is admitted into the cylinders 2, through
the pipe 4, and the engine started in a manner well known in the art. The motions
of the pistons is transmitted through the train of gearing 12-13-14-15 to the
shaft 16, giving the disk cranks 20 a rapid rotary movement. This rotary
movement of the disks 20, gives the carriage 22 a reciprocating movement by
being connected thereto by the pitmen 21. This backward and forward movement.
of the carriage 22, operates the cutters to plow a furrow or undermine the coal
which in practice would be about.three inches high and five feet long. It will be
noticed (see Fig. 10) that the cutters at the center of the apparatus project farther
into the coal than those towards the ends of the bars, making a gradual taper both
ways from the inner ends of the cutter bars 91, thereby engaging the said cutters
at the center first. This gradual taper of the position of the cutters will form the
breast of the furrow into a series of steps, each of which is of a length equal to the
length of one half of the stroke of the carriage 22, thereby permitting the cutters
to be fed forward without coming in contact with any portion of the coal. The
pointed cutters 108 at each outer end of the bars 91, plows a groove, and is
followed by the double chisel shaped cutter, which removes a portion above and
below the said groove, leaving a comparatively smooth surface at the bottom of
the undercut, and as the feed is regular, each set of cutters is brought against the
end of the steps, removing the same, only to form others. The feed of each
bar 91, takes place at the end of the stroke of the carriage, and moves the idle
cutters forward, each into the step at the rear of their last cut, and at the opposite
stroke the other bar is fed forward, thereby undermining the coal to the depth of
the movement of the supporting bars 23. This feed of the cutter bars 91 is

page_text: accomplished by the points of the triangular levers 31, in their movement beneath
the stationary frame, entering between the inclined surfaces 74-76, and slightly
rotating the shafts 27-28 and at the backward movement of the said levers, moves
the pawls 43, back to engage with the other teeth of the ratchet wheels 40, to again
revolve the said shafts in the same direction. This rotary movement of the
shafts 27-28 is transferred by means of the worms 30 and wheels 32 to the
shaft 35, and from the said shaft to the stub wheels 126, thereby moving each set
of supporting bars 23 alternately to feed the cutter bars forward. After the
cutters have undermined the coal to their entire depth or full length of the
movement of the same, and it is necessary to bring the said bars back to their
former position, the levers 51, are elevated to disengage the pawls 43 from their
ratchet wheels, in the manuer described to permit the shafts 27-28 to revolve
freely in their bearings. The ratchet bar 77, is lowered into mesh with the gear
wheels 60 by means of the hand lever 84. The engine is started and the table or
carriage 22 moved back and forward or reciprocated as before described. At this
movement of the carriage 22, the gear wheels 60 are rapidly rotated in both
directions, as they move along the stationary rack bar 77, and by the operation of
the pawls 64, on the ratchet wheels 62, rotated the said shafts 27-28 in an
opposite direction to that when the same are feeding the cutters forward.
To operate the bars by hand for the purpose of regulating, fitting, and otherwise
adjusting the various parts of the feeding mechanism, it is only necessary to dis-
engage the pawls 43 by means of their levers from the ratchet wheels 40, and
operate the levers 54 to engage their pawla 43¹ with the ratchets 42, and by
revolving the hand wheels 57, move the bars 23 to the desired position.
It has been demonstrated by actual working of a machine constructed substan-
tially as described, that an undercut into solid coal can be made at the rate of a
square yard per minute, and has been thoroughly tested for rapidity, durability
and simplicity of operation in the various coal mines in this vicinity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:.
1. In combination with the cutter bar, the double pronged cutter having the
prongs flaring from each other and extending lengthwise of the cutter bar, and a
single cutter secured to the cutter alongside the double outter and extending
between the prongs of the double outter, substantially as described.
2. A cutter for undercutting coal, consisting of a removable point 103, and a
V shaped inwardly tapering shoulder 100, a recess 101, formed at the rear of the
tongue 103, a shank 97, adapted to be attached to the cutter bars, having a slot
for the reception of the said tongue 103, provided with registering V shaped
bearings, and integral portion 102 arranged within the said slot, whereby said
removable point may be retained in position without bolts or other fastener,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In combination, a reciprocating frame, cutter bars carried thereby, feeding
mechanism for said cutter bars, shafts 27-28 for operating the feeding mechanism,
a stationary frame above the shafts, levers 31 secured to the shafts by a pawl and
ratchet connection, said levers having points or extensions engaging openings in the
stationary frame whereby the reciprocation of the cutter carriage the said levers 31,
rotate the said shafts, substantially as described.
4. In combination with the cutter bars, shaft 35 and the feeding shafts 27-28
of a machine such as described, the ratchet wheels 42 attached thereto, the hand
wheels attached to the hubs of the said ratchet wheels, spring actuated pawls 43¹
to engage with the said ratchets, the levers 54 to operate the said pawl to disengage
the same, substantially as described.
6. In combination with the shaft 35, and the shafts 27-28 for moving the
cutter bars, and the means for rotating the said shafts 27, 28, the gear wheels 60,
attached to the ratchet wheels 62, disks 63, arranged in connection with the said

page_text: ratchet wheels rigidly attached to the shafts, spring actuated pawls 64, pivoted to
the said disks, and the rack bar 77, pivoted to the frame, and capable of being
lowered in mesh with the said gear wheels, or disengaged therefrom, as and for the
purpose described.
6. In a mining machine, a reciprocating frame consisting of side portions 22,
moving on guides on the main frame of the machine, a series of slots in said side
portions to receive the cutter bar supports, the bars 34, alternating with the slots,
extending between the sides 22, and diagonally arranged braces passing beneath
the tie rods and connected thereto, substantially as described.
7. In a mining machine, a pair of cutter bars joined together at their adjacent
ends by a tongue and groove connection, recesses in the top and bottom surface
adapted to receive suitable cutters secured thereto, feed bars for said cutters and
dove tail connection between said feed bars and cutter bars, substantially as
.described.
8. In combination with a machine such as, described the cutter bars, the foed
bars, each consisting of a bar of sufficient length having a dovetail recess formed
in the forward end, and a series of openings 24, formed with a bell mouth, and
spur wheels for feeding the bars, substantially as described.
9. In combination with the feed bars, the triangular levers 31, ratchets and
pawls, the stationary frame 58 and the platos 70 and 75 adapted to engage with
the said levers, the said plates being adjustable toward or from each other, the
parts being connected and operating substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of November 1805
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London,. W.C., Agents for the Applicant.