Improvements in Coal Breaking Machines and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 12th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1397
Improvements in Coal Breaking Machines and the like.
I, PIERRE ALRIQ of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer, 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 :-
The present invention has for its object the construction of a machine for
breaking up coal, coke and similar materials, which may be operated either by
hand or mechanically, but so that the return of the tool, after it has finished its
work is rendered automatic.
I have represented in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, different
forms in which I may construct my machine for breaking up coal, &c. the
characteristic feature of which machine consists in a punch or piercer which acts
upon the blocks of coal.
In these drawings
Fig. 1 represents an apparatus worked by hand.
Figs. 2 and 3 show an elevation and a section of an apparatus operated
mechanically.
Fig. 4 indicates a section on line 3-4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 represents an apparatus operated mechanically but of a slightly different
arrangement.
My new apparatus consists mainly of a table A to which are secured brackets
carrying supports provided with passages for the screw-threaded rods carrying the
piercers. The blocks of coal or other material to be broken are placed on this
table A.
In Fig. 1 the screw B passes through a nut or sleeve secured to the support C.
The wheel or handle enables the workman to lower the piercer till the piece of
coal has been penetrated and broken. When the crank is released a helical
spring brings the piercer back to its original position by imparting a rotary
movement to the handle and to the screw B. When the coal is broken, it is
passed into a hopper D which is arranged in front of the operator.
In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the piercer is supported by a rod E which slides in a grooved
guide secured to the transverse beam F. The rods E are hinged to connecting
rods e which are all simultaneously moved by a crank-shaft G. In this apparatus,
the attendants seated in front of the piercer need not touch the piercers, they have
only to put pieces of coal or other material to be broken under the piercers and to
sweep the small broken pieces into the hoppers D.
The apparatus represented in Fig. 5 comprises a certain number of brackets or

page_text: standards such as H, on the upper part of which are mounted in bearings shafts I
provided on one side with bevel-wheels i engaging with other wheels i mounted on
a longitudinal driving shaft J. On the other side the shafts I carry vertical
friction discs K which are applied against horizontal discs L each of which is
connected to a screw M; the latter carrying the piercer. The discs L have
always a tendency to be raised by the helical springs N, secured above in any
convenient manner. The discs K are secured on the shafts I by keys which enable
these dises to move in the longitudinal direction of the shafts. A fork O secured
to a lever P actuated by a counterweighted treadle Q enables the discs K to be
brought nearer to or retracted from the discs L. Supposing the attendant presses
his foot on the treadle Q, the lever O is drawn towards the left, and the disc K is
consequently brought into engagement with the disc L.
If the workman releases the treadle Q the balance-weight R acting in the
opposite direction, causes the disc K to move away from the disc L. At the same
time the spring N raises the piercer. In case that owing to want of attention on
the part of the attendant he does not release the treadle Q at the desired moment,
I provide the apparatus in such manner that the distance between the upper face
of the disc I and the outer edge of the disc K is smaller than that between the
lower face of the disc L and the upper end of the nut or sleeve on the transverse
beam S. In this manner as soon as in its descent the disc L passes out of contact
with the disc K, the spring N raises the piercer without the possibility of any part
being broken.
It is obvious that instead of arranging the apparatus to operate vertically, it
may be arranged in a horizontally operating position.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. In a machine for breaking coals coke and similar materials a reciprocating
punch or piercer arranged vertically or horizontally.
2. In a machine for breaking coal and similar materials, a punch or piercer
secured to a screw passing through a screwed nut or socket said screw being
provided with a hand-wheel for lowering the piercer the raising of said tool being
effected either by a spring or by rotating the hand wheel in the opposite direction,
substantially as described.
3. In a machine for breaking coal and similar materials a punch or piercer
secured to a rod, reciprocating in a guide connected to a crank-shaft rotated by
any suitable means.
4. In a machine for breaking coal and similar materials, a punch or piercer
attached to the end of a screw which carries a friction disc engaging with another
friction driving disc the rotation of which may be stopped by means of a treadle
actuated by the attendant the quick rising of the tool being effected by means
of a spring substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of January 1897.
.BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.