Charles Henry Waring
Charles Henry Waring (1818-1887)
Coal-cutting Machine
'Mr. Charles H. Waring, the Mining Engineer of the Neath Abbey Coal Company, has constructed several ingenious working models, and a machine, worked at present by two men. From its performance under these circumstances, it is very desirable that steam power should be applied to it. ..... The hand machine, of which two views are given, consists of two saws, which make the upper and lower parts of each cut respectively, and are advanced alternately, one before the other, by means of a screw. After numerous trials, extending over a period of five or six years, of various kinds of circular and other cutters, the form of teeth exhibited is found to yield the best effect. ..... Mr. Waring proposes to attach a small air cylinder to this machine, connected by pipes with an air forcer on the water pumping engine. The air thus discharged near the roof of the heading would be sufficient, in many instances, to dilute the gas given off, without the necessity of driving, as is usual, a second parallel airway, connected with the first at intervals by thirlings. Under such circumstances an important saving might be obtained. Engine power is about to be applied to the machine, for the purpose of driving a heading 1800 yards in length, at the Bryndawe Colliery, near Neath, and, even should this prove to be as expensive as the ordinary system of driving airways, an important gain will, in my opinion, result in the time required for opening out a colliery. ..... This engine compresses the air and forces it through the pipes, from which it is taken to the air cylinder on the coal-cutting machine by a flexible hose; fresh pipes being laid, as required, to bring the "main" up to the face of the work.'[1]
1888 Obituary [2]
CHARLES HENRY WARING was born at Plas-y-velin, the residence of his father, Mr. Elijah Waring, near Neath, Glamorganshire, on the 12th of December, 1818.
In 1832 he became a pupil of the late Mr. Joseph Tregelles Price, of the Neath Abbey Ironworks and Collieries, and went through the usual educational routine of a mechanical engineer from the pattern shop to the drawing-office. He also learnt surveying, and for some time carried on the plans of the Neath Abbey Coal Company's Collieries ; and in 1835 he was severely burnt in an explosion of gas occurring while he was measuring a part of one of the collieries which had not been worked for some weeks.
He attended generally to the conduct of the mines, the measurement of the work, and to the accounts both of the ironworks and the collieries ; and to the construction of steam engines, machinery, and iron ships, becoming thus acquainted with the mechanical, mining, and commercial branches of the businesses.
He was a managing partner of the Neath Abbey Engine-factory and Iron Shipbuilding works from 1845 to 1851, when he sold his interest in them ; and of the Abernant Iron Company's Iron Smelting Works in the Vale of Neath, from 1845 to 1868, when they were given up.
From 1854 to 1874 he was a managing partner of the Neath Abbey Coal Company's Collieries at Neath Abbey and the Vale of Neath, in the conduct and management of which he was engaged from 1834.
In addition to these works, he reported and advised on other collieries and coal properties and made valuations of collieries, ironworks, and mines. In the Exhibition of 1851 he had some coal-cutting machines ; but at that time he could get no one, except the late Mr. Charles May, M.Inst.C.E., to believe in the possibility of using compressed air for working machines for this purpose, so his patents wore allowed to expire.
In the Exhibition of 1862 he had a patent safety-lamp, which was honourably mentioned. By simple mechanical means the collier was prevented from opening it without extinguishing the light, and it was self-locking and required no key.
About the year 1874 he retired from active business, and spent the remainder of his life principally in literary pursuits. He was a well-known contributor to some of the lighter journals and magazines of the day. In this connection it is related that in one case he so closely imitated the style of Carlyle's Saner Besartus as to deceive at least one American editor, who republished the essay as from the pen of the Chelsea Philosopher himself.
Mr. Waring was elected an Associate on the 3rd of December, 1850, and was transferred to Member on the 7th of May, 1871.
He died, after a long and painful illness, on the 9th of September, 1887.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ [1] ( i ) NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING ENGINEERS. TRANSACTIONS VOL. II 1853 & 1854. Second edition NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE: ANDREW REID, 117, PILGRIM STREET, 1863
- ↑ 1888 Institution of Civil Engineers: Obituaries