Richard Sutcliffe
Richard Sutcliffe was an Irish-born mining engineer who invented an early coal-cutting machine and, in 1905, the first underground belt conveyor used in coal mines.
What they did and why it matters
Sutcliffe showed that powered belts could replace manual hauling over long distances, a step toward the continuous material handling now standard in warehouses. His conveyor, first installed at a West Yorkshire colliery in 1905, used multiple rollers to keep the belt from slipping and moved coal from the cutting face far more efficiently than carts. He then manufactured conveyors and mining machinery in Horbury. Belt conveyors carrying cartons from pack stations to sorters and shipping docks today are refined versions of the principle he proved underground.
Related people
Sources
- Richard Sutcliffe (engineer) (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.org
- Richard Sutcliffe (Grace's Guide to British Industrial History) gracesguide.co.uk