IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRILLING
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Whitley, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Self-acting Tool Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRILLING."
Sealed the 12th June 1855, and dated the 31st March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Whitley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
March 1855.
I, CHARLES WHITLEY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Self-
acting Tool Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRILLING " to be as follows:--
The improvements relate to arranging a series of drill or cutter .holders so
that they may have a simultaneous motion given to them, to cause the drills
or cutters carried thereby to move and cut in directions towards or from a
common centre, or to or from lines crossing each other, in order to their being
capable to drill two or more holes simultaneously or separately in different
parts of a cylindrical surface or a several sided figure.
A central toothed wheel takes into and drives pinions upon axes, each of
which by a bevelled pinion gives rotatory motion to a cutter holder. Upon each
of these axes is also affixed an eccentric, which by a connecting rod actuates

page_text: a ratchet or driver to take into a suitable ratchet wheel, and give the desired
feed motion to each cutter; but these details may be varied.
The advantages in this Invention are in being enabled to drill a railway
carriage tire or tyre and wheel together on the axle, or separately, as the case
may be, in a horizontal position, with the assistance of a crane appliance for
lifting the axle and wheels in and out of position; and more particularly when
re-tyring wheels, as the drills or cutters are sure to meet the old holes in the
wheels, without the necessity for taking the wheels from the axles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Whitley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WHITLEY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Self-acting Tool Maker,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Whitley, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Whitley, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Whitley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR DRILLING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Charles Whitley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Whitley, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):-

page_text: The windlass d² is driven by the handle de, upon the axis of which is formed
or affixed the pinion d', which takes into and drives a larger pinion de fixed to
the axis d, upon the other end of which is fixed the small pinion do, which
takes into and drives the larger pinion d", affixed upon the axis of the
windlass, by which power is obtained to drive the same, as is well under-
stood.
When a railway carriage axle with its wheels or other article to be drilled
is brought up to the apparatus, it may readily be lifted by being attached to
the hook d, and then by turning the crane into the position shewn by the
Drawing, such article will be brought over the centre of the apparatus, and
when lowered on to the supports e will be in a position suitable to be operated
upon by the several cutters c. The supports e, e, are capable of adjustment
and of being fixed as set by set screws, as shewn. The cutters c (of which
I have shewn four, but their number may be varied,) are each applied so
as to be readily removed and replaced as required in a holder c', which is
capable of sliding to and fro, so as to take it up to its work and keep it in
operation within the socket &, there being a feather on each cutter holder
c', which is capable of sliding in a groove prepared for it in its socket c³,
and the sockets are capable of revolving in bearings a formed in the
standards a carried by the bed a, and in doing so they will consequently
give rotary motion to the cutter holders and their cutters. This rotary
motion is obtained in the following manner-f is the main axis, which
receives motion from a steam engine or other suitable power by means of
a strap or band acting upon the drum or pulley f¹ affixed on that axis.
Upon this axis f is also affixed the bevilled pinion f, which takes into
and drives the bevilled pinion g upon the axis g', upon which is affixed a
pinion, the teeth of which take into and drive the toothed wheel h, which
rotates upon the centre pin h', and whose teeth take into the teeth of the
several pinions i, i, which are affixed to axes i", which rotate in fixed bearings
carried by the bed or frame a, and each of which has affixed upon its upper
end a bevilled pinion 2, which takes into and drives a bevilled pinion c³ affixed
one on each of the sockets c², by which simultaneous rotary motion will be
given to all the sockets c² and the cutters carried thereby.
Upon each of the axes ¹ is also affixed an eccentric 2, which by means of
a rod j, gives motion to a lever j', which turns upon the axis k and carries a
driver, which takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel k upon the axis k,
upon which is formed or affixed a worm wheel k², which takes into and gives
a slow motion to the pinion ³ upon the axis k', upon which is affixed a pinion
ks, which takes into a rack c', formed on each cutter holder c¹. The pinions k³

page_text: slide upon feathers formed upon their respective axes, and are capable
of being moved thereon as required by the handles k, so as to be in or out of
gear with the screw threads. When they are in gear with those worm
wheels or screw threads ², and the various parts have been adjusted in position
as desired, and the axis f is set in motion, the various cutters will not only
have simultaneous rotary motion given to them, but they will also have pro-
gressive motion to follow up the cut which each cutter produces. And if
desired to stop the progressive motion of any one or more of the cutters whilst
the others are still progressing, it will only be necessary to act upon the lever
handle of such cutter, to withdraw its wheel ³ from its worm wheel k², when
the further progressive motion to such cutter will cease, and when thus
released such cutter or cutters will be drawn back by a weight attached to
one end of a cord or band ', the other end of which is attached to a pulley 12,
affixed one on each axis k³.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the means
which I adopt in carrying the same into practice, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shewn and described,
as variations may be made therein without departing from the general character
of my improvements; and the drills, in place of pointing in a direction
inwards, as shewn, may point in a direction outward at the time of cutting;
but what I claim is, the so arranging, combining, and working drilling appa-
ratus that the cutters may have simultaneous motion given to them to cut in
directions towards or from a common centre, or towards or from lines crossing
each other, as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Whitley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JOHN WATKINS,
Manchester.
CHARLES WHITLEY. (L.S.)