IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING MACHINERY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK
DRILLING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad by Maschil Delorimer
Converse, of New York, in the United States of America.
ealed the 28th July 1876, and dated the 2nd February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February 1876.
ERNEST DE PASS, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING MACHINERY." A communi-
cation from abroad by Maschil Delorimer Converse, of New York, in the United
States of America.
These improvements consist in a new arrangement and operation of the valve
motion, and in the feeding device which regulates the advance movement of the
cylinder towards the rock, and in the arrangement of a plan for rotating the piston,
and in chuck and clamping device for attaching and holding the drilling steel to the
piston rod; also, in the construction of the tripod for supporting the machine.
The valve is made of a single piece, having a D valve formed on each end, also
having bevelled projections or tappets on each end, which pass through openings
into the cylinder, and are so constructed that when the piston is moved backward
and forward its rounded edges will come in contact with the bevelled projections,
which form tappets, and raising them will move the valves. In other words, when
one end of the valve is forced laterally from within the cylinder by the piston, the
other end moves laterally into the cylinder. The valve seats are arranged on the
inside of the steam chest parallel in line with the movement of the valve.
Steam or compressed air is admitted into the lower end of the cylinder, causing
the piston to move upwards until it comes in contact with the upper projecting
tappet or valve, and forcing it outward thereby causes the lower end of valve piece
to close the inlet port and open the exhaust port, and also closes the upper exhaust
1ort and opens the upper inlet port. By this arrangement the side pipe is dispensed
with, and thus the steam or compressed air is saved which otherwise would be con-
sumed in the side pipe at each revolution or stroke of the piston.
The feeding of the cylinder to the rock just in proportion to the boring done is
very essential, and unless the mechanism therefor is both simple and durable, its

page_text: use would be abandoned; this feature is therefore reduced to four moveable pieces.
A shaft is placed alongside of the cylinder, to the lower end of which an arm is
fastened, and projects direct into the cylinder; this arm is bevelled on its inner
edge to allow the piston to move under and raise it, and thus impart to the shaft
a rotating motion. At the upper end of this shaft another arm is attached, to
which is fastened a pawl, such pawl operating the common feed nut. The bevelled
arm is forced back within the cylinder by a spring, one end of which is attached
to the cylinder, and the upper end fitted into the pawl; this spring runs parallel
with the shaft, and is so shaped and arranged that it serves the double purpose of
holding the pawl into the teeth of the feed nut, and likewise presses the arm into
the cylinder.
Whenever the piston moves a slight distance towards the lower end of the
cylinder, after having passed the valve or tappet it strikes the bevelled edge of the
arm of the shaft, and lifting it imparts a rotating motion to the shaft, which in turn
operates the pawl and ratch nut. This regulates the advance of the cylinder to the
rock in proportion to the penetration made by the drilling bit, and allows the steam
or air to push or shove the cylinder forward in the frame with the least possible
strain to the feeding parts.
The rotation of the piston is done by the ordinary spiral bar and ratchet, but
ordinarily the spiral is placed inside the cylinder and through the head, which
necessitates a great amount of friction upon the piston in order to move the spiral
bar and ratchet. To reduce the friction ordinarily required for rotation the ratchet
is placed in the head and within the cylinder, so that it is surrounded by the
pressure of steam or compressed air. By this arrangement the pressure is removed
which would be upon it if it were placed through the head and the ratchet outside.
This arrangement allows the ratchet to rotate freely when the piston is going down,
and by the introduction of a ring or washer the ratchet is kept in the head and
fully protected from dirt, and also preventing dirt or metal from getting into the
cylinder.
The improvement in the chuck for holding the drill steel fast to the piston rod is
as follows: The piston rod is bored out to the usual depth, and rounded at the
bottom of the hole. A screw is cut on the piston rod back from its lower end, and
a hollow piece is screw threaded to suit, and screwed on. This hollow piece is
slotted and drilled with holes to receive bolts. The lower end of the hollow piece
is bored out to the same diameter as the bore in end of piston rod. The outside and
lower end of the piston rod is reduced in size, which leaves a space between the
piston rod and the hollow piece. By screwing the bolts the steel is tightly clamped
just at the lower or bottom end of the piston rod, thereby retaining the entire
strength of the piston rod for support of the drill steel, as also the hollow split sleeve
or ferrule, which forms a clamping device to fasten the drill bar, and gives additional
strength for supporting the same.
The tripod cumploys the usual frame or saddle in the centre, with cones or face
surfaces to bolt or fasten the back to. The two front legs are screwed into or
fastened to what are called hips, and are made of cast steel or other suitable
material. Each hip is bored for the reception of a screw, which passes through it
and into the saddle. On each side of the saddle is a conical recess, to which is
fitted the side of the hip, and as the screws are turned the hips are drawn firm and
close to the saddle. The back leg of the tripod has a fork attached, and the end of
the fork is shaped so as to surround a portion of the hips, and being separated by
a slot i bolt is used to draw these parts by springing them together. These legs
have each a foot which slides up and down inside them, and which can be fastened
by screws at any position, and also pieces clamped to them to rest weights upon in
the ordinary way.
.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd August
1876.
ERNEST DE PASS, of. Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING MACHINERY." A communi-
cation from abroad by Maschil Delorier_ Converse, of New York, in the United
States of America.
These improvements consist in a new arrangement and operation of the valve
motion, and in the feeding device which regulates the advance movement of the
cylinder toward the rock, and in the arrangement of a plan for rotating the piston,
and in chuck and clamping device for attaching and holding the drilling steel to the
piston rod; also, in the construction of the tripod for supporting the machine.
The valve is made of a single piece, having a D valve formed on each end, also
having bevelled projections or tappets on each end, which pass through openings
into the cylinder, and are so constructed that when the piston is moved backward
and forward its rounded edges will come in contact with the bevelled projections,
which form tappets, and raising them will move the valves. In other words, when
one end of the valve piece is forced latterally from within the cylinder by the piston,
the other end moves latterally into the cylinder. The valve seats are arranged on
the inside of the steam chest parallel in line with the movement of the valve.
Steam or compressed air is admitted into the lower end of the cylinder, causing
the piston to move upwards until it comes in contact with the upper projecting
tappet or valve, and forcing it outward thereby causes the lower end of valve piece
to close the inlet port and open the exhaust port, and also closes the upper exhaust
port and opens the upper inlet port. By this arrangement the side pipe is dispensed
with, and thus the steam or compressed air is saved which would otherwise be con-
sumed in such pipe at each revolution or stroke of the piston.
The feeding of the cylinder to the rock just in proportion to the boring done is
very essential, and unless the mechanism therefor is both simple and durable its
use would be abandoned; this feature is therefore reduced to four moveable pieces.
A shaft is placed alongside of the cylinder, to the lower end of which an arm is
fastened, and projects direct into the cylinder; this arm is bevelled on its inner
edge to allow the piston to move under and raise it, and thus impart to the shaft
a rotating motion. At the upper end of this shaft another arm is attached, to
which is fastened a pawl, such pawl operating the commom feed nut. The bevelled
arm is forced back within the cylinder by a spring, one end of which is attached
to the cylinder, and the upper end fitted into the pawl; this spring runs parallel
with the shaft, and is so shaped and arranged that it serves the double purpose of
holding the pawl into the teeth of the feed nut, and likewise presses the arm into
the cylinder.
Whenever the piston moves a slight distance towards the lower end of the
cylinder, after having passed the valve or tappet it strikes the bevelled edge of tho
arm of the shaft, and lifting it imparts a rotating to the shaft, which in turn
operates the pawl and ratch nut. This regulates the advance of the cylinder to the
rock in proportion to the penetration made by the drilling bit, and allows the steam
or air to push or shove the cylinder forward in the frame with the least possible
strain to the feeding parts.
The rotation of the piston is done by the ordinary spiral bar and ratchet, but
ordinarily the spiral is placed inside the cylinder and through the head, which
necessitates a great amount of friction upon the piston in order to move the spiral
bar and ratchet. To reduce the friction ordinarily required for rotation the ratchet
is placed in the head and within the cylinder, so that it is surrounded by the
pressure of steam or compressed air. By this arrangement the pressure is removed
which would be upon it if it were placed through the head and the ratchet outside.
This arrangement allows the ratchet to rotate freely when the piston is going down,

page_text: and by the introduction of a ring or washer the ratchet is kept in the head and
fully protected from dirt, and also prevents dirt or metal from getting into the
cylinder.
The improvement in the chuck for holding the drill steel fast to the piston rod. is
as follows: The piston rod is bored out to the usual depth, and rounded at the
bottom of the hole. A screw is cut on the piston rod back from its lower end, and
a hollow piece is screw threaded to suit, and screwed on. This hollow piece is
slotted and drilled with two holes to receive bolts. The lower end of the hollow piece
is bored out to the same diameter as the bore in the end of piston rod. The outside
and lower end of the piston rod is reduced in size, which leaves a space between the
piston rod and the hollow piece. By screwing these bolts the steel is tightly clamped
just at the lower or bottom end of the piston rod, thereby retaining the entire
strength of the piston rod for support of the drill steel, as also the hollow split sleeve
or ferrule, which forms a clamping device to fasten the drill bar, and gives additional
strength for supporting the same.
:
The tripod employs the usual frame or saddle in the centre, with cones or face
surfaces to bolt or fasten the back to. The two front legs are screwed into or
fastened to what are called hips, made of cast steel or other suitable material.
Each hip is bored for the reception of a screw, which passes through it and into the
saddle. On each side of the saddle is a conical recess, to which is fitted the side
of the hip, and as the screws are turned the hips are drawn firm and close to the
saddle. The back leg of the tripod has a fork attached, and the end of the fork
is shaped so as to surround a portion of the hips, and being separated by a slot, a
bolt is used to draw these parts by springing them together. These legs have each
a foot which slides up and down inside them, and which can be fastened by screws
at any position, and also pieces clamped to them to rest weights upon in the ordinary
way.
I now proceed, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, to describe the con-
struction and operation of the machine.
Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings are external views of the machine.
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views.
Figures 5 and 6 are part sectional views of the cylinder, showing the valve and
valve seats.
Figures 7 and 8 are cross section views of the cylinder through the ports and
valve, the one showing the valve open to exhaust and the other to supply.
Figures 9 and 10 are views showing the saddle and hips of the tripod, and the
bolts for clamping, &c.
Figure 11 is a plan.
Figure 12 is a section of ratchet on line o, o, of Figure 3.
The valve is made of a single piece, having a D valve formed on each end a, a,
Figure 3, and also having bevelled projections or tappets on each end b¹, b, which
projections pass through openings into the cylinder A, and are so constructed that
when the piston B is moved backward and forward its rounded edges will come in
contact with the bevelled projections b', b, which form tappets, and raising thei
will move the valves a, a. In other words, when one end of the valve piece is
forced latterally from within the cylinder by the piston the other end noves
latterally into the cylinder. The valve seats are arranged on the inside of the steam
chest C, parallel in line with the movement of the valve. Figures 5 and 6 show
the valve seats and the valve in the chest arranged so as to turn on a bolt or shaft
in the centre.
In Figure 8 the valve is shown in position for supplying steam or compressed
air, and in Figure 7 it is shown as exhausting. The operation of the valve is plainly
shown by the sectional view in Figure 3, where the piston B is represented at the
lower end of the cylinder, and having struck the tappet b, has moved it out and
thrown the other end in. This movement admits the steam or compressed air into
the lower end of the cylinder, causing the piston to move upwards until it comes in
contact with the upper projecting tappet or valve 61, and forcing it outward thereby

page_text: causes the lower end of valve piece to close the inlet port and open the exhaust
port, as shown in Figure 7, and also closes the upper exhaust port and opens the
upper inlet port, as shown in Figure 8. By this arrangement I am able to dispense
with the side pipe, and thus save the steam or compressed air which would be con-
sumed in such pipe at each revolution or stroke of the piston.
The feeding of the cylinder to the rock just in proportion to the boring done is
very essential, and unless the mechanism therefor is both simple and durable its
use would be abandoned; I have therefore reduced this feature down to four
moveable pieces, as shown at g. A shaft g, Figure 3, is placed alongside of the
cylinder B, to the lower end of which an arm his fastened, and which projects
direct into the cylinder; this arm is bevelled on its inner edge, so as to allow the
piston to move under and raise it, and thus impart to the shaft g a rotating motion.
At the upper end of this shaft another arm i is attached, to which is fastened a
pawl Z, which pawl operates the common feed nut m. The bevelled arm is forced
back within the cylinder by a spring d, one end of which is attached to the cylinder,
and the upper end fitted into the pawl 1; this spring runs parallel with the shaft g,
and is so shaped and arranged that it serves the double purpose of holding the
pawl into the teeth of the feed nut m, and likewise presses the arm h into the
cylinder.
Whenever the piston moves a slight distance towards the lower end of the
cylinder, after having passed the valve or tappet b', as shown in Figure 3, the piston
strikes the bevelled edge of the arm of the shaft, and lifting it imparts a rotating
motion to the shaft, which in turn operates the pawl and ratch nut m, as shown
in Figure 11. This regulates the advance of the cylinder to the rock in proportion
to the penetration made by the drilling bit M, and allows the steam or air to push
or shove the cylinder forward in the frame with the least possible strain to the
feeding parts.
The rotation of the piston is done by the ordinary spiral bar and ratchet, but
ordinarily the spiral is placed inside the cylinder and through the head, which
necessitates a great amount of friction upon the piston in order to move the spiral bar
and ratchet. To reduce the friction ordinarily required for rotation I have placed the
ratchet in the head and within the cylinder, so that it is surrounded by the pressure
of steam or compressed air. By this arrangement, as shown at o, Figure 3, I remove
the pressure which would be upon it if it were placed through the head and the
ratchet outside. My plan of this arrangement allows the ratchet to rotate freely
when the piston is going down, and by the introduction of a ring or washer & I
keep the ratchet in the head and fully protected from dirt, and also prevents dirt
or metal from getting into the cylinder.
The improvement in the chuck for holding the drill steel fast to the piston rod is
shown at e, Figure 3, and it is constructed in the following manner:-
The piston
rod is bored out to the usual depth, and rounded at the bottom of the hole. A
screw is cut on the piston rod back from its lower end, and a hollow piece 8,
Figure 4, is screw threaded to suit, and screwed on. This hollow piece is slotted
about two-thirds its length, and drilled with two holes w, w, Figure 3, to receive the
boits. The lower end of the hollow piece is bored out to the same diameter as the
bore in end of piston rod. The outside and lower end of piston rod is reduced in
size, as shown in Figure 3, which leaves a space between the piston rod and the
hollow piece 8. By screwing the bolts w, w, the steel is tightly clamped just at the
lower or bottom end of the piston rod, and I am thus enabled to retain the entire
strength of the piston rod for support of the drill steel, as also the hollow piece, split
sleeve, or ferrule 8, which forms a clamping device to fasten the drill bar, and gives
additional strength for supporting the same.
The
The tripod employs the usual frame or saddle H in the centre, with cones or face
surfaces to bolt or fasten the back to, as shown in section at Figures 4 and 10.
two front legs are screwed into or fastened to what are called hips G, and which are
made of cast steel or some other suitable material. Each hip is bored for the
reception of a screw, which passes through it and into the saddle. On each side of

page_text: the saddle is a conical recess, to which is fitted the side of the hip, and as the screws
are turned the hips are drawn firm and close to the saddle, which is fully shown
in Figure 10. The back leg of the tripod has a fork J attached, as shown in
Figure 11, and the end of the fork is shaped so as to surround a portion of the
hips, and being separated by a slot, a bolt is used to draw these parts by springing
then together, as shown at p, in Figure 2. These legs have each a foot K, which
slides up and down inside them, and which can be fastened by screws at any
position, and they also have pieces clamped to them to rest weights I. upon in the
ordinary way.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The valve and valve seats arranged at opposite ends of the cylinder, in
connection with a tappet valve motion for operating the same, substantially as
shown and described.
Second. Constructing the valve and tappets of one piece of metal, substantially as
shown and described.
Third. The construction of the tappets shaped to close the openings through which
they pass into the cylinder, substantially as shown and described.
Fourth. The arm fixed rigidly upon the feed shaft, and arranged so that the piston
can move the same and regulate the feeding of the cylinder towards the rock, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
Fifth. The arrangement of the ratchet and pawls in the head, surrounded by the
pressure of air or steam, in combination with the supporting ring recessed into the
cylinder, substantially as shown and described.
Sixth. Attaching a hollow split sleeve to the piston rod with a recess in between
the end of the piston rod and the hollow sleeve, being bored out so as to receive the
drill bar, and arranged to clamp, substantially as shown and described.
Seventh. The combination of the hips with the conical surfaces and bolts for
clamping to the saddle, and with the backed forked leg, substantially as shown and
lescribed.
Eighth. The forked leg having at each end of the fork a spring clamp to surround
a portion of the hip or saddle, and to clamp with bolts, substantially as shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
F. DOWER,
Patent Office,
GS, Fleet Street,
ERNEST DE PASS. (L.S.)