IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROCK BORING MACHINERY AND IN AIR COMPRESSORS FOR WORKING THE SAME. PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROCK BORING
MACHINERY AND IN AIR COMPRESSORS FOR WORKING THE SAME. PART OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Robert Gray Ford, of Melbourne, in
the Colony of Victoria, Engineer.
Sealed the 8th February 1870, and dated the 10th August 1869.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 10th August 1869, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENT
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROCK BORING MACHINERY, AND IN AIR COMPRESSORS FOR
WORKING THE SAME, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
[Price 8d.]

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that the same has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Robert Gray Ford, of Melbourne, in
the Colony of Victoria, Engineer.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the
following statement and accompanying two Sheets of Drawings (that
is to say):-
This Invention may be divided into two parts, the first having reference
to the apparatus actually employed in the process of boring, and which
I prefer to actuate by compressed air, although steam and water might
be used with very little alteration; and the second part to an apparatus
for supplying the compressed air.
Referring to the Drawings attached to this Specification it will be
found that Fig. 1 represents a general elevation of the rock boring
machine; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of same; Fig. 3, a front end
elevation of same; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section, and Fig. 5 a trans-
verse section through turning gear of same.
Fig. 8 represents longitudinal section of another arrangement of parts
forming a rock boring machine; and Fig. 9 shews front elevation of
same; Fig. 6 represents an elevation of prop, clip cup, and ball; and
Fig. 7, a plan of same; whilst Fig. 10 represents vertical section of air
compressor; and Fig. 11, a part plan part section of same.
With regard to these Drawings it is to be noted that the letters of
reference on the views of the air compressor are separate and distinct
from those marked on the views of the boring machine, and have no
reference to or connection with each other.
Commencing then with the boring machine, I make the steady bar
46 telescopic, the pipe in which it works, and which is also marked 46,
being secured to a screw clip 26, which slides backward or forward on
the cylinder 21. This pipe is provided with a sliding bar 28, having
centre point and screw 30, adjusting box 31, jamb nut 32, leather
washer 33, cotter 29, cotter holes 52, feather and slot 64, and feather 64^.
In using the steady bar the screw clip can slide either backwards or
forwards on the cylinder 21, and be tightened in any position with

page_text: This
screw 53, shewn in Fig. 3, or the bar 28 can be slid out or in the pipe,
secured with the cotter where required, adjusted to the face of the rock
with the screw box, and secured with the jamb nut against the leather
washer. The feather 64 prevents the clip turning on the cylinder 21,
and slot and feather 64 prevent the sliding bar from turning.
pipe 46 is retained in its proper position by the eyes 37 and 36, which
The drill is pro-
are secured with screws to the cylinders 21 and 20.
vided with a guide 35, made in halves, and jointed at 43, and provided
with india-rubber or other elastic springs 55, bolts 54, slots 56, and
fork 34, which is secured to said pipe. In using the guide the drill 53
is clasped with the two halves thereof, and they are then slipped into
the fork, giving them a slight turn in slots 56; it is then secured with
the spring bolts 54; a reverse movement removes them from the drill
when required. The drill 53 is secured in the piston rod A with the
nut D, which is in halves, and is provided with studs, jamb nut E,
leather and iron washers F, leather washer G, steel plug I, india-rubber
band J, wood (or other elastic material) K, and hexagonal or other
shaped head H, which fits a corresponding place in the piston rod A.
In changing the drill 53 the piston rod is first pushed back, and secured
with the lock pin 51" (which fits in the hole C in piston rod A), the
A
jamb nut E is then removed, and then the nut D from the drill.
reverse operation will replace it. The revolution of the drill is effected
by the piston rod A, having two or more spiral grooves A', right hand
and left opposite each other, and is provided with studs and rollers 62,
Fig. 5, which may be bushed with leather or other elastic material. The
studs and rollers 62 are attached to semicircular pieces of metal 15,
provided with ratchet teeth 14, india-rubber springs 16, ratchet ring 13,
ring 11, wedge 60 (which may be made of wood or other elastic material
to prevent crystallization of parts), screws 12, and ring 17. When the
piston rod moves backward and forward the spiral grooves move the
picces 15 with ratchet teeth around the fixed ring 13; thus when the
piston rod A makes a forward stroke one of the pieces 15 is carried
forward over the teeth on the fixed ring, while the other holds and turns
the piston rod. At the back stroke the piece 15 that was last carried
forward stops and turns the piston rod, while the other is carried forward,
thus at each backward and forward stroke the spiral grooves A' with the
ratchet pieces cause the piston rod with drill to turn, say, the forty-
second part of a revolution, so that in, say, forty-two backward and
forward strokes the piston rod with drill makes one complete revolution.

page_text: This rate of revolution may of course be altered almost indefinitely. The
piston valve W is provided with a small piston T (packed with leather)
on the other end of the rod R, which works in the cylinder L bored out
of the piston rod. About one-third of the bore is recessed in the middle
to permit the air to circulate past the piston T, and therefore it only
fits the bore at each end. The piston rod has a number of holes Z bored
through at the end of cylinder L, and the valve rod R. has a number of
holes, which are connected by the central channel Y. The stroke
of the valve W is adjusted by the nut U which strikes against the
cushions q, q, on both sides. These cushions should be made of
leather or other elastic material. The valve is moved to open and close
the supply and exhaust ports W₁ and W2 as follows:--When the piston
rod makes the full back stroke the holes Z pass within the leather
packing of the gland 2, and air passes through them from the constant
front pressure to the foot of "the piston T, and moves it back, thus
closing the exhaust W' and opening the supply W2, which gives the
piston rod the forward stroke, and near its termination the valve rod
gland N (packed with leather) uncovers the holes *. Air passing
through them up the channel Y to the back of the piston T moves it
forward, thus closing the supply and opening the exhaust, and reversing
the movement of the piston rod. The air that passes in through the
holes Z exhausts through the holes 3 in gland 2 on the out stroke. The
air that passes in through the holes X passes out through them when
the exhaust port W₁ is open; thus the front pressure on the main
piston P (leather packed) is constant, and the back pressure is inter-
mittent. The exhaust from the back of piston P passes out through
port W', thence along the annular space between the cylinders 5 and 20,
thence through the ports Z', thence through the turning gear and to
the outer air through holes at 45; the exhaust from the holes Z escapes
also through the same holes. The supply of air or other elastic medium
passes in through india-rubber hose 59, Fig. 3, thence through two-way
cock 58, which is attached to one of the screw nibs 44, thence to the
back of cylinder 5, thence through the ports 7 to the back and front of
pistons T and P. The advance movement of the machine is effected by
the air pressure on the back end of cylinder 5, which is provided with
leather packing 24 and ring 23, and works air tight in cylinder 21.
Cylinder 5 is retained in cylinder 21 by the screw 47, which is of such a
pitch that it will gently turn by the pressure on the end of the cylinder 5.
The screw 47 is prevented from revolving by the wheel 41 and pawl 51,

page_text: which when the piston rod A makes the full stroke is released by reason
of the taper part B on the piston rod striking the tappet 51, lifting the
pawl 51, and releasing the screw. Thus whenever the drill advances
a given distance, say three-fourths of an inch, the machine itself makes
a corresponding forward motion. The screw 47 will run the cylinders 5
and 20 back when required. The piston rod A works through the.
glands 19 and 18 (packed with leather) in end of ring 17, which is
screwed in the front of cylinder 20, thus preventing the dirt and water
getting to the working parts of the machine. The end of cylinder 21 is
provided with a number of nibs 44 (two preferred) for the convenience
of attaching the two-way cock, those not in use being covered with
caps 53B.
The method of securing the machine in position will be understood on
reference to Figs. 6 and 7, Sheet 2, where there is shewn the screw clip
cup and clamp 74 and 75, provided with screw 76 and wood prop 69,
which has a jack screw 67 at one end with ball 66 and claw cup 65, port-
able stud 70, with pulleys 71 and 72. The clip cup also is provided with
pulleys 73 and hinge 77. In using the machine the prop is fixed in any
required position, the cup 74 is then slipped over the ball 22, and then
clamped to the prop. The pulleys 71, 72, and 73 are provided with a
cord for raising or lowering the machine on the prop. The clamp gives
it a radial movement round the prop, and the cup 74 and ball 22 give a
part radial movement and any angle required.
Figs. 8 and 9, Sheet 1, represent longitudinal section and front
elevation and section through drill and steady bar of a boring machine
in which the construction is somewhat different to the one already
described.
In this machine the piston rod A has two pistons P, P, (leather
packed) with a space between, which is used for the exhaust. The
supply and exhaust are regulated by the piston valve W, provided with
piston S (leather packed) and rod R. When the piston rod makes the
full back stroke the air or other fluid is admitted through the port W,
which moves the piston S and valve W back, opens the supply port Wº,
and causes the piston rod to make the forward stroke, and when near
its termination the port W' is uncovered, air or other fluid passes through
and moves the piston S with the valve W forward, which closes the
The constant front
supply W and opens the exhaust W' and W.
pressure then drives the piston rod back, which repeats the opening and

page_text: The
closing of ports, as before described. Cylinder 5 is provided with air-
tight leather packing 24 and ring 23 which fits.-cylinder 21.
advance movement is accomplished by the motive fluid forcing cylinder
5 out of cylinder 21, but is retained by the screw 41", which is of the same
pitch as the one previously referred to, and is provided with wheel 49
and pawl 51. The screw 41 is released when the piston rod makes the
full stroke and uncovers the port W, which admits the motive fluid and
forces the piston rod 51° with wedge under the pawl 51 and releases the
screw, which then permits the cylinder 5 to advance to the next notch.
The constant pressure through port W keeps the wedge back except
when the full stroke is made. The turning of the drill is effected by the
piston in cylinder I' (leather packed), which exhausts and receives the
air through the ports We and W. The piston in cylinder I' is provided
with a twisted bar C¹, which moves the sector H¹ and actuates the
ratchet faced wheel 13* which is loose on the spindle 15^, and is moved
backward and forward by sector H¹. The ratchet wheel 14" is secured
to the spindle 15*, which receives an intermittent rotary movement and
carries the piston rod A with it, which has a hole up the centre to receive
the square bar 15. The ratchet wheel 14 is prevented from revolving
back by the pawl 14^.
Fig. 10, Sheet 2, represents a vertical section of air compressor, and
Fig. 11 represents same partly in section and partly in plan. It is
constructed as shewn with two legs, one of which marked A is left rough
as cast, and the other marked B is bored and provided with piston C and
rod D, outlet valves G, inlet valves E, levers and counterweights F,
receiving box H, outlet pipe I, gland L, and brackets M for securing the
compressor. Dribble cocks are also provided for the wells K. Fork or
other shaped connecting rods and cross head may be used for fixing and
working same. The compressor when in use has a sufficient quantity
of water above the piston C to completely fill the space between it and
the valves B and G when the full up stroke is made, also a sufficient
quantity to completely fill the space between the under side of the
piston C, leg A, and outlet valve G. A constant supply of water is let
into the wells from the dribble cocks, which water passes in with the
air when the piston is drawing it through the valves E. When the
piston is driving air out through the valves G the surplus water passes
out with the air above these valves, which are always covered with a
quantity of water up to the level of outlet pipe I. The inlet valves are

page_text: also always covered with water when the air is being compressed, and
are constructed of leather, india-rubber, or other elastic material, and
have plates, levers, and counterweights to balance the valve. The outlet
valves are constructed the same way, but without levers and weights.
The piston C is packed with cupped leather, and the rod is provided
with a gland at L.
Having thus described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details herein set forth; I desire nevertheless to state
that I prefer to make the machines in the shape and of the size indicated
in the Drawings, and that I also prefer to make the parts marked 2, 4, 5,
8 11, 17, 18, 22, 23, 35, 38, 53B, 57, 58, 71, 72, 73, 74, and V of brass
and the parts marked 20, 21, 26, 32, 34, 36, 37, 39, 46, 53, 66, 67, 70,
75, 77, and M on boring machines, and the parts marked A, B, C, D, F,
H, I, K, L, M, and N on air compressors, of iron, and the parts marked
A, C, D, E, H, H, I, P, R, T, U, W, 2, 10, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14^, 14B,
15, 29, 32, 51, 51, 51°, 51, 53, 54 62, and 644, of cast steel, and the
parts marked 28, 31, 47, 65, and 76 of iron and steel, and the parts
marked E and G of iron and india-rubber, whilst I prefer to make the
props of wood and the packing of the materials indicated in the body of
the Specification. I desire to remark also that the peculiar construction
of the pistons and cylinders herein described and illustrated in Fig. 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 is applicable to the construction of any engine
requiring reciprocating motion, such as steam pumps, &c. I claim,-
1. The construction of rock boring machines in which the piston of
the main cylinder distributes and exhausts the motive fluid to and from
other cylinders at distinct portions of the stroke, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9.
2. The peculiar construction of prop, clip cup, and ball, and the appli-
cation thereof to rock boring machinery, in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as herein described and illustrated by Figs. 1 to 9
inclusive.
3. The use of elastic material, such as wood, leather, india-rubber, to
the various springs, washers, pistons, glands, and cushions, to prevent
crystallization of parts, substantially as herein-before described and
explained.

page_text: 4. The use and application of the pistons and cylinders referred to in
the first claim for steam pumps, and any other engines requiring recipro-
cating motion.
5. The peculiar combination and arrangement of parts in the air
compressor, substantially as herein described and illustrated by Figs. 10
and 11 on Sheet 2.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)