Improved Means for Enlarging the Ends of Blast Holes and the like, consisting of Reamers and Means for Centering the same, and Means for Removing the Cuttings therefrom.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Enlarging the Ends of Blast Holes and the
like, consisting of Reamers and Means for Centering the same,
and Means for Removing the Cuttings therefrom.
We, ROBERT HABERSHAM ELLIOTT, Civil Engineer, a citizen of the United
States, residing at the north-west corner of 21st Street and 13th Avenue, South
Highlands District, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, and JOHN BRUCE
CARRINGTON, Civil Engineer, also a citizen of the United States, residing at
Jaspar, Walker County, Alabama, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to drills for mining purposes, and especially for drills used
in coal, shale, or other soft rock or mineral.
It relates more particularly to reamers which are intended to form an enlarged
chamber or pocket at the inner end of the bore hole, as bored with an ordinary
drill, and at the same time to remove the chippings that are formed in the process
of enlarging the said chamber or pocket.
The object of the said chamber or pocket is to provide an enlarged hole in which
the blasting material operates with better effect.
In order to center the reamer in the bore-hole, and thus enable the reamer to
operate uniformly on all sides of the cylindrical bore-hole, some means of centering
the said reamer are also required, and our invention also relates to means for
accomplishing this result.
Our invention further relates to an improved method of removing the chippings
with an air blast, preferably with the exhaust air from the engine used in operating
the reamer.
Our invention furthermore relates to the novel combination and arrangement of
parts shown in the drawings hereunto annexed, and hereinafter described and
claimed.

page_text: Figure 10 represents a central longitudinal section of the inner end of a modified
form of reamer.
Figure 11 represents a detailed view of the toggle-joint cutter shewn in Figure 10
as detached from the other parts shewn in said figure.
Figure 12 represents a section of the device shewn in Figure 10 along the
line zz of the said figure and looking to the right.
Figure 13 represents an end view of the device shewn in Figure 10 as seen from.
the right of said figure.
Figure 14 represents a modified form of reamer in which the cutting wing is
pressed outward by the pressure of the live air from the air reservoir before it is
admitted to the air engine, while the chips are blown out by the escape air coming
from the air engine, which air engine and reservoir are not shewn.
Figure 15 represents a vertical section showing the connection between the
reamer tube and the escape air pipe, and
Figure 16 represents a section made along the curved line 2¹¹ of Figure 14.
In the various views of the reamer entire, the reamer tube is partly broken
away, to enable the drawing to be made on a larger scale.
In the drawings W₁ represents the end of a drift or tunnel in a mine,
W represents the bore-hole which has been made by a drill of any ordinary or
desired construction and W' represents the chamber or pocket near the end of the
bore-hole which is made by the reamer.
A represents the jack-post, to which the reamer is revolubly connected in any
desired way.
B represents a gear wheel which meshes in the gear wheel D of Figure 1, or D'
of Figure 14. In Figure 1 the gear wheel D is driven by the hand-crank C. But
these gear wheels D or D', are intended merely to represent the simplest form of
apparatus for revolving the hollow reamer tube E, and any desired means of
revolving the same, preferably an air engine, may be adopted if desired. The
means of revolving the said reamer tube are not a feature of our invention and
may be varied at will.
In the apparatus shewn in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the reamer tube E is closed
at its rear end, and is slotted as at e near its forward end to allow the wing F to
swing out and in through the said slot.
This wing F is pivoted at f in the tube E, and is provided with two vertical
ribs terminating in the cutting points f¹. At the base of the ribs f* the wing
is inclined upwards as at f. The wing is forced outwards or drawn inwards along
this incline by means of the link G connected to the tube G¹, which tube passes
through the closed inner end of the tube E and is normally pressed forward by
the spring K, which is held between the end of the said tube and the collar m¹.
This collar is made in two pieces and held together by the clamp screw m². The
said collar is attached by means of the link n to the pivot m secured to the tube E
as shewn in Figure 1.
It will thus be seen that the spring K tends to push forward the tube G¹, and
hence to force the wing Foutward. When it is desired to draw the wing back,
the clamp screw m³ is unscrewed, and the collar m' is disengaged from the rod H³,
which allows the spring K to move backwards and relieve the pressure on the
wing F.
This rod H terminates in a handle or hand-wheel and is connected at its
forward end to the links H₁ which join the said rod with the moveable.cutter H,
which cutter is forced up the incline for drawn back along the same by hand
pressure on the handle /*.
This rod H and the tube G¹ should fit approximately air tight in the rear end
of the tube E.
In the form of apparatus shewn in Figure 1 the reamer tube is centered by
means of a centering device P which will be more fully described with reference
to Figure 9. In the form of device shewn in Figures 2 and 3, the end of the
reamer tube is closed and is provided with a plate Q pivotally. connected by

page_text: means of the rivet 9 to the closed end of the reamer tube, and provided with
holding points q' adapted to bite into the soft mineral at the end of the bore-
hole.
The chips made by the reamer are removed by the air jet coming in through
the pipe E' and connection E, and escaping through the hole e in the reamer tube.
These air pipe connections are more clearly shewn in Figures 14 to 16, and will be
more fully described when specific reference is had to the said figures. It will be
seen, in the devices shewn in Figures 1 to 5, that not only does the wing F score
out a chamber, but that the moveable cutter H' being pressed outward along the
back of said wing enlarges the said chamber, cutting a helicoidal groove along the
conical surface of the chamber formed by the wing F, as the said cutter H is
forced outwards.
While we have shewn the wing forced outwards by the spring K, and the
cutter H forced outwards by hand by means of the rod H, they may be both
operated by air pressure as will be described with reference to Figure 14, or in any
other convenient way.
In the form of device shewn in Figures 6 to 8 the reamer tube E is provided
with a centering device P' consisting of three or more toggle-joints p' connected
at one end to the lugs e and at the opposite end to the lugs p' on the sliding
collar p. The said collar p slides on the tongue of the block E³ and is
pressed forward by the spring R, which spring is normally compressed between
the inner end of the said collar p, and the shoulder et of the said block E.
This block E³ is screw threaded as at e to screw into the sleeve E¹ and is
provided with an overhanging flange 8 which engages the flange 7 of the journal
piece E. This journal piece projects as at eo into a cylindrical recess in the
block E. It will thus be seen that the reamer tube E is revolubly connected to
the centering device P¹. It will also be obvious that, if the reamer tube be forced
into the bore-hole far enough to force the collar p in on the tongue e, the toggle-
joints p will be bent outwards until they finally touch the sides of the bore-hole,
and when in this position they will center the inner end of. the reamer tube in the
bore-hole.
The centering device shewn in Figure 9 and also in Figure 1, is a somewhat
modified form of that shewn in Figures 6 to 8. The toggle-joints p² of Figures 6
to 8 being replaced by the links e which are connected to the sliding blocks ell
which slide in grooves e¹ in the face plate E' of the sleeve E. This sleeve is
revolubly connected to the reamer tube E in any convenient way.
In the form of device shown in Figures 10 to 13 the reamer tube E° is open
at the inner end as at e¹ and the enlarged chamber is made by a toggle-joint
composed of two links F and F, pivoted together as at f, and connected at their
outer ends to the nuts and es, which engage the right and left handed screw
threads h³ and, on the rod H³.
This rod H passes through guides " and " rigidly attached to the tube +", and
is held in place by set nuts ', one only of which is shewn.
It will be seen that if the rod H' is revolved independently of the tube E°, the
toggle-joint will be caused to project through or to be drawn back in the slot e,
and when the said toggle-joint projects while the reamer tube is revolving, it will
cut an enlarged chamber in the bore-hole as has been already described.
The air is blown into the tube E° from any suitable source of supply, and
escaping through the open end of the tube, and through the slot e, it blows the
chips back through the bore-hole and out through the rear end thereof.
Figures 14 to 16 are intended to show diagrammatically the air connections, and
especially an apparatus whereby the live air may be used to extend the cutting
wing, and the exhaust air from the engine, not shewn, may be used to blow out the
chips.
In these figures the tube E' is revolubly mounted in a coupling connecting the
same with the live air pipe E, controlled by the valve e, and with the coupling e
connected to the escape air pipe E', which is controlled by the valve e'.

page_text: The pipe Es revolves within the coupling E8 and the air enters through the
apertures escaping through the open end of the tube and through the slot e, as
has been already described.
The cutting wing F, which may be of the type shewn in Figure 14, or that
shewn in Figures 1 and 2, or of any other suitable type, is forced outward about its
pivot fo, by means of the rounded head h6 on the forward end of the rod H
which is bent downwards as at h' and passes through the guide fast to the
tube E*.
This rod H is connected to the piston which slides in the tube E. Pressure
of the live air on the left of the said piston will be greater than the pressure of the
exhaust air on the right thereof, and consequently the live air will tend to force
out the cutting wing F while at the same time the exhaust air will blow out the
chips. The piston h need not be packed very tight, as any of the live air passing
around the same will join the escape air, which latter is useful in blowing out the
chips.
With slight modifications the manner of applying the air pressure shewn in
Figure 14 may be adapted to the devices shewn in Figures 1 and 10.
It will be obvious that various modifications of the herein described apparatus
might be made as could be used without departing from the spirit of our
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a drill of the character described, the combination with an air pipe, of a
hollow tube revolubly connected thereto and receiving air therefrom, and means
for revolving the same, of a cutter mounted in said tube; means for moving said
cutter beyond the circumference of said tube, and means for blowing air through
Said pipe and said tube for the purpose of carrying off the cuttings, substantially as
described.
2. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a rotating
tube slotted near the forward end thereof, of a wing pivoted in said tube and
adapted to swing outward through said slot, the said wing being provided with a
longitudinal groove therein, an auxiliary cutter moving in said groove, and means
for pressing said wing outwards, substantially as described.
3. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a spindle
or drill body and means for rotating the same, of an extensory wing provided with
a guide way therein, and an auxiliary cutter moving in said guideway, substantially
as described.
4. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a spindle
or drill body and means for rotating the same, of an extensory wing provided with
an inclined longitudinal guideway therein, an auxiliary cutter mounted in said
guideway, and means for moving said cutter backwards and forwards, substantially
as described.
5. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a rotary
spindle or drill body, of an extensory wing pivoted thereto and provided with a
guideway therein, a yielding elastic device for pressing said wing outwards, an
auxiliary cutter moving in said guideway, and means for moving said cutter
backwards and forwards, substantially as described.
6. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a rotary
tube slotted near the forward end thereof, of an extensory wing pivoted in said
tube and adapted to swing outward through said slot, the said wing being provided
with a guideway therein, an auxiliary cutter mounted in said guideway, a rod
movable longitudinally in said tube, and links connecting said rods and said
auxiliary cutter, substantially as described.
1
7. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a spindle
or drill body and means for rotating the same, of an extensory wing provided with

page_text: a guideway therein, means for swinging said wing outwards about its pivot, and an
auxiliary cutter mounted in said guideway, and means for moving said auxiliary
cutter, substantially as described.
8. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a rotating.
tube slotted near the forward end thereof, of a wing pivoted in said tube and
adapted to swing outward through said slot, the said wing being provided with a.
longitudinal groove therein, an auxiliary cutter mounted in said groove, a yielding
elastic device for pressing said wing outwards, a rod extending inwardly into said
tube and projecting from the rear thereof, and links, connecting said rod with said
auxiliary cutter, substantially as described.
9. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a spindle
or drill body and means for rotating the same, of an extensory wing provided with
a longitudinal guideway therein, an auxiliary cutter mounted in said guideway, and
a rod and flexible connection between it and said cutter for moving said cutter
backwards and forwards in said guideway, substantially as described.
10. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a spindle
or drill body and means for rotating the same of an extensory wing provided with
a longitudinal guideway therein with bottom sloping as shewn, an auxiliary cutter
mounted in said guideway, and adapted to move up said inclined bottom of said
guideway, and a rod and a flexible connection between it and said cutter for
moving said cutter backwards and forwards in said guideway, substantially as
described.
11. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a rotary
tube slotted near the forward end thereof, of an extensory wing pivoted in said
tube and adapted to swing outward through said slot, the said wing being provided
with a guideway therein, an auxiliary cutter mounted in said guideway, a rod
movable longitudinally in said tube, links connecting said rods and said auxiliary
cutter, and an air blast passing through said tube for carrying off the chips or
cuttings, substantially as described.
12. In a mining drill of the character described, the combination with a rotating
tube slotted near the forward end thereof, of a wing pivoted in said tube and
adapted to swing outward through said slot, the said wing being provided with a
longitudinal groove therein, an auxiliary cutter mounted in said groove, a yielding
elastic device for pressing said wing outwards, a rod extending inwardly into said
tube and projecting from the rear thereof, links connecting said rod with said
auxiliary cutter, and an air blast passing through said tube for carrying off the
chips or cuttings, substantially as described.
13. In a drill of the character described, the combination with a hollow tube
slotted along an element thereof, and means for revolving the said tube, of a rod
mounted in said tube, means for moving said rod; a toggle-joint of hard metal
operated by said rod, also mounted in said tube and adapted to move outward and
inward through said slot, and means for blowing air through said tube, substantially
as described.
14. In a drill of the character described, the combination with a hollow tube
slotted along an element thereof, means for revolving the said tube, of a toggle-
joint of hard metal mounted in said tube and adapted to move outward and inward
through said slot, a rod mounted in said tube and having oppositely disposed screw
threads adapted to engage nuts in the ends of said toggle joint and to open and
close the same, means for turning said rod, and means for blowing air through said
tube, for the purpose of carrying off the cuttings, substantially as described.
15. The apparatus for reaming out bore-holes and removing the cuttings,
substantially as hereindescribed and shewn in the Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings.
16. The centering device substantially as hereindescribed and shewn in Figs. 6
to 8 of the drawings.
17. The centering device substantially as hereindescribed and shewn in Fig. 9
of the drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: 18. The apparatus for reaming out bore-holes and removing the cuttings
substantially as hereindescribed and shewn in Figs. 14 to 16 of the drawings
hereunto annexed.
Dated this 10th day of December 1904
G. J. CLARKSON,
Chartered Patent Agent, Stockton-on-Tees,
Agent for the Applicants.