IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR BORING COAL, SLATE, ROCK, MINERALS, AND SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Patterson, of Kensington Gardens, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
AND APPARATUS FOR BORING COAL, SLATE, ROCK, MINERALS, AND
SUBSTANCES."
OTHER
Sealed the 1st February 1878, and dated the 23rd November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Patterson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1877.
BORING
JOHN PATTERSON, of Kensington Gardens, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
COAL, SLATE, ROCK, MINERALS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates partly to machinery for boring holes by revolving cutters,
and partly to the machinery in which holes are bored by the percussive action of
the borers.
My improved revolving cutter is made with a spiral cutting edge, the angle of
which must be governed by the nature or grain of the substance to be operated
upon; in drilling holes in slate an angle of about 25 is found the most advantageous,
being the angle best adapted for the tool of the planing machine when planing
slabs.
Coal and other minerals require cutting edges with a greater or less angle.
I make a square transverse cut through the centre of the cutter, which cut leaves a
cylindrical projection in the centre of the hole that is being bored. These revolving
cutters are turned round by the aid of a cross bar fixed on the drill holder, in oue
end of which is a socket for the boring tool, and at the other for a stud fixed in a
plate which is pressed upon by the breast of the operator; or the drill holder can
be turned round by bevel wheels, or worm and wheels, or other equivalents, and
cranks to give a continuous rotary motion to the cutter.
In order to increase the pressure on the drill beyond that obtained by the body
of the operator, or to dispense with the pressure of his body, I pass the holder of
the boring tool through a tube which is secured to a rigid bar by a universal clamp.
CD 071

page_text: Near the end of the holder is a shoulder, on which fits a loose collar; a chain or
cord passes from the loose collar over a guide pulley mounted on the tube, and
sustains a series of weights; by this means a constant automatic feed is imparted
to the cutter, the weight being regulated according to the nature of the substance
under operation.
In boring holes in the face of slate or other substances lying at an angle I employ
a cage suspended to a rope or chain; this cage serves as a platform for the operator,
and furnishes a fulcrum for the boring apparatus, and the power of its resistance
can be increased by adding to the weight of the cage. I effect this by winding a
chain on a reel, and the weight increases in proportion to the amount of chain
wound on. The same object can be obtained by detached movable weights.
My improved machinery for boring by percussion consists in certain improve-
ments upon the machinery for which former Letters Patent were granted to me on the
20th day of October 1873, No. 3396. In the said Patent the cutter was attached to
the crank shaft hy means of a spring and flexible connection; now my present
Invention consists in detaching the cutter from the flexible connection, whereby the
full force of a lever hammer similar to that patented by me on the 12th day of
February 1876, No. 587, is exerted in impelling the cutter into the hole.
each blow the cutter is raised and partly rotated by a cam on the crank shaft,
and by a ratchet wheel or other equivalent connected to the spindle holder of the
cutter.
At

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Patterson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th May
1878.
BORING
JOHN PATTERSON, of Kensington Gardens, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
COAL, SLATE, ROCK, MINERALS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates partly to machinery for boring holes by revolving cutters,
and partly to the machinery in which holes are bored by percussive action.
My improved revolving cutter is made with a spiral cutting edge, the angle of
which must be governed by the nature or grain of the substance to be operated
upon; in drilling holes in slate or coal, or like substances, an angle of about 25° is
found the most advantageous, being the angle best adapted for the tool of the.
planing machine when planing slabs.
In boring other minerals of harder texture the cutting edges are set at a greater
angle, the harder the substance the greater will be the angle required. I make a
square transverse cut through the centre of the cutter, which cut leaves a cylindrical
projection in the centre of the hole that is being bored. These revolving cutters are
turned round by the aid of a cross bar fixed on the drill holder, in one end of which
is a socket for the boring tool, and at the other for a stud fixed in a plate which is
pressed upon by the breast of the operator; or the drill holder can be turned round
by bevil wheels, or worms and wheels, or other equivalents or cranks, to give a con-
tinuous rotary motion to the cutter.
In order to increase the pressure on the drill beyond that obtained by the body
of the operator, or to dispense with the pressure of his body, I pass the holder of
the boring tool through a tube which is secured to a rigid bar by a universal clamp.
Near the end of the holder is a shoulder on which fits a loose collar; a chain or cord
passes from the loose collar over a guide pulley mounted on the tube, and sustains a
series of weights; by this means a constant automatic feed is imparted to the
cutter, the weight being regulated according to the nature of the substance under
operation.
In boring holes in the face of slate or other substances lying at an angle, I employ
a cage suspended to a rope or chain; this cage serves as a platform for the operator,
and furnishes a fulcrum for the boring apparatus, and the power of its resistance
can be increased by adding to the weight of the cage.
I effect this by winding a
chain on a reel, and the weight increases in proportion to the amount of chain
wound on. The same object can be obtained by detached movable weights.
My improved machinery for boring by percussion consists in certain improve-
ments upon the machinery for which former Letters Patent were granted to me on
the 20th day of October 1873, No. 3396. In the said Patent the cutter was
attached to the crank shaft by means of a spring and flexible connection; now my
present Invention consists in detaching the cutter from the flexible connection,
whereby the full force of a lever hammer similar to that patented by me on the
12th day of February 1876, No. 587, is exerted in impelling the cutter into the
hole. At each blow the cutter is raised and partly rotated by a cam on the crank
shaft, or by a ratchet wheel or other equivalent device connected to the spindle
holder of the cutter.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readity carried
into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying six Sheets of Drawings,
reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
:
On Sheet 1, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are three views of the boring end of my improved
revolving cutter, the shank of which is made of any convenient length; the cutter
marked a is made spiral as usual, and the angle of the cutting edge must_be
governed to suit the nature or grain of the substance to be operated upon. The
Drawing represents a cutter suitable for boring holes in slate, coal, or other like

page_text: substances, the angle of the cutting edge depending upon the nature of the substance
to be operated upon.
A square transverse cut marked a' is made in the centre of
the cutter, which cut leaves a small cylindrical projection of slate or other substance
in the centre of the hole that is being bored; and as the cutter penetrates into the
slate or other substance this projection crumbles away, and is removed with the
other debris caused by the cutter.
Fig. 4 is a side view, and Fig. 5 a plan in section of a hand-boring apparatus con-
structed according to my improvements; b is the drill holder, which is made with
the cross bar c; the drill holder is free to revolve on the stud d fixed in the plate e,
shewn detached in Fig. 6, which is curved to fit the chest of the operator. The
slots in the plate e are for a strap by which the apparatus is suspended from the
shoulders of the operator, thereby leaving his arins at liberty to work the drill.
The mode of operation is as follows:-When a revolving cutter similar to a, or any
other suitable cutter has been fixed in the tool holder b, the operator by pressing
against the plate e and turning the cross bar c causes the cutter to revolve, and
thereby bores a hole in the slate, coal, or other substance to be operated upon.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent two views of another of my improved hand-boring
apparatus. In this case the plate e is secured to the stand d, in which the tool
holder b revolves, to the inner end of which is fixed the bevel pinion 6', which is
driven by the handles c and pinion c', fixed on the cross shaft c², which also revolves
in a bush in the stand d.
It is evident that by turning the handles c, and pressing on the plate e, the
operator imparts a continuous rotary motion to the cutter, and bores the hole in
the slate or other substance to be operated upon.
The hand drills above described may also be driven by worm and wheels or other
equivalents.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 9 is a side elevation; Fig. 10 a front view; and Fig. 11 a plan
of another of my improved boring machines, in which the pressure on the boring
tool to produce an automatic feed is obtained by gravitation. The rigid bar f is
secured to the foundation frame g; which is supported by the adjustable steel points y¹,
the level of which can be regulated according to the irregularities in the ground.
The frame g is also provided with two or more wheels g², to facilitate the transporting
of the machine from one part of the mine or quarry to another. On the bar is the
adjustable clamp h, shewn detached in Figs. 12 and 13, which is secured to the bar
by the wedge h¹ and block h², or otherwise. The clamp supports the horizontal
tube i, which is secured to the clamp by the wedge and block 2, or otherwise. At
the end of the tube i is cast or fixed the cross head 23, shewn in Fig. 14, which
supports the tool holder b, and within the tube i is the shaft c², to one end of which
is fixed the handle c, and at the other the bevel pinion c¹ gearing into the pinion b
on the tool holder b; this pinion is provided with a key fitting in a groove in the
tool holder, whereby the tool holder can slide through, and be carried round by the
pinion. To the loose collar b³, at the end of the tool holder b, is connected the end
of the chain or cord j, which passes over a guide pulley j¹ in the cross head i³, and
to this chain or cord is suspended the series of weights . The universal joint
formed by the clamp h and tube i with its cross head i³, enables the tool holder b
to be set either vertically, horizontally, or at any angle.
When the operator turns the handle c, a constant automatic feed is imparted to
the cutter by the weight j³, the pressure being regulated according to the nature
of the substance under operation by adding to or taking off the loose weights.
On Sheet 3, Fig. 15 is a side view; Fig. 16 is a front view; and Fig. 17 a plan of
an apparatus, whereby the hand drills shewn on Sheet 1, or any other hand drills,
can be used for boring holes in the face of slate or other substance lying at an angle;
Figs. 18 and 19 are detached views of part of the same. In Fig. 15 the line k
represents the diagonal face of the rock or other substance in which the holes have
to be bored; m is the cage suspended by a rope or chain passing around blocks m¹
to the top of the rock; m² is the platform for the operator to stand upon.
The holes, may be bored by either of the hand boring tools shewn on Sheet 1, or

page_text: by an apparatus similar to that shewn on Sheet 2, or by any other suitable boring
apparatus; is a hollow cross stay extending from one side of the cage to the other
to which the boring apparatus may be attached.
on
At the front of the cage are bearings supporting the shaft n, on which is fixed the
reel for the chain n², one end of which is secured to the reel, and the other end
rests on the floor of the quarry. The shaft n is turned round by the handle
the upright shaft o', to which is fixed the worm o² gearing into the worm wheel n³
on the shaft n. By turning the handle o in one direction or the other, the operator
can wind the chain on to the reel, or unwind it therefrom, in order to increase or
reduce the power of resistance of the fulcrum, according to the pressure required on
the boring tool.
The cutter a, shewn in Figs. 15 and 17, is fixed in the tool holder b passing
through the tube i3, shewn in Figs. 18 and 19; from this tube projects the screw 2+,
which passes through the clamp on the cross stay 7. The angle of the hole to be
bored can be varied by slackening the nut of the screw 4, and altering the position
of the tube 3 on the cross stay l.
The boring tool is turned round by the handle c, and the pressure is given to
the cutter by the cord j and dead weight 1, as described in reference to Sheet 2.
It is evident that the power of resistance of the fulcrum can be varied by detached
movable weights connected to the cage in lieu of the chain n².
On Sheet 4, Fig. 20 is a front view of my improved machinery for boring by
percussion. On Sheet 5, Fig. 21 is a side view of the same, shewn partly in
section; and on Sheet 6, Fig. 22 is a plan, and Fig. 23; a'transverse section of part
of the same.
4. J
This improved machine is partly similar to that for which former Letters Patent
were granted to me on the 20th day of October 1873, No. 3396, but in this arrange-
ment the boring bar and cutter are detached from the flexible connection, and it
consists of the rigid bar f, which is fixed to a foundation plate supported on wheels
or otherwise, or which is secured in any convenient manner to the floor, roof, or sides
of the mine or quarry in which the boring may be required.
The frame p is secured to the bar f by two wedges p' and block p², and this
frame supports the second frame q, in which are the bearings for the driving parts
of the machine; the driving shaft r is provided with the internal wheel r', gearing
into the pinion s' on the crank shaft 8; the links 8' connect the cranks to the cross
head t, which moves up and down in a bush in the frame q. To the cross head t is
fixed the centre of the spring t', and the hammer or tup u is connected to the
spring by the leather or other flexible connection u¹, the ends of which are
secured to regulating screws u³, whereby the tension of the straps can be regulated.
The hammer or tup u fits upon the shank of the tool holder b, which is guided above
in the cross head t, and below in the bearing secured to the frame q. The hammer
or tup strikes upon the shoulder b³ of the tool holder, and after each blow the tool,
fixed in the socket of the tool holder is lifted by the cam s fixed on the crank
shaft, and the friction of the cam on the under side of the shoulder 63 imparts a
partial rotation to the cutting tool; the partial rotation may also be effected by
a ratchet wheel or other equivalent device.
The frame q is made to move up and down or to and fro on the frame p by the
screw v, which is supported above in a socket cast to the frame p, and which passes
to the screw nut q', placed between the brackets q' cast to the frame q, and the
screw is turned round to give the feed, or to raise the cutter out of the hole that
has been bored by the mitre pinions v and v², or in any other convenient
manner.
The requisite rotary motion may be communicated to the machine by the handles
w; or a driving strap actuated by steam or other power may be taken over the
internal wheel, or over a small pulley fixed to the crank shaft.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the cutter is detached from the
flexible connection that actuates the hammer or iup.

page_text: When the machine is in motion the crank shaft s, acting on the cross head t and
spring lifts the hammer or tupu, which, in its descent, strikes the shoulder 6³ on
the tool holder b, and imparts to the cutter a blow equal to the full force of a lever
hammer similar to that described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
me on the 12th day of February 1876, No. 587.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
First. The improved cutter for boring holes in slate, coal, and other substances, as
shewn and described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly. The improved hand-boring apparatus, shewn and described in reference
to Figs. 4 to 8.
Thirdly. The hand-boring apparatus, shewn and described in reference to Sheet 2,
in connection with the improved automatic feed by gravitation.
Fourthly. The apparatus for boring holes in the diagonal face of rock or other
substance, as shewn and described in reference to Sheet 3, and the mode of varying
the stability of the fulcrum supporting the drill.
Fifthly. The general combination and arrangement of the machine for boring
by percussion, in which the spring, the flexible connection, and the hammer or tup
which impart the blow to the cutter, are detached from the drill holder, as shewn
and described in reference to Sheets 4, 5, and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Patterson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
JOHN PATTERSON. (L.S.)