An Improved Apparatus for Drilling and Tapping Holes and Inserting Ferrules in Water, Gas, and other Mains under Pressure.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, '5th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Mar., 1889
An Improved Apparatus for Drilling and Tapping Holes and Inserting
Ferrules in Water, Gas, and other Mains under Pressure.
I, GEORGE HARRY TURNER, of Cherry Gardens, Folkestone, Kent, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This my invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for
drilling and tapping holes in water, gas, and other mains under pressure, and which
invention has for its object to prevent the continual waste which is constantly, taking
place when the operation aforesaid is performed in the usual manner. A further
advantage in connection with my invention is, that it is not necessary to cut off the
main supply during the operation of drilling and tapping holes for the purpose of
inserting branch pipes etc."
This my said invention consists essentially of a rectangular or other suitably shaped
box provided upon its underside with suitable projecting lugs, by means of which it
may be firmly clamped to the main or pipe to be operated upon. The upper part or
top of said box is adjustable, and is arranged to slide in suitable guides forined in the
sides of said box and which guides are rendered watertight by their form of construc-
tion. Upon the adjustable top of said box is a suitable stuffing box having three
glands through which pass respectively a drill mandril, tap mandril, and ferrule
mandril. The bottom of said box has an aperture through which the drill tap and
ferrule may be exten·led into the main or pipe in turn. In order to facilitate the
adjustment of the top of the box a suitable hand-wheel and screw is fitted to the side
of the box for the purpose; and by this means the drill, tap and ferrule may be
adjusted to coincide with the aperture in the bottom of said box as required.
A suitable rubber, leather or other washer is situated in a recess around the aperture
in the bottom of the box to make a water-tight joint when the main & box are
clamped together. The front side and back of the box have a small aperture filled in
with glass or other transparent substance, in order to inspect the working of the drill
or tap. The drill and tap are conveniently operated by a ratchet or other brace which
is placed in succession upon said drill and tap and which is centred against a suitable
swinging arin pivoted to both sides of the box aforesaid.
D
11: FIL 1
1000
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Drilling and Tapping Holes and Inserting
Ferrules in Water, Gas, and other Mains under Pressure.
I, GEORGE HARRY TURNER, of Cherry Gardens, Folkestone, Kent, Engineer,
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:—
This my invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for
drilling and tapping holes, and inserting ferrules in water, gas and other mains under
pressure, and which invention has for its object to prevent the continual waste which
is constantly taking place when the operation aforesaid is performed in the usual
manner.
Further advantages in connection with my invention are as follows:-
It is not necessary to cut off the main supply during the operation of drilling and
taping holes for the purpose of affixing thereto branch pipes etc. The drill and tap
being two distinct tools, there is no fear of the latter being rondered useless by the
breakage of the former, and it is well-known that a drill and tap combined is a most
expensive tool to make.
The ferrule does not require to be taken to pieces. It is
screwed into the main just as it is received from the maker, and therefore an unskilled
man may safely handle it. When preparing the machine for work, it is only necessary
to screw a ferrule into the socket of spindle. Everything else is ready. No loose iron
saddle-pieces are required, except for 2 in. mains which are not often used. No
spanner or screw-driver is required; the tap-wrench being used to tighten the
hook-bolts at end of chain. By means of the window, the different operations can
be readily watched. The apparatus can be carried by one man without assistance.
There is so little friction, that at 400 feet pressure the slide can be easily traversed
with one hand.
I now proceed to describe my said invention, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and the figures and letters of reference marked thereon,
similar letters indicating like parts throughout.
Fig. 1 is a sectional sido elevation of my improved apparatus, and showing the
portion of a main pipe being operated upon. Fig. 2. is a plan thereof, and Fig. 3.
is a sectional end elevation showing a part of the main pipe. Fig. 4 is a sectional
elevation of a modified form of my improved apparatus, and Fig. 5. is a plan
thereof. Fig. 6. is a sectional elevation of the ferrule used in combination with
my improved apparatus. Fig.7. is an elevation of thetap-wrench used in combina-
tion with my improved apparatus.
This my said invention consists essentially of a rectangular or other suitably
shaped metal box A, formed with lugs a which have a series of holes a². Said
box A is provided with a lid B which consists of a metal plate having an aperture b,
and is secured to the box A by screws b¹. The underside of the lid B is provided
with a suitable packing C which ensures a water-tight joint between the lid and

page_text: the box, and the lid and a movable metal slide D. Said movable metal slide D
consists of a narrow plate having upon its upper surface two three or more
stuffing-boxes d, d', d, packed with screw or other glands D'. Suitable spindles
or mandrils E E¹ E are passed through said stuffing-boxes and glands, and are
formed with suitable chucks el, e, which are adapted to retain respectively a
drill F, tap G, and ferrule H. The metal slide D is held in close contact with
the packing C and lid B by suitable springs J, secured to the box A by screws j.
It is however held in closer contact therewith by the water-pressure in the box A
which also serves to retain the mandrils E, E¹, E, elevated. The box lid B has
a lug which is drilled and tapped to receive a screw K. which is provided at
one end with a hand-wheel K', and the other end is formed with a journal k
adapted to fit and revolve in a bearing consisting of a lug ¹ which projects from
the stuffing box d. By means of this wheel and screw the slide D may be caused
to travel as desired in a longitudinal direction. A suitable swing stay L
provided with a boss 7 through which passes the screw L', is pivoted upon two
screws which project from the two opposite sides of the box A. By means
of this said swing stay and screw L' a gradual pressure and feed may be imparted
to the drill, whilst the rotary motion is given to the drill, and the mandrils by
an ordinary ratchet brace M, which is fitted over each mandril in succession as
required. Suitable windows N are provided in the sides of the box A, through which
the operations may be watched. Said windows may be constructed of glass, talk, mica,
or any other suitable transparent substance, preferably mounted in circular or other
shaped frames N1, secured to the sides of the box A over apertures n¹ by screws n.
The underside of the box A has an aperture P through which the drill, tap and ferrule
are brought to operate upon the main. Said aperture P is enlarged at to form a
recess in which may be fitted a compressible washer P₁ of any material, which serves
to make a water-tight joint between the main and the box A when the apparatus is
secured in position by means of suitable bolts Q and chains Q', which after having
been passed around the main are drawn tight by the nuts Q. The ferrule used in
connection with my apparatus is of improved construction and which improvement
consists in the manner of adjusting the branch piece R to the main body of the
ferrule H. Said branch piece R is externally screw-threaded as shown and formed
with a collar R. In adjusting the branch piece R to the ferrule H a suitable washer
packing R2 is placed between the faces of the internally screw-threaded boss and the
collar R, and a water-tight joint is thereby ensured. Such of the other parts of the
ferrule except the screw-piece as are not referred to are of ordinary and well known
construction and therefore need no further description. The manner in which my
improved drilling and tapping apparatus is operated is as follows:-The box A is
placed across the main S to be tapped, and is held down by chains as shown, the joint
between the box and main being made with the rubber or other saddle ring P. The
spindle E which carries the drill, is moved with the slide D, until the point of the
drill brought over the aperture P in the lower part of the box A. (It is found con-
venient to provide suitable marks upon the exterior surfaces of the stuffing boxes and
the upper surface of the lid B, which marks when brought to coincide will indicate
that the drill, tap, or ferrule is over the centre of the aperture P.) The ratchet brace
is then placed upon the spindle, the swing stay placed upright, and the drilling com-
menced. When the drill has gone through the main, the water will enter the box but
being water-tight it cannot escape. The drill is then drawn back until it is clear of
the bottom of the box. The ratchet brace is then removed and the swing stay pushed
to one side; the spindle will remain up through the pressure of the water. The slide
is then wound along until the spindle which carries the tap, is just above the drilled
hole, tap the hole by forcing the spindle round with the wrench (Fig. 7) which may
also be used in place of the wheel K' for moving the slide, and withdraw the tap in the
same manner as the drill. The slide is then wound along, and the ferrule tightly
screwed in with the wrench, taking care to see by means of the windows that the
ferrule is properly home before withdrawing the spindle which will leave the ferrule
at e, by a reverse rotation of the mandril,
"'

page_text: In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modified form of my invention which consists in
making the apparatus of a circular design. This modification, consists essentially for
the most part of details substantially of the same construction as in that form of my
invention aforedescribed, and in these views (Figs. 4 and 5) similar letters of reference
indicate like parts shown in the other Figures of the drawings. In this form of my
invention, the movable metal plate D) moves in a circular plane; the stuffing boxes
which carry the spindles travelling in a semi-circular opening 6 in the lid B. The
circular movement is imparted to the plate D by means of the wrench (Fig. 7) which
is applied to the square of the central stud T, which passes through an aperture in
the lid B and is secured to the plate D by a nut t¹. A square portion of the stud T
ensures the movement of the stud being imparted to the plate D. By this arrange-
ment the drill, tap, and ferrule may be readily and consecutively adjusted in position,
as and for the purposes hereinbe ore described. The swing stay V consists of a piece
of metal provided with a boss and screw L' (as in Fig. 3.) and which is pivoted to
lugs V₁ by a bolt 1. The swing stay is held in a vertical position by means of a pin &¹
which is passed through corresponding holes in the lugs V and the swing stay V.
The operation of drilling, tapping and inserting a ferrule in a main by means of
this modification of my improved apparatus is precisely the same as hereinbefore
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
1 claim is :-
1st) In an apparatus for drilling and tapping holes and inserting ferrules in gas,
water, and other mains, the combination, of a case or box having lugs whereby
the apparatus may be secured to the main by means of chains and bolts, of a lid
secured to the box aforesaid by screws, and having an aperture, of a metal slide having
upon its upper surface suitable stuffing boxes and glands, of suitable mandrils passed
through and carried by said stuffing boxes and slide, and carrying respectively a drill,
tap, and ferrule, of a suitable packing secured between the lid and the slide, of snitable
springs whereby the slide is retained in contact with the packing and lid, of a screw
carried by a lug, and mounted at one end with a hand wheel and adapted to work in a
lug bearing at the other end, and by means of which screw the slide aforesaid may be
caused to travel, of a swing stay pivoted to the sides of the box aforesaid, whereby
pressure may be applied to the drill, of windows constructed in the sides of the box
aforesaid through which the operation of the drilling etc. may be watched, and of a
saddle ring whereby a water-tight joint is ensured between the apparatus and main,
all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2) In an apparatus for drilling, and tapping holes and inserting ferrules in water,
gas and other mains, of the modified form thereof, consisting of the parts hereinbefore
described and claimed, and the alternative means whereby the movable plate is revolved,
and of the swing stay pivoted in lugs projecting from the upper surface of the lid, all
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
3) In combination with an apparatus for drilling, tapping and inserting ferrules in
water, gas and other mains, the ferrule constructed as shown and described, substan-
tially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
HORN & SON,
Agents on behalf of Applicant.