IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCKS AND OTHER MINERAL SUBSTANCES IN MINING,
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Fenner Ballou Taylor, of Vowler Street,
Walworth Road, in the County of Surrey, Civil and Mechanical
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
DRILLING OR BORING ROCKS AND OTHER MINERAL SUBSTANCES IN MINING,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Fenner Ballou Taylor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 29th November 1870.
I, FENNER BALLOU TAYLOR, of Vowler Street, Walworth Road,
in the County of Surrey, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY >
FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCKS AND OTHER MINERAL SUBSTANCES IN MINING,
TUNNELLING, QUARRYING, AND OTHER LIKE OPERATIONS," to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to improvements in rock-drilling or per-
forating machines of that class in which the drilling or penetrating

page_text: implement is carried by a reciprocating piston driven by steam, air,
or other fluid, which is admitted to the cylinder by an oscillating
distributing valve whose motion is derived through the medium of cams
or other devices from the piston rod.
The main objects of my present Invention are simplicity of con- 5
struction, reduced weight and cost, and increased durability of the
machine.
According to one part of these improvements I construct the cylinder,
the valve chest, and the guides and bearings for the piston, and valve
rods, and for other parts of the mechanism in one piece. I thereby greatly 1
simplify the machine, and reduce the cost of its manufacture. The
valve seating is a small cylinder which is inserted into a chamber at the
side of the main cylinder. The valve is a hollow or tubular piece with
its axis arranged parallel with that of the cylinder and with a face on
one side etending from end to end thereof. This face forms the working ]
part of the valve and alternately covers and uncovers the admission
ports, which extend endwise through the entire length of the valve
chamber. The exhaust passage is through the valve to a pipe at the
end of the valve chamber.
I obviate the necessity for a stuffing box for the valve spindle to pass :
through in the following manner:-The valve spindle has inside the
chamber a collar or shoulder which is faced and fitted steam and
air tight against the end of the chamber through which the spindle
passes. On the inner side of this collar is a projecting piece which
fits into a slot or groove in the end of the valve, so that any oscillating
motion of the spindle will be communicated to the valve, or the pro-
jection may be on the valve, and the slot or groove in the collar of the
spindle. Collars are also made at the ends of the valve which form its.
bearings in the valve cylinder. These collars are well fitted to the said
cylinder so as to prevent the escape of the steam and produce just
sufficient friction to prevent any undue motion of the valve from the
action of the tappets herein-after described.
The piston rod forms the subject of another part of these improve-
ments. The said rod is a solid bar of steel with an enlargement to form
the body of the piston, in which I turn grooves or channels to receive
metallic packing rings. The end or portion of this rod in front of the
piston, and which extends through a suitable stuffing box, is made of
larger diameter than the other portion of the said rod to give it suffi-

page_text: .
cient strength to receive and firmly hold the drill or cutting implement
which is secured directly in the end of the said rod-by a cotter or other
suitable device. The rear end or portion of the rod extends through
a stuffing box and is supported and guided in another bearing carried
on the frame, which, as before stated, is cast in one piece with the
cylinder. The said piston rod therefore has three bearings which
greatly increase its steadiness and diminish the rapid wearing of the
piston. On the small end of the piston rod I made an enlargement
with two inclined faces which form cams for operating the oscillating
distributing valve. The oscillating motion of this valve is imparted
to it from these cam faces through the medium of tappets fixed on the
valve spindle, with a capability of adjustment to allow the valve to be
properly set to effect the desired distribution of the steam or other
fluid. A portion of the periphery of this enlargement between. the two
inclines is made parallel or cylindrical. On. this cylindrical portion I
form ratchet teeth, which are cut spirally or obliquely across the same.
On one side of this ratchet in a recess in the frame is a bar which has
teeth inclined to correspond with those of the ratchet, and of such a
length that the said ratchet will keep in gear with the bar throughout
the movements of the piston rod. Within the recess at the back of
the toothed bar I place a spring or springs; at the forward stroke of the
piston this bar is depressed in its recess as the ratchet passes over it,
but at the backward or return stroke of the piston the teeth of
the bar engaging with those of the ratchet produce a partial rotation
of the piston rod and drill. To keep the toothed bar parallel with
the rod, and to prevent its being pressed by the spring too deeply in
gear with the ratchet, I place stops at the ends outside the recess. The
feed or advance movement of the drill is produced automatically by
means of a feed screw and nut.. The latter, is fixed immoveably
between two brackets cast on the cylinder. These brackets prevent.
any endwise movement of the nut while its rotation is prevented by.
making one side flat and fitting it against a flat portion on the cylinder.
Or the nut may be secured upon the cylinder by any other means which
will hold it securely and immoveably thereon. The feed screw which
passes through this nut has one end as herein-after described supporteḍ
in a socket on the universal joint of the supporting stand. The end
of the screw is formed with a collar or shoulder on each side of the
socket to prevent its having any endwise motion. The said screw
extends to the rear end of the machine, where it is supported in another
'
:

page_text: bearing formed in a cross bar attached to the column; at the rear end
of the cylinder the screw passes through a sleeve whercon is formed
a flange whose face has ratchet teeth. The sleeve has no screw thread,
and consequently the screw can move freely endwise through the same,
but the said ratchet cannot turn without turning the screw by reason
of a feather fixed in the sleeve, and fitting into a groove extending
longitudinally along the screw. Against the ratchet face of this sleeve
there is another ratchet face, which is formed on another sleeve that
also surrounds the screw but is free to turn around upon the same.
The two ratchet faces are kept in gear by a spiral or other spring. On
the loose sleeve is formed an arm which is actuated by one of the tappets
of the valve spindle. By this means the loose sleeve receives an oscil-
lating motion, and imparts to the other ratchet an intermittent rotating
motion. This ratchet being held by the aforesaid feather in the groove
of the screw therefore causes the latter to turn, and as the nut is im-
moveable the screw is caused to advance and carry with it the entire
drilling or boring mechanism. I prefer that the tappet which operates
the arm of the said ratchet should be formed with a notch to receive
a tooth on the end of the arm. I thus obviate the necessity of pins
or other loose pieces for making the connection between the tappet and
the arm.
For quarrying and other open work the supporting frame or stand
of the drilling machine is constructed with two side plates of cast iron
or other suitable metal which have at each end a socket; these sockets
are fitted with steel or iron bars which are pointed at the bottom
and are held adjustably in the sockets by pinching screws. At the
centre of each of the two side plates is a larger socket for the reception
of a hollow or tubular shaft, which is also held by pinching screws in
the sockets. This tubular shaft may be made of any desired length to
adapt the machine to any circumstances. Upon this shaft is fitted a
strong clamp which is provided with pinching screws and blocks or other
suitable devices whereby it can be securely held at any angular position
upon the said shaft, but which will allow it to be turned or moved
endwise thereon to adjust it to any desired position. This clamp has
on one side a diso in which is formed a shallow circular recess wherein
is fitted a plate which is held in the said recess by screws with hook-
shaped heads. This plate has on its back two sockets which receive the
supporting column and screw of the drilling machine. This column

page_text: and screw are placed parallel with each other, and the drilling machine
is mounted thereon by means of suitable brackets at the two ends and
central portion of the machine. The said screw and column are of such
a length as to permit the required endwise feeding or advance movement
of the said machine. The aforesaid circular plate may be adjusted to any
desired angular position, and may be firmly secured when adjusted by
means of the screws. From the above description it will be seen. that
the support of the drilling machine allows of its easy and rapid adjust-
ment in all directions.
In tunnelling and mining operations I modify the construction of the
supporting frame as follows:-I use a carriage with four wheels formed
to run on rails, and whose axles are curved or arched so that the
carriage will pass freely over the debris or any materials lying between
the said rails. On these axles I mount a horizontal bar parallel with
the line of rails or two of such bars, which may be either rotated or
moved endwise upon the carriage. On the forward end of these bars is
mounted a hollow or tubular cross bar, which is connected to the hori
zontal bar by a ball and socket joint; this joint allows the said cross bar
to be turned freely into any position, and also to slido endwise through
the ball so that it may be readily adjusted to any inequalities of a tunnel.
One end of the cross bar is closed and has a pointed shoe, and at the
other end is a piston whose rod is also provided with a pointed shoe. By
the admission of steam or other fluid into the tubular bar these pointed
shoes are forced into contact with the sides of the tunnel and the
machine is thereby held firmly in place. On the said cross bar I place
one or two of the drilling or perforating machines, which are supported
upon the said cross bar by means of the universal joint described in
connection with the other modification of my supporting frame, or by.
any other joint which will permit the required freedom of adjustment
of the machines. The horizontal bars are turned on their axes to.
adjust the cross bars by means of a worm and wheel or other suitable
contrivance at the rear of the carriage.
The carriage may also be provided with one or more tubes and pistons
projecting upward and at a right angle to the axes of the horizontal
bars. These pistons are provided with pointed shoes, and by admitting
steam or other fluid into the said tubes the pistons have their pointed
shoes pressed against the roof of the tunnel, the carriage being thereby

page_text: held firmly between the rails and the tunnel roof. If desired I may
secure the carriage in the tunnel by screws with pointed shoes or other
suitable contrivances.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Fenner Ballou Taylor in the Great Seal Patent |
Office on the 27th May 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FENNER
BALLOU TAYLOR, of Vowler Street, Walworth Road, in the County
of Surrey, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her:
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Fenner Ballou Taylor, Her special
licence that I, the said Fenner Ballou Taylor, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Fenner Ballou
Taylor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCKS AND OTHER
MINERAL SUBSTANCES IN MINING, TUNNELLING, QUARRYING, AND OTHER LINE
OPERATIONS," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Fenner
Ballou Taylor, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Fenner Ballou Taylor, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and

page_text: by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :—
=
My said Invention relates to improvements in rock drilling or per-
forating machines of that class in which the drilling or penetrating
implement is carried by a reciprocating piston driven by steam; air, or
other fluid, which is admitted to the cylinder by an oscillating distributing
valve whose motion is derived through the medium of cams or other
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved rock drilling machine;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same; Figures 3; 4;
and 5 are transverse sections on the lines x, x, y, y, and z, z, of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a plan or top view showing the said machine mounted
upon a frame especially adapted for quarry work; Figure 7 is a front
clovation, and Figure 8 a sido elevation of the same; Figure 9 is a plan
or top view of the carriage for supporting the machine in a tunnel
showing the said machine mounted thereon; Figure 10 is a side elevation;
and Figure 11 a rear end elevation of the same.
·
1
According to one part of these improvements I construct the cylinder a,
the valve chest b, and an extension a* for supporting the guides and
bearings for the piston and valve rods' and for other parts of the
mechanism in one piece. I thereby diminish the number of parts,
simplify the construction of the machine, and reduce the cost of its
manufacture. The valve seating is a small cylinder c which is inserted
into the valve chest or chamber 6 at the side of the main cylinder a, as
clearly shown in Figure 2. The valve d is a hollow or tubular piece
with its axis arranged parallel to that of the cylinder a, and it has a
projecting curved face d* on one side extending from end to end
thereof. This face forms the working part of the valve and alternately
covers and uncovers the admission ports e, which extend endwise through
the entire length of the valve cylinder c. The centre of the valve forms
the exhaust passage which communicates with a pipe at the end of the

page_text: I obviate the necessity of a stuffing box for the valve spindle d' to
pass through in the following manner:-The said valve spindle has
inside the cylinder ca collar or shoulder &, which is faced and fitted
steam and air tight against the end of the chamber through which the
spindle d' passes. On the inner side of this collar is a projecting piece
or tongue d³ which fits into a slot or groove in the end of the valve, so
that any oscillating motion of the spindle a will be communicated to
the valve d; or the same result may be effected by making a projection
on the valve and a slot or groove in the collar of the spindle. Collars d'
are also made at the ends of the valve which form its bearings in the
valve cylinder. These collars are well fitted to the said cylinder to
prevent the escape of the steam and produce just sufficient friction
to prevent any undue motion of the valve from the action of the tappets
herein-after described.
The piston is formed solidly upon the piston rod g. The said rod
is a solid bar of steel with an enlargement to form the body of the
piston f, in which I turn grooves or channels to receive metallic packing
rings f¹. The end or portion g' of this rod in front of the piston, and
which extends through a suitable stuffing box a', is made, as shown, of
larger diameter than the other portion of the said rod to give it sufficient
strength to receive and firmly hold the drill or cutting implement h,
which is secured directly in the end of the said rod by a cotter h¹or
other suitable device. The rear end or portion 9³ of the rod extends
through a stuffing box a² and is also supported and guided in a bearing i
carried on the extension a*, which, as before stated, is cast in one piece
with the cylinder and valve casing. The said piston rod, therefore, has
three bearings which give it great steadiness and diminish the wearing
action of the piston. On the small end g³ of the piston rod g I make
an enlargement k with two inclined faces k', k³, which form cams for
operating the oscillating distributing valve d. The oscillating motion
of this valve is imparted to it from these cam faces through the medium
of tappets 1,, fixed on the valve spindle d' with a capability of adjust-
ment to allow the valve d to be properly set to effect the desired
distribution of the steam or other fluid.
I however wish it understood I am aware that these inclined surfaces
for operating the distributing valve are not new in themselves, they
having been already described in the Specification of Letters Patent
granted to William Robert Lake, the 14th day of April, A.D. 1870,

page_text: No. 1104, but I make use of this contrivance in combination with the
novel parts of my machine as herein described.
་
A portion of the periphery of this enlargement k between the two
inclines,, is mado parallel or cylindrical. On this cylindrical
5 portion I form ratchet teeth ³ which are cut spirally or obliquely across
the peripheral surface. On one side of this ratchet ³ in a recess in the
extension piece a is a bar m which has teeth m² inclined to correspond
with those of the ratchet ³, and of such a length that the said ratchet
will keep in gear with the bar m throughout the movements of the
0 piston rod g. Within the recess at the back of the toothed bar m I
place a spring or springs m³. At the forward stroke of the piston this
bar is depressed in its recess as the ratchet passes over it, but at
the backward or return stroke of. the piston the teeth of the bar m
engaging with those of the ratchet produce a partial rotation of the
5 piston rod 9 and drill h. To keep the toothed bar m parallel with
the rod g, and to prevent its being pressed by the spring m³ too deeply
in gear with the ratchet, I place stops m³ at the ends of the recess.
The feed or advance movement of the drill his produced automatically
by means of a feed screw n and nut n' through the medium of peculiarly
0 arranged mechanism which is actuated by one of the aforesaid tappets.
The nut n¹ is fitted immoveably between two brackets a cast on the
cylinder a. These brackets prevent any endwise movement of the
nut'n', while its rotation is prevented by making one side flat and fitting.
it against a flat portion on the. cylinder; or the said nut may be secured
5 upon the cylinder by any other means which will hold it securely and
immoveably thereon. The feed screw n which passes through this nut
has one end supported in a socket o on the universal joint of the
supporting stand or frame, as herein-after more particularly described.
This end of the screw n is formed with a collar or shoulder n³ on each
0 side of the socket o to prevent its having any endwise motion. The
said screw extends to the rear end of the machine, where it is supported
in another bearing o³ formed in a cross bar o³ attached to the column j.
At the rear end of the cylinder the screw passes through a sleeve p
whereon is formed a flange p¹ whose face has ratchet teeth. The
5 slcove phas. no screw thread, and consequently the screw can move,
freely endwise through the same, but the said ratchet cannot turn
without turning the screw by reason of a feather fixed in the sleeve
and fitting into a grooven extending longitudinally along the screw.

page_text: imparts to the
Against the ratchet face of this sleeve p there is another ratchet face,
which is formed on another sleeve q that also surrounds the screw ",
but is free to turn around upon the same.
The two ratchet faces are
kept in gear by a spiral or other spring r. On the loose sleevo q is
formed an arm q', which is actuated by one of the tappets of the valve
spindle, as will be clearly seen by referring to Figure 1. By this means
the loose sleeve 9 receives an oscillating motion, and
other ratchet p an intermittent rotating motion. This ratchet p being
held by the aforesaid feather in the groove 2 of the screw n therefore
causes the latter to turn, and as the nut n' will not turn the screw n in
its rotation causes the said nut to advance and carry with it the entire
drilling or boring mechanism. I prefer that the tappet which operates
the arm q' of the said ratchet should be formed with a notch to receive
a tooth on the end of the arm q'. I thus obviate the necessity of
pins or other loose pieces for making the connection between the tappet
and the arm.
It will be seen by the above description that the construction of my
, machine is extremely simple, and that I use only two springs and I
thereby greatly diminish its liability to derangement.
For quarrying and other open work the supporting frame or stand.of
the drilling machine, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, is constructed
with two side plates A of cast iron or other suitable metal, which have
at each end a socket A¹. These sockets are fitted with steel or iron
bars B, which are pointed at the bottom and are held adjustably in the
sockets A' by pinching screws C. At the centre of cach of the two
side plates A is a large socket A³ for the reception of a hollow or tubular
shaft D, which is also held by pinching screws E in the socket A³.
This tubular shaft may be made of any desired length to adapt the
machine to any circumstances, that is to say, for ordinary quarry work
I should make the shaft D of such a length as would render the
machine conveniently portable; but for cutting down and splitting beds
of rock or stone wherein a number of holes in a line would have to be
drilled I use a shaft of sufficient length to extend across a number of
these holes, and then the side frames are fixed and the machine is
adjusted upon the said shaft between the said frames. Upon this
shaft D is fitted a strong clamp F which is provided with pinching
screws G and blocks G¹, see Figure 5, or other suitable devices, whereby
it can be securely held at any angular position upon the said shaft,

page_text: but which will allow it to be turned or moved endwise thercon to adjust
it to any desired position. This clamp has on one side a disc F in which
is formed a shallow circular recess wherein is fitted a plate H which is
held in the said recess by screws F³ with suitably shaped heads, as
clearly shown in Figure 5. This plate-H has on its back the two
sockets which receive the supporting column and screw of the drilling
machine, as herein-before described. This column and screw are placed
parallel with each other, and the drilling machine is mounted thercon
by means of suitable brackets a' at the two ends and central portion of
the machine. The said screw and column are of such a length as to
permit the required endwise feeding or advance movement of the said
machine. The aforesaid circular plate H may be adjusted to any desired
angular position, and may be firmly secured when adjusted by means of
the screws F. From the above description it will be seen that the
support of the drilling machine allows of its easy and rapid adjustment
in all directions.
.may
In tunnelling and mining operations I modify the construction of the
supporting frame, as shown in Figures 9, '10, and 11. I use a carriage
.I with four wheels J formed to run on rails K, and whose axles J' are
curved or arched, as shown in Figure 11, so that the carriage will pass
freely over the debris or any materials lying between the said rails.
On these axles I mount a horizontal bar L (or two of such bars) which
be rotated or moved endwise. upon, the carriage, and may also bo
adjusted to any required angle horizontally upon the same. For this
5 purpose the rear end of the bar is passed through a bearing I, which is
connected by a swivel joint to the cross bar M, while the forward end
of the said bar is supported in a bearing L' which is carried adjustably
´on the curved cross bar N; by moving this bearing on the curved bar
the bar L is adapted to any desired angular position. On the horizontal
O bar L'I form a circular rack L into which is geared the pinion I';
by turning this pinion the bar L is adjusted endwise in the bearing
or socket L. On the forward end of this bar L is mounted a hollow,
or tubular cross bar O, which is connected to the horizontal bar L by
the socket P, through which the said bar O is made to slide into any
5 required position. The forward end of the bar L carries a worm
wheel L' and is connected therewith by a feather or key fitted in a
long groove in the shaft which allows the said shaft to slide through
the said wheel, but prevents its turning independently of the same.

page_text: On the bearing L³ is a bracket L' wherein is carried a worm L. The
latter is geared in the worm wheel LA, and by turning the said worm
the bar L is turned and thereby the cross bar O is adjusted to any
desired vertical angular position, so that it may be readily adapted to
any inequalities of a tunnel. Pinching screws O¹ or other devices are
provided to prevent the turning of the bar in the socket. One end
of the cross bar O is closed and has a pointed shoe Q, and at the other
end is a screw R or a piston whose extremity is also provided with
a pointed shoc §. By turning the said screw or by the admission of
steam or other fluid into the tubular bar O these pointed shoes are
forced into contact with the sides of the tunnel, and the machine is
thereby held firmly in place. On the said cross bar O I place one or
two of the drilling or perforating machines, which are supported upon
the said cross bar by means of the universal joint described in con-,
nection with the other modification of my supporting frame shown in
Figures 6, 7, and 8, or by any other joint which will permit the required
freedom of adjustment of the machines.
The carriage may also be provided with one or more tubes T provided
with screws U or pistons projecting upward and at a right angle to the
axis of the horizontal bar. These screws or pistons are provided with
'pointed shoes U¹, and by turning the screws or admitting steam or other
fluid into the said tubes the pistons have their shoes pressed against the
roof of the tunnel, the carriage being thereby held. firmly between
the rails and the tunnel roof. If desired I may secure the carriage in
the tunnel by screws with pointed shoes or other suitable contrivances. 2
Having thus fully described my said Invention I claim,―
First. The cylinder and valve casing and the extension for supporting
the guides and bearings of the piston and valve rods cast in one piece,
substantially as set forth for the purposes specified.
r
Second. The piston rod constructed with the spiral or oblique ratchet 3
arranged to operate in combination with the spirally toothed bar at the
side of and parallel with the piston rod, substantially as set forth for
the purpose specified.
Third. The devices for keeping the valve chamber steam-tight
around the valve rod or stem, without stuffing boxes, substantially 3
as set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the feed screw with the peculiar
mechanism for producing the automatic feed or advance of the

page_text: drill by motion derived from the piston rod, substantially as. set
forth.
.
Fifth. The single bar or column for carrying. the drilling mechanism,
so arranged. in "combination with the feed screw and other parts of
the machine, and with the joint -shown in Figure 5, that the machine
is supported entirely on the said column and is moved thereon, and
the said column is adjusted on the joint, substantially as set forth for
the purposes specified.
Sixth. A machine for drilling rocks constructed with the above
O specified novel parts and combinations of parts arranged in combination
with the other portions of the said machine, substantially as set forth
for the purposes specified.
- Seventh. The frame for supporting the machine in quarrying and
other similar operations .constructed substantially as described in
3 connection with Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
2
•
Eighth. The frame and carriage mounted on wheels and arranged
to run on a railway for supporting the machine in tunnelling and
other similar work, constructed and operating substantially as described
in connection with Figures 9, 10; and 11 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Fenner Ballou Taylor, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
FENNER B. TAYLOR. (L.S.)
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.