IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCK, STONE, AND OTHER MINERALS. AND FOR BORING OR CUTTING COAL.” AND OTHER MINERALS, and FOR BORING OR CUTTING COAL."
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Grey Cranston, of Number 75, The Side, in
the Borough and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCK, STONE,
AND OTHER MINERALS. AND FOR BORING OR CUTTING COAL.”
AND OTHER MINERALS, and FOR BORING OR CUTTING COAL."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Grey Cranston at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd April 1873.
.
I, JOHN GREY CRANSTON, of Number 75, The Side, in the Borough
and County of Newcastle-upon-Tync, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING.OR BORING
ROCK, STONE, AND OTHER MINERALS, AND FOR BORING OR CUTTING COAL," to be
as follows:-
In practice it is found that there are many objections to the rock
drilling or boring and other similar machines at present in use for
getting stone, coal, and other minerals. In boring in soft stone or in
stone or other minerals in which cavities occur the drill very frequently

page_text: becomes "jammed" or fixed in the hole so that the pressure of steam
or air on the piston of the machine is unable to pull it out, and much
labor and time are wasted in getting the apparatus to work again.
The machines in use are generally of such extreme length that in
boring in drifts it is found impossible to make other than nearly hori- 5
zontal holes, when for the rapid working of the drift it may be desirable
that the holes should be bored in other directions.
The great length of the machines is necessitated by their construction
and working parts.
Now my improved machine for drilling or boring rock and other 1
minerals, besides other advantages, enables the workman to readily
release his drill when it gets fast, and by its shortness enables him to
drill holes in positions in which a longer machine could not work.
When used for coal cutting a suitable cutting tool is substituted for
the drill used in drilling holes. This machine, like other machines of 1
this character in use, consists of a cylinder, piston, and slide valve worked
by either steam or compressed air, and is mounted on a carriage when
used in drifts or headings in mines or tunnels.
'
In my improved arrangement and construction of drilling machines
the rotary motion of the drill when a drill is used may be given by 2
either of the following methods :-
According to one arrangement the rotary motion of the drill may be
produced by means of a tube, the front end of which is received in the
back or top of a piston rod, the back end of the tube passing through
the rear end of the cylinder into a cover, being held in position by a
collar fixed to or forming part of the tube, which is free to turn on its
axis in either direction by a feed screw, which is also received into the
rear or top end of the piston rod. The tube has a feather fixed inside,
and is operated upon by the feed screw, having a groove cut in it to.
receive the feather. There is also a groove cut horizontally in the tube;
which receives another feather fixed at the top end of the hollow piston
rod. By means of these grooves and feathers the piston can be rotated
in either direction by turning a handle attached to the feed screw.
According to another arrangement the rotary motion of the piston can
also be produced by placing a ratchet at the top end of the tube before
referred to. The ratchet is held by a pawl, and the piston rod with the

page_text: feather (which is formed internally to fit the hollow bar) follows a spiral
groove which is cut in the tube, and is caused to rotate either in the up
or down stroke, according to the manner or direction in which the groove
is cut. The tube being free to rotate, and being lighter than the piston.
the piston will make its stroke without rotating, while the tube rotates
another tooth over the pawl. Or the rotary motion of the piston can
also be produced by the following arrangement:-The hollow bar with
spiral slot has a ratchet on the top and also a ratchet at the side near
the top. These ratchets are prevented moving in one direction by two
pawls, which can be placed in and out of gear by means of levers. If
it is desired to run the drill down, as the hole gets deeper without affecting
the self-rotary motion, one of the pawls is thrown out of gear. If it is
desired to rotate the drill by hand in either direction the other pawl
fitting into the side ratchet is thrown out of gear. To prevent the drill
rotating both pawls are thrown out of gear.
The slide valve is operated upon by means of a cam surface or inclines
on a cross head at the rear end of the piston, which cross head is held
in position by slots cut horizontally in the inner part of the cylinder into
which the cross head is fitted, the piston being free to rotate through the
cross head.
This cross head working in the manner described assists
very materially in keeping the piston in true working position. On the
trough through which the cylinder moves are fixed trunnions, by means
of which the machine is carried on a suitable tripod.
In working in drifts or tunnels the machine is mounted on a carriage.
The carriage consists of a vertical standard mounted on axles carried by
four wheels, also a tube with a screw at each end and a screw in the
middle. The top part of the standard is hollowed out and made in two
halves forming a clamp with which to hold the hollow bar vertically in
mines or tunnels. At the bottom of the standard a nut is fixed receiving
a screw, and is operated upon horizontally across the carriage. At the
end of the top screw in the tube a clamp is attached which grips firmly
against the roof of the tunnel on running the bottom screw out against
the standard or against the floor of the tunnel, or the hollow bar may
be placed horizontally across the heading and fixed against the sides by
means of the same screw. The centre screw in the tube carries a nut
wherein is fitted a feather projecting through a slot which is cut vertically
in the tube. The clamp whereon the boring or cutting machine is
attached resting upon the feather or projection can then be raised_and

page_text: lowered or removed from one side to the other as the middle screw is
operated upon. By means of this carriage the boring or cutting machine
can be readily fixed so as to drill holes in any part of the face of the
drift or tunnel. The carriage is lightly constructed and runs on rails, so
that it can be readily moved to or from the face of the drift when
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Grey Cranston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, JOHN GREY
CRANSTON, of Number 75, The Side, in the Borough and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors
give and grant unto me, the said John Grey Cranston, Her special
license that I, the said John Grey Cranston, my executors, adminis-
trátors; and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Grey Cranston,
my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCK, STONE, AND OTHER
MINERALS, AND FOR BORING OR CUTTING COAL," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Grey Cranston, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly 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

page_text: six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Grey Cranston, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
In practice it is found that there are many objections to the rock
drilling or boring and other similar machines at present in use for
getting stone, coal, and other minerals. In boring in soft stone or-in
stone or other minerals in which cavities occur the drill very frequently
becomes "jammed" or fixed in the hole so that the pressure of steam
or air on the piston of the machine is unable to pull it out, and much
labour and time are wasted in getting the apparatus to work again.
The machines in use are generally of such extreme length that in
boring in drifts it is found impossible to make other than nearly hori-
zontal holes, when for the rapid working of the drift it may be desirable
that the holes should be bored in other directions.
The great length of the machines is necessitated by their construction
and working parts.
Now my improved machine for drilling or boring rock and other
minerals, besides other advantages, such as great strength, power, and
simplicity of construction, enables the workman to readily release his
drill when it gets fast, and by its shortness enables him to drill holes in
positions in which a longer machine could not work.
When used for coal cutting a suitable cutting tool is substituted for
the drill used in drilling holes.
In order that the nature of my improvements may be clearly under-
stood I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the centre of the machine;;
Figure 2 is a cross section through the line A, B, of Figure 1, viewed
from above; Figure 3 is a cross section through the line C, D, of
Figure 1.
:
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section showing position of lever and
clutch.

page_text: Figure 5 is an elevation of clutch and tube with ratchets.
Figures 6 and 7 are elevations showing the general arrangement of
the machine mounted on a tripod with universal joint.
a, Figure 1, is the steam or air cylinder; 6 is the piston which is
attached to the piston rod c. The forward end of the piston rod carries
the drill or slotting tool which is moved to and fro by compressed air or
steam to effect the drilling or cutting of the stone or other mineral. d is
the valve spindle; e is a lever formed with projections f and f¹. The
valve 9 is moved to and fro by the cross head coming in contact alter-
nately with the projections f and f¹. The cross head h through which
the piston rod freely rotates is carried between the ratchet i and collar j.
The Drawing shows the slide valve open to steam through the top port.
The slide valve will remain in this position until the cross head ḥ moves
and strikes the projection f¹, when the valve g will be moved so as to
admit steam through the bottom port. When the cross head again
returns it strikes the projection f, and again admits steam through the
top port, and so on. The cross head h is held in position by the pro-
jections m, m, moving in the slots k, k, Figure 3, cut horizontally or
spirally in the inner part of the casing 1, 1, Figures 1 and 3.
As it is important to have a partial revolution of the drill after cach
blow the piston rod c, Figures 1 and 3, is left free to rotate through the
cross head h. The cross head moving in the manner described assists
very materially in keeping the piston in true working position.
In the general arrangement of the machine, shown in Figures 6 and 7,
n is the casing in which the cylinder o is guided to or from the rock; 2
is a feed screw secured to the bow q, working in the nut r, Figures 1,
3, and 4. On operating on this screw by means of the handles the
cylinder is advanced according as the work of drilling or cutting pro-
P
gresses.
The machine is represented in the Drawing as mounted on a tripod
with universal joint, by means of which it may be fixed to do its work
at any suitable angle.
The rotary motion of the drill in my improved machine may be either
self-acting or produced by moving the handles of the feed screw p.
The self-acting rotary motion shown in the Drawing is produced in
the following manner :— -In the tube t, Figures 1, 3; and 5, a spiral

page_text: groove u is cut which receives the feather v, Figure 3. The feather is
fixed to the inner part of the top end of the piston rod c. The piston
rod is hollowed out to receive the tube t. The tube t is held in working
position by the collar w resting between a plate and the face of the
This plate is fixed to the cover by the bolts w¹, w², w³, Figures
1 and 2. At the side and at the top of the collar w ratchet teeth arc
cut. This collar forms part of the tube t and rotates with it. The
cover also carries a pawl y, Figures 1 and 2 having a lever z, Figure 1,
and a clutch a¹, having a lever b³, Figure 4,
cover x.
.
As shewn in Figure 1 the piston rod will move in a parallel line with
the cross head h along the slots k, k, Figure 3, towards the rock or other
mineral, and is prevented turning by the pawl c³, Figure 3, carried with
the cross head h. This pawl being pressed by a spring d³, Figure 3,
pivots itself to the ratchet teeth c, Figure 3, which are cut at the side
of the rear end of the piston rod. When the piston moves towards the
rock the pawl y, Figures 1 and 2, will ride a tooth over the ratchet on
the collar was the feather v moves through the spiral groove u of the
tube t, Figure 5. On the backward or return stroke of the piston rod
the tube is prevented turning by the pawl y pivoting into the ratchet
teeth which are cut at the side of the collar w, Figure 2. The piston
rod is then compelled to rotate by the feather v, Figure 3, following
along the spiral groove u in the tube t, Figure 5. In this movement of
the piston rod the pawl c², Figure 3, will then ride a tooth over the
ratchet i, Figure 1.
In the feed screw pa parallel groove e² is formed, as shewn in Figures
1, 2, 3, 4. The feed screw passes through the clutch a¹, Figures 1, 4,
and 5, into and through the tube t. The clutch a¹ is provided with a
feather f, Figure 5, and is revolved with the screw p in either
direction.
If it is desired to rotate the drill by hand the clutch a¹ is thrown into
gear by the lever 6³, Figure 4. The drill can then be rotated in one
direction by turning the handle of the feed screw, or it may be rotated
in either direction if the teeth on the clutch a¹, Figure 5, are cut square
instead of being racheted and the teeth on the tube t made to fit those
on the clutch. In this latter case the pawls y and c² are of course to be
thrown out of gear.
If the drill is required to rotate freely in either direction his hom
11

page_text: pawl c,Figure 3, is thrown out of gear by a lever g², Figure 3, and
rod h³, Figures 1 and 3, and the pawl y, Figures 1 and 2, is thrown out
of gear by the lever z, Figure 1.
If it be desired to produce a self-acting slotting motion the pawly,
Figures 1 and 2, is thrown out of gear, and a suitable slotting tool fixed
to the piston rod.
Instead of producing the self-rotary motion in the manner above
described by means of the tube t this tube can be dispensed with and
two spiral grooves made in the inner part of the casing 1, Figure 3,
instead of the horizontal grooves k, k, as in the above arrangement,
along which spiral grooves the projections m, m, on the cross head /
move. The cross head having a spring and pawl, as shewn in Figure 3,
the pawl will pivot to a tooth on the ratchet of the collar i as the cross
head traverses along the spiral grooves and give a rotary movement to
the piston rod and drill. In order to make the piston rod and drill
rotate in the return stroke another ratchet with spring and pawl should
be placed on the other side of the cross head and working in the opposite
direction. Or instead of spiral grooves being cut in the inner part of
casing feathers or projections may be fitted to it, and recesses or grooves
to suit made in the cross head.
The universal joint which connects the outside trough n with the
tripod or stand, Figures 6 and 7, consists of trunnions &³, Figures 3, 6,
and 7, fixed to the casing n, and which move in a double eye or cradle j².
This cradle is secured to the upper part of the frame by a stud or
studs k, k, which move through the slot or slots 12, 12, on the centre
pin m³. This joint allows the double eye or cradle to retain its position
when the upper part of the machine is laid back, an arrangement which
contributes materially to the steadying of the machine when in operation
at different angles.
In working in drifts or tunnels the machine is mounted on a carriage.
The carriage consists of a vertical standard mounted on axles carried by
four wheels; also a tube with a screw at each end and a screw in the
middle. The top part of the standard is hollowed out and made in two
halves, forming a clamp with which to hold the hollow bar vertically in
mines or tunnels. At the bottom of the standard a nut is fixed receiving
a screw, and is operated upon horizontally across the carriage. At the
end of the top screw in the tube a clamp is attached which grips firmly

page_text: against the roof tunnel in running the bottom screw out against
the standard or against the floor of the tunnel. Or the hollow bar may
be placed horizontally across the heading and fixed against the sides by
means of the same screw. The centre scrow in the tube carries a nut
wherein is fitted a feather projecting through a slot which is cut verti-
cally in the tube. The clamp whereon the boring or cutting machine is
attached resting upon the feather or projection can then be raised and
lowered or removed from one side to the other, as the screw is operated
upon at the bottom of the tube. By means of this carriage the boring
or cutting machine can be readily fixed so as to drill holes in any part
of the face of the drift or tunnel. The carriage is lightly constructed
and runs on rails, so that it can be readily moved to or from the face of
the drift when required.
Having thus fully described the nature of my improvements in
machinery for drilling or boring rock, stone, and other minerals, and for
boring or cutting coal, and the manner in which the same is carried into
practice, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details herein described and shewn in the accompanying Drawings
so long as the novel features of my Invention are retained; at the same
time I would remark that I do not claim those parts which are well.
known and in common use, but what I claim is,―
First. The arrangement and application of the tube t formed with
spiral groove u in combination with the ratchets c and w, constructed
and operating substantially in the manner herein-before described and
shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Secondly. I claim the arrangement and application of the clutch a',
substantially in the manner herein-before described and illustrated, by
which the drill is rendered capable of being revolved by means of the
feed handle s.
Thirdly. I claim the arrangement and application of the cross head /
in combination with springs and pawls attached thereto, working in
horizontal or spiral grooves or projections in the inner part of the casing,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described
and illustrated in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourthly. I claim the improved arrangement and combination of parts
forming the universal joint on which the machine is supported, substan-

page_text: tially in the manner herein-before described and shewn in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Lastly. I claim the improved arrangement, construction, and com-
bination of machinery for drilling or boring rock, stone, or other
minerals, or for boring or. cutting coal, substantially as hercin-before
described and shewn in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Grey Cranston, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.