IMPROVED APPA- RATUS FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCK AND OTHER EARTHY SUBSTANCES FOR EXPLORING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Enoch Watkin James, of Brynllys, near Aberyst-
wyth, in the County of Cardigan, for the Invention of " IMPROVED APPA-
RATUS FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCK AND OTHER EARTHY SUBSTANCES FOR
EXPLORING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 27th May 1864, and dated the 30th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Enoch Watkin James
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th November 1863.
I, ENOCH WATKIN JAMES, of Brynllys, near Aberystwyth, in the County
of Cardigan, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCK AND OTHER EARTHY SUBSTANCES FOR
EXPLORING AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say)
This Invention relates to improved apparatus to facilitate the drilling or
boring of rocks and other earthy substances in order to ascertain their nature,
and for the purpose of perforating rocky or other hard ground to form water
passages and other purposes, and is chiefly intended for boring in an oblique
or horizontal direction, and consists of a boring rod or tube having two water
passages formed through its entire length; one for the admission of water and
the other for the discharge of water and débris. The passage for the admis-
sion of water is fitted with a valve to prevent the return of the water as the
rod advances in contact with the rock or other substance against which it
operates. The chisel or cutter which is attached to the front of the boring

page_text: rod is formed of intersecting cutting edges resembling a cross or star. The
supply and discharge passages opening out between the radii are on the side
of the cutter block, some little distance in rear of the cutting edges of the
chisel. The boring rod may consist of a stout hollow tube of iron, steel, or
other suitable metal, and be fitted internally with a supply and a discharge
pipe. The boring rod may be formed in lengths and coupled together by
screws, or in any other convenient manner. The external water supply pipe
may be coupled to the longitudinal water passage of the boring rod by a
universal joint similar to those used in the ordinary jointed gas bracket, the
garter piece of which entirely encompasses the boring rod; an opening or
port being formed through the boring rod into the interior of the supply pipe,
and a groove being turned or otherwise formed round the circumference of
the boring rod in line with the port of the supply pipe, or a groove may be
formed in the interior surface of the garter or collar which encompasses the
boring rod, and through the side of which extends a short tube, or its me-
chanical equivalent, to which is attached a jointed or flexible tube, which
forms the external supply pipe, into which the water is supplied from a tank
or other source. The discharge pipe opens out at one side of the boring rod
a little in front or in rear of the garter piece or collar of the supply pipe.
The supply pipe is fitted with a valve opening inwards when the boring rod
is withdrawn, and closes when it advances to prevent the return of the water
through the supply pipe. The rear of the boring rod is fitted with a cam
motion, or its mechanical equivalent, so as to give a slight rotation as it is
withdrawn.
When it is desired to penetrate the earth a considerable distance it is pro-
posed to enlarge the bore hole at convenient distances, so as to receive
bearings of metal or other suitable material to reduce the friction on the boring
rod during its reciprocating motion. These enlargements within the bore hole
are formed by means of an expanding cutter of the ordinary or any other con-
venient form, and the bearings are introduced into the bottom of the enlarge-
ment by means of a rod, which on the front or side is cut away so as to
receive the bearing without increasing the general circumference of the rod.
One of the bearings being inserted into the recess in the rod is introduced
into the bore hole and pushed forward until the bearing falls into the recess
or enlarged portion of the bore hole. When half a turn is given to the
driving rod it can be withdrawn, leaving the bearing in the recess, and so on
as the work proceeds. In lengthening the boring rod the last or rear length
is removed, and the additional length added to the remaining portion, when
the rear piece with its connections are attached to the length last added, and

page_text: so on as the work proceeds. Concussion may be applied to this bore rod by
hand, or through a suspended weight actuated by hand, or by a steam or other
motive-power engine direct, or in any other convenient manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Enoch Watkin James in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ENOCH
WATKIN JAMES, of Brynllys, near Aberystwyth, in the County of Cardigan,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Enoch Watkin James, Her special licence that I, the said
Enoch Watkin James, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Enoch Watkin James, my executors, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCK AND
OTHER EARTHY SUBSTANCES FOR EXPLORING AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
upon the
condition (aniongst others) that I, the said Enoch Watkin James, my
executors or administrators, 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 six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Enoch Watkin James, 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 by
the following statement (that is to say) :-
This my said Invention relates to certain improved apparatus to facilitate
the drilling or boring of rocks and other earthy substances, in order to ascer-
tain their nature, and for the purpose of perforating rocky or other hard

page_text: ground to form water passages, and other purposes, and is chiefly intended for
boring in an oblique or horizontal direction, and consists of a boring rod or
tube having two water passages formed through its entire length, one for the
admission of water and the other for the discharge of water and débris. The
passage for the admission of water is fitted with a valve, to prevent the return
of the water as the rod advances in contact with the rock or other substance
against which it operates. The chisel or cutter which I attach to the front of
the boring rod I form with intersecting cutting edges, resembling a cross or
star, the supply and discharge passages opening out between the radii or on
the side of the cutter block, some little distance in rear of the cutting edges of
the chisel. The boring rod may consist of a stout hollow tube of iron, steel,
or other suitable metal, and be fitted internally with a supply and discharge
pipe. The boring rod may be formed in lengths, and coupled together by
screws, or in any other convenient manner. The external water supply pipe
may be coupled to the longitudinal water passage of the boring rod by a uni-
versal joint, similar to those used in the ordinary jointed gas bracket, the
garter piece of which entirely encompasses the boring rod; an opening or
port being formed through the boring rod into the interior of the supply pipe,
and a groove being turned or otherwise formed round the circumference of the
boring rod, in line with the port of the supply pipe; or a groove may be
formed in the interior surface of the garter or collar which encompasses the
boring rod, and through the side of which extends a short tube, or its mecha-
nical equivalent, to which is attached a jointed or flexible tube, which forms
the external supply pipe, into which the water is supplied from a tank or
other source. The discharge pipe opens out at one side of the boring rod, a
little in front or in rear of the garter piece or collar of the supply pipe. The
supply pipe I fit with a valve, opening inwards when the boring rod is with-
drawn, and closes when it advances, to prevent the return of the water through
the supply pipe. The rear of the boring rod I fit with a cam motion, or its
mechanical equivalent, so as to give a slight rotation when it is withdrawn.
When it is desired to penetrate the earth a considerable distance I propose
to enlarge the bore hole at convenient distances, so as to receive bearings of
metal or other suitable material, to reduce the friction on the boring rod during
its reciprocating motion. These enlargements within the bore hole I form by
means of an expanding cutter, of the ordinary or any other convenient form,
and the bearings I introduce into the bottom of the enlargement by means of
a rod which on the front or side is cut away, so as to receive the bearing with-
out increasing the general circumference of the rod. One of the bearings
being inserted in the recess in the rod, I introduce it into the bore hole, and

page_text: push it forward until the bearing falls into the recess or enlarged portion of
the bore hole. When half a turn is given to the driving rod it can be with-
drawn, leaving the bearing in the recess, and so on as the work proceeds. In
lengthening the boring rod the last or rear length I remove, and then add the
additional lengths to the remaining portion, after which the rear piece, with
its connections, are attached to the length last added, and so on as the work
proceeds. Concussion may be applied to this bore rod by hand, or through a
suspended weight actuated by hand, or by a steam or other motive-power
engine direct, or in any other convenient manner.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings, in partial illustration of a boring rod and
cutter, constructed according to my said Invention; like letters marked thereon
are used to denote similar parts.
Figure 1 is an enlarged view of a longitudinal section of portions of my
improved boring rods, seen broken off, for the purpose of bringing the Drawing
within the limits of the sheet. Figure 2 is a front view of the cutter.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the coupling for connecting various lengths of
the rod together.
Figure 4 illustrates another modification for the universal water-supply
joint.
A, the first joint of rod, into which is fitted B, the cutter block; C, inter-
inediate joint of boring rod; D, rear end of the boring rod; E, coupling
screw for connecting the various joints of the boring rod together; F, screwed
cap, for closing the rear end of the boring, and for receiving the concus-
sion; G, water supply pipe, which is fitted with H, a valve which opens
inwards, to allow the water to pass through the supply pipe, but which closes
on the slightest return current, and the several lengths of which are coupled
together by means of I, an external screw coupling; K, the discharge or waste
pipe, through which the water and débris escapes; L, a circular collar,
encompassing the boring rod, and through which the supply pipe extends, and
which has cut on its inner surface, M, a circular groove, forming a passage for
the supply water, in whatever position the boring rod may be in the collar;
N (Figure 4), water supply pipe, which passes through O (Figure 4), a garter
or collar encompassing the rear end of P, a boring rod, which is formed with
Q, a circular groove, immediately below the collar (O), for forming a passage
for the supply water, in whatever position the boring rod may be turned.
Having now fully described my Invention, and how I believe the saine may
be carried into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions, as it will be

page_text: readily seen the same may be considerably varied without departing from the
Invention; but what I claim is, the construction and use of the apparatus
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described and
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Enoch Watkin James, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Enoch Watkin James, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
ENOCH WATKIN (L.S.) JAMES.