Improvements in Rock Drills and Breaking Down Appliances.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rock Drills and Breaking Down Appliances.
CHARLES BALANT of 7 Rue des Marcottes, Mons, Belgium, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is to supply a ram whch can be used in
boring mines or blast-holes in rocks, lodes or any kind of strata and to beat down
such rocks with the help of miners wedges, the latter operation doing away with
the use of explosives.
The apparatus is composed, in the first place, of the Rain, properly so-called,
which consists, of a solid body, the nature, volume, dimensions, shape and weight
of which are variable, furnished with suspension loops and handles within reach
of the workman to facilitate operations.
Secondly, of cables & fasteners with cords or chains supporting the Ram,
pussing ou one side through the above-mentioned loops and on the other side,
into the ring referred to hereafter. The length of these cables may be varied at
will, either by using a tightener, or by any other method for lengthening or
shortening.
Thirdly, of a rack har supporting the apparatus and on which there is a slide
worked by hand, provided with an arresting catch, and carrying a ring to which
are attached the tightener or stretcher, cables, cords, or chains above mentioned.
For working at the surface, this supporting bar rests on a tripod; it may how-
ever be dispensed with altogether, as the tripod itself may be used instead of it.
For interior workings, the arrangement of the supporting bar allows of its
being lengthened or shortened as well as of being easily fixed above the timbering
which thus serves it as a support.
The ends of the supporting bar are furnished with hooks which are made to
grip the timber by the weight of the apparatus itself thus assuring its stability
and firmness; wedging may also be resorted to, if necessary.
The last basket, or skep, placed near the rock to be broken down might also
be made use of, as a support; the chain, or cord of any kind, which holds the
Ram would, in such a case wind round the said basket or skep.
For operating the device the workman gripes the ram by its handles, draws
it towards him and throws it with force against the head of a punch the point of
which is applied to the rock, or the like, to be broken down. The ram is drawn
and thrown until the hole is bored large enough to permit the insertion of two
iron bars, after the punch has been withdrawn. These iron bars are beut at their
outer extremity to prevent them from disappearing in the hole. Between the
two iron bars the workman inserts a miners wedge which is forced in in the same
manner as the punch.
After some throws, have been given the rock or the like becomes disaggregated.
Dated this 18th day of August 1896.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: CHARLES BALANT of 7 Rue des Marcottes, Mons, Belgium, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:--
The object of the present invention is to supply a ram which can be used in
boring mines or blast-holes in rocks, lodes or any kind of strata and to beat down
such rocks with the help of miners wedges, the latter operation doing away with
the use of explosives.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a mining work in which my
apparatus is used, Fig. 2 is an upper view of the same.
The apparatus is composed, in the first place, of the ram properly so-called,
which consists, of a solid body B the nature, volume, dimensions, shape and weight
of which are variable, furnished with suspension loops o and one handle P within
reach of the workman to facilitate operations.
Secondly, of cables and fasteners A with cords or chains supporting the ram,
passing on one side through the abovementioned loops aud on the other side,
into the ring referred to hereafter. The length of these cables may be varied at
will, either by using a tightener, or by any other method for leugthening or
shortening.
Thirdly of a bar S supporting the apparatus and on which there is a slide E
worked by hand, carrying a ring to which are attached the tightener or stretcher,
cables, cords, or chains above mentioned. This slide is fixed in position by means
of the teeth of a rack, fixed on the supporting bar, or cast of a piece with the latter.
For working at the surface, this supporting bar rests on a tripod; it may how-
ever be dispensed with altogether as the tripod itself may be used instead of it.
For interior workings, the arrangement of the supporting bar allows of its
being lengthened or shortened as well as of being easily fixed above the timbering
which thus serves it as a support.
The ends of the supporting bar are furnished with hooks which are made to
grip the timber by the weight of the apparatus itself thus assuring its stability
and firmness; wedging may also be resorted to, if necessary.
The last basket, or skep, placed near the rock to be broken down might also
be made use of, as a support; the chain, or cord of any kind, which holds the
ram would, in such a case wind round the said basket or skep.
For operating the device the workman gripes the ram by its handles, drawя
it towards him and throws it with force against the head of a punch the point of
which is applied to the rock, or the like, to be broken down. The ram is drawn
and thrown until the hole is bored large enough to permit the insertion of two
iron bars, after the punch has been withdrawn. These iron bars are bent at their
outer extremity to prevent them from disappearing in the hole. Between the
two iron bars the workman inserts a miners wedge C which is forced in in the same
manner as the punch.
After some throws, have been given the rock or the like becomes disaggregated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said in-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
A ram for use in mining consisting of a heavy body suspended by chains and

page_text: provided with a handle to throw it against punches, miners wedges and like
tools for the purpose of breaking down rocks and the like and of doing away
with the use of explosives.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.