Improvements relating to the Method of Carrying Out Blasting Operations, and in Apparatus or Machines to be used in con- nection therewith, applicable also for Blasting or Quarrying generally.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1892-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Method of Carrying Out Blasting
Operations, and in Apparatus or Machines to be used in con-
nection therewith, applicable also for Blasting or Quarrying
generally.
I, ARMAND COSTE, of 95, Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is connected with what I call "express frames" (affûts express)
for rotary boring apparatus or machines, whereby the special process hereinafter
described of blasting away hard rocks can be rapidly carried out.
It is to be observed that in the same rock, and under the same circumstances, the
amount of charges of the same explosive in order to produce the same blasting
effects is proportionate to the cubes of the distances which separate the points of
explosion from the nearest free and uncharged faces.
In carrying out blasting operations according to my invention :-
1st. I apply the principle which has just been stated in the preceding paragraph
in order to considerably diminish the amount of the charges and consequently the
number of bore holes, whilst increasing the effect of the explosives, by boring
between these blast holes, a number of other holes of a much larger diameter, say
for instance from 0.10 to 0-12 metres, and of at least an equal length; these holes
which are not charged, and which are simply loosening holes, form open spaces or
cavities and consequently free surfaces, thereby diminishing all the lines of
resistance.
2nd. I arrange these open spaces or loosening cavities parallel to the blast holes,
whereby, after a preliminary blasting (which may also be carried out by means of
loosening holes, following if necessary a rational order in the explosions) has been
effected, the explosives may act by percussion or otherwise thus being aided in
their effect by the action of gravitation and I also increase the length of the blast
holes in a considerable degree which length is often very much reduced owing to
the necessity there exists of not having their extremities at too great a distance
beyond a certain limit, that is to say, that of the point of explosion from the
nearest free face.
3rl. I attack the rock, in large blasting or quarrying operations by reversed
steps of 5 to 6 metres in height thus allowing the operation to be carried out
if necessary on a subterraneous or open surface, which may be 24 metres in height,
and ave three steps and a dome, each step to be blasted being divided into sections.
the extent of which may be 100 cubic metres loosened on three or four faces (that
forming the front to be quarried not included) by means of horizontal, vertical or
inclined cavities of 4 to 5 metres in depth, formed by exploding the charges in blast
holes interspersed between the loosening holes, and charged with a very shattering
explosive, dynamite No. 1, or better still dynamite gelatine.
4th. I bore the blast holes, and the loosening holes, by means of a certain number
of rotary boring tools grouped on special frames, and armed with augers or other
boring tools fitted with diamonds, when the hardness of the rock requires it, and
which naturally have different diameters for the two kinds of holes and which work
simultaneously, being actuated mechanically by some. motive force transmitted in
any suitable manner.
This process may be applied to the boring of galleries, of tunnels, and the
sinking of circular, rectangular, or inclined wells, or the formation of trenches and
great excavations, and generally for the bringing down of hard and compact rocks,
гр

page_text: The improved frames, of which the description will be given hereinafter, are
arranged so as to allow of the simultaneous action of a certain number of rotary
boring tools actuated either by hand or mechanically (by means of cable trans-
mission, by hydraulic pressure, compressed air, clectricity or any other agent).
These boring tools may be of variable dimensions, dependent on their position in
regard to the point to be attacked, and to suit the process of explosion, the holes
bored are composed of loosening holes having a large section, and blast holes of
small diameter.
As will be
seen further on, the arrangement of the frames adopted allows .holes
to be bored whilst the points of attack' may be varied both in their position, as well
as in their distance from one another, according to the part which is to be brought
down and in accordance with the arrangements best suited to give the most
advantageous lines of the least resistance. With these frames the borings and
channels for the bringing down properly so called of the rock may be equally well
performed.
The apparatus or machines will vary in form and dimensions, according to the
nature of the excavations to be made, tunnels of large or small section, galleries of
mines, large excavations, extended quarryings, subterranean or above ground,
as well as shafts, wells, bore holes etcetera, but the general arrangements remain the
game.
The description of the principle of the apparatus will be limited to two particular
cases, the first when galleries of mines are being bored, the second when tunnels are
being bored.
I. Apparatus for boring the galleries of mines :-
The apparatus or machine is provided with an upper iron cross bar connecting
the vertical bars of the frame. An iron bar connects the girders and the vertical
bars and carries the lower central boring tool whilst the wheel holders are also
carried by suitable girders, angle pieces are provided for connecting the vertical
bars and pressure screws are applied in the vertical columns. The upper and side
boring tools and also the lower and central ones are all provided with supports.
Connecting pieces are provided for connecting the horizontal tubes to the vertical
columns. There are also lateral pressure screws with steel points and vertical bars
of the frame wheels (having suitable covers) are also provided, on which the
apparatus or machine can move.
The apparatus is moved on rails which have been previously laid down; the
whole having been pushed forward to a suitable distance from the front of the
cutting, about 0.300.metres. It is firmly fixed in position by wedging the wheels
an the one hand, and by placing the points of the pressure screws in contact with
the face of the rock, against the roof, and against the side walls.
The collar holders for the boring tools slide on the cross pieces which carry
them. These cross pieces can be also vertically moved on the columns; it is
therefore possible to vary at will the distance apart of the holes bored.
The heads of the rotary boring tools employed are of two dimensions, one set for
forming the loosening holes being larger, the other for boring the blast holes being
smaller.
The number of holes bored simultaneously should be such that the distribution
of strains on the frame are symmetrical as regards its longitudinal axis, and also so
that all the tools at work can be easily inspected. If there is sufficient motive
force at hand, all the tools can be actuated at the same time, thereby much
diminishing the time necessary for quarrying; it is then only necessary to place
the apparatus once in position, and, further, the material brought down can be
removed at one operation.
Taps are employed for distributing water under pressure to the boring tools in
such a way that, whilst facilitating the disintegration of the rocks, the cutting parts
are prevented from getting.wet.
The motors may be fixed, if necessary, directly on the frame by means of
connecting pieces similar to those which support the boring tools themselves; or

page_text: the motive power may be supplied from a motor at a distance by employing
apparatus suited for such purpose, or small machines worked by air under pressure
or by water power.
The apparatus is capable of cutting galleries of any shape and dimension, and
may be arranged or adjusted to suit each particular case.
Apparatus for boring tunnels.
In boring or excavating for tunnels, the mode of operation consists in making,
first, an excavation, assuming the shape of the tunnel, and, for this purpose, a
preliminary blasting is effected on a vertical half section by means of loosening
holes and blast holes, after which the excavation of the circumference of the tunnel
is made by means of other loosening holes and the blast holes. Then the bank is
attacked by means of another series of blast holes.
A special frame allows of this method of working being carried out, and"
consists:
1. Of a truck composed of girders with cross bars of the same shape as thể"
girders, the frame is fitted with caps which rest on wheels travelling on the portabl
railway track.
2. Of a lower fixed framework carrying in front the set of tools for forming the
base of the tunnel, that is to say, all the part situated below the starting point of
the dome, both for the lower blasting as well as for the latéral cuttings, and for the
blast holes in the centre.
प
3. Of an upper framework surmounting the lower part of the truck, and capable
of turning horizontally on such, by means of a revolving plate similar to thosd"
employed for portable railways. This upper framework carries the set of bore
intended, first of all, to form the holes at the edges of the roof, and then "those for
bringing down the upper masses of the isolated bank.
When the holes have been bored on one upper-half section of the front of the
cutting, the boring tools are reversed and the revolving plate' is turned to the
extent of 180 degrees; the movable battery is then arranged for attacking the
upper part of the second half section.
:
4. Of cross bars sliding as may be desired on the columns of the lower frame and
on the vertical sides of the upper, framework.
-
5. Of movable inclined arms or bars normally placed on the inclined 'sides of the
upper frame and capable of sliding as desired on the sides.
6. Of movable collar holders supporting the various collars, and sliding' on `the
various bars before-named, either horizontally or almost following a radius from the
centre of the dome.
7. Of collars carrying the two sets of boring tools, that is to say, the tools of
large or small diameter, according as the hole to be bored or drilled is a bore hole
or blast hole. Special collars may be added' for carrying the motors themselves,
which actuate the boring tools.
8. Of steel claws actuated by means of screws and thus being capable of bein
pressed against the walls of the rock, against the roof or against the front A
platform is arranged above the lower tier of borers, and openings allow of inspection:
On this lower platform, the workmen, engaged on the part below where the arch of'
the roof commences, stand.
The workmen working on the part below the arch stand on the platform of the
turn table to which access is obtained by means of a staircase.
As in the case of the frame for galleries. of mines, the respective distances' apart
of the bore and blast holes may be regulated as desired, so that advantage may 'be
taken of any accidental conditions which the rock may afford and which will often
allow of a larger amount of work being executed in less time, and''with a smaller
quantity of explosive.
Dad 1
1001

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Method of Carrying Out Blasting
Operations, and in Apparatus or Machines to be used in con-
nection therewith, applicable also for Blasting or Quarrying
generally.
I, ARMAND COSTE, of 95, Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Inventor, 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 invention is connected with what I call "express frames" (affûts express)
for rotary boring apparatus or machines, whereby the special process hereinafter
described of blasting away hard rocks can be rapidly carried out.
It is to be observed that in the same rock, and under the same circumstances, the
amount of charges of the same explosive necessary for producing the same blasting
effects is proportionate to the cubes of the distances which separate the points of
explosion from the nearest free and uncharged faces.
In carrying out blasting operations according to my invention:
1st. I apply the principle which has just been stated in the preceding paragraph
in order to considerably diminish the amount of the charges and consequently the
number of bore holes, whilst increasing the effect of the explosives, by boring,
between these blast holes, a number of other holes of a much larger diameter, say
fór instance from 0.10 to 0.12 metres, and of at least an equal length; these holes
which are not charged, and, which are simply loosening holes, form open spaces or
cavities and consequently. free surfaces, thereby diminishing all the lines of resist-
ance.
2nd. I arrange these open spaces or loosening cavities parallel to the blast holes,
whereby, after a preliminary blasting (which also may be carried out by means of
loosening holes, following if necessary a rational order in the explosions) has been
effected, the explosives may act by percussion or otherwise, thus being aided in
their effect by the action of gravitation, and I also increase the length of the blast
holes to a considerable extent, which length is often very much reduced owing to
the necessity there exists of not having their extremities at too great a distance
beyond a certain limit, that is to say, that of the point of explosion from the nearest
free face.
3rd. I attack the rock, in large blasting or quarrying operations, by reversed
steps of 5 to 6 metres in height thus allowing the operation to be carried out if
necessary on a subterraneous or open surface, which may be 24 metres in height,
and have three steps and a dome, each step to be blasted being divided into sections,
the extent of which may be 100 cubic metres loosened on three or four faces (that
forming the front to be quarried not included) by means of horizontal, vertical or
inclined cavities of 4 to 5 metres in depth, formed by exploding the charges in blast
holes interspersed between the loosening holes, and charged with a very shattering
explosive, dynamite No. 1, or better still dynamite gelatine.
4th. I bore the blast holes and the loosening holes, by means of a certain number
of rotary boring tools grouped on special frames, and provided with augurs or other
boring parts fitted with diamonds, when the hardness of the rock requires it, and
which naturally have different diameters for the two kinds of holes and which work
simultaneously, being actuated mechanically by some motive force transmitted in
any suitable manner.
This process may be applied to the boring of galleries, of tunnels, and the sinking
of circular, rectangular, or inclined wells, or the formation of trenches and great
excavations, and generally for the bringing down of hard and compact rocks.
In the accompanying drawings, the arrangement of the holes in the case of

page_text: them. These cross pieces can be also vertically moved on the columns; it is
therefore possible to vary at will the distance apart of the holes bored.
The heads of the rotary boring tools employed are of two dimensions, one set,
No. 1, for forming the loosening holes being larger, the other, No. 2, for boring
the blast holes being smaller.
The number of holes bored simultaneously should be such that the distribution
of strains on the frame are symmetrical as regards its longitudinal axis, and also
so that all the tools at work can be easily inspected. If there is sufficient:
motive force at hand, all the tools can be actuated at the same time; thereby
much diminishing the time necessary for quarrying; it is then only necessary to
place the apparatus once in position, and, further, the material brought down
can be removed at one operation.
"
Taps are employed for distributing water under pressure to the boring tools
in such a way that, whilst facilitating the disintegration of the rocks, the cutting
parts are prevented from getting wet.
The motors may be fixed, if necessary, directly on the frame by means of con-
necting pieces similar to those which support the boring tools themselves; or the
motive power may be supplied from a motor at a distance by employing apparatus
suited for such purpose, or small machines worked by air under pressure or by
water power.
The apparatus is capable of cutting galleries of any shape and dimension, and
may be arranged or adjusted to suit each particular case.
Apparatus for boring tunnels. (Figures 4, 5, 6, 7.)
The figure-shows the arrangement of holes as well as the section of the face being
operated upon.
In boring or excavating for tunnels, the mode of operation consists in making,
first, an excavation, assuming the shape of the tunnel, and, for this purpose, a pre-
liminary blasting is effected on a vertical half section A by means of loosening holes
and blast holes 7, 8, 9, and X, XI, after which the excavation of the circumference
of the tunnel is made by means of other loosening holes and the blast holes 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, I, II, III, IV, V. Then the bank is attacked by means of another series of
blast holes VI, VII.
A special frame, Figures 5, 6, 7, allows of this method of working being carried
out, and consists :-
1. Of a truck composed of girders a a with cross bars ccc of the same shape as
the girders; the frame is fitted with caps b b and rests on wheels B travelling on
the portable railway track A;
2. Of a lower fixed framework c c C C³ carrying in front the set of tools for
forming the base of the tunnel, that is to say, all the part situated below the starting
point of the dome, both for the lower blasting as well as for the lateral cuttings,
and for the blast holes in the centre ;
3. Of an upper framework fg surmounting the lower part of the truck c¹ c¹ c¹-
bb B B B, and capable of turning horizontally on such, by means of a revolving
plate D similar to those employed for portable railways. This upper framework
carries the set of borers intended, first of all, to form the holes at the edges of the
roof, and then those for bringing down the upper masses of the isolated bank.
When the holes have been bored on one upper-half section of the front of the
cutting, the boring tools are reversed, and the revolving plate is turned to the
extent of 180 degrees; the movable battery is then arranged for attacking the upper
part of the second half section.
4. Of cross bars C2 C3 sliding as may be desired on the columns c
lower frame and on the vertical sides of the upper framework;
eg of the
5. Of movable inclined arms or bars S¹ S' normally placed on the inclined sides
of the upper frame and capable of sliding as desired on the sides ;
6. Of movable collar holders supporting the various collars, P¹ P-PP', and
sliding on the various bars beforenamed, Figure 5, either horizontally or almost
following a radius from the centre of the dome ; :

page_text: 7. Of collars carrying the two sets, No. 1 and No. 2, of boring tools, that is to
say, the tools of large or small diameter, according as the hole to be bored or drilled
is a bore hole or blast hole. Special collars may be added for carrying the motors
themselves, which actuate the boring tools;
8. Of steel claws, klmnpqrstuvw, actuated by means of screws and thus
being capable of being pressed against the walls of the rock, against the roof, or
against the front. A platform is arranged above the lower tier of borers, and open-
ings allow of inspection. On this lower platform, the workmen, engaged on the
part below where the arch of the roof commences, stand.
The workmen working on the part below the arch stand on the platform of the
turn table to which access is obtained by means of a staircase E¹.
As in the case of the frame for galleries of mines, the respective distances apart
of the bore and blast holes may be regulated as desired, so that advantage may be
taken of any accidental conditions which the rock may afford and which will often
allow of a larger amount of work being executed in less time, and with a smaller
quantity of explosive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I reserve to myself the right of modifying the shape and size of the frames or
apparatus so as to suit any particular case where the method of blasting or
quarrying above described is applicable, and whatever may be the nature, shape
and dimensions of the excavations and cuttings to be produced, and I declare
that what I claim is :-
1. The improvements in the method for blasting or quarrying hereinbefore
described, which consist in blasting or quarrying hard rock for making galleries,
tunnels, shafts, etcetera, by the action of explosives on masses which have already
been loosened at several faces before the blasting or quarrying by means of the
combination of blasting holes and of locsening holes produced mechanically by
means of perforators grouped on special apparatus or frames.
2. The special frames or apparatus for a battery of rotary perforators, composed
of a framework on wheels, capable of being fixed against the different faces of the
excavations by means of screw claws, and furnished with a series of regulatable
collars, some for carrying the rotary perforators, and others for carrying the motors
of the perforators which may be operated by any suitable transmitted power, sub-
stantially as described and shown.
3. The framework composed of two portions one above the other, the upper
portion capable of turning on the lower portion by means of a moving plate, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 21st day of July 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.