IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR BORING METALS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Colt, of Spring Gardens, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
MACHINERY FOR BORING METALS."-Partly a communication.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Colt at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition..on
the 16th July 1853.
I, SAMUEL COLT, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR BORING METALS" to be as follows::
This Invention relates to certain arrangements of machinery for
boring the barrels of repeating fire-arms, and the chambers, nipple
holes, &c. in the breech of such arms. In boring the barrel great loss
of time has hitherto been occasioned by drawing back the boring tool
(when it has reached the end of its course) through the action of the
screw which is used to propel it forward. To avoid this inconvenience
the socket which carries the tool, and which is driven forward by a
screw, is made to slide in a guide standard, and the outer end of the
propelling screw is provided with a journal, which works in a half round

page_text: bearing carried by a hinged frame. This frame is jointed to the guide
standard, and is retained in a horizontal position by a prop which is
hinged to the frame, and rests on the bed of the lathe. When the
hinged frame bears against the screw the turning of the screw will propel
the tool, but when the prop is tripped up by the attendant the hinged
frame will fall, and the tool is free to be slidden back out of the barrel.
The tool may then be changed for one of larger dimensions, and the
boring operation resumed. The standard which carries the tool and
its sliding socket is clamped to the bed by a cam or excentric worked
by a lever instead of by a clamping screw, as is common in lathes, and
its position may therefore be shifted with expedition to suit the length
of barrel to be operated upon. To avoid the necessity of unshipping
the tools when boring the chambers in the rotating breech, and yet to
allow of a succession suitable for increasing the diameter of the cut or
boring, I find it convenient to mount a given number of tools (say,
for example, six) in a frame or head stock which is capable of being
rotated to bring any desired tool into action. The tools are secured to
sockets which slide in the direction of their length, and are severally
propelled by a rack and pinion to bring the tools into contact with the
work. The tools are held in position by a hooked lever which bears
against their sockets, and must be raised out of contact therewith
before turning the headstock. Rotary motion is given to the work,
which is mounted on a frame capable of receiving a lateral motion for
the purpose of effecting the lateral cut which is required at the nipple
end of the breech cylinder. The chuck which carries the work is pro-
vided with radial clamping pieces, which are caused to advance and
bind against the work by reason of their being enclosed in a ring with
a conical face, which face, as the ring is turned in the stock to which
it is screwed, acts as a wedge upon the clamping pieces. The chuck is
also provided with a bolt arrangement for determining the axial adjust-
ment of the work after every boring, and thereby ensuring the chambers
being all equidistant from each other. This machine I prefer to use
for boring the chambers of the rotating breech, and for boring the fine
holes and other parts at the nipple end I mount the work on a sliding
plate which is driven forward by a rack and pinion, and also receives

page_text: an axial motion, and I rotate the tools (the stems of which in this
instance do not slide in their bearings) by means of straps and pullics.
By this arrangement I can drive several tools simultaneously, but one
tool, while rotating. I cause to slide with its bearing, and thus pro-
duce the lateral cut required at the nipple end of the breech. It will be
understood that the above-described machinery is in part applicable to
the boring of metals generally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Colt in the Great Seal Patent Office, on
the 16th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J,
SAMUEL COLT, of Spring Gardens, in the County of Middlesex, Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seventeenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Samuel Colt, fer special license that I, the said
Samuel Colt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Samuel Colt, 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 MACHINERY FOR BORING METALS,"
being partly a communication from abroad, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Colt, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and scal, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Colt, 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; reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
This Invention relates to certain arrangements of machinery, par-
ticularly applicable to the boring of barrels of repeating fire-arms, and
the chambers, nipple holes, &c. in the breech of such arms.
In boring gun and pistol barrels great loss of time has hitherto been
ccasioned by drawing back the boring tool for the purpose of oiling
its cutting edges through the slow action of the screw which is used
to propel it forward.
To avoid this inconvenience I adopt the contrivance shewn in Sheet I.
of the accompanying Drawings, wherein Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a
novel construction of tool for boring barrels, and Fig. 2, is a plan view
of the same. a, a, is a standard for carrying the socket b, to which the
boring tool c, is affixed. This standard is clamped to the bed of the
machine by a cam or excentric d; carried by lugs e, affixed to a screw
which passes down from the standard a, through a slot in the bed of
the machine. The cam d, is worked by a lever d*, and is caused to
bear against a loose piece e, which lies between it and the bed, and
binds against the underside thereof, whereby the standard is securely
held in position. In order to readjust the standard it is only neces-
sary to raise the lever *, and the standard is free to be slidden forward
or backward, as desired, to suit the different lengths of work required
to be operated upon. The socket b, is capable of sliding freely in the
standard a, and it is propelled forward by means of a screw f, which
enters the hinder end of the socket, and rests in a half-round bearing
in a frame g, jointed to the standard a. This frame g, is kept in a
horizontal position by micans of a prop h; which is jointed to the under
side of the frame, and carries at its lower extremity a bowle, which
rests on the bed of the machine. On the end of the joint pin for con-
necting the prop with its frame is a short lever i, for tripping up the
prop when the frame is required to fall. The screw'f, is fitted with

page_text: 9, for
two collars, which embrace the half-round bearing in the frame
the purpose of preventing it (when the frame is in position) from
moving in the direction of its length when rotated by means of the
radial arms affixed to its outer end.
It will now be understood that, supposing the cutting tool to be at
work on a pistol barrel, as at k, Fig. 2, and that it is required to with-
draw it to oil its cutting edges, the attendant will by depressing the
lever i, trip up the prop h, and let the frame g, fall to the position
shewn at Fig. 1. The socket b, may then be slidden back in its bear-
ing until the tool is withdrawn from the barrel, and the oil being then
applied the tool may be quickly pushed back to its work. The atten-
dant now raises the frame g, and reinstates the prop h, to keep it in
position with the bearing in contact with that part of the screw which
lies between the collars before mentioned, and as the work is rotated
by means of a band passing from any motive power machinery over
one of the pulleys 1, the tool is pressed up to its work by reason of a
slow rotary motion imparted to the screw by the attendant.
To avoid the necessity of unshipping the tools when boring the
chambers in the rotating breech, and yet to allow of a succession of
tools suitable for increasing the diameter of the cut or boring, I find
it convenient to mount a given number of tools in a frame or head
stock which is capable of being rotated to bring any desired tool into
action.
This part of my Invention is shewn in several views in Sheet II. of
the Drawings. Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a machine for boring metals
fitted with this improvement. Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3, is a cross section taken in the line A, B, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4,
is a section of the head stock detached. a, a, is the head stock, carried
by a plate b, which rests on the bed of the machine, and is capable of
adjustment lengthwise to bring the tools near to their work. This
head stock is fitted to receive five tools, but more or less may be coni-
bined together, if thought desirable. It consists of two discs 1, 1,
bolted together at their centres, and mounted in standards 2, 2, so that
they may turn freely therein. These discs are pierced with holes
equidistant from each other, and form a common centre, and into

page_text: these holes the socket rods c, which carry the cutting tools c, c*, are
fitted so that they may slide freely therein, but have no axial motion.
For this purpose the socket roils are grooved, as shewn at Fig. 4, to
receive feather edges, with which the discs are provided. At the hinder
end of these socket rods ring grooves are turned to receive a hooked
finger projecting from the end of a rack bar d. This bar d, slides in
guides attached to the plate b, which carries the head stock, and it is
driven backwards and forwards in the direction of its length by means
of a pinion e, mounted on an axle f, carried by bearings on the plate b.
On the end of the axle f a double handled lever g, is keyed, and as
it is rocked either to the right or left an axial motion will be given
to the pinion e; and the rack bar, together with the tool socket rod in
connection therewith, will be slidden up to or away from the work.
Hinged to the plate b, is a hooked lever i, (see Fig. 3,) which fits on to
the uppermost socket rod for the purpose of holding the entting tools
in position while the operation of boring is proceeding. When it is
required to bring round a fresh tool to operate upon the work this
hooked lever is raised, and the desired fool being brought uppermost.
its position is secured by the depression of the lever i, to the position
shewn at Fig. 8.
It will now he evident that, supposing the work to be secured in the
chuck, and rotated as before explained, the attendant by pressing
forward the hand lever will bring the tool that lies in a line with the
rack bar d, into contact with the work, and by rocking the lever in
the opposite direction he can draw the tool clear of the work in a
moment, and supply it with oil. It will also be seen that to bring up
the following tool to act upon the work it will only be necessary
to throw back the looked lever i, and turn the discs which carry the
rods, until the required tool is uppermost, and the depression of the
hooked lever i, on its stem will ensure its exact adjustment, so
that the work of every succeeding tool will be concentric with that.
of the first tool.
I will now explain the construction of chuck which I prefer to
employ in this machine.
In Sheet III. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, is a front 3

page_text: view, partly in section, of my improved chuck. Fig. 2, is a cross
section of the same, taken through the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8,
is a section taken through the line 3, 4, of Fig. 2.
u, is a circular
plate which is screwed on to the spindle that carries the driving pulley.
To the face of this plate a plate b, is fastened. This plate has an
excentric conical opening made in it to receive a circular plate c
which fits therein, but is capable of being moved round in its scat.
A central opening is mad in this plate c, and it is closed by a plate d,
which fits into a recess in the inner face of the plate e, and carries a hub
or projection for entering the central hole of the breech cylinder e, and
determining its position in the chuck. The cylinder is held firmly in
the chuck by means of radial clamping pieces f, which are dropped
into guides cut in the annular projecting part of the plate, which
part e, encircles the breech cylinder when inserted in the chuck.
The radial clamping pieces f, are retained in their places by a ring,
which is holted to the outer face of the plate c, and they are pressed
up to their work by means of a ring I, which is inserted in an annular
groove ent in the plate c, to receive it.
The contact surfaces of the ring and plate are threaded to allow
of the ring being adjusted to any required position, and yet hield fast to
the plate c.
This ring is made conical on its inner periphery for the
purpose of bearing against the outer or bevilled ends of the clamping
pieces, and thrusting these pieces forward into contact with the breech
cylinder. On the outer face of the ring h, and also on the plate c. are
pins which permit of an axial motion being imparted thereto by their
respective levers, and c. The plate c, is held fast by a bolt i, (see
Fig. 3,) which enters the notch, k, cut in the periphery of the plate.
This bolt is capable of being withdrawn by means of a finger 1, actuated
by a thumb piece m. The number of notches must correspond with the
number of chambers to be bored in the breech cylinder, and they will
then form an index for determining the distance the cylinder is to be
moved round after the completion of each chamber. When the
cylinder is clamped in the chuck by screwing in the ring h, by means
of its lever, and rotary motion is communicated thereto, the cutting

page_text: tools are brought up consecutively to act upon the cylinder and form a
chamber therein. On completing the boring of this chamber the
attendant withdraws the bolt i, from the notch k, and moves round the
plate c, until another notch comes opposite the bolt at which time that
portion of the cylinder which requires to be pierced comes opposite
the uppermost cutting tool. The bolt then drops into the notch, and
the plate, is held firmly, as beforc.
I will now explain the arrangement of machinery which I employ
for boring the nipple holes of the chambers in rotating breech fire-arms.
In Sheet IV. Fig. 1, is a side elevation, partly in section, of my im-
proved boring tool, wherein several tools are caused to act simul-
taneously upon the work. Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same. Fig $,
is a cross section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, shews in
front view the plate carrying the work to be operated upon. Fig. 5,
is a partial elevation of the right-hand end of the machine; and Fig. 6,
is a similar elevation of the left-hand end thereof. a, a, are the socket
stems which carry the tools b. The socket stems are passed through
and keyed to hollow spindles which turn in bearings in the standards
C, G, and are severally provided with driving pulleys for communicating
rotary motion to the cutting tools.
horizontal V grooves are formed to
which carry the bearings for the
stem a*, is mounted.
In the face of these standards c,
receive the rack bars d, d, Fig. 3,
hollow shaft in which the socket
The object of thus mounting the stem *, is that its tool, besides
rotating, may receive a lateral movement, and thereby effect a lateral
cut. For this reason it is necessary to drive it from a pulley mounted
on a rocking frame e, having the hollow shaft which carrics the stem (*,
for its fulcrum. The lateral movement of the stem a*, is effected by
means of a hand lever f. keyed to a shaft g, which turns in bearings in
the standards c, c, and carries a pair of pinions h, h, in gear with the
rack teeth on the bars d, d. i, is a circular plate, on which the breech
cylinders to be operated upon are mounted, as shewn at Fig. 4. The
manner of securing them to this plate is best shewn in the detached
sectional view, Fig. 7 which will be presently explained. The plate i,

page_text: is mounted on a shaft k, which turns in a bearing 1, cast on to a bed
plate 7, that rests on guides on the main framing of the machine, and
is capable of being slidden thereon to bring the work up to the cutting
tools. To the outer end of the shaft k, a rack bar m, (see Fig. 5,) is
affixed, which slides in a guide made for it in the end framing, and
taking into the teeth of this bar is a pinion n, keyed to an axle o, which
turns in bearings in the main framing. This pinion is actuated by a
double hand lever p, keyed to the axle o, and by depressing or raising this
lever the work is caused to advance to or recede from the cutting tools.
An axial motion is imparted to the plate i, for the purpose of bringing
round the breech cylinders in succession under the action of the tools
by means of the following contrivance:-7, (Fig. 5,) is a circular plate
keyed to the shaft k, and furnished on its periphery with notches corre-
sponding in number to the breech cylinders on the plate i; into these
notches a bolt, takes, which slides in a guide piece affixed to the
plato , and it is held in contact with a plate q, by a spring 7. From
the side of the bolt r, projects a stud which carries a bowle to receive
the pressure of a catch s, jointed to a ring t, which is mounted loosely
on the shaft . To the stud which carries the catch s, a hand lever
, is keyed; the depression, therefore, of this hand lever will bring the
catch 5, under the bowle of the bolt r, to raise the bolt out of contact
with the plate g. A spring latch passing through the hollow fulcrum
of the lever u, takes into a ring of notches formed in the plate q, for
the purpose of moving that plate round. By the depression of the
lever u, to raise the bolt, the latch is released from the notches; and
before the withdrawal of the catch s, from under the bowle of the bolt 1,
the spring latch takes into the notch next adjoining that which it last
entered. The attendant now presses back the hand lever, and thereby
drives round the plate y, which carries with it the shaft k, and the
plate i, by which means the breech cylinders will be brought under the
action of other cutting tools. The plate i, is represented as carrying
eight breech cylinders. These are arranged in a ring equidistant from
each other, and are carried by stud pins 1, (see Fig. 7.) secured severally
to a socket 2, bolted to the plate i. On the face of the socket 2, is a

page_text: huh which enters one of the chambers in the cylinder, and thereby
prevents it from shifting on the centre pin 1, when under the operation
of the cutters, and also affords a ready means of readjusting the cylinder
after the completion of each nipple hole.
To facilitate the removal of the cylinders from their pin a plunger 3,
is provided, which slides in a guide 4, and is pressed forward by a
lever 5, but has a constant tendency (by reason of a coiled spring
enclosed in its guide and bearing upon a shoulder of the plunger) to
return to its quiescent position. This plunger when thrust forward by
the lever 5, comes in contact with the rear end of a second plunger 6,
carried by the plate i, and also provided with a coiled spring, and by
driving this second plunger forward pushes the breech cylinder clear of
the hub on the socket, and thereby permits of its being turned by the
fingers of the attendant.
Having now described the construction and operation of the "Tm-
proved Machinery for Boring Metals" constituting the Invention for
which I have obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent, I would remark,
that although for convenience I have thought it desirable to show the
application of the above-described machines, in connection with a manu-
facture with which I am more particularly conversant, yet I wish it to be
understood that I by no means intend to limit the application of my
improvements to the construction of fire-arms, as they may be also used
with equal advantage in many other branches of the mechanical arts.
Under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim,-
First, with reference to Sheet I., mounting the stem of the boring
tool and the traversing screw so that they will admit of being slidden
in the direction of their length for the purpose of withdrawing the tool
from its work:
Secondly, the mode of mounting the tools in a rotating frame for the
purpose of bringing them into position, and giving them an independent
longitudinal motion, as above described with reference to Sheet II. :
Thirdly, the construction of chuck as above described with reference
to Sheet III., whether such construction be adapted to produce excentric
or concentric work:

page_text: Fourthly, I claim the general arrangement of parts as described
with reference to Sheet IV., whereby I am enabled simultaneously to
form holes or openings in a line with and at an angle to the axes of
the cutting tools.
In witness whereof, I the said Samuel Colt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
SAM. COLT. (L.S.)