Improvements in Boring or Tunnelling Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boring or Tunnelling Machines.
I, REGINALD STANLEY, of Nuneaton Colliery and Engineering Works,
Nuneaton, in the County of Warwick, Colliery Proprietor and Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in boring or tunnelling machines of the
kind described and referred to in the Specification of my application for Letters
Patent No. 3595 of 1890.
rope
According to my invention I arrange to drive each machine, in some cases, by
means of a rope instead of by an engine or motor on the machine.
In this arrange-
ment a suitable pulley or wheel is provided on the machine, round which the
passes, a suitable friction or other clutch being used to transmit the power to the
mechanisin of the machine. As the driving rope requires to be kept very taut, I
provide for fixing the machine at the rear by means of arms or sprags hinged to a
boss on the central screw or shaft of the machine, the said sprags being forced
apart and into holes cut in the circumference of the heading by telescopic screws.
The boss to which the sprags are fixed slides loosely upon the central screw so that
it can take a bearing against the back of the machine. When the central screw.
or shaft has moved forward its length, I arrange a plate so that it can be slipped"
into an opening in the boss hereinbefore described, behind the end of the said shaft,
so as to prevent the shaft being pushed back in the heading while the frame is
caused to advance. It will be seen that by this arrangement only one fixing is
required to hold the frame of the machine and the shaft. The driving shaft, on
which the rope pulley or wheel is fixed, actuates by suitable gear-wheels two
longitudinal shafts, which serve by suitable gearing to rotate the central shaft and
wheel respectively.
Suitable clutches are provided for connecting and disconnecting the driving shaft
with and from the longitudinal shafts. The machine is stayed at the side on which
the rope wheel works by fixed brackets carrying horizontal wheels which roll
against the heading and are regulated by double acting screws, and, on the side the
men and material pass, with a similar bracket hinged to the frame and held in
position by a chain or stay, so that during the time the frame of the machine is
advancing, it can be swung to the side of the heading to keep the machine upright,
and when the said frame is fixed, swung to the side of the same, to be out of the
way of men passing. The front of the frame, on the side opposite to the driving
pulley, is held by the ordinary side-screw stay, though ordinarily the top and bottom
wedged bolts and screw-pins are sufficient for that purpose.
In some cases I arrange to drive the machine by animal power, and for this
purpose I use an endless rope passing round a rope pulley on the machine and also
round another pulley mounted on a post fixed in the heading at some distance from
the said machine, so that a horse or other animal attached to the said rope-by
suitable means, can, by proceeding along the heading, actuate the said rope and
consequently the machine.
In this machine the screw-threaded shaft can work through a hinged screw-threaded
boss, such as that described in the Specification of one of my former Patents, which
boss is thrown open when the said shaft has been fed forward to its greatest extent.
The frame of the machine is then unfixed from the heading and advanced on the
said shaft by crow-bars or other suitable means, or it may be advanced by means of"
propelling wheels actuated either by hand or by suitable mechanism driven from.the
rope pulley.
For holding the frame of the machine in position during the cutting, Iprovidera

page_text: .
series of strong flat bolts, which, when the points are driven into the material at the
top or bottom of the heading, are held from returning by wedges, which, by means of
a slight tap or pressure or their own weight, follow down, and wedge the said bolts,
holding them fast in their sockets. Each wedge and bolt is of greater width in its
socket at the point end of the bolt, than at the head or striking end, to prevent the
pressure on the material and the work of the machine from forcing them back.
This arrangement affords a firmer and quicker way of fixing and unfixing the frame
in the heading than any previously employed.
In some cases screw-pins or other means may be used with the wedged bolts to
assist in fixing the machine.
To prevent the roof of the heading from falling on the attendants or on the machine,
I sometimes provide the said machine with hinged shields which are held out
against the circumference of the heading by side-stays, the points of which penetrate
through holes in the shields and shoulder against them, so that when the sides of
the heading are broken and irregular, as is sometimes the case, the pressure resulting
therefrom prevents the machine from tilting.
When it is desired to release the frame to advance it in the heading, the side
stays are slackened sufficiently to allow the frame to be run forward, and if any of
the roof shall have fallen on the shields, so that the machine is prevented from
advancing, the said stays are released and the shields allowed to drop to the side of
the machine. The portion of the roof that has fallen is then removed, when the
shields can be lifted into position.
nose
I also provide additional cutting-arms so as to cut more than one annular groove,
the said arins being preferably wider at the front and with a tapered projection or
as described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 1449, dated
1st February 1886, so that the cuttings are cleared from the annular groove in
advance of the cutting, and expelled from the said groove as the cutting proceeds.
These additional-arms-arc advantageously provided-at-onc end with square tongues,
which fit into-square holes in the radial arms of-the-machine, bolts being used to
secure them in place. These additional arins can be easily removed and put in
place again, as the nature of the material may require, or when room is needed to
remove the core or rib left by the horizontal arms and cutters.
For scraping-back-the.cuttings and fine debris resulting from the process of
cutting the heading or tunnel I sometimes attach to-the-back of the cutting-arms
-one end of an expanding flexible helical scraper, the other end being held by an
arm which is arranged on the screw-threaded central shaft, and is attached to the
machine in such a manner that while capable of revolving with the said-shaft.it_
cannot advance with it. This can be effected by arranging a feather-key on the
said central shaft, which engages with the boss of the arm, the said arm being
prevented from advancing by extensions or the like on the frame of the machine
engaging and working in a circumferential groove in the said boss.
The scraper is advantageously made with one or more joints which tend to prevent
it becoming warped and to lessen the reduction of diameter as it becomes elongated;
these joints can, however, be dispensed with, when the material of which the
-scraper-is.composed is sufficiently Hexible.
By this arrangement the cuttings and fine-debris are brought back to the machine,
notwithstanding the varying position of the cutting-arms.
Any suitable means, such as a trough and worin-conveyor, can be provided for
receiving the said cuttings from the expanding scraper and conveying them to the
rear of the machine.
In machines of the kind herein referred to that have side wheels instead of side
serew stays, it is necessary to have some means of straightening the frame when it
gets out of the perpendicular. This I accomplish by providing one (or both) of the
carrying wheels with a.rib which bites into the floor of the heading, so that by
turning the said wheel slightly to the right or left by an arm or sprag hinged
thereto, as the machine is advanced, the bottom of the said machine is caused to
incline to one side or the other of. the heading. The axle bearings of the carrying

page_text: wheel are fitted loosely in the brackets that hold them, so. as to allow of the said
turning movement. The sprag also serves to engage with the floor of the heading
so as to keep the frame of the machine from moving back when the machine is
cutting, one end of the arm or sprag engaging with a notch cut in the floor for its
reception.
•
Although I have described my improvements as applied to a single machine, it
will be obvious that they can be applied with equal advantage to the double machine
described in the Specification of one of my former Patents.
Dated the 17th day of December 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, Loudon, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boring or Tunnelling Machines.
1, REGINALD STANLEY, of Nuneaton Colliery and Engineering Works,
Nuneaton, in the County of Warwick, Colliery Proprietor and Manufacturer,
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:-
My invention chiefly relates to improvements in boring or tunnelling machines of
the kind described and referred to in the Specification of my former Letters
Patent No. 335 of 1885, No. 1449 of 1886, No. 1763 of 1888 and No. 3595 of
1890.
According to my invention I arrange.to drive each machine, from suitable motive
power situated at a distance from the machine, by means of a rope instead of by an
engine or motor on the machine.
For holding the frame of the machine in position during the cutting, I provide a
series of strong flat wedge-shaped and pointed bolts, which, when the points are
driven into the material at the top or bottom of the heading, are held from
returning by wedges, which, by means of a slight tap. or pressure or their own
weight, follow down, and wedge the said bolts, holding them fast in their
sockets.
In some cases screw-pins or other means may be used with the wedged bolts to
assist in fixing the machine.
To prevent the roof of the heading from falling on the attendants or on the
machine, I sometimes provide the said machine with hinged shields which are held
out against the circumference of the heading by side-stays, the points of which
penetrate through holes in the shields and shoulder against them, so that when the
sides of the heading are broken and irregular, as is sometimes the case, the pressure
resulting therefrom prevents the machine from tilting.
I also provide additional cutting-arms so as to cut inore than one annular groove.
The said arms being adapted to be easily removed and put in place again as the
nature of the material may require, or when room is needed to remove the core or
rib left by the horizontal arms and cutters.
For scraping back the cuttings and fine debris resulting from the process of
cutting away the whole face of a heading or tunnel I sometimes attach to the back
of the cutting-arms one end of au expanding flexible helical scraper, hereinafter
nore fully described.
In machines of the kind herein referred to that have side wheels instead of side
screw stays, it is necessary to have some means of straightening the frame when it
gets out of the perpendicular. This accomplish by providing one (or both) of
the carrying wheels with a rib which bites into the floor of the heading, so that by
turning the said wheel slightly to the right or left. by an arm or sprag hinged
thereto, as the machine is advanced, the bottom of the said machine is caused to
incline to one side or the other of the heading.

page_text: In order to enable my improvements to be fully understood I will describe them
by reference to the accompanying drawings, which shew them by way of example
applied to a single acting machine.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation, a rear elevation and a plan
of a single boring or tunnelling machine of the class herein referred to, (without its
cutters and cutter-arms) and arranged to be driven by means of a rope from a
suitable motive power situated at a distance from the machine, instead of by an
engine or motor on the machine: the cutters being arranged to cut and clear an
annular groove in the face of the tunnel :
Figure 4 is a face view of a friction clutch or coupling which I employ in this
arrangement of machine, the driving shaft and part of the rope-wheel being-shewn
in section:
Figure 5 is a section on line A B of Figure 4 shewing also part of the rope-wheel
in elevation:
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are a side elevation, a rear elevation and a plan
respectively of a rope-driven-machine arranged to be actuated by animal or
other power:
Figure 9 is a rear elevation of a boring or tunnelling machine illustrating the
application of the hinged shields thereto :
Figure 10 is a side elevation, and Figure 11 a front elevation of the cutting
arms of a boring or tunnelling machine, adapted to cut an annular groove in
the face of the tunnel, shewing the application thereto of the additional cutting
arms:
Figure 12 is a section on line C D of Figure-1-1 -representing a constructional
detail:
Figure 13-is a-side elevation;-and-Figure 14 is a front view of the cutting arms
of a machine adapted to cut away the whole-face-of_the_tunnel, shewing the
application thereto of the expanding-flexible-helical scraper
Figure 15 is a side-elevation of part of the rear portion of the frame of a boring
or tunnelling machine illustrating the improvements connected with the carrying
wheel-:
Figure 16 is a rear view of Figure 15.
I will first describe by reference-to-Figures-l-to-5-the-arrangement I employ for
driving a boring or tunnelling machine of the class hereinbefore referred to by
-means-of-a-ropc-from_a_suitable motor instead of by an engine or motor on the
machine.
A suitable pulley or wheel a is provided on the machine, round which the rope b
passes, a suitable friction or other clutch or coupling being used to transmit the
power to the mechanism of the machine.
The arrangement of friction clutch or coupling for this purpose which I have
found to answer well and which is shewn in Figures 4 and 5, comprises a central
block c keyed on the driving shaft d, and a ring e embracing the block and made
in sections connected together by bolts f. Each section of the ring e is formed
with a pair of lugs between which pass studs on the face of the rope-pulley a
when the clutch is-moved-into-engagement. By tightening or slackening the bolts f
the ring e is caused to grip the block c with greater or less firmness according-to
the resistance offered to the cutters by the material which is being cut through.
Should the cutters encounter any obstacle the block would revolve within the
ringe and thereby avoid rupture of the parts of the machine.
i
As the driving rope requires to be kept very taut, I provide for fixing the
machine at the rear by means of arms or sprags hinged to a boss ; on the central
screw or shaft k of the machine, the said sprags being forced apart and into holes
cut in the circumference of the heading by telescopic screws operated by hand-
wheels m or their equivalents. The boss to which the sprags
are fixed slides
loosely upon the central screw k so that it can take a bearing against the back of
the machine. I provide plate n, Figure 1 which, when the central screw or
shaft has moved forward its length, is slipped into an opening-o in the boss_j
3..

page_text: behind the end of the shaft k, so as to prevent the shaft being pushed back in the
heading while the frame is caused to advance. It will be seen that by this arrange-
ment only one fixing is required to hold the frame p of the machine during the
cutting, and the shaft when the frame and engine are advanced. The driving
shaft on which the rope-pulley or wheel a is fixed actuates, by gear-wheels, r
and s, two longitudinal shafts t and w, the shaft t serving by means of the pinion
and spur-wheel w to rotate the central shaft k, while the shaft u through the medium
of gear-wheels, two of which are shewn at a and y, serves to rotate the back pro-
pelling wheel z.
The wheels and are mounted loosely on their shafts and u and are used to
connect the driving shaft d, and to disconnect it from the shaft and back pro-
pelling wheel z respectively, this being effected by means of clutches a¹ and b
keyed on the shafts and and which are moved by means of clutch-levers c¹ and d¹
jointed at one end to the frame p of the machine and at the other end to a handle
bar el extending along one side of the machine to the back thereof.
The machine is stayed at the side on which the rope wheel a works by fixed
brackets carrying horizontal wheels which roll against the heading and arc
regulated by double acting screws ', and, on the side the men and material pass,
with a similar bracket i carrying a wheel regulated by a double acting screw
and hinged at ', ' to the frame p and held in position by a stay m', (or by a chain)
so that during the time the frame of the machine is advancing, it can
P
bc swung
to the side of the heading to keep the machine upright and, when the said frame is
fixed, swung to the side of the same, to be out of the way of men passing. The
front of the frame p on the side opposite to the driving pulley a is held, while
the machine is cutting, by the ordinary side screw-stay n', though, ordinarily,
the strong top and bottom flat and pointed wedged-bolts o' and screw-pins
sufficient for that purpose.
are
When the points of the bolts o are driven into the material at the top or
bottom of the heading, they are held from returning by the wedges which,
by means of a slight tap or pressure or their own weight, follow down, and wedge
the said bolts holding them fast in their sockets, which are formed by bolting
plates to the sides of the angle irons that form the frame of the machine. The
combined width of each wedge and bolt is greater in the bottom of the socket >
than at the top thereof to prevent the pressure on the material and the work of
the machine from forcing them back. The wedges can be easily loosened and
removed by striking their lower ends with a hammer.
This arrangement affords a firmer and quicker way of fixing and unfixing the
frame in the heading than any previously employed.
x
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 wherein the machine is
designed to be driven by animal or other power, I use an endless rope passing
round a rope-pulley a on the machine and also round another pulley mounted on a
post fixed in the head at some distance from the said machine, so that a horse or
other animal attached to the rope by suitable means, can, by proceeding along
the heading, actuate the said rope and consequently the machine. Or the rope can
be driven from a horse-driven gin or other similar arrangement fixed at a suitable
distance in the heading.
The mechanism for driving the inachine from the rope-pulley a comprises a
pinion t¹ fixed to the rope-pulley a and gearing with a spur-wheel carrying a
bevel gear-wheel which is in engagement with a bevel-wheel w' mounted on
a short shaft, carrying the pinion which is in gear with the spur-wheel w on
the screw-threaded shaft k.
In this machine the screw-threaded shaft k can work through a hinged screw-
threaded boss, block or nut s', such as that described in my former Letters Patent
No. 2312 of 1887, which boss is thrown open when the said shaft has been fed
forward to its greatest extent. The frame of the machine is then unfixed from
the heading and advanced on the said shaft by crow-bars or other suitable means,

page_text: or it may be advanced by means of propelling wheels actuated either by hand or by
suitable mechanism driven from the rope-pulley a.
The machine is secured to the bottom of the heading by bolts of and wedges 7 as
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, and 3; to the top of the
heading by a single screw-pin pl and to the sides on the heading by hinged arms or
sprags y and z¹
A fixed bracket a² and a hinged bracket carrying wheels
and respectively serve to keep the machine upright when advancing in the
heading. is a guide-pulley for the rope b.
To prevent the roof of the heading from falling on the attendants or on the
machine. sometimes, as shewn in Figure 9, provide the machine with hinged
shields which are held out against the circumference of the heading by side
stays, the points of which penetrate through holes in the shields and shoulder
against them, so that when the sides of the heading are broken and irregular, as is
sometimes the case, the pressure resulting therefrom prevents the machine from
tilting.
When it is desired to release the frame to advance it in the heading, the side
stays are slackened sufficiently to allow the frame to be run forward, and if any
of the roof shall have fallen on the shields, so that the machine is prevented
from advancing, the said stays are released and the shields allowed to drop to the
side of the machine. The portion of the roof that has fallen is then removed, when
the shields can be lifted into position.
I also in some cases, as shewn in Figures 10 and 11 provide additional cutting-
arms so as to cut more than one annular groove, the said arms being
preferably wider at the front and provided-with a tapered projection or nose as
described in the Specification of my former Letters Patent No. 1449 of 1886, so
that the cuttings are cleared from the annular groove in advance of the cutting,
and expelled from the said groove-as-the-cutting proceeds: These additional
arms are advantageously provided-at-one-end with square tongues as-shewn-iu-
Figure 12, which fit into square holes in the radial arms of the machine-bolts-
being, used to secure them in place. These additional arms can be easily removed
and put in place again, as the nature of the material may require, or when room is
needed to remove the core or rib left by the horizontal arms and cutters.
By cutting more than one annular-groove-in.a_heading composed of very dead or
resistant material the breaking down of the same will be greatly facilitated.
For scraping-back-the resulting cuttings and fine debris when working with arms
and cutters adapted to cut away the whole face-of-the-heading or tunnel 1
sometimes, as shewn in Figures 13 and 14, attach to the back of the cutting-arms
one end of an expanding flexible helical scraper, the other end being held by an
arm m which is arranged on the screw-threaded central shaft k, and is attached to
the machine in such a manner that while capable of revolving with the said shaft it
cannot advance with it. This can be effected by arranging a feather-key n² on the
central shaft which engages with the boss o² of the arm m², the said arm being
prevented from advancing by extensions p² or the like on the frame of the machine
engaging and working in a circumferential groove q² in the boss o².
The scraper is advantageously made with one or more joints which tend to
prevent it becoming warped and to lessen the reduction of diameter as it becomes
elongated these joints can, however, be dispensed with, when the material of
which the scraper is composed is sufficiently flexible.
By this arrangement the cuttings and fine debris are brought back to the
machine, notwithstanding the varying position of the cutting-arms.
Any suitable means, such as a trough and worm-conveyor, can be provided for
receiving the said cuttings from the expanding scraper and conveying them to the
rear of the machine. Or they can be removed back by means of a rake or shovel
from the side of the machine when left by the helical scraper.
The worm is arranged upon a worm-shaft which is carried in bearings, and has a
chain-wheel keyed on its front end and driven by a chain passing over an inter-

page_text: mediate chain-wheel t2 and by a chain a passing over another intermediate wheel ³
(fixed to the wheel ',) from a chain-wheel w² secured on an intermediate shaft of
the machine, by the action of a friction-pin or screw brake which prevents breakage
of the gearing, if a sudden strain arises from any cause, as the intermediate shaft
would then rotate without operating the gearing.
2
Referring to Figures 15 and 16, indicates the rib with which I provide one
(or both) of the carrying wheels, which rib bites into the floor of the heading, so
that by turning the said wheel slightly to the right or left by the arm or sprag
hinged thereto, as the machine is advanced, the bottom of the said machine is
caused to incline to one side or the other of the heading, thereby allowing of
straightening the frame p if it should get out of the perpendicular. The axle
bearings as of the carrying wheel y² are fitted loosely in the brackets /³ that hold
them, so as to allow of the said turning movement. The sprag also serves to
engage with the floor of the heading so as to keep the frame of the machine from
moving back when the machine is cutting, one end of the arm or sprag engaging
with a notch cut in the floor for its reception.
Although I have described my improvements as applied to a single machine, it
will be obvious that they can be applied with equal advantage to the double
machine described in the Specification of my said former Patent No. 3595 of 1890.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The combination of the mechanism, described by reference to Figures 1, 2
and 3 of the accompanying drawings, with a boring or tunnelling machine of the
class herein referred to, whereby the said machine is adapted to be driven by
means of a rope from a suitable motor instead of by an engine or motor on the
machine, substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination with a. boring or tunnelling machine of the class herein
referred to, when adapted to be driven through the medium of a rope from suitable
motive power situated at a distance from the machine, of the friction-clutch or
coupling hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accom-
panying drawings.
3. The combination of the mechanism, described by reference to Figures 6, 7
and 8 of the accompanying drawings, with a boring or tunnelling machine of the
class herein referred to, whereby the said machine is adapted to be driven by
animal or other power through the medium of a rope instead of by an engine or
motor on the machine, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The use in combination with boring or tunnelling machines of the class herein
referred to, when provided with cutting arms formed with tapered projections or
noses and with scrapers as described, of flat, pointed bolts and of wedges which
are applied in sockets, adapted to receive them on the frame of the machine
for the purpose and substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with a boring or tunnelling machine of the class herein
referred to, of shields for preventing the roof of the heading from falling onto the
attendants or the machine, the said shields being hinged to the machine and held
out against the circumference of the heading by adjustable side-stays, substan-
tially as herein before described with reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. Providing the radial groove cutting and clearing arms of boring or tunnelling
machines of the class herein referred to with additional horizontal or cutting-arms
so arranged as to cut and clear more than one annular groove in the face of a
heading, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 10, 11
and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination with a boring or tunnelling machine, having cutting arms
adapted to cut away the whole face of the tunnel, of a flexible helical scraper

page_text: working around the circumference of the heading between the cutter-arms and the
frame, one end being attached to the cutter-arins and the other to an arm secured
to the frame of the machine but not so as to prevent its revolving with the scraper,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 of the
accompanying drawings.
8. Providing one or both of the carrying wheels of a boring or tunnelling
machine of the kind herein referred to which are provided with side steadying
wheels instead of screw-stays, with a rib designed to bite into the floor of the
heading and with an arm or sprag for turning or guiding the wheel which, with
this object, is mounted in loose bearings for the purpose set forth and substantially
as hercinbefore described with reference to Figures 13 and 14-of the-accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 7th day of September 1891
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.