AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING HOLES FOR BLASTING IN MINES AND QUARRIES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Jones, of Caerphilly, in the County of Glamorgan,
Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS
FOR DRILLING HOLES FOR BLASTING IN MINES AND QUARRIES."
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Jones at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1878.
EDWARD JONES, of Caerphilly, in the County of Glamorgan, Engineer. "AN
IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRILLING HOLES FOR BLASTING IN
MINES AND QUARRIES."
The object of this Invention is to effect the drilling of holes for receiving blasting
charges in a more economical manner than heretofore.
This end I propose to attain by utilizing as a motive force the streams of water
which run down the sides of quarries and mines, and require the constant exercise
of pumping power to prevent undue accumulation of water therein.
"
This water is now usually collected in mines in "garland curbs or small gutters
placed around the shafts at different depths, and is carried from these "curbs" to
the bottom of the shafts by pipes or hose, whence it is raised to the surface by
pumping machinery.
I now propose to collect this water flow, whether in mines or quarries, into
elevated tanks, and to connect with these tanks hose which will allow me to conduct
the water to any point where drill holes are to be formed, the object being to use
this water for driving portable turbines connected with rock drills, and thereby
impart rotary motion to such drills.
The turbine used will in general be of such size that with the apparatus apper-
taining thereto it will be capable of being carried to any part of the mine or quarry

page_text: where the blasting is required, and arranged for action by one man, or, say, at most,
two workmen. The turbine case I propose to fit with two hollow handles, and to
attach to one of these the water supply hose, and to the other a discharge pipe. As
therefore water is admitted to the case a rapid rotary motion will be imparted to
the turbine.
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To the turbine spindle I propose to fit a rock drill, so that it may receive motion
directly therefrom; or in some cases I may transmit this motion to the drill through
spur gearing, so as to diminish or it may be increase the speed of rotation of the
drill. In this modification the drill spindle will be supported in bearings affixed to
the turbine case.
In drilling with this apparatus the attendant, having hold of the handles, will
regulate the pressure put on the drill, allowing the whole weight of the apparatus
to act on the drill or partially support that weight by his hands according to the
nature of the material being bored.
It may be found convenient to make the drill spindle hollow, and to deliver a 1
stream of water through the drill for the purpose of lubrication, and also for dis-
charging the cuttings from the drilled hole.
For the purpose of executing heavy work I propose to mount the drilling apparatus
in a portable frame. In this case the drill must be arranged so as to follow the
work, the turbine maintaining a stationary position in the frame. For the purpose 2
of giving the drill a feed motion I fit on the upper end of the drill spindle a piston,
which works in a cylinder closed at top and open at bottom, such cylinder being
connected with the head of water which drives the turbine. This cylinder is made
adjustable vertically in the framing of the apparatus, and it is moved down as the
work progresses. The water in the cylinder will impart a continuous endway
pressure to the drill until the piston has reached the end of its course. The cylinder
is then to be re-adjusted to allow of the further descent of the piston. The pressure
on the drill in this case will be determined by the pressure of the water admitted
to the cylinder.
Where water power is not available the turbine may be driven by jets of steam g
or compressed air.
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