Improvements in Expanding Drills for Boring Coal and other Minerals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Apolication, 13th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Expanding Drills for Boring Coal and other
Minerals.
I, JULIUS R. WATTS, of 124, North 5th Street, Springfield, in the County of
Sangamon, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Coal Miner, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in drills specially adapted for boring
into coal banks, and has for its object to provide a machine of simple, durable,
and economic construction, and to provide said machine with an expansible bit.
A further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the bit will
remain in its closed or normal position while the hole is being bored, but wherein,
when a predetermined depth is reached, the machine may be conveniently and
expeditiously manipulated to expand the bit and thereby create a pocket at the
end of the bore for the reception of a large amount of powder, by which means
the liability of blowing the tamp out is effectually overcome and the blast is made
to produce a maximum of desired results.
The base of the machine consists preferably of a bar of any desired length and
width, the said bar being provided in its under face at or near its forward or inner
end with a spur adapted to be driven in the foundation upon which the base rests
and serving to retain the base in position. At or near the rear or outer end of
the base upon its upper face is preferably pivoted a yoke the members whereof
near their upper ends have sockets produced therein. In the yoke is horizontally
pivoted a guide box which guide box is mainly located between the members of
the yoke and is provided at its sides with trunnions adapted to enter the yoke
sockets. The guide box is made in two horizontal plate sections having a hinged
connection at one side and provided with a latch at the opposite side, the said
latch usually consisting of interlocking knuckles formed upon the sections and a
detachable pin passed through the knuckles. The upper section of the guide box
is provided in its upper face with a semi-circular depression at each side of the
centre and the lower plate has formed in its upper face corresponding and registering
depressions whereby, when the sections are locked, circular channels are formed for
the reception of a threaded drive shaft which shaft extends forward and rearward.
of the machine. The central portion of the guide box usually has an opening
formed therein, extending through from top to bottom and over the opening, at
each side of its centre, semi-circular straps are secured to the top and bottom of
the box adapted to constitute seats for a sectional interiorly threaded sleeve, the
threaded bore of the sleeve being of the necessary diameter to snugly fit the
circumference of the threaded shaft. The drive shaft is provided with a longi-
tudinal face groove extending practically from end to end, and at its forward or
inner extremity a socket is fastened to the shaft, the opening whereof is polygonal.
At the rear of the guide box a spur wheel is connected with the drive shaft,
preferably by means of a feather passing through the hub and entering the groove
of the shaft. By this means when the wheel is revolved to turn the shaft, the
latter is free to move forward. The spur wheel meshes with a pinion secured to a
short shaft journaled in an extension of the guide box, the said short shaft having
a crank handle connected therewith, or other form of driving mechanism. Upon
the trunnions of the guide box are pivoted the extremities of an essentially U-shaped
frame and upon said frame a clamp is capable of sliding. The clamp comprises

page_text: .
two horizontal members hinged at one end and provided with a set screw at the
opposite end to draw the members together when occasion may demand. Opposing
channels are produced in the members of the clamp, near the ends, to receive the
members of the U-shaped frame and a central and larger semi-circular channel is
also formed in each member. The central channels of the clamp are adapted to
receive the circumferential recessed surface of an externally threaded bit rod
casing the said casing being provided also with a spiral external groove extending
nearly from end to end. The bow section of the U-frame rests upon the upper
surface of the auger casing. In the outer end of the auger casing is located a bit
composed of two members having approximately circular heads the outer edges
being the cutting edges and shanks integral with the heads, the said shanks being
bevelled upon their inner edges at their junction with the heads.
The members of the bit are pivoted by their shanks to the outer end of a bit rod
which bit rod is capable of longitudinal movement in the casing, and the members
of the bit are so pivoted that one is capable of sliding over the other. The cutting
edges of the bit heads are located in slots or recesses formed in opposite sides of
the auger casing, and between the bevelled surfaces of the shanks of the bit a pin
is placed, which pin is held securely in the auger casing. When the bit rod is
forced outwards, the engagement of the bevelled surfaces of the bit shanks with the
pin causes the heads of the bit to be forced outwards through the slots. When
the hole is being drilled the heads of the bit overlap one another and extend beyond
the casing but a slight distance further than the external surface thereof. The bit
rod at its inner end is threaded and the threaded surface passes through a mut
which nut is adapted for frictional contact with the inner end of the casing. The
inner extremity of the bit rod is made polygonal in cross-section to enter the corre-
spondingly-shaped opening of the socket on the end of the drive shaft, and the
nut is provided with a series of peripheral apertures adapted to receive one end of
a crank pin.
In operation, the base is fixed in position opposite the surface to be drilled, and
the parts of the machine being in proper position, the crank handle is manipulated
to revolve the spur wheel to the right, whereupon the drive shaft is also revolved
and fed forward by passing through the fixed sleeve. As the drive shaft revolves,
it turns the bit rod and by reason of the frictional contact of the nut carried by
the rod with the inner end of the bit casing, the casing is also revolved and the
bit and casing are carried forward by reason of the clamp sliding upon the U-frame.
When the hole has been drilled the desired depth, the thumb screw of the clamp
is screwed firmly downwards so that the said clamp will tightly engage with the
frame and prevent the forward movement of the casing without preventing the
casing from turning. The nut is now turned to the left, about one-half a turn,
and the pin is inserted in one of the apertures upon the right-hand side of the nut.
When the pin has engaged with one of the members of the frame, the nut will be
prevented from revolving. A further manipulation of the drive shaft, the auger
casing being stationary, will force the bit rod outwards, thereby causing the bit
members to expand, the bit and the casing being meanwhile revolved also through
the revolution of the bit rod.
The chips produced by the cuttings of the bit, in the operations of boring and
reaming find their escape from the hole through the spiral groove of the auger
casing.
"When the pocket has been properly formed at the inner end of the hole, the
thumb screw of the clamp is loosened and the latch of the guide box is manipulated
to permit the lower section of the box to drop downwards, whereupon the lower
section of the sleeve is carried with the box section, and the drive shaft may be
readily disengaged from the bit rod.
The bit rod being drawn rearward causes the bit to assume its normal position,
and when in this position, the thumb screw being loosened, the casing and bit rod
may be carried rearward and removed entirely from the hole. The bit rod and

page_text: drive shaft are thereupon again connected, and the guide box restored to its normal
position, when the machine is in order for further work.
Dated thig 13th day of Nov 1891
J. K. WALID.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Expanding Drills for Boring Coal and other
Minerals.
1, JULIUS R. WATTS of 124, North 5th Street, Springfield, in the County of
Sangamon, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Coal Miner, 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 relates to improvements in drills specially adapted for boring into
coal banks, and has for its object to provide a machine of simple, durable, and
economic construction, and to provide said machine with an expansible bit. A.
further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the bit will remain
in its closed or normal position while the hole is being bored, but wherein, when a
predetermined depth is reached, the machine may be conveniently and expeditiously
manipulated to expand the bit and thereby create a pocket at the end of the bore
for the reception of a large amount of powder, by which means the liability of
blowing the tamp out is effectually overcome and the blast is made to produce a
maximum of desired results.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine:
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 3 is a vertical section, on line 3-3, Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the feeding sleeve;
Figure 5 is a vertical section, on line 5-5, Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section, through the casing, and a side elevation of a
portion of the drive shaft;
Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section through the outer end of the said casing.
Similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the
views.
In the
The base 10 of the machine consists preferably of a bar of any desired length
and width, the said bar being provided in its under face at or near its forward.
or inner end with a spur 11 adapted to be driven in the foundation upon which
the base rests and serving to retain the base in position. At or near the rear
or outer end of the base upon its upper face is preferably pivoted a yoke 12, the.
members whereof near their upper ends have sockets 13 produced therein.
yoke 12 is horizontally pivoted a guide box 14 which guide box is mainly located
between the members of the yoke and is provided at its sides with trunnions 15.
adapted to enter the yoke sockets 13. The guide box is made in two horizontal
plate sections a, a¹ (see Figure 3) having a hinged connection 16 at one side and
provided with a latch 16, at the opposite side, the. said latch usually consisting
of interlocking knuckles formed upon the sections and a detachable pin passed
through the knuckles. The upper section of the guide box is provided in its
lower face with semi-circular depressions at each side of the centre and the lower
:

page_text: plate has formed in its upper face corresponding and registering depressions
whereby, when the sections are locked, circular channels a are formed for the
reception of a threaded drive shaft 17 which shaft extends forward and rearward
of the machine. The central portion of the guide box usually has an opening 18
formed therein, extending through from top to bottom and over the opening, at
each side of its centre, semi-circular straps 19 are secured to the top and bottom of
the box adapted to constitute seats for a sectional interiorly threaded sleeve 20,
the threaded bore of the sleeve being of the necessary diameter to snugly fit the
circumference of the threaded shaft. The drive shaft is provided with a
longitudinal face groove 21 extending practically from end to end, and at its
forward or inner extremity a socket 22 is fastened to the shaft, the opening whereof
is polygonal. At the rear of the guide box a spur wheel 23 is connected with
the drive shaft, preferably by means of a feather passing through the hub and
entering the groove of the shaft. By this means when the wheel is revolved to
turn the shaft, the latter is free to move forward. The spur wheel 23 meshes with
a pinion 24 secured to a short shaft 25 journaled in an extension of the guide box.
the said short shaft having a crank handle 26, connected therewith, or other form
of driving mechanism. Upon the trunnions of the guide box are pivoted the
extremities of an essentially U-shaped frame 27 and upon said frame a clamp 28 is
capable of sliding. The clamp comprises two horizontal members b, (as shown in
Figure 5) hinged at one end and provided with a set screw 29 at the opposite end
to draw the members together when occasion may demand. Opposing channels 30
are produced in the members of the clamp, near the cuds, to receive the members
of the U-shaped frame 27 and a central and larger semi-circular channel 31 is also
formed in each member as shown.
The central channels of the clamp are adapted to receive the circumferential
recessed surface 32 of an externally threaded bit rod casing 33 (shown in Figure 6)
the said casing being provided also with a spiral external groove 34 extending
nearly from end to end. The bow section of the U-frame 27 rests upon the upper
surface of the auger casing 33. In the outer end of the auger casing is located a
bit A composed of two members having approximately circular heads 37 the outer
edges being the cutting edges and shanks 38 integral with the heads, the said
shanks being bevelled upon their inner edges at their junction with the heads, as
shown in Figure 7.
The members of the bit are pivoted by their shanks to the outer end of a bit
rod 39 which bit rod is capable of longitudinal movement in the casing, and the
members of the bit are so pivoted that one is capable of sliding over the other.
The cutting edges of the bit heads are located in slots or recesses 40 formed in
opposite sides of the auger casing, and between the bevelled surfaces of the shanks
of the bit a pin 41 is placed, which pin is held securely in the auger casing, so that
when (after the hole is bored) the bit rod 39 is forced outwards, the engagement
of the bevelled surfaces of the bit shanks with the pin 41 will cause the heads of
the bit to be forced outwards through the slots 40 (as shewn in dotted lines
Figure 7). Whilst the hole is being drilled the heads of the bit overlap one
another (as shown in full lines) and extend beyond the casing but a slight distance
further than the external surface thereof. The bit rod 39 at its inner end is
threaded and the threaded surface passes through a nut 42, which nut is adapted
for frictional contact with the inner end of the casing. The inner extremity of the
bit rod is made polygonal in cross-section to enter the correspondingly-shaped
opening of the socket 22 on the end of the drive shaft, and the nut 42 is provided
with a series of peripheral apertures 43 adapted to receive one end of a crank
pin 44, as shown in Figure 2.
In operation, the base 10 is fixed in position opposite the surface to be drilled,
and the parts of the machine being in proper position, the crank handle 26 is
manipulated to revolve the spur wheel 23 to the right, whereupon the drive shaft 17
is also revolved and fed forward by passing through the fixed sleeve 20. As the

page_text: drive shaft revolves, it turns the bit rod 39 and by reason of the frictional contact
of the nut 42, carried by the rod with the inner end of the bit casing, the casing
is also revolved and the bit and casing are carried forward, the clamp 28 sliding
upon the U-frame 27. When the hole has been drilled the desired depth, the
thumb screw 29 of the clamp is screwed firmly downwards so that the said clamp
will tightly engage with the frame and prevent the forward movement of the casing
without preventing the casing from turning. The nut 42 is now turned to the left,
about one-half a turn, and the pin 44 is inserted in one of the apertures 43 upon
the right-hand side of the nut; when the pin has engaged with one of the members
of the frame, the nut will be prevented from revolving. A further manipulation of
the drive shaft (the auger casing being stationary), will force the bit rod outwards,
thereby causing the bit members to expand, the bit and the casing being
meanwhile revolved also through the revolution of the bit rod.
The chips produced by the cuttings of the bit, in the operations of boring
and reaming find their escape from the hole through the spiral groove 34 of the
auger casing.
When the pocket has been properly formed at the inner end of the hole, the
thumb screw 29 of the clamp is loosened and the latch of the guide box is
manipulated to permit the lower section of the box to drop downwards (as shown
in dotted lines in Figure 3) whereupon the lower section of the sleeve is carried
with the box section, and the drive shaft may be readily disengaged from
the bit rod.
The bit rod being drawn rearward causes the bit to assume its normal position,
and when in this position, the thumb screw being loosened, the casing and bit
rod may be carried rearward and removed entirely from the hole. The bit rod
and drive shaft are thereupon again connected, and the guide box restored to
its normal position, when the machine is in order for further work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A drill for boring and reaming, comprising a tubular casing slotted at its
forward extremity and provided with a pin extending transversely through said
forward end, a rotary longitudinally movable bit rod extending into the casing
from its rear end, and a combined boring and reaming bit pivoted to the forward
end of the rod and normally projecting beyond the forward extremity of the said
casing and bearing at its inner edge on the said pin, whereby, when the casing and
bit rod are rotated and simultaneously moved forward, the bit will bore, and, when
the casing is held from longitudinal movement and the rod rotated and moved
longitudinally, the bit will be thrown out through said slot and will ream,
substantially as set forth.
2. A drill for boring and reaming, comprising a tubular externally-threaded
casing slotted at its forward extremity and provided with a pin extending
transversely through said forward end, a rotary and longitudinally-movable bit rod
extending into said casing from its rear end, and a combined boring and reaming
bit pivoted to the forward end of the rod and normally projecting beyond the
forward extremity of the casing when in its boring position, and projected laterally
into its reaming position by sliding the rod forward and pressing the bit against
said pin, substantially as set forth.
3. A boring drill and reamer comprising a tubular casing having a transverse
slot 40 across its front extremity and a pin 41 at right angles to said slot, a rotary
and sliding rod 39 extending into said casing from its rear end and a bit consisting
of two cutters pivoted side by side to the forward end of the rod having bevelled
inner edges at opposite sides of said pin and curved heads, the outer edges of which
are the cutting edges, substantially as set forth.
4. In a boring drill and reamer, a bit having a shank 38 provided with an

page_text: approximately circular head 37 the outer edge of which is the cutting edge, the
said shank being bevelled on its inner edge at the juncture with said head,
substantially as set forth.
5. A. boring drill and reamer consisting of a frame, a clamp sliding on said frame
and provided with a screw for clamping it against longitudinal movement of the
frame, a rotary tubular casing slotted at its front extremity extending through the
said clamp to slide therethrough and held from sliding therein when said screw is
tightened, a transverse pin in said slotted end, a rotary longitudinally sliding bit
rod extending into the said casing from its inner end, a boring and reaming bit
pivoted to the inner end of the rod normally projecting longitudinally through the
front end of the casing and bearing against said pin and projected laterally thereby
when the rod is slid forward in the casing, a nut on the rod bearing against the
inner end of the casing, and means for rotating the said bit rod, substantially as
sat forth.
6. A combined boring drill and reamer comprising a frame provided with an
internally threaded sleeve, a threaded drive shaft extending therethrough and
having a socket at its inner end, a bit rod having its inner end shaped to fit said
socket, whereby it will be rotated and projected forwardly, a nut 42 on the rod,
means for locking the nut when desired, a casing enclosing the rod in advance of
the nut and bearing at its inner end thereon, a clamp to prevent longitudinal
movement of the casing with the rod when the said nut is locked, and a longitudinally-
extending expansible boring bit in the front end of the casing and projected or
expanded laterally into reaming position when the rod is projected forward in the
said casing, substantially as set forth.
7. A combined boring drill and reamer consisting of the yoke or standard 12
having bearings at its upper end, a vertically-swinging frame having trunnions 15
mounted in said bearings, an internally-threaded sleeve mounted in said frame,
a screw-threaded drive shaft extending through said sleeve and the operating
gearing, a U-shaped frame the inner ends of the arms 27 of which are mounted on
said trunnions 15, a clamp 28 the members of which are free to slide ou the arins 27.
and to be clamped thereto, a bit rod connected at its rear end to the drive shaft to
be rotated and projected thereby, a nut on the bit rod, a locking bar 44 therefor,
an externally-threaded bit casing enclosing the bit in advance of the nut and bearing
thereagainst, the inner end of the casing having an annular groove 32 to engage the
clamp for the purpose set forth and having a transverse slot 40 across its forward
end, and an expansible boring bit in the said slotted end normally projecting
longitudinally therebeyond to bore and adapted to be expanded laterally into
reaming position when the rod is projected forward in the casing, substantially as
set forth.
8. In a drill and reamer, a bit rod having an enclosing casing provided with an
external spiral groove to remove the detritus and an expansible bit in the front end
of the casing and projected into reaming position by sliding the bit rod forward
in the casing, substantially as set forth.
9. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a threaded
drive shaft, mechanism for revolving the said shaft, a pivoted guide box constructed
of two hinged members, and a sectional interiorly-threaded sleeve located in the
guide box and engaging with the threaded surface of the shaft, of a frame, a casing,
a clamp held to travel upon the frame and loosely surrounding the casing and
provided with a binding screw, an expansible bit located at one end of the casing,
a rod held to turn and slide in the casing connected at one end with the bit and
threaded at its opposite end, a socket connection between the threaded end of the
rod and the drive shaft, and a lock nut located upon the threaded end of the shaft
and engaging with the casing, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a base provided
with a spur at one end, a yoke pivoted upon the opposite end of the base, a guide
box pivoted in the yoke and constructed in two hinged sections, a sectional interiorly

page_text: threaded sleeve located in the box and a threaded drive shaft passing through the
said sleeve, of a frame, a casing, a clamp held to travel upon the frame and loosely
surrounding the casing and provided with a binding screw, an expansible bit located
at one end of the casing, a rod held to turn and slide in the casing connected at one
end with the bit and threaded at its opposite end, a socket connection between
the threaded end of the rod and the drive shaft, and a lock nut located upon the
threaded end of the shaft and engaging with the casing, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 15th day of February 1892.
J. K. WATTS,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.