IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE DRILLS, PART OF BUCH INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER DRILLING OR BORING MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Buckton and Joseph Hartley Wicksteed,
Mechanical Engineers, both of Leeds, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE DRILLS, PART OF
BUCH INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER DRILLING OR BORING
MACHINES
"
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Buckton and
Joseph Hartley Wicksteed at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 3rd June 1875.
We, JOSHUA BUCKTON and JOSEPH HARTLEY WICKSTEED, Mechanical
Engineers, both of Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE DRILLS,
PART OF SUCH INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER DRILLING OR BORING
MACHINES," to be as follows :-

page_text: upon the spindles, as in former machines; but in our improved machine
the wheels on every alternate spindle engage in the sorew above its
central line, and on every other spindle below its central line; thus the
driving wheels pass each other at two different levels, though they are
all driven by the same screw, and this arrangement enables a larger
diameter of driving wheel to be employed than the distance from centre
to centre of the spindles.
In machines where the number of spindles is so great as to give use
to an objectionable amount of endways pressure on the driving screw
the screw is cut from its centre on half right hand, and the other half
left hand; thus the resistance of half the spindles tends to draw it
in one direction, and the resistance of the other half of the spindles
tends to draw it in the opposite direction, so that the endways pressure
is balanced, and the collars of the screw relieved from pressure. The
feed to the drills is given through the spindles, the work being stationary
upon a fixed table, and it is arranged so that all the spindles may be
fed down simultaneously, and all quickly run up again, motion being
given thereto from some suitable motive power, but at the same time
any spindle may be stopped from feeding, and worked up by hand, and
readjusted without interfering with the action of the other spindles.
To accomplish this we provide a screw of a slower thread passing along
the machine behind the spindles, and gearing into worm wheels on each
spindle feed screw; these worm wheels form the nuts for actuating the
feed screws. Each feed screw passes through a bush which is provided
with a key, and may be prevented from revolving by means of a friction
clutch, in which case the self-acting feed becomes effective; but when
the key bush is relieved by the friction clutch the self-acting feed ceases
to take effect, the feed screw being free to revolve in the nut, and is
free to be turned round by hand for adjusting purposes, or for with-
drawing the drill.
The arrangement for fixing the drills into the spindle ends is of such
a nature that any drill may be secured in its position in a spindle
during the rotary motion of the spindle. For this purpose the shanks
are cylindrical, except that they have a flat formed on one side for a
portion of their length. A parallel round pin is passed transversely
through the spindle end at one side of the centre line, and has upon it
an inclined flat formed so that it acts upon the side of the drill shank
and secures it. On being struck at one end after the drill has been

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joshua Buckton and Joseph Hartley Wicksteed
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wė, JOSHUA
BUCKTON and JOSEPH HARTLEY WICKSTEED, Mechanical Engineers,
both of Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of Junc, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
cighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Joshua Buckton and Joseph Hartley
Wicksteed, Her special licence that we, the said Joshua Buckton and
Joseph Hartley Wicksteed, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Joshua Buckton and Joseph Hartley Wick-
steed, our 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 Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MULTIPLE DRILLS, PART OF SUCH INVENTION BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER DRILLING OR BORING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Joshua Buckton and Joseph Hartley
Wicksteed, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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

page_text: in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joshua Buckton and Joseph
Hartley Wicksteed, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 accompanying Drawing, and to the letters of reference
marked thereon, that is to say :-
In our improved multiple drilling machine the drill spindles are
driven by means of a quick threaded screw engaging in worm wheels
upon the spindles, as in former machines; but in our improved machine
the wheels on every alternate spindle engage in the screw above its
central line, and on every other spindle below its central line; thus the
driving wheels pass each other at two different levels, though they are
all driven by the same screw, and this arrangement enables a larger
diameter of driving wheel to be employed than the distance from centre
to centre of the spindles.
In machines where the number of spindles is so great as to give rise
to an objectionable amount of endways pressure on the driving screw,
the screw is cut from its centre, one half right hand and the other half
left hand; thus the resistance of half the spindles tends to draw it
in one direction, and the resistance of the other half of the spindles
tends to draw it in the opposite direction, so that the endways pressure
is balanced, and the collars of the screws relieved from pressure. The
feed to the drills is given through the spindles, the work being stationary
upon a fixed table or otherwise, this Invention being applicable to
travelling machines for drilling the holes in situ upon girders, and it is
arranged so that all the spindles may be fed down simultaneously, and
all quickly run up, motion being given thereto from suitable motive
power, but at the same time any spindle may be stopped from feeding,
and worked up by hand, and readjusted without interfering with the
action of the other spindles. To accomplish this we provide a screw
of a slow thread passing along the machine behind the spindles, and
gearing into worm wheels on each spindle feed screw; these worm
wheels form the nuts for actuating the feed screws. Each feed screw
passes through a bush provided with a key, and may be prevented from
revolving by means of a friction clutch, in which case the self-acting

page_text: an cogin or
Suitable VE
power.
We will now proceed to describe the Drawings, making reference to
the letters and marks thereon.
a is the girder upon which the machine is to operate; b are the
drilling tools; these tools are secured in the sockets of the drill spindles c
by a round parallel pin d shewn on Sheet 2, having an inclined flat
formed upon it at e, which, when the pin is struck at the end f, tightens
against a flat formed on the round parallel shank of the drill, as shewn.
When the pin is struck at the end it loosens its hold upon the drill
shank.
It will be readily understood by this arrangement the releasing and
securing of the drills may be effected without stopping the machine by
striking the alternate ends of the pin during the time the spindle c is
revolving. The spindles c revolve in headstocks / which are capable
of adjustment to various pitches apart upon the framework i, and may
be also readily removed from the framework. Motion is transmitted
to the spindles by worm wheels J having "feather keys" which permit
the spindles c to slide through them for the feed. The worm wheels J
are alternately above and below the centre of the driving screw K, so
that they pass each other at different levels, and permit the heads h
to be fixed close together, although the heads h are narrower than the
diameter of the worm wheels J. The screw K is shewn with five threads
and cut right hand in Figure 1, Sheet 1, but may be made of any pitch
or number of threads or hand.
In Figure 2, Sheet 1, the screw is cut one half right hand thread, and
the other half left hand, as shewn respectively at 1 and 12, in order
that the endways pressure on the screw may be balanced, thus pre-
venting the friction which would take place on the end collars if all
the spindles c were driven in the same direction. This construction of
screw is shewn upon the Drawing to illustrate the Invention, but it is
not necessary to employ it on a machine with few spindles. On the
end of the driving screw K the belt drum M is fixed which drives the
feed pullics n, the middle one of which is a loose pulley, the inner one
the feeding pulley, and the outer one for running up the drills quickly a
out of their work.

page_text: The feed and return motion are communicated to the spindles c by
the screw o working into the worm wheels p; this screw when preferred
may be made right or left hand for the same purpose as described for
the driving screw K. The worm wheels p have an internal thread like
a nut, which works upon the feed screw q, whereby when the screw is
prevented from revolving, the spindles feed down; but if the screws
are left free to revolve they will either revolve with the nut, or may be
turned round by a handle, as shewn at r, by which means the spindles c
are raised or lowered at pleasure by the attendant, for although the
nut may be turning slowly round it acts for all practical purposes liko a
fixed nut, because the movement of the screw by hand may be so much
faster in either direction than that of the nut.
"
The means whereby the screws are set free or prevented from
revolving as shewn at 8, where there is a small bush 8¹ embraced
by a friction brake which is gripped or slackened by means of the
small handle, u. By this arrangement the bush &¹ may be allowed to
revolve or stopped at pleasure. The bush 8¹ is fitted with a "feather
key taking into the feed screw; thus when the brake t is on the
bush & the feed screw cannot revolve, and the motion of the worm
wheel operates upon it to wind it up or down. On the brake t being
released from the bush 8¹ the screw becomes free to turn round by hand,
carrying round with it the bush s¹, and it may then be made to wind
the spindles c up or down independent of the movement of the worm
wheel.
It will be readily understood that the apparatus for securing the
drilling or boring tool shewn at Figure 4. Sheet 2, also the brake
and feed gear appliance may be applied to other drilling or boring
machines.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention for im-
provements in multiple drills, part of such invention being also
applicable to other drill and boring machines, and shewn by Drawings
how the same may be carried into practice, we would have it understood
that we do not limit ourselves to the exact limits, details, and con-
figuration of the various parts we have explained and shewn, as the
same may of course be varied or modified without in any way departing
from our Invention; but what we do claim and desire to be secured to
us by Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement. construction, and application of driving

page_text: screw K, shewn at Figure 2, having half its screw right hand, and
the other half left hand, substantially as and for purposes herein
set forth.
Second. The arrangement and application of worm wheels J, sub-
stantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
:
Third. The means or apparatus employed for fixing the drilling tool,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Fourth. The arrangement, construction, and combination of the
various parts forming the feed gear appliances, and apparatus con-
nected therewith for throwing the same in and out of gear, substantially
as herein set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the various parts forming the machine,
substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joshua Buckton and Joseph
Hartley Wicksteed, have hereunto set our hands and seals,
this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.