An Improved Machine for Boring Soil.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Boring Soil.
I HENRY BIRKBECK of 34 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane London
in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by Samuel John Moore of
28 Front Street West, Foronto, Ontario, Canada) and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is to design a simple machine which will rapidly
bore into soil and it consists essentially of a shaft to which a turbine is fixed and
contained in a casing supplied with water under pressure and having openings
arranged in such a manner that the water forced into the said casing will in
escaping act against the soil loosened by cutting blades fixed near the end of the
shaft substantially as hereinafter more particularly explained and then definitely
claimed.
Figure 1 is an outside view of this improved boring machine partially broken
away.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of same.
A represents a shaft to which a turbine B and preferably a propeller or
Archimedian screw C are fixed. A casing D is arranged as indicated to contain
the turbine B and the propeller C. A collar E, clamped on the shaft A, rests
upon the stop F, formed within the casing D, as indicated. Suitable bearings are
otherwise provided for the shaft A, so that it can be made to revolve freely. A
collar G, clamped to the shaft A, butts against the end of the casing D, so that
with the collar E, the shaft A, is securely held so that it cannot move vertically
within its casing D. H, represents a piece of gas pipe, by which the casing D, is
connected to a powerful pump. I cut or form a coarse screw a, on the end of the
shaft A, and a little above the said coarse screw I fix to the said shaft A, a two
blade cutter, I, the blades being set at such an angle that they will not only cut
into the soil against which they are pressed, but will elevate the loosened soil so
cut. I provide steel plates J, which are detachably connected to the blades of the
cutter. These plates are sharpened, and in fact form the cutting edges of the
cutter I. They are made detachable, so that they can readily be removed to be
replaced by new ones when they are worn out, or when they require sharpening.
The water which is forced into the casing D, under a high pressure passes into the
shaft A, through its open end, b, and thence through the hole at its bottom end,
and as the water is thus forced through at a very high pressure, the water
escaping through the bottom end of the shaft A, acts upon and excavates the soil
into which the said shaft. penetrates. The water which does not pass through the
shaft A, is forced through the turbine B, thus causing the said turbine to revolve,
and the turbine is fixed to the shaft A, the said shaft also revolves and carries with
it the cutters I, which quickly cut and excavate the soil into which the machine
penetrates. After the water has passed through the turbine B, it immediately
comes in contact with and is acted upon by the propeller or Archimedian screw C,
the press forcing the water through the opening, d, formed around the casing, D,
as shown. The water thus forced through the openings, d, acts against and forces
upwardly the soil loosened by the cutters I, and by the water forced through the
end of the revolving shaft A. In this way my boring machine quickly penetrates
the soil under water and makes a perfect hole to receive the pile it is intended for.
I may mention here that I prefer to make the hole slightly smaller than the pile
it is made for, so that the said pile may be gently tapped into position, and be a
good solid fit for the hole,

page_text: Should the machine encounter rock, I provide a diamond drill which may be
readily attached to the end of the shaft A.
As I do not claim anything in the mechanism for raising and lowering my
boring machine, it is not necessary to describe or show any such mechanism in this
Specification. It will be sufficient to say that suitable mechanism must be provided
by which my boring machine may be readily lowered to the bottom of the water
and as easily withdrawn after it has performed its work. It is also necessary to
provide simple mechanism by which the pile may be easily lowered and guided into
the hole prepared by the said boring machine.
Although I consider that a turbine wheel connected to the shaft A, and operated
by the water will be the best means for revolving the said shaft, it would of course
be possible to drive it by means of steam or gearing, in which case the turbine
would be dispensed with and the other power substituted. And although I
consider the turbine the best form of wheel to use, any suitable water wheel might
be used.
I am aware that it has been proposed to drive a turbine arranged in a casing
forming part of an excavating apparatus, and I am also aware that it has been
proposed to drive cutters in excavating apparatus and I am also aware that it has
been proposed to drive cutters in excavating apparatus by screws or propellers set
in a casing through which water is drawn, but all are essentially different from my
invention. They are designed to stir up the soil or sand at the bottom of bodies of
water and draw or suck up the matter so stirred. Mine on the contrary, acts in
the reverse manner by forcing the water against the soil, whereby I get the effect
of the force of the water under great pressure, as in the well known system of
hydraulic mining. Moreover my apparatus will act on dry soil and is not depen-
dent on drawing up water to carry the excavated soil away, as is the case in the
Patents referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I
claim is:
1. A casing arranged to contain a turbine fixed to a vertical shaft suitably
supported and extending through the bottom of the said casing and a pipe
constructed and arranged to supply water under pressure to and downward through
said casing, substantially as described.
2. A casing arranged to contain a turbine fixed to a vertical shaft suitably
supported and extending through the bottom of the said casing, which casing is
provided with upwardly-directed openings for the escape of the water forced into
it, and a pipe constructed and arranged to supply water under pressure to said
casing whereby it is driven through said openings, substantially as described.
3. A casing arranged to contain a turbine fixed to a vertical shaft suitably
supported and extending through the bottom of the said casing in combination
with cutting blades fixed to the said shaft outside of the said casing and a pipe
constructed and arranged to supply water under pressure to said casing, sub-
stantially as described.
4. A casing connected to a pump and arranged to contain a turbine fixed to a
hollow shaft suitably supported and extending through the bottom of the said
casing, which casing is provided with upwardly-directed openings for the escape of
the water forced into it, in combination with a propeller or Archimedian screw fixed
to the hollow shaft within its casing, substantially as described.
5. A casing connected to a pump and arranged to contain a turbine fixed to a
hollow shaft suitably supported and extending through the bottom of the said
casing, which casing is provided with upwardly-directed openings for the escape of
the water forced into it, in combination with a propeller or Archimedian screw fixed
to the hollow shaft within its casing, and with cutting blades fixed to the said shaft
outside of the said casing, substantially as described.
6. A casing, a rotating vertical shaft therein projecting through the bottom, and

page_text: a pipe constructed and arranged to supply water under pressure to and downward
through said casing; substantially as described.
7. A casing, a rotating hollow shaft therein projecting through the lower end of
the casing, and a pipe supplying water under pressure to said hollow shaft,
substantially as described.
8. A casing, a rotating hollow shaft therein projecting through the lower end of
the casing, cutters on said projecting end, and a pipe for supplying water under
pressure to said hollow shaft; substantially as described.
9. A casing, a pipe supplying water to said casing, and a rotating shaft carrying
a propelling wheel thereon constructed and arranged to act on the water and
increase its pressure; substantially as described.
10. A casing, a rotating hollow shaft therein, having a projecting end adapted
to loosen the soil, and a pipe arranged to convey water to said hollow shaft, sub-
stantially as described.
11. A casing, a hollow rotating shaft therein, having its lower end projecting
through the casing and provided with cutters, and a pipe adapted to convey water
to said hollow shaft; substantially as described.
Dated this 20th
1001
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.