IMPROVEMENTS IN BORING AND DRILLING MACHINEs
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 58, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN BORING AND DRILLING MACHINEs.”—A communication
from abroad by Charles Francis Ritchel and Frank Samuel Allen,
both of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 1st April. 1878, and dated the 14th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th November 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BORING AND DRILLING MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of machines for
boring and drilling in which a series of boring or drilling tools are
actuated by a series of oblique cranks so contrived that any required
number can be worked as close together as may be desired, without
interference in consequence of the obliquity of the cranks, which thereby

page_text: work on separate paths, and do not clash as a gang of ordinary cranks
would, and the wrist or crank pins are connected to a crank plate
which is mounted on a carrier plate worked in an orbit by two or more
driving cranks having exactly the same throw as the series of oblique
cranks.
The first part of the Invention consists of the arrangement of two
parallel crank shafts for driving the said carrier plate and their driving
pulleys or wheels whereby larger pulleys or wheels are used in machines
of this character than were admissable in the arrangements heretofore
employed, and the power is applied to the carrier plate directly and in
like measure through each crank, instead of all being applied through
one crank, the other (one or more) being merely a carrying crank or
cranks as heretofore, which equalizes the wear, lessens the friction,
allows of applying more power, and makes the machine run lighter,
sinoother, and easier. The said arrangement consists in gearing both
crank shafts with the countershaft from which the power is derived by
special pulleys and belts (or wheels, and placing the pulleys or wheels
in different planes, so that they overlap each other and extend from one
shaft to another, or as nearly so as needed to obtain the size required;
whereas heretofore only one crank shaft was geared with the counter-
shaft, and the others (one or more) were merely carriers, so that only
one driving belt could be used, which often failed to adhere to the pulley,
particularly when the machine was geared slow, as those machines
necessarily are.
The second part of the Invention consists of an oil chamber between
the crank plate, to which the wrist pins of the serial cranks are
connected, and the carrier plate proper at the upper part, with oil
passages extending to each of the wrist pin holes or bearings, and an
oil-tight gasket between the plates surrounding all the holes, so that
the oil flowing from the chamber to the bearings cannot escape except
through the holes or bearings for the wrists; the gaskets may however
be dispensed with.
The third part of the Invention consists of an arrangement of oil
chamber in connection with the bearings for the driving crank wrists
in the carrier plates with air-tight caps or plugs, calculated to ensure
economical and reliable lubrication by the retention of the oil against
flowing out rapidly by atmospheric pressure, so that the flow is limited
to the small quantity that the journal will take by attraction from a

page_text: small orifice in the bottom of the oil chamber communicating with the
journal box.
The fourth part of the Invention consists of a socket in the side of
the carrier proper and relative arrangement of the crank plates for the
several gangs or series of boring tools, of which there are as many
different ones with each machine as there are to be different gauges
of work, whereby the said crank plates will always centre the cranks
right with the driving cranks when put in the socket, without any
adjustment after being put in.
The fifth part of the Invention consists of an arrangement of these
serial boring or drilling machines, wherby flared holes in opposite and
different inclinations, or some flaring and some not may be bored
simultaneously and at one operation, which said arrangement consists
of long spring shanks for the tools with one or more guide plates with
holes flared to correspond with those it is required to bore, through
which guide holes the tool shanks pass near the boring ends or bits, and
close to the block or plate to be bored, and slide as they work into the
plate being bored, the serial crank support and the boring gear being
caused to slide toward and from the work, which is held in a stationary
stand. The cranked shafts which carry the boring tools are in two
series, and mounted in a supporting stand or frame on a frame somewhat
similar to that of a lathe. The wrists of the cranks are fitted in a crank
plate which has a series of holes for said wrists, bored together with the
holes of the supporting frames, or else guaged by them, so that the whole
series of one will coincide exactly with the series of the other to work,
without binding or cramping any of the cranks. The crank plate is
fitted in a kind of socket in the carrier plate between flanges which are
so gauged relatively to the driving crank wrists, and the stands in which
the serial cranks turn that the crank plate is centered exactly with both,
so that no time is lost in adjusting it when put in, so that being fastened
in place by the temper, screws it is right at once.
It will be perceived that this is a matter of considerable importance
when it is considered that a special set of serial cranks, a crank plate,
and a supporting stand or frame for the boring tool shafts must be
provided for every different guage or distance apart the holes bored are
required to be.. Two driving crank shafts are used in this improved
arrangement for actuating the carrier plates, and at the same time
maintaining them in the horizontal line required for working the serial

page_text: cranks, and each shaft is provided with a driving pulley on a counter-
shaft by bolts, so that the power will be applied equally through both
crank pins, by which the wear will be distributed and lessened, and the
machine will run smoother.
The machine is made double by providing cranks on both ends of the
crank shafts, and duplicating the serial cranks and their adjuncts as
well as the work rests or supports, which are arranged to slide forward
and back on the frame, and provided with a feed screw which is common
to both, and moves one to the tools at one end, while it moves the one
at the other end away from them, and vice versa, the driving gear for it :
being arranged for reversing the motion, and it will in practice have
automatic shifting apparatus.
The drilling and boring tools will be kept in continuous rotation, and
in order to balance or neutralize the effects of the swinging carrier and
crank plates, the driving cranks of each end will be set on opposite sides
of the axes.
Grooves in the side of the crank plate conduct oil from an oil chamber
in the crank plate to the crank holes, the gasket of packing material
being clamped between the crank plate and the carrier plate to prevent
the escape of the oil.
The oil chamber and the grooves may be formed in the carrier plate,
if preferred, but I prefer to have them in thè crank plate.
For lubricating the driving crank wrists I form bosses on the wrist
boxes of the carrier plate, both above and below, which I hollow out to
make room for the oil, and I make a very small opening from the
bottom of the oil space to the box to admit the oil thereto, and have
caps for closing the chambers, which fit air-tight, so that the oil will
only escape to the wrist as it adheres to them, and is drawn out while
the air finds its way in through the boxes along the wrists to the holes,
and works through the oil into the oil chamber. In machines of this
character, the lubrication of the journals becomes a matter of great
importance on account of the great number of them, which greatly
increase the friction if they happen to run dry.
In the machine for flare boring the driving shaft to which the power
is applied revolves in brackets attached to the lower part of the frame,
and to this shaft is attached a long pulley or drum, around which passes
a belt which also passes around another pulley, the journals of which

page_text: revolve in brackets of a frame which fits and slides upon ways in the
frame of the machine. To the forward journal of this pulley is attached
a crank wheel, to the crank pin of which the carrier plate is pivoted.
This plate is also pivoted near its ends to the crank pins of two crank
wheels attached to the ends of two short shafts which revolve in bearings
in the end of parts of the frames carrying the driving gear, and these shafts
are connected to the driving crank wheel by belts and pulleys to turn
them directly and prevent the cramping they would be subject to if
turned by the cranks. By this construction the carrier plate is kept
horizontal and in the same vertical plane during its movement. To this
plate are pivoted a series of oblique cranks, the forward parts of which
work in holes in a supporting plate or frame, which fits and slides upon
the ways formed upon the frame of the machine. The cranks are equal
in number to and are arranged in the same relative position as the holes
to be bored.
To the forward ends of the cranks are attached, or upon them are
formed the shanks of the bits of the boring tools, which are made elastic,
to adapt them for boring holes at different inclinations, and the forward
parts of which pass through guide holes in plates, the base frame of
which is securely attached to the frame of the machine, so as to be
stationary. The guide holes in this plate or plates are so arranged as
to give the bits the proper position to bore the inclined holes in the
work, each at its proper inclination. The rest to receive-and support
the work while being bored is also stationary, its base frame being
rigidly attached to the frame of the machine. To the base of the guide
plate or frame in which work the cranks, and of the frame carrying the
driving gear, are securely attached nuts through which passes a sorow
which is swivelled to the frame of the machine, and to which power may
be applied by a pulley and belt, or by other well-known means. By
this construction by turning the swivelled screw in one direction the
frame carrying the driving gear and the plate or frame carrying the
crank will be moved forward to feed the boring tools to their work, and
by turning the said screw in the other direction these frames will be
moved back to withdraw the boring tools from the material bored.
These frames being both moved by the revolution of the same screw
are always held in the same relative position while being moved forward
and backward.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th May 1878.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my 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 "Iμ-
PROVEMENTS IN BORING AND DRILLING MACHINES," a communication to me
from abroad by Charles Francis Ritchel and Frank Samuel Allen, both
of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, 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 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 I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :—
This Invention relates to improvements in the machines for boring
and drilling, in which a series of boring or drilling tools are actuated
by a series of oblique cranks so contrived that any required number can

page_text: be worked as close together as may be desired without interference,
which is avoided in consequence of the obliquity of the cranks, which
thereby work in separate paths, and do not clash as a gang of ordinary
cranks would, and the wrist or crank pins are connected to a crank platė
which is mounted on a carrier plate worked in an orbit by two or more
driving cranks having exactly the same throw that the series of oblique
cranks have.
The first part of the Invention consists of the arrangement of two
parallel crank shafts for driving the said carrier plate, and their driving
pulleys or wheels, whereby larger pulleys or wheels are used in machines
of this character than were admissable in the arrangement heretofore
employed, and the power is applied to the carrier plate directly and in
like measure through each crank, instead of all being applied through
one crank, the other (one or more) being merely a carrying crank or
cranks as heretofore, which equalizes the wear, lessens the friction,
allows of applying more power, and makes the machine run lighter,
smoother, and easier. The said arrangement consists in gearing both
crank shafts with the countershaft from which the power is derived by
special pulleys and belts (or wheels), and placing the pulleys or wheels
in different planes so that they overcap each other and extend from one
shaft to another, or as nearly so as needed to obtain the size required,
whereas heretofore only one crank shaft was geared with the counter-
shaft, and the others (one or more) were merely carriers, so that only
one driving belt could be used, which often failed to adhere to the
pulley, particularly when the machine was geared slow, as those machines
necessarily are.
The second part of the Invention consists of an oil chamber between
the crank plate, to which the wrist pins of the serial cranks are
connected, and the carrier plate proper at the upper part with oil
passages extending to each of the wrist pin holes or bearings, and an
oil-tight gasket between the plates surrounding all the holes, so that
the oil flowing from the chamber to the bearings cannot escape except
through the holes or bearings for the wrists; the gasket may however
be dispensed with.
The third part of the Invention consists of an arrangement of oil
chambers in connection with the bearings for the driving crank wrists
in the carrier plates with air-tight caps or plugs, calculated to ensure
economical and reliable lubrication by the retention of the oil against
"

page_text: flowing out rapidly by atmospheric pressure, so that the flow is limited
to the small quantity that journal will take by attraction from a small
orifice in the bottom of the oil chamber communicating with the journal
box.
The fourth part of the Invention consists of a socket in the side of the
carrier plate proper, and relative arrangement of the crank plates for the
several gangs or series of boring tools, of which there are as many
different ones with each machine as there are to be different gauges of
work, whereby the said crank plates will always centre the cranks right
with the driving cranks when put in the socket, without any adjustment
after being put in.
The fifth part of the Invention consists of an arrangement of these
serial drilling or boring machines, whereby flared holes in opposite and
different inclinations, or some flaring and some not may be bored
simultaneously and at one operation, which said arrangement consists
of long spring shanks for the tools with one or more guide plates with
holes flared to correspond with those it is required to bore, through
which guide holes the tool shanks pass near the boring ends or bits, and
close to the block or plate to be bored, and slide as they work into the
plate being bored; the serial crank support and the boring gear being
caused to slide towards and from the work which is held in a stationary
stand.

page_text: Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
0
a represents two series of the serial cranks with the shafts 6 and the
tools o which they carry. The shafts are mounted in a stand or frame L
mounted on a frame A, somewhat similar to the frame of a lathe. The
wrists of these cranks are fitted in a crank plate e, which has a series of
holes for said wrists which are bored together with the holes of the
frames L, or else gauged by them, so that the whole series of one will
coincide exactly with the series of the other, to work without binding
or cramping any of the cranks. The crank plate e is fitted in a kind
of socket in the carrier plate H between the flanges ƒ and g, which are
so gauged relatively to the driving crank wrists h, and the frames L
in which the serial cranks turn that the crank plate is centred exactly
with both, and no time is lost in adjusting it when put in, so that being
fastened in place by the temper screws ; it is right at once.
It will be perceived that this is a matter of considerable importance,
when it is considered that a special set of serial cranks, a crank plate,
and a supporting frame L must be provided for every different gauge or
distance apart the holes bored are required to be. Two driving crank
shafts J are used in this improved arrangement for actuating the carrier
plates H, and at the same time maintaining them in the horizontal line
required for working the serial cranks, and each shaft is provided with
a driving pulley E to be connected directly with the pulley. E' on the
countershaft by belts, so that the power will be applied equally through
both crank pins, by which the wear will be distributed and lessened, and
the machine will run smoother.
The machine is made double by providing cranks on both ends of the
crank shafts J, and duplicating the serial cranks and their adjuncts, also
the work rests or supports O which are arranged to slide forward and
back on the frame and provided with a feed screw Q which is common
to both, and moves one to the tools at one end, while it moves the one
at the other end away from them, and vice versa, the driving gear for it
being arranged for reversing the motion, and it will in practice have
automatic shifting apparatus.
The drilling and boring tools will be kept in continuous rotation, and
in order to balance or neutralize the effects of the swinging carrier and
orank plates, the driving cranks of each end will be set on opposite
sides of the axes.

page_text: In Figure 6 is represented several modifications in the form of the
serial cranks, their bearings and the manner of connecting the boring
tools, any one or all of which may be employed at will. ; represents
the oil chamber in the crank plate; k the grooves in the side of the
crank plate for conducting the oil from the chamber to the crank holes;
and the gasket of packing material which is clamped between the crank
plate and the carrier plate to prevent the escape of the oil.
The oil chamber and the grooves may be formed in the carrier plate
if desired, but it is preferred to have them in the crank plate.
For lubricating the driving crank wrists, bosses m are formed on the
boxes n, both above and below, which are hollowed out to make room
for the oil, and a very small opening p is made from the bottom of the
oil space to the box to admit the oil thereto, and caps q are provided for
closing the chambers, which fit air-tight, so that the oil will only escape
to the wrist as it adheres to them, and is drawn out while the air finds
its way in through the boxes along the wrists to the holes, and works
through the oil into the oil chamber. In machines of this character the
lubrication of the journals becomes a matter of great importance, on
account of the great number of them, which greatly increase the friction
if they happen to run dry.
A (Figures 8 and 9) represent the frame of the machine for flare
boring; B is the driving shaft to which the power is applied, and which
revolves in brackets attached to the lower part of the frame A. To the
shaft B is attached a long pulley or drum C, around which passes the
belt D, which also passes around the pulley E, the journals of which
revolve in the brackets of frame F, which fits and slides upon ways in
the frame A. To the forward journal of the pulley E is attached a crank
wheel G, to the crank pin of which is pivoted the carrier plate H. The
plate H is also pivoted near its ends to the crank pins of two crank
wheels I, attached to the ends of two short shafts J which revolve in
bearings in the end parts of the frame F, and these shafts are connected
to the driving crank wheel G by belts and pulleys G, I, to turn them
directly and prevent the cramping they would be subject to if turned by
the cranks. By this construction the plate H is kept horizontal and in
the same vertical plane during its movement. To this plate H are
pivoted a-series of oblique cranks K, the forward parts of which work in
holes in the supporting plate or frame L, which fits and slides upon the
-

page_text: ways formed upon the frame A. The cranks K are equal in number
to and are arranged in the same relative position as the holes to be
bored.
The forward ends of the cranks K are attached, or upon them are
formed the shanks of the bits of the boring tools M, which are made
elastic to adapt them for boring holes at different inclinations, and the
forward parts of which pass through guide holes in the plates N, the
base frame of which is securely attached to the frame A, so as to be
stationary. The guide holes in the plate or plates N are so arranged as
to give the bits the proper position to bore the inclined holes in the
work, each at its proper inclination. O is the rest to receive and
support the work while being bored, and which is also stationary, its
base frame being rigidly attached to the frame A. To the base of the
guide plate or frame L and of the pulley frame F are securely attached.
nuts P, through which passes the screw Q, which is swivelled to the
frame A, and to which power may be applied by a pulley and belt, or
by other well-known means. By this construction, by turning the
swivelled screw Q in one direction, the frame F and frame or plate L
will be moved forward to feed the boring tools M to their work; and
by turning the said screw Q in the other direction, the frame F and
frame or plate L will be moved back to withdraw the boring tools M
from the material bored. The plate or frame L and the frame F being
both moved by the revolution of the same screw, are always held in the
same relative position while being moved forward and backward.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the
Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The arrangement of the carrier plates on two crank shafts, having
independent driving pulleys or wheels geared directly with the counter-
shaft, substantially as specified.
2ndly. Duplicate sets of serial cranks, carrier plates, crank plates,
crank supports, and work supports, combined with one set of driving
ka hotantially as herein shown and described.

page_text: 4th. The oil chambers in the bosses m on the wrist boxes n of the
carrier plates, with small openings p communicating with the wrist
holes and the air-tight fitting caps q, all arranged substantially as
specified.
5th. The combination of the carrier plates and crank plates, substan-5
tially as specified.
6th. The combination of a guide plate or frame N having inclined-
guide holes with a series of spring drilling or boring tools, substantially
ás specified.
:
7th, The frame F.carrying the driving gear, and the one. I supporting. 1
the series of cranks, arranged to-slide toward and from the stationary.
work holding stand O, and provided with a feed screw, substantially as
specified.
=
8th. The arrangement of the driving crank wheel G, crank shafts J;:
belts x, and the carrier plate H, substantially as represented in Figures 81
and 9.
In witness. whereof, I, the said Alexander. Melville, Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
"
2
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)