Iм- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR WORKING ROCKS, AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR MINING, TUNNELLING, AND OTHER LIKE OPERATIONS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Asbury McKean, of No. 3, Rue Scribe, Paris,
in the Empire of France, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR WORKING ROCKS,
AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR MINING, TUNNELLING,
AND OTHER LIKE OPERATIONS."-A communication from abroad by Herman
Haupt, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America..
Sealed the 6th March 1868, and dated the 16th September 1867.
"PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Asbury McKean
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th September 1867.
I, JAMES ASBURY MCKEAN, of No. 8, Rue Scribe, Paris, in the Empire
of France, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR WORKING
ROCKS AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR MINING, TUNNELLING,
AND OTHER LIKE OPERATIONS," a communication, to be as follows:-
These improvements relate, first, to certain peculiar combinations and
arrangements of machinery and apparatus to be worked by steam, air, water,
or other elastic or unelastic fluid for boring, channelling, and surfacing
rocks, stones, metals, and other hard substances, in quarrying, mining,
well boring, shafting, stone dressing, and other' like operations; parts of

page_text: which improvements are applicable to the machinery described in the Speci-
fication of an Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to John Henry
Johnson, bearing date the sixth day of April, A.D. 1865, No. 981.
In the Specification referred to a cylinder of cast iron or other material
is described in which a piston is moved by any elastic or inelastic fluid the
drill or other cutting tool being attached to the piston rod. Instead of the
trunnions, which were arranged upon the sides of the said cylinder, a pivot
at the top or bottom of the same is substituted, by means of which and by
certain clamps and rods the drilling apparatus is rapidly fixed and clamped
in any desired position. The cylinder is provided with the usual valve
chamber, valve, and orifices for the admission and emission of the actuating
fluid, air or steam being preferred. The said valve may be operated in
or's
various ways, but for this purpose preference is given to an arm projecting
from the piston rod,. which arm in moving comes in contact with adjustable
stops placed in the proper positions upon the valve rod. The valve by
preference employed is made tubular and is formed with flanges or rings
which fit the interior of the valve chamber and control the admission and
exhaustion of the steam or air. The end of the rod extends into the interior
of the tubular valve, and is furnished with a collar or piston which fits the
same. Springs are placed on each side of this collar and form the only
connection between the rod and valve; other devices may be employed for
connecting the said rod and valve, but any device used must be such that
the stroke of the piston is completed and the required blow upon the rock
or other substance by the drill or tool given before the motion of the valve
is reversed. The piston rod may be made hollow to allow the tool bar and
its holder to pass through the centre of the cylinder, but in some cases as in
drilling closely into corners or angles it may be preferable to arrange the
tool bar outside the cylinder, in which case the piston rod may be solid, and
a tube which forms an equivalent to the hollow piston rod is supported by
arms projecting from the said rod. When the apparatus is constructed
according to this method, it is preferred to make the cutting tool separate
from its holder, the latter having an external spiral thread whereon a feed
nut is fitted which may be about four inches in length. By the rotation of
this nut the proper feed movement is communicated to the drilling tool, the
said feed nut is enclosed within a strong metallic box and is rotated by
suitable mechanism which is preferably so arranged that the rotation of the
drilling tool takes place at the back stroke, at which time the said tool is not
in contact with the rock or other substance being cut and the resistance to
rotation is at a minimum. The following devices are preferably
the

page_text: employed to produce the required rotation of the feed nut. A rod is provided
which at each stroke of the piston is forced backward and communicates
motion to a toothed sector. The latter operates a sliding rack furnished with
a pawl which takes into the teeth of the feed nut; the backward rotation of
this nut being prevented by a spring catch. The rotation of the drilling tool'
may be effected in several ways, but I prefer to employ a ratchet furnished
with two pawls, one of which by means of a stud moving in an inclined or
helical slot gives a certain degree of rotation during the backward stroke of
the piston, while the drill is held by the second pawl and prevented from
turning backward during the forward stroke. The drill or tool is inserted'
or withdrawn from the rear end of the cylinder, and to effect this movement'
and change the said tool it is only necessary to open the feed box, which for
this purpose is constructed with hinges, when the tool can be withdrawn and'
another inserted.
The said improvements relate, secondly, to the means for mounting the
drilling engine so as to economize space and allow of its adjustment in the
shortest possible time. For this purpose I use a stand or frame consisting of
one, two, or mere hollow or solid columns placed vertically, horizontally, or in
any desired inclined position which in drilling tunnels, levels, galleries, or
shafts is firmly fixed by screws, wedges, or equivalent devices to the solid
material at the top, bottom, or sides of the rock or other substance. The air
or steam may or may not be carried through these columns. The drill
cylinder is attached by its pivot to a cross bar, which is keyed, clamped, or
screwed to the columns in such manner as to admit of easy adjustment in
any direction; keys or wedges are preferred to screws for this purpose in
consequence of the facility with which they can be loosened and tightened
by the mere tap of a hammer, a great saving of time being thus effected.
In conducting extensive tunnelling operations the erection and removal of
the
apparatus is facilitated by a trussed lever of peculiar construction. This
lever is supported upon a low car or truck which runs on wheels, and is
attached to the said car by a universal joint which allows the said lever to
move in any direction horizontally or vertically. It is most convenient to
make the forward end of this trussed lever longer than the rear end, so as
to reach over a pile of stones or other material that may have been thrown.
down by a blast, or otherwise collected. The drilling engine is attached to
this extended arm of the lever, and can be erected and the operation of
drilling resumed without waiting for the removal of the loose material; the
construction of the said lever is such that the weight of the drilling apparatus'
when attached to the forward end is partly or entirely counterbalanced by

page_text: an adjustable rolling or sliding weight attached to the rear end of the said
lever. In conducting drilling operations in open cuts, quarries, or mines,
where the support of the drilling engine cannot be derived directly from the
rock or other substance being worked, it will be necessary to adapt the mode
of mounting and fastening to the locality and other circumstances. It will
generally only be necessary to attach the columnar frame to another frame of
wood or other suitable material so that the drilling engine can move along
the columnar frame and the latter can be moved upon the additional frame
to admit of cutting holes in the rock or other substance in any position or
in any direction. In open work a crane or arrangement of pulleys should
be placed in such position as will assist in placing the frames, and braces and
rods must be used to secure the said frame firmly while the machine is in
operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Asbury McKean in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
ASBURY MCKEAN, of No. 3, Rue Scribe, Paris, in the Empire of France, now
of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Asbury McKean, Her special licence that I, the said
James Asbury McKean, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Asbury McKean, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR
WORKING ROCKS AND OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR MINING,
TUNNELLING, AND OTHER LIKE OPERATIONS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Asbury McKean, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,

page_text: 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 James Asbury McKean, do bereby
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 bad to the accompanying Sheets of
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
These improvements relate, first, to certain peculiar combinations and
arrangements of machinery and apparatus to be worked by steam, air, water,
or other elastic or inelastic fluid for boring, channelling, and surfacing rocks,
stones, metals, and other hard substances, in quarrying, mining, well boring,
shafting, stone dressing, and other like operations, parts of which improve-
ments are applicable to the machine described in the Specification of an
Invention for which Letters Patent were granted to John Henry Johnson,
bearing date the Sixth day of April, A.D. 1865, No. 981.
In the Specification referred to a cylinder of cast iron or other material is
described, in which a piston is moved by any elastic or inelastic fluid, the drill
or other cutting tool being attached to the piston rod. Instead of the
trunnions which were arranged upon the sides of the said cylinder a pivot at
the top or bottoin of the same is substituted, by means of which and by certain
clamps and rods the drilling apparatus is rapidly fixed and clamped in any
desired position. The cylinder is provided with a valve chamber and valve,
and with the usual orifices for the admission and emission of the actuating
fluid, air or steam being preferred. The said valve may be operated in various
ways, but for this purpose preference is given to an arm projecting from the
piston rod, which arm in moving comes in contact with adjustable stops placed
in the proper positions upon the valve rod. The valve by preference employed
is made tubular, and is formed with flanges or rings which fit the interior of
the valve chamber and control the admission and exhaustion of the steam or
air. The end of the rod extends into the interior of the tubular valve, and is
furnished with a collar or piston which fits the same; springs are placed on
each side of this collar and form the only connection between the rod and
valve. Other devices may be employed for connecting the said rod and valve,
but any device used must be such that the stroke of the piston is completed,
and the required blow upon the rock or other substance given by the drill or
tool before the motion of the valve is reversed. The piston rod may be made
hollow to allow the tool bar and its holder to pass through the centre of the

page_text: cylinder; but in some cases, as in drilling closely into corners or angles, it may
be preferable to arrange the tool bar outside the cylinder, in which case the
piston rod may be solid, a tube which forms an equivalent to the bollow piston
rod being supported by arms projecting from the said rod. It is preferred to
make the cutting tool separate from its holder, the latter having an external
spiral thread whereon a feed nut is fitted, which may be about four inches in
length. By the rotation of this nut the proper feed movement is commu-
nicated to the drilling tool. The said feed nut is enclosed within a strong
metallic box, and is rotated by suitable mechanism, which is preferably so
arranged that the rotation of the drilling tool takes place at the back stroke,
at which time the said tool is not in contact with the rock or other substance
'being cut, and the resistance to the rotation is at a minimum.
The following
devices are preferably employed to produce the required rotation of the feed
nut. A rod is provided which at each stroke of the piston is forced backwards
and communicates motion to a toothed sector; the latter operates a sliding
rack furnished with a pawl which takes into the teeth on the periphery of the
feed nut, the backward rotation of this nut being prevented by a spring catch.
The rotation of the drilling tool may be effected in several ways, but I prefer
to employ a ratchet furnished with two pawls, one of which by means
of a stud moving in an inclined or helical slot gives a certain degree of
rotation during the backward stroke of the piston while the drill is held
by the second pawl, and thereby kept from turning backward during the
forward stroke. The drill or tool is inserted or withdrawn from the rear end
of the cylinder, and to effect this movement and change the said tool it is
only necessary to open the feed box, which for this purpose is constructed
with hinges; the tool can then be withdrawn and another inserted.
The said improvements relate, secondly, to the means for mounting the
drilling engine so as to economise space and allow of its adjustment in the
shortest possible time. For this purpose use a stand or frame consisting of
one, two, or more hollow or solid columns placed vertically, horizontally, or in
any desired inclined position, which in drilling tunnels, levels, galleries, or
shafts is firmly fixed by screws, wedges, or equivalent devices to the solid
material at the top, bottom, or sides of the rock or other substance. The air
or steam may or may not be carried through these columns. The drill
cylinder is attached by its pivot to a cross bar which is keyed, clamped, or
Screwed to the columns in such manner as to admit of easy adjustment in any
direction. Keys or wedges are preferred to screws for this purpose in
consequence of the facility with which they can be loosened and tightened by
the mere tap of a hammer, a great saving of time being thus effected.

page_text: In conducting extensive tunnelling operations the erection and removal of
the apparatus is facilitated by a trussed lever of peculiar construction. This
lever is supported upon a low car or truck, which runs on wheels and is
attached to the said car by a universal joint which allows the said lever to
move in any direction horizontally or vertically. It is most convenient to
make the forward end of this trussed lever longer than the rear end, so as to
reach over a pile of stones or other material that may have been thrown down
by a blast, or otherwise collected. The drilling engine is attached to this
extended arm of the lever, and can be erected and the operation of drilling
resumed without waiting for the removal of the loose material. The con
struction of the said lever is such that the weight of the drilling apparatus
when attached to the forward end is partly or entirely counterbalanced by an
adjustable rolling or sliding weight attached to the rear end of the said
lever.
In conducting drilling operations in open cuts, quarries, or mines where
the support of the drilling engine cannot be derived directly from the rock or
other substance being worked, it will be necessary to adopt the mode of
mounting and fastening to the locality and other circumstances. It will
generally only be necessary to attach the columnar frame to another frame of
wood or other suitable material, so that the drilling engine can move along
the columnar frame, and the latter can be moved upon the additional frame
to admit of cutting holes in the rock or other substance in any position or in
any direction. In open work a crane or series of pulleys should be arranged
in such a position as will assist in placing the frames, braces, and rods being
used to secure the said frame firmly while the machine is in operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
!
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of my improved machinery showing the same
mounted upon the columnar frame, and adjusted ready for working; Figure 2
is an end elevation, and Figure 3 a side elevation of the same; Figure 4 is a
Iongitudinal section of the said machinery; Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, represent
detached portions of the same; Figures 4 to 9 are drawn to an enlarged scale;
Figures 10, 11, and 12 are a plan, side elevation and end elevation, of the
trussed lever and truck for moving and adjusting the drilling machinery
drawn to a reduced scale. Like letters indicate the same parts in all of the
Figures.
The cylinder a which may be made of any required diameter and length of
stroke is preferably cast solidly or in one piece with the valve chamber b.
The piston c is cast or otherwise securely fixed upon the hollow rod c', and
is

page_text: provided with steam-tight packing of any suitable description. The said rod
is fitted to work through the stuffing boxes a¹, which are kept tight in the
ordinary manner. The arm or tappet d which actuates the valve e is screwed
or otherwise firmly fixed upon the end of the piston rod, and extends through
the straight guide d, its eye or boss d² being bored to slide freely over the
valve rod e¹ between the nuts f, by whose adjustment upon the said rod the
extent of the motion of the valve is regulated. The collar e² on the end of
the rod e¹ as it comes in contact with the heads of either of the springs e
moves the valve e in the corresponding direction. These springs form elastic
cushions which yield slightly at the end of the stroke, and retard the action of
the valve which is not reversed till the stroke of the piston is finished, the full
effect of the steam or other actuating fluid being thus exerted upon the said
piston till the blow of the drill has been delivered. The valve e is kept tight
in its chamber b by the packing rings e' which are held between the collars e³.
The steam or other fluid enters by the pipe g into the space between these
rings,, which are so arranged as to admit it to the cylinder alternately through
one or other of the ports or apertures e as the valve is moved in either
direction by the action of the tappet d upon the nuts f. The arm d also
serves to hold part of the mechanism whereby the drill his rotated, and which
is more clearly illustrated in the detached view Figure 6. The ratchet i is
fixed upon the rod c¹; the arm j carries a pawl ¹. The end of the arinj is
fitted to slide in the aperture or guideway formed in the oblique guide k,
which at each stroke of the piston gives to the arm j a lateral motion to an
extent corresponding with the distance between the centre lines 1, 2 (Figure 9),
of the guide k. By means of the pawl j¹ this lateral or rotary motion of the
arm j is communicated to the ratchet i and rod c¹ at the backward stroke of
the piston, the ratchet being kept from turning back at the forward stroke
of the said piston by means of the other pawl j attached to the tappet
arm d.
The feeding mechanism is shown detached in Figures 7 and 8; the feed
nut which is enclosed in the hinged box l', and which is well fitted to the
screw, is rotated by the sliding rack m which carries the pawl m¹; the said
pawl being arranged to take into the ratchet teeth on the perimeter of the
nut 1, whose return or backward rotation is prevented by a spring catch or
otlier suitable device. The rack m is geared with and operated by the toothed
which is fitted to vibrate upon its fulcrum o.. The arm n¹ of this
sector is fitted into a slot or aperture in the end of the rod p, which when
brought by the motion of the piston rod into contact with the end of the
cylinder à or with a stop or abutment m² on the same causes the sector
sector n,
to

page_text: vibrate, and through the medium of the rack m and paul m¹ to impart the
required rotary movement to the nut in the proper direction to force the drill
forward. The hollow columns q of the frame are fixed at their lower ends in
a strong base q', which is preferably formed of cast iron; the upper ends of
the said columns are securely braced together by the cross bar q². A socket q³
is formed in the base 9¹, and the foot q* is fitted into the said socket, forming
with the same a universal joint, which allows the frame to be readily adjusted
at any desired angle; the said foot is provided with steel points q, which in
combination with the pointed adjusting screws q in the top of the columns
hold the frame solidly when the machine is in operation. The columns q.may.
be provided with lengthening pieces q' fitted to slide telescopically in the end
of the columns, and secured in any required position by means of pins passed
through either of the holes q*. The cross head or bar r whereon the trunnion a³.
of the cylinder a is fitted may be adjusted to any desired, vertical position
upon the frame. The clamps r, which are fixed upon or firmly attached to
the said cross head, are fitted to slide upon the columns q, and are secured
upon the same by the keys, or other suitable devices. The pin a', which
projects from the under side of the cylinder a, is fitted into the arm a* of the
trunnion piece as in such a manner as to allow the said cylinder to be readily
adjusted to work at any desired horizontal angle.. The rear end of the
cylinder is preferably supported upon the columns by means of the joint
rods s, which are secured to the adjustable clamps s² by the keys s³. When
the apparatus illustrated in Figures 10, 11, and 12 is employed, rails for the
truck to run upon should be laid within about fifteen feet of the face of
the rock to be drilled. The hooks w at the end of the trussed lever x may
be connected to any convenient portion of the frame of the drilling machinery,
which can thereby be lifted over any stones or other obstructions into the
position in which it is to work, or can be placed upon an auxiliary truck and
taken away. Large stones or portions of rock and other substances can also
be removed by means of this lever. The wheels a¹ of the trussed lever are
supported upon a circular track v' fixed on the top of the truck. The adjust-
able weight is supported upon rollers ³, and is moved away from or
towards the centre of the lever by means of the handle v. When the
machine has been properly adjusted in face of the rock or other substance.
to be drilled, the steam or other actuating fluid is admitted through the stop
valve t and flexible pipe u to the cylinder a. The piston c is thereby moved"
rapidly to and fro in the said cylinder. The drill h moving with the piston
strikes the rock at each forward stroke of the piston, while by the self-acting,
rotating and feeding mechanism the said drill is caused. to turn and advance
i

page_text: a certain distance between the blows. The waste steam is conducted away
through the exhaust pipe v. If compressed air is used the same may be
allowed to escape into the space surrounding the apparatus and aid ven-
tilation. When the drill has advanced as far as the length of the feeding
screw will allow the drill h may be removed, and a longer drilling tool inserted
in the end of the said screw. In this manner a hole may be bored in the rock
or other material to any desired depth without changing the feeding screw or
adjusting the frame. The box opens readily upon its hinge to allow the
drills to be taken out and inserted at the rear of the cylinder, and when the
box is closed its two parts are secured or locked by the key , or other
suitable means.
Having thus fully described the. said Invention, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently
and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,---
First. The springs or elastic cushions arranged to operate in combination
with the valve e and rod e¹ at the end of each stroke of the piston, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
.
Second. The arm j with the pawl
oblique or inclined guide k and stop
operating in combination with the
upon the ratchet i on the rod c',
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The toothed feed nut i arranged within the box l, and in com-
bination with the rack m, pawl m¹, and stop, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Fourth. The vibrating sector n and rod p moving with the piston rod c¹,
and operating in combination with the rack m and pawl m¹ to produce the
required rotation of the feel nut l, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The cylinder a, piston c, rod c¹, ratchet i, arm j, pawls 1, 2, and
guide k in combination with the drill h, screw 1*, feed nut 7, and mechanism
for operating the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. Constructing the box in two parts to open upon an hinge, so that
the drills may be inserted and taken out at the rear of the cylinder, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Seventh. The devices for supporting the cylinder a upon the frame so com-
bined and arranged as to allow the said cylinder to be readily adjusted to
any desired angle or position, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The trussed lever x supported upon a car or truck, and provided
with an adjustable counterbance, and with hooks, chains, or other grappling
devices, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the columnar frame with an auxiliary or

page_text: additional frame to facilitate the adjustment of the drilling machinery, sub-
stantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the James Asbury McKean, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
MC. SAUTTER.
JAMES ASBURY MCKEAN. (L.S.)
07
ד