Improvements in Portable Drilling Posts or Jigs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
Improvements in Portable Drilling Posts or Jigs.
1, ALFRED ERNEST MARKWICK of Karachi, in the Province of Sind, in the
Empire of India, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in portable drilling posts or jigs, and is
particularly applicable to drilling railway rails and other metal bars or beams in situ.
In carrying it into effect I provide a post having a duplex flange along one or
both sides, i.e. of either a T or H section. If the latter section is adopted, then
the post can be adapted for being fixed to either of two sizes of rails or bars.
I will describe the operative features of my invention when constructed for use
on flanged rails of permanent way, and this will illustrate how it can be adapted to
other bars and beams in analogous positions.
The top of that portion of the base of the post which projects to the front of the
relative flange of the Tor H, as the case may be, is shaped to receive or embrace
say a third of the head or of the flange of the rail. I provide a jaw shaped to
receive or embrace the corresponding portion of the head or of the flange on the
opposite side of the web. This jaw is held to the post by gripping the flange of
the latter along which it can slide. A suitable device, e.g., a wedge or set-screw,
is provided by means of which the jaw can be fixed at the desired point. The
two sides of the jaw may be, and preferably are, of different contours to adapt them
to different sizes of rails. The above method of attaching the jaw to the post may
be modified so long as the proper discharge of the functions specified is provided
for.
The usual arm adjustable upon the post and projecting at right angles therefrom
is provided against which the drill can bear. The web of the rail when held as
above provided for between the base and the jaw on the one side and the arm on
the other will of course be in a parallel plane with the said arm.
The bottom face of the base of the post carries a pair of grips, one of which is or
may be pivotted, whereby the post is rendered capable of gripping or being made
fast to the flange of a rail. By suitably cranking the post, or by removing a
portion of the ballast-either or both-the drilling can be effected when the rail is
fixed, and the post itself as well as its addenda will be out of the way of a train
passing over the rail on which they are at work. Suitable tightening devices are
provided to prevent the grips slipping out of their operative position.
Dated this 18th day of August 1891.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Drilling Posts or Jigs.
I, ALFRED ERNEST MARKWICK, of Karachi, in the Province of Sind, in the
Empire of India, Engineer, 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 portable drilling posts or jigs, and is
particularly applicable to drilling rails and other metal bars or beams in situ.

page_text: When constructed for the purpose of drilling the rails of permanent way, the
approach of a train only stops the drilling, and does not necessitate the removal of
the jig.
In carrying it into effect, I provide a post having a duplex flange along one or
both of its sides for a convenient distance, that is to say it is either of a T or an H
section. The advantage of the H section is that with it the post can be adapted to
be fixed to either of two sizes of rails or bars.
In order that my invention and the best means by which it can be carried into
practical effect may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part
of this Specification and read therewith.
I have to point out that the said drawings illustrate two things: (a) the nature,
construction and use of my invention, and (b) its use in drilling the rails of
permanent way when they are spiked to the sleepers; but at the same time it is to
be distinctly understood that the use of my invention is not confined to drilling
rails, but that it is equally applicable to drilling other metal bars or beams in situ,
and moreover that the necessary modification in the gripping portion of the jig is
within the scope of the present invention.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating the use of my invention for drilling the
web of a double headed rail forming part of a permanent way.
Fig. 2 is a plan corresponding therewith.
Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line V W of the foregoing figures.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating the use of my invention for drilling the web
of a flanged rail forming part of a permanent way..
Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line Y-Z. of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation illustrating the use of my invention for drilling the
flange of a flanged rail forming part of a permanent way.
Fig. 7 is a plan corresponding therewith.
An examination of the accompanying drawings shews that a rail after it has
been laid can be drilled either horizontally through the web or upwards through
the flange without the jig standing in the way of the train. If the work must be
stopped to allow a train to pass over the rail being drilled, all that is necessary
for the men to do is to stand clear, for the jig can be left where it is, inasmuch as
all its parts are clear of the train.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A is a double headed rail laid by means of chair,
key, and sleeper on the road bed in the ordinary way. B is the post. C is the
base or foot with which are incorporated the devices by means of which the jig is
fixed to a flanged rail. These are described in detail further on. D, D are two
developments of the foot, and constitute what is hereinafter called a fixed jaw.
They may be replaced by a single development or jaw as long as the foot
wide.
E is a bifurcated jaw. The two bifurcations may be merged in a single jaw of the
same length as the one on the foot. The jaw E, single or bifurcated, (hereinafter
called a moveable jaw) is adapted, by means of grips e,e, to embrace the flanges of
a T head F upon the side of the post, whereby the said jaw is loosely held to the
post, and can be moved along the said head in either direction. This head is
parallel with the axis of the post, and its flat outer face with a jaw D. The end of
it, f, opposite to the foot of the post, is free of any stop, so that the jaw E can be
readily slipped on or off. f¹is a key. It is preferably held to the post by a piece
of chain e² is a notch in the under side of the jaw E on the side of the grips e
opposite to the jaw D. The internal opposite faces e¹ of the grips e are convex, so
that when the key f' is pushed into the notch o, the jaw shall be brought down
tight upon the rail. The two jaws D and E with the T head and the key device
form, in fact, a parallel vice. Any other equivalent device for holding the
moveable jaw to the T head may be substituted for the one described above.
When the jig is fixed to the rail it not only grips it in its vice, but the rail supports
the jig in the operative position, (horizontal in this case).
The upper portions of the jaws D and E of the vice are of a contour & corre-

page_text: sponding to that of the upper portion of the sides of the bottom head of the rail A.
H is an arm adjustable upon the outer portion of the jig, and I is a ratchet drill.
Both arm and ratchet drill are of the usual construction, and are too well known to
require any further specification here.
My invention constructed as above described is used as follows for the purpose
illustrated in the figures under description.
As much ballast is removed as is necessary to allow of the foot of the jig being
passed under the rail from the outside, i.e., either from the six-foot or from the
side of the line. The jaw D is next engaged with the inner half of the bottom head
of the rail. The sliding jaw E is next pushed up to the opposite half, the jig being
temporarily supported in a horizontal position, and the key is pushed into its
place. The ratchet is next fixed and worked in the usual way. I may duplicate
a jig made as above described in the following way. I form a second fixed jaw D¹
on the foot of the jig opposite to the jaw D, and a second T head F1 on the side of
the post opposite to the one F already described. The grips e and jaw E will have
a second jaw E' incorporated with them, and a second notch g' will also be formed.
The advantages of this duplication are two in number.
(a.) If either of the jaws D or E are broken off, recourse can be had to the other
side of the jig, and
(b.) The jaws D and E may be made for one size of rail, and those, D¹ and E',
for another.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5. J is the flange of the rail of which the web ; is to
be drilled. This jig is shewn as having only one T head F, consequently neither
the moveable jaw E nor the locking surface for the key are duplicated. Both jaws
are shewn as made with corresponding concaved surfaces adapting them to grip a
headed rail in the way described in detail with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3; but
for the purpose of adapting the said jaws to grip the flange J, both are equally
undercut to a proper extent producing the recesses 1, 1. As the moveable jaw is
not in duplicate, the locking surface for the key f' is provided by a backward
extension is a strengthening ridge. The remaining parts of the figure are as
described with reference to the other figures, and are accordingly marked with the
same reference letters respectively. It will be noted that the jaws D and E in all
the figures are made to grip either double-headed or flanged rails.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the jig illustrated is of the same construction as that
described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, but its use to drill the flange of a flanged
rail involves the use of a part of the invention not yet described, although as it
forms a part of my invention it appears in the figures already described. On one
side of the foot C, preferably on that which carries the jaws D, I form a pair of
grips m, m, of a proper size for gripping one edge of the flange J. On the opposite
side of the said foot I form a third grip n to grip the other edge. The
surfaces m³, n', are parallel, but not the edges m², n². The latter is tapered and
the nose n³ is in advance of the opposite grip m. The jig is fixed to the flange in
the following way (after a sufficient quantity of ballast has been temporarily
removed to make room for it). The grip n is first passed over one flange until its
surfaces n' are close up to the edge, and the face of the foot is then brought up to
the under side of the flange. This last motion aligns the grips m m with the
opposite flange. The jig is then moved a little to one side until all three grips
stand equally above their respective flanges. The jig is next to be made fast to
the flange. This may be done by a set screw o, one on each side of the jig, or by
keys to be driven in between the flange J and the foot C.
Any of the details illustrated and described may be modified or replaced by
their mechanical equivalents without departing from the scope of my invention.
For instance, if the invention is to be used only on flanged rails, the T head
portion of the post may be cranked at a right angle and the motion of the ratchet,
then in the horizontal plane, communicated to the drill socket through mitre
gearing, but I prefer to make my improved jig straight throughout, and as
illustrated.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :
1. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination of post adapted to receive
a sliding jaw, a sliding jaw adapted to engage with the said post and to be fixed at
any desired point in its travel thereon, and a fixed jaw on the post and facing the
sliding jaw so that the two constitute a parallel vice between which the bar, beam,
or rail to be drilled can be firmly gripped, as set forth.
2. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination with the post of a pair of
fixed jaws, a duplicate sliding jaw and duplicate devices by which the said sliding
jaw can be engaged with the said post and fixed thereupon at any desired distance
from either of the said fixed jaws, as set forth.
3. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination with the end or foot of the
said post of a gripping device adapted to engage with the bar, beam, or rail to be
drilled, and to hold the post to it during the process of its being drilled, as set
forth.
4. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination with the post of a fixed jaw
and a jaw adapted to slide along a side of the post, the opposite faces of the said
jaws being of a contour corresponding with the sides of the head of the rail or beam
to be drilled.
5. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination with the post of two fixed
jaws on respectively opposite sides thereof, and a duplex sliding jaw adapted to
slide upon either side of the post opposite to either of the said fixed jaws, as set
forth.
6. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination with the post of a fixed and
a sliding jaw together constituting a parallel vice the jaws of which are of a
contour corresponding to the respective contours of the rail to be drilled whereby
either a headed or a flanged rail can be gripped and drilled through its web, and a
gripping device on the foot of the said post adapted to grip the flange of a flanged
rail and hold the post thereto, as set forth.
7. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination with the post of a fixed and
a moveable jaw together constituting a parallel vice the jaws of which are both of
a proper contour to grip one of either of more than one different shape bars, beams,
or rails, as set forth."
8. In portable drilling posts or jigs, the combination with the post, of a fixed
and a sliding jaw together constituting a parallel vice and adapted in respect of the
contour of their operative faces to grip bars of the same or differing contours, and
gripping devices by which the jig can be held to the opposite edges of a flat beam
or a flange, as set forth.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.