IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINES FOR BORING ROCKS, IRON ORE, AND OTHER MINERAL SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Forsyth, of Lancaster, and Edmund Barnes, of
Ulverston, both in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR BORING ROCKS, IRON ORE, AND OTHER MINERAL
SUBSTANCES."
"
Scaled the 12th November 1878, and dated the 15th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said George Forsyth and Edmund
Barnes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1878.
GEORGE FORSYTH, of Lancaster, and EDMUND BARNES, of Ulverston, both in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BORING ROCKS, IRON,
ORE, AND OTHER MINERAL SUBSTANCES."
This Invention, relates to that class of rock-drilling machinery in which the action
consists of a combined porcussive and rotating movement. The percussive action
may be produced by means of steam, compressed air, or other suitable inotivo power;
and the rotating motion is given by the hands of the attendant operating the
machine.
The apparatus consists of a cylinder fitted with two pistons and rod, by preferonco
all forged in one piece, and provided with covers at each end, through one of which
(the front cover) the piston rod projects, and is there made of square, six sided, or
other form, with suitablo gland and box for the packing, so that the cylinder and
pistons shall rotate together.
The end of the piston rod is bored out for the insertion of the drilling tool, and
upon the outside is screwed or otherwise fitted a collar having two set screws, which
When set up grasp the tool in place.
The other (or back cover) has the feeding screw attached to it, and through both
screw and cover the steam or compressed air is conveyed to the passages on the
cylinder leading to the valve chest or chests, from whence it is admitted by the
slide valve or valves to either end of cylinder alternately;

page_text: The slide valve or valves are made to move over the ports by means of a lever
or levers engaging on to the valve or valves, or on to a valve spindle common to
both, and is actuated by contact with a cam piece formed or fitted on to one side of
the piston rod between the pistons.
The cylinder is formed with longitudinal and circular ribs or fins of such
dimensions that the whole body of the cylinder can be turned up in the lathe to a
diameter sufficient to clear the valve chests and passages.
The cylinder is made to work through a tube or hoop piece formed with a bed
plate, and with lugs for stay bars for connecting with a cross head fitted with nut,
which fits on the outer end of screw for the feed. The bed plate is pivotted upon
a clip piece, which can be put upon a bar or strong tube of wrought iron, so that
the power of turning to its work is given in any direction, while through the hoop
or tube piece the cylinder, piston rod, and drill tool can be rotated, and at the same
time fed forward to its work by the screw.
The bar is provided with a strong screw at one end, and a double-toed swivel
claw at the other end to fix it in position. Or the cylinder may be mounted upon
a tripod or wrought-iron framework, consisting of two rings or gimballs centred
upon pivots, pins, or bolts, to permit of the cylinder being turned completely round
upon its axis or to any angle horizontally, and to a considerable angle to the right
or left hand upon the vertical axis also, and to be completely held fast in position
when set ready to work.
The vertical axis or pivots are carried in the centre ring and pivotted into the
outer ring, while the outer ring carries the horizontal axis or pivots centred in the
eyes of the tripod legs, which can be spread out to any required distance apart, and
secured with the bolts and nuts of the ring, and also the bolts and nuts in the
slotted wings forged upon the upper ends of the legs.
The legs are made partly of wrought-iron tubes to admit of stout iron bars being
inserted at their lower ends to lengthen them as required, and are held in place by
means of collars and set screws, and each leg is provided with a footstep adjustable
to any height on the tubes for the attendant to stand upon when necessary.
The inner ring is bored out to fit the cylinder easily, which it retains in position,
yet permits it to be turned round within it and fed forward to the work by means
of the feed screw which works through the nut. This nut is formed with two
wings or short arms, and is turned up to fit and work round freely in the bored-out
eye of the cross head, and is retained in place there by means of two wedge-headed
bolts fitting into grooves turned on the outside of the nut.
These wedge heads can be set up so as to retain the nut in place in the eye, and
at the same time allow it to be turned freely round; and again the wedge hoads
can be further set up into the grooves to completely secure the nut from any move-
ment round the screw or end on with the screw.
.
The screw is formed with a collar tapered end and square neck to fit the centre
opening in the back cover of the cylinder, and is secured to it by means of a gland
nut screwing on to the neck of the cover, which is chased to receive it. Upon the
screw is keyed a hand wheel, by means of which the attendant can turn the screw,
and with it the cylinder, piston, and drill tool, giving both the forward feed and the
rotating motion by one operation.
The outer end of the screw carries a swivel union, through which the motive-
power fluid passes, and permitting the rotation of the cylinder when coupled up
with the feed pipe. When the piston is produced through the back end of cylinder
it is bored out large enough to receive the feeding screw and sleeve. The sleeve is
made either square, or six sided, or three sided in section, and is fitted with a nut
or collar, which is securely fixed into the end of the piston rod, so that both the
rod and sleeve shall turn together.
The sleevo is bored out to receive the screw, which works through the nut screwed
or otherwise fixed into the end of it. A bevel wheel is fitted upon it, which is
geared into another bevel wheel actuated by a small handle by the attendant.
Another portion of these improvements relates to such rock drills in which the

page_text: piston rod only rotates, and are as follows:-The cylinder is made in two parts or
lengths joined by flanges, between which are held the flange of a hollow piston rod
stuffing box and the flange of the gland therefor, the same bolt holding all these
flanges together. The back continuation of the hollow piston rod is formed by a
alcove or tubo, the outer end of which has internal screw thread for the feed screw
to work in, and the inner end fits in the hollow piston rod with hexagon or other-
wise, so as to slide in it and turn with it. The piston rod is forged or cast in one
with the piston, and with a collar for actuating the tappet lever for working the
slide valve. This collar fits and works in the back part of the cylinder.
The sleeve can be turned (and therewith also the piston rod and piston) by means
of worm wheel and worm, or by bevel or other pinions.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Forsyth and Edmund Barnes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th November 1878.
GEORGE FORSYTH, of Lancaster, and EDMUND BARNES, of Ulverston, both in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BORING ROCKS, IRON
ORE, AND OTHER MINERAL SUBSTANCES."
The first part of this Invention relates mainly to that class of rock-drilling
machines in which the action consists of a combined percussive and rotating move-
ment, the percussive action being produced by means of steam, compressed air, or
other suitablo motive fluid, and the rotating motion being given by the hands of
the attendant operating the machine.
And in order that this our Invention may be fully understood, we will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus constructed according to this
Invention, and Figure 2 a vertical cross section of same.
The apparatus consists of a cylinder A fitted with two pistons B, B, on a piston
rod C, by preference forged in one piece, as hero shown; the cylinder A is formed
with covers at each end. Through the front cover E the piston rod C projects, and
is there made of a square section, as shown at Figure 3, which is an end view of
the stuffing box gland F; or it may be six-sided or any other suitable form (the
stuffing box and gland being made to suit), so that the piston rod C, pistons B, B,
and cylinder A. all can rotate together.
The end of the piston rod C is bored out to receive the drilling tool C³, and upon
the outside is fitted a collar C³ for the reception of a set screw c pressing against
the key piece c' and tool C, and a set screw c² pressing against the piston rod C
the opposite side; the collar C³ may, if desired, also be screwed on to the end of the
piston rod C.
on

page_text: The back cover G has the feeding screw H attached to it, and through both the
cover G and the screw H the steam or compressed air is conveyed to the passages V
on the cylinder A leading to the two valve chests N, N, one at each end of the
cylinder, and from whence it is admitted alternately to either end of cylinder A by
means of the two slide valves K, K, which are connected by the common rod or 5
spindle.L passing through stuffing boxes on the valve chests Ñ.
The slide valves are actuated from a cam piece or projection D formed, or it may
be fitted, on the piston rod C between the pistons B, B. L' is a triple or three-
armed lever turning on the fulcrum L², and so placed that the cam D can raise one
of its side arms, and thereby vibrate its upper vertical arm connected or jointed to
the slide valve rod L; V₁ are the exhaust passages. The spindle L³ passes out
through a stuffing box at one end, and is there fitted with a handle for moving the
slide valve by hand at starting.
The cylinder A is formed with longitudinal ribs or fins a, and circular ribs a¹, of
such dimensions that the whole body of the cylinder can be turned up in a lathe 1
outside on these ribs and end cover flanges to a diameter sufficient to clear the valve
chests N.
The cylinder A is made to work through a tube or hoop piece R formed with
lugs R¹ for stay bars or tie bolts S for connecting with a cross head T fitted with a
nut T¹.
The ring or hoop piece R is bored out to fit the cylinder A easily, so that the
latter can be turned round within it and fed forward to the work by means of the
feed screw H which works through the nut T¹; this latter is formed with two
wings T, and is turned up to fit and work round freely in the bored out eye of the
cross head T, but is retained in place by means of two wedge-headed bolts t, t, fitting ?
into grooves turned on the outside of the nut.
These wedge-headed bolts t can be set up so as to retain the nut T¹ in place in
the eye, and at the same time allow it to be turned freely round; and again the
wedge heads t can be further set up into the grooves to completely secure the nut
from any movement round the screw H.
•
The screw His formed with a collar h, and tapered end and square neck h¹ to fit
the centre opening in the back cover G of the cylinder, and is secured to it by
means of a gland nut g screwing on to the neck of the cover G which is chased to
receive it. Upon the screw H is keyed a hand wheel H', by means of which the
attendant can turn the screw H, and with it the cylinder A, piston rod.C, and drill
tool C, giving the forward feed and rotating motion by one operation.
The outer end of the screw H carries a swivel union H2, through which the
motive-power fluid passes, and permitting the independent rotation of the cylinder A
when coupled up with the feed pipe H³
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 5 a central cross section of a similar
arrangement of apparatus as the one just described. There is here only one slidė
chest N and one slide valve K, which is actuated by the lever L, L. The piston
rod C is made hexagonal where it passes out through the front gland F, as shown at
Figure 6: O is the exhaust pipe. In other respects the arrangement is similar to
the one first described. ⚫
Figure 7 is an end view of the hoop piece R which surrounds the cylinder; it is
formed with a circular bed plate R*, which is pivoted upon a clip picce which is
recessed to suit, and provided with two or more clip screws Q', the heads of which
fit against the dovetailed edge of the bed plate. The clip piece Q is made to fit on
a round bar or strong tube Q³ of wrought iron, and to clasp or clip thereon by
means of a bolt Q3, so that the whole apparatus may be turned to its work in any
given direction, while the cylinder A with piston rod C and drill tool C¹ can be
rotated through the hoop or tube piece R, and also be fed forward to its work by
the feed screw H. The bar Q³ is provided with a strong screw at one end and a
double-toed swivel claw at the other end to fit it in position.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a rock drill cylinder A, in which the pistons

page_text: B and piston rod and tool while free, to travel from either end of the cylinder A,
are made to follow the rotating motion of the cylinder by means of a slot formed in
the central part D of the piston rod between the pistons B; in this slot fits a
feather d formed on the exhaust elbow pipe O.
•
Figure 9 is a part longitudinal section of an arrangement where the piston rod C
is continued out through the back end of cylinder A. In that case the piston rod is
bored out large enough to receive the feeding screw H and sleeve U; the latter is
made square or six-sided (or otherwise not entirely round) in section outside, and is
fitted with a nut or collar T', which is securely fixed into the ends of it; the square
sleeve U works in a square recess in the piston rod C, so that both the piston rod O
and sleeve U shall turn together.
The sleeve U is bored out for the screw to work freely in it; X is a bevel wheel
fitted on the sleeve U and gearing with another bevel wheel actuated by a small
handle. by the attendant. The cam or projection D on the hollow piston rod actuates
the slide valve or slide valves by means of a three-armed lever, as in the previously
described arrangements, only that the slide rod passes out through a stuffing box at
the back in a similar manner to that which will be presently described with refer-
ence to Figures 13 and 14. The back stuffing box arrangements, shewn at G, is
also similar to that shown at Figure 15.
.
Figure 10 is a part longitudinal section, and Figure 11. is a part plan of an
arrangement where the piston rod is made to rotate, as above described, but the
feed screw H is in this case arranged on one side instead of in the centre, and is
actuated by means of spur wheel gearing Y, Y'. The piston rod C is continued out
through the back of the cylinder beyond the round collar D (which serves to actuate
the three-armed slide valve lever), and there made round or polygonal, and so as to
fit and work through the wheel Ŷ which revolves in the end of the cylinder, and is
kept from following the reciprocating motion of the rod C by a plate y in halves or
parts let into a groove in the neck of the wheel Y, and secured to the end of the
cylinder by screws or bolts P, so that as the wheel Y is turned round the piston rod
and drill also turn with it.
•
Figure 12 is an end view of the piston rod gland b¹. It will be observed that
the cylinder is cast in one piece, and with a recess cast through at Z,. Figure 11, for
the stuffing box b und the gland b', which are cut in halves to pass through after
the piston rod C is put in, and are then made air or steam tight by packing, being
secured by bolts and nuts.
Instead of the rock drill being mounted and supported on a column, as described,
the cylinder may be mounted on a tripod or wrought-iron framework. Au arrange-
ment like this is illustrated by Figures 13 and 14, the former being a longitudinal
section and the latter a cross section of a rock drill made according to our Invention
and thus mounted.
The cylinder A is made with external ribs a and a¹, as in the other arrangements,
and fits in a hoop or tube ring K fitted with vertical axes or pivots which are
pivotted in the outer ring Q; this latter is provided with horizontal axes or pivots q
which are centred in the eyes of the tripod legs q', 93, the former q' being continued
down and spread out to any required distance apart, and the latter q³ forming a
half-hoop, to which the third leg is connected. The bolts g³ passing through the
slotted wings or quadrants formed upon the upper end of the parts q', q², afford
facility for splaying the legs q¹³ more or less relatively to the third leg g². This
gimball arrangement affords facility for turning the cylinder A round upon its axis
or to any angle horizontally, and to a considerable angle to the right or left hand
upon the vertical axes r, r, also; and to be completely held fast in position when set
ready to work.
B.
The legs of the tripod, are made partly of wrought-iron tubes to admit of stout
iron bars being inserted at their lower ends to lengthen them as required, and are
held in place by means of collars and set screws, and each leg is provided with a
footstep adjustable to any height on the tubes for the attendant to stand upon when
necessary.

page_text: The inner ring or hoop R is connected to the cross head T by means of tie bolts S,
as in the previously-described arrangements, and is bored out to fit the cylinder A
easily, which it retains in position, yet permits it to be turned round within it and
fed forward to the work by means of the feed screw E, which works through the
nut T; this latter is also in this case formed with wings or short arms T, and is
turned up to work freely in the eye of same, and may be retained in position by
means of the two wedge-headed bolts t, t, fitting in grooves in the outside of the nut,
as above described.
The screw His formed with a taper end and square neck to fit in the back cover G
of the cylinder, also as already above described. H' is the hand wheel by means of
which the attendant can turn the screw H, and with it the cylinder and drill tool,
giving the forward and rotating motion by one operation. The other end of the
hollow screw carries a pipe union for connection to the stoam or other power fluid,
and permitting the rotation of the cylinder; is a lever on the fulcrum pin L³ of the
three-armed lever L'; this lever & serves to move the slide valve by hand.
Another portion of these improvements relates to such rock drills in which the
piston rod and drill tool only rotate, and not the cylinder.
Figure 15 is a longitudinal section of such an arrangement. The cylinder proper A
is by means of flange joined to a continuation A!; between the joining flanges
of A and A' is held the flange b of the stuffing box and the flange b' of the
gland for the hollow piston rod C, the same bolts holding all these four flanges
together. The back continuation of the hollow piston rod C is formed by a
sleeve or tube C*, the outer end of which has internal screw thread for the
feed screw H; the inner end of the sleeve C* fits in the end of the hollow
piston rod C with hexagon or otherwise, so as to slide in it and turn with it.
The piston rod C is forged or cast in one with the piston B and with a collar D
for actuating the three-armed tappet lever for working the slide valve; this
collar D fits and works in the back part or extension A¹ of the cylinder. The
sleeve C, and therewith also the piston rod C and piston B, are turned by means of
worm wheel X and worm X', or by bevel or other pinions.
Figure 16 is a vertical cross section through the part A¹, shewing the bearing for
the worm X¹ in the end head A² fixed to the part A, and Figure 17 is an end view
of 'this head.
Figure 18 is a section through piston rod C and sleeve C*.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, we
declare that we claim,-
Firstly. Forming the central feed screw of a rock-drilling machine hollow, for
the purpose of conveying the steam or other impelling fluid therethrough, as set
forth.
Secondly. Fitting the cylinder of a rock-drilling machine in a tube or hoop con-
nected to a tripod or other stand, the hoop being connected to a part or cross head
carrying the nut for the feed screw for the purpose of enabling the cylinder to turn
and slide in said hoop, as set forth.
Thirdly. So connecting the cylinder and the piston rod of a rock-drilling machine
that they turn together and are fed forward together, as set forth.
Fourthly. The modes of fitting and connecting the feed screw, and its nut and
piston rod sleeve, as set forth.
Fifthly. The construction of gimball appliance in combination with a tripod, as
set forth.
Sixthly. The hollow back continuation of piston rod when in combination with
a hollow feed screw, as set forth.
Seventhly. The modes here described for causing the piston rod to rotate with
the cylinder.
Eighthly. The arrangement and combination of parts claimed, as illustrated in
the Drawings.

page_text: Ninthly. The formation of the solid or hollow piston rod in one with piston or
pistons, and with boss for actuating slide valve, as set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Forsyth and Edmund Barnes, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEORGE FORSYTH.
(LS)