IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING EARTH FOR SINKING TUBING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING EARTH FOR SINKING TUBING." A Coni-
munication to him from abroad by Charles Henry Leach of Baltimore, State
of Maryland, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th June 1882.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11 Wellington Street, Strand, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING EARTII
FOR SINKING TUBING." A communication to me from abroad by Charles Henry
Leach of Baltimore, State of Maryland, United States of Amerien.
This Invention has for its object to provide a means for readily and expeditiously
sinking tubing into the earth either for subsequent use as a well or for prospecting
for minerals, in a word, for such purposes as those to which the drive-well and
diamond drill are devoted.
In carrying out this Invention I sink a tube into the earth by causing a pipe,
shod at its lower end with a drill, or not, according to the nature of the soil, to
reciprocate within an enclosing pipe, and at each down-stroke to strike the earth
opposite its end, a supply of water being introduced between the pipes; and this
Invention may be said to consist therein, and in certain features of construction and
combinations of parts adapted to the attainment of the desired end as hereinafter
set forth.
The apparatus which I propose to use consists of a pipe having at its lower end
a drill point, which is screwed to the pipe and has a number of cutting wings
suitably beveled. From the meeting edges of the wings orifices lead to a common
channel having at its top a seat for a ball. A rod or spider serves to limit the lift
of the ball.
1
From a clamp attached to the pipe rubber or equivalent elastic connections lead
to a trestle and serve to sustain the pipe. An exterior pipe is provided of a

page_text: sufficient size to pass the first mentioned pipe freely and leave an annular channel.
between for the downward flow of water.
In operation, a hole is sunk into the ground for a short distance to serve as a
starter, the exterior pipe is thrust into it to the bottom and the inner pipe passed
down it until the drill rests at the hottom of the hole. Water is then poured
between the pipes and rises of course to the same height in each pipe. The inner
pipe is then enused to reciprocate within the outer one, the drill striking the ground
at each stroke and loosening the earth. On each upstroke of the pipe the above
mentioned ball seats itself trapping all the matter above it. On the down stroke,
which is made rapid, (faster than the natural drop of the pipe) the latter slides
down, as it were, past its contents, forming a vacuum at the bottom into which
the water and disintegrated suspended earth rush, assisted by the hydrostatic
head without, and lift the ball.
Very little water is used, and the material which rises in the inner pipe and is
discharged at the top, is in some soils, notably clays, nearly as stiff as the natural
clay. This is due to the fact that the disintegrated matter, being heavier than
water, sinks and remains at the bottom of the hole. As the latter deepens, the
outer pipe is forced down nearly to its bottom, and fresh sections are from time to
time screwed on to the top of both pipes.
Only in deep digging is the above mentioned suspending device of elastic con-
nections leading from the inner pipe to a trestle necessary, but with its aid the
labor of reciprocating the pipe is greatly lessened as the elastic bands sustain the
entire weight of the pipe..
The drill need only be used in sinking the pipes in hard material; for ordinary
use in earthy or clayey material the end of the inner pipe may be merely serrated,
or indeed, in sandy soils, it may be cut short off.
The device is especially adapted for sinking tubing into quicksands, in which it
operates as well as in other soils.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd December 1882.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11 Wellington Street, Strand, London, in
the County of Middlesex Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING EARTH
A communication to me from abroad by Charles Henry
Leach of Baltimore State of Maryland, United States of America.
FOR SINKING TUBING.
"
This Invention has for its object to provide a means for readily and expeditiously
sinking tubing into the earth either for subsequent use as a well or for prospecting
for minerals, in a word, for such purposes as those to which the drive-well and
diamond drill are devoted.
In carrying out this invention, I sink a tube into the earth by causing a pipe,
shod at its lower end, with a drill, or not, according to the nature of the soil, to
reciprocate within an enclosing pipe, and at each downstroke to strike the earth
opposite its end, a supply of water being introduced between the pipes; and this
invention may be said to consist therein, and in certain features of construction
and combinations of parts adapted to the attainment of the desired end as herein-
after set forth.
In the accompanying drawings:-
=
Figure 1. Is a central, longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus complete and
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively, sectional and perspective views of the drill tip.
A is a pipe having at its lower end a drill-point B, which is screwed to the pipe
at c, and has a number of cutting wings h, beveled as shown at i. From the meeting
edges of the wings lead orifices g, to a common channel d, having at its top a seat f,
for the hall b; A rod or spider C, serves to limit the lift of the ball.
To the pipe A is attached a clamp a, from which rubber or equivalent elastic
connections e, lead to a trestle D, and serve to sustain the pipe. A is the exterior
pipe of a sufficient size to pass the pipe A freely and leave an annular channel
between for the downward flow of water.
"
In operation, a hole is sunk into the ground for a short distance to serve as a
starter, the pipe A' is thrust into it to the bottom and the pipe A, is passed down the
pipe A' until the drill rests at the bottom of the hole. Water is then poured
between the pipes and rises of course to the same height in each pipe. The inner
pipe is then caused to reciprocate within the outer one, the drill striking the ground
at each stroke and loosening the earth.
On each upstroke of the pipe the ball b, seats itself trapping all the matter above.
it. On the downstroke, which is made rapid-faster than the natural drop of the
pipe the latter slides down, as it were, past its contents, forming a vacuum at the
bottom into which the water and disintegrated suspended earth rush, assisted by
the hydrostatic head without, and lift the ball.
Very little water is used, and the material which rises in the pipe A. and is
discharged at the top, is, in some soils, notably clays, nearly as stiff as the natural
clay. This is due to the fact that the disintegrated matter, being heavier than water,
sinks and remains at the bottom of the hole. As the latter deepens, the pipe A'
is forced down nearly to its hottom as shown, and fresh sections are from time to
time screwed on to the top of both pipes.
Only in deep digging is the suspending device a, a, D. necessary, but with its
aid the labor of reciprocating the pipe is greatly lessened as the bands e, sustain the
entire weight of the pipe.
The drill need only be used in sinking the pipes in hard material; for ordinary

page_text: use in earthy or clayey material the end of the pipe A, may he nearly serrated, or
indeed, in sandy soils it may be cut short off.
The device is especially adapted for sinking tubing into quicksands, in which it
operates as well as in other soils.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the invention Commu-
nicated to me as aforesaid and in what manner the same is or may be performed
I Claim as secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent:-
Firstly The combination, in an apparatus for sinking tubing,of a pipe having an
upwardly opening valve and formed at its lower end to cut or disintegrate the soil,
an exterior pipe arranged to follow the first in its descent, and means for reciprocating
the central pipe, as set forth.
Secondly In an apparatus for sinking tubing, a, pipe shod with a drill and con-
taining a ball-valve, an exterior pipe arranged to follow the first in its descent, a
water supply communicating with the channel between the pipes, and means for
reciprocating the inner pipe, as set forth.
Thirdly. In combination with the pipes A, A', the valve b, and elastic suspending
device, as and for the purpose set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said William Edward Gedge have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty second day of December in the year of our
Lord oue thousand eight hundred and Eighty two.