Improvements in the Means and Apparatus or Appliances for Facilitating the Sinking of Shafts, Pits, or Borings in Aqueous Strata or under Water, and analogous Operations.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left. 25th Mar., 1895-Accented, 27th Aor.. 1395
Improvements in the Means and Apparatus or Appliances for
Facilitating the Sinking of Shafts, Pits, or Borings in Aqueous
Strata or under Water, and analogous Operations.
A communication from abroad by FRIEDRICH HERMANN POETSCH, of
Magdeburg, in the German Empire.
1, GEORGE CLEMENT DOWNING, of 8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a certain invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to Charles Denton Abel dated 29th May 1883, No. 2655; and the object
of iny present invention is to effect further improvements in relation thereto.
In applying my new process to the sinking of shafts, 1 construct, in a truly
vertical position, or in a pit, sunk down to the level of the water, or the surface of
the ground, a cylinder, or construction of other suitable sectional form, cousisting
of a number of pieces of wood or metal, dowelled, bolted, or otherwise united
together. The lower end of the wall is chamfered to a sharp edge, to assist the
penetration of the ground. The walls of this structure (hereinafter for con-
venience of description called a cylinder) are strengthened by angle iron or other
suitable appliances. The cylinder is fitted with a vertical telescopic shaft, and the
lower end of the shaft is fitted with a boring ring, which is capable of being
In the lower
rotated by the shaft, for boring rock or other mineral or material.
end of the cylinder is formed an air-tight chamber, the ceiling of which is fitted
with a manhole and door. Above this chamber is fitted the engine or other motive
power for turning the shaft and boring appliance. The shaft is also screw
threaded for arranging its position on or in the ground to be bored, and for raising
and lowering the boring ring; and the sections of the shaft are capable of being
operated by hydraulic pressure to extend the length of the shaft and the diameter
of the boring apparatus. A spring causes the ring sections to return into their
normal positions when the hydraulic pressure ceases to be applied.
When all is ready, the supports or wedges, below the sharp edged bottom, are
withdrawn, and the rock, or other material, at the bottom of the working chamber,
The man hole in the
is removed, as far as the level of the subterranean water.
roof of the working chamber is then hermetically closed, and the boring or sinking
can then be proceeded with. By forcing water into the telescopic tubes attached
to the shaft, the sections of the boring bar or ring are extended. This water may
be used at the same time to remove the debris produced, and to carry it away into
a receptacle from whence it may be removed by pipes. A lever and balance
weight are fitted to sustain the weight of the shaft and its appendages, a chain
forming the connection. By working the lever a reciprocating motion may be
imparted to the shaft to assist the boring. The boring of the ground causes a
partial vacuum below the cylinder, which cylinder gradually sinks into the
ground.
When the movable cylinder has sunk into the shifting soil, so that its upper
edge projects only about a yard beyond the subterranean water, a cast iron
supporting ring, concentric with the cylinder, is arranged upon the surface of the
ground, upon wooden sleepers or beams placed horizontally across the shaft, and

page_text: secured to stone or brickwork. To this ring are suspended, one below the other,
a series of metallic rings, to form the final shaft, framing, casing, or lining. These
rings are connected or jointed by means of hoops, forming impermeable joints.
These impermeable joint making hoops have for their object to form water and air
tight joints between the movable cylinder and the outer wall of the rings forming
the final casing or frame. These hoops are perforated and fitted with a valve
communicating with a pump. The hoops are fitted with endless tubular rubber
rings, which may be inflated with air or water, or a solid elastic ring may be used
which may be pressed outwards by any suitable means to form air tight joints with
the movable cylinder.
In case the pressure of the water should be too great for the elastic tubes
forming the joints, cold air, or a liquid having a cooling action, (for instance,
liquid carbonic acid gas) may be introduced between the inner and outer cylinders,
in order to produce an impermeable and secure joint by freezing the intermediate
water.
When the first rings or cylinders (say the first three) of the permanent casing or
lining are finally fixed in position, the lever is mounted above the shaft, the rods
of the boring appliance being hooked thereto by a chain and adjustable clamp.
The outer end of the lever carries an adjustable counterweight to counterpoise the
weight of the connections, which increases as the depth of the shalt increases. To
maintain, as far as practicable, the lever in a horizontal position, the adjustable
clamp is shifted from time to time, and the chain screws are regulated. The
movable cylinder descends by its own weight, but when the friction becomes too
great for this purpose, it is lowered by means of winches or otherwise.
In order to replace from time to time the worn-out tools or diamonds of the
boring bar or ring, the latter is raised towards the ceiling of the lower chamber by
means of the screw thread formed upon the shaft. A portion of the water
contained in the chamber is displaced by introducing therein pieces of ice, and n
liquid which congeals more readily than the water. The introduction of ice
followed by that of cold air, causes the freezing of the liquid as well as the water
which is below. After this water has been thus solidified, the lighter liquid above
is thawed, by menus of steam or a quantity of similar liquid heated to a sufficiently
high temperature. When the whole of the upper liquid has been thawed, it is
forced out of the chamber by compressed air, and a compartment free from water
and closed at the bottom by a block or layer of ice, is thus formed. To con-
solidate this layer of ice, cold air is again introduced into the chamber. The
compartment may also be formed by simply filling it with compressed air, and
thereby driving out the water. The manhole may then be opened and a descent
effected in order to replace the worn out tools or diamonds. This done, the
chamber is left, the man-hole closed, the ice at the bottom of the chamber is
thawed by steam or otherwise, the boring ring is lowered, and the boring may be
continued.
The same process may be used for tunnelling, driving levels and the like through
moving soil or subterranean water. In this case the rods of the boring ring are
supported by suitable brackets arranged at intervals, and the horizontal forward
motion of the movable cylinder is produced by pressure, with the aid of well-known
apparatus.
When the shaft, pit, tunnel, level, or the like, has been bored, a sole or a wall of
ice is formed at the bottom, and the boring apparatus is withdrawn. At the same
time a protecting wall of ice is formed round the movable casing; the latter, with
its sharp edged end, is removed bit by bit, and replaced by the rings of the
permanent ensing.
Data
GEORGE C. DOWNING..

page_text: Improvements in the Means and Apparatus or
101
Facilitating the Sinking of Shafts, Pits, or Borings in Aqueous
Strata or under Water, and analogous Operations.
A communication from abroad by FRIEDRICH HERMANN POETSCHI, of
Magdeburg, in the German Empire.
I, GEORGE CLEMENT DOWNING, of 8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
the same
My invention relates to a certain invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to Charles Denton Abel dated 29th May 1883, No. 2655; and the object
of my present invention is to effect further improvements in relation thereto.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, illustrating the apparatus in position for boring
a shaft.
Fig. 2. is a sectional plan view and Fig. 3. is sectional elevation of the cylinder.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views.
In applying my new process to the sinking of shafts, I construct, in a truly
vertical position, or in a pit, sunk down to the level of the water, or the surface of
the ground, a cylinder a or construction of other suitable sectional form, consisting
of a number of pieces of wood or metal a' a dowelled, bolted, or otherwise united
together. The lower end of the wall is formed with a ring chamfered to a sharp
edge, to assist the penetration of the ground. The walls of this structure (herein-
after for convenience of description called a cylinder) are strengthened by angle
iron or other suitable appliances. The cylinder is fitted with a vertical telescopic
shaft g and the lower end of the shaft is fitted with a boring ring which is
capable of being rotated by the shaft, for boring rock or other mineral or material.
In the lower end of the cylinder is formed an airtight chamber e the ceiling c of
which is fitted with a man hole and door (Fig. 3). Above this chamber two
floors care fitted the former carrying the engine or other motive power for
turning the shaft and boring appliance." The shaft is also screw threaded at its
lower end for arranging its position on or in the ground to be bored, and for
raising and lowering the boring ring and the sections of the shaft are capable of
being operated by hydraulic pressure to extend the length of the shaft and the
diameter of the boring apparatus.
A spring causes the ring sections to return into
their normal positions when the hydraulic pressure ceases to be applied.
:
When all is ready, the supports or wedges, below the sharp edged bottom bare
withdrawn, and the rock, or other material, at the bottom of the working chamber,
is removed, as far as the level of the subterranean water. The man hole in the
roof c of the working chamber e is then hermetically closed, and the boring or
sinking can then be proceeded with. By forcing water into the telescopic tubes g
attached to the shaft, the sections of the boring bar or ring are extended. This
water may be used at the same time to remove the debris produced, and to carry
it away into a receptacle & from whence it may be removed by pipes Fig. 1. A
and its
lever and balance weight y are fitted to sustain the weight of the shaft

page_text: appendages, a chain forming the connection. By working the lever a reciprocating
motion may be imparted to the shaft to assist the boring. The boring of the
ground causes a partial vacuum below the cylinder, which cylinder gradually sinks
into the ground.
When the movable cylinder has sunk into the shifting soil, so that its upper edge
projects only about a yard beyond the subterranean water, a cust iron supporting
ring, concentric with the cylinder a, is arranged upon the surface of the ground,
upon wooden sleepers or beams a placed horizontally across the shift, and seemed to
stone or brickwork as shown in Fig. 1. To this ring are suspended, one below the
other, a series of metallic rings p³, p², p² and p², to form the final shaft, fraining,
ensing, or lining. These rings are connected or jointed by means of hoops q′ q° 7′,7′
and forming impermeable joints. These impermeable joint making hoops have for
their object to form water and air tight joints between the movable cylinder and the
outer wall of the rings forming the final casing or frame. These hoops 7 are
perforated and fitted with a valve communicating with a pump f.
The hoops
are fitted with endless tubular rubber rings, which may be inflated with air or
water, or a solid elastic ring a' may be used which may be pressed outwards by n
handle and spring or by any suitable means to form air tight joints with the
movable cylinder, as shown in Fig. 6.
In case the pressure of the water should be too great for the elastic tubes forming
the joints, cold air, or a liquid having a cooling action, (for instance, liquid carbonic
acid gas) may be introduced into the space e between the inner and outer cylinders.
in order to produce an impermeable anil secure joint by freezing the intermediate
water.
When the first rings or cylinders (say the first three) of the permanent ensing or
lining are finally fixed in position, the lever to is mounted above the shaft, the rods
of the boring appliance being hooked thereto by a chain and adjustable clamp r.
The outer end of the lever carries an adjustable counterweight to counterpoise
the weight of the connections, which increases as the depth of the shaft increases.
To maintain, as far as practicable, the lever in a horizontal position, the adjustable
clamp is shifted from time to time, and the chain screws are regulated. The
movable cylinder descends by its own weight, but when the friction becomes too
great for this purpose, it is lowered by means of screw or hydraulic jacks mor
otherwise.
In order to replace from time to time the worn-out tools or diamonds of the
boring bar or ring, the latter is raised towards the ceiling of the lower chamber
by means of the screw thread formed upon the shaft. A portion of the water
contained in the chamber is displaced by introducing therein nieces of ice, and a
liquid which congeals more readily than the water such as petroleum or other oils.
The introduction of ice followed by that of cold air, causes the freezing of the
liquid as well as the water which is below. After this water has been thus solidifiedl,
the lighter liquid above is thawed, by means of steam or a quantity of similar
liquid heated to a sufliciently high temperature. When the whole of the upper
liquid has been thawed, it is forced out of the chumber by compressed air,
and a compartment free from water and closed at the bottom by a block or layer
of ice, is tans formed. To consolidate this layer of ice, cold air is again introduced
into the chamber. The compartment may also be formed by simply filling it with
compressed air, and thereby driving out the water. The manhole may then be
opened and a descent effected in order to replace the worn out tools or diamonds.
This done, the chamber is left, the man-hole closed, the ice at the bottom of the
chamber is thawed by steam, or otherwise, the boring ring is lowered, and the
boring may be continued.
The same process may be used for tunnelling, driving levels and the like through
moving soil or subterranean water. In this case the rods of the boring ring are
supported by suitable brackets arranged at intervals, and the horizontal forward
motion of the movable cylinder is produced by pressure, with the aid of well-known
apparatus.

page_text: en the shaft, pit, tunnel, level, or the like, has been hored, a sole or a wall of
At the same
formed at the bottom, and the boring apparatus is withdrawn.
protecting wall of ice is formed round the movable casing; the latter, with
arp edged end, is removed bit by bit, and replaced by the rings of the
ment casing.
ving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
nd in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
15:-
The improvements in the means and apparatus or appliances for facilitating
inking of shafts, pits, or borings, in aqueous strata or under water, and
gous operations, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
ngs.
In the process for the purposes set forth in the Specification:
1
a.) Causing a movable cylinder or casing a, closed near the ground by an
impermeable partition to descend (or to be otherwise propelled) by the aid
of a boring ring or crown actuated by a central shaft and litted with
tools, diamonds or teeth, the ring or crown cutting or boring through the
ground below or in front of the movable cylinder or casing for which
purpose its diameter can be lengthened or shortened by hydraulic pressure.
.) Causing the boring ring or crown to ascend in the working chamber e
below the impermeable roof c by means of a screw thread formed upon its
guiding shaft and a nut suitably arranged upon the roof c.
c.) Forcing out the water contained in the upper part of the working
chamber by introducing therein under pressure a liquid of lesser specific
gravity which freezes more readily than water.
d.) Partly forcing out and then congealing the water in the working chamber
by introducing pieces of ice and a current of cold air, whence results the
congelation or the solidification of the congealable liquid which is readily
effected in the upper part of the chamber e.
e.) Producing the thawing of the liquid mentioned in Claim (e) by the
introduction of steam or of a certain quantity of the same liquid sufficiently
heated, and forcing out this thawed liquid by the introduction of compressed
air, whereas the lower part or sole of the chamber e remains closed by the
layer of ice of the subterranean water which is consolidated, if required, by
the introduction of cold air in the empty compartment formed at the top of
the chamber e.
Descending into the empty compartment under the impermeable roof c
through the man hole i, which is usually closed, for the purpose of replacing
the worn out tools or diamonds in the boring ring or crown and leaving
the said chamber subsequently through the man hole which is then closed
hermetically.
7.) Thawing the ice sole of the empty compartment in the chamber e by the
introduction of steam or hot water, and lowering again the boring ring or
crown for the purpose of resuming the boring operation after having
increased the diameter of the said extensible boring ring by hydraulic
power.
h.) Erecting in the shaft thus sunk a permanent casing, framing or lining by
suspending, in the upper part of the provisional or movable cylinder or
casing one below the other, lining rings p formed of sections and the
foundation for which is a supporting or clamping ring arranged above the
level of the subterranean water, these rings being arranged alternately
with impermeable joint making hoops, whereby they are connected
together and a water and air tight joint is formed between the inner wall.
of the movable cylinder and the outer wall of the permanent casing.
P

page_text: (i.) Introducing in the intervals between the two casings strongly cooled air
or liquids having a cooling action in order to produce through the congelation
of the water in these intervals an impermeable joint between the two
casings, all substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
AL 100
GEORGE C. DOWNING.