IMPROVEMENTS IN BORING MACHINERY FOR MINING PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Ainsley, of Pelton Fell, in the County of Durham,
Miner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BORING MACHINERY FOR
MINING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 28th November 1876, and dated the 14th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Ainsley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1876.
DAVID AINSLEY, of Pelton Fell, in the County of Durham, Miner. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BORING MACHINERY FOR MINING PURPOSES."
The object of my Invention is to provide for general mining purposes a simple
and efficient boring machine, which can readily be fixed in position and transported
from place to place. It will be capable of working either in a horizontal, vertical,
or diagonal direction at the pleasure of the miner.
The Invention is particularly suitable for coal working, for which purpose the
auger or drilling tool is fitted to a screw shaft supported in a box bearing or box
nut, having a female screw cut within to receive the threads of the screw shaft.
The box bearing is divided vertically into two portions loosely attached together by
two loose double-headed pins, that permit the said portions to advance to or recede
from each other, and when they are apart to the utmost extent the screw shaft can
be slipped through the box bearing without acting as a screw. The box bearing
with the screw shaft within it is now mounted in a cradle, supported by a clamp to
a telescopic standard. The cradle receives the box bearing between two adjustable
pivot screws, the screwing up of which causes the two portions of the box bearing
to approach each other, which gripping the screw shaft acts in the manner of a box
nut. The screw shaft being now supported by the box bearing between the two
pivot pins is capable of moving in a vertical arc, and the cradle moving on a centre
pin allows it to describe a horizontal arc.
The vertical height of the cradle may be adjusted by raising or lowering the
clamp on the telescopic standard.

page_text: The standard is composed of two pieces of pipes sliding one within the other, but
the inner pipe may be set fast by screwing up a set screw passing through the
metal of the larger pipe to the surface of the smaller pipe within. The set screw is
at one end of the larger pipe, and thus allows the standard to be adjusted to the
required length or height. At each end of the said standard are the ordinary means
of firmly fixing the machine in position when at work.
Provisions are made at one end of the screw shaft to fix a winch handle, the
turning of which propels the auger into the coal, the box bearing acting as the abut-
ment. The rate of progress of the tool is governed by the number of threads to the
inch on the screw shaft, which should be adapted to the class of work to be
performed.
When it is required to bore in a perpendicular direction, as in sinking a pit or
well, the standard is fixed in a horizontal position from side to side of the pit, the
screw shaft, with the auger downwards, standing erect. In place of the winch
above mentioned there would be a horizontal mitre wheel keyed on the upper end
of the screw shaft, and actuated by a similar wheel in a vertical position turned by
a winch handle. The means employed to support this second wheel is by a shoulder
on the screw shaft carrying a loose collar having a projecting handle, and sur-
rounding the screw shaft. The loose collar carries the second mitre wheel, which the
operator turns with his right hand, whilst with his left hand he grasps the projecting
handle of the loose collar to keep it in position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Ainsley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th December
1876.
DAVID AINSLEY, of Pelton Fell, in the County of Durham, Miner.
MENTS IN BORING MACHINERY FOR MINING PURPOSES."
"IMPROVE-
The object of my Invention is to provide for general mining purposes a simple
and efficient boring machine, which can be readily fixed in position and transported
from place to place, and capable of boring in a horizontal, vertical, or oblique
direction at the pleasure of the miner.
The Invention is particularly suitable for coal working, and consists of a screw
shaft or boring spindle supported in a box bearing having a female screw cut within
it to receive the threads of the screw shaft. The said box bearing is in a longi-
tudinal direction divided vertically into two portions loosely attached together by
two loose double-headed pins or bolts that permit the said portions to advance to or
recede from each other, in order that when apart to their utmost extent the screw
shaft can be slipped through the box bearing without it acting as a screw nut, thus.
economising time in returning the screw shaft after performing one length of
boring. The box bearing with the screw shaft within it is mounted in a carriage
or cradle supported by a clamp to a telescopic standard. The cradle receives the
box bearing between two adjustable pivot pins, of which the screwing up of one
causes the two portions of the box bearing to approach each other, and gripping the
screw shaft act in the manner of a box nut. The screw shaft being now sup-
ported by the box bearing between the two pivot pins is capable of moving the
boring tool in a vertical arc, while the cradle moving on a centre pin allows it to
describe a horizontal arc.
The vertical height of the cradle may be adjusted by raising or lowering the
clamp on the telescopic standard, and secured at the desired height by tightening a
Screw.
The standard is composed of two pieces of pipes sliding one within the other, but

page_text: the inner pipe may be set fast by screwing up a set screw, which passes through
the metal of the larger pipe to the surface of the smaller pipe. The set screw is at
one end of the larger pipe, and thus allows the standard to be adjusted to the
required length or height. At each end of the standard may be the usual means
of firmly fixing the machine in position when at work.
Provisions are made at one end of the screw shaft or boring spindle to receive the
boring tool; at the other end is fitted a winch handle, the turning of which propels
the boring tool into the coal or rock, the box bearing acting as the abutment. The
rate of the tool's advancement is governed by the number of threads to the inch cut
on the screw shaft, which should be adapted to the nature of the material to be
perforated.
When it is required to bore in a perpendicular direction, as in sinking a well or
pit, the standard is fixed in a horizontal position from side to side of the excavation,
the screw shaft, with the boring tool downwards, standing erect. In lieu of the
winch handle above mentioned there would be a horizontal mitre wheel keyed on
to the upper end of the screw shaft. This mitre wheel would be actuated by a
similar wheel in a vertical position turned by a winch handle. The means employed
to support this second wheel is by a shoulder on the screw shaft carrying a loose
collar having a projecting handle, and surrounding the screw shaft. The loose collar
carries the vertical mitre wheel by means of a projecting pin or axle, on which
revolves the said wheel when the operator turns the aforesaid winch handle. During
this operation the projecting handle of the loose collar is grasped by the left hand to
keep the working parts in position.
In the accompanying Drawing,-
Figure 1 shews a side view of my improved boring machine adapted for long
boring in coal; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same on line B, C, (Figure 1);
and Figure 3, a part sectional plan on line B, D, (Figure 1).
Figure 4 is a plan of the machine arranged for vertical boring; and Figure 5 is
an elevation of the upper end of the screw shaft to same.
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are various details, and will be herein-after explained.
A, Figures 1 and 4, is the telescopic standard consisting of two pieces of pipes a, a*.
The inner pipe a* is, after adjustment to suit the varying height of the roof or
width of excavation, fixed at any desired point within the larger one by screwing
up the set screw c. The top and bottom of the standard are respectively provided
with a screw b and a hinged foot or claw 6*, the latter affording a firm base for the
machine, and the former when screwed tightly up securing the same in position.
g is the clamp embracing the pipe a, and set fast when adjusted to the required
height by the set screw c¹. The head of the clamp is enlarged and formed to receive
the centre pin of the cradle f, see Figure 2. The cradle has two pivot pins l, l',
projecting interiorly from opposite sides, and approaching each other. One of them
is capable of adjusting the distance between their extremities.
e, e¹, Figures 2 and 3, is the box bearing or box nut, formed of two portions held
loosely together by two double-headed pins or bolts m, m. The screw shuft d is
placed between the two portions e, e¹, as shewn, and set in the cradle between the
two pivot pins 1, 1', there being a recess e¹, Figure 6, formed in the external face of
each portion to receive the said pivot pins. By screwing up the adjustable pivot
pin, the two sides of the box bearing are made to grip the screw shaft, and act as
a box nut, propelling the same forward when rotary motion in a suitable direction
is given thereto. This arrangement of box bearing when freed from the pivot pins
not only allows the screw shaft to be returned after a forward motion without the
tedious operation of reversing the rotation of the shaft, but on being placed in
position and tightening up the pivot pin , the screw shaft is thus enabled to recut
its female thread, when by long continued use the female screw of the box nut
becomes worn.
d is the screw shaft or boring spindle with a screw cut along its length of a pitch
suitable for the class of work for which it is required. For coal boring I should

page_text: .
prefer a screw cut thereon having five threads to the inch; for stone boring, ten
threads to the inch; and for hard rock, thirteen threads to the inch. The outer or
near end of this shaft is formed, as shewn in the Drawing, to receive either a
winch N (Figure 1) or bevel gearing O (Figures 4 and 5). In the former case the
socket piece o is secured to the screw shaft by a pin or other suitable means; the
radial arm n passing through the head of the socket piece is held fast therein by
screwing up the set screw c₁. The advantage of this arrangement is that the radius
of the circumference described by the winch handle can be reduced or enlarged to
suit the locality in which the machine is required to work.
The bevel gearing will be herein-after described when speaking of vertical
boring.
The boring tool may be of the ordinary type suitable for the material to be per-
forated, and fitted to the inner extremity of the screw shaft by any of the usual
means. I prefer however to form the said tool as shewn to an enlarged scale in
Figure 7. It will be here observed that the tool consists of two different descrip-
tions of instruments-p, the auger bit or cutting instrument; and r, the archimedean
screw or clearing instrument. The first named is for perforating and cutting down
the material, the second for clearing the hole of the fragments.
For coal boring or for perforating soft rock the auger bit has a peculiarly formed
cutting edge, as shewn at p¹ (Figure 8 being an end view of the same). This form
of cutting edge steadies the tool when rotating more effectively than the ordinary
centre-point type, and ensures it keeping a direct line.
The clearing instrument is made in convenient lengths, each having a male and
female end, so that any moderate depth of hole can be bored in the coal by con-
necting and introducing one length at a time; thus a hole twenty to thirty feet
deep can be easily bored in coal, the auger bit of course being screwed on the first
length, and additional lengths added as occasion may require.
I prefer to make the archimedean screw of cast malleable iron. The pattern or
mould for the same should for the purpose of construction be in three parts s, t, u,
as shewn in Figure 9, which is an end and part longitudinal view of the mould or
pattern.
The adoption of the archimedean screw or clearing tool in connection with an
auger bit or any suitable cutting tool remedies any tendency of the machine to
become fixed in the hole by jamming, the clearing tool being capable of removing
the fragments faster than they are formed by the cutting tool.
When the machine is used for vertical boring the winch N (Figure 1) may be
removed, and the bevel gearing O, seo Figures 4 and 5, substituted therefor. h' is
the loose collar supported by a shoulder on the screw shaft, and carrying by means
of a projecting axle h¹¹ the bevel or mitre wheel k¹, on which it revolves when the
winch handle, to which the said wheel is fitted, is turned by the operator. The
bevel or mitre wheel kis keyed on the screw shaft d, and gears with the aforesaid
wheel ki, by which it is actuated. h is a projecting handle from the loose collar for
the operator to grasp with his left hand and prevent the mitre wheel k¹ travelling
round the screw shaft without actuating the mitre wheel k, which gives through
the aforesaid screw shaft the necessary rotary and progressive motion to the boring
tool.
Figure 6 shews the construction of the box bearing, e being the interior face of
one portion, and d the female screw, which should be of the same pitch as the screw
shaft; e' is the exterior face of the other portion, e¹¹ being the recess for the pivot
pins to work in and support the screw shaft within the box bearing; m², m³, are the
holes for the double-headed bolts before mentioned.
Having now particularly described the object and nature of my said Invention,
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,-
1stly. The box bearing e, e¹, constructed and arranged as above described and
shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the annexed Drawing.

page_text: 2ndly. The cradle f for supporting the screw shaft within the box bearing
between two pivot pins, as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing.
And, 3dly. The long boring tool p, r, (Figure 7), substantially as above described
and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Ainsley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
DAVID AINSLEY. (L.B.)