Improvements in Machines for Boring Rock or other Hard Substance.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Boring Rock or other Hard
Substance.
I, GRANVILLE SHARP ULLATHORNE of 63 Queen Victoria Street, London
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to and has for its objects, improvements in the construction
of machines worked by steam, air, or other motive fluid, for boring rock or other
hard substance, in which a jumper or drill attached to a piston rod is carried to
and fro by the action of a piston working in a cylinder,-whereby such machines
may be more durable and certain in their action than heretofore.
I construct my machine so that the valve chamber shall be cylindrical, with a
cylindrical or partly cylindrical valve carried between two valve pistons fixed to
one another or in one piece, these pistons and valve are moved to and fro by the
motive fluid being admitted from and exhausted to the main cylinder at each end
of the valve chamber alternately. In some cases I form the valve and pistons of
one piece. By thus actuating the valve by the motive fluid instead of by means
of tappets, levers, or similar contrivances, I avoid not only loss of power, but much
wear and tear, and consequently I ensure greater durability.o
So that the valve may not rotate, I make in one of the end covers of the valve
chamber a suitable recess, and on the valve piston at that end I make a projection
fitting and working into the recess, or I form a recess in the valve piston and a
projection on the end cover, or I form a recess or slot in the piece joining the two
valve pistons and a projection working in it, fixed to the shell of the valve
chamber.
In order that the motive fluid may pass from the main cylinder to one or other
end of the valve chamber, and be exhausted from the opposite end of the valve
chamber to the main cylinder, I construct two passages, one from near one end of
the main cylinder to one end of the valve chamber, and the other from near the
other end of the main cylinder to the other end of the valve chamber, and I make
each of these passages to have two or more openings into the main cylinder placed
at a distance from one another in the direction of its length. I construct the
piston with an annular recess always open to the exhaust and of such length and
dimensions that when the main piston driven by the motive fluid has travelled the
desired distance from either end of the main cylinder, the opening nearest that end
to one of the passages to the valve chamber is uncovered, and the motive fluid
passes to the valve chamber to reverse the valve at the same time that the opening
nearest the centre of the main cylinder to the passage to the opposite end of the
valve chamber is uncovered and open to the exhaust in the recess of the piston, so
that the valve is reversed causing the direction of the main piston to be reversed.
By these means the motive fluid is sooner admitted to, and exhausted from the
valve chamber, and the bearing surface of the main piston may be made much
longer for the same length of stroke, whereby greater durability is attained, than
is possible in the usual arrangement of steam or air moved valves.
In some cases,
in order that, when reversing the direction of the main piston, the valve may move
in the same direction as the main piston, I make each of the two ports which are
alternately opened and closed by the valve to communicate with a passage leading
to the opposite end of the main cylinder, and I make these two passages one on
each side of the valve chamber or main cylinder, so that they pass one another
without crossing.
I cause the piston, piston rod, and drill or jumper to partly rotate on the back

page_text: stroke by means of a nut fixed in the back end of the piston, fitting and working
on a rifled or twisted bar, which bar is prevented from rotating in one direction,
but is free to rotate in the other direction, similarly as in some other rock-boring
machines, but I make the bar to pass through the back cover of the main cylinder,
and outside the back cover I fix on the bar a disc whose periphery is notched out
so as to form one or more inclined planes. On the outside and at the back of the
back cover of the main cylinder I attach a cover piece or cap which covers over
the disc, and I make the inside of the cap circular, and in the notch or notches of
the disc and between the disc and the cap I place a ball or balls, or roller or
rollers. The effect of this arrangement is that when the bar and disc are turned
in one direction the ball or balls, or roller or rollers are free to move with the disc,
but in the opposite direction the ball or balls, or roller or rollers, moving up the
inclined plane or planes, are fixed between the disc and the cap and firmly clutch
the disc and prevent it and the bar rotating. Or in place of the notched disc
arrangement as described, I fix a plain disc to the bar, and I attach to the disc a
pawl or pawls working in a ratchet wheel keyed into or otherwise attached to or
forming part of the inside of the cap. Or in place of a disc, I wind round that
part of the bar a piece of steel or other suitable metal in the form of a spiral
spring one end of which I fix to the back cover or cap, and which holds the bar
tightly to prevent it rotating in one direction, but allows the bar to rotate freely
in the opposite direction. In any case I place the rotating arrangement, whether
of clutch, or ratchet and pawl, or otherwise, inside the cap, which cap I attach to
the back cover by studs or in such other manner as to be easily removed without
disturbance to any other part of the machine, so that the parts of the rotating
arrangement can be readily renewed or repaired. I make the rotation bar to
project through the cap, and to be so shaped at its end that the feed handle of the
machine hereinafter mentioned may fit on it in order that at any time the rotation
can be effected by hand.
To attach the jumper or drill to the piston rod, I make a conical hole in the end
of the piston rod, or in a toolholder separate from the piston rod, which toolholder
I fix to the end of the piston rod by a taper key or other suitable means. To
work in this conical hole, I arrange two or more liners fitting on their outsides to
the coned hole in the piston rod or toolholder, but forming a cylindrical hole for
the jumper or drill. These liners are moved to and fro by a nut screwed on to the
end of the piston rod or toolholder. The effect of this arrangement is that when
the jumper or drill is inserted in the hole, and the nut is screwed up the piston rod
or toolholder, the liners are forced up the conical hole and bind tightly round the
jumper or drill so as to hold it firmly, and when the nut is screwed back the liners
are brought back and the jumper or drill is released.
I construct a jacket or cradle with a V or other suitably shaped groove on each
side, in which the cylinder, with projections fitting in the grooves of the jacket is
free to slide. A part or parts of the jacket forming one or both of the V slides
I make detachable from the jacket and held on by bolts or other suitable means, so
that this part or parts may be adjusted and fixed to take up wear.
I make the jacket with a projection or lug, through which I place a loose
cylindrical nut with collar at one end, and nut or nuts screwed on to the other end
to take up wear. Passing through this cylindrical nut, and working in it, is a feed
screw which is carried in a bearing or lug on the cylinder. On this screw I make
a collar to but against one side of the lug on the main cylinder, and I place a nut
with or without check nut to but against the opposite side of the same lug on the
main cylinder, so that wear between the lug and the feed screw collar or nut may
readily be taken up by tightening the nut or nuts. Or, instead of the feed screw
being carried in a bearing or lug on the main cylinder, and working in a nut in a
projection or lug on the jacket, I may reverse the action, and make the feed screw
to be carried in a bearing or lug on the jacket, to work in a nut in a lug on the
main cylinder. By turning the feed screw by a feed handle or otherwise, the
cylinder may be moved backwards and forwards in the jacket.

page_text: Or, the cylinder may be fed forward, that is moved forward in the jacket, by the
feed screw automatically to accord with the rate at which the jumper or drill
penetrates the rock or other hard substance. For this purpose, in the case of the
feed screw being carried in a bearing or lug on the cylinder, I form a rotating
device encircling a part of the feed screw, similar to one of those already herein
described for the rifled or twisted bar. This rotating device I enclose in a sleeve
with projecting arm actuated to and fro by a lever working on a pivot attached
to the outside of main cylinder. The front end of this lever projects beyond the
main cylinder sufficiently far, and is so arranged that on the forward stroke of the
piston the toolholder at the end of the piston rod forces it outwards but only when
the piston has an undue length of forward stroke, that is when the jumper or drill
has penetrated so far that the cylinder requires to be fed forward; on the return
stroke the lever reverts to its former position. The effect of this motion of the
lever is to actuate the sleeve enclosing the rotating device, and, thus to turn the
feed screw in the direction to feed the cylinder forward. Or, in the case of
the feed screw being carried in a lug on the jacket, I prevent the feed screw
turning, and I make the rotation device actuated by the lever to encircle the loose
nut carried in a lug on the main cylinder through which the feed screw works, so
that to feed the cylinder forward the nut, instead of the feed screw, is turned.
I arrange that this automatic feed device may be put in or out of gear as
required.
For the purpose of fixing my machine to a stand or bar, I make the jacket with
a projection in the form of a truncated cone, having its smaller end nearest to the
jacket. I construct a main clamp to which the jacket, by its conical projection,
may be fixed.
To effect this I make a flat surface on the top of the main clamp for the base
of the conical projection on the jacket to rest on, and at one side of the top I make
a groove into which the conical projection fits, and at the other side I arrange a
taper key to pass, on one of its sides, over and against the conical projection, or to
work against a gripping plate which passes over and against the conical projection,
and on its other side to work against a fixed part of the main clamp, so that when
the taper key is drawn up by means of a nut or otherwise, it presses the conical
projection on the jacket against the groove on the main clamp, and firmly fixes it.
On loosening the taper key, the jacket may be turned round in any direction.
Instead of a taper key, I may use for the same purpose a set screw and gripping
plate. I construct the main clamp to encircle a bar or stand and, so that it may
be readily lifted from the bar or stand, I make it in two pieces hinged together at
one side and bolted together at the other; when the bolt or bolts are tightened,
the main clamp is firmly fixed to the stand or bar. Or, as in the case of a tripod
stand, instead of making the main clamp in two pieces, I make it to form a loose
part between jaws of the stand, and I make one end of the main clamp in the form
of a hollow cone, and I pass a conical headed bolt through the stand and main
clamp, so that when the nut on the bolt is screwed up it draws the jaws of the
stand and main clamp together, and the cone on the bolt firmly binds in the hollow
cone on the main clamp, and fixes the main clamp. Thus my machine may be
pointed in any direction and firmly fixed there.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of July 1891.
G. S. ULLATHORNE.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Boring Rock or other Hard
Substance.
I GRANVILLE SHARP ULLATHORNE of 63 Queen Victoria Street London
Civil 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 and has for its objects, improvements in the construction
of machines worked by steam, air, or other motive fluid for boring rock or other
hard substance, in which a jumper or drill attached to a piston rod is carried to and
fro by the action of a piston working in a cylinder, whereby such machines may be
more durable and certain in their action than heretofore. Such machines are herein-
after referred to in my claims as "machines of the kind specified."
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a sectional plan of my machine, the section being taken through
the centres of the main cylinder and valve chamber.
Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of my machine.
Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the toolholder of my machine.
Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section of the said toolholder.
Fig. 5 represents a transverse section through the centre of the valve chamber of
my machine, without the jacket or cradle.
Fig. represents a back end elevation of my machine, but with half of the
top of the rotation cover piece or cap broken off to show the rotation arrangement
by means of inclined planes and rollers as hereinafter described.
Fig. 7 represents a longitudinal section of the back cover of my machine
including part of the twisted or rifled bar and rotation arrangement by means of a
metal coil as hereinafter described.
Fig. 8 represents a back end elevation of the said cover but with half of the top
of the rotation cover piece or cap broken off.
Fig. 9 represents a plan of the main clamp of my machine.
Fig. 10 represents a side elevation of the said main clamp.
I construct my machine so that the valve chamber a shall form a separate part
from but shall be attached to the main cylinder A by studs u or other suitable
means, such valve chamber a being accurately fitted into a recess formed on the
outside of the main cylinder A, the curbs 11 of the recess forming resistance to
longitudinal displacement, thus avoiding all chance of the shearing of studs,
bolts, or pins. I make the valve chamber a cylindrical with a valve b to work in
the cylindrical chamber a and carried between two valve pistons c c fixed to one
another or in one piece, these pistons and valve are moved to and fro by the motive
fluid being admitted from and exhausted to the main cylinder A at each end of the
valve chamber a alternately. In some cases I form the valve and pistons in one
piece. By thus actuating the valve by the motive fluid instead of by means of
tappets levers or similar contrivances, I avoid not only loss of power but much wear
and tear and consequently I ensure greater durability. So that the valve b may
not rotate, I make in one of the end covers i of the valve chamber a a suitable
recess d, and on the valve piston c at that end I make a projection e fitting and
working into the recess d, or I form a recess in the valve piston and a projection on
the end cover, or I form a recess or slot in the piece joining the two valve
pistons, and a projection working in it fixed to the shell of the valve chamber.
In order that the motive fluid may pass from the main cylinder A to one or other
end of the valve chamber a, and be exhausted from the opposite end of the valve

page_text: chamber a to the main cylinder A, I construct two passages h. h, one from near one
end of the main cylinder A to one end of the valve chamber a, and the other from
near the other end of the main cylinder A to the other end of the valve chamber a,
and I make each of the passages h. h, to have two or more openings k₁ ką k₁ k₁ into
the main cylinder A placed at a distance from one another in the direction of its
length. I construct the piston B with an annular recess D always open to the
exhaust E and of such length and dimensions that when the main piston B driven
by the motive fluid has travelled the desired distance from either end of the main
cylinder A, the opening ₁ or k, as the case may be, nearest that end to one of the
passages or as the case may be to the valve chamber a is uncovered and the
motive fluid passes to the valve chamber a to reverse the valve at the same time
that the opening k or k₂ as the case may be nearest the centre of the main
cylinder A to the passage or h, as the case may be to the opposite end of the valve
chamber a is uncovered and open to the exhaust in the recess D of the piston B
so that the valve is reversed causing the direction of the main piston B to be
reversed. By these means the motive fluid is sooner admitted to and exhausted
from the valve chamber a and the bearing surface of the main piston B may be
made much longer for the same length of stroke, whereby greater durability is
attained than is possible in the usual arrangement of steam or air moved valves.
In some cases in order that when reversing the direction of the main cylinder the
valve may move in the same direction as the main piston, 1 make each of the two
ports which are alternately opened and closed by the valve to communicate with a
passage leading to the opposite end of the main cylinder, and I make these two
passages one on each side of the valve chamber or main cylinder so that they pass
one another without crossing. I cause the piston B piston rod B₁ and drill or
jumper to partly rotate on the back stroke by means of a nut f fixed in the back
end of the piston B fitting and working on a rifled or twisted bar g which bar is
prevented from rotating in one direction but is free to rotate in the other direction,
similarly as in some other rock boring machines, but I make the bar
to pass
through the back cover j of the main cylinder A and outside the back cover j I fix
on the har ga disc m whose periphery is notched out so as to form one or more
inclined planes n. On the outside and at the back of the back cover j of the main
cylinder, I attach a cover piece or cap o which covers over the disc m and I make
the inside of the cap o circular, and in the notches of the disc m and between the
disc m and the cap o I place a ball or balls or roller or rollers q. The effect of
this arrangement is that when the bar y and disc mare turned in one direction, the
ball or balls or roller or rollers are free to move with the disc m but in the
opposite direction the ball or balls or roller or rollers moving up the inclined
plane or planes n are fixed between the disc m and the capo and firmly
clutch the disc m and prevent it and the bar rotating. Or in place of
a disc as described I wind round that part of the bar or round a collar r
Figs. 7 and 8, a piece of steel or other suitable metal in the form of a spiral springs
one end $1 of which I fix to the back cover j or cap and which holds the bar g
tightly to prevent it rotating in one direction but allows the bar g to rotate freely
in the opposite direction. in any case I place the rotating arrangement whether of
clutch, ratchet and pawl, or otherwise inside the cap o, which cap o I attach to the
back cover by studs t. t or in such other manner as to be easily removed without
disturbance to any other part of the machine, so that the parts of the rotating
arrangement can be readily renewed or repaired. I make the rotation bar g to
project through the cap o and to be so shaped at its end g₁ that the feed handle of
the machine hereinafter mentioned may fit on it in order that at any time the rotation
can be effected by hand.
To attach the jumper or drill to the piston rod B₁ I make a conical hole in the
end of the rod or in a toolholder T Figs. 3 and 4 separate from the piston rod B₁
which toolholder T I fix to the end of the piston rod B₁ by a taper key Z or other
suitable means. To work in this conical hole v I arrange two or more liners w w

page_text: fitting on their outsides to the conical hole in the piston rod or tool holder T but
forming a cylindrical hole a for the jumper or drill. These liners to ware moved to
and fro by a nut N screwed on the end of the piston rod or toolholder T. The
effect of this arrangement is that when the jumper or drill is inserted in the hole a
and the nut N is screwed up the piston rod or toolholder T, the liners ww are forced up
the conical hole v and bind tightly round the jumper or drill so as to hold it firmly,
and when the nut N is screwed back the liners w ware brought back and the
jumper or drill is released.
I construct a jacket or cradle J with a V or other suitably shaped groove G, G
on each side, in which the main cylinder A with projections P. P. fitting in the
grooves G, G. of the jacket J is free to slide. A part G₁ or parts of the jacket
forming one or both of the grooves I make detachable from the jacket J, and held
on by bolts y or other suitable means so that this part G₁ or parts may be adjusted
and fixed to take up wear.
I make the jacket J. with a projection or lug through which I place a loose
cylindrical nut M with collar at one end and nut O or nuts screwed on to the other
end to take up wear. Passing through this cylindrical nut M, and working in it is a
feed screw Qwhich is carried in a bearing or lug R on the main cylinder A. On
this screw I make a collar Q to but against one side of the lug R in the main
cylinder and place a nut S with or without check nut to but against the opposite
side of the same lug R on the main cylinder, so that wear between the lug R and
the feed screw collar Q or nut S may be readily taken up by tightening the nut or
nuts. Or instead of the feed screw being carried in a bearing or lug on the main
cylinder and working in a nut in a projection or lug on the jacket, I may reverse
the action and make the feed screw to be carried in a bearing or lug on the jacket
to work in a nut in a lug on the main cylinder. By turning the feed screw Q by a
handle or otherwise the cylinder A may be moved backwards and forwards in the
jacket J. Or the cylinder may be fed forward that is moved forward in the jacket
by the feed screw automatically to accord with the rate at which the jumper or
drill penetrates the rock or other hard substance. For this purpose, in the case of
the feed screw being carried in a bearing or lug on the cylinder as shewn in the
drawings, I form a rotating device encircling a part of the feed screw similar to one
of those already herein described for the rifled or twisted bar. This rotating
device I enclose in a sleeve with projecting arm actuated to and fro by a lever
working on a pivot attached to the outside of the main cylinder. The front end of
this lever projects beyond the main cylinder sufficiently far, and is so arranged that
on the forward stroke of the piston the toolholder at the end of the piston rod
forces it outwards but only when the piston has an undue length of stroke, that is
when the jumper or drill has penetrated so far that the cylinder requires to be fed
forward, on the return stroke the lever reverts to its former position. The effect of
this motion of the lever is to actuate the sleeve enclosing the rotating device and
thus to turn the feed screw in the direction to feed the cylinder forward. Or in the
case of the feed screw being carried in a lug on the jacket, I prevent the feed screw
turning, and I make the rotation device actuated by the lever to encircle the loose
nut carried in a lug on the main cylinder through which the feed screw works, so
that to feed the cylinder forward the nut instead of the feed screw is turned. I
arrange that this automatic feed device may be put in or out of gear as required.
For the purpose of fixing my machine to a stand or bar I make the jacket J with
a projection K in the form of a truncated cone having its smaller end nearest to the
jacket J. I construct a main clamp F Figs. 9 and 10 to which the jacket J by its
conical projection K may be fixed. To effect this I make a flat surface H. on the
top of the main clamp F for the base of the conical projection K on the jacket J to
rest on, and at one side of the top I make a groove H₁ into which the conical
projection K fits, and at the other side I arrange a taper key I to pass on one of
its sides over and against the conical projection K, or to work against a gripping 5
plate X which passes over and against the conical projection K, and on its other

page_text: side to work against a fixed part H, of the main clamp, so that when the taper
key I is drawn up by means of a nut W or otherwise, it presses the conical projec-
tion K on the jacket against the groove H₁ on the main clamp F and firmly fixes it.
On loosening the taper key 1 the jacket J may be turned round in any direction.
Instead of a taper key and gripping plate I may use for the same purpose a set
Screw and gripping plate. I construct the main clamp F to encircle a bar or stand
and so that it may be readily lifted from the bar or stand, I make it in two
pieces F, F, hinged together at one side and bolted together at the other, when the
bolt V or bolts are tightened the main clamp F is firmly fixed to the stand or bar.
Or as in the case of a tripod stand, instead of making the main clamp in two pieces
I make it to form a loose part between jaws of the stand and I make one end of the
main clamp in the form of a hollow cone, and I pass a conical headed bolt through
the stand and main clamp so that when the nut on the bolt is screwed up it draws
the jaws of the stand and the main clamp together, and the cone on the bolt firmly
binds in the hollow cone on the main clamp. Thus my machine may be pointed in
any direction and firmly fixed there.
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. The arrangement and combination of a cylindrical valve chamber fitted into a
recess on and fixed to the main cylinder, a valve to work in the said chamber, valve
pistons, projection and recess for preventing the valve rotating, ports, and exhaust
passages, the valve pistons and valve being actuated to and fro by the motive fluid
admitted to and exhausted from each end of the valve chamber alternately through
passages from the main cylinder, such passages having two or more openings into
the main cylinder, the openings of each such passage being covered and uncovered
by the main piston alternately, substantially as described and set forth in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The employment in machines of the kind specified in the device for rotating
the jumper or drill of a twisted or rifled bar and fixed to it a disc having a notch or
notches forming one or more inclined planes on its periphery, and a ball or balls, or
roller or rollers, working in the notch or notches between the disc and a fixed
surrounding part of the machine or cover, substantially as described and set forth
in the accompanying drawings.
3. The employment in machines of the kind specified in the device for rotating
the jumper or drill of a twisted or rifled bar, and wound round a straight or smooth
portion of it, or round a collar fixed on it, a piece of steel or other metal in the form
of a spiral spring, one end of which is attached to a fixed part of the machine or
cover, substantially as described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
4. The employment in machines of the kind specified of a cap over the rotating
device so fastened to the machine that it can be removed without disturbance to
other parts of the machine, and the projection through the cap of the back end
of the twisted or rifled bar so shaped that the feed handle of the machine may fit on
it, substantially as described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
5. The employment in machines of the kind specified of a toolholder fixed to or
forming part of the piston rod with conical hole and taper liners therein, such taper
liners being moved to and fro by a nut, whereby they are made to firmly grip or
release the jumper or drill, substantially as described and set forth in the
accompanying drawings.
6. The employment in machines of the kind specified for the purposes of
automatically feeding the cylinder of the machine forward in proportion as the
jumper or drill penetrates the rock or other hard substance of a lever actuating a
rotating device enclosed in a sleeve, with projecting arm on the feed screw or on the
nut through which the feed screw passes, substantially as described.
7. The employment for the purpose of fixing a machine of the kind specified to a
stand or bar of a hinged main clamp with taper key which when drawn or forced

page_text: up causes the main clamp to grip a projection on the jacket of the said machine
substantially as described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
8. The construction arrangement and combination of parts forming a machine,
substantially as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of December 1891.
GRANVILLE SHARP ULLATHORNE.