Improvements in Machinery for Drilling Rock, Coal, and other Minerals.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 21st July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th Sept., 1887.
RESERVE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Drilling Rock, Coal, and
other Minerals.
I, JOHN GREY CRANSTON, 24 Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, County of
Northumberland, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in such machines as drill or cut rock,
coal, or other minerals by the reciprocating action of the drilling or cutting tool
attached to the pistonrod of a piston actuated by steam or compressed air; and my
improvements refer more particularly to the parts of such machines by which the
pistonrod is rotated, on its axis, or is prevented from rotating, and worked simultaneously
in combination with the feed, rotating and valve gear, as is more fully described
hereafter.
The food-screw of the machine is fitted with one or more parallel grooves, cut in
the sides of the screw, and passes through a toothed pinion in the cover next the feed
nut, this pinion has keys and is revolved with the feed screw while the feedscrew is
free to slide through it.
A long fluted pinion is also fitted to one side of the cylinder casing so as to gear
to the first pinion. The top-end of the pistonrod is swelled out like a flange-or it can
be fitted with a toothed wheel-but by preference it is mado solid in one piece with
the pistonrod and the keys or grooves which are cut on the periphery of the flange,
are parallel with the piston-rod, and gears to the fluted pinion whilost it is free to move
along it, and thus the drill is rotatod by turning the feed-scrow by the feed handle.
The feedscrew may be fitted so as to pass into and through the long fluted pinion
at the side of the cylinder casing; the drill can then be rotated without the first
pinion.
Should it be desired to rotate the drill without the fluted pinion, the first pinion is
then made with long forked like rods to work in slots through the end of the flanged
piston-rod, on the outside of the pistonrod; the feedscrew is then provided with a
revolving clutch so that the forked pinion can be rotated with it, or put, in or out of
gear indipendent of the fluted pinion, but in either case the pinions can be thrown in
or out of gear by an eccentric bar or lever, so that the drill will either feed in or out
as may be desired without turning the drill.

page_text: The advantage of this device is, that very substantial and powerful gear can be
used; it permits the use of a large feed-screw to work compactly inside the hollow
piston-bar. Also the use of a small diameter piston-rod between the flanged end and
pistonhead so as to reduce friction on the glands and packing, and give increased area
or power to the piston-blow. The piston, piston-rod and flange are made in one piece
in order that they will not shake loose by the constant pounding or hammering of
the drill.
As the periphery of the flange is made to work close up to and along the innersides
of the cylinder casing, it acts as a very substantial guide to the piston and drill, it
prevents undue strain or wear on the packing-glands, the feed and rotating gear; at
the same time it works and alternates a threeforked lever which is connected by a
double-eye and slidespindle to the slide-valve. The double-eye and spindle are made in
one piece. A spiral spring presses on a plate against the back of the D slide-valve so
as to give it the desired tension or friction, and prevents it from being jorked or moved
too far over the portways which admits and emits the elastic or inelastic fluid or force
into and from the power cylinder.
Dated this 16th day of Novembon An 1984
Improvements in Machinery for Drilling Rock, Coal, and
other Minerals.
I. JOHN GREY CRANSTON, 24 Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, County of
Northumberland, Mining 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 certain Improvements in such machines as drill or cut Rock,
Coal or other Minerals, by the reciprocating action of the drilling or cutting tool
attached to the pistonrod of a piston actuated by steam or compressed air, and my
Improvements refer more particularly to the parts of such machines by which the
pistonrod is rotated on its axis; or is prevented from rotating, and worked simul-
taneously in combination with the feed, rotating and valve gear as is now more fully
described herewith.
The accompanying Drawings represent a longitudinal central section, and a vertical
cross section through so much of the machine embodying the improvements as is
necessary to illustrate the subject-matter of my Invention which is set forth in the
claims at the end of this specification.

page_text: The drawing shows the feed-screw a, of the machine having two parallel or longi-
tudinal grooves b, b, cut in the sides of the screw. The feed-screw a, passes through
a pinion c, in the cover next to the feed nut.
This pinion c, has solid keys which fit the grooves b, b, in the feed screw a, and is
revolved by the feed-scrow while the feed-screw is free to slide through it. A second
pinion or clutch d, is fitted so as to gear to the first pinion or clutch c. This second
pinion d, is made with two elongated prongs, or rods e, e, these rods e, e, fit and work
into, and through two concentric slots fif, in the top-end of the piston-rod head G.
The end of the piston-rod G, is swelled out like a flange h, and this flange h, is made
solid in one piece with the piston-rod G.
The elongated rods e, e, work through the concentric slots fif, on the outside of the
piston-rod G. and these rods are made of sufficient length so as to be in constant or
regular gear at any part of the stroke of the piston-bar.
The pinions or clutches c, and d, as shown in the drawing Figure 1, are not in gear,
and consequently the cylinder i, and the piston-bar with the drill or cutter j, attached,
they can be fed out or in along the slide k, without turning the drill, by turning the
handle, of the feed-screw. The collar of the feed-screw works against the eye of the
support or arm m, which is bolted to the body of the slide-rest k, this arm carries the
cylinder and drill, and by turning the feed screw which works through the feed nut n,
in the cylinder cover, the cylinder and drill can be advanced towards the rock, or
withdrawn from it, without turning the pistonrod and drill.
It is necessary the drill should rotate so that the cutting edge or sides of the drill
or cutter will make a fresh chip or cut into the rock or mineral during the process of
drilling. When the drill has been fed forward, the pinion or clutch c, is put into gear
with the pinion or clutch d, the drill can then be rotated at will, in any direction, by
turning the feed handle 7. The pinion c, can be put in or out of gear with the pinion d,
instantly, by turning a short eccentric rod or thumb lever v, which is fitted to the
cylinder cover.
The advantage of this device is, that very substantial, powerful, and compact gear
can be used. It permits the use of a large and strong feed-screw to work compactly
inside the hollow piston-bar. Also the use of a small diameter piston-rod between the
flanged end h, and piston head o, which reduces friction on the glands and packing,
and gives increased area or power to the piston blow.
The piston, pistonrod and flange are made in one piece in order that they will not
shake loose by the constant pounding or hammering of the drill. As the periphery of
the flange is made to work close up to and along the innerside of the cylinder casing,
it acts as a very substantial guide to the piston and drill, it prevents undue strain or
wear on the packing glands, and the feed and rotating gear. This flange also works
and alternates a three pronged lever P, which is connected by a double-eye to the
slide spindle 4, the slidespindle and double-eye are made solid in one piece. The slide
valve R, is fitted with a nut and the slidespindle is screwed into it. A spiral spring S,
fits a recess in the steam-chest cover, and presses on a plate t, at the back of the
D slide-valve so as to give it the desired tension or friction to prevent the valve from
being jerked or moved too far over the portways which admits and emits the elastic
fluid into and from the power cylinder.
A stud piece, may also be fitted and pressed by a spring against the slide-spindle
as shown in the drawing Figure 1, in order to assist in giving the desired tension, so
as to prevent the valve being too easily moved, or from falling over the portways by its
own gravity, or accord.
The pinion d, as shown in the drawings Figure 1, this pinion has two elongated rods
or prongs, but if desired, it may have only one elongated rod working in one concentric
slot, or there may be three or more of those rods working through three or more radia!
slots. These rods and slots being made concentric they work compactly round the
pistonrod, but they could be made square, or round, or other shape; they would not
then be so compact as when made concentric as shown in the drawings.
The first pinion or clutch c, may be dispensed with, and one, two, or more projections
or feathers can then be fitted on the inner part of the second pinion d, so as to fit the

page_text: grooves in the feed screw, the piston-rod can then be rotated by the feed-screw
indipendent of the first clutch c.
A long fluted pinion may be fitted to one side of the cylinder casing so as to gear
to the first pinion; the top end of the piston-rod being swelled out like a flange; or it
can be fitted with a toothed wheel, but by preference it is made solid in one piece with
the pistonrod, and on cutting keys, grooves or teeth on the periphery of the flange
parallel with the pistonrod so as to fit and work along the fluted pinion, the pistonrod
and drill can thus be rotated by turning the feed-screw by the feed-handle.
Or the feed-screw can be fitted so as to pass into and through the long fluted pinion
at the side of the cylinder casing, by fitting a feather inside the fluted pinion to fit
and work in the grooves in the feed-screw, the drill will then revolve by turning the
feed-handle.
A pinion or clutch may be fitted so as to throw in or out of gear with the fluted
pinion at the side of the cylinder casing.
Should it be desired to rotate the drill automatically; the elongated rods e, e, are
then made helically, the slots in the flange are also made helically to fit, the first pinion
is then also fitted with ratchets, a pawl is also fitted to gear to the ratchet teeth and is
pressed against the ratchet by a spring, so that the first ratchet pinion is held whilest
the piston rotates on its upward stroke as it moves spirally along the helical
clongated rods.
The pistonrod being heavier than the pinion with helical rods, the piston-rod and
drill will move streight without turning on its downward stroke, whilest the pawl rides
a tooth over the ratchet.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact detail herein
described, and shown in the annexed drawings so long as the novel features of my
Invention are retained; at the same time, I would remark that I do not claim those
parts which are well known and in common use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declair that what I claim is,
1st. The combination substantially as herein set forth, of one, two or more elongated
rods, constructed and operating in the manner, and for the purpose herein before
described and shown in the annexed drawings.
2nd. The combination substantially as herein set forth of one, two or more con-
centric slots cut through the solid flanged end on the outside of the pistonrod, and
working in the manner and for the purpose herein before described and shown in the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
3rd. The combination substantially as herein set forth of one or more tension platos,
or arrangement constructed and operating in the manner and for the purpose described,
and shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings.