IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING APPARATUS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton
Buildings, London, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING
APPARATUS." A communication from abroad by Lawson Buckminster Stone
of Marblehead, County of Essex, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st November 1881.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING APPARATUS.' [A communication from abroad
by Lawson Buckminster Stone, of Marblehead, County of Essex, Massachusetts,
United States of America.]
This Invention relates to rock drilling apparatus, and has for one of its objects
to facilitate the operation of setting up and adjusting the position of the drilling
machine, and to increase the range of positions in which the tripod itself and
consequently the machine supported thereon can be mounted, and to enable the
position of the machine to be varied relative to the tripod and material to be
drilled without disturbing the tripod itself, so that a number of holes may be
drilled at proper distances apart by a single setting up of the tripod.
Drill tripods have heretofore had the drilling machine secured in some fixed
relation upon them, so that the position of the machine can only be adjusted by
changing the position of the feet of the tripod itself, and when the tripod is once
set up the path of the drill is fixed, and only one hole can be drilled with the
tripod in that position.
In this Invention one of the lega of the tripod is adapted to sustain a clamp, to
which the drilling machine or its feeding carriage is fastened, the said clamp being
adjustable upon the said tripod leg, so that it can be fixed at any point throughout
the length thereof, and can be revolved about the said leg to change the position of
the machine relative thereto.
The said leg thus forms an axis of revolution for the machine held in the clamp
at a distance from the centre of the said leg, so that if the machine be placed

page_text: with its axis parallel to that of the leg the drill point will in the rotation of the
clamp about the leg describe a circle, at any point of which a hole may be made
by fixing the clamp upon the leg by means of a set screw or equivalent levice.
The sleeve or carriage holding the machine is preferably connected by a pivot to
the clamp mounted upon the leg, so that the axis of the machine may be set at
any desired angle to that of the leg, although it will usually operate best when
parallel therewith and the pivot is longitudinally moveable in its clamp, to thereby
vary the distance of the machine from the centre of the said leg, and consequently
the radius of the circle in which the machine revolves about the said leg, which is
shown as cylindrical.
The machine is thus capable of all of the adjustments on the said leg that it
can have upon the well known column used in subterranean passages in mining
work, such a column necessitating however two opposite rigid surfaces or walls for
its support, while in the tripod the machine supporting leg can be mounted upon
almost any rock surface, it being supported upon the other two legs of the tripod,
which are in the present embodiment of my Invention connected therewith as
follows:-
A connecting clamp consisting of two tubular sockets fixed with their axes at
right angles connects the machine supporting or column leg with a transverse beam
or cross piece, preferably a cylinder of the same diameter as the said leg, and
when fastened upon its end forming therewith a T shape, upon the ends of which
the other two tripod legs are fastened by similar connecting clamps, the sockets of
which are preferably at an obtuse angle, so as to spread the said legs somewhat.
Each socket portion of the different clamps is adjustable longitudinally and
angularly upon the cylinder or leg held therein, and when properly-adjusted-they-
are fixed as by set screws, and the tripod can be set up upon almost any surface
with the column leg in any position, from horizontal to vertical, thus giving an
absolutely universal adjustment for the drill.
The legs are held in place as usual by weights mounted thereon, and the column
leg is provided with a weight holding saddle to support two or more weights of
uniform size with those used upon the other or supporting legs, thus bringing
the main portion of the mass of the tripod, or the resistance due to its inertia, in
line with the action of the drill, and giving it great steadiness.
Traveller rings are provided upon the cylindrical portions of the tripod to
sustain the clamps while being adjusted angularly, the said rings being first
secured in proper position to determine the longitudinal movement of the said
clamps, which are slid along to and then supported upon the said rings while being
rotated to adjust the angular position of the part held thereby.
The cross piece of the tripod being of the same character with the column leg,
all the clamps will be interchangeable, and the machine or steadying weights will
be mounted upon the said cross piece when desired.
The cross-piece and supporting leg may be removed and a continuation of the
column leg provided with the usual jack scrow added thereto when it becomes
convenient to employ a column instead of a tripod.
The Invention also relates to certain improvements in the drilling engine
whereby the construction of the parts is made simpler, more durable, and less
expensive, and the operation is positive and certain, there being no dead points.
In the following description the term down stroke will mean the stroke
towards the rock and up stroke away from the rock, and the words upper and
under will be used as if the drill were acting upon the rock vertically beneath
it, but it is to be understood that the drill can be set to bore in any desired
direction.
The working cylinder is contained in an outer casing into which the actuating
fluid is admitted near its lower end where it first acts upon the under surface of
the piston to produce its upward stroke, and the said cylinder is provided with
ports connecting the space above and below the piston and controlled by a cut off
valve that is properly actuated by the piston and projections upon the piston rud

page_text: to open the said ports when the piston and drill has nearly finished its upward
stroke, thus permitting the fluid to act also upon the upper surface of the piston
which is of larger area than the under surface so that the piston is forced down by
the pressure due to the difference in these areas, and when near the end of its
down stroke causes the cut off valve to close the ports and thus remove the live
fluid pressure from the upper side of the piston to permit it to make its next
up stroke.
A pin that passes longitudinally through the piston and a portion of the piston
rod is arranged to cause the latter to rotate as usual in making its stroke, and acts
as an exhaust valve for the space within the cylinder above the piston, it permitting
the escape of the actuating fluid from the said space when the drill has completed
its down stroke.
These elements are found in certain existing drills upon which the present
Invention is intended as an improvement.
In the present Invention the working cylinder is fixed in the outer casing and
fed therewith to advance the drill into the rock by feeding mechanisin of any usual
and suitable construction.
The piston rod passes out through a stuffing box in the lower head of the case
through which steam is admitted by a suitable inlet passage, an annular recess
being formed above the lower head of the case between the sides of the said case
and the gland of the stuffing box surrounding the piston rod.
An annular block which is herein denominated a cushion or auxiliary piston,
since under some circumstances it acts as a piston to move the piston rod, is
longitudinally moveable within the case in and out from the said annular recess
above the inlet port in which it has a working fit.
An annular shoulder upon the piston rod fits within this auxiliary head when
the rod is at the end of its down stroke, and if the drill be in a vertical position
the auxiliary piston will drop into the annular recess and with the piston rod and
its said shoulder will fill the entire outercasing so that when stream is admitted it
will act upon the under surface of the said auxiliary piston and shoulder to raise
them and the piston rod making the beginning of the upstroke.
An annular lug at the upper end of the said shoulder on the piston rod is
engaged by the upper end of the auxiliary piston causing the said rod to move
positively therewith until the said auxiliary piston is stopped by engaging with
the lower end of the cylinder when the steam acting upon the annular shoulder
causes the piston rod to continue its up stroke until the shoulder has passed from
within the auxiliary piston, leaving the space previously occupied by it free for
the passsage of the actuating fluid to reach the under side of the piston proper,
causing it to finish its up stroke during which the annular lug on the piston rod,
which may be called the valve-actuating lug, engages the cut off valve and moves
it above the lower openings of the connecting ports of the cylinder, permitting
the fluid to pass through the ports and act upon the upper surface of the piston.
The exhaust pin or valve is made tubular or provided with a longitudinal
passage communicating with an exhaust chanher below the upper head of the
casing from which the exhaust steam may be led in any desired direction, and is
provided with ports leading into the cylinder and properly located to be uncovered
by the piston when it has completed its down stroke, during which the under side
of the piston has acted upon the cut off valve to c'ose the connecting ports before
the said exhaust ports are open, so that a passage will not be afforded for the inlet
port through the said connecting and exhaust ports into the said exhaust chamber
to permit the steam to blow through without operating the drill.
Shout the drill in its down stroke fail to meet with the rock or other
obstructions, the piston will travel with its momentum until the annular shoulder
upon the rod enters the auxiliary piston, it being meanwhile cushioning upon the
actuating fluid which always acts upon its lower surface, and should it go far
enough the annular lug above the said shoulder will engage the auxiliary piston
and carry it into the annular recess at the lower end of the case where it will be

page_text: brought to rest by the cushioning action of the fluid upon its large area, without
shock to the lower head of the case.
A stop ring is interposed between the cut off valve and the upper surface of the
auxiliary piston, which in case of such excessive stroke or over-shot of the drill
will prevent the said cut off valve from passing beyond and uncovering the
connecting ports before the shoulder has entered the auxiliary piston and closed
the casing to prevent the fluid from reaching the cylinder at all; and in the
up stroke the said stop ring and auxiliary piston will cause the valve to close the
said ports before the said shoulder leaves the auxiliary piston.
Instead of making the usual large connecting ports in the cylinder by coring, the
external diameter of the cast cylinder is made considerably smaller than the
internal diameter of the casing, and a thin tube, preferably of steel, fitting in the
said casing, is placed over the cylinder forming the outside thereof, an annular
space thus being left between the said tube and cast portion of the cylinder to form
a continuous passage for the actuating fluid, into which a sufficient number of small
port openings are made in the proper position near either end of the cylinder, such
openings forming less obstruction to the movement of the cut off valve than the
larger port openings shown in the former machines of this class.
The valve is made to fit within the cylinder so closely as to remain held by its
friction in any position until positively moved therefrom, and consists of a main
portion cut longitudinally and chambered upon its inside to receive an elastic tube
bet with a tendency to spring outward and press the main portion against the
inside of the cylinder, it also covering the saw cuts in the main portion against the
inside of the cylinder, which receives the positive blows of the piston and actuating
lug upon the piston rod.
The Invention consists in the combination in a tripod for rock_drills-of-a-column-
leg and supporting legs connected therewith by joints capable of angular variation
to sustain it upon the rock with a machine holding clamp adjustable upon the
said column leg whereby the position of the drill may be varied and adjusted
independently of that of the tripod.
Also in the combination in a tripod for rock drills of a column leg and cross-
pice and connecting clamp therefor, with supporting legs and clamps to connect
them with the said cross piece, and a machine holding clamp adapted to be fastened
to any portion of the said column leg.
Also in the combination of the column leg and cross piece of uniform diameter
therewith, and the connecting clamp provided with two sockets fixed at right
angles to receive the said leg and cross piece, with the supporting legs and clamps
to connect them with the said cross piece, the sockets of all the said clamps
permitting free longitudinal and rotary movement of the parts held therein, and
being provided with fixing screws or bolts to fasten then when properly adjusted.
Also in the combination of the column leg of uniform diameter, and its supporting
legs connected therewith by clamps adapted to vary the angle between the said
supporting and coluinn legs, with a machine holding clamp provided with a socket
fitted to the said columu leg and a pivot socket at right angles therewith, and the
drill holding carriage or sleeve pivotted in the said pivot socket, whereby the
machine may be revolved with the clamp bodily about the said leg and turned
upon the pivot to vary the direction of its axis.
Also in the combination in a rock drill tripod of the column leg and supporting
legs therefor, with the weight supporting saddle adapted to embrace the said
column leg, and provided with weight receiving arms to sustain weights similar
to those employed with the supporting legs.
Also in the combination of the columu leg and supporting legs therefor, with
the clamps adapted to slide and rotate upon the said coluinn leg, and the stop
rings to limit their sliding movement and support them while being adjusted
angularly.
Also in the combination in a drilling engine of the outer casing and its head
provided with an inlet port, with the piston rod passing through the said head

page_text: and the auxiliary piston working in the said casing, and adapted to engage the
said piston rod and act as a piston therefor during a certain portion of its stroke.
Also in the combination of the casing with its head containing the inlet port,
and provided with a stuffing box arranged to form an annular recess above the
said head with the auxiliary piston fitted to the said recess, and the piston rod
provided with a shoulder fitted to the said piston and operating in conjunction
therewith in the said casing as a cylinder.
Also in the combination of the casing provided with an inlet port near its lower
end, and the working cylinder provided with a connecting port or passage from
the space below to that above the piston, with the piston and the exhaust pin or
valve fitted therein, the said pin being provided with a longitudinal exhaust
passage leading through the cylinder head.
Also in the valve consisting of a main tubular portion divided longitudinally
and counterbored or chambered internally, combined with a spring ring located in
the said chamber to press the said parts outward against the containing cylinder,
and adapted to cover the lines of division of the main portion of the valve.
Also in the working cylinder, it consisting of a main cast portion properly bored
internally, and a tubular jacket surrounding it and enclosing a space upon the
outside of the main bored portion, which is provided with series of sinall port
openings passing from its interior into the said space.
Also in the combination in a rock drill with the reciprocating piston rod of the
chuck consisting of a half round tapering portion continuous with the said rod,
and a corresponding half round tapering movable block, and an internally tapering
ring adapted by its longitudinal movement to wedge the said portions together upon
the drill bit, combined with dowel pins to hold the said fixed and movable portions
together and prevent the latter from dropping when loosened to release the
drill bit.
Also in the combination of the outer casing and working cylinder therein,
provided with a port and a frictionally held valve to control it, and a piston and a
piston rod to actuate the said valve, with the auxiliary piston for the said piston
rod working in the said casing, and the stop ring interposed between the said valve
and auxiliary piston, and co-operating with the latter to control the valve.
Also in the cylinder of a rock drill consisting of an inner and outer tube having
an annular space enclosed between them, and provided with series of port openings
near either end thereof connecting the said space with the interior of the cylinder,
combined with a valve to control one of the said series of openings, and the piston,
piston rod, and valve actuating lug thereon arranged.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st May 1882.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCK DRILLING APPARATUS." A communication from abroad
by Lawson Buckminster Stone, of Marblehead, County of Essex, Massachusetts,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to rock drilling apparatus, and has for one of its objects
to facilitate the operation of setting up and adjusting the position of the drilling
machine, and to increase the range of positions in which the tripod itself and
consequently the machine supported thereon can be mounted, and to enable the
position of the machine to be varied relative to the tripod and material to be
drilled without disturbing the tripod itself, so that a number of holes may be
drilled at proper distances apart by a single setting up of the tripod.
Drill tripods have heretofore had the drilling machine secured in some fixed
relation upon them so that the position of the machine can only be adjusted by
changing the position of the feet of the tripod itself, and when the tripod.is.once-
set-up-the-path-of-the-drill-is-fixed and only one hole can be drilled with the tripod
in that position.
In this Invention one of the legs of the tripod is adapted to sustain a clamp to
which the drilling machine or its feeding carriage is fastened, the said clamp being
adjustable upon the said tripod leg so that it can be fixed at any point throughout
the length thereof, and can be revolved about the said leg to change the position
of the machine relative thereto.
The said leg thus forms an axis of revolution for the machine held in the clamp
at a distance from the centre of the said leg, so that if the machine be placed with
its axis parallel to that of the leg the drill point will in the rotation of the clamp
about the leg describe a circle, at any point of which a hole may be made by fixing
the clamp upon the leg by means of a set screw, or equivalent device.
The sleeve or carriage holding the machine is preferably connected by a pivot to-
the clamp mounted upon the leg, so that the axis of the machine may be set at any
desired angle to that of the leg, although it will usually operate best when parallel
therewith, and the pivot is longitudinally moveable in its clamp to thereby vary
the distance of the machine from the centre of the said leg, and consequently the
radius of the circle in which the machine revolves about the said leg, which is
shown as cylindrical.
The machine is thus capable of all of the adjustments on the said leg that it can
have upon the well known column used in subterranean passages in mining work,
such a column necessitating however two opposite rigid surfaces or walls for its
support, while in the tripod the machine supporting leg can be mounted upon
almost any rock surface, it being supported upon the other two legs of the tripod
which are in the present embodiment of my Invention connected therewith as
follows:-
A connecting clamp consisting of two tubular sockets fixed with their axes at
right angles connects the machine supporting or column leg with a transverse beam
or cross-piece, preferably a cylinder of the same diameter as the said leg, and
when fastened upon its end forming therewith a T shape, upon the ends of which
the other two tripod legs are fastened by similar connecting clamps, the sockets of
which are preferably at an obtuse angle so as to spread the said legs
somewhat.

page_text: Ench socket portion of the different clamps is adjustable longitudinally and
angularly upon the cylinder or leg held therein, and when properly adjusted they
are fixed as by set screws, and the tripod can be set up upon almost any surface
with the column leg in any position from horizontal to vertical, thus giving an
absolutely universal adjustment for the drill.
The legs are held in place as usual by weights mounted thereon, and the column
leg is provided with a weight holding saddle to support two or more weights of
uniform size with those used upon the other or supporting legs, thus bringing the
main portion of the mass of the tripod or the resistance due to its inertia in line
with the action of the drill and giving it great steadiness.
Traveller rings are provided upon the cylindrical portions of the tripod to sustain
the clamps while being adjusted angularly, the said rings being first secured in
proper position to determine the longitudinal movement of the said clamps, which
are slid along to and then supported upon the said rings while being rotated to
adjust the angular position of the part held thereby.
The cross piece of the tripod being of the same character with the column leg,
all the clamps will be interchangeable and the machine or steadying weights will
be mounted upon the said cross piece when desired.
The cross piece and supporting leg may be removed and a continuation of the
column leg provided with the usual jack screw added thereto, when it becomes
convenient to employ a column instead of a tripod.
The Invention also relates to certain improvements in the drilling engine, whereby
the construction of the parts is made simpler, more durable, and less expensive, and
the operation is positive and certain, there being no dead points.
In the following description the term down stroke will mean the stroke toward
the rock, and up stroke away from the rock, and the words upper and under will
be used as if the drill were acting upon the rock vertically beneath it, but it is to
be understood that the drill can be set to bore in any desired direction.
The working cylinder is contained in an outer casing into which the actuating
fluid is admitted near its lower end, where it first acts upon the under surface of
the piston to produce its upward stroke, and the said cylinder is provided with
ports connecting the space above and below the piston and controlled by a cut off
valve that is properly actuated by the piston and projections upon the piston rod to
open the said ports when the piston and drill has nearly finished its upward stoke,
thus permitting the fluid to act also upon the upper surface of the piston, which is
of larger area than the under surface so that the piston is forced down by the
pressure due to the difference in these areas, and when near the end of its down
stroke causes the cut off valve to close the ports and thus remove the live fluid
pressure from the upper side of the piston to permit it to make its next up stroke.
A pin that passes longitudinally through the piston and a portion of the piston
rod is arranged to cause the latter to rotate as usual in making its stroke, and
acts as an exhaust valve for the space within the cylinder above the piston, it
permitting the escape of the actuating fluid from the said space when the drill has
completed its down stroke.
These elements are found in certain existing drills upon which the present
Invention is intended as an improvement.
In the present Invention the working cylinder is fixed in the outer casing, and
fed therewith to advance the drill into the rock by feeding mechanism of any usual
and suitable construction.
The piston rod passes out through a stuffing box in the lower head of the case
through which steam is admitted by a suitable recess being formed above the
lower head of the case between the sides of the said case and the gland of the
stuffing box surrounding the piston rod.
An annular block, which is herein denominated a cushion or auxiliary piston,
since under some circumstances it acts as a piston to move the piston rod, is
longitudinally moveable within the ease in and out froin the said annular recess
above the inlet port in which it has a working fit.

page_text: An annular shoulder upon the piston rod fits within this auxiliary head when
the rod is at the end of its down stroke, and if the drill be in a vertical position
the auxiliary piston will drop into the annular recess, and with the piston rod and
its said shoulder will fill the entire outer casing, so that when steam is admitted
it will act upon the under surface of the said auxiliary piston and shoulder to
raise them, and the piston rod making the beginning of the upstroke.
An annular lug at the upper end of the said shoulder on the piston rod is
engaged by the upper end of the auxiliary piston, causing the said rod to move
positively there with until the said auxiliary piston is stepped by engaging with
the lower end of the cylinder, when the stream, acting upon the annular shoulder,
causes the piston to continue its upstroke until the shoulder has passed from
within the auxiliary piston, leaving the space previously occupied by it free for
the passage of the actuating fluid to reach the under side of the piston proper,
causing it to finish its up stroke, during which the annular lug on the piston rod,
which may be called the valve actuating lug, engages the cut off valve and moves
it above the lower openings of the connecting ports of the cylinder, permitting the
fluid to pass through the ports and act upon the upper surface of the piston.
The exhaust pin or valve is made tubular or provided with a longitudinal
passage communicating with an exhaust chamber below the upper head of the
casing from which the exhaust steam may be led in any desired direction, and is
provided with ports leading into the cylinder and properly located to be uncovered
by the piston when it has completed its down stroke, during which the under side
of the piston has acted upon the cut off valve to close the connecting ports before
the said exhaust ports are open, so that a passage will not be afforded for the inlet
port through the said connecting and exhaust ports into the said exhaust chamber
to permit the steam-to-blow-through-without operating the drill,
Should the drill in its down stroke fail to meet with the rock or other
obstructions the piston will travel with its momentum until the annular shoulder
upon the rod enters the auxiliary piston, it being meanwhile cushioning upon the
actuating fluid which always acts upon its lower surface, and should it go far
enough the annular lug above the said shoulder will engage the auxiliary piston
and carry it into the annular recess at the lower end of the case, where it will be
brought to rest by the cushioning action of the fluid upon its large area without
shock to the lower head of the case.
A stop ring is interposed between the cut off valve and the upper surface of the
auxiliary piston, which in case of such excessive stroke or overshot of the drill will
prevent the said cut off valve from passing beyond and uncovering the connecting
ports before the shoulder has entered the auxiliary piston and closed the casing
to prevent the fluid from reaching the cylinder at all, and in the up stroke the said
stop ring and auxiliary piston will cause the valve to close the said ports before the
said shoulder leaves the auxiliary piston.
Instead of making the usual large connecting ports in the cylinder by coring,
the external diameter of the cast cylinder is made considerably smaller than the
internal diameter of the casing, and a thin tube, preferably of steel, fitting in the
said casing is placed over the cylinder forming the outside thereof, an annular
space thus being left between the said tube and cast portion of the cylinder to
form a continuous passage for the actuating fluid, into which a sufficient number
of small port openings are made in the proper position near either end of the
cylinder; such openings forming less obstruction to the movement of the cut off
valve than the larger port openings shown in the former machines of this class.
The valve is made to fit within the cylinder so closely as to remain held by its
friction in any position until positively moved therefrom, and consists of a main
portion cut longitudinally and chambered upon its inside to receive an elastic
tube set with a tendency to spring outward, and press the main portion against
the inside of the cylinder, it also covering the saw cuts in the main portion,
which receives the positive blows of the piston and actuating lug upon the
piston rod.

page_text: The Invention consists in the combination in a tripod for rock drills of a clumn
leg and supporting legs connected therewith by joints capable of angular variation
to sustain it upon the rock, with a machine holding clamp adjustable upon the
said column leg, whereby the position of the drill may be varied and adjusted
independently of that of the tripod.
Also in the combination in a tripod for rock drills of a column leg and cross
piece, and connecting clamp therefor, with supporting legs and clamps to connect
them with the said cross pièce, and a machine holding clamp adapted to be fastened
to any portion of the said column leg.
Also in the combination of the column leg and cross piece of uniform diameter
therewith, and the connecting clamp provided with two sockets fixed at right
angles to receive the said leg and cross piece, with the supporting legs and clamps
to connect them with the said cross piece, the sockets of all the said clamps per-
mitting free longitudinal and rotary movement of the parts held therein, and being
provided with fixing screws or bolts to fasten them when properly adjusted.
Also in the combination of the column leg of uniform diameter and its supporting
legs connected therewith by clamps adapted to vary the angle between the said
supporting and column legs, with a machine holding clamp provided with a socket
fitted to the said column leg, and a pivot at right angles therewith, and the
drill holding carriage or sleeve pivotted in the said pivot socket, whereby the
machine may be revolved with the clamp bodily about the sail leg, and turned
upon the pivot to vary the direction of its axis.
Also in the combination in a rock drill tripod of the column leg and supporting
legs therefor, with the weight supporting saddle adapted to embrace the said
column leg, and provided with weight receiving arms to sustain weights similar to
those employed with the supporting legs.
Also in the combination of the column leg and supporting legs therefor, with the
clamps adapted to slide and rotate upon the said column leg, and the stop rings to
limit their sliding movement and support them while being adjusted angularly.
Also in the combination in a drilling engine of the outer casing and its head,
provided with an inlet port, with the piston rod passing through the said head,
and the auxiliary piston working in the said casing and adapted to engage the
said piston rod and act as a piston therefor during a certain portion of its stroke.
Also in the combination of the casing with its head containing the inlet port,
and provided with a stuffing box arranged to form an annular recess above the
said head with the auxiliary piston fitted to the said recess, and the piston rod
provided with a shoulder fitted to the said piston, and operating in conjunction
therewith in the said casing as a cylinder.
Also in the combination of the casing provided with an inlet port near its lower
end, and the working cylinder provided with a connecting port or passage from the
space below to that above the piston, with the piston and the exhaust pin or valve
fitted therein, the said pin being provided with a longitudinal exhaust passage
leading through the cylinder head.
Also in the hereinafter described valve consisting of a main tubular portion
divided longitudinally and counterbored or chambered, internally combined with a
spring ring located in the said chamber to press the said ports outward against the
containing cylinder, and adapted to cover the lines of division of the main portion
of the valve.
Also in the hereinafter described working cylinder, it consisting of a main cast
portion properly bored internally, and a tubular jacket surrounding it, and
enclosing a space upon the outside of the main bored portion, which is provided
with series of small port openings passing from its interior into the said space.
Also in the combination in a rock drill with the reciprocating piston rod of the
chuck, consisting of a half round tapering portion continuous with the said rod,
and a corresponding half round tapering moveable block, and an internally tapering
ring adapted by its longitudinal inovement to wedge the said portions together
upon the drill bit, combined with dowel pins to hold the said fixed and moveable

page_text: portions together, and prevent the latter from dropping when loosened to release
the drill bit.
Also in the combination of the outer casing and working cylinder therein,
provided with a port and a frictionally held valve to control it, and a piston and a
piston rod to actuate the said valve, with the auxiliary piston for the said piston
rod working in the said casing, and the stop ring interposed between the said
valve and auxiliary piston, and co-operating with the latter to control the
valve.
Also in the cylinder of a rock drill, consisting of an inner and outer tube having
an anular space enclosed between them, and provided with series of port openings
near either end thereof, connecting the said space with the interior of the cylinder,
combined with a valve to control one of the said series of openings, and the piston,
piston rod, and valve actuating lug thereon arranged, and to operate substantially
as hereinafter described.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drill tripod constructed in accordance with this
Invention, having a drill mounted upon a hand-fed carriage; Figure 2 is a view of
a similar tripod mounted in a different position to enable the drill, shown in this
instance as self feeding, to work horizontally and close to the horizontally surface
upon which the tripod stands, the dotted lines shewing the column leg employed as
a portion of the usual column wedged between opposite walls; Figure 3, a top view
of the tripod set with the column leg vertical, and illustrating the variations in
position of the drilling machine that can be made without changing the position of
the tripod; Figure 4, a perspective view of the weight supporting saddle detached;
Figure 5, a modification to be referred to; Figure 6 is a longitudinal section_of_the
drill engine constructed in accordance with this Invention, the piston being at the
end of its down stroke; Figure 7, a transverse section thereof on line x, Figure 6;
Figure 8, a transverse section on line y, Figure 6; Figure 9, a partial section
shewing the relative position of the ports when the piston is in its lowest position,
as before the actuating fluid is admitted; and Figure 10, a similar partial section
showing the piston near the end of its up stroke, at the point where the fluid is first
admitted to produce the down stroke.
The drill supporting or column leg a, provided at one end with a suitable foot b,
shown as double pointed or claw shaped and pivoted at 2, is made cylindrical and
of uniform diameter through its length.
A connecting clamp composed of two tubular sockets c, c', at right angles to one
another, and of proper size to fit upon the outside of the leg a, serves to connect the
said leg with a cross piece d, preferably made of the same size therewith.
The said cross piece d is provided with two other connecting clamps, consisting of
socket portions e, f, of proper size to fit upon the said cross piece, and connected
socket portions e, f, of proper size to receive the supporting legs g, h, and shewn
as fixed with their axes inclined to the axes of the sockets e, f, so as to cause the
legs g, h, to diverge from the cross piece d.
The socket portions of the different connecting clamps c, c¹, e, e¹, f. f', are thus
all free to slide and rotate upon the portions held in them, and by a proper combi-
nation of these movements the column leg a may be placed in any desired position,
it being shown as horizontal in Figure 2, vertical in Figure 3, and in an intermediate
inclined position in Figure 1.
When fixed in the desired position the clamps are fastened by suitable bolts 3 or
set screws 4, the larger socket portion c¹, cl, e, f, being shewn as split and drawn
together by the bolts 3, thus fixing them securely upon the cylinders a, d, without
injury to the surface thereof, while the smaller sockets f,f', may be fixed in place
by set screws.
When the tripod is thus set in the desired position, it is held to resist the
vibration of the drill by weights w, which may be mounted in any usual manner
upon the legs g, h, being shewn as slotted to embrace the said legs, and resting
upon supporting rings w¹ fixed in any desired position upon the said legs by suitable
Bet screws.

page_text: The column leg a is provided with a weight-supporting taddle I made to embrace
the said leg, and shewn as provided with two arms to receive weights w similar to
those mounted upon the supporting legs g, h.
The drilling machine may be attached to the column leg a of the tripod when
thus set up in suitable position by any convenient form of clamp, such as commonly
employed with a column.
As herein shewn, the machine holding clamp consists of a socket portion / fitted
and adapted to be fastened to the leg a or cross piece d, similarly to the socket
portions c, c, of their connecting clamp, and of a pivot socket at right angles
thereto, and adapted to receive the pivot m of the drill carriage n or holding
sleeve of any usual hand fed or self feeding drill r, Figure 2, and the full lines,
Figure 3, illustrating a self feeding drill.
By placing the drill r with its axis parallel with the leg a, as shewn, and
revolving it with the clamp 1, 1, about the said leg, the drill may be set to work at
any point of the dotted circle, Figure 3, the radius of which may be varied by a
longitudinal movement of the pivot m, as indicated by dotted lines, so that any
desired number of parallel holes may be drilled in the space included between the
two dotted circles at one setting up of the tripod, and by changing the angle of the
drill diverging holes may be drilled throughout a much larger area.
Stop rings t are fixed in any desired position to support the clamps c and 1, and
prevent their longitudinal movement when loosened for the purpose of adjusting
their angular position.
The carriage n is provided with a steadying bar u to engage the rock at the side
of the drill point, and if desired two can be used, one at either side of the carriage,
as shewn in dotted lines, Figure 3.
As shewn in the first three Figures, the angle between the sockets e, e', and f, f,
and consequently the angle between the cross piece d and legs g, h, is fixed, and
the actual spread of the fect of the said legs can be adjusted by sliding the legs
through the sockets e, f, (they being shewn nearer together in Figure 2 than in
Figure 1) or by sliding the sockets e, f, longitudinally on the cross piece d.
If desired the leg connecting sockets can be constructed to permit of angular
adjustment of the legs g, h, relative to the cross piece d, as shewn in Figure 5, in
which the clamp is constructed on the same plan as the machine holding clamp l, l',
the socket e¹ for the leg g being provided with a pivot e² entering a socket e³
connected with the one e mounted on the cross piece d, this arrangement giving a
universal movement to the leg g; and the clampe may be mounted upon the leg a,
the cross piece d being omitted.
Telescopic legs of usual construction may be employed if desired.
A jack screw a¹ may be inserted in the end of the column leg, as shewn in
dotted lines, Figure 2, when there are opposite walls to brace the column between,
and the cross piece d and legs g, h, will then be removed, the parts shewn in full
and dotted lines, Figure 2, constituting the entire apparatus needed for all kinds of
work.
In the drilling engine, shewn in Figures 6 to 10 inclusive, the outer casing A
consists of a tube or cylinder made smooth outside and inside, and provided at its
lower end with a head B containing the main inlet port e, and provided with a
stuffing box d³, the upper gland or bushing d' of which extends through the
head B in the casing A, thus forming an annular recess et just above the said
head.
The auxiliary piston or cushion f³ is made to fit within the said recess e, as
shewn in Figure 9, and to move longitudinally in the casing A as a cylinder under
the pressure of the fluid entering the port c³, the said auxiliary piston having an
upward projection f* which enters a recess g³ between the casing A and the lower
end of the working cylinder H, the upper end h³ of which is turned to fit the
casing A, while the portion traversed by the piston 3 is made of considerably
smaller external diameter than the said casing, and receives a tube h' fitting tightly
upon the ends of the ends of the said cylinder, and of sufficiently large bore to leave

page_text: a space j³ entirely surrounding the main portion of the cylinder to form a connecting
port or passage between its upper and lower ends, a series of small port openings
,, being made from the inside of the cylinder at either end thereof into the said
passage js.
The lower port openings are controlled by a valve 13 actuated by the under
surface 10 of the piston in its downward movement to close the said openings
and by the valve actuating lug m³ upon the piston rod * in the upward movement
thereof to uncover the said port openings and permit the fluid to pass through the
passage and act upon the upper surface of the piston i³, as shewn by the arrows,
Figure 10.
The main portion of the valve 3 is divided by two or more longitudinal saw
cuts, as indicated at 12 in Figure 8 (the plane of section of Figure 6 passing
through them as indicated by the omission of the diagonal hatchings), in order to
permit it to expand to press against the inner walls of the cylinder H, so that it
will remain wherever left therein until positively moved by the underface 10 of
the piston 3, or by the actuating lug m³, and the inside of the said valve is counter
bored or chambered to receive the spring ring properly set to force the said
portions of the valve outward against the cylinder, it also serving to cover the
saw cuts, as shewn in Figure 8.
The main portion L³ is of suitable metal to withstand the blows of the piston
and lug m³, it being somewhat malleable, so that it will upset and thus keep the
saw cuts closed.
When necessary it may receive a covering upon its outer surface of proper
material to work well upon the inner surface of the cylinder h, such a covering
being shewn at 1, Figure-9.
The lug m³ is provided with ports m' to permit the passage of the steam
between the piston rod and the valve 13, when the said lug and valve are in
contact, as shewn in Figure 10.
The head of the cylinder H is chambered to receive the ratchet head n³ of a
pin n extending down into the cylinder H, and passing with a piston fit through
a bushing in the piston i³.
The lower end of the said pin is provided with spiral channels 13, engaging
wings in the piston rod is, to cause the said rod to rotate in making its up
stroke, the ratchet n³ and pin n being then prevented from rotating by the
pawls n, Figure 7, in the usual manner.
The said pin n is bored axially at its upper end or provided with a longitudinal
exhaust passage 14, into which exhaust openings 15 lead from the upper ends of
the channels 13, the said openings when uncovered by the bushing at the end of
the down stroke of the piston permitting the fluid to escape from the cylinder H,
as shown by the arrow, Figure 6, the port openings being closed by the valve
before the said openings 15 are uncovered.
The ratchet n³, connected pin n', and pawls n³ and their springs are held in
place in the head of the cylinder by a follower o³ which forms an exhaust
chamber into which the exhausting fluid is conducted from the passage 14 by a
short union or nipple 16.
The exhaust may be led from the said exhaust chamber through any suitable
passage, as by the tube p³, herein shown as passing through the head b' of the
casing A.
An annular shoulder upon the piston rod below the valve actuating lug m³
enters the auxiliary piston fs; if the drill in its down stroke fails to meet the rock
or makes abnormally long strokes owing to the failure of the entire machine to be
fed forward as fast as the rock is cut, and if the abnormal movement or overshot is
sufficiently great, the lug m³ will engage the said piston f³, causing it to move
with the rod in the casing A as a cylinder, until the movement is arrested by
the fluid in the recess c³.
A stop ring in the lower end of the cylinder H prevents the valve from
being thrown below the openings ³ before the shoulder enters the piston f

page_text: 3
and thus prevents the passage of fluid to the said port openings, and when the
drill is started after having stopped in its lowest position, shown in Figure 9, with
the piston in the recess e³, the stop ring 83 in conjunction with the said piston ƒ³
moves the valve 13 sufficiently to close the openings in the beginning of the
up-stroke.
The gland of the stuffing box d³ is made adjustable, as by means of washers
in the head Bs above it, so as to govern the amount of opening for the actuating
fluid between it and the auxiliary piston f³, when in the position shown in
Figure 6.
The piston rod i carries at its lower end the drill-holding chuck, shown in
Figure 6 in the extreme upward position.
It consists of a tapering portion continuous with the rod, and a corresponding
tapering block detached from the portion t³, but retained in place thereon by the
dowel pins u³, u³.
The said portions ³, t, are provided with a socket to receive the drill bit w³,
upon which they are tightly wedged by the tapering ring which acts by its
momentum to tighten the hold of the clamp at every blow of the drill.
By the employment of the dowel pins u³, ut, the movable block t will be hold
in place when the ring is knocked upward to release the drill, instead of
dropping out as occurs in the ordinary chuck, which is made without the said pins;
but by an extreme upward movement of the ring, the block may be removed
as is desirable when, owing to the situation of the machine, it is necessary to
remove the drill bit laterally from the chuck.
The fluid when entering with the ports in the position shown in Figure 9, first
acts upon the auxiliary piston f³, and by the lug m³ and ring raises the piston
rod and valve until the said auxiliary piston is positively stopped by the
lower end of the cylinder, as shown in Figure 6; the valve 13 then closing the
openings, after which the piston rod 3 with its momentum and the fluid pressure
on the shoulder will continue its upward movement until the said shoulder has
passed out of the piston f³, when the fluid will pass therethrough and act on
the under surface 10 of the piston 13, causing it to complete its up stroke, during
which the projections m³ will have engaged the valve 3 and moved it above the
openings, as shown in Figure 15, to permit the fluid to pass through the
passage ja and act on the upper surface of the piston ³, first checking its upward
movement, and then causing it to make its down stroke.
The valve remains held by its friction above the ports until engaged by the
under surface 10 of the piston 3, a short space in its stroke before the exhaust
openings 15 are uncovered, the stroke being finished to uncover the said openings
by the expansion of the fluid above the piston, and for most effective operation
the drill should meet the rock as soon as the said exhaust openings 15 are
uncovered.
It will readily be seen that if a sufficient down stroke is permitted to uncover
the said exhaust openings 15, the drill will operate positively and continuously, it
starting from any position in which it may have been stopped or placed, and
operating without dead points or any opportunity for the steam to blow through
ineffectually.
In its normal and most effective operation, the piston in its up stroke will nearly
reach the top of the cylinder H, it being carried by its momentum above the
position shown in Figure 10, and the machine should be fed fast enough to cause
the down stroke to be terminated somewhat above the position shown in Figure 6,
just before the shoulder enters the auxiliary piston 3.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
1. In a tripod for rock drills, a column leg and supporting legs connected
therewith by joints capable of angular variation to sustain it upon rock, combined
with a machine holding clamp adjustable upon the said column leg, whereby the

page_text: position of the drill may be varied and adjusted independently of that of the
tripod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a tripod for rock drills, a column leg and cross piece, and connecting clamp
therefor, combined with supporting legs and clamps to connect them with the said
cross piece, and a machine holding clamp adapted to be fastened to any portion of
the said column leg, substantially as described.
3. The column leg and cross piece of uniform diameter therewith, and the
connecting clamp provided with two sockets fixed at right angles to receive the
said leg and cross piece, combined with the supporting legs and clamps to connect
them with the said cross-piece, the sockets of all the said clamps permitting free
longitudinal and rotary movement of the parts held therein, and provided with
fixing screws or bolts to fasten them when properly adjusted, substantially as
described.
4. The column leg of uniform diameter, and its supporting legs connected
therewith by clamps adapted to vary the angle between the said supporting and
column legs, combined with a machine holding clamp provided with a socket fitted
to the said column leg, and a pivot socket at right angles therewith, and the drill
holding carriage or sleeve pivoted in the said pivot socket, whereby the machine
may be revolved with the clamp bodily about the said leg, and turned upon the
pivot to vary the direction of its axis, substantially as described.
5. In a rock drill tripod, the column leg and supporting legs therefor, combined
with the weight supporting saddle adapted to embrace the said column legs, and
provided with weight receiving arms to sustain weights similar to those employed
with the supporting legs, substantially as described.
6. The column leg and supporting legs therefor, combined with the clamps
adapted to slide and rotate-upon-the-said-column-leg, and the stop rings to limit
their sliding movement and support them while being adjusted angularly,
substantially as described.
7. The outer casing and its head provided with an inlet port, combined with the
piston rod passing through the said head, and the auxiliary piston working in the
said casing and adapted to engage the said piston rod, and act as a piston therefor
during a certain portion of its stroke, substantially as and for the purpos
described.
8. The casing with its head containing the inlet port, and provided with a
stuffing box arranged to form an annular recess above the said head, combined with
the auxiliary piston fitted to the said recess, and the piston rod provided with a
shoulder fitted to the said piston, and operating in conjunction therewith in the
said casing as a cylinder, substantially as described.
9. The casing provided with an inlet port near its lower end, and the working
cylinder provided with a connecting port n passing from the space below to that
above the piston, combined with the piston and the exhaust pin or valve fitted
therein, the said pin being provided with a longitudinal exhaust passage leading
through the cylinder head, substantially as described.
10. The herein described valve consisting of a main tubular portion divided
longitudinally and counter bored or chambered internally, combined with a spring
ring located in the said chamber to pass the said parts outward against the
containing cylinder, and adapted to cover the lines of division of the main portion
of the valve, substantially as described.
11. The herein described working cylinder, it consisting of a main cast portion
properly bored internally, and a tubular jacket surrounding it and enclosing a
space upon the outside of the main bored portion, which is provided with series of
small port openings passing from its interior into the said space, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
12. In a rock drill, the combination with the reciprocating piston rod of the
chuck consisting of a half round tapering portion, continuous with the said rod, and
a corresponding half round tapering moveable block, and an internally tapering
ring adapted by its longitudinal movement to wedge the said portions together

page_text: upon the drill bit, combined with dowel pins to hold the said fixed and movable
portions together, and prevent the latter from dropping when loosened to release
the drill bit, substantially as described.
13. The outer casing and working cylinder therein provided with a port and a
frictionally held valve to control it, and a piston and a piston rod to actuate the
said valve, combined with the auxiliary piston for the said piston rod working in
the said casing, and the stop ring interposed between the said valve and auxiliary
piston, and co-operating with the latter to control the valve, substantially as and
for the purpose described.
14. In a rock drill, the cylinder consisting of an inner and outer tube having an
annular space enclosed between them, and provided with series of port openings
near either end thereof, connecting the said space with the interior of the cylinder,
combined with a valve to control one of the said series of openings, and the piston,
piston rod, and valve actuating lug thereon arranged and to operate substantially
as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
W. MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)