IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BORING IN THE EARTH, AND FOR ACTUATING A HAMMER POR DRIVING TUBES INTO THE EARTH, AND OTHER USES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Colin Mather, of Salford Iron-Works, Manchester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BORING IN THE
EARTH, AND FOR ACTUATING A HAMMER POR DRIVING TUBES INTO THE EARTH,
AND OTHER USES."
Sealed the 19th December 1854, and dated the 25th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Colin Mather, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on, the
25th October 1854.
I, COLIN MATHER, of Salford Iron-Works, Manchester, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BORING IN
THE EARTH, AND FOR ACTUATING A HAMMER POR DRIVING TUBES INTO THE EARTH,
AND OTHER USES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery, in some respects
similar to what was described in the Specification of a former Patént, granted
to me and another; and also for improvements in machinery for working
hammers when boring in the earth, and for other uses. For this purpose,
the boring tools or cutters are arranged in a circle, similarly to what was
formerly described, and according to the diameter of the intended boring

page_text: to be made into the earth, there being cutters internal of the outer circle,
in order, when passing through a rock or hard material, that the substances
may be broken. Several sets of such cutters are kept ready, so that as the
cutters of one set become blunted, another set may be taken into use. These
cutters, with their apparatus, as in the former machinery, are arranged so as
to cause the cutters to move partly round, to bring the several cutters to act on
different parts, in place of their repeating their cuts in the same place; but the
arrangement for this purpose is varied from what was formerly described. In
the present machinery-a somewhat twisted bar of a square.section is used, and an
untwisted portion of which causes a pinion to revolve when the twisted portion
is turned, by moving through a socket. These cutters, in place of being worked
in combination with a lever, actuated by a cam put in motion by a steam engine,
are in the present machinery worked by the piston of a steam cylinder in tho
following manner:-The piston rod, which is preferred to be of a square
section, carries at its upper end a wheel or pulley, over which the rope passes
from a reel to the cutting or tool frame. There is a small jet of steam admitted
underneath the piston, causing it to ascend slowly, so taking up the slack of
the rope and opening the steam valve. The slides or valves of the steam
cylinder are worked by tappets, which are moveable, so as to adjust the length
of stroke, the slides or valves being acted on by the rising and descending of
the piston rod; and provision is made for throttling the outlet of the steam, so
that the workman by hand gearing may regulate, the descent of the cutting
tools, which, by reason of the rope passing over a pulley or wheel on the piston
rod, descend at double the velocity of the piston in the steam cylinder. The
lowering end of the rope is by means of a chain and hook made so as readily
to be attached and detached, to facilitate the attaching and removal of the
cutter frame and the lifting cylinder or bucket. The rope is wound on a
reel or drum, which at the proper times is put in motion by a steam engine.
The lifting cylinder or bucket is similar in action to what was formerly
described, but its details of construction are modified.. The piston is formed
with a cup of vulcanized. india-rubber. The valve of the bucket consists of a
disc of vulcanized india-rubber, with a central spindle, and its seat is arranged
so as to be retained within the cylinder when in use, yet so as to be lowered
with the clack or valve separated, to allow of the parts being cleaned by
jets of water. For this purpose, the lower end of the lifting cylinder or bucket
is, when lifted out of the hole, placed on a step, which is raised or lowered
by hand gearing, so as to lower the valve seat and parts below the bottom.
of the cylinder when a cotter (which retains them in the cylinder) has been
removed..

page_text: The rope in passing from the reel to the cutter frame is, when the cutters
touch the bottom of the hole or boring, clamped, or retained fast by a screw
clamp to a slide, which is capable of being moved by hand gearing, to enable
the workman to let off rope as the cutters (by repeated descents) cut deeper
and deeper into the earth. The arrangement of steam cylinder, and parts above
described, for actuating the rope, may be used for actuating a hammer when
driving down tubes, when boring into the earth, or for driving piles, or for
other uses requiring a like action.
When boring with machinery arranged and combined as above described,
a bell-mouthed tube is fixed into the earth. The rope, by the rotation of
the recl, is allowed to unwind till the lower ends of the cutters come to the
bottom of the hole or boring; the rope is then clamped, and the piston of
the steam cylinder is put into action. The small jet of steam first acts to
raise the piston to take up the slack of the rope, when the tappets will act
on the slides or valves to admit steam, and the piston will continue to rise and
fall, and consequently the cutting tools; the workman by the hand gear will
give off rope as the cutters descend more and more into the earth. After
repeated actions of the cutters, the cutter apparatus is to be lifted out (by the
rotation of the reel, the clamping being released) and detached from the end of
the rope. The lifting cylinder or bucket is to be attached to the rope and
lowered into the hole, when, by repeatedly raising and lowering the bucket by
means of the rope on the reel, it will be filled with water, and the pieces of
rock or materials cut away by the action of the cutters; and the action of the
lifting cylinder or bucket is to be repeated till the hole or boring is cleared
of the cuttings. Where there is no natural flow of water into the hole or
boring, water is to be supplied, as water is required to cause the parts of the
rock or hard material cut by the cutters to ascend into the lifting cylinder
or bucket
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Colin Mather in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, COLIN
MATHER, of Salford Iron Works, Manchester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Colin Mather, Her special licence that. I, the said Colin
Mather, my executors, -administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Colin Mather, my executors, administrators, and assigns,, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times, thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and. lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS, IN
MACHINERY FOR BORING IN THE EARTH, AND FOR ACTUATING A HAMMER POR. DRIVING
TUBES INTO THE EARTH, AND OTHER USES, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Colin Mather, by an instrument in writing under my hand, and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of; the, said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters. Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Colin Mather; do hereby., declare, the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same; is, to be per
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in: and by the, following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
in
This Invention has for its object improvements, in machinery, in some
respects similar to what was described in the Specification, of a. former
Patent, granted to me and another; and also for." improvements in machinery
for working hammers when boring in the earth, and for other uses: .For. this
purpose, the boring tools or cutters are arranged in, a circle, similarly...to
what was formerly described, and according to the. diameter of the..intended
boring to be made into the earth, there being, cutters internal of the outer
circle, in order, when passing through a rock or, hard material, that the
substances may be broken. Several sets of such cutters are kept ready,
so that as the cutters of one_set, become blunted, another set may be taken
into use. These cutters, with their apparatus, as in the former machinery,
are arranged so as to cause the cutters to move partly round, to bring the
several cutters to act on different parts, in place of their repeating their cuts
in the same place; but the arrangement for this purpose is varied from what
was formerly described. In the present machinery a somewhat twisted bar
of a square section is used, and an untwisted portion of which causes a pinion
to revolve, when the twisted portion is turned by moving through a socket.
These cutters, in place of being worked in combination with a lever, actuated
by a cam put in motion, by a steams.engine, are int thenpresent machinery
worked by the piston of a steam, cylinder in the following: nianner: The
P

page_text: piston rod, which is preferred to be of a square section, carries at its upper
end a wheel or pulley, over which the rope passes from a reel to the cutting
"or'tool frame. There is a small jet of steam admitted underneath the piston,
causing it to ascend slowly, so taking up the slack of the rope and opening
the steam valve. The slides or valves of the steam cylinder are worked by
täppets, which are moveable, so as to adjust the length of stroke, the slides
or valves being acted on by the rising and descending of the piston rod;
and provision is made for throttling the outlet of the steam, so that the work-
inan-by hand gearing may regulate the descent of the cutting tools, which, by
reason, of the rope passing over a pulley or wheel on the piston rod, descend
at double the velocity of the piston in the steam' cylinder. The lowering end
of the rope is by means of a chain and hook made so as readily to be attached
andletached; to facilitate the attaching and removal of the cutter frame and
the lifting cylinder or bucket. The rope is wound on a reel or drum, which
at the proper times is put in motion by a steam engine. The lifting cylinder
or bucket is similar in action to what was formerly described, but its details of
construction are modified. The piston is formed with a cup of vulcanized
india-rubber. The valve of the bucket consists of a disc of vulcanized india-
rubber, with a central spindle, and its seat is arranged so as to be retained
within the cylinder when in use, yet so as to be lowered with the clack or
valve separated; to allow of the parts being cleaned by jets of water. For this
purpose the lower end of the lifting cylinder or bucket is, when lifted out of
the hole, placed on a step, which is raised or lowered by hand gearing, so as
to lower the valve seat and parts below the bottom of the cylinder when a
cotter (which retains them in the cylinder) has been removed. The rope in
passing from the reel to the cutter frame is, when the cutters touch the bottom
of the hole or boring, clamped, or retained fast by a screw clamp to a slide,
which is capable of being moved by hand gearing, to enable the workman to
let off rope as the cutters (by repeated descents) cut deeper and deeper into
the earth. The arrangement of steam cylinder and parts above described for
actuating the rope may be used for actuating a hammer when driving down
tubes, when boring into the earth, or for driving piles, or for other uses requiring
a like action. When boring with machinery arranged and combined as above
described, a bell-mouthed tube is fixed into the earth. The rope, by the rotation
of the reel, is allowed to unwind till the lower ends of the cutters come to the
bottom of the hole or boring; the rope is then clamped, and the piston of
the steam cylinder is put into action. The small jet of steam first acts to raise
the piston to take up the slack of the rope, when the tappets will act on the
slides or valves to admit steam, and the piston will continue to rise and fall, and

page_text: consequently the cutting tools; the workman, by the hand gear, will give off
rope as the cutters descend more and more into the earth. After repeated
actions of the cutters, the cutter apparatus is to be lifted out (by the rotation of
the reel, the clamping being released) and detached from the end of the rope.
The lifting cylinder or bucket is to be attached to the rope and lowered into the
hole, when, by repeatedly raising and lowering the-bucket by means of the rope
on the reel, it will be filled with water, and the pieces of rock or materials cut
away by the action of the cutters; and the action of the lifting cylinder or
bucket is to be repeated till the hole or boring is cleared of the cuttings.
Where there is no natural flow of water into the hole or boring, water is to
be supplied, as water is required to cause the parts of the rock or hard
material cut by the cutters to descend into the lifting cylinder or bucket.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a general longitudinal elevation of the machinery; Figure 2 is
a front elevation; Figure 3 is a plan of the same. On these three Figures
the same letters and figures of reference are placed on corresponding parts.
a, a, a, the framework of the machine; b, the steam cylinder for actuating
the boring head; c, boring head; d, lifting cylinder or bucket; e, square
piston rod with fork for carrying the pulley; f, f, top pulley; g, screw clamp,
for holding the rope whilst the operation of boring is going on, which by
means of the screw h can be moved, so as to give out the rope, and allow the
.boring head to descend as it penetrates the rock; h, screw to work the slide
to which the clamp is attached. On the shaft of this screw are two bevil wheels,
which are geared into two other bevil wheels, one at i, the other at k, which
by means of short shafts and handles can be operated upon from the stage
at 7, or the floor level at m. n, guide pulley; o, large pulley or drum, for
winding up and lowering the boring head, and also for working the lifting
cylinder or bucket; p, rope; g, segmental spur wheel to winding engine
, there being a spur pinion on tho fly wheel shaft, which takes into and
drives the segmental wheel q; s, s¹, are two square shafts, on which the cams
or inclined surfaces t, u, are fixed, by which the valves are worked; these
cam surfaces are capable of sliding on the shafts s, s¹, and are fixed in any
position by set screws, so that a longer or shorter stroke may be given to the
piston in the cylinder 6, according to the hardness or softness of the material
in which the hole is being bored. t, t, are the two cams with inclined surfaces,
by which motion is given to the steam valve; u,.u, are two similar cams,

page_text: which give motion to the exhaust valve; v, tappet or arm, fastened on the
square piston rod, which as the piston rod ascends slides over the surfaces
of the inclined cams t, t, and so turns the square shaft s, and by means of
the arm causes the steam valve to open and shut; w, a roller on a tappet
or arm, which acts in a similar manner on the cams u, u, and by means of
the arm y causes the exhaust valve to open and shut; x, arm or lever on the
square shaft s; y, arm or lever on the square shaft s'; z, box containing the
steam valve; ', box containing the exhaust valve; 1, steam pipe; 2, exhaust
pipe; 3, tap, by which a small jet of steam is admitted into the cylinder;
4, steam port; 5, exhaust port. It will be observed that the steam port is
level with the bottom of the cylinder, while the exhaust port is a few inches
above; and by this arrangement, when the piston in its descent passes the
exhaust port, the steam contained in that part of the cylinder between the
bottom of the port and the bottom of the cylinder acts as an elastic cushion
for the piston to drop upon. In the construction of the cylinder, the ports are
cast solid, and have holes drilled through, so as to form a kind of grating for
the passage of the steam, and prevent the packing of the piston projecting into
the port. 6, table for receiving the lifting cylinder or bucket; 7, lever; 8, screw;
9, fly wheel; 10, fly wheel for opening water tap; 11, water jets; 12, rod,
with hook for sustaining the lifting cylinder or bucket while being emptied,
and holding it in its place while the boring head is working; 13, hook; 14,
hook and short chain fastened to the rope; 15, hook for lifting cylinder or
bucket; 16, box for emptying the lifting cylinder or bucket into; 17, lever to
open and close the slide door 18, in the side of the box 16, for the passage of
the sludge pump.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the boring bar; Figure 5, an elevation;
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are cross sections, corresponding with the letters
marked on the transverse section. a, a, a, a, is a bar of wrough iron, of round
section in the parts a, a, a, a, but square from 6 to c; d is the link by which
the whole is suspended, attached by means of four cotters to the part e, e, the
lower part of which from f to g is of square section, but twisted. One-fourth
part round beyond this twisted portion is another parallel square part, marked
h. i is an outer box or cylinder; k is an inner box or cylinder; l, a ratchet
wheel with boss projecting downwards; m, ratchet wheel; n, a casting attached
to the bar, serving to add weight to the boring head, and to act as a guide to
keep it perpendicular in the hole; o, boring head in which the cutters are
fixed; p, p, cutters; q, q, q, india-rubber springs, to break the concussion of
the parts and s when the boring head is raised; r is a collar fixed to the
top of the bar a; s, a gland or ring over the india-rubber springs q, q, q.

page_text: The object of the arrangement of parts above described is to cause the cutting
part of the boring head to revolve a portion of a revolution at cach stroke,
which is thus effected-When the bar is resting at the bottom of the hole
.and.the link: dis: raised, it will pass through the space from stor before it
raises the bar, carrying with it the part e; e; but in so doing the twisted portion
of the bar a, above described, in passing through the socket of the outer box i,
is compelled to make a partial revolution, which puts a corresponding twist
in the rope, which, when the weight of the boring head comes upon it, it has a
tendency to straighten; itself again, and so causes: the boring head to revolve.
The parts.i, k, and ratchet wheels l, m, are caused to act in the following
manner to prevent the possibility of the rope being twisted and untwisted
without producing the effect desired: When the part e, e, is 'raised, and
caused to move-round by the twisted part f; g, as above described, the square
part h carries round with it the inner box or cylinder k, k, in the direction
shewn by the, arrow in-the cross section C, D,.which is allowed to pass easily
in that direction by the slipping of the catches, which take into the teeth of
the ratchet wheel l, as shewn; whilst in descending, the casting e, e, is prevented
from, revolving in the opposite-direction by the square part h, passing through
the socket of the inner box k, which cannot revolve in that direction without
carrying with 'it the ratchet wheel and the whole of the boring head, by
acting on the bar to which it is attached; but as it, cannot. revolve in conse-
quence of the cutters being at that time imbedded in the carth, it causes the
outer box i to revolve in the direction shewn by the arrow on the cross section
E, F, which is also retained in its position, and prevented from returning by
the catches and ratchet, as shewn.
"
Figure 12 is a transverse section of the lifting cylinder or bucket; Figure
13, an elevation; and Figure. 14, a plan of the same.
a is the forked pump
rod, which serves also as the link, by which the pump is raised or lowered;
.b, bucket; c, india-rubber valve to same; d, d, india-rubber springs, to break
the concussion, and prevent the nut e coming in contact with the frame f,
by which the seating of the bottom clack or valve is fastened to the spindle i;
g, bottom india-rubber valve or clack; h, seating for same; i, spindle, which
passes through the frame or guard f and the bucket 6, and is retained in its
place by a cotter k; l, frame, which passes over the top of the pump, and
serves as a guide for the spindle i and forked pump rod a; m, the outer casing
or pump barrel.
When the lifting cylinder or bucket is passing down the
hole, the piston of the bucket will be at the top of the working barrel, and
the whole suspended by the collar of the frame 1, bearing on the closed part
of the forked pump rod immediately above the bucket; but when it reaches

page_text: the bottom, the. piston of the bucket will descend by its own gravity till it
comes to the position shewn in: the Drawing. When the motion of the winding
engine is reversed, the bucket will be raised, and a partial vacuum. formed
below it, when à portion of the rock, which has been removed and broken up
by the cutters, will be carried by the flow of water past the bottom clack or
valve g, into the space between it and the bucket; to facilitate which, the
bottom clack or valye, instead of being secured to the seating in the ordinary
way, is fastened to a tube, which is at liberty to slide in the bar i as far as.is
allowed by the slot in the tube, and the cotter in the spindle, as shewn at.o.
When the pump is raised to the surface, and placed on the stand provided for
it, and the cotter k knocked out, the bottom clack or valve g with its seating
h will descend, and the contents be washed out by the flush of water contained
in the lifting cylinder or bucket. The operation of boring is thus performed:-
The boring head having been lowered into the hole, the rope is secured by
means of the clamp 9; the stop valve is opened, and steam admitted into the
pipe 1; the tap 3 being opened; a small jet of steam is introduced below the
piston, which is slowly raised till the projecting arm or tappet. comes in con-
tact with the cam t, which is so formed, that the tappet, v.in passing along the
surface causes the rod s to turn partially round, and thereby open the steam
valve, and admit a sufficient quantity of steam to raise the piston more quickly,
till the tappet v comes in contact with another cam t', of similar form to the
former one, but in a reverse position, which closes the valve; whilst at the same
time on the opposite side of the piston rod is another tappet w, which opens
the valve for the exhaustion of the steam in a similar manner. When the
piston descends; and the boring head falls with all the impetus of its own
gravity upon the rock or substance into which it is intended to bore, the cutters
will penetrate and disintegrate the said substance. This, operation having
been repeated as many times as the workman by experience considers neces-
sary, the clamp g is released, and the boring head is brought to the surface by
means of the winding engine r, and a hook at the end of a long rod, similar
to the one marked 12, by which the lifting cylinder or bucket is suspended,
and hangs from the sliding hook 13,) is passed into the link of the boring
head, which may then be placed on one side; the hook 14 is theu to be dis-
engaged from the boring head, and attached to the lifting cylinder or bucket,
which is then lowered to the bottom of the hole or boring, and the piston of
the bucket. is to be raised and lowered three or four times. By reversing the
winding engine the lifting cylinder is then to be raised to the surface, and
without disengaging the hook 14, the hook 15 is passed into the link of the
lifting cylinder, and the engine being reversed, the rod 12 will receive the weight

page_text: of the lifting cylinder until it comes into the position as shewn in Figures
1, 2, and 3, the bottom of it resting on the small table 6; the cotter k is then
knocked out, and upon turning the fly wheel 9, the screw 8 acts upon the lever
7; the table being lowered, the bottom clack follows it, and the whole of the
contents of the pump will be delivered into the box 16. For the purpose of
effectually cleansing the clack, there are four jets of water under pressure at
11, which, being turned on at the time the table 6 is being lowered, will wash
away any sand or other material that may lodge on it. The lifting cylinder or
bucket requires to be introduced into the boring three or four times to raise
all the loose matters; and when the workman finds that the boring is well
cleaned out, the boring head is again attached to the hook 11, the rope
securely clamped, the operation repeated as before. When the apparatus is
to be used for driving pipes or piles, a monkey or heavy weight can be
substituted for the boring head, and actuated in a similar manner by means
of the piston and steam cylinder b.
In witness whereof, I, the said Colin Mather, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JAMES BROWN,
Moliere Terrace,
Broughton.
COLIN MATHER. (L.S.)