AN IMPROVED ROCK BORING APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: 37
I, GEORGE PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED ROCK BORING APPARATUS
a communication to me from abroad by Fenner Ballon Taylor of Washington
United States of America and James Hanning of Paris in the Republic of France
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a new and novel construction of the reciprocating type
with the jumper or cutter attached to the end of the piston rod, also of an
adjustable carriage for mounting and supporting the machine when in the operation
of boring.
The machine consists of a cylinder inside of which works a piston, which is
caused to reciprocate by the admission of steam or air alternately at either end of
the cylinder.
Upon its upper side is formed a valve chamber and passages leading to both
ends of the cylinder, for the distribution of steam or compressed air, The valve
placed in the valve chamber is actuated by an arm or tappet extending through an
opening into the cylinder, to be acted upon by the piston in its reciprocation. The
valve is formed double in its seating being divided in the centre by the arm or
tappet, also the steam or air passages.
The steam or air is used in a reverse order from ordinary valves, it being
admitted on the under side between the ports and exhausted through passages into
a chamber inside of the valve which communicates with the open air or an
exhaust pipe.
The steam or air is admitted into the valve chamber and around the valve in the
usual manner.
The piston has two heads with a space between them sufficient to actuate the arm
or tappet extending from the valve into the cylinder giving it a forward and
back ward motion causing the valve to cover and uncover the ports regulating the
distribution of steam or air.
Upon the piston rod in the front end of the cylinder is placed a ratchet ring or
wheel provided with two splines or feathers working into spiral grooves cut into
ו'

page_text: the piston rod, Into this ratchet works a pawl placed in a chamber on the top of
the ratchet wheel. This combination of the pawl and ratchet wheel together with
the spiral grooves in the piston rod, gives the piston and jumper a partial rotation
at each stroke of the machine.
•
The cylinder is supported by two guides working in corresponding grooves in a
cradle at the back, and held in position by a feed nut attached to the back end of
the cylinder, working on a feed screw carried by brackets formed on the cradle.
The automatic feed or advance of the machine following up the penetration of
the jumper into the rock is accomplished by means of an arm or cam placed in a
chamber in the side of the cylinder between the two pistons. This arm is attached
to a shaft held in bearings outside of the cylinder and extending into the chamber
and so arranged that the pistons as they reciprocate give it a vibrating motion,
this motion is communicated by the shaft to pawls at the back of the machine,
engaging with ratchet teeth on the feed nut, giving it an intermittent motion,
dependant upon the amount of throw given to the arm in the cylinder above
described by the pistons, thus advancing the machine equal to the penetration.
The frame or carriage for supporting the machine is formed with a base of a
triangular form, open at the front side resting upon three points. Centrally across
the carriage and parallel with the front points, is placed a shaft extending outside
the frame. Upon the ends of this shaft and outside of the frame are placed wheels
for transporting the whole from place to place. The two points in the front of the
carriage are threaded or screwed in order to regulate the level of the carriage to
unequal surfaces, and also to raise the wheels from the rock when the machine is
working.
Upon this cross shaft is placed a sleeve (that is free to turn) extending from side
to side of the frame having supports for two upright screw columns, these columns
are connected at the bottom by a shaft and worm gear whereby the two columns
are made to turn simultaneously. On and near the top of these columns are placed
cheeks with nuts to suit the columns, having conical sockets for supporting a cross-
head with ends corresponding with the conical seats in the cheeks, the whole being
held together by a central bolt passing through cheeks and headstock, the conical
seats forming an adjustable bearing.
Centrally upon the crosshead is formed a conical seat for attaching the cradle
and machine, the cradle having a conical projection corresponding to the seat in the
headstock forming another adjustable joint and held firmly by a single bolt. The
beadstock and machine can be raised and lowered by turning the upright columns
in the side cheeks by means of the shaft and worm gear at the bottom.
The perpendicularity or angularity of the headstock and machine are controlled
by means of a curved brace attached to the headstock of and held in position by a
pinch block and screw at the rear end of the frame, and the adjustable points in
the headstocks. This curved brace forms also a handle or pole to guide the
carriage while moved about.
The feed is produced by the reciprocation of the pistons when the machine is in
the act of boring by coming in contact with the feed cam. When the pistons are
making a long stroke both work the cam causing it to make two motions at each
stroke of the pistons which gives a rapid feed until the-machine is fed sufficiently
forward. When the front piston does not reach the cam to move it, but the back
piston continues to act singly and.feed the machine forward until its action on the
cam is not sufficient to cause the pawl to act on the ratchet wheel on the feed nut.
At this stage the cylinder is at rest and the piston is making its proper working
stroke. As the boring continues and sufficient penetration has been inade the back
piston travels further down the cylinder until it gives the feed cam sufficient throw
to allow the pawl to engage with fresh teeth in the ratchet and cause the feed nut
to turn again and move the cylinder forward until the piston ceases to give the
feed cam sufficient motion to turn the feed nut again, thus forming a positive and
reliable automatic advance of the machine corresponding with the penetration into
the rock or stone whether it be hard or soft.

page_text: A small piston forms an important part of the action of the feed, it being an
elastic spring it holds all the parts in position yielding to the action of the feed
cam and giving the stern stroke to make the feed.
Operation is as follows:-
The machine mounted on its carriage is transported by means of its wheels to a
place where a hole is to be bored. The front screws of the carriage are turned
down until the wheels are raised clear of the rock. The whole resting firmly on
the three points. The machine is then adjusted to the desired angle or direction of
the hole by raising or lowering the headstock to a proper height by means of the
worm gear at the base of the upright columns and the curved brace at the rear.
The machine is then raised by turning the feed screw to the top of the cradle to
allow space for the advance as the depth of the hole increases. A vertical or
angular direction being obtained by the adjustable friction bearings in the head-
stock of the carriage which allows of any desirable direction being given to the
machine. A jumper or cutter secured to the end of the piston rod, and the flexible
hose attached to the induction and eduction openings of the machine. It is now
in readiness for operation.
The steam or compressed air is now admitted through the flexible hose to the
cylinder which causes the piston and jumper to reciprocate by means of the
distributing mechanism herein before described, the piston and jumper making
about one tenth of a revolution at each stroke.
As the hole is increased in depth or as the jumper advances into the rock or
stone the machine is advanced or fed forward automatically in the same ratio of
the penetration.
When the machine has travelled the whole length of the feed screw, or the
jumper has become too much worn to proceed with further, the steam or air is
turned off. The machine and jumper are withdrawn from the hole by turning the
feed screw in the reverse direction by the crank handle, the jumper replaced by a
longer or a sharp one as the case may require, the machine again adjusted to the
proper distance from the hole to allow of the proper throw of piston to operate the
valve, steam or air again admitted to the cylinder as before, the operation of boring
is continued until the required depth of hole is obtained.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I GEORGE PITT of Sutton in the County of Surrey Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED ROCK BORING APPARATUS
a communication to me from abroad by Fenner Ballon Taylor of Washington,
United States of America and James Hanning of Paris in the Republic of France
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of a new and novel construction of the reciprocating type
with the jumper or cutter attached to the end of the piston rod, also of an
adjustable carriage for mounting and supporting the machine when in the operation
of boring.
The machine consists of a cylinder inside of which works a piston which is
caused to reciprocate by the admission of steam or air alternately at either end of
the cylinder.
Upon its upper side is formed a valve chamber and passages leading to both
ends of the cylinder, for the distribution of steam or compressed air. The valve
placed in the valve chamber is actuated by an arm or tappet extending through an
opening into the cylinder, to be acted upon by the piston in its reciprocation. The
valve is formed double in its seating being divided in the centre by the arm or
tappet. Also the steam or air passages.
The steam or air is used in a reverse order from ordinary valves, it being
admitted on the under side between the ports and exhausted through passages into
a chamber inside of the valve which communicates with the open air or an
exhaust pipe.
The steam or air is admitted into the valve chamber and around the valve in the
usual manner. The piston has two heads with a space between them sufficient to
actuate the arm or tappet extending from the valve into the cylinder giving it a
forward and backward motion causing the valve to cover and uncover the ports
regulating the distribution of steam or air.
Upon the piston rod in the front end of the cylinder is placed a ratchet ring or
wheel provided with two splines or feathers, working into spiral grooves cut into
the piston rod. Into this ratchet works a pawl placed in a chamber on the top of
the ratchet wheel. This combination of the pawl and ratchet wheel together with
the spiral grooves in the piston rod gives the piston and jumper a partial rotation
at each stroke of the machine.
The cylinder is supported by two guides working in corresponding grooves in a
cradle at the back, and held in position by a feed nut attached to the back end of
the cylinder working on a feed screw carried by brackets formed on the cradle.
The automatic feed or advance of the machine following up the penetration of
the jumper into the rock is accomplished by means of an arm or cam placed in a
chamber in the side of the cylinder between the two pistons. This arm is
attached to a shaft held in bearings outside of the cylinder and extending into the
chamber and so arranged that the pistons as they reciprocate give it a vibrating
motion, this motion is communicated by the shaft to pawls at the back of the
machine, engaging with ratchet teeth on the feed nut, giving it an intermittent

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus part of the upper portion being in section to
show the means of locking the cylinder to prevent it swivelling in one direction.
The section being taken on the line Z. Z. in Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus part of the upper portion being in
section to show the means of locking the cylinder to prevent its swivelling in the
other direction. The line of section being the centre line of the apparatus
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus a portion of the frame being in
section: These figures represent the machine set in an upright position to jump or
drill a vertical hole..
Figure 4 is a front view of the cylinder to an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of the above taken for the most part on the
fine Y, Y, Figure 8, one side of the piston and portions of the piston rod being
shown in section.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the cylinder part being in section to show the
communication between the tappet and the feed pawl.
Figure 7 is a plan of the same.
Figure 8 is a cross section of the cylinder taken on the line W. W. Figure 5 but
showing the tappet M in view.
Figure 9 is a section taken on the line V, V, Figure 4.
In the various figures the same letters refer to like parts.
In Figures 1. 2. and 3 A is the base or carriage of the apparatus. It is provided
with a rigid point or leg A¹ firmly fixed to it; A2 A3 are also pointed legs having
screws cut on their stems that they may be varied in length to adjust the level of

page_text: the apparatus A³ A³ are wheels on which the apparatus may be readily moved
from one position to another. An axle A passes through both wheels and through
the base sleeve A". This sleeve has two bosses A cast on it and in these the screw
columns A can turn freely. A worm wheel A5 is keyed onto each of these columns
and into each is geared a worm carried by a spindle A³ which is actuated by a
hand wheel.
A long boss A having an internal screw is fitted on to each of the columns and
on the side of these bosses is cast a disc coned out to suit corresponding coned
flanges formed on the cross head A. A bolt L' is passed through the cones and
the cross head (clearly shown in Figure 1) clamps them firmly together, but when
the bolt is slacked the crosshead A10 and cylinder C can be swivelled to any desired
angle in one plane when the bolt can again be tightened.
The crosshead A¹º has a hollow cone disc cast upon it (shown clearly in Figures 1
and 2) and into this cone fits a corresponding cone formed on a cradle A". This
slide carries 'the cylinder C. A bolt L is passed through these cone discs and
holds them firmly together but when it is slacked the slide and cylinder can be
swivelled to any desired angle in a plane at right angles to the first when the bolt
can be again tightened. From this it will be seen that the cylinder can be set to
any desired angle from the vertical line.
A is a curved brace or stay serving also as a handle. It is clamped up tight by
the bolt L¹ to the crosshead thence it descends to a swivel clamp A¹s attached to
the tail end of the base A.
In Figures 4. 5 and 6, C is the cylinder, the piston of which may be worked by
steam or air under pressure-C¹ is the valve chamber. C' is a bracket formed on
the side of the cylinder for supporting the feed nut-Cs is a cap covering the
chamber in which a retaining pawl H is fitted. An annular recess is formed in
the cap C for a spiral spring which presses on the back of the pawl as seen in
Figure 9. Onto the end of the cylinder is screwed a packing gland or nut C.
It is prevented from screwing up or unscrewing by a key C which drops into one
or other of the notches formed in its external Bange. C is the cylinder cover,
C' are guides formed on the back of the cylinder sliding freely in the cradle A".
C8 Cs are ports or passages formed in the cylinder to convey the fluid under
pressure to the top or bottom of the cylinder-these passages are each divided or
forked and form two where they communicate with the valve chest but they have
only one opening each into their respective ends of the cylinder-as indicated by
dotted lines in Figure 4-they also serve as exhaust passages.
A valve D working in a cylindrical chamber controls the admission and exhaust
to and from the ends of the cylinder. It has formed in it a central exhaust
chamber with two exhaust ports in connection therewith and between the latter
are two admission ports or pockets one at either end of the valve. Between the
admission pockets is the tappet D' which receives motion from the piston causing
the valve to rock to and fro with a circular motion when it is struck by the pistons
as they approach the end of the stroke. The valve is held on its seat by the
pressure of the air or steam upon it, it is also held in like manner against the flat
face around the exhaust outlet port. D' is the supply or admission nozzle and
D³ the exhaust. E is the piston rod which passes through both pistons E¹ E².
GG are the spiral grooves by which a rotary motion is imparted to the rod and
pistons. G is a socket and curved key for securing the jumper or cutter to the
end of the piston rod. H is a bush having ratchet teeth cut on its outer circum-
ference and having on its inner surface two keys or feathers fitted to take into the
grooves G in the piston rod. H¹ is a retaining pawl the end of which is pressed
into the teeth of the bush by a spiral spring. The bush H is prevented from
rotating by the pawl H¹ during the stroke of the piston rod in one direction and
then the feathers G cause the rod to rotate within the bush but on the reverse
movement the bush revolves in the cylinder. Thus the necessary movement is
imparted to the drill or jumper. His a stop which prevents the bush following
the piston during its inward stroke,

page_text: A bracket 1' is formed on the cradle A" and 12 a bracket attached to the cradle
by a feather and bolts. K is the feed screw supported by these brackets, a nut I³
is fitted to this screw and is carried by a bracket C formed on the cylinder and by
it the cylinder is moved to and fro in the cradle. On the exterior of the nut is
keyed a ratchet wheel I. A cam lever M the face of which is chamfered off top
and bottom to prevent the piston catching is arranged within a recess or chamber
on the side of the cylinder and is operated by the pistons. It is keyed onto a
spindle M' which passes out through a stuffing box and extends upwards through
a boss or bearing on the top of the cylinder. Immediately above the stuffing box
a lever N is keyed onto the spindle. Against the end of this lever a small
piston N (under constant pressure) presses keeping it against a stop N°. At the
end of the spindle is keyed a lever N³ carrying at its outer end a pawl O. This
pawl engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I' and imparts to it an inter-
mittent rotary motion thus feeding the cylinder forward. A retaining pawl 01
carried by a pin attached to the top of the cylinder prevents the ratchet wheel I*
and nut 13 from turning back wards. This pawl O¹ has on its opposite side a tail
end carrying a spiral spring which presses the pawls O and O' firmly into the teeth
of the ratchet.
The piston N forms a spring keeping all the parts in position and giving the
return stroke to the pawl O thus causing the rotary motion of the ratchet wheel I'
for the feed and yet yielding to the motion of the feed cam M on its out stroke
which is imparted by one or both of the pistons when reciprocating by their
coming in contact with its bevelled face and forcing it outwards. This movement
causes the pawl O to engage with another tooth of the ratchet wheel I*.
When the pistons are making a long stroke both work the cam causing it to
make two motions at each stroke of the pistons which gives a rapid feed until the
machine is fed sufficiently forward. When the front piston does not reach the can
to move it but the back piston continues to act singly and feed the machine
forward until its action on the cam is not sufficient to cause the pawl to act on the
ratchet wheel on the feed nut. At this stage the cylinder is at rest and the piston
is making its proper working stroke. As the boring continues and sufficient
penetration has been inade the back piston travels further down the cylinder until
it gives the feed cam sufficient throw to allow the pawl to engage with fresh teeth
in the ratchet and cause the feed nut to turn again and move the cylinder forward
until the piston ceases to give the feed cam sufficient motion to turn the feed nut
again, thus forming a positive and reliable automatic advance of the machine
corresponding with the penetration into the rock or stone whether it be hard or
Operation is as follows.
soft.
The
The machine mounted on its carriage is transported by means of its wheels to
a place where a hole is to be bored, the front screws of the carriage are turned
down until the wheels are raised clear of the rock, the whole resting firmly on the
three points. The machine is then adjusted to the desired angle or direction of the
hole by raising or lowering the headstock to a proper height by means of the worm
gear at the base of the upright columns and the curved brace at the rear.
machine is then raised by turning the feed screw to the top of the cradle to allow
space for the advance as the depth of the hole increases. A vertical or angular
direction being obtained by the adjustable friction bearings in the headstock of the
carriage which allows of any desirable direction being given to the machine.
A jumper or cutter secured to the end of the piston rod and the flexible hose
attached to the induction and eduction openings of the machine. It is now in
readiness for operation.
The steam or compressed air is now admitted through the flexible hose to the
cylinder which causes the piston and jumper to reciprocate by means of the
distributing mechanism herein before described, the piston and jumper making
about one tenth of a revolution at each stroke.

page_text: As the hole is increased in depth or as the jumper advances into the rock or
stone the machine is advanced or fed forward automatically in the same ratio as
the penetration.
When the machine has travelled the whole length of the feed screw or the
jumper has become too much worn to proceed with further the steam or air is
turned off, the machine and jumper withdrawn from the hole by turning the feed
screw in the reverse direction by the crank handle, the jumper replaced by a longer
or a sharp one as the case may require, the machine again adjusted to the proper
distance from the hole to allow of the proper throw of piston to operate the valve,
steam or air again admitted to the cylinder as before, the operation of boring is
continued until the required depth of hole is obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
(1.) The valve apparatus substantially as described by which the compressed air
or steam is caused to pass into and from the cylinder.
(2.) The feed apparatus substantially as described by which the machine is
caused to advance as the work progresses.
(3.) The carriago substantially as described for supporting the drill firmly and
in the requisite position whilst in operation..
(4.) Rock boring apparatus substantially as described and represented by the
annexed drawings.