Apparatus for Supporting Drilling Tools and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left. 20th May, 1898-Accepted, 2nd July, 1898
Apparatus for Supporting Drilling Tools and the like.
I, HARRY PERCIVAL ANDERSON, Mechanical Engineer, residing at 61, Church
Lane, Old Charlton, London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to an apparatus suitable to be used as a support, and is
so constructed that it is held against the article to which it may be applied by the
atmospheric pressure. The same may be made in different forms to suit various
requirements. In the following description the apparatus is made in such a way
so as to make it adaptable for supporting drilling tools and the like, and con-
sists of a bent tube of suitable metal, size, and strength, bent in the form of
three sides of a rectangle with the corners rounded.
Securley fixed to the two ends of the said bent tube, are two iron or steel plates
of the necessary size, strength, and shape, forming two bases or platforms; some
substance is secured to the bottom of the said plates in such a manner so as to
form airtight joints; a movable centre is fitted to the top bend of the said metal
tube, to act as a bearing for the tools used.
It will be seen that when the apparatus is pressed against a smooth surface and
the air exhausted from the same by some siutable means, that the atmospheric
pressure will act on the areas of the said plates, bases, or platformes exposed, and
hold the said apparatus firmly against the surface to which it may be applied.
Dated this 19th day of July 1897.
Apparatus for Supporting Drilling Tools and the like.
HARRY PERCIVAL ANDERSON, Mechanical Engineer, 61, Church Lane, Old-
Charlton, London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement: —
This invention relates to an apparatus suitable to be used as a support and is
so constructed that it is held against the article to which it may be applied by
the atmospheric pressure. In the following discription the apparatus is made
in such a way so as to make it adaptable for supporting drilling tools and the
like, and consists of a bent tube of suitable metal, size & strength, bent in the
form of three sides of a rectangle with the corners rounded, secured to the two
ends of the said bent tube are two iron or steel plates of the necessary size, strength
& shape, forming two bases or platforms; indiarubber rings or cups are secured

page_text: to the bottom of the said plates in such a manner as to form airtight joints; a
movable centre is fitted to the top bend of the said metal tube to act as a bearing
for the tools used. In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus
in half section. Figure 2 a plan of Figure 1 but not in section.
Figure 3 is another form of platform which is curved so as to be suitable for
boilers or other cylindrical articles in which g is the stem, f the plate & the
rubber ring or cup.
In Figures 1 & 2 a is the bent tube to which the metal platforms are secured by
stems which are fixed to the platforms b, and which stems fit into the ends of
the tube a and are secured to the said tube ends by pins passing through holes in
the tube ends & stems as shown.
The holes in the stems are bored at regular distances from each other, so that
the apparatus may be lengthened by placing the pins in the holes necessary to
give the distance required.
The indiarubber rings or cups c are secured to the metal plates or bases.
d is a small aircock only shown in one view & on one side of Figure 1 but
marked in the other figures.
e is a movable bearing to support the drilling tool & is kept in the position
desired by the set screw shown.
When the apparatus is used it is pressed against the article and the indiarubber
rings or cups c are flattened out.
By this means a partial vacuam is formed between the metal platforms and
the surface to which it may be applied, and as the indiarubber rings or cups c
form airtight joints, the apparatus is firmly held by the atmospheric pressure.
To take the apparatus off the aircocks d are opened. If an almost perfect
vacuam is required, this may be obtained by attaching an airpump to the air
cocks & pumping the air out. It must be distinctly understood that this
apparatus is only intended to be used against smooth & nonporus surfaces such
as iron or steel plates.
Having now particularly discribed & ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clain is:-
An apparatus for supporting drilling tools & the like, the said apparatus to be
held against the surface to which it may be applied in the manner hereinbefore
explained, and the whole apparatus to be formed and composed of the various
parts stated, substantially, as herein before discribed & shown in Figures 1, 2 & 3.
Dated this 26th day of April 1898
HARRY PERCIVAL ANDERSON,
Applicant.