Applicable to other Boring Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1888
Complete Left, 30th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 1st June, 1888
Applicable to other Boring Machines.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I.M.E., of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents, 6 Bank Street, Manchester, and 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, (a communication from abroad by Camille Bornet, of Paris,
France, Engineer,) do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to improvements in rotary boring or drilling apparatus
for use in mines capable of being actuated either by hand or power and applicable to
the economic boring of hard or soft rocks and that in the galleries of mines even
when most narrow and difficult of access.
This invention has reference chiefly to improvements on the apparatus shown and
described in the specification of patent No. 12199 of 1885 granted as a communication
from the aforesaid Camille Bornet.
The central screw which serves to determine the forward movement of the boring
tool or drill is provided with a collar which abuts against cupped, dished or curved
plate springs designed to give a certain elasticity to the pressure of the drill or bit
upon the rock and giving results much superior to those obtained by means of
spiral springs such as had been previously shown.
A continuation of the screw projects through the end of the apparatus and
carries a lever by means of which it can be turned in either direction according
as it is desired to increase or decrease the forward movement of the drill; ball
bearings allow this movement to be made easily during operation and a bolt or
stud retains the lever in position during ordinary or normal work.
This arrangement allows the regulation at will of the advance of the drill or tool
according to the hardness of the rock with which it meets; by moving or acting
upon the lever either continuously or at intervals.
As the action of the springs allows the screw to move back slowly according to
the hardness of the rock, it is easy to regulate the position of the bolt (by means of
the set screw which serves to secure it) in such position that the lever moving back
with the screw escapes automatically from the control of this bolt as soon as the

page_text: •
pressure upon the drill becomes too great. The screw being then no longer held and
being able to turn readily on the ball bearings is carried round by the friction with
the internally screwed end of the tubular tool holder and this latter ceases to move
forward until the elasticity of the springs have caused a sufficient cutting away of
the rock in order that the forward movement can easily begin again.
The boring machine thus improved can be put in motion by hand but it is
preferably worked by a rotary motor mounted upon it the shaft of which transmits
the motion to the tool holder by means of a pinion and toothed wheel provided with
a key which slides in a groove or slot cut throughout the length of the tool holder.
A bracket or guard attached by arms to the support or frame of the motor serves
to retain the gear wheel in its place and protect its teeth.
The rotary motor can be driven by water, air or steam it is mounted on a movable
adjustable bracked or support which can be secured by a set screw in such a manner
that the projection of the motor cannot interfere with the. work of boring.
This special arrangement of the motor mounted on a movable support upon the
boring machine can be applied with advantage to all sorts of boring machines with
a rotary motion.
The tool or drill made use of has been substantially described in the Specification
of Patent 259 of 1883. It consists of a thin piece of steel of double convex or
lozenge shaped section twisted into a screw with a heart shaped cutting end of
greater diameter than the body of the drill.
The special combination in the drill of sharp edges throughout its length and of
a cutter in the shape of a heart is its characteristic feature. As the cutter does not
possess any point at the centre the drill works by cutting and tearing thereby reducing
considerably the force necessary to drive the machine and the sharp edges of the
tool prevents any. jamming of the broken fragments of rock detached by the
drill.
For boring soft rock such as coal the machine may be somewhat simpler the drill
is fitted directly to the central screw which has throughout its length a groove or slot
in which can slide the key which secures it to the bovel wheels which receive motion
from a hand lever or handle.
In order to avoid the loss of time necessary to return the screw to its original
position the nut through which it passes and which determines the forward motion of
the tool carries a projecting ring or collar placed between two similar sets of springs
of dished or cup shape each provided with ball bearings. This arrangement renders
the apparatus reversible and it is sufficient after each boring to turn the whole
machine round on its supporting trunnions and to fix the tool or drill at the opposite
end of the screw in order that the machine may be ready to operate again. This
machine is provided with a lever and bolt serving to regulate the feed of the machine
automatically or by hand as herein before explained. It is supported as shown in the
specification of the patent No. 259 of 1883 so as to have a movement in either direction.
It also turns in the inner ring of the support and a set or thumb screw engaging in
holes made in the frame of the machine retains the apparatus in the position in
which the handle may be most easily operated when at work.
The two ends of the screw being provided with similar squares the handle can be
made use of in order to drive this screw direct when the softness of the rock
permits.
A lighter and cheaper form of boring apparatus than that just described may be
constructed by doing away with the jointed support and the driving mechanism with
bevel wheels. In this apparatus the screw is driven by a small catch lever or other
suitable hand lever fitting direct upon one of the squares at the ends of the
screw.
This boring tool is provided with a double arrangement of ball bearings and of
cupped or dished springs retaining the nut of the central screw in position and
rendering the apparatus reversible; it is also provided at each end with a lever and
bolt which allow of the advance of the tool being automatically. regulated as herein-

page_text: If required that the drill be quickly withdrawn the nut which controlls the forward
motion of the screw is brought back behind the machine and is fixed in two pieces
held between two plates and traversed by two eccentric studs. It is sufficient to give
these two studs half a turn in order to cause the two parts of the nut to approach or
recede. Thus after a boring is finished the screw can be released from the nut and
rapidly withdrawn by a single movement and a fresh boring be begun at once.
In this apparatus the driving gear or mechanism may be dispensed with and the
screw be driven simply by a small catch or other suitable lever fitted at its outer
end. Moreover the apparatus is as in the other cases provided with a spring and
ball bearing and with a regulating bolt which ensures the automatic adjustment of the
pressure of the drill upon the rock.

page_text: Applicable to other Boring Machines.
I, JOHN OWDEN O'BRIEN, M.I.M.E., of the firm of W. P. Thompson & Co., Patent
Agents, 6 Bank Street, Manchester, and 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster (a communication from abroad by Camille Bornet, of Paris, France,
Engineer,) do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in rotary boring or drilling apparatus,
capable of being actuated either by hand or power, and more especially applicable to
the economic boring of hard or soft rocks in the galleries or relative works of mines,
quarries, tunnels and the like.
These improvements will be successively described with reference to the annexed
drawings.
Fig. 1. is an elevation partly in section of an improved rotary boring machine for
hard rocks driven by a direct motor.
Fig. 2, represents in front and sectional elevation the cupped springs 6 of the
machine.
Fig. 3, represents the boring tool (or drill) used in the apparatus.
Fig. 4, longitudinal section of improved boring machine for soft rocks such as coal
with reversible arrangement.
Fig. 5, transverse section of fig. 3.
Fig. 6, longitudinal section of same type simplified.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent in longitudinal and transverse sections an arrangement for
quickly bringing back the tool or drill of the apparatus.
In the boring machine represented in fig. 1 of which the principal parts have been
described in the specification of patent No. 12199 of 1885, granted as a communication
from the aforesaid Camile Bornet, the central screw a is provided with a shoulder or
collar which abuts against cupped, dished or curved plate springs b (see figs. 1 and 2)
designed to give a certain elasticity to the pressure of the drill or bit upon the rock,
and which give results much superior to what has been obtained by means of spiral
springs such as previously shown. These cupped or dished springs b represented in
detail in fig. 2 are composed as shown of steel washers, stamped to a slightly spherical
or conical shape and are coupled two and two, opposite the one to the other in the
manner represented in the drawings.
At its end the screw a carries a lever c by means of which it can be turned in either
direction according as it is desired to increase or decrease the forward movement of
the drill ball bearings d allow this movement to be made easily during operation and
a bolt or stud e retains the lever c in position during ordinary or normal work.

page_text: This arrangement allows for the regulation at will of the advance of the drill or tool
according to the hardness of the rock with which it meets, by moving or acting upon
the lever c either continuously or at intervals.
As the action of the springs b allows the screw a to move back slowly according to
the hardness of the rock, it is easy to regulate the position of the bolte (by means of
the set screw which serves to secure it) in such position that the lever c moving back
with the screw a escapes automatically from the control of this bolt e as soon as the
pressure upon the drill becomes too great; the screw a being then no longer held and
being able to turn readily on the ball bearings d is carried round by friction with the
internally screwed end of the tubular tool holder f, and this latter ceases to movo
forward until the elasticity of the springs have caused a sufficient cutting away of the
rock to admit of the forward movement being again begun.
The boring machine thus improved can be put in motion by hand but it is
preferably worked by a rotary motor g mounted upon it the shaft of which transmits
the motion to the tool holder f by means of a pinion and toothed wheel h provided
with a key which slides in a groove or slot cut throughout the length of the tool
holder. A bracket or guard i attached by arms to the support or frame of the
motor g, serves to retain the gear wheels / in place and protect their teeth.
The rotary motor 9 can be driven by water air or steam: it is mounted on a
movable adjustable bracket or support ; which can be secured by a set screw in such
a position that the projection of the motor will not interfere with the work of
boring.
This special arrangement of the motor mounted on a movable support upon the
boring machine being entirely new, the right is reserved of the application of it to,
combine it with, all sorts of rotary boring machine irrespective of the various purposes
to which the machine may be applied.
The tool or drill made use of, has been substantially described in the Specification
of Patent 259 of 1883, it is represented in fig. 3 of the annexed drawings which shows
the form of it which is now adopted.
It consists of a thin piece of steel of double convex or lozenge shaped section twisted
into a screw with a heart shaped cutting end of greater diameter than the body of the
drill.
The special combination in the drill of sharp edges throughout its length and of a
cutter in the shape of a heart is its characteristic feature; the cutter not possessing
any point at the centre, the drill works by cutting and tearing thereby reducing
considerably. the force necessary to drive the machine and the sharp edges of the tool
prevents any jamming of the broken fragments of rock detached by the drill..
The simpler machine represented in figs. 4 and 5 is constructed with a view to
boring soft rocks such as coal. The drill is fitted direct to the central screw k, which
has throughout its length a groove or slot wherein slides the key which secures it to
the bevel wheels n. These receive motion from a hand lever or handle m.
In order to avoid the loss of time necessary to return the screw k to its original
position the nut o which determines the forward movement of the tool carries a pro-
jecting ring or collar placed between two similar sets of cup springs peach set
provided with ball bearings g. This arrangement renders the apparatus reversible;
and it is sufficient after each boring to turn the whole machine round on its supporting
trunnions r, and to fix the tool or drill at the opposite end of the screw k, in order
that the machine may be ready to operate again.
It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement
shown in the drawings to render the machine reversible and that the employment of
other kinds of springs and bearings or abutments, arranged one each side of the nut o
would permit the attainment of the same result. This machine is provided with a
lever.s and bolt (similar to c and e) which serve to regulate the feed of the machine.
automatically or by hand as hereinbefore explained. It can be turned in the inner
ring or collar t of the support which serves to connect it with the supporting frame
and a set or thumb screw u engaging in holes, made in the frame of the machine

page_text: retains the apparatus in the position in which the handle m may be most easily
operated when at work. The same result can be attained in a manner equally simple
by mounting the supporting piece of the handle m upon a collar or ring capable of
turning round the apparatus and held or maintained by means of a set screw in the
position which will permit of the machine being easily worked. This arrangement is
represented in dotted lines fig. 4.
The two ends of the screw being provided with similar squares, the handle m can
be made use of in order to drive this screw direct when the softness of the rock
permits.
On the annexed drawings Figs. 1. 4. 5 and 7 the boring apparatus is shown
maintained upon its supporting frame by means of a suspension device with double
movements, one at right angles to the other so as to permit of the apparatus being
inclined in all directions, this arrangement being especially described and claimed in
the specification of the patents previously mentioned, it is not necessary to further
describe it here.
Fig. 6 represents a lighter and cheaper form of boring apparatus than that just
described consequent upon doing away with the double jointed support and of the
driving mechanism with bevel wheels. In this apparatus the screw vis driven by a
small catch lever or other suitable hand lever fitting direct upon one of the squares at
the ends of the screw.
This boring tool like the preceeding is provided with a double arrangement of ball
bearings q and of the cupped or dished springs p retaining the nut o of the central
screw in position and rendering the apparatus reversible; it is also provided at
each end with a levers and bolt which provide for the advance of the tool being
automatically regulated as hereinbefore described.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent an improvement intended to allow the drill to be with-
drawn without loss of time as soon as a boring is finished. For this purpose the
nut x which controlls the forward movement of the screw v which carries the drill is
brought back behind the machine and is fixed in two pieces held between two plates y
and traversed by two eccentric studs. It is sufficient to give these two studs z half
a turn in order to cause the two parts of the nut x, to approach or recede. Thus after
a boring is finished the screw v can be released from the nut a and rapidly withdrawn
by a single movement and a fresh boring be at once begun.
In the apparatus represented in fig. 7 the driving gear or mechanism is done away
with and the screw is driven simply by a small catch or other suitable lever fitted at
its outer end. Moreover the apparatus is as in the other cases provided with a spring
and ball bearing and with a regulating bolt w which ensures the automatic adjustment
of the pressure of the drill upon the rock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated. to mo from
abroad I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In rotary rock boring machines; the combination of cup springs and ball
bearings, acting as support or abutment for the central screw of the drill, or its nut,
for the purpose of giving a certain elasticity to the pressure of the tool and adjust the
forward movement of the latter whilst it is working substantially as described.
2. In rotary rock boring machines or drills; the combination of a double arrange-
ment of spherical or roller bearings or abutments and of cupped or other springs
arranged on each side of the relatively fixed nut of the central screw, for the purpose
of rendering the boring apparatus, reversible, substantially as described.
3. In rotary boring machines or drills; the combination of a lever actuating the
central screw and of an adjustable bolt, with springs and ball bearings for the purpose
of permitting the automatic adjustment of the forward movement of the tool to suit
the hardness of the rocks in the manner hereinbefore described.
4. In rotary boring or drilling apparatus of all kinds and systems: the direct
adaptation to the body of the apparatus and preferably by means of a support which

page_text: can turn round the said apparatus, of a water, compressed air, gas, or steam moto
driving the tool holder through the medium of spur wheels, pinions or endless screws;
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination in a rotary boring apparatus of cupped or dished springs b, of
ball bearings d, of a lever c actuating the central screw, and of an adjustable bolt e,
with a rotary motor g carried upon an arm; which can turn around the rock drill and
actuates the tool holder by means of a spur wheel gearing h, substantially as herein-
before set forth and shown on fig. 1.
6. The combination in a rotary rock drill of a double arrangement of ball bearings q,
and cup springs p, bearing on the nut o of the central screw, of an actuating lever s,
provided with an adjustable bolt and of a supporting collar t provided with a thumb
or set screw situated in the centre of the double jointed suspension of the rock drill
for the purpose of providing a reversible rock drill, the driving mechanism of which
formed by the handle m and wheels n can be placed in such a position as not to hinder
the work the whole substantially as described and shown in figs. 4 and 5.
7. The combination in a rotary rock drill of a double arrangement of ball bearings q,
cup springs p, actuating levers s provided with adjustable bolts, constituting a very
simple reversible and automatically adjustable rock drill, substantially as described and
shown in fig. 6.
8. The combination in a rotary rock drill, of spring with or without ball bearings,
with a nut made in two parts which are caused to approach, or recede by means of
eccentrics for the purpose of withdrawing in one single operation the central screw u
of the tool, substantially as described in the foregoing and as shown in figs. 7 & 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
11000