Improvements in and relating to the Forging and Sharpening of Rock Drills,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in and relating to the Forging and Sharpening of Rock
Drills,
I, WILLIAM DALY, of 30, Church Street, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Engineer;
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a new or improved method or arrangement and
combination of mechanism for forging and sharpening rock drills and particu-
larly those known as Star" drills employed principally in gold or quartz
mines and whereby the machine treats the drill in a quick and effective manner,
by an arrangement of hammers, cutters, and dies operating on the sides and ends
of drill.
According to my improvements I use a throw shaft on which is mounted a
cam or eccentric organ. This shaft and organ gives a forward movement of an
eighth of an inch or so to a horizontal main slide block placed between suitable
guides, and which carries a cress or "dolly" or die for shaping, hammering,
and .staving up the end of drill, the return stroke being effected by means of
recoil acting springs placed in suitable positions, these keeping the slide block
pressed against the connecting cam piece and throw shaft, so that there is no
knocking. The shaft would preferably make about 350 revolutions per minute.
The slide block also supplies movements to a series of hammers, preferably four
in number fixed on suitable slide blocks in a circular casting. Each hammer
moves towards the centre simultaneously, the motion being effected by toggle
links the pitmen of which rest against the horizontal main slide block which has
steel pads to take the ends of same. There is a spiral spring connected with
each of the hammer blocks, the recoil of which gives them the backward move-
ment, and also keeps the toggle links tight against the pitmen and horizontal
main slide block, so that there is no lost movement. The four hammers are
tapered in front to allow the drill to enter, and shape the drill into a cross piece
with hexagonal web faces.
Immediately in front of the hammers are four cutters or knives for cutting
off and shaping the face of drill. These are bolted to separate blocks, but
get their motion and have the same travel as the hammer blocks.
The cutters on these blocks are moved forward by wedges until all four meet
in the centre and cut the piece off. This movement is effected by means of a
circular plate which carries four connecting links. The ends of these links are
connected to holes divided equally round the circumference of the plate the
other ends being connected to the wedges.
By turning this plate by means of a handle all four cutters move to the centre;
and as the wedges are abutted against projections on the hammer blocks, they
have the backward and forward motion of same, and as these have only a move-
ment of about a thirty second of an inch they take that depth of cut at each stroke
of machine, but as it moves so quickly it is cut through almost instantly.
Tongues and grooves in the wedges bring back the cutters. There are four
expanding jaws which are brought to bear on the webs of the drill, and which
D

page_text: regulate the size of same. These jaws receive their forward and backward move-
ment from a suitable arrangement of wedges, all four moving towards the centre
at the same time. There is a circular plate on which are cast four circular
inclines and the wedges rest against these inclines. By turning this plate a
quarter of a revolution by means of a handle the required travel of the jaws is
obtained for the various sizes of drill. The wedges are fitted with tongues and
grooves and an index is provided to indicate the distance which the jaws must
travel to correspond with the length of drill being worked. There is a long saddle
or horizontal table in front of machine to carry the drill while it is being operated
upon. This is traversed by a. screw actuating an internal screw nut carried in
a bracket underneath saddle, the screw being rotated by bevel gear and a hand
wheel and spindle placed in the most convenient position. The screw is made
with buttress threads to take the end thrust caused by the "dolly."
By an arrangement of pockets or recessed cavities placed at distances apart
along the saddle to suit the various lengths of drill the saddle does not require to
be shifted above 6 or 7 inches. These pockets are fitted with steel plates held
in position with light spiral springs.
When a drill is placed it depresses all the plates upon which it rests, so that
the next plate nearest the end of drill comes up behind it and takes the end
thrust. By this means all sizes and lengths of drills can be worked upon with-
out altering the machine in the slightest.
In using the machine the end of drill is brought to a working heat placed on
the saddle and moved forward to the cutters and the end trimmed if required.
The hand wheel operating the feed screw is turned until the drill is through
the hammers and the face abutts against the "dolly." The jaws are pulled in
to the size required and a gentle pressure is put on the screw and the dolly will
hammer up the end till it fills the jaws. The jaws are then opened and the
saddle brought back and a sharpened and hammered drill results.
When a new drill is being forged it is put through the hammers first and then
brought back and cut.
Dated the 7th day of March 1899
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Forging and Sharpening of Rock
Drills.
I, WILLIAM DALY, of 30, Church Street, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, in writing, reference being made to the accompanying drawings:-
This invention relates to an improved machine for forging and sharpening
rock-drills and tools of a similar nature, particularly those drills having more
than one cutting edge such as three-winged or "star" bits.
My invention consists of a series of rapidly reciprocating hammers, the direc
tion of their blows converging towards the center, which beat the shank of the
drill-bit into shape, the sharpening being performed by a rapidly reciprocating
horizontally moving hammer which carries a cress or die shaped according to the
drill which it is intended to produce.
My invention will be fully described with the aid of the accompanying draw-
ings, in which,--

page_text: Figure 1, shows a sectional elevation; Figure 2, a plan view, partly sectional;
Figure 3, an end elevation of my machine with front plate H removed.
A, is a horizontal shaft provided with a fly-wheel or fly-wheels A', and having
a driving pulley A, keyed thereto by which motion is imparted to the machine,
said shaft A, being supported in bearings B, formed in the framework of the
machine. The centre of the shaft is eccentrically turned, as at C, imparting a
backward-and-forward motion to the block C, the end of which bears against
the main horizontally-sliding block D, which is recessed at D³, to receive the end
thrust of the block C. The block D, slides horizontally between the guides D¹,
D', bolted to the framework of the machine, and is caused to reciprocate through
a short distance, say one eighth of an inch, by means of the eccentric C, the
recoil springs E, E, forcing the block D), backward and keeping it always
pressed against the eccentric block C¹. The block D, is formed on its front face
with a central boss recessed or machined to receive the shank of the particular
sharpened-die F, which it is intended to employ. The construction of the said
die-block F, will vary with the end of the drill which it is intended-to sharpen-
e.g., if a star-bit, the die block F, will be formed on its face with a cress in the
shape of a cross, which will correspond with the cross-sectional form of the
drill. The slide-block D, also imparts motion to the series of hammers G, which
slide in guides G', formed in the front circular casting H', which is bolted to
the framework of the machine. The hammers G, are set so that the direction
of their blows converge towards the centre, the haminer leads being constructed
according to the nature of the drill-bit which it is desired to produce. In the
accompanying drawings four such hammers are shown shaped at either end so
that the resulting drill-bit will be of class known as star-bits." Each of
the lammers G, moves towards the centre simultaneously, motion being imparted
thereto by the toggle links K. K. The sliding block D, is provided with re-
cesses or pads I, into which the ends of the toggle links K, are adapted to be
received, the ends of the toggle links K', being received into recesses or pads
formed in the blocks L', fixed to the framework H. The other ends, respec-
tively, of the toggle links K, K', are adapted to be received into recesses formed
in the block M, the lower end of which projects and is received into a recess M',
formed in the sliding hammer block G. Each of the hammers G, is furnished
with tension springs G, which give the hammer blocks G. their backward
motion and keep the toggle links K, K, always tight in their respective re-
cesses or seatings, so that there is no lost motion. In this manner the move-
ment of the horizontal sliding block I forward also causes the hammers G, G.
to converge, the springs E, E, and G, G, reversing the direction of the various
parts. Thus the forming hammers G, G, and the sharpening hammer F, all
move simultaneously.
A cutting device is adapted to the machine immediately in front of the form-
ing hammers G, G, for the purpose of cutting broken or misshapen drills before
sharpening. This cutting device consists of cutters N, N, bolted to blocks N1, N1,
which slide in the same guides G³, G', as the hammer blocks G, G, being placed
immediately in front of same. The sliding hammer-blocks G, are furnished
with front projecting pieces G3, and the cutter blocks N', formed with a corre-
sponding recess, so that the inward motion of the hammers G, is at the same
time imparted to the cutter blocks N¹. O, O, are wedge-shaped blocks, the in-
clines of which bear, respectively, upon the bottom of the projections G³, and
the tops of the recesses, so that as the wedges 0, are moved into position the
cutter-blocks N¹, are moved forward a corresponding amount and vice versa.
0, 0%, are recesses or grooves formed on either flat face of each of the wedged-
shaped blocks 0, and the inner faces of the hammer blocks G, and the cutter-
blocks N, are respectively machined to fit into said recesses 01, 02. By this
construction the various parts are held together. There are as many cutters
attached to the blocks N, as there are hammers G. Thus if there are four
hammers G, as shown in the drawings there will be four cutting-blocks N',

page_text: and four wedges 0, to operate same. Each of the wedges O, is connected to a
circular plate P, by means of connecting-links P¹, P. The plate P, is adapted
to be received into a recess formed in the front casting. of the machine and is
retained in position by the washers and studs P. On turning the plate P, from
right to left by means of the handle P³, the wedges. O, are moved forward,
thereby compressing the cutter-blocks N, and causing the points of the cutters N;
to converge. By turning the plate P, in the opposite direction the wedges O,
return to their normal position, drawing the cutter-blocks N', back with them',
so, as to be inoperative."
In order to determine the size of the drills, there are four expanding-jaws T,
which move in slides T', formed in the front circular casting H. These jaws T,
move simultaneously inwardly and outwardly, as the case may be, as herein-
after described, and bear upon the webs of the drill and thus regulate the size
of the drill. The jaws T, T, are moved by wedges T2, the inclines of which bear
upon the upper ends of the jaws T, said wedges being recessed or dovetailed,
as shown in Figure 3, into the sliding jaws T. The wedges T, are driven in or
out by means of a circular plate V, provided with a number of inclines V2, on
its circumference-one for each wedge. Thus as the machine in the drawings
is adapted for sharpening star-bits there will be four jaws T, and consequently
four operating-wedges T, and four circumferential inclines on the circular
plate V. On turning the circular plate V, by means of the handle F, in one
direction the circumferential inclines will force the wedges T2, forward, thus
causing the jaws T, to be simultaneously moved toward one another.
of the wedges are furnished with projections T3, which fit into a corresponding
groove formed on the inner face of the circular plate V, so as to bring back the
wedges. When the circular plate V, is turned in the other direction, the
jaws T, T, are carried back with the wedges by means of the dovetails afore-
mentioned.
The ends
An index may be provided against the circular plate V, so that it may be
instantly, set at any desired position, according to the particular size of the
drill-bit which it is intended to produce.
In order to hold the drills while the sharpening operation is being performed,
a horizontal table is adapted to the front of the machine, being securely bolted
thereto. The top of this table R, slides horizontally toward the front of the
machine, being traversed by a screw or worm R', which is carried in the bear-
ings R, formed in the ends of the table. This screw or worm R, actuates an
internal screw-nut or boss R3, which is secured to the under side of the sliding
top R, of the table. Motion is imparted to the said screw worm or thread
through the bevel wheels R; R+, actuated through the handle R, situated at
the side of the machine, so that in this manner the top of the table, may be
brought to any desired distance from the front of the machine. The top of the
table is provided with a series of stops S, S, which are constructed in the form
of plungers sliding vertically in recesses or sockets S1, S1, formed in the sliding
top R, of the table. These stops or plungers S. S. are furnished with light
springs S, S, beneath them, so as to be depressed into their respective sockets
or recesses S¹, S, when the weight of the drill is laid upon them. The first of
the series S, therefore, which is so far along the table R, as not to be depressed
by the drill, takes the end thrust of the drill while the process of sharpening is
being performed, any intermediate adjustment which may be necessary being
accomplished by giving the handle R³, operating the screw-worm R', a few
turns. By this construction all lengths of drills may be dealt with without
altering the machine in any way.
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:—
First. A machine for forging and sharpening rock drills, comprising a series

page_text: of rapidly reciprocating hammers, in combination with cutters and dies operating
on the sides and ends of drill, substantially as described.
Second. An improved drill-sharpening and forging machine comprising the
framework H', the horizontally-sliding block carrying a sharpening-die with
means for operating said block, the haminers movable radially in guides in said
framework, spring tending normally to force said hammers outward, inclined
toggle-arms K', seated between said hammers and the framework and togglo-
arms K, between the sliding block and hammers, substantially as described.
Third. An improved drill-sharpening and forging machine consisting in com-
bination of a rotary shaft A, provided with an eccentrically-moving member
operating a horizontally sliding block D, provided with a sharpening-die F,
formed with a cress to sharpen the particular shape of bit required, the series
of forming-hammers sliding in guides G₁, formed in the circular front plate
and working toward a common centre and adapted to form the shank of the bit
operated from the main sliding block D, through the toggle-links K, K', the
tension-springs E, E, and G², G², for maintaining the aforementioned parts in
their relative positions, the cutters N, operated from the sliding hammers G
and controlled by the wedges 0, connected through the links P₁ to an adjustable
annular plate, the adjustable jaws T to determine the size of the web of the drill
working in guides T', formed in the front of the circular plate V, provided with
circumferential inclines and the holding device consisting of a table adapted to
the front of the machine having a sliding top R, regulated and controlled by the
screw-worm R¹, and furnished with the spring-stops S, S, substantally as herein-
before described and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. An improved device for taking the longitudinal thrust of a drill while
it is being sharpened consisting of a table having a sliding top controlled by a
screw worm so that it may be brought forward or backward as required, and
provided with a series of spring-tops (such as S, S,) which are depressed when
the drill is laid upon the table so that the strain of the drill is taken by the next
stop beyond the end of the drill, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 7th December 1899.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.