IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING AND TURNING THE PARTS OF BOILERS AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR USES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Dickinson, of the Palmer's Hill Engine Works,
Sunderland, in the County of Durham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING AND TURNING THE PARTS OF BOILERS AND FOR
OTHER SIMILAR USES."
Sealed the 12th December 1876, and dated the 30th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Dickinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1876.
JOHN DICKINSON, of the Palmer's Hill Engine Works, Sunderland, in the County
of Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING AND TURNING THE
PARTS OF BOILERS AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR USES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for drilling and
turning the parts of boilers and for other similar uses.
For drilling the holes for the rivets of the vertical or transverse seams of a
cylindrical boiler the work is supported on a turntable, and the frame and centre
carrying the turntable are capable of being traversed along guides, to set the table
nearer to or further from the drilling head. The turntable can be rotated by
means of a ring of teeth on its periphery gearing on opposite sides with two
pinions carried by the frame, and which are themselves rotated by worm wheels
upon their axes engaging with worms on a horizontal shaft which is driven inter-
mittently or continuously, as may be required.
The intermittent motion required in drilling to pass from hole to hole is given by
hand labour. The worms are able to slide with groove and feather along the
horizontally shaft to admit of the adjustment of the turntable to or from the drilling
head or heads to suit the size of the cylinder to be drilled. Two drilling heads
or stands are employed; they can be traversed along horizontal guides, and the
guides of the two standards are set at right angles to each other and at angles of
forty-five degrees to the guides, along which the axis of the turntable can
be traversed; the centre lines of the three sets of guides converge to a point.
D

page_text: Thus whatever the size of the cylindrical work the drills on both of the heads or
standards can be set radially to it. Each of the drilling heads or standards contains
a vertical shaft which is driven by means of a bevilled wheel at its lower end in
gear with another similar wheel on a horizontal shaft lying between the guides on
which the standard is supported, and along which shaft the wheel can slide with
a groove and feather. The drill carrier can slide up and down on the head or
standard; to set it to the position required it is actuated by a rack pinion, worm,.
and worm wheel. There may be more than one drill carrier on the standard and
the upper part of the standard may be made separate from the lower and capable
of being bolted to it in different positions, so that the two drills carried by the
same standard may have their axes in different vertical planes. Each drill is driven
by a worm capable of sliding with groove and feather on the vertical shaft, and
which gives motion to a worm wheel on a hollow axis, through which the spindle
or axis forming the drill holder is passed. There is a hand wheel and screw by which
the drill holder and drill are fed forward as the drill penetrates, and a feather on the
drill holder compels it to revolve with the hollow axis through which it passes.
In addition to drilling the holes of the transverse seams of a cylindrical boiler
the machine is also capable of drilling for the longitudinal seams.
For this purpose
the work is laid parallel to the guides of one of the drilling heads or standards and
remains stationary whilst the work is in progress, the standard being traversed
along its guides in order to pass from hole to hole. To pass from seam to seam it is
only necessary to turn the work partly round in the chocks which support it.
The machine is also adapted for-turning the flanges of boiler ends, and for this
purpose the work is supported on the turntable as for drilling. The turntable is
caused to rotate continuously by means of the gear already described, and over the
work a strong girder is placed on suitable supports. On this girder the holders are
mounted which receive the turning tools.
The machine can also be used for turning the flanges of furnace mouths; the
work in this case is fixed not on the turntable but on the girder, and the turntable
then supports a standard passing through the furnace mouth and supporting a head
on which the turning tools are carried.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Dickinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th March
1877.
JOHN DICKINSON, of the Palmer's Hill Engine Works, Sunderland, in the County
of Durham. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRILLING AND TURNING THE
PARTS OF BOILERS AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR USES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for drilling and
turning the parts of boilers and for other similar uses.
.
For drilling the holes for the rivets of the vertical or transverse seams of a
cylindrical boiler the work is supported on a turntable, and the frame and centre
carrying the turntable are capable of being traversed along guides to set the table
nearer to or further from the drilling head. The turntable can be rotated by means
of a ring of teeth on its periphery gearing on opposite sides with two pinions
carried by the frame, and which are themselves rotated by worm wheels upon their
axes engaging with worms on a horizontal shaft which is driven intermittently or
continuously, as may be required.
The intermittent motion required in drilling to pass from hole to hole is given by
hand labour. The worms are able to slide with groove and feather along the
horizontal shaft to admit of the adjustment of the turntable to or from the drilling
head or heads to suit the size of the cylinder to be drilled. Two drilling heads or

page_text: stands are employed; they can be traversed along horizontal guides, and the guides
of the two standards are set at right angles to each other and at angles of forty-
five degrees to the guides, along which the axis of the turntable can be traversed;
the centre lines of the three sets of guides converge to a point. Thus whatever the
size of the cylindrical work the drills on both of the heads or standards can be
set radially to it. Each of the drilling heads or standards contains a vertical shaft
which is driven by means of a bevilled wheel at its lower end in gear with another
similar wheel on an horizontal shaft lying between the guides on which the standard
is supported, and along which shaft the wheel can slide with a groove and feather.
The drill carrier can slide up and down on the head or standard; to set it to the
position required it is actuated by a rack pinion, worm, and worm wheel. There
may be more than one drill carrier on the standard, and the upper part of the
standard may be made separate from the lower and capable of being bolted to it in
different positions, so that the two drills carried by the same standard may have
their axes in different vertical planes. Each drill is driven by a worm capable of
sliding with groove and feather on the vertical shaft, and which gives motion to a
worm wheel on a hollow axis, through which the spindle or axis forming the drill
holder is passed. There is a hand wheel and screw by which the drill holder and
drill are fed forward as the drill penetrates, and a feather on the drill holder compels
it to revolve with the hollow axis through which it passes.
In addition to drilling the holes of the transverse seams of a cylindrical boiler
the machine is also capable of drilling for the longitudinal seams. For this purpose
the work is laid parallel to the guides of one of the drilling heads or standards and
remains stationary whilst the work is in progress, the standard being traversed along
its guides in order to pass from hole to hole. To pass from seam to seam it is only
necessary to turn the work partly round in the chocks which support it.
The machine is also adapted for turning the flanges of boiler ends, and for this
purpose the work is supported on the turntable as for drilling. The turntable is
caused to rotate continuously by means of the gear already described, and over the
work a strong girder is placed on suitable supports; on this girder the holders are
mounted which receive the turning tools.
The machine can also be used for turning the flanges of furnace mouths; the
work in this case is fixed not on the turntable but on the girder, and the turntable
then supports a standard passing through the furnace mouth and supporting a head
on which the turning tools are carried.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 is a plan of machinery arranged according
to my Invention. a, a, are the drill carriers; they can be raised and lowered by
pinions taking into racks on the drill standard c. There are guides formed on
the standards, and they are embraced by corresponding parts on the drill carriers.
d, d, are clamps by means of which the upper part of the standard is secured to the
foot, and when the clamps are loosed the upper part can be turned round and
reclamped in any position in which it may be required. e is an upper length of the
standard; it is secured to the lower part by bolts passing through slotted holes to
admit of the upper length being turned partly round, so that when two drill carriers
are employed at a time on the same standard their positions can be adjusted if
necessary when the two holes to be drilled are not exactly in the same vertical line.
ff, are the bed guides; they are at right angles to each other; on each there is a
standard c, and the standard can be traversed along the bed guide by means of
pinions taking into the racks g. h, h, are the shafts for driving the drills, as herein-
after described; they have pulleys upon them around which driving belts are passed.
i is the turntable for receiving the work; the Drawing represents a small boiler in

page_text: position upon it. The centre of the turntable is carried by a moveable frame j,
capable of being traversed along guides formed upon the girders k, and so whatever
be the size of the boiler to be operated on the turntable can be so placed that
the drills on both the standards can be brought to work upon it in a suitable
direction.
Figure 3 shows in plan the position of the turntable for drilling a large boiler,
such as is shown in position upon it; l, l, are pinions taking into spur teeth formed
around the turntable; they are actuated by means of the worms and worm wheels m;
n is a moveable girder which is employed when the machine is used for turning
parts of boilers; o is a moveable head, also used when turning; p, p, are holders for
the turning tools; q is a shaft with belt pulleys upon it, and connected by bevilled
gear with the axis of the worms m. This driving gear is employed when turning,
but when drilling the motion necessary to pass from one hole to the next is obtained
by means of a ratchet lever applied at the end of the shaft q.
Figure 4 is an elevation showing the machine in process of turning the flanged
end of a large boiler. The boiler end is clamped upon the turntable i and the tool
holders p are fixed in suitable positions upon the girder n; the turntable is then
caused to rotate continuously by means of the gearing described, and the turning
tools are set up to the work by means of the screws which control them. When
turning furnace mouths the work is fixed upon the girder in the manner represented
in plan at Figure 5 and in elevation at Figure 6; the moveable head o is then fixed
upon the turntable, and it projects up-through the-girder-and-through the opening.
in the work; on the top of it there is a cross head upon which the tool holders are
fixed.
Figures 5 and 6 also show the way in which the machine is employed when
drilling the longitudinal seams of boilers. The boiler is laid upon chocks parallel
to one of the bed guides f, and one of the drills is brought down to a position to
operate upon it. To pass from hole to hole the standard is traversed along the bed
guide, and to pass from seam to seam the boiler is turned in the chocks on which it
is supported.
Figure 7 shows to a larger scale and partly in section portions of the bed guide
and standard and a side elevation of the drill carrier.
Figure 8 is a vertical section, and Figure 9 is a transverse section taken through
the centre of the drill carrier. The shaft his grooved; it has upon it a bevilled
pinion which can slide along it and in any position; a feather or key causes the
pinion to revolve with the shaft. The pinion drives a corresponding pinion at the
lower end of the vertical shaft 8, which is also grooved and carries a worm which
can slide along it, and which it drives by means of a feather or key. The worm
actuates a worm wheel upon a tube through which the stem of the drill is able to
slide. The drill stem also is grooved, and a feather or key compels it to turn with
the tube which contains it. A screw and hand wheel serve to feed the drill forward
to the work and to retire it when necessary.
It will be seen that by arranging a driving shaft in the centre of the standard
and driving the drills from this shaft, as described, the standard can be turned
round, so as to set the drills to work in any desired horizontal direction without
deranging the driving mechanism.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of machinery, substantially as herein described, for
drilling and turning the parts of boilers, and for other similar uses.
Second. The combination of the two bed guides, along which the drill standards
can be traversed, and the turntable for carrying the work, such turntable being
between the two bed guides and on a centre capable of movement in a course
oblique to the bed guides of the drill standards, substantially as herein described.
Third. The combination, substantially as herein described, of bed guide, drill
standard, turntable, and girder, the said girder either carrying turning tools or

page_text: carrying the work when turning tools on a standard mounted on the turntable are
employed.
Fourth. The means of actuating the drills on the drill standard by an axis carried
up the centre of the drill standard, and about which centre the drill standard or
3 portions of it are able to turn, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Dickinson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOHN DICKINSON. (L.S.)