IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCKS AND STONE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mawson, of Eldon, in the County of Durhain,
Miner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRILLING OR
BORING ROCKS AND STONE."
Sealed the 7th October 1876, and dated the 20th May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mawson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May 1870.
JAMES MAWSON, of Eldon, in the County of Durhının, Miner. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCKS AND STONE."
This Invention consists in improvemcuts in machines for drilling or boring holes
in rocks and stones whereby that operation is performed in a more simple and
effectual manner than by the means hitherto employed for that purpose.
According to this Invention a bar or rod of iron or other suitable metal, and
having a screw thread formed thereon, is mounted in a moveable collar or bearing
so as to be capable of working therein, as herein-after mentioned, and in one end of
which screwed rod the drill or boring tool is fixed. The moveable bearing in which
the rod works is provided with a suitable axis, and is constructed in two parts,
the upper part being hinged to the lower, and secured thereto by ineans of a thumb
screw or screws, and is provided with a collar likewise in two parts, and tapped to
correspond with the screw thread on the drill rod. The lower half of the screwed
collar is dovetailed or otherwise secured to the bottom half of the moveable bearing,
and the upper half of the former is secured to the upper part of the latter by means
of a screw which passes through the top of the bearing into the collar so as to
allow the latter to be readily removed for repair. Upon one or both ends of the
drill rod, which is or are suitably squared for that purpose, a ratchet brace or
ratchet braces, constructed as herein-after mentioned, is or are placed in order to
give the necessary motion for drilling thereto. The ratchet braces are, according
to this Invention, constructed with a double ratchet wheel, that is to say, instead of
the ratchet wheel having the whole of its teeth set one way it is divided longi-
tudinally, one half having its teeth set one way and the other half the other way,
and into each set of teeth a separate pawl or catch attached to the lower end of
the lever or handle of the brace fits, one catch being on one side of the lower end
of the lever or handle of the brace, and the other on the opposite side thereof, and
each provided with a spring in the usual manner. In order to admit of one only
Price Gd.1

page_text: of the catches or pawls acting upon the ratchet wheel at a time a set screw is
passed through each side of the lower end of the lever or handle, and the ends
of which set screws bear upon the pawls or catches, thus when the ratchet is in use
one pawl is acting upon one set of teeth, and when it is desired to reverse the
action of the ratchet, the set screw in connection with the pawl at present acting
upon the ratchet is screwed so as to press the pawl out of gear, and at the same
time that in connection with the other pawl is withdrawn, the spring then bringing
the latter to bear upon the ratchet, thus giving a reverso motion thereto. When
it is desired to put the machine in action the drill rod is placed in the lower half
of the moveable bearing, and the upper half closed thereon and fastened with the
thumb screws.
The moveable bearing is then placed in the frame or support of
the machine, which is constructed of two plates of iron having suitable notches cut
in one edge thereof for the reception of the axis of the moveable bearing, and
which two plates are connected at both ends by means of cross bars, through the
upper of which a set screw with a pointed end works, the lower cross bar being
provided with a pointed pin, and by means of which set screw and pin the frame
or support is fixed to the top and bottom of the gallery or drift in which it is
lesired to work. When the moveable bearing with the rod having its drill or
boring tool and ratchet brace or braces attached thereto is so mounted as to be
capable of turning in the notches of the frame to any desired angle, the drill
or boring tool is placed in the dosired position and the requisite rotary and forward
When it is desired to
motion given thereto by means of the ratchet braces.
withdraw the drill or boring tool the motion of the ratchet is reversed, as herein-
before described. In order to allow the drill to be used vertically, the axis of the
moveable bearing is not placed in the notches, as before mentioned, but are supported
by two plates of metal having suitable holes formed therein for the purpose and
which are attached to the frame by means of bolts or screws, and are adjustable to
any desired height.
It will be understood that when the machine is working in the open, that is to
say, not in a gallery or drift, the frame or support must be provided with a stay
or leg, and the set screw at the top may be dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Mawson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd November
1870.
JAMES MAWSON, of Eldon, in the County of Durham, Miner.
IN MACHINES FOR DRILLING OR BORING ROCKS AND STONE."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My said Invention consists in improvements in machines for drilling or boring
holes in rocks and stone in mines and other positions whereby that operation is
performed in a more simple and effectual manner than by the means hitherto
employed for that purpose.
According to this Invention a bar or rod of iron or other suitable metal, and
having a scrow thread formed thereon, is mounted in a moveable collar or bearing
so as to be capable of working therein, as herein-after mentioned, and in one end of
which screwed rod the drill or boring tool is fixed. The moveable bearing in which
the rod works is provided with a suitable axis, and is constructed in two parts, the
upper part being hinged to the lower part and secured thereto by means of a thumb
screw or screws, and is provided with an internal collar, likewise in two parts, and
which collar is tapped to correspond with the screw thread on the drill rod. The
lower half of the screwed collar is dovetailed or otherwise secured to the lower half
of the moveable bearing, and the upper half of the former is secured to the upper
part of the latter by means of a screw which passes through the top of the bearing
into the collar so as to allow the latter to be readily removed for repair or renewal
when the screw thread thereon becomes worn out, thus obviating the necessity of

page_text: renewing the whole of the moveable bearing. Upon one or both ends of the drill
od, which is or are suitably squared for that purpose, a ratchet brace or ratchet
braces is or are placed in order to give the necessary motion for drilling thereto.
The ratchet braces are, according to this Invention, constructed with a double
ratchet wheel, that is to say, instead of the teeth being set only one way the wheel
is divided longitudinally, one half having its teeth set one way and the other half
the other way, a separate pawl or catch acting upon each set of teeth, one of which
pawls or catches being attached to one side of the lower end of the lever or handle
of the brace and the other on the opposite side thereof, and each is provided with a
spring in the usual manner. In order to admit of one only of the catches or pawls
acting upon the ratchet wheel at a time a set screw is passed through each side of
the lower end of the lever or handle, so that the ends of the two set screws bear
respectively upon the two pawls or catches, thus when the ratchet is in use one
pawl or catch is acting upon one set of teeth, and the other pawl is kept away from
the teeth by means of its set screw, and when it is desired to reverse the action
of the ratchet the set screw in connection with the pawl or catch in action is
screwed so as to press the latter out of gear, and at the same time that in connection
with the other pawl or catch is withdrawn, the spring attached thereto then
bringing the latter to bear upon the other set of teeth, thus giving a reverse motion
to the drill.
When it is desired to put the machine in action the drill rod is placed in the
lower half of the moveable bearing and the upper half closed thereou and fastened
with the thumb screws. The moveable bearing is then placed in a frame or
support constructed of two plates of iron having suitable notches cut in the front
edges thereof for the reception of the axis of the moveable bearing, and which two
plates are connected by means of cross bars, through the upper one of which a set
screw with a pointed end works, the lower cross bar being provided with a pointed
pin in order to securely fix the frame or support in the drift or gallery in which
it is desired to work. When the moveable bearing with the rod having its drill or
boring tool and ratchet brace or braces attached thereto is so mounted as to be
capable of turning in the notches of the frame to any desired angle, the drill
or boring tool is placed in the desired position, and the requisite rotary and forward
motion given thereto by means of the ratchet brace or braces. When it is desired
to withdraw the drill or boring tool, the motion of the ratchet is reversed, as herein-
before described. In order to allow the drill to be used vertically the axis of the
moveable bearing is supported by two metal collars attached to the frame by means
of suitable bolts or screws, and which collars are adjustable to any desired height.
It will be understood that when the machine is working in the open, that is to
say, not in a gallery or drift, the frame or support must be provided with a stay
or leg, and the set screw at the top may be dispensed with.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings and to the figures
and letters marked thereon.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a longitudinal section and front view of the stand
of the machine, A, A, are the two sides of the machine with the notches B, B, for
the reception of the axis of the moveable bearing, C is the upper cross bar through
which works the set screw, D, E, being the lower cross bar with its pin F.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are respectively an elevation and end views of the drill rod
or bar, A is the screw thread forined thereon; B, the square portion on which the
double ratchet is placed; C, the aperture for the reception of the boring tool or
drill; 1, the rear end of the drill rod or bar, which is also squared so that another
ratchet brace may be placed thereon if desired.
Figure G is the loose collar employed when it is desired to use the drill vertically
and which is attached to the frame by means of bolts passing through the hole B
into one of the holes G, Figure 1, the axis of the moveable bearing being supported
in the hole A.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively side and top views of the moveable_bearing,
A is the upper part thereof hinged to the lower part B by the hinge G, and secured

page_text: thereto by the set screw E; C is the upper part of the internal collar, D being
the lower half thereof; F is the axis.
Figures 9 and 10 are a longitudinal section and plan of the double ratchet brace;
A is the handle; B and C, the two halves of the ratchet wheel with the teeth set in
opposite directions; D and E are the two catches or pawls, and F and G the two
springs therefor; H is the aperture into which the end of the drill rod or bar fits.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is-
Firstly. The construction and employment of the moveable bearing shewn in
Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying Drawings, in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before set forth and described.
Secondly. The construction of rock drilling machines with the double ratchet
brace in the manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described, or
any mere modifications thereof.
And, lastly. The combination and arrangement of parts and mechanism in the
manner and for the purposes herein-before set forth and described, or any mere
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mawson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
R. S. MORDAUNT VAUGHAN,
Patent Agent,
Darlington.
JAMES MAWSON. (L.S.)