Improvements in Appliances for Boring the Earth and Removing the Excavated Material from the Bore.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1898 -Accepted, 10th June, 1899
QUALI LEIE
DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Boring the Earth and Removing the
Excavated Material from the Bore.
I, JOHN Cox, of Broadway, New Glenelg, in the Province of South Australia,
Gardener, 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 is especially designed to facilitate the boring or drilling of tube
wells for obtaining water, oil or other liquids. One of the main features of my
invention is that it enables the excavated earth or material to be raised from
the bottom of the bore without withdrawing the boring rod and cutter.
In order that the construction and method of operation of my appliances may
be clearly understood I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which--
Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 a plan shewing the derrick carrying the
mechanism for operating the boring tools.
Fig. 3 is a side view partly in section of the mechanism for operating the
boring tools.
Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations the latter partly in section of the annular
bucket for raising the excavated earth or material from the bottom of the bore.
In these views which are taken from different sides the bucket is represented as
supported by the lifting rope.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of the bucket in position for filling at the
bottom of the rod. In the former the cutter is shewn in full while the latter
shews the cutter in section and a method of securing the same upon the bottom
of the rod.
Fig. 8 is a cross section of the bucket on line ab of Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 shews the bucket fitted with valves at the bottom for raising loose sand
or similar materials.
Fig. 10 shews a tray for receiving the material from the bucket.
In all the figures the same numbers are used to denote the same parts but
Figures 1 and 2 are drawn to half the scale employed for the others.
The boring is accomplished by means of a rod fitted at the bottom with cutters
of various forms according to the material to be bored through. My invention
is especially applicable to that class of machine in which the rod and cutter are
continuously rotated in the one direction but my bucket may be employed with
advantage for raising the broken material from bores which are made by means
of a drop drill.
The rod 1 is composed of convenient lengths provided at one end with a male
and at the other end with a female thread whereby they may be connected one
to the other to obtain the length required.
The legs 2, 2, 2, of the derrick are composed of pipes the tops of which are
connected by a cap 3 having plugs which project into the legs a suitable distance
while the bottoms are secured upon fixed bed blocks.
At a convenient height there is secured to the legs a platform 4 upon which
is mounted the mechanism for operating the rod.

page_text: Encircling the rod 1 is a screwthreaded barrel 5 provided at the top with a
clutch mechanism 6 of the ordinary description whereby the rod may be securely
gripped for rotation or released when desired. The thread of this barrel 5
engages with the internal thread of a nut 7 formed in two parts which are
rigidly bolted together when placed in position. The upper part has a projecting
collar 8 which rests and rotates upon a recess in the platform while the lower
part has a shoulder 9 which impinges against the underside of the platform 4
and is provided with a hand wheel 10 whereby the whole nut may be rotated for
raising or lowering the rod.
Immediately above the nut 7 is a worm wheel 12 surrounding the barrel 5
having a smooth inside periphery without any thread but provided with a
feather. or key 13 which projects into a keyway 14 cut in the thread upon the
face of the barrel 5. Gearing into the teeth of the wormwheel 12 is a worm 15
secured upon a spindle 16 supported in bearings 17 and 18 upon the platform 4.
Upon one end of the spindle 16 is secured a flywheel 19 provided with a handle 20
whereby it may be rotated.
The bucket for raising the excavated material consists essentially of an outer
hollow cylinder 23 and an inner hollow cylinder 24 connected together at the
top by a bridge piece 25 so that they constitute an annular bottomless bucket.
The outer cylinder is secured to the bridge piece by rivets and the inner cylinder
is sweated or screwed into the same. The outer cylinder is slightly smaller than the
bore and the inner cylinder is slightly larger than the boring rod so that the bucket
may be raised and lowered without binding and the weight of the whole is
such that the bucket will be carried to the bottom by its own weight. To the
bridge piece are rivetted or otherwise rigidly fastened double lugs 26, 26, carrying
pins 27, 27, upon which the cam clutches 28, 28, are pivotted. To the tops of
these clutches are attached pieces of chain 29, 29, whereby they are connected
to the lifting rope 30. The bridge piece may cover the whole or part of the
space between the inner and outer cylinder provided apertures are left for poking
the charge out as described and for raising the slide 35. In the side of the bucket
an aperture 34 is provided which is fitted with a sliding door 35 as shown more
particularly in Figures 5 and 8.
For the lifting rope 30 I prefer to use a fine wire rope which passes up along-
side the boring rod 1 through the barrel 5 and over the pulley 31 at the
top of the derrick and thence down to a winch 32 whereby it is wound in or
unwound as desired. The rope is formed in a number of short lengths connected
by suitable split links so that when the bucket has been lowered the rope can
be disconnected and the top end secured upon the hook or finger 33 secured upon
the boring rod 1 at the necessary height. This lifting rope is also employed for
raising the rods when the bore is finished or when it is desired to alter the cutters
or for other purposes.
The sides of the rod immediately above the top of the bucket when the
bucket is in working position have short flat faces as shewn in Fig. 6 in order
to form square bearing surfaces for the clutches 28, 28, to bite against when the
bucket is at the bottom and the chains 29, 29, relieved from its weight.
One form of cutter which is shewn in the drawings I have found very service-
able for sand, earth, clay, and soft rock. It has two cutting edges 36, 36,
opposite to one another and the outside extremities 37, 37, are turned up and
fit just inside the outer cylinder 23 of the bucket.
When boring in sand or very soft material I have found it advisable to employ
a valve or valves in the bottom of the bucket. For this purpose a jointed ring 38
is clamped upon the bottom of the inside cylinder of the bucket. Two semi-
circular leather valve pieces 39, 39, stiffened with metal frames 40, 40, are then
attaclied to the inside face of the outside cylinder by countersunk bolts the free
ends of the valve pieces in the centre resting upon the ring 38, except when
forced upwards by the entrance of the material.

page_text: The tray 42 shewn in Fig. 10 has a slot 43 in its bottom, portion of which
is covered by a hinged flap 44.
The method of operation is as follows:-
When commencing a. bore the bottom length of the rod 1 is lowered down
through the barrel 5 and through the bucket and then fitted with the requisite
cutting tool and lowered to the surface of the ground. By means of the hand-
wheel 10 the nut 7 is then, rotated and the barrel 5 raised as high as possible when
the clutch mechanism 6 is tightened up and the rod, gripped securely in position.
The lifting rope 30 is disconnected and its upper end attached to the hook 33.
The wheel 19 is now. rotated by means of the handle 20 in the direction shewn
by the arrow and the worm 15. gearing with the teeth of the wormwheel 12 causes
it to rotate thus through the feather or key 13 carrying round the barrel 5 and
rod and cutter. While the rod is rotated the cutter is fed to its work at a slow
or rapid rate according to the material being operated upon by means of the
nut 7 which is rotated by means of the wheel 10. The nut is prevented: from
rising by the shoulder. 9 bearing against the underside of the platform 4: As the
material is cut or excavated it is fed upwards by the cutting tool into the annular
bucket which is rotated with the rod and prevented from rising by the cam
clutches 28, 28, which impinge against the flat faces of the rod.
1
When the cutter has descended a,sufficient depth to have filled the bucket with
excavated material the operation is stopped and the lifting rope 30 connected
to the winch 32. As soon as the winch is operated and strain put upon the
rope 30 the clutches 28; 28, are drawn away from the rod and the bucket is
raised to the surface. The tray 42 is placed over the top of the hole and under
the bucket and receives the material as it is knocked out of the bucket. This
can be done by pushing a bar in the top or the slide 35 may be withdrawn
upwards by means of the finger hook shewn. The tray 42 containing the material
is then removed and the bucket lowered to the bottom of the bore and the rope
secured for further operation. In practical. working I have found it advisable
before raising the bucket from off. the cutter to raise the rod and cutter about
two inches to break the excavated from the solid material. The material is
then brought away in a cleaner manner and the bucket when lowered again falls
into position accurately.
When the barrel.5 has descended as far as possible the clutch mechanism 6.is
loosened and the nut 7 turned in the other. direction until the barrel 5 has been
raised to its highest position when it is again secured to the rod. by the clutch
mechanism.
My appliances will work in either dry or wet country and I have found that
the plain. bottomless bucket, will bring up nearly every kind of material but
when the, material is very sandy or of a running nature a bucket of the description
illustrated in Fig. 9 is employed the valves 39, 39, in the bottom allowing the
material to be forced upwards. into. it but preventing it from falling out again.
By the continual repetition of the operation above described a bore may be
sunk to the desired depth much more rapidly and with much less labor than
that required with appliances previously in use. It is not necessary by my
method to employ water to liquify the material.
It is well known by persons accustomed to boring with the appliances at present
in use that by far the greater. portion of the time spent is taken up with the
raising and lowering of the boring rods to. enable the excavated. material to be
removed whereas the time that is taken to raise and lower the bucket according
to my invention is very little indeed.
I have described and illustrated my invention as arranged to be operated by
manual power only and very great depths can be reached without employing any
other means but if it should be desired to employ some other motive power for
operating the appliances the necessary arrangements can be readily supplied by
an ordinary engineer or machinist.
The well may be lined with pipes where necessary in the usual manner.
"
"

page_text: +
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
1. An outer hollow cylinder and an inner hollow cylinder rigidly connected
together by a bridge piece at the top forming an annular bottomless bucket
and adapted to be moved by suitable connections up and down upon a boring rod
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
2. An outer hollow cylinder and an inner hollow cylinder rigidly connected
together by a bridge piece at the top forming an annular bottomless bucket
provided with pivotted cam clutches the upper parts of which are connected by
flexible connections to a rope whereby the bucket may be moved up and down
upon a boring rod substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
3. An outer hollow cylinder and an inner hollow cylinder rigidly connected
together by a bridge piece at the top forming an annular bottomless bucket
and provided at the bottom with valve pieces the bridge piece being provided
with pivotted cam clutches the upper parts of which are connected by flexible con-
nections to a rope whereby the bucket may be moved up and down upon a
boring rod substantially as described and for the purposes set forth
4. An annular bottomless bucket formed of an outer hollow cylinder and an
inner hollow cylinder rigidly connected together by a bridge piece at the top
provided with pivotted cam clutches the upper parts of which are connected to a
lifting rope in combination with a boring rod encircled by the inner cylinder of
the bucket and having a cutter upon its bottom substantially as described and
for the purposes set forth.
5. An annular bottomless bucket formed of an outer hollow cylinder and an
inner hollow cylinder connected together by a bridge piece at the top having
an aperture to permit the raising of the slide door and to permit the
entrance of a bar to poke out the charge in combination with pivotted cam
clutches and a boring rod encircled by the inner cylinder of the bucket and
having a cutter upon its bottom substantially as described and for the purposes
set forth.
G. In combination with an annular bucket, clutch mechanism for gripping the
boring rod such clutch mechanism being arranged in the head of an externally
threaded barrel which is rotated and raised and lowered by suitable mechanism
substantially as described and set forth.
7. In combination an annular bottomless bucket having apertures in the top
as described adapted to be raised by means of a winch through suitable con-
nections a centrally situated boring rod and cutter and mechanism for rotating
the boring rod and cutter substantially as described and as illustrated and for
the purposes set forth.
8. In combination an annular bottomless bucket a centrally situated boring rod
and cutter with suitable mechanism for rotating the boring rod and cutter
and suitable mechanism for feeding the boring rod and cutter to their work and
suitable mechanism for raising and lowering the bucket substantially as described.
9. An annular bucket with a valvular bottom as described formed of an outer
hollow cylinder and an inner hollow cylinder connected together by a bridge
piece at the top having an aperture to permit the raising of the slide door and to
permit the entrance of a bar to poke out the charge in combination with pivotted
cam clutches and a boring rod encircled by the inner cylinder of the bucket and
having a cutter upon its bottom substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.