IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRILLING, BORING, TAPPING, COUNTERSINKING, AND FINNING THE HOLES IN BOILER PLATES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bowker, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRILLING, BORING, TAPPING, COUNTERSINKING,
AND FINNING THE HOLES IN BOILER PLATES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, PARTS
OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bowker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th January 1880.
WILLIAM BOWKER, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRILLING,
BORING, TAPPING, COUNTERSINKING, AND FINNING THE HOLES IN BOILER PLATES
AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE for
OTHER PURPOSES."
•
This Invention relates, first, to a simple and efficient portable drilling machine for
drilling, boring, and tapping the holes in boiler plates from the inside when they are
in position to form the shell. To the framework of the machine is fixed a frame with
internal cogs or teeth through which the driving pulley works, having at its end an
eccentric on which works a toothed pinion wheel which gears into the cogs or teeth
of the frame, and also in the cogs or teeth of an internal wheel (with a long boss or
sleeve) having a different number of teeth from the frame cogs or teeth. Fixed in
this second wheel is a shaft on which the driving pulley revolves loose, the shaft
projecting through the driving pulley and into a sleeve or boss to which it is
fastened. The headstock spindle works into and is driven by the sleeve to which
it is attached by means of grooves and keys. The headstocks which carry the drill
spindle work in a slide which is part of the framework of the machine, connected to
which is a feed screw with right and left hand threads. Fitted in each headstock
is a nut with half of the diameter of thread cut away, which nuts are thrown
in and out of gear with the screw by means of an eccentric spindle worked by a
lever attached to the headstock. To save time in getting the drills in position
there is a lever working on a stud connected to the slide frame which works the
1

page_text: headstock in the slide by a stud screwed in the headstock and passing through a
slot in the lever. On the driven internal wheel, boss, or sleeve there is a pinion
wheel connected by change wheels to give the required feed which drives the feed
screw. The slide in which works the headstock is connected by a central pivot or
bolt to a worm wheel into which is geared a worm attached to the slide frame. On
the end of the worm shaft is a dividing plate to give the required pitch of hole and
position for drilling. Fastened into the boss of the worm wheel is a screwed tube
or shaft which is grooved the length of the screw. This screwed tube or shaft
works vertically through the boss of a worm wheel and cam which has three or
more throws, the worm wheel and cam being fastened together. In the boss of the
worm wheel is a key which works into the slot of the screwed tube or shaft to
prevent it from turning. At the top and bottom of the boss of the cam wheel are
two nuts which work on the screwed tube; these nuts by raising or lowering the
frame. to which the tube is attached gives the required pitch and position for
the holes in the longitudinal seams, and to set in position for the transverse or
circumferential seams the boss of the cam wheel is fitted in the centre of a radial
arm frame. Each arm is a slide, into each of which is fitted a die or fixing piece
which are worked by the three or more throw cam or eccentric wheel. The object
of this bottom frame and dies is to fix the machine inside the shell of the boiler by
means of the sliding dies, the cam or eccentric wheel being worked by a worm and
wheel, the worm of which is attached to the radial arm frame. This machine is
driven from an overhead driving apparatus by guide pulleys working in a frame
which will swivel round according to the direction or position from which the power
is being taken.
The second part of this Invention relates to an apparatus for countersinking and
finning the holes from the outside of the boiler shell, and consists of a frame with a
spindle working in suitable bearings, and is actuated by similar arrangements or
gearing to those before described for the inside drilling machine, and is fed by a
screw working through a nut attached to the end of the frame. The machine is
fixed on the outer part of the boiler shell by means of a chain or rope, or other
suitable contrivance which is tightened and slackened by means of a screw attached
to the frame. The countersinking and finning tool is a block of steel or iron turned
to a suitable form, in which are one or more cutters for countersinking. In the
shank of the block is fitted a steel cutter which works in a slot or hole, and has a
projection which is in contact with a coiled spring which works in a groove in the
sbank so as not to project above the surface. Fitted in the block is a two armed
right angled lever, working on a pin or stud, one end is in contact with the finning
tool, the other having a projection or small bowl working loose on a pin; to the
end carrying the bowl is fitted a catch and spring, the catch entering into suitable
notches in the block, the spring being to keep the catch in position in the said
notches. There is also a spring in the block to press the projecting end of the two
armed right angled lever forward when the catch is lifted out of its detent. The
action of the tool is as follows:-The shank is placed in the hole to be countersunk
and the machine fixed and put in operation. When the hole is countersunk to the
required depth the projection on the double ended lever comes in contact with the
plate which throws the projected end backwards and raises the other end which is
in contact with the finning tool and presses it between the two plates just sufficient
to take the burr or finn off the plate, thereby dispensing with the necessity of taking
the plates asunder and filing the finns or burrs off before rivetting. To withdraw
the tool the catch is lifted from its detent and the tool withdrawn, when the second
spring forces the lever forward thereby lowering the other end of the lever; the
finning tool is then brought out of position by the coiled spring on the shank and
the machine moved to the required position for drilling the next hole, and so the
work proceeds continuously.
Thirdly. To a machine for drilling or tapping odd holes which are not easily
accessible to the other machines. This machine is also applicable for drilling holes

page_text: in other articles, such as railway chairs, rails, sleepers, girders, and in fact wherever
the ratchet brace is now employed, and especially for tapping the stay holes in
locomotive and multitubular boilers, furnaces, and for other similar purposes, and
consists of a spindle for carrying the cutting tool, which spindle works in a suitable
frame or bearing and is mainly actuated as in the machines herein before described,
with the addition of suitable gearing for driving the feed screw and spindle, which
consists of a toothed bevil or mitre wheel on the spindle actuated by another bevil
wheel which is attached to the driving gear. Although this machine is intended
chiefly to be driven by hand as a substitute for the present ratchet brace, over
which it has considerable advantages, still it may be driven by power when required
by putting on a pulley in exchange for the hand wheel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Bowker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th July
1880.
WILLIAM BOWKER, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DRILLING,
BORING, TAPPING, COUNTERSINKING, AND FINNING THE HOLES IN BOILER PLATES
AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, PARTS OF WHICH APPARATUS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates, first, to a simple and efficient machine for drilling and
boring the holes in boiler plates from the inside when they are in position to form
the shell; and, secondly, to an apparatus for countersinking, finning, and tapping
the holes, and will be readily understood by the following particular description
thereof, reference being had to the Figures on the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawings with the letters of reference marked thereon. On Sheet 1, Figs. 1 and 2
represent side and end views of the machine; Fig. 3, a side view of the standard
and slide for holding and setting the boiler shell whilst being drilled; and Fig. 4, a
plan thereof together with the base of the machine. A represents the base of the
machine, to which are attached three or more feet B on which are fitted standards C
on each of which is a slide D carrying a bowl E working on a stud F fastened to
the arm G. Through this arm G is a set screw H for fixing and setting the boiler
shell I, and through the bottom of the said arm works a screw J which rests on a
foot or bracket K sliding on the standard C, and fastened in position by the bolt L.
Sliding through the top of the base A is a screwed tube M, at the top of which
is fixed a worm wheel N. A slide O with a long boss works in the tube M,
and bears on the wheel N. In this slide and frame O works the worm P, on the
shaft of which is fixed a dividing plate Q to give the required pitch of hole and
position for drilling, it being held in its required position when set and adjusted
by the pin Q Working through the frame O is a right and left hand feeding
screw R and sleeve or tube S, on which tube is fixed the worm wheel T geared into
the worm U which is driven by the pulley and shaft V. On the end of the tube S
is fixed a skew wheel W gearing into another skew wheel X which is fixed to the
shaft Y carrying the worm Z gearing into the worm wheel A³ fixed to the screw R.
Fitted in the slide O are two headstocks B₁ carrying the drill spindles C which
work in and are actuated by the tube S. Fixed to the frame O on each side is a
lever or handle D2 pivotted on the stud E³, in which lever is a slot F into which
works a stud and slide block G2 which is fixed to the headstocks B². These levers
are for the purpose of moving the headstocks carrying the drills in and out of
position quickly. Working in each headstock B2 is a half nut H which is actuated
by an eccentric stud I, and the hand lever J2 fixed on the end of the stud 12 for
throwing the nut in and out of gear with the screw R. The screwed tube M to which
the machine is attached works through the pillar or base A, and is raised or lowered
as required by a screwed nut with handles T. In a recess bored out of the pillar or
base A are two rings P, Q, the ring P2 being split for the purpose of locking the
tube when screwed up by the set screw R². In the ring Q2 is fixed a key working
into a groove in the screwed tube M to hold it firmly when the drills are working,
the key being fixed by the set screw S³.
When shells of large diameters are required to be drilled I bolt to the slide
frame O arms or brackets K, through which work the drill sockets or holders L³,
and also stay rods M³ capable of adjustment in the arın or bracket, according to the
diameter of the shell to be drilled and fastened by the set screws N. Fixed or
cast to the frame O on each side are arms or brackets O2 (Fig. 2), in which
adjustable stay rods work for the same purpose as the rods M², namely, to prevent

page_text: the boiler plates or shell from springing in and breaking the points of the drills
when passing through.
This machine is driven from an overhead driving apparatus with suitable
guide pulleys arranged according to the direction from which the power is being
taken and has a balance weight or idler to give the necessary tension to the
rope.
The modus operandi is as follows:-The ring or shell I is placed on the bowls E
and fastened in position by the screws H, and, when necessary, also by the stays M*.
The machine is then set at the required height for drilling the holes by the screwed
tube M and nut T, and the pitch of the transverse seams having been determined
by the dividing plate Q and worm P and wheel N, the drills are forced against the
plates by the headstocks B being pressed forward by hand by the lever D²; the
lever Jis then lifted in position and forces the nuts H2 in gear with the feed
screw R, and the machine being set in motion the holes are drilled one at each side
of the machine simultaneously. When the drills are through the plates the
workman lifts the nuts H2 out of gear with the feed screw R by turning the lever J'
and with it the eccentric stud 12, and having withdrawn the headstocks carrying
the drills by means of the levers D2, and the machine being turned by the worm P
and wheel M to the position determined by the dividing plate for the next holes to
be drilled, the operations are repeated, and so on as often as required. ?
For small shells, and where a portable machine is desired, the following arrange-
ment may be used, the mode differing but slightly from the machine before
described, except in the mode of driving and the way in which it is fixed in the
shell and held whilst drilling. This part of my Invention is represented in Figs. 5,
6, 7, and 8, Sheet 2. To the framework of the machine is fixed a frame A with
internal cogs or teeth through which the driving pulley B works, having at its end
an eccentric on which works a toothed pinion wheel C which gears into the cogs or
teeth of the frame A, and also in the cogs or teeth of an internal wheel D with a
long boss or sleeve having a different number of teeth from the frame cogs or
teeth A. Fixed in this wheel is a shaft E on which the driving pulley revolves
loose, the shaft projecting through the driving pulley and into a sleeve or boss F,
to which it is fastened. The headstock spindle works into and is driven by
the sleeve to which it is attached by means of keys and grooves. The screwed
tube works vertically through the boss of a worm wheel and cam G, Figs. 7 and 8,
which has three or more throws, the worm wheel and cam being fastened together.
In the boss of the worm wheel is a key H, which works into the slot of the screwed
tube I to prevent it from turning. At the top and bottom of the boss of the cam
wheel are two nuts J which work on the screwed tube, these nuts by raising or
lowering the frame to which the tube is attached gives the required pitch and
position for the holes in the longitudinal seams, and to set in position for the
transverse or circumferential seams. The boss of the cam wheel G is fitted in
the centre of a radial arm frame K. Each arm is a slide, into each of which is
fitted a die or fixing piece L which is worked by the cam wheel G. The object of
this bottom frame K and dies L is to fix the machine inside the shell of the boiler
by means of the sliding dies L, the cam wheel G being worked by a worm and
wheel, the worm M being attached to the radial arm frame K by brackets N.
The second part of this Invention relates to an apparatus for countersinking,
finning, and tapping the holes of boiler shells, and for other purposes, and is
represented in Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, Sheet 2, of the Drawings annexed, in .
which Figs. 9 and 10 are side and end views, and Fig. 11 a plan of the apparatus;
and Figs. 12 and 13, views of the countersinking and finning tools. A is the frame
of the machine having two handles B; C is a spindle working through a boss in the
frame A; D is the driving pulley fastened to the spindle C, and is held in position
by a nut and washer E, F, G is a balance weight to give tension to the driving
rope or chain and keep the handles in a horizontal position. The machine is hung
in a rope or chain, and. driven from an overhead driving apparatus with suitable
guide pulleys to give off the power in the required direction, and a balance weight

page_text: or idler equal to the weight of the machine and weight G employed to give the
necessary tension to the rope or chain according to the power required to be driven.
In Figs. 12 and 13, H is a stock or cutter holder with one or more cutters I for
countersinking, which are fixed in slots by the screwed cap J; K is a small steel
cutter for finning, working in a slot in the stock H; L is a coiled spring working in
a groove in the stock H, and in contact with the cutter K; M is a right angled
lever working on the pivot N, one arm of which lever is in contact with the cutter K,
and the other arm carrying a small friction bowl O fastened by a screw P. At the
back of the arm is fixed a spring Q for forcing the lever forward and withdrawing
the pressure from the cutter K. When the holes are to be countersunk and finned
the stock H is fixed in the spindle C of the machine, and the shank of the stock
inserted in the hole to be countersunk and finned. The operator then presses the
machine forward when the cutters I and pulley O come in contact with the front of
the plate, the cutters I countersinking the hole. When it is countersunk to the
required depth the pulley O comes in contact with the front of the plate, thereby
raising the lever end in connection with the cutter K and forces the cutter point
between the two plates, and so takes off the burr or finn, thereby dispensing with
the necessity of taking the plates asunder and filing the finns or burrs off before
rivetting. When completed the tool is withdrawn by pulling back the machine,
when the spring Q forces the lever forward and relieves the cutter K, the spring L
then forces the cutter K out of position and the apparatus is removed to the next
hole, and so on.
For tapping the stay holes in furnace boxes and similar places the tap T is
simply placed in the spindle C instead of the stock H, and worked as before
described.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth, as such may be
varied or modified without departing from the principle or main features of my
Invention, but what I claim is, the improved machinery or apparatus for drilling,
boring, tapping, countersinking, and finning the holes in boiler plates and similar
articles, and the application of parts thereof to other purposes, substantially as such
improvements are herein described and illustrated on the accompanying two Sheets
of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bowker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the within named William
Bowker, in the presence of
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
3, Strutt Street,
Manchester.
WILLIAM BOWKER. (L.S.)