IMPROVEMENTS WARR
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Simpson, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Mining Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
WARR
MTD"
Sealed the 6th May 1862, and dated the 9th November 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Simpson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th November 1861.
I, GEORGE SIMPSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BORING APPARATUS SUCH AS IS USED FOR MINING PURPOSES," to
to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention comprises various improvements in boring apparatus such as
is used for mining purposes, and has generally for object to facilitate and
economize the operation.
The first part of the Invention relates to the lifting and lowering of the boring
rods, and consists in using a frame or scaffolding erected over the bore upon
the surface, and provided at its top with a series of pulicys over which ropes
or chains are passed, having attached to their outer ends a series of differently
sized counterweights; when the boring rods are entirely down the counter-
weights in use are at the top of the frame with their ropes or chains hanging

page_text: down inside, ready for attachment to the rods. In proceeding to lift the rods
the rope or chain of the heaviest weight being attached, and the weight being
such as to about balance the rods, they are lifted by a comparatively slight
exertion as far out of the bore as the frame will permit; within reasonable and
convenient limits, the higher the frame is made the better; but the rods must
be made to disconnect with facility in lengths corresponding to the height of
the frame. The rods being lifted one stage the top length is disconnected, and
the rope or chain of the second weight is attached to the next length, and the
rods are lifted a second stage, and so on until all the lengths are lifted, the
weights applied at each stage being in succession reduced in size to the extent
of the weight of each length, brought to the surface and disconnected, so as to
about balance the rods still remaining in the bore. In lowering the rods into
the bore the reverse operation is performed, the weights being used in the
reverse order to continually balance the increasing weight of rods, and being
raised by the lowering of the latter, are held by catches in their elevated posi-
tions in readiness for again raising the rods. Or according to another modifica-
tion a single endless rope or chain may be substituted for the several weighted
ropes or chains, such endless chain being worked by a portable engine or
otherwise, and being contrived so that each length of rods may in succession
be attached to it, both in raising and lowering, whilst provision is made for
supporting the separate lengths of rods upon the frame as they are raised.
The second part of the Invention relates to apparatus for imparting the
reciprocating action to the boring rods which apparatus is also arranged to be
used otherwise in connection with the boring operations. This apparatus
consists of a portable steam boiler, by preference mounted on wheels, and
having in connection with it, and carried by an overhanging bracket or standard
'a steam cylinder and piston, 'the rod of which can be coupled directly to the
boring rods. Valvular apparatus is applied to the cylinder such as is in use
upon steam hammers, and capable of adjustment to give the various degrees
and kinds of stroke to the boring rods that the operation may require. Pro-
vision is made for withdrawing the portable engine a short distance from the
bore, and for making the cylinder and piston work a winding barrel, to be
used in lifting the rods or otherwise, as may be required.
The third part of the Invention relates to an improved sludge or boring pump,
and consists in substituting for the valve usually fitted at the bottom of the
pump or barrel, an air valve fitted at or near the top of the barrel, whilst the
bottom mouth is somewhat contracted. On the pump descending the valve
allows the air to escape as the sludge enters at the bottom, but on drawing up
the pump the air valve closes, and the sludge is retained in the barrel. In

page_text: addition the bottom of the pump or barrel is fitted to receive an edged mouth-
piece, shaped to enter the bottom of the bore, and insure the thorough cleaning
out thereof by the pump.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SIMPSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Mining Engi-
neer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Simpson, Her special licence that I, the said George Simpson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Simpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BORING APPARATUS, SUCH AS IS USED FOR MINING PURPOSES,"
upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said George Simpson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Simpson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said 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 had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention comprises various improvements in boring apparatus
such as is used for mining purposes, and has generally for object to facilitate
and economise the operation.

page_text: And in order that the nature of the same and the manner of performing it
may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended a Sheet of explanatory
Drawings illustrating such parts as appear to require it of the following par-
ticular description of my improvements.
The first part of the Invention relates to the lifting and lowering of the
boring rods, and consists in using a frame or scaffolding such as is represented
in elevation in Figure 1 and in plan in Figure 2, erected over the bore upon
the surface, and provided at its top, according to one modification, with a
series of pulleys A, over which ropes or chains B are passed, having attached
at their outer ends a series of differently sized counterweights C, C¹. When
the boring rods (D) are entirely in the bore, the counterweights C in use are
at the top of the frame with their ropes or chains B hanging down inside
ready for attachment to the rods. In proceeding to lift the rods the rope or
chain of the heaviest counterweight (which may be made up of several
separate pieces) is first attached to the rods, and being proportioned so as to
about balance the weight of the rods, they are lifted by a comparatively slight
exertion as far out of the bore as the frame will permit. Within reasonable
and convenient limits the higher the frame is made the better; but the rods
should be made to disconnect with facility in lengths corresponding to the
height of the frame. The frame is represented in Figure 1 as sixty feet high,
and the rods being made in lengths of twelve feet, a length or stage com-
prising five such lengths can be lifted at once, and it is thus only requisite to
disconnect every fifth joint. The rods being lifted one stage they are dis-
jointed by unscrewing, or as it is technically termed, are "cut" a little above
the surface of the bore, and being suspended to the frame a little clear of the
ground, the rope or chain of the second counterweight is attached to the next
length of rods, and the rods are lifted a second stage, and so on until all the
rods are lifted; the counterweights applied at each stage being in succession
reduced in amount to the extent of the weight of each stage or set of lengths
brought to the surface and disconnected, so as to about balance the rods still
remaining in the bore at each respective stage. In lowering the rods into
the bore again the reverse operation is performed, the counterweights being
used in the reverse order to continually balance the increasing weight of rods,
and being raised by the lowering of the latter are held in readiness for again
raising the rods by fixing the other ends of the ropes or chains on hooks or
catches when disconnected from the rods. For the purpose of guiding the
counterweights in their descent and ascent bars are fixed to the side of the
frame, but to avoid indistinctness these are not shown in the Figure. The
hoisting of the rods is effected by means of a separate rope or chain E passing

page_text: over a pulley F at the top of the frame to a winch, and this rope or chain is
made to take hold of the rods by means of a self-acting gibble, such as is
shown in Figure 3, which, when the stage of rods is securely suspended in its
elevated position, frees itself on the winch being reversed, and is lowered to
take hold of the next stage of rods. The winch may be worked by manual or
steam power.
.
.
In this improved arrangement for raising and lowering the rods there is
saved, in the first place, the time and labour ordinarily expended in lowering
the rods down upon the ground and raising them up again to return them to
the bore; and the use of the counterweights also saves the power ordinarily
expended in lifting the dead weight of the rods, there remaining merely the
friction to be overcome. More or less of these advantages may be availed of.
according to circumstances; thus, in some cases, the counterweights may be
dispensed with, or the frame may be made high enough to suspend only two
lengths, or it may be only one length of the rods.
In one modification a single endless rope or chain may be substituted for
the several weighted ropes or chains, such endless chain being worked by a
portable engine or otherwise, and being contrived so that each length or stage
of rods may in succession be attached to it both in raising and lowering, whilst
provision is made for suspending the separate lengths or stages of rods upon
the fran.e as they are severally raised.
The second part of the Invention relates to apparatus for imparting the
reciprocating action to the boring rods, which apparatus is also arranged to be
used otherwise in connection with the boring. opertions.
This apparatus
comprises a portable steam boiler, by preference mounted on wheels, and,
according to one modification, having in connection with it and carried by an
overhanging bracket, standard, or part of the carriage, a steam cylinder and
piston, the rod of which can be coupled or connected to the boring rods
directly, that is to say, without the intervention of toothed or other gearing
involving the intermittent action of heavy revolving masses.
Valvular me-
chanism is applied to the cylinder such as is in use upon steam hammers, and
capable of adjustment to give the various degrees and kinds of stroke to the
boring rods that the operation may require. It was contemplated to provide
for withdrawing the portable engine a short distance from the bore when the
rods required lifting, and also to arrange for the one cylinder and piston to
actuate a winding barrel or winch to be used in lifting the rods, or otherwise.
I have, however, found it preferable to keep the portable engine stationary,
and either to make the piston rod hollow so that the rods can be lifted through
it, or to place the cylinder a little to one side of the bore, and to joint the

page_text: piston rod to a light lever which carries and actuates the rods, and which can
be conveniently swung out of the way when the rods have to be lifted. I
have also found it preferable to employ an additional cylinder or pair of
cylinders, actuated from the same boiler, to drive a winch or winding barrel
for lifting and lowering the rods.
Figure 4, is a side elevation of a modification of my improved combined
direct steam boring engine and steam winch, and Figure 5 is a section of the
boring cylinder G, whilst Figure 6 is a plan of the winch details. The boring
cylinder G is mounted on one end of a wheeled carriage H, the winch I, being
mounted at the other end, whilst the steam boiler J, is situated in the middle.
A steam pipe K is formed with two branches, provided with regulator cocks
or valves, one branch L communicating with the bottom of the cylinder G,
and the other M, with a valve box N, communicating with the top of the
cylinder G, and with the exhaust pipe P. There is in the valve box N a
small piston valve n, the rod of which is attached to a weighted lever Q, and
the raising of this valve causes the steam to enter the top of the cylinder,
whilst the lowering of it causes the steam to escape. The piston rod R
works through both top and bottom stuffing boxes, and has attached to it
by arms a parallel rod r, upon which there are two stop pins capable of
adjustment to operate on the valve lever Q, as may be required. The
top of the piston rod R is jointed to a light lever T, which lies imme-
diately above the bore, and has its other end jointed to a radius bar or
lever U. The boring rods when in action are suspended from the lever T,
by the intervention of a swivelling brace head V, a screw shackle and cross
bar W, and a bolt X. There is always steam under the piston, and
the elevation of the rods is effected by lowering the valve n, and thereby
allowing the steam to escape from above the piston. As the piston rises
the valve is reversed, and the steam again entering above the piston it
and the rods descend. The admission of steam above the piston can be
regulated so as either to let the rods fall with their full gravitating force, the
lever Tbeing free to move down from the nut of the bolt X, or to temper that
force to any extent that may be found desirable. To prevent injury from
concussion, washers of rubber or such like material are introduced under the
nut of the bolt X, and at each end of the piston rod R; a similar washer may
also be introduced between the brace head V and its swivel. When the
boring rods are to be lifted the pin forming the joint between the piston rod R
and the lever T is taken out, and the latter being uncoupled from the rods and
being suspended by chains from the frame, is swung over out of the way. The
winch I is actuated by two steam cylinders a, receiving steam from the

page_text: .
boiler J, and driving the first motion shaft b above. It is preferred to arrange
two winding barrels c, d, on the same spindle, which are driven by similar
gearing but are of different diameters. Each barrel has attached to it a spur
wheel e, f, in gear with pinions g, h, on the shaft b, which last can be put into
and out of gear with the shaft as required by means of clutches. On the
smaller and more powerful barrel c'there is wound the chain or rope E for
elevating the rods, whilst on, the larger barrel d there is wound a rope or
chain i, for working the sludge pump, which having one or two rod lengths
attached to it, is lowered to the bottom of the bore and worked by the rope or
chain i.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a modification of the steam boring cylin-
der G¹ as contrived for being used directly over the bore. The piston rod R¹ is
made tubular and of sufficient internal diameter for the passage through it of
the boring rods when these are being lifted. The arrangements for admitting
the steam and other details are substantially the same as in the modification
already described. Or the cylinder G¹ may be made to slide back upon the
carriage, carrying the brace head with it, so that the boring rods may be lifted
as in the modification previously described.
The third part of the Invention relates to an improved sludge or boring
pump, and consists in substituting for the valve usually fitted at the bottom of
the pump or barrel an air valve fitted at or near the top of the barrel, whilst
the bottom mouth is more or less contracted. On the pump descending the
valve allows the air to escape as the sludge or borings enter at the bottom,
but on drawing up the pump the air valve closes and the matters are retained
in the barrel. In addition the bottom of the pump or barrel may be fitted to
receive an edged mouth-piece, shaped to enter the bottom of the bore and
insure the thorough cleaning out thereof by the pump.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of a modification of my improved sludge pump.
The upper part of the barrel is formed with a valve seat, and is provided
with a small spberical valve m and with outlet openings n in the side of the
barrel head, by which the air escapes.
Figure 9 is a face view of the bottom mouth of the pump as turned up.
The opening is contracted by means of a broad ring p, of a flexible material,
such as rubber, which is fixed in its place by the mouth-piece ring q, this
ring being bevilled to a sharp external edge, as shown in Figure 8, and the
rubber ring p is slit radially from its inner edge to allow matters to enter the
pump freely.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be performed, I have to state that I do

page_text: not restrict myself to the precise details herein described or delineated; but
that what I consider to be novel and original, and claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
1. The general arrangement or combination of improved boring apparatus,
substantially as herein described and delineated.
2. The employing of a frame to suspend the boring rods when lifted out of
the bore, substantially as herein-before described.
3. The applying of counterweights to the lengths or stages of rods, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
4. The actuating of the boring rods by means of a steam cylinder directly
connected thereto without the intervention of toothed or other revolving gearing,
substantially as herein-before described.
5. The constructing of a sludge pump with an air valve in the top end of
the barrel, and the shaping of the mouth thereof so as to take the matters up
as completely as possible from the bottom of the bore, substantially as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Simpson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT, Patent Agent,
28, St. Enoch Square, Glasgow.
. GEO. SIMPSON. (L.S.)