Improvements in Rock Drills,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rock Drills,
We, ALFRED PRETZ SCHMUCKER, Mechanical Engineer, of 1234, Josephine
Street, Louis DENNISON SWEET, Promoter, of 1460, Franklin Street, and GEORGE
EDWARD ROSS-LEWIN, Banker, of 1917 Logan Avenue, all of the City of Denver,
in the County of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, United States of America, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in rock drills adapted to be operated by
air, or other suitable fluid, the object being to provide an apparatus of this class
which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, reliable, durable and
efficient in use, and to these ends the invention consists of the features, arrange-.
ments and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all of which will be
fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which is illus-
trated an embodiment thereof.
In this drawing
Fig.
is a vertical, longitudinal section taken through the improved drill on
the line X-X, Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.
Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on the lines Y-Y and Z-Z, respectively.
Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in these views,
let the numeral 7 designate a suitable adjustable frame, mounted on a support-
ing bar 8. To this frame is attached a nut 6, engaged by a feed-screw 5 journaled
in a carrier 4 slidingly mounted on the frame and actuated by the feed-screw
which travels therewith, the screw passing through the nut, which is mounted
on the stationary frame, as before stated. Mounted upon the carrier is a
diminutive engine of ordinary construction, comprising cylinders A, piston-
rods B, pitmen C, and eccentrics 1) for operating the usual slide-valve mechanism
enclosed by the casings E. The apparatus is provided with a dust-proof
casing 10, hinged at 12, for protecting the operating parts of the engine. This
engine operates a shaft 13", whose outer extremity is cogged to form a pinion 15,
which meshes with a relatively large gear-wheel 16 made fast to a hollow shaft
or air-tube 17, journaled in the carrier-frame and connected with an air-
compressor, (not shown), by means of a suitable conduit 18 connected with the
tir-tube by a coupling 19. This coupling allows the hollow shaft 17 to turn
independently of the conduit connected with the air-compressor.
The engine is preferably operated by air from the conduit 18, and conducted
to the cylinders by a branch conduit 20, which is forked, and delivers air to both
cylinders A by way of the pipe-arms 20". The conduit 20 is provided with .a
valve 20° for regulating the supply of air to the engine.
The hollow shaft 17 is adapted to rotate freely in the sliding carrier; it
also moves longitudinally therewith when the carrier is actuated by the screw.
The screw 5 is provided with the usual operating hand-wheel 5*.
To the forward extremity of the hollow shaft 17 is made fast a cylinder 24,

page_text: enclosing a chamber 25 in which is located a reciprocating piston 26. The
cylinder is provided with a channel or duct 27, communicating at one extremity
with an opening 17" in the air-shaft, and at the other extremity with the piston-
chamber 25; the wall of the cylinder is also provided with another duct 28,
communicating with the chamber 25 at both extremities; and with a third
duct 29, also communicating with the chamber 25 at both extremities. The
forward extremity of the tube 17 is closed, but the air enters the duct 27 at a
point just to the rear, of the closed extremity of the tube; hence there is no
direct communication between the forward extremity of the opening 17" and
the rear extremity of the piston-chamber 25. The shank 30% of the drill 30
is attached to a chuck 31, its rear extremity projecting into the forward extremity
of the piston-chamber 25. The piston 26 acts on the rear extremity of the drill-
bit during the operation of the drill. The chuck 31 is attached to the cylinder 24
by means of a screw-coupling 32. The piston 26 is provided with a circular
groove 26, which allows the air to pass from the duct 27 to one of the ducts 28
or 29, according to the position of the piston, as hereinafter explained. The
piston is provided with front and rear exhaust ports 24° and 24".
In the operation of the drill, the air passes from the air-compressor (not
shown), by way of the conduit 18 to the longitudinal opening 17" of the hollow
shaft 17, and by way of the branch conduits 20 and 20 to the engine, through
the instrumentality of which, motion is communicated to the shaft 13 and the
pinion 15.
This movement of the pinion imparts a slow rotation to the gear 16
and to the air-tube or shaft 17, the cylinder 24, the chuck 31 and the drill-bit 30.
As soon as the air under pressure enters the air-tube or shaft 17, it passes to the
forward extremity of the tube, and thence to the duct 27 of the cylinder
Assuming that the piston 26 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing,
that is to say at or near its backward limit of movement, the air passes from
the duct 27 into the groove 26 of the piston 26, and thence to the duct 28,
whence it passes to the rear extremity of the chamber 25, where it acts on the
rear extremity of the piston, driving the latter forward against the drill-bit.
When the piston has reached its forward limit of movement, the air to the rear
of the piston exhausts through the ports 24° of the cylinder, and the groove 26
is cut off from communcation with the duct 28, and brought into communication
with the duct 29; the mouth of the duct 27 is of such width that it is always
in connection with the groove 26"; hence, when the piston has reached its
forward limit of movement, the air passes from the duct 27 through the groove 20
to the duct 29, and thence to a space 25 of the piston-chamber 25, surrounding
the reduced extremity 26 of the piston, and acts on a shoulder 26, returning
the piston to its backward limit of movement. The air in front of the piston then
exhausts through the ports 24° of the cylinder.
The feed of the drill mechanism is accomplished by turning the screw shaft 5
in the nut 6 in the direction to give it the forward movement, or toward the
right, referring to Figs. 1 and 2. This movement of the feed-screw actuates
the carrier-frame 4, which is located between two shoulders formed on the air-
tube or shaft 17, thus giving to the cylinder, the air-tube, and their attachments,
a corresponding movement. These parts are moved backward by reversing the
movement of the feed-screw.
It is evident that steam, or any suitable fluid other than air may be employed
in the operation of this drill. Hence it must be understood that the construction
is not limited to an air-drill.
The air-tube or shaft 17 is provided with a valve or stop cock 35, whose
function is to regulate or entirely cut off the passage of air to the cylinder 24.
Through the agency of this stop cock the action of the hammer-piston may be
stopped, while the rotation of the air-tube, the cylinder 24, and the drill-bit
continues. Then by turning the feed-screw and moving the drill-bit and its
connections rearwardly simultaneously with the rotation of the said parts, the
drill-hole may be reamed out and cleaned. This construction and arrangement

page_text: of parts constitute a very important feature of the invention, since in a hammer-
drill the bit is liable to stick fast in the hole, causing much trouble and delay in
the progress of the work. The drill-bit engages a square hole in the chuck and is
fastened therein by means of a key 36, which passes through a slot in the bit,
thus permitting a limited longitudinal movement of the bit in the chuck.
Hence it is evident that the simultaneous rotary and backward movements of
the air-tube, cylinder and chuck, impart corresponding movements to the drill-
bit, thus accomplishing the reaming and cleaning of the drill-hole, as hereto-
fore stated.
Another important feature of the drill is that the mechanism for rotating the bit
operates independently of the action of the piston-hammer, thus permitting the
rotation of the bit while the hammer is inactive, as heretofore explained.
The engine herein set forth for rotating the air tube, the cylinder and the drill-
bit, may be considered a motor of any suitable construction for performing the
required function. The engine shown makes a satisfactory and economical
motor, but any other suitable type of motor may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
claim is
1. In a drill operated by air or other suitable fluid, the combination with a
suitable support, and a carrier movable thereon, of a nut mounted on the support,
a screw-shaft connected with the carrier and engaging the nut, an air-tube
journaled in the carrier, a cylinder made fast to the forward extremity of the
air-tube and provided with ducts adapted to take the air from the tube and
deliver it alternately to the front and rear parts of the cylinder-chamber, a
piston located in said chamber and adapted to reciprocate when actuated by the
air from the said ducts, the piston being grooved to allow the air to cross the
chamber, the wall of the cylinder being provided with suitable exhaust-ports,
and a drill-bit supported to be actuated by the reciprocating piston.
2. In a drill, the combination with a carrier movable on a suitable support,
of a screw connected with the carrier and engaging a nut on said support, an
air-tube journaled in the carrier, a cylinder made fast to the forward extremity
of the air-tube and provided with ducts adapted to take the air from the tube
and deliver it alternately to the front and rear parts of the cylinder-chamber,
the wall of the cylinder being provided with suitable exhaust-ports, a reciprocat-
ing piston located in said chamber and forming a hammer, a drill-bit supported
to be actuated by the said piston, and suitable means for rotating the air-tube
and the cylinder attached thereto.
3. The combination with a suitable carrier and feed mechanism therefor, of
an air-tube journaled in the carrier and movable longitudinally therewith, a
cylinder attached to the forward extremity of the air-tube and provided with
ducts communicating with the air-tube and arranged to deliver the air to the
front and rear of the piston, a piston located in the cylinder-chamber adapted
to be reciprocated by the action of the air, said piston being fashioned to allow
the air to cross the chamber from one duct to another, a drill supported to be
actuated by the reciprocating piston, and suitable means for rotating the air-
tube, the cylinder, and their attachments, comprising a suitable motor, a gear-
wheel fast on the air-tube, a pinion operated by the motor and meshing with the
gear, and suitable means for conducting air to the motor.
4. In a drill or similar instrument, the combination with a suitable support,
of a revoluble air shaft mounted thereon, a cylinder fast on the air shaft and
rotating therewith, a piston-hammer located in the cylinder and operated by the
air from the said shaft, a bit mounted on the cylinder and arranged to be driven by
the piston-hammer, and means operated independently of the movement of the
piston-hammer for rotating the air shaft, the cylinder and the bit.
5. The combination of a revoluble cylinder, a piston-hammer located therein,

page_text: a bit mounted on the cylinder and adapted to rotate therewith, said bit being
arranged to be operated by said hammer, and means for delivering to the
cylinder air, or other suitable fluid, for operating the hammer.
6. The combination of a revoluble cylinder, a piston-hammer located therein,
a bit mounted on the cylinder, adapted to turn therewith, and arranged to be
operated by the piston-hammer, and means for automatically rotating the
cylinder and bit.
7. In a drill adapted to be operated by air, the combination of a cylinder, a
piston-hammer located therein, a drill-bit mounted on the cylinder and
adapted to be operated by the hammer, an air sliaft fast on the cylinder and
arranged to deliver air thereto for the operation of the hammer, means also
operated by air for rotating the cylinder, and suitable means for cutting off the
flow of air to the cylinder while the rotating mechanism is in operation.
8. The combination of a drill-bit, a piston-hammer, an air shaft for deliver-
ing air to the cylinder, a motor, a pinion fast on the motor shaft, and a gear fast
on the air shaft and meshing with the pinion,'
9. The combination of a drill-bit, a cylinder upon which the bit is mounted, a
piston-hammer located in the cylinder, an air shaft connected with the cylinder
and adapted to deliver air thereto, a feed-screw, a motor, a pinion fast on the
shaft of the motor, a gear fast on the air shaft and meshing with the pinion,
means for delivering air to the motor, and means for cutting off the flow of air
to the cylinder while the motor is in operation.
10. The combination of a revoluble cylinder, a piston-hammer located therein,
a bit mounted on the cylinder and arranged to rotate therewith, said bit being
adapted to be operated by said hammer means for delivering to the cylinder air,
or other fluid, for operating the hammer, and means operated independently of
the hammer's action for rotating the cylinder and bit.
11. The combination of a bit, a revoluble cylinder upon which the bit is
mounted, and with which it is adapted to turn, a hammer located in said cylinder
for driving the bit, and means for rotating the said cylinder, said means operat-
ing independently of the hammer's action, whereby the rotation of the cylinder
may continue while the hammer is inactive.
12. In a drill or similar apparatus adapted to be operated by air, or other
expansive fluid, the combination of the cylinder, a piston-hammer located
therein, a bit mounted on the cylinder and adapted to be operated by the hammer,
an air shaft fast on the cylinder and arranged to deliver air thereto for the
operation of the hammer, and means also operated by the air for rotating the
shaft and cylinder.
13. In a drill or similar apparatus adapted to be operated by air or other
expansive fluid, the combination of a revoluble cylinder, a piston-hammer
located therein, a drill-bit,mounted on the cylinder and adapted to be operated
by the hammer and to turn with the cylinder, means for delivering air to the
cylinder for operating the hammer, and means also operated by the air or other
expansive fluid for automatically rotating the cylinder and drill-bit.
Dated this 11th Way of August 1899
ALFRED PRETZ SCHMUCKER,
LOUIS DENNISON SWEET,
GEORGE EDWARD ROSS-LEWIN.