IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR BORING OR WORKING ROCK OR OTHER MATERIAL
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR BORING OR WORKING ROCK
OR OTHER MATERIAL." A communication froin abroad by Alfred Brandt, of
Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, but at present residing at Wasen, in
Switzerland, Engineer.
Sealed the 26th May 1877, and dated the 4th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th December 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR
BORING OR WORKING ROCK OR OTHER MATERIAL." A communication.
These improvements relate to hydraulic machinery for boring or working rock or
other inaterial. I use hydraulic power for pressing a toothed steel boring tube into
the rock or other material, and for simultaneously rotating the said tool. The waste
water passing from the engine is used for keeping the cutting edges of the boring
tool constantly cool, and for removing the abraded material resulting from the
boring.
A firm abutment for the boring engine is formed by a hydraulic press consisting
of a hydraulic cylinder and piston forced by hydraulic pressure against the sides of
the rock or other material.*
The boring tool is formed of a slightly conical tube of steel provided at its
cutting end with teeth which perform the boring operation and are hardened for
this purpose. In the other end of this boring tool a screw thread is cut which
serves for connecting the said tool with a tube forming the hollow boring rod. The
entire boring rod is composed of a number of such tubes fitted together by bayonet
joints. Each tube is of about the length to which the boring engine works. The number
of tubes to be used depends upon the depth of the hole to be bored; this depth may be
as desired, as the boring rod has only to resist torsional strain, and can therefore be
made of great length. By means of a movable cylinder working on a fixed piston
the pressure against the boring rod is effected; this pressure cylinder moves towards
the rock when water under pressure is admitted into it, and returns when the water

page_text: is allowed to escape. The fixed piston is screwed to the cylinder of a hydraulic
press, forming a most firm and solid stand; this hydraulic stand must be regarded
as a substantial part of these improvements, as without it there would be much
difficulty in obtaining a suitable abutment.
The rotation of the boring tool is effected in the following manner:-On two
guide pieces are arranged two hydraulic engines coupled together and serving to
rotate a shaft which by suitable gearing communicates its motion to the pressure
cylinder.
The water under pressure is conducted to the machinery by three pipes. The
largest of these pipes is composed of pieces provided with joints and ends in a valve
supplying the two hydraulic engines with the requisite motive fluid; another pipe
entering into the fixed piston supplies the water requisite for moving the pressure
cylinder to and fro; the third pipe conducts into the stand the water requisite for
forcing out the pressure piston. These three pipes branch out of a single pipe near
the boring machinery. The waste water from the hydraulic engines takes its way
through short pipes leading into the hollow piston through a tube, and then through
the hollow boring rod, escaping finally through the crumbled core and the interstices
of the cutting edge of the boring tool, thus constantly carrying off the abraded
material.
The machine may be calculated to be used with an average water pressure of
fifty atmospheres, and the borer may make ten rotations per minute; but these
particulars may be varied without departing from the substance of this Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Soal Patent Office on the 2nd
June 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRAULIC MACHINERY FOR
BORING OR WORKING ROCK OR OTHER MATERIAL." A communication from abroad
by Alfred Brandt, of Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany, but at present residing
at Wasen, in Switzerland, Engineer.
These improvements relate to hydraulic machinery for boring or working rock or
other material.
The said Invention comprises the use of hydraulic power for pressing a toothed
steel boring tube into the rock or other material, and for simultaneously rotating the
said tool. The waste water pressure passing from the engine is used for keeping the
cutting edges of the boring tool constantly cool, and for washing out the boring
hole. A firm abutment for the boring engine is formed by a hydraulic press
consisting of a hydraulic cylinder and piston forced by hydraulic pressure against
the sides of the rock or other material.
The accompanying Drawings show a convenient mode of carrying this Invention
into practise.
Figure 1 is a side view of the boring apparatus with its hydraulic stand; Figure 2
is a horizontal section of the same on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the worm and worm wheel for rotating the boring tool; Figure 4
is a front view of the said boring tool.
Figure 5 is a top view of the boring apparatus with one of its two hydraulic
engines in section.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the hydraulic stand.
Similar letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
The boring tool a is formed of a slightly conical tube of steel provided at its
cutting end with teeth which perform the boring operation, and are hardened for
this purpose. In the other end of this boring tool a screw thread is cut, which

page_text: serves for connecting the said tool with a tube forming the hollow boring rod b. The
entire boring rod is composed of a number of such tubes fitted together. The nuniber
of tubes to be used depends upon the depth of the hole to be bored, which may be
very great, as the boring rod has to withstand little more than the action of torsion,
and can therefore be made of considerable length. By means of a movable cylinder c
which can slide and rotate on a fixed piston & the pressure against the boring rod b
is effected. This pressure cylinder c is forced towards the rock when water under
pressure is admitted into it through the pipe e, and is drawn back when the water
is allowed to escape at f, as water under pressure coming from the pipe g is always
present in the annular space h. The fixed piston d is screwed to the cylinder i of
a hydraulic press which forms the stand, the ends of the same being firmly held
against the sides of the rock or tunnel by the hydraulic pressure. This hydraulic
stand, Figure 6, must be regarded as a substantial part of this Invention, as without
it there would be much difficulty in obtaining a suitable abutment for the boring
apparatus.
The rotation of the boring tool is effected in the following manner, that is to say,
on two guide pieces are arranged two hydraulic engines coupled together, and
serving to rotate by means of the worm gearing m, n, the pressure cylinder c, and
with it the boring tubes b and boring tool a connected thereto.
It is obvious that without departing from the substance of this Invention other
forms of hydraulic engines may be used for imparting a rotary movement to the
boring tool.
The water under pressure is conducted to the machinery by three pipes o, p, 1.
The largest of these pipes o is composed of pieces provided with joints and ends in
a valve supplying the two hydraulic engines with the water under pressure;
another pipe p entering at s into the fixed piston & supplies the water requisite for
moving the pressure cylinder to or fro; the third pipe q conducts at t into the
stand the water requisite for forcing out the pressure piston v. These three pipes
branch out of a single pipe near the boring machinery. The waste water from the
hydraulic engines takes its way through short pipes leading into the hollow piston d
through a tube u, and through the hollow boring rod, escaping finally through the
crumbled core and the interstices of the cutting edges of the boring tool, thus
constantly washing out the boring hole.
This machinery may be calulated to be used with an average water pressure of
fifty atmospheres, and the boring tool may make ten rotations per minute; but
these particulars also may be varied without departing from the substance of this
Invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The general construction and arrangement of the hydraulic boring apparatus
as above described.
Second. The general construction and arrangement of the hydraulic stand for tho
said boring apparatus, as above described.
Third. A boring tool constructed as above described and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. A boring engine with a boring tool which is forced by hydraulic pressure
against the rock or other material, and is simultaneously rotated by hydraulic power,
as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WM ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)