Improvements in and connected with Machinery for the Manufacture or Sharpening of Star-bit Rock-drills.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
Improvements in and connected with Machinery for the Manufacture
or Sharpening of Star-bit Rock-drills.
I, HARRY OWEN PALMER, of 237, Tong Moor Road, Bolton, in the County of
Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture or
sharpening of the star-bit rock-drills used by miners and others, and it comprises the
improvements hereinafter described.
According to my invention I provide mechanism for holding the piece of steel to
be forged and for feeding it forward as desired, for fluting or grooving this piece of
steel in order to produce the +-shaped end to the tool, and for upsetting or forming
the cutting edges of this end; the several parts of the mechanism for producing
these results being operated by a reciprocating piston, the movement of which is
controlled by a piston valve operated through the medium of suitable connections by
the attendant.
In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable table or bed upon which the
cylinder of the machine is mounted, the piston rod working in the said cylinder
sliding in suitable guides. Near the front end of this cylinder are arranged four:
guides which radiate from the axial line of the piston rod, the said guides having
arranged to slide within them hammers or blocks carrying the dies for fluting the
steel. Each die is formed with an angular rib of the shape of one of the flutes, the
four dies being arranged to move simultaneously towards each other so that they
shall act with equal effect on the steel bar from which the tool is to be formed. The
reciprocation of the hammer blocks carrying these dies is effected by means of four
levers pivoted around the cylinder, each of which levers is at one end connected to
the outer end of one of the hammer blocks and at its other end connected by a link
to a head on the piston rod, whereby, as the piston rod is caused to reciprocate, the
desired oscillation will be imparted to the said levers to reciprocate the said dies in
their guides.
In front of these fluting dies is arranged a slide working in suitable guides on the
table or frame of the machine, the said slide having upon it two gripping jaws for
holding the steel bar to be operated upon, and adjacent to these gripping jaws upon.
the slide is a sliding block which after the steel bar has been placed between the
gripping jaws is moved to bear against the end of the said bar in
order to assist in supporting the same against the pressure to which it is
subjected.
The slide carrying the said gripping jaws is adapted to be moved longitudinally.
towards and away from the fluting dies by means of a screw working in a nut on the
underside of the said slide, which screw is operated by means of a lever through a
suitable ratchet wheel and gearing.
66
The end of the piston rod adjacent to the fluting dies carries what I term, a
dolly" tool, that is, a tool having two V-shaped grooves crossing one another, which
tool, as the piston reciprocates, is caused to impinge against the +-shaped end of the
tool and to form the V-shaped cutting edges upon it.

page_text: It will be understood that when the bar first enters the dies, the angular edges of
the latter act against the same to form the grooves and that the said bar must be
moved farther and farther between the dies in order that the flutes shall be deepened
at each reciprocation of the said dies.
In order to effect the feeding of the steel bar between the dies, I arrange in con-
junction with one of the hammer blocks a lever operated by a cam groove in the said
hammer block and connected with ratchet mechanism in connection with the ratchet
wheel bereinbefore referred to, whereby at each reciprocation of the said hammer
block, the ratchet mechanism will cause the rotation of the feed screw and conse-
quently feed forward the slide carrying the bar which is being operated upon.
In the working of the machine, the fluting dies and the dolly tool operate alter-
nately, the dolly tool moving away from the end of the bar as the dies approach it
and vice versa.
The piston valve which controls the admission of the steam, compressed air or
other motive fluid to the working cylinder has ports formed through it which place
the two ends of the working cylinder alternately in communication with the steam
or air supply pipe. The reciprocation of this valve is effected through the medium
of suitable gear comprising a bell-cranked lever carried by the rod of the working
piston and connected at one end to the rod of the piston valve and at the other end
to a brace one end of which is bolted to the right side of the bottom guide radiating
from the axial line of the piston rod-the other end of the said brace passing over the
rod to which is connected the valve gear reversing lever, the said rod working
loosely on the said end of brace.
The valve gear is operated to start the machine by means of a lever extending to
the front end of the same and arranged adjacent to the lever by means of which the
work in the first instance is moved up to the dies through the medium of the ratchet
mechanism hereinbefore referred to.
It is to be understood that the metal which is being operated upon must be heated
to the required extent before being placed between the grippers.
It will be obvious that my improved machine is applicable for repairing worn tools
as well as for forging new tools.
Improvements in and connected with Machinery for the Manufacture
or Sharpening of Star-bit Rock-drills.
I, HENRY OWEN PALMER, of 237, Tong Moor Road, Bolton, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for the manufacture or
sharpening of the star-bit rock-drills used by miners and others, and it comprises
the improvements hereinafter described.
According to my invention I provide mechanism for holding the piece of steel to
be forged and for feeding it forward as desired, for fluting or grooving this piece of
steel in order to produce the +-shaped end to the tool, and for upsetting or forming
the cutting edges of this end, the several parts of the mechanism for producing
these results being operated by a reciprocating piston, the movement of which is

page_text: controlled by a piston valve which can be operated through the medium of suitable
connections by the attendant or automatically.
In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable table or bed upon which the
cylinder of the machine is mounted, the piston rod working in the said cylinder
sliding in suitable guides. Near the front end of this cylinder are arranged four
guides which radiate from the axial line of the piston rod, the said guides having
arranged to slide within them hammers or blocks carrying the dies for fluting the
steel. Each die is formed with an angular rib of the shape of one of the flutes, the
four dies being arranged to move simultaneously towards each other so that they
shall act with equal effect on the steel bar from which the tool is to be formed.
The reciprocation of the hammer blocks carrying these dies is effected by means
of four levers pivoted around the cylinder, each of which levers is at one end
connected to the outer end of one of the haminer blocks and at its other end
connected by a link to a head on the piston rod, whereby, as the piston rod is caused
to reciprocate, the desired oscillation will be imparted to the said levers to reciprocate
the said dies in their guides.
In front of these fluting dies is arranged a slide working in suitable guides on the
table or frame of the machine, the said slide having upon it two gripping jaws for
holding the steel bar to be operated upon, and adjacent to these gripping jaws upon
the slide is a sliding block which after the steel bar has been placed between the
gripping jaws is moved to bear against the end of the said bar in order to assist in
supporting the same against the pressure to which it is subjected.
The slide carrying the said gripping jaws is adapted to be moved longitudinally
towards and away from the fluting dies by means of a screw working in a nut on the
underside of the said slide, which screw is operated by means of suitable gearing.
The end of the piston rod adjacent to the fluting dies carries what I term a
"dolly" tool, that is, a tool having two V-shaped grooves crossing one another, which
tool, as the piston reciprocates, is caused to impinge against the end of the bar,
to upset the same and to form the V-shaped cutting edges upon it.
In order to effect the feeding of the steel bar between the dies, I arrange in con-
junction with one of the hammer blocks a lever operated by a cam groove in the
said hammer block and connected with ratchet mechanismn whereby at each reciproca-
tion of the said hammer block, the ratchet mechanism will cause the rotation of
the feed screw and consequently feed forward the slide carrying the bar which is
being operated upon.
The piston valve which controls the admission of the steam, compressed air or
other motive fluid to the working cylinder has ports formed through it which place
the two ends of the working cylinder alternately in communication with the steam
or air supply pipe and the exhaust. The reciprocation of this valve is effected
through the medium of suitable gear comprising a bell-cranked lever connected at
one end to the rod of the piston valve and at the other end through the medium of a
link to an oscillating cam plate upon the piston rod which cam plate is also connected
by a link to a hand lever.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by reference
to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure is a plan view of a machine or apparatus constructed according to my
invention; and,
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same:
Figure 3 is a front sectional elevation; and,
Figure 4 is a rear elevation:
Figure 5 is a side elevation partly in section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3:
Figure 6 is a plan view similar to the left hand end of Figure 1 but shewing some
of the parts in a different position:
Figure 7 is an elevation drawn to a larger scale than the other figures illustrating
a detail of construction; and,
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 Figure 7:
Ficus 0:

page_text: BHTSE
said dies; and,
Figure 12 is a view of the face of the said die :
Figures 13 and 14 are respectively sections on the lines 13-13 and 14-14 of
Figure 10:
5
Figures 15 and 16 are front and side views respectively of the dolly or upsetting
tool; and,
Figures 17 and 18 are an end view and perspective view respectively of the tool
which the dies shewn are adapted to produce.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
a is the frame of the machine, b is the working cylinder, c is the piston working in
the said cylinder, and d is the piston rod, the said piston rod having a rearward
extension d' which slides through a guide d² on the frame a.
e, e are the four guides which radiate from the axial line of the piston rod, the
said guides as shown, being arranged in such a manner that two of them are vertical
and two horizontal.
ff are the hammers or blocks adapted to slide in the said guides and carrying the
fluting dies g, g hereinafter described. The said hammers are operated from the
piston rod through the medium of the levers h, h pivoted at i, i in brackets i¹, 21
upon the frame and connected at their rear ends by links j, j to a cross. head on
the piston rod extension d¹ and at their front ends by links j2, 2 to the hammers f, f,
the arrangement being such that during the rearward movement of the piston
rod, the hammers f, fare caused to approach each other and during the forward stroke
of the piston to separates
is the dolly tool hereinafter described which upsets the end of the steel bar from
which the drill is being formed, the said dolly tool being mounted in the front end of
the piston rod d so that it delivers a blow upon the end of the piece of steel whilst
the hammers f, f are separating and moves away from the piece of steel when the
hammers f, f are approaching it.
The construction of the dies g, g will be readily understood by reference to
Figures 10 to 14, the dies shewn in the said figures being adapted for making a star-
:bit of the kind shewn in Figures 17 and 18. This star-bit is made out of octagonal
steel the wings g¹, g¹ being mainly formed by upsetting the end of the said bar and
as the upsetting proceeds forming the flutes g², 2 in the upset portion.
It will be noticed by reference to Figure 18, that the flutes g2, g2 terminate at the
root of the upset portion of the bar so that surfaces g³, g³ are left between the flutes
and the sides of the wings g³, ³, the said surfaces being widest at the root
of the upset portion and gradually decreasing in width towards the cutting edge
of the bit.
Each of the four dies g, g is adapted for forming one flute gl and the half of each
of the two adjacent wings g¹, gi, a recess being formed in the angular face of the die
of corresponding shape, so that when the four dies are closed together as shewn in
Figure 9, a space will be enclosed corresponding with the shape of the star-bit; the
ends of the wings g¹, g¹ are bevelled as at gt, g' to form the cutting edges of the tool.
If desired the ends of the recesses forming these bevelled edges may be cut away so
that the end of the combined die is open.
The dolly tool which performs the upsetting of the steel bar is formed with
cross grooves k¹, k¹ corresponding with the said cutting edges as shewn in Figures 15
and 16 so that as it delivers its blows for upsetting the end of the bar, it always
keeps the cutting edges of the required shape or forms the edges into shape if the
combined die is open at the end.
is the slide which carries the steel bar during the formation of the tool, the said
slide working in guides, on the frame a and being adapted to be fed forward by
a screw m, Figure 2, which engages with a nut or projection on the underside of the
said slide and is rotated in the manner hereinafter described. The bar is rigidly
held upon this slide by two gripping jaws n, n Figures 1 and 2 pivoted upon the
]

page_text: said slide and having upon their undersides pins n', n¹ which engage with a slot n²
formed in a plate n³ fixed to the frame a.
The slot 2 is forined near its rear end with lateral extensions in which, when the
slide is in its rearmost position, the pius n¹, n lie so that the jaws n, n are
separated to permit of the introduction and removal of the bit bar. When the slide.
is moved towards the dies the pins move out of the said extensions and into the
straight portion of the slot, the effect of which is to cause the jaws n, n to close
together, as shewn in Figure 6, to grip the steel bar.
o is a block which can be moved in guides o¹, o¹ upon the slide 1, the said block
being provided with a catch 2 designed to engage with one or other of a series of
teeth or lugs 03, 03 upon the slide to hold the said block in any position in which it
may be adjusted. 04 is a lever by means of which the catch o² may be lifted out of
engagement with the lugs or teeth 03. The said block o serves for supporting the
bar against the pressure of the dolly tool when the latter is upsetting the said
bar.
p, Figure 3, is the cam groove formed in a plate po attached to one of the haminer
blocks f; this cam groove has projecting into it a roller p¹ on one arm p² of a bell-
crank lever, the other arm pa of which lever carries a pawl p. q is a ratchet
quadrant with which the pawl p is adapted to engage, the said ratchet quadrant
being mounted upon a shaft q¹ carried in brackets q, q2 on the frame a, Figure 5,
and q is a toothed quadrant also mounted upon the shaft q¹ and engaging with a
pinion upon a countershaft 1 Figures 2 and 3, the said countershaft having also
mounted upon it a gear wheel 2 which engages with a pinion 23 fixed upon the feed
screw m. With this arrangement it will be understood that, during the reciprocated
movements of the hammer block f having connnected to it the cam groove p¹, a
step by step rotary motion will be imparted to the screw m which will produce the
feed movement of the slide l.
8 Figure 5, is a hand wheel mounted upon a shaft. 81, Figures 3 and 5, carrying a
wheel 82 which engages with the gear wheel 2, this hand wheel serving for moving
the slide either forwards or backwards independently of the automatic feed
mechanisin.
In order that when the slide has been moved automatically to its extreme
forward position the automatic feed mechanism shall be thrown out of gear, I provide
in connection with the slide the following arrangement, that is to say upon the
top of the slide is fixed an arm t Figures 1 and 5, having connected to it a rod t¹
which passes through a slot 12 in the table of the machine and slides through
guides 3, 3. This rod t has upon it a wedge piece t Figures 3 and 5, designed when
the slide has reached its foremost position to enter beneath the pawl p' to lift the
same out of engagement with the ratchet segment q.
u is a slide valve for distributing the steam or air to the cylinder 6 the said valve,
which as shewn is of the cylindrical type and arranged in the chamber u, having in
it two passages u¹, u² adapted to place the steam supply pipe v in communication
with the cylinder ports v1, v2 respectively and also the recess w for placing the
ports v1, v2 in communication with the exhaust pipe w¹. The rod u³ of the valve u is
connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever ut to the other end of which is connected
the link u carrying a roller which runs in a groove or channel in the cam plate x
and which link u is itself connected to another link u pivoted to the frame of the
machine at u the said link w serving to regulate the movement of the link us. The
cam plate which is shewn drawn to an enlarged scale in Figures 7 and 8 is pivoted
upon a flat on the side of the front end of the piston rod d and the groove or
channel in the said plate is formed by the introduction of a pivoted switch bar 3
into an elliptical recess in the said plate, the suid switch bar 3 having upon it
pins, which project into recesses, in the plate x in which recesses
springs, are located, the said springs serving to normally retain the switch plate
in the position shewn in Figure 7 but to allow of the movement of the latter for
permitting the roller on the link us to pass around in the groove or channel x³.

page_text: y is a hand lever arranged in connection with a notched quadranty and mounted
on the transverse shaft y¹ which shaft carries an arm y Figure 2 connected by a
link y3 to the cam plate in such a manner that the raising or lowering of the
lever y serves to adjust the cam plate so that it serves, like the link motion of
an engine for altering the position of the valve u relatively with the piston b.
During the reciprocation of the piston rod the cam plate x is moved over the
roller on the link us which is held practically stationary in a longitudinal direc-
tion by the link u so that the roller runs through the channel 2 in the direction
of the arrows in Figure 7 (whereby the slide valve is reciprocated) the switch
bar yielding each time that it comes into contact with the said roller.
I do not describe the operation of the slide valve in conjunction with the inlet and
exhaust ports as this will be obvious without any description. When the lever is
placed in the central position in the notched quadrant the piston will make its full
stroke in the cylinder. If, however, the operator desires to control the movement of
the piston d in the same manner as the piston of a steam hammer he can do this by
means of the lever y, the raising or lowering of which lever serves to oscillate the
cain plate more or less upon the piston rod and thereby move the valve u in the
required manner, which can readily be ascertained in practice.
Figure 1 is a hand lever which is loosely mounted on the transverse shaft y' and
connected to an arm 2¹ on a spindle 22 attached to the cock 3, Figure 4, for con-
trolling the passage of the steam or other motive fluid through the pipe to the
valve chest.
The mode of operating the apparatus herein before described is as follows:-
:-
The piston rod d being in the position to hold the dolly tool k in its extreme
rearward position and the dies g, g being separated as shewn in Figures 2 and 3 the
bar of steel (the end of which to be forged has been previously heated) is placed
between the grippers n, n the heated end of the bar being brought up within a
short distance of the dolly tool k whilst the block o is brought up and fixed against
the rear end of the said bar. The slide is now moved forward for a short distance
by means of the hand wheels for the purpose of closing the gripping jaws n, n upon
the bar and bringing the heated end of the latter into contact with the dolly tool k.
The machine being now started the piston d causes the dies g, g to deliver a blow
upon the sides of the heated end of the steel bar to form partial flutes in the same.
The dies then recede and the dolly tool is simultaneously moved forward to deliver a
blow upon the end of the steel bar to upset the same, the slide carrying the bar
being fed forward a short distance after each blow of the hammers. The reoperations
are continued until the bit end is completely formed. By this time the wedge t¹
will have moved up to the pawl pt and lifted it out of engagement with the ratchet
segment so that no further movement will be imparted to the slide / notwithstand-
ing that the piston may continue to reciprocate.
Although I have described my invention as-applied to the complete manufacture
of star-bit rock-drills, it will be obvious that the invention is also applicable for
sharpening or reforming rock-drills which have been worn by use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a machine for the manufacture of star-bit rock-drills, the use of a series of
angular fluting dies, the angular surfaces of which are each recessed in such a manner
that when the four dies are brought into contact, the space formed by the several
recesses and enclosed by the several dies, corresponds with the shape of the star-bit
to be formed, the said dies being operated to. simultaneously approach and recede
from one another, in combination with a dolly tool having in it grooves corresponding
with the cutting edges of the star-bit and which is operated in such a manner as to
deliver a blow upon the end of the bar whilst the angular dies are separating and
recede from the said bar as the angular dies are closing upon the bar, substantially
as described.

page_text: 2. In apparatus for the manufacture of star-bit rock-drills by means of four angular
fluting dies and a dolly tool as hereinbefore described, the combination with a power
cylinder containing a piston, the rod of which projects through both ends of the said
cylinder, of a series of pivoted levers connected at their rear ends to the rearward
portion of the piston rod and at their front ends to hammer blocks working in guides
and carrying the angular fluting dies, and of means upon the front end of the piston
rod for carrying the dolly tool, substantially as described.
3. In a machine for the manufacture of star-bit rock-drills, the combination with a
series of angular fluting dies and a dolly-tool which are caused to alternately act upon
the bar being forged by means of a single piston and cylinder, of a slide rest for hold-
ing the bar to be forged and having upon it jaws for gripping the bar and an adjust-
able block for supporting the rear end of the bar, the said slide being adapted to be
automatically fed forward during the forging operation, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for the manufacture of star-bit rock-drills wherein a series of fluting
dies and a dolly tool are caused to alternately operate upon the bar being forged
through the medium of a single piston and cylinder, meaus substantially as herein-
before described for operating the slide valve of the said cylinder.
.
5. The improved apparatus for the manufacture of star-bit rock-drills consisting of
the parts constructed and combined, substantially in the manner herein before
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 15th day of August 1898.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.