AN IMPROVED APPARATUS OR CARRIAGE FOR SUPPORTING ROCK-DRILLING MACHINES IN MINING, TUNNELLING, AND SIMILAR OPERATIONS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James McCulloch, Engineer to "The Burleigh Rock-
boring Company, Limited," of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS OR CARRIAGE FOR SUPPORTING
ROCK-DRILLING MACHINES IN MINING, TUNNELLING, AND SIMILAR OPERATIONS."
Sealed the 2nd May 1879, and dated the 6th November 1878.
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James McCulloch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1878.
JAMES MCCULLOCH, Engineer to "The Burleigh Rock-boring Company, Limited,"
of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS OR
CARRIAGE FOR SUPPORTING ROCK-DRILLING MACHINES IN MINING, TUNNELLING,
AND SIMILAR OPERATIONS."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus or carriage to be used for sup-
porting or carrying rock-drilling macbines for mining, tunnelling, and similar
operations, and is designed to provide an apparatus which will be of great strength,
simple in construction and operation, and which will moreover afford means whereby
the drilling machine may be very quickly and easily adjusted to different positions.
By employing an apparatus constructed according to my said Invention one
attendant is enabled to set the machine to work in any desired position and at any
augle without loss of time and with slight exertion. A drilling machine mounted
upon this carriage or apparatus may be readily adjusted to the varying height and
width of the headings, also to a position for drilling holes at any part and at any
angle of the face of the same without removing the said carriage from the position
in which it is fixed at the commencement of the operations.
In carrying my Invention into practice I employ an ordinary bogie or truck,
which may be on wheels or otherwise; upon this truck I provide a bed-plate, upon
which is mounted a vertical tubular bar which has a screw thread formed upon it.
This vertical bar is so arranged that it may be raised and lowered by a screw nut
whose outer periphery forms a worm wheel. With this worm wheel is geared a
מי

page_text: worm fixed upon a horizontal shaft which may be operated by a crank-handle out-
side the frame of the truck or by other convenient means: Upon the said vertical
bar I provide a double universal clamp or cross-head, which serves to support a
horizontal tubular rack bar. This part of my apparatus is arranged to be raised
-and-lowered-by-means.of.another screw nut, whose exterior periphery forms a worm
wheel, and is geared with a worm fixed on a shaft supported in bearings on the said
clamp. The said-rack-bar-is-caused to travel in a horizontal direction by a toothed
pinion which engages with the teeth on the bar and is operated by a crank or
handle at the side of the crosshead. The said horizontal bar is also moved in a
circular direction by means of the aforesaid clamp-or-cross-head. This rack bar is
tubular, and encloses a shaft screwed at one end, its screwed part working into a
pivot or end piece for adjusting the bar when in a working position.
The drilling machine may be mounted upon the horizontal bar, or, if required, on
the aforesaid vertical bar. It will be readily seen that a rock-drilling machine
placed upon an apparatus constructed as above described may be adjusted to any
required position or angle without moving the truck whereon the said apparatus is
mounted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said James McCulloch in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th May 1879.
JAMES MCCULLOCH, Engineer to "The Burleigh Rock-boring Company, Limited,"
of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS OR CAR-
RIAGE FOR SUPPORTING ROCK-DRILLING MACHINES IN MINING, TUNNELLING, AND
SIMILAR OPERATIONS."
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus or carriage to be used for sup-
porting or carrying rock-drilling machines for mining, tunuelling, and similar
operations, and is designed to provide an apparatus which will be of great strength,
simple in construction and operation, and which will moreover afford means whereby
the drilling machine may be very quickly and easily adjusted. By employing an
apparatus constructed according to iny said Invention ono attendant is enabled to
set the machine to work in any desired position and at any angle without loss of
time and with slight exertion. A drilling machine mounted upon this carriage or
apparatus may be readily adjusted to the varying height and width of the headings,
also to a position for drilling holes at any part of and at any angle to the face of the
same without removing the said carriage from the position in which it is fixed at
the commencement of the operation.
The said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which I will now
proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a plan partly in horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 shew portions of the said apparatus detached, and are
hereinafter more fully described.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
In carrying my Invention into practice I employ an ordinary bogie or truck,
which may be on wheels or otherwise; upon this truck I provide a bed-plate a, upon
which is mounted a vertical tubular bar or pillar b with a screw thread formed
upon it. This vertical bar b is so arranged that it may be raised and lowered by a
screw nut c whose outer periphery is formed as a worm wheel; with this worm
wheel is geared a worm d fixed upon a shaft e supported in bearings e¹ on the bed
plate, and which may be operated by a crank-handle outside the frame of the truck
or by other convenient means. Upon the said vertical bar b I provide a double
universal clamp or cross-head f which serves to support a horizontal tubular rack
bar g. This part of my apparatus is arranged to be raised and lowered by means of
another screw nut whose exterior periphery forms a worm wheel which is geared
with a worm i fixed on a shaft j supported in bearings at & on the said clamp or
cross head f. The said rack bar g is caused to travel in a horizontal direction by a
toothed pinion which gears with the teeth on the bar, as clearly shown in Figure 1;
and this pinion 7 is operated by a crank or lever applied to its shaft or axis at the
side of the said cross-head. The said horizontal bar may be moved to any desired
angle in a horizontal plane by turning the aforesaid clamp or cross head fon the
vertical bar b.
The said cross head and rack-bar and parts connected therewith are shewn in
detail in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6. Figure 3 is an end view of the said cross head. Figure 4
shews the said crosshead in transverse section on the line y, y, y', y¹, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the rack-bar. Figure 6 is an end view of the
same with the hand-wheel removed.
The barg is tubular, and encloses a shaft m, provided at one end with a pivot or
pointed end piece n which greatly assists in adjusting and securing the bar g in a
proper working position. The shaft m is provided with a screw thread whereby it
is connected with the socket or neck ¹ of the pivot n, as shewn in Figure 5, so that
by turning the said shaft the pivot may be forced out or drawn in, as is required.

page_text: The said shaft has at its other end a wheel m² or handle whereby it is turned to
adjust the said pivot, and in combination-with-this wheal or handle I provide the
said shaft with a ratchet wheel o, fixed on the same, and with a weighted arm p
fitted loosely on the shaft and provided with a spring pawl p¹. When the apparatus
is adjusted and secured by forcing the pivot tightly against or into the wall or side
of the tunnel or cutting in which the work is being performed it is very-desirable
that it shall maintain this position. For this purpose the said arm p is raised, as
shown in Figure 6, so that the pawl bears on the wheel o on its upper side; the
_weight then tends to turn the shaft m in the direction to force the pivot n outward
-so-that-the effect-of-the vibrations or concussions due to the working of the drill,
and which tend to make the said pivot loose or slack, will be automatically counter-
acted by the said ratchet and pawl.
It is very important in the use of this apparatus that the said rack bar g while
free to slide endwise through the said cross-head should not be capable of turning or
rotating on its axis in the same. For this purpose I form in the said bar a longi-
tudinal groove or channel g' and provide the cross head with a key or feather f*
which enters the said groove, as clearly shewn in Figures 3 and 4. This groove and
feather render the axial displacement or turning of the rack bar impossible, but do
not impair or interfere with its endwise adjustment in the cross head.
The drilling machine may be mounted upon the horizontal bar g, or, if required,
on the vertical bar b.
It will be readily seen that a rock drilling machine placed upon an apparatus
constructed as above described may be adjusted to any required position or angle
without moving the truck whereon the said apparatus is mounted.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, I wish it understood that
I claim,―
First. The improved apparatus or carriage constructed with the vertical bar or
pillar supported by and fitted to work through a screw-nut whose periphery forms
a worm wheel which is geared with a worn, whereby the said bar is raised or
lowered, and the combination with the same of the cross-head carrying the horizontal
bar and supported on the vertical bar by a screw nut whose periphery forms a worm
wheel which is geared with a worm whereby the raising or lowering of the cross
head and horizontal bar may be effected, all as above set forth and for the purposes
specified.
Second. The horizontal bar fitted to slide through the said cross head but pre-
vented by the groove and feather from turning on its axis therein, and provided
with a rack or longitudinal series of teeth geared with the pinion, which is mounted
on the said cross head and whereby the said bar is adjusted longitudinally, as and
for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination with the said horizontal bar of the internal shaft, pro-
vided at one end with the adjustable pivot and at the other end with the handle or
hand wheel, and with the weighted arm and pawl and ratchet wheel, as and for the
purposes specified.
Fourth. The apparatus or carriage consisting of the parts constructed as shewn in
the accompanying Drawing, and as herein described, when used in combination with
a rock drilling machine, as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said James McCulloch, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twenty second day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JAMES MCCULLOCH. (L.S.)