US351310A - Rock-drill - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. J CLARK.

ROCK DRILL.

Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

Ill

mv SES.'

H. J. CLARK.

RRRRRRRR L. l No. 351,310. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

l' mi s sheetsheet 3.

(N0 Model.)

ROCK DRILL.

VVE/WOR:

Patented Oct. 19

lll

y mmm I 1 IIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo HORACE J. CLARK, OF VESTFIELD, NEW' YORK.

ROCK-DRILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,310, dated October 19, 1886.

Application filed March 27, 1886. Serial No, 196,771.

To @ZZ whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westfield, in the countyofChautauqua, State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rock-Drills, of which the Vfollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to steam rockdrills; and it has for its object, among other things, a simplification of the construction, a reduction in the number ot`parts,in the weight ofthe machine as a whole, and in the necessary consumption of steam in operating the same, and the application of power in giving the blow or operating a stroke of the drill in such manner as to reduce to the minimum or entirely overcome any recoil of such blow which will operate to lift the machine or strain it in any of its parts. Heretofore in rockdrills of this character it has been necessary to load the same by attaching weights to the legs of the tripod or machinesupport, and it has been necessary to employ steam not only to produce'the operating-stroke of the drill, but to employ the same steam at the same pressure to lift the drill for a successive stroke, and in such cases it is apparent that at the completion of each stroke of the drill there is still exerted thereon a greater portion of, if not the entire, pressure exerted by the steam, whereby a powerful recoil, having atendency to lift the machine, occurs at each stroke of the drill. By my invention I avoid these and other disadvantages in the operation of steam rock-drills and secure other benefits hereinafter specied. Y

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a substantially central vertical section of a steamdrill embodying my invention, the supporting mechanism being detached. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. Sis a side elevation ofthe supporting and anchoring mechanism, the framework being shown in section. Fig. et is aside elevation showing the means for rotating the drill. Fig. 5 is aplan of the foot-piece. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the leg-clamping device,

.and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the cylinder-head bolts.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

(No model.)

I n this instance I embody the novel features of my inventionl in that class of steam rockdrills in which the drill A, Fig. 3, is secured to a reciprocating cylinder, A, in any suitable u manner,or by means of a threaded connection of the drill with the cylinder, as shown. The cylinder is mounted in the framework B,which may be cast in a single piece and severed at its lower end diametrically, as on the line B, Fig. 2, in order to provide suitable leg-clamping mechanism, as hereinafter described; or the frame-work may be formed in halves provided with flanges and secured together by bolts, as is customary in the construction of cast-metal frame-work in all classes of machines. The main portion of the framework is in this instance made open, and is of such circumferential extent as is necessary to give a sufficient bearing-surface for the cylinder in its reciprocation, dand at the upper part is provided with handles B, and with a valve-chest, B3, and ports IB4 Bf. At the cxtreme upper end the frame-work is provided with a stuffingboX, B, for the valve-stein.

At the center of the head of the frame-work is secured a fixed tubular piston-rod, O, provided with ports C near the upper face ofthe piston O2. Encircling the piston-rod is a sleeve, D, which is secured to the frame-work, or which may be formed as a part thereof, and this sleeve is screw-threaded and has mounted thereon a nut, D. The cylinder-head A2 is apertured to snugly fit the piston-rod, and may be provided with a suitable stuffing-box, if desired. .A coiled spring, E, is arranged between the nut D and the cylinder-head. In this instance, in order to provide for an automatic drill-rotating mechanism, I have mounted on the cylinderhead A2 a flanged collar, E, against which the spring E bears, thus providing for the free rotation of the drill-turning disk F, mounted on the head below the flange of the collar E', whereby said disk F may have a slight rising-and-falling movement with relation to the sleeve and collar, and also a free rotary movement by means of devices hereinafter described.

The valve G consists of a simple open-ended cylinder arranged in the valve-chest B3, and connected with the valve-stem G in any suitable manner, in this instance by means of a IOO ` long pinion, I',

val ve, so that each is closed while the other is open.

H is a rod extending from the valve-,stem t the tappet-rod I, which in this instance passes through the handle B2, and is provided with a meshing with a gear, .12, mounted 'on the handle. The upper end of the tappet-rod is provided with a thumb-nut, I3. By these devices-that is, either by the pinion VI' and gear 12or by the thumb nut l alone-' thetappet-rod I may be rotated, and being screw-threaded, as at 1*, where the tappetblock J', carrying the tappet J, is mounted thereon, the length of the stroke of the cylinder, and consequently thesupply of steam entering the cylinder, may be regulated. The

tappet J projects into the path of the cylinder A, so that when the same is elevated the tappet-rod I is also elevated, and through the medium of the bar or rod H elevates the valvestem and valve to cut off the supply of steam.

The lower end of the tappet-rod is provided with an inward bend, l5, which projects beneath or into the path of the cylinder, so as to be struck by the same at the completion of a downward reciprocation thereof, and thus communicate motion to the valve G through the medium of the tappets-rod, bar H, and Valve-stem G', whereby the valve is depressed and steam admitted into the cylinder between the fixed. piston-.head and the upper head of the cylinder. y

The means for supporting the drill consist of legs K, which are adapted to fit verticallybored lugs B7, formed as a part of the framework and located at its lower end, which is perforated, as at B8, for the passage therethrough of the drill. As before stated, the lower end of the frame is divided diametrically on the line B', so that the perforated lugs are also divided, and in said lower end, and passing through the same,4 is a bolt, L, which is curved at L', to conform to the opening Bs in the frame. Ahand or other nut or nuts, L2,serve to bind the two parts of the frame together, and thus secure thelegs K in the lugs. This binding action is intended to be such that the frame- Work may be gradually and intermittently moved or driven down the legs by contact of the lower cylinder-head thereon, or upon any suitable cushion interposed between said head and the frame, as is customary, whereby as the hole drilled in the rock increases in depth an automatic advancement of the drill is secured.

M represents a base or foot piece which I employ,and into which each of the legs K is inserted and fixed, either by a screw-thread,

as shown, or by any other suitable means. The foot-piece M has a central aperture, M', which merges into slots M2, and it also has perforations M,for the reception of clamping` hooks N, which are adjustably secured by means of nuts N' N, the latter being set or binding nuts, which may be mounted directly on the hooks, or upon bolts extending upwardly from the base-piece and through the slots M2 thereof, as shown at the right of Fig. 3.

The binding-hooks may be either right angularin form, as shown at the right of said figure, or inclined, so as to take under, as hereinafter described. Telescopic or other guy rods, O, may be employed in connection with the legs, if desired, and in this instance they are pivotally secured to the upper Aendsv thereof, as at O', and are jointed, as at O2, so

as to give freedom of motion in any direction,

in order to support the machine at different inclinations. To facilitate such dispositions of the machine, the legs K may be pivotally secured to the foot-piece by means ot' bolts P, passing through the legs and foot-piece, the latter being apertured to permit of oscillation of the legs upon the bolts.

'It now remains to describe the drill-turning device, and this consists of the disk F, heretofore mentioned, mounted loosely upon the upper cylinder-head. This disk has upon its lower surface ratchet-teeth F', which take into ratchet-teeth Q, arranged upon the cylinderhead. j In this instance I utilize the cylinderhead bolts, and form. them with an inclined face, Q', and a vertical face, Q", so that they perform the usual function of securing the cylinder-head to the cylinder and the additional function of ratcl1et-teeth. The edge of the plate F is provided with lugs F2, which embrace the edges of a diagonally disposed or curved cam-bar, It, secured at each end to op` posite sides of the frame-work, whereby rotation is given to the disk, as hereinafter described. .'The ratchetplate F is mounted loosely, so that at a` sudden downward .movement of the cylinder it is disconnected from the ratchet-teeth or bolts on the cylinder-head, whereby the drill is not rotated during an operative stroke.

This being the construction, the operation is as follows: Steam entering the port B, the cylinder being down, and through the devices hereinbefore mentioned ldetermining the position of the valve-passage, said steam passes over the upper end of the valve and down into and through the same, and into and through the hollow xed piston-rod, and from thence out of the ports C', and therein exerts pressure against the upper surface ofthe iiXed pistou and the under surface of the upper pistonhead, whereby the cylinder, with the drill attached, is forced upwardly in the frame-work, and compresses the spring E, so as to store therein substantially as mgch power as there is pressure of steam. Upon' rising, the boltheads Q mesh with the ratchet-teeth F on the disk F, so that the lugs of said disk, riding the cam-bar R, cause the disk, the cylinder, and the drill attached thereto to make a partial rotation, the extent of which is in accordance IOO IZO

with the inclination of the cambar, whereby the drill is caused to make its next stroke or cut upon a different line from its preceding stroke. As the cylinder comes in contact with the tappet J the valve is raised and the supply cut oft and the exhaust-port opened and the power stored in the spring forces the cylinder and drill downward to their work, when the former, coming in contact with the frame, causes it to slip down the legs just the depth of the cut. To start the drill, the operator, taking hold ofthe handles, first drills the anchorfholes S, Fig. 3, either straight or with an under-clit, as desired. He then enters the hooks N and binds the foot-piece to the rock, when the regular work of drilling may be carried on, as shown at T, without further manual attendance.

During the course of the work, in case a hard stratum is struck in the rock, or in case ot' other variations in its texture, it may be necessary or advisable to change the power of the stroke. In order to accomplish this,the operator has simply to either turn the gear l, which constitutes in other respects a handle, or the thumb-nut l, to raise or lower the tappet J, whereby more or less steam may be allowed to enter the cylinder, as desired, and in accordance with the requirements ofthe work.

In actual use a drill constructed upon the principles herein illustrated has demonstrated the existence of inherent advantages of great importance.

lt will be noticed that steam is only used upon one side of the piston-head, so that the air confined in the cylinder below said head acts as a cushion, against which the stoppage of the upward reciproeation of the cylinder takes place, thereby obviating a tendency to lift the machine hy the momentum ofthe cylinder during that stroke. This tendency is further overcome by the resistance of the spring, as the power stored therein increases during the upward stroke ot' the cylinder. Again, the blow of a spring has an inherent peculiarit-y, in that the power stored therein diminishes rapidly to zero as the spring expands, so that when the blow is struck by the spring there is no surplus force remaining to exert a lifting` action upon the machine as a whole. By means of the adjusting-nut D', I am enabled to adapt springs oi' different terr sions to use, and to adapt all springs to store a desired amount of power within a desired lengt-h of stroke ofthe cylinder, whereby I may give exceedingly strong blows with exceedingly short strokes ot' the cylinder, and may otherwise vary the operation of the machine in these respects. i

The mode of operation above described renders absolutely unnecessary the attachment of any extraneous weight or weights to the machine, in order to counteract any tendency thereof to lift at any time during its operation, and although I have shown anchorage devices consisting of the foot-piece and hooks, I wish it distinctly understood that they are designed for the purpose of enabling one operator to attend several machines, as this cannot be done without some device for maintaining the machine in the desired position,which of course must accord with the direction in which the drilling is to take place; otherwise all that is necessary to a satisfactory operation ot' the machine is that legs K be attached thereto, so as to be automatically short. ened at successive strokes of the machine. Another peculiarity-is that steam is used to cause but one movement of the operative parts thereof-that is, to lift the cylinder and store the power in the spring, while in other classes of steam-drills steam has been used to perform this function and also the function of giving that stroke of the operative parts,- whereby double the quantity of steam is required in such machines as compared with a machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

U, Fig. 2, represents an ordinary anglevalve applied to the machine, the stem of which is provided with the usual hand-wheel, U, whereby the supply of steam may be regulated by the operator, and that conveniently. This valve is attached to the supply-port of the valve-chest.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim isj l l. In a steam rock-drill, the combination of a fixed hollow piston with ports at the upper side of the head, a reciprocating cylinder carrying the drill, and a spring arranged to be compressed by an upward movement of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

2. In a steam rock-drill,.a cylinder carrying the drill, a llxed piston and a piston-head, and a spring, and steam-conduits arranged to deliver steam 'at one side of the piston only, substantially as specilied.

3. ln a steam rock-drill, a cylinder carrying the drill and a fixed piston mounted in a framework, an interposed spring, and means for adjusting the pressure of the spring upon the cylinder, substantially as specified.

4. In a steam rock-drill, a cylinder carry'- ing the drill and a fixed piston and head, a frame-work provided with bearings for the cylinder' and carrying the fixed piston-rod, and an adjustable tappct projecting into the .path of the cylinder, substantially as specified.

5. In a rock-drill, a reciprocating cylinder carrying the drill, a frame-work provided with bearings for the cylinder and carrying a fixed pistoirhead, and a hollow piston provided with ports above the head only, a spring arranged to bear upon the cylinder, and a tappet-rod provided with tappets projecting into the path of the cylinder and connected with a valve for controlling the supply and exhaust of steam, substantially as specified.

6. In a steam rock-drill, a frame provided With a valve-chest, and with a hollow piston communicating therewith, and having ports above the piston-head, and with supply and exhaust port-s, the former arranged at the upper and the latter at the lower part of the valvechest, said frame beingT provided at its lower 'substantially as specified.

8. In a steam rock-drill, a reciprocating Cylinder carrying the drill and provided with ratchet-teeth upon its upper head, a ratchetdisk mounted upon said head and adapted to have slight longitudinal movement, and a cam bar or rod secured to the frame in which the cylinder is mounted, substantially as specified.

9. The combination of the cylinder A, the

frame B, tappetiod I, carrying the tappets I5 J, the bar`H, valve G, and the hollow-piston C, havingthe ports G, and piston C, substant'ally as specified.

10. The combination of the frame B, the handle B2, tappet-rod I, having the opening I, and the gear I2, mounted on the handle, substantially as specified.

11. The combination of the cylinder-head A2, the bolts Q, the collar E, the disk F, having the teeth F and lugs Fl, and the Cam-bar R, substantially as specified.

12. The combination of the frame B, piston C, sleeve D, nut D', and cylinder A, carrying the drill A', substantially as specified.

13. An anchor for steam roclcdrills, comprising a foot-piece connected with the legs of a drill, and hooks mounted in the foot-piece and adapted to be drawn outwardly and adjustably secured, substantially as speoied.

14. The Combination of the foot-piece M', having the slots l 2, with the hooks N, nuts N', and binding` nuts N2, substantially as specified.

`15. The combination of the frame B, provided with the lugs B7, of the bolt L and legs K, substantially as speeiied.

16, The open-ended tubular valve, in coinbination with the hollow piston-rod having` ports only above the pistonhead, and with au exterior tappet-rod having tappets projecting into the path ofthe cylinder, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignaturein presence of two witnesses.

HORACE J. CLARK.

lvitnesses:

E, A. SKINNER, vC. l); INGERsoLL.

Images