Rock-Boring with Diamonds |
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The "Prospecting Drill No. 2" is similar in construction and operation to the first, but larger and more powerful, has double engines, and is geared to twice the speed of No. 1. The engines are two oscillators, both attached to same crank shaft. The boiler is tubular, of. superior construction, and designed expressly for this purpose. This pattern is mounted on large wheels with broad fellows, for easy transportation in rough mining districts, and, like No. 1, is all complete in itself. It is especially adapted to well boring, draining, and prospecting; bores holes from two to five inches in diameter, as desired, and to any required depth, and weighs about 3800 lbs.
For drilling in mines and tunnels, and general blasting purposes, several different patterns of drills are made, all operating upon substantially the same principle as those just described, but adapted in form, size, etc., to the peculiar character of the work to be done. Fig. I presents the most approved form of steam tunnel drill. It is light and portable, being easily wheeled about by one man, and will operate equally well whether the tunnel be three or eight feet high. The upright frame, E E, is attached by hinge plates to the top and bottom of the driving shaft, F, and may be swung to the right or left, describing a semi circle, so as to drill at any angle of the horizontal arc thus described without moving the machine, and also to place the drill rod close up to the side wall of the tunnel. The drill head also slides up and down this adjustable frame, E F, so as to bore a perpendicular row of horizontal holes, without incurring more than three or four minutes' delay in adjusting the drill to each successive hole.
The two uprights, G G, are used to support the driving shaft, F. They are made of common hydraulic pipe, and may be lengthened or shortened at pleasure, according to the height of the tunnel. The driving shaft, F, has a sliding gear attached by feather and spline, adjustable at any position, as shown in the cut. The sliding brace just beneath this gear is used to steady the driving shaft. Motion is communicated to this shaft by means of the gear, D. The hollow frame posts, E E, are set firmly against the upper wall by means of extension screws, N N, which may be run up two or three feet if desired.
Steam or compressed air is brought through rubber hose from any convenient distance and introduced into the engine by pipe L. M is the exhaust pipe. This drill being used to bore short holes, may be run much faster than the other, 900 revolutions per minute being a fair rate of speed.
Fig. 3 represents an open cut or quarry drill. It is similar in construction to a No. 2 Prospecting Drill detached from boiler; rotates its drill rod 900 to 1000 revolutions per minute, and drills ordinary rock at the rate of fifteen to twenty feet per hour.
For railroad grading, quarrying, and all .surface excavations, this macchine is invaluable, reducing the time and expense. of drilling to less than one half that of hand labor. It is adapted to either compressed air or steam, and frequently used with the latter at a distance of 500 feet from the boiler.
The diamond teeth are the only part of the tool which comes in contact with the rock, and their hardness is such that more than two thousand feet have been drilled by the same points with but little appreciable wear. The cost of resetting the diamonds so as to present new points is very slight, and no special skill is required for the operation, Other repairs are seldom needed.
The peculiar shape of the boring bit prevents the drill from running out of line; hence the hole bored, however deep it may be, is perfectly straight, and there is no friction of the drill against the rock.
By means of the swivel drill head, the drill may be pointed in any direction by simply loosening a nut and it bores equally well at all angles
The arrangement may also be adapted to hand drills, to be operated by two men at a crank. For quarrying purposes, these drills may be set in gangs of from three to five drills each, all driven by the same engine, and affording a channeling machine of unequaled power and capacity, cutting 80 to 100 superficial feet per day.
The practical miner or quarryman needs no comments as to the great usefulness of this invention. By means of it he may ascertain quickly and at small cost just where to open his mine or quarry most advantageously. Cores are easily and cheaply taken out from a depth of 300 to 400 feet, showing clearly the successive geological formations.
But it is in the opening and working of mines, the grading of roads, etc., the sinking of shafts, and the driving of tunnels, that the great value of this drill as a labor saving machine is most apparent; mines and quarries may be thoroughly explored to any depth, and a continuous core exhibited, showing plainly the character and value of the ore or other deposit.
Its adaptation also to submarine drilling, and its great value in clearing channels and harbors, can not be overlooked. Special machinery has been devised whereby submerged rocks 20 to 30 feet under water may be drilled and blasted without difficulty.
Besides the annular bit, another of similar construction, but having the annular opening partially closed, and the diamonds so arranged as to bore out the entire bole instead of producing the core, may also be used, and is made to order.
The greatest beauty of all is that the points, made of rough, uncut blocks of diamond, with the natural crystal edge as cutting edge, are almost indestructible, and that more than two thousand feet can be drilled in the hardest rock without resetting. One thousand feet can be drilled in a single hole, a feat which no other drill can accomplish, while the holes are straight and uniform of size at any depth.
The series of testimonials produced by the owners of this patent, from practical men all over the country, is indeed overwhelming, and establishes the superiority of this drill over any thing of the kind existing.
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