The Saunders Bra• Channeler. designed by the writer, and manufactured by the ger so 11- Sergeant Rock Drill Co., is rep resented in Figs. 5 and C. The distinctive dif ference between this machine and others is that no track is used, but the engine carrying the cutting tools is fed back and forth upon bars which rest upon end supports. It is a combined rock drill, quarry bar, and chan neling machine, and will do both drilling and channeling. As a channeler it does not cut by putting in holes and broaching the par titions between them, but makes a continuous channel, moving in the direction of the cut while striking, this movement being automatic ; but instead of moving on a track it moves upon parallel bars.
The chisels or cutters are of the regular pattern with the diagonal bit, and the speed of the machine is equal to the piston speed of a regular rock drill of the same size when used to put in a hole; hence its great cut ting capacity. The cutters are directly under the center of the piston-rod, and are separated from the piston by a dowel shank of less diameter than the piston-rod, which prevents break age of the piston-rod.
The machine puts in a round hole at each end of the bar, thus forming the limits of the channel to be cut. After this is done, by a very simple and quick change, the channeling bits are attached and are reciprocated automatically between these holes. The importance of these holes will readily be seen in that they complete the channel to the full depth at the bottom, without what is usually known as " running off," and without requiring any hand labor at the end of the cut. After the channel is completed to the full depth, and for the full length of the bar (which is about 10 ft.), the whole machine is barred along ten feet fur ther and one hole is put in, the channel being continued up to this hole. The movement of the bar is very much facilitated by shoes fastened on each leg. The legs are adjustable so as to take all angles and to adapt themselves to any irregularity of the surface of the quarry. The machine is shown doing vertical channeling in Fig. 5, and by revolving 90° may be applied to do horizontal channeling, in Fig. 6. Horizontal channeling is confined to work where vertical channeling is not to remove the blocks. It is obviously more expensive to cut a channel horizontally than to cut it vertically, because in vertical channeling we have the benefit of the weight and inertia of the cutting tools, In adapting the bar channeler to the making of channels upon inclined floors, a counter weight is employed, which hangs over a pulley at the top of an upright piece which is fixed to the end of the machine. It serves to enable the feeding en gine to carry the cutting tools up and down hill while at work.
This machine is used to channel slate, several of them being at work in the slate quarries near Ban gor, Pa. Their cutting capacity in slate is from 75 to 150 sq. ft. of channel per day.
Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the form of quarry bar largely used in quarries for the purpose of drill ing a line of holes for plug-and-feather work. This bar is also used to a limited extent for drilling holes for blasting purposes. Several forms of bars are in use, some of them being made of angle iron, but the simplest is that shown in the cut, which is made of a piece of extra heavy wrought-iron pipe. turned in a lathe and provided with a rack riveted to it running longi tudinally. T h bar is mounted upon end pieces, Which are in turn provided with swivel connections in which are insert ed four legs or sup ports. These legs are adjustable in length and in angle, so that the bar may be placed on irregular floors. A rock drill is mounted upon the bar with a car riage which is pro vided with a pin ion and crank. The operator by turning the crank moves the drill to any point along the bar.
In quarries and in stone-yards it is frequently noticed that a number of men are employed to drill small holes, from 3 to 6 in. deep, in large blocks, for the purpose of splitting up the blocks into sizes for the market. In granite, a great deal of this work is done by hand. This can be clone by machinery about ten times as fast, and at much less expense.
A small drill is mounted on a light weight-bar. the whole resting upon two large blocks of stone, thus making a gallows over a section of track. A truck of home-made construction, with perforated wheels, carries the block of stone and moves under the gallows. The wheels are so perforated that a quarter turn with a crowbar moves the truck just far enough to sepa rate one hole from the other. This is usually about 0 in. The operation is very simple, two men only being required, one to run the drill and the other to move the truck. It is simply necessary to turn on the steam, drill a lade, wind the steel out of the hole, moving the truck, and so on until the entire line of holes is drilled. The drill is then moved along the bar and another line of holes is put in. In granite, these machines have recorded holes 3 or 4 in. deep in three-quarters of a minute each. It is moved and started in another hole in less time. It will put in about 100 lineal ft. of hole in a day, and will clothe work of about ten men. Two drills may be used on one bar. The bar may be mounted on upright wooden frames instead of on legs, thus giving a lateral movement and a larger drilling area.