US1574820A - Excavator - Google Patents

Description

March 2 1.926.

W. W. JON ES EXCAVATOR mmh 2, mw 1,574,820

W. W. JONES V EXCAVATOR Filed Feb. 9,1922 4 sheets-sbeet /ILT 688 March 2 1926.. 1,574 820 W. W. JONES EXCAVATOR Filed Feb. 9,1922 4 sheets-Sheet 4 llllllllilllllll broken away, of an embodiment of the in-f Patented Mar. Z, i926.

'liiiii'ran-Sfi sraresf- PATENT-worries.

WILLTIAM w. eonnsor roanne, onto.

Appncatioirla' February 9;"1922. serial Nb. 535,356.

as in deepening trenches or digging canals,

etc.

Referring to the draufings F 1g. 41. 1s a side elevation, with part-s vention forf operatior'rI upon a fioat in a canal or ditch; k F ig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1, partsbeing broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line lll-IH, Fig. l, on an enlargedscale,-with the ground wheel turned at 9()O from the showing in F ig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of control and operating devices onthe 'forward'arm,`

for the digger, VconweyorA carrier and the Mground wheel;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan-view of features of the centeringvdevi'ce for'shift'ing the float or barge'c'entrally of the canal being cut;

Fig. 6 is a sec-tion showing-features of the centering as vwell as anchoring devices l of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a partial end elevation of the control devices for shifting the delivery'conveyor, which in operation -may distribute the material excavated along the canal bank; In t-he'embodiment of the vehicle herein shown itis yaV fioat or mainfsupport having a circular platform 1. This platform I is carried upon vtwo mainv scow or barge chamber-'carrying or providingmembers 2, 3.` The' member 2 has a forward chamber 4,

central vchamber 5 and a f rear chamber 6. The parallel and similar scow member 3 has a forward chamber 7, an intermediate cham-` ber 8 and a rearward chamber 9. 'The'chanr bers4 and 7 are similar, as well as the cham-V bers 6, 9, and these chambers are ones which may have the ballast therein to vary thensubmergence of the vessel or main support. To this end the power supply, say from the source of electrical energy from a power plant on a following barge or scow, may be supplied to switch-board 10, which is shown as provided with reversing switches 11, 12,

13, 14. Each one of these switches controls a motorv 15 connected tol a pump16,`one for each chamber 4, 6, 7, 9." Accordingly',water may be pumped into or out of Aanyone of these, chambers'and thus vary the submergence ofthe vessel, as well as determine is leveling. Y y

This switch-board 1() is shown ashaving 'a main yswitch 16 which may be thrown in,

and thereafter if switch 17 is' thrown, power 'supply is given to motor 18 which through sprocket chain gearing 2O drive l'shaft 21 at a reduced speed. This'inain'shaft 2l for general drive, is shown as provided, with chain gearing 22 extending to drive lparallel shaft 23. From operators'station adjacent the switch-board 10, there is a control lever 24 connected by link 25 to throw control re.- versing clutch 23. This clutch may be of a type asslhown in Patent"1,001,615, Budde, 'Aug 29, 1911, transmission gearing, which is of a generaltype of 'structure lplaced upon the market as The Carlyle Johnson Machine Company, Manchester,` "'Conn., marine'revierse gear. This reverse gear device 26 serves to vconnectthe` shaft 23A'for l driving speed reduction worm gear 27,

shaft 28, (Figs. 2, 5, 6,)"having"v thereon 'bevel gear 29 in mesh with bevel gear 30 on vertical shaft 31.'k This vertical a haft 31 carries gear 32 inmesh with Arack bar 33 on transversely extending plungerl 34.' VSimultaneously, this gear 3:2engages rack 35 upon bar 36 parallel to'the bar 34. These 'bars 34, 36, respectively carry'shoes orieXtended push plates 37 on their outer ends so that in the simultaneous operative action bf these bars 34, 36, against opposite banks of a canal or ditch, the vessel carrying the platform 41 .is placed centrally on such ditch.

lVhen'the scow or barge has been placedin`the"`central position, lever 3,8 atthe operatingstation may be'thrown to be effective through link 39, reversing clutchl 40',i"sim ilar to thefclutch 26, for' rendering eifective the sprocket chain gear 41 from the shaft 21 driving shaft 42 andI through speed reduction gearing 43 operates shaft 44 ,connected through sprocket chain gearing 45 to drive'pinion 46ra'ising or lowering Vspud 48. In this instance, when the push bars 34, 36, have effected' 'centering by opposite travelingagainst the'banks of the stream, this spud or'anchor 48'may be driven downward for a pivot central anchor in holding the main support in position in the canal or stream. The hand lever 88 may be thrown off to leave this spud 48 in its anchored down position while tlre hand lever 24 from olf posit-ion may be thrown to the reverse drive for drawing in the arms 84, 36, thereby leaving the scow or the main platform 1 free for swinging upon this anchoring spud 48.

With the platform 1 anchored centrally of the canal and at its desired level, it is in order next to determine the angular position of the platform 1 as to the canal. This platform 1 has a forwardly extending arm 49. It may be desirable to swing this arm to an angular position in the canal for locating a point of starting in swinging the platform into position or in such form as may be desired. Inasmuch as this arm carries the ground wheel it is desirable to determine the level of the position of this ground wheel as to the ground upon which it is to travel. To this end at the main operating station is control lever 59 connected by link 51 to reverse gearing clutch 52 similar to reverse gear clutch 26. This reverse gear clutch 52 is effective for transmitting power from the shaft 21 which is connected by sprocket chain gearing 53 to shaft 54. From this shaft 54 drive, a bevel gear 55 connects bevel gear 56 on transverse shaft 57 as to the arm 49. This arm 49, (Fig. 2) in its extent forwardly of the platform 1 carries the mechanism for the control of the ground wheel. This shaft 57 on this forwardly extending arm 49 has worm wheel adjustment 58 for operating screw 59`A and likewise similar worm wheel adjustment 69 for operating screw 61. These screws 59. 61, serve to reciprocate cross bracket 62 having central bearing 63 carrying yoke 64 for ground wheel 65. Accordingly, as this yoke 62 is elevated the ground wheel 65 is lifted off the ground for leveling the float or platform 1, while upon reverse throwing of this Acontrol lever 59 the ground wheel 65 may be thrust downward to ground engaging position.

To effect directing of the ground wheel 65 in the desired direction, a power drive is provided. Frein the main operators station adjacent the switch-board 19 the operator may throw reversing switch 66 and thereby energize motor 67 connected through speed reduction gearing 68 to drive shaft 69. The operator at said main station may then throw lever 79 effective through link 71, angle lever 72, link 78 and lever 74 for throwing clutch 75, (Figs. 2, 8, 4,) and thereby connect sprocket gearing 76 to drive shaft 77 carried by the crosshead 62 parallel with the shaft 57. This shaft 77 carries worm 78 in mesh with worm wheel 79 fast with the bearing 63 on the yoke 64 of the ground wheel 65. Accordingly, this ground wheel with its yoke 64 may be shifted into any angular position as to the forwardly projecting arm 49 by the operation of the motor 67 in one direction or the other as determined by the switch 66 and as thrown in by the clutch from the hand lever 79 at the main driving station.

lWhen the direction or this top range position is determined for this ground wheel 65 the hand lever 70 may be given a throw for shifting the clutch 75 from neutral position away from the driving of the yoke 64 into position effective for connecting the shaft 69 through gearing` 89 to drive shaft- 81 parallel with the shaft 57. This shaft 81 carried by the yoke 62 has bevel pinion in mesh with bevel pinion 88 on vertical stem 84 (Fig. 3) centrally of the bearing 68. rThis stem 84 at its lower end carries bevel pinion 85 in mesh with bevel pinion on shaft 87 transversely of the fork 64 carrying the ground wheel 65. This shaft 87 is effective through sprocket chain gearing 88 for positively driving the ground wheel 65. Accordingly, when it is desired to pull forward, if the ground wheel 65 be directed in line with the arm 49 it is effective. The switch 66 may be thrown out or else the lever 79 may be operated to disconnect the clutch 75 for driving. If the platform 1 is to be shifted angularly, then this ground wheel 65 would be directed to posit-ion transversely of this arm 49 and t-he platform 1 would be swung upon the spud or anchoring pin 48 as an axis.

)Vith the main platform 1 thus properly located, it is now in order to direct the digger and elevator apparatus into position. To this end, at the main operators station, control lever 89 may be shifted and thus through link 99 operate reversing gear and clutch 91 similar to the clutch reversing gear 26. There is thus connected through gearing 92 from the main shaft 21 a drive for the shaft 93 effective through wofm gearing 94 for operating transverse shaft 95 extending across the opening between the main floats or pontoons 2, 9, in radial alignment with the arm 49. This shaft 95 has pinions 96 in mesh with racks 97 for operating main carrier 98 having' sustaining wheels 99 operating on guide 199 for effecting travel of this main carrier 98 radially inward or outward as to the arm 49.

This shaft 95 also has therefrom sprocket gearing 191 to sha ft 102 below the main platform 1. rfhis shaft 192 has thereon pinions 198 in mesh with rack 194 eifeet've for thrusting scoop as the lower portion of the frame to a forward position, or upon reversal it may be retracted as may be found desirable. This reversal is effected by opposite throwing of lever 89 at the main operating station.

For determining the depth or position of the sco'op 195 below the platform 1 of the .main support, reverse switcli* '106 atrtlie' main `ing station'may be* thrownforr'operating motor 107 upon carrier 98. This motor 10T is "connected :through' sprocket A chain reducl .ing gearing-108 to drive-shaft'109".y This determination ofthecuttinode oth for Ithe o i# eration of the excavat'oris usually one which is maintained oncev the. structure is placed intol use.. Accordingly, intend of the control eXte-nding to thev main 'operating station such control may be upon trie' carrier 98. To this endclutcharm 110'niay betlirown '.for connecting the shaft 109 to"sprocket chain-gearing 111 vfor .driving worin speed reduction. 112 in 'operating shaft 118 transversely ofthecarrier orcarriage 98 and parallel to the shaft 57. rlfhe transverse shaft 118 has pinionsllt in mesh with rack `bars 3115 downw-ardly extending between the scow sections 2, 3, in the arm 49 toconnect to, upstanding cheeks or shields 116 from :the scoop 105.

For operation ofthe elevator from the scoop 105, 116, switch 117 rat the main switch* board 10 may be thrown in to start motor 118 connected by speed reduction gearing Linountingthe motor 118 and the drive shaft "i 120 of this elevator conveyor 121, 122. This frame 124: has guide l125 in its sides coacting with guide shaft 126-carri-ed by the ups-tanding brackets 127 from 'the deck 1 of this ves- 2 sel orfmain` supporta'wliereby the travel of Lthecarriage 98 radially inand Vout from the f-ce'ntral position' of. this main platform 1, ...while maintainingthe scoop 105 ata fixed .trench depth position will carelfor Ythe inyclinations of this conveyor but .still hold the `conveyor or elevator inposition tofdeliver to `hopper 128.

The Adigger. oi actual slicing Voperation' may becontrolled from the main operat- .ingffstation afterithefeeding depth is determined for the scoop 105, 116,,the clutch 1 110 may be thrown outwand the vclutch 129 thrown in. Accordingly, when vfrornnthe mai'n operating station. the switch 106 is thrown th'emoto-r 107 is effective through gearing 108 clutch. 129. andwsprocket chain gearing 180 to drive through worm reduci vtion gearing 131.transverseshaft.182 carryingfpinions 183 in mesh with-rack bars 184 downwardly extending to cutter or .digger 135 operable as vaislicer with its loweredge 136 enteringthesoih which, as sliding up- .ward--therein--.may be urgedfoutward by I.curved part 187y and 'held by cheek 188 to fall YAbetweenthecheeks 116 ofthe scoop 105, to the slide 122 of the elevator. The main oprepetition of the steps forward continuii e-rator-1nay control the downward cutting of the-slice`r`185 by throwing in, out, and reversing the switch 106 without`reshifting` the clutch, which willliftthe cutter for repetition of the operation. Before the operation is repeated, a desired forward pull of the platform 1 through `the wheel 65, may be effected through the hand lever 70.

lVhen the limit of forward cutting, as determined by the arm 49 is attained, the. caiIN iiage 98 may be retracted or left at its forward position. Preferably it is retracted to getthe slicer and Ascoop out of range and when so retracted the ground wheel in the position shown in Fig. 1, may be driven to swing the platform 1 upon its pivot 18, a distance suoli that the cutter or digger 135 may widen the cut already made in a 'the digging or excavating operation. The soil or material which is'sliced down or cut by the digger 135, falls with a minimum of' disturbance as to the suriounding water, between the shields 11G of the scoop 105, and so may be directly elevated out of the water with a minimum thereof being dissolved into the water or thrown into the stream. Accordingly, there is a reduced amount of silt and this mud is elevated by the flights 122 to fall into the hopper 128.

` The excavated material as delivered into the hopper 128 may be continuously disposed of therefrom by delivery to a scew in the rear or upon a bank of the canal or ditch, or on either bank of the canal or ditch. rThe hopper 128 is mounted on a turn-table 189, from which extends a radial arm 110, the outer or free end of which is carried by bracket 1412 extending to roller 1113 swingvable or traveling upon track 14h1- cn .the main Athe'turn-table 139. fnasmuch as the switch 148 is a. reversing` switch it will determine the direction of travel of the wheel 1113 in swinging the arm toward a bank or as to position as desired in the swinging of the platform v1, even for loading a following barge or for rear ll.

lith the position of the arm 1-'10 determined, the conveyor for removing material from the hopper 128 may be thrown into operation. To this end, switch 151 on the switch-board 1110 may berthrown for starting motor 152 connected through speed re- Cil ducing gearing 153, 154-, for driving shaft- 155 over which extends endless conveyor belt 156 carried by the arm 140. rI`he idle or inward end of this co veyor 156 is about guide shaft 157 mounted in the turn-table end of the frame or arm 140. A

The operator upon the track 141:5 may care for avoidance of any clogging in the hopper 128 as Well as determine the position of this arm 145 in giving proper distribution of material upon the bank at different angular' shiftings of the main support or platform 1, not only for distribution along one bank, but as to along either ban The disclosure as herein has special value for operating in alluvial soil, more particularly in the region of the delta of the li/ississippi, wherein the top soil is very loose and porous with a sub-soil which is more firm. The great ditliculty in such soil is that there may be agitation and disturbance of the loose soil for it to run freely back into the ditch or trench is cut, thereby filling in such trench anc. defeating the entire end for the irrigation process. The machine as herein disclosed is one which vill handle such loose soil and take it out of the ditch, trench, or canal, and in practice, the canal depth may be determined actually by the amount of soil to be removed, and such soil actually removed by the digger, elevator and conyeyor apparatus as herein disclosed. By adjusting the position of the elevator the inclination of the digger may be determined and thereby the angle of repose for the bank may be such as one not readily to be disturbed, but to be maintained in practice against erosion.

If it be desired to provide a canal which will retain Water by a sort of levee at the bank, the porous superficial soil may be removed and the subsoil placed on the bank as a water tight levee. lhetlier or not the banks of the cut have a key therein to receive an impervious deposit to prei/ent surface seepage, the material as removed may pack down for forming a tight bank or levee, Which will require little if any treatment to give it a smooth finished form for a covering of grass to render it more substantial against erosion.

There is not a tendency to produce large hardened or compressed clods or chunks. The cutting from the top down does not compress or disturb the soil removed, but, merely severs it from its position in the surrounding soil. rihe thickness of the cuts for each slice may be varied or be constant. ',lhe material as rolling` toward the boat .from the slicer to fall between the flights down upon the elevator has a minimum tendency to roil the Water, and due to the continuous travel of the elevator, at once it falls there toward, is picked up with no tendency to macerate but to be elevated in practically the same shaving orblock size as sliced olf. The deposit from this first conveyor or elevator into the hopper is not one tending to break these fragments, and the second conveyor, in receiving these shaved masses, may deliver such directly upon the bank or levee, to have such fall into compact relation With each other, thereby having a minimum of voids for any seepage therethrough. This material being uncompressed and in practically the same condition as to the fragments as such material of they fragments had before removed, there is present all the elements for homogenous bank or levee production.

The method herein disclosed for removing the soil by cutting down has considerable advantage as to the sides of the ditch or canal, in that the original stratification at such cut is not disturbed. The digger in working down merely shaves ofi the section of soil. In the particular instance as heretofore disclosed, wherein the top soil is quite friable and porous, with a more compact but readily removable subsoil, the cutter may pass directly through the loose material Without fracturing such material as to sul layer and then proceed on down to the required depth in the sub-layer of layers. This preservation of the strata line at the ditch or canal banks is a material factor against bank slope disintegration.

As to the vehicle or pontoon vessel proper as herein disclosed, there may be operation With practical elimination of boat lunges to disturb the bank. 0n@ factor in this steadying is the ground Wheel. Another important factor in this steadying is that the Working load is disposed So centrally of the vessel that even when Working alongone bank of the canal instead of straight ahead, there is not a tendency to rock the craft. The vessel lines up with its Working direction at all times as to the cutting or digging. The two elevators operate continuously so there is not accumulation of load only so far as the digger operates intermittently. The digger operation is not one tending to depress the vessel at the digging point but any tendency Would be one to lift. However, the Working arm has considerable Weight acting as a lever forwardly thereof which Within preferred ranges of operation, should absolutely neutralize unbalaneing tendency which might agitate the Water about the vessel. ylhe speed of operation as Well as the rate thereof, not only as to thickness of slicing but the rapidity with which such occur, may have the Wide range of variation according to the soil as Well as the capacity or power of the equipment hereunder as to the particular embodiment or installation.

v `What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A support, an endless conveyor provided with flights, a frame for the conveyor carried by the supportand projecting therebelow into position for working, and shield providing means for holding the traine downward away from the support and into the position for working.

2. A support, an endless lconveyor provided with iights,a trame for the conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow, and shield providing actuating means tor shifting the frame as to the support, said actuating means including a movable raclr bar between the trame and the support.

3. A support, an endless conveyor provided with iights, a frame for the conveyor carried by the support and projecting below the support, a scoop carried by the trame at the lower extremity thereof, and shield providing thrusting actuating means engaging the trame adjacent the scoop tor forcing and holding the conveyor, trame, and scoopY away from the support.

4. A float support, an endless conveyor provided with flights, a trame Jlor the conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow into position 'for working, and power means for varying the submergence of the support including a shield extending b-elow the support and having hinge engagement with said conveyor.

5. A support, a first endless conveyor provided with nights, a trame for the conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow into position for working, a second conveyor to which the lirst conveyor may deliver, means for swinging the second conveyor as to the first conveyor, a digger, and a shield between .the digger and t-he first conveyor for r-eceiving directly all diggings from the digger, said shield being connected to the `first conveyor and adjustable for determining the position of the lirst conveyor as to the support.

6. A support, a holder for the support, an endless conveyor provided with flights, a frame for the conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow into position for working, means for angularly shifting on a vertical axis the support as to the holder for widening the eliective position for working, and a slicing device for loosening and directing material to the conveyor.

7. A float support, pivotal anchoring means therefor, a conveyor provided with liights, a frame for the Conveyor carried by the support,'and projecting therebelow to a position for working, and means for swinging the support on its pivotal anchoring means as a vertical aXis in effecting a swath range for the conveyor.

8.. A i'loat support, a locating means for the support, pivotal anchoring means for holding the support located, a conveyor provided with lights, a trame for the conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow to a position Jfor working, and means for swinging the support on its pivotal anchoring means as a vertical axis for eiiecting a swath range tor the conveyor.

9. A support, an endless conveyor provided with iiighte, frame for the conveyor carried by the support and projecting therebelow into position for working, and means for adjusting the conveyor as to the support while maintaining the range oi' projection therebelow, said means including a rack bar and shield pivotally connected to the frame remote from the support and a pinion for shitting said bar.

10. An excavator embodying a float support, a digger carrying arm, and a support shitting ground wheel carried by the arm.

11. An excavator embodying a float support, means anchoring the support for swinging, a digger carrying arm, and a ground wheel for' swinging the support on a vertical axis.

l2. An excavator embodying a float support, means anchoring the support for swinging on a vertical axis, release means for the anchoring means, a digger carrying arm, and a ground wheel for swinging t-he support on said vertical axis.

18. An .excavator embodying a main support, an elevating conveyor, a trame tor the conveyor, a hopper to which the conveyor delivers on a vertical artis, a hold-er for the support permitting swinging oic the conveyor relatively thereto, and means for adjusting the conveyor toward and from the hopper in addition to said swinging.

14. An excavator embodying a main support, a first conveyor, a trame for the first conveyor, a hopper to which the first conveyor delivers, means for adjusting the iirst conveyor toward and from the hopper, a second conveyor to which the hopper delivers, a digger, and a shield having cheeks ei;- tending between the digger and the first conveyor for directing all of the diggings into the first conveyor, said cheeks being pivotally connected to said iirst conveyor.

15. An excavator embodying a main support, a lirst conveyor, a frame for the irst conveyor, a hopper to which the lirst conveyor delivers, means for adjusting the lirst conveyor toward and from the hopper, a second conveyor to which the hopper delivers, and means ior swinging the second conveyor with the hopper relatively to the first conveyor on a vertical aXis.

16. A float carried excavator, a slicer digger carried thereby, a shield extending 'from the digger for holding the diggings, and an elevator for the diggings to which elevator the shield is pivotally connected.

17. A oat carried excavator, a slicer digger carried thereby, an elevator for removing sliced material, and a shield extending from the digger to the elevator for holding diggings from dispersal, said shield being movable relatively to the elevator.

V18. A iioat carried excavator, a slicer digger carried thereby, an elevator for removing sliced material, a continuous drive for the elevator, and a shield extending from the digger to the elevator for holding diggings from dispersal, said shield being movable relatively to the elevator.

19. An excavator embodying a float, a Slicer digger carried by the float, an elevator vcarried by the lioa-t for removing sliced material, means for shifting the digger and elevator relatively angularly as to the iioat, and a shield extending from the digger to the elevator for holding diggings from dispersa-l, said shield being movable relatively to the elevator.

20. An excavator embodying a main support, a pair of overhanging relatively angularly extending arms carried thereby, a conveyor carried by one oi2 the arms, and means for horizontally swinging .one of said arms as to the other on a vertical axis.

2l. An excavator embodying a main support, a pair of overhanging relatively angularly radially extending arms carried there-l by, conveyors carried by the arms, and means lor swinging each of the arms as to the support, one of said conveyors embodying a frame shiftable along its arm, said swinging of the arms being on a vertical axis.

22. An excavator embodying a main support, an overhanging radial arm providing a guide, a digger carried by said guide, and a shield Carried by the guide and as to which shield the digger is movable, and an elevator as to which the shield is movable in adjusting said elevator.

23. An excavator embodying a main snpport, holding means therefor, an overhang ing radial arm providing a guide, a digger carried by said guide, a convevor carried by the arm, a frame for the conveyor, means for shifting the conveyor as to the arm and additional means for sniinging the conveyor as to the holding means on a vertical axis.

2li. An excavator embodying ,a main sup port, an overhanging arm radially extending from the support, an arc guide on the support for the arm, a conveyor carried by the arm, and means for actuating the arm to travel on said guide in directing the conveyor for swinging on a vertical axis.

25. .An excavator embodying a main support, support shifting and anchoring means, digging means, power mechanism, and a single operators station for controlling the mechanism in operating said different means.

In witness whereof I aiix my signature.

VILLIAM lV. JONES.

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