US946375A - Levee-builder. - Google Patents

Description

D. J. LA BAUVE.

LEVEE BUILDER.

APPLICATION FILED J'AN.16, 190a.

arwem'ov 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Jan 11, 1910.

attain:

D. J. LA BAUVE.

LEVEE BUILDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAIL 16, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

2 8EEBTS-SHEET 2.

v gmvontoz Wihwomo ANDREW 11 0mm ca, pnovoumocmmleas wnsnmcmn, n. a

NTE

DU'GLISE J. LA BAU'VE, OF IOWA, LOUISIANA.

LEVEE-BUILDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUoLIsE J. LA BAUVE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iowa, in the parish'of Calcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Levee-Builders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to levee builders, and the invention is primarily directed to a machine of this character which will effectively gather the dirt and compress the same leaving an effective sea wall over the ground which the machine is caused to travel.

With the above, and other objects in view, which will appear as the description pro gresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been illustrated a simple and preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same, the drivers seat being removed.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 designates the machine proper. This machine comprises essentially a pair of spaced gathering runners 2 and 3. The runners 2 and 3 are constructed precisely alike and the numerals of reference applied to one of said runners may be understood to designate similar parts upon the oppo site runner. The runners 2 and 3 may be constructed of wood or metal as desired, and when constructed of wood they are pro vided with a metallic shoe designated by the numeral t, and clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Each of the runners have their inner faces adjacent their outer or forward ends provided with plates 5 having their lower edges inturned as at 6 to provide gatherers which are adapted to gather in the dirt loosened by the plow which is adapted to precede the levee builder.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 8 of the drawings the gathering runners are arranged at an inclination toward each other, having their forward ends spaced a greater distance away from each other than are their rear ends. The numeral 6 designates the uprights arranged upon the forward end of the machine. These uprights 6 are connected with a suitable beam 7 and are securely braced through the medium of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 16, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Serial No. 472,656.

angularly arranged plates 8. One of the uprights 6 is provided with an L-shaped strap 9 which is rigidly secured, through the medium of suitable bolts to the upright 6 and has its offset portion also securely connected with the beam 7 The opposite upright 6 is provided with a suitable strap 10 which is rigidly secured to the said upright 6 and overlies the beam 7. The strap 8 upon this upright 6 is connected with the beam 7 through the medium of a removable retaining element 11, which is adapted to engage any one of a series of transverse perforations 12 provided within the said beam. By this arrangement, it will be noted that upon removing the element 11 and positioning the same in any one of the spaced openings 12 the forward ends of the runners 2 and 3 may be secured at any desired distance away from each other, it being understood that the beam 7 is free to slide through the loop 10.

The numeral 13 designates the uprights positioned upon the rear of the runners 2 and 3. These uprights 13 are of a lesser height than the uprights 6 and are connected directly with the said uprights 6 through the medium of the beams 14L. The rear uprights 13 are flexibly connected with each other through the medium of suitable hinged members 15, and these hinged members have their points of pivot centrally arranged between the space or opening at the rear of the runners 2 and 3.

The numeral 16 designates the inclined guiding lever for the device. This lever 16 is pivotally connected as at 17 with thehinged members 15 nearest the top of the machine. The lever is extended forward of its point of pivot and has its extremity provided with a suitable opening adapted for the reception of a bolt 18 which is also passed through similar alining openings provided in each of the beams 14. The bolt 18 is provided with the usual enlarged head and has its opposite end threaded and adapted for the reception of the usual threaded nut 19. The bolt 18 has its extremities extending a suitable distance beyond the sides of each of the beams 14 and the portions of the bolts between the operating lever 16 and the said beams 14 are adapted for the reception of suitable helical springs 20. These springs 20 tend to retain the lever 16 in a direct line between the inclined beams and shoes and at the same time also tend to force the sides of the machine away from the operating lever and at an equal distance from each side thereof. The numeral 21 designates offset plates provided upon the runners 2 and 3 and which are adapted to serve as a step or support for the operator positioned at the rear of the machine.

Secured to the forward portions of the runners 2 and 3 and projecting a suitable distance in advance thereof are attaching loops 22 adapted to serve as a means whereby draft animals may be connected with the machine, or if the machine is to be operated by steam or other power to provide a means for connecting the device with the engine. The cross beam 7 may also be provided with a suitable seat for the driver when the machine is operated by draft animals, and the driver may be thus so positioned as to readily adjust the width of the opening provided by the forward portion of the machine.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that I have provided an extremely simple and effective device for the purpose intended, one wherein dirt is effectively gathered at the forward end of the machine and passed along the inclined runners so as to thoroughly compress the dirt and provide an effective levee. It is to be further understood that while I have described the device in connection with the building of sea walls it may be effectively employed for building other dirt walls and that while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the device as it now appears to me, it is to be understood that minor details of construction, within the scope of the following claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a machine for the purpose set forth, a pair of gathering runners arranged at an angle with each other, the forward ends of the runners being spaced farther away from each other than the rear ends of the runners, vertical uprights upon the forward ends of the runners, a connecting beam for said uprights, means for adjusting the connecting beam in relation to the uprights, plates having inturned edges upon the for ward ends of the runners, uprights upon the rear ends of the runners, a hinged connection between these uprights, beams connect ing the rear and forward uprights of the runners, abolt extending through the beams, an operating lever pivotally connected with one of the hinge members and provided with an opening adapted to be engaged by the bolt, pressure springs upon the bolt between each side of the lever and the connecting beams, and offset plates upon each of the rear ends of the runners adapted to serve as a support for the operator of the lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUCLISE J. LA BAUVE.

W. E. CLINE.

Images