Improvements in Combined Traction Engines and Digging Machines.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1886
Complete Left, 25th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Traction Engines and Digging Machines.
FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL of Thetford in the county of Norfolk, Engineer and
FRANK PROCTOR of Suffolk House in the City of London Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
In order
This invention consists of an improvement in traction engines suitable for hauling
and driving stationary machinery with a digging gear combined.
to arrange the latter in the strongest and simplest form the horn plates of the firebox
of a locomotive boiler are carried backwards so as to form the framing for the digging
shafts. The horn plates are tied together by a strong horizontal stay-plate rivetted
by angle irons to the horn plates and which also forms the foot-plate upon which the
driver stands. In order to simplify the design and to keep the foot plate clear of
shafts, the shafts of the digging gear are supported by the foot-plate. For travelling
on the road there are two speeds arranged by pinions on the crank shaft working
into a double spur wheel on the counter shaft which is placed vertically over the driving
axle and similar to the usual type of agricultural locomotives in this country. In order
to produce a very slow motion on the road wheels necessary for digging we introduce
a wheel and pinion working upon an eccentric stud and arranged to be put into gear
with one of the pinions on the counter shaft and also with an internal ring forming
part of one of the road gear rings upon the main axle; so that by sliding the last
motion pinion on keyways the road travelling gear is disengaged and by revolving
the eccentric stud the extra wheel is brought into gear with the said pinion and the
extra pinion which is formed on the extra wheel is brought into gear with the internal
ring and the speed is reduced down for digging to about one third. The digging
shaft has a spur wheel which gears into an idle wheel fixed upon a stud which idle
wheel gears into the double spur wheel of the road motion upon the counter shaft.
In order that the digging shaft shall not rotate when the engine is travelling upon
the road, it can be disengaged by means of an eccentric bush upon which the idle

page_text: wheel revolves, or by sliding the wheel out of gear sideways. The digging arrange-
ment is fixed in the place where in ordinary engines the water tank is fixed, the space
for coal remains in the same position. The water tank is placed under the barrel of
the boiler or at the side and, counteracts the weight of the digging gear. Instead of
carrying the horn plates back the digging frame may be bolted to the horn plate of the
firebox. The draw bar for hauling is fixed to the plates of the digging frame and
forms a stay and distance piece to keep the framing rigid. The horn plates are tied
together below by a Tiron which goes across to which the bearings for the under lever
guides are bolted. This arrangement is more especially suitable for working digging
forks with Pryor's Patent under lever guides.
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1
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page_text: Improvements in Combined Traction Engines and Digging Machines.
We, FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL of Thetford, Norfolk, and FRANK PROCTOR of
Suffolk House, London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The object of the invention is to provide an engine suitable for being used as a
traction engine or for driving stationary machinery or as a digging machine.
Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings annexed shew opposite side views of the
machine.
In the side view figure 1 is shewn the gearing for driving the road wheels, and in
the side view figure 2 is shewn the gearing for driving the crank shaft which actuates
the digging forks. Figure 3 is a transverse section. Figure 4 a back view partly
in section of the same machine. Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the rear end
of the machine and figure is a plan view of the same with the crank shaft which
actuates the digging forks removed.
In the above figures the digging forks are shewn to be actuated by the upper end
of their stems being coupled to the cranks on the crank shaft. If the stems of the
digging forks are coupled at an intermediate point of their length to the cranks and
at their upper ends to links then the crank shaft is put into a lower position as shewn
in Figure 7.
The steam engine is of the ordinary type of traction engine so that some only of its
parts are shown. A is the boiler with the cylinder B mounted upon the top of it
and driving the crank shaft C. On this crank shaft there is as usual a fly wheel
which also serves as a band wheel to allow of stationary machinery being driven from
it. AA are the horn plates of the fire box carried back and made to serve as a
frame for carrying the shafts of the digging mechanism-the backward extension of
these plates are tied together by a horizontal plate upon which the driver stands.
D D are two pinions on the crank shaft of the engine either one or other of which can
be put into gear with one or other section of the double spur wheel E on the counter-
shaft F. A pinion G at the opposite end of this countershaft can be slid into gear with
toothed wheel H on the axle of the road wheels so that the road wheels can be driven
at either one or other of two speeds for travelling or hauling purposes. When the
machine is to be used for digging the pinion G is slidden endwise along the counter-
shaft so as to be out of gear with the wheel H and a toothed wheel I is then brought
into gear
with the pinion and also at the same time a pinion J which is fast with the
wheel I is brought into gear with an internal ring of teeth forming part of the toothed
wheel H.
In this way the axle of the road wheels is driven at the slow speed requisite for
digging. The toothed wheel I and pinion J are as shewn carried by an eccentric K
so that by turning this eccentric they may be shifted in or out of gear.
From one section of the double spur wheel E motion is transmitted to the crank
shaft M which gives motion to the digging mechanism. The spur wheel E is for
this purpose made to gear with an intermediate wheel L which also gears with a
toothed wheel N on the crank shaft M. In order also that the crank shaft of the
digging mechanism shall not be rotated when the engine is travelling along a

page_text: road or is being used for other purposes than digging, the intermediate wheel L is
as shewn in Figure 2 carried by an eccentric so that by turning the eccentric it can be
put into or out of gear with the spur wheel E as required.
When the crank axis M is placed in the upper position shewn in Figures 1 to 6 of
the drawings the cranks upon it are used to give motion to the stems of digging
tools at their upper end-the stems at an intermediate point of their length being in
this case jointed to links as has before been proposed.
If the stems of the digging tools are to be acted on by the cranks at an intermediate
point of their length and coupled to guiding links at the top then the crank axis M
is placed in the position indicated or the bearings of this axis can be made capable of
being shifted along guides from the one position to the other.
By constructing the machine in the above described manner the digging mechanism
is in the place where in ordinary traction engines the water tank is fixed. To allow
of this we place the water tank under the barrel of the boiler or at the side-the space
for coal may remain in the same position as usual.
Instead of the horn plates being carried back in one piece a frame carrying the
digging mechanism may be bolted to the horn plates. The draw bar for hauling is
fixed to the plates of the digging frame and forms a stay and distance piece to keep
the frame rigid. The horn plates are tied together below by a T iron which goes
across and to which the bearings for the axis of the under lever arms or links of the
digging mechanism are bolted.
It will be seen that by the construction of the tender at the back and by the
arrangement of the shafts and gearing herein before described the machine whilst it
embodies all the advantages of the most approved form of traction engine of the present
day with winding drum, draw-bar, fly-wheel &c. in their usual places, can also be
used as a digging machine the framing at the back stayed in the manner shewn giving
ample support for the digging gear and the crank axle of this gear being very
conveniently driven from the intermediate wheel carried by the eccentric bush for
throwing in and out of gear.
Hitherto steam diggers have not been generally useful, but our object has been to
preserve the standard design of traction engine so that nothing may be sacrificed
to the digging gear. This has never before been attainted in any other digging
machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A traction and driving engine of the ordinary type with the horn plates of the
fire box prolonged backwards and made to form a frame for carrying the crank axis
of digging mechanism.
2. The transmitting motion to the digging tools when they are to be brought into
action through a toothed wheel mounted on an eccentric so that the wheel may at will
be shifted in or out of gear with a pinion on the countershaft of the engine whilst at
the same time a pinion fast on this toothed wheel is brought into gear with an internal
ring of teeth on the toothed wheel by which the road wheel axle is driven so as at this
time to drive the road wheels at the slow speed required for digging.
3. A digging machine constructed substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the drawings annexed.
D
1 th: 014 dov of Fabory 1887