Improvements in Excavating Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Excavating Machines.
I, FREDERICK HOWARD LIVENS, of South Park Villas, Lincoln, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to that type of excavator in which there is a rectangular
frame carrying at one end an engine and boiler and having at the opposite end a
standard or suitable means of supporting a swinging jib or crane on which is
mounted a beam capable of a more or less approximate radial motion and having
at its lower end a scoop or bucket with a hinged door.
In working the machine the scoop is dragged forwards and upwards into the
earth to be excavated and when full the crane is swung round until the scoop is
over a receptacle, the door of the scoop is unlatched and the material falls out.
The scoop is then swung back and lowered into position for being recharged.
When the machine has excavated all within the reach of the bucket arm and scoop it
is moved forwards into a new position. The machine may be either on wheels or
mounted on a pontoon or barge-Such machines are well known and have formed the
subject of numerous patents amongst which for the sake of reference it will be
convenient to mention No. 1351 of 1859 and in No. 212 of 1877.
I drive the drum for raising the scoop relatively to the jib by means of a spur wheel
from a pinion on the crank shaft of the engine in the usual way but in my improved
machine I provide for the other movements required, by placing two loose pinions on
the shaft of the drum with a friction clutch between them capable of making either
the one or the other turn with the shaft. These pinions gear the one into a spur
wheel fixed on a second shaft the other into an idle wheel gearing into a second spur
wheel also fixed on the second shaft, so that the second shaft revolves in either
direction according to which pinion the friction clutch is placed in contact; this.
arrangement provides also for the due proportioning of the speeds of these shafts.
I also place the drum for swinging the crane on this second shaft. The arrange-
ments for swinging the crane are otherwise of the usual type. It has on the base a
wheel round which two chains are wrapped the ends of which are fastened on opposite
sides of the drum, so that as the drum is revolved in one or the other direction it
revolves the crane in either direction by means of these chains.
To prevent the crane revolving too far a brake is provided to this drum to.
which I arrange a lever loaded by a weight or otherwise in such a manner that
the brake is always ou the drum until lifted off. This lever I connect to the lever
actuating the friction clutch above referred to so that a movement of the latter in
either direction first takes off the brake on the swinging drum and then permits the
clutch to put either pinion in motion. Preferably I accomplish this by a rock shaft
with two horns immediately under the brake lever and two levers actuated by springs
to return the friction clutch lever to its central position.
The reverse action takes place when releasing either pinion.
The second shaft also drives the travelling gear by a pitch chain connected to a
pinion furnished with a clutch.
I divide the beam carrying the bucket longitudinally into two, one half being on
each side of the crane jib and I preferably construct it of a trough section and place
in each trough a pair of friction rollers mounted on rocking arms centred on a shaft,
which revolves in bearings fixed to the upper part of the crane jib. This shaft carries
further a pair of pinions gearing into racks fixed to the bucket arm and is connected
by wheels and a pitch chain to a shaft on which there is a hand wheel for regulating
the bucket arm and the depth of cut in a similar way to that in Specification
No. 1351—1859. By placing the friction rollers outside the beam, and employing

page_text: channel irons I am enabled to bring the rollers nearer to the centre and thereby reduce
friction.
I sometimes arrange a swivel connection of the beam at the lower end to the bucket
so that when the latter is being dragged forward if an obstruction occurs on one side
. or the other of the bucket mouth it can turn itself to avoid the obstruction and so
reduce the cross strain on the bucket arm. When this swivel action is not required I
secure the bucket arm between plates rivetted to the side plates of the bucket, or to
the prolongation of the latter strengthened by suitable cross stays. In a further
modification I regulate the bucket arm by means of a chain or rope passing through
either axis of the crane jib and connected to a drum driven directly by friction gearing
and spur wheels from either crank shaft, the second shaft or the drum shaft, this chain
may be endless or otherwise and the drum may if required be made to revolve in either
direction. And sometimes I connect the shaft of the rack pinions to differential gear
so that the regulation of the bucket arm depends upon the resultant motion between
either the hand gear first described and the chain or rope gear driven from the engine
or either of these motions may impel the bucket arm downwards and its other
movement may be determined by a roller acting on a fixed path which can be adjusted
so as to automatically regulate the bucket arm as to its downward position, or there
may be a combination of any of these devices. The latch gear for releasing the
bucket door I arrange thus, at the lower end of the bucket arm is a rock shaft
with an arm having a flexible connection with a lever connected to the bolt.
On the outer end of the rock shaft is another arm to which a cord is attached which
is carried over a pulley on the crane jib and down to a small drum fixed conveniently
near the hand wheel-on the spindle carrying this small drum there is another drum
(or both may be combined) round which another cord is wrapped connected to a
weight or spring with stops in such a manner that the main cord to the bolt gear is
always kept without slack except at the moment when the bolt relatches the door.
The attendant when he unlatches the door therefore has only to move the hand wheel
connected to the small drum through a small distance. I sometimes arrange that this
door shall be actuated from the main platform by a suitable extension and guiding of
the cord connected to the rock shaft on the bucket arm.
The standard for supporting the crane jib I construct with a main post of
wrought iron plates and bars stayed. by two wrought iron stay plates preferably
of trough section extending backwards to the opposite end of the main frame and
suitably stayed together to prevent vibration so that the strain of supporting the
crane jib is taken by the whole length of the main frame. At the upper part of
the fixed post there is a wrought iron cellular structure extending forwards to receive
the upper axis of the crane jib. There are therefore of the fixed post four main
pieces which are preferably connected together by bolts, the division facilitating
transport.
The pedestals and brackets for supporting the shafts and levers are preferably
bolted directly to the main frame, which is of iron or steel plates and bars rivetted
or bolted together, and to keep the boiler as low as possible, has the ash pan formed
⚫therein.
1
1 1000
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Excavating Machines.
I, FREDERICK HOWARD LIVENS, of South Park Villas, Lincoln, Engineer, do 150
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 :-
My invention relates to that type of excavator shown in side elevation and plan at
figures 1 and 2 in which there is a rectangular frame a a carrying at one end an 5

page_text: engine b and boiler c and having at the opposite end a standard d or suitable means of
supporting a swinging jib or crane e on which is mounted a beam fcapable of a more
or less approximate radial motion and having at its lower end a scoop g or bucket with
a hinged door h.
In working the machine the scoop 9 is dragged forwards and upwards into the
earth to be excavated and when full the crane e is swung round until the sooop is over
a receptacle, the door of the scoop is unlatched and the material falls out. The
scoop is then swung back and lowered into position for being recharged. When
the machine has excavated all within the reach of the bucket arm and scoop it is
moved forwards into a new position. The machine may be either on wheels or
mounted on a pontoon or barge. Such machines are well known and have formed
the subject of numerous patents, amongst which for the sake of reference it will he
convenient to mention, No. 1851 of 1859 and in No. 312 of 1877.
Figures 3 and 4 are a side elevation and plan to a larger scale of part of the
mechanism.
I drive the drum A for raising the scoop relatively to the jib by means of a
spur wheel B, from a pinion on the crank shaft of the engine in the usual way,
but in my improved machine I provide for the other movements required by
placing two loose pinions D and E on the shaft G G of the drum A with a friction
clutch F between them, capable of making either the one or the other turn with
the shaft G G. Those pinions gear the one into a spur wheel H, fixed on a second
shaft J. J. the othor into an idle wheel K, gearing into a second spur wheel. L,
also fixed on the second shaft J. J, so that the second shaft. J. J. revolves in either
direction according to which pinion the friction clutch is placed in contact, this
arrangement provides also for the due proportioning of the speeds of these shafts.
I also place the druni M for swinging the crane on this second shaft.
The arrangements for swinging the crane e are otherwise of the usual type. It
has on the base a wheel j (Figures 1 and 2) round which two chains are wrapped; the
ends of which are fastened on opposite sides of the drum M on sheet 2, so that as the
drum is revolved in one or the other direction, it revolves the crane in either direction
by means of these chains.
To prevent the crane revolving too far, a brake N is provided to this .drum M
to which 1 arrange a lever O, loaded by a weight or otherwise in such a manner
that the brake is always on the drum until lifted off. This lever O. I connect to
the lever P, actuating the friction clutch F above referred to so that a movement
of the latter in either direction first takes off the brake N on the swinging drum.M
and then permits the clutch to put either pinion in motion. Preferably I accomplish
this as shewn in Figure 5, by a rock shaft Q, with two horns R R immediately
under the brake lever O, and two levers actuated by springs to return the friction
clutch lever to its central position, these are however not always necessary and are
omitted from drawing.
The reverse action takes place, when releasing either pinion.
The second shaft J J also drives the travelling gear, by a pitch. chain S, con-
nected to a pinion T furnished with a clutch U. The lever V which moves the
clutch also actuates a wedge W, or other device for throwing out of gear the
horns R. R. with the lever so that the crane can be permanently braked when
the travelling gear is in use.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the jib and scoop and Figure 7 is a section on the
line A. B. Figure 6.
I divide the beam F carrying the bucket longitudinally into two, one half. being
on each side of the crane jib E¹ and I preferably construct it of a trough section,
and place in each trough a pair of friction rollers G¹ G' mounted on rocking arms
centred on a shaft H' which revolves in bearings fixed to the upper part of the crane
jib. This shaft carries further a pair of pinions J' J¹ gearing into racks K' K³ fixed
to the bucket arm F¹ and is connected by wheels L' and M¹ and a pitch chain N¹ N¹
to a shaft O' on which there is a hand wheel P¹ for regulating the bucket arm, and

page_text: the depth of cut in a similar way to that in Specification No. 1351. 1859. By
placing the friction rollers outside the beam, and employing channel irons I am
enabled to bring the rollers nearer to the centre and thereby reduce friction.
I sometimes arrange a swivel or a ball joint connection of the beam at the lower
end to the bucket so that when the latter is being dragged forward, if an obstruction
occurs on one side or the other of the bucket mouth it can turn itself to avoid the
obstruction, and so reduce the cross strain on the bucket arm. When this swivel
action is not required, I secure the bucket arm F' between plates Q₁ rivetted to the
side plates of the bucket in the usual manner or to the prolongation of the latter,
strengthened by suitable cross stays.
The latch gear for releasing the bucket door I arrange thus: at the lower end of
the bucket arm is a rock shaft R' with an arm S₁ having a flexible connection T¹
with a lever U₁ connected to the bolt V₁. On the outer end of the rock shaft R¹ is
another arm S, to which a cord W' is attached which is carried over a pulley ✗' on
the crane jib and down to a small drum Y₁ fixed conveniently near the hand
wheel Pon the spindle carrying this small drum there is another drum (or both
may be combined) round which another cord Z' is wrapped connected to a weight or
spring with stops in such a manner that the main cord to the bolt gear is always kept
without slack except at the moment when the bolt relatches the door. The attendant
when he unlatches the door therefore has only to move the hand wheel connected to
the small drum through a small distance. I sometimes arrange that this door shall
be actuated from the main platform by a suitable extension and guiding of the cord
connected to the rock shaft on the bucket arm.
The standard d (figure 1) for supporting the crane jibe I construct with a main
post of wrought iron plates and bars stayed by two wrought iron stay plates kk
preferably of trough section extending backwards to the opposite end of the main
frame a and suitably stayed together to prevent vibration so that the strain of
supporting the crane jib e is taken by the whole length of the main frame a. At the
upper part of the fixed post there is a wrought iron cellular structure extending
forwards to receive the upper axis m of the crane jib e. There are therefore of the
fixed post four main pieces d, l, k, k, which are preferably connected together by
bolts, the division facilitating transport.
The pedestals and brackets for supporting the shafts and levers are preferably
bolted directly to the main frame a a, which is of iron or steel plates and bars rivetted
or bolted together, and to keep the boiler as low as possible has the ash pan formed
therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim in
excavating machines of the type referred to in the opening paragraphs of this specifi-
cation is :-
1. Driving the drum for swinging the jib by means of gearing from the shaft of
the drum for raising the scoop, substantially as described.
2. The combination of the shaft G, the pinions D and E, the clutch F, the wheels H
and L the shaft J and the drum M, substantially as described.
3. The brake upon the drum for swinging the jib so arranged that it is always on
when the drum is not being driven, but is taken off by the same movement which
throws the driving mechanism of the drum into gear, substantially as described.
4. The combination of apparatus for driving and braking the drum for swinging
the jib substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
5. Driving the travelling gear from the second shaft J.
6. The combined arrangement of gear, substantially as described.
7. The friction rollers G¹ G¹ mounted on rocking arms centred on the shaft H' and
working on the outside of the beam F1, substantially as describe:l.
.
8. The swivel connection between the bucket and the end of the beam, substantially
as described.

page_text: 9. The mechanism for operating the bucket door, substantially as described.
10. The construction of the column d, in four main pieces substantially as
described.
11. Excavating machines substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this Tenth day of January 1890.
FREDERICK HOWARD LIVEND