Improvements in Machines for Making or Laying Drains.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making or Laying Drains.
I, ODILOU BALTZAR HANNIBAL HANNEBORG, of Urskong, in the Kingdom of
Norway, Proprietor, 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 :-
This invention relates to machines especially constructed for making or laying drains
in wide tracts of land and it comprises a vertically rotating and adjustable wheel
intended to dig a trench during the advance of the machine, a groove for feeding the
pipes into the trench and an arrangement for transporting the earth from the vertical
wheel backwards into the trench whereby the latter is filled up directly after the
laying down of the pipes.
In order to enable iny invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can
be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine for making or laying drains constructed
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan, and
Figure 3 is an end view of the same.
Figure 4 is an elevation of part of the rim of the digging wheel hereinafter
described drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 5 is a similar view of a modification of the said wheel.
On transportable rails a, a is a frame moving on rail-wheels c which should be
provided with two flanges in order to keep the rails a, a which are independent of each
other, at the necessary distance apart. The frame b carries jack-screws & upon the
screw-threaded spindles of which the frame e with its arms el hang and which frame
can by means of the jack-screws be placed at different heights.
On on axle frotating in journals y upon the frame e is placed the large digging
wheel h. This wheel, by means of its shovels, scoops or blades w, cl, digs the drain,
the depth of which depends on the position of the arms e' on the jack-screws d; it is
moved by the chain wheels i, i which are connected by an endless chain with the chain
pulleys, firmly keyed on an axle k which rotates in journals k' on the frame and
through the medium of a pulley m is moved by a locomotive or other motor placed on
the ground. This motor, which, preferably, should be placed at the end of the line in
which the drain is required to be laid, is connected with the machine by a rope n which
is wound up by the motor and thus at the same time effects the rotation as well as the
straight movement of the apparatus.
The scoops, which, during the motion of the machine become filled with earth, are
cleared by a cleaning apparatus shewn in the drawing like a fan or wheel o with flat
spokes or vanes which is rotated either by one of the movable axles of the machines or
directly by the wheel h. The earth is conveyed thereby into the trough p, then on to
the endless band operated by the main axle, the earth then passes through a channel
or chuter, into the trench which is thus again filled up. The chuter is pivotally secured
to the iron or wooden frames which carries the journals of the wheel o and the
The chute is
rollers of the endless band and is kept in place by the hooked rod t.
made in two parts and the latter of which may be short and of a curved shape so
that the earth which has been dug up can, if required, he laid on the edge of the
trench. In order to prevent the walls of the trench from falling in two iron
plates u, u are bolted to the inner frame e at a distance from each other corresponding
to the width of the digging wheel h. Firmly secured between these iron plates is an
open chute the diameter of which is somewhat larger than that of the pipes to be
laid. Through this chute the drain-pipes are fed successively downwards by a man
located on the frame e whence he can control the position of the pipes in the chute as

page_text: well as in the trench before they are covered with earth. The lower end of the pipe-
chute is at its front part provided with a small plough which, if necessary, can be
used for ploughing up a small bed for the pipes. In order to keep the earth from
falling in between the pipes their meeting ends should be covered with a cohesive but
porous material; this is done by the man at the same time that he places the pipes in
the chute.
The scoops w of the wheel h, which serve as spades, can be protected on the side
either by an annular plate or ring a as shown in Figure 4 or as shown in figure 5 by
a number of plates al which are cut of the required shape and which can be detached
as also can the edges w¹ of the scoops to allow of them being sharpened.
At least two pairs of rails should be provided for each machine so that one pair can
be laid down in front of the other in succession.
The jack-screws d, d are made high enough to allow the digging-wheel to bo
raised clear of the ground and the apparatus to be transported from one place to
another. If the machine is to be transported to a considerable distance upon the
highway the wheels should be replaced by larger or waggon-wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
(1.) In a machine for making or laying drains the arrangement of vertically
rotating adjustable digging wheel, which during the advance of the machine digs the
trench, a feeding-chute for laying down the pipes and conveying mechanism for
bringing the earth from the digging wheel over into the trench, which is thus again
filled up immediately after the drain-pipes have been laid down.
(2.) A drain-making or laying machine consisting of a transportable frame b upon
which is an adjustable frame e carrying a vertically rotating digging wheel, which,
during the advance of the machine digs the trench, a feeding-chute e fastened to
the frame e, which feeding-chute serves for laying down the pipes in the trench and
conveying mechanism fastened to the said frame and consisting of a cleaning
apparatus o, the trough p, the endless band 7 and a chuter, to bring the earth
from the digging wheel into the trench which has just before been dug, thus again
filling up the trench after the drain-pipes have been laid down.
(3.) In a drain-making or laying machine of the kind referred to in Claims 1
and 2, the arrangement of the frame e adapted to be regulated by means of arms e
forming nuts for the screw-threaded spindles of the jack-screws d fastened on the
frame b.
(4.) In a drain-making or laying machine of the kind referred to in Claims I
and 2 the feeding chute which is made open in order to better accomodate different
dimensions of drain pipes and in order that the position of the pipes in the trench
may be controlled.
(5.) In a drain-making or laying machine of the kind referred to in Claims 1
and 2, the cleaning apparatus in the form of a fan or wheel o moved either by one
of the moving axles of the machine or directly by the digging wheel h.
(6.) In a drain-making or laying machine of the kind referred to in Claims 1
and 2 the chute r,made in two parts, the lower part of which may be short and
bent aside in order that the earth brought over from the digging wheel h, may, if
required, be laid along the edge of the trench.
(7.) In a drain-making or laying machine of the kind referred to in Claims 1
and 2, the arrangement of iron-plates u, u fastened to the frame e in order to keep
the sides of the trench from falling in during the laying down of the pipes.
1
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.