IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINES"
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry William Ball, of the Firm of Alexander Chaplin
and Company, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanaik, North Britain, Engineers,
for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry William Ball at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1877
HENRY WILLIAM BALL, of the Firm of Alexander Chaplin and Company, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Engineers "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EXCAVATING MACHINES."
This said Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction or
arrangement of the parts of a portable steam excavator or navvy of the class with
Jib crane for hoisting and alueing the excavating bucket with open top and upper
teeth in front, and door on bottom for emptying the excavated material, and a long
arm at the back with gearing on jib of crane for pushing the excavating bucket or
scoop laterally into and back from the bank or mass to be excavated, all carried on
a strong low cariage fiame on four or more wheels on truck rails laid in the bottom
of the cutting as formed The travelling fiame also carries the steam boiler, engine,
winding gearing, and slueing gear of the crane, and the gearing for propelling or
diawing the carriage forward on its wheels and rails as the excavating proceeds
The improved details of construction and new arrangement of the motive
mechanism and gearing making these machines (so improved) much stronger and
more durable, also more simple, easily managed, and efficient in their action than
those heretofore in use
And the nature and novelty of the Invention will be fully understood by the
following description of the general construction of the improved machine and its
special new or improved parts and mechanical motions or arrangements of gearing
of the different parts and their uses
The nature of this Invention or new improvements on these machines (which the
petitioner is making) consists in driving the winding bariel of the lifting chain of
the excavating bucket by a spur wheel on its shaft direct by a pinion gearing into
it on the crank shaft of a double cylinder steam engine fitted with the reversing

page_text: link motion, or it might be a scroll groove with shifting pin and slotted sleeve or
eye on eccentrics to reverse them, or other ordinary engine valve reversing gear,
which would allow this winding chain barrel to be reversed with the engine duect
without intermediate reversing clutches and gearing as in some forms of hoisting
cranes
Another improvement consists in guiding the chain to the said barrel direct from
the front lifting and guiding chain pulleys through two horizontal or angular pulleys
to a vertical pulley close behind them, from which the chain goes duect to the
barrel, the bracket carrying these pulleys being secured to the top of the fixed
stationary pillar on which the jib oi cane frame revolves on a bush bearing at the
top, and an eye frame at the lower bed plate or frame, preferably with antifriction
bearing rollers The Jib is formed of two open tiangular side cheeks of wrought-
iron plate work strongly rivetted with angle non at the outer edge, and diagonal oi
Cross stays of T non These checks are secured together some little distanco apart
by cross ends and blocks or ties, so that the lifting chain of the excavator passes up
through between them, while its lateral pushing and diawing an works also
between them over its chain winding barrel, the shaft of which is carried in bearing
blocks secured to the under face of the angled stay part of the cheeks, and is
actuated by a spur wheel on it, and a pinion on a countershaft similaily carried
close to it, actuated in an improved manner by an endless or loop chain passed over
a pitch chain wheel or pulley on it, and on the spindle or shaft of one of the uppe
font pulleys of the main lifting chain, which pulley would be actuated by the
chain fitting into indentations and notches on its permeter, or other wise this
countershaft might be actuated by an angled shaft and bevel wheels at both ends by
either the spindle of one of the fiont pulleys or the said rear vertical pulley of tho
main winding chain
Another improvement consists in slueing the jib or crane of the excavator by a
longitudinal shaft canned in bearing brackets projecting up from the frame of the
carriage and sole plate of the crane direct from the motion of the crank shaft of the
engine through a bevel wheel and two pinions with duplex ieveising fiction
coupling, and a screw or worm at the other end gearing into a large sciew wheel
cast on secured on to the lower swivelling eye of the jib The worm or its shaft is
fitted with a friction coupling for throwing it into or out of gear with the longi-
tudinal shaft, which by another improvement also actuates the propelling gear of the
cariage by a chain wheel or pulley on it fitted with an engaging and disengaging
fiction or pronged coupling The endless chain from this wheel passes over a
coresponding pitch chain wheel on a longitudinal shaft (carried in bearing brackets
on the inner side of the carnage fiame below the slueing longitudinal shaft) with a
screw or worm on each end geaning into large screw wheels on the axles of the
carnage wheels so as to turn these in either duection by the said single reversing
coupling of the upper longitudinal shaft actuating the alueing gear, all thus
neaily duect without the intermediate bevel or mitic wheels and spur gearing, and
then shafts usually employed The cannage frame is made of an open 1octangular
form of malleable iron plate work secured together by angle on and strong
Cross stays or beams, and cares the fixed or stationary pillar (with its angled back
stays) of the jib or crane in a strong seat or sole plate secured on its upper fiont
end a little in advance of the fore wheels, where long lateral brackets are secured,
one on each side, with screws or other equivalent at their outer end for steadying
the frame on temporary blocks on other equivalent, to give lateral stability to the
fiame and crane. The boiler, engines, and winding gear are erected on the upper
back end of the caimage to give longitudinal stability when the machine is to be
used where blasting operations are being carried on, the roofing or sides might be
made of strong planking to protect the workers and machinery against the projected
stones and debris

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Hemy Wilham Ball in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th July
1877
HENRY WILLIAM BALL, of the Fum of Alexander Chaplin and Company, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanak, North Britain, Engineers " IMPROVEMENTS IN
EXCAVATING MACHINES"
My said Invention has reference to a new or improved general construction or
arrangement of the parts of a portable steam excavator or "navvy," and to new or
improved parts the cof, of the class with jib crane (as 1, see Figures 1 and 2 of the
Diawings) for cairving, hoisting and slueing the excavating bucket (as 2) having
an open top with teeth 21 projecting up in fiont, and fitted with a door 211, opening
and closing at the bottom, for emptying the excavated material, and with two long
aims 3 at the back and controlling geaung 3' on the jib 1 of the crane, for pushing
the excavating bucket or scoop 2 laterally into or back from the bank or mass to be
excavated, all called on a strong low camage frame 4 on four or more wheels 41
on truck rails 5 laid on the bottom of the cutting as it is formed This portable oi
travelling frame 4 also carries the steam boiler and engine (as 6 and 7) for working
the main winding gearing (as 8) and slueing geal (as G, G1,) of the crane 1, and
gearing (as 10) for propelling or drawing the carriage 4 (with the said mechanism
all carried on it) foi ward on its wheels and rails into the cutting as the excavating
proceeds
The improvements in the details and general construction of the machine, and in
the new or improved arrangement of the motive-power mechanisin and geaning,
making these excavators (so constructed or improved) much stronger and more
durable, also more simple, easily managed, and efficient in then action, than those
heretofore in use
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said Invention
may be fully understood I shall now proceed to describe the example of this class
of "steam navvy" or excavating machine shown in complete side elevation and
plan in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, all constructed in accordance
with and illustrative of one modification of my said Invention, the same referenco
letters and numerals indicating the same parts in both Figures
Refering to these Figures 1 and 2, the following description of the general
construction of this improved machine and its special new or improved parts and
mechanical motions, or improved arrangements of geaing of the different or
respective parts, and then uses and advantages, will make the nature and mode of
performing the Invention or improvements fully understood Thus then the nature
of this Invention or new improvements on this machine, shown in Figures 1 and 2,
consists all as follows First, in driving the main winding barel A of the lifting
chain A¹ of the excavating scoop or bucket 2 by a single spur wheel a on its shaft 8
(caried and revolving in the bushed journal bearing blocks 81 projecting up fiom
the middle of the carriage fiame 41111 (direct) by the pinion al gearing into it, and
keyed on one end of the crank shaft 7 of a vertical double-cylinder steam engine 7
carried on the strong vertical cast-non fiame 711 secured below to the upper part of
the carnage frame 4, and at the top to the upper part of the steam boiler 6, the
crank shaft 7 revolving in bushed journal bearings 711 in the lower part of the
fiame 7, which cares the two cylinders 7 bolted to its top front face over the
crank shaft 7, and fitted with the reversing link motion b and hand lever b¹, or
otherwise it might be by a scioll groove with shifting pin and slotted sleeve or eye
on eccentrics to reverse them, or by other ordinary engine-valve reversing gear,
which, in either case, would allow the main winding gear a, a¹, S, and chain bariel A
to be reversed with or by the engine direct, without intermediate reversing
clutches and gearing used in the hoisting gearing of the jibs or cranes of this class
of excavators heretofore.

page_text: The
Another improvement has reference to guiding the main chain A² for lifting and
lowering the excavating bucket 2, and carrying it by the strong bow link 21 and
hanging swivel hook pulley 2*, to which the fice end of the chain A¹ is attached
and passed up over the top carrying and guide pulley 11 at the extreme outer top
end of the jib, and down to and round the hanging pulley 2*, and up to and over
the recessed or pitch chain carrying and guiding pulley 12, and further, consists in
guiding the main chain A¹ from the said pulley 12 through two horizontal or
angular pulleys c, c, to a vertical pulley C close behind them, dnect at an angle
down to its winding barrel A, the bracket O₁ carrying these pulleys c, c, C, being
secured to the top of the fixed strong central' pillar 1, on which the jib crane oi
frame 1 revolves in a bush bearing 13 at the top, and a bearing eye fiame 14 at the
lower end of this pillai 1' The bearing frame 14 works and is carried on a turned
journal surface and collar on the lower part of the stationary column 1', which 18
curved out at the base, where it is inserted into or secured to the strong sole or bed
plate 15 securely bolted to the upper central part of the carriage frame 4
cast-iron bearing frame or eye 14 when desued to sustain some of the weight of the
Jib 1 and friction of the bearing may be carried on anti-friction rollers below it
running on the broad base of the pillar 1', or on the sole plate 15
The jib is
formed of two open tiangular side cheeks of wrought-non plate work 1 strongly
rivetted, with angle iron at the outer edge, and diagonal or cross stays or straps 111
of Tiron
These cheeks 1 are secured together some little distance apart at then
upper and lower ends, where they are secured to their swivelling blocks or frames 13
and 14, and by the cross end and distance blocks 111 and cross plating 11111 below,
so that the lifting chain A' of the excavator 2 passes up through between them over
the carrying pulleys 11 and 12, while the lateral pushing and diawing frame or
arms 3 of the bucket 2 works also through between the side frames 1---1, of the jib
over its actuating chain-winding barrel D actuated by its shaft 3' and gearing, all
as will herein-after be more fully described The carriage fame 4 is made of a
deep open rectangular form of mallcable on plate rivet work, secured together by
angle iron at the corners or angles, and strong intermediate cross stays or beams 4*
and longitudinal ones 411, all so as to carry the sole plate 15 of the fixed or
stationary pillai 1' secured at the top by the strong angled back stays 1* of the
Jib or crane secured on its upper front end, preferably over or a little in advance of
the fore wheel 411, where either behind or before which long lateral brackets 20 are
secured, one to each side or corner of the frame 4, with vertical screws 20¹ at then
extreme outer ends for screwing down on temporary blocks 21 on the bottom of the
cutting, as shown in sharp and dotted lines in Figure 2, or it might be by other
equivalent means of tightening, as by wedges, under the brackets 20, so as to
thoroughly steady the frame 4, and give great lateral stability to the whole of this
portable fiame and excavator, as shown in these Figures 1 and 2
The main
winding banel A is fitted to be coupled and actuated by its geared shaft (S, a,)
through a huge friction clutch box B and shifting clutch B₁ (at the opposite end of
its shafts & to that driven by the gear wheels a, a, and is put into and out of action
by the clutch lever and spindle B oscillating in beaning brackets below it, connected
by a link and levers at B to the actuating spindle B of the hand lever B³
placed conveniently near the hand levers for the engineman controlling the action
of the winding barrel A by the engine, and this coupling B, B1, which is made with
a tuined biake wheel on its outer periphery fitted with a brake strap B' controlled
by the long counterbalaced teadle lever B caned on a strong spindle and bearing
bracket B below the top of the carriage fiame 4 and the neai end of the chain
barrel shaft 8
Another improvement consists in slueing the jib or crane 1 of the excavator 2 by
a longitudinal shaft G, G¹, carried in bearing brackets G, G, screwed to and
projecting up from the top of the frame 4 of the calliage and sole plate 15 of the
crane pillar 1, duect from the motion of the crank shaft 71 of the engine 7, through
a bevel wheel g, keyed on the back end of the shaft G, and two coresponding pitch
and gearing pinions g¹, g, mounted loose on the crank shaft 7, and fitted with

page_text: น
duplex reversing friction coupling boxes g¹¹, gl, on their inner face, and a cories-
ponding single shifting clutch g between them, with controlling spindle and hand
lever g³, to stopping or reversing the notion of the shaft G, G', and that of the
jib crane 1, actuated by a screw or worm h at the other and G¹ of the shaft G, G¹,
gearing into the large screw wheel h³, preferably secured in segments by screw
bolts at " on to the outer periphery of an enlarged web or disc H at the lower pait
of the swivelling eye 14 of the jib, to slue or swing it to the night or to the left sido
of the cutting, for emptying the excavated material into removing trucks or
waggons, or for placing and holding the bucket 2 at any part of the face of the
cutting desired
The worm h, or the part G' of the shaft G, G¹, on which it is
formed or secured, is fitted with a friction or other fixed and shifting coupling
box or clutch h², h³, controlled by the drawing hand rod 2 and love 21 for throwing
the screw into or out of gear with the back pait G of the longitudinal shaft G, G³,
which by another improvement also actuates the propelling gear 10 of the carriage
4 by a chain wheel or pulley J on it, fitted with an engaging and disengaging
friction or pronged coupling J, J, controlled by the lever of the drawing hand
rod and level, which works the slucing gear h, h¹, engaging the one as it
disengages the other, and vice versu. An endless pitch chain 3, passed over and
down from the said wheel J, so as to pass round or under a corresponding pitch
chain wheel J¹, on a longitudinal shaft 10, canned in beaung brackets 10' on the
side of the cauage fiame 1 below the longitudinal shaft of the slueing gear, which,
through the said pitch chain wheels J, J¹, and chain 7, thus also dives this shaft
10, which by the screw or worm 7 on each end, gearing into large screw wheels 711
on the axles 4" of the canago wheels 4', turns these, so as to propel the canage
frame 4 with all the excavating machinery on it for wards or backwards to oi fiom
the face of the cutting as desired, by the said single reversing coupling gll of the
crank shaft 71 and the slucing gear shaft G, all thus nearly direct without the
intermediate bevel or mitro wheels and spur geaning and their shafts usually
employed
(or
The frame 3 for controlling and adjusting the cutting or excavating action of the
bucket 2 is formed of two long bars or arms 3 of timber bolted parallelly together
by tie bolts and stay blocks at 3, strengthened by straps of non d* above and
below each arm (or they might be made wholly of non), with eyes at 311, where
the whole is jointed to near the centre of two strong vertical ribs 2111 at the back
of the bucket 2, so as to set and fix it at any desired cutting or scooping angle, by
the stays or tie bars 31111, jointed at theu upper ends 3* to a joint pin 3** passed
through the said ribs 2111 near the upper back edge of the excavator 2, and at their
other ends by any one of the set of joint bolt holds in each, fixed on each sido of
the arms 3 by a joint bolt 3** passed, through the whole across the frame
other equivalent), so that it works over the chain drum D, the shaft 3' of which is
carried in bearing blocks or frame D¹ under the face of the angled stay part of the
cheeks 1, and is actuated by a spur wheel D" keyed on it, and a loose pinion D³ on
a counter driving shaft E, similarly carried in the same bearing frame close to it,
actuated in an improved manner by an endless or loop pitch chain e passed over a
pitch chain wheel or pulley ell on its one end, and over another e' keyed on the
corresponding end of the spindle or shaft e¹ of one of the upper front carrying
pulleys 11 or 12 (preferably the latter) of the main lifting chain A', which would
be keyed on its spindle and actuated by the chain fitting into pitched indentations
and notches on its perimeter fitting the links of the chains A³, which would thus
drive it and the transverse driving shaft E.
Although the chain 6 is made as a pitch chain, with double and single links
alternately to take on to the pitched projecting chain teeth on the periphery of its
chain wheels ell, e, it is to be understood that an ordinary chain with links of
nearly equal length would also answer for driving this controlling gearing for
adjusting or regulating the out and in action of the excavating bucket, by making
these ordinary endless chains to work over grooved chain pulleys with recesses and
projections in the bottom and sides of the grooves to fit and gupe the links of the

page_text: chains as used in chain pulley blocks, and some other chain lifting and hauling
machines
In either of these chain or angle shaft arrangements, it is preferred to actuate the
shaft E, so as to turn the pinion D' loose on it through the fiction clutch or
coupling box D³, and engaging sliding clutch D¹, controlled by the hand lever f
and held by the brake or friction strap f" and lever f*, both levers being carried
on stud joints in a bracket f, projecting from one of the bearing frames D' carrying
this shaft E and that 31 of the barrel D, which it turns by the wheel. D" keyed on
it, gearing into the said loose pinion D², all in such a manner as will cause the
barrel D, formed with a right and left-hand screw groove d on it, having a chain d'
wound one turn round each groove d in reverse duections (as seen in Figure 2)
under the arms 3 to which the extreme ends of the chains are fixed by
adjustable tightening links ( screwed to strong diawing studs & projecting down
from and secured by steins and sciew nuts from the ends of the aims 3 of the
excavator, to push the bucket 2 gradually out into the earth or face of the cutting
as or by the motion of the main chain A in being wound on to its barrel A to raise
and fill the excavating bucket 2, this outward action of the excavator being
controlled by the hand lever f of the clutch D¹, and held in any outward position
by the brake handle ƒ fitted over the small railed platform, secured to the one
side of the jib frame 1, close to this automatic feeding-in and hand adjusting
gearing of the excavating bucket 2, which recedes hack from the face of the cutting
by the pressure in excavating, and the weight of the bucket 2 and material in it
tending to hang plumb.
When the bucket 2 is filled the jib or crano 1 is swung round by its slueing
gear, as before stated, over the removing waggons brought along either side of the
excavating callage on rails for the purpose so as to have the contents of the bucket
2 emptied into them by pulling the hand lever at the back end of the aims 3
forwards, which pulls the chain attached to the upper arm of this lever back,
and the bell crank m (attached to the front end of the chain (1) fulcrumed to the
back Joint pin m² of the door 211, and also the locking spring bolt n mounted in
slides on the under side of the door 211, and actuated by one arm m" of the bell-
crank m working in a slot n' at its back end, while the front bolt or fixing end is
diawn back against the power of the spring an out of the holding slot in the
bevelled catch piece n, secured to and projecting down from the middle of the
inner front face of the bucket 2, the weight of the door and material inside opening
this bottom door to empty itself, the spring n¹ on the centre of the bolt pressing
it into its catch again so as to hold the door 211 when closed automatically by the
weight of the door in lowering the bucket
The boiler 6 and its feed-water tank G¹ are erected and secured on the upper
back end of the carriage frame 4 (rather to the off side in Figure 2) to counter-
balance the crane 1 at the other end, and give longitudinal stability to the fiame 4,
and leave 100mm at the near side between the boiler in the Figures for the engine-
man to stand on the platform within the rail at 22 to control the action of the
engine by the steam hand wheels and link motion lever b', and the main winding
barrel A, by its friction clutch hand level Band brake treadle lever B, and the jib
Blueing gear G, G₁, and propelling gear 7, 7, by then clutch hand lever and
diaw bait, all ananged at this part convenient for the engineer controlling all
these mechanical motions
When the machine is to be used where blasting operations are being carried on
the 100fing or sides covering or enclosing it might be made of strong planking
carried on nugle non fiaming to protect the workers and machinery against injury
from the projected stones and delus
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not confine myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I consider novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent 15,—

page_text: "
First The new or improved gencial construction or arrangement and combina-
tion of the parts of a portable steam excavating machine (of the "steam navvy
class), all substantially as herem described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Diawings, or any mere modification thereof
Second The new or improved mode and means of fitting the steam engines of
portable steam excavating machines with reversing link motion b, b¹, for the
winding or unwinding of the chain on the main barrel A duect through its wheel
gearing without intermediate reversing clutches or couplings, substantially is herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Diawings
Thud The new or improved anangement of reversing and sciew gear for slueing
the jib 1 of portable steam excavating machines, all substantially as heiem des-
cribed in reference to and shown in the accompanying Diawings, or any mele
modification thereof
Fourth The new or improved arrangement of reversing and screw gear for pro-
pelling the caulage 4 of portable steam excavating machines, all substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings or any
mere modifications thereof
Fifth The new or improved mode and means of actuating the gearing for con-
trolling and adjusting the excavating bucket of portable steam excavating machines
by an endless chain e actuated from the spindle of one of the front pulleys driven
by the main winding cham A' or an angled shaft and bevil wheels from the said
spindle, all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry William Ball, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven
H. W. BALL (LS)