IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge of No. 11 Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS." A com-
munication from abroad by Messieurs Gabert frères Bridet and Deruad,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1882.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No 11 Wellington Street Strand, London in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS A communication from abroad by Messieurs Gabert frères, Bridet
and Deruad, Engineers and Contractors, of Lyons, France.
"
This Invention relates to a novel system of Excavator with which trenches or
cuttings may be opened by attacking them from the front and throwing or
delivering the extracted products behind the Excavator, into trucks or waggons
circulating upon the same rails as those upon which the said Excavator is set ; or
the trenches may be excavated on the sides, in flank and obliquely.
On the accompanying two Sheets of Drawing forming part of this Speci-
fication :-
Figure 1. (Sheet I.) is a front vertical projection of this improved apparatus.
Figure 2, being a vertical sectional projection of the apparatus, and
Figure 3. (Sheet II.) a view in plan and horizontal section.
This apparatus is composed:-
Firstly. Of a truck A, supported upon six wheels B, B', and axles C, C', this
truck is of a particular construction-cach axle C₁ carries at its ends a grease or
axle-box upon which the truck bears; the two wheels B rest constantly upon the
rails however uneven irregular or out of level the ways may be by the aid of
springs upon the "Belleville" or other suitable system. The two lines of axles C
are connected by an endless chain E so that by giving a rotary motion to one of
the axles it is communicated to the other, and the four wheels B' work by friction
or adhesion upon the rails to obtain the forward movement whatever may be the
state of the road or ways.

page_text: Secondly, Of a circular iron platform F, carrying all the upper mechanism and
which may receive a rotary motion around a central pivot fixed upon the truck.
This Platform runs upon four friction rollers I, attached to the truck; it serves
as base or sole plate to the general framework which carries the movements, the
frame supporting the axles of the Buckets ("L'elindre" hereinafter termed the
dredger-frame) and the dredger-chain.
The dredger-frame is provided at its upper part at R, with two springs which
permit it a recoil or backward movement in the direction of its longitudinal axis
when the buckets meet some insurmountable obstacle.
The back part of the framework carries a shoot J, moveable around a pivot at K,
which permits the discharging of the products into one or other of the waggons or
trucks attached following the Excavator, and travelling on the same ways.
Thirdly, Of a small vertical machine L, with two cylinders, placed at the back
of the truck and intended to give it the forward and backward movement, and
also to give to the platform the diverging or directing movement by means of
an endless chain M, winding on the circumference or periphery of the platform.
The two engaging and disengaging levers N. O, effect the two above mentioned
movements, together or separately.
This small machine or Engine is fed with steam from the boiler P, by means of
a pipe Q, which passes through the centre of the pivot of the platform and of the
truck.
From the preceding it is easy to understand the working of the apparatus which
permits
-
Firstly, To open a trench or cutting by attacking it in front and causing the
dredger-frame to pivot a little to the right and a little to the left, to obtain a
trench or cutting of a determined length.
Secondly, To bring the dredger-frame into a position perpendicular to the ways
and to work by ridge and furrow ("à la butte") like existing Excavators, to
enlarge a trench or ditch or to make a side cutting.
Thirdly, The dredger-frame being placed perpendicularly to the ways, it
be set to work below the level of the rails like the Excavators known as "
system.
may
"
Couvreux'
The apparatus thus lending itself to every possible arrangement it is designated
the "Universal Excavator":
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and in
what manner the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that I
do not confine myself to the exact form or details of the parts hereinbefore
described and shown on the accompanying Sheets of Drawing but that what
I Claim as of the Invention communicated to me as aforesaid and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is :-
The construction and use of the novel system of Excavator above described,
permitting the opening of trenches or cuttings sideways, endways, in flank or
obliquely having a pivoting shoot of special construction for the discharge or
ejectment of the materials, and with platform permitting action or working in all
directions, substantially as herein before set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said William Edward Gedge have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty fifth day of July in the year of Our Lord
One thousand Eight hundred and Eighty two.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)