IMPROVEMENTS IN DREDGING AND ELEVATING MACHINERY
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sylvester Franklin Schoonmaker, of the City,
County, and State of New York, United States of America, now of
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DREDGING AND
ELEVATING MACHINERY."
Sealed the 4th September 1866, and dated the 8th March 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sylvester Franklin
Schoonmaker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 8th March 1866.
I, SYLVESTER FRANKLIN SCHOONMAKER, of the City, County, and State of
New York, United States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare tho
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DREDGING AND ELEVATING
MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
The main object of the said improvements is the removal of mud and
other deposits from the beds of rivers, docks, basins, and other water channels
and reservoirs, but they are also applicable to the raising of solid and heavy
objects and to the unloading of barges and other similar vessels.

page_text: The said improvements consist, first, in the mode of supporting the bucket
or scoop from the end of the jib or boom; second, in the means whereby the
said scoop is operated to fill and empty itself; third, in the means for adjusting
the jib or boom in any required position to control the operation of the scoop
while digging; fourth, in the construction and arrangement of the winding
machinery by which the scoop is raised, lowered, and operated to fill and
empty itself; fifth, in the means for stopping and holding the boat in any
desired position without the employment of anchors or cables.
The boat or scow supporting the derrick posts and other parts of the
machinery is made of sufficient strength and is properly ballasted to insure
the proper working of the same. The jib or boom for supporting the bucket
is secured so as to turn freely upon its lower end or heel. This jib extends
upward and forward beyond the bows or front of the boat, its upper end being
secured and adjusted to the required degree of clevation by chains or ropes
connecting it with the top of the derrick posts. Two spars or rods of wood
or iron for supporting the bucket frame are fitted to slide vertically in cycs or
bosses secured to the jib near the upper end thereof. The said frame is
composed of two strong straps or bands of wrought iron stiffened laterally by
strips of angle iron, and connected together by a strong cross tic made of
boiler plate or other suitably strong material, the wrought-iron straps being
secured to the lower ends of the sliding spars by bolts or other similar
fastenings. These straps or bands carry metal blocks, to which are secured
wrought-iron plates for supporting the ends of the bucket or scoop. The said
bucket or scoop is formed in two parts, the ends of which are hinged or
jointed to the said wrought-iron plates by pins or studs. Each of the said 2
parts is preferably of the shape of a quarter of a cylinder with closed ends, the
curved or outer portion of which forms the bottom of the scoop or bucket.
The hinges or joints allow the two halves of the said scoop to be drawn
asunder with the mouth or opening of each half in position to gather up the
mud or other substance, which is effected by causing the two halves to approach 3
each other till they meet with their curved surfaces undermost. The con-
tiguous edges of the two parts may be furnished with points or teeth of iron
or steel, by which heavy objects can be gripped and elevated. A spindle or
shaft extends across the bucket frame, the ends of the said spindle being sup-
ported in the metal bearing blocks. A grooved pulley is fixed in the centre 3
of this shaft, and two smaller pulleys are fixed near the ends thereof. A link
or staple is secured to the large pulley to hold the end of a chain, the other
end of which is attached to the barrel of a winding apparatus. Short

page_text: chains are also attached to the small pulleys in such a manner as to wind
thercon in the opposite direction to the chain wound over the large pulley,
so that by unwinding the chain from the large pulley the chains will be wound
upon the small pullics. The upper ends of these short chains are secured to
a shaft situated above the other shaft, whose ends are furnished with guide
rollers or blocks which travel up and down inside the guideways formed in
wrought-iron shafts. The ends of each part of the bucket or scoop arc
furnished with studs or pins near the outer and upper corner thereof. These
studs are connected by wrought-iron links or bars to the upper shaft, which
passes through eyes formed in the end of the said links. By unwinding the
chain from the large pulley on the lower shaft the short chains are wound
over the small pullies, and the upper shaft is thereby drawn down in tho
guideways; as it is so drawn down the side links connecting the said shaft
with the bucket cause the lower edges of the two parts of the said bucket to
approach each other, and thereby gather up the mud or other substance
being collected. The same chain also elevates the bucket and frame out of
the water, and by means of the guide pulleys, over which it passes, also swings
the end of the jib or boom laterally over the barge wherein the mud is being
deposited by the bucket. The upper ends of the side links of the scoop or
bucket are also provided with short arms attached by any suitable connection
to the end of a long chain which extends to a barrel on the winding apparatus,
and when this latter chain is wound upon the said barrel it pulls up the sliding
shaft in the bucket frame, which by means of the connecting side links causes
the two parts of the bucket to open and discharge any substance that may be
contained therein. The guide pulleys over which this chain passes are so
arranged that by continuing to wind up the said chain after the bucket is
opened the jib will be swung back again to its former position. A curved
projection is formed on the front of the boat, whose edge is furnished with a
series of catchics or pawls. A strut or stay is jointed to the top of the
derrick and descends through the jib to which it is secured. The lower end
or foot of this strut is constructed to rest upon the edge of the curved
projection, and is held in any required position thercon by means of the said
catches. These catches turn upon pins or studs, but are prevented being
forced back by stops fixed on the top of the deck. When the strut is to be
secured in any desired position one of the catches is turned forward against
its stop and the end of the strut will rest against the said catch. This enables
the jib to be moved round and stopped in any position on the curved pro-
jection, and so control the operation of the bucket. The winding machinery

page_text: for operating the scoop or bucket consists of two barrels or reels supported
in a suitable framing and operated by steam or other motive power. These
barrels run loose upon a shaft or spindle, upon which is keyed a spur wheel,
whose edges are provided with conical or V-shaped projections. These pro-
jections fit into corresponding grooves formed in a wood ring secured on the
surface of a flange or disc formed on the end of each of the said barrels.
These projections are furnished with cutters, which cut their own way in the
said grooves and prevent the top of the projection working in contact with
the bottom of the groove. A slot or keyway is formed in cach end of the
shaft, into which a key is fitted. The ends of the shafts are perforated and
provided with pins, whose ends bear against the edge of the keys passing
through the shaft. These pins are connected to a lever or handle, by which
they are operated to force the barrels into contact with the spur wheel. When
released the barrels are forced and kept back by the pressure of a spring.
The said barrels are thereby caused to wind or unwind the chains connected
with the bucket or scoop, and the said bucket is raised, lowered, or otherwiso
operated with great facility. The boat is stopped and held in any desired
position by means of an iron shod or pile, which passes into the ground through
a box or tube extending up from the bottom of the said boat, and which is
raised when required by a rope or other suitable means.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Sylvester Franklin Schoonmaker in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the Sth September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SYLVESTER
FRANKLIN SCHOONMAKER, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America, now of No. S, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Sylvester Franklin Schoonmaker, Her special licence that I, the said Sylvester
Franklin Schoonmaker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Sylvester Franklin Schoonmaker, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DREDGING AND ELEVATING MACHINERY," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Sylvester Franklin Schoonmaker, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal l'atent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Sylvester Franklin Schoonmaker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings forming part of this Specification.
The main object of the said improvements is the removal of mud and other
deposits from the beds of rivers, docks, basins, and other water channels and
reservoirs, but they are also applicable to the raising of solid and heavy
objects and to the unloading of barges and similar vessels.
The said improvements consist, first, in the mode of supporting the bucket
or scoop upon the end of a jib or boom; second, in the means whereby the
said scoop is operated to fill and empty itself; third, in the means for adjusting
the jib or boom in any required position to control the operations of the scoop
in digging; fourth, in the construction and arrangement of the winding
machinery by which the said scoop is raised, lowered, and operated to fill and
empty itself; fifth, in the means for stopping and holding the boat in any
desired position without the employment of anchors or cables for that
purpose.
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of a dredging and elevating machine;
Figure 2 is a side clevation, and Figure 3 is a front elevation of the said
machine Figure is an end view of the bucket or scoop; and Figure 5 is
a transverse section of the winding machinery on the line a, a, Figure 1. Like
letters refer to corresponding parts in each of the Figures.

page_text: A is the boat or scow supporting the derrick posts B and other parts of the
machinery, the said boat being made of sufficient strength and properly
ballasted to insure the steady working of the same. The jib or boom C for
supporting the bucket D is secured so as to turn freely upon its lower end
or hecl a. This jib extends upward and forward from its heel beyond the
bows or front of the boat A, its upper end a' being secured and adjusted to
the required elevation by the chains b, or by ropes connecting the said end
with the top of the derrick posts B. Instead of a derrick frame constructed
as represented in the Drawings any other suitable and convenient means for
supporting the jib C upon the boat A may be employed. Two spars or
rods E for supporting the bucket frame E' are fitted to slide vertically in
cyes or bosses c, which are secured to the jib C near the upper end thereof.
The said frame is composed of two straps or bands d of wrought iron stiffened
laterally by strips of angle iron e, and connected together by a strong cross
tic made of boiler plate iron or othe suitably strong material. The wrought-
iron straps are secured to the lower ends of the sliding spars E by bolts,
screws, or other convenient fastening. These straps or bands d carry metal
blocks g, to which are secured wrought-iron plates for supporting the ends
of the bucket or scoop D. The said bucket or scoop is formed in two parts,
the ends D' of each part being hinged or jointed to the wrought-iron plates
by the pins or studs i. Each of the two parts of the bucket D is by preference
constructed in the shape of a quarter of a cylinder, the curved or outer
portion or shell of which forms the bottom of the said scoop or bucket, the
ends D' thereof being closed. The hinges or joints i allow the two halves of
the scoop D to be separated or drawn asunder, as represented in Figure 4.
The mouth or opening of each half is then in position to gather up the mud
or other substance. The said scoop being filled by causing the two halves
thereof to approach each other till they meet with their curved surfaces
undermost, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The contiguous edges of the two
parts of the bucket may be furnished with points or teeth of iron or steel, by
which heavy objects to be elevated may be more readily and securely gripped
and held. An axle or shaft extends across the scoop or bucket D, the said
shaft being supported in the metal bearing blocks g. A grooved pulley & is
fixed in the centre of this shaft, and two smaller pulleys are fixed on the
same shaft near the ends thereof. A link or staple m is secured to the
pulley to hold the end of a chain 2, whose other end is attached to the
barrel of a winding apparatus. Short chains o are also attached to the small
pulleys in such a manner as to wind thercon in the opposite direction to which

page_text: the chain is wound over the large pulley, as indicated by the arrows, Figure 2.
In unwinding the chain n therefore from the pulley & the chains o will be
wound upon the pulleys . The upper ends of the chains o are secured to a
shaft situated above the shaft j, the ends of the former being furnished with
guide rollers or blocks which travel up and down in the guideways d'
between the wrought-iron straps d. The ends D' of each part of the bucket
or scoop D are furnished near the outer and upper ends thereof with studs or
pins 1. These studs are connected by wrought-iron links or bars 8 to the
upper shaft p, which passes through eyes formed in the end of the said
links. These links & and chains o may be connected to sliding blocks, or to
studs projecting therefrom, instead of to the shaft p, which may be dispensed
with. By unwinding the chain from the pulley the short chains o arc
wound over the small pulleys 1, and the shaft p is thereby drawn down in the
guideways d'. As the said shaft is thus drawn down the side links & con-
necting the said shaft with the said scoop or bucket D cause the lower edges
of the two parts of the said scoop to approach each other, and thereby gather up
the mud or other substance being collected. The chain n is also employed to
raise the scoop D and its frame E' out of the water. By means of the guide
pulleys F, over which the chain n is conducted, the said chain is caused to
swing the jib or boom C laterally into the required position over a barge
or other receptacle wherein the mud is being deposited from the scoop D.
The upper ends of the side links 8 are also provided with short arms or
with rings & which are attached by the short chains
or other suitable means
chain extends to the
of connection to the end of a long chain v. This
barrel G of the winding apparatus, and when wound upon the said barrel
pulls up the sliding shaft p, which by means of the side links & causes the two
parts of the scoop or bucket D to open, as shown in Figure 4, and discharge
or eject any substance that may be contained therein. The guide pulleys F¹
over which the chain passes, are so arranged that by continuing to wind up
the said chain after the scoop or bucket D is opened the jib C will be swung
back again into its former position. A curved projection or platform H is
arranged upon the front of the deck of the boat, and is furnished on its outer
edge with a series of catches or pawls to. A strut or stay H', jointed to thic
top of the derrick frame B, is secured to the jib C by the strap or cleat 10',
and extends downward therefrom to the platform H. The lower end or foot
of this strut is constructed and arranged to rest upon the outer edge of the
said platform II, and is held in any required position thereon by means of the
catches to. These catches turn upon the pins or studs a, but are prevented

page_text: being forced back by the stop y fixed in the top of the platform II, near the
outer edge thereof. When the strut H' is to be secured in any desired position
one of the catches w is turned forward with its end resting against its stop y,
and will thereby afford a firm support for the end of the said strut. This
arrangement allows the jib C to be moved round and stopped in any required
position over the curved platform H, and so effectually control the operations
of the scoop or bucket D. The winding machinery I prefer to use for
operating the scoop or bucket D is provided with two barrels or reels G, G¹,
carried by the shaft I, which turns in suitable bearings attached to the
framing J, the said machinery being operated by a steam engine or other
motive power. The barrels G, G¹, arc fitted to run loose upon the shaft or
spindle I, upon which the spur wheel K is firmly keyed. The edges of the
said wheel are provided with wood rings L, having angular or V-shaped
grooves L formed therein, and corresponding projections L are fixed or
formed upon the surface of a flange or disc L on the end of each of the
barrels G, G; or the projections may be formed on the wheel K, the wood
rings L being secured upon the discs L³. The projections L are furnished
with cutters which cut their own way into the grooves L, and thereby
prevent the top or apex of the projections L working in contact with the
bottom of the grooves L', and ensures the side surfaces of the said projections
and grooves always working properly together. A slot or keyway M is formed
in each end of the shaft I, and keys M' are fitted therein. The ends of the
said shafts are bored or perforated at N in a direction parallel with the length
thereof, pins or rods o being fitted into the perforations with their ends bearing
against the edge of the keys M' fitted through the slots M. The pins o arc
connected to levers or handles P, by which they are operated to force the
barrels G, G', into contact with the spur wheel K. When released the said
barrels are forced back and kept from contact therewith by springs Q.
Though the barrels G, G, and other parts of the winding machinery
arranged as above described are peculiarly adapted to operate the scoop or
bucket D, which is thereby raised and lowered with great facility, other forms
of winding or hoisting apparatus may be advantageously employed for the
same purpose. The device for stopping the boat A and holding it in any
required position consists of an iron-shod pile or rod R, which is fitted to slide
and pass into the ground through a box or tube R¹ extending from the deck
to the bottom of the said boat A. The said pile is provided with a rope or
chain S, by which it is raised or lowered as required. The said pile forms a
cheap and efficient substitute for the ordinary anchors and cables employed

page_text: for this purpose. By winding the chain n upon the barrel G, and at the
same time slackening the chain v, the chain n is unwound from the pulley k,
and thereby winds the chains o upon the pulleys . This pulls the sliding
shaft p down, and by means of the side links & connected to the said shaft
causes the two parts of the scoop or bucket D to assume the position shown
in Figures 2 and 3. By continuing to wind the chain n in the same direction
the scoop D, being filled with mud or other substance gathered therein, is
raised out of the water, and by the continued tension of the said chain is
swung into the proper position to empty itself into a barge or other vessel
moored alongside of the boat A. By slackening the chain n and winding the
chain upon the barrel G', the sliding shaft p is raised and unwinds the
chains o from the pulleys 1, at the same time winding the chain n upon the
pulley. The two parts of the scoop or bucket D are by this means brought
into the position represented in Figure 4, allowing any substance contained
therein to fall freely out. By continuing the tension upon the chain v the jib
C is swung back into its former position. The chain is then allowed to
unwind, and the scoop D descends to the bottom of the river or other water-
course with its two parts in the position represented in Figure 4, and the
several operations above described are repeated.
Having thus fully described my Invention, and shewn how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings; but I claim,--
First. The combination of the derrick frame B, jib C, scoop D, sliding
spars E, guide pulleys F, shafts j and p, chains or ropes n, o, and v, and links
or arms S, with suitable winding or hoisting machinery, for the
arranged substantially in the manner set forth.
purposes and
Second. The jib C, the strut or stay H', and curved projection or platform
E, provided with the pawls or catches wc, combined, arranged, and operating
for the purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
Third. The winding machinery constructed, arranged, and operating in
combination with the jib C, scoop D, and other parts of the Invention for the
purpose and substantially in the manner set forth.
Fourth. The means for stopping and keeping the boat A in any required
position when used in combination with a dredging machine constructed
according to my Invention, substantially in the manner set forth.
Fifth. The scoop or bucket D, with devices for supporting and operating
the same, combined with suitable winding machinery, supported upon a barge

page_text: or boat, and arranged and operating for the purposes and substantially in the
manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sylvester Franklin Schoonmaker, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
SYLVESTER FRANKLIN SCHOONMAKER. (L.S.)
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.