Year: 1888

page_text: We, SAMUEL NEWMAN KNIGHT, residing at Sutter Creek, Amador county, State
of California, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, and ISAAC PHILLIP
LAMBING, residing at Ione, county and State aforesaid, Mine-Superintendent, 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:-
Our invention relates to an improved dredging-bucket, and mechanism for opening
and closing the same.
It consists of a circular frame, having hinged to it spherical pointed sections,
which when closed form a hemispherical containing-bucket; and in combination with
these, of a mechanism by which they may be opened and closed.
Referring to the accompanying drawing,
The bucket is composed of from three to six or more sections A, which, when
closed together, will form a hollow hemisphere.
These sections are formed of sheet-iron or steel, having the base or broadest
portion hinged to a strong iron circle B, by hinge-pins C. From this hinged base
the sections diminish on convex lines to sharp points which are presented downward
so that they may enter the earth or material being excavated, like a sharp-pointed
spade.
These sections are strengthened by strong angle or other iron ribs D, which are
riveted upon the inside and outside of the buckets, as shown.
From the circle B, stout angular brace-rods E, extend upward and support the
upper and lower ends of a cylinder F, which stands vertically above the center of the
circle from which it is rigidly supported by the rods. Within this cylinder is a

page_text: piston, having a piston-rod G, projecting downward through the lower head,
as shown.
The lower end of this piston-rod has yoke H, fixed to it. Guides H' are fixed to
extend down parallel with the cylinder, and the rods H2 having their lower ends fixed
to the yoke H, slide within or upon the guides H', and thus guide and steady the
yoke and piston-rod.
Rods or links have their upper ends hinged to this yoke, while the lower ends
extend downward and connect by hinge-pins with the inner sides of the buckets at
a point a little nearer the apex than the hinged joints of the bucket-sections.
The rods may be in one piece and straight, but in order to give the best power
for closing the bucket in the last portion of its closing movement, we prefer to joint
the rods I, as shown at K.
L is a rigid brace-rod, extending inwardly from the upper sides of each bucket-
section to meet the parts of the jointed rod I, at K.
M is a hose or pipe leading to the upper part of the cylinder, and N is a similar
hose or pipe leading to the lower part of the cylinder, and controlled by a valve J.
The cylinder, circle, and bucket-sections are all suspended from a crane or other
lifting apparatus by a hook or other device, so that the bucket may be let down to
the material which is to be excavated, and after being filled and closed, it may be
raised up again.
The operation will then be as follows:
The buckets are opened by admitting steam, compressed-air, water, or other medium
above the piston, forcing it downward within the cylinder, and with it its piston-rod
and the yoke H. This acts upon the links or rods I, and through them upon the
segments of the buckets, forcing them open with the sharp points presented
downwardly.
The whole device is then lowered until the points rest upon the material to be
excavated, when the upper inlet-passage to the cylinder is closed and the lower one
is opened, allowing the steam, air, or water to enter below the piston, and thus force
it up, the exhaust at the upper end being open.
The action upon the connecting rods or links I, will be such as to force the sharp
points of the bucket-sections into the material to be excavated, the weight being
sufficient to cause them to sink into it, while at the same time, they are being closed
by the upward movement of the piston.
The peculiar angular arrangement of the jointed connecting rods or links I, above
described, cause them to act with greater force to close the bucket-sections at the last
part of their movement, and to force them through the material, especially if it be
tough or difficult to dig.
+
When closed, the bucket forms a nearly tight and perfect hemisphere, and the
whole apparatus may then be lifted by the crane or other lifting apparatus and
transported to the place where it is desired to drop the load. By constructing the
bucket-sections of the hemispherical form and with the sharp points, their effectiveness
in digging the material will be greatly increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is
1. The spherical sections, having their bases hinged to a circular ring, and their
points presented downward so as to close about the hinges and form a hollow
hemispherical bucket, in combination with a pressure-cylinder supported vertically
above the center of the ring by brace-rods therefrom, a piston and piston-rod
operating within said cylinder, and links or rods connecting said piston with the
bucket-sections, so that they may be opened and closed by the movement of the piston,
substantially as described.
2. The circle or ring having the spherical segmental bucket-sections hinged to it,
the central vertical cylinder supported above the ring by brace-rods therefrom, the
piston-rod actuated by the piston within the cylinder, and having a yoke at its lower

page_text: end, and guides therefor, in combination with the hinged links or connecting-rods I,
connecting said yoke with the bucket-sections, substantially as described.
3. The spherical segmental bucket-sections hinged to the ring or circle, the cylinder
supported vertically above the center of said ring or circle, and having the pistor and
piston-rod, in combination with the jointed links or rods connecting said piston-rod
with the bucket-sections, and brace-rods L, extending from the upper part of the
bucket to the joints K of the links, substantially as described.