IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINES OR ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Duncan Macdonald, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Contractor and Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EXCAVATING, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINES OR ARRANGEMENT OF
MECHANISM THEREFOR."
Sealed the 17th February 1880, and dated the 15th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Duncan Macdonald at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th September 1879.
.
DUNCAN MACDONALD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Contractor and Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING, AND IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF MACHINES OR ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM THEREFORE."
"
This said Invention has reference generally to a new or improved construction
or arrangement of excavating machine, of the class mounted on a wheel frame or
platform traversed on rails laid in the bottom of the "cutting," nearly up to the
face of the "cutting," or the track of the earth to be excavated and removed. For
the general purposes of sinking, 'cutting," or excavating of deep tracks, for
railways, canals, or other purposes, as the cutting of drains, and susceptible of
various modifications to suit different circumstances, and nature of the work to
be excavated, and which will both excavate the material, and elevate, and deliver
it into carts, trucks, or waggons, behind the machine for removal, all in a more
efficient and regular manner than has been possible or effected by the excavating
machines heretoforo in use. And the nature und novelty of the Invention or
construction and action of the machines consist as follows:-In erecting on and
between two strong side frames, a special new or improved arrangement of endless
compound broad chain for excavating buckets, and cutting tools or picks in an
alternate manner on the chains passed over suitable driving drums or barrels, and
guide pulleys, all mounted on a suitable strong frame or sole-plate on low wheels
or rollers, and carrying all its driving gearing, and motive steam engine and boiler,
at the back part of the sole-plate under the delivery end of the excavating chain of
buckets which would empty themselves into the removing trucks or waggons on
the rails behind the machine. This sole-plate carrying all the excavating and
working mechanism is mounted by its said underwheels or rollers on a transverse
line of rails or a grooved track, on a very broad platform carriage, traversed by its

page_text: •
wheels mounted on frames below on the rails laid in the bottom of the "cutting,"
preferably with extra side rails and wheels, or portable steadying blocks under the
sides of this broad lower platform, carrying the whole for stability, and allowing
the excavating machine or mechanism above it to traverse across the whole width
or face of the "cutting" to excavate and remove it in vertical sections the width of
the chain or buckets and tools at a time. And further for enabling the excavating
mechanism to cut off the sides at the same angle forward at the top as at the face
of the "cutting," and rounding or dressing these off gradually into the face
"cutting" (for which purpose) the sole-plate and cutting mechanism would be
made to swivel on a centre pin or turn table on its roller carriage, or on its rail or
groove track on the broad top platform of the lower carriage wheel truck carrying
the whole. And to enable the descending chain of buckets on the upper platform
to turn round as stated, the advanced corners of the platform of the lower carriage,
are preferred to be cut away and rounded off, the new or improved construction of
the chain carrying the excavators, and these also consist in mounting two, three,
four, or it might be more strong chains in the width, according to the breadth of
face it is desired to cut at one time. Each chain is secured at a uniform distance
apart, or between them by their buckets, and by cross tie bars through the joints,
or on the back of the links, which are preferably made with alternate double and
single links, and curved on their inner face or edges to lay steady on their driving
drums, while passing round these, while the double links would take over strong
driving pitched teeth on the drums, curved or angled to take freely into the spaces
for them between the links. The buckets are made about the same width as this
combined set of chains, more or less, according to the nature and toughness of the
earth, clay, or stoney material the machine had to excavate, and they are made of
a U shape, close on all sides, except the open grappling mouth on the top, which
has the upper edges of the front side and ends made of sharpened steel to cut and
grapple the material off the face of the cutting into them as the chains travel upwards.
Each bucket being strongly secured by its back close side to a transverse row of the
links of all the chains to act somewhat in the manner of dredger buckets, but at
considerable intervals apart, with a number of rows of links between them, which
links have cutters or diggers made in the form of navvy picks, and secured by
strong kneed or curved stems to each line of chain in sets across the links, alternately
with each other on the front and back rows between the buckets; as three or four
on one row, and two or three on the next row, all between the buckets, and
sharpened pick or chiselwise at the point, and sharp all up the advanced cutting
edge, but strong ribbed at the back, and towards the strong knee arm by which
each is screwed or otherwise secured to the links of the chains, all between the
buckets to dig and loosen the material as they cut up the face of the "bank
"cutting," track or drain the machine is excavating, and cause the loosened
material to fall into or be easily removed and grappled into the buckets coming up
on the chain immediately behind the picks. This broad chain of excavating
buckets and alternate picks, and its driving drums or barrels are preferably
mounted on or around two strong internal open malleable iron or steel edge bar or
plate side frames. The web bars of these side frames would be about double the
depth edgeways of the links and chain so that they could be well secured together
by cross bars, carrying anti friction guide rollers, on which the chains would travel;
and the whole would be made in the form of an acute angled nearly isosceles
triangle, carrying a driving chain drum at each angle, and laid on its side with the
base placed up towards the face of the " cutting," inclined so that the excavating
chain of tools would cut the upper part of the face at a very considerable angle
forwards in advance of the lower part of the face or cutting; and having the long
upper side of the triangle ascending at a considerable angle towards the apex or
back drum, so that the material would be retained in the buckets while passing
upwards and backwards, so as to be delivered over the drum at the back sharp
angle down into the usual tilting removeable trucks on the rails behind the whole
machine and carriage platform, carrying the main swivelling sole plate of this
"
or

page_text: "
excavator and its said frame, which would be secured thereto by strong side frames
below and behind the excavating forward part of this internal frame secured
thereto by a strong bound arrangement of stay frame, which would also carry all
the transmitting motion angled shafts and wheels or gearing for driving the drums
at the several angles of the frame from the motive engine at its gearing, all erected
on the sole-plate between the said lower back side frames under the back returning
chains of buckets and tools, as before stated, and with the boiler and engine to
counterbalance the weight of the advance face of the frame of excavating buckets
projecting forward to the face of the "cutting" over the supporting sole-plate and
back frames. These lower back side frames require to be wider than the buckets
and chains to allow them to pass down between them on their return to the cutting
face, and to enable this wide part of the frame to advance into the "cutting" or recess
made by the excavating chain; this recess may be widened below by curved lateral
cutting picks secured to the advance corners of the frame itself, or on a large revolving
boss or cutting wheel on the overhanging ends of the shaft of the lower chain drum;
although this widening as well as the angling of the sides of the "cutting
outwards towards the top to prevent the sides from falling in may be better
effected by the said slueing or swivelling of the excavating mechanism on its turning
table to round off the sides of the "cutting" into the working face of the "cutting."
For cutting trenches below the level of the roadway on which the machine
travels, this excavator would require to be considerably modified, from the
arrangement described, for excavating railway and such like tracks, all above the
roadway on which the machine traverses. For this purpose as for the cutting of
deep trenches, the configuration of the triangular frame carrying the chain of
buckets and picking tools, might be more of a right angled triangle, with the right
angle at the upper advanced part above the ground, and one of the angles of 45°
projecting down into the "cutting," having the other very much raised above the
level of the ground at the rear corner and chain barrel, so as to deliver the
excavated material over this into downward inclining shoot or tray diverging
from under the chain barrel where it received the material quite over to one or
both sides of the trench, either onto the ground some distance from the trench, or
into removing carts or trucks on a line of rails there for the purpose. The down-
ward or returning line of chains going into the trench at much the same angle as
the upward excavating line of chain and tools. In this arrangement the strong
platform (carrying the strong triangular steel frame, made as light as possible for
the work of the excavating chains of buckets and picks) would preferably be made
of strong bound timber, well screwed together longitudinally and transversely in
the form of a long carriage frame, passed right through the upper wide part of the
triangular frame, which would be secured to it all in the working position stated.
This frame carriage carrying the whole, with the steam engine gearing inside the
triangular framing, and also the steam boiler, would be mounted on wheels at its
outer ends, travelling on a line of rails laid on planking or sleepers some considerable
distance off, and on each side of the "cutting" or trench being excavated. In
order to commence trenching with this machine, a hole would require to be first
dug to allow the lower excavating end or angle of the bucket frame and chain
barrel to commence cutting and revolving at the bottom level to which the trench
was to be excavated. Or otherwise the carriage frame would require to be erected
on a temporary screw or inclined plane, or other equivalent lowering end platforms
to allow the machine to gradually sink and work itself down to the level at which
the trench was to be cut, when the wheel carriage would then be mounted on its
rails, and in any of these arrangements might be made to traverse itself slowly
forward to the face of the "cutting," and controlled by the engine man.
In this trenching arrangement either the upper carriage frame or the triangular
frame or both, could have a cheek or lining of sheet metal or planking secured to it at
the sides when cutting in soft material to prevent the new cut part of the trench from
falling in upon the machinery; and the machine might carry or drag a platform on
wheels, behind it in the trench, with men and planks and props for shoring up the

page_text: sides of the trench or ditch or for laying drain pipes in the bottom and covering
them over again with the material excavated. It is to be understood that the
triangular shape of the frame for the chain travelling round could be modified to
suit the kind of earth and form of the "cutting" to be excavated, as where the soil
is soft or sandy, and a greater angle forward and upward was in consequence
.desired to be given to the face of the "cutting" or its sides for safety, then the
frame would require to be modified to make the upward excavating line of the chain
of buckets and picks to excavate and dress off the surface to that angle. And where the
material had to be delivered higher than the upper back angle of the triangular frame,
it would have to be raised and consequently make the upper front angle more obtuse,
and the lower angle one at the bottom as a consequence more acute or "vice versa."
And although the machine has been described as traversed by its wheel frame
on rails, on the surface of the ground when cutting. or excavating trenches, it will
.be evident that for excavating or widening and deepening canals or other basins,
as for docks or river banks and such like work that the machine might be made
to traverse on piles and framing for the purpose such as travelling cranes are
traversed on at present for sinking and building in water basins or courses.
The
said malleable iron or steel frame is so made solid, or all bound together as a
portable frame to have all the strains of excavating on the chain of buckets and
picks sustained within itself, and be able to carry all its own transmitting angled
shafts and gearing to the several chain drums, and so that this frame might be
shifted and secured at different angles on its carrying travelling frame or carriage,
or removed and mounted on different arrangements or constructions of such
carrying frames to suit the particular work of excavating or trenching it was to be
applied to. For dressing off the sides or bands of the "cutting" or track behind
the said excavating machine.
Another modification of the improved arrangement of excavating chain
with one
or two buckets and two rows of picks in advance of these might
be used mounted on an angled frame in the form of a jib and derrick crane
excavator, all mounted on a carriage truck, or platform on rails behind the
excavating machine having engine and boiler on the swivelling platform of this
excavating derrick and its driving gearing much similar to a derrick crane, with
an arrangement of chain and barrel for raising and lowering the excavating frame
to the angle it is desired to cut or dress off the bank. And another winding barrel
and chain with its separate gearing and stopping and holding mechanism would
be fitted below for drawing up the chain of excavating picks and bucket along
the under side of the jib frame over the bank to excavate and grapple the inaterial
into the bucket below. When the bucket arrives at the top of the bank or
cutting" full, the derrick is swung round by its slueing gear to empty the
material into the removing carts or trucks or rails behind, out of the bucket,
which is fitted with a hinged bottom or front door, and with sneck or catches
and light chain, for opening and closing the door from the platform.
the chain with its bucket and excavating picks would then be lowered to
the bottom of the embankment and drawn up again to dress off a fresh section
of the "cutting," or surface of the bank, and empty it again all successively and
alternately as herein-before described automatically by the engine and gearing
carried on a swivelling platform, the several movements of which would be
controlled by the engine man, much as the movements of a derrick crane are.
When

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Duncan Macdonald in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th March,
1880.
DUNCAN MACDONALD, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Contractor and Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF MACHINES OR ARRANGEMENT OF MECHANISM THEREFOR."
My said Invention has reference generally to a new or improved construction or
arrangement of excavating machines of the class mounted on a wheel frame or
platform, traversed on rails laid in the bottom of and nearly up to the face of the
cutting" or the track of the earth to be excavated and removed, for the general
purposes of sinking, "cutting," or excavating of deep tracks for railways, canals, or
other purposes, such as the cutting of drains, ditches, or trenches, for the drainage
and improvement of land, and susceptible of various modifications to suit different
circumstances, and the nature of the work to be performed or executed, and which
will both excavate the material, and elevate and deliver it into carts, trucks,
waggons, or floating barges, in the case of deepening rivers, and such like purposes,
behind the machine for removal, all in a more efficient and regular manner than
has been possible or effected by the excavating or dredging machines heretofore
in use.
And the nature and novelty of the Invention or arrangement and action of the
parts of a typical construction of the machine embodying most of the essential
novelties of the improvements, consist substantially as follows:-In erecting on and
between two strong side frames a special new or improved arrangement of endless
compound broad chain or chains of excavating buckets, and cutting tools or picks,
in an alternate manner on the chains passed over suitable driving drums or barrels
and guide pulleys, all mounted on a suitable strong frame or sole platè on low
wheels or rollers, and carrying all the driving gear and motive steam engine and
boiler at the back part of the sole plate, under the delivery end of the excavating
chain of buckets, which would empty themselves into the removing trucks or
waggons on the rails behind the machine. This sole plate carrying all the exca-
vating and working mechanism is mounted by its said under wheels or rollers on
a transverse line of rails, or a grooved track or arrangement of turn table on a
very broad platform carriage traversed by its wheels, mounted on frames below,
on the rails laid in the bottom of the " cutting," preferably with extra side rails
and wheels, or portable steadying blocks, under the side of this broad lower plat-
form carrying the whole, for stability, and allowing the excavating machine or
mechanism above it to traverse across or swivel round the whole width or face
of the "cutting" to excavate and remove it in vertical sections the width of the
chain of buckets and tools at a time. And, further, for enabling the excavating
mechanism to cut off the sides at the same angle forward and upwards to the top
as at the face of the "cutting," and rounding or dressing this off gradually into the
face cutting, for which purpose the sole plate and cutting mechanism would be
made to swivel on a centre pin or turn table on its roller carriage, or on its rail or
groove track, on the broad top platform of the lower carriage wheel truck carrying
the whole; and to enable the ascending chain of buckets on the upper platforms
to turn round as stated the advanced corners of the platform of the lower carriage
are preferred to be cut away or rounded off for that purpose.
.:
And in order that the nature, novelty, and mode of performing my said
Invention may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to particularly describe
the five Sheets of explanatory Drawings which I have hereunto appended for that
purpose, the same reference letters and numerals indicating the same or like parts
in all the Figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 1, are a side elevation
.

page_text: and a plan respectively of an excavating machine constructed in accordance with
and illustrative of one modification of my Invention, and improvements thereof,
when designed, as in this case, for the excavating of "cuttings" or tracks through
high land, or irregular or mixed earth and stones, for railways or other roads, and
such like purposes, and of the improved character hereinbefore generally described;
Figure 3 is a partial plan of the wheeled track or carriage frame Z, Z, Z*, with
its turning table arrangement of centre step zand anti-friction rollers x for carrying
the whole frame and working mechanism of the excavating machine proper on its
strong bed frame A¹, A', by its turn table centre z¹ and ring x¹ secured on the
under side thereof to fit and work on their corresponding parts and x on the upper
face of the carriage, or it might be other equivalent ordinary turn table arrange-
ment on the said frames Z. carried on its wheels Z¹ and rails Z, Z; Figures 4 and
5 show a transverse and side section of one bucket B as attached to its links c;
Figures 6 and 7 show a front section and elevation of the same corresponding
to Figures 4 and 5 respectively; Figure 8, on Sheet 2, is a back end elevation of
this excavator corresponding to Figures 1 and 2 on Sheet 1, and shows the arrange-
ment of the under carriage Z, Z', carrying the main vertical and basement frame
A, A', A", strongly stayed laterally by the angled and transverse frames and tie
bars A and A2, showing also a steam engine F, F, F, and its boiler E, and
transmitting or driving shafts and gearing G, g, all carried at the back end of the
frames A, A¹, to counter-balance the front excavating end of the machine and its
chains of buckets and picks B, C.
Referring to these Figures 1 to 8, and particularly the latter, it will be seen that
four lines of rails Z", Z2, are laid on sleepers Z³, or other suitable foundation, in
the level bottom T of the cutting or track being excavated, and always laid down
in front of the carriage Z, Z', as it advances and cuts into the face T₁ indicated in
dotted lines at Figure 1. The under carriage Z carrying the whole machine is
supported and traversed longitudinally on its eight wheels Z¹, two ranged as far
forwards and two as far backwards as possible on their spindles Y, and bearing or
bush brackets secured to the frame Z and running on the inner set of rails Z", Z",
to give great longitudinal stability to the whole, while a corresponding pair of
wheels Z are mounted at the extreme outsides of the carriage frame Z at either
side to run on the two outside rails Z2, Z3, to give great lateral stability.
The whole machine might be fed forwards through two or more of the wheels Z' by
hand levers on their axles Y outside the carriage frame Z, or it might be by screw
or wheel gearing Y, Y', by hand, or by the motive engine F, F, F, and any suitable
engaging and disengaging hand gear, all as indicated at y, y, y', in Figure 8, on
Sheet 2, and when desired two toothed racks might be laid down beside the rails
Z¹¹, Z, for toothed wheels to run in when this was found desirable for the better
feeding forward of the carriage Z on its wheels Z and rails Z, Z, by the said
gearing Y¹, y, y¹.
The carriage frame Z is formed of a deep steel or malleable iron outer plate
frame, rounded in this case, but it might be square, or with rounded corners in
front for the free turning of the excavating chains B, C, without touching this;
and the outer frame Z is all bound together and strengthened by longitudinal and
transverse crossing webs Zx of the same depth as the outer frame, as seen
particularly in Figure 3. While the under or basement frame A¹ carrying the
excavating machine or machinery, is likewise formed of deep steel or malleable iron
plates A strengthened by longitudinal and transverse deep webs a, a¹, all rivetted
together to carry the turn table arrangement x, 21, on its under side, working on
those x, z, of the carriage frame Z below, all as seen particularly in Figures 1, 2,
and &
Two sets of the new or improved arrangement of excavating chain of alternate
buckets B, and sets of digging or excavating picks C, preferably secured and formed
on the alternate single links c, c', of a set of three chains b, c, c¹, for each set of
excavators B, C, as seen particularly in Figures 1 and 2, and the detailed views,
Figures 4 to 7; and it will be understood that one or other number of these sets

page_text: or chains of buckets and picks might be so mounted on two, three, or more endless
chains of single and double alternate links c, b, to either of which the buckets and
picks might be secured or formed thereon. These sets of excavating buckets B
are preferred to be made out of solid plate or sheet steel, and the picks and links
b, c, and c', with the picks C all of hammered steel, to give the greatest strength
with the least weight, and they are mounted over hexagonal or other polygonal steel
faced driving barrels or drums D, D, on a single driving shaft D₁ above, and two
D", D³, D¹¹¹, D³, below, at the under and upper angled face T¹ of the cutting; but
each set of barrels D, D", D, might be mounted on separate shafts D¹, D³, D³,
when preferred, according to the system of driving preferred and adopted.
These chain barrels D, D¹¹, D, are carried and revolved by their shafts D', D³, D³,
in strong bush bearings D₁ formed or secured near the angles of the triangularly
disposed chains in the main vertical side frames A, A, formed of broad webs or flat
bands of steel plates rivetted or otherwise secured at their angles and joinings,
strengthened by vertical bars A", and horizontal and diagonal or transverse
stays A, and angled stays or frames A³, from the upper and front part of the
frames A, outside down to the basement frame A¹, A¹, before described, to which
the whole is firmly bolted or otherwise secured above, all as seen particularly in
Figures 1, 2, and 8. The chains of excavating buckets B and sets of picks C thus
revolve on their said barrels D, D", D¹¹¹, and traverse over them and between the said
vertical side frames A, A, preferably over rollers & above, rotating by their spindles
in bush bearings d¹ in the upper bar of the said frames A, and below and in front,
where the buckets are under the chains, side angled iron bars d", d³, are secured to
the inner sides of the frames A", A*, at these parts to project in under the double
links b of the chain, or rollers projecting from them to carry up the weight of the
chain of buckets, and steady the same laterally in their transverse motion; and the
same bars or rollers on them at A*, d³, in front might be made to resist the inward
pressure on the chain in excavating, while passing up the face T¹ of the earth or
embankment being cut away.
Each chain b, c, c¹, is secured at a uniform distance apart or between them by
their buckets B, bolted, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, to the single links c, and it
might be also by cross tie bars as c¹ through the joints or on the back of the
links, or through the body of the pick c, to steady these as well as the chains
which are preferably made with alternate double and single links b, and c, c',
respectively, and either made straight on the back to run on polygonal drums
D, D, DI, or curved segmentally on the inner face or edges to lie steady on their
said driving drums, when these are made cylindrical, as shown in some of the after
modifications and Figures, and the joint parts of the links might take into holding
recesses made for them in the surface of the drums, or the double links b, b, might
take over strong driving pitched teeth on the drums, curved or angled to take
freely into the spaces between them and the ends of the single links c, c'. The
buckets B are made about the same width as their combined set of three chains
b, c, c², more or less, according to the nature and toughness of the earth, clay, or
stoney material the machine had to excavate, and they are made of a D and U
shape or section, close on all sides except at the open grappling mouth at the top
(Figures 4 to 7) which has the upper central edges B' of the front side of the sheet
steel sharpened to cut and grapple the material off the face of the cutting into them
as the chains travel upwards. Each bucket B is strongly secured by its back
close side to the transverse row of the links c, c, c, of the set of chains to act some-
what in the manner of dredger buckets, but at considerable intervals apart, with
a number of rows of links b, c, c¹, between them, some of which links as c¹ have
cutters or diggers C made in the form of ordinary picks, and secured by strong
kneed or curved stems to each line of chains in sets across the links c', c', preferably
alternately with each other on the front and back rows between the buckets, as three
or more on each row, and two or three on the next row, all between the buckets,
and sharpened pick or chisel wise at the point, and sharp all up the advanced
cutting edge, but strong ribbed at the back and towards the strong kneed arm, by

page_text: which each is formed on or otherwise screwed or secured to the said intermediate
links cof the chains, and secured transversely to each other by screw tie bars c¹1,
all between and projecting out beyond the buckets B to dig and loosen the material
as they cut up the face T of the "bank," " cutting," track, or drains the machine.
is excavating, and thus cause the loosened material to fall into or be easily removed
and grappled into the buckets B as they come up on the chain immediately behind
these picks C.
Thus then the excavating chain of buckets and picks B, C, is ranged in its frame
A, A', in the form of an acute angled triangle, turned up at each angle and laid or
set with its narrow base A*, AX, placed up towards the face T¹ of the "cutting "T,
inclined so that the excavating chain of tools B, C, would cut the upper part T" of
the face T', T, at a very considerable angle forward in advance of the face or
cutting; and having the long upper side of the triangle ascending at a considerable
angle upwards towards the apex or back drum D, D₁, so that the material would be
retained in the buckets B while passing upwards and backwards, so as to be delivered
over the said drum at the back sharp angle down by the shoot S into the usual
tilting removable trucks on rails behind the whole machine and carriage platform
carrying the main swivelling base A¹, or sole plate, of this excavator and its said
strong vertical frame A, A1, A2, which is secured thereto, all as herein before described
and particularly seen in Figure 8.
The steam boiler E is shown of the horizontal, portable, tubular, or locomotive
class; erected on the platform A¹, A¹, some distance in under the high angle frame A
and chain of buckets and excavators B, C, with the fire box El on one side of the
machine and the chimney E" on the other side, having a double cylinder steam
engine F, F, F", erected between the vertical frames A¹¹; A", in front of the boiler
at the back end of the frames A; A¹, coupled by two connecting rods F¹ with a
double crank shaft F" overhead, revolving in bearing blocks F2, secured to the inner
sides of the said back vertical bars A, A, of the angled frames A, A, having a fly
wheel F3 at one end outside the said frame to give steady motion; while at the other
end spur wheels yll are fitted with engaging and disengaging coupling y³, which
through the bevil wheels y" actuate the vertical shaft y³, so as by a pinion w at its
lower end working into a segmental wheel w¹ secured on the top of the frame of the
lower carriage Z to slue or swivel the whole frame A, A¹, and the excavating chain
of buckets and mechanism to cut all' round the face of the cutting T, T', gradually
into the sides, all of the same angle or slope, as indicated at T, T₁,T", in Figures 1
and 2. And the crank shaft of the engine is made to actuate the two sets of main
chains or ladders of buckets and excavators B, C, through their upper back polygonal
drums D and shaft D', and a chain of three reducing sets of wheels g, g', gl, g, and
gl, g, and two intermediate shafts G, G', carried on bush bearings g' secured to
the side standards A" in the space between the double set of excavating buckets
and their frames A, A, over the engine shaft F, and containing the driving gearing
G, G¹, g, g¹, g¹¹, g², g¹¹¹, g³, all as seen particularly in Figure 8 and in dotted lines in
Figure 1, and so as to balance, the weight of the excavating chain of buckets at the
front excavating end, as before stated.
As the lower part of the side frames from the cutting picks and buckets C, B,
require to be wider than these, to allow them to pass down between them on their
return forwards to the lower part of the cutting face T, T¹, to enable this wide part
of the frame at A*; A*, to advance into the "cutting" or recess made by the exca-
vating chains of buckets and picks B, C, in certain kinds of tough material, this
recess may be widened below by fixing curved lateral cutters or digging picks on
to the advanced corners of the frame at A* below, which would force off the edges
of the recess or cutting, or otherwise a large revolving boss or cutting wheel might
be keyed on the overhanging ends of the shaft D2 of the lower chain drum Du
for the like purpose; although this widening, as well as angling of the sides of the
"cutting" outwards towards the top, to prevent the sides from falling in, would in
general be better and more effectually done by the slueing or swivelling of the
excavating mechanism on the turning table z, z¹, x, x¹, hereinbefore described, to round

page_text: off the sides of the "cutting" into the working face of the "cutting" simultaneously
with the forward cutting of the track, thus leaving the sides of the track in a safe,
finished, sloping state as the track is formed, and which constitutes one of the most
important features and purposes for which this improved excavator is designed,
besides or in addition to the picking or cutting of the material up the face of the
"cutting" for the buckets to scoop or grapple it up into then. The material, as so
excavated from the cutting face in front and at the sides, is carried up and delivered
over the upper driving barrels D, D', as before stated on to one or two "shoots "S,
secured or carried by the frames A¹¹, A¹¹, under one or both barrels and sets of
chain buckets, and capable of being angled to deliver the material into the ordinary
tilting waggons used for the purpose of removing the excavated material, and
which may be brought close up behind this excavating machine on either or both of
the double lines of rails Z1, Z2, so as to receive the material from either side of the
excavator to which it may be slued and working for the time being. It will be
seen that this machine is susceptible of various modifications to suit the width of
the track or "cutting," and the kind or character of the material it has to excavate,
that is, only one set of chains and excavators B, C, might be used for narrow
cuttings," or three sets might be used for broad cuttings with earth and stones
which were not extra difficult to excavate, and a greater depth of face T¹, T¹,
might in such cases be excavated by the lengthening the part of the frame A*, A*,
separating the chain barrels D¹, D³, and D¹¹, D³, when desired. And for deep
cuttings" the machine would be made to excavate these in successive intervals of
considerable length at each time, and then lowering the level of the rails Z", Z¹¹,
Z2, Z3, to the respective depth the machine was able for, until reaching the full
depth of the "cutting" or track required. While various constructions of steam
boilers, engines, and arrangements of driving gearing from that shown might be
employed, without departing from the said improved character and purpose for
which this excavating machine is designed.
"
"
For cutting trenches, below the level of the roadway on which the machine has
to travel, this excavator would require to be considerably modified from the
arrangement for excavating railway and such like trucks T, T, above the roadway
on which the machine traverses, all as described in reference to the Figures 1 to 8,
on Sheets 1 and 2. For this purpose, as for the cutting of deep trenches for the
draining and reclaiming of land or channels for foundations, or for docks, and such
like excavations where the material has to be raised to the higher level 7³ on
which the machine travels.
The configuration of the triangular or other vertical side frames A, A, A, carrying
the chain of buckets B, and picking tools C might be more of a right angled
triangle form, with the right angle at the upper advanced part or barrel D1, D³,
above the ground, and one of the angles of 45° or so, projecting down into the
"cutting" at the bottom of the face T, T¹, and lower barrel D1, D2, so that the
other or upper back angle and barrel D, D', would be very much raised above the
level of the ground Z³, so as to deliver the excavated material over this barrel D, D',
into an angular "shoot" or tray S diverging from under this chain barrel where it
received the material, and conduct it quite over to one or both sides of the trench
either on to the ground some distance off from the trench, or on to a platform, or
into removing carts or trucks on a line of rails at the sides for the purpose.
Figures 9 and 10, on Sheet 3, are respectively a sectional elevation and back end
view of a modification of my new or improved excavating machine or mechanism,
in accordance with this Invention, for the said purpose of cutting or excavating
below the level Z³, on which the machine travels, and delivering the excavated.
material above that level. The main frame of the excavator in this case, consists
of two upper angular side bars A, A, carrying the bearings of the upper driving
barrel D, D¹, and upper return barrel D, D³, secured by vertical side bars A₁₁
and angled stays A1, A2, to the horizontal rectangular strong basement frame
A¹, A', carrying the whole by three pairs of wheels H, H, H, running transversely
on rails H¹ on the upper surface of a strong framed carriage Z ranged below it

page_text: and transversely across the "cutting; " and which is traversed longitudinally on two
or more wheels Z¹ at each end, running on rails Z" laid on beams Z, along the
upper surface or level of the ground Z³, below which the cutting T, T, is being
excavated, and back some distance therefrom,
The lower barrel D1, D2 is carried in the lower end of the frame A*, A*, set at
an angle corresponding to the face of the "cutting" T¹, T¹, and swivelling on the
shaft D³ of the barrel D³ above the upper surface of the "cutting," and secured in
that position by the strong vertical bars A³ to each side of the frame A, A¹, and
the lower end of the frame Ax, and moved to any other angle and depth of cutting
desired by a segmental wheel I at each side, attached to the lower end of the
frames A, A, actuated by pinions 1', '1', and hand gear carried on the frames A, A¹,
with pawls for retaining it in the desired position while removing or adding links
to the bucket chain to suit this adjustment for different depths of cutting. In this
arrangement the strong wheeled platform or carriage Z, Z', might be made of strong
bound framed timber, or of iron, or steel, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 8, for
carrying the strong triangular frame A, A', A", A2, A3, A*, made of steel as light
as possible to be equal for the work of the excavating chains of buckets B and
picks C. This frame Z, Z', would pass right through the upper wide part of the
triangular frame A, A¹, A*, and endless chain of excavators B, C, which would be
secured on the wheels and rails H, H¹, as described and shown in Figures 9 and 10,
to give any desired width of cutting T, T'. This carriage frame A, A¹³, would, as in
the former arrangement, also carry the steam boiler E and steam engine F, F¹,
shown in this case as of the single cylinder and diagonal construction, with the
gearing all inside the triangular framing A, A1, A", and chain of excavators B, C,
the whole being fed forwards to the face T, T', of the cutting, substantially as.
described and lettered in reference to the former Figures. In order to commence
trenching with this machine the frame A*, A*, and lower barrel D1, D2, would
require to be gradually lowered by the segments and wheels I, I, and links added
to the chain accordingly, or otherwise a hole would require to be first dug to allow
the lower excavating end or angle face A*, A*, of the bucket frame and chain
barrel D1, D2, to commence cutting and revolving at the bottom or lower level T, T,
to which the trench or cutting was to be excavated; or otherwise the carriage
frame Z, Z', might be erected on a temporary screw or inclined plane lowering
platform, or other equivalent to allow the machine to gradually sink and work
itself down to the depth or level at which the trench or cutting was to be excavated,
when the wheel carriage Z, Z', would then be mounted to traverse on its proper
rails Zat the sides of the trench, or it might be on broad wheels on the ground
level Z³. When this trenching arrangement or design of machine is required for
cutting narrow deep trenches, the whole excavating mechanism might be carried
on the longitudinal carriage frame Z, Z, on the rails Z", and this frame or the
triangular frame A, A1, A¹¹, A², or both, could have a cheek or lining of sheet metal
or planking secured thereto, projecting down close to the sides of the cutting so as
when working in soft material to prevent the new cut part from falling in upon
the machinery; and further, the machine might carry or drag a platform on wheels
behind it in the trench, with men and planks and props for shoring up the sides of
the trench or ditch, or for laying drain pipes in the bottom, and covering them over
again with the material excavated.
Where the material had to be delivered higher than the upper back angle and
barrel D, D¹, of the angular frame A, A', A¹¹, this back end would have to be raised
and consequently make the upper front angle at the barrel D1, D³, more obtuse,
and the angle at the barrel D", D2, more acute at the bottom as a consequence, or
vice versa, when the back angle and barrel B, B', is lowered.
Although this excavating machine has been described as traversed by its wheel
frame Z, Z, on rails Z, on the surface Z³ of the ground when cutting or excavating
trenches, it will be evident that for excavating or widening and deepening canals
or other basins, as for docks or river banks and such like work, where water in the
bottom of the cutting might interfere with this, that the machine might be made to

page_text: traverse on rails on the top of a strong line of framing erected on piles along opposite
sides of the track to be excavated, braced together laterally for the purpose, such as
that now used for carrying or traversing travelling cranes, for sinking and building
in water basins or courses.
The said malleable iron or steel frame A, A¹, A", is
preferably made solid, or all bound together, as a portable frame to have all the
strains of excavating on the chain of buckets B and picks C sustained within
itself, and be also able to carry all its own transmitting shafts and gearing to the
several chain drums desired to be driven, so that this frame A, A1, A", might be
shifted and secured at different angles on its carrying travelling frame or carriage
Z, Z, or be removed and mounted on different arrangements or constructions of
such carrying frames to suit the particular work of excavating or trenching the
excavating chains and their frame are to be applied to.
Figures 11 and 12, on Sheet 4, are a side elevation and plan respectively, of a
small simple construction of my improved excavating machine or mechanism,
designed as a portable drain, ditch, or shallow trench cutter, for the drainage of
land or other purposes, considerably different from that described in reference to
and shown in Figures 9 and 10, on Sheet 3. In this arrangement the whole
working mechanism is carried on a portable or traction carriage consisting of two
main side frames or beams A¹, A¹, open between each other at the rear part, to
allow the triangular arrangement of a single set of excavating buckets B on the
alternate single links c, to traverse freely down between the frames A', under the
lower barrel D", D2, to the earth or ground, and forwards up the obtuse angle
cutting face T, T₁, T¹, over the upper return barrel D, D³, both of these barrels in
this case working preferably above the ground level Z³ on which this carriage
frame traverses, by two broad traction wheels Z¹, Z', outside the frame on its axle
Z, passed through the open chains as far back as possible to clear these, and work
in bush bearing blocks J secured on the uuder side of the carriage frame A¹, which
is further carried on and steered in front by a swivelling fore-carriage or bogio
axle K and two broad wheels K¹, K¹, mounted under a front platform at a*, on the
carriage frame A¹, in advance of the drain being cut or excavated, and swivelled by
chains at the opposite ends of the axle K, brought back and wound in opposite
directions round barrels on a steering spindle ", working in bearings on the
upper side of the frames A', A¹, and passed across the open front angle of the chain
of buckets, and controlled and actuated by a hand steering wheel ² on the spindle
of a screw working into a screw wheel on the chain barrel steering and
winding shaft. The upper driving, steering, and bucket chain barrel D, D¹, is
carried in a bush bearing frame A secured to the upper back part of the carriage
A', A', and which also carries the crank shaft F" of a small double cylinder diagonal
engine F, F¹, and shafts G, G', of the driving gearing g, g¹, g¹¹, 92, and which also
are carried within the back open part of the triangular arrangement of bucket
chains and their carrying frames A, A, A*, A*, which latter are raised and lowered
at intervals by the removal or insertion of links in the chain, and the action of the
compensating raising and lowering toothed segment I, and pinion I, and shaft I¹,
worked by hand levers and ratchet wheel with pawl catch I", for holding it in
position. This machine is fed forward by the engine, or backwards when desired,
through loose reversing clutch wheels 1, 1, on the opposite end of the intermediate
shaft G to that of the gearing g, g', g¹¹, g², for driving the chain barrel D, D¹; these
bevil wheels 1, 1, gear into a single bevil wheel on the top of the angled shaft 711,
with a pinion on its lower end, gearing into a large bevil wheel 3 on the axlo Z of
the traction wheels Z', Z; but for travelling the carriage along the roads, the gearing
G, g, g³, actuate these wheels Z¹, Z¹. The earth or material thus dug or excavated
out of the drain or. trench, by the buckets, by their forward motion, and that of the
carriage, is delivered over the back barrel D, D¹, on to an angled tray S, which
conducts and leaves the material equally on both sides of the drain being cut. The
said front platform a* of the carriage A¹, carries on it in front of the chain of
buckets B, the steam boiler E and fuel box E³, for supplying and working the
encing FF FI

page_text: Figures 13 and 14 are a side and back elevation respectively, with some parts in
section, to show these more clearly; and Figure 15 is a plan corresponding to
Figure 13, all on Sheet 5, of a modification or general arrangement of my new
or improved excavating machine erected on a floating vessel, pontoon, or barge M
(somewhat in the form of a dredging machine) for excavating hard or tough
material from the bottom or bed of the waterway, or the bottom or side banks of
rivers, canals, or such like, where sufficient water could be obtained by first
deepening sufficient of it, or otherwise floating it in the line of the part to be
excavated or deepened to float the vessel and set it to work. The general character
of the excavating endless chain of buckets B and picks C is much of the same
character or arrangement and construction as that described in reference to Figures
1, 2, and 8 on Sheets 1 and 2, and the equivalent parts are indicated by the same
reference letters. There are a double line of excavating chains, composed of three
lengths of chain in the width, with the buckets B secured on the alternate sets of
single links c, and the picks C on the others c¹ passed in an open triangular shape
or form over their upper driving barrels D and D on the one driving shaft D¹,
carried on bush bearing blocks at the top end of a sliding or telescopic form of box
shaped vertical frames or standards N projecting up from the after or stern end of
the barge or vessel M on each side of the barrels D and chain of excavators B, C,
and well stayed by angled stays and cross ties A2, A¹¹¹, also supporting the back
ends of the long upper side frames or beams A, A, carrying the upper ascending
line of chains of buckets and excavators B, C, led down and secured to the end
frames A, A, below, carrying the bearings of the lower barrels, D", D², and
D, D³, and guiding the ascending buckets and excavators B, C, at the lower
excavating angle or base and face T', T¹, of the cutting under the water in this
case. The returning descending part of the chain of buckets B and picks C are
carried and guided by angle iron or other equivalent guide bars or frames at d¹¹ on
each side, projecting under the double links or projecting rollers from their joint
bars, and carried on and secured to vertical standards or frames A", A", erected at
intervals from the deck of the pontoon or barge M. This front part of the exca-
vating chains B, C, and its carrying frame A*, A*, slide up and down in guide
recesses M' formed for them in the forward end of the barge M, and the forward
returning line of chains pass down through long recesses or wells M through the
barge M behind the former guide recesses M³, all so that this excavating end of the
chain of buckets and picks B, C, and its frame A, A, A, may be raised or lowered
at considerable intervals of time, as desired, to suit the different depth it is desired
to excavate at one time, and as indicated by the dotted lines at Ti, T, T, in
Figure 13. The weight of this front part of each frame A, A, A*, and its excavating
chain are shown as carried by a strong screw O working in a deep nut and socket
at O¹, secured to the solid part M² of the pontoon M between the wells M² and M¹¹,
for allowing the chains to pass up and down through, and the turning of the nut
by hand levers inserted into holes in its rim raises or lowers the frame and
excavators, as explained. For passing under bridges the back high end of both
frames A, A, and chains B, C, can be simultaneously lowered by loosening the stays
A², A, and screws in the telescopic box frames N. In this arrangement the back
driving barrel D, D¹, is actuated by a vertical transmitting shaft P, and bevil wheel
gear P and P at the top and lower ends, the latter being actuated by an inter-
mediate horizontal shaft G and reducing speed spur gear g, g', from the crank
shaft F of a double oscillating cylinder steam engine F, F¹, placed low down in
the hull of the boat at the after end, as also a large cylindrical tubular marine type
of steam boiler E, with the funnel E" in the centre, between the two sets of
excavating chains, all at the after end, to counter-balance the weight of the exca-
vating chains at the other end of the boat. These engines would also through
suitable ordinary winding gear and disengaging mechanism actuate the hauling
chains for keeping the front excavating face buckets B and picks C up to the bank
to be cut, the material excavated being carried up in the upper line of buckets B,
and delivered over the back driving barrel D, D₁, into angled shoots S leading it

page_text: into carrying and removing punts or barges for the purpose, or on to the bank of
the river or channel when that is desired. This excavating barge M is also fitted
with a screw propeller Q at the stern, with a shaft led forward inside to the
engines F, F, F, to be driven by suitable gearing therefrom when it is desired to
propel the barge thereby, and fitted with engaging and disengaging clutches or
gear for that purpose. When this excavator is desired to be propelled or removed
from place to place a detached floating bow part M³, as indicated in detached plan
in Figure 16, might be fitted and secured to the barge M in front of the excavating
end and wells M³, M², for the more easy propulsion and steering of the whole, while
the excavators might be partially or fully detached and stowed away on deck or
below if required.
It will be quite understood that although this excavating barge or pontoon has
been shown with two sets or chains of excavating picks and buckets C, B, that like
all the other improved excavators herein described, they might be formed with
only one set, or it might be three or more sets of these chains, according to the
character or toughness and depth of the earth or material to be cut at one traverse,
and that although the sets of picks C, which project out some inches beyond the
buckets, have been shewn as alternating with the buckets B on their chains, yet
these also might be altered to irregular distances between the buckets and length
of projection beyond them, according to the character of the earth being excavated
for the time being. These sets of new or improved picks might also be applied to
the chains of present constructions of dredgers and excavating machines in place
of and by the removal of their intermediate buckets.
Having thus particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but what I
believe to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The general construction or arrangement and combination of parts of
portable carrying, excavating, slueing, and traversing motive power machines for
excavating all kinds of irregular earth, shales, rubble, or stoney ground, for the
cutting of dry tracks for railways, or "cuttings" for other purposes, all substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 1 to 8 on Sheets 1
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The general construction or arrangement and combination of parts of
portable carriage excavating, traversing, motive power machines for excavating,
cutting, or deepening of narrow or wide trenches, sewers, or other channels, as for
canals, foundations, or basins in irregular, watery, or dry, marshy, earthy, shaley, or
rubbley ground below the level of the machine, traversed on the earth or timber
ways at the sides above the cuttings, all substantially as described in reference to
and shown in Figures 9 and 10 on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification thereof.
Third. The general construction or arrangement and combination of parts of a
motive power portable land carriage machine for excavating, sinking, or cutting
shallow trenches or other drains, ditches, and such like channels for the drainage of
land, laying of pipes, or other such purposes, all substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in Figures 11 and 12 on Sheet 4 of the accompanying
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
Fourth. The general construction or arrangement and combination of parts of an
excavating barge or pontoon for excavating or deepening water-ways or their
banks, all substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in Figures 13,
14, 15, and 16 on Sheet 5 of the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
Fifth. The construction of excavating machines with open triangularly arranged
endless chains of excavating buckets B, and sets of picks C, fixed alternately or at
intermittent intervals, and passing over driving or conducting and guiding barrels
at the angles or corners, and set with the narrow or face side, so as to excavate the

page_text: face of the "cutting," and finish or dress it off to the desired safe angle or slope
back from the face, or forward and upwards to the top, substantially as described
in reference to and shown in the various Figures of the accompanying Drawings, or
any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Duncan Macdonald, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
W. R. M. THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
DUNCAN MACDONALD. (L.S.)