Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 18th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 19th Aug., 1887.
I GEORGE TIPPING PETERS of 3 Sunny Bank, Lyncombe Vale Bath in the county
of Somerset Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It is designed to afford more facile means of loading, handling and discharging
grabs and relates to improvements in that class of machinery that is used for
dredging or excavating on land by means of such "grabs."
In my invention the grabs are worked from pivotied or swinging levers controlled
in their various positions by brakes, I also provide improved means for working the
suspending and lifting chains of the grabs. In applying my invention to a dredger
which may be of the "well" type, for example, I mount on the deck or structure
opposite pairs of uprights or legs suitably braced together for carrying the grab
mechanism, the upper ends of these uprights or legs are connected by a stretcher
or stretchers secured by nuts or otherwise.
On the deck or structure I arrange opposite bearings of suitable construction
in which I pivot opposite levers hereafter terined fulcra.
The upper ends of these fulcra carry bearings in which are pivotted oppositely tied
bell crank levers. On the pivot carrying the said bell crank levers keyed thereto
mount or key a brake drumi (or drumis) over which passes a strap or band connected
with gear below for operating such band to nip the drum, by hand or otherwise.
I prefer to stiffen the short and long arms of the bell crank levers by tie rods or in
other suitable manner.
I connect the ends of the long arms of the bell cranks by links pivotted to them
and at their other ends to the stretcher joining the uprights or legs before referred
to and on which stretcher the links freely work also oscillating at their other ends on
the pin joining the long arms of the bell cranks.
On the shorter arms of the bell cranks I mount two opposite pairs of pulleys for
guiding the suspending chains of the grabs and which said chains pass between
the pairs of pulleys and are either united into one or they are both connected to the

page_text: stretcher aforesaid or to a tie bar on the aforesaid links, or the chain or chains
pass over a pulley or pulleys on the said tie bar and are attached to a counter balance
weight to take up the slack chain caused by the forward movement of the bell-crank
levers.
Between such shorter arms of the aforesaid bell-cranks I mount a pulley (or pulleys)
advantageously on the skew over which the main lifting chain (or chains) of the grab
passes also passing from the skew pulley, over a pulley mounted on the pivot shaft
of the bell crank levers and down to a sliding pulley or pulleys (or a fixed pulley
or pulleys) mounted on or near the deck or structure in a pair or pairs of links.
When a sliding pulley is used I arrange these links to carry a friction roller or
rollers at their lower ends to slide on a bar, track or guide for altering the angle
of the lifting chain of the grab and from this pulley the chain runs directly or over
pulleys to the engine or other hoisting gear.
To the links carrying this sliding pulley I attach a chain leading over a suitable
guide pulley and connected to a balance weight. The aforesaid uprights or legs
carrying the mechanism as aforesaid may be stayed fore or aft and may be made
adjustable to suit the trim of the vessel and this may be effected automatically
by balanced tail levers or other suitable mechanism.
The operation of the aforesaid mechanism is as follows; on lifting the grab
by winding on the lifting chain the strain on the said chain causes the aforesaid
sliding pulley to travel to the end of its bar or track, the fulcra and bell cranks being
rigidly held together by causing the brake band to nip the brake drum.
The lift of the said chain is then stopped and the brake slackened, when the bell
crank will turn or swing over carrying the loaded grab from one side of the uprights
or legs to the other so as to be over the point of discharge, say for instance a shoot,
to empty into harges alongside or into a hold. The turning or swinging action
overhauls a balance weight counterbalanced by the bell cranks and grab when in the
normal position. The brake is again put on, fixing the fulcra and bell cranks, and the
lifting chain slackened out, the suspending chains being taut when the grab opens
and discharges its contents. The lifting chain is now slackened sufficiently to
let the balance weight connected to the aforesaid sliding pulley run it back on
its bar or track. The brake being then released the bell cranks turn or swing back
again to the original position ready to descend for the next load. It may be desired
to automatically fix the sliding pulley on its bar or track in the position that its
balance weight has taken it to so that when the weight of the grab is transfered from
the suspending chains to the lifting chain the said sliding pulley will maintain its
position till the grab is again raised when the catch gear will be automatically released
and the sliding pulley will adapt its position to the angle of the main lifting chain.
A simpler form of my invention is in place of using a bell crank to use a weigh
beam like a scale beam carrying the brake drum and having a pulley or pulleys
at one end for the grab lifting chain passing over a pulley at its other end to the
engine or hoisting gear. When the beam is vertical, lowering the grab, it is braked,
the brake being keyed directly to the beam shaft or applied through multiplying
gearing to increase its power.
The grab chain is then lifted and as soon as the grab comes up to the end of
the bean the brake is released and the lifting operation being continued the beam
at length reaches its horizontal position when the brake is again fixed and the
grab allowed to open and discharge its contents.
The brake is again released the beam again turns or swings vertically and the grab
descends for a fresh load. Or the action may be reversed by making the horizontal
position of the beam the loading and the vertical position the unloading one, and this
is suitable for raising the grab over the side and discharging into a hold while
the former plan is more suitable for working the grab through a well.
Or I may attach a chain to the lower end of a lever arm passing over a pulley and
attached to a balance weight on the other end of the lever arm arranged to swing the
lever arm and the empty grab into the horizontal position for lowering. The said
chain passes over a sprocket or pitch wheel keyed on to the brake shaft for keeping the

page_text: lever arm horizontal by the brake wheel and lowering the grab end into the
discharging position.
The grab being lowered the lever arm is kept horizontal by the balance weight and
the brake is applied.
The lifting goes on until the grab reaches the suspender and the brake being
released the lever arm and grab swing vertically down, the brake is now fixed and
the grab discharged the brake again released and the grab ready for a fresh load.
Or I may use a weigh beam as before described but worked by a balance weight
mounted at its end, the said balance weight pulling up the empty grab and the
weight of the loaded grab in releasing the brake overcoming the balance weight
swinging the beam vertically and lowering the grab to discharge.
For excavating on land I prefer to mount my apparatus on a turntable on a trolly
or truck so as to give the grab a radial movement.
The details of applying my invention can be varied according to the class of
dredger or excavator to which it is applied and I may duplicate the grabs from
one set of uprights or legs if desired in which case the descent of the empty grab
helps to haul up the full one.
Dated this 18th day of October 1886.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I GEORGE TIPPING PETERS of 3 Sunny Bank Lyncombe Vale, Bath in the county of
Somerset Engineer 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 :-
It is designed to afford more facile means of loading handling and discharging
grabs and relates to improvements in that class of machinery that is used for dredging
or excavating by means of such grabs.
According to my invention the grabs are worked from pivoted or swinging lovers
controlled in their various positions by brakes. 1 also provide improved means for
working the suspending and lifting chains of the grabs.
Referring to the two accompanying sheets of drawings and to the Figures, and
letters of reference thereon.
On sheet I.
Figure 1. is a side elevation of my apparatus mounted on the deck of a well dredger
the hull being sectionally shewn.
Figure 2. is a transverse section of the hull in front of my mechanism.
Figure 3 is a plan of brake drum and its supports.
Figure 4 is a plan of the stretcher, and its idle pulleys, joining the upper ends of
the fulcra and bell-cranks hereinafter referred to.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the traversing automatic locking gear for adjusting
the position of the main lifting chain.
Figure 6. is a side view of a variation of my arrangement to be hereinafter
referred to.
On Sheet 2.
Figure 7 is a side and Figure 8 another elevation of two forms of my weigh beam
dredger or excavator.
Figure 9 is a front elevation of Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a side elevation and
Figure 11 an end elevation of another modification of my apparatus.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of brake drum with multiplying gear attached and
Figure 13. a side elevation of my apparatus as applied to a trolly or wagon for
excavation &c.
In applying my invention to a dredger which may be of the "well type" for
example I mount on the deck or structure A opposite pairs of uprights or legs A
and A2 suitably braced together such as by angle irons or T irons B B B B for
carrying the grab mechanism.
The upper ends of these uprights or legs are connected by a stretcher C secured by
nuts or otherwise.
On the deck or structure I arrange opposite bearings DD' of suitable construc-
tion in which I pivot the extremities of opposite levers E E' hereinafter termed
fulcra. The upper ends of these fulcra carry bearings F F¹ in which are pivotted

page_text: the ends of a pivot or shaft carrying oppositely tied bell crank levers G G¹ on the
pivot H carrying or connecting the long arms of the said bell crank levers G G¹
keyed thereto. I mount or key a brake drum I over which passes a strap or band J
connected with gear below for operating such band to nip the drum and controlled by
foot treadle or otherwise, for instance both ends of the strap or band may be con-
nected with the lever A and the other being connected to the rod L or chain. I may
use other suitable form of band brake or in fact any other brake suitable for my
purpose.
I prefer to stiffen or truss the long and short arms of the bell crank levers G G¹ by
tie rods M M or in other suitable manner.
I connect the ends of the long arms of the bell cranks G G¹ by links N N¹
pivotted to them and at their other ends to the stretcher C joining the uprights or
legs A A before referred to and on which stretcher C the links N N freely work or
oscillate also oscillating at their other ends on the pivot or pin H joining the long
arms of the bell cranks G G¹. On the shorter arms of the bell cranks I may mount
two opposite pairs of pulleys QQfor guiding the suspending chains QQ of the
grab suspender and which said chains pass between the pairs of pulleys QQ and are
either united into one chain or they are both connected to the stretcher (aforesaid or
to a tie bar R on the aforesaid links N N¹ or the chain or chains Q¹ Q¹pass over a
pulley or pulleys S1 and S2 on the said tie bar I and are attached to a counterbalance
weight T to take up the slack chain caused by the forward movement of the bell crank
levers G G S S are idle pulleys over which the chain passes. Between such
shorter arms of the aforesaid bell cranks levers G G¹ I mount a pulley or pulleys U
advantageously (as shewn) on the skew over which the main lifting chain (or
chains) V of the grab passes also passing from the skew pulley U over
pulley W mounted on the pivot shaft H of the bell crank levers G G and down to a
sliding pulley or pulleys X (or a fixed pulley or pulleys) mounted on or near the
deck or structure A on a pair of links Y. When a sliding pulley is used I arrange
these links Y to carry a friction roller or rollers Z at their lower ends to slide on a
bar track or guide for altering the angle of the lifting chain V of the grab, and
from this pulley D the chain runs directly to the engine or other hoisting gear.
a
To the links Y carrying this sliding pulley X I attach a chain Z leading over a
suitable guide pulley 73 and connected to a balance weight Z*.
I prefer to employ automatic locking gear to keep the pulley X in position when
the grab has been hoisted. In Figure 5 I shew a bar track or guide 7 and on the
links I arrange a tooth a, and in a boss b I arrange to slide a pin or bolt c jointed
at its lower end to a rocking lever d carrying a balance weight e an arm carries a
ping travelling in a slotted end of a lever working through a slot in the deck or
structure A and jointed to a bell crank i adapted to brake a drum jover which the
main lifting chain V goes. The action of this gear I will explain hereafter.
Referring now to Figure 6 Sheet 1 the aforesaid uprights or legs A A¹ may be
stayed fore and aft and may be made adjustable to suit the trim of the vessel and this
may be effected automatically by connecting guys or struts A² A³ to balance or
weighted tail levers A+ A which shift on their axes with the varying trim of the
vessel and so automatically vary the vertical position of the uprights or legs in
relation to the trim of the vessel. The uprights or legs are mounted on pivots A.
The operation of the aforesaid mechanism is as follows by lifting the grab by
winding on the winding chain V the strain on the said chain causes the aforesaid
pulley X to travel to the end of its bar track or guide Z to effect this the bell crank i
is moved off a brake drum j and which said drum may be fixed on the barrel shaft of
the lifting chain V the movement of the lever h to which the said bell crank is con-
nected pulls the bolt c from the tooth a on the links Y and so the pulley X travels to
the end of its bar track or guide Z. The fulcra E E' and the bell cranks G G¹ being
rigidly held together by causing the brake band J to nip the brake drum 1.
The left of the said chain V is then stopped and the brake slackened when the bell
cranks G, G¹ will turn or swing over carrying the loaded grab from one side of the
uprights or legs A A' to the other so as to be over the point of discharge say for

page_text: instance a shoot to empty into barges alongside or into a hold or hopper. In Figure I
the dotted lines show the position of the bell cranks and grab &c. for discharging
into the shoot.
The turning or swinging action overhauls the balance weight T which counter-
balances the bell cranks and grab when in the normal position.
The brake is again put on fixing the fulcra and bell cranks and the lifting chain V
slackened out, the suspending chains Q1, Q', being taut when the grab opens and
discharges its contents.
The lifting chain V is now slackened sufficiently to let the balance weight Z
connected to the aforesaid sliding pulley X run back on its bar guide or track 7.
The brake being then released the bell cranks G. G¹ turn or swing back again to
their original position as shewn in firm lines in Figure 1 ready to descend for the
fresh load. It may be desired referring to Figure 6 to automatically fix the sliding
pulley X and its bar guide or track in the position that the balance weight 7
has taken it to, so that when the weight of the grab is transferred from the suspending
chains QQ to the lifting chains the said sliding pulley X will maintain its
position until the grab is again raised when the catch gear will be automatically
released and the sliding pulley X will adapt its position to the angle of the main
lifting chain V. The said catch gear has been before referred to in regard to Figure 5
and it will be seen that when the sliding pulley X runs forward, the tooth a on the
links Y carrying it catches the bolt c, and holding the pulley X stationary while the
load is on the lifting chains.
When the grab is again raised the bolt c is withdrawn from contact with the tooth a
on the links carrying the pulley X which then runs back-on its bar guide or track.
Referring to sheet 2 Figures 7 to 12 a simpler form of my invention is in place of
using a bell crank such as G, G to use a weigh beam K like a scale beam carrying
the brake drum I and having a pulley or pulleys m at one end for the grab lifting
chain passing over a pulley or pulleys n at its other end to the engine or hoisting
gear o.
When the beam K is vertical as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7 (lowering the
grab) it is braked, the brake drum I, being keyed directly to the beam shaft Por
applied through multiplying gearing to increase its power. Such gearing may be
arranged as in Figure 12 that is to say a pulley or toothed wheel 7 on the weigh beam.
shaft k driving a pinion on the shaft of the brake drum I.
The grab chain V is then lifted and as soon as the grab comes up to the end of the
beam the brake is released and the lifting operation being continued the beam at
length reaches its horizontal position as shown in firm lines in Figure 7 when the
break is again fixed and the grab allowed to open and discharge its contents. The
brake is again released the beam again turns or swings vertically as shewn in dotted
lines Figure 7 and the grab descends for a fresh load or the action may be reversed
by making the horizontal position of the beam the loading and the vertical the
unloading one and this is suitable for raising the grab over the side and discharging
into a hold while the former plan is more suitable for working the grab through a
well or referring to Figures 10 and 11 I may attach a chain s, to the lower end of a
lever arm passing over a sprocket or pitched wheel u, and attached to a balance
weight, arranged to swing the lever arm and the empty grab into the horizontal
position for lowering. The said chains passes over a sprocket or pitch wheel" keyed
on to the brake drum shaft I for keeping the lever arm t horizontal by the brake
drum and lowering the grab into the discharging position as shewn by dotted lines in
Figure 10.
t
The firm lines show the hoisting position. The grab being lowered the lever arm
is kept horizontal by the balance weight and the brake is applied. The lifting goes
on until the grab reaches the lever arint and the brake being released the lever arm t
and grab swing vertically down the brake is now fixed and the grab discharged, the
brake again released and the grab ready for a fresh load.
Or I may referring to Figures 8 and 9 use a weigh beam k as before described
but worked by a balance weight I mounted at its end the said balance weight pulling

page_text: up the empty grab and the weight of the loaded grab in releasing the brake over-
coming the balance weight swinging the beam vertically and lowering the grab to
discharge.
In excavating on land I prefer to mount my apparatus on a turntable or trolly or
truck as shewn in Figure 13 where w is the turntable mounted on truck so as to
give the grab a radial movement, on referring to the firm and dotted lines in this
figure it will be seen that the details approximately correspond to those shown on the
first sheet of drawings. The details of applying my invention can be varied
accordingly to the class of dredger or excavator to which it is applied and I may
duplicate the grabs from one set of uprights or legs if desired in which case the
descent of the empty grab helps to haul up the full one.
The machinery can be arranged besides working the grabs through wells to work
the grabs over the sides or ends of a barge, pontoon, or vessel, in any combination or
number.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In dredging or excavating machinery the employment of bell crank levers
having their point of support on rocking levers or fulcra in combination with moving
links supporting such bell cranks on a frame or strut and a braking device adapted to
clamp the said bell cranks to the said rocking levers or fulcra and allow the whole
to be swung to and fro for hoisting and discharging the grab substantially as
described.
Second. In combination with the levers or fulcra E. E' and bell cranks G. G¹
pivotted thereto the travelling pulley X and its guide bar or track Z over which the
main lifting chain passes, whereby the said levers or fulcra and bell cranks when braked
together can be swung to and fro substantially as and for the purposes described.
Third. In dredging or excavating apparatus arranging the upright legs or frame
from which the grab (or grabs) is suspended so as to be governed by balance tail
levers or equivalents so that the position of the uprights, legs or frame can be
automatically adjusted on their centre or centres to suit the varying trim of the
vessel or structure on which they are mounted substantially as described.
Fourth. In dredging or excavating apparatus the combination with a weigh beam
or lever from one end of which the grab is worked and the end of the weigh beam
or lever being overhauled by the pull of a chain or equivalent, of a braking device
adapted to fix or release such weigh beam or lever in the necessary various positions
for lowering, loading, hoisting and discharging the grab, substantially as described
and with reference to Figures 7 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. The alternate arrangement of apparatus referred to in the preceding claim
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 8. 9. 10 and 11 of the
accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In combination with the travelling pulley X carrying or guiding the lifting
chain of automatic catch gear, substantially as and for the purposes described and
illustrated with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Seventh. The general arrangement and combination of dredging or excavating
machinery substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1 DAL
T. 1007
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.