CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING LAND
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wagstaff, of Mottram, in Longdendale, in
the County of Chester, Blacksmith, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING LAND."
Sealed the 9th February 1858, and dated the 12th August 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wagstaff at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
12th August 1857.
I, ROBERT WAGSTAFF, of Mottram, in Longdendale, in the County of
Chester, Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING LAND,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed, first, for the purpose of applying the direct
action of steam to digging land.
The apparatus consists in a set or certain number of steam cylinders in
which pistons and rods work, and which have valves for the admission of
steam above and below the pistons, and are wholely similar in construction to
the steam cylinder, &c. of an ordinary steam engine. To each of the piston
rods is attached a connecting rod, terminating in a spade, at a point between
which and the connecting joint in each alternate cylinder is attached a lever
or rod, having a hinge joint at or near the middle of its length, the other end
being secured to the framing or in connection with an apparatus for working

page_text: by hand; the spades are so arranged as to cut in squares, one set cut the
ground or turf on the sides of the square, the others cutting the end and lifting
and turning it over.
The spades for cutting the sides have only one direct action to cut and
withdraw themselves, but the other spades being forced into the ground by the
pressure of the steam, descend as far as the tinged lever will permit; the elbow
cr joint having been brought into a direct line with the rod, holds the spade,
whilst the pressure being still kept upon the spades it is caused to swing,
having the joint at the upper end of the rod as its centre, and thus the turf or
soil, &c. becomes lifted; then, as the spade rises, a small bevel wheel upon its
shaft coming into gear with a toothed quadrant, causes the spade to turn one
quarter round, and thus turn over and deposit the turf or earth it has lifted.
The spades and their several cylinders, valves, &c. being all disconnected,
any particular one or combination thereof may be used, and the depth of the
cut may be regulated by a rack and pinion acting upon the axle of the wheels
upon which the apparatus is mounted, so as to bring the spades nearer.to or
further from the ground before working.
When the spades have turned over the soil, steam being admitted beneath
the pistons will bring the spades to their former position ready for a succeeding
cut. The steam power for working this digging apparatus, and also for
effecting its locomotion along the land, is obtained from an engine, to which
it is connected by means of a suitable arrangement of flexible and packed
steam pipes, and forming part of the entire apparatus, which is another feature
of my Invention.
In this improved arrangement of engine to effect its locomotion, I drive
the main wheels by the friction of contact of other wheels, in order that the
wheel at either side of the engine may be worked irrespective of the other
when required, the engine being thereby under better control. The steam for
driving is generated in an upright boiler, and exerts its power upon pistons
working in cylinders as in ordinary engines. Upon the crank shaft are secured
two wheels, one at each end; these wheels impart motion by friction or
adhesion of contact to other wheels conveniently situated, and each having a
pinion upon their axis gearing into a larger toothed wheel, secured upon the
main (or travelling) wheel of the engine, which thus becomes driven by
means of the friction gearing; it will be evident that (such arrangement being
applied to each side of the engine) one side may be worked entirely alone,
when required, as in turning or running on a curved track, or both sides at
different speeds, according to the size of wheel in contact with the driving

page_text: friction wheel, or the engine may be stopped by disconnecting or separating
the friction wheels, which is effected by means of a screw worked by bevil
gearing by means of a handle.
Upon the main wheels I secure lags of wood or iron across, and somewhat
broader than the tire or rim, so that in passing over soft ground the interstices
between the lags will allow the adhering clay, &c. to pass through, and prevent
the wheel from being encumbered by the accumulation thereof; upon harder
ground these lags enable the wheel to hold or "bite" the surface and prevent
slipping, or they may (if preferred, on good travelling roads) be dispensed with.
The guiding or steering of the engine is effected by means of the front pair of
wheels, which are also in connection with and governed by friction gearing,
worked by bevil wheels by the motion of the guiding wheel or handle. The
more minute details of my improvements will be particularly described in the
Complete Specification of the same to be hereafter filed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Wagstaff in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WAGSTAFF, of Mottram, in Longendale, in the County of Chester, Blacksmith,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Wagstaff, Her especial license that I, the said Robert Wagstaff,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Wagstaff, my executors, administrators, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING LAND," upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said Robert Wagstaff, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be

page_text: performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Wagstaff, 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 and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
This Invention is designed, first, for the purpose of applying the direct
action of steam to digging land.
The apparatus consists in a set or certain number of steam cylinders in
which work pistons and rods, and which have valves for the admission of steam
above and below the pistons, and are nearly similar in construction to the
steam cylinder, &c. of an ordinary steam engine, excepting that a portion of the
steam is allowed to remain in the cylinder at each end of the stroke, so as to
form an elastic bed or cushion for the piston; a slightly different arrangement
of "ports" for effecting this purpose will be required, as will be shewn here-
after. To each of the piston rods is attached a connecting rod terminating in
a spade or fork, at a point between which and the connecting rod joint in each
alternate cylinder is attached a lever or rod having a hinge joint at or near the
middle of its length; the other end being secured to the framing or in con-
nection with an apparatus for working by hand. The spades or forks are so
arranged as to cut in squares, one set cutting the ground or turf on the sides
of the square, the others cutting the ends and lifting and turning it over.
The spades or forks for cutting the sides have only one direct action to cut
and withdraw themselves, but the other spades or forks (or end cutters) being
forced into the ground by the pressure of steam, descend as far as the hinged
lever will permit; the elbow or joint having been brought into a direct line
with the rod, holds the spade whilst (the pressure being still kept upon the
spade) it is caused to swing, having the joint at the upper end of the rod as its
centre, and thus the turf or soil, &c. becomes lifted; then, as the spade rises, a
small bevil wheel upon its shaft coming into gear with a toothed quadrant
causes the spade to turn one quarter round, and thus turn over and deposit
the turf or earth it has lifted..
The spades and their several cylinders, valves, &c. being all disconnected,
any particular one or combination thereof may be used, and the depth of the
cut may be regulated by a rack and pinion acting upon the axle of the wheels
upon which the apparatus is mounted, so as to bring the spades nearer or
further from the ground before working.

page_text: When the spades have turned over the soil, steam being admitted beneath
the pistons will bring the spades to their former position ready for a succeeding
cut. The steam power for working this digging apparatus, and also for effect-
ing its locomotion along the land, is obtained from an engine, to which it is
connected by means of a suitable arrangement of flexible and packed steam
pipes and joints, and forming part of the entire apparatus, which is another
feature of my Invention.
In this improved arrangement of engine to effect its locomotion, I drive
the main wheels by the friction of contact of other wheels, in order that the
wheel at either side of the engine may be worked irrespective of the other;
when required, the engine being thereby under better control. The steam for
driving is generated in an upright or other form of boiler that may be desirable,
and exerts its power upon pistons working in cylinders as in ordinary engines.
Upon the crank shaft are secured two wheels, one at each end; these wheels
impart motion by friction or adhesion of contact to other wheels conveniently
situated, and each having a pinion upon their axis gearing into a larger toothed
wheel secured upon the main or travelling wheel of the engine, which thus
becomes driven by means of the friction gearing; it will be evident that (such
arrangement being applied to each side of the engine) one side may be worked
entirely alone, when required, as in turning or running on a curved track, or
both sides at different speeds, according to the size of the wheel in contact
with the driving friction wheel; or the engine may be stopped by disconnect-
ing or separating the friction wheels, which can be effected by means of a
screw worked by bevil gearing by means of a handle.
Upon the main wheels I secure lags of wood or iron across and somewhat
broader than the tire or rim, so that in passing over soft ground the interstices
between the lags will allow the adhering clay, &c. to pass through and prevent
the wheel from being encumbered by the accumulation thereof; and the lags
enable the wheel to hold or "bite" the surface and prevent slipping; or they
may, if preferred, on good travelling roads, be dispensed with. The guiding
or steering of the engine is effected by means of the front pair of wheels,
which are also in connection with and governed by friction gearing, worked
by bevil and worm wheels by the motion of the guide wheel or handle.
In order that the Invention may be more clearly understood and ex-
plained in detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings, made upon
a scale of about one inch to a foot, having similar letters of reference marked
upon corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the digging apparatus with the engine attached

page_text: as employed; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the spades illustrating the arrange-
ment or alternate form in which they are placed, the one set for cutting or
shaping the sides of the turf, and the other for lifting and turning it over
after thus cut; and Fig. 3 is a section of one of the cylinders shewing the
connection of the piston and rod with the spade, and also the quadrant motion
for causing the spade to turn a quarter of a circle to throw over the turf,
this view also shews the arrangement of double "ports" at each end of the
cylinder to allow of a portion of the steam to be retained at each end of the
cylinder, which, when compressed, acts as a cushion to prevent the piston
coming into concussion with the cylinder ends.
In Fig. 1, A, A, are the lower set of cylinders employed to cut the sides
of the turf, and which are each provided with a piston and piston rod
terminating in a spade or fork a, a, and are furnished with valves for
the admission of steam to such cylinders, which are regulated by the
cranks and levers from the eccentrics b, b, b, each cylinder having a separate
arrangement of valves, levers, and eccentrics, and working distinct and
independently of each other, and each having separate handles and rods
c, c, c, for shutting off or turning on the steam passing through the pipes
d, d, d, to the cylinders. The excentrics are worked from the wheels sup-
porting the machine by means of the bevil wheels acting upon the cone
pulley, which drives the pulley 62 by a strap, and thus the excentric shaft
and excentrics become driven. This set of spades a, a, a, having only onc
motion or direct action for cutting and withdrawing themselves, and are brought
into work before the spades or forks e, e, e, of the cylinders B, B, B, which
are those employed to lift and turn the earth, &c. cut by the previous action
of the set of spades a, a, a. The set of cylinders are provided with a similar
arrangement of rods, levers,-valves, and excentrics as the cylinders A, A, and
the spades a, a, a, and e, e, e, are connected to the piston rods by a connecting
joint or link, which is each furnished with a slide moving upon the bars f, ƒ, f,
to ensure the parrallel action of the spades. The spades e, e, e, are connected
at or near the middle of their length of the shaft to the series of rods g, g, g,
which by the cranked levers are connected with the rods and hand wheels
h, h, by means of which the depth of ground to be entered by each particular
spade is regulated; these rods are also used for the purpose of causing the
spades to swing so as to lift the turf, as will be hereafter explained. The
rack i is caused to lift the whole of the spades from the ground, when required,
by means of a screw or worm upon the diagonal shaft k, which being turned
acts upon the worm wheel l, and thereby causes the pinion to raise or lower

page_text: the rack to bring the spades upon or lift them from the surface. The steam
for driving the apparatus is generated in the upright boiler m, m, of the
engine, which is driven by means of the action of the steam upon the piston
of an upright cylinder in the ordinary method. Upon the main or driving
shaft n is secured at each end the friction wheels o, o, having suitably shaped
surfaces which drives the friction wheels p, p, upon which are pinions gearing
into the toothed wheels upon the travelling wheels 7, which thus becomes
diven, and the locomotion of the whole combined apparatus is effected; but
when more power and less speed is required, the friction wheels 7, 7, are
brought into gear by means of the bevil gearing and screws s, s, s, such being
generally only required when the digging apparatus is in operation. By this
arrangement either wheel may be driven at a different speed to assist in
turning or moving on curved ways, which is principally effected by the front
guiding wheels, which are governed or turned by the friction plate t, t, and
bevil gearing in connection with the vertical rod u.
In Fig. 3, v, v, are the double "ports" at each end of the cylinder, this
arrangement prevents the concussion of the piston by forming an elastic bed of
steam at each end of the stroke. The action of the digging apparatus is as
follows: In commencing operation the spades a, a, are first brought into
action alone, to prepare a short distance for the spades e, e, e; when sufficient
surface has thus been cut or shaped, the steam is admitted above the pistons
of the spades e, e, e, thus driving them into the ground in a directly trans-
verse line to and behind the former cuts. The pressure upon spades being
still maintained, causes the rods g, g, g, to become vertical (as the one shewn
in red), bringing the spades nearly horizontal, having lifted the cut turf from
the surface, which, when in this position, a bevil wheel or tooth upon the
spade shaft comes into contact with a projecting side of a tooth y upon the
quadrants w, w, w, (as shewn in Fig. 4), and thus causes the spade to turn
one quarter round (being provided with a swivel for such purpose), and turn
over and deliver the turf upon the ground.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, together with the
manner of performing the same, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I
claim,
First, the direct action of steam as applied to the spades, forks, or other
instruments for digging land.
Secondly, the arrangement of mechanism or apparatus as shewn for per-
forming such operation, or any other suitable modification of such arrangement
having a similar or equivalent effect, and also driving and steering the traction

page_text: engine by means of the power of such engine being transmitted and applied
for such purposes by frictional contact either in the manner herein-before
described and fully illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, or by any other
equivalent arrangement for transmitting such power.
In witness whereof whereof, I, the said Robert Wagstaff, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
ROBERT WAGSTAFF. (L.S.)