TARDAVEVENTS TAY MACHINEDY AL ADDIDATOS BAD
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Henry James, of Victoria Street, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an Invention of
TARDAVEVENTS TAY MACHINEDY AL ADDIDATOS BAD Tra
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Henry James
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1881.
JOHN WILLIAM HENRY JAMES, of Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR EXCAVATING."
My Invention relates to improvements in machinery or apparatus for excavating
railway cuttings, docks, basins, or any other similar work to which machines known
as "steam navvies are applicable, or for cutting canals or chaunels in which such
machinery or apparatus can work in the dry.
"
My Invention consists of an under framing of wrought iron or other suitable
material carried on axles and wheels to suit any convenient gauge of rails, and
provided at the corners with steadying gear. This under framing carries a cast iron
roller path fitted with a strong centre pin or post, on which is swung the upper
framing, composed of side or cheek plates secured at their base to longitudinal and
cross girders. On one end of the longitudinal girders are mounted the steam boiler
and force pump (or pumps), with a ballast box and water tank (or not, as desired).
Between the other or forward ends of the longitudinal girders is pivoted the
cylinder of an bydraulic thrust ram, which cylinder protrudes through the thrust
arm or lever of the machine, whilst the ram is connected with the arin or lever by
links.
The thrust arm or lever is hinged at its inner end to a long pin forming an
adjustable fulcrum situated between and at any convenient distance from the top
of the cheek plates, from which top it is suspended by links. To this pin or
adjustable fulcrum is fitted a ram working in an hydraulic cylinder for drawing in
or extending the thrust ram, and so regulating the cut performed by the bucket or

page_text: scoop, which is hinged to the outer end of the thrust arm or lever, and is provided
with a cutting edge or mouth piece.
The bucket or scoop is tipped by means of a small hydraulic oscillating cylinder
fitted to the forward or outer end of the thrust arm or lever, the piston rod of this
cylinder being connected with the bucket or scoop itself, and the débris thereby
discharged when the bucket or scoop is lifted.
The advance of the machine or apparatus may be either performed by hydraulic
rams and chains connected with the wheels and axles, or by means of worm gearing
driven by hydraulic engines.
The swinging gear may also be performed by hydraulic rams and chain working
through a chain pulley on the centre post, or by a pinion working into a rack on
the roller path, and worked by the hydraulic engines described for advancing the
apparatus.
For operating the above described machine or apparatus I prefer to use hydraulic
power generated by force pumps, and the water pressure being admitted to the
cylinder of the thrust ram, the thrust arm or lever to which the bucket or scoop is
attached is raised (radially to its point of suspension or fulcrum) across the face of
the bank or cutting, and if it meets with any obstruction which the bucket or scoop
cannot remove, the cut of the latter can be regulated by the hydraulic ram for
adjusting the fulcrum of the thrust arm or lever.
Upon arriving at the top of the stroke the upper framing and its appendages are
swung round, and the bucket or scoop being then tilted by its hydraulic cylinder
ts contents are discharged.
"My Invention may be arranged if desired to discharge direct through the thrust
-arm-or-lever-into-trucks-at-the-rear-of-the-machine,-in-which-case-the-steam-boiler
and pumps will be placed on one side of the machine, and the thrust arm or lever
worked by two rams placed externally thereto.

page_text: TON in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters ratent med by
the said John William Henry Janes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th May 1882.
JOHN WILLIAM HENRY JAMES, of Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR EXCAVATING."
My Invention relates to improvements in machinery or apparatus for excavating
railway cuttings, docks, basins, or any other similar work to which machines
known as "steam navvies are applicable, or for cutting canals or channels in
which such machinery or apparatus can work in 'the dry.
"
My Invention consists of an under framing of wrought iron or other suitable
material, carried on axles and wheels to suit any convenient gauge of rails, and
provided at the corners with steadying gear. This underframing carries a cast
iron roller path fitted with a strong centre pin or post, on which is swung the
upper framing composed of side or cheek plates, secured at their base to longitu-
dinal and cross girders. On one end of the longitudinal girders are mounted the
steam boiler and force pump (or pumps), with a ballast box and water tank (or not,
as desired). Between the other or forward ends of the longitudinal girders is
pivotted the cylinder of an hydraulic thrust ram, which cylinder protrudes through
the thrust arm or lever of the machine, whilst the ram is connected with the arm
or lever by links. The thrust arm or lever is hinged at its inner end to a long pin
forming an adjustable fulcrum situated between and at any convenient distance
from the top of the cheek plates, from which top it is suspended by links. To this
pin or adjustable fulcrum is fitted a ram working in an hydraulic cylinder for
drawing in or extending the thrust arm, and so regulating the cut performed by
the bracket or scoop which is hinged to the outer end of the thrust arm or lever,
and is provided with a cutting edge or mouthpiece. The bucket or scoop is tipped
by means of a small hydraulic oscillating cylinder fitted to the forward or outer
end of the thrust arm or lever, the piston rod of this cylinder being connected with
the bucket or scoop itself, and the débris thereby discharged when the bucket or
scoop is lifted. The advance of the machine or apparatus may be either performed
by hydraulic rams and chains connected with the wheels and axles, or by means of
worm gearing driven by hydraulic engines. The swinging gear may be performed
by hydraulic rams and chain working through a chain pulley on the centre post,
or by a pinion working into a rack on the roller, path, and worked by the hydraulic
engines described for advancing the apparatus. For operating the above described
machine or apparatus I prefer to use hydraulic power generated by force pumps,
and the water pressure being admitted to the cylinder of the thrust ram the thrust
arm or lever to which the bucket or scoop is attached is raised (radially to its
point of suspension or fulcrum) across the face of the bank or cutting, and if it
ineets with any obstruction which the bucket or scoop cannot remove the cut of
the latter can be regulated by the hydraulic ram for adjusting the fulcrum of the
thrust arm or lever. Upon arriving at the top of the stroke the upper framing
and its appendages are swung round, and the bucket or scoop being then tilted by
its hydraulic cylinder its contents are discharged. My Invention may be arranged,
if desired, to discharge direct through the thrust arm or lever into trucks at the
rear of the machine, in which case the steam boiler and pumps will be placed on

page_text: one side of the machine, and the thrust arm or lever worked by two rams placed
externally thereto.
And in order that my said Invention may be clearly understood I will now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the accompanying
Drawings, like letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in the respective
Figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an approved apparatus or machine for excavating,
constructed according to my Invention, and Figure 2 an elevation thereof in the
position of discharging the excavated material into a truck; Figures 3 and 4 are
side and end elevations respectively of my improved excavator, with the thrust
arm arranged to act as a shoot, whereby the contents of the scoop or bucket are
discharged into wagons at the rear of the machine, thus avoiding the necessity for
turning the upper frame on its pivot in cases where the confined space on either
side of the machine or other causes prevents such movement.
My Invention consists of an underframe A of wrought iron or other suitable
material, carried on axles and wheels a, a, a, to suit any convenient gauge of rails,
and provided at the corners or at the ends and sides with steadying gear B, which
consists usually of hydraulic cylinders with rams abutting upon the rails, sleepers,
or ground. The underframing A carries a cast iron roller path C fitted with a
strong centre pin or post D, on which is swung the upper framing composed of side
or cheek plates E, secured at their base to longitudinal and cross girders e, e, e,
carried by roller frame e¹. On one end of the longitudinal girders e are mounted
the steam boiler and force pump (or pumps) F, with a ballast box and water tank
(or not, as desired). Between the other or forward ends of the longitudinal girders e
is pivotted the cylinder of an hydraulic thrust ram G, which cylinder protrudes
through the thrust arm or lever H, whilst the ram is connected with the arm or
lever by links g. The upper framing is extended, as at E¹, so as to act as a guide
to the thrust arm or lever H during its stroke, and to prevent lateral movement of
the same.
The thrust arm or lever H is hinged at its inner end to a long pin I,
forming an adjustable fulcrum situated between and at any convenient distance
from the top of the cheek plates E, from which top it is suspended by links J. To
this pin or adjustable fulcrum I is fitted a ram k working in an hydraulic cylinder K
for drawing in or extending the thrust arm H, and so regulating the cut performed
by the bucket or scoop h, which is hinged to the outer end of the thrust arm or
lever H, and provided with a cutting edge or mouth piece h' and suitable prongs
or teeth. The bucket or scoop his tipped by means of a small hydraulic
oscillating cylinder L fitted to the forward or outer end of the thrust arm or lever H,
the piston rod of this cylinder being connected with the bucket or scoop itself,
and the debris thereby discharged when the bucket or scoop is lifted. The advance
of the machine or apparatus may be either performed by hydraulic rams M and
chains m connected with the wheels and axles a, a, a, or by means of worm
gearing driven by hydraulic engines. The swinging gear may also consist of
hydraulic rams N and chain n working through a chain pulley O on the centre
post D, or by a pinion working into a rack on the roller path, and worked by the
hydraulic engines described for advancing the apparatus.
For operating the above described machine or apparatus I prefer to use hydraulic
power generated by force pumps. The water pressure being admitted to the
cylinder G of the thrust ram, the thrust arm or lever H to which the bucket or scoop
is attached is raised (radially to its point of suspension or fulcrum I) across the face
of the bank or cutting; should any obstruction be met with which the bucket or
scoop h cannot remove, the cut of the latter can be regulated by the hydraulic
ram which adjusts the fulcrum I of the thrust arm or lever H. Upon arriving
at the top of the stroke the upper framing E, e, e¹, &c., and its appendages are
swung round (see Figure 2) by the hydraulic ram N and the chain n passing round
the chain wheel O, or as otherwise described before, and the scoop h being tilted
by its hydraulic cylinder L its contents are discharged. The hydraulic cylinder K

page_text: not only regulates the cut, as above described, but is also used for fixing the
amount of the excavation to be performed at each stroke by adjusting the extent
of the penetration of the bucket into the material to be excavated, and so saving
the movement of the whole machine along the line of rails after each cut;
Figures 3 and 4 shew my Invention arranged to discharge direct through the
thrust arm or lever H into trucks at the rear of the machine, and intended to be
used in situations where the turning or swinging of the machine for discharging, as
above described (Figure 2), cannot be performed. The arrangement of upper and
lower fraining and method of working the swinging, advancing, raising, and
adjusting movements are identical with the machine described in Figures 1 and 2,
except that two thrust rams G are employed instead of one. The thrust arm or
lever H moreover has its two sides connected at their lower edges by a plate
properly stiffened, and so forms a passage down which the excavated material may
pass. The inner or hinged end of the thrust arm or lever H is fitted with a shoot P,
which receives the excavated material passing through the thrust arm or lever H,
and is so arranged that as the outer end of the arm H is being lowered the
inclination of the shoot P is increased, and the discharge of the excavated material
into the wagons at the rear of the machine thereby facilitated. This shoot P is
hinged to the thrust arm or lever H at p, and the other end of it slides along a
guide fixed to the back end of the longitudinal girders e. In this case the
boiler F is placed on one side of the cheek plates E instead of at the back of the
machine, the force pump (or pumps) F¹ with a water tank and ballast box (or not
as desired) being placed on the other side of the cheek plates. For operating this
machine I prefer to use hydraulic power generated by force pumps. The water
pressure being admitted-to-the-cylinders-G-of-the thrust ram, the thrust arin or
lever H is raised (radially to its point of suspension or fulcrum I) across the bank
or cutting; should any obstruction be met with which the bucket or scoop h
cannot remove, the cut of the latter can be regulated by the hydraulic ram K which
adjusts the fulcrum I of the thrust arm or lever H. The upward stroke is
continued until the arm H has attained a sufficient inclination to permit of the
excavated material passing down to the shoot P. When the arm H is lowered
preparatory to another stroke, the shoot P is gradually raised until it attains
an inclination which ensures the discharge of the excavated material into the
wagons S placed at the rear of the machine. This type of excavator may be also
adapted for discharging by tilting the scoop or bucket, in which case the ram l
would be employed, as previously described; but to prevent the débris from
passing down the thrust arm or lever H a diaphragm t would be inserted.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and
therefore claim as my Invention is,:-
1. The construction and arrangement of excavating machine taken as a whole
wherein the bucket or scoop operated by hydraulic power is combined with the
oscillating thrust arm or lever, also operated by hydraulic power to regulate the
cutting and penetration of the bucket or scoop, the whole being mounted on a
trolly fitted with a roller path round which the excavator is capable of being
swung, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet I, of the accompanying Drawings.
2. The construction and mode of operating the thrust arm or lever in com-
bination with its bucket or scoop, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, or 3 and 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
3. The construction and arrangement of excavating machine taken as a whole,
wherein the bucket or scoop operated or not by hydraulic power is combined with
the oscillating thrust arm or lever, which is also operated by hydraulic power, and
acts as a passage for the excavated material to the shoot at the rear of the machine,

page_text: the said shoot being attached or not to the thrust arm or lever, substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 of
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Henry James, have bereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
J. W. H. JAMES. (L.S.)