Year: 1886

page_text: I, CHARLES WILLIAM FERGUSON of 33 Kenmure Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow
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 :-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of dredger bucket and has for
its object to improve the cutting action of the bucket.
The figures of reference in the following description refer to corresponding figures
on tho accompanying drawings.
My first improvement consists in casting or otherwise forming or fixing upon the
body of an ordinary dredger bucket a series of curved diagonal lateral cutters (1)
which when the bucket is at work cut and divide the material to be dredged into
parallel furrows and trap it off into the next bucket. Thus when a series of buckets
so made are employed the lateral cutters upon each bucket serve to cut and divide
the material to be dredged ready for and also to feed it into the next succeeding
bucket of the series.
I likewise form or fix on the body of the bucket a central cutter (2) furnished with
a broad chisel shaped point (3) and two curved shoulders (4) terminating in a groove
or channel (5). The broad point serves to cut out a wide furrow of material which is
diverted by the curved shoulders into such groove or channel and thence into the
mouth of the bucket. This central cutter therefore provides a ready and effective
means for filling the bucket whereto or whereon it is affixed or formed.
Owing to the lateral cutters being arranged diagonally at suitable angles round the
body of the bucket their edges radiate therefrom so as to cut successively one after
the other and upon reference to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that such
edges are of an oblique curvilinear form somewhat like the cutter of a plough so that
the material which is being dredged is thereby divided into furrows and trapped off
or fed into the mouth of the succeeding bucket in the manner already described.
Another advantage arising from the action of these lateral cutters is that owing to the
material to be dredged being theroby cut up into furrows it facilitates the emptying
of the buckets as the material is not so likely to adhere to and remain in the bucket
as when left in a heavy mass as heretofore.

page_text: My improvements may be readily applied to existing dredger buckets by rivetting
or otherwise fastening a series of lateral cutiers and also a central cutter thereon or
thereto such cutters being made substantially in the manner hereinbefore described
and shewn.
DRAWINGS.
↑
Figure 1 shews the body plate of the bucket flattened out with the central and
lateral cutters formed on or fixed thereto in the manner hereinbefore described.
Figure 2 shows a plan view of Figure 3 which is a longitudinal section of a
dredger bucket shewing the central cutter formed thereon or fixed thereto.
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
1° Casting or otherwise forming on or affixing to the body of a dredger bucket a
series of lateral cutters and likewise a central cutter such central and lateral cutters
being constructed and arranged substantially in the manner hereinbefore described
and shewn.
2° The application of my invention as hereinbefore described and claimed to
existing dredging buckets.
3° Fitting a dredger bucket with a single central cutter constructed and arranged
substantially in the manner herein before described and shown.
4° Fitting a dredger bucket with a series of lateral cutters constructed and
arranged substantially in the manner herein before described and shewn.