IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING APPARATUS
Year: 1887

page_text: THOMAS SMITH, Engineer, Steam Crane Works, Old Foundry, Rodley near Leeds
in the County of York do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING APPARATUS to be as follows:-
This invention has principally for its object to provide more convenient efficacious,
& economically working machinery for excavating earth or other material. This
apparatus is applicable to ordinary cranes. This apparatus is as follows:-By the
application of channel or other form of iron or steel to an ordinary jib of a crane,
it is formed into a triangular structure; the points at which the channels meet above
the bottom of the jib is used as centre upon which is placed the arm of the excavator
and upon which it radiates.
The opposite end of the arm of the excavator is provided with a bucket of the
usual form; the hoisting is also fitted to the mouth of the Bucket and upon being
wound around the barrel, radiates the arm and bucket, upon the back centre already
described.
Apparatus is also provided for automatically adjusting the depth of cut and is
worked from the engine shaft of the (rane..
This Apparatus is also applicable for dredging canals or other waterways by a
modification of the arrangement..

page_text: I, THOMAS SMITH, of Rodley, in the County of York, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has principally for its object to provide more convenient, efficacious
and economically working machinery for excavating earth or other material than has
heretofore been usual. The apparatus is applicable to travelling or other cranes.
Upon the jib of a travelling or other crane I raise a superstructure, preferably
triangular in form, of channel iron or other suitable material. One part of this
superstructure (the apex or point where it is of triangular form) is used as a centre
of motion upon which the arm of the excavator is mounted in suchwise that it is free
to slide radially upon it and also to move in an angular direction around it as required
during the operation of excavating. The radial arm of the excavator is duplex in
form and is guided sideways by the crane jib. The lower end of the arm is provided
with a bucket or scoop of the form usual in excavating apparatus, and this bucket is
adjustable in position in relation to the said arm and to the material to be operated
upon.
The hoisting or angular movement of the arm and bucket around the aforesaid
centre is effected by the ordinary lifting chain of the crane, the fall end of which may
be connected to the bucket either direct or by means of a pulley or snatch block
(according as the work to be done is light or heavy) the other end being wound upon
the crane barrel in the usual manner, a suitable clutch being provided for disengaging
the said angular movement on the scoop reaching the end of its cut or top of the
bank, and in order that the engine may continue its motion for the performance
of other functions required of it for excavating purposes, such as adjusting the bucket
or scoop to the required depth of cut and for withdrawing it so as to clear the face
of the bank whilst being returned to the bottom of the excavation for the succeeding
cut, for which mechanism is provided.
When a boulder or other impediment is met with in the cutting, the bucket or
scoop can be instantly withdrawn therefrom by the mechanism just referred to, and
excavation may proceed around such boulder or impediment until it is sufficiently
loosened to be readily removed.
An important advantage of combining the excavating apparatus with a crane as
above referred to is:-that when the whole is not required for excavating work, the
radial arm and bucket is so arranged as to be readily removed, thus leaving the
crane at liberty for ordinary lifting purposes; while excavating apparatus as most
usually constructed for excavating work only, necessitates the whole of it being laid
aside when there is no excavating work to be done.
Referring to the annexed two sheets of illustrative drawings =
Fig. 1. Sheet 1. is a side elevation of a steam crane with excavating apparatus
according to this invention, attached thereto.

page_text: At
Fig. 2. Sheet 2. is a front elevation of the same.-a, is the jib of the crane.—b, b, b,
is a triangular superstructure of channel iron fixed to the upper side of the jib a.
or about the point of junction of the parts b, b, b, and at each side is a projecting stud,
roller or centre c, around which the radial arm d, and the bucket or scoop e, perform
their partial rotation or angular movement when excavating.
The radial arm comprises two members, one on each side of the jib a.-These are
joined together at the top by a cross piece f, by easily detachable fastenings such as
screws or bolts and nuts. Each of the said members has a slot g, open at the upper
end, and this slot takes on to one of the said projecting studs, rollers or centres c, and
turns as well as slides longitudinally thereon. The turning or angular motion is
effected by the lifting chain of the crane, a friction clutch, is provided for dis-
engaging the said angular motion as previously referred to, and the longitudinal
sliding motion is effected by the mechanism also previously referred to for the purpose.
This mechanism is driven from the engine shaft by means of a system of bevil
wheels h. i. j.
The wheels h, and j, are loose upon the engine shaft k, (which is kept continually
running during the process of excavation :) the wheel i, is between the wheels h, and j,
and connects them together. The said wheels h, and j, are provided at their inner
faces with friction clutches, and a corresponding clutch 7, is placed between them and
is driven by the said shaft k. This clutch is capable of an endwise motion operated
by hand in either direction, and may be made to engage alternately with the wheels h,
and . The wheel engaged by the clutch runs in the same direction as the shaft and
the other wheel during that time in the contrary direction. In one with j, is a spur
wheel m, that takes into and drives an endless pitch chain n, this gives notion to a
similar spur wheel 0, on the shaft p, upon which is the wheel q, that takes into and
drives the wheel r, on the shaft s. This shaft carries a worm t, that takes into and
drives the wheel u, in connection with a chain barrel v.
Around this barrel is wound a chain or chains w, in suchwise that one end thereof
is attached to the crosspiece, of the radial arm d, and the other to the bucket or
scoop e; a volute spring w 1, or its equivalent being interposed between such connee-
tion and the bucket to relieve the chain of excessive strain during the lowering of the
radial arm ₫. Or the chain barrel v. may be driven by spur gearing from the shaft p,
and thus dispense with the wheels and r, shaft s, worm t, and worm wheel u.
The bucket or scoop e, is mounted between the two members of the radial arm d,
by and is capable of turning upon trunnions so that it may be adjusted to a position
to suit the material to be operated upon; series of holes a 1, is provided in an are
whose axis is in the said trunnions, and there is a hole in the radial armi corresponding
in position to those in the arc, a bolt 2, passes through one of the holes a 1, and the
hole in the arm and secures the bucket or scoop in the desired position.
On completion of an upward stroke of the bucket the arm d, is drawn inwards so
as to cause the bucket to clear the face of the bank or cut, by putting the clutch 1,
into gear with one of the wheels h, or j, as the case may be; the crane is then swung
partially round until the bucket is over a truck provided for the reception of the
contents thereof, when the attendant by means of the cord æ, releases the catchy, of
the bucket bottom which opens and the contents drop into the said truck. The crane
jib is next swung back to its former position and the radial arm and bucket lowered
to the bottom of the excavation ready for another cut. The bucket is then caused to
advance by putting the clutch 1. in gear with the contrary wheel h. or j, as the case
may be, and to follow up the next cut without the crane advancing, until the whole
amount of excavation in the forward direction corresponding to the length of the
slot g. in the radial arm d, is accomplished, and so on until all the excavating within
the horizontal range of the crane is completed. The apparatus then requires to be
moved to another section of work.
When my improved apparatus is required to be used for canal dredging, it is fixed
upon a barge, and the radial arm d, made long enough to reach to the bottom or bed
of such canal, the operation being similar to that described above.
On the crane being required for lifting purposes, the chain w, is first detached say

page_text: from the crosspiece f, then from the bucket or scoop, the crosspiece is then removed
from between the two members of the radial arm, the arm and bucket are then
lowered by the crane chain and laid aside till again required.
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. In excavating apparatus for use in conjunction with a travelling or other crane,
a superstructure such as b. b. b. attached to the crane jib, and having at each side a
centre of motion such as a stud or roller upon which a radial arm such as d, is caused
to turn and to slide longitudinally substantially as described and shown, and for the
purposes specified.
}
2. In excavating apparatus for use in conjunction with a travelling or other crane,
a radial arm such as d, provided with one or more slots by which it is guided
while turning and sliding longitudinally, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In excavating apparatus for use in conjunction with a travelling or other crane
means for disengaging the hoisting gear from the engine on completion of a cutting
action of the scoop, and continuing the motion of the engine for other purposes
substantially as hereinabove set forth.
4. In excavating apparatus for use in conjunction with a travelling or other crane,
the mechanism substantially as described for moving the radial arm longitudinally,
comprising the train of bevil wheels h. i. j. friction clutch 1, spur wheel m, endless
pitch chain n, spur wheel o. shaft P, wheels and r, shaft 8, worm t, worm-wheel u,
(or other equivalent gearing in lieu of the wheels q, r, shaft s, worm t, and worm
wheel ) chain barrel chain w, volute spring w 1, or its equivalent, all substantially
as hereinabove set forth and shown in the drawings.
5. In excavating apparatus for use in conjunction with a travelling or other crane,
the means substantially as described for adjusting the bucket or scoop e, in its
relation to the radial arm d, in order to present its mouth and the tines or picks at an
angle suitable to the kind of material to be operated upon.
6. In excavating apparatus for use in conjunction with a travelling or other crane,
the combination of parts constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described
and shown, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 28th day of March 1888.
T. E. CRAVEN,
Agent for the Applicant.