Improvements in Ditching and Excavating Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 9th Aug., 1887.
Improvements in Ditching and Excavating Machines.
I, HENRY CARTER, of Springfield, in the County of Elgin, in the Province of
Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN DITCHING AND EXCAVATING MACHINES, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to machines for cutting and clearing or excavating ditches or
trenches, and more particularly to that class of ditchers which operate by means of a
plough or share and having a large elevating wheel fitted with scoops to lift and
discharge the soil.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine, showing the side-wheel in
front, the dotted lines showing the latter raised.
Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the other side.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line xx.
Fig. 4 is a top view.
Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the interior of the rim of main wheel.
Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line y y.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the scoops and locking device.
The machine has the following main features: A large broad-rimmed elevating-
wheel is journalled in a light frame constructed mainly of straight bars strongly
braced together. The rim of the elevating wheel carries a series of scoops which
may be briefly described as angle plates or gussets, the triangular flank of which
pass through and are pivoted in longitudinal slots near one edge of the rim,
projecting inside and leaving a transverse portion or wing turned at a right
angle to project outside. When swivelled into its working position, the said wing
heels with one edge on the rim so as to form an acute angled mouth therewith
which is open on one side, the mouth facing the direction of its movement. They
are placed in this position by passing under a disk-wheel mounted near the top
of the frame which engages a short pin at the outside of the longitudinal scoop-
shank and presses the same close against the rim of the elevating wheel; a bolt
forming part of a batch pivoted to the internal face of the rim and actuated by
a stationary rim cam secured to the framing, enters an eye provided in the

page_text: internal portion of the scoop-shank and locks it in position. When the scoop has
been partly raised towards the top, the rim cam withdraws the latch bolt so as
to leave it free to be swivelled before passing the discharging chute, when the
internal scoop point bears against a cam which turns the same in a position that
the transverse portion is approximately parallel to the rim, in which position it
passes through a slot in the discharge spout which acts as scraper or clearer.
These scoops it will be seen, act like elevator buckets entering and cutting into
the ground as the wheel rolls along, and drawing the soil which is being cut or
loosened by the plow-share or spade up through a throat at the rear. This throat
is a trough extending from the plow-point or share to the discharge spout bent
to the curvature of the elevator wheel and consisting of two telescoping sections,
the short upper stationary one which is yieldingly secured at the upper end, or
mouth of the discharge spout, and the longer lower one yieldingly secured to the
cutting mouth and plow-share, and carried by a pair of bent arms pivoted near the
elevating wheel centre and by a rack gearing into a spur wheel actuated by mitre-
gear and a spring latched crank on an upright spindle brought within reach from the
driver's seat. In cross-section the trough is conical and each section consists of
three flexible strips composing the sloping sides and the flat bottom, these strips being
bound together by hoops or bands, one near the lower end of the lower adjustable
section and one at each end of the upper stationary section and the interior of the
throat is made an easy fit to the scoops, the flexible strips composing the throat
adapting themselves to any moderate inequalities of the charges. The plow point cuts
the bottom of the trench, the cutting mouth of the throat immediately above the plow
cuts the sides and the buckets or scoops elevate the soil and discharge the same
sideways through the chute. The elevating wheel and frame is steadied by a land or
side wheel carried by a curved arm terminating in a lever handle provided with a
spring latch engaging notches in a segment, the arm being pivoted to the frame
within reach from the driver's seat. By adjustment, i.c. raising or lowering the
side wheel by means of the lever the machine may be adjusted to sloping ground and
to the depth of the ditch. At the front, forming part of the frame, is secured a block
to which a flexible steel tongue is secured.
A is the rim of the elevating wheel, A¹ the hub and a the spokes. The frame is
composed of a long, straight and approximately horizontal bar B on each side and as
regards height between the hub and the top of the wheel, being secured in front to
the tongue block Cand at the rear connected by a stay or distance piece b. To the
bar B straight upright, though slanting bars B' are secured, one on each side,
occupying different positions, the lower ends of these carry the axle A" of the main
wheel. Each of these uprights is braced by a bar B, connecting the forward end of
the main bars B and the lower end of the upright B₁, the axle A" passing through
both B₁ B and the latter are made somewhat longer to form heels to which the
trough arms are pivoted. An upper curved bar B¹¹ is secured at the land wheel side,
while on the spout side is secured the curved bar Band at the rear, and the straight
bar Bat the front, to provide facilities for attachment at various parts. D is the
driver's seat attached to a short curved bar d turned to form a foot rest d' and
fastened at the rear end on the land wheel side to the frame B.
C¹ is the flexible steel tongue secured by screws or bolts and a rim or hoop c to the
block C. C is the double-tree iron.
E is the land side wheel journalled to the lower end of the adjustable curved lever
arm E (fig. 1 and 4). The arm E' is pivoted near the rear between the frame bar B
and seat bracket and foot rest d d and is then continued upward bent in the direction
of its width to form the lever handle E¹, in one piece to which is hinged a spring
latch lever e provided with a pin passing through the lever E" and adapted to engage
a series of notches in a segment Eu secured to the frame bars B and B¹¹¹. By
adjusting the lever E" forward or backward, the side wheel is lowered or raised.
The scoops or buckets consist each of an approximately parallel piece of plate
having one corner bevelled off and the broad end bent at a right angle or nearly so in
the manner of a gusset bracket. The bevelled portion F is inserted in a longitudinal

page_text: slot a¹ near one edge of the rim A and pivoted therein at its heel or bevelled edge
(which faces the rear) by a pin all passing transversely through the rim and projects
in the interior of the wheel. The portion F1 (together with a part of the shank F)
and reaching transversely across the rim. This transverse portion F is the working
part proper acting like a shovel or scraper, as lifter of the soil, having (together with
the outward projecting part of the shank F) the edges facing the rear of the machine
sharpened to form cutting edges and its side edge bevelled rearwardly to correspond
with the conical section of the throat, the projecting part of the shank F near the
bent being also bent a little or otherwise worked to obtain a slight bevel for the same
purpose. When in working position (see the lower scoops figs. 1 2 and 3) the
outward projecting portion of the shank F appears as a triangle and the transverse
scraper F heels with its forward edge against the rim and forms an acute angle
therewith. It is forced into this position by a loose disk wheel G so journalled in the
bars B and B as to allow the passage between it and the rim A of the short
pin secured outside in the outer and forward portion of the shank F, which pin f"
the roller G strikes and forces the same close to the rim. While the scoop is thus
held it is locked in that position by a bolt H entering the eye formed in the
shank F. The bolt II forms part of a latch H pivoted at its tail end by a pin to
the internal face of the rim A, and is provided with a slotted or forked lug H",
forming a guide running upon the stationary rim cam I secured to the frame at i
and and by an arm below. This rim cam has two inclines, one pushing the
guide H inward and forcing the bolt E in eye and the other pulling the same
back and withdrawing the bolt from the eye before the scoop has arrived at the top to
be discharged. J is a cam secured inside to the frame bar B and is so adapted and
situated that the tip of the shank F is bound to come in contact with it and be
retarded and the scoop turned up so that the transverse part F¹ assumes an
approximately parallel position to the rim A (see the uppermost scoops, figs. 1, 2
and 3). In this position it passes the chute, the tip of the shank F continuing to
bear on the cam until the scoop nears the roller G when the tip F looses its bearing
upon the cam. K is the chute or spout for discharging the raised soil laterally and
consists of a suitably bent, shaped, molded and inclined plate or sheet secured at the
top of the frame and at the end and in continuation of the trough or throat. A slit k
corresponding to the longitudinal section of the scoop is formed in that part of the
chute reaching across the wheel rim through which slot the scoops pass, the chute thus
also acting as scraper and clearer for the scoops and wheel rim.
L is the plow-share or plow-point for cutting the bottom of the trench or ditch.
It consists of a plate doubled up in the form of a shoe (as shown in fig. 3) and formed
with a cutting edge 1. This shoe is held by a pair of curved arms pivoted to the
frame bars B at near the centre of the main wheel. The upper inner end is
riveted to the bottom of a short solid section M of the throat, having an enlarged
mouth which is provided with cutting edges m, N and N₁ are respectively the back
and sloping sides of the trough or throat each consisting of a flexible strip bound
together near its lower end by a band n and having the back N flexibly secured to
the upper end of the section M which it overlaps, while the upper ends overlap the
upper section and are free to yield in any direction. The upper short section of the
throat is secured at the entrance to the chute, its unsupported end meeting and over-
lapped by the free end of the lower and longer section telescopically. It consists of
the back O and sloping sides 0 bound together at each end by the hands o. To the
upper end is fastened a spring O" which when the section 001 is forced upwards by
the telescopic action of the lower section, abuts against a projection o¹ secured to the
frame bar B. The cutting mouth and throat are tapering or conical in cross-section
being somewhat wider at its widest part than the rim A, and the throat is adapted to
the size and shape of the scoops so as to be a very easy and loose fit. The throat is
curved so as to be approximately concentric with the rim A. The plow point is made
adjustable for the depth by means of the curved rack P connecting the arms L'
pivotally by a forked arm P₁, the rack gearing into a spur wheel Q which carries a
bevil wheel Q' journalled upon a horizontal stud q, and the bevel wheel Q¹ gearing

page_text: r
into another bevel wheel R having a long tubular hub or neck R' with a crank
handle R at its upper end journalled upon an upright stud which carries at the top
a notched disk into which the handle R is locked by the spring latch R. The back
of the rack P bears against a flanged roller S journalled upon a studs to keep it in gear
with the spur wheel Q. The handle R" being turned, the rack P and with it the plow
point Land throat M N N is raised or lowered and the depth of the cut regulated.
The machine operates as follows: The plow point being adjusted for the desired
depth of cut by means of the spring latched crank R", the machine is drawn forward
and the side wheel adjusted by the lever E' to bring the main wheel to a perpendicular
position. In its forward movement the point 7 cuts the bottom of the ditch and the
lips m the sloping sides the scoops F" locked by the bolts H, having penetrated into the
ground pass the plow and enter the throat, lifting the intervening soil which is held
together by the latter. During their upward movement the bolts H are withdrawn
by the cam I, the scoops being kept in position by their load. When each individual
scoop arrives at the discharge end of the throat and at the chute K, the tip F of the
scoop bears upon the cam which raises the scoop so that the part F¹ is approxi-
mately concentric with the rim A and in this position it is held by the cam while passing
through the chute and through the slot therein, the elevated soil being thereby
cleared off, the scoops and discharges laterally downward the chute. The scoop tip F
now leaves the cam J and while free to swivel it is turned back to its working position
by the disk wheel G between the edge of which and the rim A the pin f" is compelled
to pass in close contact. While thus held the guides H" passes over an incline in the
rim cam I and the latch H' is turned and the bolt H forced into the eye f¹ll locking
the scoop in its position ready for action again. The flexible tongue allows for
moderate oscillations due to the uneveness of the ground or soil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. The combination of the frame B B B B B and B, tongue block C,
flexible tongue C₁, stay b, bracket dd, side wheel E, arm and lever E E¹ e,
segment E, main wheel A A¹ a, slots a¹, pins a¹¹, scoops FF, latch bolts HH'H",
cam I, cam J, chute K, slot k, disk G, arms L', plow point L, mouth piece M,
throat N N¹n, and 001 o, spring O₁, stop o¹, rack P P¹, wheels Q Q¹,' stud 9.
wheel R, hub R', handle R", stud 7, disk, latch R, roller S and stud s.
2. The combination of the frame work B B B B B and Bu, tongue
block C, tongue C₁, stay b, cam J, main wheel A A¹ a, side wheel E, adjustable
arm E E, arms L' carrying throat section 0 0¹, and chute K, and disk G.
3. The combination of the frame work consisting of flat bars suitably braced and
connected by the tongue block C and distance piece b, the axle A¹¹, hub A¹, spokes a,
rim A, segment E, lever arm EE", and side wheel E.
4. The combination of the framework consisting of flat bars suitably braced and
connected, the adjustable lever arm E' E" and the side wheel E.
5. The combination of the side wheel E, adjustable lever arm E' E", spring latch e
and segment E and the frame bars B.
6. The combination of the cam J, frame bar B and scoops F F.
7. The combination of the main wheel A A¹ a, frame bars B¹ B", arms L and plow
point L'.
8. The combination of the arms I, plow point L, mouth piece M, throat N N¹ n,
rack P P¹, wheel Q, roller S and studs s.
9. The combination of the plow point L, mouth piece M, throat section N N¹n,
and 0 0¹ o, spring O" and stop o².
10. The throat constructed of flexible strips N and N₁ bent to the curvature of the
main wheel rim, bound near their lower end by a band n and connected flexibly to a
mouth piece M having enlarged cutting rim m."
11. The construction of the flat cutting plow point L carried in arms L' pivoted
near the centre of the main wheel, the plow point connected to a cutting mouth
piece M and flexible strips N N¹ held together by a band n, connected flexibly to the

page_text: upper end of said mouth piece, the flexible strips N N¹ overlapping telescopically the
free end of the throat section 0 0¹.
12. The combination of the frame stud r, notch disk, latch R¹¹¹, crank R¹¹,
neck R¹, bevel wheel R, bevel wheel Q', spur wheel Q, stud q, stud s, roller S, rack P,
arms P', arms L', point L, mouth piece M, throat N N' n and 0 0¹ o, spring O" and
stop o¹.
13. The combination with the framework of the throat section 00', chute K,
slot and scoops F F'.
14. The combination of the rim A, slots a¹, pins a", latch bolts H H H h,
stationary rim cam I, and scoops F F¹, having eyes fil.
15. The main wheel having a broad flat rim A carrying a series of scoops F F1
pivoted in longitudinal slots and projecting internally and externally and adapted to
assume different positions therein and to be held in or locked in such position by
stationary cams and suitable locking devices.
16. The combination of the main wheel A. A¹ a, a series of scoops F F¹, disk
wheel G, bolts H H H", stationary run cam I and cam J.
17. The combination of the main wheel rim A, scoops F F¹, cam J, plow point L,
mouth M, throat N N¹, O O' and chute K.
18. In combination with the main wheel rim A a series of scoops consisting of a
longitudinal shank F, passing through said rim near one edge thereof, and pivoted
therein, and transverse scraper shank F¹ projecting across said rim, having cutting
edge and adapted to be held at an acute angle to said rim, provided with an eye fin
and a pin f".
19. The combination of a rim A, slot a¹, pin a", scoops F F¹ and throat section N N¹
and 0 0¹.
20. The combination of a wheel rim A, chute K, slot k and scoops F F¹.
21. A pivotal scoop consisting of a piece of plate having one corner bevelled off
and bent at an approximately right angle to form the two shanks F and F¹, pivoted in
the rim of the main wheel and provided with cutting edges f, bevelled sides f¹, pin ful
and eye f
All substantially as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.
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