Improvements in Earth Excavators.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Earth Excavators.
I, WILLIAM HENRY FINLAYSON of 11 Bond Street, Sydney in the Colony of
New South Wales Railway Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an autodynamic portable machine for excavating and
removing earth for agricultural subsoiling and from wells tanks foundations, railway
cuttings and the like and it has been devised in order that a suitable efficient and
powerful self contained and self propelling excavator for such purposes may be
constructed.
An improved earth excavator constructed according to these improvements
carries all the necessary mechanism and motive power upon a main frame say
rectangular in plan and consisting of strong side plates or frames connected at
their ends by similar strong end plates or frames the whole strengthened if desired
by cross beams and ties. This main frame is supported just forwardly of its mid-
length by a pair of wheels on an axle in boxes or bearings in horn plates under
the side plates and by a pair of bogie wheels or steering wheels at the rear.
This
pair of bogie wheels has its king bolt carried in a supplemental frame which is
supported by hinged stays forwardly from the side frames and by regulating
distant bolts from the main frame just above such bolts being attached to the
bogie frame and passing through nuts or female screws in the main frame so that
by revolving such bolts the distance between the main and bogie frames may be
varied and thus cause the elevation or depression of the front end of said main
frame. The steering is controlled by a spindle or post which is revolvably
attached to the bogie frame or has a footing therein and carries a toothed pinion
or endless screw in gear with a toothed wheel or worm wheel on the king bolt fixed
to bogie axle so that the revolving of the steering post or bolt from above the
main frame will alter the axial angularity of the bogie wheels and thus steer the
machine.
This main frame supports under its front end a shaft or spindle for the
excavating implements which preferably take the form of picks with bosses reeved
or threaded with variable radial set upon said shaft or spindle. To the rear of the
excavating implements and under the main frame are the bearings for the bottom
roller of an endless belt filling the whole width between the side plates and having
elevator buckets thereon. Rising from the side plates of the main frame to a
convenient height are the side frames of the elevator carrying on their top the
bearings of the top roller of said belt elevator. At the rear of the elevator and
partly supported by the elevator side frames is a receiving hopper with an endless
transversely travelling bottom or apron on rollers in bearings supported by
subsidiary frames from the side plates just above the main frame. At one side is
the discharge or open end of the receiving hopper with side pieces or wings
extending outwardly to above a longitudinal roller carried just below by the
subsidiary frame of the hopper roller. From this longitudinal outside roller a
travelling apron extends to the distance required outwardly the outer end of its
frame supporting in eccentrically adjustable bearings the outer roller and said
frame being hinged or supported on the spindle of its inner roller and by chains or
cords from its outer end to uprights or a frame on uprights from the side plates of
the main frame in such a way that said outer end may be raised or lowered as
desired. At the back of the hopper and discharge apron is a horizontal steam
engine of approved design and a vertical steam boiler both affixed to the main

page_text: frame and say occupying equal space on either side of the longitudinal centre line
of the whole machine. At the rear of the engine and boiler are the height adjusting
and steering actuating wheels or lovers protruding above a foot plate and behind
these again terminating the main frame and balancing the whole are the coal
bunker and the water tank.
The steam engine gives motion by means of toothed gearing to a main shaft
transversely half way across the frame in front of it and having its outer end at the
same side of the frame as the discharge end of the receiving hopper before described, a
bevel toothed wheel in gear with another bevel toothed wheel on the spindle of the
inner roller of the outside discharge travelling apron on which another tooth wheel
gears with and idle toothed wheel and this latter with a toothed wheel on the
spindle of the outer roller of the travelling bottom of the receiving hopper. On
the main shaft is an eccentric whose rod reaches to a depending crank on a
transverse intermediate shaft in bearings on the side plates of the main frame and
from outside the side plates from oppositely extending (up and down) cranks on
said intermediate shaft connecting rods extend to adjustable throw cranks carrying.
pawls in gear with the teeth of ratchet wheels on the shaft or spindle of the
excavating implements. A pawl and ratchet motion (which may be disengaged as
required) by means of a rod from an eccentric or crank on the intermediate shaft
imparts motion to a third (or second intermediate) shaft transversely half way
across the frame a belt or chain from a pulley on the end of the second or third
shafts around a pulley on the spindle of one or other of the rollers of the elevator
giving motion to said elevator. A toothed wheel on this third shaft gears with an
idle toothed wheel held in a radial frame around the main axle and this idle wheel
engages with a toothed wheel on said axle so as to revolve the main wheels and
move the whole machine and preferably with a faster motion for travelling the
machine when not actually excavating.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of March One thousand eight hundred and
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Earth Excavators.
I WILLIAM HENRY FINLAYSON of 11 Bond Street Sydney in the Colony of
New South Wales Railway Contractor 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 autodynamic portable machine for excavating and
removing earth for agricultural subsoiling and from wells, tanks, foundations,
railway cuttings and the like and it has been devised in order that a suitable
efficient and powerful self-contained and self-propelling excavator for such purposes
may be constructed.
An improved earth excavator, constructed according to these improvements,
carries all the necessary mechanism and motive power upon a main frame, say,
rectangular in plan, and consisting of strong side girders or frames connected at
their ends by similar strong end girders or frames, the whole strengthened, if
desired, by cross beams and ties. This main frame is supported adjustably as to
height just forwardly of its mid-length by a pair of wheels on an axle in boxes or
bearings in radial horn plates under the side girders and by a pair of bogie or

page_text: steering wheels at the rear. The pair of bogie wheels has its king bolt carried in
a supplemental frame which is supported by hinged stays, or an A frame forwardly
from the side frames. This A frame, at its upper base, is adjustably attached, say,
by pulleys and chains or cords, and a winch or winches to the main frame so that
the distance or height between the main and bogie frames may be varied, and thus
cause the elevation or depression of the front end of said main frame. The steering
is controlled by a spindle having a worm or endless screw on its end in gear with a
worm wheel on the spindle of a sprocket winch barrel or druin, around which an
endless chain takes to and around a sprocket wheel on the king bolt of the bogie
axle so that the revolving of a hand wheel on the steering spindle will alter the
axial angularity of the bogie wheels and thus steer the machine.
The main frame supports under its front end a shaft or spindle for the excavating
implements which preferably take the form of picks with bosses reeved or threaded
with variable radial set upon said shaft or spindle. To the rear of the excavating
implements, and under the main frame, are the bearings for the bottom roller of an
endless belt filling the whole width between the side girders and having elevator
buckets thereon. Rising from the side girders of the main frame to a convenient
height are subsidiary side frames, carrying on their top the bearings of the top
roller of the belt elevator. At the rear of the elevator and supported by the
subsidiary side frames is a receiving hopper with an endless transversely travelling
bottom or apron on rollers in bearings supported by the said subsidiary frames. At
one side is the discharge or open end of the receiving hopper with side pieces or
wings extending outwardly to above a longitudinal roller carried just below by an
extension of the subsidiary side frame, carrying also the outer roller of the hopper
apron or bottom. From this longitudinal outside roller a travelling discharge apron
extends to the distance required outwardly the outer end of its frame supporting in
radially held adjustable bearings the outer roller. This discharge frame is hinged
or radially supported on the spindle of its inner roller and by chains or cords from
its outer end to the subsidiary side frame from the side girder of the main frame,
On the
in such a way that said outer end may be raised or lowered as desired.
outer end of the discharge frame is a hinged flap or shoot, whose inclination or
angular set may be adjusted to direct the discharge inwardly or outwardly of the
said frame. At the back of the hopper and discharge apron is a horizontal steam
engine, of approved design, and a vertical steam boiler both affixed to the main
frame and, say, occupying equal space on either side of the longitudinal centre line
of the whole machine. At the rear of the engine and boiler are the height adjusting
actuating wheels or levers and behind these, again terminating the main frame and
balancing the whole, are the coal bunker and the water tank. A foot plate or
flooring extends backwardly from just forwardly of the engine and boiler and the
necessary regulating devices, as starting levers, reversing gears, &c., are appropriately
supported thereon and thereabove.
The steam engine gives motion, by means of toothed gearing, to a main shaft
transversely across the frame in front of it and having on its outer end, at the same
side of the frame as the discharge end of the receiving hopper before described, a
bevel toothed wheel in gear with another bevel toothed wheel on the spindle of the
inner roller of the outside discharge travelling apron. On this latter spindle is a
second bevel toothed wheel in gear with another bevel toothed wheel on the end of
a spindle carried in bearings along the side of the discharge frame to its outer end,
on which a similar bevel wheel gears with another on the spindle of the outer roller
of the discharge apron. On the forward end of the spindle of the inner roller of
the discharge apron is a tooth wheel gearing with an idle toothed wheel and this
latter gears with a toothed wheel on the spindle of the outer roller of the travelling
apron or bottom of the receiving hopper. On the main shaft is an eccentric (with
clutch connection) whose rod reaches to a depending crank on a transverse inter-
mediate shaft and, from outside the main frame from oppositely extending (up and
down) adjustable throw cranks on said intermediate shaft, connecting rods extend
to cranks carrying pawls in gear with the teeth of ratchet wheels on the shaft or

page_text: spindle of the excavating implements. A pawl and ratchet motion (which may be
disengaged as required) by means of a rod from an eccentric or crank on the
intermediate shaft imparts motion to toothed wheel running loose on the main shaft
and which has clutch connection to a toothed wheel also loose on said shaft in gear
with an idle wheel which in turn gears with a toothed wheel on the main axle.
The second loose wheel mentioned may be geared with main shaft when desired by
a clutch connection whose movement is governed by the movement of the clutch
between the two loose wheels on said main shaft. A belt or chain from a pulley
(with clutch connection) on the end of the main shaft around a pulley on the spindle
of the top roller of the elevator gives motion to the elevator belt.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now be
made to the drawings herewith. Figures 1 and 3 conjoined are side elevation of an
earth excavator constructed according to these improvements and Figures 2 and 4
conjoined are approximate plan and Figure 5 is front elevation of the same.
Figure 6 shows partial sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the main parts
of the gearing. Figure 7, also on enlarged scale, is a partial section through a
draught wheel and framing of the excavator. Figure 8 is end elevation and
Figure 9 is sectional elevation (on line a a Figure 5) of side discharge travelling
apron and frame. Figure 10 is side elevation and plan on enlarged scale of one of
the excavating implements or picks. Figure 11 on enlarged scale shows details of
elevating bucket and link. Figure 12 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating the
main principles of construction of an excavator according to this invention and in
which a represents the main frame, b the main wheels, c the bogie wheels, d the
bogie-supporting frame, e the boiler, ƒ the main shaft, g the elevator driving belt,
h the elevator frame, the elevator belt and buckets, and k the excavating
implements.
The main frame of the machine consists of end girders A and A' and side girders A²
and A forming a rectangle, across which are cross girders A'A and A joined up
by subsidiary girders or bearers A' A and A' and over them backwardly of the
elevator is a foot-plate A10. To each of the side girders A and A', just forwardly
of mid-length of the main frame, is fastened the bracket B¹, extending downwardly
as radial horn plates B in which slides the axle-box B through which take
journals of axle B* of draught or main wheels B. The bracket B has bottom
stay wings B, square piece B, radially shoed at bottom, to take on top of axle-box
and having female screw therein, while stay wings Be and top bridge piece B
complete said bracket. Through the female screw in piece B' passes male
screw B³, having collar B' under bridge piece B' and also having a worm wheel B
at a convenient height above gearing into which is a worm or endless screw Bl
on one end of spindle B in bearing brackets B and B while, on the other end,
is bevel toothed wheel B in gear with similar bevel toothed wheel B on cross
spindle or shaft B" in bearing brackets B, said spindle B carrying worm
wheel B in which gears worm or endless screw B on spindle B carried by
brackets or standards B1 and B22 and terminating in hand-wheel B". The
revolution of this hand-wheel, by means of the gearing just described, revolves
screw B in female screw in piece B' and causes the axle-box B³ to slide in horn
plates B so as to raise or lower the main frame from said axle B* and the wheels B
to adjust the height of said frame from the ground. To each of the side girders A
and A³, just rearwardly of the main axle B, are attached bearings or brackets C¹
for pins or pivots C of lower diagonal leg C³ of the A-frame of which the upper
leg C takes outside the main frame and terminates at cross girder C. From
girder C, base posts or stays C depend and are fastened to fifth wheel or quadrant
piece C with legs C and C forming a rigid frame for carrying the king bolt Co.
The bogie frame consists of king bolt boss C and chain or sprocket pulley or
sheave Č¹º. The endless chain takes around pulley C₁, is crossed and passes
around another chain or sprocket pulley or sheave C", whose pivot is held in
bearing brackets C, and carries a worm wheel C" in which gears a worm or
endless screw C", on spindle C1, in bearings or brackets C and C18, and termi-

page_text: nating in hand-wheel C¹, the revolution of which, as is easily seen, will cause the
bogie frame C with the axle C* and wheels C to turn on the king bolt CB and so
steer the machine as it travels on main wheels B and bogie wheels C. The
girder C is tied to the main frame by means of cords or chaius D taking around
sheaves of purchase blocks D¹ D and D³ at either end, and thence to barrel D₁ of
hand-winch D. By revolving this winch D³ the cords or chains D are wound
on the barrel, so as to draw or lift the back end of the main frame (on the
axle B as a pivot and the steering wheels C as a fulcrum) up to the girder C³
and so depress the forward end of said frame for excavating; or said cords or
chains D are unwound when the weight of the back end of the machine causes
the main-frame to lower at the back and to elevate at the front for travelling or
advancing when not excavating.
Around
The side girders A3 and A³ and the subsidiary girder A7 each support a plummer
block or bearing E' carrying a spindle or shaft E, on which are threaded, with
radial set, the bosses to which are attached, by bolts E³, the excavating
implements or picks E, preferably of the form shown in Figure 10. On the outer
ends of shaft E are ratchet wheels E' in frames or braces E' carrying pawls E
and having jointed thereto connecting rods E to slotted cranks or levers E" on the
outer end of a shaft F in bearings F¹ secured to side girders A3 and A³, and to
which shaft rocking motion is imparted as hereinafter described and this rocking
motion, by means of cranks E³, rods E' and pawls E, and ratchets E4, is converted
into rotary motion of shaft E and so revolves the picks E. Just rearwardly
clear of the revolving picks E and inclining backwardly from cross girder A
rises the elevator frame consisting of side legs G₁ and G' and cross braces G' in
front and of top pieces G on the front and both sides of the main frame. While
rearwardly on the blank side of said frame the back consists of leg G³ and side
ties or braces G and on the other or discharge side of the frame the top piece G
is extended to an upright G7 and has a mid-upright G8 both extending upwardly
to a second top piece G and having any necessary ties or braces, as G10, and cross
pieces G. Depending from the front of the frame is a gatherer or guard-
plate G with sharp edge G and back stay G. On a shaft or spindle G, in
bearings G on the side girders, is a roller G with cheeks G8 and in bearings G¹º,
on top plates G, is a driving roller or tumbler G20 with cheeks G".
rollers G and G20 is an endless belt made up of links G jointed together. On
these links are the elevators or buckets G23 made up of longitudinal angle irons G",
curved angle irons G", and stay pieces G2, and having curved lip G" and shoot-
plate G28 These buckets have also radial or swinging plates G", hinged as
at G3, so as to form ejecting pieces on the downward turning and travel of the
bucket. The tumbler shaft G is driven by sprocket wheel or chain pulley G",
around which travels a chain-belt G2 from a sprocket or chain pulley on the end
of the main shaft of the machine. Supported by the elevator framing is a hopper
formed of sides H' and H', blank end H and tapered nose or mouth H.
In
bearings H on cross pieces G is the spindle of a back longitudinally set
roller H and in bearings H7, on brackets or frames J¹ on the uprights G7 and G",
is the spindle H* of outer roller H. Around rollers H and H is an endless
belt H, the top of which forms a bottom for the hopper, said bottom being
supported by smaller rollers H and always travelling towards and downwardly
round roller H3 and discharging what is received thereon (from out of the
buckets G23) through the tapered nose or mouth H. The brackets or frames .J'
support in bearings J' the spindle J³, taking through side beams J of discharge
frame, said spindle carrying inner roller J and said beams carrying outer bearings J*
for outer roller J' and side bearings J for side spindle J, which, by means of mitre
gearings J and J", communicates the motion of the inner roller J (whose spindle
is revolved by means hereinafter described) to the outer one J. Around these
two rollers is endless belt J whose upper surface has guards or sides J* supported
from beams J* and travels from roller J' where it receives the discharge falling
through nose or mouth H* from endless belt H and carries it over roller J',

page_text: discharging it on hinged directing board J" pivotted at J" by means of
brackets Jon to beams J and having lever J" and staples J to which the ends
of an endless chain, shown broken at J and J", are attached, having passed once
or twice or oftener round a barrel J18 Figure 1, (having a ratchet motion attach-
ment) on top plate G of elevator frame. The revolution of this barrel J18, by
means of a ratchet handle, adjusts the inclination of directing board J" so that
the discharge may be deposited away from, close to, or under the roller J' as is
easily seen. Chains J extend from bracket J" to the top plate G and support
the outer end of beams J, the length of these chains being regulated by
shackle attachment on links as may be desired. When the discharge frame,
consisting of parts just described, is not required, or when it is desired that the
machine should move itself for any considerable distance, the spindle J³ is withdrawn
and the chains J, J" and J1 being freed, the whole frame may be temporarily
removed and placed in a convenient position on, or across, the machine or may be
transported separately. On one end of spindle J is a bevel wheel J in gear with
a bevel wheel K³ on the main shaft of the machine while on the other end of said
spindle J is toothed wheel J" gearing with idle wheel J" (whose pivot is held in
bracket J) which in turn gears with toothed wheel H10 and revolves the spindle H
of the roller H for imparting the travelling motion to belt H.
Rearwardly of the transverse hopper (with travelling bottom H), and discharge
travelling belt J, is the main shaft K of the machine with other gearing to be
described and rearwardly again on one side is double cylinder engine N, of
approved design, preferably provided with reversing gear, while on the other
side is an upright boiler O. Rearwardly of the engine is a water tank P and
rearwardly of the boiler is a fuel bunker Q.
The crank shaft N' of the engine has thereon fly wheel N and toothed pinion N³,
this latter gearing into toothed wheel K' of the main shaft K carried in bearings K'
on side girders A³ and A³ and subsidiary girder A³. On one end of this main
shaft K is bevel wheel K³ (gearing with bevel wheel J) having clutch K* and
clutch V-lever K while, on the other end of the shaft, is chain pulley or sheave K
(for endless chain belt G*) having clutch K' and clutch V-lever K³. Cross
rods K join levers K and K to actuating pull rods K in standard bearings or
guides K for simultaneously disengaging the elevator driving mechanism and the
discharge travelling aprons mechanism from the main shaft K and stopping them
while the said shaft K still revolves as in moving or travelling the machine. On
the main shaft is a loose eccentric K", with clutch connection K, with V-lever K
and pull rod K" for putting the said eccentric K in or out of gear with said shaft.
The eccentric strap has a rod K18, whose outer end takes in or on crank F* of shaft F,
to which is thus imparted a rocking motion. On said rocking shaft F is a second
crank F2, to which is jointed a connecting rod F³, whose other end takes on a
rocking lever F, on pivot pin F in bearing F. This lever has adjustment holes
for the connecting rod pin and carries a weighted pawl F' gearing in ratchet
wheel L loose on the main shaft K but having a clutch connection between
itself and a toothed wheel L³, also loose on shaft K, but having clutch connection L'
therewith. L and L' are clutch rods on push bar L in guides L' and having
lever red L, lever L and pull rod and handle L, the movement being so
arranged that ratchet wheel L must be disengaged from toothed wheel L' when
the latter is engaged with shaft K. The toothed wheel L' gears with toothed
wheel M on intermediate shaft M in bearings M' and M2, on side girder A³
and subsidiary girder A8 respectively; and said wheel M³ gears also with
toothed wheel M on the main axle B so as to revolve the main draught
wheels B. The motion of wheel L' thus moves the machine, whether such motion
is derived from the slow motion of ratchet L by means of rod F3 from rocking
shaft F (which slow motion is used when machine is at work) or from the
comparatively faster motion of shaft K when, by the clutch connections L' and I,
ratchet wheel L is disengaged from wheel L and that wheel is engaged with said
shaft K (which faster motion is used when machine is required to move

page_text: from place to place). The radial horn plates B2, containing the axle-boxes B³,
are struck from the centre of wheel M and thus allow of the free raising
and lowering of the machine on the axle as required and as hereinbefore
described.
The various movements of the specific parts and their respective functions.
will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description, and suffice it
now to say that, in operation, the engine N being started, and the clutch push
rod Lo being placed in its forward position the main shaft K is revolved so that the
eccentric K, geared by clutch K, to said shaft, actuates, by means of rod K1 and
crank F, the intermediate rocking shaft F. This rocking shaft, as before described,.
imparts rotary motion to the shaft or spindle E carrying the picks E which.
striking downwardly upon the ground, pick or excavate to a facing therein as shown
on Fig. 1 and push the excavated material rearwardly to between the cheeks G¹²
and discs G. At the same time the rocking shaft F, by means of crank F³, rod F
and pawl F7, revolves ratchet wheel L which, being in gear with toothed wheel L³,
causes the latter, in gear with wheel M³, to revolve, by means of wheel M, the
main axle B so that the whole machine will slowly advance and "feed" the
revolving picks forwardly into the facing upon which they work. The motion of
the main shaft K, by means of clutch Kin gear with pulley K, is given to chain
belt G which, in turn, imparts it, by means of pulley G on shaft G, to the
tumbler G of elevating buckets G2, which buckets are thus caused to pick up the
excavating material as they pass around roller G" and to discharge it, assisted by
the hinged flaps G, as they pass over said tumbler. The endless aprons H and J
then discharge it at the side as before clearly set out.
I will now describe in detail the modified construction of some of the parts of my
invention hereinbefore referred to, which modifications are equally as serviceable as
those parts described with reference to Figures 1 to 12 and, in order to do this, I
will make reference to further figures of the drawings herewith of which Figure 13.
is sectional elevation, Figure 14 plan, and Figure 15 partial end view respectively
of back portion of my excavator showing a modified construction of devices for
raising and lowering the back end of the main frame. Figure 16 is a sectional
elevation and Figure 17 cross section through a draught wheel and main framing of
portion of the excavator showing a modified construction of the devices for raising
and lowering the main frame relatively to the main axle. While Figure 18 is a
front end view of the excavator in diagram showing a modified construction of
discharge elevator in which a lever platform carrying weights or preferably
a water tank is affixed, or attached, to the opposite side of the main frame
to act as a counter-balance to the discharge elevator when same is extended as
when in use.
Referring to Figures 13 14 and 15. To the subsidiary girders or bearers A",
which join up the end girder A' and cross girders A, are bolted brackets R,
carrying female screwed blocks or nuts R', through which pass the male screws S¹
of vertical spindles S in bearings or sockets on top and bottom frames S and S³
respectively connected by vertical side frames S', said bottom frame S³ carrying the
king bolt which passes through the chain quadrant C, axle or bogie Cand
through socket end of the frame C³, so that, when said quadrant C10 is moved
round by means of chains. C", the axle or bogie C and wheels C will turn
king bolt C and so steer the machine as it travels on its main wheel and bogie
wheels C. The vertical spindles S are revolved by worm wheels S' with which
gear worms S, on spindle S', in bearings on frames. S' and revolved by gearing
of worm wheel S8, with worm S, which latter is actuated by hand lever S
The revolving of spindles S causes the nuts R¹ to screw up or down male screw S¹
and so raise or lower the girders or bearers A¹ and the end of the main framing
of the machine which, moving on the main axle as a fulcrum, raises or lowers
the front or excavating end of the machine to and from its work.
The modified constructions of devices for raising and lowering the main frame
above the main axle and adjusting it as to its height from the ground are

page_text: shown in Figures 16 and 17. On either side is a beam or lever T whose back
end is held by links T' to a bracket T' on the underside of each of the side
frames (one of which is shown in dotted lines) of the machine. This beam, rests
upon the axle box B of the main axle B and is held thereto by bolt T3 and
this axle box B³ is radially held to shaft M by means of links M5 therefrom.
The forward end of said beam is bifurcated to take a block or nut T, having
trunnions T, taking into grooves at end. Through a female screw in block or
nut T passes male screw B8, having collar B under bridge piece or bracket B',
and also having a worm wheel B, gearing into which is a worm or endless
screw Bon cross spindle B", in bearing brackets B (one of which is shown
by dotted lines), said spindle B" carrying worm wheel B18 in which gears worm
or endless screw B19 on spindle B carried by brackets B and terminating in
hand wheel placed convenient to the driver. The revolution of this hand wheel,
by means of the gearing just described, revolves screw B8 in female screw in nut T,
causes said male screw to move up or down in said block and so raises or lowers the
main frame from the axle B and the wheels B and thus the height of said frame
from the ground is adjusted.
Referring to Figure 18, the lever U may be a single bar or may be a frame
strong enough to carry a water tank, such as U, or any kind of weight on its outer
end sufficient to counterbalance the weight of the discharge elevator extending from
the other side of the machine and thus prevent the excavating implements digging
deeper one side than the other and so working the machine on a slant. This lever
is hinged, as at U2, to the main frame so that, when not in use, as when in
transit from place to place, said lever U may be raised to the position shown
by dotted lines by means of chain U³, the tank or weight being then placed where
convenient on the main frame of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
First In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the other main parts of revolving picks, such as E, on a shaft or spindle,
such as Ex, ratchet wheels, such as E', pawl, such as E, lever, such as E, connecting
rod, such as E7, crank, such as E, and a rocking shaft receiving motion from a main
revolving shaft, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in
the drawings.
Second In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the other main parts of buckets, such as G, on links, such as G", roller,
such as G7, on shaft, such as G15, tumbler, such as G, on shaft, such as G*, pulley,
such as G, chain belt, such as G2, and pulley, such as Ko, on main or other
revolving shaft, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in
the drawings.
Third In earth excavators, of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with a bucket, such as G", on link, such as G", and having mouth-piece, such
as G27, of a flap, such as G", hinged, as at G, substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Fourth In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the other main parts of a hopper formed of sides, such as H' and H³, end,
such as H', and mouth, such as H*, an endless travelling belt, such as H, rollers, such
as H H and H, toothed wheels, such as H J" and J", spindle, such as J and
gearing for imparting the revolving motion of a main shaft to said latter spindle,
such as J, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Fifth In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the other main parts of an endless travelling apron, such as J, having
inclined guards or sides, such as J, side beams, such as J, rollers, such as Jo
and J', spindle, such as J', and end spindle in bearings, such as J6, mitre gearing,

page_text: "
such as J10 and J, spindle, such as J³, and gearing for imparting the revolving
motion of a main shaft to said latter spindle, such as J³, substantially as herein
described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Sixth-In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with discharge frame consisting of beams, such as J', having travelling apron,
such as J, of directing board, such as J, on pivots, such as J, in bracket, such
as J", lever, such as J", chains, such as J1 and J", guide rollers and winding roller,
such as J18, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings..
Seventh-In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and
arrangement with the, other main parts of a main shaft, such as K, receiving
motion from engine shaft, such as N₁, say, by toothed wheels, such as N³ and K³,
eccentric, such as K1, rod, such as K, crank, such as F, and rocking shaft, such
as F, substantially as herein described and explained and. as. illustrated in the
drawings.
Eighth In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the other main parts of a main shaft, such as K, a rocking shaft, such
as F, crank, such as F; connecting rod, such as F³, pirotted lever, such as F,
having pawl, such as F', ratchet wheel, such as L, tooth wheel, such as L³,
clutches, such as. L' and L', having devices for simultaneously operating them,
toothed wheel, such as M', and toothed wheel, such as M, on main axle, such
as B, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Ninth In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the other main parts of a main axle, such as B, axle-boxes, such as B³,
brackets, such as B', radial horn plates, such as B³, square pieces, such as B,
having a female screw therein, bridge pieces, such as B', male screws, such as B³,
having collars, such as B', and devices for simultaneously revolving the screws, such
as B, of both axle bearings, substantially as herein described and explained and as
illustrated in the drawings.
Tenth-In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the outer main parts of a main axle, such as B*, axle box, such B³, link,
such as M, to shaft, such as M, side beam, such as T, bolt, such as T³, link,
such as T, bracket, such as T2, nut, such as T, with trunnions, such as T³,
screw, such as B³, with collar, such as B', worm wheel, such as B10, and devices
for revolving such worm wheel, substantially as herein described and explained
and as illustrated in the drawings.
Eleventh In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and
arrangement with the other main parts, of main draught wheels, such as B, on
axle, such as B*, pivots, such as C, A-frame consisting of legs, such as C3 and C4,
and cross girder, such as C, holding chains or ropes, such as D, with devices
on the main frame for winding and unwinding same, base posts, such as Co, fifth
wheel or quadrant piece, such as C7, king bolt, such as C, bogie frame consisting of
boss, such as C, and chain or sprocket pulley, such as Co, wheels, such as C, on
axle, such as C, with devices for revolving pulley, such as C10, substantially as
herein described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
"
Twelfth In earth excavators of the class set forth, the combination and arrange-
ment with the other main parts, of main draught wheel, such as B', axle, such as B*,
pivot, such as C', in A-frame having legs, such as C, king bolt, such as C³, bogie
frame sprocket pulley, such as Co, wheels, such as C, on axle, such as C*,
frames, such as 'S' S and S', brackets, such as R, female screw, such as R¹,
screw, such as S and S¹, worm wheel, such as S, worm, such as 8%, spindle,
such as S', worm wheel, such as S³, and devices for revolving such worm
wheel, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Thirteenth An improved earth excavator consisting of a revolving set of picks or
excavating implements, a bucket elevator, transverse hopper with travelling bottom

page_text: or apron, with or without an extending discharging frame with second travelling.
bottom or apron, a steam engine, a steam boiler, a water tank, and a fuel bunker,
all combined and arranged with operating mechanism in the manner, and for the
purposes, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Fourteenth The particular combination and arrangement of mechanical parts
all together forming an improved earth excavator substantially as herein described.
and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this Eighth day of November One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-three.
W. H. FINLAYSON.
Witness:
FRED WALSH, J.P., Fel. Aust. Inst. P.A.,
Sydney.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.