IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATORS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, Civil-Engineer and Patent Agent resident
at 109-110 Gneisenaustrasse, Berlin S.W. Prussia, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATORS a communication to him from Carl Vering
and Hermann Vering, both residing in Hannover, Kingdom of Prussia,
German Empire
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Pieper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th September 1883.
CARL PIEPÉR, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, resident at 109/110 Gneisenau-
Strasse Berlin S. W. Prussia, "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATORS" a communication
to me from Carl Vering and Hermann Vering both residing in Hannover, Kingdom
of Prussia, German Empire
This invention relates to Excavators or machines by which earth is excavated
and conveyed into transporting trucks, and its object is, in the first place, to so
construct and combine the mechanisms by which the different operations of the
machine are performed that they may all be controlled by one attendant. These
operations consist in conveying motion from the steam engine to the bucket chain,
in lowering and raising the bucket ladder, & in moving forward or backward the
whole apparatus on its wheels.
For the purpose of allowing the steam engine to be put in engagement with and
to be disconnected from the driving gear of the bucket chain, a friction coupling
operated preferably by hydraulic pressure is employed, and the parts are so arranged
that the said coupling may be put into or out of action by turning a handle on the
platform on which the attendant stands.
For raising, lowering & keeping at rest the bucket ladder, the chain to which
the ladder is suspended, is slung around a sprocket wheel keyed on a shaft, which
in addition carries a spur wheel gearing with a pinion placed loose on the main
shaft of the engine and adapted to be connected there with by a friction coupling.
The parts of this coupling are kept out of engagement with each other by a lever
acted upon by a weight, and they may be pressed together by means of a chain
attached to the said lever & leading to the second handle on the attendants, platform.

page_text: Besides, the said lever is adapted to operate a break arranged to act against the
part of the coupling attached to the pinion.--When the said second handle is in its
position of rest, the weight keeps the parts of the coupling separate from each
other, while at the same time it causes the break to act on the part attached to the
pinion and thus maintains the ladder in the desired position. When the handle is
turned but little, the break is slackened, whereupon the ladder will descend by its
own weight until it is arrested again; while, when the handle is turned farther, so
as to cause the parts of the coupling to be pressed against each other, the ladder
will be raised by the action of the engine. The operation of bodily moving the
apparatus upon the rails on which it stands, is carried out by means of a friction
coupling (by preference also a hydraulic coupling) so arranged that when its parts
are in contact with each other, it will convey motion from one of the rotating
shafts to the propelling gear. This gear is provided with a reversing mechanism
in order to allow the apparatus to be moved forward or backward at will. The
handles for controlling the latter two operations are also arranged on the said
platform, and finally the steam regulating-valve of the engine is brought within
the reach of the attendant. The hydraulic pressure required for the aforesaid
hydraulic couplings may be produced by a pump with accumulator or air-vessel, or
directly by means of the steam pressure from the boiler.
The earth excavated by the machine is conveyed by the buckets into the trucks
through a box having inside at its lower end two inclined surfaces forming together
a roof. In the line of intersection of the said surfaces there is a shaft carrying a
valve and arranged to be turned from the outside-by a lever. According to the
position of this valve the earth will fall towards one side or the other. This allows
the excavator to be moved forward' independently of the train of trucks, as, when the
aforesaid box is over the space between two trucks, and one truck is filled, the said
valve need only be turned into its opposite position, in order to cause all the
material to drop into the following truck.
In some cases the inventors insert springs into the chain or chains by which
the ladder is suspended, in order to prevent undue concussions from acting on the
machinery when the buckets meet with large stones or the like. Springs may also
be placed between the bucket ladder and the frame of the machine or any suitable
part connected therewith.
The two tumblers are of polygonal shape, and the lower one is by preference
made of such size that each of its sides presents a bearing surface for two links of
the double bucket-chain. The buckets are attached with their upper end to one
link of either chain, and they have feet with which they rest on the following
links.
On the links preceding the buckets plates may be fixed which prevent earth
from falling over the inner edge of the buckets especially when the ladder is but
little inclined,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Pieper in the Patent Office on the 5th March 1884.
"
CARL PIEPER, Civil-Engineer and Patent-Agent resident at 109-110 Gneisenau-
strasse, Berlin S W., Prussia, "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATORS a communication
to me from Carl Vering and Hermann Vering, both residing in Hannover, kingdom
of Prussia, German Empire
This invention relates to Excavators or machines by which earth is excavated
and conveyed into transporting trucks, and its object is, firstly, to so construct and
combine the mechanisms by which the different operations of the machine are
caused to take place, that they may all be controlled by one attendant; secondly,
to provide the bucket-chain and the bucket-ladder with springs adapted to prevent
undue concussions from acting on the machinery when the buckets meet with an
unusual resistance; thirdly, to so construct the lower tumbler and the buckets as
that they will be better supported than hitherto during their digging operation;
and fourthly, to provide for means by which earth is prevented from falling over
the inner edge of the buckets.
On the annexed four sheets of drawings. Fig. 1 represents in a side view, Fig. 2
in an end view and Fig. 3 in sectional plan an excavator comprising a part of the
improvements. Fig. 2 is a part in detail. Fig. 4 shows a device for conducting
the excavated earth into either of two trucks. Fig. 5 represents in elevation and
Fig. 6 in plan a portion of an apparatus with springs inserted into the ladder-
supporting chains. Figs. 7, 7 and 7 show a portion of a bucket-ladder with
springs inserted between the ladder and the axle on which it can be turned.
Fig. 8 is a view of a modified arrangement of lower tumbler and bucket-chain.
The apparatus represented by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is designed for working in light
and uniform ground such as sand and gravel. The bucket-chain q with buckets C
runs in the usual manner over the two tumblers B and B' which are polygonal.
The buckets having been filled while passing around the lower tumbler, B¹, discharge
their contents, on passing the upper tumbler, B, into the box or chute M, through
which it drops into the truck D. The upper tumbler is driven by means of the
steam-engine E Figs. 2 and 3 receiving steam from the boiler H. The means for
conveying motion from the crank-shaft b of the engine to the tumbler-axle consist
according to the drawing in the pinion 6', spur-wheel b², shaft b³, sprocket-wheels a¹
and a, and a driving chain connecting a and a, but this arrangement inay be
modified. The shaft b³ may for instance be placed higher up on the frame of the
machine and connected with the shaft of the tumbler B by spur-wheel gearing,
while from shaft b motion is conveyed to 63 by means of a strap and pulleys. For
the purpose of allowing the tumbler B to be stopped with facility, a hydraulic
coupling F is inserted between the shaft b³ and the wheel a¹, which is loose on the
said the shaft. This coupling consists of a disk a fixed to the wheel a', a disk a³
keyed on the shaft 6 opposite to a³, and a case a' enclosing the disk a' and
extending with an inside flange over the edge of the disk a². The case a* com-
municates with a pipe c through which water under pressure can be admitted to
the case by means of a cock to be operated by the handle and rod c¹, this handle
being located on the part G of the excavator-platform which is the stand of
the attendant. When there is pressure in the case a, the two disks a² and a³ are
pressed together into frictional contact, so that motion is then conveyed from the
shaft b* to the wheel a'; whereas when the water is allowed to escape from the
case at through the pipes c and c³, the disk a² and the wheel a', and consequently
the tumbler B will cease to rotate. The said coupling in itself is, however, not

page_text: new. Instead of a hydraulic coupling a frictional coupling of any other suitable
description may be used, provided that the intermediate parts for operating the
same be connected with a lever or handle arranged upon the part G of the platform
of the machine.
The means by which the bucket-ladder can be raised and lowered and by which
it is kept in the required position, are as follows: The ladder A is suspended by
two chains do, beam p¹ and tackle p to the jib 1. The chain d³ of the said tackle
is slung around a sprocket-wheel d', Figs. 1 and 3, keyed on a shaft d², which at
its other end carries a spur-wheel d² gearing with a pinion d placed loose on the
main shaft b of the engine and arranged to be connected therewith by a friction-
coupling. From the sprocket-wheel d the chain do runs over the grooved pulley do
so as to be maintained in gear with ds, and thence passes freely downward. The
said coupling consists of the part d' fixed to the pinion d, and of the part d³
continuously rotating with the shaft b and arranged to slide thereon. For the
purpose of shifting this coupling-part d³, a lever e is employed, see Figs. 2 and 2ª,
which is pivoted at e* and connected to d³ and drawn by means of a weight e or a
spring, in a direction as to keep the two coupling-parts separate from each other.
To the end of the lever e³ is attached a chain or other medium by which a pull
may be exercised on the lever and leading to a crank at the lower end of the
handle e¹ on the attendant's stand G. Besides, the lever e is connected at e³ by a
chain to the lever e' of a brake arranged to act against the coupling-part d¹ fixed
to the pinion d, the said chain being conducted over a guide roller. When the
handle e is in its normal position, the crank at the lower end of the handle-rod is
in a position as to allow the weight e to pull the lever to the left in Fig. 2º.
This will keep the coupling-parts d' and do separate from each other, while at the
same time the lever e³ in pulling upon the brake-lever e causes the brake to act
on the part d' attached to the pinion d and thereby to maintain the ladder A in
the position imparted to it. When the handle e¹ is turned by so much as to put
the lever e³ about into its center position, the brake acting against dis slackened,
while the two coupling-parts are still out of contact with each other. The ladder
is then free to descend by its weight. When finally the handle e¹ is turned farther,
BO as to put the lever es into its extreme right-hand position (in respect to
Fig. 2a) the coupling-part de will be pressed into frictional contact with while
the brake remains slack. Motion will consequently then be conveyed from d³ to d¹,
the sprocket-wheel d' rotated and the ladder lifted by the power of the engine.
The described operations may thus be controlled by means of a single handle.
The operation of bodily moving the whole apparatus backward or forward upon
the rails on which it stands, is carried out by means of a friction-coupling F¹, by
preference a hydraulic coupling alike to the coupling F, and which, when its parts
are in contact with each other, will convey motion from the shaft bs to the pinion b¹,
which in gearing with the wheel 6, drives the shaft b to which 65 is keyed. On b
there are, besides, two bevel-pinions adapted to be alternately connected with the
shaft be by movable coupling-sleeves, and to drive in one direction or the other the
bevel-wheel on the shaft 6' together with the said shaft and the sprocket-wheel at the
other end thereof, from which motion is transmitted by a chain be to a like wheel
on one of the axles carrying the platform of the apparatus. The coupling F¹ is put
into and out of action by the water-pressure to be turned on and off by the cock to
which belongs the handle c³, while the connection of either of the aforesaid bevel-
pinions with the shaft 66 is brought about by a handle and rod oº, crank c³, lever c
and connecting parts. Thus, according as the handles c³ and are turned, the
apparatus will move forward or backward on its wheels or remain at rest. The
said handles are placed close by the other handles e¹ and c¹.
The bydraulic pressure required for working the couplings F and F¹, may be.
produced by a pump with accumulator or air-vessel, or in other suitable manner.
In the drawing, for instance, are shown means for directly utilizing the steam-
pressure for this purpose and consisting in a receptacle I communicating at the top
with the boiler by the pipe f, and into which water is forced from the reservoir K,

page_text: by a pump or an ejector, the suction-pipe of which is f¹. f is the pipe leading
from the bottom of I to the cocks serving to admit the water by the pipes o and c
to the couplings.
The mechanisms for controlling the different operations of the machine being
constructed as described, and the handles thereof all arranged in close proximity to
each other, the management of the machine is facilitated and may be performed by
one attendant, and the different gears can be brought into and out of operation
much quicker than otherwise. The machine may therefore always be so adapted
to the variations occurring in the work to be carried out that damages to the
operating parts are avoided, while the greatest possible efficiency is attained.
The earth excavated by the machine is conveyed by the buckets into the trucks
through a box or chute M, Figs. 1 and 4, having inside at its lower end two
inclined surfaces M and M* forming together a roof. In the line of intersection
of the said surfaces there is a shaft M carrying a valve g and arranged to be
turned from the outside by a lever g³ provided with a counter-weight g¹. When
this valve is in the position shown in Fig. 4 by dot-and-dash lines, the earth will
fall towards the left side, whereas when it is in the opposite position, the earth
falls to the right. This arrangement allows the excavator to be moved forward
independently of the train of trucks, as, when the chute M is over the space
between two trucks such as D' and D', Fig. 4, and the truck D₁ is filled, the
valve g requires but to be turned over in order to cause all the material to drop
into the following truck D³.
In case the machine is used for working in ground which is irregularly stratified
or in which large stones occur, it is advantageous to insert springs into the chain
or chains by which the ladder is suspended, and also to place springs between
the bucket-ladder and the frame of the machine or any suitable part connected
therewith.
An application of springs to the suspension-chains of the ladder is shown by
Fig. 5 in elevation and by Fig. 6 in plan. The two chains k k attached to the
ladder pass over the sheaves k¹ keyed on the axle k which is carried by the double
jib . With the upper end of each of the said chains is connected a bolt i passing
through the middle of the plates and through the springe i which are confined
between the said plates, the bolt being retained in its place by nuts screwed on the
end thereof and bearing against the lower plate 22. Through the ends of the
plates pass the two bolts 2 bearing with their nuts against the upper plate 2ª
and united at the other end so as to form a bow into which is linked the chain h,
which is slung with its lower part around a sprocket-wheel alike to the aforesaid
wheel d. The two sprocket-wheels required in this case, one for each of the two
chains h, are of equal diameter and keyed on a common shaft in order that both
chains may be acted upon in the same manner. In order to prevent the ladder
provided with the described suspension-gear, from being exposed to any twisting
strain, the sheaves k¹ may consist in sprocket-wheels adapted to the links of the
chains k, both sets of springs being thereby forced to yield equally, though the
resistance encountered by a bucket, or the total load bearing upon the ladder may
not act in the centerline thereof.
It will be understood that the arrangement of the springs i may be modified in
various ways provided only that they constitute an elastic link in each of the
chains k. Moreover a like spring may be inserted between the lower pulley-block p
and the beam p¹ of the suspension-gear represented by Fig. 1.
The combination of springs with the ladder itself is shown by Figs. 7, 7° and 7b,
Fig. 7 being a sectional elevation of the arrangement, with the parts in normal
position, while Fig. 7 is a like view of a portion thereof and Fig. 7 a sectional
end view with springs partly compressed. The ladder made of bars A of C-iron,
is pivotally connected to the frame part N by means of an axle m mounted in
bearings m that can be adjusted on the frame N by screws m³ as shown in Fig. 1.
This adjusting device is made use of for properly stretching the chain and for
restoring to it the requisite tension in case it should become slack. Within each

page_text: of the bars A two bracing bolts n are arranged, bearing with the nuts n³ against a
plate at the end of the bar A, and united at their opposite extremity so as to form
a bow within which is supported the cross-bar n¹. Another cross-bar n³ bears with
its ends against the axle m which passes through slits in the two bars A. Between
the two cross-bars n' and n² are placed the springs o maintained in their place by
rods passing loose through them and the bars. The springs may be, however, of
other form than those shown in the drawing, or they may consist of india-rubber.
The parts being thus combined and the proper tension imparted to the springs o by
means of the nuts n³, a force acting lengthwise against the ladder will displace the
bars A together with the bracing rods n and the cross-bar n¹ in the direction
upward, so as to compress the springs o, abutting against the bar n that maintains
its position in respect to the machine-frame N. See Figures 7 and 7b. In order to
allow the bars A to move relatively to the axle m they are provided with the
aforesaid slits for the axle to pass through.
By the employment of the described springs concussions occurring, for instance,
when a bucket strikes on a large stone, are rendered innocuous, whereas when all
parts are rigidly connected, any sudden stoppage of the bucket-chain and operating
gear almost inevitably gives rise to breakages on account of the great momentum
of the parts in motion. The springs in combination with the described arrangement
of the controlling devices render the apparatus applicable for kinds of soil which
it is not possible to work with excavators such as have heretofore been employed.
In respect to the springs it may yet be mentioned that they also serve to lessen the
destructive influence on the machinery of the vibrations to which the apparatus is
constantly exposed.
The improvement relating to the lower tumbler B, which is polygonal as herein-
before stated, and the buckets C, consists in making the said tumbler of such size
that each of its sides presents a bearing surface for two links of the double bucket-
chain q, as in shown by Figs. 1 and 5. The buckets C are attached with their
upper or open end to one link of either chain, while near their bottom end they
have feet q with which they rest on the following links, so as to be completely
supported when passing around the lower tumbler, i.e. during their operation of
digging. But when they pass around the upper tumbler, the sides whereof
correspond to the length of one link of either chain-part q, their feet q¹ will be
lifted off the chain.
On the chain-links preceding the buckets, plates are fixed, bent up at the sides
and corresponding in breadth and shape with the top of the buckets, so as to form
a prolongation thereof when the links to which they are fastened are brought in a
line with the links carrying the buckets. These plates prevent earth from falling
over the inner edge of the buckets during its conveyance upward, and thus materially
contribute to increase the working capacity of the apparatus, especially when the
ladder is but little inclined.
In case earth is to be excavated on a level which is below the rails on which the
machine stands, the arrangement of ladder and chain with buckets C¹ represented
by Fig. 8 may be employed, in which the buckets work in a direction opposite to
that shown by Figs. 1 and 5. The tumbler B* may be round as represented in the
drawing or polygonal, as may be preferred.
Having thus described the nature and object of this invention and the manner
in which it is to be carried out in practice, as communicated to me by my
correspondents, I hereby claim as new and important features of the same:
1., In an excavator, the combination of the following mechanisms for controlling
the different operations thereof, viz:
a., for putting in and out of engagement the driving gear of the upper
tumbler B, and comprising the handle c', a coupling F by which the
connection between the said gear and a continuously rotating driving
shaft is established and broken, and means for operating the said
coupling by the handle c¹.

page_text: b., for inducing motion of the gear for raising, lowering and stopping the
bucket-ladder, and consisting in the handle e¹, lever e³, means for operating
the lever ea by the handle e, weight or spring e acting on e³, coupling d³ d¹
for connecting and disconnecting shaft b and pinion d, and brake-lever e
connected to lever e³;
c., for inducing motion of the excavator-platform, and consisting in the
handle o³,.coupling F for connecting and disconnecting pinion b and shaft b³,
and means for operating the coupling F by the handle c³;
d., for reversing the motion of the platform, and comprising handle c³, bevel-
wheel reversing-gear on shafts 6 and 6' and connecting medium,
the parts of the said mechanisms being so constructed and combined as that the
handles e', c, c³ and care in close proximity of each other, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
2., The combination with the chains by which the bucket-ladder is suspended, of
springs i, Figs. 5 and 6, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3., The combination with the frame N and the bucket-ladder A of springs o,
Fig. 7, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
4., The combination in an excavating machine of the lower polygonal tumbler Bi
the sides whereof are of a width as to present a bearing surface for two links of
the bucket-chain, and of buckets attached to one link of both chain-parts and
aving feet q¹ with which they rest on the following links, as and for the purpose
described.
5., The plates attached to the links of the bucket-ladder preceding the buckets,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In Witness whereof I the said Carl Pieper have hereunto set my hand and seal
this twenty-sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four.
CARL PIEPEK (LS.)