Machine for Levelling Roads and other Earth Surfaces.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Machine for Levelling Roads and other Earth Surfaces.
1, JOHN HEUERMANN, of Oak Park, County Cook, Illinois, U.S.A., Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The machine of this invention comprises a main frame supported in front on
castor wheels, the rear portion being carried by a truck disposed within the limits
of the main frame and the wheels of the truck supported on oscillating axles the
movements of which are governed by lever mechanism, the truck frame being
vertically adjustable relatively to the main frame, and this latter also vertically
adjustable, by means of hand levers, relatively to the castor wheels. To the main
frame is attached an advance plough and oblique breaker beam. From the breaker
beam project a number of oscillating plough points in combination with the main
plough. Within the rear portion of the truck frame is fitted a steering frame
carrying a steering disc operated by a hand lever. A gauge wheel fitted to the
machine serves to adjust the depth of penetration of the advance plough. The
truck further supports a scraper frame the scraper being carried diagonally to
the truck on which are carried levers for adjusting the scraper.
Dated this 28th day of December 1895.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, JOHN HEUERMANN, of Oak Park, County Cook, Illinois, U.S.A., Mechanic,
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 a machine intended for levelling earth surfaces.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine of this invention.
Fig. 2 a view of the rear, or left hand side of the machine. Fig. 3 a view of
the opposite side.
Fig. 4 a diagram shewing the method of operating the rear truck wheels by a
single lever.
Fig. 5 a detail shewing the manner of mounting the teeth of the oblique breaker
attachment.
Fig. 6 a detail illustrating the method of journalling the truck wheels.
Fig. 7 details for adjusting the rudder disc.
Fig. 8 detail of the lever for adjusting the main frame on the truck frame,
and
Fig. 9 a rear end elevation of the machine.
A is the main frame comprising the front cross beam 2, near side beams 3 and 4,
off side beam 5 and an approximately triangular sub section secured in fixed
relation to the aforementioned parts and forming. the rearward portion of the
[Price St.

page_text: framework. Within the triangular sub-frame is a truck frame adapted to move
vertically on rigid guide standards 6, 7, 8 and 9, the bases of which are secured on
the truck frame. Cross pieces 10 and 11 pass freely through the guide standards
and have their extremities suitably secured to the triangular sub section. It being
desirable to have means for governing the vertical adjustment of the machine,
I provide levers 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Lever 12 connects with the vertically
projected stem of the caster wheel located under the right hand corner of the main
frame. Lever 13 is connected with the caster wheel 18". The angle lever 14.
(Fig. 1) is connected with the forward portion of the truck frame and its short
arm engages under the off set of the main frame. When this lever is thrown
over, the frame will be borne upward in relation to the truck. The lovers 15
and 16 operate in a similar manner but may be independently employed to secure
a lateral tilt of the main frame in either direction, or if desired can be operated
together to secure a direct vertical adjustment, as indicated by dotted lines in
Fig. 8. Within the rear portion of the truck frame is a spider frame having its
forward extremities pivotally attached; and the rear arranged to swing in close
proximity to vertical segmental standards which are perforated to receive
fastening pins by which the frame may be adjusted to any desired pitch or
inclination.
The spider frame is provided with bearings to receive the vertical stem of a
rotary disc rudder 17, operated by a lever 18 which forms a steering rudder for
the machine. In order to secure concurrent action in the steering operation, the
truck wheels are journalled in oscillating axles 19 (Fig. 6) the free extremities of
which are linked to an oscillating arm 20 (Fig. 4). This arm is operated by an
angle rod connected to a lever 21 which moves upon a locking segment. The
forward truck wheel 22 is independently operated by a lever 23. The truck
wheels can thus be inclined in either direction. An oblique beam 24 supported
by stirrups beneath the side beam of the main frame carries a metal plate 25,
the upper and lower edges of which are turned rearwardly, forming bearing
flanges 26 which are perforated to engage the stems of the oscillating teeth 27,
each of which has a branch brace 28 whose upper extremities engage a
perforation in a reciprocating beam 29 operated by a lever 30. A detail of
this arrangement is clearly shewn in Fig. 5. The forwardly projecting points
of the teeth can be adapted if preferred to receive small shovels of any
desired pattern. 31 is an attachment, shewn in dotted lines, to the forward
portion of the main. frame by means of a pair of elbow levers fulcrummed respectively
at the outer sides of the frame, the free extremities of the arms being secured to a
transverse tie bar 33 by which the arms are moved in unison. 34 is a wheel the
shaft of which passes through the elbows of the arms, the wheel revolving on said
shaft. This wheel is adapted to run upon the street curb and serves to gauge the
depth of the advance plough 35. In order to adjust the curb attachment to any
fixed position, a supplemental arm 36 is secured pivotally in alignment with the
shorter projections of the side arms, the said arm being connected to one of the
inner frame pieces, and the shaft passes through its free extremity. A lug 37
near the extremity of the said arm receives a link bar 38 whose upper portion is
engaged in any of the apertures in the curved vertical standards 39. A shoe
gange and coulter 35ª is secured to the frame in advance of the plough 35 and
consists of a bar of iron curled rearwardly and adjustable to bear upon the ground
and gauge the depth of the plough. In operation as a combined breaker and
leveller or grader, the machine is drawn forward, and the advance plough takes the
initial cut, defining the limit of the grade course, and the breaker teeth engaging
the ground loosens the soil, gravel or broken stone which is next subjected to the
action of the main plough 40, and the accumulated mass is forced aside leaving a
clear surface for the truck wheels. The lateral pressure to which the machine is
subjected, is overcome by shifting the levers which control the truck, and bringing
the wheels in oblique adjustment to the line of travel, a similar obliquity being
given to the rotary rudder disc, it being understood that the draft attachment is

page_text: optional as to location. Should an elevation of the right hand extremity of the
main plough be desired, the lever governing that side is thrown over. If the
elevation of the entire frame be required, the caster controlling levers are depressed
and fastened, and the respective elbow levers are turned to bring their rollers to
an upbearing position under the respective frame timbers. It is obvious that the
free action of the advance caster wheels will permit the machine to be freely turned
about, when elevated, and the course of the plough be directed around curves by
the co-operative action of the rear truck wheels.
At the outside of the land side are two friction rollers 41, supported in
hangers 42, bolted to the frame. The rollers are adapted to bear against the side
of the curb to guide the plough in its course. The machine may thus be driven
close up to the curb, and the wheel 34 resting and adjustable thereon is thus held
more easily upon the curb, and the adjustment of the machine to the work or grade
to which it is set is better ensured.
The special devices herein described for adjusting the wheel 34, extend from one
side to the other of the machine and the front part of the frame is raised and
lowered thereby at the off side as well as at the rear or curb side where the
wheel 34 has its support on the curb.
I am
aware that adjustable curb bearing wheels of themselves upon road
levelling or grading machines are old, and do not broadly claim such wheels.
The frame is steered, directed and held to its course by the rotary disc rudder
with its stem movable in the frame near the rear end of the machine. The disc
rudder spindle is supported in bearings in a spider frame 17ª pivotally attached
at 17b to the truck frame, and at its free end adjustable in segment plates 17° on
the main frame, by which means the rudder disc may be adjusted to enter to any
desired depth in the ground; a disc 17 at the upper end of the spider frame has
holes to receive a pin secured to a similar disc 18 upon the rudder haudle 18 by
which means the rudder and steering disc may be set to any desired place.
A coulter 35ª is secured to frame directly forward of the advance plough 35
and consists of a curved spring blade which clears the way for the said plough, and
also serves to hold frame steadily to the path, governed by the steering devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
•
1. In a road levelling or grading machine comprising a main frame, supported
in front on caster wheels, the rear portion being carried by a truck disposed
within the limits of the main frame and the wheels of the truck supported on
oscillating axles whose movements are governed by lever mechanism as described,
said truck frame being vertically adjustable in relation to the main frame, the up
bearing levers and caster controlling levers for elevating and depressing the main
frame, and a scraper beam attached to said frame, substantially as described and
shewn.
2. In a road levelling or grading machine, a main frame supported in front on
caster wheels, the rear portion being carried by a truck disposed within the limits
of the main frame and the wheels of the truck arranged on oscillating axles whose
movements are governed by lever mechanism as described, said truck frame being
vertically adjustable in relation to the main frame by the operation of up bearing
levers in conjunction with the caster controlling levers to elevate or depress the
main frame, an advance plough and oblique breaker beam attached to said frame,
a series of oscillating plough points or stems projecting in front of said breaker, in
combination with the main plough, all arranged substantially as described and
shewn.
3. In a road levelling or grading machine as described, a main frame supported
rearwardly by a truck frame, freely movable within the limits of the main frame,
said truck frame having oscillating axles controlled by lever mechanism, the spider.
frame pivotally and rearwardly mounted in said truck frame and carrying the

page_text: .
vertical axial stem of a rotary rudder disc governed by a rudder lever and
operative independently of or in conjunction with the truck wheels, substantially
as described and shewn.
4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a truck frame
having supporting and carrying wheels, of an independently movable scraper
frame mounted thereon and having the scraper arranged diagonally thereof in
front of the truck wheels and extending beyond the truck frame on the furrow
side, and a land side also external to the truck frame and means for raising and
lowering the scraper frame with reference to the truck frame, substantially as
described and shewn.
5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a wheeled truck of
substantially triangular form, a scraper frame having a scraper arranged diagonally
thereof, the truck being adapted to enter the scraper frame and support the same,
guides on the truck frame adapted to embrace the members of the scraper frame
and lifting levers on the truck frame adapted to bear on the scraper whereby to
elevate the latter, substantially as described and shewn.
6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a wheeled truck, of
a scraper frame mounted thereon, said frame being substantially rectangular in
form and the frame timbers being loosely connected at the rear over the heel of
the scraper whereby to permit a tilting of the scraper frame upon the truck,
substantially as described and shewn.
7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a scraper frame
baving a scraper, a plough and land side, of a combined gauge and carrying
wheels arranged at the front corners of said frame, substantially as described and
.shewn.
8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a wheeled truck
having bell crank levers pivotally connected thereon, of a scraper frame adjustably
'mounted upon the truck frame, and said levers being adapted to bear on opposite
sides of said frame whereby the latter may be lifted vertically or tilted at will into
an oblique position, substantially as described and shewn.
9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a wheeled truck,
of a scraper frame mounted thereon and adjustable with relation thereto, said
scraper frame having a gauge wheel at its outer front corner and a plough adapted
to clear a furrow in advance of said gauge wheel, substantially as described and
:shewn,
10. In a machine of the class described, comprising a rectangular main frame,
a scraper arranged and secured diagonally thereto, a truck frame of substantially
triangular form, guides on the truck frame adapted to embrace the members of
the scraper frame, means for elevating the latter, and three wheels pivotally
supported upon the truck frame and operated, substantially as described and shewn.
11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a gauge wheel
having its shaft secured in arms at the front of the main frame, the curb end of
said shaft having a wheel thereon adapted to travel on the street curb and limit
the working depth of the machine, and two friction rollers placed upon the frame
to run alongside the curb, substantially as described and shewn.
12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the main frame
and truck frame adjustably secured together, an adjustable gauge wheel at its
outer front corner, and a wheel adapted to travel on the street curb and supported
upon two shaped arms pivotted upon opposite sides of the frame, the shorter of
which carry the curb wheel axle and the long arms connected by a handle, rod,
and a link arın, and segment standard to adjust the said axle and curb wheel,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 12th dox of T.... 1004
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.