IMPROVEMENTS IN DIGGING OR CULTI- VATING MACHINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Doubleday of Chelmsford, in the County of
Essex, Engineer for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIGGING OR CULTI-
VATING MACHINES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Doubleday at the:
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1882.
WALTER DOUBLEDAY of Chelmsford, in the County of Essex, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DIGGING OR CULTIVATING MACHINES
"
This invention relates to the construction of an improved digging or cultivating
machine whereby the ground is broken up and turned over in a better manner
than hitherto and with a less expense of power.
•
In carrying out my invention I employ a traction engine of suitable construction
the fire box being situated centrally between the fore and hind wheels whereby the
level of the water is more regularly maintained. In suitable supports or bearings.
at the back of the engine I provide a shaft on which I mount at suitable distances
apart a number of bosses each having a number of slotted projections or bearings:-
arranged radially around the boss; in each of these projections or bearings is
pivotted the inner end of a suitably constructed spade or tine. By this arrangement
of pivotted or feathering spades or tines the said spades or tines as they are carried
round by the shaft fall forward onto the projections or carriers preceding them
thereby allowing them to be placed nearer the engine than hitherto and also closer
together; as the tine shaft revolves the spades or tines fall into their vertical
position ready to strike and enter the ground at the required point. The feathering.
of the tines or spades may be assisted by the aid of suitably placed springs.
The spade or tine shaft is operated in any suitable manner from the engine and
the depth of the tines or spades is regulated by a worm and worm wheel or other
suitable arrangement.
The engine is propelled by means of gearing direct from the crank shaft and any
suitable arrangement for regulating the speed of the engine may be employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Doubleday in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th November 1882.
WALTER DOUBLEDAY of Chelmsford, in the County of Essex, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DIGGING OR CULTIVATING MACHINES
"
This invention relates to the construction of an improved digging or cultivating
machine whereby the ground is broken up and turned over in a better manner
than hitherto and with a less expense of power.
In carrying out my invention I employ a traction engine of suitable construction
the fire box being situated centrally between the fore and hind wheels whereby
the fire box is less liable to become uncovered by the water.
In suitable supports
or bearings at the back of the engine' I provide a shaft on which I mount at
suitable distances apart a number of diggers consisting of bosses each having a
number of projections or bearings arranged radially around the boss; on each of
these projections or bearings is pivotted the inner ends of suitably constructed
forks spades or tines.
The spade or tine shaft is operated in any suitable manner from the axle of the
traction wheels and the depth of the tines or spades is regulated by a worm and
worm wheel actuated by a friction clutch on the crank shaft or other suitable
arrangement.
The engine is propelled by means of gearing direct from the crank shaft and
any suitable arrangement for regulating the speed of the engine may be employed.
But in order to enable my invention to be better understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure 1
Sheet 1 represents a side elevation of a digging or cultivating machine constructed
according to my improvements; figure 2, sheet 1 is an end view of the same;
figure 3, sheet 2, is an elevation of the side of the machine opposite to that shewn
in figure 1 sheet 1 the fly wheel of the engine being removed; and figures 4 and 5
sheet 2 are detached views of one of the diggers drawn to an enlarged scale.
Similar letters in all the figures represent similar parts.
A is the traction engine of suitable construction; B is the fire box situated as
shewn centrally between the fore wheels C and the hind wheels D; E, is the
crank shaft and F the gearing for propelling the engine; G is the axle of the
traction wheels C all of which parts are of ordinary construction; a, is the shaft
of the diggers and b, and b', the bearings or supports for the same; c, c, are the
bosses on the shaft a, and d, d, are the projections or bearings on the said bosses
for the forks, tines, or spades e, e, which are pivotted thereon at f, f; g, is a chain
wheel on the axle G of the traction wheels CC for operating the spade or tine
shaft a, by means of the small chain wheel h, and chain i, (or the spade or tine
shaft may be operated in any other suitable manner); the depth to which the
forks, tines or spades are required to work is regulated in the following manner :-
The upper part of the bearings or supports b, b, are formed with screw threads j, j,
which work in corresponding screw threads formed in the worm wheels k, k, which
have their bearings in the brackets, which carry the supports b, b, and are
actuated by the worms m, and bevil wheels n, o, and p, the said bevil wheels
being operated (so as to raise or lower the bearings or supports b) by means of the
friction clutch q, on the crank shaft E which clutch is caused to engage either
with the bevil. wheel, or the bevil wheel 8, according as the forks, spades or tines
are to be raised or lowered; (or any other suitable arrangement for raising or
lowering the forks, spades or tines may be employed).

page_text: The forks, spades or tines are arranged on their shaft a, as shewn in the end
view at figure 2 sheet 1 in such a manner that when the shaft is revolved the sets
of spades or tines shall enter the ground in rotation instead of simultaneously.
Figure 1, sheet 1, represents the tines raised to the ground level and figure 3
sheet 2 shews them lowered into position for digging. Any suitable arrangement
for regulating the speed of the engine may be employed.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the parts being in the
position shewn in figures 1 and 2 sheet 1 and the engine being set in motion the
forks, spades or tines e, e, will be revolved by the chain wheel q, on the axle G of
the traction wheels C C and as they are carried round by the shaft a, they will
when they have passed their highest vertical position automatically fall forward
into the position shewn at e¹, figure 4 onto the projections or carriers d, preceding
them thereby allowing the forks, spades or tines to be placed nearer to the engine
than hitherto and also closer together; it is now only necessary to move the
friction clutch by means of its lever into the bevil wheel 8, when the bevil wheels
n, o, and p, will operate the worms m, m, and worm wheels k, k, and thereby lower
the supports or bearings b, b, and the tine shaft a, when the forks, spades or tines e,
will enter the ground in rotation; when the required depth has been given to the
forks, spades or tines the friction clutch is moved out of the bevil wheel 8, and as
the tine shaft revolves the spades or tines e, will fall into their vertical position
ready to strike and enter the ground at the required point and the ground will be
thereby broken up and turned over in a better manner than hitherto and with a
less expense of power. To raise the spades or tines out of position when not
required to dig the ground it will be understood that it is merely necessary to
engage the friction clutch q, with the other bevil wheel r.
The feathering of the tines or spades may be assisted by the aid of suitably
placed springs.
Having thus described my invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that What I claim is
Firstly. A rotary digging or cultivating machine having forks, spades or tines
constructed and arranged so as to enter the ground in a vertical position as and
for the purposes herein before described.
Secondly. The improved revolving diggers hereinbefore described constructed
and arranged in such a manner that the forks, spades or tines shall enter the
ground in a vertical direction and automatically feather or fall out of working
position as they revolve and gradually resume their working position as and
for the purposes herein before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination with the improved diggers constructed as herein-
before described of the arrangement for raising and lowering the diggers, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. The improved digging or cultivating machine herein before described
and represented in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Walter Doubleday have hereto set my hand
and seal this twenty fifth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
WALTER DOUBLEDAY (L.S.)