IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DREDGING OR EXCAVATING SOIL EITHER UNDER WATER OR ABOVE GROUND
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th August 1875.-A. communication from abroad by
Philipp Cramer, of Providence, Rhode Island, in the United States
of America, Mechanical Draughtsman.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DREDGING
OR EXCAVATING SOIL EITHER UNDER WATER OR ABOVE GROUND," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to construct a dredging apparatus that
will work more efficiently with the expenditure of less motive power,
and in more confined situations than the apparatus usually employed.
The distinctive feature of the Invention is that instead of scooping
up the soil by means of an open shovel shaped bucket which is dragged
or pushed along the ground, the bucket in the improved apparatus is
constructed in the form of a cylinder closed at top but open at bottom,
and provided at its lower edge with teeth and ploughs, which (by the

page_text: weight of the bucket and its appendages) will be thrust into the ground.
The bucket is attached or connected to a square vertical bar or rod,
which is guided between rollers so that it may be moved up or down in
a vertical direction. The vertical bar is provided at its lower end with
a screw, which is made to enter the ground and keep the bucket steady
while at work. The guide rollers of the vertical rod or bar have their
bearings in a cast-iron frame which is rotated by means of suitable
gearing driven by the motive power engine, horizontal guide rollers
being provided to prevent undue friction when the bucket with its
vertical rod or bar and their appendages are rotated. Inside the buckets
are a series of plates, which are hinged thereto or to the central vertical
bar, so that they may be raised or lowered therein. The outer edges of
these plates are provided with teeth which take into the ground when the
plates are inclined downwards. These inclined plates act as cutters, and
when the bucket is rotated horizontally they scrape up the soil and
collect it inside the bucket which is suspended by chains, so that it can
be raised or lowered as may be required. The inclined plates inside the
bucket are capable of being lifted therein by means of rods which pass
through the cover of the bucket and are connected to chains, so that
they may be lifted independently of the bucket itself. The whole of
the excavating apparatus is connected with or adapted to the outer end
of a horizontal arm supported by a diagonal strut and is so arranged
that it may be moved round in a horizontal direction like an ordinary
cranc. The gearing for causing the bucket to rotate is mounted on the
end of the horizontal arm, and is driven from the central vertical
column by means of a shaft provided with bevil toothed gear.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The bucket having
been swung round by means of the crane (until it is above the spot
where the excavating operation is to commence), the bucket is lowered
until its serrated edge reaches the ground.
By slackening out the supporting chains the whole weight of the bucket
and its appendages is allowed to rest on the ground, into which it sinks
to a certain distance according to the nature of the soil. The bucket
and its vertical rod or bar is then made to rotate and scrape up the soil,
which is collected in the bucket until the latter is nearly full. The
inclined plates therein are then lifted up by means of their independent
gear, so as to close the bottom of the bucket and support the soil therein.
The buoket thus charged with soil is then raised to the surface and

page_text: emptied by allowing the movable plates to drop and open the bottom
when the soil will fall out into any vessel or receptacle provided for the
purpose. The bucket may then be again lowered and the operation
repeated. By moving the crane round a short distance on its centro
the bucket may be made to operate upon a fresh place at every descent
if desired. The chains for raising or lowering and operating the working
parts are wound on chain barrels provided with clutches and friction
gear, which is under the control of the attendant who can operate or
control their action by means of treadle levers.