IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAINS AND BUCKETS FOR DREDGERS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Robert Kinipple of Greenock, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain and Westminster Chambers in the County of
Middlesex Civil Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CHAINS AND BUCKETS FOR DREDGERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Robert Kinipple at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1882.
WALTER ROBERT KINIPPLE of Greenock in the County of Renfrew North
Britain, and 2 Westminster Chambers in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAINS AND BUCKETS FOR DREDGERS,"
This invention which relates to improvements in the construction of the chains
and buckets used in Dredgers consists in the first place in constructing the links of
the chains of castings preferably in steel and in forming their back part or parts
which bear upon the top and bottom tumblers of the Dredgers on which the chains
work of a flat continuous surface as distinguished from the discontinuous surface
produced by the links employed in the construction of chains and backs now in
general use. The sides of each such casting are formed with transverse feather
pieces or with both transverse and longitudinal divisions so as to make the body of
each such link or back to have cellular structure.-The upper part or front of each
such link is formed with two horns of conical shape upon which two eyes on the
strap or mouthpiece of the bucket fit and the lower part of the body of the bucket
is attached by one or more bolts to the opposite end of each link so that as the
bolt or bolts is or are tightened by screws and nuts with or without cotters, the
conical holes in the strap or mouthpiece of the bucket are drawn tightly upon
the conical horns herein before mentioned and the bucket is thereby firmly secured
to its link or back.-By means of this construction the tendency in working is
always to tighten the body of the bucket on to the back, or the converse of this
arrangement may be adopted that is to say the eyes may be formed in the links or
backs and the horns or hooks formed on the body of the bucket strap or mouth-
piece. In place of using horns or hooks as hereinbefore described turned pins may
be inserted in holes either in the links or backs or in the bucket strap or mouth-
piece.

page_text: At the front of the strap or mouthpiece of the body of the dredger buckets one
or more conical horns are formed for the purpose of entering corresponding conical
holes in a moveable lip and which lip is tightened thereon by means of a tail piece
passing down the front of the bucket, this being held to the back together with the
body by one or more hooked tail bolts with arrangements for tightening the same
or the converse of this arrangement may be adopted that is to say one or more
conical holes may be formed in the strap or mouthpiece and the conical horns
attached to the lip for entering the said holes-the parts being tightened by the
hook tail bolt or bolts as hereinbefore described.
The cells in the inside of each back or link may be filled up to any required
form of surface by means of Portland Cement, asphalt, wood, or other suitable
material.
Another feature of these improvements consists in placing at the upper and front
end of each link or back a shovel shaped projecting shoot or guide situated at an
angle so that as the bucket turns over the top tumblers and is in the act of delivering
the material which it contains the said material is thrown upon this projecting
shoot or guide and thereby a better delivery of the dredged material into the shoot
leading to the hopper is effected.
The links which alternate with the links or backs to which the bodies of the
buckets are attached are also formed of castings preferably of steel and with a flat
or continuous surface at the back or part which rests upon the top and bottom
tumblers of the Dredger.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Robert Kinipple in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd May 1883.
WALTER ROBERT KINIPPLE of Greenock, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, and 2, Westminster Buildings in the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHAINS AND BUCKETS FOR DREDGERS
"
My said Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of the
chains and buckets used in Dredgers consists in the first place in constructing the
links of the chains of castings preferably in steel and in forming their back part or
parts which bear upon the top and bottom tumblers of the Dredgers on which the
chains work, of a flat continuous surface, as distinguished from the discontinuous
surface produced by the links employed in the construction of chains and backs
now in general use. The opposite part of each such casting is formed with
transverse feather pieces or with both transverse and longitudinal divisions so as
to make the body of each such link or back to have cellular structure.-The upper
part or front end of each such back is formed with two horns or hooks of conical
or analogous shape upon which two eyes on the strap or mouthpiece of the bucket
fit and the lower part of the body of the bucket is attached by one or more bolts
to the opposite end of each such back so that as the bolt or bolts is or are
tightened by screws and nuts with or without cotters, the conical or analogous
holes in the strap or mouthpiece of the bucket are drawn tightly upon the conical
or analogous horns or hooks hereinbefore mentioned and the bucket is thereby
firmly secured to its link or back.-By means of this construction the tendency in
working is always to tighten the body of the bucket on to the back.-Or the
converse of this arrangement may be adopted that is to say the eyes may be formed
in the links or backs and the horns or hooks formed on the body or on the bucket-
strap or mouthpiece.-In place of using horns or hooks as herein before described,
turned pins may be inserted in holes either in the links or backs or in the bucket-
strap or mouthpiece.
At the front of the strap or mouthpiece of the Dredger buckets one or more
conical horns is or are formed for the purpose of entering corresponding conical
holes in a moveable lip and which lip is tightened thereon by means of a tail-piece
passing down the front of the bucket, this being held to the back together with
the body by one or more hooked tail-bolts with arrangements for tightening the
same; or the converse of this arrangement may be adopted that is to say one or
more conical holes may be formed in the strap or mouthpiece and the conical horns
attached to the lip for entering the said holes--the parts being tightened by the hook
tail-bolt or bolts as hereinbefore described.
The cells in the inside of each back or link may be filled up to any required form
of surface by means of Portland Cement, asphalt, wood, or other suitable material,
or they may be covered with sheet steel.
Another feature of these improvements consists in placing at the upper and front
end of each link or back a shovel shaped projecting shoot or guide situated at an
angle so that as the bucket turns over the top tumblers and is in the act of
delivering the material which it contains, the said material is thrown upon this
projecting shoot or guide and thereby a better delivery of the dredged material
into the shoot leading to the hopper is effected.
The links which alternate with the backs to which the bodies of the buckets are
attached are also formed of castings preferably of steel and with a flat or continuous
surface at the back or part which rests upon the top and bottom tumblers of the
Dredger,

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings and to the Letters and Figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
Figure 1, represents in longitudinal section one form of Dredger bucket con-
structed according to my present Invention.
Figure 2, is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3, is a plan of the back of the same.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are respectively corresponding views of another form of
Dredger bucket constructed according to my present Invention.
Figures 7, and 8, represent in section alternative methods of constructing a certain
part of the apparatus constituting my present Invention.
Figures 9, 10 and 11, are respectively plan, transverse section, and longitudinal
section of a link for connecting the Dredger buckets together constructed according
to my present Invention.
Figures 12, and 13, represent respectively in longitudinal section and front
elevation an alternative method of constructing a part of the apparatus constituting
my present invention.
Figures 14, and 15, represent a further alternative method of constructing the
same part of the apparatus, constituting my present Invention.
In carrying this Invention into practice I construct the back a, of the dredger
bucket preferably of cast steel, with that-part-which-comes into contact with_the_top
and bottom tumblers of the Dredgers on which the chains work of a flat continuous
surface, and the side opposite to this surface of a cellular structure, that is to say
divided up on its surface by the transverse and longitudinal feather pieces b.-At
the front end of this part forming the back of the bucket the two horns o, are cast
preferably of a tapered or conical shape upon which the two eyes formed on the
mouthpiece e, of the bucket, fit.-The bucket e*, is secured to the back a, by
means of one or more hooked tail-bolts f, by the tightening up of which it will be
seen that the eyes d, of the mouthpiece e, of the bucket are wedged on to the
tapered or conical horns c, formed on the back a.-By means of this construction
the tendency in working is always to tighten the body e*, on to the back a.
At the front of the mouthpiece c, of the body e*, of the dredger bucket one or
inore conical horns g, (as shewn more particularly at Figures 12, and 13,) is or are
formed for the purpose of entering correspondingly shaped eyes b', in the moveable
lip h, which eyes b₁, fit over such horns g, and which lip h, is tightened thereon by
means of the tail-piece i, passing down the outside of the body e*, of the bucket,
being drawn by the hooked tail-bolt or bolts f, hereinbefore mentioned; the hook
or books of which pass through the slots j, formed through both the body e*, and
the tail-piece i, of the lip and which bolt or bolts when tightened up by the nut
or nuts k, not only draw the eyes b¹, formed on the lip h, over the conically shaped
horns g, formed at the front of the strap or mouthpiece e, of the body e*, but also
tighten the eyes d, upon the horns c; thus firmly securing the three parts together;
au uniform bearing being obtained between the tail-piece i, and the body e*, of the
bucket by means of the packing n, of leather or any other suitable material.-The
converse of the means herein before described for fitting the lip h, to the strap or
mouth piece e, of the body e*, may be adopted as represented at Figures 14 and 15,
wherein the horns g, are represented as being formed on the lip h, and the eyes b',
in the strap or mouthpiece e, of the body e*.
It is to be understood although the mouthpiece e, of the body e*, is shewn on
the annexed sheets of drawing as being formed in one piece with the said body e*,
that I may construct the said mouthpiece e, as a strap in a separate piece and
secure the saine to the body e*, of the bucket as set forth in my Provisional
Specification, or I may attach it thereto by any other suitable means.
The cells l, formed at the inner face of the back a, by the feathers b, may be
filled up to any required form of surface by means of Portland cement, asphalt,

page_text: wood, cork or any other suitable material, and it may also be lined with sheet
steel.
Another feature of my present Invention consists in forming at the front end of
the back a, of the bucket, the curved shovel-shaped projecting shoot m, situated
at a slight angle to the back a, so that as the bucket turns over the top tumblers
of the dredger and is in the act of delivering the material which it contains, the
said material is thrown upon and deflected from the shoot m, and thereby a better
delivery is effected of the dredged material into the shoot leading to the hopper of
the dredger or barge provided for the reception thereof.
The alternative method represented at Figures 4, 5, and 6, of attaching the
body e, to the back a, consists in forming the conical horns c, upon the mouth-
piece e, of the body e*, or upon a separate strap and the eyes d, which in the
previously described Figures 1, 2 and 3, were formed in the mouthpiece e, of the
body e, or in a separate strap are formed in this construction of bucket upon the
back a. It is obvious that the securing together of this form of bucket and its
connections is analogous to that form herein before described, that is to say, that
upon the tightening of the nut k, both the tail-piece i, and the body e, are securely
bound together and that the tendency in working is always to tighten the body e*,
on to the back a.
Alternative methods of fastening the body e³, of the bucket to the back, consist
in using turned pins or horns c, as represented at Figure 7, which may either be
held within the eyes d, formed in the strap or mouthpiece e, of the body e*, by
means of the keys o, fitting into slots formed in the pins and in the holes in the
strap or mouthpiece e; or by means of the screw bolts p, (represented in the same
Figure in dotted lines) which pass through holes formed in the pins or horns c.
Another alternative method of fastening the strap or mouthpiece e, of the
bucket to the back a, consists as represented at Figure 8, in using the conically
turned pins or horns c, which are secured within the holes in the strap or mouth-
piece e, into which they are fitted by the nuts r, upon the screwed ends of the
pins c.
The links (represented at Figures 9, 10, and 11,) which alternate with the backs a,
to which the buckets are attached are preferably formed of cast steel, with a flat
continuous surface at that part which comes into contact with the top and bottom
tumblers of the dredgers on which the chains work.-The side opposite to this flat
surface is formed as in the back a, herein before described of a cellular structure
being divided up on its surface into cells 1, by the transverse and longitudinal
feather pieces b.-The cells 1, may be filled up to any required form of surface by
means of Portland Cement, Asphalt, wood, cork or any other suitable material and
may be lined with sheet steel.
The links and the backs a, which carry the Dredger buckets are jointed together
by means of the link-pins 8, which are preferably formed in two parts in order
that they may the more easily be reversed when one side of the same becomes
worn, they are formed preferably of round bar steel and are kept in position by
the pins t, passing through the inner link-eye u, on the back a, of the bucket.-
These pins t, are formed at one end with the heads w, and at their opposite ends
are split so as to be held within the holes formed for their reception when this split
portion x, is forced apart.-Bushes y, preferably of cast steel and turned to gauge
for the reception of the link-pins 8, are inserted into the link-eyes u, and z, on the
bucket back a, and on the link for connecting the buckets, and are secured therein
by means of the thumb-pins a¹, which pass from the inside of said bushes into the
link-eyes themselves, the heads of the said thumb-pins a¹, being recessed down into
the bushes y, so that the link-pins 8, when passed through the same, hold the
thumb-pins a¹, in position.-The link-eyes u, and z, are drilled for the reception
of the thumb-pins a', at diametrically opposite sides, so that when the bushes y,
become worn on one side they may easily be reversed to bring the link-pins 8, to
bear against the less worn side of the bushes y.
It will be seen the dredger bucket hereinbefore described consists essentially of

page_text: three principal interchangeable parts, namely, the back a, the body e*, and the
lip h, the latter of which is only used when working boulder clay, compact sand or
any other hard material, but when working in soft soil the body e*, and lip h,
herein before described may if desired be replaced by a body e*, alone, or by a
body e, and lip h, having a greater capacity than that shewn on the accompanying
Drawings but with which it will be similar in general detail.-Under these circum-
stances all that is necessary to remove the body e*, and lip h, is to release the tail-
bolt or bolts f, which connect them to the back a.
An important feature to be observed in the carrying out of my invention is the
construction of the lip h, weaker than the body e*, and the body e*, weaker than
the back a, so that in the event of a bucket being unduly strained the lip h, alone
may give way, or at most the body e*, thereby reducing the risk of breakage of the
chain of buckets to a minimum.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the system, mode or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect I would observe in conclusion that I
do not limit myself to the precise forms or details herein before described with
reference to the accompanying Drawings but what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is :-
First: In the construction of Dredger buckets, the backs a, of cellular structure
formed with a continuous flat surface for bearing on the tumbler also with the
shoot m, and the-body-e*,-lip-,-and-their-attachments substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1, to 8, (inclusive) of the accompanying Drawings
or the mechanical equivalents of all or any of the said parts.
Second-The means whereby the parts a e*, and h, hereinbefore mentioned are
secured in their relative positions consisting of the horns-o,-and-g, eyes d, and b',
also the tail-bolt f, and their attachments used in either manner hereinbefore
described with reference to Figures 1 to 8, and 12 to 15, (both inclusive), or the
mechanical equivalents of all or any of the said parts.
Third The construction of the links for connecting the backs a, carrying the
dredger buckets, of cellular structure as represented at Figures 9, 10, and 11, of
the accompanying Drawings and substantially as hereinbeforo described with
reference to those Figures.
In Witness Whereof I, the said Walter Robert Kinipple have hereunto set
my hand and seal this seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.