Improvements in or relating to Excavating or to Machinery for Excavating.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 22nd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
Improvements in or relating to Excavating or to Machinery
for Excavating.
•
I, THOMAS WHITAKER of Horsforth near Leeds in the County of York, Contractor
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This application has reference to the invention already protected, No. 16,701 of
1886 and consists in a few slight improvements thereon.
It is found in excavating, that if a stone or other rigid obstruction occurs, it is
desirable to have the power of moving the centre of oscillation of the scoop or navvy
so as to rise over it. This power of adjusting the centre of oscillation within reasonable
limits, is also useful in other ways, especially to regulate the feed more exactly.
I obtain this power in several ways, either by having cranes with derrick-motion-
jibs, or by other rising or falling of the jib itself, or by making the pivot of oscillation
movable on its support. This latter is necesssary where the jib of the crane is a fixture
to one uniform angle and radius. The pin can slide in a transverse slot or groove in
the jib, and be regulated in that slot or groove by screw and hand wheel, or by an
eccentric slot wheel or cam, and hand wheel and worm operating a worm wheel on the
axis of that cam. Other mechanism can take the place of a cam, thus a slotted bell
crank lever can be used.
In ditching or excavating below the surface on which the crane stands, I arrange
the pivot upon which the scoop arm rests at or near the lowest point of the jib, and
may even arrange it on an arm projecting downward from the jib. To enable me to
excavate at different heights, I place a series of holes or slots at different heights on
the jib or its arm, so that I can place the pivot on which the scoop arm oscillates in
of them as may be required. To enable the scoop to clear the ditch sides, I make
ny
017

page_text: it
some what triangular in section and largest or widest at its cutting edge. I prefer
to use double friction clutches or cones for the gear for hoisting the jib, so that if the
scoop edge come in contact with a boulder or other obstruction, the gear will slip and
can at once be reversed and the chain used to hoist the boulder out, or without stopping
the crane the friction clutch can be applied, the scoop drawn out of the way, and the
moment it has passed the boulder, the scoop can be returned to its excavating work.
In this way the boulder will be more and more uncovered until it can be drawn out
by the chain.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I THOMAS WHITAKER of Horsforth near Leeds in the County of York Contractor
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 improvements on my invention already protected by
application for Letters Patent No. 16701 of 1886 in the specification of which there
is described and shown what may be termed a crane-navvy, that is, an apparatus
which may be used either for the purpose of excavating or as an ordinary crane for
lifting purposes.
I find that when using the apparatus as a navvy or excavator it is necessary or
desirable to have means provided whereby the cutting edge of the bucket or excavator
may be withdrawn from the face upon which it is operating without altering the
position of the crane. The object of this is to allow the scoop or bucket to be returned
to the bottom of the cutting clear of all loose or obstructing pieces, or to allow the
scoop or bucket when in course of cutting to be drawn clear of a boulder or similar
obstruction in the clay.
This invention consists essentially in constructing the apparatus so that the centre
of oscillation of the scoop or bucket may be moved within fixed limits in such a way
that the cutting edge of the scoop or bucket may be drawn clear of the face of the
clay without altering the position of the crane. And also that the centre of oscillation
may be adjusted and fixed at different heights to allow for the excavating to be carried
on at any required height either above or below the surface. And further in forming
the scoop or bucket of such a shape as to be applicable for ditching or other similar
work.
This invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of crane navvy or excavating apparatus with improved
movable centre actuated by hand gear.
Fig. 2 side elevation of sufficient part of apparatus to show the movable centre
actuated by steam power.
Fig. 3 front elevation of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 side view of part of crane-navvy showing attachment for excavating to a
level below the surface.
Fig. 5 perspective view of special bucket or scoop for ditching purposes.
A is the jib of a crane of ordinary or suitable construction such as shown in Fig. 1.
B, is the connecting radius arın or bracket. of the scoop or bucket and C is the
excavating scoop or bucket. The pin or pivot D which forms the centre of oscillation
for the bucket or scoop, C, is made movable on or about its support. To the jib A

page_text: The
are bolted or otherwise securely fastened brackets E (one at each side) which carry
or support a shaft or spindle F capable of turning upon its axis. A disc wheel with
an eccentric pivot or preferably as shown, a short crank G is placed at each end of
the spindle to carry the pin or pivot D upon which the bucket oscillates.
spindle F is fitted with a worm wheel H or other mechanism for rotating it about its
axis. Connected to the worm wheel is a worm I, carried on the shaft i and actuated
by the hand wheel J, through the bevel gearing j. J' is a platform for a man to stand
upon to turn the wheel J.
For heavy work a steam cylinder and piston may be substituted for the hand gear.
In this case the worm wheel will be dispensed with and the crank H¹ take its place,
and to it will be connected the piston rod K operated by a piston in the cylinder L.
The cylinder Lis preferably an oscillating one mounted on trunnions in the bracket M.
The steam is admitted to the cylinder through a small pipe N to which the ports at
the top and bottom of the cylinder are both connected, the same pipe alternately
serving to admit steam and to carry away the exhaust. It is fitted to the trunnion
by means of a bent universal knee or coupling joint so that it will not be affected by
the movement of the cylinder. Two three-way-taps O are applied to the pipes to
regulate and control the admission of steam and the discharge of the exhaust steam;
or one fourway tap may be employed. The movement of the piston rod rotates the
shaft or spindle F part of a revolution, a stop P being placed to prevent the piston
rod K and crank H¹ getting onto a dead centre.
The radius arm B. I prefer to connect to the pin or pivot D by cap b and cotter bl
so as to be readily removed. When the cotter is withdrawn the arm B and bucket C
may be removed and the apparatus used as an ordinary crane without interfering with
the other part of the apparatus.
In the drawings the apparatus is shown in the position for excavating. When the
bucket has been raised to the top by the chain Q and emptied, the hand wheel (Fig. 1)
or the piston rod (Fig. 2) is set in motion and the spindle F turned about its axis
until the pin or pivot -the centre of oscillation of the bucket-moves approximately
one third of a revolution and is carried back to the point this draws the bucket or
scoop C back from the face of the clay so as to travel in the path indicated by the
dotted line. When the bucket is lowered the pin or pivot D is moved back to the
position shown to commence a fresh cut.
It will be obvious to any skilled or practical engineer that the moving of the centre
of oscillation to draw back the excavating bucket or scoop from the face of the clay
(which is the chief feature of this invention) may be accomplished in a variety of
ways. A crane with a movable or derrick-motion-jib may be employed but that
necessitates the movement of the jib from a set position which I wish to avoid. Or
the pin or centre D may be set in suitable brackets and made to traverse a slot in the
jib of the crane by means of a forked lever, a revolving wheel with an eccentric slot,
or a rod actuated by a piston and cylinder which causes the pin or centre to move
along the slot or groove in the jib. Or an eccentric or other mechanism equivalent to
that shown, may be employed. And in either case steam or hand power may be
employed to actuate the mechanism. Or an hydraulic cylinder may be substituted
for the steam one shown, if found more desirable for working with hydraulic cranes
or otherwise more convenient.
In preparing the drawings of specification 16701 I have shown two of the ways
above mentioned of moving the centre of oscillation as although not claimed specifically
in that specification after trying the original apparatus I do not consider it perfect
without the movable or adjustable centre for the radius arm to oscillate upon.
To alter the apparatus for use as a crane the radius arm B and bucket C, need only
be removed. The brackets E however are movable or adjustable so as to be placed at
any height on the jib according to the nature of the work under operation. In the
jib will be made a series of bolt or screw holes. The bed plates E shown in fig. 2
are preferably connected together so that when the bucket has been removed the
cylinder and crank can be moved together, without altering their relative positions.
The connections for the steam pipe at the foot of the jib may be flexible or made

page_text: telescopic with a universal joint and stuffing box or gland to prevent the escape of
steam or a flexible pipe may be attached to one member of the telescopic steam pipe
to allow of the movement of the jib and of the oscillating cylinder.
In ditching or excavating below the surface or below the level on which the crane
navvy stands, the bracket E may be brought down to the lower end of the jib A. But
where this is not practicable I arrange an arm or bracket as shown in Fig. 4 to carry
the bracket E and centre D, the radius arm is thus brought clear to perform its work.
When making a narrow ditch it will be found convenient to use a bucket formed
broadest at its mouth or cutting edge so that the sides or the trunnions by which it is
supported will be clear and not catch outo or tear the sides of the ditch, for this
purpose I make the scoop or bucket of an irregular form preferably somewhat
triangular in section with the cutting edge extending beyond the sides as shown in
Fig. 5.
Although herein shown and described as applied to excavating or ditching the
modification shown in Fig. 4 will also be applicable for dredging purposes if set upon
a floating base or barge or if actuated from a river or canal bank or from sea or
quay wall.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A crane-navvy or excavator and crane combined such as described in the
specification of my former application No. 16701 of 1886 having the centre of
oscillation of the bucket or scoop movable within fixed limits so that the bucket or
scoop may be withdrawn clear of the face of the clay and returned to its cutting
position again without altering the position of the crane.
2. In a crane-navvy the combination with a jib and radius arm or bracket for
guiding the bucket, of a bracket or bearing for connecting the radius arm with the
jib and a lever, crank, eccentric or mechanical equivalent for moving the centre of
oscillation of the radius arm or bracket substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. A crane-navvy of the type hereinbefore referred to having the centre upon which
the radius arm and bracket oscillates supported by a crank, lever, or equivalent
mechanism actuated by a worm and wormwheel and hand gear or by a cylinder and
piston substantially as described and shown.
4. A crane-navvy having a projecting arm extending outwards or downwards from
the bottom of the jib to carry the centre or shaft on which the radius arm and bucket
oscillate to render the apparatus applicable for ditching or for excavating below the
surface substantially as described.
5. A scoop or bucket for ditching purposes, for use with a crane or other navvy,
formed of irregular shape so that the sides, as they recede from the cutting face or
edge, converge leaving the front edge of the bucket wider than any attachment to
the sides, substantially as described and shown.
DL: Narambe 1987