IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DIGGING AND SHAPING PEAT, TURF, OR MOULD
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Simon, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester,
A
in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DIGGING AND SHAPING PEAT, TURF, OR MOULD."
communication from abroad by Carl Schlickeysen, of Berlin, in the German
Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Simon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st March 1880.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DIGGING AND SHAPING PEAT,
TURF, OR MOULD." [A communication from abroad by Carl Schlickeysen, of
Berlin, in the German Empire.]
This Invention relates to apparatus arranged to move along the ground while its
working parts aro driven from a distance in the manner of a steam plough, theso
working parts cutting a furrow in the ground and laying the excavated material
along the side of the furrow, and, in the case of peat, shaping it into the form of a
more or less compressed column which can afterwards be cut into separate blocks.
The apparatus for this purpose may either be single acting so as to cut the furroW
in one direction only, or it may be double acting, being provided with a set of the
cutting and shaping apparatus at each end of a sway beam, which can be canted so
as to bring the one set or the other set into action so as to cut in either direction.
In either form of machine there is a road or travelling wheel slowly driven by
gearing worked by a wire rope from an engine at a distanco, this wheel either
being made broad so as to bear on a large surface, or when it is narrow being made
to travel along planks or rails laid on the ground, and having suitable ribs to
prevent slipping. From this wheel is driven by an internal toothed ring and by
bovil gearing a spindle parallel to it and mounted on a framing or arm turning on
a pivot so that its outer end can be raised or lowered, the framing of the spindle
being supported by adjustable arms linked or attached to a sledge which moves
along the excavated furrow. At the lower end of the spindle there is a universal
joint and gearing, whereby there is driven within a cylindrical casing open in front
a set of revolving knives or cutters which operate like a drill upon the peat örf
mould in front, and blades of helical form which pug the excavated material and
propel it backwards out of the casing. The cylindrical casing at its back end bends

page_text: away towards the side with an obliquo curvaturo, so that the excavated material as
it is extruded from it is laid parallel to the furrow. By adding to this bend a
suitable mouthpicce the material can be squeezed out as a continuous column of
rectangular section.
The cutting apparatus may be made to operate either by advancing the entire
machine along the ground, or by merely causing the framing or arm carrying the
cutters and their shafts to turn on its pivot while the machine is standing, so that
the cutting apparatus excavates the material in a series of curves. For this
purpose the machine is provided with small running wheels on each side of the
before mentioned main wheel, and the bearings of these wheels are provided with
lifting screws by means of which the framing and main wheel can be raised so as
to lift the latter off the ground. The framing carries a platform extending
backwards from the working face, and supported by a broad wheel or roller which
serves, together with the before described sledge, to steady the machine.
As before stated, the pivotted frame or swaybcam may be provided with the
cutting apparatus at each end, so that when operating in one direction the one end
of the beam with its cutting apparatus is lowered to the ground, the other being
raised, the position being reversed when the direction of motion of the machine is
reversed. The cutting apparatus is supported by means of chains from the top of
the framing. The shaft of each cutting apparatus is driven by the gearing through
a clutch that is thrown out of gear when the cutting apparatus which it drives is
raised off the ground.
When the pivotted frame has the cutting apparatus only at one end this is
detached when the machine arrives at the end of its travel in one direction, and
the frame having been turned over into the opposite position the cutting apparatus
is again attached to it in such a position as to operate when the machine is moved
in the contrary direction.
The travel of the machine and the motion of the cutting apparatus may either
be effected by one and the same traction rope, or by two separate driving ropes. In
the first case, the traction rope is made to rotate a pulley which drives the
road wheel by gearing, and the latter imparts motion to the cutting apparatus
through goaring as before described. In the second case, the one traction rope
merely hauls the machine along, this being temporarily connected thereto by a
gripping apparatus, while the other rope drives a pulley which imparts motion to
the cutting apparatus. Or if this apparatus is merely required to operate when the
machine is stationary, as before described, the first named traction rope may be so
arranged as to first haul the machine into position, and then, being disconnected
from the gripper, to drive a pulley imparting motion to the cutters.
According to another modification a rope or chain may be laid along or above
the ground, being fixed at the ends and passed over a hauling pulley on the
machine, so that by imparting motion to such hauling pulley from the gear driving
the cutter apparatus the machine may be made to haul itself along by means of the
fixed rope or chain.
When the ground is too soft to bear the weight of the machine this may be
placed on a broad flat sledge or boat so as to distribute the weight over a considerable
area. Or when the ground is covered with water tho machine may be floated by
means of this boat.
If the machine is only to be used for excavating, and not for forming the material
into a definite shape, the before described cylinder with cutting blades and moulds
may be dispensed with, and merely a disc or drum on which are projecting knives
employed, the rotation of which causes the material to be detached from the ground
and deposited loosely thereon.
For removal of stumps of trees a saw may be substituted for the excavating
apparatus, or the knives of the latter may be made with saw teeth for this

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Simon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
September 1880.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DIGGING AND SHAPING PEAT,
TURF, OR MOULD." A communication from abroad by Carl Schlickoysen, of
Berlin, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to apparatus arranged to move along the ground while its
working parts are driven from a distance in the manner of a steam plough, theso
working parts cutting a furrow in the ground and laying the excavated material
along the side of the furrow, and, in the caso of peat, shaping it into the form of a
more or less compressed column, which can afterwards be cut into separate blocks
The apparatus for this purpose may either be single acting, so as to cut the furrow
in one direction only, or it may be double acting, being provided with a set of the
cutting or shaping apparatus at each end of a sway beam, which can be canted so
as to bring the one set or the other set into action. In either form of machino
there is a road or travelling wheel, slowly driven by gearing worked by a wire rope
from an engine at a distance, this wheel either being made broad, so as to bear on
a large surface, or when it is narrow being made to travel along planks or rails laid
on the ground and having suitable ribs to prevent slipping. From this wheel is
driven by an internal toothed ring and by bevil gearing a spindle parallel to it and
mounted on a framing or arm turning on a pivot, so that its outer end can be
raised or lowered, the framing of the spindle being supported by adjustable arms
linked or attached to a sledge which moves along the excavated furrow. At the
lower end of the spindle there is a universal joint and gearing, whereby there is
driven within a cylindrical casing, open in front, a set of revolving knives or
cutters, which operato like a drill upon the peat or inould in front, and blades of
helical forn, which pug the excavated material and propel it backwards out of the
casing. The cylindrical casing at its back end bends away towards the sido with
an oblique curvature, so that the excavated material as it is extruded from it is
laid parallel to the furrow. By adding to this bend a suitable mouth piece, the
material can be squeezed out as a continuous column of rectangular section.
The cutting apparatus may be made to operate either by advancing the entire
machine along the ground, or by merely causing the framing or arm carrying the
cutters and their shafts to turn on its pivot while the machine is standing, so that
the cutting apparatus excavates the material in a series of curves. For this purpose
the machine is provided with small running wheels on each side of the before-
mentioned main wheel; and tho bearings of these wheels are provided with lifting
screws, by means of which the framing and main wheel can be raised, so as to lift
the latter off the ground. The framing carries a platform extending backwards
from the working face and supported by a broad wheel or roller, which serves,
together with the before described sledge, to steady the machine.
As before stated, the pivotted fraine or sway beam may be provided with the
cutting apparatus at each end, so that when operating in one direction the one end
of the beam with its cutting apparatus is lowered to the ground, the other being
raised, the position being reversed when the direction of motion of the machine is
reversed. The cutting apparatus is supported by means of chains from the top of
the framing. The shaft of cach cutting apparatus is driven by the gearing through
a clutch that is thrown out of gear when the cutting apparatus which it drives is
raised off the ground.
When the pivotted frame has the cutting apparatus only at one end, this is
detached when the machine arrives at the end of its travel in one direction, and
the frame having been turned over into the opposite position, the cutting apparatus
is again attached to it in such a position as to operate when the machine is moved
in the contrary direction.

page_text: The travel of the machine and the motion or the cutting apparatus may either
be effected by one and the same traction rope or by two separate driving ropes
In the first case the traction rope is made to rotate a pulley, which drives the road
wheel by gearing, and the latter imparts motion to the cutting apparatus through
gearing, as before described. In the second case the one traction rope merely hauls
the machine along, this being temporarily connected thereto by a gripping
apparatus, while the other rope drives a pulley which imparts motion to the cutting
apparatus. Or if this apparatus is merely required to operate when the machine is
stationary, as before described, the first named traction rope may be so arranged as
to first haul the machine into position, and then, being disconnected froin tho
gripper, to drive a pulley imparting motion to the cutters.
According to another modification a rope or chain may be laid along or above
-the ground, being fixed at the ends and passed over a hauling pulley on the
machine, so that by imparting motion to such hauling pulley from the gear driving
the cutter apparatus the machine may be made to haul itself along by means of
the fixed rope or chain.
When the ground is too soft to bear the weight of the machine this may be
placed on a broad flat sledge or boat so as to distribute the weight over a con-
siderable area. Or, when the ground is covered with water, the machine may be
floated by means of this boat.
If the inachine is only to be used for excavating and not for forming the material
into a definite shape, the before described cylinder with cutting blades and moulds
may be dispensed with, and merely a disc or drum, on which are projecting knives,
employed, the rotation of which causes the material to bo detached from the
ground and deposited loosely theroon.
For removal of stumps of trees a saw may be substituted for the excavating
apparatus, or the knives of the latter may be made with saw teeth for this
purpose.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. is a side view, Fig. 2 is a plan shewn at two levels, and Fig. 3 a transverse
section of one form of apparatus according to this Invention. On the ground A
are laid planks B, on which rolls the travelling wheel E, having its axle D mounted
in bearings in side frames C, C, which are firmly bolted together; F, F, are
steadying rollers which also run on the planks B. On a cylindrical sleeve G is
fixed the double urined lever H, H, having at its middle a projecting bracket or
yoke J. Through this yoke, and also through the sleeve G, passes a spindle K
having on it a pinion L gearing with internal teeth of the wheel E, and also a
bevil wheel M gearing with two bevil pinions O, O, on spindles N, N, by sliding
clutches connected to a set of levers, so that when one of the spindles is driven
the other is stationary; P is the casing of the soil cutters fixed on the spindle Q,
which is connected to N by a universal joint at R. The casing P terminates
backwards in a mouth piece S, which may be of rectangular form, as shewn, so as
to lay a column T of turf or soil along the side of the furrow cut by the machine.
U is the rope wheel driven by the rope X; on its axle is a pinion driving a
wheel V' on another axle which, by the bevil gear V, V, V, drives a pinion
gearing with the internal teeth of E. The bevil wheels V are provided with
clutches for reversal; W, W, are chains supporting the cutting gear at the ends of
the lever H. A supporting sledge Y is attached to the lever El or sleeve G to
slide along the furrow, and Z is a balancing roller with a foot plate or platform
over it. When a furrow of sufficient length has been cut by the travel of the
machino towards the left without shifting the planks, the machine can be caused
to travel in the opposite direction, cutting a deeper furrow, the right hand cutters
being depressed and the left hand cutters elevated by swaying over the lever H
and shifting the clutches of O, O.
In cases where the soil is sufficiently firm the apparatus may be arranged as
shown in side view at Fig. 4, in plan at Fig. 5, and in end view at Fig. 6, con-

page_text: stituting a single cutter machine working only in one direction. A is the ground;
C, C, the side frames; D, the axle of the travelling wheel E, which is made with
cogs or ribs across its periphery; F, supporting and steering roller; H, H, armis
mounted on D as a pivot and carrying at their extremities the casing P of the
cutters. A bevil wheel V on the axle D drives a pinion on a spindle VI which has
a universal joint at R, and at its end a wheel V driving a pinion on the cutter
spindle Q. The casing P has a mouth piece S whence the material is delivered as
a continuous column T. The drag rope X is gripped to a guide roller on the
axlo D by an eccentric, causing the whole machine to travel; when the grip is
slackened the machino remains at rest, the rope continuing to run on the guide
rollers; Y is the supporting sledge; and Z, a counterbalance weight adjustable
along the axle D. The machine can obviously be reversed by taking off the cutter
part of the apparatus, turning the framing over on the axle D as a pivot, and
refixing the cuttor apparatus. In cases where the ground cannot sustain the
apparatus or the beams for carrying it the machine may be placed in a sledge tank
which can slide along the soil or float on the water submerging it. Figs. 7, 8,
and 9 shew respectively by side view, plan, and transverse section, an apparatus
of the kind first described above placed in a sledge tank for this purpose, and
provided with a second drag rope for moving the machine onwards. Instead of
such a moving drag rope a chain may be employed, anchored or fixed at each end,
and the machine may be arranged to draw itself along the chain in the manner in
which ferry boats and barges are sometimes caused to move. Figs. 10, 11, and 12
show respectively by side view, plan, and transverse section, an arrangement of
machine suited for this mode of operating. The principal working parts of this
machine correspond with those already described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,
and are marked by corresponding reference letters. The gearing for driving the
spindle K from the rope wheel U is modified, as shewn, so as to give motion to a
pair of indented rollers V, V, over and between which passes the stationary drag
chain X. These rollers are driven by clutches, so that they can be left free when
the machine is required to be stationary or clutched when the machine has to be
moved. The gearing by which they are driven is of ordinary reversing kind, so
that the machine can be made to travel in either direction.
Having thus described the naturo of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,―
First. The use of apparatus which, by the action of a rope worked from a
distance, is made to travel along the ground and at the same time to excavate a
furrow by means of revolving cutters, laying the excavated material in the form of
a continuous column by the side of the furrow, substantially as herein described
with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Second. In apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, mounting
the cutters at the end of an arm or lever, and driving them by gearing so arranged
that the depth of the furrow can be varied according as the cutters are more or
less elevated or depressed, substantially as herein described.
Third. In apparatus of the kind referred to in the first claim, mounting two sets
of cutters at opposite ends of a sway beam or lever so that the apparatus can be
made to operate in either direction, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Simon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thaand right handwed and nighty