IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINES, MORE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING DITCHES AND DRAINS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN EXCAVATING MACHINES, MORE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR MAKING DITCHES
AND DRAINS."-A communication from abroad by Henry Charles
Ingraham, of Tecumseh, Michigan, United States of America.
Sealed the 14th February 1868, and dated the 9th December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th December 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINES, MORE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR
MAKING DITCHES AND DRAINS," a communication, to be as follows :—
The said improvements relate to a machine chiefly designed for forming
ditches, and which when drawn by horses or otherwise along the ground
loosens the earth, which is raised and deposited on the side of the ditch.
The said improvements consist,―
First. In so arranging the driver's seat that his weight shall counterbalance
that of the plough, whereby the earth is loosened.

page_text: Second. In combining with a flanged wheel two revolving belts, between
which the earth is elevated when loosened by the said plough.
Third. In the mode of regulating the depth of the cut and at the same time
changing the set of the plough point.
Fourth. In the substitution of guides for the land sides in common use.
Fifth. In the mode of regulating the delivery of the excavated earth.
Sixth. In the device for raising the machinery in turning, and also in that
for raising the entire machine except the wheels.
Seventh. In the use of an adjustable shoe for finishing the ditch to receive
drain tiles.
Eighth. In so constructing the frame that by folding the same the distance
between the wheels may be made wider or narrower.
Ninth. In the mode of suspending the ploughs and frame so as to permit
the said ploughs to work at a constantly increasing depth below the surface of
the earth.
Tenth. In the attachment of the draught and plough frame to the axis of
the wheel, so as to maintain always a right application of tho draught at
whatever depth the plough may be working.
Eleventh. In arranging the plough and the parts connected therewith so as
to loosen the earth and throw it between the elevating belts.
The main frame has at each side a hinged supplemental frame formed by
two end and two side pieces, and supported upon wheels. The said supple-
mental frames are so hinged that they may be folded under the main frame,
reversing the wheels and changing the width of the track of the machine to
that of an ordinary waggon, or increasing the width sufficiently to permit the
wheels to run outside of the earth thrown from the ditch. The tongue is
adjustably attached to the machine so that it may be removed therefrom for
convenience in packing. The said tongue is attached immediately to the
frame which supports the operating mechanism, and is hinged to the under
side of the main frame. This frame may be raised and lowered by means of
a cord attached to its end and to a drum which is operated in raising and
lowering the machine by a lever attached to its shaft or axle, which is
supported upon suitable standards. On the said axle is a ratchet wheel
actuated by a projection on the side of the said lever, and a bifurcated pawl
is pivoted to one of the standards. This pawl is alternately attached and
detached by a projection on the lever and by the end of the lever, and the
frame may be raised or lowered by the said lever. A wheel formed by two
.parallel flanges united by bars is fitted to turn on an axle passing through the
swinging frame. The plough is arranged in front of the flanged wheel with

page_text: arm.
double mould boards, by which the earth is loosened and thrown to the sides;
it is there caught by side wings and then turned towards the centre of the
furrow and upon the upper face of an endless belt. This belt revolves with
the flanged wheel passing around the said wheel and under a pulley placed
between the mould boards and over another pulley attached to an adjustable
The latter is hinged to the swinging frame and pressed against the belt
and away from the wheel by a tightening spring. Another belt passes around
the flanged wheel fitting closely against its rods or bars. This belt is carried
above the wheel in front, so as to deliver the earth carried up between the
two belts into a chute, by which it is directed so as to fall upon the side of
the ditch. As the machine passes several times along the ditch in opposite
directions the earth will be alternately deposited on each side of the said
ditch. The second belt passes over a pulley arranged near the flanged wheel.
Braces notched on the edge are provided to receive the hooked end of the
lever by which the plough frame is raised from the ground to turn around the
machine. The driver's scat is placed at the rear of the flanged wheel and is
supported upon braces which are pivoted upon the axle of the said wheel.
These braces extend downwards and are attached to the plough frame so that
the weight of the driver shall nearly or entirely counterbalance the weight of
the plough and frame. The braces supporting the driver's seat should be so
adjustably attached to the frame that by lengthening or shortening them they
may be adapted to a lighter or heavier person by placing the seat nearer or
further from the fulcrum. A curved lever is pivoted to the frame in front of
the plough and attached to the axles of a small wheel or roller. By means
of this lever and wheel the depth of the cut is regulated. Guides are provided.
to direct the plough. The frame having been raised by the hooked lever is
sustained by a pawl which takes into the notched brace. This pawl may be.
detached by means of a foot lever connected therewith by a rod. The plough
is suspended by an elbow or other suitable lever which is pivoted at its elbow
to the plough frame. A hinged rod is adjustably attached to the curved
lever of the roller axle in front of the pivot, where it is pivoted to the plough
frame, so that as the plough is raised by the lever the point of the said
plough is thrown downward, and vice versa, so as to make less draught on:
the beam frame when ploughing deeply and to give a better action to the
plough in shallow work. An adjustable shoe is attached to the point of the.
plough for the purpose of making a round bet for drain tiles when the ditch
is finished. The said shoe is removed when not needed for this purpose.
Scrapers are secured at suitable points upon the frame and the other parts of
the machine to scrape off the earth adhering to the pulleys, the belts, and the

page_text: bars of the flanged wheel. The chute is formed in two parts sliding one over
the other, so that the first carth raised may be deposited nearest the wheels,
and as the ditch is deepened the slide may be shortened to deposit the earth
nearer to the ditch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her beirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EXCAVATING MACHINES, MORE ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR
MAKING DITCHES AND DRAINS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings forming a part of this Specification :-
The said improvements relate to a machine chiefly designed for forming

page_text: ditches, and which when drawn by horses or otherwise along the ground
loosens the earth, which is raised and deposited on the side of the ditch.
The said improvements consist,-
First. In so arranging the driver's seat that his weight shall counterbalance
that of the plough, whereby the earth is loosened.
Second. In combining with a flanged wheel two revolving belts between
which the earth is elevated when loosened by the plough.
Third. In the mode of regulating the depth of the cut and at the same timo
changing the set of the plough point.
Fourth. In the substitution of guides for the land sides in common use.
Fifth. In the mode of regulating the delivery of the earth excavated.
Sixth. In the device for raising the machinery in turning, and also in that
for raising the entire machine except the wheels.
Seventh. In the use of an adjustable shoe for finishing the ditch to receive
drain tiles.
Eight. In so constructing the frame that by folding the same the distance
between the wheels may be made wider or narrower.
Ninth. In the mode of suspending the ploughs and frame so as to permit
the said ploughs to work at a constantly increasing depth below the surface of
the earth.
Tenth. In the attachment of tho draught and plough frame to the axis of the
wheel so as to maintain always a right application of the draught at whatever
depth the plough may be working.
Eleventh. In arranging the plough and the parts connected therewith so as
to loosen the carth and throw it between the elevating belts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine; Figure 2 is a side
elevation of the same partly in section; Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal
section; Figure 4 is an elevation of the raising lever; Figure 5 is an elevation.
of the pawl for the raising apparatus; Figure 6 is a vertical section showing
the mode of reversing the wheel; Figure 7 is a plan and section of the shoe.
Like letters are employed in all the Figures in the designation of identical
parts.
A is the main frame, which has hinged to each side a supplemental frame C
formed by two end and two side pieces, and supported upon wheels B. The
supplemental frames C are so hinged that they may be folded under the main
frame, reversing the wheels and changing the width of the track of the machine,
so as to be either that of an ordinary waggon or increased sufficiently to permit

page_text: the wheels to run outside of the earth thrown from the ditch. D is the tongue
adjustably attached to the machine so that it may be removed therefrom for
convenience in packing. The tongue is attached immediately to the frame E
which supports the operating mechanism and is binged to the underside of the
main frame at E¹. This frame may be raised and lowered by means of the
cord F attached to the end of the frame and the axle G, which is operated in
raising and lowering the machine by the lever I attached to its shaft, which
is supported upon the standards G¹. On the axle is a ratchet wheel I actuated
by a projection H on the side of the lever H. I' is a bifurcated pawl (see
Figure 5) pivoted to the standard G¹. This pawl is alternately attached and
detached by the projection H¹ and end H³ of the lever. The frame may be
raised or lowered by the lever H. K is a wheel formed by two parallel flanges
united by bars K' and turning on an axle passing through the frame E. L
is a plough running in front of the flanged wheel K, with double mould boards,
by which the earth is loosened and thrown to the sides; it is there caught by
the side wings L³, and then turned towards the centre of the furrow and upon
the upper face of the endless belt M. This belt revolves with the wheel K
passing around the wheel and under the pulley M³ placed between the mould
boards and over the pulley M attached to the adjustable arm M². The
latter is hinged to the frame E and pressed against the belt and away from
the wheel by the tightening spring M: Another belt N passes around the
wheel fitting closely against the rods or bars K¹. This belt is carried in front
of the wheel above so as to deliver the earth carried up between the two belts
into the shoot P, by which it is directed so as to fall upon the side of the ditch.
As the ditcher passes several times along the ditch in opposite directions the
earth will be alternately deposited on each side of the ditch. The belt N
passes over the pulley N¹. The braces O are notched on the edge to receive
the hooked end of the lever O¹, by which the plough frame may be raised
from the ground to turn around the machine. Qis the driver's seat placed in
rear of the flanged wheel and supported upon braces which are pivoted upon
the axle of the wheel K. These braces extend downward and are attached to
the plough frame so that the weight of the driver shall nearly or entirely
counterbalance the weight of the plough and plough frame. To this end the
braces supporting the driver's seat should be so adjustably attached to the
frame that by lengthening or shortening them they may be adapted to a lighter
or heavier person by placing the seat nearer or further from the fulcrum. R
is a lever pivoted to the frame in front of the plough and attached to the axles
of the wheel R'. By means of this lever and wheel the depth of the cut is
regulated. Rare guides which direct the plough. The frame having been

page_text: raised by the lever O' as described is sustained by a pawl S2 working into the
notched brace O. This pawl may be detached by means of the foot lever S
connected therewith by the rod S¹. The plough is suspended by the lever T
which is pivoted at the elbow of the plough frame. The hinged rod T¹ is
adjustably attached to the lever R in front of the pivot, where it is pivoted to
the plough frame, so that as the plough is raised by the lever the point of the
plough is thrown down, and vice versa, so as to make less draught on the beam
frame when ploughing deeply and to give a better action to the plough in
shallow ploughing. The shoe L', Figure 7, is attached to the point of the
plough for the purpose of making a round bed for drain tiles when the ditch
is finished. It is attached only when needed for this purpose. Scrapers are
attached at suitable points on the frame and other parts of the machine to
scrape off the earth adhering to the pulleys over which the belts pass from the
belts themselves and from the bars uniting the flanges of the wheel K. The
shoot P is formed in two parts sliding one over the other, so that the first
earth raised may be deposited nearest the wheels, and as the ditch is deepened
the slide may be shortened to deposit the earth nearer the ditch.
Having thus fully described the nature of the said improvements as commu-
nicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and shown the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I claim―
First. The combination of the plough, the double flanged wheel K, and
double elevating belts.
Second. The mode of securing the horizontal action of the plough at any
depth by pivoting the frame E to which the tongue D is secured upon the
axle of the wheel K, and hinging it to the frame E at E', substantially as
set forth.
Third. Adjustably supporting the driver's seat in rear of the axle so as to
counterbalance the weight of the ploughs placed in front thereof, substantially
in the manner set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the plough L, wings L³, belts M and N, and
wheel K, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The double-flanged wheel K constructed with bars K¹ and inter-
mediate open spaces in combination with the carrying belt N, substantially
as set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the lever R, wheel R', plough L, lever T, and
rod T, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. The combination of the plough L and guides R³, substantially as
set forth.

page_text: Eighth. In combination with the wheel K the adjustable extension shoot P,
substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the notched frame O, lever O', pawl S³, rod S',
and foot lever S, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination of the lever H, axle G, ratchet I, pawl 1', cord F,
and frame E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. In combination with the plough L the adjustable shoe L', sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Twelfth. So constructing the main frame that the wheels may by folding
parts of the frame be adjusted to a wider or narrower tread, substantially in
the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
:
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings, W.C.