IMPROVEMENTS IN In
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Parker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1882.
JAMES PARKER of Stevenage in the County of Herts
DIGGING MACHINES,"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
In the specification of a former, patent granted to me dated 9 February 1881
N° 552 I described a digging machine. My present application is for improvements
in machines so described and relates to arranging the forks across the end of a
traction or other engine but distinct from it, such forks being connected only by
means of rods that have a radial movement or are free to rise and fall vertically.
I further make the cranks that work the forks in two or more portions such
portions being connected by a short rod having universal joints or ball and socket
movements so arranged that the shaft is to a certain extent flexible. I support
cach section of this shaft with its crank and forkhead complete by rollers, small
wheels or on a curved breast of metal-which breast or small wheels run over the
ground and consequently follow all the inequalities or undulations thereof,
independently of the vertical movements of the travelling engine by which they
are drawn over the ground, at the same time that a rotary movement is given to
the digging cranks from such engine either by bevel gear, chain, rope or other
convenient method of transmitting the power; such power can be transmitted from
both ends of the crank shaft of the driving engine if considered advisable. I
further connect the rollers small wheels or curved breast of metal by which each
fork and its accessories are carried to the after part or end of the travelling or
driving engine by a curved or eccentric rod or piece of metal, this curved or
eccentric connection being so arranged as to allow of the said small wheels
or breasts following the inequalities of the ground travelled over. but should the
forks meet with any obstruction so that their simple weight is insufficient to make
them penetrate, then the whole weight of the after end of the travelling enginė

page_text: is brought into play by the carriage or frame which hold the said forks tipping
slightly forward or towards the engine and by that means wedging the small
wheels or curved breast against the engine. I further use instead of the curved or
eccentric piece, vertical rods sliding through guidės such guides to have a hole or
bosses through which a rod is made to pass and is gripped pressed or caught
against the hinder part of the travelling engine so that the whole engine has to be
lifted before the forks can refuse to enter the ground and by that means the forks
are forced into the ground. The small wheels or rollers I further mount in such
a way as to be easily adjusted as to position, to alter the depth of land operated on
by the diggers-say like the furrow-wheel of a plough-these small wheels or
rollers are hinged or held like a castor, so as to follow the movements of the front
or travelling engine without being necessarily drawn or dragged sideways as would
be the case in turning the engine round corners or at the end of the fields, but
when curved breasts are used such method of mounting is not necessary-I do
not confine myself to any particular class of engine in driving these digging
machines or sections, as rotary vertical the ordinary portable or traction engine
type or electric dynamos can be used. but this does not form any essential part
of my invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Parker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th June
1883.
•
JAMES PARKER, of Stevenage in the County of Herts,
DIGGING MACHINES"
"
IMPROVEMENTS IN
In my specification to a former patent No 552 of 1881 I claimed the use of
rollers arranged to alter the angle of the forks while digging so as to equalise the
depth operated upon. This I accomplished by altering the position of levers attached
to the head or handle of the said forks, as by the raising or lowering of the said
levers the angle at which the tines or fork points entered the ground was varied,
the forks or digging tools being further prevented from entering to too great a
depth, should the supporting rollers not have movement enough, by hinging the
lower half of the. said forks or digging tools, such hinging of digging tools
being a special claim in my former patent, whether used in connection with
rollers or not.
My present invention relates to improvements of machines so described, and
refers to arranging the forks across the end of a traction or other engine but quite
distinct from it, such forks or digging tools being connected by means of rods,
plates &c. that have a concentric movement or are free to rise and fall concentrically
with the driving shaft. I further make the crank shaft that transmits power
to the forks, in two or more portions, and. connect- adjoining portion's by a rod
1

page_text: having universal joints or ball and socket movements, so that the shaft is to a.
certain extent flexible.
This means of making the shaft flexible or in several portions will only be
necessary when the machines are made to dig a great width at one operation-
but small machines, to dig say nine feet at once, I construct without flexible joints
in the.digging axle.
I support this shaft or each section of this shaft, if made in several portions,
by rollers or small wheels or on a curved breast of metal, which small wheels or
curved breast run over the ground and consequently follow all the inequalities
or undulations thereof, being free to rise and fall independently of the vertical
movements of the travelling engine by which they are drawn over the ground;
at the same time a rotary movement is given to the digging, cranks from such
engine, either by tooth gearing, chain, rope, or other convenient method of
transmitting power. Such power can be transmitted from both ends of the
crank shaft of the driving engine, if considered advisable in the larger kinds of
implements.
I also provide means for varying the size of the spits or portions of earth turned
over or operated upon each time, which I do by making the wheels interchangeable
like the gearing of a lathe, or, when chain, rope or belting &c. is used, by putting
pulleys of different sizes on the digging axle. The relative speed of the two axles
can thus be very considerably varied.
I further connect, when necessary, the rollers, small wheels or curved breast by
which each section or fork and its accessories are carried, to the after part or end
of the travelling or driving engine, by a curved rod or piece of metal, this curved
connection being so arranged as to allow, of the said small wheels or breasts
following the inequalities of the ground travelled over; but should the forks meet
with any obstruction, so that their simple weight is not sufficient to make them
penetrate, then the whole weight of the after end of the travelling engine is
brought into play by causing the carriage or frame which holds the said forks to
tip slightly forward or towards the engine, and by that means to wedge the small
wheels or curved breast against the engine. I use rods curved concentrically to
the carriage axle and sliding through guides, such guides having a boss or bosses
through which a rod is made to pass, whereby the concentric rod is gripped pressed
or caught against the hinder part of the travelling engine, so that the whole weight
of the hind part of the engine has to be lifted before the forks can refuse to enter
the ground.
I make the position of the small wheels or rollers adjustable in such a manner
as to alter the depth of land operated upon by the diggers, say like the furrow-
wheel of a plough. These small wheels or rollers are, when necessary, hinged or
held like a castor, so as to follow the movements of the front or travelling engine
without being necessarily drawn or dragged sideways, which is apt to take place
in turning the engine round corners or at the ends of the fields; but when the
curved breasts are used, this method of mounting is not necessary.
I do not confine myself to any particular kind of engine for driving these
digging machines or sections, as rotary, vertical, or ordinary portable or traction
engines or electro-motors can be used, without departing from the principle of my
invention.
For further describing my invention the annexed drawings have been added;
the same letters represent the same or corresponding parts in all views.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show, the arrangement complete as driven by chain or rope
gearing on wheels M-A is a crank shaft to work the diggers B. C are rollers
or curved breasts of metal made to follow inequalities of the surface travelled over.
Dare rods free to rise and fall by a concentric movement; they are connected to
the top of frame I by link E, this link having elongated holes at the ends so as to
allow the frame I to slightly tip towards the engine, and by that means the small
rod F, which is free to slide in boss H, is gripped between the two concentric
surfaces J and K, and thus held firmly to the engine while digging. Fig 4 shows

page_text: e flexible joints L which connect the digging cranks A together. When these
nts are used, the wheel or gear by which the power from the engine is trans-
tted may be mounted as shewn at M on one of the joints, otherwise they are
unted on the crank shaft A as shewn in Fig. 1, 2 and 3. Figs. 5 and 6 shew
larged views of the gripping gear F, J, K, and, H, and further the curved
easts C or roller C, the latter in Fig 6 being shewn mounted like a castor to
ivel on centre N. The rod O sliding through bracket P has pin holes o, so as
alter the height of the rollers or curved breasts C relatively to the digging
aft A. In place of the rod O sliding through boss P; a screw can be used for
gulation.
Fig. 7 and 8 shew rollers C.enlarged, and the way in which they may be fixed.
What I claim is :-
.
The application of rollers or curved breasts for supporting the digging tools
independently of the engine, substantially as described.
The employment of such digging tools on a movable carrying frame; free to
rise and fall, substantially as described.
The curved bar or concentric rod for jamming against the engine, on the tools
neglecting to enter the ground, by bringing the weight of the engine upon
them, substantially as described.
Making digging apparatus in sections, connected by universal joints, so as
to a certain extent inake the digging shaft flexible, and free to rise and fall,
substantially as described.
Arranging the curved breasts or rollers in such a manner, that their height
may be varied in respect to such digging frames, and thereby permitting
the forks to enter more or less into the ground, substantially as described.
Supporting or holding the rollers castor fashion, so that they may follow
the curved route of the engine by which they are drawn, substantially as
described.
Varying the size of spits by means of change wheels or by means of pulleys
driven by belting, ropes &c, substantially as described.
The combination in a digging machine of any two or more of the features
represented by the preceding claims.
31
In witness whereof I the said James Parker have hereunto set my
and seal this 31st day of May A.D. 1883.
hand

page_text: LONDON Printed by GEOIGE EDWARD ETRE and WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE.
Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty 1883.
Malby & Sons, Photo-Litho.