Improvements in Excavating Scoops.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Excavating Scoops.
I, JOHN EDWARD BROWN, Engineer, of 7, Limes Road, Folkestone, in the County
of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner tha
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
My invention relates to scoops of the kind described in my previous Specification
to Letters Patent No. 1610 of 1891, and has for its object improvements in such
scoops by which they are rendered suitable for excavating and moving soil, dredg.
ing enlarging or forming ponds or reservoirs, and other like operations.
I shall describe my improved scoop referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the scoop when it is in the position shewn in end elevation
Fig. 2, its cutting edge being about to enter the soil. Fig. 3 is an end elevation
shewing the scoop in position to be drawn along containing its charge, Fig. 4 is
a transverse section shewing the scoop in position to be emptied and drawn along
the ground on its sledge runners.
When the
The scoop consists of an approximately semi-cylindrical shell A with an outwardly
curved toothed cutting or digging edge -B, and with a pair of projecting brackets (
to penetrate the soil and act as a fulcrum for the scoop when it is turned over. Το
the ends which are circular are attached sledge runners E on which the scoop
can be drawn from place to place. On the ends are also provided bearings for a
transverse spindle F having two worm bosses G for winding ropes, and having at
one end a ratchet wheel H with pawl K provided with a handle by which it can
be engaged or disengaged. Near the digging edge are attached two chains L
which extend obliquely to meet in a single shackle, and to the same shackle are
attached two ropes M which extend obliquely to the bosses G G.
chains L and ropes M are drawn by engines or draught animals, then, according
as the ropes M are more or less tightened by turning the spindle F by a winch
handle applied to its end, the digging edge B is more or less driven into the
ground as shown in Fig. 2, and as the scoop proceeds it becomes charged with soil.
When the scoop is sufficiently charged, the pawl K is disengaged and then the
scoop takes the position shewn in Fig. 3 and is drawn along to the place of deposit.
When it reaches this place, a pair of ropes 0, leading backwards from the fixings
of the chains L, are pulled, so as to turn the scoop over to an upside down position,
as shewn in Fig. 4, emptying it, whereupon it can be drawn on the sledge runners
back to operate again.
Projections N serve to lift and then drop the scoop as it is turning over, thus
more effectually emptying it. In order to increase the capacity of the scoop it is
preferably provided with a door P, the middle part of which is shewn in Fig. 1;
it is hinged to the scoop at Q and is bent so as to close over the shaft F and its
Worms. The door is held in its closed position by a pawl catch R, which is pivotted
at the middle of the shaft F, and passes through a slot provided for it through the
In turning the scoop over for the purpose of emptying it, the catch R, as
it passes over the ground, is pushed inwards, leaving the door P free to open as
door.

page_text: shewn in Fig. 4, so that the contents of the scoop readily escape. In turning the
scoop over to the digging position the door P is closed and held so by the catch R.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is
An excavating scoop constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.