Improvements in and connected with Steam Shovels and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
Improvements in and connected with Steam Shovels and
the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to steam shovels for unloading coal barges. The shovels
are supported on a trolley running on an overhead track operated by a steam
engine which also raises the shovel and closes the same. The shovel descends
by the force of gravity and its jaws are so weighted as to open when the closing
rope or chain is relaxed. Such shovels are adapted to operate with great
rapidity, and it is desirable that the closing mechanism should be of the simplest
character so that it may act promptly and efficiently. I have accomplished this
result by the hereinafter described apparatus which is shown as applied to that
class of shovels called clam shell shovels.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a closed shovel equipped with my
improvement.
Figure 2 is a similar view partly in section showing the shovel open.
Figure 3 shows in side elevation a modification.
The jaws A are of the usual shape, meeting when closed on the median line a;
their upper edges a' form a line substantially horizontal but rising slightly to a
point in the centre as shown in Figure 1. The jaws are supported by the arms B
which extend from the four upper corners thereof to the shaft C carried by the
pulley.hanger C'. The jaws A are pivoted to these arms at 6, so that they can
swing open when the shovel is lowered. The pulley hangor C¹ is connected with
the engine by the hoisting rope or chain D which carries the stirrup iron d to
which the pulley banger is attached. The shaft C carries the pulley or
sheave C'.
At a short distance above the jaws there is situated the shaft E supported by
the hinges E. These hinges are of the shape shown in Figures 1 and 2. They
are bolted along the upper edges a' of the jaws. The hinges are allowed to turn
on the shaft for a purpose to be presently described. The shaft E is embraced by
the levers F, F'. The levers are attached to the upper sides of the jawa midway
their length. They are of the same shape except that the arm of the lever F
is twice as long as the corresponding arm of the lever F1 which carries the pulley
or sheave F'.
The closing rope or chain D' passes through the eye d' on the pulley hanger C₁
round the pulley then upwardly round the pulley C and is attached to the end
of the arm of the lever F. The weight of the shovel is so arranged that if the
closing rope is relaxed the shovel will open out and assume the position shown in

page_text: Figure 2. The shovel is then lowered into the hold of the coal barge, the closing
rope is actuated by the engine and the shovel is closed and scrapes up a load of
conl. The opening and closing movement is like that of a pair of scissors. In
Figure 3 I have shown a modification of my invention. The arms B are fastened
at their upper ends to the cross bar B to which is attached in any desired way the
hoisting rope D. The cross bar carries the rollers & between which the ropes,
pass. These ropes are attached to the eyes in the cross bar, pass round the
pulleys F, F, then between the rollers and are united together and to the
closing rope D'. The rest of the construction is similar to that already
described.
A shovel made according to this invention is very strong and works easily. The
jaws being pivoted above their top line are enabled to open out widely, while the
construction of the supporting arms is such as to render the whole apparatus very
stiff and steady. The closing may be differently effected in respect to the ends of
the arms F, F, and the sheave C' without departing from the essential foatures
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
-
1. In a steam shovel the combination of the jaws A, A, the arms B connected
with said jaws, the hinges El extending from the jaws and connected as described
and the levers F, F conuected at their outer ends with the shovel jaws A, A, and
pivoted upon the shaft E and having diverging arms which are engaged and
operated by the closing rope D', substantially as specified.
2. In a steam shovel the combination of the jaws. A, A, the rods B with which
said jaws are connected, the hinges E', the shaft E to which they are pivoted, the
levers F, F pivoted upon said shaft and connected with the jaws A, A, a pulley F
attached to one of said arms, the arm of the lever being twice as long as the
arm of the lever F which carries the said pulley, the sheave C' and the drawing
rope D' passing under the pulley F' about the sheave C' and attached to the end
of the lever arm f, as and for the purposes described...
3. The steam shovel constructed and arranged substantially as herein described
and represented in the drawing.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.