IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM DIGGING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Knight, of Farnham, in the County of
Surrey, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM DIGGING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Knight at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1876.
JOHN HENRY KNIGHT, of Farnham, in the County of Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN STEAM DIGGING MACHINES."
My Invention of improvements in steam digging machines consists of novel ar-
rangements for propelling and steering a steam power digging machine, such as
that described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me on the 21st
November, A.D. 1873, No. 3797.
And, Firstly. The improvements refer to propelling a digging machine for use in
hilly districts. I fix on the machine two drums, round which wire or hemp rope is
coiled. These drums can be set in motion by gearing with the cank or driving shaft.
One end of each rope is secured to an anchorage on either headland. As the rope
on one drum is coiled up, the digging machine gradually hauls itself' across the field,
the return journey being performed by hauling on the other rope. Pulleys are
placed in the fore-part of the machine to guide the rope, and so assist the implement
in turning.
Secondly. My Invention refers to steering a steam digging machine. In pro-
pelling such a machine by the front or steering wheel or wheels, so that in whatever
direction the steersman may turn the wheel or wheels, that wheel or wheels may
draw and direct the machine. I may drive this steering and propelling wheel by
means of a vertical shaft communicating by bevil and spur gearing to the wheel,
or by a worm and tooth wheel, or by a strap or rope running on a pulley, fixed on
or running loose on the axle of the same wheel, but connected to that wheel by
gearing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Knight in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
June 1877.
JOHN HENRY KNIGHT, of Farnham, in the County of Surrey.
IN STEAM DIGGING MACHINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention consists in improvements in propelling steam digging machines,
applicable more especially to my Invention of improved digging machines Patented
in 1873, No. 3797.
I fix on the machine two drums, round which a rope of wire or hemp is coiled.
These drums can be set in motion by gearing in connection with the crank shaft.
One end of each rope is fastened to an anchorage on each headland of the land to
be dug. As the rope is wound up, the digging machine gradually hauls itself across
the field, the return journey being performed by hauling on the other rope. I
place pulleys in the front of the machine to guide the rope and to assist in turning
the implement.
Figures 1 and 2, on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, shew a digging
machine fitted with winding drums.
A is the crank shaft; B, the driving pulley, receiving motion from the engine by
means of a rope; this pulley is keyed to a vertical spindle, the lower end of the
spindle carrying a bevel pinion gearing into a vertical bevel wheel on the crank
shaft. A pinion on this shaft gears into the spur wheel D which is keyed on the shaft J;
on this shaft are two pinions which are thrown into gear with the drums F1 and F
by the handles H. In the Drawing, the drum F is supposed to be hauling, and F¹
paying out slack rope, which is guided clear of the machine by the pulleys G, G,
the drums F and F of course running loose on the shaft or axle. In the plan, the
fly rope guide pulleys bare removed in order better to shew the position of the
drums. A clip pulley may if preferred be used instead of the two drumis.
My improvements also relate to a method of propelling a digging machine by the
front or steering wheel or wheels, so that in whatever direction the steersman may
turn that wheel or wheels, the machine inay proceed in the direction indicated. I
drive this steering and propelling wheel by means of a vertical shaft communicating
by bevil and spur gearing to the axle of the wheel, or instead of the spur gearing
a worm and worm wheel may be employed, the worm wheel being keyed to the
axle, or the wheel may be driven by a strap or cord running on a pulley fixed on or
running loose on the axle of the wheel, and connected to it by gearing.
In Figures 3 and 4 A is the crank shaft; B is the driving pulley for receiving motion
from the engine. The steering wheel C is carried by a frame D which can be turned
round in a ring E, shewn in section, Figure 3. On the axle is keyed a worm wheel G,
driven by the worm H fixed to the vertical shaft J. On the upper part of J is keyed
the wheel K, which gears into the wheel L, fixed on a spindle passing through the
centre of the ring E. On this spindle is keyed a pulley M, driven by a strap N,
from the pulley O on the vertical driving shaft, the action of the machine being as
follows The driving shaft is put in motion by a cord from the engine passing
round the pulley B, giving motion by the strap N to the pulley M, and through the
spur and worm gearing on to the axle of the propelling wheel.
=
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said In-
vention, and how the same is to be carried into practical operation, I would have it
understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise arrangements shewn and
decribed, but what I claim, and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,
Firstly. The use and construction of an improved digging machine to be driven or
propelled by a hemp or wire rope in the manner herein-before described, and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawing. Figures 1 and 2.
Secondly. The use and construction of an improved digging machine propelled or

page_text: driven by its leading and steering wheel or wheels, as hereiu-before described, and
as illustrated by the accompanying Drawing, Figures 3 and 4.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Knight, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
JOHN HENRY KNIGHT. (LS.)