IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Proctor at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1882.
FRANK PROCTOR, of Stevenage, in the County of Herts "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DIGGING
"
My present invention relates to machinery or apparatus used for the purpose of
digging or turning up ground by means of forks, tines, or other suitable implements,
the digging appliances as well as the mechanism by which the entire apparatus is
drawn forward at the proper speed being actuated by means of the tension of a rope
set in motion by a steam engine or other convenient source of power situated in a
suitable position for the purpose.
My invention has for its objects novel methods of constructing and arranging the
several parts of the machinery or apparatus, so that it is simple, cheap, durable, and
effective in operation.
I take a sufficiently strong framework or carriage, preferably of wrought iron,
supported at or near the middle of its length by two wheels of properly proportioned
diameter and size arranged upon a transverse axle carried in suitable bearings, a
third central wheel being arranged at the front of the frame and carried by
bearings upon a frame turning upon a vertical pivot so that the apparatus may be
steered or guided to a sufficient extent by means of a handle worked by an
attendant upon the machine, such handle driving by means of a screw and tangent
wheel or other equivalent means a transverse sliaft having drums round which are
wound in opposite directions chains connected to the frame which carries the
steering wheel.
Upon the axis of the two principal wheels above described is arranged a drum
round which is coiled the driving rope from the distant Engine or other source of
power, the tail end of the rope passing back and round pullies by which it is brought
back to the Engine in the usual way.
The relative diameters of the drum and of the wheels are so proportioned that
when the rope is travelling at the proper velocity the entire apparatus is drawn
forward at the desired speed.
Upon the same axis is also fixed a toothed wheel which drives a corresponding
toothed pinion upon a transverse shaft revolving in bearings formed upon or

page_text: connected to the framing behind the drum shaft; and this second shaft carries a
second toothed wheel, preferably similar to that upon the drum shaft, which second
wheel drives a corresponding toothed pinion preferably similar to that upon the
second shaft which is fixed upon a third transverse shaft revolving in bearings fixed
upon or attached to the fraining at the back end of the carriage.
The third transverse shaft is provided with a sufficient number of cranks or
excentrics which are jointed to and actuate a corresponding number of more or less
vertical bars to the lower ends of which the forks, or other digging implements are
attached, whilst their upper ends are jointed to the outer ends of links arranged
more or less horizontally, the front ends of which turn upon a transverse bar
carried by standards fixed to the carriage of the machine.
The forks or digging implements are arranged so that they can be made to enter
more or less deeply into the ground or can be withdrawn from it altogether as
desired. For this purpose the forks may be jointed to the bars which actuate them,
or the bearings which carry the third transverse shaft may be made capable of
moving as desired round the centre of the second shaft, so that their vertical
position may be raised or lowered as desired.
The action of the machine or apparatus is as follows:-the traction rope being
set in motion causes the drum round which it passes to revolve at a corresponding
speed, and at the same time draws forward the entire machine at the proper
velocity. The drum in its revolution actuates by the toothed wheels and pinions
the second shaft which in turn actuates the third shaft the cranks or excentrics
upon which drive the forks or other digging implements in the manner and at the
speed required.
-
Instead of the transverse shafts and toothed wheels and pinions described, a
greater number may in some cases be employed; the number of teeth in the toothed.
wheels and pinious being properly proportioned; or bevilled wheels and pinions
-suitably-arranged may be used for the same purpose.
The attendant travelling upon the machine guides it in the proper direction by
means of the steering apparatus described. In some cases I-arrange-digging-
apparatus constructed and actuated in the way described at each end of the machine,
that at one end being actuated when the machine is travelling in one direction and
that at the other end when the machine is travelling in the opposite direction. Or,
for the same purpose, the digging appliances themselves may be made reversible.
By the novel method of construction and arrangement described, which may
be varied in detail to suit varying circumstances as has been already pointed out,
great simplicity and cheapness as well as durability and efficiency are attained.