Improvement in Method of Operating Steam Shovels and Disposing of Excavated Material, and Apparatus for Carrying Out such Method.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Method of Operating Steam Shovels and Disposing
of Excavated Material, and Apparatus for Carrying Out such
Method.
I, CHARLES LINNEUS GOULD, Engineer, residing at 3848 Lake Avenue,
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
"
""
In this Specification, I use the term " excavator to include only that type of
excavating apparatus commonly known as a "dipper excavator in which a
swinging crane is employed, the jib of which crane carries and operates a rigid
handle secured to and capable of directly communicating thrust to a dipper, so that
the machine is often called a "shovel," and when operated by steam a steam
shovel," though I do not intend herein a limitation to operation by steam.
.6
In through cuts, i.e., in cuts having two sides, and in the initial stage of the
excavating operations, always one closed end, or transverse face, and sometimes-
as in isolated sections of a canal-two closed ends or transverse faces, excavators
(using now and hereinafter the term excavator to apply only as previously
indicated) have heretofore in wide excavations first cut a
66 gullet"; i.e. advanced
a portion of the transverse face, and then by repeated cutting along the side or sides
of the gullet have widened the cut as desired.
The method in advancing the portion of the transverse face is to move the
excavator along a track extending longitudinally with the cut, and to work the
excavator head on and excavate in the transverse face; and, because the track
on which the cars are loaded can extend freely at one end only, the cars must be
uncoupled and one at a time be set in to and taken out from alongside the
excavator, in order that they may be loaded.
The method in widening is to move the excavator lengthwise of the previously
excavated "gullet" and excavate along its side or sides, and admits usually of
the track parallel to that upon which the excavator stands being freely extended
in both directions, so that an entire train can be loaded by the excavator
without uncoupling the cars from one another.
Thus two distinct methods of operating have been necessary in making by
excavators, cuts of great width, involving repeated travel of the excavator back
and forth on tracks extending longitudinally with the cut.
Such
These methods are subject in many cases to serious practical disadvantages.
For example, in the case of an isolated through-cut section of a canal when
ground for spoil bank has been provided alongside of and co-extensive with the
cut, in order to shortest haul, the material excavated and loaded into cars must
be forwarded to the spoil bank over tracks lying transversely across the cut.
transverse tracks and the cars travelling on them would, however, be constantly
interferred with and interfere with the longitudinal tracks aforesaid and with the
cars travelling on them; and this difficulty would be aggravated by whatever
movements the excavator makes back and forth on its longitudinal tracks in
widening the cut.
These longitudinal tracks for the shovel and for loading have, therefore,
induced the practice of forwarding the material excavated and loaded into cars by
tracks also substantially longitudinal, said tracks usually climbing the sides of the
cut, not directly nor usually operated by stationary power, but gradually, by grades
proper for operation by locomotives, the ascent being in like manner continued
without the cut until the height is attained requisite for the deposit of the material.
This necessitates tracks of considerable length, consumes much time in moving the

page_text: loaded cars to the dump and the empty cars back to the excavator, involves great
expense in shifting these tracks, in order that the dumping of the excavated
material may proceed, and in keeping the tracks in fair condition-especially on the
newly made dumps-spreads out the work over long distances, and occasions
continual change in the relation of the various parts to each other. The want of
more efficient apparatus whereby the transverse face may be advanced and wide
cut made at one operation, has been long and severely felt. Various means have
been devised for the moving of the excavated material directly to its destination ;
but, the excavator has heretofore come short of operative harmony with any one
of them.
This being the condition of affairs and the state of this art, I set to work to
discover or devise apparatus which would overcome the defects inherent in those
previously used.
In effecting this result, speaking generally, I employ, in connection with an
excavator adapted to move transversely upon and across the bottom of the
excavation in a direction at an angle to its length, mechanism for removing the
excavated material, which mechanism travels alongside of the excavation, ordinarily
moving ahead of the spoil or other banks which it forms. To adapt the excavator
to travel transversely across the cut, while still working head on to the transverse
face, I have been compelled to make various changes in the construction of the
frame and trucks upon which the excavating machinery stands. I have also
devised various means for receiving the excavated material from the excavator and
for carrying it to the apparatus travelling without the cut.
I have, therefore, an excavator working head on to the transverse face of the
cut, travelling transversely at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the cut in a
zig-zag manner from one side of the cut to the other, (all this in and on the bottom
of the cut), mechanism alongside and without the cut travelling in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cut, and mechanism for bringing these
excavating and removing devices into operative connection.
While, however, I shall describe the transversely travelling apparatus for
excavating, and the longitudinally travelling mechanism for disposing of the
excavated material, as operated jointly, it will be obvious that if desired they may
be operated separately; since it is, of course, possible to employ the transversely
travelling excavator in connection with other apparatus for disposing of the
excavated material, and, similarly, it is possible to employ the longitudinally
moving mechanism for disposing of material otherwise excavated. I have,
however, described them together, because they seem to be peculiarly capable of
conjoint interdependent action; and my invention comprises the mechanism and
the various details of construction and combinations hereinafter to be more
particularly described and claimed.
In the drawings,
Figure represents a plan view of my appliances, showing the excavator and
the transverse tracks within the cut, and the longitudinally travelling apparatus
without the cut;
Fig. 2 a side elevation of this apparatus, partly broken away, showing one form
in which it may be constructed and also one form of incline and apron extending
from such apparatus down into the cut;
Fig. 3 a plan view of the appliances in the cut, showing the method of advancing
the excavator as the excavation progresses;
Fig. 4 a section on line 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;
Fig. 5 a side elevation of the excavator, illustrating the method of forwarding
the excavated material from the excavator to the longitudinally travelling apparatus
alongside of the cut;
Fig. 6 a side elevation; and Fig. 7 a bottom plan view of the trucks and frame
of the excavator.
-
I propose, as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7, to arrange the propelling gear and the
tracks immediately underneath the excavating machinery, in such manner that the

page_text: excavator A, while pointing head on toward the transverse face of the cut, shall
run upon lines of rails, C and D, extending transversely across the bottom of the
cut. This position of the excavator in reference to the transverse face, E¹, of the
cut, E, is made apparent from Fig. 3, where it is shown advancing the excavation
of said face.
When the excavator A has reached the limit of its travel in one direction, for
example, the left hand side of the cut, having advanced the excavation as it crossed
from right to left, it is then itself advanced into position for further excavation in
the transverse face in the following manner :-Suppose the dotted lines, C¹ and D',
to indicate the rails upon which the excavator has travelled while excavating
across the cut, E, in transverse face, E¹, and that it has reached and is standing
upon the left hand end of these rails: The remaining portion of said rails is now
to be shifted into the usual position of crossovers between parallel tracks, as shown
by C, D, providing for the advance of the excavator as it returns to the right
hand side of the cut; the rails forming the cross-overs and said left hand ends to
be then shifted into positions indicated by the full lines C and D parallel to and in
advance of their earlier positions, indicated by the dotted lines C¹ and D¹.
This is the method of advancing the excavator to follow up the transverse face,
which I prefer, as entirely practicable and as avoiding the use of frogs. If desired,
however, the same result may be accomplished by the use, in the usual manner,
of additional rails. In one or the other of these ways, by simple change in
propelling gear and trucks, and by suitable disposition of tracks, provision is made
both for the travel of the excavator back and forth across the bottom of the cut,
and for the advance of the excavator as the transverse face of the cut advances.
The cross-over method may be used in any cut the width of which is sufficient
to allow of the above described operation. When the cut is too narrow to permit
the use of the cross-over method, other mechanism would have to be used to
provide for the forward movement of the excavator.
While I have shown these rails laid at a right angle to the sides of the cut, it is
not essential that they should be so laid; they may assume any other desired angle,
so long as all provide for the movement of the excavator across the bottom of the
cut in a direction parallel to the transverse face of the cut.
Having described the manner of operating the excavator itself, I now pass on to
a description of those appliances which are intended to dispose of the excavated
material, describing first the kind of apparatus more particularly shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 4.
In this form, I lay without and to one side of the cut (shown in the drawings at
the right hand side) any desired number of tracks, F, F, on which travel cars,
platforms, or other similar constructions, F', FL. Upon these I build a structure,
preferably of the form shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Each side,
and, if desired, the end of this structure furthest from the cut, is projected out, the
side next the spoil bank usually farther out than the other side, as shown at G¹.
It will be evident that the size of this structure can be altered as desired, and will
depend principally upon the dimensions of the cut to be made and of the spoil or
other bank to be formed, and upon the slope which the excavated material will take
when dumped from off the structure. Two of the principal objects of this device
with projecting sides, and of mounting it as described, are to provide for depositing
materials into spoil or other banks so far out that their slope will substantially
clear the structure, and to provide for the movement of the structure to correspond
with the progress of the excavation. The main spoil or other bank is provided for
by the greater projection on the side or end next to it. The material dumped from
any other projecting portion of the structure than that adjacent to the main bank
will ordinarily be for the purpose of filling depressions and to bring the surface
of the ground to the level desired for the tracks F, F, or other sub-structures used.
At the end adjacent to the cut, this structure slopes downward at an angle nearly
to the bottom of the cut, forming an incline and apron, G³, with suitable framing, g²,
supported on blocking or platforms moving on rollers or on wheels or in any other

page_text: manner. Upon the structure G runs a track, H, preferably of location and form
as shown; the ends, H', H2, whereof extend down the incline and apron to the
bottom of the cut, as shown. This track may be connected, wherever found
desirable, by cross-over tracks, or in any other manner; and may have spur tracks
leading from it for any purpose. The top, or deck, of the structure may be level,
as shown or in whole or in part be inclined at any angle whatever, as may be
found desirable for moving cars, overhauling rope, or for any other purpose.
To transport the excavated material from the excavator to the apron, I provide
the following mechanism :-
Travelling on the tracks, C and D, are platforms, I, I', and travelling on auxiliary
tracks, C³ and D³, is a third platform 12. Upon these platforms is supported a
track J, which, on reaching the platform, 11, branches into two tracks, J, J².
The wheels of the platform, I, may be, if desired, of greater diameter than the
wheels of the platform, I'; and these, in turn, may be of greater diameter than the
wheels of the platform I2; so that the tracks on these platforms slope downward
from the platform, I, to the platform 12, as will be more apparent from an inspection
of Fig. 5. If desired for additional convenience or speed in loading or handling
cars, a supplementary track, D', may be employed with a platform, 13, travelling
upon it, the wheels under which may be of greater diameter than any of the others.
In lieu of wheels of different diameters, the inclination may be had by platform
floorings of different thicknesses, or other suitable device. Upon this inclined
track travels any suitable number of cars, K, K1, K2. The tracks, J, J2, at their
ends on or near platform 12, either abut against the ends H1, H2, of the apron
tracks (see Fig. 1) or are connected with them by interposed sections of track.
This inclined track is made in sections, separable between the platforms, so that
when necessary or desirable the platforms may be detached one from another.
When the platforms I, 13 are to be moved from one side of the excavator to the
other, this is done preferably by lifting and swinging them by the jib B of the crane ;
the platform I being moved, preferably, though not necessarily, by hand. In
Fig. 3, this inclined track, as well as the excavator is shown advanced to a forward
position of the transverse tracks, while the longitudinally travelling apparatus has
not yet been moved forward, so that its track ends shall register with the ends of
the inclined track.
When desired, a level track may be substituted for the inclined track, by
making the wheels of the same diameter and the platforms of the same thickness.
The operation of this device is as follows:-
The excavated material is deposited by the excavator A into the car, K, standing
on platform 13, or on platformi I. This car is then run, by hand or otherwise,
down the inclined track to the platform 12, thence by suitable power to the apron,
up the apron and incline, and along the track on the deck of the structure to any
desired point for dumping the material out of the car. The car, now empty, com-
pleting its journey on deck, either around the structure, or by direct return or by
cross-over route, as may be chosen for that particular trip, runs down the track H¹
or H2; and when needed is again drawn up the inclined track, J¹ or J2, and J, into
position for receiving another load. When a loaded car or cars are travelling
down over the track J2, other cars or car can be travelling up over the track J¹ to
be filled, or the operation may be reversed. As the excavator travels along its
tracks, the platforms 13, 13, 12, carrying with them the tracks J, J' and J2 are to
be moved along their respective tracks, the tracks C³ and D³ being shifted as may
It
be necessary, in order to retain their position relative to the tracks C and D.
is evident that empty cars may be set in at the same time on platforms I and 13,
and that when loaded they may travel either separately or together to be dumped
and to return. When the excavator is working in a position so near to the side of
the cut that by reason of the platform [2 abutting against the apron, the
platforms I, 13 are too far from the excavator for the loading of the cars standing
upon them, said platforms, I, 13, with the sections of the track and the empty cars
on them, may be detached and moved along the tracks C and D to within reach

page_text: of the swing of the jib; and when the cars have been loaded, the platforms may
then be moved back to their usual position and the loaded cars on them forwarded
to the dump, the excavated material when dumped not interfering with the short
sections of track upon which the structure with projecting sides stands nor with
the structure itself. When low ground is encountered, enough excavated materials
are dumped from that portion of the track which runs along the forward side of
said structure to fill the depression to a proper level for extending the tracks, F, F,
by sections added thereto, all this preliminary to further advance of the
structure to keep pace with the progress of the excavation of the transverse face
of the cut.
When desirable a greater projection may be given to the forward side of the
structure, and a less projection to the rearward side.
Clearly, this longitudinally travelling apparatus provides for easily maintaining
an excellent track for the transit with speed of excavated materials, and a dump
always clear and unobstructed, ready at all times for fresh additions thereto; it
dispenses with the usual tracks on dumps along which the excavated material
travels in its transit from cut to fill, eliminating in the most radical manner the
heavy expenditures always involved in keeping dumps, as ordinarily made, free
from obstruction to fresh additions thereto, and in maintaining said tracks in any
fit condition for operation upon such dumps.
In these ways, I provide a simple, efficient, flexible and economical apparatus for
excavating, and a conveying apparatus for the excavated material equal to the
demands of this powerful and speedy class of machines, requiring attendant plant
of great flexibility and capacity for disposing of the materials excavated by them.
The transversely operating excavator, travelling as described across and upon the
bottom of the cut, together with the longitudinally travelling apparatus, form what
] consider the best possible combination, especially for cuts of any considerable
breadth.
The parts of my apparatus, while exceedingly efficient, are all simple and
serviceable. They can be constructed with speed and facility, and are adapted, as
perfectly as the parts of a well arranged manufacturing plant, to maintain at all
times, on any particular piece of work, substantially the same relations to each
other.
In these ways I avoid defects inherent in the previous appliances and combina-
tions with which I am acquainted; and, therefore, while I have described more or
less precise forms of apparatus, I do not intend to unduly limit myself thereto,
but contemplate all proper changes in form, proportions, and the substitution of
equivaleut members as may be desirable or necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1. In an excavating apparatus, a car or flat having an excavator mounted
thereupon and adapted to swing to and operate upon each side of a central normal
line of position, and trucks arranged under said flat to travel normally upon lines
oblique or substantially transverse to said central line of operation of said
excavator, substantially as described.
2. In an excavating apparatus, a structure with projecting sides off which
excavated material can be dumped, and travelling alongside the cut, such structure
being provided with an incline extending to the bottom of the cut and with at
least one track upon such structure and incline, substantially as described.
3. In an excavating apparatus, a projecting structure travelling upon suitable
tracks alongside of the excavation, such structure being provided with an inclined
plane and aprou extending to a point near the bottom of the excavation, and one
or more tracks supported upon and carried by such structure, inclined plane and
apron, substantially as described.
4. In an excavating apparatus, the combination of two or more platforms

page_text: supported upon wheels, preferably of gradually increasing diameters, and a track
or tracks upon such platforms, whereby an inclined track or tracks is provided,
substantially as described.
structure
5. In an excavating apparatus, the combination of an excavator travelling upon
and across the bottom of the cat in a direction transverse to the longitudinal
direction of the cut and supported by tracks and trucks thereon, a
terminating next the cut in an incline and provided with means whereby the
material discharged from the structure shall not encroach upon the structure itself,
and mechanism for receiving the material from the excavator and supporting it on
its travel to and along said structure, substantially as described.
6. In an excavating apparatus, the combination of an excavator operating upon
tracks at the bottom of the excavation, a structure travelling along the side of the
excavation in front of the spoil or other bank and provided with an incline
extending down into the cut, a track or tracks supported thereon, an inclined track
mounted on platforms and travelling across the bottom of the excavation and
connecting with the tracks on the incline, and cars travelling along such inclined
track, whereby the excavated material is received from the excavator into the cars,
hauled down the inclined track onto and up the incline and onto and along said
structure, and is discharged out of the cars to form the spoil or other bank,
substantially as described.
7. In an excavating apparatus, the combination of an excavator operating upon
tracks at the bottom of the excavation, a structure travelling along the side of
the excavation and provided with an incline extending into the cut, a track or
tracks supported thereon, a track mounted on platforms and travelling across the
bottom of the excavation and connecting by branches with the tracks on the
incline, and cars travelling along such mounted track, whereby the excavated
material is received from the excavator into the cars, hauled along the mounted
track and to the incline, thence up the incline onto and along said structure, and is
discharged out of the cars to form the spoil or other bank, substantially as
described.
Dated this 17th day of October 1892
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.