IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING OR MATERIALS TRANSFERRING BY RAISED DREDGING, EXCAVATING AND OTHER ELEVATING MACHINERY, AND FOR OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of
the Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR
DISCHARGING OR
MATERIALS
TRANSFERRING
BY
RAISED
DREDGING, EXCAVATING AND OTHER ELEVATING MACHINERY, AND FOR OTHER
ANALOGOUS PURPOSES communicated to him from abroad by La Compagnie
Nationale de Travaux Publica of Paris, France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING OR TRANSFERRING MATERIALS
RAISED BY DREDGING, EXCAVATING AND OTHER ELEVATING MACHINERY AND FOR
OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES [communicated to him from abroad by La
Compagnie Nationale de Travaux Publics of Paris, France]
"
This Invention relates to a system of endless carrier supported on trucks of
special construction for conveying away the earth or "spoil" raised by a dredger,
excavator, steam navvy, or other apparatus for raising and conveying spoil,
contractors' materials, loading and unloading bulk cargoes, and for other similar
operations.
It has for its object, 1 the division of the dry material which is discharged by
the buckets of the excavating apparatus by spreading the same uniformly and in a
relatively thin layer upon the surface of the carrier apron in virtue of the velocity
of the latter.
2nd The carrying away of the whole of the "spoil" or materials

page_text: raised by the most efficient apparatus known, and the consequent avoidance of
stoppages inseparable from other means of transport such as waggons, lighters, and
the like.
The apparatus of this Invention consists mainly of an endless apron forming the
carrier made of caoutchouc, leather, woven fabric, or sheet metal, of a length and
width suited to requirements and having raised edges of caoutchouc, ropes or
gaskets of hemp, rushes, or other material fixed by lacing or rivetting to the edges
of the apron, or formed thereon to retain the solid or semi solid matters upon the
carrier. An apron of indiarubber is employed by preference on account of its
elasticity and its adhesion to the drums on which it runs, and also because it is
able to receive without danger of injury the most violent shocks from matters falling
on it from the buckets. It is formed of several plys of cotton fabric and caoutchouc
and may be in a single length or several lengths united by seams, rivets, screws, or
otherwise. The nature of its composition enables it to withstand the effects of heat
and moisture. On this account caoutchouc is to be preferred as it fulfils best the
requirements of practical working.
This carrier apron travels on two drums, one at each end, and the intermediate
going and returning portions of the apron are supported on small horizontal rollers.
Vertical rollers are arranged alongside each edge of the apron to guide it in its
motion. To prevent the "spoil" or material adhering to the carrier apron, the
latter may be kept wetted by a jet of water projected against the apron at a point
in advance of the place where the "spoil or material is deposited upon it.
Moreover, on the discharge side one or more brushes or scrapers formed of strips of
caoutchouc or other suitable material are applied to act on the lower part of the
apron to remove any matters that may remain. adherent; a jet of water being also
directed against the same place to facilitate the cleaning operation.
The shafts of the drums on which the endless apron runs are journalled in
bearings fixed at each end of a ladder or frame of iron, steel, or wood, of dimensions
suited to the requirements of the work to be performed. This ladder or frame is
to carry the supporting and guide rollers for the apron, and may itself be supported
wholly by the excavator or the dredger, as in Figure 3; or by the excavator
or dredger at one end, and at the other by a truck of special construction running
on a railway, or on a lighter or barge as in Figure 2, or on two such trucks running
on a railway, or on a barge as in Figure N° 1, the excavator or dredger being in
this case independent of the carrier.
The trucks which support the ladder or frame of the carrier are so arranged as
to allow the latter to oscillate to right or left, and also to oscillate in a vertical
plane on a horizontal axis. One of these trucks carries the driving mechanism for
the apron and is provided with a casing in which the ladder or frame may slide
for the purpose of distending the endless apron. Tension rollers may also be applied
for the same purpose. The truck is coupled to the excavator or dredger so as to
accompany it in its progress so that the carrier apron shall be always in position to
receive the "spoil" deposited upon it by the buckets of the excavator or dredger
in all positions which the frame or ladder may be made to assume in working.
The other truck is provided with a balanced lever provided with four friction
rollers on which the ladder or frame is free to slide. This balance lever may be
raised to any desired height by means of screw or hydraulic jacks or other elevating
apparatus in order to place the frame in a proper position for working. This truck
is propelled by a steam engine or otherwise so as to follow the movement of the
excavator or dredger. It may also be propelled by endless chain, rope, or other
gear from the engine which drives the carrier or by that of the excavator or
dredger. The driving drum of the carrier may also be driven by the engine of the
excavator or dredger, means being provided for throwing it out of gear at will; or
it may be driven by a separate engine mounted at one end, or in any intermediate
position on the ladder or frame, or on the casing of the truck so as to be able to
drive the apron in all positions which the carrier may assume, or it may be driven

page_text: by the carrier apron itself or by a supplementary belt, rope, chain, or other means
of transmitting motion.
In many cases the ladder or frame may, as above stated, be supported directly
at its rear extremity by the excavator or dredger which in that case would be
provided with special arrangements for the purpose which would not however
interfere with the employment of waggons for removing the "spoil" if required,
the front end being alone supported by the balance lever. This arrangement
represented in Figure 2 has the advantage of dispensing with the rear truck and
its permanent way.
"
In other cases when the distance between the excavation and the bank of
'spoil" is relatively small, the carrier may be wholly supported by the dredger or
excavator by means of a derrick or its equivalent as shown in Figure 3, in which
case neither of the trucks is required and the only permanent way is that on which
the excavator travels.
If the distance between the excavation and the bank of "spoil" is relatively
great, the arrangement of carrier represented in Figures 1. 2. and 3 may be
combined with one or several others placed end to end so as to form a single
carrier in several lengths each furnished with a propelling engine for advancing it
as the work progresses, and with another for driving the carrier apron.
The forward extremity of each carrier is provided with a funnel shaped shoot for
directing the "spoil" onto the next following carrier in all the positions which the
various sections of the carrier may assume relatively to one another, but it will be
easy for the engineer in charge to keep the sections more or less in a straight line
by regulating their advance accordingly.
In certain cases these carriers being independent, they may be arranged in a
crooked direction as required, it being only necessary to suitably place the shoot of
the one so as to deposit the "spoil" properly on the next following one.
The carrier may also be supported at its middle or other intermediate point of
its length by a truck of special construction, whose upper frame is capable of
rotating upon a pivot fixed in the under frame, the said truck running on rails
of the usual or other gauge laid on one of the banks of a river or canal, or of the
excavation or cutting to be made or deepened so that the discharging end of the
carrier will be perfectly free and unencumbered whilst the other end is supported
on the dredger or excavator, as represented in Figure 5, or on a pontoon, lighter,
or float connected to the dredger or excavator as shown in Figure 6. This
represents the case in which it is desired the dredger or excavator should be made
independent of the carrier so that it can assume any desired position in front, rear,
to the right or left, or obliquely with regard thereto. The bearing of the carrier
on the truck can be placed at variable heights according to requirements by means
of screw or hydraulic jacks or other elevating apparatus.
The frame or ladder of the carrier is always guided at its bearing on the dredger
or excavator or on the lighter or rear truck of the excavator so that the carrier
shall always receive the "spoil" discharged by the excavator or dredger whatever
may be their relative positions, the latter approaching or receding from the front
truck so that the carrier may be turned in all directions according to requirements
relatively to the direction of the river, canal, or excavation.
Should the banks of the river, sea, lake or other piece of water be too distant
from the dredging point to admit of laying the rails for the forward truck thereon,
the under carriage of the truck may be replaced by a lighter, pontoon, or other
floating body, the same arrangements being otherwise applicable in this case.
The forward movement of the whole apparatus is effected by warping or by
means of a winch or capstan fixed on the dredger or lighter acting on a chain or
cable made fast to an anchor in the desired direction.
When the carrier is to be used on marshes or sandy or moist ground of little
consistency, the ladder or frame of the carrier would be supported by its forward

page_text: truck on a flat bottomed boat capable of sliding over the mud, or the railway for
the truck may be laid on a gantry, staging, piles, fascines, or other foundation.
The apparatus herein described may be employed for conveying in a horizontal
or inclined direction, and for large or small distances, the " spoil" dredged,
excavated or raised by mechanical or manual power, and also for the transport of
materials for embanking, filling up excavations and the like. Also for the transport
under analogous conditions of solid, liquid, semi-liquid, or granular matters, for
example, for conveying, loading and unloading grain and other cargoes, minerals,
fuel, manure, contractors' materials, sugar, chemical products, and the like. Likewise
for the conveyance and washing of ores of all kinds and generally of all matters
for which this mode of transport is suitable, whatever may be the nature of the
industrial or other operations in connection with which it may be applied.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th July 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING OR TRANSFERRING MATERIALS
RAISED BY DREDGING, EXCAVATING AND OTHER ELEVATING MACHINERY AND FOR
OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES. A communication to me from abroad by La
Compagnie Nationale de Travaux Publics of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to a system of endless carrier supported on trucks of
special construction for conveying away the earth or "spoil" raised by a dredger,
excavator, steam navvy, or other apparatus for raising and conveying spoil,
contractors' materials, loading and unloading bulk cargoes, and for other similar
operations.
It has for its object, 1st the division of the dry material which is discharged by
the buckets of the excavating apparatus by spreading the same uniformly and in a
relatively thin layer upon the surface of the carrier apron in virtue of the velocity
of the latter. 2nd The carrying away of the whole of the "spoil" or materials
raised by the most efficient apparatus known and the consequent avoidance of
stoppages inseparable from other means of transport such as waggons, lighters, and
the like.
The apparatus of this Invention consists mainly of an endless apron forming the
carrier made of caoutchouc of a length and width suited to requirements and
having raised edges of caoutchouc, ropes, or gaskets of hemp, rushes, or other
material fixed by lacing or rivetting to the edges of the apron, or formed thereon
to retain the solid or semi solid matters upon the carrier. An apron of india-
rubber is employed by preference on account of its elasticity and its adhesion to
the drums on which it runs, and also because it is able to receive without danger
of injury the most violent shocks from matters falling on it from the buckets. It
is formed of several plys of cotton fabric and caoutchouc and may be in a single
The
length or several lengths united by seams, rivets, screws, or otherwise.
nature of its composition enables it to withstand the effects of heat and moisture.
On this account caoutchouc is to be preferred as it fulfils best the requirements of
practical working. The endless aprons heretofore employed have been formed of
buckets or plates of metal and in some cases even of canvas or other fabric
attached to an endless chain. The chain soon wears out when working in a
sandy soil while the spaces between the bars allow the matters to fall through.
The aprons when made of canvas are sometimes rendered unserviceable after only
a few hours use, as was the case on the Suez Canal. The employment of an
endless band forming both apron and chain, is therefore of great advantage, and
caoutchouc alone effectually answers the purpose owing to the impossibility of
passing a metal band with continuous raised edges around the drums at the ends
and if the edges were not made continuous the matters, especially if of a liquid
nature, would escape at the sides. On the other hand, when caoutchouc is
5 employed, the raised edges being of the same material will readily pass around
the end drums. Caoutchouc also presents the further advantage of offering but
slight adhesion to earthy or other matters and is therefore easily cleaned, the
reverse being the case with sheet iron to which such matters cling very firmly,
especially when it is rusted. This endless caoutchouc apron may be manufactured
) in any suitable manner.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings Figure 7 represents the two drums at the ends of
the carrier round which the apron b passes. Figure 8 is a transverse section of
the apron consisting of a belt b with raised edges a formed in one therewith.
Figure 9 is a similar section with the edges a attached to the band b by rivets c.
Figure 10 is a similar section showing the edges a sewn to the band b.
This carrier apron travels on two drums, one at each end, and the intermediate
going and returning portions of the apron are supported on small horizontal
rollers. Vertical rollers are arranged alongside each edge of the apron to guide it
in its motion. To prevent the " spoil or material adhering to the carrier apron,
the latter may be kept wetted by a jet of water projected against the apron at a
point in advance of the place where the "spoil" or material is deposited upon it.
Moreover on the discharge side one or more brushes or scrapers formed of strips of
caoutchouc or other suitable material are applied to act on the lower part of the
apron to remove any matters that may remain adherent, a jet of water being also
directed against the same point to facilitate the cleaning operation.
The shafts of the drums on which the endless apron runs are journalled in
bearings fixed at each end of a ladder or frame a Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6, of iron,
steel, or wood of dimensions suited to the requirements of the work to be
performed. This ladder or frame is to carry the supporting and guide rollers for
the apron and may itself be supported wholly by the excavator or the dredger b
as in Figure 3, or at one end by the excavator or dredger, and at the other by a
truck of special construction running on a railway or on a lighter or barge as in
Figure 2, or on two such trucks running on a railway or on a barge as in Figure 1,
the excavator or dredger being in this case independent of the carrier.
The trucks which support the ladder or frame of the carrier are so arranged as
to allow the latter to oscillate to right or left, and also to oscillate in a vertical
plane on a horizontal axis. One of these trucks carries the driving mechanism for
the apron and is provided with a casing in which the ladder or frame may slide
for the purpose of distending the endless apron. Tension rollers may also be
applied for the same purpose. The truck is coupled to the excavator or dredger so
as to accompany it in its progress, and so that the carrier apron shall be always in
position to receive the "spoil" deposited upon it by the buckets of the excavator
or dredger in all positions which the frame or ladder may be made to assume in
working. The other truck is provided with a balanced lever provided with four
friction rollers on which the ladder or frame is free to slide. This balance lever
may be raised to any desired height by means of screw or hydraulic jacks or other
elevating apparatus in order to place the frame in a proper position for working.
This truck is propelled by a steam engine or otherwise so as to follow the
movement of the excavator or dredger. It may also he propelled by endless chain,
rope, or other gear from the engine which drives the carrier or by that of the
excavator or dredger. The driving drum of the carrier may also be driven by the
engine of the excavator or dredger, means being provided for throwing it out, of
gear at will, or it may be driven by a separate engine mounted at one end or in
any intermediate position on the ladder or frame, or on the casing of the truck so
as to be able to drive the apron in all positions which the carrier may assume, or
it may be driven by the carrier apron itself or by a supplementary belt, rope, chain,
or other means of transmitting motion.
In many cases the ladder or frame may, as above stated, be supported directly
at its rear extremity by the excavator or dredger which in that case would be
provided with special arrangements for the purpose which would not interfere with
the employment of waggons for removing the "spoil" if required, the front end
being alone supported by the balance lever. This arrangement represented in
Figure 2 has the advantage of dispensing with the rear truck and its permanent
way. In other cases when the distance between the excavation and the bank of
spoil" is relatively small, the carrier may be wholly supported by the dredger or
excavator by means of a derrick or its equivalent, as shown in Figure 3, in which
case neither of the trucks is required and the only permanent way is that on
84

page_text: which the excavator travels. If the distance between the excavation and the bank
of "spoil" is relatively great, the arrangement of carrier represented in Figures 1. 2
and 3 may be combined with one or several others placed end to end so as to form
a single carrier in several lengths, each furnished with a propelling engine for
advancing it as the work progresses, and with another for driving the carrier
apron.
"
The forward extremity of each carrier is provided with a funnel shaped shoot
for directing the " spoil onto the next following carrier in all the positions which
the various sections of the carrier may assume relatively to one another, but it
will be easy for the engineer in charge to keep the sections more or less in a straight
line by regulating their advance accordingly.
In certain cases, these carriers being independent, they may be arranged in a
crooked direction as required, it being only necessary to suitably place the shoot of
the one so as to deposit the "spoil" properly on the next following one.
The carrier may also be supported at its middle or other intermediate point of
its length by a truck of special construction c Figures 5 and 6, whose upper frame
is capable of rotating upon a pivot fixed in the under frame, the said truck running
on rails of the usual or other gauge laid on one of the banks of a river or canal, or
of the excavation or cutting to be made or deepened so that the discharging end
of the carrier will be perfectly free and unencumbered, whilst the other end is
supported on the dredger or excavator, as represented in Figure 5, or on a pontoon,
lighter, or float connected to the dredger or excavator, as shown in Figure 6. This
represents the case in which it is desired the dredger or excavator should be made
independent of the carrier so that it can assume any desired position in front, rear,
to the right or left, or obliquely with regard thereto. The bearing of the carrier
on the truck can be placed at variable heights according to requirements by means
of screw or hydraulic jacks or other clevating apparatus d.
The frame or ladder of the carrier is always guided at its bearing on the dredger
or excavator, or on the lighter or rear truck of the excavator so that the carrier
shall always receive the "spoil" discharged by the excavator or dredger whatever
may be their relative positions, the latter approaching or receding from the front
truck so that the carrier may be turned in all directions according to requirements
relatively to the direction of the river, canal, or excavation.
Should the banks of the river, sea, dock, basin, or piece of water be too distant
from the dredging point to admit of laying the rails for the forward truck thereon,
the undercarriage of the truck may be replaced by a lighter, pontoon, or other
floating body, the same arrangements being otherwise applicable in this case.
The forward movement of the whole apparatus is effected by warping or by
means of a winch or capstan fixed on the dredger or lighter acting on a chain or
cable made fast to an anchor in the desired direction.
When the carrier is to be used on marshes or sandy or moist ground of little
consistency, the ladder or frame of the carrier would be supported by its forward
truck on a flat bottomed boat capable of sliding over the mud, or the railway for
the truck may be laid on a gantry, staging, piles, fascines, or other foundation.
The apparatus herein described may be employed for conveying in a horizontal
or inclined direction and for large or small distances, the "spoil" dredged,
excavated, or raised by mechanical or manual power and also for the transport of
materials for embanking, filling up excavations and the like. Also for the transport
under analogous conditions of solid, liquid, semi-liquid, or granular matters, for
example, for conveying, loading and unloading grain and other cargoes, minerals,
fuel, manure, contractors' materials, sugar, chemical products, and the like.
Likewise for the conveyance and washing of ores of all kinds and generally of all
matters for which this mode of transport is suitable whatever may be the nature
of the industrial or other operations in connection with which it may be
applied.
Lastly, it may be employed for discharging dredgers and excavators by replacing

page_text: the fixed shoot by a belt of caoutchouc or other material passing round two or
more drums driven from the engine on the dredger or excavator.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same,
I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is.
In apparatus for discharging and transferring materials raised by dredging,
excavating, and other elevating machinery, and for other analogous purposes, the
combination with the end drums on which it travels, of an endless apron of
caoutchouc with raised edges formed in one with or attached thereto, and of a
brush or its equivalent for cleaning the apron at the discharge end, all as herein-
before described.
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty third day of July, A.D. 1883.
A M CLARK (10)