IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DIGGING
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Parker at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1880.
JAMES PARKER, of Springfield, in the County of Essex, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DIGGING."
My Invention has for its object improvements in that part of cultivating
machinery known as "digging machines." For this purpose I use a common
portable engine mounted on my digging frame, or the said digging frame may be
drawn over the land by ropes, as is now done by the steam ploughs in common
use, but the method I prefer is the combination of my digging frame having an
ordinary portable engine mounted upon it.
My digging frame or machine is driven by having an engine mounted upon it,
and consists of a wrought iron frame mounted on three wheels, having a singlo
wheel in front, which I call the steering wheel, to be hereafter further described. On
the after part of this machine I mount my digging frame, which frame consists of a
series of forkheads, say, four in number (but more or less may be used), extending
across the machine and slightly overlapping or extending beyond the side wheels,
so that as the implement travels over the ground the digging frame digs the land
in its rear to a greater width than that covered by the wheels. Each fork consists
of a metal bar or beam having tines mounted or fixed thereon, these forks being
mounted in revolving frames; and on the ends of each forkhead or beam I have
a short crank or arm, which moves in or upon a curved or cam shape slot, so
arranged that the rotary movement of the forkheads in the revolving frames
causes the tines mounted on each forkhead to move in such a position that they
enter the ground in a vertical position, or nearly so, to the required depth for
digging, and when that position is reached they then rapidly resume their radial
motion, and thereby cause the spit of earth behind them to be turned over.
This revolving frame is carried in a block at each end, which block slides in a
slot or frame, and is held in the required position by screws or bolts; this is to
allow of the different depths being dug as required.
The revolving frames, carrying with them the forkheads, are driven by gearing
chains, friction cone clutches, or pins, as may be considered best, but I do not
confine myself to either plan; but when I use an ordinary portablo engine, and
this forms an essential part of my Invention, I arrange gearing in such a way that,
ordinary portable engines being made to revolve or work in one direction only,

page_text: while the engine is always moving or working one way the digging shaft and
supporting wheels of the implement can be made to turn in either direction.
The steering or front wheel, as before mentioned, I fix in a frame so that it can
turn or swivel on its centre, and by gearing spur wheel and pinion or chains
it can be steered in any direction. I fix a loose rim of angle iron on this wheel, held
in position by bolts or keys, which rim is put on in the field when digging, so as
to ensure the machine following the front wheel and not skidding it over the
ground when both the hinder wheels are in gear.
These hind or driving wheels I propel or drive by gearing friction cones,
clutches, chains, or pins, as may be most convenient.
I further attach or drag after the machine as it progresses over the field clod
crushers or harrows, to still further pulverize or break up the land after being dug,
if desired, but this does not form any part of my Invention.