Improvements in Machinery for Excavating and Removing Soil.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Excavating and Removing Soil.
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER, Engineer, Steam Plough Works, Hunslet, Leeds,
and SAMUEL MCCAUGHEY, Farmer, Coonong, Urana, N.S. Wales, Australia, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to scoops or excavating machinery for the removal of soil &c. :
and to be worked by steam power. The scoop or excavator to be hauled by wire rope,
which receives motion from two engines fitted with winding drums and placed one on
each side of the land to be operated on. The engines wind on the rope alternately,
according to the direction the scoop is required to travel. Either one or two
implements can be worked on one rope or this implement can be drawn direct by a
traction engine.
The first part of our invention relates to what we call rotary scoops. In this
arrangement we mount on a suitable frame a box for carrying the soil; this box has
moveable doors at the bottom which can be opened and closed at will by the workman.
This frame and box is carried on a central axle having on its outer ends two wheels
one being narrow and the other being wide. On the side of the frame next to the
wide wheel, and coupled to it by a joint is a plough and mouldboard which can be
lowered into and raised out of the ground.
The wide wheel is formed with a number of cells, for carrying the earth excavated.
The plough when at work delivers the earth into this wheel (which we call the scoop
wheel). As this wheel revolves, the carth is carried upwards and delivered on to a
travelling band working at right angles to the wheel, the earth from this travelling
band thus being delivered into the box. This travelling band is driven by suitable
gear from the narrow travelling wheel. When the box is full and it is required to
empty it, the plough is raised out of the ground and the machine drawn to the
position where it is required to deposit the soil, the workman then releases the bottom
doors and the soil is shot out.
The second part of our invention has reference to scoops which have the plough or
scoop, placed directly behind the steerage wheel, and in front of the box, in the centre
of the implement. The scoop delivers the soil directly on to a travelling band worked
from the travelling wheels.
The frame of the machine and the box are somewhat similar to the first described.
The frame and box being carried on three wheels, the bind wheels being large, with
suitable gearing attached for driving the travelling belt, the front wheel is a steering
wheel and is controlled by the workman by suitable gearing. The lifting of the
scoop out of the ground is effected by two chains coupled at their lower ends to
the frame which carries the scoop, and at their top ends to small winding barrels
on a shaft, as this shaft is caused to revolve in the requisite direction, the chain
is wound on the barrels and the scoop lifted the requisite height. The shaft
carrying the winding barrels has a worm wheel at its outer end, gearing into a
worm on a horizontal shaft, and driven by bevel gear on one of the travelling
wheels this shaft carries two bevel pinions at the end next the travelling wheel,
so arranged that one pinion only can he put into gear at one time and when the
scoop. is in the ground both pinions are out of gear. When the box is full and
it is required to lift the scoop, one of the pinions is put into gear by a hand
lever worked by the man which causes the horizontal shaft to revolve and by
means of the worm and wheel drive the lifting shaft. A stop motion worked by
a screw on the horizontal shaft is also provided, which releases the lifting gear
when the scoop has been lifted the height required. This implement like the
first is hauled by a wire rope actuated by two engines at opposite sides of the
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page_text: land to he excavated, but unlike the first one it is made to turn round on arriving
at the headland, this is effected by a double ended lever centred behind the
steering wheel. The ends of the hauling ropes are coupled to the ends of the turning
lovor. When it is required to turn the implement, the engine which has been tho
pulling one is thrown out of gear, and the engine on the opposite headland is put in
motion and pulls the turning lever at right angles to the frame, at the same time the
steorsman locks the steering wheel round; the engine keeps pulling steadily on the
lever till the implement is turned round in a line with the pulling engine, what was
the pulling engine originally, standing idle, the slack rope being drawn off the
winding drum of idle engine by the pulling engine.
Dated this 11th day of February 1889.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agonts.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Excavating and Removing Soil.
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER, Engineer, Steam Plongh Works, Hunslet, Leeds,
and SAMUEL MCGAUGHEY, Farmer, Coonong, Urana, N.S. Wales, Australia, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to scoops or excavating machinery for digging up and
removing soil &c. and to be worked by steam power. The scoop or excavator is to be
hauled by wire rope, which receives motion from two engines fitted with winding
drums and placed one on each side of the land to be operated on. The engines wind
on the rope alternately, according to the direction the scoop is required to travel.
Either one or more implements can be worked by one rope. Or the implements can
be drawn direct by a traction engine having suitable coupling gear.
The first part of our invention relates to what we call rotary scoops. In this
arrangement we mount on a suitable frame a hox for carrying the soil; this box has
inovable doors at the bottom which can be opened and closed at will by the steersman
seated on the machine. This frame and box is carried on a central axle having on
its outer ends two wheels one being narrow and the other wide. On the side of the
frame next to the wide wheel, and coupled to it by a joint is a plough and mould-
board which can be lowered into and raised out of the ground.
The wide wheel is formed with a number of cells for elevating the earth excavated.
The plough when at work delivers the earth into this wheel (which we call the scoop
wheel). As this whool revolves the earth is carried upwards and delivered on to a
travelling band working at right angles to the scoop wheel, the earth from this
travelling band thus being delivered into the box. This travelling band is driven by
suitable gear from the narrow travelling wheel. When the box is full and it is
required to empty it, the plough is raised out of the ground and the machine drawn
to the position where it is required to deposit the soil, the steersman then relcases
the bottom doors and the soil is shot out. The arrangement of the rotary scoop as
above described is shown by the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 is a transverse section. a is the frame of the
machine; it is carried upon an axle with wheels b and c and a pair of stearing
wheels d d in front. The steering wheels are controlled by a steersman scated upon
the scat e by gear shewn by the drawings. The hauling rope is connected imine-
diately in front of the steering whools. is a plough carried by arms movable
around a centre at "; this plough can be lowered to its work and raised by means
of a lever handle. The slice taken by the plough is turned by it into the interior
of the rim of the wheel b, where cells aro forined to receive it. 9 is a conveyor or
endless sheet which receives the soil when it falls out of the rim of the wheol. This
endless sheet is carried on rollers one of which is on the axis h and the other is carried
by arms projecting from this axis and provided also with adjustable supports. The

page_text: axis is driven from the wheel c by a cord passing around pulloys. i is the box
into which the soil falls from the conveyor. Doors at the bottom of the box i formed
in sections can be opened to deliver the contents by means of a hand rod and catch
lever by which the doors are released and fall by their own weight. The lever
handle and lifting bars, close the doors after the contents are discharged. I is a
brake which is applied by means of a treadle.
The second part of our invention has reference to scoops which have an arrange-
ment for turning the implement into new ground ready for the return journey and
which we call Turning Scoops. The plough or scoop is placed directly behind the
steerage wheel, and in front of the box, in the centre of the width of the implement.
The scoop delivers the soil directly on to a travelling band driven by the road wheels.
The box or receptacle of the machine is similar to the foregoing and is mounted on
a frame carried on three wheels, the hind wheels having suitable driving gearing
attached thereto for giving motion to the travelling belts, the main travelling belt
carries the excavated soil from the scoop and discharges it into the body of the box,
and when this becomes filled a second or auxilliary belt can be put into action by
which the soil is conveyed from the main belt, carried forward and discharged at the
hinder part of the box; by this means the box is filled mechanically to its utmost
capacity, the front wheel is a steering wheel directly under the control of the steers-
man. The lifting of the scoop out of the ground is effected by two chains coupled to
the frame which carries the scoop and passing around small winding barrels. These
barrels are carried on a shaft to which motion is given from the road wheels by
suitable gearing; the chains are wound on the barrels and thus the scoop is lifted
the requisite height. The shaft carrying the winding barrels has a worm wheel at
its outer end, gearing into a worm on a horizontal shaft, driven by bevel gear, from
one of the road wheels; this shaft carries two bevel pinions at the end next the road
wheel so arranged that one pinion only can be in gear at one time and when the
scoop is in the ground both pinions are out of gear. When it is required to lift the
scoop, one of the pinions is put into gear by a lever (moved by the steersman) which
causes the horizontal shaft to revolve and by means of the worm and wheel gives
motion to the barrel shaft. A stop motion worked by a screw on the horizontal
shaft is also provided, which releases the lifting gear when the scoop has been lifted
the height required. This implement like the first is hauled by a wire rope actuated
by two engines at opposite sides of the land to he excavated or may be hauled by
direct traction and is so constructed that on arriving at the headlands it may be
turned into new ground this is effected by means of a double ended or triangular
lever centered behind the steering wheel. The ends of the hauling ropes are coupled
to the ends of this lever and when it is required to turn the implement, the engine
which has been the pulling one is thrown out of gear, and the engine on the opposite
headland is put in motion and pulls the lever at right angles to the frame, at the
same time the steersman locks the steering wheel round and the engine keeps pulling
steadily on the lever till the implement is turned round in line with the hauling
engine, the alternate engine meanwhile standing idle, the slack rope being drawn off
the winding drum by the pulling engine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, Figure 5 is a plan and Figure 6 is a transverse
section.
A A is the frame, B is the axle, ((are the road wheels and D is the steering
wheel which is controlled by the steersman seated on the seat E and making use of
the steering wheel G. H is the box or cart body having a bottom formed of hinged
doors it is carried upon the axle B as also is the frame which supports the
scoop K. L is an axis on the main frame A it has barrels L' upon it on which chains
attached to the frame I can be wound in order to raise the scoop. The axis L is
geared by worm and worm wheel with a sliding axis M on which are two bevilled
pinions which by means of the lever N can be slidden into gear with a bevelled wheel
upon one of the road wheels C. A self-acting gear is fitted to the machine forming
a stop motion by which over-winding the scoop is prevented. This gear consists of a
screw on the shaft M and a travelling nut, the travel of which is adjustable by side

page_text: screws and lock nuts. The winding gear is put in motion by the hand lever N by
sliding the shaft. M and by the time the scoop is lifted clear of the ground the nut has
travelled the required distance and strikes the stop; the shaft then screws itself
forward into the nut thus drawing the bevilled pinion out of gear from the rings of
teeth on the wheel CC and causing the stoppage of the winding gear. O is the
endless travelling belt on to which the scoop delivers the soil, it passes around rollers
upon a frame which is supported at its lower end from the frame I and at its upper
end by an axis P carried in bearings on the sides of the box H. This axis P' has
pinions at its ends which gear with rings of teeth upon the wheels C. Qis a belt
or conveyor which is brought into use when it is required to convey the soil further
to the rear than it is taken by the belt Q. The belt Q passes around rollers on a
frame which in front is supported by arms from the axis P and in rear by the axis R
of one of the rollors. The axis It is supported by two side arms SS from the axis P
and also by supports from the side of the cart body. The axis R is driven by an
ondless chain from a pulley on the axis P which pulley is driven by the road wheel
on that side of the machine. The auxiliary belt Q is brought into action by a bell
crank levor Q which moves one end into work, or clear of work, by raising and
lowering it when lifted, the soil falls from the main belt into the box body and when
lowered the soil is conveyed backward to the hind ond. T is the triangular lever to
the two ends of which the hauling rope and the return rope are connecteil.
The hinged doors at the bottom of the box H are released by the catch lever V at
hinder ond, actuated by a hand rod convenient to the steersman. After the contents
are discharged the hinged doors are closed by means of the hand wheel U U connected
by union joint to worm and wheel, giving motion to the longitudinal shuft W on
which are arms placed at suitable angles, acting upon cranked bars upon which the
doors are hinged; by this means ench door is lifted in turn and supported by the
adjoining one, until the hinder door is raised and held in position by the catch lever V
thus locking all the doors forming the entire bottom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination substantially as described consisting of a frame on wheels
drawn over the land by a steam engine or other motor; a box carried by the frame;
a plough turning a sod or slice into the interior of one of the wheels and a conveyer
which receives the soil from the wheel and delivers it into the box as herein set
forth.
2. The combination substantially as described consisting of a frame on wheels
drawn over the land by a steam engine or other motor; a box carried by the frame;
a scoop in front of the box; and a convoyer which receives the soil from the scoop
carries it rearwards and delivers it into the box as herein sut forth.
3. The combination with an implement such as is defined in the second claim of a
triangular or double ended lever centred behind the steering wheel and having the
hauling ropes attached as horein set forth.
4. The combination with an implement such as is defined in the second claim of
mechanism for lifting the scoop consisting of lifting chains wound upon drums on an
axis which is geared with the road wheel as herein set forth.
5. Machinery for excavating and removing soil substantially as described and
represented in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Novemba 1980
R. H. FOWLER.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.