US1214410A - Ditch and sewer digger. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITNESSES A TTORIVEYS Wm $46M.

C. BAUER.

DITCH AND SEWER DIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. I914.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

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DITCH AND SEWER BIGGER. APPLICATION men SEPT. 16} 1914.

1 ,21 4,41 0 Patented J an. 30, 1917.

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WITNESSES E oR www Cur/rave; fifl UE/i A TTOR/VE Y8 llhllTEE %TATE% PATENT CLARENCE BAUER, F ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

DITCH AND SEVTER BIGGER.

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Application filed September 16, 1914.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnnnnncn BAUER, aeitiz'en of the United States, residing at Zanesville, in the county of Muskingum and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditch and Sewer Diggers, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to excavating chines, and more particularly to an proved ditch or sewer digger.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a sewer digger having an improved adjustable elevator and operating mechanism therefor.

Another object is to provide a digger of the class specified having an adjustable elevator and a conveyor and means for transferring earth from the elevator to the con- Veyer irrespective of the adjusted position in which the elevator may be.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved digger of the class described having a chain and bucket elevator capable of oscillatory and sliding adj ustment.

Still another object is to provide an excavator having a digger incorporating an adjustable elevator and a conveyer, and means for driving them simultaneously.

in additional object is to provide an improved digger which will be comparatively simple, durable, efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters in I 1 Ill of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which.

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a ditch or sewer digger constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged vertical central longitudinal sectional View taken theii'ethrough. Fig. l represents a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 represents a detail sectional view taken longitudinally through the cutting Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917..

Serial No. 862,006.

disks and mountings therefor, and Fig. 7 represents an end elevational View, partly in section of the elevator operating device. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the main framework comprises side bars 5, front forwardly inclined upwardly converging uprights ('3, rear forwardly inclined upwardly converging corner uprights 7, and top side bars 8. The lower side bars connect the corner uprights at their lower ends while the upper side bars 8 connect them at their upper ends and extend slightly to the front and rear, of the framework. Braces 9 are provided and connect the rear ends of bars 8 with the rear corner uprights or posts 7. At the forward portions of the sides of the frame triangular boards or plates 10 are provided which serve to brace the frame. he lower ends of the corner posts 6 and of the corner posts 7 are connected by transversely disposed boards or plates 11 and 12, respectively.

A transversely disposed beam 13 is carried by side bars 5 near the rear of the framework; and housings l-l are pivotally positioned beneath this cross beam near the ends thereof. In these housings the guide wheels 15 are journaled. The housings ar provided withforwardly extending arms 16 connected by a reach rod 17. Pivoted on one end of cross beam 13 is a bell crank lever 18, one arm of which is pivotally connected at 19 to the reach rod, and the other arm is pivotally connected at 20 to a link 21. lhe opposite end of this link is pivoted to a hand lever 22 midway its length, said lever at its lower end being pivoted to one of the side bars of the frame. By moving the hand lever 22 forwardly or rearwardly the guide wheels may be swung simultaneously at various angles relatively to the frame for guiding the machine.

Forward ground wheels 23 are secured on the front axle 2 1 journaled beneath the framework. The axle is provided with a cog wheel meshing with a pinion 26 carried on a counter shaft 27 journaled above the side bars 5 transversely of the framework. A sprocket wheel 28- on shaft 27 carries one end of an endless chain 29, the opposite end of which is carried by sprocket wheel 30 carried by counter shaft 31 which is journaled below the adjusting frame guide 32. Frame guide 32 extends longitudinally of the main framework above the lower side bars 5. A sprocket wheel. 33 carried at one end of counter shaft 31 is connected by an endless driving chain Set with an engine 35. The latter may be of any suitable type and is disposed on a platform 36 projecting laterally from and carried by the adjusting frame guide 32. By the method just described the digger may be propelled under its own power.

A pivot rod 37 is carried transversely of the frame at the forward end thereof, and is journaled in brackets 38 secured to the corner posts 6 near the upper ends thereof.

This pivot rod is free to turn in the brackets and carries spaced sleeves 39 disposed transversely of the pivot rod. In these sleeves are slidably carried side bars 4L0 of the elevator frame. The latter is capable of oscillatory movement upon the rod 37 as a pivot, and is capable of sliding movement longitudt nally of the main framework of the digger, and relatively to the pivot rod. The rods it) are braced :uljacent their ends by cross bars 1-1.

At the upper end of the elevator frame, a spool or drum. 4112 is positioned, and at the lower end thereof, a hollow shaft 1-3 is ro tatably journaled. Shaft 18 is carried transversely of the framework in bearings provided at the lower ends of the bars 40, and sprocket wheels 4+1; are fixed on shaf between side. bars 40 and in spaced relation to each other. The conveyor includes endless chains running over the spool 1-2 and the sprockets 4%. These chains are connected by transversely disposed buckets 46 having toothed cutting edges 1-7.

A pair of supporting arms 18 are carried upon the forward ends of side bars 8, and project over the same, said arms having pin and slot adjustable connections 49 with said side bars. They are braced by means of a cross bar 50. A driving shaft 51 is journaled transversely of the frame work in brackets carried by the supporting arms as, and on said driving shaft is fixed a driving drum 52 carrying at its ends sprocket w reels 53. Over the driving drum run the chains 45, each of the chains meshing with one of the sprocket wheels 58. Shaft 51 is extended at one end and carries a sprocket 54 over which a driving chain 55 is adapted to run. The chain is driven by means of a sprocket 56 which is carried by a stub shaft 5'? journaled in a block 58. Said stub shaft carries a second sprocket which is driven by means of a chain 59 from'the engine In this manner power is transmitted from the engine to the driving drum 52, whereby the conveyor is made to travel around the conveyer frame.

The adjustment of the conveyor frame is secured through the co-action of the adjusting frame indicated generally by the numeral 60 and the cables 61. The adjusting frame is operable as will be hereinafter described in order to shift the lower end of the elevator toward or away from the main framework, and the cables are employed for shifting the elevator frame longitudinally through its bearing sleeves 39 in order to raise or lower said fra ie. The cables 61 at their outer ends are connected at 62 to rods 4E0 near the front ends thereof, and are passed over pulleys 63 hungto supporting arms 18 and at their lower ends are wound upon a windlass in the form of a shaft 61 journaled in brackets near the lower ends of the front corner posts 6. The shaft 6 1i". 'is provided with a crank handle 65 carrying a ratchet wheel 66 adapted to co-act with a detent or dog 67 in preventing accidental unwinding of the cables from shaft 6 1.

The adjusting frame comprises side bars 68 carrying eyes 69 which are pivotally connected to the bars 60 at their forward ends,

and through which the rods 4-0 of the elevator frame slidably extend. The adjusting frame is disposed horizontally, and is adapted to slide longitudinally of the main frame work of the machine, through the adj usting frame guide 32. This guide comprises a floor 70 secured upon the transverse plates 11 and 12, and disposed between the sides of the main framework, said floor provided along its edges with overhanging flanges 71. The side bars 68 of the adjusting frame are connected at their rear ends by a cross bar 72 and intermediate their ends by a crossbar 73. These bars serve not only as braces for the adjusting frame,

but also as anchors for the ends of cables 7 4t disposed between the rods 68 and spaced in parallel relation to them and to each other, and looped once about a spool 7 5 carried on a shaft 76 journaled transversely above frame guide 32, centrally thereof. A crank handle 77 situated on one end of shaft 76' tion or the other, the lower end of the elevator frame will bedrawn toward or shifted away from the main framework of the machine, and at the same time the cables 61 may be operated for raising or lowering the elevator frame. The adjusting frame serves also to brace the elevator when the latter is working.

The conveyer is disposed longitudinally of the frame centrally thereof, and above the adjusting frame and guide. Said conveyer comprises a frame work including side bars 79, drums 80 and 81 rotatably supported between the side bars at the front and rear ends thereof respectively, a chain and bucket conveyer 82, and the floor 83. The bars 79 at their forward ends are pivoted upon the stub shaft 57 which is driven from the engine by means of the chain 59, already described. The front drum or spool 80 is keyed on shaft 57, and carries sprocket wheels over which the conveyer chains run, so that as said shaft 57 is driven the conveyer is rotated about the conveyor frame. Bars 79 are partially supported by a cross rod Sl upon which they rest, and which is secured to the rear uprights 7. Floor 83 terminates adjacent spools SO and S1 and is supported on brackets 85 carried by cross bars 86 connecting side bars 79 of the conveyer frame. The edges oflioor 835 are turned upwardly to provide side flanges 87, between which the conveyer buckets slide.

By reason of the gearing arrangement used both the elevator and conveyer are driven simultaneously and in the same direction, that is from left to right or from the forward toward the rear end of the machine. The elevator removes the earth in forming a trench or sewer, and the conveyer is adapted to receive the earth and deposit the same into the trench behind the machine, as the sewer tiles are placed in position, or may convey the earth to wagons or other vehicles as desired. In order to insure the proper delivery of the earth from the elevator to the conveyer a hopper 88 is provided. This hopper is disposed above the forward end of floor 83 and is secured between the top side bars 8 of the main frame and includes sloping sides 89, and an inclined rear wall 90 which terminates at its lower end above the lower edges of the sides 89. The latter extend downwardly and terminate adjacent floor 83 so that as the earth is dumped from the elevator buckets 46 it will be guided directly onto the floor 83 in position to be engaged and carried to the rear of the machine by the conveyer buckets. The hopper is of such a length that earth will be dumped into the same from the elevator, from any position within the range of adjustment of the latter.

At the forward end of the elevator the cutting disks are carried. These comprise an inner and outer pair of disks 91 and 92 respectively. Disks 91 are keyed upon the hollow shaft 43, outside of the elevator framework and in close proximity thereto, and the disks 92 are carried on the stub shafts 93. The latter extend one into each end of the axle shaft t3 and are provided with a series of spaced openings 9st adapted to receive the pins 95. The latter extend through openings in the shaft 43, and may be removed to allow adjustment of the outer disks 92 relative to disks 91, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. By reason of the pin connection between shaft 43 and the stub shafts 93, the disks 92 are driven as shaft 43 rotates.

. The tension of the elevator chains, and of the conveyer chains is adjusted by similar mechanism and it will therefore only be necessary to describe the adjusting mechanism for the elevator. This comprises'sleeves 96 which are slidably positioned upon the upper ends of bars to of the elevator, and which carry a shaft 97 on which drum ispositioned. The upper ends of bars 4-.0 are threaded, and a nut 98 is turned on each threaded end. The nuts 98 serve as stops for the sleeves 96. The weight of the elevator chains and buckets maintain the sleeves in constant contact with the nuts tending to slacken the tension of the chains and by adjusting these nuts the tension of the chains may be varied and maintained at the proper degree.

in order that the ground wheels 23 may be thrown into gear with the engine only when desired, a clutch mechanism 99 indicated in dotted lines in Fig. e is provided. This clutch serves to throw the shaft li into or out of gear with sprocket 32 when desired. A. platform 100 is secured upon the rear ends of upper side bars 8, and while serving as a brace for the main framework also provides for the accommodation of the workmen while repairing or operating the machine.

The machine is especially adapted for the digging of trenches or sewers, and during this operation the cutting disks 91 and 92 are utilized for cutting the earth and loosening the same from the sides of the trench, to be engaged and removed by the elevator buckets. The machine may be used to equal advantage in removing material from clay or sand banks, and it will be noted that in this case the conveyer will be particularly useful in depositing the earth into wagons or other vehicles. If desirable the digger may be placed on a boat or barge, and used as a dredge.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts thereof as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an excavating machine, a main framework, said framework comprising front and rear forwardly inclined and upwardly converging corner posts, lower side bars connecting front and rear corner posts, upper side bars connecting the front and rear corner posts, an elevator mechanism disposed between the upper side bars, a conveyer mechanism disposed longitudinally of the framework, a cross bar carried by the rear corner posts and partially supporting said conveyor mechanism, supporting arms carried by the top side bars and supporting the elevator mechanism, an adjusting mechanism for the elevator mechanism, and means on the framework for supporting the adjusting mechanism.

2. A device of the class described comprising a main frame, a pivot rod journaled thereon, spaced sleeves secured transversely on said rod, spaced parallel bars slidably positioned in said sleeves, braces connecting said bars near their opposite ends, a shaft journaled transversely of said bars at one end thereof, sprocket wheels carried by said shaft, a drum rotatably positioned transversely of the bars at their opposite ends, endless chains carried by said sprocket wheels and drum, elevator buckets connecting the chains, a driving shaft supported by the frame, a drum secured on said shaft, sprocket wheels on said drum, said endless chains meshing with said sprocket wheels, means for driving said drum, means for shifting said rods longitudinally of the sleeves at will, and means 'for oscillating said rods with the pivot red as a center.

3. A digging machine including a main frame, a pivot rod journaled thereon, spaced sleeves secured transversely on the rod, an elevator including a frame having side bars slidably extending through the sleeves, an adjusting frame carried on the main frame, eyes pivotally mounted on the adjusting frame, through which eyes the side bars of the elevator frame slidably extend, means for ad usting the elevator frame longitudinally, and means for actuating the adjusting frame.

l. In an excavating machineyan elevator including an endless carrier, a hollow shaft driven from the carrier, cutting disks mounted on the hollow shaft, stub shafts arranged in the hollow shaft, disks carried by the stub shafts, and means for adjusting the stub shafts relatively to the hollow shaft.

5. In an excavating machine of the class described, an. elevator, said elevator including endless chains, a hollow shaft, sprocket wheels on said hollow shaft, said sprocket wheels meshing with said chains, disks carried by said hollow shaft, stub shafts adapted to be disposed in the opposite ends of said hollow shaft, disks carried by said stub shafts and adjustable connecting means be tween said stub shafts and hollow shafts for varying the distance between the disks.

(3. A digging machine including a main frame, a pivot rod ournaled thereon, spaced sleeves secured transversely on the rod, an elevator including a frame having side bars slidably extending through the sleeves, an adjusting means carried on the main frame, elements affording a pivotal and slidable connection between the adjusting means and the said frame, means for actuating the adjusting means, and means for adjusting the elevator frame long1tud1nally.

CLARENCE BAUER. Witnesses CALDWELL H. BROWN, FRIEDA SOHEFFLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. I). G.

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