US1326538A - Ditch-forming machine. - Google Patents

Description

E. W. SMITH.

DITCH FORMING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1918.

1,326,538. I Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

94 Edyawk/ 301/772. ammo,

WI aw KM.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR W. SMITH, 0F SHELL, WYOMING.

BITCH-FORMING MACHINE.

Application filed May 13, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shell, in the county of Bighorn, State of Wyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditch-Forming Machines; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for digging a plurality of parallel ditches.

It is primarily the object of the present invention to provide a machine which will form a series of ditches and simultaneously pack the earth in said ditches whereby the ditches are rendered of a more permanent nature and may efficiently serve to conduct irrigating streams.

A further object resides in the provision of a machine of this nature which is exceedingly simple in structure and which may be readily adjusted to vary the spaces between the ditches.

A still further object resides in the provision of a ditch forming machine of the present nature which may be efficiently operated in hard or soft ground and which, when operated in hard ground, may be pro vided with a shovel means for digging the ditches.

With the above and other objects and ad vantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims. a

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved ditch forming machine.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken centrally therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of one shovel.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line l-4 of Fig. 1 showing the means for adjustably connecting the digging shovels.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the sides of the frame of the improved machine are formed by a pair of digging and packing cylinders 10, connected at their front and rear ends by angle iron end sills 11, said sills being provided in their end portions with series Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Serial No. 234,195.

of apertures 12 through which may be selectively passed the securing bolts 12 for securing the sills to the tops of the cylinders, whereby the distance between the cylinders may be varied to consequently vary the distance between the ditches formed by the cylinders. Each of the cylinders is preferably hollow and closed at its forward end, and has its top flattened to facilitate securement of the end sills 11 thereto. Bolted to the end portions of the rear sill 11 are the rear ends of a pair of hounds 14 which extend forwardly in convergent relation past the front end sill 11 and carry at their forward ends a queen bolt 15 on which is mounted an ordinary draft tongue 16. The hounds are bolted at 17 to the front sill 11 at their points of intersection therewith and thus hold the sills 11 and cylinders 10 in rigid relation. These parts of the frame are also held in rigid relation by cross braces 18 bolted together at their point of intersection and having their ends bolted to the end sills 11 inwardly of the hounds 14. Secured to the central portions of the end sills 11 are the downturned ends 19 of a seat supporting bar 20 on which is slidably mounted a sleeve or collar 21 carrying a seat 22 which may thus be shifted along the supporting bar 20 and held in any desired adjusted position by a thumb screw 23 threaded in the sleeve and bearing against the bar.

The structure described is adapted for digging ditches in a relatively soft earth, and for packing the dirt therein to insure a comparatively permanent nature of such ditches. As the machine is drawn, the front closed ends of the cylinders 10 act as plows, digging into the ground to form the ditches and the bodies of the cylinders in following through the ditches thus formed efficiently pack the dirt in semi-circular cross-sections in the bottoms of the ditches.

In very hard ground, or in alfalfa or similar ground wherein a mass of roots would be so matted as to prevent an efficient plowing action by the ends of the cylinders, a suitable digging means is provided at the front end of each cylinder which comprises a shovel body 24 having its lower end taperingly reduced and inclined forwardly. The body has a vertical rib 25 formed centrally on its rear face adapted to fit in a vertical channel 26 in the forward end of the upper portion of each cylinder 10, said rib 25 being provided with a series of apertures 27 through which may be passed a securing bolt 28 whereby the elevation of the shovel may be varied, this bolt 28 passing through the front end of the cylinder and traversing the slot thereof. l/Vith the shovels thus positioned on the front ends of the cylinders 10, a proper digging action may be secured with sufficient draft power, and as heretofore described in connection with the plowing action of the ends of the cylinders, the bodies of the cylinders follow through the ditches and efiiciently pack the earth therein.

It is noted that the weight of the driver on the seat 22 materially aids in the dirt digging and packing operation of the machine, and in the use of the machine with or, without the plow members 24:, adjustment of the seat 22 toward and away from the front of the machine will determine the depth of the ditch formed thereby. \Vith respect to the shovels, this variation of the depth is made in conjunction with adjustment of the shovels vertically with respect to the cylinders.

To insure a proper alinement of the ditches being dug by the machine with previously dug ditches, a bar 29 extends rearwardly from the central portion of the rear sill 11 and has pivoted thereto a bar 80 of sufiicient length to extend a considerable distance laterally beyond either of the cylinders 10. The outer end of this bar 30 is provided with a longitudinal series of openings 31 to any one of which is secured the standard 82 of a guide shoe 33 adapted to travel in a previously formed ditch. The bar 30 is connected by a chain 34: with a suitable portion of the machine frame, and

this chain preferably extends to and is secured to the double tree 35 of the draft tongue 16, whereby it is conveniently accessible, and the bar 30 may be thus swung from side to side of the machine and properly secured to operate in conjunction with previously formed ditches on either side of the machine.

An exceedingly simple, efficient and durable machine has thus been provided which will form and pack that type of shallow ditch used for conveying smaller streams of irrigating water.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications of structure may be resorted to without departing in any manner from the spirit of the invention which consists in the provision of ditch packing members extending longitudinally of the machine and adapted at their forward ends to dig into the ground to initially form the ditch.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ditch forming machine, a digging and packing member substantially cylindrical in contour with its front end closed and having an upright channel, and means for supporting this member with its channel upright and drawing it forward through the earth; combined with a shovel shaped to fit the front end of said member and having a rib entering its channel, and means for holding it adjustably in position therein.

2. A ditch forming machine comprising a frame, a plurality of elongated digging and packing members depending from and extending longitudinally of the frame, shovels adapted for detachable securement at the forward ends of said members, and means to adjust said members toward and away from each other.

3. A ditch forming machine including a frame, a plurality of ditch digging and packing members depending from and extending longitudinally of the frame and provided with vertical slots in their forward ends, a plurality of shovel members, a vertical rib on the rear face of each shovel member, engageable in the slot of a corresponding digging member and provided with a series of apertures and a securing bolt passed through one of the apertures of each rib and through the corresponding packing member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the'presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR W. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GSA. HINMAN, I T. C. DANIEL.

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