US1591A - Dredging-machine for excavating under water in rivers - Google Patents

Description

OLIVER ALBEN, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

DREDGING-MACHINE FOR EXCAVATING UNDER WATER IN RIVERS, DOCKS, 85C.

Specification of Letters Patent N0. 1,591, dated May 8, 1840.

T0 all tohom t may concern Be 1t known that l, OLIVER ALLEN, of Norwich, in the county of New London and lState of Oonnecticutfhave invented certain Improvements in Dredging- Machines for Excavating Under vVater in Rivers, Docks, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the follow ing is a full and exact description thereof.

A main object in my improvements is so to construct this machine as that the bucket by which the earth is to be raised shall be taken back by its own gravity to any desired point on the bottom of the river, dock, or other water where the excavating is to be effected, instead of drawing it back by manual labor, as has usually been done.

Figure l in the accompanying` drawing is a perspective view of the whole machine. A, is the main drum, or capstan, to which the power is to be applied. This may be driven by horse power, or by any other adequate means. B, is the crane to which the dredging bucket is to be suspended, and by which it is to be moved to the required point for delivering its load, and C the post firmly fixed to the deck of the machine, and sustaining the cap in which the upper gudgeon of the crane is received. D,.D, D, is the main chain, or rope upon which the captain A, operates. This passes from the drum or capstan around a sheave in a snatch block at a, thence over a sheave in the upper end of the 4crane post at Z), and thence over the sheave at the end of the arm of the crane at c, from which the bucket is suspended. E, E, is a lever which works on a joint pin in the crane post B, allowing it to ris-e and fall, for a purpose to be presently explained. It is guided up and down immediately under the arm B, between the cheeks CZ, d, attached to the crane. This lever has on its outer end a sheave e, around which the chain D, D passes, and'which is prevented from leaving it by means of a metallic loop, or cheek piece, between which and the sheave said chain passes up and down. The lever E, E, is represented as down, and resting on the deck of the machine, which is its position when the excavating bucket F, is being charged with earth, and raised up to a certain height when in this position it is held down by the latch f, but it may be disengaged by making pressure with the hand or foot upon the lever g. Gr, is a pole firmly attached to the back of the excavating bucket F, which pole slides up and down freely in a vhole in the swivel piece 7L, which turns in the upright post H, and which thusserves to keep the bucket in a proper position, while it.

admits of its moving freely in the act of excavating. I, I, is a rope which is made fast to the middle of the back of the bucket, whence it passes to a sheave z', at the upper end of the mast K, K, down which it descends, passing around the sheave j, where its slack may be taken in, and the rope made fast to a -cl-eat on the post H, or elsewhere, thus placing itI under the control of one of the attendants, to haul in or out, as may be necessary. Ze, 7c, is a rope attached at one end to the lever E, E, and passing over sheaves at Z, and m, in order to have aweight attached to its opposite end as a counterpoise to the lever E, E.

Fig. 2 is a separate view of the drum or capstan A, and its appendages, and is intended to exhibit more clearly the manner of constructing the brake by which it is to be checked when necessary. This brake consists of an iron ring, or hoop, n, n, in two parts connected by a joint pin at o, which passes into the deck. L, is a vertical rod, which may be turned by the lever M, and carrying at its lower 'end two connecting links p, p, attached by joint pins to the respective sections of the brake, so that by turning the lever M, they may be made firmly to embrace the drum, and hold it in check. N, N, is the engaging and disengaging apparatus by which the drum or capstan may be thrown into and out of gear. There is not anything novel in this part.

Then this machine is to be used, the bucket being allowed to descend byv raising the disengaging apparatus, it will swing back by its own gravity, in consequence of its connection with the post H, andthe line I, I, by which the depth of its descent is to be regulated. The main drum or capstan is then to be thrown into gear, and the propelling power applied, which will draw the bucket forward and cause it to receive its load. When it comes nearly under the lever E, E, it will be raised, and as it comes into contact, or nearly so, with the end of this lever, the latch f, is to be withdrawn, and the rise of the bucket will carry the lever with it. When raised to the proper height for dumping the crane is swung around, so as to carry the bucket over the lighter andVK the load is dumped by opening thebottom of the bucket, `Wl1ich,as" in manyv other ma-v chines, is so constructed as to admit of this being done. -The crane is then brou ht back, the bottom of the bucket closed, an the disengagng apparatus raised, so as toth'row the drum out of gear,'and allow the bucket and lever to descend, and the operation to be repeated. Y y

Having thus fully described the construc` tion of my improved dredging machine,

and shown the manner in which the same operates, what If claim asmyinvention, and

desiife to lsecure byvLetterslPatent is- The manner in which I govern and direct 15 the operation ofthe excavating bucket F, by the combined operation of the leyer E, E, and the rope or line I,Ljarrangedandyopv erating substantially in the mannerfand for `the purpose herein setorthf OLIVER ALLEN.

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