US552920A - Adjustable head-block for elevators of excavating-machines - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. R. MERCER. ADJUSTABLE HEAD BLOCK POR ELEVATORS 0F BXGAVATING MACHINES.

' No. 552,920. Patented Jan. 14, 1896,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

IVILLIAM R.

MERCER, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

ADJUSTABLE HEAD-BLOCK FOR ELEVATORS F EXCAVATlNG-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,920, dated January 14, 1896. Application filed August 26, 1895. Serial No. 560,475. (No model.)

To all w/tom it r11/ay concern,.-

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM R. MERCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Excavating-Machine, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in excavating-machines.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable head-block over Which the chains or ropes of an elevator-bucket may be passed, said head-block being adapted to be secured in its several adjusted positions so as to act as a lateral or transverse porting-framework.

The accompanying` drawing illustrates my invention.

In the drawing, 2 2 indicate a pair of tracks which are laid upon the ground parallel to and one on each side of the proposed excavation, and mounted upon these tracks is a :framework 3 carried by a series of Wheels 4. resting upon said tracks. At the front end of frame 3 is mountedasteam-engine or other source of power, (not shoivm) said engine being used to operate the elevator-bucket, and also a series of cars which run upon tracks 5 5, which are laid upon the rear end of frame and extend some distance to the rear thereof along the line of the trench.

In the excavation of sewer and other like trenches the rapidity of excavation is of considerable importance, and for that reason frame 3 is made of some length and the upper part thereof provided with longitudinal rails 6 G, upon which is mounted an adjustable cross-head 7. This cross-head is composed of apair of transverse bars 8 8 provided with brackets 9, which engage rails 6 and preventany transverse movement of the crosshead, longitudinal movement of said head being prevented by any suitable means, such as bolts l() engaging the brackets and rails. Between the bars and `about midway thereof are mounted one or more pulleys l1 ll, said pulleys being adapted to receive the ropes or chains 12 l2 of the elevator-bucket- Frame 3 is made about forty feet in length, and owing to the fact that the bucket must be allowed to traverse the entire length thereof it is impossible to provide the upper por tion of said frame With any permanent latbrace for the sup-.

eral or transverse braces. By constructing the adjustable cross-head in the manner described above, so that it may be rigidly secured in any one of its adjusted positions, the said cross-head forms a transverse brace for the frame at the very point of application of the greatest stress, thus making a very strong construction.

In practice I prefer to use in connection with my device a self-filling elevator-bucket; but any elevator-bucket may be used.

In operation the machine is placed as shown in the drawing, and one section of the trench is excavated to the desired depth by means of the elevator-bucket, said bucket discharging its contents into a car running upon tracks 5. The cross-head 7 is then moved forward on rails 6, is rigidly secured in its adjusted position, and another section of the trench excavated, this operation being continued until the front end of the frame 3 is reached, when the said frame is moved as a Whole along track 2.

By making the cross-head 7 movable it is possible to adjust it at any desired point along the frame 3 and the excavation is materially expedited, especially when a selfdilling bucket is used, a single operator being suihcient to con trol the entire machine.

I claim as my invention* 1. In an excavating machine, the combination with the frame-Work thereof, of a headblock, longitudinally adjustable along the said frame and provided with pulleys for the reception of the elevator bucket ropes, said head-block being adapted to be rigidly secured in any one of its adjusted positions so as to form a transverse brace for the frame- Y Work.

2. In an excavating machine, the combination with the frame-Work thereof, of a longitudinally adjustable head -block mounted thereon, said head-block adapted to be rigidly secured in any one of its adjusted positions so as to form atransverse brace for the frame- Work, consisting of the transverse bars 8, 8, and the pulleys ll, ll mounted therebetween, substantially as described.

A. M. Hoon, M V. Hoon.

IOO

It is hereby eertied that in Letters Patent No. 552,920, granted January 14, 1896, upon the application of 'William R. Mercer, of Terre Haute, Indiana, for an improvement in Adjustable Head-Bloeks for Elevators of Excavating-Machines, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: On page 1, lines 96-99, the clause adapted t0 be rigidly secured in any one of its adjusted positions so as to form a transverse brace for the frame-Work, should be. stricken ont and inserted before the Word mounted, line 95 as now numbered, same page; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may eonform to the record of the easein the Patent Oce.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 28th day of January, A. D. 1896.

[SEAL] JNO. M. REYNOLDS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. JOHN S. SEYMOUR,

Commissioner of Patents.

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