US558452A - fulcher - Google Patents

Description

(Nomaden.) 7 sheetssheet 2.

W; H'. FULGHBR.;

EXGAVATOR'. l, No. 558,452. Patented Apr. 14, 1895.

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W. H. PULGHBR. f'

EXCAVATOR.

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(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. H. FULGHER.

' EXGAVATOR.

No. 558,452. PaJtentedApr. 14, 1895.

AN DREW BLRAHANL PHOTo-LHMU-WASNINGTN. D C

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5A W. H. PULOHBR.

EXCAVATOR.

No. 558,452. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

INVENTOR A40-Qi' 1 WITNESSES @um /Zgb ATTORNEY;

AN DREW BLRAHAM PHOTOLITHU.WASNINGTON. D C.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6.

W. H. PULGHER.

@p ooo @se WITNESSES INVENTOR v Bv Y f3 l Qgamf ATTORNEYS AN DREW BvGRAHAM,PHOTD-LHMQWASHINGTDN. D C.

(No Model.) y 'z sheets-#heen 7.

W. H. FULCHER.

BXGAVATOR. Y No. 558,452. 4Padaean'ed Apr. 1-4, 1896.

wlTNEssEvs: i INVENTOR ATTORNEYS AN nREw BLRANAM. PHOTO-UmawAsmNGTDN. D E.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NVILLIAM H. FULCHER, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. JAMES TULLY, OF SAME PLACE.

EX CVATO R SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,452, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed December 10, 1895. Serial No. 571,690. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: A

Be it known that LWILLIAM H. FULCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertainsto make, use7 and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in excavators and more particularly to ditch-excavators.

The objects which this present invention has in view are primarily to raise the earth at the forward end of the machine and deliver and tainp it firmly at the rear end, carrying it over the interveningr space where other work is being performed, and, secondarily, to provide means whereby this is accomplished with certainty and at the slighest eX- penditure of power.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the various instrumentalities hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation of the driving mechanism of the digging mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation of the digging-knives. Fig. 5 is a front View of the same. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views in perspective of the elevator-buckets. Fig. 8 is a detail showing the adjusting mechanism of the elevator.

For the purpose of more clearly describing the machine shown in the drawings we will divide the various instrumentalities into groups with reference to their coperation in the performance of some particular function, and to the several separate parts of each group we will give a general distinguishing letter. Thus we will distinguish the driving mechanism by the general letter A, the digging mechanism by the letter B, the elevator mechanism by the letter O, the conveying or delivering mechanism by the letter D, the ramming mechanism by the letter E, and the main frame by the letter F. Y

The digging mechanism consists in the wedge-shaped downcut-knife B and the upcut knives B2 B2, with means for forcing the former downward and drawing the latter upward. The means shown in the drawings consists in the heavy screw or worm B2, the lower end of which is inserted within the hollow casing of the knife B, where it is provided with the cross-bar B1. The attachment between the screw and knife is by the bolts 6o B2, extended from either end of the cross-bar. These bolts extend through the slots B7 in the sides of the knife 'B'. The screw B2 is raised and lowered by the miter-gear B10, the hub of which is internally threaded to engage the thread of the screw. The gear B10 is held in position by the brace-rods B21,which are bolted to the bearing-plates B20 and to the horizontal beams of the main frame. The plates B20 rest against each side of the hub of the miter 7o B25 B25 on both shafts B22, on which they are 8o loosly mounted. The face of the sprockets are hollowed out to form a seat for the conical friction-clutches B20, which are splined on the shafts. Suitable levers, having yokes to fit in the grooves B27 on the friction-clutches, 85

are mounted on the frame and joined to each other to cause them to coperate. Thus by arranging the clutches as shown in the drawings at Fig. 3 it will be seen that as the one clutch is thrown out of engagement the other 9o is thrown in, and the pinions operating in the same direction on opposite sides of the miter B19 will produce each an opposite movement in the miter from that produced by the other.

At their outer ends the shafts B23 are sup- 95 ported in boxes B28, mounted on the main frame A.

As above mentioned, there are two dierent styles of knives, B being what we have styled a downcut-knife, and the side knives B2, roo

which are herein styled upcut-knives. The downcut-knife is wedge-shaped, as shown at The pinions B22 75 Fig. 5, and is designed to drive downward through the earth and force it away from the line of cut. For this purpose it is provided with the shoe B15, which may be sharpened and replaced when worn out. The frame of the knife is made up of metal plates and is hollow. The upcut-knives are hook-shaped at their cutting ends, being intended to dig forward and up. They are pivotally connected to the downcut-knife by the pivot-bolts B1G and to the bolts B5 on the screw B3 bythe links B1". In their coperation these downcut and upcut knives act as follows: Preliminary to starting the machine a hole of the desired depth is dug by hand. The knives are then lowered into the hole and drawn upward. As the screw B3 starts upward the pull is first imparted to the upcut-knives B2B2 by reason of their connection directly to the end of the screw. The downcut-knife B does not begin to raise until the bolts B5 reach the top of the slot B7. As the pull on the knives B2 B2 is exert-ed forward of their pivots B111, their points are drawn forward and upward until the bolts B 5reach the top of the slotsB7 and the knife B begins to be raised. The knives B2 B2 continue in this position until they are drawn out of the earth and` the direction of the screw is reversed.` lVhen the end of the knife B strikes the ground, the bolts B5 are forced to the bottom of the slot B7 before any force is exerted on the downcut-knife B. The bolts B5, thus descending, the knives B2 are forced backward by the links BG to the positions indicated in'dotted lines in Fig. 4 of drawings, thus clearing the front of the knife B' in the downcut. Intermediate the upcut and the downcut the machine is advanced, as will be described, the length of the upcut, so that when theknife B descends the cutting edge thereof strikes the forward end of the ground which has been separated from the surrounding earth by the knives B2. In descending, the knife B', by reason of its wedge shape,breaks the ground up and throws it onto the buckets of the elevator. At the beginning of the raising of the screw B2, when it becomes necessary to project the knives B2 B2, the knife B' must be prevented from raising. To accomplish this, the slots B7, wherein the bolts B5 operate, and the dogs B11 are provided. The dogs B11 are mounted between the rollers B10 in the frame constructed of the angle-irons B8 and B2. The dogs are provided on their inner ends with brackets B12, in the end of which are friction-rollers B12, that engage the double cams, slots B15, of the brackets B14. The brackets B11 are securely mounted on the sides of the screw B2, and the vertical length of `the slots therein is equal to the length of the slots B7, by means of which the knife B is operated. The slots B15 operate in an outward direction for apart of the rise and in an inward direction for the remainder of the rise, driving the ends of the dogs B11 into the banks of the ditch and preventing the rise of the knife B during the first part of the stroke in which the knives B2 B2 are projected forward, and then withdrawing the dogs to permit the knife B to rise with the extended knives B2 B2 when the bolts B5 reach the top of the slots B7. Thus it will be be seen the digging action of these knives is to iirst sever the earth from the sides and then to strike downward on the section thus severed and cut it away in the line of the ditch to be formed, the driving mechanism being thrown intermittingly from one side to the other of the miter B1'J to cause the screw B3 carrying the knives to rise and fall.

As above stated, the knife B', by reason of its wedge shape, scvers the ground from that in front and throws it in a segregated condition on the buckets of the elevator mechanism, by which it is carried to the conveyingchute for delivery to the rear of the machine. The buckets C are connected by continuous chains, which operate over sprockets C2 C2 at the extremities of the elevator-frame- The upper shaft, on which the bucket-sprockets are mounted, is provided with the driving sprocket C2, suitably connected with the driving mechanism of the machine. The lower shaft is supported in the suspended frame C1. On the frame of the machine is mounted the idlers C6 for ad j ust-ing the travel of the buckets with reference to the angle of operation of the digging mechanism. In its operation this elevator mechanism is similar to others of the same class, with the exception of the adjusting mechanism, by which it is raised or lowered to suit the grades of the elevation. This adjusting is accomplished by means of hangings of the shafts carrying the sprockets C2 C2. Theseshafts are mounted in suitable bearings supported on the ends of the right and left screws C7 C7. (See Fig. S.) These screws are mounted in the end of the frame C4 and extend through journal-boxes C13. Between the journal-boxes C12 and the bottom of the frame C4 are mounted the miter-gears C8, enfolding each screw and meshed into the thread thereof by an internallythreaded hub. These miters C8 are propelled by the miters C9 C, which are geared with the miters C2 C, as shown. The miters C201 are rigidly mounted on the shaft C11, which is journaled in the boxes C13 C13. This shaft is driven by the sprocket C10 and chain C11. The double journals C13 C12 are bolted to the frame C4. These hangings just described are provided at either end of the frame. The sprockets C10 C1o at either end of the frame are connected by the chain C11, which engages the sprocket C12 intermediate the upper and lower sprockets. The sprocket C12 is mounted on a shaft which extends across the main frame of the machine and is provided at the outer end with a suitable crank-handle or lever wherewith the operator may turn it. As the sprocket C12 is thus turned the chain C11 transmits the motion to the sprockets C10 C11 at both ends of the frame and rotates their shafts, carrying the gears C9 C in the same IOO IIO

IZO

fingers E2.

direction. The gears rotate the miters C8 C8, which extend or recede the ends of the screws C7 C7, according as the rotation is started. In mounting the right and left screws at the two ends of the frame care should be taken that the right-hand screws at both ends are on the l same side of the frame.

In some cases I provide the shaft carrying` the sprocket C12 with a graduated scale to indicate the rise or fall lof the elevator to suit the grade on which the machine may be operating. Usually, however, this scale cannot be used for the reason that the surface of the ground over which the machine is operating will not permit because of its irregularity.

The buckets C shown are constructed in section, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, to allow for lateral adjustment to suit the various dimen sions of different ditches. These sections are bolted together, the bolts passing through the perforations c.

As the earth is thrown into the buckets they convey it upward and deliver it upon the chute D, which is built upon a skeleton framework mounted on wheels D. The chute D leads over that section of the work where the pipe or sewer is being laid or built and delivers it into the excavation. The chute is detachable from the main frame A of the machine. Near the lower end of the chute the bottom is cut away to permit the insertion of the paddles of the wheel E of t-he ramming mechanism. The shaft of the wheel E is provided with ingers E2, set out from the shaft and adapted to extend under the yoke E3 at the top of the tamp E1. The 'tamp E1 is mounted in guides E5, which are suspended on the braces E6 from the frame of the chute D. The tamp E4 is provided with the rammerhead E1. In its action the dirt running down the chute strikes the paddles of the wheel E to turn it to operate the shaft carrying the The fingers strike under the yoke E3 on the end of the tamp, raising the tamp until the linger passes from under the yoke, when the tamp is allowed to drop. In this manner the earth is rammed at about halfway of the depth of the ditch, so that the surface -or hand ramming is rendered easier. These several mechanisms are driven from a common driving mechanism ,which also serves as a traction-motor.

The initial source of the power is derived from a gas-engine A', on the driving-shaft of which is the driving-gear A2, meshed into the gear A3. The gear A3 is loosely mounted on its shaft and is controlled by the cone-shaped friction-clutch A4 to rotate the shaft or independently thereof. lUpon the outer ends of the shaft are the sprockets A5 A6, also loosely mounted on the shaft and controlled by the clutches A7 and A8. rThese elements constitute the traction driving mechanism, as the sprockets A5 and A'i are connected to the driving traction-wheels A16 and A17, respectively. In operation the clutch A4 is seated hard against the gear A3, causing it to turn the shaft on which it is 'mounted Then the drums A7 and A8 are both engaging their respective sprockets and the shaft is turned, the power is transmitted to the traction-wheels A16 and A1T to drive the machine along. If it is desired to turn the machine, one of the clutches A1 or A3 is released, when its sprocket ceases to drive, andthe traction-wheel on its side becomes a pivoton which the machine will turn. To produce a reverse movement of this driving traction mechanism the supplemental shaft, carrying the gears A9 loosely mounted thereon, is mounted on the frame and provided with the sprockets A10 A10, which are connected with the sprockets A11 A11 on the main shaft. The gear A9 is provided with a clutch A18, similar in construction and action to A4, for the purpose of rotating the shaft. Vith this gearing the traction may be reversed by releasing the clutch A4 and setting the clutch A18, when the direction of rotation of the main shaft will be reversed. Thus the traction may be controlled to move the machine slightly ahead to turn in either direction or reverse. main shaft are the sprocket-wheels A12 A12, which are connected by chains A19 A19 to the sprockets A13 A13 on the driving-shafts for the screw B3. The sprocket A2O on the main shaft -is connected to t-he sprocket A21 on the supplemental shaft carrying the sprockets A14 A11, which in turn transmit power to the sprockets C2 C2 of the elevator.

- The forward end of the frame is carried on the rollers A15 A15. When the machine is to be transported, the screw'B3 is raised until the knives clear the ground. There it is held, or it may be disconnected from the knives and raised out of the miter B19. The elevatorframe C1 is unclamped and the lower end raised and extended level with the ground on a separate truck. The chute-frame is preferably disconnected and the machine is ready for transportation.

No description has been made in this speciication of any special lever for throwing in and out of engagement the various clutches, for the reason that I use any known construetion.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim is-- l. In an excavator such as described the combination, with a digging mechanism adapted to separate the earth from the sides then to out it away from in front, of an elevator mechanism to catch the earth when cut from in front and convey it to a raised eleva tion, a chute to receive the earth from the elevator at vthe raised elevation and deliver it to a desired point, and a ramming mechanism having a paddle-wheel extending into the said chute to lift and drop a tamp, substantially as described.

2. In an excavator such as described and in the digging mechanism thereof the combination of a wedge-shaped knife adapted to cut downward, with side knives pivotally connected to the wedge-shaped knife and adapted Upon the' IOO IIO

to swing forward and cut upward, a rod carrying the said knives to raise and depress them, and intermediate connections between the said rod and side knives to force the said side knives forward of the said wedge-shaped knife prior to raising the latter, substantially as described.

3. In an excavator' such as described and in the digging mechanism thereof the combination of a wedge-shaped knife adapted to cut downward, with side knives pivotally connected to the wedge-shaped knife and adapted to swing forward and cut upward, a screw carrying the said knives to raise and depress them, intermediate connections between the said screw and side knives to force them forward of the said wedge-shaped knife prior to raising the latter, and a driving mechanism having an internally-threaded wheel to engage the threads of the said screw to raise and lower the same, substantially as described.

4. In an excavator such as described and in the digging mechanism thereof the combination of a wedge-shaped knife adapted to cut downward, with side knives pivotally connected to the said wedge-shaped knife and adapted to swing forward and cut upward, a screw carrying the said knives to raise and depress them, intermediate connections be.

tween the said screw and side knives to force them forward of the said wedge-shapedknife prior to raising the latter, dogs set in the wedge-shaped knife, cams on the said screw to throw the said dogs into the bank and withdraw them during the first part of the rise of the said screw, and driving mechanism to engage the threads of the saidscrew to raise and lower the same, substantially as described.

5. In an excavator such as described and in the elevator mechanism thereof the combination with a series of elevator-buckets joined together to form an endless chain, drivingwheels to propel the said chain of buckets, a frame to support the said driving-wheels, intermediate extensible connections between the said frame and driving-wheels at both ends of the frame and connecting devices between the extensible connections to cause them to operate in unison, substantially as described.

G. In an excavator such as described and in the elevator mechanism thereof the combination with a series of elevator-buckets joined together to form an endless chain, drivingwheels to propel the said chain of buckets, a frame to support the said driving-wheels, screw-shafts intermediate the said drivingwheels and frame at both ends, driving-gears to raise and lower the said screw-shafts, and suitable connecting devices to operate the said driving-gears in unison, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 26th day of November, 1895, at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California.

WILLIAM II. FULCIIER.

IVitliesses A. I-I. ASHLEY, C. XV. NORTON.

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