US757459A - Trench-digger. - Google Patents

Description

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1903.

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v10.757,459. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

J. HELM. TRBNGH BIGGER. APPLIOATION I'ILED JULY 3, 1903.

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Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN OE ST. LOIS, MISSOURI.

. TRENCH-DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of. Letters Patent No. 757,459, dated April 19, 1904. Application led July 3, 1903. Serial No. 164,236. (No model.)`

To a/ZZ whom' it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HELM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Trench-Digger, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesl to trench-diggers, and hasfor its principal object to improve the construction thereof.

of the adjusting device for the gathering mech` anism.` Fig. VII is an edge view of Fig. VI, and Fig. VIII is an enlarged view on the line VIII VIII of Fig. I of the lower end of the gathering mechanism.

The device comprises a main frame 1, which is preferably mounted on rollers 2, adapted to travel on tracks 3, provided therefor. Two parallel bars4 are mounted on said main frame 1 to constitute vertical guideways for an elongated framework 5. Theside bars 6 of said framework 5 are preferably channel-bars or otherwise have flanges 7 arranged thereon to.

engage said guideways 4 and movably mount said frameworkon said guideways. On the lower end of said side bars 6 of said framework 5 is revolubly mounted a cutter-head. This cutter-head consists, preferably, of any de- Sired number of pointed bars or'picking'or digging tools 8, arranged transversely of each other and mounted on an axle 9, which is journaled in said Side bars `6. Said axle 9 has a crank 10 in the middle thereof, which is connected to an engine 11 by-a rod 12. Said engine is located in the lower portion of said framework 5 and is connected by-a flexible supply-pipe 13 to a boiler 14 on the forward end of said main frame 1. Said framework 5, which carries said cutter-head and engine,

is raised by means of a rope 1 5, v'vhiehV is fastened to the lower part of said framework and which passes over a pulley 16, mounted at the upper ends of said guideways 4 and winds around a drum 17 onsaid main frame 1. `Said drum is actuated by a Steam-engine 18, mount# ed On said main frame 1.'c This engine receives steam from the boiler through a 'steam-pipe 19. In therear of 'said framework 5 is arranged a gathering mechanism for the material loosened by said cutter-head. Said gathering mechanisiri` consists, preferably, of an endless chain or belt 20, having flights or buckets 21 arranged thereon and mounted on sprocket-wheels 22 23. at the top and bottom thereof, respectively. Said top sprocket-wheel 22 is mounted on said main frame and is driven by a pulley 24 mounted on the axle thereof, which pulley is driven by a belt 25, connected to said engine 18. Said lower sprocket-wheel 23 is preferably adjustably supported by bars 26, depending from said main frame and having extensions 27 secured thereto by'r meansl of bolts 28. Said extension-pieces 27 have flanges 29 thereon,which extend at an angle forwardly any desireddistance to the sides of the trench to direct the loosened material onto the flight or buckets of the gathering mechanism. An incline 30 is provided on said main frame near the upper end of said gathering mechanism, onto which said loosened material falls after being carried out of the trench. A deliveryconveyer consisting of a belt 31, mounted on pulleys 32, is preferably provided on said main frame, which conveyerreceives said loosened material after it falls from said incline and conveys the sanieto the desired place. Said delivery-conveyer is operated by a pulley 33,which is driven by a belt 34, which is also driven by said engine18.

The operation of my device is as follows: The gatheringV mechanism is adjusted to the depth of the trench by removing the bolts 28 in the supporting-bars 26 and lowering the sprocket-wheel V23 vto the desired depth. Said bolts are then replaced in` position, andthe chain or belt 20 is then mounted in position on the sprocket-wheels 23 24. The anges 29 on the extension-pieces 27 for said supportingbars 26 are extended to the sides of the trench,

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so as to push the loosened lmaterial onto said belt from the sides thereof. The elongated framework 5 is raised, so that the cutter-head will engage a small amount of the material in 5 ,the path to be cut. The engine 18 is set in motion and actuates the cutter-head,so that the loosened material falls to the bottom of the trench, where it is carried upwardly by the gathering-conveyer. From said gathering- IO conveyer said material falls onto the incline and thence onto the delivery-conveyer, whereby it is carried to any desired place. The cutter-head is fed continuously downward by the weight of the elongated framework 5 and of I5 the engine 18 thereon, and it is free to move downwardly as fast as the material is loosened. As soon as the cutter-head reaches the desired depth the entire framework 5 is raised to the top of the trench by means of the rope 15, 2O which is actuated by the engine 18. The entire device is then moved forward a short distance to permit the cutter-head to again engage the material to be cut away, and the cutter-head repeats the automatic operation above 25 described.

Obviously divers changes -may be made in the construction of my device, and I do not wish to be restricted to the Idetails herein set forth.

What I claim is- 1. A trench-digger comprising a main frame having vertical guideways, an elongated framework movably mounted in said guide- Ways, an engine mounted on said framework, and a cutter-head arranged to be actuated by said engine, substantially as described.

2. A trench-digger comprising a main frame having vertical guideways, an elongated framework movably mounted in said guide- 40 Ways, an engine mounted on said framework, and a cutter-head located at the lowermost portion of said framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine, substantially as described.

3. A trench-digger comprising a main frame i framework movably mounted in said guideways, an engine mounted on said framework, a cutter-head located at the lowermost portion of said framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine, and means for hoisting said framework, all arranged so that the weight of the framework and of the engine feed the cutter continuously downward, substantially as described.

4. Atrench-digger comprising amain frame having i vertical guideways, an elongated framework movably mounted in said guideways, an engine mounted on said framework, a cutter-head located at the lowermost portion of said framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine, means for hoisting said framework, and means for gathering the loosened material, substantially as described.

5. yA trench-digger comprising a main frame having vertical guideways, an elongated framework movably mounted in said guideways, an engine mounted on said framework, a cutter-head located at the .lowermost portion of said framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine, means for hoisting said framework, means for gathering the loosened material, and a delivery conveyer for the loosened material, substantially as described.

6. A trench-digger comprising a main frame having vertical guideways, an elongated framework movably mounted in said guideways, an engine mounted on said framework, a cutter-head located at the lowermost portion of said framework and arranged to be actuated by said engine, means for hoisting said framework, an adjustably-mounted gatheringconveyer for the loosened material and a delivery-conveyer for said loosened material, substantially as described.

Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 29th day of June, 1903.

JOHN HELM.

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