US842383A - Gold-dredge. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

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H. J. CLARK. GOLD DREDGB.

I APPLIOATION FILED APR. 9. 1906.

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PATENTED JAN. 29

H. J. CLARK.

GOLD DREDGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE'.

HORACE J. CLARK, OF BOISE, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLARK DREDGING COMPANY, OF'OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

GOLD DREDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 29, 1907.

' Application filed April 9, 1906. Serial No. 310.859.

Be it known that I, HoRAoE J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boise, in the county of Ada, State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Dredges, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a dredge, and particularly to a construction and arrangement of parts adapted for dredging gold and other minerals.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved construction and arrangement of the suction-pipe with its scoops in independently-operated sectlons, both of which are adapted to deliver to suitable pumps, from which they maybe discharged.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved construction of scoop carried by the suction-shaft and provided with receiving-opening at the free end thereof and a solid face over which the lar or material is adapted to travel and be de ivered in the oscillation of the scoop.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and the novel features thereof defined by the ap ended claims.

In the rawings, Figure 1 is a side View of the dredge with parts broken away'. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof. Fig; 3 is a detail perspective of the suction-pipe and scoops carried thereby. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the suction-pipe and priming connection, and F ig.'5 is a detail section of the connection of the suction-pipe at the pivotal point of its supporting-arm.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The numeral 1 designates the hull or boat structure by which the dredge is carried, which may be of any desired construction or configuration suitable for the work to be performed. It is preferably provided at opposite sides with supporting-arms 2, pivotally mounted at their inner ends 3 and adapted to support the conveying-pipe 4, which at its outer end communicates with the suctionpipe 5, mounted to oscillate or rotate in the free ends 6 of the supporting-arms. This suction-pipe is provided withthe scoop 7, havin an opening 8 at its outer end of suitable iameter or proportion to receive the desired size of material upon which the machine is to operate, and the size of this opening may be varied for that purpose. The upper face 9 of this scoop is formed solid, so that the material which rests thereon travels backward in the upward oscillation of the scoop and is discharged therefrom when the scoop reaches its raised position, as shown at the right of Fig. 3. This motion of the scoop and suction-pipe maybe provided in any de sired mannerfor instance, by means of the eccentric pulley 10, mounted on the flanged end 1 1 of the suction-pipe 5, which mounting provides a bearing-sleeve 12 in the end 6 of the arms, as shown in Fig. 4. The pulley maybe driven by a belt or chain 13, extend ing therefrom to a similarly-disposed pulley 14 at the pivotal point of the arm, as shown in Fig. 5. This pulley is formed upon or secured to the outer end of a tubular drivingshaft 15, upon which the gear 16 is mounted. This shaft forms the pivot for the side arm 2 and is mounted in the side wall 17 of the hull or boat. The delivery-pipe 4 is suitably curved, as shown at 18, so as to enter this tubular shaft at the axis of the arms, thus permitting a free movement Without inter-.

fering with the delivery of the material. The inner end of this shaft is connected in any desired manner with a pump 19, preferably of a centrifugal character, from which sire form of ore-separating mechanism, as indicated at 21, which may be mounted in an inclined position, as shown, and adapted to deliver at its lower end into a suitable hopper 22-.

For the purpose ofdriving the tubular shaft 15 and oscillating the scoops therefrom any preferred connections may be provided. For instance, the main driving-shaft 23, adapted to beactuated by any suitable engine, may be formed with the geared connection 24 with the lateral driving-shaft 25, which is provided with pinion 26, slidably mounted thereon and meshing with the driving-gear 16, while it is adapted to be moved out of mesh therewith by the pivoted lever 27. The centrifugal pumps are also simultaneously driven by means of the gear 28,

the dpipe connection 20 extends to any demounted upon the driving-shaft 23 and meshing with cooperating gears 29 at opposite sides each upon the shaft of the pump 19.

Each of the scoops herein shown are adapted to be independently operated and are connected 'to a centrally-disposed primingchamber 30, provided with choke-nozzles 31, extending into the couplings 32, which are bolted to the securing-flanges of the suction device. The couplings are also provided with a suitably-packed joint 34 between the same and the priming-chamber 30.

liquid-supply by means of the conductingpipes 33, extending in opposite directions therefrom and upward upon the supportingarms 2, from which the flexible connections 57 extend to a conducting-pipe 36 from the pump 35, which is driven from the main shaft 23 by the gear connection 37, as shown in Fig. 2.

The arms carrying the scoops and suctionpipes are adapted to be raised and lowered in any desired manner-for instance, by means of the windlasses 38, carried upon the shaft 39 at the forward portion of the hull, and provided with connecting-cables 40, extending to the cross-bar 41, by which the arms are connected at the front of the boat. This shaft is provided with driving-gears 42 at its opposite ends, adapted to mesh with the pinion 43, carried upon the driving-shaft 44, which has the geared connection 45 with the main driving-shaft 23. Reversing-gears 45 are carried by the shaft 44 and adapted to mesh with the slidingly-mounted pinion 47, carried upon the shaft 39 and adapted to be operated thereon by the levers 48 in order to reverse the direction of rotation of said shaft and windlasses. At the rear of the shaft 44 a shaft 50 is provided and carries the Windlass 51, from which cables 52 are adapted to extend to any fixed point for the purpose of moving the boat to the necessary extent for feeding the scoops into the material to be raised. This shaft is driven by the gearedconnection 53 with the main driving-shaft 23. For the purpose of retaining the boat in any desired position, the securing spud or pile 54 is provided thereon at the rear portion and adapted to be extended downward into the bed of the waterway by any desired means for instance, the steam-cylinder 55 of ordinary construction.

In the operation of the invention it will be seen that the dredge is moved in position so that the scoops will engage the material to be raised, and the oscillatory movement of the scoop causes the finer material to enter the point thereof, while the larger material passes backward and is discharged at its rear. These scoops are mounted upon independentlymovable sections of the suction-pipe and communicate with the interior thereof, so that they may be operated in alternation, as

This chamber 18 in communication with a source of shown in Fig. 3, and the priming-chamber provides a constant flow of liquid through these pipes when the same are elevated into the atmosphere when discharged-as, for instance, when operated in shoal water or when the arms and scoops are raised to discharge upon the boat. For this purpose a double pump construction is provided with suction upward through both pipes inde- 'endently from the f eed-pipe extending to the priming-chamber, which permits an independent operation of either scoop.

In the operation of the scoop the power is applied to the driving-gear for the eccentric pulleys thereof, so as to' produce an upward digging movement of the scoop until the same reaches the position shown at the right of Fig. 3, when the power is disconnected and the scoop returns to its lower position (shown at the left of said figure) by gravity. The priming-chamber performs an important function in deep dredging where the friction of the suction-pipe exceeds or weakens the vacuum or lifting capacity of the pump, when a hydraulic stream under pressure of one hundred or more pounds per square inch is forced through the priming-chamber, thus carrying the material off into the area of stronger suction and assisting the action of the lifting-pump. This priming-chamber is also important when by reason of lifting the scoops above the water they are exposed to the atmospheric pressure. In such event the priming-stream maintains the pumps in con- (lition for continuous operation and prevents the breaking of the suction therethrough.

Having now described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, means for independently operating said sections, and scoops carried by said sections and provided with an inlet-opening for material thereto.

2. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, means for independently operating said sections, scoops carried by said sections and provided with an inletopening for material thereto, and a primingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected with a source of supply.

3. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, means for independently operating said sections, scoops carried by said sections and provided with an inletopening for material thereto, a primingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected with a source of supply, and a nozzle extending from the primingchamber toward each suction-pipe.

4. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, means for independently operating said sections, scoops carried by said sections and provided with an inlet- ICC opening for material thereto, a primingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected with a source of supply, a nozzle extending from the priming-chamber toward each suction-pipe, a boat structure, pivoted supporting-arms at opposite sides thereof and connected at their free ends by the suction-pipes, and conducting-pipes carried by said arms and communicating with said suction-pipes.

5. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, means for independently operating said sections, scoops carried by said sections and provided with an inletopening for material thereto, a primingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected with a source of supply, a nozzle extending from the priming-chamber toward each suction-pipe, a boat struc-' ture, pivoted supporting-arms at opposite sides thereof and connected at their free ends by the suction-pipes, conducting-pipes carried by said arms and communicating with said suctionpipes, and centrifugal pumps connected with said conducting-pipes at the pivot of said arms.

6. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, and a hollow scoop in communication therewith and provided with an upper carrying-face and an opening at its point or free end to receive material.

7. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, a conducting-pipe extending from the axis of the suction-pipe, a supporting-arm for said suctionpipe pivoted at its inner end, and a connection from the conducting-pipe at the pivotal point of said arm.

8. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, a conducting-pipe extending from the axis of the suc tion-pipe, a supporting-arm for said suctionpipe pivoted at its inner end, a connection from the conducting-pipe at the pivotal point of said arm, a tubular driving-shaft in communication with said conducting-pipe,

and a pump connected to said shaft.

9. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, a conducting-pipe extending from the axis of said suction-pipe, a supporting-arm for said suctionpipe pivoted at its inner end, a connection from the conducting-pipe at the pivotal point of said arm, a tubular driving-shaft in communication with said conducting-pipe, a pump connected to said shaft, a driving-gear connected to said tubular shaft, and a driving-pulley carried by the outer end of said shaft for transmitting power to the suctionpipe for oscillating the same.

10. In a dredge, a plurality of suction pipes each provided with a scoop communicating therewith, a fixed primingchamber disposed intermediate of said suction-pipes, means for independently moving said pipes relative to the priming-chamber, and means for transmitting pressure to said chamber.

11. In a dredge, a plurality of suctionpipes each provided with a scoop communicating therewith, a fixed priming-chamber disposed intermediate of said suction-pipes, means for independently moving said pipes relative to the priming-chamber, means for transmitting pressure to said chamber, and oppositely-extending choke-nozzles carried by said chamber and disposed within the coupling connections for said suction-pipes.

12. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed. at the opposite sides thereof, a gear carried by said shaft for driving said pumps, suction-pipes, and conducting-pipes at opposite sides of the dredge communicating with said pumps and suction-pipes.

13. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sides thereof, a gear carried by said shaft for driving said pumps, suction-pi es, conducti11g-pipes at opposite sides 0ft e dredge communicating with said pumps and suction-pipes, driving means carried by the pump connections for moving said suction-pipes, a transverse shaft provided with gear connections to rotate said driving means, and a gear connection between the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft.

14. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sides thereof,'a gear carried by said shaft for driving saidpumps, suction-pi es, conducting-pipes at opposite sides of t e dredge communicating with said pum s and suction-pipes, driving means carried by the pump connections-for moving said suction-pipes, a transverse shaft provided with gear connections to rotate said driving means, a gear connection between the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft, a priming-pipe communicating with said suction-pipes, a pump for supplying pressure to said priming-pipe, and a gear connection between said driving-shaft and said pump.

15. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sides thereof, a gear carried by said shaft for driving said pumps, suction-pipes, conducting-pipes at opposite sides of the dredge communicating with said pumps and suction-pipes, driving means carried y the pump connections for moving said suction-pipes, a transverse shaft provided with gear connections to rotate said driving means, a gear connection between the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft, a priming-pipe communicating with said suction-pipes, a pump for supplying pressure to said priming-pipe, a gear connection between the driving-shaft and said pump, pivotallymounted arms carrying said suction-pipe and conducting-pipes, a Windlass for controlling said arms carried u on a cross-shaft, and a geared connection etween said cross-shaft and the main driving-shaft.

16. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sides thereof, a gear carried by said shaftfor driving said pumps, suction-pipes, conducting-pipes at opposite sides of the dredge communicating with said pumps and suction-pipes, driving means carried by the pump connections for moving said suction-pipes, a transverse shaft provided with gear connections to rotate said driving means, a geared connection between the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft, a priming-pipe communicating with said suction-pipes, a pump for supplying pressure to said priming-pipe, a geared connection between the driving-shai't and said pump, pivotally-mounted arms carrying said suctionpipes and conducting-pipes, a Windlass for controlling said arms carried upon a crossshaft, a geared-connection between said cross shaft and the main driving-shaft, a Windlassshaft, a counter-shaft for driving and reversing the drive thereof, and a geared connection between said counter-shaft and the main drivin g-sh aft.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HORACE J. CLARK.

Witnesses:

E. S. RICE, E. A KELLY.

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