US1509646A - Trench and tunnel excavator - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 2 1,509,646

, J. c. FRENCH TRENGH AND TUNNEL EXCAVATOR Original Filed May 13, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 23, 1924.

J. C. FRENCH TRENCH AND TUNNEL EXCAVATOR Original Filed Ma y 13 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 23, 1924. 1,509,646

J. C. FRENCH TRENCH AND TUNNEL EXCAVATOR Original Filed May 13,- 19$}? 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 23 1924.

J. C. FRENCH TRENCH AND TUNNEL EXCAVATOR Original Filed May 13 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. FRENCH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY lllIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

I. O. AUSTIN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRENGH AND TUNNEL EXCAVATOR.

Application filed May 13, 1918, Serial No. 234,072.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES C. FRENCH, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and resident of Cleveland, Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trench and Tunnel Excavators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for making trenches and more particularly to those which are adapted to travel in the trench, on thefloor thereof, so that the entire machine is below ground, whereby the top of the trench may be provided with a roof to form a tunnel.-

Generally stated, therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of trenching machine, of the foregoing general character, in which a scoop is provided for cutting'away the earth in front of the traction means which travel on the floor of the trench, and in which means are provided for conveying the excavated dirt rearward from the scoop, as will hereafter more fully appear.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency and desirability of a trenching and tunneling machine of this particular construction.

To these and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a trenching and tunneling machine embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2' is a plan of the said machine.

Fig 3 is a front elevation of said machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 44: in Fig. 1. Y

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a suitable body-frame 1 supported on a turn-table 2, which latter is supported on a truck 3, of any suitable character. This truck, for example, may be provided with any ordinary or suitable caterpillar traction devices to travel on the floor 4 of the trench. The forward end of the body-frame 1 is provided with a transverse axis 5, disposed in elevated position, upon which is mounted a pair of segments 6, and the lower and outer ends of these segments are provided with a transverse axis7 upon which the scoop 8 is pivoted, whereby this scoop has motion Renewed August 15, 1924.

about-the axes 5 and 7, in a manner that will be readily understood, the axis 7 being movable up and down about the axis 5 when the segments 6 are oscillated. Toggle links 9 and 10, pivotally connected together at 11, connect the front end of the scoop 8 with the arm 12, which latter is rigid with the hand-lever 13, whereby the position of the scoop 8 relative to the segments may be changed or adjusted about the axis 7 and a rack 14 is provided on the segments 6 to engage the locking devices 15, of the usual or any suitable character, whereby the scoop may be locked in adjusted position. The other end of the axis 5, formed by a rock-shaft, can be provided with an arm similar to the arm 12, connected to the scoop by links similar to the links 9 and 10, and the two arms can be rigidly connected through the medium of said rockshaft, whereby the rocking of this shaft by the hand-lever 13 will simultaneously operate the two connections to the scoop. The segments 6 may turn on the axis or rockshaft 5, and the latter can be supported in bearings of any suitable character on the front end of the body-frame. Pinions 16 are arranged to engage the segments 6, power being suitably communicated to these pinions from the motor 17 on the bodyframe. c

It will also be seen that an endless belt conveyer 18 is supported on rollers 19 on the body-frame, and on rollers 20 on the se ments 6, the upper portion of the belt being supported by the shaft 5 when the scoop is in lowered position, and the lower portion of the belt being supported by the rollers 21 on the body-frame, so that the receiving portion of the conveyer swings up and down with the scoop while its other portion remains horizontal, or in any desired position thereof. Power is communicated from the motor through the sprocket chain 22 to the rear end of the conveyer 18, so that the latter is driven continuously during the u and down movements of the scoop. (xuards or side-boards 23 are mounted on the segments 6 at opposite sides of the conveyer 18, to hold the dirt thereon after the load is pitched or spilled backward from the scoop, when the latter reaches its highest position, (see dotted lines in Fig. 1), so that the conveyer receives the load automatically each time the scoop reaches the limit of its upward movement. The said scoop has a cutting lip or edge 94: which moves upand down on the line of a circle struck from the axis 5, so that the breast of the excavation has a curved surface 25, as shown in the drawings. When the scoop 8 moves downward, the links 9 and 10 will sag and allow the scoop to swing about its pivot 7 toward the axis 5, and these links will then straighten out and allow the scoop to assume its operative position when it again starts upward.

Any suitable power transmitting connection can be employed to drive the caterpillar traction devices of the truck 3, and any suitable means can be employed for enabling the driver or operator to control these tractiolrli devices to drive the machine forward at w1 ordinary or suitable means can be employed for controlling the traction devices to steer the machine to the right or the left, either in the trench or above ground, when the machine is traveling on a road or across a field. It will also be seen that any suitable or ordinary devices can be employed for operating the turn-table 2-for the purpose of swinging the body-frame 1 about the vertical axis during the operation of the scoop 8,

the scoop 8 can be. changed to suit the requirements by means of the hand-lever 13, as previously described. The operator or driver then starts the machine, causing the machine to move upward, against the bank or end of the trench, and when the scoop -arrives at its up 1 position the load will be pitched or spil ed backward therefrom onto the conveyer 18, which latter i's in continuous operation, whereby the excavated dirt will be conveyed to the rear of, the machine where it can be discharged into dump cars or into acny'suitable receptacle, and there- I after removed from the trench or tunnel.

The scoop scrapes'ofl' a load as it travels upward, but as it can tilt backward after reaching its upper position, in the manner. explained, .it can move downward without pressure against the earth. The traction devices of the truck 3 can be operated to move the machine constantly and slowly forward, or they can be operated. intermittently to move the machine forward step by step, de

It will also be understood that any pending upon the conditions and the requirements of the work. The forward end portion of the conveyer 18 swings up and down with the scoop and is thus always in position to receive the discharge from the scoop or excavating device. During the operation, the turn-table 2 can be operated to oscillate the machine about a vertical axis, and in this way the trench or tunnel will be somewhat wider than the scoop itself, and the machine will have ample clearance at each side thereof as it travels forward in the trench or I tunnel.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an excavator, the combination of a body, a segment mounted to oscillate about a horizontally disposed axis on the front end of said body, a pinion on the bod to operate the segment, a scoop pivote on the segment to tilt toward and away from said axis, an endless conveyer, means on the body to support one portion of said conveyer, means on the segment to support the other portionof the conveyor, so that the conveyer will carry away the discharge from the scoop, a connection on the body to operate said conveyer, a truck having traction devices, and a turn-table to support said body on said truck, so that said SCOOp is movable back and forth sidewise while in operation. a

2. In an excavator, the combination of a body, a segment mounted to oscillate about a horizontally disposed axis on the front end of said body, a pinion on the body to operate said segment, a scoo pivoted on the segment to tilt toward an away from said axis, an endless conveyer mounted on the body and'adapted to receive the discharge from said scoop, a truck having traction devices, a turntable to support said body on said truck to permit operation of the scoop at different angles, a hand'lever for operation of said scoop, links connecting said lever to the scoop so that the cutting angle or pitch of the scoop may be changed, and means to lock the lever in adjusted position.

'3. 'In an excavating machine, the combination of a swinging support mounted to op- "erate about a horizontal axis, a scoop on the end of said support provided with cutting devices adaptedto operate 'upon the breast of a trench as said support is swung upwardly, a segmental gear rigid with said support, a pinion to engage said gear to operate the scoop up and down in combinationwith a conveyer extending-from said sooop,to the rear end of the machine and adapted to receive excavated material pitched backwardly thereon from the scoop when the latter is in raised position, means on the support to carry a portion of the conveyer, and other means for supporting the balance .of the conveyer in a fixed plane during the operation of the scoop.

4. In an excavating machine, the combination of a swinging support mounted to operate about a horizontal axis, a scoop pivoted on the end of said support, a segmental gear rigid with said support, a pinion to engage said gear to operate the scoop up and down, a link connection between said support and said scoop, a hand lever pivoted to the scoop to operate said link connection and thereby change the position of the scoop on the support, and means to hold said lever in adjusted position.

5. In an excavating machine, the combination of a. body, a vertically swinging scoop support mounted thereon, a scoop carried at the free end of said support provided with cutting devices adapted to operate upon the breast of a trench as said support is swung upwardly, and a single continuous belt conveyer movable from. adjacent the scoop in the end of the scoop support to the opposite side of said body, saidconveyer being adapted to receive excavated material spilled backwardlythereon from said scoop when the latter is in raised position.

6. In an excavating machine, the combination of a'frame, a normally vertical support adapted to swing about a horizontal axis at the front of the machine, a rack segment fixed with respect to said support, a pinion mounted on the frame and adapted to engage said segment :to swing the support vertically, a scoop carried by said support and movable therewith about said axis from a position at the bottom of the trench to a position above said horizontal axis and beneath the surface of the ground, a horizontal conveyer adapted to receive the discharge from said scoop, and means for swinging the scoop sidewise during the action thereofto make a trench of greater width than the scoop. Y

7. In an excavating machine, the combination of a frame, an excavating device having direct operative connection therewith and movable vertically over the breast of the excavation, and a continuous conveyer for removing the material thrown backwardly from said excavating device when the latter is in its raised position, said conveyer comprising belt and intermediate mountings therefor, an end mounting swinging vertically about the intermediate belt mounting to cause the adjacent end of the conveyer to move with the excavating device. I

8. In an excavating machine, the combination of a frame, an excavating device having direct operative connection therewith and movable vertically over the breast of the excavation, and a continuous conveyer for removing the material thrown) backwardly from said excavating device when the latter is in its raised position, said conveyer comprising belt and intermediate mountings therefor, an end mounting swinging vertically about the intermediate belt mounting to cause the adjacent end of the conveyer to move with the excavating device, said movement of belt and excavating device being through an angle in excess of ninety de recs.

9. In an excavating machine, the com ination of a frame a vertically swinging scoop support carried thereby, a scoop carried by said support and connections between said scoop and said su port composed of rigid members conneQse to ield when the scoop encounters the breast o the excavation in its return movement.

10 In an excavating machine, the combination of a swinging support mounted to operate about a horizontal axis, a scoop on the end of said support provided with cutting devices adapted to operate upon the breast of a trench as said support is swung upwardly, a segmental gear rigid with said support, and a pinion to engage said gear to operate the scoop up and down, in combination with a conveyer extending from said scoop to the rear end of the machine and adapted to receive excavated material pitched backwardly thereon from the scoop when the latter is in raised position, means on said support to carry a portion of said conveyer, and other means for sup rting the balance of the conveyer in a fixe plane during the operation of the scoop.

11. In an excavating machine, thecombination of a swinging support mounted to operate about'a. horizontal axis, a scoop on the end'of said support, a segmental; gear rigid with said support, and a pinion to engage said gear to operate the scoop u and down, said scoop being pivotedon sai support, a link connection extending to the scoop, a hand lever pivoted on said axis to operate said link connection, thereby to change the position of the scoop on the support, and means to hold said lever in adjusted position.

12. In an excavating machine, a support mounted to swing up and down about a horizontally disposed axis, a scoop on the end of said support, an endless conveyer on said support to carry the load away from said scoop, gearing operating about said axis to swing the support up and down, means on said axis to support the upper portion of said conveyer, and means below said axis to support the lower portion of said conveyer,

whereby both the upper and lower portions of the conveyer are flexed when the support swings up and down.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 22nd day of April, 1918.

JAMES C. FRENCH.

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