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Description: |
| Most of the patents prior to 1836 were lost in the Dec. 1836 fire. Only about 2,000 of the almost 10,000 documents were recovered. Little is known about this patent. There are no patent drawings available. This patent is in the database for reference only.
“Specification of a patent for a machine for Ditching, or Excavating Ground for Canals, or other purposes. Granted to George Henricks, Urbanna, Champaign County, Ohio, August 5, 1829.
I make a carriage, or frame, with four wheels, the front wheels being made and fixed in all respects like those of a common wagon. Under the body of the carriage, a plough, with the mould board, of any of the known forms, is fixed so as to extend along between the hind and fore wheels, the land-side of the plough standing in a line with the centre of the bed of the carriage, or frame, so that the mould board may reach nearly to one side; it is also to be depressed sufficiently below the wheels to turn up the required quantity of earth. In order to remove the earth as it is turned up by the plough, there are a number of elevators, or boxes, made usually of strong sheet iron, somewhat in the manner of the elevators of a flour mill, but much larger. These elevators are attached to each other, so as to form an endless band, or chain, the boxes being connected to each other by means of strong links. These elevators are made to revolve by passing them round two revolving shafts, or rollers, one of which is fixed as near to the mould board of the plough, as will allow the elevators to pass round: this stands longitudinally with the carriage and plough. The other roller is fixed by proper frame work above, and extending to a distance beyond the side of the carriage. When this chain of elevators is made to revolve as the carriage is drawn forward by horses, or oxen, the earth which is ploughed up is received into the elevators, is by them raised and carried beyond the side of the ditch, so as to be delivered, or thrown upon the bank, or it may be thrown into carts, or on to staging, in the digging of canals.
In order to cause the shafts to revolve, upon which the excavators are sustained, the lower of these shafts is geared to one of the hind wheels, from which teeth, or cogs, project inwards, so as to take into teeth, or cogs, which form a trundle upon the end of the shaft; the planes of these wheels, or trundles, standing at right angles with each other. The shaft I generally make square, so that the flat sides of the elevators may exactly fit them on each face, as they revolve. If made round, spikes must project from them in such a way as to check the elevators and prevent their slipping round.
In order to insure the turning of that wheel of the carriage to which the shaft is geared, its periphery, or rim, has a number of projecting spikes of iron, to lay hold of the ground; as, without these, it would slide, instead of turning.
What I claim as new in the above-described machine, is, the use of the elevators, plough, rollers, and gearing, in the manner described. And I do hereby declare that the foregoing is a full and clear description of my said machine.”
Journal of the Franklin Institute Vol. 8, Nov. 1829 pgs. 342-343
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