Tunneling-Machine. Page: 4 of 7
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UITED STATESP4TENT OrRE
FRANK L. DANA, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.
TUNNELING-MACHINE.Specification of Letters Patent.
Patented Dec. 30,1919.
Application filed May 27, 1918. Serial No. 236,841.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, FRANK L. DANA, a
citizen of the United States, residing at
Houston, in the county of Harris and State
5 of Texas, have-invented certain new and use-
ful Improvements in Tunneling-Machines,
of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to new and useful
improvements in a tunneling machine.
10 The object of the invention is to provide a
cutter head which carries suitable cutting
means and associated with which is a conical
shaped shell, which receives the loose earth
and directs the same to a conveyer by means
15 of which the earth is conveyed to the mouth
of-the tunnel.
Another object of the invention resides
in the provision of means for rotating the
head, said means being also operatively con-
20 nected with a carrying vehicle, by means of
which the machine is supported and driven
forward against the breast of the tunnel be-
ing cut away.
A further feature of the invention resides
25 in the provision of means whereby the direc-
tion of the machine may be varied, thus per-
mitting a change in the course of the tunnel
being excavated.
With the above and other objects in view,
30 the invention has particular relation to cer-
tain novel features of construction, opera-
tion, and arrangement of parts, an example
of which is given in this specification, and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
35 wherein:
Figure 1, is a side elevation of the ma-
chine.
Fig. 2, is a rear end view, thereof.
Fig. 3, is a front end view, and
40 Fig. 4, is a vertical sectional view.
Referring now more particularly to the
drawings, wherein like numerals of refer-
ence designate similar parts in each of the
figures, the numeral 1, refers to a tractor
45 frame supported by a caterpillar tractor 2.
The upper part of this frame is formed into
a long bearing 3, and extending through this
bearing is the drive shaft 5, to which the sec-
tional sleeve 4 is keyed. The numeral 6, re-
50 fers to a motor, having a base 7, which is
provided with a long bearing through
which the rear, or outer end of the shaft ex-
tends. Secured to the motor base, and de-
pending therefrom, are the supporting arms
55 8, 8, and secured thereto and extending up-
wardly are the arms 9, 9, the said arms be-ing formed into bearings 10, 10, and 11, 11,
in which the respective axles 12 and 13 ro-
tate. Fixed to these axles are frusto-conical
shaped guidewheels 14, 14, and 15, 15, which 60
havethe annular flanges 16, 16, and 17, 17.
The wheels 14 and 15 bear against the walls
of the tunnel and the flanges cut into said
wall as the machine moves forwardly. The
motor base has the lateral arms 18 18, ex- 65
tending therefrom on opposite sides, and
whose free ends carry the rollers 19, 19,
which bear against the sides of the tunnel.
The arms 8, 9, and 18 are adjustable, thus
providing for the vertical and lateral ad-' 70
justment of the rear end of the machine,
and thus providing means for guiding the
machine and determining the course of the
tunnel, as well as providing means for sup-
porting the motor and the rear end of the 75
drive shaft. Fixed to the, motor shaft is a
spur gear wheel 20, which is in mesh with
the corresponding spur gear wheel 21, which
is fixed on the shaft 5, through which rota-
tion is imparted from the motor to the said 80
shaft. The drive shaft 5 also carries a bev-
eled gear wheel 22. which is fixed thereon,
and is in mesh with the pinion 23, which
is fixed to the upper end of the vertical
shaft 24. This last mentioned shaft is ro- 85
tatable in a vertical bearing carried by the
frame 1, and is operatively connected with
and drives the tractor 2. The forward end
of the shaft 5 terminates in a spiraled point
26, which to some extent directs the course 00
to the tunnel and steadies the machine and
also cuts out the center of the .bore. A cir-
cular cutter head 27 is mounted on the shaft
5, the required distance behind the point 26.
This cutter head is formed of a heavy circu- 95
lar metallic plate, whose outer edge carries
an annular flange 28, formed into the in-
ternal gear face 29. Within the flange 28,
is an annular bearing rim 30, which is car-
ried by the head, and within which fits the ro
enlarged end of a conical shaped shell 31.
The apex of this shell is formed into a
bearing 32, into which the outer end of the
sleeve 4 extends, the rim 30 and the bearing
32, forming anchors, which fix the shell in 105
position, and hold it in its proper relation
to the cutter head 27; and suitable anti-
friction means between the rim 30 and the
shell 31 may be provided if found necessary.
The cutter head may be rotated by any 110
suitable mechanism, which may be found
best adapted to rotate the same. Ordinarily1,326,480.
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Dana, Frank L. Tunneling-Machine., patent, December 30, 1919; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1259501/m1/4/: accessed June 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.