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Model of the under-sluice gates and plan of excavators.
Model of tlie oblong wells, scaffolding, and shallowwell
excavator.
Model of the round-well and deep-well excavator.
Drawings (4 sheets) illustrating the constniction and
the working of Fouracre’s various excavators.
The methods of working Fouracres’s various exeavators
are thus described by their inventor :—
The action of the shallow well or block excavator
is very simple. It is slung over the well or place to
be excavated or to he sunk by tackle and pulleys
worked by a windlass, or any other winding apparatus,
from any convenient form of Staging or from
a boat, bärge, flat, or pontoon. If used for deepening
channels, rivers, reservoirs, or harbours, it is
lowered with the jaws in the open position tili it
rests on the bottom, the attendants (one or two) step
on the platform, and one with his feet releases the
spring-crank or catch. The windlass men at once
wind up; but the weight of the men keeps the connecting
rod and scoop from rising tili the jaws have
closed; it is then full of sand, gravel, mud, or other
soil; then all rise together. The two men step off
on the sides of the well or platform, and a full bücket
rises to the level. They sway it over the sides of
the well or place being excavated, on a platform,
point, or otherwise at the side of the well or place
being excavated, and pull smartly at the lever, the
jaws open, and the crank-catch holds them so, the
sand, mud, or soil falls out, and the apparatus is
then ready for lowering again and in its proper
Position to bite another load.
Fouracre’s excavator for stiflf soil—This excavator
is lowered into the well in the open position by the
rope attached to the ram, as shown in the drawing.
When the machine reaches the ground the ram
descends to the " top collar,” the chain that suspends
the spear or central rod of the machine is kept moderately
tight to keep the machine vertical; the ram
is then worked similar to the monkey of a pile-driver
until.the claws have closed; it is then drawn up
with its load, In case it brings no load with it, it
can be lowered several times to break up the soil,
and then any of the other excavators can be lowered
to bring up the excavated soil. This machine acts
like a pickaxe for the other machine.
Fouracre’s deep-well excavator.—The deep-well
excavator is very simple. It is lowered into the well
or place to be excavated by a chain or rope over a
pulley attached to a staging with a ridge-pole, and
drawn up by men with or without windlass. It is
lowered into the well open, and the hook attached to
the pulley pin is put into the hole in the end of one
of the scoops, the men wind or pull up a few inches;
the hook then takes the strain brought on it and
keeps the jaws open until it touches the ground;
the strain is thus taken off the hook, and it drops
out of gear. The excavator is then drawn up, the
jaws closing and Alling before they leave the soil.
Weights are attached to make the jaws take the
ground and All better in hard soil, but they can be
dispensed with in light soft soil. On the machine
rising to the top of the well another chain, having
previously been adjusted to the proper length, is
hooked on to the top hook of the collar, the hoisting
chain is then paid out a little, and the excavator
Swings to the side, opens its jaws, and discharges its
load. The attendant will then put the hook out of
gear and hoist the machine a few inches to relieve
it from the chain adjusted to open it; it is then
ready to be lowered again to bite another load.
It can be lowered 45 feet in a well and will bring
up a load 38 times in one hour by manual labour.
By steam power I have had no experience with it.
It can be worked to any depth, and is considered the
best excavator in use in India.
Extract from a report on foundation block sinking,
by Mr. G. R. Long, Executive Engineer, Dehree
Division, dated 13th June 1870.
Cost of sinking 1,000 cubic feet of ma- na. a. p.
sonry by Mr. Fouracres’s excavator;
time three days - - - 7 11 3
Ditto by Jham and Diver, native method;
time 26 days - - - - 63 9 0
Ditto by ditto as per Captain Goodwyn’s
rate - - . - - 37 9 0
Ditto at Mohun Bridge, Grand Trunk
Road, in the same district - - 225 2 6
Djtto at Putroo Bridge - 148 2 5
Ditto at Rahary Bridge with the sand
pump- .... 651311
Ditto from Captain Cautley’s Roorkey
Manual of Well sinking - - 72 10 6
Average cost of the above method - 102 2 7
Average cost by “ Fouracres’s Excavator ”
for a period of three seasons, working
on the River Sone, anicut foundation 7 11 3
Cost of one excavator - - - 30 0 0
G. H. Faulkner, C.E., Executive Engineer, Cuttack
Workshop Division, Public Works Department,
Bengal, Irrigation Branch.
A series of drawings of machinery, &c. connected
with the Orissa Irrigation Works.
G. H. Faulkner’s “A” strut and sensitive catch for
back shutters of Pattia Weir, f size.
Explanatory diagrams of the working of double
shutters, scale § in. = 1 ft.
Side under-shiice shutters for Juggutpore-Beropa
anicut, and side sluice for Mahanuddy anicut,
designed by G. H. Faulkner, scale \ in. = 1 ft.
Calingalah bridge for Somepore, Taldunda Canal,
Mahanuddy, i in. = 1 ft.
Calingalah bridge for Somepore, Taldunda Canal,
Mahanuddy, J in. = 1 ft.
G. H. Faulkner’s equilibrium culvert sluice valve for
lift locks, 1 in. = 1 ft.
Plan of upper lock gates and lifting gear for Somepore,
Mahanuddy division, 1 in. = 1 ft.
E. I. I. & C. Co.’s No. 3 lock, Kendraparra Canal,
upper gates, 1 in. = 1 ft.
No. 3 G. H. Faulkner’s patent equilibrium culvert
valve, li in. = 1 ft.
E. I. I. & C. Co.’s lifting gear for lock gates, designed
by G. H. Faulkner, 4 in. = 1 ft.
G. H. Faulkner’s patent “ Ekdum ” valve, 1 in.= 1 ft.
Head-lock gate, Jobra, with G. H. Faulkner’s patent
balanced valve, 1 in. = 1 ft.
Bridge over tail bay of lock, Kendraparra Canal,
designed by G. H. Faulkner, 1 in. = 1 ft.
Bridge over tail bay of No. 1 lock, Mahanuddy, designed
by G. H. Faulkner and R. Nunn, 1 in. =
1 ft.
Model of G. H. Faulkner’s patent vertical face valve
with inclined rails.
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