Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's

[rustybucket]

[IMG][/IMG]

Hello,
Another refugee from ‘Garden Trucking’ would like to squeeze in to this splendid engineering forum. It’s good to see that in spite of the efforts of career politicians we still have some very skilled people around. Some of the stuff makes me really jealous. If the RC diggers, trucks and bulldozers had been around fifty years ago I might never have wanted to grow up ! Life would have been a permanent playtime.

My own particular interest is in cable excavators and the last five years have been spent building an 1/8 scale excavator influenced by a Marion -111-M /Lima 1201. It started out as Marion but then I got really interested in the machinery layout of the Lima -1201 which although not as simple is a very clever arrangement of the gearing. Fortunately I hung on to my collection of catalogues from which I gained layout information but it is mostly scratch built developing dimensions as I go along and making the odd detail drawing when necessary. The revolving frame is made up of two twin sets of ‘castings’ which are machined out of solid to house the turntable rollers and mounting lugs for hook roller bogies. These are then mounted between side frame plates which at the front make up one of the boom feet each side. As you can see it’s quite a lump. The crawler frames are approximately 26 inches in length and 18 inches wide, turntable gear diameter 12.5 inches. Overall Length of the revolving frame with the tail end section will be around 36 inches but has yet to be determined by back end design and power unit requirements. I would guess the weight is in the region of 230 lbs as it stands but will increase quite a bit even with two sets of track pads. I’ll let you know when I get around to putting it on the scales.



Head on view from front showing boom feet , front hook roller bogie mounting bracket and front turntable roller pins


Another view from the front also showing some internal construction detail of the truck frame


Machining underside of frame stretcher


View of front hook roller and machined swing ring gear


unfinished drumshaft with winding drum clutches


front drumshast showing main transmission gear


clutch housing showing cooling louvres


trial mesh of large gear and left hand clutch housing gear assemblies


Front view with detail of crawler drive tumblers


Almost complete. Final machining to be done after test assembled to mating components


Front sub component assembly after machining deck


Showing back of roller mounting carriage with aperture for inner end of roller shaft bearing block and block
before it is fitted into place for maching in situ. Location for bolting carriage to front main component can
also be seen. These holes are later recessed for roller clearance. When machining is completed the bearing
apertures also allow access to tighten the countersunk securing screws.


Both bearing blocks inserted and roller mounting shafts in place


This view of the back shows the front frame stretcher anchor bolted in place. This secures the bearing blocks
althogh they are a snug fit anyway


Tumbler ready to remove flange and turn over


Flange removed and ready for machining other side


First machining position on reverse side of drive tumbler


Part machned tumbler mounted ready for removing surplus webs of metal btween driving lugs
Position of one set of four quartering holes can be seen in this view


Machining in progress


Cleaned out slots


First stage of relieving driving lug flanks tilting milling angle to 25 degrees. Comparison before
and after relieving can be easily compared.


Relieving of driving lugs completed on one side and ready for turning over


Tumbler flanks been relieved and driving lug is ready to have quartering location removed.


Driving lug finish machined.


Completed driving tumbler.

PLEASE NOTE ALL MACHINING HAS BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE AID OF A SAFETY NET, PARACHUTE OR KNEEPADS: !

[modelman]

Hi Rustybucket-welcome to the forum! Good to see you are making progress on your shovel. Keep the pictures coming!

[9W Monighan]

I wondered where you went to. Maybe you'll wear some rust off your bucket showing us your work. I haven't seen any of your progress for quite some time. Look here guys,Another fine example of building a model without the help of CNC machinery. You're definitely inspiring me to build a shovel next. Only problem,not sure what model? Possibly a Bucyrus-Erie 120B since I have lots of info on that model.

[Papy]

Originally Posted by 9W Monighan

.... You're definitely inspiring me to build a shovel next. Only problem,not sure what model? Possibly a Bucyrus-Erie 120B since I have lots of info on that model.

Come on, Steve, join us in the cable shovel builders club

[kerst]

GREAT! I have no other words for this! Welcome!

Kerst

[Car5858]

Welcome rustybucket, excellant craftsmanship you have there.

[doodlebug]

Welcome aboard, you have a new home! thank's for sharing this outstanding project!
Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

[Jared]

Wow, this is great! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more!

[rustybucket]

Many thanks for all your kind comments. It's good to be in such exalted company. I'm sticking some more pics up over the next few days. There's a few of them so it may take a while to sort through them. Any questions please just ask.

[SmallHaul]

Welcome Rustybucket! another Cable excavator fan

I can't see the pics?

[SonoranWraith]

Nice and glad you joined up to showcase the work!

[dirtpusher9]

WOW, nice work, and dedication. Can we see a pic of the real one, to compare? What is the weight of the progress so far, and what do you estimate the final weight will be? What will you power it with? Looking forward to more from you.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by dirtpusher9

Can we see a pic of the real one, to compare?

Here's a Marion 111M in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e19A4lVhLI

Lima 1201: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43905040@N06/5340706056/
Lots of other great pictures of old iron as well.

[rustybucket]

Hi Smalhaul,

I'm not sure why you can't see the pictures. I've copied the url for you though and posted it in the address bar and it takes you straight to the page with them all on. Here it is:-


http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ead.php?t=2703

Let me know if it doesn't work but you best bet is to get hold of admin.

Regards

rustybucket

[SmallHaul]

Originally Posted by rustybucket

Hi Smalhaul,

I'm not sure why you can't see the pictures. I've copied the url for you though and posted it in the address bar and it takes you straight to the page with them all on. Here it is:-


http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ead.php?t=2703

Let me know if it doesn't work but you best bet is to get hold of admin.

Regards

rustybucket

Thanks Rustybucket I wasn't logged in and that is why they didn't show.

Fantastic work! Great pics, should be a good heavy digger when done.

[rustybucket]

It has been a while since my last visit to the forum but I have not been completely idle. Just put up some pictures of how I made the drive tumblers. Couple more pics to follow shortly. Lot of time spent on doing three hook roller bogies which have still to be mounted. Latest job has been machining four swing/propel clutch housings together with their driving gear blanks. I hope it will not be too long before I can start cutting the teeth.

Sad news to start the year with the passing of Freddygeardrive. Far far to young and with all that talent. I'm sure he will be missed.

[D8R]

Sorry to say but had missed this one earlier, will follow progress closely now!

Wow, a lot of machinering in only one piece, had to look at frame many times to see all work put into this. How will track pads be done?

Dan

[rustybucket]

Hi Dan. The track pads wil be done very carefully!! I have not drawn them up yet but they will be 4 1/2 inches in width which equates to 36 inches full size. I have a to marry features of full size machines with detail that can be machined without difficulty and look realistic when completed so I still need some more thinking time before which I need to tidy up the design of the inside boom feet and do some more machining on the hook roller mounting lugs. I would also like to cut some gear teeth on the cluch drives but it will all be as the mood takes me. Thank you for your interest. I'll post some more pics as and when.

Geoff

[JensR]

Hi Geoff!

I've seen your wonderful machine at the Bristol show!


(click to go to photo page, click photo there for larger view.)

I wanted to chat to you, but missed you in the end
I was there with the model truckers, I have the model motor grader - we were just opposite of your table.
But at least we now meet here!
Great excavator!

Best wishes
Jens

[doodlebug]

Hey Jens, thank's for sharing your picture's!
Cheer's, Neil.