IL32867A - Drive structure for flight-type elevator - Google Patents

Description

m as nznn-yloa nmn naaa DRIVE STRUCTURE FOR FLIGHT TYPE ELEVATOR DEERE & COMPANY This invention relates to the drive structure at the uj >er end of an elevator of the type mounted on the forward open end of It has heretofore been known to provide a flight-type elevator at the forward end of a scraper bowl and to drive the , flights by means of hydraulic motor means that is drivlngly connected, to a drive shaft extending.' between a pair of transversely \ spaced drive sprockets at the upper end of an elevator. Such a drive, is shown and described, for example, in U. S. patent 3,.l43,8l4 which issued to P. M, Bri.nkmeyer et al on 11 August 1964. Also, it is known to provide a relativel high-speed rotary-type hydraulic moto for driving the upper drive shaf .

However, in the latter drives there is required a speed-reducing drive that permits the elevator drive shaf to be driven at B relatively slov; speed. The speed-reducing drive exists between the hydraulic motor and the drive shaft and is normally a gear drive contained in a suitable housing. The hydraulic motor and gear housing are supported on the elevator frame externally of •one end of the drive shaft. A flywheel is also associated with the motor shaft and it also, is supported at the end of the elevator drive shaft. Consequently there is considerable drive mechanism to one side of the elevator. This creates an unbalanced condition in the entire drive assembly. Since it is completely outwardly of the elevator, the structure or casings surrounding 3 the various drive mechanism must be rather large and cumbersome.

This gives a rather awkward appearance to the entire scraper.

Also the additional weight on that side of the scraper makes a le ¾ as well as the scraper itself, ^ Summary "of the Invention , With the above in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a torsion-transmitting structure at the upper end of the elevator that includes a pair of end sprockets and rigid torsion-transmitting structure extending between the sprockets. The latter structure has an enlarged hollow section or casing disposed between the two sprockets. The hollow section has an outer periphery smaller than the sprockets so that the. chain flights may pass around the enlarged portion. Contained 'within the enlarged portion is a speed-reducing gear drive and a flywheel, both of which are driven by, a central drive shaft concentric to the. casing. The drive shaft is drivingly connected to a motor supported just outwardly of one of the sprockets. The motor- housing is carried on the elevator frame and is held against rotation. Consequently the entire structure and enlarged casing portion drive the sprockets.

It- :1s also an objec of the invention to provide in com ina-tlo with the above a mounting for the upper drive structure that permits. self-positioning. of the sprockets and casing structure. This is done by providing articulate connection between opposite ends of the drive structure and the main frame which permits self-positioning of the drive structure. By such an arrangement there is. alleviated the stresses that would occur if rigid connections were provided between the drive structure and frame. This is particularly important for the reason that the transverse torsion-transmitting structure that extends between the sprockets Is In fact the main drive for the sprockets. Therefore, any prestressed condition in the structure plus the torsional forces that drive the structure, sprockets and elevator could cause premature or early failure.

— Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a tractor and scraper utilizing the elevator structure which is the subject matter of the present invention. · - ,· , : Fig. 2 is a side yiev; of the elevator structure.

Fig. 3 is. plan view of the elevator structure.

Fig, 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along- the line..4~-4 of Fig. 2.

... Fig. 5 is a side view of a support between the drive sprocket structure and the main frame as taken substantially alon the , line I5--5 of Fig. 3.. 1 .. · Desc iption o the Preferred Embodiment ... '·■ A tractor 10 has a, pair of front steerable wheels 11, 12 and a pair of rear traction wheels 13, 1 carried on a. transverse rear axle structure 15. The tractor 10 includes an elongated tractor, body 16 with a forv;ardly disposed engine or main power source mounted under a hood 17. To one side of the engine hood or housing 17 is an operator's station, indicated only partially by the steering wheel 18.' Supported by and formed above the tractor axle 15 is a structure defining a universal hitch 19 for connection to a trailing-type scraper implement indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 20. The scraper is composed of a material container or bowl having upright sides 22 interconnected at their lower edges by a floor structure shown only partially in Fig. 1 at 23. The bowl is open at its forward end and has an upwardly inclined elevator .24 extending across the open front of the bowl. As is conventional, there is a cutting edge along the front* transverse edge of the bowl and the elevator operates in a anner so that the material passing over the edge is elevated or conveyed rearwardly into the rear section of the bowl. The scraper 20 is connected to the hitch device 19 so that the entire implement may move vertically as well as^ laterally. The hitch a gooseneck forward section 26 directly and articulately connected to the hitch 19 and a pair of leg portions, one being shown at 27, extending rearwardly for connection to the upper edges of the sides 22, The latter side beams are interconnected to the lower forward edges of the side walls 22 by means of hydraulic cylinders 23, 29 which may be extended and retracted for purposes of raising and lowering the entire bowl.

The elevator 24 is composed of an elongated inclined main frame 30 including an upper horizontal transverse beam 31 and rigid and, rearwardly projecting arms 32, 33 pivotally connected a ' 35 to upwardly projecting bracket lugs 37 on the upper edges of the sides 22 respectively, A pair of side beams 33, 39 extend downwardly to a lower elevator end. The side beams are connected at their lower ends to a lower transverse beam structure 40. A pair of b ams 41, 42 Is rigid with and projects outwardly of the side beams 33, 39 adjacent their lower ends and contacts stops, not. shown, on the sides 22 so as to limit downward movement of the, frame 30. As will be readily apparent from viewing Pig. 1, the entire elevator 24 has a floating relation to the bowl and will move both upwardly and longitudinally to accommodate the material passing Into the bowl. The conveying mechanism on the elevator i3 composed, of a pair of longitudinally extending continuous chains 43, 44 mounted over idler sprockets or chain guide means 45, 46 at the lowe end of the elevator frame 30, A second set of idler chain guides 47, 43 is provided on the respective 3ide beams 33, 39, The guides 47, 43 are carried on arms 50 pivotally connected at 51 on bracket structures 52. The arms 50 are bifurcated at their connection to the respective guides 43 and receive links 53. The bracket structures 52 are provided with a eeries of arcuately spaced openings 4 and the links 53 may be connected to any of the respective openings to thereby , . chains ,43, 44 are interconnected by rigid transverse fllght^ele-ments 55.

. Supported on the upper end of the elevator frame 30 is a transversely extending sprocket drive structure, indicated in its entirety by the re erence numeral 6o. The structure 60 is disposed above the transverse beam 31. The beam 31 has at its left end and Just inwardly of the arm 32 a rearwardly projecting channel structure 61 composed of upper and lower structural plates 62, 63 respectively that are triangular in shape and are interconnected by edge plates 64, 65. The plates 64, 65 converge to an upper : re : apex portion that has welded' internally thereof a tubular socket 66 that opens; upwardly and rearwardly toward the left outer end of the drive structure 60, A- transverse plate Gf ej.tar.Us between tho roar edgeo of the plafeoa 6 <¾ and Miivn ao an.end •to the- aoekct 66.

The beam 31 has adjacent its right end and just inwardly of the arm 33 & rigid rearwardly projecting channel structure 70 composed of upper and lower plates 1 72 respectively Inter-connected at their edges by structural plates 73, 74. The plates 73, ■■·. 7 converge rearwardly and all o the plates 71 - 74 have welded thereto a cast socket member 75 with an internally machine-finished pivot opening or socket 76. The socket or pivot 76 extends upwardly and rearwardly and opens upwardly and rearwardly to the right outer end of the drive structure 60. The left end socket member 66 swivelly carries therein a support 77 for the left end of the structure 60, The right end pivot structure 75 carries therein a support 78 for supporting the right end of the drive structure 60. .

" Referring now to Fig. 4, the drive structure 60 is composed of a pair of transversely spaced drive sprockets 80, 8l that receive the uppe ends of the chains 3, 44 respectively. The ; , y o - sm g structure 82. The latter structure includes a transverse horizontal tubular section 83 that has an end adjacent the sprocket 80 and has fixed to that end a radial flange 84 lying inwardly of the sprocket SO and bolted thereto at 85, The structure 82 further includes an enlarged portion or casing 86 that is round in cross section and is formed about the axis of rotation of the two sprockets 30, .31, it being- understood that the sprockets 30, 81 are adapted to move about a common axis. The casing 86 has a right end extension 87 with a right end radial flange 88 lying inwardly of the right-hand sprocket- .81 and bolted thereto at 89. A ■•flywheel.-easing 90,'. is. bolted; a * 91 to the left end of the enlarged. por io or casing, 36. Thev lywheel casing 90 is bolted at 92 to' a radial plate -93 tha is. elded to and extends outwardly from the right end of the structural tube 83. A web 9 closes the left end of the flywheel casing 90.

Extending axially in respect to the axis of rotation of the sprockets.80, 8l is drive shaft means in the form of an elongated axially extending shaft 100.. The shaft extends axially through the casings.86, 87 and into the flywheel casing 90. The shaft 100 is jou naled on its innermost end by a bearing 101 carried on a support 102 that is ixed to the casing 86. The outer end of the shaft 100 is carried on bearings 103 which in turn are carried on an axially extending support member 104 that projects from an axial Inner end inwardly ofx the casing 86 to an outer end outwardly of the sprocket 81. The support 104 has a lug portion 105 thereon that is pinned at 106 to a bifurcated end 107 of the suppor † that connects that end of. th drive structure to the transverse beam 31. Journal means in the form of thrust bearings 103, 109 are carried internally of the casing extension 87 and permit rotation of the entire torque-transmitting structure 82 in respect to the supports 104, 7 . It should here be recognized 106. A snap ring 110 is provided on the inner end of the support 104 and a nut 111" is threadedly mounted on the support 104 externally of the bearings 103, 109. By tightening the nut 111 the · bearings 103, 109 may be adjusted.

Fixed to the support 104 by bolts 112 is a main power source in the form of a hydraulic moto 113. The motor 113 may be of any o many commercially sold.. It has a drive shaft 114 extending in an axial alignment with the shaft 100, The shafts 100, 114 are coupled by a coupling ring 115. The hydraulic motor is controlled by suitable control means adjacent the operator's station on the tractor.;.10 and, fluid is · Introduced-.into the motor by flexible hose-s' 116 so . that the motor and: drive shaft may be driven in either direction, .. .. . . ·. . " A,--flywheel.- 120 is supported to rotate with the inner end of the shaft 100. Adjacent that end of the shaft.100 and fixed thereto is a sun gear 121. The sun gear 121 is the initial drive connection to the entire speed-reducing drive means that is disposed- in the casing 86, The speed-reducing drive means Includes a pair of. axlally spaced planetary gear drives with the first gear driv including the sun gear 121 fixed to rotate with the shaft means 100, a ring gear 122 mounted on the casing 86, and planet gears 123 that have one gear section 124 engaging the sun gear 121 and a second gear section 125 engaging the ring gear 122. The ring gear 122 operates as a restriction against movement of the planet gear 123, . carrier 126 for the planet gears 123 is fixed at 127 to the sun gear 123 of the second planetary gear arrangement. A carrier 129 for planet gears 130 of the second planetary gear arrangement is held against movement by a splined joint 131 with the support 104. The ring gear 132 of the aecond planetary gear drive is fixed to the casing 36 and will cause rotation of that' casing 86 upon rotation of the basic drive shaft gear 122 to rotate. However, the direction of rotation le &uch that, it will cause the carrier 126 to reduce the rate of rotation of the sun gear 128, Consequently the two planetary gear arrangements will cause the entire- casing 86, the torsion-transmitting structure 82, and the sprockets 80, 8l to rotate in unison.

Reviewing Fig. .4 in its entirety, it should be noted that there are many joints between the casings S3, 86, 87 and between the. flanges 84, 80 and 88, 81 that may create misalignment of the bearings at the end of the drive sprocket structure. The bearing arrangement on the rightrhand end has been previously described. On - the,' left-hand end there is provided rigid plate 135 that is bolted- b bolts 85 to the' outer surface of the sprocket 80.

Extending outwardly om the - plate 135 is a bearing shaft 136 having a reduced end 137 receiving a bearing 138 carried in a bearing housing 139, The housing 139 has a pair of axially t-xtendlng lugs l40, l4l projecting outwardly ror its surface. The. support 77 is provided with a pin end l4i> that is received in the socket, 66 and a ring end 146 that Is loosely received around the housing Ί39, The ring 146 has internal notches 147 therein that, receive the . lugs 140,, l4l ... The notches do not tightly grip the lugs and there is considerable free play between the housing 139 and the ring portion 146. The ring portion 146.will therefore not retain the bearing housing 139 in a rigid or fixed position in respect to the frame 30. ..

As mentioned previously, due to the various joints in the torsion-transmitting structure 82, the bearings 138, 103, 101 could' be slightly out of axial alignment. They could be slightly eccentric to one another. Should the entire torque-transmitting structure 82 be slightly out of axial alignment, unless the entire structure 60 is supported in a free or floating manner, there would be considerable stresses applied in the structure 82. It supported on pivot means that includes the pivot pin 10β and the pin portion 148 of the yoke 10J that fits into the socket f6.

Reviewing Fig, 3> it becomes apparent that the entire structure ' 60 may swivel longitudinally of the frame 30 by slight movement about the pin Ιθβ, Similarly the structure.60 may swivel normal to the frame 30 by shif ing about the socket joint 76, 143. By having the support 77 loosely · support the bearing housing 139, any/ misalignment of the axial structure 60 will be compensated for by the articulate connections in the supports at opposite ends of the structure 60. Thus, there will be no stress in the various parts of:,the. torsion-transmitting structure 60 other than those created by the torque load created by the motor 113, I . should also .-be» noted; that the support adjacent the motor 113, v.'hlle articulat in nature, is nevertheless constructed of pivots that have close tolerances. Therefore, there will not be a jerky motion due to starting, stopping o reversing the direction of rotation of the motor, In other words, the end of the structure that supports the motor is firmly mounted on the frame 30. Thus, the entire torque-transmitting structure 60 Is free to self-position itself if fo -any reason there is misalignment betv/een one end and the other end of the structure. 32867/2

Claims (7)

1. A drive structure for a flight-type elevator comprising: a hollow casing for driving the elevator and having connection means on one end adapted to be rotatably mounted in a fixed frame; a support member having connection means adapted to be connected to the frame and extending axlally into the other end of the hollow casing providing a bearing that rotatably supports such other end; a drive shaft, one end of which is adapted to be rigidly connected to a motor and the other end of which extends into an axial bore in the support member and is rotatably supported therein by a bearing cooperable with the support member and by a bearing cooperable with the hollow casing; and a planetary speed-reducing gear system contained within the hollow casing, the input to the system being coupled to the drive shaft and the output of the system being coupled to the hollow casing.

2. A drive structure according to Claim ! including a pair of spocket wheels1 for driving separate continuous chains interjoined by flight elements, which wheels are connected to the hollow casing at the respective axial ends thereof*

3. A drive structure according to either of Claims 1 or 2 wherein a fly-wheel Is rigidly connected to the other end of the drive shaft,

4. A drive structure according to any of the preceding claims wherein the connection means on one end of the hollow casing is such as to allow the axis of the drive structure to adjust Itself relative to the frame. 32867/2 mm H ·»

5. ^ A drive structure according to any of the preceding claims wherein the connection means on the support member is articulated to allow the axis of the drive structure to adjust itself relative to the frame.

6. A drive structure according to Claim 5 wherein a: motor housing is rigidly attached to the support member* the output shaft of the connected to the drive

7. A drive struc above by way of example drawings. DMSiCB