US2956353A - Elevator scraper - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1960 A. w. HANNER ETAL ELEVATOR SCRAPEZR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVkNTORS @5101.

Allen W Hanner Joseph C. Krafky Filed NOV. 25, 1957 1950 A. w. HANNER ET AL 2,956,353

ELEVATOR SCRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1957 Allen W Hanner I 1 Jo h Km), 1A VEATORS mm mm on mm mm wv & X 9

Oct. 18, 1960 A. w. HANNER EIAL 2,956,353

ELEVATOR SCRAPER 1N VEN TOR$ Y Ammo 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Allen W Hanner Joseph 0. Kr k) Filed Nov. 25, 1957 United States Patent F ELEVATOR SCRAPER Allen W. Hanner, Bellwood, and Joseph C. Kratky, Columbus, Nebr., assignors to The Soil Mover Corporation, Columbus, Nebr., a corporation of Nebraska Filed Nov. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 698,502

' l 4 Claims. c1. 37-8) This invention relates to earth moving equipment and more particularly to an elevating scraper.

An object of this invention is to provide an earth mov- 2,956,353 Patented Oct. 18, 1960 7 the blade of the machine body. Preparatory to unloading, the hydraulic cylinders extending between the yoke and the main frame are adjusted so that the desired distance between the bottom of the body and the grade is obtained, this representing the thickness of fill which is to be applied. Then the machine is moved forward and ing machine which possesses the combination of a loading elevator so that a given amount of dirt can be loaded into the body of the machine with considerably less power than required by a conventional scraper, and a push-offejector to unload the body uniformly over the edge of the cutter blade at the front of the body. The result is that for unloading, the machine body can be set to a selected height above the grade and the ejector will uniformly move the dirt from the body while the body and blade function as a levelling device for the soil.

- Our scraper possesses many general advantages over commercially available equipment and the structure which we use to illustrate an embodiment of our invention possesses a number of unique features.

the ejector moved smoothly and at a uniform speed from the rear part of the body to the front or bladed end thereof. In this way high centering is virtually impossible and unloading is achieved with a lower power requirement.

Other objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side view of an elevator scraper which is constructed in accordance with the invention, the body of the machine shown in the fully raised position, as for transit.

Figure 2 is a top view of the machine in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic view showing the hydraulic circuit of the machine.

bottom dump method of dirt ejection that has numerous disadvantages. The depth of spread or fill cannot be controlled except by forward motion of the machine itself, or by regulating the hydraulic controls. Neither way is accurate to any substantial degree. With the bottom dump it is possible to high center the machine by dirt dumping out of it extremely fast and building from the ground up into the bowl, thereby causing the machine to be high centered. In the instance where they are being pulled by wheeled tractors it is necessary for the operator to either dig it out or get more traction power to free the unit. In dirt conditions that are sticky, the loads of dirt either completely hang up in the bucket, or will drop out at irregular intervals as the machines bounces along and shakes the dirt loose.

We avoid these difliculties and objections by the pushoff ejector. The blade of the bowl or body of our machine can be set to any predetermined height above the ground because there are means furnished for this purpose. The dirt is shoved off of the machine by pushing it over the front or cutting edge of the blade. levels the dirt to a uniform thickness while the ejector pushes all of the dirt out at a uniform rate of speed, eliminating all sporadic dumping. With ground left rough, such as will be the case by bottom dumping, a considerable damage is done to equipment and it is necessary to go behind the scraper and level off the area.

The elevator scraper has a frame that is supported by ground engaging members, as wheels, at one end and by hydraulic cylinders at the other end on a part of a yoke. The yoke constitutes a part of a dolly which is to be drawn by a tractor or other source of traction power. The frame of the machine is pivoted between its wheel supported end and its hydraulic lift supported end 'by pivots at the extremities of the sides of the yoke. By virtue of this construction the frame is capable of being adjusted with respect to the ground level for cutting, loading and unloading.

We have mounted an elevator conveyor with, what we consider to. beunique controls, above the blade of the machine body and in such a manner that the elevator can Figure 4 is a side view of the machine of Figure 1 but showing it adjusted and used to scrape a surface. Figure 5 is an elevational view of the machine showing it in the unloading position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a front view of our machine.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown a machine 10 which exemplifies the principles of our inven- The blade I tion. The machine is an elevating scraper and has a main frame 12 constructed of structural framework and supported by ground engaging members, as wheels 13 and 14 on axle 15 that is carried at the rear end of frame 12. The front part of the frame is connected to dolly 18 consisting of Wheels 19 and 20 on an axle 22 that is connected with yoke 24 by a fifth wheel 25. Tongue 26 that has a coupling 27 adapted to connect to a traction device, is braced and secured to axle 22. Yoke 24 has a cross member 29 together with parallel sides 30 and 31 fixed at the ends of the cross member. A goose neck 32 is secured to cross member 29 intermediate its ends and is operatively connected with the fifth wheel 25. Lift cylinders 33 and 34 are pivoted to cylinder hangers 35 and 36 that are fixed to cross member 29 and that are located between the sides 30 and 31 of yoke 24. Cylinders 33 and 34 are pivoted to the front ends of the side main frame members 38 and 39 which extend forward ofthe trusses 40 and 41 and to which the body or bowl 42 of the scraper is attached. Upstanding brackets 43 and 44 are secured to the main frame members 38 and 39 in the region of the trusses 40 and 41. Pivots 45 and 46 are in these upstanding brackets 43 and 44, and also in apertures in the ends of the yoke sides 30 and 31, thereby pivotally connecting the main frame 12 to the sides of the yoke at a location intermediate the front and rear ends of the main frame.

The bowl or body 42 of the machine has a pair of sides 48, 49 and a reinforced bottom 50 attached to the lower parts of the sides. The front of the bowl is open, and there is a cutter blade 51 attachedto the front end of the bottom 50 at a declination to the bottom. The rear of the bowl is open and is occupied by a push-off ejector 52 with a lower edge 53 that is very close to the surface of the bot-tom 50. The side edges of ejector 52 are very close to the sides 48 and 49 of the body 42,

The elevator rests upon Push-off cylinder 54 has its forward end in well 55 which is formed in the ejector 52. The opposite end of push-off cylinder 54 is fixed to the frame 12 by a number of diagonal braces 57 (Figure 2) which extend from cylinder 54 to the rear end of the framework. When the cylinder 54 is operated, the ejector moves forwardly to push the soil from the bowl, sliding it over the cutter blade 51.

Elevator 66 is mounted on the trusses 40 and 41 by being connected to vertical supports 61 and 62 that are fixed to the trusses '40 and 41. The elevator consists of an endless conveyor that'has two chains 63 and 64 whose upper and lower ends are mounted on upper and lower pairs of sprockets 65 and 66. The sprockets 65 are secured to shaft 67 that is mounted for rotation in bearings 68 and 69 (Figure 2) on supports 61 and 62. A fluid or mechanical transmission 70 is on support 62 and is drivingly connected to shaft 67 through a flexible coupling 71. Cleats 72 extend across the chains and are secured to them. The lower pair of sprockets are mounted for free rotation on or for rotation with shaft 74 that is carried in bearings of rectangular frame 75. This frame is located within the elevator chains and has openings at its upper end freely receiving shaft 67. Accordingly, the longitudinal axis of the shaft 67 establishes an axis of pivotal movement for the frame 75 and the elevator carried by it.

The elevator is actuated through shafting 78 which is drivingly connected to the transmission 70 by a universal joint. There is another universal joint in the shafting at the fifth wheel 25 and another near the fifth wheel to permit the dolly 18 to be operated as such when drawn by a tractor. The shafting is driven from the power takeoff of the traction vehicle thereby causing the elevator to be actuated.

There are means for raising the elevator '60 independent of the adjustment of the main frame with respect to yoke 24. These means comprise an elevator lift cylinder 80 that has one end pivoted to the cross member 29 of yoke 24 and has a pulley 81'on its opposite end. A cable 82 has one end anchored to the yoke and is entrained over pulley 81. The so-called end of the cable 82 which is attached to yoke 24 is actually an intermediate part of the cable leaving one end portion which passes over pulley 81 and a guide pulley 83 that is carried by a mounting bracket 84 on side 31 of the yoke. An upright pulley 85 on bracket 86 of side 31 guides the cable portion to a terminal connection on rod 87. This rod is welded or otherwise fixed to one side of frame 75. The other portion 88 of cable 82 is entrained over pulley 81 and pulley 83 and over pulleys 89 and 90 which are carried by side 30 of yoke 24 and which correspond to pulleys 83 and 85. Portion 88 of the cable is attached to rod '91 that is secured to frame 75 and that protrudes laterally therefrom. Rods 91 and 87 are in axial alignment and they function not only as a means by which the cables are attached to the elevator but also as a means for establishing a lower limit of travel of the elevator. This is achieved by having them rest on stops 92 and 93 that are secured to the inside surface of the main frame members 39 and 38 (Figure 2). Therefore, the elevator can be lowered by gravity to the lowermost position (Figure 4) with respect to the frame. The frame 12 of the machine can be lowered farther than the position shown in Figure 4, however, the elevator retains its lower limit of travel with respect to the main frame.

In use of our machine, the transportation adjustment is shown in Figure 1. Here the elevator 60 is in the lowermost position with respect to the main frame 12, and the main frame is raised to its highest position to give the greatest ground clearance. At this time shafting 78 is disconnected, as by being de-clutched at the tractor power take-off.

For taking a cut, the desired depth of cut is selected by actuating the lift cylinders 33, 34 insuch direction as to depress the frame 12, enabling the elevator 60 to be lowered with it. Ejector 52 is returned to the rearmost position in the body 42.by the double acting pushoif cylinder 54. In moving rearward as well as moving forward, the ejector 52 is constrained in its travel by guide 95 which has a wheel assembly 96 constrained to travel in tube 97. The tube is attached to the rear end of the frame 12 and guide rod 98 is secured to the rear part of ejector 52. Slot 99 isin the tube 97 and hasa. part of the assembly 96 passed through it.

With the ejector in the rearmost position (Figure 4) and the elevator in the lowered position, the cutter blade 51 makes the cut as the machine moves forward. When the soil accumulates in front of the cutter blade 51 and builds up to sufiicient height to be contacted by the elevator, the elevator propels the soil rearwardly, preventing too great a build up at the front of the bowl of the machine. tion power.

When an immovable object or comparatively hard object (a stone) is met, the elevator is capable of lifting over it because the cable 82, 88 provides a lower limit but yields insofar as upper limit of the elevator is concerned. The elevator can swing about the upper shaft 67 as an axis of pivotal motion and thereby ride over any large objects which are to be received in the scraper body 42.

When the body becomes filled, the operator selects the height at which he wishes the soil to be distributed by operating the lift cylinders 33, 34. Then, the machine is moved forward (Figure 5 the elevator lifted by actuation of the elevator lift cylinder 80 and the ejector is moved forward at a uniform rate of speed. This evenly distributes a uniformly thick or uniformly thin layer of soil as the machine moves forward. When completely unloaded, the operator again adjusts the machine to make another run.

The hydraulic circuit has suitable valves 100 and 102, ordinary pipe lines and a conventional pump and tank. One feature of the hydraulic system is that the elevator lift cylinder 80 and the push-off cylinder 54 are locked for dependent operation. When valve 102 is operated, the elevator lift cylinder 80 is first actuated because it requires less pressure than the push-01f cylinder 54. When the elevator lift cylinder 80 has reached the extent of its travel and has thereby raised the elevator to the uppermost position, the oil pressure continues to build up until sufiicient pressure is available to operate the cylinder 54. This moves the ejector forward and as it so.

moves the soil falls over the blade 51 and spreads. When the unloading is completed, the push-off cylinder 54 is returned to its rearmost position by again operating valve 102. The elevator remains in the raised position during the return of the apron because it is held by means of pressure relief valve 104 connected in the hydraulic cylinder line next to the cylinder 81. When the push-01f cylinder 54 is completely retracted, oil pressure builds in the line and at the desired pressure level, the pressure relief valve 104 opens and thereby permits the elevator 60 to lower. At this time the machine is ready for reloading. It is understood that the valves 102 and 100 can be conveniently located on the traction vehicle.

It is understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. Therefore, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In an earth moving machine, the combination of an elongated frame having front and rear ends, means for raising and lowering said frame relative to the ground, a scraper bowl carried by said frame and having an open front provided with a scraper blade, a rearwardly inclined endless conveyor having its upper end pivotally mounted on said frame above an intermediate portion of said bowl for raising and lowering movement, the lower This enables complete loading with less trac-- end of said conveyor being disposed adjacent said scraper blade when the conveyor is lowered and substantially at the top of the bowl when the conveyor is raised, power means for raising said conveyor, an ejector provided at the back of said bowl and slidable forwardly therein substantially to said scraper blade, power means for sliding said ejector, and means operatively connecting said first and second mentioned power means whereby the second power means are actuated in response to and upon completion of actuation of the first power means to slide said ejector forwardly after said conveyor is raised.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said means operatively connecting said first and second power means include means for retaining said conveyor in its raised position by the first power means until said ejector is slid rearwardly in said bowl by the second power means.

3. In an earth moving machine, the combination of an elongated frame having front and rear ends, means for raising and lowering said frame relative to the ground, a scraper bowl carried by said frame and having an open front provided with a scraper blade, a horizontal shaft extending transversely of and rotatably journalled on said frame substantially above said scraper bowl and intermediate the front and rear ends of the latter, a pair of transversely spaced elongated conveyor frame members pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said shaft for raising and lowering movement and extending forwardly and downwardly into the open front of said bowl when in their lowered position, a second shaft rotatably mounted in the lower ends of said conveyor frame members, pairs of transversely spaced sprockets provided on the first and second mentioned shafts, a pair of endless 6 chains passing around said sprockets, a set of spaced cleats extending transversely of and secured to said chains, power means for rotating the first mentioned shaft for driving said chains whereby earth accumulating in the open front of said scraper bowl may be picked up by said cleats and propelled rearwardly in the bowl, and means for raising and lowering said conveyor frame members.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for raising and lowering said conveyor frame members comprise a cable anchored at one end thereof to said frame and connected at its other end to one of said frame members, a power cylinder carried by the frame and including a reciprocable piston rod, and a pulley rotatably mounted on said piston rod and operatively engaging an intermediate portion of said cable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,537,558 Schultz May 12, 1923 2,172,672 Daniels Sept. 12, 1939 2,181,760 Le Bleu Nov. 28, 1939 2,269,502 Wilson et a1 J an. 13, 1942 2,458,274 Kadz Jan. 4, 1949 2,464,098 Pittlick Mar. 8, 1949 2,495,336 LeTourneau Jan. 24, 1950 2,565,850 Hyler et a1 Aug. 28, 1951 2,650,440 Quartullo Sept. 1, 1953 2,677,202 Gustafson May 4, 1954 2,791,041 Hancock May 7, 1957 2,795,872 Wardle June 18, 1957 2,844,892 Carston July 29, 1958

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