US3224119A

US3224119A - Earth moving scraper

Info

Publication number: US3224119A
Application number: US276254A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilmoth John Howard; Harry L Wilmoth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-04-29
Filing date: 1963-04-29
Publication date: 1965-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-21
Also published as: GB1024757A

Description

Dec. 1965 J. H. WILMOTH ETAL 3,224,119

EARTH MOVING SCRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29. 1963 We um aw JOHN HOWARD W/L MOTH HARP) L WILMOTH //V Vf N TOPS a) .4 77'ORNEVS Dec. 21, 1965 J. WILMOTH ETAL 3,224,119

EARTH MOVING SGRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1963 mi 3 3 1m: QM om 1 n 15 2 E 8k m9 .8\

1955 J. H. WlLMOTH ETAL 3,224,119

EARTH MOVING SCRAPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 29, 1963 JOHN HOWARD W/L MOTH HARP) L W/L MOTH INVENTORS ATTORNEYS I om mm v9 United States Patent 3,224,119 EARTH MOVING SCRAPER John Howard Wilmoth, 5756 N. Flora, and Harry L. Wilmofh, 6289 N. 1st, both of Fresno, Calif. Filed Apr. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 276,254 19 Claims. (Cl. 37-9) This invention relates to an improved earth moving scraper of the reel and bowl type and more particularly to such a scraper incorporating a floating reel in conjunction with excavating depth control means affording continuous, selective adjustment.

Previously known earth moving scrapers of the reel and bowl type have been found to be of limited utility due to their inability to provide substantially continuous adjustment of the depth of the earth excavating blade normally incorporated in such scrapers. Such scrapers are conventionally propelled by a prime mover, such as a tractor, and in certain forms, the tractor may be incorporated into the scraper to form an integral earth moving unit. Although previously known scrapers of this type have been capable of satisfactory performance if operated in a restricted arena offering a uniform environment, various types of soil are usually encountered at different depths in any given excavating environment. Due to their inability to provide depth control, which is continuously selective and capable of immediate variation during loading operations, the utility of previously known scrapers has been severely limited. In addition, their design results in operational characteristics which do not permit full utilization of the tractive effort of the prime mover, due to the limitation in the rate of loading, as well as their earth carrying capacity.

The earth moving scrapers of this type normally employ a transporting bowl disposed internally of an annular reel which elevates the earth to the bowl. To effect a dumping of the earth so elevated by the reel, the bowl must be rotated through a predetermined arc of movement. Previously known scrapers of this type have been observed to require a considerable range of movement between loading and dumping positions, thereby further reducing their efficiency.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved earth moving scraper of the reel and bowl type which has a marked increase in efficiency as compared with known scrapers.

Another object is to provide an earth moving scraper of the reel and bowl type having excavating depth control means which aflords continuous selective adjustment.

Another object is to provide such a scraper having a higher rate of earth loading than that attainable by previously known scrapers of a similar type.

Another object is to provide a reel and bowl type earth moving scraper which permits, throughout a wide range of operational environments, full utilization of tractive power of the propelling means.

Another object is to provide in an earth moving scraper having a cutting blade, means to damp shock forces transmitted by the cutting blade upon encountering obstructions in the excavating zone during loading.

A further object is to provide improved earth dumping and spreading capabilities in an earth moving scraper of the reel and bowl type.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an earth moving scraper embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the scraper of FIG. 1 shown in an earth loading position.

ice

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the scraper of FIG. 2, taken on line 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the scraper in an earth transporting position in full lines, and in a dumping or unloading position, illustrated fragmentarily in dashed lines. A second scraper is shown fragmentarily in tandem trailing position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation showing shock absorbing means incorporated in the scraper of FIG. 1.

Referring in greater detail to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the scraper of the present invention includes a draft structure 10 which provides a forwardly extended gooseneck member 11 integrally joined with a rearwardly extending yoke 12. The yoke includes a transversely extended draft tube 13 and a pair of laterally spaced rearwardly projecting yoke arms 14 rigidly secured to the tube. The forward end of the gooseneck member 11 is pivotally joined by a draft connection 20 for substantially universal movement in relation to a prime mover fragmentarily illustrated at 21. The draft connection 20 is adapted to accommodate variations in the surface topography of the earth as it is sequentially encountered by the prime mover 21 and the trailing scraper during earth traversing movement. To facilitate such traversing movement, the prime mover is provided with a pair of earth engaging drive wheels 22 coupled by suitable power transmission means, not shown, to a source of power, also not shown, such as a contemporary internal combustion engine. To perform certain operational functions subsequently to be described, it is a conventional practice to incorporate a source of power on the prime mover 21 and means selectively to transmit such power to stations remote from the prime mover. In conventional earth moving equipment, such a source of power is in the form of a pressure fluid system including a hydraulic pump and control valve schematically illustrated at 23. It is to be understood that suitable flexible transmission conduits, such as hydraulic hoses and the like, are normally provided and are included in the scraper of the present invention. However, they have not been shown in detail for reasons of clarity in illustrating other portions of the invention.

The scraper of the present invention also provides a trailing support member 30 including a central strut 31 disposed intermediate a pair of laterally opposed struts 32. The relative sizes and positions of the

struts

31 and 32 can more clearly be seen in FIG. 1. The struts are rigidly secured, as by welding, to a transversely disposed rear axle member 33. Suitable bearing means, not shown, provide individual axes of rotation for ground engaging wheels 34, said axes being aligned transversely of the mobile vehicle formed by the draft structure 10 and the trailing support member 30. The support member 30 also includes a transversely extended tube 35 having a pair of laterally spaced forwardly projecting arms 36 rigidly connected thereto to form a forwardly extending yoke. Each of the arms affords individual respective distal ends 37 interconnected by an elongated, transversely extended frame member 38. Each of the arms 36 supports a respective upwardly projecting lug 40 rigidly secured thereto, as by welding. The lugs 40 are each pivotally connected by a pin 41 to a respective one of the arms 14 of the yoke 12. The pins thereby afford an axis of relative pivotal movement between the draft structure 10 and the trailing support member 30.

A main hoisting ram 45 is provided with suitable hoses 46 connected by means (not shown) to the pressure fluid system 23 and alternately serve as supply and return lines 10 for pressure fluid to actuate the ram 45. The ram is pivotally connected to the gooseneck member 11 at the cylinder end by a pin 47. The ram includes an extensible piston rod 48 pivotally connected by a pin 49 to a pair of forwardly projecting lugs 50 carried by the frame member 38. Accordingly, appropriate extension and retraction of the ram is effective to cause relative pivotal movement between the draft structure 10 and the trailing support member 30, and consequent selective control of the elevation of earth excavating means subsequently to be described.

An earth receiving hopper 55 is supported on the trailing member 30 for rocking movement about a transverse pivotal axis by suitable pivot pins 56. The pins 56 are supported in laterally opposed axially aligned relationship by individual bearings in the form of pillow blocks 57 rigidly secured to the yoke arms 36 of the trailing support member 30. The hopper 55 includes spaced side Walls 60 rigidly interconnected by an arcuate combined bottom and rear Wall, thereby to form a receptacle capable of transporting a predetermined quantity of material, such as excavated earth, and selectively discharging, or dumping such material upon appropriate rocking in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings. To facilitate excavation of the earth, the hopper 55 is provided with 21 depending cutting blade 62 rigidly secured to the wall 61 and affording a forwardly disposed earth engaging edge 63. During loading of the scraper, the blade is disposed in an excavating zone with the edge 63 below the surface of the earth, such as the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

To prevent damage to the cutting blade 63 and associated supporting elements, a pair of shock absorbers 65 are arranged in laterally opposed, paired relationship. Each of the shock absorbers is individually connected to the hopper 55 by a hydraulic hopper actuating ram 66 pivotally connected to the hopper by a pin 67.

The structural details of each of the shock absorbers 65 are more clearly shown in FIG. and include a mounting base 70 rigidly secured to the tube 35. An accommodating link 71 is pivotally connected to the hydraulic ram 66 by a pin 72. The link is mounted for rocking movement about a pin 73 carried in an upstanding lug '74 secured to a respective one of the yoke arms 36. A biasing spring 75 engages the mounting base 70 and is in the form of a helical compressio spring held in position by an adjustment bolt 76 which passes through the spring. The adjusting bolt 76 is received in suitable apertures provided in both the base 70 and the link 71 and selectively pre-loads the spring 75 by means of an adjustment nut 77. The pre-load of the biasing spring 75 is maintained by a lock nut 78.

An earth elevating means is provided in the present invention and is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings in the form of a annular reel 80. The reel is provided with a plurality of peripheral, axially extended vanes 81 circumferentially spaced about the reel at uniform intervals of spacing. The radial length of each vane and the circumferential spacing of the vanes is such as to accommodate the rate of earth excavated incident to earth traversing movement of the scraper. The vanes are rigidly maintained in position by a pair of axially spaced circular end walls 82 and a plurality of axially spaced ribs 83 circumferentially extended between adjacent vanes. The reel is supported for rotation about a transverse shaft 84 by means of bearings 85 mounted in a reel hub 86 integrally joined with each of the end walls 82. Accordingly, the shaft 84 provides a transversely extended axis of rotation for the reel 80, the details of which are shown in FIG. 3.

The shaft 84 is supported in the scraper by means of a pair of laterally opposed axially aligned pillow blocks 91), each being individually rigidly connected to a respective one of a pair of laterally opposed floating draft arms 92. Each of the draft arms 92 is connected by a pin 93 to a respective reel hinge base 94 rigidly mounted on a respective one of the arms 36 at a point adjacent to its respective distal end 37.

A semi-cylindrical transport bowl is disposed internally of the annular reel 80. The bowl provides semicircular spaced end walls 101 integrally joined to a peripheral wall 102 extended throughout a predetermined arc. In the specific form of the invention illustrated, the peripheral wall 102 extends throughout an arc of substantially 180 and terminates in respective forward and rearward edges 103 and 1M. As can be seen more clearly in FIG, 2, the forward edge 103 is carried during loading operations at an elevation higher than the rearward edge 1%. The terms forward and rearward with respect to the edges 1113 and 104 are employed relative to the direction of normal movement of the scraper, which is from left to right, as viewed in each of the several figures of the drawingsv The bowl 106 is supported about the transverse axis afforded by the pillow block bearings as by a hub 106 rigidly secured to each of the end walls 161, as by rivets 1117. The hub 106 is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 84 by means of a diametrically extending pin 108 passing through suitable aligned apertures provided in both the hub 106 and the shaft 84.

At each opposite end of the shaft 84, a respective pair of bowl control arms 110 are disposed on opposite sides of the respective pillow block 91), and rigidly, non-rotatably secured to the shaft 84, as by diametrically extending pins 111. Each pair of arms 110 is individually pivotally connected as by pin 112 to a piston rod extended from a bowl dumping ram 114. Each of the rams 114 is individually pivotally connected at 115 to a respective one of the floating reel draft arms 92. Although omitted for purposes of clarity, it is to be understood that both of the hopper actuating rams 66 and the bowl dumping rams 114 are provided with suitable pressure fluid supply and return conduits, such as flexible hoses, not shown. Such conduits are connected with the pressure fluid system 23, and thereby arranged for selective extension and retraction to accomplish their respective functions.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. During loading operations, the prime mover 21 is operated to traverse the earth at a rate compatible with the mechanical characteristics of the earth being excavated. By appropriate movement of the control valves included in the pressure fluid system 23, the main hoist ram 45 is selectively extended to effect pivotal movement between the draft structure 10 and the trailing support member 30. As can be seen in FIG. 2, extension of the ram 45 effects an immediate change in the elevation of the earth engaging edge 63 of the cutting blade 62. Accordingly, the rate of earth excavation is continuously, selectively adjusted to satisfy the characteristics of the earth encountered in the excavating zone of a given environment.

It will also be observed that regardless of the change i elevation of the cutting blade 62 by appropriate extension and retraction of the ram 45, the reel 80 is permitted to be maintained in contact with the surface of the earth being traversed at a uniform earth engaging pressure by reason of the floating reel draft arms 92 being pivotally connected to the yoke arms 36. Consequently, the floating draft arms 92 permit the reel to seek its own elevation in conformance with the surface configuration of the earth being traversed, while the depth of the cutting blade 62 can be adjusted to accommodate the physical characteristics of such earth. Such continuous adjustment of the cutting edge in conjunction with the floating reel 80 per-- mits maximum utilization of the tractive effort available from the prime mover 21 and also increases the efliciency of the scraper during loading operations.

Due to engagement of its peripheral vanes 81 with the earth being traversed, the reel 80 rotates in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. Upon such rotation, each successive vane 81 moves excavated earth rearwardly, upwardly away from the blade 62 and elevates such excavated earth for subsequent deposition in the hopper 55 during the initial portion of the loading cycle. Upon a given quantity of earth being collected in the hopper 55, excavated earth is carried upwardly and rearwardly by the vanes of the reel 80, and subsequently discharged at an elevated position into the open transport bowl 100. By appropriate extension and retraction of the hopper accommodating ram 66, the proximity of the blade 62 relative to the reel 80 can be controlled so that the hopper is at all times in an optimum position for cooperation with the reel in elevating excavated earth from the excavating zone.

In the event that the earth engaging edge 63 of the cutting blade 62 encounters an obstruction during excavating and loading operation, the shock absorbers 65 are effective to decrease the rate of shock force transmitted to the cutting blade and supporting members therefor. Upon encountering such an obstacle, the hopper is rocked about the pivot pins 56 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby compressing the springs 75. The range of spring compression is limited by the predetermined position of the adjustment nut 77, as well as the locations of the pivotal points of attachment 73 for the accommodating links 71 relative to the pivotal connection 67 for the hopper actuating ram 66. During such compression of the shock spring 75, the rams 66 serve as longitudinally rigid connecting links between the shock absorbers 65 and the hopper 55.

Assuming that the loading cycle has been completed and that both the hopper 55 and the internal transport bowl 100 have been filled to desired capacity, the main hoist ram 45 is retracted to raise the cutting blade 62 above the surface of the earth. Simultaneously, the hopper actuating rams 66 are similarly retracted to maintain the cutting blade 62 in close proximity to the reel 80 to prevent loss of earth being transported by the hopper 55 and the bowl 100. It will be noted that sufficient range of elevation of the forwardly extending yoke arms 36 has been provided to permit the arms 36 to engage the floating draft arms 92. Consequently, retracting the main hoist ram 45 will sequentially elevate the cutting blade 62 and raise the reel 80 from a ground engaging position, as shown in FIG. 2, to an elevated transport position, shown in FIG. 4.

The vehicle then proceeds to a dumping area, where the earth being transported is conveniently discharged in a uniform layer by reason of the accurate dumping and leveling characteristics of the scraper. The bowl dumping rams 114 are extended a sufiicient distance to effect a counterclockwise rocking of the bowl 100, as viewed in FIG. 4. It will be observed that such counterclockwise rocking, as indicated by the arrow 125, extends throughout a range substantially less than 90, and in the form of the invention illustrated, is approximately 50. Accordingly, the dumping cycle is shortened to a minimum amount of time due to the relatively short range of rocking movement as compared to previously known scrapers of the same general type.

The spreading of earth discharged by the internal bowl can be accurately controlled by appropriate extension of the main hoist ram 45, and in the alternative or in combination, appropriate extension of the hopper actuating rams 66. Extension of these rams effects a controlled elevation of the blade 62, which functions as a striker during dumping and spreading. By so controlling the elevation of the blade 62, the thickness of the layer of discharged earth can be selectively controlled by the operator of the scraper. To facilitate a complete discharge of the contents of the hopper 55, the rams 66 are extended a sufficient distance to effect a clockwise rocking of the hopper and consequent discharge of its contents.

Accordingly, it will be observed that the present invention provides maximum utilization of the tractive effort of the prime mover employed in the earth moving scraper, minimizes loading time, increases the total earth carrying capacity, as well as minimizing dumping time. In addition, the scraper of the present invention permits loading in unfavorable environments without risking damage to the cutting blade and supporting structural elements by reason of the shock absorbers incorporated in the blade mounting. Also, the improved dumping and spreading characteristics of the scraper increase the overall efliciency and utility of scrapers of this type.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame having a predetermined excavating zone; an earth engaging scraper blade carried by the frame at said excavating zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of said blade and adapted to receive earth at said excavating zone; rotary earth elevating reel means freely rotatably mounted in the frame for rolling engagement upon the earth incident to earth traversing movement of the frame and being disposed forwardly of and in cooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station, including means permitting free floating elevational movement of said reel means independently of the scraper blade in conforming relation to the contour of the earth traversed; and an open bowl carried by the frame and disposed relative to said elevating reel means to receive earth discharged therefrom at said elevated station.

2. An earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame having a predetermined direction of travel; an earth engaging scraper blade mounted transversely in the frame; a rotary earth elevating reel mounted for rotation in the frame about an axis transversely of the frame above and forwardly of the blade, said reel having a periphery disposed adjacent to the ground for rolling travel thereover and adjacent to the blade to scrape earth rearwardly thereover during travel of the frame; a hopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of the blade to receive earth scraped thereover by the reel positioned to accumulate such earth and upon such accumulation to supply earth against the rearward periphery of the reel for elevation by the reel; and a bowl mounted in the frame within the reel having an upwardly disposed opening adapted to receive earth elevated by the reel.

3. An earth transporting scraper comprising a mobile frame having a predetermined direction of travel; a hopper mounted in the frame for pivotal movement about an axis disposed transversely of the frame between a forwardly pivoted predetermined earth receiving position and a rearwardly pivoted predetermined earth discharging position, said hopper having an open forward side and a lower edge; an earth engaging scraper blade mounted transversely of the frame on the lower edge of the hopper; a rotary earth elevating reel mounted for rotation in the frame about an axis transversely of the frame above and forwardly of the blade, said reel having a periphery disposed adjacent to the ground for rolling engagement therewith during travel of the frame and adjacent to the blade when the hopper is in receiving position to scrape earth over the blade into the hopper and to elevate earth from the hopper when earth has accumulated therein; and a bowl having an opening mounted in the frame within the reel for rocking movement between an earth receiving position with the opening upwardly disposed to receive earth from the reel and a dumped position with the opening downwardly disposed.

4. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earth engaging scraper blade carried by the frame at an excavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and said blade to permit limited biasing movement thereof rearwardly in the frame upon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of said and adapted to receive earth at said excavating zone; rotary earth elevating reel means carried by the frame forwardly of said hopper; and means mounting said elevating reel means in the frame for rolling earth engagement in cooperating relationship with said hopper, including means permitting independent elevational movement of said elevating reel means to conform to variations in the surface of the earth encountered during traversing movement of said frame.

5. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earth engaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame including power means adapted selectively to control the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and said blade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frame upon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame and adapted to receive earth excavated by said blade; and rotary earth elevating reel means freely rotatably mounted in the frame for rolling engagement upon the earth incident to earth traversing movement of the frame and being disposed forwardly of the hopper in cooperating relationship thereto so that earth excavated by the blade is elevated to and discharged in the hopper, including means permitting free floating elevational movement of said reel means independently of the scraper blade in conforming relation to the contour of the earth traversed.

6. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earth engaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame including power means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and said blade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frame upon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of said blade and adapted to receive earth excavated by said blade; annular rotary earth elevating reel means mounted in the frame forwardly of and in cooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station; and an open transport bowl carried by the frame and disposed internally of said elevating reel means to receive earth discharged therefrom.

7. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earth engaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame including power means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and said blade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frame upon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame and adapted to receive earth excavated by said blade; annular rotary earth elevating means mounted in the frame in cooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station; an open transport bowl pivotally mounted in the frame and disposed internally of said elevating means to receive earth discharged therefrom; and power means connected to the bowl selectively to move the bowl between a receiving position and a discharging position.

8. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earth engaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame including power means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; shock absorbing means interposed the frame and said blade to permit limited biased movement thereof rearwardly in the frame upon encountering an obstruction in said zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame and adapted to receive earth excavated by said blade; annular rotary earth elevating means mounted in the frame forwardly of and in cooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station, including means permitting engagement of the surface of the earth being traversed in floating independent elevational relation to said scraper blade; an open transport bowl carried by the frame and disposed internally of said elevating means to receive earth discharged therefrom; and power means connected to the bowl selectively to rock the bowl between a receiving position and a discharging position.

9. In an earth moving scraper, a draft structure including a forwardly extended gooseneck member and a rearwardly extended yoke integral therewith and providing laterally spaced arms; a trailing support member including a forwardly extended yoke providing laterally spaced arms terminating in respective distal ends; means pivotally interconnecting the respective arms of said yokes for relative movement about a horizontal transverse axis disposed rearwardly of said distal ends; earth engaging wheels rotatably mounted on said support member and adapting the scraper for earth traversing movement; an earth receiving hopper pivotally mounted on said forwardly extended yoke for rocking movement about a horizontal transverse axis; a hydraulically actuated ram pivotally interconnecting the hopper and said trailing support member for moving the hopper between respective earth loading and dumping positions; a transversely extended cutting blade mounted on the hopper in a depending position and adapted to engage the earth at an excavating zone; an annular reel affording peripheral, axially extended, circumferentially spaced vanes adapted to elevate earth upon rotation of the reel incident to earth traversing movement of the scraper when the reel is in a position engaging the surface of the earth; a pair of rearwardly extended draft arms, each pivotally connected to a respective one of the arms of the forwardly extended yoke of said support member for rocking movement about a horizontal transverse axis located adjacent to the distal ends of said yoke arms; axially aligned bearing means carried by said draft arms adjacent to their rearward ends, said bearing means affording a horizontal transverse axis of rotation for said reel; means mounting said reel in said bearing for rotation about said axis; a transport bowl having laterally spaced end walls and a confining peripheral wall generated about the axis of rotation afforded by said bearings and having a circumferential extent through a predetermined are; bearing means carried by said draft arms and rotatably mounting the bowl thereby affording an axis of rotation for said bowl coincident with said reel axis; a hydraulically actuated bowl dumping ram operatively interconnected between said bowl and one of said draft arms; and a hydraulically actuated depth control ram operatively connected between said draft structure and said support member selectively to control the elevation of said cutting blade in said excavating zone.

10. The scraper of claim 9 wherein biasing means are interposed the support member and said hopper actuating ram to permit limited rocking movement of the hopper and consequent rearward movement of the cutting blade incident to encountering an obstruction during earth traversing movement of the scraper.

11. The scraper of claim 9 wherein said peripheral wall of said bowl is extended throughout an arc of substantially thereby to provide a semi-cylindrical configuration for said bowl.

112. The scraper of claim 11 wherein said peripheral wall terminates in respective forward and rearward edges, said forward edge being disposed at a higher elevation when the bowl is in a loading position, thereby to provide a rearwardly facing earth receiving opening.

1.3. The earth scraper of claim 12 wherein said bowl is arranged for pivotal movement toward a dumping position, the direction of pivotal movement being such that the forward edge of the bowl is moved to a higher position throughout the range of pivotal movement while the rearward edge is concurrently moved to a lower position.

14. The scraper of claim 13 wherein the arcuate range of pivotal movement from a loading position to a dumping position is substantially less than 90.

An earth transporting scraper comprising a mobile frame having a predetermined direction of travel; a hopper mounted in the frame for pivotal movement about an axis disposed transversely of the frame between a forwardly pivoted predetermined earth receiving position and a rearwarclly pivoted predetermined earth discharging position, said hopper having an open forward side and a lower edge; an earth engaging scraper blade mounted transversely of the frame on the lower edge of the hopper; a rotary earth elevating annular reel mounted for rotation in the frame about an axis transversely of the frame above and forwardly of the blade, said reel having a lower periphery engaging the ground for rolling engagement therewith during travel of the frame and a rearward peripher extended into said hopper above the blade when the hopper is in receiving position to elevate earth over the blade into the hopper; and means mounting the reel on the frame in free floating relation to said frame and to said hopper for independent elevational movement in conformity to the surface of the earth traversed.

16. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earth engaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame including power means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame and adapted to receive earth excavated by said blade; annular rotary earth elevating reel means mounted in the frame forwardly of and in cooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station, including means permitting engagement of the surface of the earth being traversed in floating, independent elevational relation to said scraper blade; an open transport bowl carried by the frame and disposed internaliy of said elevating means to receive earth discharged therefrom; and power means connected to the bowl selectively to rock the bowl between a receiving position and a discharging position.

17. An earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame having a predetermined excavating zone; an earth engaging scraper blade carried by the frame at the excavating zone; a hopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of the blade and adapted to receive earth at said excavating zone; rotary earth elevating means freely rotatably disposed in the frame forwardly of the blade and hopper in cooperating relationship thereto so that earth excavated by the blade is elevated to and discharged in the hopper by the earth elevating means; and means mounting said elevating means on the frame in free floating relation to said frame and to said hopper for independent elevational movement in conformity to the surface of the earth traversed.

18. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame; an earth engaging scraper blade; means mounting the blade on the frame for controlled elevational movement, including power means selectively to control the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; a receiving hopper mounted in the frame rearwardly of said blade and adapted to receive earth at said excavating Zone; rotary earth elevating reel means mounted in the frame forwardly of and in cooperating relationship with said hopper and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station; and an open transport bowl carried by the frame in substantially vertically spaced relation to said hopper and disposed relative to said elevating reel means to receive earth discharged therefrom at said elevated station.

19. An improved earth moving scraper comprising a mobile frame including an elongated forward draft structure, a trailing hopper support member; means pivotally interconnecting the support member and the draft structure for relative movement about a transverse horizontal axis; an earth engaging scraper blade carried by said hopper support member; power means interposed said draft structure and said hopper support member to effect relative pivotal movement about said transverse axis thereby selectively to control the elevation of the blade at an excavating zone; a receiving hopper mounted in said support structure rearwardly of said blade and adapted to receive earth at said excavating zone; an annular rotary earth elevating reel means carried by the frame for rolling engagement upon the earth incident to earth traversing movement of the frame and disposed forwardly of and in cooperating relationship with said hopper and said blade and adapted to elevate earth received from said excavating zone and to discharge said earth at an elevated station located forwardly and above said excavating zone; and means for mounting said earth elevating reel means on the frame to permit independent elevational movement of the reel means in conformity to the surface of the earth being traversed.

References flited by the Examiner FOREEGN PATENTS 1/ 1903 Austria. 2/ 1945 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.