US3554292A

US3554292A - Control and power operating means for vehicle mounted tool

Info

Publication number: US3554292A
Application number: US715417*A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Lewis
Original assignee: LEIGH A WATERS
Current assignee: LEIGH A WATERS
Priority date: 1968-02-20
Filing date: 1968-02-20
Publication date: 1971-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-12

Abstract

An apparatus for raising and lowering an earthmoving blade of a bulldozer has a control housing supported for rotation about a horizontal axis and relative to the bulldozer and containing signal means and a gravity responsive actuator for operating the signal means to thereby control power means for moving the blade. A control lever operably connected to the housing varies the angular position thereof relative to the front-to-rear attitude of the bulldozer to effect manual control of blade position. A means is provided for releasably retaining the lever in preselected position whereby blade position is automatically altered in response to a change in said front-to-rear attitude.

Description

United States Patent.

William L. Lewis Watertown, Conn.

[2 l] Appl. No. 715,457

[22 Filed Feb. 20, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 12, 1971 [73] Assignees Leigh A. Waters a part interest;

Nelson l-l. Waters Waterbury, Conn. a part interest [72] Inventor [5 4] CONTROL AND POWER OPERATING MEANS FOR VEHICLE MOUNTED TOOL 8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl... l72/4.5 [51] E02f3/85 [50] Field of Search l72/4.5;

94/AEC; 37/A.L. P.B

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,943 11/1951 Ziskal (37/P.B.) 2,583,250 l/l952 Ball (37/A.L.) 2,778,130 l/l957 Gurries et al. 172/45 2,804,883 9/1957 Curlett 9 l/446X 2,873,541 2/1959 Eliason 172/4.5x

3,094,796 6/1953 Atchley 172/45 3,264,959 8/1966 Shea ..(172/4.5 ux)) 3,303,589 2/1967 Rivinius 172/45 3,343,288 9/1967 Fisher 172/45 FOREIGN PATENTS 654,084 12/1962 Canada 94/AEC Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Alan E. Kopecki Attorney-McCormick, Paulding & Huber ABSTRACT: An apparatus for raising and lowering an earthmoving blade of a bulldozer has a control housing supported for rotation about a horizontal axis and relative to the bulldozer and containing signal means and a gravity responsive actuator for operating the signal means to thereby control power means for moving the blade. A control lever operably connected to the housing varies the angular position thereof relative to the front-to-rear attitude of the bulldozer to effect 'manual control of blade position. A means is provided for releasably retaining the lever in preselected position whereby blade position is automatically altered in response to a change in said front-to-rear attitude.

PATENTEDJANI2I97I 3554.292

sum 1. UF 3 WILLIAM L. LEWIS MMW ATTORNEYS- PATENTEDJANRISYI I 8.554.292

' sumsnrs F/GZB- 1 CONTROL AND'POWER OPERATINGMEANS-FOR vEmcLE MOUNTED TOOL,

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates in general to apparatus forcontrolling position of a vehicle mounted tool or the like, and deals more particularly with control and power-operating means for raising and lower a vehicle mounted tool such as the earthmoving blade of a bulldozer.

tool control. The apparatus is relatively immune to vibration encountered in the operation of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIFTION OFDRAWINGS .FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a bulldozer equipped with the control and power-operating means of the present invention; v i

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the control and power-operating means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic side view of a control lever forminga part of the control means; 7 1

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical section through a lower portion of the control lever; i

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top-view ofthe lower portion of the control lever; a

FIG. 6 is a frontview of part of the control meanswith a housing cover removed for clarity ofillustration;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the control means of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear view of an actuator forming a part of the control means,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally as indicatedat9-9inFIG.6;and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of hydraulic lines, valves, etc. forming partof the control and power-operatingmeans,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT lever 16 movable manually by an operator l8-for raising and lowering the blade. F urther,.-the bulldozer comprises a control mechanism indicated generally at 20 and which is connected withnthe control lever 16 at 22 and with a power-operating means, not shown, for the blade 14. The control lever 16, the control mechanism 20, and the power-operating meansoperate in accordance with the present invention "to raise and lower the blade 14 under manual control of the operator 18 and; the said elements can also be adapted for automatic 7 operation wherein the operator l8 merely-establishes a selected position of'the lever 16 for'automatic'operation of the 20 are shown schematically in association with a poweroperating means 24 for'the blade 14.-The lever 16 is movable in one and an opposite. direction or, forwardly and rearwardly,

its lowermost portion and connected at an opposite end por- .tion with the control mechanism 20. Thus, forward and rearward angular swinging movement of the lever 16 is converted to generally linear reciprocable movement of the cable 22.

At its lowermost portion, the lever 16 is provided with a housing 26 supported on a suitable pedestal 28. The housing 26 may comprise two similar halves as best illustrated in FIG. 5 and carries pivot pin 30. The pivot pin 30 has a square central portion, best shown in FIG. 4, andcircular end portions which project through suitable openings in the sides of the housing 26. A radial opening 32 through the pivot pin 30 receives a lowermost reduced diameter portion 34 of the lever 16. The said portion 34 is rotatable within the opening 32 and is held against axial movement relative to said opening as by means of a cotter pin 36. Disposed above the pivot pin central portion 30 is a collar 38 forming a part of a locking device. The lever 16 is preferably also provided with a second collar 40 spaced upwardly from the collar 38 and engaged with an upper portion of the housing 26 adjacent side edges of a slot 42 formed in the housing for the forward and rearward movemerit of the lever. 5

The aforesaid locking device including the collar 38 preferably also comprises firstand second gaskets or bearing members 44,44 best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The gaskets 44, 44 are disposed on opposite sides of the collar 38 and each gasket is provided with a central opening to receive a circular outer end portion of the pivot pin 30. The aforesaid collar 38 fixed on the lever 16 is best shown in FIG; 5 as being slightly oval in plan view. Thus, with the collar in the position shown in FIG. 5, the forward and rearward movement of the lever 16 is unimpeded. When the lever is rotated about its longitudinal axis, however, the collar binds frictionally with the gaskets 44, 44 so as to releaseably lock in a selected angular position of the lever 16. Thus, the lever may be moved to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and then rotated about its axis so as to, be locked in such position. This results in the aforementioned automatic operation of the control and power means. When it is desired to resume manual operation of the lever, it is necessary merely to rotate the the lever'abo'ut its axis to the FIG. 5 position wherein the lever can be moved freely forwardly and rearwardly as desired. Preferably the gaskets are somewhat resilient and the oval shape of the collar 38 is so arranged as td provide for the releasable locking action of the lever on rota tion of the lever about its axis through approximately 30 td 45. This may, of course, vary substantially. Further, it preferred to provide a short transverse handle 46 at the upper .end portion of the lever for ease in forward and rearward The control mechanism 20 comprises a signal devicein? dozer and which controlsthe operation of the signal devicletfi in cooperation with the control member or lever 16..- The-coritrol weight formingpart of the actuator SOisshOWn as-incIud ing a lower portion 58and two similar upstanding side';por--

tiohs

60, 62.

respectively to lower'and raise the blade 14. The aforesaid connection 22 mat .comprisea link or armored flexible cable I as shown connected with'the leverl6'at a point spaced above Further in accord with the presently 'preferi'ed-rpracti control housing 64 is provided and has disposed ther'e the signal device 48 and the actuator .SOJThej hou'sirig64-. 5 shown as comprising a generally rectangular boxlike lenie'rit mounted'on the bulldozer 10 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and having a detachable front cover'wh'ich' is removed in FIG. 6' for clarity of illustration. Thevalv'es 5 4'and' 56 are mounted in fixed position within the housing to pivot therewith. The actuator50 is pivotallymounted in the housing for pivotal movement relative thereto as will be described hereinbelow.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, a mounting plate 66 is provided for attaching the housing 64 to the bulldozer in a desired position, and in FIG. 1 the housing is shown mounted in a presently preferred position on the structure supporting the blade 14. The mounting plate 66 carries a stub shaft 68 on which the housing 64 is rotatably mounted. Small brackets 70, 70 on opposite sides of the mounting 66 connect similar springs 72, 72 to brackets 74, 74 on the housing 64. Thus, the housing 64 is biased to a level or horizontal position on the bulldozer by means of the springs 72, 72 but is rotatably with respect to the shaft 68 against the bias of the springs 72, 72 and at the urging of the aforementioned lever 16 and link or cable 22.

The signal device 48 comprising the valve means 54, 56 is operable by the actuator 50 as mentioned and, more particularly, by means of a small link 76 provided with a slot 78 which extends vertically and receives a small pin 80. The pin 80 is carried by a connecting member 82 which extends between valve stems 84, 86 associated respectively with the valves 54 and 56. Thus, the valve 54 and 56 are operable in unison by means of the actuator 50 and, more specifically, by means of the link 78 on said actuator.

Fluid connections with the valves 54, 56 include highand low-pressure lines and control passageways or conduits 88 and 90.

A high-pressure line 92 extends to branch lines 94 and 96 supplying high-pressure fluid respectively to the valves 54 and 56. A lowor drain-pressure line 98 extends to

branch lines

100 and 102 communicating respectively with the valves 54, 56. As best shown in FIG. 10, the valve 54 has leftand righthand chamber 104, 106 on opposite sides of a piston 108 movable by means of the aforementioned stem 84. Similarly, the valve 56 has left and right-hand chambers 110 and 112 on opposite sides of a small piston or valve land 114 connected with and movable by the aforementioned stem 86. The control passageways or conduits 88 and 90 extend to the aforementioned power-operating means 24 for the bulldozer blade 14.

Considering the actuator 50 in greater detail, the shaft 68 is entered in a small bushing 116 in a T-shaped member 118 of the actuator. More specifically, the bushing 116 is supported in a base or body portion 120 of the T-shaped member 118 to provide for free angular rotation of the actuator about the shaft 68.

Arms

122, 122 of the T-shaped member 118 have connected thereto similar relatively

stiff springs

124, 124 which extend downwardly and connect with the portion 58 of the weight element 58 at 126, 126. Referring to FIG. 8, it will be observed that angularly related members 128, 128 extend upwardly from the

portions

60, 62 of the weight to a rear upper portion of the T-shaped member 118 of the actuator. A slot 130 formed in a center portion of the angular members 128, 128 receives a small pin 132 projecting from the rear of the T-shaped member 118. Thus, the actuator comprising the

members

58, and 62 is unable to rotate relative to the T- shaped member 118 but slight vertical movement thereof relative to the said member is accommodated. The mounting of the actuator in the manner shown contributes to immunity of the control mechanism to vibration encountered in operation of the bulldozer.

As best shown in FIG. 9, a small stop member 134 is provided to engage with an abutment 136 on a rear portion of the member 60 whereby to limit the rotation of the actuator about the shaft 68. Preferably, the stop member is adjustable vertically by means of a slot and screw arrangement 138, 140. A similar stop device is provided at the opposite side behind the member 62. Thus, the travel of the actuating link 76 in one and an opposite direction on rotation of the actuator 50 about the shaft 68 is limited as required to efficiently operate the valves 54, 56.

Referring now to the power means 24 for operating the blade 14, it should first be noted that the said means may vary widely within the scope of the invention. Preferably, hydraulic means is provided and includes a fluid motor or blade cylinder 142 having a piston 144, a rod 146, and upper and

lower chambers

148 and 150. The cylinder 142 is controlled in its operation by means of a pump or valve and, in the embodiment shown, a large valve 152 is provided and operates the cylinder 142 under the control of a small servo valve 154. The valve 152 includes upper and

lower sections

156 and 158 each having upper and lower chambers. An upper chamber 160 in the upper section 156 is defined above a piston 162 and a lower chamber 164 is defined beneath said piston. A highpressure line 166 connects with the upper chamber 160 and a lowor drain-pressure line 168 connects with the lower chamber 164. A line 170 selectively connects the

chambers

160 and 164 with the upper chamber 148 of the cylinder 142 as determined by the position of the piston 162. Upper and

lower chambers

170 and 172 in the lower section 158 of the valve 152 are disposed adjacent a piston 174 and are connected respectively with highand lowor drain-pressure lines 178 and 176. A connecting line 180 extends from the lower section of the valve 158 to the lower chamber 150 in the blade cylinder 142 as shown.

The small servo valve 154 includes a piston 182, lower and upper chambers 184 and 186, and a piston rod 188. The rod 188 extends upwardly and connects with the piston 174 which is in turn connected with the piston 162 by means of a rod cxtension 190. The upper and lower chambers 186 and 184 of the servo valve 154 are connected respectively from the valves 54 and 56.

In operation of the control and power means of the present invention, a machine operator such as 18 may move the lever 16 forwardly and rearwardly in a manual operation as mentioned above. As an'illustrative example, forward movement of the lever 16 results in counterclockwise movement of the housing 64 of the control mechanism 20 whereupon the actuator 50 tends to remain in a level or horizontal position under gravity forces and effectively moves the pistons 108 and 114 in the valves 54 and 56 in the right-hand direction in FIG. 10. The valves 54 and 56 are shown with their pistons 108 and 1 10 in a neutral or hold" position wherein they block the flow of fluid in the control lines 88 and 90. Thus, the blade cylinder 142 is held in position and the blade is stationary as shown. With the rightward movement of the pistons 108 and 114, the low-pressure branch line 102 is connected with the control line and the high-pressure branch line 94 is connected with the control line 88 through the valve chamber 104. High pressure fluid is thus provided for in the chamber 186 and drain or low pressure in the chamber 184 of the servo valve 154, Ensuing downward movement of the piston 182 results in downward movement of the piston 162 and the introduction of high-pressure fluid from the line 166 to the chamber 160, the line 170 and thence the cylinder chamber 148. Downward movement of the piston 174 results in a connection of the cylinder chamber through the line 180 with the chamber in turn connected to drain or low pressure at 176. Thus, the cylinder piston 144 moves downwardly whereby to move the blade 14 downwardly as desired. When the front-to-rear attitude of the bulldozer has changed as a result of the downward movement of the blade to such an extent that the actuating member 76 returns the pistons 108 and 114 to the position shown in FIG. 10, the power means 24 resumes a hold" condition.

In automatic operation, the lever 16 may be moved forwardly and locked in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This results in counterclockwise pivotal movement of the housing 64 as above and in a sequence of operation of the valves 54. 56, the servo valve 154, the main valve 152 and the blade cylinder 142 lowering the blade 14. When the bulldozer has inclined forwardly to again center the actuating member 76, the control and power means will resume a hold condition. Any deviation from the desired front-to-rear attitude of the bulldozer and the desired grade will, however, result in an automatic correction introduced by the control and power means. Thus, if the bulldozer should tilt downwardly from the desired front-to-rear attitude, operation .in a reverse sense from that described above will result and the blade will be raised slightly to maintain the desired attitude and grade. Operation of the control and power means is much more rapid than is attainable under manual operation and the bulldozer may therefore be operated at a higher speed of linear movement.

' The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment has been described, but it will be understood that changes may be made from the construction disclosed and thatthedrawings and'description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part "of i this specification being relied on for that purpose. i

lclaim: V

1. In combination with a vehicle having a movable tool member mounted thereon and power means carried by said vehicle for moving said tool member relative to said vehicle, a control apparatus comprising a control housing mounted on said vehicle for angular movement about a horizontal axis and relative to said vehicle, signal means mounted in fixed position in said control housing to move therewith for controlling movement of said power means, means operably connecting said signal means to said power means, a gravity-operated actuator disposed in said control housingzand responsive to the front-to-rear attitude of said vehicle for operating said signal means, a manually operable control lever, means supporting said control lever for angular movement about a horizontal axis relative to said vehicle, means operably connecting said housing to said control lever for angular movement in response to angular movement of said lever, and locking means associated with said lever for retaining said lever and said housing in selected fixed angular position relative to said vehicle in response to rotation of said lever in one direction about its longitudinal axis and for releasing said housing for angular movement with said lever in response to rotation of said lever in an opposite direction about its longitudinal axis.

.2. The combination in a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 including locking means for releasably retaining said control means in selected positions to place said signal means, said power means and said tool member under the sole control of said actuator.

3. 'In combination with a bulldozer or the like having an earthmoving blade and hydraulically operated power means for raising and lowering the blade, a control apparatus comprising a control housing, means for'mounting, said control housing on said bulldozer for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and relative thereto, fluid control valve means mounted in fixed position insaid'housing, fluid passageway means for connecting said valve means to said power means, a gravity operated actuator disposed in said housing and responsive to the front-to-rear attitude of said bulldozer for operating said valve means to provide hydraulic signals in said passageway means for movement of said power means in one and the opposite direction to raise and lower said blade and for fixed positioning ofsaid power means to retain said blade in fixed position, a manually operable control lever operably connected to said control housing for pivoting said housing about said axis, and locking means associated with said lever for releasably retaining said leverand said control housing in comprises a weight mounted in said control housing for pivotal movement about said control housing axis and relative to said control housing and constructed so as to continuously seek a sin ular angular position under the influence of gravity. 6. At t e comblnation as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuator includes spring means for suspending said weight for pivotal movement about saidcontrol housing axis.

7. The combination as defined in claim} wherein said bulldozer includes a supporting structure mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, said blade is carried by said supporting structure, and said control housing is mounted on said supporting structure.

8. ln-combination with a bulldozer or the like having an earthmoving blade and hydraulically operable power means for raising and lowering said blade, a control apparatus comprising a control housing, means for mounting said control housing on said bulldozer for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and relative thereto, signal means including first and second valves mounted in fixed position in said housing at opposite sides of said axis and a member connecting said first and second valves for operation in unison, fluid passageway means for connecting said first and second valves to said power means, a gravitypperated actuator disposed in said housing and operably connected to said signal means, said actuator being responsive to the front-to-rear attitude of said bulldozer for operating said valves in unison to provide hydraulic signals in said passageway means for movement of said power means in one and the opposite direction to raise 1 and lower said blade and for positioning said power means to retain said blade in fixed position, manually operable control means operably connected to said control housing for pivoting said housing about said axis, said control means including locking means for releasably retaining said control means and said control housing in selected position relative to said bull dozer to place said signal means, said power means and said earthmoving blade under the sole control of said actuator.

P0405) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No- 3,554,292 .Dated January 12, 1971 Inventor) William L. Lewis It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Col. 1, line 8, "lower" should read -lowe ring-;

H line 46', "20". should read --l0; line 74, "mat" should read --may-.

Col. 3,. line 23, "valve" should read --valves--.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of April 1971.

(S AL) Attest;

EDWARDM-ELETQHERJR, WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attest1ng Offlcer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle having a movable tool member mounted thereon and power means carried by said vehicle for moving said tool member relative to said vehicle, a control apparatus comprising a control housing mounted on said vehicle for angular movement about a horizontal axis and relative to said vehicle, signal means mounted in fixed position in said control housing to move therewith for controlling movement of said power means, means operably connecting said signal means to said power means, a gravity-operated actuator disposed in said control housing and responsive to the front-to-rear attitude of said vehicle for operating said signal means, a manually operable control lever, means supporting said control lever for angular movement about a horizontal axis relative to said vehicle, means operably connecting said housing to said control lever for angular movement in response to angular movement of said lever, and locking means associated with said lever for retaining said lever and said housing in selected fixed angular position relative to said vehicle in response to rotation of said lever in one direction about its longitudinal axis and for releasing said housing for angular movement with said lever in response to rotation of said lever in an opposite direction about its longitudinal axis.

2. The combination in a vehicle as set forth in claim 1 including locking means for releasably retaining said control means in selected positions to place said signal means, said power means and said tool member under the sole control of said actuator.

3. In combination with a bulldozer or the like having an earthmoving blade and hydraulically operated power means for raising and lowering the blade, a control apparatus comprising a control housing, means for mounting said control housing on said bulldozer for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and relative thereto, fluid control valve means mounted in fixed position in said housing, fluid passageway means for connecting said valve means to said power means, a gravity operated actuator disposed in said housing and responsive to the front-to-rear attitude of said bulldozer for operating said valve means to provide hydraulic signals in said passageway means for movement of said power means in one and the opposite direction to raise and lower said blade and for fixed positioning of said power means to retain said blade in fixed position, a manually operable control lever operably connected to said control housing for pivoting said housing about said axis, and locking means associated with said lever for releasably retaining said lever and said control housing in selected positions relative to said bulldozer in response to rotation of said lever in one and the opposite direction about its longitudinal axis.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including scale means associated with said lever to indicate positions of said lever corresponding to desired front-to-rear attitudes of said bulldozer.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said actuator comprises a weight mounted in said control housing for pivotal movement about said control housing axis and relative to said control housing and constructed so as to continuously seek a singular angular position under the influence of gravity.

6. At the combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuator includes spring means for suspending said weight for pivotal movement about said control housing axis.

7. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said bulldozer includes a supporting structure mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis, said blade is carried by said supporting structure, and said control housing is mounted on said supporting structure.

8. In combination with a bulldozer or the like having an earthmoving blade and hydraulically operable power means for raising and lowering said blade, a control apparatus comprising a control housing, means for mounting said control housing on said bulldozer for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and relative thereto, signal means including first and second valves mounted in fixed position in said housing at opposite sides of said axis and a member connecting said first and second valves for operation in unison, fluid passageway means for connecting said first and second valves to said power means, a gravity-operated actuator disposed in said housing and operably connected to said signal means, said actuator being responsive to the front-to-rear attitude of said bulldozer for operating said valves in unison to provide hydraulic signals in said passageway means for movement of said power means in one and the opposite direction to raise and lower said blade and for positioning said power means to retain said blade in fixed position, manually operable control means operably connected to said control housing for pivoting said housing about said axis, said control means including locking means for releasably retaining said control means and said control housing in selected position relative to said bulldozer to place said signal means, said power means and said earthmoving blade under the sole control of said actuator.