US3369614A - Carriage for a pneumatic breaker - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1968 G. E. ANTHONY 3,369,614

CARRIAGE FOR A PNEUMATIC BREAKER Filed July 29, 1966 GLENN E. ANTHONY //vv/v r09 5) BUCKHORM BLORE, KLAROU/ST a SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS nite This invention relates to a support and carriage for a pneumatic breaker and, more particularly, to such a support and carriage that will markedly improve the port-- ability of the breaker, drastically reduce the vibration resulting therefrom and significantly reduce operator fatigue.

The operation of a reciprocating pneumatic breaker in the past has been characterized by limited portability and high levels of vibration and operator fatigue. This is inherent in the mechanism, which is heavy and cumbersome. Furthermore, the reciprocating action of the bit as it strikes the work causes a tremendous amount of vibration and requires much strength and effort on the part of the operator to control the breaker. Also, after the breaker has been driven into the work any appreciable amount, a considerable amount of strength is required in order to remove it therefrom. The result of all this has been to make operation of a pneumatic breaker an extremely difficult and tiresome job and the production achieved by its use has been limited accordingly.

It is thus the primary object of the present invention to provide a carriage and support for a pneumatic breaker that will markedly and significantly reduce the fatigue that the normal operator experiences after any appreciable period of use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a carriage and support that will significantly reduce the vibration resulting therefrom.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a carriage and support that will make it possible easily to withdraw the breaker from the work and make it readily portable.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a carriage and support that will increase the amount of work that the average operator can achieve during a working day.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a carriage and support that will utilize the compressed air that powers the breaker to assist in withdrawing it from the work after it has penetrated into the same, thereby to reduce the amount of strength needed by the operator for that particular function.

These and other objects and advantages are achieved by my carriage which comprises a portable base frame adapted to serve as a support for the breaker. A pneumatic cylinder is mounted on the base frame substantially perpendicularly thereto, and the cylinder is supported with respect to the base frame both at its top and at its bottom to assist in the vibration damping above referred to. A piston is disposed in the cylinder and a rod is attached to the piston. The breaker itself is attached to the top of the rod by a support which is adapted to maintain the breaker above the supporting surface and out of contact therewith when the piston is in its fully elevated position. Resilient means are attached to the support for the breaker to maintain the breaker in contact with the supporting surface when the piston is less than in its fully elevated position. Finally, means are provided to introduce compressed air into the cylinder and beneath the piston for optionally raising the piston to its fully elevated position, thereby to withdraw the breaker tates Patent 3,3fi9,6l4 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description and drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pneumatic breaker constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the pneumatic breaker shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pneumatic breaker shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is there illustrated in the form of a carriage 10 for a pneumatic breaker. The carriage 10 consists of a generally triangular base frame 12 formed of structural steel angle irons 13, 14, 15 and 16 welded together as shown. A hollow steel rod 17 is supported near its ends and at the rear of the base frame 12 by the side angles 14 and 15 thereof. A pair of wheels 18 cushioned by pneumatic rubber tires 19 are each journaled in said rod 17 in a manner to be hereinafter described, one on either side of the base frame 12. A support peg 20 is welded to the angle iron 16 at the front end or apex of the base frame 12 to maintain the same in a generally horizontal position, parallel to the supporting or work surface S, which may be the ground or a section of pavement to be broken by the pneumatic breaker. Obviously, the peg 20 could be replaced by a wheel, if such were desired. A support plate 22 is welded to the side angles 14 and 15 of the laase frame 12 to support a cylinder to be described ater.

A pair of vertical tubular steel supporting members 26 are welded to the upper surfaces of the side angles 14 and 15 of the base frame 12, one on either side thereof and directly over the rod 17 and adjacent the wheels 18. The vertical supporting members 26 are joined together approximately at their mid-lengths by a tie bar 28. A pair of curved, generally diagonally extending tubular supporting members 30, 31 are also provided, each of these members being attached near its upper end to the upper end of the corresponding vertical support member 26 and at its lower end to the angle iron 16 at the apex of the base frame 12. The members 30', 31 terminate in hollow hand grips 32, 33, respectively.

A heavy-duty two-way pneumatic cylinder 34 is welded to the support plate 22 and positioned near the front of the base frame 12, as shown. The cylinder 34 includes a pneumatically elvatable piston 38 disposed therein, to the upper surface of which piston is attached a vertical rod 40, as shown. The top 42 of the cylinder 34 is supported to resist vibration by a flexible generally arcuate plate 44 welded thereto and to the support members 30, 31. The plate 44, although flexible, is strong enough to give the top 42 of the cylinder 34 complete stability, lateral as well as vertical, and yet it is not stiff and heavy enough to break under the vibrations to which it is subjected.

A steel right angle bracket 46 is welded by its horizontal leg 47 to the top of the rod 40. The bracket 46 has a vertical leg 48 extending parallel to the rod 40. The vertical leg 48 is strengthened by a rib 49 welded therto. A pneumatic breaker 50 having a reciprocating work entering tool or hit 52 is attached to the vertical leg 48 by means of two U-clamps 54 and nuts 56. The U-clamps 54 are positioned on the breaker 50 so that when the rod 40 is in its fully elevated position, the tool or bit 52 is above the supporting surface S and out of contact therewith. A pair of vertically extending guide plates 60 are attached to the carriage 10 by welding them to the base frame 12, the supporting members 30, 31 and the tie bar 28. Th guide plates 60 furnish lateral restraint for the pneumatic breaker 50. The horizontal leg 47 of the bracket 46 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 64 to which are bolted the'upper ends of two rubber shock cords 66,v the lower ends of which are bolted to an upstanding fiange 68 welded to the angle iron 16 of the base frame 12. The rubber cords 66 urge the tool 52 into contact with the supporting surface S and reduce the amount of the operators Weight heretofore used forthat purpose.

Each of the wheels 18 rotates on ball bearings around a short axle 70 that fits into an end of the hollow rod 17 and is welded thereto as at 72. This method of suspension of the wheels 18 is necessary in order to prevent breaking of the axles which would otherwise occur due to the vibrations to which the carriage is subjected were only one axle provided running completely through the rod 17.

Compressed air for the pneumatic breaker 50 is provided through a main air hose 75. A bleeder line 77 from the air hose 75 is adapted to be connected to the hollow hand grip 33 on the member 31 by a standard quickconnect type of fitting 79. A valve 80 is provided on the hand grip 33 such thatywhen the trigger 81 thereof is actuated, air from the main air hose 75 can pass through the bleeder line 77, into the hand grip 33, and through the support member 31. A conduit 82 is provided to join the member 31 with the bottom of the cylinder 34.

Thus, compressed air which enters into the member 31 passes through the conduit 82 and thence into the cylinder 34, thereby to raise the piston 38, the rod 40 and the pneumatic breaker 50. A restrictor or bleeder valve 86 is provided at the upper end of the cylinder 34 to cushion the rise of the piston 38 therein and a bleeder hole 88 in the support member 31 allows the piston 38 to descend after it has once been elevated, thereby to permit the rubber shock cords 66 to bring the tool 52 into contact with the work.

The operation of the carriage is as follows. After it is wheeled to the site, the breaker 50 is operated in its normal manner, with the exception that it is supported substantially vertically by the carriage instead of by the operator and urged into contact with the work by the rubber shock cords 66 instead of by the operators weight. After the tool or hit 52 has penetrated to the desired depth, the trigger 81 is actuated to permit compressed air to raise the piston 38 and rod 40 as previously described and thus easily withdraw the tool 52 from the work. Should a large amount of force be required, the valve 86 will prevent a sudden upward movement of'the rod and breaker.

I have thus provided a carriage for a pneumatic breaker which is designed throughout to make the same easily portable, and which will reduce vibration to a minimum and operator fatigue correspondingly. Use of the same supply of compressed air that actuates the breaker permits the same to be withdrawn from the work'easily and with the expenditure of much less effort by the operator. It is thus possible for an operator to accomplish significantly more work with a pneumatic breaker supported by the carriage of my invention than when he uses the same by hand. The carriage of my invention therefore will reduce the strength required to operate a pneumatic breaker, and will permit the average operator to achieve amuch higher work output.

In the foregoing description, although the invention has been described with reference to a pneumatic breaker, it would be equally applicable for use with an electrically or gas powered breaker. Therefore, it is to be understood that the specific details shown are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker, comprising:

a portable base frame adapted to serve as a support for said breaker, said base frame including a support plate attached thereto;

a pair of wheels journaled one on either side of said base frame and adapted to run over a supporting surface;

a cylinder mounted on said base frame with the longitudinal axis of said cylinder substantially perpendicularly thereto, the bottom of said cylinder being attached to said support plate;

flexible means to support the top of said cylinder with respect to said base frame;

an elevatable piston disposed in said cylinder;

a. rod attached to said piston;

breaker support means adapted to be secured to a breaker, said breaker support means being attached to the top of said rod, said breaker support means being adapted to maintain such breaker fully'above said supporting surface and out of contact therewith when said piston is in its fully elevated position;

a resilient means attached to said breaker support means for maintaining a breaker secured thereto in contact with said supporting surface when said piston is less than in its fully elevated position; and

means to introduce fluid under pressure into said cylinder and beneath said piston for optionallyraising said piston to said fullyelevated position, thereby to withdraw said breaker from contact with said supporting surface.

2. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 1, further comprising a pair of vertical support members attached to said base frame, one of said support members being adjacent each of said Wheelsyand a pair of diagonally extending tubular support members, the upper ends of said diagonally extending tubular support members being attached to the upper ends of said vertical support members, the lower ends of said diagonally extending tubular support members being attached to said base frame.

3. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 2, in which said means to support the top of said cylinder comprises a flexible horizontal plate attached to said cylinder and to said diagonally extending support members.

4. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 3, further comprising a pair of vertically extending guide plates, theupper ends of each of said guide plates being attached to said horizontal plate at the attachment thereof to said diagonally extending support members, the lower ends of said guide plates being attached to said base frame.

5. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 2, in which said means to introduce fluid under pressure into said cylinder comprises a conduit attached at one end to one of said diagonally extending tubular support members and at the other end to said cylinder.

6. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 5, further comprising valve means in communication with the upper end of said one diagonally extending tubular support member for regulating the flow of fluid into said member, through said conduit and into said cylinder.

7. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 6, further comprising a bleeder hole in the lower end of said one diagonally extending tubular support member to permit said piston to descend after it has been elevated in said cylinder.

8. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 1, in which said breaker support means comprises a right angle bracket, the horizontal leg of said bracket beingattached to said top of said rod, the vertical leg of said bracket being adapted to beattached to a breaker.

9. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as desrcibed in claim 8,'further comprising at least one U-clamp for attaching a breaker to said vertical leg of said right angle bracket.

19. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 1, in which said resilient means comprises at least one rubber shock cord, the upper end of said shock cord being attached to said breaker support means, the lower end of said shock cord being attached to said base frame.

11. A carriage for a reciprocating breaker as described in claim 1, further comprising a restrictor valve in the upper end of said cylinder to cushion the rise of said piston therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Prellwitz 173139 X Hansen 17322 Hohmann et al 173-23 Curtis et al 173-23 Cornett 29937 X Mangeng et al 17323 X FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1939 France.

ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A CARRIAGE FOR A RECIPROCATING BREAKER, COMPRISING: A PORTABLE BASE FRAME ADAPTED TO SERVE AS A SUPPORT FOR A BREAKER, SAID BASE FRAME INCLUDING A SUPPORT PLATE ATTACHED THERETO; A PAIR OF WHEELS JOURNALED ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID BASE FRAME AND ADAPTED TO RUN OVER A SUPPORTING SURFACE; A CYLINDER MOUNTED ON SAID BASE FRAME WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CYLINDER SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY THERETO, THE BOTTOM OF SAID CYLINDER BEING ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORT PLATE; FLEXIBLE MEANS TO SUPPORT THE TOP OF SAID CYLINDER WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE FRAME; AN ELEVATABLE PISTON DISPOSED IN SAID CYLINDER; A ROD ATTACHED TO SAID PISTON; BREAKER SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A BREAKER, SAID BREAKER SUPPORT MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF SAID ROD, SAID BREAKER SUPPORT MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN SUCH BREAKER FULLY ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE AND OUT OF CONTACT THEREWITH WHEN SAID PISTON IS IN ITS FULLY ELEVATED POSITION; A RESILIENT MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID BREAKER SUPPORT MEANS FOR MAINTAINING A BREAKER SECURED THERETO IN CONTACT WITH SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE WHEN SAID PISTON IS LESS THAN IN ITS FULLY ELEVATED POSITION; AND MEANS TO INTRODUCE FLUID UNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID CYLINDER AND BENEATH SAID PISTON FOR OPTIONALLY RAISING SAID PISTON TO SAID FULLY ELEVATED POSITION, THEREBY TO WITHDRAW SAID BREAKER FROM CONTACT WITH SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE.

Images