US1293132A - Shoveling and loading apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

w. K LIGGETT. SHOVELING AND LOADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 19.12.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

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. BE n 1 n 7743571439 aik v w. K. LIGGETT SHOVELING AND- LOADING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18,1912.

\Pate mea Feb. 4,1919.

2 S,HEETSSHEET 2 T all whom it may concern:

work, and manipulated conveyer.

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-WILLIAIM :Kfrreenrr, or COLUMBUS, 01 110, ASSIGNOR TOITHE JEFFREY. MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

, SHOVELING AND LOADING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 18, 1912. Serial No. 721,025.

' Be it known that I, VVILLIAM K. Lioon'r'r,

' citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in shoveling and Loading Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved shoveling and loading apparatus. It is particularly designed for the shoveling or picking up, elevating and delivering of coal or other materials from piles on the ground or floor surfaces. I

The object is to provide a-simplified, light,

but strong and durable, structure for this purpose, one which can be readily moved from place to place, easily brought to its with readiness while being operated. I

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine enfbodying my invention.

with a shovel plate rigidly secured to the inclined frame, an endless conveyer. means for propelling the machine bodily over the ground, means for either lifting the front end, more or less, or causing it to move sidewise one way or the other, and a motor or engine on the main frame connected to the The main frame is indicated as a whole by A. 7 parts. As shown, it has side sills (1) and cross bars (2) and (3) This frame is earned at the rear by a wheel support, there being two supporting ground wheels B, one on each side of the central longitudinal, vertical plane (of the rame, supporting Wheels, an inclined frame. a shovel frame It may be constructed. of any-suitable machine, and these are arranged to give it firm support and prevent it from being displaced laterally. 'Preferably they are in. axial alinement', that is, mounted upon one and the same axis. But there can be varia tions in this respect. They are not track wheels but preferably have wide tires 'and peripheral surfaces whereby they can rest directly upon the ground and can, travel freely in any directiomwithout tracks.

'Upon this frame and its wheelsis arranged an inclined frame C, which extends from points at the ground plane, in front of the wheels B, on lines extending backward and upward above the wheels to points behind them. This frame can be constructed in any suitable way; for example, with main sldesill bars- (5) and suitable cross bars (6). There should be braces 1) such as shown extending from the main frame to and fastened at. points near the rcarupper end of the inclined frame. On. the bars (5) and ((3) there are arranged sheet metal plates 7 having material supportin parts (8) which are extended horizontall and inclined side walls (9). 'By preference there are two of these sheet platesshaped as described. one at each side of the inclined frame. The conveyer, 'to be described, travels in the trough-like space formed by the parts'(8) and (9) and the sill bars (5). -At the center ofthis part of the structure there is a connecting; and covering plate (11) formed of sheet metal and arranged in the way illustrated so as to form a' tight box which. will retain the material and prevent it from falling down between the two strands of the conveyer.

At the lowerend the shoveling element of the apparatus is arranged, as at D. This comprises the shovel plate (12) and a carr ving and supporting frame (13), both being rlgidly secured to the lower front end ofv the inclined frame C. The shovel plate is preferably fiat and is arranged to have its lower surface lie normally inthe horizontal plane of the ground line, that is the plane where the lowermost points of the wheels B contact with the ground or general underlying support. Frame bars (l t) give the shovel element Patented'heb. a, rate.

firm support, these being rigidly connected to the shovel plate and to the bars of the uprising or inclined frame. The frame of the shovel element has also an upper or top plate (15) secured to the bars (1%).

E indicates a conveying device by which the material,that lies on the shovel plate D is first taken backward therefrom and then carried up to the inclined frame C to the points of delivery. It is an endless conveyer, preferably formed of chain-links to which are secured flights or scrapers. The chain is built up in sections, or sets of links, as at (16) (17) (18), which links are of the ordinary oval shape. Each set is connected to the next by a scraper link (19), this being a casting with hooks (20) and a laterally extending flight (21) cast integral therewith.

At (22) there is a driving sprocket wheel arranged in the planes of travel of the conveyer E, and receiving power from any suitable source. As shown, the shaft (24) of this wheel is provided with a worm wheel (25) with which meshes worm (26) on a shaft (27) carrying a pulley (28). Prefera'bly there is a motor, electric or otherwise,

which is designated in the drawings at 4:1.

The belt connects the motor with the pulley 28.

On the shovel element there is mounted the guide or idler sprocket wheel (29), it being supported by a .pin or bolt (30) carried by the shovel-frame. It is so arranged that the chain and flights (21) move horizontally along the upper surface of the shovel plate (12). At (31) there is a ver tically arranged idler wheel or guide wheel for the inactive or down-moving part of the conveyer, and at (32) another similar wheel for the upgoing or active part. These wheels are mounted with their axis near the apex of the angle between the rigidly connected shovel plate or frame and the inclined frame.

The endless chain 'as'it passes the idler wheels at (31) (32). is deflected from one line of travel to another line and yet the flight turn in thesame horizontal planes as the chains.

The diameters of the sprocket wheels (22) and (29) are such that the lines of the chain lie close in to the vertical parts (5) of guideway (7). The flights (21) extend hori- *zontally outward with their lower edges arranged to travel in contact with the horizontal part 8 of the guideway and also travel across the upper surface of the shovel plate 12.

The top plate 15 on the shovel element serves as a guard to prevent the chain links from moving upward while they are traveling around sprocket wheel (29).

The shovel element is adapted to have a lever-like device attached therewith such as shown at (33). At 34-, 34 there are loops attached to theshovel, or a socket can be here thus permitting free and speedy movement used which is capable of having a lever situ ated therein and withdrawn therefrom.

This lever has a number of purposes. The operative can grasp it and cause it to exert more or less of a lifting action at the front end of the apparatus; and this can be,d0ne when the machine is to be propelled forward,or backward for some distanceor to pass by obstaclesl It can be used for exeirting force laterally upon the shovel to cause it. to move undenthe material that is to be shoveled and lifted. V

The parts of the apparatus are so related that when in operation the center. of gravity of the apparatus and of the loadis'well in front of the transverse vertical plane of the wheel axis; and consequently the machine is held firmly in position on the ground and prevented from tipping backward.

But at the same time thedesign is such that the excess of load at the front is not so great as to prevent an operative from lifting the front end, or shovel end; up, to throw the weight more upon the ground wheels of the entire apparatusto adjust it for new work or, work at a new position. v

When the machine is free of any load the center of gravity is nearer the aforesaid vertical plane of the wheel axis and it can then be readily turned aroundwith the wheels in any direction, or can as readily betaken .lbaclrward bodily or forward. w

By having the frame work mounted upon] two wheels and held throughout, in rigid tire apparatus can be speedily accomplished.

This is in strong contrast to the machines in which awheel frame or track frame and the inclined elevator frame are connected to-. gether flexibly or by hinges or pivots, as in such case the weight at the forward end of the apparatus is relatively greatly increased.

I employ also a power device for causing the bodily movement of themechanism. As shown it consists of a cable or chain having a hook, orequivalenhfor attaching it to some; external anchor.

The rope or chain passes across the plane of the conveying apparatus to the under side thereof and is connected to a winder, This consists, as shown, of the drum 36, to

' which power is applied from a manual nae tor, such as a crank shaft (37 connected by gearing to the drum. The rope passesfrom the drum on the under side of the conveyer to the forward side on lines which are be tween the inactive part and the active part o f-the conveyer and hence there is no interference with the moving parts of the machine from this cable or chain.

- In order to swing the apparatus around on the wheels as a'pivotal support, that is, in order to make the front part move laterally and thrust the shovel. under the coal, or

. relation thereto, bodily movements of the en are other material,. guides (38) are provided just in front of the conveyer in the form of sheaves or guide wheels, which hold the ca ble or .chain in position, though permitting the front part of it to be deflected to the right or left.

Although I have above referred to. one side or leg of the conveyer as being thedown-gomoving device is provided with a hook" or fastener which, can be secured to an anchor post or equivalent stationary device either on'the right side of the machine" or onthe left side, according stances. v

The manner of using the shoveling and to circumi. liftingdevice'above described will be readily lever 33.

understood. Assuming that it has a mass of coal piled on the ground or on the floor surface which is to beremoved or loaded into transported a considerable distance the weight of the-apparatus isthrown as much as possible upon the two ground wheels B by lifting the front orshovcl end by the If it is desired to work toward the right the shovel plate (12) is brought near the'bottom-of the pile on its lcft side. The hook or attaching device (35). is then secured to a. post or anchor some distance to the right. The motor or engine is then started and this puts the endless convevcr in actionf. An operative by means of the crank at (373)causes the winding up of the cable or chain (35). This causes the shovel plate to mo*ve under or into the-mass of material which as soon as it falls or slips upon the plate (12) is caught by the traveling flights (21) which sweep it over the plate (12) then carry it up the inclined guidewav until it reaches the chute (39). which is arranged to guide it into the vehicle that. is to receive it.

If it is desired to attack the pile of material from the right side. the machine is suitably placed and the feeding device (35) with its hook is fastened to a suitable anchor on put in proper initial position, the draft dcvice (35) and its fastener are carried for- Ward to an anchor which is directlyin front of themachine and then the action of the winder will be to cause its gradual advance backward.

forward. I am aware that numerous mechanisms have been proposed, each comprising a'wheel supportinglframe, a traveling platfoi-m and inclined conveying apparatus. Most of these mechanisms that have been made or proposed have been designed and adapted for use on tracks, which latter fie: the lines of travel of the wheels. Mechanisms of this class arenot adapted for use in coal yards or places where the expense and labor-incidentto the laying or changing of tracks is prohibitive. The mechanism herein presented can be orthe left. or forward or backward.

, Again, in the mechanisms heretofore proposed,,the shovel mechanism has been united by hinges. or flexibly, to the main frame or to the elevator frame. and in most cases the elevator frame has been joined by vertical pivot connections to the main frame. 1 I provide a true shovel whichisH-igid with the main frame or wheel frame and which,

no matter in what position it ma be put.

has the same radial relationships to the wheel axis. The shovel proper can be thrust directly laterally or forward into the mate rial and operable in any direction except This-shovel part is in the lower-v mostplane and can therefore be caused to clean up the ground or floor surface. lt fur nishcs the third ground support for the tcm. The parts are so arranged as to have an approximate countcrlmlancc in relation to the main wheels. which largely assist in carrying it or adjusting itin relation to the work to be done.

lVhat l claim is: v

1. A tracklcss portable shoveling and loading apparatus havingiu combination a horizontally, arranged shovel plate adapted to be thrust horizontally under or into the ma terial to be loaded, two ground wheels having-thcii ground contacting points substan tially inthc' planc of theshovel platc. a main frame mounted upon said wheels and rigidly connected to the shovel plate whereby the latter can oscillate bodily around the tlXlH of the wheels, while held in fixed positions relatively thereto. power devices mounted on the frame and adapted to swing the'whccls laterally and move the shovel in cithcr direction sidewise under the material to be loaded. a backward extending supporting frame along which the material is carried from the shovel, and an endless carrier adapted to engage with the 'i'naterial on the shovel and carry it therefrom up the said inclined frame and deliver it. substantially as set forth.

2. A vtrackless portable shoveling and rcadily arid quickly taken from one point to another in anvdirection, elther to the right as set forth;

Edit

stantially in the plane of the shovel plate,

a main frame mounted upon said wheels, and rigidly connected to the shovel plate whereby the latter can oscillate bodily around the axis of the wheels while held in fixed positions relatively thereto, means for applying power to cause the said wheels to swing or oscillate horizontally while carrying the shovel plate rigidly therewith, an upward and backward inclined frame rigidly secured to the shovel plate and swinging laterally with the wheels, conveying mechanism mounted on the said inclined frame and shovel and arranged to carry the material from the shovel along the said inclined frame, and power devices for actuating the said conveying mechanism mounted upon the framework supporting the aforesaid parts and held fixed in relation to the parts actuated thereby while they are, as an entirety, moving around a vertical axis at or near the said wheels, sub stantially as set forth.

3. A portable shoveling and loading apparatus having in combination a main frame, supporting wheelstherefor, an inclined frame extending from points in front to points in rear of said wheels and above them, ashovel plate rigidly secured to the inclined frame and constructed substantially as set forth and having extended shoveling edges on lines intersecting the vertical plane of the wheel axis and with attaching .devices, whereby it is adapted to have a manual-lever-like device applied directly thereto for moving laterally the wheels, the shovel plate and the inclined frame to-carr load to the shovel plate, and a con'veyer apparatus mounted on the inclined frame and shovel plate, substantially A portable shoveling and loading apparatus having in combination a main frame, two supporting wheels carrying it, an inclined frame extending from points in front to points in rear of said wheels on lines above them, a shoveling plate secured rigidly to the inclined frame and having longitudinally arranged shoveling edges, a conveying apparatus adapted to remove from the shoveling plate-the material received over the said shoveling edges and to then transport it upward on the said inclined frame, power mechanism,- on, and maintained rigidly in relation to, the main and inclined frames, and a power transmitter connected to said mechanism for swinging the wheels, the shovel and the frames laterally in either direction, substantially as set forth.

5. A trackless portable shoveling and loading apparatus, having in combination a main frame, two transversely opposite ground wheels on the main frame adapted to move in any direction over the ground, a horizontalshovel plate. rigidly mounted in relation to the main frame and having lateral shoveling edges on longitudinal lines, an upwardly inclined frame connected rigidly to the main frame, the said frames, the shovel plate and the axis of said wheels being held in fixed relative positions and the entirety adapted to swing bodily horizontally with the said wheels, an endless continuously traveling conveying mechanism adapteduto remove the material from the shovel plate and carry it up the inclined frame and deliverit in the rear of forward and laterally in horizontal planes,

and formed with shoveling edges on horizontal lines" of the machine and adapted to slide over the surface of the ground and provide a third point of ground support for 'the frame, an endless conveyor arranged to travel over the upper surface of thehorizontal shovel plate and also on the upward inclined frame, a motor on said frame for driving said conveyer, said parts being arranged substantially as set forth whereby they will all be held in fixed relative positions While the machine is moving laterally and in operation.

7. A trackless, portable and shoveling apparatus having in combination a main frame,. two axially alined truck wheels mounted on the main frame, an inclined frame rigid'with the mainframe, a fiat horizontal traveling plate rigidly secured to the lower end of the inclined frame and adapted to provide a third point of ground gage with the material-0n the shovel plate while traveling in one of the said planes and "carry it therefrom 35-0 and up the inclined frame while traveling in thevother plane,

and power deviees for drivingthe said 0011- veyer mounted stationarily felatively to the; 7 ground Wheels, substantially as senb fcpfljri.

In testimony whereof I afl ix my signature,

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