US1324241A

US1324241A - Grader astd ditcher

Info

Publication number: US1324241A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1936-12-09

Description

L. FEBRE. GBADER AND nl'cHER. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 23.4918.

Attorn eys L. FEBRE. GRADER AND DHCHER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23.1918.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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Inventor Witnesses Attorneys L. FEBRE.

GRADER AND DITCHEB. APPucAUoN r|LED'1AN.2a. usla.

Patented Deo. 9, 1919.

.MVSSW Inventor Attorneys Wltnesses f l i? L. FEBRE. Gfx/wsa AND nncHE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 23. |918. 1,324,241.

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h 4/ /ZZ/Lffa Witnesses Inventor ZZ I I by y] l Attorneys Patented Deo. 9,1919.

I I.. FEBRE.

GRADEH AND DHCHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.23. 1918. 1,324,241. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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j 1J /24 7/ gf; Z3 5/ 7j Witnesses Attorneys Inventor L. FEBRE.

GRADI-IR AND DITCHER. ABPLlcATloN msn mma. 191s.

1,324,241 Patented Dee. 9,1919.

'6 SHEETS-SHEET 6- N @We N Q @l Q 9%! Q Q N N f s Q 9' 9 t\ Q, l N @A m G 9, Witnesses l Inventor Attorneys LEO FEBRE, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

GBIADER AND DITCHER.

Leanser.

Speccation of Letters :Patent Patented Dec. 9, i919.

Application filed 'annar'y 23, i918. Serial No. 213,356.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Lno FERRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Grader and Ditcher, of which the following is a specilication.

vide novel means for raising and lowering a vertically movable auxiliary frame which carries the support, to the end that the supi port and its conveyers may be adjusted vertically, depending upon the depth of the ditch or otherY cut which is being iliade.

Another object of the invention is so to construct the device that it may be used as an excavator.

It is within the scope of the invention to provide novel means for carrying the loose material first rearwardly, then upwardly, and finally laterally, to one side of the machine.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Yln the accompanying drawings z- Figure l shows in` sideelevation, a inachine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

F 2 is a top plan showing a machine .embodying the presen 'iprovementsg Fig. 3 is longitudin l vertical sectiOn of the machine, wherein divers parts appear in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a re. r elevation of the machine; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken below the platform portion or frame of the vehicle, and showing particularly, the means whereby the material is loosened and carried rearwardly, initially;

Fig. 6 is across section taken approXimately on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan showing a modied form of chute;

Fig. 8 is ai fragmental side elevation showing a modified form of point mounted on the chutes along which the material moves at the inception of the operation of the device.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the parts as they will appear when the device is used for excavating.

ln carrying out the present invention there is provided a vehicle including a main frame made up of side beams l connected adjacent their front ends by a forward cross bar 2 on the lower face of which is a wear plate 3 cooperating with an axle l held for swinging movement on a king-bolt 19 mounted in the cross bar 2. A.. shaft 5 constitutes a part of the axle. il and is secured thereto in any desired manner as shown at 6, forward ground wheels 7 being ournaled on the shaft 5 which constitutes a part of the axle. The axle t is provided with hounds 8 supporting a tongue 9 having a transverse head l0. Erected on the tongue 9 is a hanger l1 carrying a roller l2 mounted to traverse an `arcuate track 14 terminally secured as shown best in Fig. 2 to the forward ends of the side beams lof the main frame. The roller l2, engaging the track 14, serves as a support whichl steadies the hounds 8 and the tongue 9, as the same swing laterally.

A base plate l5 connects the side beams l near to the forward ends thereof, and erected on the base plate is an upstanding U- shaped bearing 16. A vertical steering shaft 17 is journaled for rotation inthe bearing 16 and is provided at its upper end with a hand wheel i8. Fixed to the lower end of the steering shaft 1.7 is a pinion 20 which meshes into an internal gear 2]. formed on a drum 22 journaled on a cross bar Q3 connecting the side beams 1 and located below the side beams. rr yoke line 24- is wrapped around the drum the ends of the yoke line passing throughy openings 25 (Fig. 2) in the side beams 1. The ends of the yoke line 24 are trained across fair-leaders 26 which are carried by the beams 1 near to the torward ends thereof. From the fair-leaders 26, the ends ot the yolie line 24 are carried Yforwardly and are connected as shown at 122 with the head 10 which is mounted on the forward end ot the tongue 9. It will be understood that when the steering shaft 17 is rotated by means et the hand wheel 18, the pinion 20 meshing` into the internal gear 21 will rotate the drum 22, a pull being eX- erted on the tongue 9 bv means oft the yoke line 24 and the head 10, the axle 4 being swung on the hing-bolt 19, and the ground wheels 7 being manipulated accordingly. A simple but ei'ective means thus is provided whereby the device forming the subject matter ot this application may be steered.

Secured to the side beams 1 ot' the main trame near to the rear ends thereoi are bearings 27 in which is journaled tor rotation, a rear aXle 28 carrying ground wheels 29. Secured to the rear axle 28 is a gear wheel 30 engaged by a pinion 31 mounted on the shaft 32 of an engine 33 carried by the side beams 1 ot the main traine, to the rear ot a platform 34 which connects the side beams.

When the engine 33 is operated, the shaft thereof will impart rotation to the rear axle 28 and to the ground wheels 29 by means or" the pinion 31 and the gear wheel 30, the machine in this manner being` driven forwardly. It is not mandatory, however, that the device be driven by an engine. It may be drawn by dra-tt animals it' desired.

Erected on the main frame, comprising the side bars 1, and located at the rear end ot' the machine is an upstanding auxiliary trame comprising' vertical standart s 35 supported by braces 3G, the standards 35 having vertical guide slots 37. A. carrier is mounted to move vertically with respect to the auxiliary frame, the carrier being described as such, because it carries and supports many ot the important parts ot the machine. The carrier includes a pair oiu vertical side bars 38 which are shown clearly in Fig. 4, the side bars 38 being located between the standards 35 ot the auxiliary traine. The upper ends 39V of the side bars 38 are outwardly extended, and are slidably received in the guide slots 37 ot the standards 35. The side bars 38 are connected bv bolts 200 with a twol part toot 123 carrying a bolt 40.

Mounted to swing vertically on the pivot bolt 40, and extended forwardly, is a support including a bar 41, the rear end oi which is immediately mounted on the bolt 40 to permit a swing-ing movement as above mentioned. lrojecting upwardly from the bar 41 is a rear post 42, the bar 41 carrying a front post 43. The upper ends ot the

posts

42 and 43 are assembled with. a main beam i,sefreai 44 which projects forwardly. As shown in Fig. G, the rear post 42 may be formed integrally at its upper end with the main beam 44, whereas, as indicated at 124, the front post 43 may be attached by a securing element to the main beam 44, the lower end ot the front post 43 being` assembled in a similar manner, or in any other desired way, with the bar 41.

A U-shaped bearing 45 is attached by means ot a pivot element 46 to the forward end ot the main beam. 44 ot' the support. rlhe lower end of a screw 47 is assembled with the bearing 45 against relative vertical movement with respect thereto, but is journaled in the bearing. ylhe screw 47 is threaded into a nut 201 mounted at 202 to swing on a Ushaped upstanding bearing 49 having side wings 48 bolted to the beams 1. The screw 47 is provided at its upper end with a hand wheel 51.

By rotating the screw 47 through the medium of the hand wheel 51, the support above described may be swung vertically, the bar 41 ot the support swinging on the oivot element 40 which connects the parts of the toot 123 on the lower end ot the vertically movable carrier. rEhe mechanism above described constitutes a means for varying the angle between the bar 41 and the horizontal, thereby to regulate the depth of the cut, as will be more clearly manifest when the details of the invention are further explained.

A flexible element 50 is connected as shown at 125 with the forward end ot the main beam 44 ci. the support. The flexible element 50 is trained upwardly over an idler 52 carried Eby the hounds 8 or otherwise supported. From the idler 52, the flexible element 50 is led to a drinn 53 carried by a shaft 54 journaled in the bearing- 16 which supports the steering shaft 17. The shatt 54 may be rotated by means ot a star wheel or in any other suitable manner, and a retrogrado movement oi the shatt 54 is prevented by means et a pawl and ratchet mechanism 56, the pawl or which is carried by the bearing 16, the ratchet oi which is carried by the shaft 54.

After the support, comprising the main beam 44, the bar 41 and attendant parts, has been adjusted vertically by means ot the screw 47, the flexible element 50 may be tightened up, y'by rotating the shaft 54, thc pawl and ratchet mechanism 56 exercising` its obvious oiiice. hen the flexible elefifient 50 is tightened up in the manner hereinbetore described, a direct forward and upnf'ard pull is exerted on the beam 44, and much ot' the strain is taken ott the screw 47, when the device is in ase.

A center cutter 57 is secured detachably and adiusta. v to the main beam 44 of the support, as shown at 58. l/Vhen the device is used on sod, or earth which is reasonably ntree from stones, the center cutter 57 divides `the earthand sod, so that it may ino-ve rearwardly toA a pair ot conveyers to be described hereinafter. The outer edges oi the slices formed aredeterinined by a pair oi arcuate, rearwardly extended side cutters 59,

the upper end-s of which may be mounted to swing for adjustment on the Vpivot element etti. which connects the liieam V14s with the screw-bearing 45. Secured to the rear ends ot the side cutters 59`are arms 61 having curved slots '62 slidable on a cross rod 53 (see'F 5) carried by the main beam 4A, the forward ends of the side cutters 59 being inwardly extended shown at 60 in the said ligure, so that they may coperate with the pivotV element 4-6. rllhe upper ends of the arms 61 bear` against abutments 55 on the cross rod 63, and are bound thereagainst by nuts 64 threaded onto the cross rod. lt willbe obvious that, at the will of an opera- Ator, the side cuttersI 59 may be swung unwardly or downwardly, the slots 62 in the arms 61 permitting such an adjustment, to vary the depth at which the side cutters-operate. The side cutters 59 may be held in adjusted positions by tightening up the nutsY f. ed.

The support, comprising vthe bar 4:1 and the beam 44,mcludes also a. pair of chutes e6 located'side lby side and disposed on opposite sides et the posts Ll2 and 43, the

chutes 66 being attached to the posts, as indicated at 67 in Fig 3. lVhen it is de sired that all of the material loosened shall be carried rearimrdly, then the chutes 6G have impert'orate bottoms, as shown in Fig. At times, however, it may be desirable to remove the cobbles from the soil, or to remove the bricks from a pavement, the loose material being permitted to fall back onto the ground. `Then the chutes may be modified as shown at 119 in Fig. 7, the chutes comprising longitudinal screening bars 120, so that whenV the cobbles or loose bricks are carried rearwardly along the chutes, the dirt and loose material may pass therethrough.

Secured tothe ilorward ends oi the chutes 6G is a shovel peint G8 which loosens and receives the material initially and passes the same rearwardly onto the chutes. lVhen a brick or concrete pavement is being` torn up, or an unusually hard or stonyv soil is encountered. the shovel point (38 is repilaced by a. middle-buster 121. shown in l? 8, and shaped like a plow share,`the object in view being to hump up and break laterally, the bricks or other hard material, as the part moves through the soil.` The shovel point 68 is detachablyv connected as shown at (S9 to the forward ends o' the chutes G5, and consequently, the shovel peint may be re placed by any other element better shaped for the werk in hand.

The bar ll1 and parts carried thereby, such, for instance, as the shovel point 68, may be alluded to lo iefly as a plow.

The main beam del carries a tubular bearing 70, and the Yforward post 43 is provided with a similar bearing. 1n the bearing 70 or' the beam ai there is journaled, as shown in Fig. 6, a shaft 71. A forward shaft is journaled in the bearing of the forward post 43. The shafts 7land 7 2 are provided with sprocket wheels 73 about which are trained conveyer chains 741C having plates or blades 75, located above the chutes 66 and coperating with the chutes. Journaled in the lower ends of the side bars 38 et the vertically adjustable carrieris a shaft 7G carrying a sprocket wheel 77 (Fig. about which is trained a sprocket `chain 78 engaged with a sprocket wheel 79 secured to the rear shaft 71 of the support.

It will now be obvious that it the shaft 7 6 is rotated, motion will be transmitted to the shaft 71 by means ot' the sprocket wheel 77, the sprocket chain 78 and the sprocket wheel 79. When the shaft 71 is rotated, the conveyers 71 7`5 will be actuated, and the material which has traversed the shovel point 68 and moved into the chutes 66 will. be retracted by the conveyers, and be moved upwardly and rearwardly alone' the chutes in a' manner which will be obvious from Figs. l and 3. p

The shaft 76 which is journaled in the side bars 38 of the vertically movable carrier is provided with sprocket wheels 80 about which are trained conveyer' chains 81 carrying buckets 82. The conveyer chains 81 are engaged with sprocket wheels 83 carried by a shaft 8i journaled in the side bars 38 of the carrier near to the upper ends thereof, the ends o'l' the shaft 8l being slidably received in tlnl guide slots 37 ot the standards B5 which constitute a part ot the ixed upstanding auxiliary` trame en the vehicle. The shaft 8% is provided intermediate .its ends with a sprocket wheel 85 around which is engaged a drive chain S'coperating with a sprocket wheel 87 secured to the low ir shaft 76. The rear run of the drivechain 8G coacts with a driving sprocket 88 carried by a shaft 89 journaled in bearings 90 on the standards oi the fixed auxiliary frame. At one end, the shalt 89 is provided with a pinion 91 meshing into the gear wheel 30 which is carried by the rotatable rear axle 28.

'ti'on beingl imparted tothe sprocket wheels 83 and 80, and the conveyer 81-82 being operated. rlfhe material carried rearwardly along the chutes 66 by the conveyers 741-7 5 is received by the buckets 82 on the front or forward run of the vertically operatingconveyer chains 81, and is elevated and carried rearwardly, into a laterally discharging dumping mechanism which will be described hereinafter.

Fixed to and projecting rearwardly from the side bars 38 of the vertically adjustable carrier are brackets 92 supporting a chute 93 located at the rear of the machine and discharging laterally with respect thereto. 1n the respective ends of the cross chute 93 are journaled

shafts

94 and 95 carrying sprocket wheels 96 about which are trained chains 97 having blades 98 coperating with the cross chute 93. The shaft 95 is connected by means of beveled pinions 99 with a shaft 100 journaled in a bearing 101 carried by one of the side bars 38. The shaft 100 carries a sprocket wheel 102. On the shaft 84 there is a sprocket wheel 103. A chain 126 is engaged around the

sprocket wheels

102 and 103.

W'hen the shaft 84 is actuated in the inanner hereinbefore set forth, motion is transmitted to the shaft 100 through the

sprocket wheels

102 and 103 and the chain 126. From the shaft 100, motion is transmitted to the shaft 95 by way of the beveled pinions 99, and when the shaft 95 is rotated, the cross Vconveyer 97-98 coperating with the chute 93, will carry laterally, to one side of the machine, the material which has been deposited in the cross chute 93 by the buckets 82 on the vertically moving conveyer chains 81.

A means is provided for adjusting vertically, the carrier comprising the side bars 38 and attendant parts, and in this connection it is to be observed that when the carrier is adjusted vertically, the driving sprocket chain 86 which operates the vertically acting conveyers 81'-82 will remain in mesh with the driving sprocket 88 on the shaft 89 which is operatively connected with the driving or rear axle 28. The. means for adjusting the carrier vertically includes a shaft 104 carried by upper ends of the standards 35 and the braces 36 of the auxiliary frame, and, if desired, forming aconnection between the upper ends of these elements. The shaft 104 is provided with a pair of sheaves 105 across which are trained flexible elements 106. The rear ends of the flexible elements 106 are secured as shown at 107 in Fig. 4, to the side bars 38 of the vertically adjustable carrier, in any desired manner. The forward ends of the flexible elements 106 are trained around drums 108 mounted on a shaft 109 journaled in the braces 36 of the auxiliary frame. The shaft 109 may be rotated by means of a hand wheel 110, and a reverse rotation of the shaft is prevented by a pawl and ratchet mechanism 111, the pawl of which is carried by one of the braces 36, the ratchet of which is mounted on the shaft 109. The rotation of the shaft 109 is further prevented by means of l a brake drum 112 on the shaft109 (Fig. 2) engaged by a brake strap 113 attached at one end to one of the braces 36, vand attached at its other end to an operating lever 114 fulcrumed on the said brace.` The shaft 109 carries a sprocket wheel 115 around which is engaged a chain 116 connected with a sprocket wheel 117 on the engine shaft 32.

The numeral 118 indicates any suitable ing an operative connection between the.

sprocket wheel 117 and the shaft 32 of the engine, as hereinbefore described. TWhen the shaft 109 is rotated, the flexible ele ments 106 travel over the sheaves 105, and a raising and lowering of the carrier is brought about, the carrier being guided in its vertical movement, because the shaft 84 andthe upper ends 39 of the bars 38 are received slidably in the guide slots 37 in the standards 35 which constitute a part of the fixed upstanding auxiliary frame. By the operation above described, not only the carrier comprising the bars 38, but the support including the bar 41, the beam 44, chutes 66, and attendant parts, are raised and lowered as well. It is possible, therefore` to raise and lower the chutes 66 bodily, and to effect a further vertical adjustment in the forward ends of the chutes, by manipulating the support through the means of the screw 47, the support swinging on the pivot bolt 40. The advantages attendant upon such an adjustment are obvious, in view of the purposes for which the machine is intended.

When it is desired to lower the carrier, the clutch 118 may be manipulated to discnonnect the sprocket wheel 117 from the engine shaft 32, the pawl and ratchet mechamsm 111 may be operated so that the shaft 109 can rotate reversely, and then the carrier will move downwardly, the iiexible elements 106 running out over the sheaves 105. The downward movement of the carrier may be controlled by manipulating the lever 114 which coacts with the brake drum 112 of the shaft 109. Vhen the desired adjustment, either upwardly or downwardly has been attained, the pawl and ratchet mecha- The operation of the device has been s alluded to step by step, in connection with the various component mechanisms thereof, but a brief rsum will be given at this point.

rlhe shaft 17 and the hand wheel 19, co-

operating with the ends of the yoke line 24,

swing the tongue 9, the hounds 8 and the forward axle 4 to effect a steering of the vehicle. The shaft 54 constitutes a means for tightening up the flexible element 50 so that the latter exerts a pull on the beam of the support, thereby to remove some of the strain from the lifting screw 47. rllhe lifting screw 47 constitutes a means whereby the support, including the

bars

44 and 41,

together with the chutes 66 and the coacting conveyers, may be raised and lowered, the support tilting on the pivot bolt 40. The vertically moving carrier, comprising the side bars 38, may be raised and lowered, along with the support, including the

bars

41 and 44, byrotating the shaft 109 which, in its turn, will actuate the flexible elements 106. The shaft 109 may be rotated either directly by means of the wheel 110, or from the engine shaft 32 by means of the sprocket wheel 115, the chain 116 and the sprocket wheel 117. The machine may be advanced by power derived from the engine 33, through the shaft 32 of the engine, the pinion 31, the gear wheel 33, the rear axle 28 and the ground wheels 29. The conveyers 74--75 which operate above the chutes 66 are driven from the lower shaft 7 6 of the carrier, by means of the chain 78 shown in Fig. 5. From the rotatable rear axle 28, motion is transmitted to the conveyers 81-82 by means of the gear wheel 30 on the rear axle V28, the pinion 91 on the shaft 89, the driving sprocket 88 on the shaft 89 andthe driving sprocket chain 86. From the upper shaft 85` of the carrier, motion is transmitted by the sprocket chain 126, the shaft 100, the beveled pinions 99, and the shaft 95, to the conveyer mechanism 97 which operates in the cross chute 93 at the rear of the machine. The center cutter 57 may be raised and lowered by loosening the connection 58 between the center cutter and the main beam 44 of the support. The side cutters 59 may be swung upwardly` and downwardly, for adjustment, and be held inadjusted positions, by manipulating the nuts 64 on the ends of the cross rod 63, the slots .62 in the arms 61 permitting. such an adjustment.

The loosened material is engaged by the shovel point 68 and passes onto the chutes The conveyers 74-75 move the material along the chutes G6 and deposit the material in the buckets 82 on the conveyer chains 81. The buckets 82 dump the materia-l into the cross chute 93, and the conveyer mechanism 97-98 carries the material in the chute 93 to one side of the machine.

An important feature of the present iii-- vention remains yet to be discussed. It is possible to-use the machine, not merely for tearing up pavements and the like, but, as well., as an excavator. The parts are thus shown in Fig. 9.

A nut 205 is pivoted as shown at 206 to the rear ends of the beams 1, to, swing in a vertical plane, the pivot element 206 being carried by a frame 207 mounted on the rear ends of the beams. A nut 208 is mounted to swing in a vertical plane on a pivot element 209 carried by a frame 210 connected at its forward ends with the carrier bars 38. A. screw 211 is threaded into the

nuts

208 and 205. The screw 211 may be manipulated by means of a hand wheel 212. One end of a chain 214 is secured at 215 to the frame of the machine. When the device is used for tearing up pavements and the like, as shown in Fig. 3, the forward end of the chain 214 is mounted on a hook 216 carried by the main frame of the machine. ln'order to facilitate the use of the structure as an excavator, when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 9, the buckets 82 are provided with inclined digging lips 204.

Suppose that it is desired to use the machine, as shown in Fig. 9, for excavating. Then the sprocket chain 78 is removed. The foot 123 is detached from the carrier bars 38 and remains attached to the bar 41. rlhe chain 214 is connected at 217 with the rear end of the bar 41. The carrier 41--44 is raised at its forward end by means of the screw 47. The carrier 41-44 is swung forwardly byv tightening up the flexible element 50 through the instrumentality of the drum 53, the nut 201 in which the screw 47 is threaded swinging on its pivotal mounting 202.

It will be obvious that when the parts are arranged as above described and as shown in Fig. 9, the buckets 82 dig into the soil to form an excavation as indicated at 250 in Fig. 9. The machine may be moved forwardly, as desired, thereby lengthening out the excavation 250. The carrier including the bars 38 may be lowered to deepen the excavation. rThe screw 211 serves to crowd down the carrier including the bars 38 and to brace the same. Further, the screw 211.has a bracing function when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 3. When the excavating operation is being carried out as shown in Fig. 9, thesupport 41.-43, inf,y

cluding the plow point 68, is not in use, but 1s suspended in an out-of-the-way position.

-The material loosened during the excavating process is carried upwardly by the buckets S2 and is discharged laterally, by the mechanism hereinbefore described.

Recalling that the raising of the carrier including the bars Q8 is controlled by a suitable clutch 118, it will be understood that the carrier may be raised as slowly as desired, by the action of the engine. During this operation, the screw 211 may be manipchute together and independently of the vertical adjustment of the carrier; and a retracting conveyer carried by the support and cooperating with the chute.

2.111 a device of the class described, a main frame; standards projecting upwardly from the main frame and having guides; a carrier provided at its upper end with projections slidably received in the guides; means for raising and lowering the carrier; an adjustable thrust connection between the lower end of the carrier and the rear end of the main frame; an elevating conveyer mounted on the carrier; a plow projecting forwardly .from the lower end of the carrier and pivotally connected therewith; means for raising and lowering the forward end of the plow; and means for transferring the material loosened by the plow to the conveyer.

3. In a device of the class described, a vehicle includingl a wheel-mounted frame; a carrier mounted on the frame for vertical right-line adjustment; means for adjusting the carrier vertically; a forwardly extended support pivoted at its rear end to the carrier; a ground-penetrating chute connected rigidly with the support; an upright screw mounted to swing on the frame on a fixed axis transverse to the frame and operatively connected with the support, the screw constituting means for raising andl lowering the forward end of the support independently of the vertical adjustment of the carrier; a direction-changing idler mounted on the vehicle; a drum journaled on the frame; and a flexible element trained across the idler, the flexible element being connected with the drum and with the forward end of the support, to relieve the strain upon the screw and to limit the swinging movement thereof.

a. ln a device of the class described, a

wheel-mounted frame; a carrier mounted on the frame for vertical adjustment; a forwardly extended support assembled at its rear end with the carrier; a ground-penetrating chute connected with the support; a retracting conveyer carried by the support and operating above the chute; an elevating conveyer receiving material from the retracting conveyer and mounted on the carrier; means for raising and lowering the carrier; an engine mounted on the frame; means for connecting the engine operatively with one conveyer; means for connecting the conveyers for simultaneous operation; and means under the control of an operator for connecting and disconnecting the engine from the means for raising and lowering the carrier.

In a device of the class described, a vehicle including a frame; a ground-wheel journaled on the frame; a carrier mounted on the frame for vertical adjustment; a forwardly extended support assembled at its rear end with the carrier; a ground-pene trating chute connected with the support; a retracting conveyer carried by the support and cooperating with the chute; an elevating conveyer' mounted on the carrier and receiving the material from the retracting conveyer; means for connecting' the conveyors for simultaneous operation; an engine mounted on the frame; means for raising and lowering the carrier; mechanism under the control of an operator for connecting' and disconnecting the raising and lowering means with the engine; mechanism for connecting the engine with the ground wheel to drive the vehicle; and means for connecting the last specilied neehanism operatively with one of the eonveyers.

6. ln a device of the class described, a wheelmounted main frame; a carrier mounted on the frame Afor vertical right-line adjustment; a forwardly extended support vassembled at its rear end with the carrier; a ground-penetrating chute rigidly connected with the support; a retracting conveyer carried by the support and cooperating with the chute; an elevating conveyer mounted on the carrier and receiving material from the retracting conveyer; means for connecting the eonveyers for simultaneous operation; an engine mounted on the frame; means for connecting' the engine with one conveyer; a drum journaled on the fra-me; 'a directionchanging idler journaled on the top of the frame; a flexible element trained across the idler and connected with the carrier and with the drum; and means for connecting the drum releasably, at the will of an operator, with the engine.

'7. In a device of the class described7 a -wheel-mounted frame; a carrier mounted on the frame for vertical adjustment; means for adjusting the carrier vertically; a forwardly extended support pivoted at its rear end to the carrier; ground-penetrating chutes disposed on opposite sides of the support and carried thereby; means for raising and lowering the forward end of the support independently of the vertical adjustment of the carrier; retracting conveyers carried by the support and coperating with thechutes; a middle ground-engaging element cooperating with the forward portions of the chutes and carried by the support; side cutters cooperating with the outer portions of the chutes and carried by the sup* port; and means for holding the side cutters in vertically adjusted positions.

8. In a device of the class described, a wheel-mounted frame; a carrier mounted on the frame for vertical adjustment; means for adjusting the carrier vertically; a forwardly extended support pivoted at its rear end to the carrier; a ground penetrating `chute connected with the support; means Vand lower shafts; a drive shaft journaled on the frame; a sprocket wheel carried by the drive shaft and engaging the drive chain;

a transverse chute supported on the carrier;

a conveyer cooperating with the last specified chute; and means for operatively connecting the last mentioned conveyer with the upper shaft of the carrier.

9. In a device of the class described, a

wheel-mounted frame; a carrier mounted on the frame for vertical adjustment; a belt ex# cavator operating` vertically on the carrier; means for operating the excavator; and an inclined bracing and carrier depressing screw forming an operative connection between the rear end of the frame and the lower end of the carrier.

l0. A device constructed in accordance with claim 9, in combination with means independent of the screw for raising the carrrier.

1l. A device constructed in accordance with claim 9, in combination with a plow located in front of the carrier; means for uniting the plow detachably with the lower end of the carrier; means for raising and advancing the plow when the plow is detached from the carrier; and a conveyer coperating with the plow to retract the material from the plow into the excavator when the plow is assembled with the carrier.

12. In a device of the class described, a wheel-mounted frame; a carrier mounted on the frame for vertical adjustment; means for adjustingl the carrier vertically; a vertically operating belt conveyer mounted on the carrier; a plow having its rear end detachably united with .the carrier; a conveyer cooperating with the plow to retract the material loosened by the plow, and to deposit the material in the vertically operating conveyer; a screw pivoted to the forward end of the plow; a nut whereinto the screw is threaded; means for supporting the nut pivotally on the wheelmounted frame; a iexible element connected with the forward end of the plow; a tightening means on the wheel-mounted frame and connected with the flexible element; and a direction-changing idler on the frame and engaging the intermediate portion of the flexible element.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Luo FEBRE.

Witnesses:

TIMOTHY M. DONAHUE, OBADIAH WRIGHT STRICKLANQ.