US1380444A - Excavating-bucket - Google Patents

Description

W. M. VENABLE.

EXCAVATING BUCKET.

APPLICATION HLED MAY27, ma.

Patentd'liin 7 1921.

2 SHEETS-$HEET l.

INVENTOR W. M. VENABLE.

EXCAVATING BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 19l8.

1,380,444. Patented June 7, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- F'IE.E. l a 8 9 i: N OR wrrnsssss I9 0' ZMJfiAW. I6 20 l9 2 Mam/04m Ul-TED STATES PATENT eerie.

WILLIAM IaI. VENABLE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'lO BLAW-KNOX COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

EXCAVATING-BUCKET.

Application filed May 27,

new and useful Improvements in Excavating-Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to excavating buckets and has reference more particularly to buckets of the clam shell type. This invention has for one of its principal objects to produce a wideopening bucket whose scoops are hinged together by a common hinge pin and wherein the closing mechanism is so positioned with reference thereto that the head room required for the articulated scoops is reduced to a minimum. Another object is to provide a construction of bucket whereby four-line reeving may desirably be employed, that is to say, the bucket may be reeved on two continuous lines in the bight of both lines so that when thebucket is suspended there are four parts of line reeving its upper frame. When reeved in this way, both lines may be pulled through the bucket without changing its position whenever it is desired to accommodate certain types of hoisting and conveying mechanism. The construction permits, however, the permanent attachment to some part of the bucket of the end of either or both of the lines, and the leading out of end portions of the same to the supporting means.

A further object is to simplify and materially strengthen the construction and arrangement and to increase the efficiency and utility of buckets of this type.

My invention also contemplates certain novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts of the improved bucket, whereby certain other important advantages are attained, as will be more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims. These, together with such other objects as may be incident to my invention, I attain by means of a construction illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a view in side elevation of a bucket to which my invention is shown applied, the dotted lines therein indicating the full open position of the scoops as they would appear when at rest upon the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1921. 1918. Serial No. 236,687.

ground and the operating line slacked ofi; Fig. 2 is another side elevation of the bucket showing it in the act of being closed by the line; Figs. 3 and and end views of the bucket when closed; Fig. 5 represents a modified arrangement of sheaves in the upper frame of the bucket; and Fig. 6 is a modification of the hinging arrangement of the equalizer and corner bars with the upper frame.

In the views, the reference letters A de note the bucket scoops or segments which are provided at their inner corners with extensions B pivotally connected together by a hinge pin 7. C designates the upper frame of the bucket whose side plate members 8 are provided with end brackets 9 above the corner brackets 10 of the scoop segments A, the latter being supported from the upper frame by corner bars 11 whose ends are pivotally connected by pins 12 and 13 with the brackets 9 and 10 respectively. The bucket is suspended from any suitable support by the holding line D, in the bight of which is a central sheave 14 rotatively mounted in plates 15. These latter are positioned diagonally intermediate and are secured at their ends to the inner faces of the upper frame plates 8. It is obvious that this holding line may be passed around the sheave 14 and fastened thereto, and only one end of the line taken over head to the sup-,

port should it not be desired to have the line move around the sheave while the bucket is suspended. It would be equally feasible to remove the sheave and provide for a direct fastening to the upper frame C, in which case a further economy of headroom could be attained, but the bucket when thus reeved could not be employed with certain types of hoists.

One important advantage of my invention, from a manufacturing standpoint particularly, resides in the fact that the scoops A with their extensions B are each identical in construction and therefore interchange able; and this advantage extends to the'upper frame whose parts on each side of its median line are also similar and interchangeable. This relative similarity in the latter instance relates to the side frame members 8; the inner sheaves 16, 17, 16 and 17' and their respective pivot pins 18 and 18' which are journaled in the members 8 and in extensions 15' of the plates 15; the outer 4 are respectively top plan disposed i sheaves occupy a position sheaves 19 and 19'; the guide pulleys 20 and 20; the plates 21 and 21'; the cable guards 22 and 22; and the end brackets 9.

Each of these end brackets preferably consists of a laterally ribbed distance portion a for spacing apart the upper frame members 8 and to which it is permanently secured,

"and a lower trunnion member in which is journaled the pivot pin 12 of one of the airs of corner bars 11. The outer sheaves 19, 19, and pulleys 20, 20 are respectively carried by pivots 23, 24;, 25 and 26 which are journaled in the frame members 8 and plates 21, 21. It will be apparent from the above description that I provide a strong upper frame construction wherein the sheaves and pulleys are compactly arranged so as to cooperate fully with the pivoted extensions B and provide for a minimum headroom for the articulated scoop segments.

As already indicated these said ertensions B are identical in construction, and each embodies a lower arched portion comprising the arms 27 (see Fig. 4) whose lower ends are attached to the inner corners of a scoop segment, an upper portion for the pivot pin 7 consisting of spaced hubs 28 adapted to interfit with the complementary hubs 28 of the other'extension B, and an intermediate block or weight portion bifurcated intermediate and below the hubs28 to provide arms 29 through which a pivot pin 30 extends in an inclinedplane to receive the lower sheaves 31 and 32 obliquely within the arms and below the pivot 7 the obliquity permitting proper leads of the operating or closing line Ewith respect to the upper sets of sheaves in frame G.

The bight of the closing line E is supported on upper sheaves 17 and 17 and the line is then successively reeved down around sheaves 31, 31, up and around sheaves 16, 16, down and around sheaves 32, 32, and thence upwardly past the sheaves 19, 19, and guide pulleys 20, 20, the ends being carried to any suitable support. The dotted outline in Fig. 1 of the drawings indicates the wide open position of the bucket when the scoops are at rest and the operating line slackened. A pull on the line operates through the sheaves to exert a lift upon the hinge 7 of the bucket, and if continued. brings the scoops A into the closing position indicated in Fig. 2 and then into closed loaded position as shown in It will be noted in this figure that the lower below the hinge when the bucket is closed, and above the hinge when the bucket is open, and with the compact arrangement of the upper sheaves and frame the headroom for scoop move ment'is reduced to a minimum, while at the same time maintaining a single hinge membar for the scoops and w1thout sacrificing in any Way the characteristic of full wide full lines in Fig. 1;

opening in open position of the scoops. The construction is furthermore adapted to operate under all conditions of service and usage, and is characterized by improved efficiency, and increased strength and durability in use. The upper sheaves are positioned in the frame C on each side of the center line a sutficient distance out to provide for the necessary clearances and to avoid any increase in the height of the bucket in order to provide room for the sheaves.

linen the bucket is in the open position shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 1,'the lower sheaves, and the cables which pass around them, are protected from contact with the material to be excavated by the member B, in which the sheaves are pivoted, while the main hinge 7 is permitted to descend almost to a level with the cutting to have the cutting edges substantially horizontal when the scoop 1S fully closed.

The bucket as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and a, is reeved with the closing line leaving the bucket on opposite sides of the center line of the bucket. This reeving is adapted to certain types of hoisting rigs. Some hoists, however, require that the two ends of the closing line shall leave the bucket on the same side of the center line. here this is necessary I modify the construction so as to permit the reeving shown in Fig. 5, the upper sheaves only being shown in plan therein, it being understood that the positioning of the lower sheaves is arranged properly so that the reeving of the lines is the same with reference to the sheaves as hitherto described. With the reeving shown in Fig. both ends of the closing line may be wrapped upon a single hoisting drum, and both ends of the hold line about another parallel drum, which is an arrangement frequently required on overhead cranes.

it will also be notedthat the upper frame is constructed of a length sufficient to bring the corner brackets 10 under the upper bearings of the corner bars so that when the bucket is closed these bars are substantially vertical. This general arrangement has the great advantage of causing the bucket to open much more readily than would be the case if the upper ends of the corner bars were articulated near the centerline of the bucket. In the latter instance it would rethe sheaves in the hinge castings B to those in the upper frame 0 is such as to secure a very effective closing power with the length of line pulled.

I also provide equalizing bars 33 and 34 articulated together above the hinge 7 by means of a pin 35 carried by the end of the bar 84; so as to work in a slot 36 formed in the end of the other bar 33 during the closing and opening movement of the scoops. These bars may each be integral with a corner bar 11 or rigidly associated with a plate or bracket 37 common to both, as in Fig. 6, and operate to keep the scoops at equal distances from the center line of the supporting frame as the bucket opens, and regardless as to whether the bucket be hanging horizontally, or-resting upon the material in an inclined position.

I do not intend to restrict myself to the precise construction and arrangement of the various parts, as shown, as it is obvious that variations and adaptations thereof may be made, as for example the number of sheaves and the length of line pulled to close the bucket may be increased, without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as expressed in the following claims. i

What I claim is:

1. A clam shell bucket comprising in com bination, a pair of scoop segments, hinge members therefor pivotally connecting the segments together, an upper frame extending longitudinally of the bucket, substantially vertical supporting bars between the frame and the scoop segments, an operating sheave in the frame on each side of the hinge pivot and an operating sheave in a hinge member on each side of the pivotal connection between the segments, and an operating cable reeved on said sheaves.

2. A bucket segmenthaving an upwardly extending member formed with a pair of hinge elements near its upper end, and a segment closing sheave pivotally mounted in said member intermediate the segment and said hinge elements and positioned to incline toward one of said elements but not toward the other.

A bucket segment having an upwardly extending member bridging between the inner opposite side portions of said segment and terminally provided with a pair of hinge elements, one of said elements positioned nearerthe center line of the bucket than the other, and a segment closing sheave, said memberbeing formed below said elements in a manner whereby to constitute a block for said sheave, and said sheave pivotally mounted in said block and inclined therein toward the other of said elements.

4. In a clam-shell bucket, the combination of a pair of similar opposing scoop segments having upwardly extending hinge sections, a central hinge member pivotally connecting said sections, a jointed frame to which each scoop member is hinged adjacent the back of said scoop, closing sheaves pivoted in each scoop member adjacent to said central hinge and having their axes spaced apart and parallel, and inclined with respect to the axis of the hinge member and means coiiperating with said frame and said sheaves to raise the hinge and thereby close the bucket.

In an excavating bucket, the combination of a pair of scoop segments, a frame therefor extending longitudinally in the direction of bucket opening movement, said segments provided with hinge members pivotally connected together, and bucket closing means mounted in said frame and said members, that part of said means mounted in said frame comprising sheaves spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof and disposed on each side of and above the pivotal axis of said segments, and the back portions of the segments extending outwardly from said axis to terminate directly below the ends of said frame. i 6. In an excavating bucket, the combination of an upper frame having upright corner bars at its end portions, a pair of scoop segments supported at their outer corners by said corner bars to swing outwardly away from said end portions and each provided at their upper inner corners with hinge members extending upwardly toward said upper frame, each of said members recessed to provide a sheave block, and having hinge elements, a pivotal connection for said elements, bucket operating sheaves for. said blocks and said upper frame, the sheaves in the upper frame longitudinally spaced apart and disposed at each side of and above said pivotal connections, and an operating cable reeved about said sheaves and through said sheave blocks and then upwardly past the frame and intermediately of the sheaves in said frame.

7.111 an excavating bucket, the combination of an upper frame, a pair of scoop segments supported at their outer corners therefrom and each provided near their inner corners with hinge members formed to previde a sheave block, and l'iavinga hinge element, a pivotal connection for said elements, spaced bucket operating sheaves for said blocks and said upper frame, and a bucket operating cable reeved up and down in th bucket about a sheave and a block sheave at each side of the pivotal connection.

8. In an excavatingbucket, the combination of a longitudinal upper frame extending lengthwise at right angles to the pivotal axis of the bucket, a pair of scoop se ments supported from the outer corners of said frame and each provided with hinge members extending upwardly toward said upper frame each of said members slotted to provide a sheave block and having hinge elements, a pivotal connection for said elements, bucket operating sheaves for said blocks and said upper frame and mounted so that the frame and block sheaves are positioned at each side of the said pivotal connection, and a closing cable operatively reeved upon said sheaves and extending upwardly past said frame intermediately of the sheaves in said frame.

9. In an excavating bucket, the combination of a pair of hinged scoop segments, an upper frame extending longitudinally in the direction of bucket opening movement and comprising side and end members, a holding-line sheave intermediate said end members, bucket-closing sheaves mounted in said side members intermediate said end members and said holding-line sheave, a closing cable for said segments and said closing sheaves, and substantially vertically disposed means for suspendingsaid segments from said end members.

' 10. In an excavating bucket, the combination of a pair of scoop segments, an upper frame extending longitudinally above said segments in the direction of bucket opening movement, corner bars pivotally connecting theouter corners of said segments with the outer ends of said frame and each disposed in' a substantially vertical plane in the closed position of the bucket, means organized intermediate said segments and said frame for pivotally connecting said segments together, and bucket operating means in said frame and in said last mentioned means, all of said bucket operating means being disposed at both sides of the pivotal axis of the bucket in a spaced apart relation.

11. A clam shell bucket comprising-in combination, a pair of scoop segments, hinge members therefor pivotally connecting the segments together, an upper frame extending longitudinally of the bucket, substantially vertical supporting bars between the frame and the scoop segments, and equalizing bars articulated together at one end and rigidly connected to the supporting bars at the other end.

12. In an excavating bucket, the combination of a pair of scoop segments having upwardly extending hinge members pivotally connected together, an upper longitudinal frame disposed adjacently above and at right-angles to the pivotal axis of the segments when closed and extending lengthwise beyond said hinge members to terminate above the outer corners of the segments, substantially vertical corner bars pivotally connected'near the ends of the frame and the outer corners of said segments, sheaves carried on said frame and in said hinge members at each side of said pivotal axis,

the scoop inner corners,

and a cable reeved up and down on said sheaves at each side of said pivotal axis to close the bucket. V

13. In an excavating bucket, the combination of a supporting means, interchangeable similar scoop segments hung from said means and provided with upwardly extending and similar hinge members havinginterfitting and interchangeable hinge elements, a pin for said elements bucket closing sheaves, said members formed to probelow said pin for said vide housings sheaves, pins for said sheaves 1ncl1ned1n said to the pm for the housings with respect hinge elements, and the bucket operating cable for said supporting means and said sheaves.

14-. In a bucket, the combination of a pair ofscoops, a hinge pin pivotally connecting supporting means for the scoops including corner bars having pivot pin connections with the outer scoop corners, a closing line, and spaced closing sheaves for the line pivotally mounted in the scoops at each side of the bucket, the axis of the scoop sheave at one side of the bucket being located above a plane joining the hinge pin and the corner bar pin connections at that side, whereby in the closed position of the bucket the sheaves are spaced farther apart than when the bucket is in open position.

15. In a bucket, the combination of a pair of scoops each provided with a hinge mem ber spanning its inner corners, a hinge'pin pivotally connecting said hinge members, scoop supporting means including corner bars having pivot pin connections with the outer scoop corners, a closing line, and closing sheaves for the line pivotally mounted in each of the hinge members, the sheave axes being located at each side of the bucket above a plane joining the hinge and the corner bar pin connections, whereby in the closed position of the bucket the sheave axes are positioned farther apart than when the bucket is in its open position.

16. In an excavating bucket, the combination of an elongated supporting frame, corner bars pivoted to the ends of said frame and having limited pivotal motion relative thereto, a pair of scoops having pivot pin connections with said corner bars, a hinge pin for said scoops, and closing sheaves pivotally mounted and positioned in said scoops so that the centers of the sheaves are located above the planes joining the hinge and the corner bar pivot connections, said frame being extended above and beyond the axes of the sheaves. V

17. In an excavating bucket, the combinationof an elongated supporting frame, a pair of scoops connected by a hinge pin disposedvat right-angles to the median line of the frame, corner bars connected'with the scoop sheaves and ends of said elongated frame and having pivot pin connections with the outer corners of the scoops, closing sheaves positioned in the scoops intermediate the hinge pin and the corner bar pin connections, corresponding sheaves pivoted in each end of the frame and having their axes spaced farther apart than the distance between the axes of the a closing line for said sheaves.

18. In an excavating bucket, the combination of an elongated supporting frame, a pair of scoops connected by a hinge pin disposed at right-angles to the median line of the frame, corner bars connected with the ends of said elongated frame and having pivot pin connections with the outer corners of the scoops, closing sheaves positioned in the scoops intermediate the hinge pin and the corner bar pin connections, corresponding sheaves pivoted in each end of the frame and having their axes spaced farther apart than the distance between the axes of the scoop sheaves, and a closing line for said sheaves reeved so as to draw the sheaves in each scoop toward the corresponding end of of said frame.

19. I11 an excavating bucket, the combination of an elongated supporting frame, a pair of scoops connected by a hinge pin disposed at right-angles to the median line of the frame, corner bars pivotally connected with the ends of the frame to permit limited pivotal motion relative thereto and having pivot pin connections with said scoops, spaced closing sheaves pivoted in the scoops above a plane extending from the hinge pin to the corner bar pin connections, corresponding sheaves pivoted in each end of the frame intermediate the corner bars and spaced farther apart than the scoop sheaves, and a closing line reeved so as to draw the sheaves in the scoops toward the corresponding ends of said frame.

20. In an excavating bucket, the combi nation of an elongated supporting frame, a pair of scoops having inner extensions spanning the sides of the scoops, a hinge pin for said extensions disposed at right-angles to the plane of frame elongation, substantially vertical corner bars connected with the outer ends of said frame and having pivotal connections with the backs of the scoops, the ends of the frame disposed above to open and close, a head frame therefor comprising side members elongated in the direction of bucket opening movement and having end members disposed substantially above the outer corners of the segments, spaced pivot pins carried by said end and side members, corner bars mounted on said end pins and pivotally connected with the I outer corners of the segments, said segments provided with a central hinge and having sheave pins disposed at each side of and below said hinge, bucket closing sheaves on said side member pins and said last mentioned pins, the lower face of the frame being located adacent the hinge, and the pins of the segment sheaves being located nearer the vertical center line of the bucket than the pins of the sheaves in the side members, and a bucket operating cable reeved up and down on said sheaves and then extended vertically past said frame intermediately of the sheaves therein.

WILLIAM M. VEN ABLE.

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