US1575339A - Lumber piler - Google Patents

Description

March 2 1926.

F. W. HORSTKOTTE LUMBER FILER Filed NOV. 18, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mwloa Frazier/bk W Harstkotte March 2,1926. 1,515,339

F. W. HQRSTKOTTE LUMBER FILER Filed Nov. 18, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. HORSTKOTTE March 2, 1926. 1,575,339

LUMBER FILER g nucntol E ifgy mdemk W. Horst frozze March 2 1926. 1,575,339

F. w. HORSTKOTTE LUMBER FILER Filed Nov. 18, 1924 45h86tS-Sh86t 4 Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

rnnnnntoxw. nonswxor'rn', or ssox'annwasnmeron.

LUMBER BILER.

Application. filed November 18,1924. Seria1;No./50,69O. a

1 all 'w/w m it may concern;

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Hons'n Ko'r'rn, a citizen ofthe United States, lGSlCL State of ashington have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lumber Pilers, of which the following is a specification. 1

My present invention relates to improvements in lumber pilers adapted for use in a' ariety of ways but particularly designed for stacking lumber on trucks or cars, which when loaded, are conveyed to a dry ing kiln.

The invention contemplates the utilization of an upright conveyor ot the endless chain type for successively elevating anddepositing boards or planks on a chute or skidway in combination with a vertically movable stacking or piling, frame upon which the worlnnan stands while handling the lumber and formingthe stack on thekiln truck. Means are provided for adjusting the stacking frame for various lengths of boards or planks; automatic devices are used for guid ance in piling the boards or planks 1n the stack 101' the formation of a fine in the'stack or pi ls to insure proper CllStllbuillOn of the air currents in drying the material alter the loaded truck has been introduced to the kiln; and other meritorious features and combinations and arrangements of parts are utilized to insure facility and accuracy in the formation of the stack, as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed. in the accompanying drawing-s1 have illustrated one nomplete example of the physical embodiment oi my invention wherein the parts are combined: and arranged in accordance withthe belt mode I have thus far de- -ri d structure vation of the releasing device for the 1novable, intermed ate carriage to permit adjustment of the latter. ingat Spokane, in. Spokane County and a Figure 5 is- ;an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the guides for the sticks used as separators placed in horizontal position between layers of boards in the stack.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view at line 6-6 of Figure 4,

In carrying: out my invention I utilize a strong supporting: frame comprising spaced uprights or posts in the form of channel bars I and 2, provided with suitable bases and joined by a cross beam as 3 to insure a Yde waysloifthethree endless chains 8 which pass aroundsproeliet Wheels 9' male at the lower and upper ends of these frames;

The chains are actuated by power applied to a sprocket wheel 11 on theshat't 5 actuated from a suitable source of supply. a

Each chain, Off 1 the elevator I units is equipped with a series of lumber carri rs" for operating; parts of the conveyor ismade up 01" a The upper shaft common to all of the 'units is'journaled in the upper ends of upright frames 6 having suitable bearings 7. These frames form each coi'i'iprising a pair of ClUpjlG/X arms 121' and 13 pivoted-- at let on the chain, and the free or the location of the carriers on endless chain; f i

As seen in Figure 1f aplank or board 16 is deposited on; a phu'ality ot' the spaced brackets 1'?supportedlfroin the main frame, and by manual teed. these planksare picked up and placed upon. the synchronously mow ing lower arms12 oi the alined carriers. as the carriers move upwardly as'indicated by the erro in Fig. 1 the boards or planks are carried by them upand over'tlie top ot' the carrier frames, and the planks are then. deposited upon a series of spaced inclined skids 18 in the forniiotangle irons whichprofiect at the front of the machine.

As the boards are discharged upon the skids IS'i'hey are handled by two men and deposited upon a car or kiln truck 19, in the form of a. stack having a central line 20 as p '15 of these arms serve to maintain the carrcrs n proper pos tion regardless of indicated by dotted lines and full lines in Figure 1. The flue 20 as shown has a wide base and its walls converge or taper toward the stack-top. The planks or boards are laid or built up in the stack in such manner that laterally extending; spaces, are provided therein to facilitate the distribution of air currents through the stack when the lumber has been conveyed into the kiln for drying.

In stacking the lumber on the kiln truck it is also necessary for greatest economy and BlfiClGIlCy' to space the'horizontally disposed sticks 21, which are used to separate the layers of planks or boards, at proper inter- "als and in regular order, in the stack in uniform vertical rows.

The lumber is removed from the skids 18 by two men, one at each end of the plank or board, who stand upon the end platforms 22 and 23 provided therefor. A third, intermediate, platform 24a is also utilized by one man when short lengths ofmaterial are being handled, and this third platform is adjustable between the two end platforms in order that'a man may stand thereupon.

andco-operate with another man on one of the selected end platforms. When long boards are being stacked, the auxiliary platform 2 1 is moved to the right in Figure 3 adjacent to the platform 24 and used in conjunction with that platform.' I

The platforms are designed for vertical movement starting from their lowermost position whenthe first layer of material is deposited upon the kiln truck 19, and they are gradually elevated or lifted, as the stack rises under formation, to their uppermost positionsas indicated in Figures 1 and 2.

The three platforms are eaclrsuspenclecl by frames 25, or 25 for the intermediate 2 platform, from a vertically movable, horizontally disposed, rectangular stacking frame made up of a pair of end beams 26 26 and two side beams 27 27. beams which project beyond the side beam 27 are fixed in suitable manner each to a vertical slide head 28 28 which heads are guided in their vertical movement by the respective posts or uprights 1 and 2.

The stacking frame is suspended by cables 29 29 which are attached at 30 to the respective heads and these hoisting cables pass upwardly over pulleys 31 on the elevating shaft 32 which is journaled in bearings 33 at the upper ends of the posts 1 and 2. One

of the cables, as 29 (see Fig. 2) also passes around an idle pulley 34: and thence over a driven pulley 35 on the elevating shaft and back to a driving pulley 36 supported in a yoke 37 onthe end of a piston rod 38 having a piston (not shown) in the hydraulic cylinder 39. .Pipes 10 and l'provide the proper connections for the motive fluid to the cylmder for hoisting and lowering the stacking platforms and frame. A control The end valve 40 for the motive fluid (Figs. 1 and 2) in connection with the pipes 40 and 41, is operable from the platform 22, in any position, by the man standing thereon, who manipulates a valve rod 41 This rod has a hand lever 42 at its upper end and at its lower end has a socket head43 for engagement with the valve 40 and the rod is of 19, are separated in layers by successive tiers of spacing sticks 21 and the central longitudinal fine 20 is formed in the stack with a wide, open base, and a closed narrow top, by means of automatically operated guides carried on the stacking frame, as will. now be described.

These guides are arranged in pairs, one pair being carried by each of the end beams 26 26', and another pair carried by a beam forming I part of the intermediate plat forxi. Each guide comprises a pair of opposed, flanged metallic plates 16 and 47 having perforations and reversed screw threads 'for the complementary right and left-hand threaded screw bars48, 19,- and 50. The guide plates are' retained and guided each in a'slot 51 of the guide-supports, and the screw bars are journaled to revolve in bearings 52. The end screw bars '18 and 49 extend over to the respective heads 28 and 23 'andeach bar, is provided with a "ack wheel as 53 which is rotated or revolved with its screw bar as the wheel travels upwardly or downwardly in contact with a vertical rack bar 54, one secured at the outer 47 are spaced apart their maximum dis-' tance for indicating the position of the inner boards of the'two sections of the first layer of the stack deposited upon the kiln truck 19.

As the stacking platform gradually rises under propulsion from the hydraulic jack,

and through the action of the rack bars,

rack wheels and screw bars, the guide plates are gradually brought together in order that when the stacking frame rises to its maximum height as in Figure 1, the guide plates are at their minimum distance apart. By using these plates as guides the men are enabled to stack the timber with facility as eases-e indicated in Figure 1 to form the flueQO: for use in the kiln. After the stack is completed andthe loaded truck disposed of, the guide plates are automatically separated to their.

maximum distance asthe stacking frame descends to 1ts lowermost position.

' These stick-guides comprise channel plates form, form a. carriage whiohis movable lonspaced at regular intervals .in two complementary series on the inner. sides ot the two beams 27 and 2:. Thegu-lde :plates are disposed in vertical position and are in terchangeable and adjustable. Each guide plate is provided \vitha pair rot-spaced heads ed bolts 56 and these headed bolts are adapted to engage thecomplementary )air,0f-keyhole slots 57 on the frameabazrs 27 2.7i11order that the guide plates may with 'faei lity be attached ordetached with relation to. their supports, and adjusted at warlous distances apart along the inner sides of the beams.

The sticks 21 which are uniform inlength are dropped into position "on thextruck or.

on the stack, withtheir ends passing through a pair of complementary guide' plates toin-n sure their proper position and uniform spacing at proper lntervalslalong thestack. As

each layer of planks is laid: longitudinally oi" the truck, a tier of sticks is quickly laid transversely of the i planks,'-until the stack is completed as indicated in Figure =1. .Then the top open end of the-flue 20 is closed by a single plank ;to :form a barrier against a direct upd aft through the flue. Bythisiarspaces betweenlayers of xplanlnrthe heated aircurrents :in the l 1lI1lF8 caused tounove distribution of the air-currents, and. consee quent e'iliciency, indrymg the material.

The intermediate platform 24,..togethe1v with its trame 25' and a beams-7 ofthe' platigitudinallyot the stacking frame. The carv riage is provided with pairs ofr'ollers .58at its ends whlch run :upon the top surfaces of the respective beams 27 27' as rails or:

stacking guides of the end platforms;

through the instrumentality of a sprocket chain 59, the upper andlowemflights of which engage a sprocket wheel on the end ofwthescrew 'bar 56) not the carriage or inter-- mediate platitorm; When :short tained in adjustedposition" or use by one of the 111611 handling the ipla'n ks. i

The screw bar-50 'oztt'he carriage passes though a slot--62 .in the .side beanrQZ, and the chain 159 isisuppoirted on sprocket wheels one of the end, screw bars, as 49 of the maehi ne,and revolvedtheretrom.

vThe sprocket w heel 63 at the other end of the endless chain is jou rnaled in a yoke 65 which has a suitable suspending bar 66 slid-ably supported in a bracket 67 'on the beam 217 A spring '68 is coiled about the slidebar and interposed between the bracket 67 andran adjusting nut. 69 on the threaded end of the adjusting-bar. The sprocket. wheel as thus suspended in,:a tensiondevice to adjusted position when short lengths of material are to be handled.

The chain 50 is normally held zin operative relation to its Wheel 60; Mlhenthecan 11'Z1gB1S to bemoved to. adj usted positionintermediate the endplatforms, the schain flights. are disengaged tromwthe sprocket.

wheel =60-by turning ,a hand lever .70 tsee Figure which is pivoted :on the ascrew-ibar' 50. This hand lever ISZPIOVidGCl' with 'apair rangement of the flue in the staokia'nd. the 3 o-i' spaeed rollers -7 1rand-f72 locatedat'proper points on thei'lever to contact Wltllthflnlnner facesfo-fthe two chain flights assthe lG'VGP'ISttUHHGd trominorma'l horlzontal 'position to verticalwposition as shown by clottedlines, As :the lever is turned upwardly :or

downwardly,; the two :rollers; engage the chain flights and spread them apart, thus freeing: the chain from the wheel. This ipermits movement of the carriage which move:- mentalso-includesthe sprocket-wheel 60 and the screw bar 50, 'the latter sliding alongzin the islot162 of thebeam 27. L

For retaining the lever 70 in normal position-a pin 73 is. passed through a aperioration inthe lever and said-pin projects into length planks as 61 are being handled, this chain, iswactuated to operate {the stacker guides 4&6 and 47 of the carriage, the latter being ire- 63 and 64, the latter wheel being carriedon the slot 62 of the beam'27 :to hold the lever against accidental displacement while the chain "59 is operating.

From the :above descriptionataken in connection with my -drawings it willbe evident that I have provided lumber piling machinewwhich may be utilized for quickly and conveniently stacking nor piling :the material upon .a truck, :car,. or other carrier as required and -'hereinbefore-explained, and that the machine will perform its functions with smoothness and regularity and reliability.

Having thus fully described my invention,"

what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. The combination with discharging skids, of a main frame, a vertically movable stacking frame supported on the main frame adjacent to said skids, normally spaced guideson said stacking frame, and means for moving said guides toward the center of the stack as the height of the latter increases.

2. The combination in a lumber stacker with a main frame, a vertically movable stacking frame supported thereon, and

means for moving said stacking frame, of

automatically operated guide means on the stacking frame whereby a flue may be created in a stack while the latter is buildin 8. The combination in a lumber piler with a main frame, a vertically movable stacking frame supported thereon and actuating means for the stacking frame, guide devices on the stacking frame for use, in creating a fluein a stack while said stack is being erected, and'means co-acting with the movement. of the stacking frlm6 2111Cl{StlCk 'uides carried by saidstackingframe for h use in erecting a stack.

5. The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movable stacking frame and means for operating said stack- 7 ing frame, of apair of spaced platforms carried by said stacking frame, an auxiliary platform carried by said stacking frame and means for moving said platform relatively to the spaced platforms whereby the auxiliary platform may be moved adjacent to one of said fixed platforms.

frame of a vertically movable stacking frame and means for operating said stacking frame, of a fixed platform on the stacking frame, a carriage on the stacking frame and an auxiliary platform on said carriage, stacking guides on the stacking frame and a stacking guide on the carriage, and means actuated by movement of the stacking frame for actuating said stacking guides.

7. The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movable stacking frame and operating means therefor, of a plurality of stacking-guides carried by said stacking frame each comprising a pair of op-' posed, relatively movable plates and' means actuated by the movement of the stacking frame for varying the distancebetween said plates.

8 The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movable stacking frame and operating means therefor, of a plurality of stacking guides carried by said stacking frame each comprising a pair of opposed plates and a screw bar having i'eversed threads for. each pair of plates, 21 rack wheel on each screw bar, and a rack bar on the supporting frame for each rack wheel.

9. The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movable stacking frame and operating means therefor, of a pair of stacking-guide-members carried by said stackingfraine a carriage on the stacking frame, a pair of stacking guide-members carried by said carriage, and means actuated by the movement of the stacking frame for varying the distance between said guide members.

10. The combination with a supporting frame, a vertically movable stacking frame, a working-platform on said stacking frame,

and means for operating the stacking frame,

of a carriage on said stacking frame and a working-platforn'i on the carriage, a plurality of stacking guides on the stacking frame and a stacking guide on the carriage,

each said guide comprising a pair of relatively movable plates, and a screw bar hav-- ing reversed threads for co-action with said plates, a rack wheel on the screw bars carried 'by the stacking frame and a rack bar forv each said wheel on the. supporting' frame, and operative connections between one of said latter screw bars and the screw bar on the carriage.

11. The combination with avertically mov able stacking frame having a working platform and a screw bar supported on said frame, of a carriage supported on the stacking frame and a screw bar on saidcarriage, a pair of opposed stacking-guide plates on each screw bar and reverse threads on said bars, power transmission devices connectv I ing said bars, and ineans actuated by the 6. The combination with a supporting 13. The combination with a main frame and a rack bar thereon, of a vertically movablestacking frame and a screw bar thereon having a rack wheel, a carriage on the stacking frame and a screw bar thereon, a pair of relatively movable stacking guide plates on each screw bar, sprocket wheels on said bars and a sprocket chain connecting said Wheels, and means for releasing saicl chain from the carriage-spr0cket-wheel to permit movement of the carriage.

14. The combination with a main frame and a rack bar thereon. of a Vertically mow able stacking frame and a screw bar thereon having a rack wheel, a carriage 0n the stacking frame and a screw bar thereon, a pair 30 of relatively movable stacking plates on each screw bar, sprocket wheels on said screw bars, a third sprocket wheel having a movable support on the stacking frame, and means for releasing said chain from the carriage sprocket wheel to permit movement of the carriage.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

F. V. HORSTKOTTE.

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