US1601510A - Road-grading machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 28x, 1926. 1,601,510

J. B. RHQDES ROAD GRADING MACHINE Y Filed Jn. 16 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet l w y* l mi n Sept. 28 1926.

J. B.' RHODES ROAD GRADING MACHINE 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 filed Jan: 16

sept. 2s 1926.

J. B. RHQD'Es ROAD GRADINGMACHINE Filed Jan. 1e

1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 28 1926.

J. B. RHODES ROAD GRADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1e

1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 28, 1926. Y

UNITED OFFICE.

JAY s. RHODES, or 'KAIIILMA'ZOQMMICIIIGAN AssGNOR iro WESTERN tv'n'nELER sCRArER COMPANY, or AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

ROAD-GRADING MACHINE Appiic'aton filed Janilary 16, 1920. serial No.351,974.

My invention relates to road making ma chinery, and has for its object to 'provide a new and improved grading machinel especially adapted for use as a/trailer to be drawn by a traction engine. Iln operating such machines they are usually hitched Ato the traction engine by a long cable, which sometimes is as much as sixty feet long, to per mit the traction engi-ne to run oil o'r at one lo side of the crown of the road While the grading machine travels in the ditch at the opposite side of the crovvn from thatA Where the traction en 'ine is "traveling, Under such conditions t ere is a stronglateral pull on the grading machine Which makes it very difficult for vthe operator to" hold vit properly to its Work, and this isV intensified by the rough going which usually obtains in a Wa side ditch. Fi'irthermore, it is frequently 2e necessary in operating a grading machine to project the scraper laterally away fromf-tlie road bed to cut down'a bank-,- and this further increases the difficulty of steering under the conditions above mentioned, so that fre"- quently the Work of steering under such conditions with grading machines as heretofore constructed is practically beyond humanv endurance.

Again, in the Work of steering a trailing lgrader on the roadway as distinguished from in the ditch,- inequalitife's in the' surface Of the road, or curves of the road,'deflect the line of draft to one side' Orthe other,l and this is 'particularly tr'ue in turning corners, so that Eef there is a constant tendency tos'vving the front Wheels to one side or the other, which, in machines as heretofore constr`ucted-,l1nales steering difficult and burdensome. The improvements which form the subject-matter of my present invention provide means by which the difficulties above' mentioned areA to large extent, if not completely, overcome, and the grading machine may be 'steered comparatively easily even under ythe most if exacting conditions. rlC-'h'e nature of such* inrproveinents is specifically pointed out inthe following` vdescription of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which illustrate thepreferred embodiment tu of my invention. VVhztt I-'regalrd `asnvv 'is set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying" drawings-, y Y. Fig. 1 is? substantially a side'elevati'on of the front portion-.of a read' grading machine@ Fig. 5 is a vhorizontal section o'n line 5 5 In the drawings I have illustrated only such parts of a road grading machine as are necessary to. a full understanding of my inventio'n, and it shouldbeIv understood that the drawings are intended to illustrate the application of my improvements to a grading machine Of a standard type,- comprising a Wheeled frame under which is disposed the usual angularly and vertically adjustable scraper blade, the various adjustmentsl of which are effected `by the usual operating de# vices mounted on the grader frame. The machine may also be provided with an end- Wise and angularly adjustable rear axle. These features arev all old a'nd Well-'knownV to those familiar ywith the art so' that it is not believed to be necessary lto illustrate or describe them atl this time.

Referring nowv toAA the draWings,'-6 indicates the main' frame of? the grader, 7 the' scraper supporting frame,- and 8 the scraper blade, which is connected to thev frame 7 by a bifurcated curved beam 9v and the usual ro# tary connecting devices so that the scraper bladeV may be angula'rly' and otherwise adjusted in the usual Way. The frame 7 has the usual goose-neck 10 at its forward end by which it is connected to the draft devices, as rvill be hereinafter described.

11', 12 indicate the front Wheels, which are mounted, respectively, von spindles 13, 14 carried by vertical' sleeves 15, 16 Which fit in the bifurcated en'd portions 17, 18 of a dirigibl'e front axle 19, as best shown in F iig, and are pivotally supported by vertical pivots 20, 21,- as best shown in Fig. 4; Thus the yfront Wheels may be turned angularly ivith reference to the axle 19' for steering the machine, the construction in this respect beingsi'milar t'o that used in connection 'tvith automobile yvehicles ff various kin'd's, except that the' aile 19""a'lso`l is pivoted to svvingV horizbnt'ally. The sle` 'es4` 15, 16 are provide with steering arms'- 2 2, 23 rigid there with and projecting forward therefrom, preferably at a right angle, as shown in Fig. 4. The ' steering arms 22, 23 are not connected directly together by a rigid crossconnection, as is the case in automobile construction, but they are adjustably connected by links 24, and pins 26, 27 with a segmental rack 23, as shown in Fig. 4, said rack being provided with two arcuate series of holes 29, 30, extending` generally fore and aft, to receive the pins 26, 27. The segmental rack 28, therefore, forms an adjustable intermediate connection between the inner ends of the links 24, 25 and not only provides for adjusting` the out of the wheels so that the grader will trail with the tractor when using cables of different lengths, but also for swinging the arms 22, 23 simultaneously in one direction or the. other to guide vthe machine in the manner hereinafter described. rihe 'forward'portion or apex of the segmental racli 23 is mounted on a vertical pivot 31 fitted centrally in a cross-bar 32 which forms part .of a rigid steering frame connected with the front axle 19. This frame comprises two parallel side bars 33, 34, the rear end portions of which are secured to the upper side of the axle 19, as shown in Fig. 2, while their forward end portions are secured to the cross-bar 32; also a longitudinally-extending bar 35, the forward end portion of which is secured by the. pivot 31, as shown in Fig. 3. This bar 35 extends under the axle 19, to which it is secured, and then extends rearward and upward where it is connected to the rear end portion of a longitudinally-extending beam 36 mounted centrally upon and secured to the axle 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The beam 36 is provided at itsends with upturned lugs 37, 33 for the pivotal connection therewith of the lower member 39 of a fifth wheel or draft frame, this connection being accomplished by providing the frame 39 with downwardly extending bifurcated lugs 40, 41 which fit upon the lugs 37, 33 to which they are connected by pivots 42, 43, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the frame 39 is capable of rocking laterally upon the beam 36. The forward portion of the frame 39 is provided with a draft ring or eye 44 adapted to receive a hook 45 at the rear end of a draft rod 46, as shown in Fig. 3. This draft rod, which is comparatively long, has an eye 4? at its forward end for 'the connection therewith of a draft cable 48, which may be of any desired length, and serves to connect the draft rod 46 with any source of pow r, such as a traction engine.

rl`he forward portion of the steering frame heretofore des ribed is' provided with a tongue 49, as shownin Fig. 3, the rear end of said tongue being connected with the cross-bar 32 by means of a lug 50 carried centrally by saidcross-bar and connected with said 'tongue by a pivot 51. The forward portion of the tongue 49 is connected loosely with the draft rod 46 by a hook 52V which is connected with the tongue by a horizontal pivot 53 and hooks over the steering rod 46, as shown in Fig. 3. By this construction, when the draft rod 46 is swung laterally in either direction by deflection of the line ofl draft the tongue 49 will be swung in the same direction, thereby correspond- -ingly turning the front axle. The edect of this adjustment upon the `front wheels will be explained later on.

The forward portion of the grader frame 6 is supported upon the draft frame 39 by means of aring plat-e 54 which forms the upf per member of the fifth wheel and is fitted to turn upon the upper marginal portion of the draft frame 39, as shown inFig. 3. ring plate 54 is held in position by a series of clips 55 secured to t-he upper surface of the draft frame 39, and overlapping the inner marginal portion of the ring plate 54, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. cate standards connecting the forward portion of the grader frame 6 with the ring plate 54. 59 indicates a tubular bearing which rises centrally from the draft frame 39 and serves to connect the forward portion of the goose-neck 10 with said draft frame, this connection being effected by means of a connecting bar 60 which is pivoted upon the bearing 59 and extends rearwardly over the draft frame 39 to the forward end of the goose-neck 10 to which it is connected by a horizontal pivot 61, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the draftframe 39 may swing about a vertical axis independently of the scraper' frame 7, and the latter frame may swing vertically about the pivot 61 independently of t-he draft frame 39. The bearing 59 is braced by a brace 62 which lits over its upper end portion and is fixedly connected with the forward portion of the draft frame 39 in any vsuitable way, as by rivets 63, shown in Fig. 5. The steering mechanism comprises a vertical shaft 64, the lower end portion of which is fitted in the bearing 59 while its upper end portion extends through a cross-bar 65 secured to the forward end portions of the members 66, 67 of the grader frame 6, as shown in F ig. 2, and extends into a housing 68 mounted on said cross-bar 65. At its upper end the shaft 64 carries a worin wheel 69 which meshes with a worm 70 carried by a longitudinally extending shaft 71 which is coupled by a universal joint 72 to a steering rod 73 which runs back to the drivers seat where it is provided with the usual steering wheel. The worm steering gear is of the irreversible type so that the shaft 64 can be rot-ated only by operation of the steering wheel. At its lower end the shaft 64 is'connected by a universal joint The f tate independently thereof, and inwthe `same plane with the segmental raek28 the shaft 75 carries a pinionl 76 which is keyed tol said shaft so that it rotates therewith. This pinion is mounted. in a recess 77 provided centrally in thel axle 19 so that it is intersected by the shaft 75, asbest shown in= Figs. 2 and 3. It is apparent that by rotat-v ing the shaft 64 the shaft 75 and pinion: 76 will be similarly rotated. Thetoothed portion 7S of the segmental rack 28 meshes.v

with the pinion 76, as shownin Figs. 3 and1 4, and consequently the rotation of the shaft 75 operates to adjust the segmental rack 28 laterally with relation to the alxle 19, and thereby, through? the, lsteering links 24,-. 25 and arms 22,123, operates to adjnst the angular positionY of the frontrwlieels.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: lVhenv the draftis straight away the front wheels `may be steered in the ordinary' way by turningtlre hand steering wheel in the appropriate direction, thereby rotating the pinion 76 and swinging the rear end of the segmental rack` A28 accordingly, which as has been explained, `correspondingly swings the steering arms 22, 23 and turns the front wheels toward one side or the other. If, however, the hand steering wheel is not rotated, the-'pinion 76 will be locked against rotation because of the irlreversible character of vthe wornr gearingcon nected with the Ashaft 64, and, therefore, if the 'forward porti-'en ot :the segmental rack 28 is not swung laterally by the deflection of die line of draft the front wheels will maintain their position.; If, however, the ifi-ne of draft be deflected', as to the right, the steering frame will be swung in a clockwisedirection as` viewed in Fig. l, thereby correspondingly turning the front axle v1f9 towardy the position Vindicated by dottedk l'ines in said ligure. Bearing in mind that this turning of thel front `axle does Vnot rotate theA pinion 76, which remains stationary nr'rl'ess the hand steering wheel `is turned, it will be apparent that the rack teeth 78 will ride over the teeth of the pinion 76, and, therefore, the rear endv portion of the segmental racli- 28 will lbev moved to 'the left relatively to the axle 19, las viewed in Fig. l, rllie result of this operation will be to swing the steering arms- 22, .23 in a connterclocli'wise direction ais viewed insa'id figure, thereby turning the lfront i'vh'eels so that they tend to run toward. the left.4 or in opposition to ythe deliectmg' tendency of theI altered line of draft. In other. words, if the new Aline of draft turns the frontaar-le towardjthe vrright, the front wheels will be turned to? ifi-:in to the' left of; a di.

ction. perpendicirlar to' the' axle, and, therefore, tend to direct `the machine more nearly straight ahead. Consequently in turning a corner, for example, the machine would automatically -turn in a comparatively large' arc.A This automatic action can,

of course, be supplemented or modified by operation of the hand steering wheel?, so that the -niachine is capable of negotiating curves or corners without difficulty. The advantage' of my improved construction in operating in ditches where' the traction engine runs on or beyond 'the crown 4of the road will also be readily` appreciated, since the lateral deflection of the line `of draft away from the ditch automatically turns the steering' wheels in the opposite direction, or toward the bank', so that the machine can easily be held in operative position, and the operator is enabled to force the vscraper blade against the bank and hold it therewithout diiiicu'lty. The extent to which the wheels are automatically deflected may be varied, softhat the grader will traill with the tractor when using cables of different lengths, by adjusting the position of Athe links 24, withl relation to the lsegmental rack 28' by shifting the pins 26, 27 into one or another of the series' of holes 29, 30.y

So far as I am aware, the steering. mechanism shown and described is generically new. as I know of no prior machine having means for automatically controlling the steering wheels in the vmanner described, andthe claimshereinafter madeA are, therefore, to be construed accordingly.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secufre by Letters Patent, is-

1. A grading mach-ine comprising a; main frame, a= dirigible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices, and means' controlled thereby for turning said wheels laterally with. respect to the axle and in the opposite direction to that in which the axle is turned.

A grading machine comprising a main frame,- a pivoted front axle,l wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices, and means automatically operating when the line of draft is laterally deflected for relatively turning said wheels in the opposite direction.

3. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a pivoted front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally.vv draft devices, and: means automatically operating when the line of draft is laterally deflected for turning said axle in the same direction and relatively turning said wheels v in. the opposite direction.

' 4; vA gradingmachine comprisingA a main trame, dfirigirble front wheels, draft devices, ineansautoinatically operating when' the line' of draft is laterally deflected for relatively turning said dirigible wheels in the opposite direction, and meansfor independently steeringisa-id. wheels. e

5. A grading machine comprising a 'main frame, a pivot-ed front axle, Wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices, means automatically operating when the line of draft is laterally deflected for relatively turning said Wheels in the opposite direction, and means for independently steering said Wheels.

6. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a pivotcd front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices, means automatically operating` when the line of draft is laterally deflected for turning said axle in the same direction and relatively turning said wheels in the opposite direction, and means for independently steering said wheels.

7. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirgible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices, means actuated by lateral deflection of the line of draft for turning said axle laterally, and mechanism connected with said steering wheels and operated automatically by the turning of said axle for swinging said wheels laterally with reference to the axle and in the opposite direction to that in which the axle is turned.

8. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices connected with said main frame, a steering frame connected with said axle and with said draft devices so that lateral deflection of the line of draft deflects said steering frame, and means automatically operated by the turning of the axle for swinging said wheels laterally in the opposite direction.

9. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices connected with said main frame, a steering frame connected with said axle and with said draft devices so that lateral deflection of the line of draft deflects said steering frame, means automatically operated by the turning of the axle for swinging said wheels laterally in the opposite direction, and means for independently steering said wheels.

l0. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices, steering means connected with said axle and operated by lateral deflection of the line of draft, a transversely movable rack carried by said steering means and connected with said wheels, a pinion meshing with said rack, and means independent of the axle for holding said pinion against rotation.

ll. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigihle front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices, steering means connected with said axle and operated by lateral delflection of the line of draft, a transversely movable rack carried by said steering means and connected with said wheels, a pinion meshing with said rack, and manually operated steering mechanism connected with said pinion, said steering mechanism comprising means for holding said pinion against rotation when the axle is turned about its axis.

l2. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, wheels pivota-lly connected with said axle to swing lateraly, draft devices, steering means Connected with said axle and operated by lateral deflection of the line of draft, a transversely movable raclr carried by .said steering means and connected with said wheels, a pinion meshing with said rack, and manually operated steering mechanism co-nnected with .said pinion, said steering mechanism comprising irreversible worm gearing for normally holding said pinion against rotation when the axle is turned about its axis.

18. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices connected with said main frame, a steering frame connected with said axle and adapted to be guided by the draft devices, a laterally swinging segmental rack mounted on said steering frame, a pinion having its axis in alinement with the axis of said axle and meshing with said segmental racl, means connecting said segmental raclr with said wheels, and means for holding said pinion against rotation when the axle is swung on its pivot..

let, A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices connected with said main frame, a steering frame connected with said axle and adapted to be guided by the draft devices, a laterally swinging segmental rack mounted on said steering frame, a pinion having its .axis in' .alinement with the axis of said axle and meshing with said segmental racl, means connecting said segmental rack with said wheels, and manually\ operated means for rotating said pinion independently of the axle.

l5. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, draft devices connected with said main frame, a steering frame connected with said axle and adapted to be guided by the draft devices, a laterally swinging segmental rack mounted on said steering frame, a pinion having its axis in alinement with the axis of said axle and meshing with said segmental rack, means connecting said segmental rack with said Wheels, and manllt) ually operated means for rotating said pinion independently of the axle, said manually operated steering means comprising. irreversible worm gearing.

ifi. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a pivoted front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axleto swingk laterally, draft devices connected with lsaid main frame, a steering frame connected with said axle and adapted to beguided by the draft devices, a laterally swinging segmental rack mounted on said steering frame, a pinion having its axis in alinement with the axis of said axle and meshingwith'said segmental rack, and means adjustably connecting said segmental rack with said wheels.

17. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a pivoted front axle, wheels pivotally connected with said axle toI swing laterally, draft devices connected with Vsaid vmain frame, a steering frame connected with said axle and adapted to bey guided by the draft devices, a laterally swinging segmental rack mounted on said steering frame, a pinion having its axis in .alinement with the axis of said axle and meshing with said segmental rack, manually operated'means for rotating said pinion independently of t-lie axle, and adjustable means connecting said segmental rack with said wheels, whereby the extent to which said wheels are turned by deflection of the line of draft may be varied.

18. A grading machine comprising a. main frame, a fifth wheel supporting the forward portion of said main frame, a dirigible axle supporting said fifth wheel, a steering shaft in alinement with the axis of said fifth wheel, wheels dirigibly mounted on said axle, and means operatively connected with said shaft for turning .said wheels laterally with relation to the axle either by the draft of the team or by rotation of said shaft.

19. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a. fifth wheel supporting the forward portion of said main frame, a dirigible axle supporting said fifth wheel, a steering shaft in alinement with the axisv of said fifth wheel, wheels dirigibly mounted on said axle, a pinion connected with said steering shaft, a pivotally mounted rack meshing with said pinion, and means connecting ysaid rack with said steering wheels whereby said wheels may be steered by the rotation of said steering shaft.

20. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a fifth wheel supporting the forwardA portion of said main frame, a dirigible axle supporting said fifth wheel, a steering shaft in alinement with-the axis of said fifth wheel, wheels dirigibly mounted on Vsaid axle, a pinion connected with said steering shaft, a segmental rack meshing with said pinion, means connecting said segmental rack with from, atongue connected with said steering frame, a draft frame mounted on said axle, a draft rod connectedwithsaid draft frame and having a guiding engagement withv said tongue, and Vmeans operated by. lateral movement of said steering frame fon swinging said wheels laterally on the axle.k

. 22V. A grading machine comprising a mainl frame, a dirigible front axle, a fifth wheel mounted upon said axle. and supporting L'said main frame, said fifth .wheeltbeing adapted toiocl; about al longitudinal axis, dirigible wheels carried by said axle, a pinion carried by the axle, means connecting said pinion withV said dirigible wheels whereby said wheels may be steered by the rotation of said pinion, and manually operated steering mechanism mounted on said main frame and connected with said pinion.

23. A grading machine comprising a main frame, Aa front axle, dirigible wheels carried by said axle, steering mechanism mounted on said main frame and operatively connected with said dirigible wheels, a draft frame comprising a fifth wheel member, said fifth wheel member being adapted to turn on ahorizontal axis with respect to the axle, and about a vertical axis with respect to said niain frame, and Vmeans for connecting said draft frame with the axle.

24;. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a front axe, dirigible wheels carried by saidaxle, steering mechanism mounted on said main frame and operatively connected with said dirigible wheels, a draft frame comprising a fifth wheel member, said fifth wheel member being adapted to turn on a horizontal axis with respect to the axle, and about a vertical axis with respect to said main frame, means for connecting said draft frame'with the axle, and a scraper frame pivot-ally connected with said draft frame.

25. A vgrading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, dirigible wheels carried by saidv axle, steering mechanism mounted on said main frame and operatively connected with said dirigible wheels, a draft frame comprising a fifth wheel member, said fifth wheel member being adapted to turn on aV horizontal axis with respect to the axle,

' and aboutk aA vertical axis with respect to said main frame, and means for connecting said draft frame with the axle.

26. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, dirigible wheels carried by said axle, steering mechanism mounted on said main frame and operatively connected with said dirigilole Wheels, a draft frame comprising a fifth Wheel member, said fifth wheel member being adapted to turn on a horizontal axis With respect to the axle, and about a vertical axis With respect to said main frame, means for connecting said draft frame with the axle, and a scraper frame pivotally connected with said draft frame.

27. A grading machine comprising a main frame7 a dirigible front axle, Wheels pivotally connected with said axle to swing laterally, and draft controlled means operatively connected with said axle and operable to swing the axle laterally and to turn said Wheels laterally With respect to the axle and in the opposite direction to that in which the axle is swung.

28. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, Wheels pivotally connected with said axle t0 swing` laterally, draft controlled means connected with said Wheels and actuated by lateral dellection of the draft devices 'to turn said Wheels laterally'with respect to the axle and in the opposite direction to that in which the axle is turned.

29. A grading machine comprising a main frame, a dirigible front axle, Wheels pivotally connected with said axlert-o swing laterally, draft devices, means operatively connected With said axle and actuated by lateral deflection ofthe line of draft' for 'turningsaid axle laterally, and mechanismY con-Y nected with said steering' Wheels and 0p' erated automatically by the turning ofsaid axle for swinging said Wheels laterally With reference to the axle and in the opposite direction to that in which the axle is turned.

JAY B. RHODES.

Certificate of Correction.

It is herebT certified thatthe naine of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 1,601,510, granted September 2S, 1996, upon the application ofv Jay B. Rhodes, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, for an improvement in Road-Grading Maohnesf, was erroneously Written and printed as TWestern Wheeler Scraper Company, Whereas said naine should have been Written andprinted as 'Western T/V/zeelecl Scraper Oompfmy, as shown by the records of assignments in this ottce; and that the said Letters Patent should be read Wit-h this correction therein that the saine may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of October, A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] WM. A. KINNAN,

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