US1762492A - Manual control means for bucket cleaners - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1930. H, B, VA C0" 1,762,492

MANUAL CONTROL MEANS FOR BUCKET CLEANERS Filed Jan. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 10, 1930. H. s. VAN scon' 1,762,492

MANUAL CONTROL MEANS FOR BUCKET CLEANERS Fi1 ed Jan. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 10, 1939 UNITE STATES ATENT OFFICE HARRY B. VAN SGOIT, OF FINDLAY, OHIO, ASfiIGNOR TO THE BUCKEYE TRACTION DITCHER COMPANY, 01E FINDLAY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO MANUAL CONTROL MEANS FOR- BUCKET CLEANERS Application filed January 27, 1928. Serial No. 249,934.

This invention relates to traction ditchers of the type having an endless series of travcling buckets, but more particularly to cleaners for such buckets.

Objects of this invention are to provide a bucket cleaner for traction ditchers operable under normal conditions, but is adapted to move automatically away from the buckets upon encountering a force in excess of a predetermined maximum, and has mechanical means for returning the cleaner to operative position while the machine is idle or in operation; to provide a cleaner which is bodily movable away from the buckets, and handoperated means remote from the cleaner for movino the cleaner to former position or. ad usting the position thereof during the operation of the machine; to provide friction means for normally holding the luicket cleaner in proper position for use, but which is yieldable to another position upon encountering an excessive force, together with separate means for returning the cleaner to normal usetul position; to provide a bucket cleaner which is bodily movable away from cleaning position and separate means for manually adjusting the position of the cleaner; and. to provide a bucket cleaner constructed, arranged and operated as herein after described.

An important phase of this invention re sides in the provision of a. bucket cleaner for ditching or trenching machines, which is bodilymovable away from the buckets, together with mechanical means for returning the cleaner to normal position. The operating means may be manual and arranged at a place remote from the cleaner in position to be readily controlled by the operator of the machine so that the cleaner may be readily and conveniently returned to clean ing position. Brake nieans may also be employed for yieldingly holding the cleaner in a predetermined position, but whichis adapted to permit movement of the cleaner when an excessive force is exerted thereagainst by an unyielding object in the operation of the machine.

The invention is shown by way of illuschine having a main frame including a pair ot upright beams l. to which braces 2 are suitably secured. hlountcd on one side oi. the uprights l are bearing boxes 3 to receive a. transverse shaft 4-, and :1 pair of sprockets 5 are secured in opposite relation to the shaft 4:. Trained about the spr ckets 5 are endless chains 6, to which are connected at suitable intervals, digging buckets 7, which are.

adapted to dig into the ground and discharge their load when passing around the sprockets 5, as will be well understood.

Fixed to one end of the shaft 4 is a relatively large sprocket wheel 8, to which is connected an endless chaln 9 whlch furnishes power for rotating the shaft 4. The chain belt 9 may be driven in any suitable manner, and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The shatt 4- also constitutes a pivotal support for the bucket cleaning device, which constitutes the subject matter of the invention. The bucket cleaner comprises a plate member 10, which is disposed above the shaft 4, and the under side is pivotally connected to a pair of arms 11.

' The opposite ends oi the arms 11 are pivotally mounted on the shaft -l. and it will be observed that the pivotal connection between the arms 11 and the plate member 10 is adjacent the forward end thereof. Detachably connected to the underside of the plate member 10 is a cleaner blade or scraper 12, which is held in place by bolts and nuts 13. The scraper 12 is positioned in cleaning relation to the traveling buckets 7, and is adapted to remove the slush, dirt and stones, etc., from the bottom of the buckets during their move ment past the cleaning device.

It will be apparent that the connection between the plate member 10 and shaft 4: per mits bodily movement of the plate member with respect to the shaft, so that the cleaning device may be bodily shifted to and from cleaning position. This movement of the cleaning device away from the bucket 7 is particularly important when the blade or scraper 12 encounters an unyielding object, because unless yielding is permitted, damage to the machine would necessarily result.

In order yieldingly to hold the cleaning device in cleaning position, a rack 13 is formed on the underside of the opposite end of the plate member 10, and is held in engagement with the pinion 1 1 by means of laterally projecting flanges 15 to extend beneath keepers 16. The keepers 16 are provided with reverse beveled portions 17, providing a blunt point engageable with the flanges 15 to permit tilting of the plate member 10 in its movement. The pinion 14 is rotatable with a shaft 18 supported by a bracket 19 and keeper brackets 20 mounted on a transverse beam 21, which is secured at its opposite ends to braces 22 of the machine frame. I r I It will be understood that when the cleaning device: encounters an unyielding object,

, it will be swung in a counter clockwise direction (Fig; 2 and in this movement, the rack 13 moves to the left, and during such movement, causes the pinion 14 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction. This movement is transmitted through the shaft 18 to a wheel 23 secured to the outer end of the shaft 18. The wheel 23 is provided with a grooved periphery to receive a cable 24, one end of which is secured at 25 to the wheel 23.

The cable 24; passes upwardly from the wheel 23 underneath a guide sheave 26 and over a sheave 27 mounted on a brace 2. The opposite end of the cable 241 is fixed to a spool 28, about which several turns are made. The spool 28 is fixed to a shaft 29, which is mounted for rotation in a bracket 30. he bracket 30 is suitably secured to the brace 2, and is so positioned as to be readily accessible to the operator of the machine. Mounted on the shaft 29 is a brake drum 31, which is free to rotate relative to the shaft 29, and engaging the drum 31 is a brake band 32 having suitable lining, the ends of the band being secured to thebracket 30. On one side of the spool 28 for movement therewith, is a ratchet 33 engageable by a pawl 34 connected to the brake drum 31. The pawl 34 is yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet by a spring 35. Fixed on one end of the shaft 29 is a hand wheel 36 to enable the shaft to be turned by hand.

From the above description it is apparent that when a pull is exerted on the cable 24, the spool 28 is rotated in a counter clockwise di rection (Fig. 1) and in this direction of move ment, the ratchet 33 and pawl 34 are in driving engagement so that the drum 31 is rotatcd, and this movement is yieldingly resisted by the friction brake 32. This holds the cleaning device in fixed position with respect to the traveling buckets 7 until an unyielding object or a force in excess of a predetermined naxiimnn is encountered, and thereupon the cleaning device is bodily moved away from cleaning position, and this move ment is resisted through the connections described by the friction brake.

The bucket cleaning member remains in inoperative position away from cleaning position until returned to normal position, no automatic means being provided to effectthis result. Anoutstanding characteristic of this invention resides in the provision of manual means for returning the cleaning device to normal position. This manual means may also be employed to adjust the position of the cleaning member with respect to'the buckets, and these adjustments may be effected while the machine is in operation.

As shown in the drawings, the handwheel 36 may be rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) to wind up the cable 24. This movement is permitted because the pawl rides freely over the ratchet teeth, and the movement is counter to the direction of movement for clutching engagement. Winding up of the cable 24 about the spool 28 operates to rotate the pinion 14- in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), thereby to bodily swing ormove the plate member 10in a direction toward the buckets. It is obvious that the relative position of the scraper 12 and bucket 7 may be adjusted by turning the end wheel 36 to bring the scraper closer to the bottoms of the buckets in accordance with the needs of service. It is manifest from the above description that no necessity exists for stopping the operation of the machine, as movement of the cleaning device may be effected by hand operated means remote from the cleaning member, and in position to be conveniently 'manipulated by the operator.

While the form of mechanism here shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment heretion with the other end in position to clean the bottom of buckets during their travel, but adapted to yield for permitting swinging of said member about its pivot when struck by an unyielding object, and manually operated means remote from said cleaning member but normally connected thereto for returning said cleaning member to normal position.

2. The combination with a series of traveling buckets, of cleaning means therefor, means to mount said cleaning means for bodi- 1y movement, meansfor resisting such movement except when struck by an unyielding object and then capable of permitting movement, and hand operated means remote from said cleaning means but normally connected thereto for moving said cleaning means to position for cleaning.

The combination with a series of travelingbuckets, of means for cleaning said buckets, said means comprising a cleaning member mounted for bodily movement having one end positioned to clean the bottom of buckets during travel, friction means to hold said member in cleaning position except when struck by an unyielding objectand thereupon to permit movement of said member away from cleaning position, and manually operated means remote from said cleaning means but normally connected thereto for returning said cleaning memberto normal position.

4. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable with respect to said support, means for holding said member in a predetermined position but yieldable when said member is struck by an unyielding object, and manually operated means remote from said member to return said member to normal position.

5. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable with respect to said support, means for holding said member in a predetermined position but yieldable when said member is struck by an unyielding object, and manually operated means remote from said member to return the same to normal position.

6. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable with respect to said support, means including a brake for holding said member in a predetermined position with one end thereof in position to clean the bottoms of buckets during their travel, but yieldable when encountering a force in excess of a predetermined maximum, and manually operated means remote from said cleaning member but normally connected thereto to move said member back to cleaning position.

7. In abucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member bodily movable with respect to said support, means including a brake positioned at a point remote from said member for holding said member in apredetermined position with one endthereof in position to clean the bottoms of buckets during their travel, but yieldable when encountering a force in excess of a predetermined maximum, and manually operated means to move said member back to cleaning position.

8-. In a bucket cleaner, a support, a cleaning member having one end thereof positioned to clean the bottoms of buckets during their travel, means for mounting said member on said support to permit bodily shifting thereof from and to cleaning position, means engaging said cleaner for holding the same in a predetermined position except when encountered by an unyielding object and thereupon to permit movement of said cleaner, said engaging means including a friction brake, and manually operable means for shifting said cleaning member in one direction. i

9. The combination with a series of traveling buckets, of a cleaning member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, rotatable friction brake means, means connecting said brake means and said cleaning member thereby to hold said member in fixed position under normal conditions but permitting yielding of said member when encountering an unyielding object, and means associated with said brake means to permit return of said member to normal position.

10. The combination with a series of travelif ing buckets. of a cleaning member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, rotatable friction brake means, means connecting said brake means and said cleaning member there by to hold said member in a predetermined position under normal conditions but permitting yielding of said member when encountering an unyielding object, and manually operated means associated with said brake means for returning said cleaning member to cleaning position.

11. The combination of a series of traveling buckets, a bodily movable cleaning memher having one end thereof positioned to clean the bottom of the buckets during their travel, a rotatable shaft mounted adjacent the opposite end of said member, a rack and pinion connection between said cleaning member and shaft, and means for holding said shaft against rotation thereby to fix said member in cleaning position, said holding means being yieldable to permit movement of said cleaning member when the latter encounters an unyielding object.

12. The combination of a series of traveling buckets, a cleaning member pivoted intermediate its ends and having one end positioned to clean the bottoms of the buckets during their travel, a brake drum, and means for transmitting the pivotal movement of said member to rotary movement of said drum whereby said drum yieldingly resists movement of said member.

13. The combination of a series of travelingbuckets, a cleaning member bodily movable and havlng one end posltloned to cleanthe bottoms of the buckets during theirtravel, means to resist movement of sand member 111- cluding a rotatable brake drum, a shalt adjacent said member, arack and pinion connection between said member and shaft, and a cable connection between said shaft and brake drum. j

14. The combination of a series of traveling buckets, a cleaning member bodily movable and having one end positioned to clean the bottoms of the buckets during their travel, means to resist movement of said member including a rotatable brake drum, a shaft adjacent said member, a rack and pinion connection between said member and shaft, and a cable connection between said shaft and brake drum, and a hand wheel for Winding up said cable thereby to return said member to normal position.

15., A bucket cleaner comprising a support, a cleaner member bodily movable with respect 'to said support, a rotatable drum, a cable'lea'ding from said cleaner member and wound on said drum, and a brake for resisting rotation of said drum until a predetermined force is exerted thereon by said cable, thereby to release said cleaner member when the latter encounters a substantially unyielding object. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

' HARRY B'. VAN SCOllT.

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