US1765682A - Excavating machine - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1930. w. K. ILIGGETT v 1,765,682 I EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Witne9ses lnue nTor' June 24, 1930. w. K. LlGGETT 1,765,682

EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 now/057 A. 0 6/7:

June 24, 1930. w |GGETT I 1,765,682

EXCAVATI NG MACHINE Filed. June 24, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE WILLIAM K. LIGGETT, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, AS SIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTUR- v IIl'G COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO EXCAVATING MAOHIN E Application filed June 24,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in excavating machines, and especially to machines adapted to take material from natural deposits, or from storage piles, and to load it into convenient receptacles for transportaion.

The principal object of my invention is to provide improved means to dislodge com pacted material and to disintegrate it into fragments of suitable size for convenient handling by the loading devices.

A further object isto provide means to gather and carry away the dislodged and disrupted material in front of the machine and thereby clear a path for the supporting and propelling devices- These objects are attained by providing -means, preferably, and as shown, mounted upon a tractor, which will dig into and loosen the compacted material in its natural or stored state, so that it can be readily picked-up by conveying devices, combined with and disposed-in operative relation to the digging instrumentalities. By the joint action of these mechanisms, combined as specified, the work of handling material of t e class for which it is designed is carried on efficiently and expeditiously.

The means whereby I have attained these, and other objects which will be hereinafter pointed out, are fully set forthin the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofan excavating machine equipped with the devices of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation ,of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine'illust'rated in Fig. 1, showing particularly the material disrupting and gathering devices.

Fig. 4 is a" sectional view taken substantially on the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line VV of Fig. 1-.

' Fig. 6v is a detail of the driving mechanism for the disruptin devices,

Fig. 7 is a view in si e elevation showing 1924. Serial No. 722,108.

the excavating mechanism collapsed for transportation.

Fig. 8 is a detail of rack and gear mechanism for collapsing and raising the excavating mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail, partly in section, of the scraper parts which co-operate with the exconstruction, in a manner well understood in the art. At the lower end of conveyor frame 1 are hearings in a suitable part of the machine frame, in which a stationary foot shaft 5 is rigidly supported, and upon this foot shaft is mounted freely rotatable foot wheels 6 which engage the chains 3 to hold the buckets 4 in proper relation to their work of gathering material. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be noted that the ends of the stationary shaft 5 are reduced to form shoulders, and threaded extensions to receive nuts for rigidly connecting the shaft 5 to a scoop 28 as well as to the forward ends of forwardly diverging braces 30 attached to the conveyor frame 1.

The head shaft 2 is connected with any suitable power devices on the machine through the endless chain 8, conventionally illustratvenient point to receive material discharged from the buckets 4, and a suitable spout 10, the design of'which ma be varied, and

j which is angularly adjustab e, affords means to direct the flow of material from the hopper 9 into a suitably positioned receptacle for transportation or other point of deli very.

Pivotally attached to the head shaft 2 and to the foot shaft 5, respectively, are the link members 11 and 12, the said members 11 and 12 being pivotally attached at their opposite ends to the main supporting frame 13 of the machine. These arms 11 and 12form a tilting elevator support for supporting the elevator in either its inclined operative position, as shown in full lines Fig. 1, or in its substantially horizontal traveling position, as shown in Fig. 7. a The elevator frame is moved from one position to anotherby means of a rack bar 14 connected with the elevator frame and engaged by a suitable pinion 14"attached to the shaft 15. Said shaft 15 is controlled, as here shown, by the hand wheel 16 through a suitable train of gearing, as shown in Fig. 8, and serves to' adjust the elevator from one angular position to another relative to its support.

' Hand wheel 16 is coupled to the shaft 16' of the gear train by a double pawl and ratchet wheeldevice 16" (see Fig. 8) so that by which the machine is supported and proit is effective to actuate the rack 14 in both directions and raise or collapse the elevating mechanism.. .To the main frame 13 is attached, in any suitable manner, the axles 17 and 18 upon which are mounted suitable sprocket wheels, not shown in the drawings, which engage the tractor chains 19 and 20 pelled .over the ground. The tractor chains 19 and 20 are actuated in anypreferred manner from suitable power devices mounted upon the main frame, and their actuation is controlled by suitable devices, such as the hand levers 21 and 22 and the pull rods 23 and 24 which are convenient to the hand of the operator, who preferably rides upon a platform 25 at one side of the machine;

Tractor devices similar .to those above illustrated are disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Ser. No. 709,253, but it is to be understood that any suitable mechanism may be substituted for that here shown without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Rotatably mounted on extensions 29 of the foot shaft5 are digging devices, each of which consists of a wide, pulle -like wheel 31, to the mm of which is secure a plurality of spines or spikes 32 of such proportion that when the digging devices revolve, the outer ends of these s mes will describe circles of substantially t 0 same radius of these described by the .g'atherin li s of the elei vator buckets 4, sothat t e oosening and elevating mechanism will 0 erate over substantially .the same area. hese wheels 31 are of such axial 1e h, and the spines 32 are so distributed bot axially and circumferentially upon their-"surfaces, that when said wheels revolve the s inea will en a e material u n the un in front. 0 the tractor chains 19 an 20 to disrupt the mawheels and fall into such posltion that the elevating mechanism will readily engage and carry it to the point of delivery. Obviously, any other desired type of digging and gathering means can be employed for loosening the material and feeding the same toward the elevator buckets. Connected rigidly to each of the digging wheels 31 are sprocket wheels 33 connected by suitable endless chains 34 with sprocket wheels 35 carried by the supplemental shaft 36. The supplemental shaft 36 is journaled in suitable bearings 37 onthe elevator frame 1, and to the supplemental shaft is fixed two sprocket wheels 38 adapted to engage and be driven by a strand of the elevator chains preferably the upper or carrying strand 0 the elevator chains 3. By the arrangement .of parts above described, the wheels 31 are driven by the elevator chains 3,- and. the parts are so proportioned and the driving connections are such that the wheels 31 revolve in the same direction as the chain engaging foot wheels 6, but ata materially reduced speed. Should the spines 32 on the wheels 31 encounter an obstruction which would stall and prevent their rotation, the elevator chain 3, which is. sufficiently slack for this purpose, will slip over the teeth .of'

the sprocket wheels 38, release the digger drive, and thereby prevent undue strain upon the driving devices of the diggers and 1 their supp0rts.

. During theoperation of the machine, as the truck movestowards the material which is to be gathered up, the elevator buckets 4 engage, disrupt, and dislodge. the material excavating a path thereon of the width 0 said buckets, gathering the dislodged material and carrying it to the hopper 9. At

the same time the spines 32 upon the rotors on age, disrupt and dislodge material at the si es of the elevator, and slightly in front of the tractor chains 19 and 20, and by their forward and upward. movement propel such dislodged material forwardly, and pile ity in front of the machine, so' that it tends to slide into the path of the elevator buckets and be taken up thereby.

Immediately in the rear of the foot of the elevator frame is an inclined steel plate stiffened alon its lower edge by a suit- 26 able angle bar 2 and adapted to contact with the ground when the elevator is in its inclined or operative position. The plate 26 projects at both sidesof the machine beyond the outer plates of the tractor chains l9 and 20, and at its ends are the flanges or wings 28 which are attached to the outer end of the shaft extensions 29, Brace bars 30 attached to the ends of the shaft extensions 29 project rearwardly to the elevator frame 7 which said tractor chains may travel. As

the loose material accumulates in front of the scraper 26 it is engaged by the elevator buckets 4, or the spines 32, or both, and

moved forwardly to be gathered and elevated in the manner above described, the flanges or wings 28 serving to confine the loose material thus collected from escape latv erally.

It will be understood that the constructions herein disclosed may be varied within the range of mechanical skill and by the adoption of expedients which are the equivalent of those set forth, and still be within the range of my invention.

'I claim 1. In an excavating machine, the combination with a vehicle, of an elevator mounted thereon and comprising an endless belt, and a series of elevator elements attached thereto and adapted to gather material from the ground in front of said vehicle, means to dislodge material adjacent said elevator, and means operatively connected to said belt for actuating said dislodging means at a different speed of movement from that of said elevator and being releasable under undue strain imposed upon said dislodging means. I

2. In an excavating machine, the combination with a vehicle, of an elevator mounted thereon and comprising an endless belt, and a series of elevator elements attached thereto and adapted to gather material from the ground in front of said vehicle, means for actuating said endless belt, dislodging' thereto and adapted to gather material from the ground in front of said truck, means to disrupt and dislodge material adjacent the elevator and operating at a different speed from that of said elevator, and means actuated by the elevator chain to actuate the disrupting and dislodging means as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck, of an elevator comprising an endless chain and a series of elevator buckets attached thereto, a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets turn to gather material from the ground in front of said truck, a rotary digger positioned adjacent the elevator, and means independent of said foot shaft and actuated by said elevator chain to actuate said digger as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck, of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an elongated frame, an endless chai'n mounted upon said frame and a series of elevator buckets attached to said chain, a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets'turn' to gather material from the ground in front of said truck, a rotary digger positioned adjacent'said elevator, a supplemental shaft mounted upon the elevator frame, a sprocket wheel mounted upon said supplemental shaft engaging and actuated by said elevator chain, and means actuated by said supplemental shaft to actuate said digger as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck, of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an elongated frame, an endless chain mounted upon the frame and a series of elevator buckets attached to said chain and adapted to gather material from the ground in front of said truck, a rotary digger adjacent said elevator, a supplemental shaft mounted upon said elevator frame, a sprocket wheel mounted upon said supplemental shaft engaging and actuated by said elevator chain, a second'sprocket wheel attached to said supplemental shaft, a sprocket wheel attached to said digger, and an endless chain connecting said second sprocket wheel with said digger sprocket wheel as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck, of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an elongated frame, an endless chain mounted upon the. frame, and aseries of elevator buckets attached to said chain, a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets turn'to gather material from the ground in front of the truck, means to disrupt and dislodge material adjacent the elevator, a supplemental shaft mounted upon the elevator frame, 'a sprocket wheel mounted upon the supplemental shaft and engaging and actuated by the elevator chain, and means actuated by the supplemental shaft to actuate the disrupting and dislodging means as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In an excavating machine, the combinaw rotata le' independently thereof,

chain mounted on said frame, means for.

vator mounted thereon comprising an endless chain and series of buckets attachedthereto,

a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets turn to ather material from the ground in front of said truck, a substantiall spiral gathering digger on said foot sha t and rotatable independently thereof, and means to cause said digger to "revolve at a different speed from that of said elevator, as and for the purpose set forth.

,9. In an excavating machine, the combination with an automobile truck, of an elevator mounted thereon comprising an endless chain and a series of elevator buckets attached thereto, a foot shaft about which said chain and buckets turn to gather material from the ground in front of said truck, a dig er journaled upon said foot shaft and radially projecting spirally arranged spines attached to. said digger adapted, when the digger revolves to describe a circular path of substantially the same radius as that described by the elevator buckets, and a means actuated by said elevator chain to cause rotary movement of said digger relative to said foot shaft. v

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be moved toward the material which is to be loaded, an elevating bucket driving said bucket chain, a foot shaft at the lower end of said chain, an idler pulley carried by said frame forholding said chain 7 to its work, rotary material dislodging means on said shaft, and driving means'for sald dislodging means actuated by said bucket chain moving at a different speed from that of saidbucket chain.

11. In a machine of the class described,

7 the combination of a supporting frame adapted to be moved toward the material which is to be loaded, an elevating bucketchain on saidwframe, means for driving said bucket chain, a foot shaft for the lower end of said bucket chain, means carried by said shaft for-holding said bucket chain toits work, rotary, material dislod 'ng means mounted idly on said shaft on e1ther side of ,said bucket chain, means operatively connected to said bucket chain for actuating said dislodging means at a' different speed of movement from that of said bucket chain,- and means carried by said shaft on either side of said dislodging means to confine the. material.

12. I-n asmachine of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame adapted to .be moved toward the material which is to be loaded, an elevating bucket chain on said frame, means for driving said biicket chaiina foot shaft for the, lower end of said bucket chain, rotary material dislodging means. mounted idly on said shaft actuating said tiltin elevator frame to di erent positions on said "portions of the rim.

its Work, rotary material dislodging means mounted idly on said shaft, sprocket wheels carried by said 1dly mounted dislodging .means, driving chains for said sprocket wheels, and a driving sprocket for said chain engaging a run of said bucket chain and releasable therefrom under undue strains. v

14:. In a machine of the class described, the

vator frame, link members pivotally connected to opposite ends of said elevator frame and to said support, frame tilting means connected to said elevator frame between said link members, and means for means to move said support.

15. In a mac the combination of a support, an elevator frame, a head shaft for said frame, a foot shaft for said frame, a link member pivotally connecting said head shaft with said support, alink member pivotally connecting said foot shaft with said support, frame tilting means carried by said elevator frame between said link members, and means carried by said support for actuating said tilting means and moving said elevator frame to different positionsrelative to said support.

16. A material dislodging wheel formachines of the class described having a mutilated rim with dislodging projections on either side of the mutilating openings. .1

17. A material dislodging wheel for machines of the class described having a rim alternately cut away on'opposite si es with projections on the alternatmgunmutilated l8. A material machines of the class described, comprising an annular rim having an irregular edge, and a series of' dislodging -pro ections arranged normal to said rim.

ine of the class described, I

' combination of a supporting frame, an eledislodging member for 19. A material dislodging wheel for ma- J chines of the class described, comprising a rim provided with openings, and a series 'of dislodging projections arra ed in transverse spaced relation 11 on sai rim.

20. In a machine 0 a supporting frame, an elevator frame, link members plvotally connected to 0p osite ehds of said elevator frame and to sa supthe class described,

. porting frame, and rack and pinion means arranged between said link members for adjusting the angular relation between said elevator frame and said supporting frame.

21. In a machine of theolass described, a supporting frame, an elevator frame, a head shaft for said elevator frame, a foot shaft for said elevator frame, a link member pivotally connecting said head shaft with said support, a link member pivotally connecting said foot shaft with said support, and rack and pinion means arranged between said link members for var ing the angular relation of said elevator irame with respect to said supporting frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y WILLIAM K. LIGGETT.

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