US1800682A - Loading attachment for graders - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1931. G. GARDNER LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS Filed Feb. 15 92 3 SheetsSheet l m wN B 3 R 0 WMNWMIN o Q mm m =Q\ @QQ 0 .m km a n mm a K NW 9 g R m R RN mm @N I...\ Q a 1 Q U on Q N a 3 3 mm km April 14, 1931. G. GARDNER LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15 1923 ,Tlw/n lot geoye Gardne} J @W i l-orn April 14, 1931. a. GARDNER 1,300,632

LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS Filed Feb. 15 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Geoge Gard Her 6 J 27;;

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 GEORGE GARDNER, OF REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA LOADING ATTACHMENT FOR GRADERS Applicationfiled February 15, 1928. Serial No. 254,429.

This invention relates to road working machinery, and. more particularly to that class ofroad working machines ordinarily termed graders.

| An. object of the invention is to provide an attachment for graders whereby the dirt scrapedto one side by the scraper blade, may

be automatically lifted and dumped into a vehicle.

A. more specialized object is the provision of a bucket conveyor adapted to be positioned upon the-chassis of a grader so as to enable the buckets thereof to scoop up, elevate and dump. into. a suitable vehicle, the. dirt which has beenscraped to one side by the scraper blade. of the grader.

, A further object is the provision of a conveyor as above described, which is adapted tobe positioned upon any grader of conventional design.

A further object is the provision of a device ofthe character described, having incorporated therewith, various adjustments permitting alterations in the elevationv and reach of the conveyor, and permitting the scraper blade to be adjusted to different degrees of angularity with the longitudinal axis of the grader.

It is a further object of my invention to provide-a combined grader and elevator and conveyor which is simple and rugged in structure, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, .and is speedy and positive in operation.l,

Withthe foregoing and other objects in View which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a com-' ing taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

In terms of broad inclusion, the device of my invention comprises mechanism adapted to be supported upon the chassis of a road grader, and to scoop up the dirt deposited at one side by the blade of the grader, and to lift the dirt to a suitable elevation to enable it to be dumped into a vehicle.

In greater detail, the present embodiment 3 of my invention is shown mounted upon the chassis 6 of a conventional road grader, having a scraper blade 7 depending from the chassis 6. In accordance with the usual de sign of graders, the blade 7 is capable of vertical adjustment. For this purpose a pair of hand wheels 8 are mounted upon the chassis 6, in position to be operable from the operators platform. Each of the hand wheels 8 is operatively connected to, a crank 9 by gearing 9 (see Fig; 2) and each of these cranks 9 is connected by a link 10 to the associated end of the structure upon which the blade 7 is supported. This structure comprises a ring 10 which is rigid with a rail 10" extending longitudinally of the chassis 6, and a ring 23 which is revolubly disposed upon the ring 10' and guided for rotation with respect thereto, by a plurality of bracle ets 23 which are rigid with the ring 10 and :10 extend loosely about the lower edge of the ringQS. The blade 7 is suspended from the revoluble ring 23 in the well-known manner, by a plurality of arms 7 The forward end of the rail 10 is pivotedto the chassis G, S and the after end is guided by mechanism (not shown) for vertical movement, but is restrained against movement transversely with respect to the chassis 6. It is therefore apparent that by operating one of the hand wheels 8, the associated end of the blade 7 may be raised or lowered independently of the other end, the brackets 23 being sufficiently loose to permit a certain amount of swinging of the ring 23 about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the chassis 6 and with respect to the stationary ring 23-. Similarly, by operating both hand wheels 8 the entire blade may be adjusted vertically. The blade 7 is also capable of being adjusted to different degrees of angularity with the longitudinal axis of the grader by being op- 'eratively connected to a similar hand-wheel also accessible from the operating platform.

lThiS mechanism is'of the type'conventionally employed upon road graders, and the details thereof have therefore not been shown. It is to be understood that such graders operate by being drawn along the surface to be graded, theblade 7 being adjusted to either bepushed to one side.v

My invention contemplates a conveyor combined with such a grader, whereby the .dirt may be lifted as it accumulates at the after end of the blader', and elevated sulficiently to permitthe dispositionthereof in "a suitable vehicle, For this purpose I pro- .vide a frame comprising a pair of spaced side members 11 connected at each end by a shaft 12 revolublymounted therein. A pair of sprockets-13 are mounted upon each of the shafts 12, and a pair of endless chains 14 are carried by these sprockets. A plurality of conveyor buckets 16 are'disposed throughout the entire length of the chains 14.;

The lower of the two shafts 12 is extended at each end to be revolubly mounted within a journal 21 which is supported upon an auxiliary frame 22, which in turn is rigidly I secured to the circular frame23 fromwhich the blade 7 of the grader depends, and which,

pose ofvarying the degree of angularity of the blade 7, as; well as being capable of vertical adjustment as previously indicated. It may'thus be seen that thelower end of the 1 conveyor-is supported closely adjacent a point at which dirt is discharged from the. after end of the scraper 7, being mountedrigidly for movement therewith. Preferably V the associated link is connected directly to the auxiliary frame 22, the other link 10 be 'ing left with its normal connection to the circular frame 23. Also, the mounting of the the lower end ofthe conveyor is of such a nature that pivotal movement of t econveyor about a horizontal axis ad acent its lower end 1s possible. 7

--A pair of brackets .24; are rigidly secured to-the'top of the chassis 6, and are rigidly joined'by a bar 25 which has pivoted thereon" by meansof a bolt 26, apiece of angle iron 27 1 corresponding in length to thewidthcf the conveyor; A link 28 is pivoted to each end of the angle iron 27, each link 28 being pro- I videdwitha plurality of holes 29' for the reception of a bolt 31 extending through each of theside members 11. Thus by engaging conveyor; vreceive dirt discha-rged'from preferably being riveted or otherwise directly'and rigidlyconnected thereto in line therewith, soas to confine the dirt within an area whereit maybe conveniently picked up by the buckets 16 as they pass through the trough around the lower "sprockets 113.

Moreover the bottom of the trough is, at sub-V stantially thesame level as atthe lowermost edgefof the blade 7, with the result that the I dirt discharged from the blade, is *depos'ited therein; It is evident thereforei that" the normal operation of the blade 7 is in no manner interfered with, the dirt naturally falling into the trough from the after. end of the blade instead of accumulating in an elongatediwindrow. Furtherm'ore,no alteration of the blade 7 required to satisfactorily mount the elevator of rnyinventionin operative positionthereadjacent. For the purpose of imposing the desired degree of tension upon the chains 14,thejournals within which the upper shaft 12 is revolubly' mounted, are slidable vertically within 'guideways 36; "A rod 37 is threadedthrough aQnut 38 and extends downwards on each side: of the" r 7 7 conveyorframe to have "its lower'end engaged as explained hereinabove is mounted for pivv otal movement about a vertical axis. with re spect to the stationary ringlQ for the'purwithin one of the journals within which the shaft 12 rotates, so that by turning the rods upon thechains 14. Asprocket 39-.is' rigid- 1y mounted upon the o'uter end of'the upper shaft 12, and is connected by an endless chain 40 toa sprocket 41 carried upon a shaft 42 jour1 ialedalso upon "the frame of t em A beveled gear 43 is carried by the shaft 42 and is enmeshed with abeveled gear lt upon a shaft 46 which is connected through a clutch 17 to a motor 48 which is rigidly supported upon the chassis 6'of the grader. A

chute 51 is supportedadjacentithe upper end of the conveyor by arms 52 whereby dirt dumped from thebuckets 16'as they pass over the upper sprockets 13, may ,be conveyed to a point sufficiently spaced fromthe grader to permit the disposition thereof within suitable vehicles. It is evident that if the weight of the, entire conveyor, as well as, one-half the weight ofthe blade 7, were to be supported solely upon the link 10 and crank9 associated with that end of the blade 7 fromwhiclidirt is discharged into the trough 34, considerable difficulty might be caused in theoperation of l the associated hand wheel 8 to vary the vertical adjustment of that end of the blade and the conveyor. Consequently, I have provided means for supporting at least a portion of this weight through the expedient of a counter-weight 56 which depends by means of a cable 57 upon the opposite side of the chassis 6. This cable 7 passes over sheaves 58 and 59 journalled upon the chassis 6 around another sheave 61 journalled upon the auxiliary frame 22, and carried upwards therefrom to be made fast to the chassis 6 at any convenient location. It is readily apparent that this will assist in the operation of the associated hand wheel 8.

Briefly, the operation of my device is as follows: The grader is drawn along the surface to be graded, with the blade 7 in the proper position to engage the dirt and dis charge it into the trough 34. The conveyor is driven by the motor 48, shaft 46, shaft 42, chain 40, and sprocket 39, so that the buckets 16 pass through the trough 34: successively, picking up the dirt there deposited. As the buckets pass over the upper sprocket 13, the dirt is dumped from the buckets into the chute 51, and conveyed to a point Where it may be deposited into suitable vehicles. It should be observed that the conveyor and chute 51 extend laterally from the grader, thus making it convenient for trucksto travel alongside the grader and receive the dirt directly from the chute 51, avoiding the necessity of additional labor or the employment of other machines to load the trucks.

Various changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted for pivotal move ment about a vertical axis on said 61138518,

and a horizontal blade carried by said frame; and a conveyor mounted adjacent its lower end on said frame and mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on said chassis.

2. In combinatian, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on. said chassis, and a horizontal blade carried by said frame; and a conveyor mounted adjacent its lower end on said frame and mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal movement about an axis in vertical alignment with the axis of said frame.

3. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on said chassis, and a horizontal blade carried by said frame; a conveyor pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on said frame and mounted adjacent its upper end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on said chassis, and

means for altering the elevation of the upper end of said conveyor.

4. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, aframe mounted for pivotal 'movement about a vertical axis on. said chassis, and a horizontal blade carried by said frame; a conveyor pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on said frame, a bracket rigid with said chassis, and a link pivoted at one end adjacent the upper end of said conveyor and pivoted at the other end to said bracket.

5. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on said chassis, and a horizontal blade carried by said frame; a conveyor pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on said frame, a bracket rigid with said chassis, a link pivoted at one end adjacent the upper end of said conveyor and pivoted at the other end to said bracket, and means for altering the effective length of said link.

6. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame carried by said chassis, a

horizontalblade carried by said frame, andmeans for altering the elevation of said frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame, a shaft extending transversely of said frame adjacent each end thereof, a sprocket on each shaft, an endless chain carried by said sprockets, buckets on said chain, and means for. rotating said shafts, said conveyor being supported at its lower end upon said blade frame and adjacent its upper end upon said chassis.

7. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame carried thereby, a blade carried by said frame, and means for altering the elevation of said frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame pivot-ed at its lower end to said blade frame adjacent one end of the blade, a shaft extending transversely of said conveyor frame adjacent each end thereof, a sprocket on each shaft, an endless chain carried by said sprockets, buckets on said chain, means for rotating said shafts, and a link pivotally connected at one end to said chassis, and at the other end adjacent the upper end of said conveyor frame.

8. In combinatioma grader comprising a chassis, a frame carried thereby, a blade carried by said frame, and means for altering the elevation of said frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame pivoted at its lower end to said blade frame adjacent one end of the blade, a shaft extending transversely of said conveyor frame adjacent each end thereof, a sprocket on each shaft, an endless chain carried by said sprockets, buckets on said chain, means for rotating said shafts, and a link pivotally connected at one end to said chassis, and at the other end adjacent the upper end of said conveyor frame.

9. In combination, a grader comprising a chassis, a frame carried thereby, a blade carried by said fra1ne,,and means for altering the elevation of said frame; and a conveyor comprising a frame pivoted at its lower end to saidblade frame adjacent one endof the blade, a shaft extendingtransversely of said, conveyor frame adjacent each end thereof, a

sprocket oneach shaft, an endless, chain carried by said sprockets, buckets on said chain, means'for rotating said shafts, a "link-pin otally connecteclat one end to said chassis,

and at the other end adjacent the upper end of said conveyor frame, and a counterbalance operatively connected to said blade and conveyor frame for supporting a portion of the weight thereof, 7

v 10. In combination with a road grader comprising a chassis and a blade carried thereby in oblique angularity'with the dicomprising a chassis and ablade carried "rection of travel of said grader; and a conveyor'mounted 'onsaid chassis and comprising a trough rigid with said blade and posi tioned in alignment with the lower edge of said blade, and means for conveying dirt from said trough.

11. In combination w1th a road grader thereby in oblique angularitywith the directionof travelof said grader; and a conveyor mounted-0n said chassis andcomprlsi ing a trough r1g1d with said blade and positioned in alignment with the lower'edge of "said: blade, *-a frame mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontalaxis above said trough, and a conveyor carried by said frame and comprising buckets adapted to dip into said trough as they travel upon the frame,

and'means for actuating said conveyor. 7 1 12. In combination, a road grader comprising a' chassis and a scraper blade carried thereby and adapted to discharge dirt from an endthereof and an elevator carried by said chassis in position toreceive dirt directly from-said-blade, andcomprisin'g a plurality of buckets mounted for movement in a pathextending from closely adjacent said 2 bladefmeans for actuating said elevator, and

a trough fastened to said blade and extendj'ing therefrom in alignment with the discharge'end thereof, said troughdefining said path of thebuckets inmoving past the end ofsaid blade. w

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

GEORGE GARDNER.

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