US1865633A - Grain deflector - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1932.

Filed Nov. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l wRN July 5, 1932. E, KlDDER 1,865,633

GRAIN DEFLECTOR Filed NOV. 25, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 iQJ-JMO W July 5, 1932. E. H. KIDDER 1,865,633

GRAIN DEFLECTOR Filed Nov. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 5, 1932.

E. H. KIDDER GRAIN DEFLEC'IOR Filed Nov. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. H. KIDDER GRAIN DEFLECTOR July 5, 1932.

Filed Nov. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 [7? ywezor Hawk/@7145 y @njum J (M151 J/farweya July 5, 1932. E, K|DDER 1,865,633

GRAIN DEFLECTOR Filed Nov. 25, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 fnyenfa/ Patented July 5, 1932 UN ED STATES PATENT OFF C g ELWIN'H. KIDDER, or orIIoAGo, IL INoIs, AssIGNon TO LINK-BELT COMP NY, or

CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION or LLINoIs v GRAVIN DEFLECIOR Application fi1ed November 25, 1929. seria1-no,4oe,497;

My invention" relates to a power operatedgrain deflector, and is particularly applicable foruse with a grain car unloader of the type in which a side door grain car is tilted both laterally and'longitudinally in order to deliver through the side door the grain con tained within the car. One object of my invention is to provide a grain deflector which may be inserted through the side door into the car duringthe tilting operation, in order to deflect from the car grain which would otherwise not escape through the door. An-

other object is the provision of such a deflec- V tor as maybe power operated and controlled with a minimum of'labor' and supervision.

Another object is the provision of such a d-eflector which will occupy a minimum of space when out ofuse, and which, for example, may

I be folded along the side of-the'car and its supporting cradle, when withdrawnfrom the car. Another objectis the provi'sloniof such a deflector as williautomatically fold into horizontal alignment with the car, whenv it is withdrawnfrom the car; Another object is the provision of means for withdrawing said deflector initially along the plane of the car bottom, during the beginning of its withdrawal, and for lifting it upwardly away from the bottom of the car after a predetermmed portion of itsexcursionof withdrawal has been completed. Another object is the provision of a system of weights and counterweights which is operated, in association'with actuating motor means, for eiiecting the lift.- ing of the deflector'at'a predetermined point in its movement Another object is the provision of improved guiding means for such a deflector, during its insertion into and its withdrawal from the car fOther objects will appear from time to time in the course ofthe specificationland claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a section; s

Figure 2 is an end elevation;

Figure 3 is a partial diagrammatic View on a larger scale, with parts broken away and some in section, illustrating the deflector side elevation with parts in Figs. 1 and 2,

member and the supporting and actuating V within the car Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the deflector in withdrawn'position; Figure 8 is a section on an enlarged scale along the line 8 8 of Fig. 3 Q Figure 9 is a section through the car, illus*' trating the deflector inoperative position;

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, and

Fig

Like parts are'indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Considering first the general showing of I illustrate more or less diagrammaticallya car unloader' structure, the details of which do not of themselves form part of the present invention, but must be to some extent shown in order to illustrate the application of the present invention. A car support or cradle, generally indicated as A, is provided with the arcuate tilting support A resting, for example, upon rollersA A indicates-a cable anchored at either end, as atv A to the opposite ends of the arcuate member A The cable A passes aboutfany suitable drum A which maybe driven through the gear reduction A by any suitable motor means A l s It will be understood that through the actuation of themotor A? the car support may be Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-; '1 1f0 V support A, means are provided for tilting it transversely. I illustrate, for example, a downward extension C with the gear segment in mesh with the pinion G which may be driven through the gear C and the pinion C and any suitable power, for example a motor C- It will be seen that the transverse tipping excursions is through a substantially smaller arc than the endwise tipping excursion; an arc of 15 degrees is ordinarily sufficient. It will be understood, of course, that the support A, with the depending portion C, is tilted laterally in relation to the cradle as a whole, and in particular is tilted laterally in relation to the arcuate members A In operation the lateral tilting takes place first and then, the supporting structure as a whole is longitudinally tilted.

Grain doors are ordinarily provided with wooden inner doors within the normally sliding doors of the car. These inner doors may merely be boards nailed in the car from within, or unitary board structures. In any case they may be removed by an outward pressure against them, after the permanent sliding door of thegrain car has been moved out of alignment with the car door. I illustrate, as a means for removing these doors, a structure which may be moved into contact with the inner door when thecar is in the upright position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. The lateral tilting of the car moves the car against this fixed means and gets the result of thrusting the grain door inwardly against the grain, although it is the part which'is moved while the door remains stationary. I illustrate as means for effecting this result the door moving member D, which is mounted upon an arm or supporting structure D which may be positioned in proper position in relation to any given car and door, as by the connecting arm D which may be set by means of a segment D with its ratchet teeth D which may be held as by the pawl D to prevent retrograde movement of the segment. The segment may be moved forwardly, as through the bevel gear D the pinion D and the manually operable handle D The details of this car-opening mechanism form no part of the present invention and are herein summarily indicated and described merely to make clear the whole operation of removing the grain from the car. It will be understood that when the member D is placed in proper position against the grain door, the car is tilted laterally, as by rotation of the gear C When the car has been tilted laterally and the door removed, the grain will pour out into any suitable receiving hoppers or means not herein shown, being received first upon anysuitable chute or incline D Any suitable means may be employed, forexample the cable D passing about the sheaves D, for lifting the door removing member D out of the line of flow of the grain and out of the path of movement of the deflector. The final position of the member D is illustrated, for example, in Fig. 9, with the car tilted and the grain door D, upon the member D, positioned upwardly out of line with the deflector member.

Assuming that the car has been transversely tilted and the door has been removed in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 9, and that the car support as a wholerhas been longitudinally tilted one or more times, to cause the escape of asubstantial proportion of the grain, then the deflector structure is employed, the deflector proper being thrust transversely across the car floor, at an angle, to deflect outwardly through the car door opening the remaining grain, as the car is again longitudinally tilted. This provides a means for disposing of the grain which collects in the corner of the car, and which would not normally escape from the car in response to the ordinary tilting operation above described.

The deflecting structure is generally shown in Fig. 3, wherein is illustrated the deflector blade E, which is shown as higher at its in ner than at its outer end. It is overhung along its upper edge as at E and may be provided along its lower edge with any suitable bottom member E of belting or the like, which serves to protect both the deflector member itself and the bottom of the car from battering, and which tends to make easier the sliding of the deflector across the bottom of the car. It also tends, through its flexibility, to make a tighter, cleaner connection with the floor.

G generally indicates the deflector-actuating arm secured at one end ot the vertical shaft K and held against rotation in relation thereto. The arm, which is shown in section in Fig. 8, may be formed of the channel members G connected by side plates G Pivoted to the arm at its opposite end, as at G", is the guiding or lifting block G on which are mounted the three sheaves 'GG. Pivoted in turn to the block G, as at G for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, is the guiding and supporting arm generally indicated as G The arm is pivoted at its opposite end, as at G", to the deflector member E. The arm G as shown in section in Fig. 10, may be formed of two angle members G G, in position on opposite sides of the deflector member E andspaced therefrom by any suitable spacers G. In order to permit rotation of the member E about the pivot G", it is pro vided with an arcuate slot G in line with which are the spacers Gr through which pass the bolts G which tie the structure together. G is a plate which is proportioned to mask the arcuate aperture G, to prevent the escape of grain therethrough. The plate is fixed in relation to the arm but is so proportioned as to cover the aperture G when the deflector member is in operative position. The rotation of the arm G in relation to the block G is limited, for example bythe upper and lower stops G Rotation of the deflector E in relation to the arm G is limited, in the first place, by the relation of the blocks G to the arcuate slot'G and in the second place by the stop G upon'the deflector E, which engages the lower side of the member G when the deflector is lifted free from the floor, in response to the tilting of the deflector about the pivot G", by gravity;

H generally indicatesv a connecting link which is providedwith an adjustmenaas at H .It is pivoted at one end, as at H to the block G At the other end it is pivoted, as at H to the sliding shoe H*, which is mounted to slide longitudinally along the arm G. This structure is shown in section, for example, in Fig. 8. The shoe H may be guided,

for'example by the lower, outer angle membersH andthe upper, inner angle members H. The inwardly turned flanges of these angles form a track beneath the arm G, along which track the shoe H may slide as the arm G rotates. Referring to Figure 7 the sliding shoe H is indicated in dotted line and, in the position in which the parts are there extends from the right of'the camroller H to the left of the cam roller H On the lower sideof the shoe H are positioned two cam rollers; As shown in Figure 6, the first of these, H, is in line with'the generally arcuate outer cam slot H5. The second roller, H is in line with the more or less irregularly curved inner cam slot or track H These cam members are mounted upon any suitable platform, positioned, as at H on the ede of the cradle, which platform tilts longitudinally with the members A Mounted upon the to of the arm G are a plurality of sheaves I Of these, the sheave I is tangent to the central axis of the hollow shaft K and the sheave I is closely adjacent the sheave I.

The shaft K is mounted for rotation about a vertical'axis, passing downwardly through the platform H it being mounted in any suitable bearings K K It has mounted on its lower end the bevel gear K which is in mesh with the bevel pinion K upon the shaft K At the opposite end of the shaft K is a bevel gear K in mesh with the bevel pinion K on the shaft K K indicates any suitable gear reduction and K any suitable power source, for example a motor. K is any suitable solenoid brake for controlling the ac tuation of the motor. 2

Mounted on the shaftK is the drum L.

Dead-ended on the drum L is the cable L which passes about a sheave L fixed on the frame of the cradle, and about the sheave L fixed on the guides L along which moves the large weight L It will be understood that the guides L arev fixed to the cradle frame.

The cable continues about the sheave L and downwardly through the large weight L terminating in a small weight L In the initial position ofthe device, the weight L hangs somewhat below the bottom ofthe weight L as shown in Fig. 3. The weight L rests upon stops orangles L as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The sheave L is suspended at one end of a second cable M, which cable passes about the fixed sheaves M M M M and M M being tangential to the central axis of the shaft K. The cable end passes upwardly through the center of the hollow shaft K and thence about the sheaves I and I along the length of the arm G, and about the sheaves G to be deadended finally upon the arm G as at M It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in size, shape, number, disposition and relation of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise disclosure. The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

My deflector is particularly adapted for use in unloading grain from freight box cars which are first tilted laterally, to free the in nercar door from the door frame, and are then tilted longitudinally to cause the grain to flow out through the side door of the car. However, I do not wish to be limited to the use of my device with any particular type of car, as it may be used with avariety of cars. Inthe use of such a device the memberD is first advanced to position against the inner door, as shown in Figure 2. The car is then tilted laterally and the member'D with the door upon it takes the position in which they are shown in Fig. 9. The motor A is then 7 actuated to tiltthecradle and the car longitudinally. After the initial escape of the grain, and in order to clear from the car such grain as remains, for example such grain as gathers in' the cor ners of the car, I insert, at an angle across the floor of the car, the deflector mem-' ber E. It is important that this member be inserted angularly across the car, as shown for example in Fig. 6. Assuming that the deflector is in initial position folded up as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. I actuate the motor K to rotate the shaft K, and thereby to move the arm G in a clockwise direction, considering the parts in the position in which they are 7 shown in Figs. 6 or 7. As the arinG rotates into the full line position'in which it is shown in Fig. 6, the roller H first engages the cam' track H and'moves the shoe H inwardly along the arm G. Shortly before the roller H escapes the track H the secend roller H engages theouter cam track H? The effect of'this combined cam action is to move the shoe H inwardly along the arm G and to rotate the block G and with it the deflector member E, '.nto the final or operative osition in which theyare shown in fulliline in Fig. 6. lVhen the parts are in the initial position in which they are shown in Fig. 7, the counterweight L is at the upward limit of its movement, with the smaller. weight L engaging the bottom of the weight'L, since it is through the weight L and the cable L that the larger weight is held in its uppermost position. As the parts rotate to the final position, the cable L is paid out by the drum L and permits the weight If to drop to its lowest position against the stop L The large weight reaches this position at the time when the deflector is in the dotted line position in Fig. 9. Referring to the lower right-hand corner of the deflector as shown in Fig. 9, the dotted line X indicates the path of this corner after the large weight ends its excursion. The lateral movement of the end of the arm G continues, the deflector being thrustfurther into the car, but the deflector itself, and the arm G overcome the weight of the small weight L and therefore the deflector is able to sink downwardly into contact with the floor of the car, and to slide forwardly along the floor of the car. until the final position is reached. When the reflector actually reaches the floor of the car and rests against it, the proportion of the parts is such that the weight L still. has a little slack and can pull the cable L down sufliciently so that the weight hangs clear of and somewhat below the bottom of the large weight L This serves to keep the cable taut. When the movement of the deflector has been completed. and it is thrust as far into the car as is necessary, the car is tilted longitudinally and the grain flows against the forward overhanging face of the deflector and flows outwardly there-along to escape to the receiving bins. conveyors or the like.

It will be observed, as from Fig. 9, that by moving or tilting the deflector downwardly before thrusting it to the limit of its excursioninto the car, the member D and the door I) are cleared by the deflector, which passes easily beneath them. The overhanging portion E of the deflector serves to check any tendency of the grain to flow over the upper edge of the deflector.

After the tilting operation is completed, the deflector is removed by again initiating rotation of the motor K The shaft K is rotated in a reverse direction and, as the arm G begins its counter-clockwise rotation, the deflector E slides outwardly along the car floor until the weight L engages the bottom of the big weight. As it does so, the big weight overcomes the resistance by gravity of the deflector itself and the deflector tilts upwardly until the stop G engages the bottom of the arm G At this time the deflector has taken the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 9. When the stop G engages the bottom of the arm G the arm has rotated upwardly until it engages the upper stop G". This termination of the movement of the deflector E and the arm G in relation to the arm G causes the beginning of the upward movement of the weight L which is accordingly reeled in by rotation of the drum L. Thereafter the deflector E maintains a. constant relationship to the block G and the block and deflector, as a unit, are folded or jack-knifed against the arm G through the action of the link H, until the device reaches its initial position. Meanwhile the cable L draws in on the weight L, raising it to its uppermost position.

As a matter of co venience in operation, I provide a stationary platform shown in Fig. 2 and generally indicated as 0. Upon it may be any suitable electrical controlling means 0 whereby the various motors may be actuated.

Among the characteristic features and advantages of my invention are the following. The deflector may be compactly folded up along the side of the cradle and requires small side clearance for its operation when inserted in the car. This permits the use of a wide, iuidisturbed operators platform close to the side of the car. The deflector is inserted into and removed from the car, so far as the operator is concerned, by a single movement of the handle of the controller in either forward or reverse direction. Although the electrical controls do not of themselves form part of the present device, it will be understood that the operation is interlocked electrically, so that the deflector cannot be inserted except when the cradle of the unloader is horizontal, or when the end to which the deflector is attached is raised above its normal position. Owing to the necessity of maintaining the parts in a restricted space, the employment of two cam tracks is advantageous, the second track, farther from the center of rotation of the deflector than the first, taking up the guiding operation at the extremity of the camming movement in relation to the first track. Since the deflector slides along the floor of the car at a time when the floor is inclined to a position downwardly below the level of the control platform and the level of the plane of the car tracks when the car is in its initial horizontal position, it is necessary to lift the deflector to clear the normal top of the cradle. It is for this purpose that the cable systems are used and the extent of the movement of the small weight before it contacts the large counterweight determines the point at which the lifting of the deflector takes place.

I claim:

1. For use with a car unloader including a tiltable cradle and means for securing a car thereupon, a deflector member associated with said cradle and means for inserting saiddeflector into and retracting it from the side door of said car, including a generally vertical shaft and means for rotating it, an arm extending generally horizontally therefrom, the deflector member being pivoted upon said arm.

2. For use with a car unloader includinga tiltable cradle and means for securing a car thereupon, a deflector member associated with said cradle andmeans for inserting said deflector into'and retracting itfrom theside door of said car, including a generally vertical shaft and means for rotating it, anarm extending generally horizontally therefrom, the deflector member being pivoted upon said arm, and means for rotating said deflector member about its pivot, in response to rotation of said arm and shaft, 7

3. The structure-of claim 2 characterized by the employment of a member slidably mounted along said arm, a linkage connecting said slidable member with the deflector member and means for moving said slidable member along said armin response to rotation of the arm.

4. For use with a car unloader including a tiltable cradle and meansfor positioning a car thereupon, a deflector member associated with said. cradle and-normally positioned acent the side of said car and generally parallel with it, and means for moving said deflector member, from said parallel position, into and out of the car, characterized by the employment of an arm to which the deflector member is pivoted, means for rotating the arm about ,a generally vertical axis and means for rotating said deflector member about its pivotal connection with the arm, in response to rotation of the arm. 7 t r 5. For use with a car unloader including a longitudinally tiltable cradle and a roar support laterally tiltable in relation. to said cradle, and means for securing a car thereupon, a deflector member associated with the longitudinally tiltable cradle, and means for inserting it into and retracting itfrom the car, and means for permitting the lower edge of, the deflector member to conform to the floor level of the laterally tilted car, when the deflector. is in operative position, and for lifting said deflector upwardly from the car floor, at a predetermined point in its excursion of retraction from the car and for positioning its lower edge, when lifted, in a generally horizontal plane, at an, angle to the plane of the tilted car floor. V

6. For use with a car unloader including a I longitudinally tiltable cradle and a car support laterally tiltable in relation to said cradle, and means for securing a car there-- upon, a deflector member associated with the longitudinally tiltablecradle, means for inserting the deflector member into and. retracting'it from the car and meansfor liftupon, adeflector member associated with the,

longitudinally tiltable cradle, and means for inserting it intoand retracting itfrom the car, including an arm upon which said deflector member ispivoted, a shaft to which said arm is fixed and .means for rotating said shaft. i

8. The structure of claim 7 characterized by the employment of means forlifting the deflector member from the floor of the car, during the retracting excursion, of the deflector, saidmeans including a cable associated with said deflector and extending downwardly through said shaft, and means fordrawing in upon said cable during the retracting rotation of said shaft.

9. For use with'acar-unloader including'a longitudinally tiltable cradle and a car support, laterally tiltable in relation to said cradle, and means for positioning a car there, upon, a deflector member associated with the longitudinally tiltable cradle, and means for inserting it into and retracting it from the 7 'car, including a generally horizontal arm,

means for rotating it about a generally vertical pivot, a block-pivoted to the end of said arm, and a link connecting said block and said deflector'and pivoted to each. i

i 10. The structure of claim 9 characterized by the provision of means for limiting the rotation of said deflector about its pivotal connection with the link. r

11. The structure of claim 9characterized by the provision ofjmeans for limiting the rotation of said link aboutits pivotal connection with the block. r I

'12.".The structure of claim'9 characterized by the provision of means for lifting said link, and, with it, the deflector member, during the retracting'excursion of the deflector member. 7

13. The structure of claim 9 characterized" by the provision of means for causingrotation of said block in relation to said arm, in

sliding movement along said arm, alinkage connecting said slidable member with the block, and means formoving said slidable e ,n i. I member along sald arm n response to rotation of said arm.

r 15. The structure of claim 9 characterized by the employment of'a membermounted for sliding movement along said arm, a linkage connecting said slidable member with the block, and means for moving said slidable member along said arm 111 response to rotation of said arm, including a cam mounted in the line of movement of sa1d arm and a cam engaging member associated with said slidable member. 7

16. The structure of claim 9 characterized by the employmentof a member mounted for 10 sliding movement along said arm, a linkage connecting said slidable member with the block, and means for moving said slidable member along said arm in response to rotation of said arm, including a plurality of cam elements mounted in the line of movement of into and retracting it from said car, including an arm in pivotal relation with said deflector member and means for rotating it, and means for rotating the deflector member in relation to said arm, including a member mountedfor slidable movement along said arm, a linkage connecting said slidable member with the deflector member, and means for moving said slidable member along said arm, in response to rotation of the arm.

18. The structure of claim 17 characterized by the employment of a cam element mounted in the line of movement of said arm and an opposed cam engaging member associated with the slidable member.

19. The structure of claim "1 7 characterized by the employment of a plurality of cam elements mounted in the line of movement of said arm, and a plurality of opposed cam en-' gaging members associated with the slidable member and adapted for successive engage- 45' ment with said cam elements.

20. The structure of claim 17 characterized by the employment of a plurality of cam elements mounted in the line of movement of said arm, and a plurality of opposed cam engaging members associated with the slidable member and adapted for successive engagement with said cam elements, said cam elements being positioned at varying distances from the center of rotation of the arm.

21. i For use with a car unloader including a tiltable cradle and means for positioning a car thereupon, a deflector member and means for.

inserting it into and retracting it from said car, said means including a generally vertical co shaft, an arm mounted upon the upper end of said shaft, a block pivoted to the end of said arm, means for rotating said block in response to rotation of said arm, a deflector member, a

- link connectingsaid deflector member and said block and pivoted to each, sheaves on said block, sheaves on said arm, a cable connection, with sa d link, passing about said sheaves-and downwardly along said shaft, a

motor adapted to rotate said shaft, and a drum associated with said motor, a cable being secured to said drum, a sheave about which said last mentioned cable passes, a weight associated with said cable, and a connection between said first mentioned cable and said sheave.

22. The structure of claim 21 characterized by the employment of a relatively small weight upon said last mentioned cable, of a weight insufficient to overcome the weight of said link and deflector member and a large weight, in the line of upward movement of said small weight, of a weight suflicient to overcome the weight of link and deflector and to cause their upward movement in response to the reeling in of said last mentioned cable about said drum.

23. For use with a car unloader including a tiltable cradle and means for positioning a car thereupon, a deflector member and means for inserting it into and retracting it from said car, said means including-a generally vertical shaft, an arm mounted upon the upper end of said shaft, a deflector member in pivotal connection with the end of said arm and means for rotating said deflector member, about said pivotal connection, in response to rotation of the arm, 'acable in connection with said deflector member, a motor adapted to rotate said shaft, a drum associated with said motor, a cable secured to the drum, asheave about which said last mentioned cable passes, a weight associated with said last mentioned cable, and a connection between said first mentioned cable and said sheave.

24. The structure of claim 23 characterized by the provision that the first mentioned cable extends from the deflector member to the vertical shaft and downwardly through said shaft. 7

25. For use with a car unloader including a longitudinallytiltable cradle and means for positioning a car thereupon, a deflector member and'means for inserting said deflector member intoand retracting it from said car, including a generally horizontal arm, the deflector member being mounted upon one end of said arm for rotation therewith,

means for rotating said arm to insert or retract said deflector and means, operative in unison with such rotation, effective to raise or lower said deflector at a predetermined point in its excursion of insertion or retraction.

26. For use with a car unloader including a laterally tiltable support and 'means' for securing a car thereupon, a deflector member adapted to be positioned generally horizontally alongthe side of the support and laterally out of line with the car door when in inoperative position, means for inserting said deflector into and retracting it from the interior of said car, and means for moving said deflector vertically during its movement into and out of operative position, and for tilting it in a its movement into and out of the car.

27. For use With a car unloader including a longitudinally tiltable cradle and a car support laterally tiltable in relation to said cradle, and means for positioning a car thereupon, a deflector member associated with the longitudinally tiltable cradle, and means for inserting it into and retracting it from the car, including an arm upon which said defiector member is mounted, a shaft to which said arm is fixed and means for rotating said shaft Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois,'this 23rd day of September,

' ELWIN H; KIDDER.

generally vertical plane, during

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