US1870050A - Excavating bucket - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 2 1932- F. H. HUNT ExcAvATlNG BUCKET originai Filed April 26. 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2. L m 2W E f if Q/ D i D 5` Mula l/ Ll F m llg- 2,1932 F. H. HUNT EXCAVATING BUCKET loriginal Filed April 26, 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v7,6142 ymil-"R Mu-M BY ATTORNEY VPatented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PAT ENToFI-lca FRANCIS H. HUN'I, OF LEONIA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TQRAYMOND CONCRETE PILE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F NEW JERSEY EXCAVATING BUCKET Original application led .April 26, 1926, Serial No. 153,097.A Divided and this application tiled April 1927. Serial I@ paratus.

The bucket herein disclosed is of the rotary type, used commonly for sinking holes in theJv ground, to accommodate cylindrical columns of concrete or other material suitable for foundations of buildings, bridges, "etc.

The bucket has one or more discharge gates on its lower end, arranged to'open and close like trap doors. The doors are provided with cutting edges so arranged that when the 16 bucket is rotated the cutters dig into the ground and direct upwardly into the bucket the detritus formed by the knives. The feeding of the cutters into the ground is aided by the weight of the bucket plus the weight of any other partsI of the apparatus resting thereon.

When it is desired to empty the bucket of its contents the bucket is hoisted `above the ground level and the discharge gates are released, thereby permitting the bucket to discharge its contents downwardly through the bottom of the bucket.

This invention pertains particularly to the devices for controlling the discharge gate.

An object of the invention is to provide automatic means for keeping the gates closed while the bucket is being raised from the hole it has dug in the ground.

Another object is to providel automatic means for releasing the gates when the bucket is in position to dlscharge.

Another object is to provide means to automatically engage and support the bucket in discharging position.

Another object is to provide auxiliary means for jarring loose the gate-releasing device in case it should become stuck from handling sticky material.

Further and other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims, and shown .1n the drawings, which by way of illustration show what is now considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention.' Fig. 1 is a cross-section through the' bucket,

showing the gate-control mechanism withv the gates closed.

Fig. 2 is a view-of a portion of the bucketoperating mechanism with the bucket supported in discharge position and the gates open. v

Fig 3 is a view of a portion of Fig. 2 from the right, except that the bottom of the bucket is closed to show a cutting edge.

Fig. 4 is a' detail cross section through the cross-head of F ig., 1. Y

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation showing diametrically the position of the two cutting gates when closed;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing one of the gates open; and

Fig. 7 is a bottom gates closed.

In operation the bucket is rotated by a telescope shaft or kelly comprising a number of concentric tubes, each tube driving the one within it as fully set forth in the oopending application above mentioned. The bucket is attached to and driven by the plan view with both innermost'tube, which is of course the lowermost section when the kelly is extended, as

.it is when operating in a deep hole.

The top of the kelly or outer tube 130 is fast to gear 110, which is driven by pinion 108 on the end of shaft 102. Shaft bearing 104 is supported on beams 106 forming part of the framework of the machine.

The lower end of the inner section 146 is provided with a4 flange 148, which is bolted to one of the two bails 150 of the bucket 152 (Fig. 1).

The kelly adapts its length to any depth of hole, within its capacity, and whenever gear 110 turns the kelly is turned with it to rotate the bucket. The bucket is provided on opposite lower portions with oppositely inclined edges as shown at 152a and 152b and at diametrically `opposite points intermediate the length of said edges are hinged gates or doors 176"i and 176b provided with cutting edges 1764c arranged on radial lines and positioned on diametrically opposite halves of the bottom. It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 5 and 7 that the detritus from the cut-y ters enters the bucket in the space 176d formed between the raised half of the gate 17 6b and the lower cutting edge 176c of the gate 17 6a.

While I have shown one form which is the preferred form of gates and cutters I wish it to be understood that any conventional construction of cutting gates may be employed without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The hoisting of the bucket is accomplished by means of one of the hoisting drums, for instance drum 44, around which is wound one end of cable 156. This cable passes over a head sheave and its free end is attached to the upper end of the center rod 160 which passes downwardly through the kelly and is provided at its lower end with a ball bearing 162 held in place by nut 164. As the bucket rotates to the right while digging, nut 164 is provided with a left thread in order that there will be a constant tendency to tighten, instead of to loosen, the nut.

The mechanism just described is also used I to open and close the bucket for dumping purposes. In the drawings, no attempt is made to show-details of the gate structure, because it is intended to cover those features in another application. For purposes of illustration the drawings show double gates, swinging both ways, because that is the preI ferred form, but a single gate may be controlled in the same manner as the double gate.

Supported vertically in the upper part of the bucket are two parallel guide rods 166. The upper ends of rods 166 are fast to a bail 150 and the lower ends fast to cross brace 168 provided forl the purpose. Slidably mounted on rods 166 is the crosshead 170. Rod 160 passes downwardly through the crosshead and the upper side of bearing 162 bears against the under side of the crosshead. At,- tached 'to the under side of 'the crosshead is the downwardly extending semi-circular yoke 172 which surrounds bearing 162 and nut 164. Attached to yoke 172 are chains 174 extending to each bucket gate 176.

The operative position of the above described parts is shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to dump the bucket, it is hoisted by means of drum 44, line 156 and rod 160, to the vposition shown in Fig. 2, in which position bail 150 is engaged by the two spring controlled latches 178, pivoted on beams 106 and so placed that their hook ends 180 will automatically engage the under side of bail 150 when the bail is drawn past them. The latches are actuated by coil springs 182 anchored to beams 106.

If when the bucket is hoisted the bail is not properly aligned to engage latches 178, the bucket 1s rotated to proper position by gear 110, under control of the operator.

After the latches have engaged the bail, cable 156 is slacked oli, permitting the weight of thev bucket and contents to be carried by the latches. Still further slacking of cable 156 permits rod 160 to lower to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby relieving the tension in chains 174 and permitting gates 176 to open, urged by their own weight and the weight of the contents of the bucket. If the .crosshead should bind on-rods 166 the weight cable 186 and bail 188 to both latches 178,v

therefore when handle 184 is drawn down the latch hooks 180 are drawn from underneath bail 150 and the bucket is again carried by cable 156 and is ree to descend at the will of the operator to resume digging operation.

Handle 184 is so located with reference to the other control devices of the complete machine that the dumping of the bucket is under easy control of the same operator who handles the other operations of the machine.

While the digging operation is taking place, considerable pressure is required on top of the bucket to insure digging at proper speed. This pressure is supplied by the kelly. Any desired fraction of the weight of the kelly is allowed to rest on the bucket by the simple expedient of keeping proper tension ip cable 156 by means of the brake on drum It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction herein specitically illustrated but can be embodied in other forms without departure from its spirit.l

I claimons4 y l. In a machine of the class described, in

ofv said bucket, means for operatively connecting said cross-head to said gate, said cross-head operating to close said gate when moved upwardly and to release said gate when moved downwardly, means for hoisting said bucket, said hoisting meansy being constantly connected to said cross-head and adapted to apply pressure either downwardly or upwardly to said cross-head at the will of the operator and means for rotating said bucket while said hoisting means is operative.

2. The invention set forth in cla-im 1, in which said hoisting means includes a vertical rod, said rod being operatively connected with said cross-head to rest its weight thereon or to apply hoisting elort thereto.

3. The invention set forth in-claim 1, in

necting said hoisting means with said crosshead s0 as to provide lost motion between said hoisting means and said crosshead,

whereby said hoisting means may be utilizedto impart a vertical blow to said 'crosshead.

4. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotating digging bucket, digging elements carried by said bucket, means permanently connected to the bucket for raising and lowering said bucket, and means for operating said bucket to dig into the earth while said raising and lowering means is operative, said operating means being independent of said raising and lowering means.

5. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a rotating digging bucket, a

door closing the lower end of said bucket and carrying an earth digging element, raising and lowering means for said bucket permanently connected thereto and operatively connected with said door whereby the door is held in closed position when the bucket is raised and the door is released for dumping when the raising means is relaxed, and means for operating said bucket to dig into the earth while the raising and lowering means is operative, said operatingmeans being independent of said raising and lowering means.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotating digging bucket, digging elements carried by said bucket, means for hoisting said bucket constantly connected thereto, said hoisting means being operatively connected to said bucket, and means for driving the bucket to cause the elements to dig into the earth, said hoisting means extending through the drive.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination a rotating bucket carrying digging elements, means for hoisting said bucket, said hoisting means being operatively connected to the bucket and includinga rod lying in the axis of said bucket, and means for driving said bucket to cause the digging elements to dig into the earth and ill the bucket.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a digging bucket, means for rotating said bucket including a tubular shaft axially secured to'the bucket, and a raising and lowering element passing through said shaft and connected to the bucket.

9. Ina machine of the class described, in combination, a bucket, a door closing the lower end of said bucket, a diggin element thereon, means for rotating said ucket to cause said digging element to dig into the ground including a tubular shaft axially secured to the bucket, and a raisin and lowerv ing element passing through said shaft and connected to said bucket and door.

In testimony whereof I hereto aliix my signature.

FRANCIS H. HUNT.

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