US1938027A - Car dumper - Google Patents

Description

Dee 1933- E. H. KIDDER 1,938,027

CAR DUMPER Filed June 1, 195 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 [Yin/2i. 153/492" Dec. 5, 1933. E, KiDDER 1,938,027

CAR DUMPER Filed June 1, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 157 In yew/0r 27W??? 1% ffz a de/ Jilarrzzja Dec. 5, 1933. KlDDER 1,938,027

' CAR DUMPER Filed June 1, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. H. KIDDER Dec. 5, 1933.

CAR DUMPER Filed June 1, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 I UNI-TED STATES CAR DUMPER Elwin H. Kidder, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Link- Belt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 1, 1931. Serial No. 541,382 '20 Claims. (01., 214-47) My invention relates to a grain car unloader and has for one purpose the provision of unload- 1,5 maticallyin the accompanying drawings, whereing means: whereby a 'car filled with grain can quickly and eificiently be unloaded. Another purpose is the provision of door opening means for such a grain car unloader and, particularly, door opening means-which will operate, when the grain car is tilted laterally, to press in the car door and to permit the grain to escape. Another object is the provision of means for holding the grain car door out of the line of grain fiow after it has been opened. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

. I illustrate my invention more or less diagram- Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in seciion; v Figure 2 is an end elevation of the parts prior to the car door being opened; V V

Figure 3 is an end elevation with parts in sec- 7 tion, illustratingthe opening device in position Figure 5. u

at the end of the grain car door opening move- I ment.

Figure 4 is a partial top plan View of. one side of the platform structure and associated parts; Figure "5 is an enlarged section along theline 55 of Figure l; and

= Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates the bottom of any suitable pit, provided with walls A A? indicaies a projection or bracket extending inwardly from one of .said walls upon which some of, the car handling mechanism be low described may be positioned. A generally indicates a receiving hopper with the bottom A and the discharge aperture A which maybe closed as by any suitable removable closure membersA A indicates a conveyor belt upon which the grain discharged through the aperturesA maybe received and conveyed for disposal elsewhere. y

B B indicate base members herein shown as positioned upon the bottom A ofthe pit, and supporting any suitable frame B B indicates any suitable motor, for example an electric motor which drives a gear train including the motor shaft pinion B in mesh w th gear B which any suitable B B 1 C C indicate rollers, pivoted upon the frame B These are channeled as at C to. receive the arcuate track C This track is mounted upon my any suitable supporting frame work generally indicated as C upon which in turn is mounted any suitable platform structure C which may have positioned upon its top the track rails C The cables B are dead ended or secured, at their 5 ends, at opposite ends of the tracks 0 as at C C for example in stop members C which serve, by contact with the rollers C, to limit the drum B about which pass the cables possible tilt of the platformor cradle structure above described. It will be understood that when the cradle or platform is in the position inwhich itis shown in Figures 2 and 4, the ends of the platform C are positivelysupported. I indicate for example supporting abutments C for the left side of each end of the platform, and support- (5 ing abutments C for the right side of each end of the platform,- the supporting abutments 0'' being farther from the mid point of theplatform than the abutments C the platform being for Wardly extended as at C in order to engage and 30 rest upon the abutments C". It will therefore be understood that when the parts are in the posi tion in which they are shown in Figures 2 and 4, any longitudinal tilting of the, platform is positively prevented by the abutments upon which it rests, and with which, in effect, the platform interlocks. As shown in Figure 2 it will be noted that'the abutments C5 are provided with convex "upper surfaces which rest in corresponding concave surfaces C of the blocks C upon the lower on portion of the ends of the frame.

D D indicate any suitable clamps for the ends of the car generally indicated as D and positioned, when inoperative, in the pits D They may include pads or abutment members D opposed to the couplings D of the car, and any suitable means may be employed for raising and v drawing the clamps D into operative position whenit is desired to secure a car in place upon the platform. As the details of theclamping mechanism doo nct of themselves form part of the present invention, they are diagrammatically illustrated. I may for example employ amotor D mounted on the platform C which drives the shaft D through the gear reductions generallyindicated as D The shaft D through the gear reductions D drives the nut D which moves the screw D longitudinally. D indicate tracks along which, the carriages D may move into and out of operating position for the conlongitudinal or axial movement thereto.

veyance of the clamps D into and out of operative position.

Extending upwardly from one side of the platform C is a bracket frame E which supports an upstanding frame structure generallyindicated as E which includes the transverse top structural member. E Pivoted adjacent or upon the transverse member E is a hangerstructure indicated as E which may be pivoted as at E At its lower end is a guide E upon which is adjustably or slidably mounted the door engaging member E which may for example have a plate provided with the forward spikes or projections E Any suitable means may be employed for raising and lowering the door contacting member E. I may employ for example the cable E passing about a sheave E and about a shaft E the rotation of which may be controlled as by the lever E and ratchet wheel E and the dogs E E The dog E is mounted on the lever E and serves to rotate the ratchet, while the dog E is mounted on the hanger and serves to prevent unintended retrograde rotation of the ratchet. However, any other suitable means for raising or lowering the member E may be employed.

Mounted on the platform A is the unitary frame G upon which is mounted any suitable motor G which drives, through its motor shaft pinion G a gear G upon the shaft G the pinion G of which is in mesh with a gear G which is mounted on a threaded sleeve G", the rotation of which actuates the screw 6, to impart G9 generally indicates a universal joint or universal coupling-for the opposite end of the screw G I do not wish to be limited to any specific universal joint, but I have shown a block G on the end of the screw Gr to which is pivoted a yoke G to which in turn is pivoted another yoke G which in turn is connected to a rod G which is connected by a similar universal connection at its opposite end to the upright frame structure E as upon the horizontal longitudinal plate E It will be understood that as the motor G is actuated the rotation of the sleeve G imparts axial longitudinal movement to' the screw G and thus moves the platform or cradle structure as a whole toward or away from the bracket A t will be understood that the car dumper platform C4 is supported upon the track C which in turn is supported upon the rollers C, seating in the grooves C of said rollers. as in Figures 2 and 3, that when the rails C on the platform 0 are aligned with the rails C of the track ends, the frame structure C is tilted to the left, referring to the position of the parts as in Figure 2, and that the weight'oi the structure thus tends to hold the platform C firmly in position upon the supporting abutments C Any additional locking means may be employed if desired, but the structure is normally gravitally held in position. On the other hand, when it is desired to tilt the car longitudinally and the parts are moved into the position in which they are shownin Figure 3, the frame structure C lies'in a generally vertical plane.

H indicates any suitable deflector 2 whereby grain discharged from the car D may be delivered into the bin A It will be understood that it is current'practice to nail innergrain car doors within the normal doors of the freight cars in which grain is shipped. The permanent freight car doors, which are not indicated herein, being slid' or "t will be seen,

moved out of alignment with the door opening, there are still left the boards J of the grain door, which may for example be nailed at the inside of the door aperture. When the car is tilted laterally into the position in which it is shown in Figure 3, the members E and E must be moved forwardly against the grain door. In order to effect this movement I provide a compression member J which is connected at one end, by means of a universal joint J to the hanger structure E At its other end it is connectedas by the universal connection J with any suitable cover or housing J which forms part of or is secured to the unitary structure generally indicated as G. It will therefore be understood that as the car structure is tilted laterally to the position of Figure 3, the member J serves as a compression member to prevent the complete unitary movement of the members E and E with the car. As the car and car support C tilt, the hanger E is forced to: pivot about its axis E. This first engages the member E with thedoor boards J, and then forces them into the position shown in Figure 3. Points E normally hold the door boards J in place as a unit and entirely out of alignment with the escaping grain.

In the operation'of the device a car is first spotted on the platform 0*. The clamps'D are then actuated to hold it in place, the motor G is then actuated to draw in on the member G which then serves as a tension member to tilt the frame C and the platform C laterally about a pivot defined by the rollers C. However, this lateral tilting movement causes the member J to serve as a compression member and to force the door boards J into the position in which they are shown in Figure 3 as above described. The motor 13 may then be actuated to tilt the car longitudinally, and the grain pours out through the car door and upon the deflector H and'into the bin A Any suitable means may be employed for assisting the escape of the grain,'such bafiles or the like, such means not herein indicated as not forming of themselves part of the present invention. When the car has been finally cleared of its grain it may then be rotated back to the position in which it is shownin Figure 1 with the result that the door opener is also returned to the position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The clamps D can then be moved into inoperative position and the car removed along the rails C It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of myinvention. I therefore wish the drawings and description to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing herein.

Attention is called to the fact that because the cradle in the upright position rests at its ends upon fixed supports and is substantially-entirely supported by them, no interlocking means are needed to maintain the cradle against displacement as cars run onto and off of it, and up to the time when the cradle is laterally tilted the bridge 'or cradle is as rigid and fixed in position, without any interlocking or special latch means, as if it were an integral part of the track structure, and it is only when the lateral tilting means have gone into operation, lifted the cradle *oiiits supporting abutments and moved it lat- Mil cradle out,oflinewith the supporting pads on the abutments, that endwise tilting of the cradle becomes possible. Thus the lateraltiltingmeans serve both to tilt the car so. as to insure that the grain will run out of the side, and also to posi tionandinterlock the car cradle with the structure, thereby-obviating any necessity of any positive movable interlocking-means.

,Because the .rollergring wth its arcuate track engagesthe supporting rollers in the bottom of the pit 'andgmay both travel'along thoserollers and rotate ina-plane parallel with their axes, no separate supporting means are provided, and because,- the "endwise tilting cable wound about the roller ring is connected to the driving drum at a point between the two rollers and adjacent the linejoining the pointsfi Contact between each roller and the roller ring, the lateral tilt of the cradle does not materially affect the length of; the cable, so no special adjustment is needed.

' Of course the roller ring cannot have its traveling; movemen t along the rollers unless it is located inaplane substantially perpendicular to their axesof rotation, and it only reaches this position when the cradle has been tilted. This is a real advantage because automatically there isaninterlock in that as long as the roller ring isin such position that it cannot travel along the rollers, the cradle is interlocked with its supporting abutments. When the cradle has been finally tilted out. of that interlock relation, the roller ringis, at the same time and by the same movementbrqught into'a position where it is free to travel along the rollers. f It, willalso be notedthat the axis about whic the:whole structure rotates for endwise tilt is substantiallyon line with the fixed abutment so that the universal joint connection between the threadedsleeve on the abutment and the] cradle is sufiicient to permit the endwise tilt of the cradle and car without interference.

3 I claimn l. A car unloader comprising a cradle adapted t9 carry a track, and means for holding a car in spotted position thereon, supporting abutments iorsaid; cradle adapted to hold the cradle in interlocked relation, a tilting support for the cradle, means -for .operating said tilting support to-laterally displace the cradle and simultaneously break the interlock between the cradle and itsabutmentand means, operative only after the cradle has been laterally tilted and the interlock broken, for tilting the cradle longitudinally. 2. .Acar unloader including a cradle, an arcuate supportingstructure integral therewith, rollers in operating relation with the periphery of the arcuatesupporting structure, means, applied at .the center of rotation of the rotating structure, for tilting it laterally, means, applied at the periphery-of the arcuate structure and substantially on a line with its axis of lateral rotation,

for rotating it longitudinally and power means for -operating' said'rotating means, said power means beingiixed in position with respect to the 1 .supporting rollers.

3. A car unloader including a cradle, an integral supporting structure extending downward-- ly therefrom, a semi-circular track bounding such structure, the center about which the track is described being located-adjacent the floor of a car -carried on the cradle, supporting rollers upon which the track rests, means in fixed position with respect to the rollers at one side of the structure,,for tilting it laterally about anaxis Y H joining the points of contact between said rollers and the track, and a connectionbetween the structure and such tilting means applied thereto adjacent the center of rotationameans for rotating the structure to cause the track totravel along the rollers, said means being in fixed position with-respect to the rollers, and a connection between. such rotating means and thestructure localized at apoint adjacent the track and between the rollers. e a

4. In a car unloader, a cradle and means for positioning a carthereupon, an, arcuate; edged support for the cradle, means for moving said cradle laterally, and means for tilting said cradle longitudinallywhen laterally moved, the means for moving the cradle laterally including a mem ber connected to the cradle and extending transversely therefrom, located substantially at the center about which the arcuate edge of the support is described, and-means for applying force to said member to move thecradle.

5.In a car unloader, a cradle and means for positioning a car thereupon, anarcuate edged support for the cradle, means for movingsaid cradle laterally,and means for tilting said cradle longitudinally, when laterally moved, the means for moving the cradle laterally including a member connected to the cradle and extending transversely therefrom, located substantially at the center about which the arcuate edge of the sup: port is described, and means for applying-force to said member to move the cradle, and a flexible connection between said member and the cradle.

6. In a car unloader, a cradle and means for positioning a car thereupon, an arcuate edged said member to move the cradle, and auniversal joint connection between said memberand the cradle.

'7. In a car handling device, a track, a-cradle adapted to be aligned with said track, means for positioning a car on the cradle, supporting means for supporting the cradle when aligned with the track, and additional supporting means for the cradle, effective when the cradle has been laterally moved, means for laterallytilting thecradle, the center of support of said last mentioned supporting means being laterally. removed'from the central axis of the track in the direction toward which the cradle is tilted, the weight of car and cradle tending, at all positions of said support, to return the cradle to alignmentwith the track, and means for longitudinally tilting the cradle when it has been moved out of longitudinal alignmentwith the track.

8. In a car handling device, a track, a cradle adapted to be aligned with said track, means for positioning a car on-the cradle, supporting means for supporting the cradle when aligned with the track, and additional supporting means for the cradle, effective when the cradle has been laterally moved, means for laterally tilting the cradle, the center of support of said last mentioned supporting means being laterally removed from the central axis of the track in the direction toward which the cradle is tilted, the weight of the car and cradle tending, at all positions, to return: the cradle to alignment with the track, and meansfor longitudinally tilting the cradle when it has been moved out of longitudinal alignment with the track, said supporting means including an arcuately edged support and supporting rollers adapted to receive it.

9'. In a car handling-device, a track, a cradle adapted to be aligned with said track, means for positioning a car on the cradle, supporting means for supporting the cradle when aligned with the track, and additional supporting means for the cradle, effective when the cradle has been laterally moved, means for laterally tilting the cradle, the center of support of said last mentioned supporting means being laterally removed from the central axis of the track in the direction'toward which the cradle is tilted, the weight of car and cradle tending, at all positions, to return the cradle to alignment with the track, and means for longitudinally tilting the cradle when it has been moved out of longitudinal alignment with the track, said additional supporting means including an arcuately edged support and supporting rollers adapted to receive it, and means for laterally tilting the cradle including an actuating connection with the cradle adjacent the center of the arc of the edge of the support.

10. In a car unloader, a track, a cradle adapted to be aligned with said track, means for positioning a car upon said cradle, means for moving said cradle laterally out of alignment with said track and for tilting said cradle when laterally so moved, said cradle including side members of unequal length, the side member on the side of the cradle towards which the cradle laterally tips being 'of'greater length than the opposite side member.

the cradle is aligned with the track, underlying said side members, the supports which underlie the longer of the side members being separated by a distance greater than the length of the shorter side member.

a Y '12. In a car'unloa der, a cradle adapted tosupport a car, a downwardly projecting supporting member rigidly associated with the cradle and a fixed abutment upon which said cradle rests, means for tilting the cradle and rigid member laterally in the same direction and for tilting them longitudinally, and means for positively preventing the longitudinal tilting movement until the lateral tilting movement has been completed. 13. In a car unloader, a cradle adapted to sup port a car, a downwardly projecting supporting member rigidly associated with the cradle, means for tilting the cradle and rigid member laterally and for tilting them longitudinally, and means for positively preventing the longitudinal tilting movement until the lateral tilting movement has been completed, said means comprising fixed abutments on which the cradle is positively sup ported at the beginning of the lateral tilting movement.

' 14; In a car unloader, a cradle adapted to support a car, a downwardly projecting supporting member rigidly associated with the cradle, means for tilting the cradle and rigid member laterally and for tilting them longitudinally, and means for positively preventing the longitudinal tilting movement until the lateral tilting movement has been completed, said means comprising fixed abutments on which the cradle is positively supported at the beginning of the lateral tilting movement, the abutments being so positioned with respect to the cradle that the lateral tilting movement carries the cradle out of line with the abutments to permit the longitudinal tilt.

15. In a car unloader, a cradle,a segmentalroller ring integral therewith and projecting downwardly therefrom, a pair of rollers adapted to engage the periphery of the roller ring and support it, a car track carried by the cradle, the roller ring being inclined to the vertical when the car track is horizontal, means for tilting the roller ring about an axis joining the points of contact of the two rollers and the ring to bringthe roller ring into a substantially vertical plane. v

v 16. In a car unloader, a cradle, a segmental roller ring integral therewith and projecting downwardly therefrom, a pair of rollers adapted to engage the periphery of the roller ring and support it, a car track carried by the cradle, the roller ring being inclined to the vertical when the car track is horizontal, means for tilting the roller ring about an axis joining the points of contact of the two rollers and the ring to bring the roller ring into a substantially vertical plane, and means for rotating the roller ring'about an axis parallel with the axis of the rollers when in such vertical plane.

17. In a car unloader, a cradle, a segmental roller ring integral therewith and projecting downwardly therefrom, a pair of rollers adapted to engage the periphery of the roller ring and support it, a'car track carried by the cradle, the roller ring being inclined to-the vertical when the car track is horizontal, means for tilting the roller ring about an axis joining the points of contact of the two rollers and the ring to bring the roller ring into a substantially vertical plane, the tilting means being connected to the cradle at a point substantially concentric with the roller ring.

18. In a car unloader, a cradle, a segmental roller ring integral therewith, and projecting for rotating the roller ring about an axis parallel with the axis of the rollers when in such vertical plane, the lateral tilting means being connected to the cradle at a point substantially concentric with the roller ring, the power to cause longitudinal tilting being applied at a point adjacentto the line joining points of contact of the tworollers and the roller ring.

19. In a grain car unloader, a track section; a fixed abutment upon which the track section is supported when in horizontal position, means for securing a grain car at a predetermined point upon said track section, means for bodily displacing the track section laterally to 'disengage it from the abutment, means for longitudinally tilting'tlie' track. section after it has been so disengaged, the

relation whereby longitudinal-tilting is positively prevented until the lateral displacement has been completed. a

the other operative as a supporting means exclusively only when the track section is out of line with the remainder of the track, and means for tilting the track section laterally to clear the first named track supporting means and means operative only after such lateral tilt to tilt the track section longitudinally. I V

ELWIN: H. KIDDER.

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