US2073142A - Loading machine - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1937.

F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' awe/ Z21:

March 9, 1937. I F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9, 1937. CARTUDGE 2,073,142

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 9, 1937. CARTUDGE 2,073,142

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 9, 1937,. CARTLIDGE 2,073,142

LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 14, 193i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, 111., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Gompany, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois 20 Claims.

This invention relates to loading machines of the type adapted to load coal in mines at the working face and has among other objects to provide a new and improved gathering and load- 5. ing element for picking up and loading coal.

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loading machine constructed in accordance with my invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the gathering and loading element with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details thereof;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 20 substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the gathering element with parts broken away and in section to show certain details thereof;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 'i'l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the apron for supporting the gathering and loading element;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of the gathering and loading element showing the gathering mechanism in one position with respect to the apron; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the 35. gathering and loading element showing the gathering mechanism. in another position with respect to the apron.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the main elements of the embodiment of my invention illustrated are similar to those disclosed in Patent No. 2,027,091 for Improvements in loading machines, and consist of a wheeled truck .45 or main frame If] having an inclined gathering and loading element l l in front of the main frame and a discharge conveyor i2 extending from beneath the rear end of said gathering and loading element and upwardly and rearwardly there- 50 from overhanging the rear end of said main frame for discharging material into suitable receptacles such as mine cars.

Suitable means are provided for driving the main operating parts, which means herein comprises an electric motor l3. The electric motor 13 has driving connection with the truck wheels for driving the loading machine about the mine and for feeding the loading element into the material to be loaded. The electric motor 13 also serves as a driving means for the operating parts of the gathering and loading element H for raising or lowering said gathering and loading element, and for swinging said gathering and loading element about a vertical axis. The details of the drive to the main operating parts are similar to those disclosed in my aforementioned patent so will not herein be shown or described in detail.

The gathering and loading element ii comprises an inclined conveyor frame i l supported between a pair of upright side plates 5 for pivotal movement with respect thereto about a horizontal axis disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof. The upright side plates l5 are in turn supported on the main frame It for swinging the inclined conveyor frame i4 about a vertical axis and positioning the gathering and loading element ii for gathering from various sections in the working place. The means for swinging the upright side plates l5 about a vertical axis and the inclined conveyor frame 14 about a horizontal axis are not herein shown nor described since they are no portion of my present invention and are fully disclosed in my aforementioned patent.

The inclined conveyor frame I l as herein shown preferably comprises a rearward section l6 and a forward section ll connected thereto in a suitable manner, which forward section has an apron it formed integral therewith and extending forwardly therefrom and along the sides thereof for engaging the ground ahead of the conveyor frame i l and carrying the major portion of the gathering mechanism.

The forward and rearward sections l1 and [6 of the inclined conveyor frame M are provided with a central portion or pan 8 forming a surface for moving material therealong and having sides 9 extending upwardly and downwardly therefrom. Suitable means are provided for moving loose material along the central portion or pan 8 of the inclined conveyor frame M which may be of any construction but which is herein preferably shown as being a flight conveyor indicated by reference character IS.

The flight conveyor l9 may be of any suitable construction, but is herein shown as comprising a pair of parallel spaced'chains having flights 2i carried therebetween in a suitable manner. The chains 20 are trained around sprockets 22 adjacent the rearward end of the conveyor frame M keyed on a transversely extending drive shaft 23 coaxial with the axis of pivotal connection of the conveyor frame M with the upright side plates i5. The transversely extending shaft 23 is driven from the motor Ed by means of a suitable geared reduction drive and chain and sprocket drives generally indicated by reference character 24 in a manner similar to that disclosed in my hereinbefore mentioned patent.

The conveyor chains 28 extend forwardly from the sprockets 22 beneath the central portion or pan 8 of the conveyor frame Hi over idler rollers 25 and under drive sprockets 26 keyed on a transversely extending shaft 2? for driving said Shaft and the gathering mechanism in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described. The idler rollers 25 are adjustable in a usual manner, which will not herein be described in detail, to compensate for wear in said conveyor chains. From thence said conveyor chains extend forwardly around idler rollers 28 on a transversely extending shaft 29 journaled on its ends in suitable roller bearings adjacent the forward portion of the conveyor frame M and below the apron i8. From thence said conveyor chains extend along the upper side of the pan 8 for moving material upwardly therealong.

Referring now to the novel construction and arrangement of the gathering mechanism and apron l8, said apron, as herein shown, is inclined at a greater angle of incidence with respect to the ground upon which the machine rests than the inclined conveyor and has a shoe extending rearwardly from its forward end which is adapted to rest on the ground. Said shoe is relatively short in order that it may engage the ground where the bottom is uneven. Said shoe and apron meet to form a wedgashaped forward end for the gathering mechanism which is perpendicular to the path of travel of the conveyor along the frame I t to permit said apron to be readily advanced into the material it is desired to gather.

The conveyor frame i4 is provided with outwardly flared sides 33 which are cut away at the forward end of the forward section if to receive the apron l8, as is best shown in Figure 8. Said apron is connected to said sides in a suitable manner, such as welding, and the inner boundaries of said apron extending along the conveyor diverge outwardly therefrom in a rearwardly direction. Retaining walls 34, 3 extend upwardly from and along opposite rearward ends of said apron and abut and are secured to said flared sides at their inner ends.

Suitable gathering mechanism, generally indicated by reference character 35, is mounted on the upper side of the apron l8 and as herein shown includes a pair of spaced endless chains having spaced gathering arms 31 extending laterally therefrom. One of said endless chains is arranged on each side of said inclined conveyor and extends forwardly thereaiong beyond the forward end thereof. Said endless chains are guided for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said apron and in orbits diverging from the sides of said conveyor as said endless chains move upwardly therealong in a path similar to the path of the inner margins of said apron. As so arranged, the gathering arms overhang the conveyor but are substantially beyond the sides of said conveyor at their turning point away therefrom (see Figures 3 9, and 10).

The angle between the gathering arms 31 and the inner margins of the apron l8 and sides 33 of the conveyor frame is such that as said gathering arms turn away from the conveyor, mate rial engaged by said arms between said arms and said flared sides of said conveyor will be defiected onto said conveyor, instead of being crushed or carried beyond said conveyor.

The shoe 3!) is usually adapted to engage the ground during the loading operation and the apron I8 is usually forced into the loose material by movement of the entire machine along the track. The paths of the gathering arms are such that While they overlap at the forward portion of the apron, a dead space is formed forwardly of the central portion of the forward end of said apron from which space said gathering arms cannot pick up material, and which is best illustrated by broken lines in Figures 9 and 10. It is impractical to eliminate this dead space without increasing the liability of fouling oppositely disposed gathering arms and decreasing the capacity of the gathering mechanism. Moreover, tightly packed or large lumps of coal in this dead space retard and at times prevent the gathering mechanism from being fed therein. This difhculty is overcome by a novel arrangement of the forward end of the apron which consists in cutting away a portion of the center of the shoe 30, the margins of which generally conform to the path of adjacent gathering arms 3?, and cutting away a corresponding portion from the apron 18 but of greater dimensions than the cut away portion of the shoe, and closing the vertical space between said apron and shoe. Thus, a recess, generally indicated by reference character 32, is provided in the center of the forward end of said apron and shoe, which has forward engaging surfaces inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the margins of the cut away portion of the shoe to the cut away portion of the apron. This notched portion of said apron permits said apron to be advanced so the arms may gather material from the dead space before mentioned and forms in effect a wedge which lifts up the material engaged, into the path of the gathering arms as said apron is advanced therein.

In referring to Figures 3 and 5, it will be seen that the portion of the apron l8 in front of the conveyor i9 terminates to a discharge edge extending across the forward end of said conveyor which discharge edge is in a vertical plane forwardly of the shaft 29. Thus, the distance said gathering arms are required to move material for discharge onto said conveyor is reduced to a minimum. Also, the length of the apron in front of the conveyor is such that material may fall directly on the conveyor and be carried away by the conveyor without the aid of the gathering arms.

In this connection it should be noted that the drive from the conveyor to the gathering arms, which will hereinafter be more fully described, is such that the speed of the conveyor is greater than that of the gathering arms so that said conveyor may carry material away from said gathering arms at a faster rate than it is deposited thereon. It should further be noted that the gathering arms are pivotally connected to the endless chains for movement in a forward direction about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said apron to permit material on said conveyor, traveling at a higher rate of speed than the arms, to pivot said arms in a forward direction and prevent fouling of opposite arms and lessen the tendency of said arms to carry material beyond the conveyor.

It will thus be seen that the arrangement of the apron and gathering arms is such that a maximum amount of material will be deposited on the conveyor and moved away from said gathering arms by the conveyor and that the amount of material carried past the conveyor by the gathering arms will be reduced to a minimum.

The endless chains are guided for movement in orbital paths in chain guiding members 36, suitable openings being provided in the top surface of the apron [8 for supporting the gathering mechanism 3| to permit said gathering mechanism to be driven from a point beneath the apron I8 by the endless chains 23 of the conveyor I9 at a point rearwardly of the forward end of said conveyor. Each gathering arm 37 is pivotally connected to a link of the endless chain in.

a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described, and is provided with a pair of bits 33 thereon which may be detachably connected thereto in any suitable manner. One of the bits 38 extends outwardly from the end of each gathering arm 31 while another bit 38 extends angularly upwardly therefrom. This permits the chains to cut into the coal where it is tightly wedged between the mine roof and bottom and permits said chains to break up large lumps so they may be moved onto the conveyor i9, and minimizes the tendency of said chains to foul.

Each gathering arm 31 has a member 39 extending. forwardly therefrom, which member is -pivotally connected to a lug 43 extending outwardly from one of the links of the endless chain 35. A stop 4| extends rearwardly from each gathering arm 3'! and engages another link of the endless chain 35 to prevent rearward movement of said gathering arms about the axis of pivotal connection of said gathering arms to the endless chain 35 during the loading operation. It may be seen that the gathering arms 31 are so arranged that they may be pivotally moved 5 forwardly when a lump carried onto the conveyor by one gathering arm engages the rearward side of another gathering arm, which arrangement further lessens the tendency of said gathering arms to bind or foul.

The endless chains 35 are further provided with scraper lugs 43 spaced between the gathering arms 37. Each scraper lug 43 is connected to a link of the endless chain 35 and extends upwardly therefrom and inwardly over the top portion of one of the chain guiding members 36 so as to scrape material from said chain guiding members onto the path of the conveyor and to prevent the gathering and loading element II from being wedged under coal which has fallen thereon. The scraper lugs 43 are provided with bits 44 to cut into material which may be wedged onto the apron I8 and to breakup large lumps of material.

Referring now in particular to the details of the chain guiding members 36 and the means for driving the endless chains 35 about said guiding.

members, said chain guiding members are split so as to form a means for adjusting the tension of the chains and comprise a forward section and a rearward section. The guiding members 36 are each of the same construction so one guiding member only will be herein described. The rearward section of the guiding member 36 comprises top and bottom guide plates 41' connected to op- 5 posite sides of a spacing member 48 by any suitable means such as rivets, which spacing member has portions 49 extending forwardly there from and forming a guide for the forward sec: tion of the chain guiding member 36as may-clearly be seen with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

The forward section of the chain guiding member 36 comprises a top guide plate 50 and a. bot-: tom guide plate 58. The guide plates 50.and 58 are connected to opposite sides ofsuitable spacing members 5|, which spacing members are slidable within the inner sides of the forwardly extending portions 49 of the spacing member 48, and the bottom guide plate 58 extends outwardly from the top guide plate 50 to form a support forthe gathering arms 3'! when oscillated beyond the lateral sides of the apron I8.

t may thus be seen. that the forward and rearward sections of the chain guiding member 36 are held from lateral movement with respect to each other, but that said sections may be longitudinally moved with respect to each other to compensate for wear in the endless chain 35. Any suitable means may be provided to move the forward and rearward sections of the chain guiding member 36 longitudinally with respect to; each other to tighten thev respective chain but the means herein preferably shown is av bolt 53 threaded within a member 54' secured between the top guide plate 53 and the bottom guide plate 58 and having its head abutting the spacing member 48.

A drive sprocket 55 is keyed on a shaft 56, which shaft has its upper end journaled Within a sleeve 51. The sleeve 51 in turn; is journaled within the top guide plate 41 and is provided with a collar 62 which abuts the upper side of said guide plate. The teeth of the sprocket 55 are spaced midway between the guide plates 41 and mesh with the endless chain 35 for driving said endless chain.

The shaft 56 is perpendicular to the apron l8 and extends downwardly therefrom and. is journaled in suitable roller bearings carried within a suitable bearing support and housing member 59; attached to the underside of the apron l8 and extending downwardly therefrom. A bevel gear 60 is keyed to the lower end of the shaft 56-and is driven from a bevel pinion 6| keyed on the outer end of the transversely extending drive shaft 21.

A'drive sprocket 63 is spaced between the top guide plate 53 and bottom guide plate 58 adjacent the forward ends thereof and is keyed on a shaft 64, which shaft is journaled, within a flanged sleeve 65 adjacent its upper end, which flanged sleeve in turn is supported in the top guide plate 50. A flanged sleeve 66 abuts the lower end of the drive sprocket 63 and is secured within the bottom guide plate 58 and provides a bearingsupport for the lower portion of the shaft 64. The shaft 64 extends beneath the flangedsleeve 66 and has a crank 61 keyed to its lower end. A guide block 69 is pivotally supported-to the free end of the crank 61 and extends down-v wardly therefrom. The guide block 69 is in turn slidable in a longitudinally extending guide 10 formed in a member H attached to the underportion of the apron l8.

It may thus be seen that when the conveyor I9- is driven from the motor i 3, that the conveyor chains 20 will drive the endless chains 35 by means of the transversely extending shaft 2-! located rearwardly of the forward end of said conveyor, bevel pinions 6|, bevel gears 60; shafts 56 and drive sprockets 55; and that the driving of the endless chains 35 will drive the. drive TIE sprockets 63 which will in turn rotate the shafts 64 and cranks B1. Rotation of the cranks 67 will move the guide blocks 69 reciprocably longitudinally in the longitudinally extending guide 10 which will oscillate the chain guiding members 36 and the gathering mechanism 3! about the axes of the shafts 56 in an obvious manner.

It may be seen that oscillation of the gathering mechanism 3| about the axis of the shaft 56 increases the range of the gathering arms 31 and the speed of movement of said gathering arms adjacent the forward portion of the apron I8 and forms a means whereby the gathering mechanism 3| may free itself when wedged under tight coal, and whereby said gathering mechanism may readily break up tight coal for loading and load it onto the conveyor [9. With the arrangement herein shown, swinging of the gathering and loading element II to increase the gathering range of the gathering arms 31 or to free the apron l8 and gathering and loading element II from the coal is reduced to a minimum inasmuch as the gathering mechanism 3| is continually moving transversely of the apron With reference to Figures 9 and 10, it may be seen that the gathering mechanism 3| may be arranged so the guide members 36 each simultaneously swing towards the center of the apron l8 or so one guide member 36 is swung towards the center of the apron l8 as the other guide member 36 is swung away from the center of said apron.

Timing of the swinging of the guide members 36 with respect to each other is changed by changing the position of the cranks 81 with respect to each other. Thus it may be seen that the gathering mechanisms 3| may be arranged to swing in any desired relation with respect to each other. It should further be noted that the gathering arms 31 are supported on the outwardly extending portion of the bottom guide plates 58 when beyond the lateral extremities of the apron l8 to enable said arms to be firmly supported when initially engaging the coal.

It may now be seen that I have provided a new and improved gathering and loading element for a loading machine which is so arranged that the gathering mechanism may cut into and break down tight coal and which has a loading conveyor l9 adjacent the forward portion of the apron l8 arranged so the conveyor may aid in the loading operation when coal is broken down on the apron itself, and that the apron and gathering mechanism are so arranged that a maximum amount of coal will be discharged onto the conveyor l9 and the possibility of the gathering mechanism carrying coal around and discharging it to the rearward or outer sides of the apron is reduced to a minimum. It may also be seen that the apron I8 is so arranged as to eliminate any dead gathering area and so as to permit the apron I8 to be continually fed into the material which is being loaded when said material is either I loose or tightly wedged between the mine roof and mine bottom.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction or arrangement of parts herein shown and described excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loading machine, a frame, a gathering and loading element extending forwardly of said frame including an inclined conveyor, an endless chain guided for movement in a closed orbital path in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal, said endless chain having gathering means thereon and being disposed to one side of said inclined conveyor and extending generally longitudinally thereof, beyond the forward end thereof, means driven by said inclined conveyor for driving said endless chain including a drive sprocket disposed adjacent the rearward end of said endless chain and means driven by said endless chain for oscillatably moving said endless chain laterally with respect to said inclined conveyor about an axis coaxial with the axis of said drive sprocket.

2. In a loading machine, a frame, a gathering and loading element extending forwardly of said frame including an inclined conveyor, an inclined apron extending forwardly of and to one side of said inclined conveyor, an endless chain guided for orbital movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said apron, said endless chain having gathering means thereon and extending generally longitudinally of said inclined conveyor, means driven by said inclined conveyor for driving said endless chain including a drive sprocket disposed adjacent the rearward end of said endless chain, and means driven by said endless chain for oscillatably moving said endless chain laterally with respect to said inclined conveyor about an axis coaxial with the axis of said drive sprocket.

3. In a loading machine, a frame, a gathering and loading element extending forwardly of said frame including an inclined conveyor, a pair of endless chains having gathering means thereon guided for movement in closed orbital paths inclined with respect to the horizontal, disposed on opposite sides of said inclined conveyor and extending generally longitudinally therealong, beyond the forward end thereof, means driven by said inclined conveyor for driving said endless chains including drive sprockets disposed on opposite sides of said inclined conveyor, and means driven by said endless chains for oscillatably moving said endless chains towards and from said inclined conveyor about axes coaxial with the axes of said drive sprockets.

4. In a loading machine, a frame, a conveyor thereon and movable with respect thereto about a vertical axis, and a gathering and loading element carried by said frame and extending forwardly thereof comprising an inclined conveyor having a discharge end disposed above said firstmentioned conveyor, an orbitally guided endless chain having gathering means thereon disposed to one side of said inclined conveyor and extending generally longitudinally therealong, means driven by said inclined conveyor for driving said endless chain including a drive sprocket and means driven by said endless chain for oscillatably moving said endless chain laterally towards and from said inclined conveyor about an axis coaxial with the axis of said drive sprocket.

5. In a loading machine, a frame, a conveyor thereon and movable with respect thereto about a vertical axis, and a gathering and loading element carried by said frame and extending forwardly thereof comprising an inclined conveyor having a discharge end disposed above said firstmentioned conveyor, a pair of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering means thereon disposed on opposite sides of said inclined conveyor and extending generally longitudinally therealong, means driven by said inclined con- 'veyor for driving said endless chains including drive sprockets disposed on opposite sides of said inclined'conveyor and means driven by said-endless chains for oscillatably moving said endless chains laterally towards and from said inclined conveyor about axes coaxial with the axes of said drive sprockets.

6. In combination with a loading machine, a :gathering and loading element comprising an osl0-cillatably movable guide'member having an endless gathering chain movable thereabout, and means for oscillating said guide member comprising a crank driven by said endless chain, a

guideway, and means on said crank slidable in said guideway.

7.'In combination with a loading machine, a gathering and loading element comprising an os- 'cillatably movable guide member having a plu rality of sprockets therein, and having an endless xgathering chain trained around said sprockets for :movement aboutsaid guide member in an orbital path, and means for oscillatably moving said guidc;member comprising a crank driven by one of said sprockets, a guideway, and means on said crank slidable in said guideway.

8. In combination with a loading machine, a gathering and loading element comprising an inclined convey r, an apron disposed forwardly of said inclined conveyor, and gathering mechanism :driven from said inclined conveyor and disposed on each 'sideof said inclined conveyor comprising a "pair of guide members oscillatably movable about axes disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof having gathering arm carrying endless chains orbitally movable thereabout, and means for oscillating said guide members comprising cranks driven by said endless chains, guideways extending longitudinally of said apron, and means on said cranks slidable in said guideways. 40 .9. In "combination with a loading machine, a gathering and loading element comprising an inclined conveyor, an apron disposed forwardly of said inclined conveyor, and gathering mechanism drivenffrom said inclined conveyor and disposedoneachside of said inclined conveyor com prising a pair of guide members oscillatably movable about axes disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof having sprockets at opposite ends thereof and gathering arm carrying endless 5 chains trained therearound for continuous movement in orbital paths, and means for oscillatably moving said guide members comprising cranks driven by the forwardmostof said sprockets, a plurality of guideways extending longitudinally of said apron, and guidemeans on said cranks slidable in'said guideways upon rotation of said cranks.

10. In a loading machine, the combination with an inclined conveyor having an inclined apron disposed forwardly thereof, said apron having a ground engaging surface forming a wedge shaped forward end, said forward end being disposed perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor along the machine and having a receding portion formed'in the central portion thereof with the plane of said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor, said apron having a ground engaging surface forming a wedge shaped forward end, and said. forward end being disposed sub stantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor along the machine and having a receding portion formed in the central portion thereof conforming generally to the paths of each of said gathering arms.

12. In a loading machine, a gathering and'loading element comprising an inclined conveyor having an apron disposed forwardly of and to each side of said conveyor, said apron being inclined at a greater angle of incidence with respect to the ground upon which the machine rests than said inclined conveyor and having gathering arms carried on endless chains movable in orbital paths in planes substantially parallel with the plane of said apron on each side of said conveyor and extending forwardly of said conveyor and apron, said apron having a ground engaging surface forming a wedge shaped forward end, and said forward end being disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor along the machine and having a receding central portion having each of its opposite sides formed to conform generally to the path of its adjacent gathering chain.

13. In a mining machine, a gathering and loading element comprising an inclined conveyor having an apron disposed forwardly of and to each side of said conveyor, an oscillatably movable orbitallyguided endless chain having gathering means thereon on each side of said conveyor and extending forwardly of said conveyor, said apron having a ground engaging under surface forming a wedge shaped forward end, and said forward end being disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor along the machine and having a receding central portion having each of its opposite sides formed to conform generally to the path of its adjacent gathering arm.

14. In a loading machine, the combination with an inclined conveyor, a gathering element comprising an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said conveyor having gathering arm carrying chains movable in orbital paths in planes substantially parallel with the plane of said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor, said gathering arms being movable transversely toward said conveyor and longitudinally along said conveyor, and said apron having .a ground engaging surface forming a wedge. shaped forward end, said forward end being disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor along the machine and having a receding central portion having each of its opposite sides formed to conform generally to the path of its adjacent gathering arm.

15. In a loading machine, a gathering and loading element comprising an inclined conveyor having an apron disposed forwardly of and to each side of said conveyor, an oscillatably movable orbitally guided endless chain disposed on each side of said conveyor and extending forwardly therefrom, said endless chains having gathering means thereornand being driven from said conveyor rearwardly of the forward end thereof, said gathering means being movable transversely toward said conveyor and longitudinally along said conveyor and said apron having a ground engaging surface forming with said apron a Wedge shaped forward end of said apron, said forward end being disposed substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of said conveyor along the machine and having a receding central portion having each of its opposite sides formed to conform generally to the path of its adjacent gathering arm.

16. In a loading machine, the combination with an inclined conveyor having upstanding and outwardly flared sides thereon, an apron disposed l0 forwardly of and to each side of said conveyor, the portion of said apron adjacent opposite sides of said inclined conveyor being flared outwardly away from said conveyor and having connection with said outwardly flared sides of said conveyor, said apron having a gathering arm carrying chain supported thereon on each side of said inclined conveyor for movement in orbital paths in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said apron forwardly along said apron laterally 0 towards the central portion thereof and rearwardly along said conveyor and the forward end of said apron adjacent the central portion thereof being formed to conform generally to the paths of said adjacent gathering arms on said endless chains.

1'7. In a loading apparatus of the class described, an inclined conveyor, and means for moving material onto said inclined conveyor and discharging it thereon comprising an apron extending forwardly of said conveyor and along each side thereof and having a discharge edge extending across the forward end of said conveyor, and gathering mechanism on said apron comprising a pair of spaced endless chains guided for movement in orbits parallel to the plane of said apron and having gathering arms extending laterally therefrom, one of said endless chains being spaced on each side of said inclined conveyor, said inclined conveyor traveling at a greater speed than the speed of said gathering arms and said gathering arms being pivotally connected to said endless chains for pivotal movement in a forward direction in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said endless chains so that material on said conveyor may pivot said gathering arms forwardly and permit said gathering arms to clear themselves as they turn away therefrom.

18. In a loading apparatus of the class described, an inclined conveyor, and means for moving material onto said inclined conveyor and discharging it thereon comprising an apron extending forwardly of said conveyor and along each side thereof and having a discharge edge extending across the extreme forward end of said conveyor, gathering mechanism on said apron comprising a pair of spaced endless chains guided for movement in orbits parallel to the plane of said apron and having gathering arms extending laterally therefrom and beyond the forward end of said apron, one of said endless chains being spaced on each side of said inclined conveyor and said inclined conveyor traveling at a greater speed than the speed of said gathering arms, said 5 endless chains and gathering arms extending along said conveyor a substantial distance and turning away from said conveyor at the rearward end of said apron, and said gathering arms being pivotally connected to said endless chains 7 for pivotal movement in the direction of movement of said conveyor and in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of movement of said endless chains so that material on said conveyor may pivot said gathering arms forwardly and prevent said gathering arms from retarding the flow of material along said conveyor and permit said gathering arms to be cleared by material on said conveyor as they move therealong.

19. In a loading apparatus of the class described, an inclined conveyor including an inclined frame having a flight conveyor movable therealong and around a transverse shaft disposed adjacent the forward end thereof, means for moving material onto said conveyor including a pair of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms extending laterally therefrom, one of said endless chains being spaced on each side of said inclined conveyor, and an inclined apron extending along each side of said inclined conveyor and across the forward end thereof and forming a support for guide means for guiding said endless chains for movement in orbits parallel to the plane of said apron, said apron being inclined at a greater angle of incidence with respect to the ground upon which the machine rests than said inclined conveyor and having a discharge edge extending across the forward end of said inclined conveyor and terminating in a vertical plane forwardly of said transverse shaft when said frame is in engagement with the ground, said gathering arms moving along said apron forwardly of said conveyor a relatively short distance and along said conveyor a greater distance in order to gain elevation at the turning point away from said conveyor, said conveyor moving at a greater speed than said gathering arms and said gathering arms being pivotally connected to said gathering chains to pivot about axes disposed perpendicularly to said apron to permit material on said conveyor to pivot said gathering arms in their direction of travel and prevent said gathering arms from retarding the flow of material along said conveyor.

20. In a loading machine, an elevating conveyor including a frame having longitudinally extending upstanding and outwardly flared sides, an apron disposed forwardly of and extending rearwardly along each side of said conveyor, endless chains on the upper side of said apron movable in orbits substantially parallel to the plane of said apron and extending along opposite sides of said conveyor from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end thereof and extending upwardly along said conveyor in laterally diverging paths, said chains having laterally extending gathering arms pivotally mounted thereon, the portion of said apron extending along opposite sides of said conveyor diverging laterally away from said conveyor in the same general direction as said chains and abutting said outwardly flared sides of said conveyor to form an edge at the margin of said apron where it joins each outwardly flared side of said conveyor which recedes laterally away from said conveyor, and the angle between said gathering arms and said edges as said gathering arms turn away from the conveyor being such that said gathering arms will engage material with said receding edges and deflect it onto said conveyor.

FRANK CARTLIDGE.

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