US2115641A - Material handling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

A ril 26, 1938.

N. D. LEVIN ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l VEN TOP? 5 /V/ /s D. Lev/n,

Edward G Lew/s,

ATT'Y April 26, 1938.

N. D. LEVIN ET AL 2, ,641

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM original Filed Aug. 19, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 26, 1938. N. D. LEVIN ET AL 2,115,641

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 19, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 5 w. m n

f/vvs/vToRs Nf/s D. Lev/ r o AND 7 $3 fdwarogG. Lew/s,

a I M,

Patented Apr. 26, 1938 1; U N 151' ED f-STAT E S ff OFF [C E i Ohio, assignorsto The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation o t-Ohio Original application August'19; 1930; Serial No. 476,390. Divided andthis application January24, 1935, Serial No. 3,278

Claims. (C1. 198-8) Our invention relates to trackmounted loading machines particularly oi the type adapted for use in. coal mines. jJOne of. the objectsof our invention is the provision of improved and elfi- 5 .Icient means for, maintaining in predetermined relation withthe minetrack, the receiving portion of a conveyor which isadaptedto be adjusted on ,an upright axis.

Q with p the forward receiving, end of a swinging conveyor, abutment mechanism for engaging the rails of a mine track to hold, the conveyor in predetermined relation withlthe .mine track while i into minecars.

..track to p1:event.,.lateral movement. of the conveyor. while receivingmateriahfrom a swinging gathering conveyor operating inadvance ofthe mine track. Other objectsot the invention will-appear hereinaftenthe novel features and combinations being set forth intheappendedclaims.

' In the-accompanying drawings,

. :Fig. 1 is a sideelevationalyiew of the front end 5 oiwthe loading machinet'showing: the-swinging gathering-conveyorsection; 1

Fig. 2 is. a side elevational' view-.of-therear portion of the loading. machine,- the .1. complete loading machine being illustrated in li'ig. Z-iand Fig. l, placedsendqto end;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of thatportion of theloa'ding machine where: the gatheringsection delivers material to'the discharge section Fig; 4 is amliagrammatic plant view; showing. the -loading machine-completing a sumping, gathering operation by propelling g the entire loading r machine. along the :mine track;

Fig; 5: is a diagrammatic planview illustrating ;.the ioperation of. the improved rope igearing -acting to swing the gatheringi conveyo r.about a-ver- 1' :tical'; axis. while remaining. in: delivery communication with the-receiving conveyor;

Fig; G is aitransverse-sectional view .taken. on .thewline li -edict Fig.- 2 looking .inthe direction .positions, is described and claimed in the 00- 55. oft the arrows; and

Fig; 7 is aside elevational view of the loading machine-with the gathering unit mounted on a pony truck for transportation along narrow and curvedentries in a coal mine.

Thisapplication is a division of our co-pending application SerialNo. 476,390,filed August 19,

- 1930', now Patent No; 1,997,590, for improvement --in-Materlal handling mechanism, in which we Another object of the invention is to combine have described andclairned the various elements of the loading machine in combinatiomand more particularly-theadaptation thereto of the structure illustratedin Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings; whereas the present application is disuch conveyor isreceiving material to be loaded rected to the sliding supporting shoes and the abutment pins associated therewith and the combination of such abutment-mechanism with the rope gearing for swinging the gathering conveyor (3; asillustrateddiagrammatically in Fig. 5.

g Referring-to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Figs; 1 and 2, A- designates generally' a self-propelling truck which supports a receiving conveyor B- which in this instance is also'the discharge conveyor for delivering material to mine cars. The conveyor B is mounted on the truck A for pivotal movement relatively thereto about both vertical and horizontal axes.

The conveyor B comprises two sections B and B" relatively adjustable on a transverse horizontal 'axis'as'will be described hereinafter.

Pivotallyconnectedupon an upright axis to the iront end of the conveyor B is a gathering conveyor Cwhich, for transportation along the mine tracks; is adaptedto be supported on a pony truck D, as'shown in Fig. '7. When in operating position off the pony'tru-ck D and on the mine bottom in advance of the mine truck A, the

. operation, the endless traveling conveyors of both the sections Band C" may be operated to deliver coal tothemine car'F as shown in Fig. 4.

The rope gearing may be arranged as shown in Fig. 5 when the gathering conveyor C is swung arouately along the mine bottom while delivering coal to'the discharge conveyor B and while .the .forward receivingend ofxthe latter is held against lateral movement relatively to the truck A and the mine track E, by means of the pin abutment lmechanism hereinafter more fully described.

Thetruck propelling mechanism comprising .the flexibletransmission means between the mopending application of Nils D. Levin, Serial No. 386,647, filed August 1'7, 1929, for an improvement in Pit car loaders.

As shown in Fig. 2, truck A comprises a frame I!) supported on Wheels H and i2 mounted on axles i3 and [4, the flanged wheels being designed for travel along the mine track E. Mounted on said frame lil is a platform having a turntable frame [8 which is attached thereto for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, as illustrated at [1, I9, in Fig. 6. The bottom. I!) of the frame 58 contacts with the top l5 of the frame In over a relatively wide area, and consequently the annuiar groove at the pivotal connection located at the top of the plate It and formed by means of the rings ll and 28 is effective in preventing tilting of the frame i8 relatively to the frame I. Consequently the flexible drive chain 44 is maintained in such position as to permit the discharge conveyor B to be moved through a wide angle on the vertical axis of the pivotal connections between the frames l0 and I8.

A motor 2! is mounted on the frame l8 with its armature shaft extending transversely thereof. The armature shaft has secured thereon a sprocket 22 which through a chain 23 drives a sprocket 24 mounted on a shaft 25 parallel to the armature shaft. The upper run of the chain 23 engages an idler pulley 26, as shown in Fig. 2.

At its end opposite sprocket 24, the shaft 25 has secured thereto a second sprocket which engages a chain 21 to drive a sprocket 28 fixed to a hub 29, as shown in Fig. 6. The hub 29 is mounted on the shaft 30 for free rotation thereon. The shaft 38 is journaled in the upper portion of the frame l8 in parallel relation to the shaft 25. A shiitable clutch element 3! is splined on shaft 3i! and is provided with teeth 32 for engagement with teeth 33 on the hub 29 so that rotation of the latter will be imparted to the shaft 39. That is to say, when the motor 2! is operating, power will be transmitted therefrom through the sprocket chain gearing, shown in Fig. 2, and the shaft 25, to the sprocket 28 shown in Fig. 6, and when the clutch Si is thrown in, power will be transmitted to the transverse shaft 30.

Fixed on the shaft 30 within and adjacent the side Walls of the frame I is a pair of sprockets 34, 35 which are adapted to engage the lower runs of the chains 3%, 31 of the scraper conveyor comprising the cross flights 38. This scraper conveyor travels the full length of the bed or way of the discharge conveyor B, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

A second shaft 39, as shown in Fig. 6, is journaled in the frame 18 below the shaft 30 and is adapted to be driven by the sprocket chain 4| and the sprockets 44, 42. It will thus be seen that this shaft 39 always rotates in unison with the shaft 25 whenever the clutch 3i is thrown in. That is to say, when the motor 2i is operated and the clutch 3| is thrown in, power will be transmitted to the shaft 3!! to drive the endless scraper conveyor of the discharge conveyor B, and at the same time power will be transmitted from the shaft 25 through the shaft 3i to the'transverse shaft 39.

Freely journaled on the second shaft 39 is a drive sheave 43 with which is engaged a universal chain 44 extending downwardly through the circular opening it in the top plate I5 of the frame Hi. In other words, the endless chain 44 extends downwardly from the sheave 43 through the pivotal connection between the frames l0 and a11ac41 l5 at the axis of pivotal adjustment between these frames. The chain 44, as shown in Fig. 2, extends around the idler pulleys 45 and 46 and thence around the driving sheaves 4'! mounted on the axles l3 and M of the truck. An appropriate clutch 56 having clutch elements 48, 49, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided for connecting the transverse shaft 39 to the drive sheave 43 when the entire loading machine is to be propelled along a mine track either for the sumping operation, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, or for transportation purposes, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, the shaft 39 carries at one end a cone clutch element 54 adapted to co-operate with the cone clutch element 58 of winding drum 5'! around which is adapted to be wound a rope or cable I! for operations hereinafter more fully explained. An operating lever I4 (Fig. 2) is provided for actuating the lever 63 connected to the shipper 65, 66,

as shown in Fig. 6. This shipper 65, 56, is connected by means of the tongue and groove mechanism shown in Fig. 6 at 60, 6! and the ballbearing shown at 64, to the rope drum 5'! so as to enable the operator by means of the lever 14 to apply or release the cone clutch 54, 58 to control the rope drum 5?.

Connected to the rope drum 5? to rotate therewith is a brake drum 59 adapted to co-operate with brake mechanism including the operating lever 8? shown in Fig. 2. This lever has a plurality of teeth adapted to be engaged selectively by a pawl 88 to retain said braking mechanism in locked positions of adjustment and thereby lock the winding drum in stationary position whenever desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that when the clutch 3| shown in Fig. 6, is thrown in, the endless scraper conveyor of the conveyor 13 will be operated as illustrated in Fig. 4. When the clutch 5!) is thrown in, the truck propelling mechanism will be operated to move the entire machine along the mine track. It should be particularly noted, however, that only when the clutch 3| is thrown in is the endless conveyor of the conveyor B operated. When the clutch 3i is released, power may nevertheless be transmitted from the motor 2i to the shaft 39, and therefore when the clutch 56 is thrown in,

while the clutch 3| is released, the whole machine may be moved along a mine track without operating the conveyor B. This arrangement is desirable for the transportation illustrated in Fig. 7.

The winding drum 51 may be operated independently of the operation of the conveyor B and independently of the operation of the truck propelling mechanism because when the motor 2| is operated there will be a direct transmission of power through the shafts 25 and 30 to the transverse shaft 39. Consequently, when the clutch 54, 58 is thrown in, the rope drum 5'! may be operated to hoist the gathering unit on to the pony truck while the conveyors and the truck propelling mechanism are out of operation. However, simultaneous operation of the gathering conveyor C, the discharge conveyor B and the rope drum 5? may be secured whenever the gathering conveyor C is operated, as illustrated in Fig. 5, to effect gathering of the coal and the delivery thereof to the mine car F.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the adjacent portions of the conveyor sections B and B" constitute an inclined portion having at its upper end a substantially horizontal prolongation and at its other end another substantially horizontal 7 extension adjacent to the mine track. To each side of the section B" at its upper end is attached an arm, one of which is shown at 9| in Fig. 2,

ported on the bolster 95 and its position relative to the section B" may be adjusted as desired by appropriate adjustment of the nuts 94. The conveyor B as a whole is supported for tilting movement about the horizontal transverse shaft 3!] shown in Figs. 2 and 6, so that the lower receiving end of the conveyor B may rest upon the track E, or may be elevated for transportation. An apron N33 is so disposed, as shown in Fig. 2, as to guard the lower runs of the endless scraper conveyor of the conveyor B. from interference with the underlying parts of the machine.

At the forward end of the inclined portion of section B" are secured plates or shoes 91 and 98 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each of these plates or shoes has a forward portion formed by the plate being U-shaped to provide horizontal spaced-apart flat sections 91' and 98, each of which is provided with a plurality of aligned apertures 99 and fill! through which may be extended pins it]! and N32 to project below the plates or shoes into engagement with the sides or balls of the track rails to prevent lateral displacement of thereceiving conveyor B relative to the mine track or relative to the truck during the gathering operations illustrated in Fig; 5.

- The plates or shoes 91 and 98 are important.

features ofour invention as they servethe double function of supporting theforward end of the conveyor B on the rails of the trackE when the loading machine is. in operation as illustrated in Fig; 5, and of also preventing lateral movement of -the lower-receiving end :of the conveyor B relatively to-the mine track during the swinging ofthe gathering conveyor. That istosay the pins ll]! by engagingthe balls of .the rails,;counteract the tendencyJof the swinging of thegathering conveyor c touswing the receiving conveyor B on its vertical axis relative to the truck,

*when the machine .is operating as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It should also,v be noted that the rope gearing for swinging the gathering conveyor C is arranged for mostefficient operation as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The rope Hi1 which extends from therope drum 51 is guided around an idler sheave Hi l which is mounted at theerearend plate 91. The plate 98 supports in a similar .manner an idler sheave 186 on the othersidetofsthe machine, as shown in Fig. 5.

As shownsin Fig. 5, the gathering conveyor C -is performing a coal gathering operation by being swung about its pivotal connection to the conveyor B. In this operation,-the plates or shoes 9'! and 98 and their pins Ill! and I02 perform the double function of supporting the forward end of the discharge conveyor B and of preventing -lat-' eral movement thereof relatively to the truck.

To effect the swinging movement of the gathering tachedtothe pocket terminall39 shown at the I conveyorC, the free end of the cable 110 is atupper end of the post I31 in Fig: 1.-"I he cable I10 is reeved through a pulley attached to a mine roof jack at I8I. By referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the pulls exerted on the sections of the rope extending from the mine roof jack l8l, are such as to efficiently swing the gathering conveyor on its pivotal connection with the discharge conveyor B while the receiving end'of the latter remains above the mine track, because the pull on the rope is effectively resisted by the pins vIlll engaging the rails. By placing the idler sheaves I04 and I06 between the truck and the pins illl, the pulling strain on the pins Hll is relieved by the truck. That is to say, the pins NH and the truck co-operate in serving to afford an anchorage for that section of the rope I'll) whichextends between the idler sheave 104 and.

the roof jack IBI.

To swing the gathering conveyor C in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 5, the mine roof jack IBI will be placed on the other side of the machine and the cable I'm extended across the under side of the section B by beingreeved around the idler sheaves H35, H35 instead of around the idler sheave H1 alone. Otherwise, the operation of the rope gearing is the same as that already described.

As shown in Fig. 2, a panel N39 is supported between uprights l0! and H38 on an intermediate portion of the frame of the conveyor section B".

'Variouselectrical control appliances are mounted on the panel Hi9. At the upper end of the arm 168- is mounted a sheave Hi9 on a horizontal axis and spaced inwardly of the sheave Hi3, as shown in Fig. 3, is a bracket l l provided with an open jaw for receiving the free endof the rope fill. On the other side of the machine opposite the sheave I I!) is a sheave i it rotatably mounted .adapted to engage behind an arcuate rail "i211 formed. on a flange l2! secured to the conveyor section end. The pivot member I M is concentric with the arcuate rail I25. Extending transversely of the upper end of portion Il'i opposite the angle bar H 8 is a channel member in, while at the lower extremity of portion H! is a fixed shoe EH23. It will thus be seen that the gathering conveyor C is connected to the section B" of the conveyor B on a vertical axis at H4, and is also connected to the section B" on a horizontal axis at NM. The flexibility of these connections between the gathering conveyor C and the conveyor section B" comes into play in the operation illustrated in Fig. 5 as well as when the machine is being transported in the mine. For transportation purposes a tilting movement on the horizontal axis Ml takes place for adjustment to the positions of the parts illustrated in Fig. 7, and when the machine is being transported along curves of a mine track, the conveyor B is free to move on its vertical axis relative to the truck, the conveyor C is free to move on its vertical axis relative to the pony truck D, and the two conveyors B and C are free to move relatively to each other on the vertical axis 1 l4 (Figs. 1 and '7).

As shown in Fig; l, the gathering conveyor C comprises a horizontal portion C and an inclined portion C". A base plate I24 extends over the entire bottom of the conveyor C and has disposed thereon suitable guide members as at I25 and I26 for an endless flight conveyor chain I21 flexible both horizontally and vertically. The conveyor chain I21 is adapted to advance along that side of the plate I24 which acts to scrape the material from the mine bottom for delivery to the conveyor B. The flights I28 are connected to the chain I21 at intervals and are adapted to engage the loose material from the mine bottom and move it along the base plate I24 for discharge from the upper extremity of the inclined section C". The flights I 28 are freely exposed laterally on the portion C of the conveyor C. Material retaining side walls I29 and I39, as shown in Fig. 3, are provided along the inclined edges of the section C".

The conveyor head shaft I 3I of the conveyor C as shown in Fig. 1, has a sprocket fixed thereto, meshing with the chain I21 to drive the latter. A foot sprocket is arranged on a shaft I32 at the outer end of the plate I24. Also secured to the shaft I3! is a bevel gear I33 with which meshes a drive pinion I34 which in turn is driven from the armature shaft of the motor I35 mounted on a suitable base supported on the plate I24 intermediate the runs of the chain I21. Extending forwardly from the motor I35 and centrally of the plate I24 is an upright baflie plate I36, at the outer extremity of which is located an upright post I31 having a bifurcated upper extension to provide the rope attaching pocket I39.

Adjacent head shaft I3I, plate I24 has secured thereto a bracket having spaced side walls of which one is shown at I49 (Fig. 1) projecting downwardly and adapted to receive channel I22 between them. Walls I49 are perforated to receive a removable pin I4I which is adapted to extend through channel I22 to unite the gathering conveyor C with mounting member H5, already described.

It will be evident that conveyor C may be adjusted relative to conveyor B about an axis defined by pivot member II 4 and about a horizontal axis defined by pin I4I. Due to the spaced relation of pin MI to the top and bottom walls of channel I22, conveyor C may also be adjusted relative to conveyor B about a longitudinally ex tending axis. The upper end of conveyor C is normally supported on the upper end of bracket portion II1 on a rocking block or bolster 42.

In operation, portion C of the gathering conveyor C assumes the position shown in Fig. 1 wherein it is adapted to rest directly on the mine floor and to be swung thereover in the manner which will be described more in detail hereinafter. When the machine is to be transported, the gathering conveyor is supported on a pony truck which is pivotally attached to said gathering conveyor by the cup I54. (Fig. '1.)

Inasmuch as the gathering conveyor is of considerable weight, it is desirable to provide motor operated means for elevating it into such position as to enable the pony truck to be placed thereunder. A casting I55 secured to base plate I24 forwardly of head shaft 43!, has a pair of spaced upwardly projecting ears I56 and I51 which support a pin I59 which extends transversely of the plate. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) A member I 59 comprising two parallel arms is pivoted at one end on pin I58 and at its other end has a bail I69 pivoted thereto by means of a pin I6I. A

cable I62 secured to the bail is passed forward through aperture I38 of post I31 and secured, the cable when taut permitting member I59 to take the position shown in Fig. 1. Intermediate the upper ends of the arms comprising member I59, a block I63 is mounted on pin I6I (Fig. 3), this block revolvably supporting a pair of sheaves I64 and I65. A tubular member I 66 is pivoted at I61 to a casting on the motor frame and projects rearwardly between the arms of member I59. Rearwardly of member I59, member I66 is provided with a downwardly projecting longitudinally slotted web I68 in the slot of which is engaged a removable pin I69 extending between and supported by the arms of member I59. Abutment of pin I69 with the lower end of the slot of web I68 serves to hold member I59 in the upright position of Fig. l and also serves to hold member I66 in the position shown in Fig. 1, members I59 and I66 thus acting as mutual props.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a rope or cable I19 is adapted to have one of its ends engaged with winding drum 51. Thence the cable is adapted to be trained forwardly over sheave II9, thence around sheave I65, rearwardly to and around sheave II 2, again forwardly and around sheave I64, and finally rearwardly again to be anchored between jaws III. It will be evident that upon rotation of winding drum 51 in the winding direction and consequent tensioning of rope I19, a substantially horizontally directed pull will be exerted on conveyor C about pivot pin I4I, due to the attachment of block I63, which supports sheaves I 64 and I65, to the upper end of member I59. Tensioning of cable I62 will arrest any tendency of member I59 to swing about pin I58, and it will therefore be evident that the forward end of conveyor C will be swung upwardly.

The pony truck D comprises a circular ring I49 mounted rigidly on a wheeled truck at the center of which is an upwardly projecting pin having a semispherical head adapted to fit into the cup-shaped socket I54 secured to the bottom of the gathering conveyor C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When the tension on the hoisting rope I19 is released as illustrated in Fig. 7, the gathering conveyor will be supported by the ball and socket joint I48, I54 and the ring I49, while the overhanging weight of the conveyor C in advance of the pony truck D will by means of the pivotal row mine entries, the discharge conveyor B will be free to swivel on its pivot I6, I1, 29 (Fig. 6) relatively to the truck A, the gathering conveyor will be free to swivel on the ball and socket joint I48, I54 (Fig. '7) while sliding arcuately on the ring I49, and the two conveyors B and C will be free to swivel relatively to eachother on the ver-- tical pivot II4 (Fig. 1) between the same.

The controller for motor I35 is disposed on panel I99 and novel means are provided for supporting the electrical conductors intermediate the controller and the motor.

Vertically reciprocable in bearings HI and I12 on upright I91 is a tubular member I13 having a horizontal projecting upper extension I14 whose extremity is outwardly flared. Conductor cable I is trained through the tubular housing constituted by portions I 13 and I14 and thence is passed through tubular member I66 to the motor I35, the free extremity of member I66 being outwardly flared.

.51 to the motor 2|.

ends are sharpened for this purpose.

During operation of the gathering conveyon it is desirable that the cable portion intermediate the two tubular supports be elevated so as not to interfere with the passage of material from one .conveyor to the other and such disposition is ilwith a recess adapted to be engaged by a lug I'll on tubular member I13; the lug,'when so positioned, being engageableby a latch I18 hung on bearing I'II.

element I13 and thereby prevent accidental disengagement of the lug from the latch, the latter serving to holdthetubular guide element in the position of upward adjustment shown in Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, there are seen diagrammatic illustrations of two of the many different operationswhich may be performed by our device. As seen in Fig. 4, a sumping operation is being completed after the coal has been cut and shot down. Loose coal at I55 is gathered by the gathering conveyor C and delivered to discharge conveyor B from which it is discharged into a mine car F. In this operation,

the plates orshoes 91 and 98 while supporting the forward end of discharge conveyor 13- act in cooperation with the pins IIll and mine track rails, to prevent buckling of the loading machine conveyors. To effect this sumping operation, while the gathering conveyorC is held in alinement with the discharge section B, the cable I10 is reeved about the horizontal pulley I04 and the free end of the cable H is anchored to a suitable mine jack at I80 (Fig. 4). The entire machine is then sumped into the coal by operating the friction clutch 54, 58 to connect drum At the same time, motor 2| drives the flights of discharge conveyor B and motor I35- drives the flights of gathering conveyor C.

It should be particularly noted that the truck propelling mechanism is sufiiciently flexible to lroomsin advance of the mine track, it is desirable to run the shoes oiT the ends of the mine track and swing the conveyor apparatus B, C on the vertical axis of the turntable relatively to the truck so as to secure a greater reach for the gathering conveyor C. When the conveyor apparatus is thus adjusted at an angle to the mine track, theshoes may rest on the mine bottom and the pins extending through the shoes driven into the mine bottom particularly if their lower If, however, the mine bottomis composed of material which is too hard to permit free driving of the pins into the mine bottom, a roof jack may be used at one side of thesection B as an abutment, or such roof jack may be used between the roof of the. mine entry or room and one of the shoes so as to anchor the latter firmly to the mine bottom... Furthermore, the anchoring jack I85 may be set in such a position that the pull on the rope between the conveyor section B" and the vertical post at the outer end of thegathering conveyor will be nearly at right angles to the latter, Whereas that portion or" the rope It will be evident that the walls of l the recess engaging the lug, prevent rotation of conveyor B. There will then be little tendency to swing the receiving portion B" sidewise, While at the same time considerable force will be exerted in swinging the gathering conveyor on its pivotal connection 4 to the lower receiving end of the conveyor section B. This is particularly true if the pulling rope I is extending under and transversely across the bottom of the section B by being reeved around the pulleys H15, I06 and the connection to the gathering conveyor so made as to swing the latter anti-clockwise, instead of clockwise as shown in Fig. 5.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and we wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of our invention, what we desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a truck having wheels adapted to engage a track, a conveyor frame pivotally mounted on said truck on a transverse horizontal axis and having an end portion extending in proximity to the track at one end; of the truck, and laterally extending plates on said end portion of the conveyor adapt ed to rest upon the rails of the track to support the weight of said extending portion, said plates being provided with downwardly projecting means adapted to abut the track rails to prevent displacement of theplates transversely of the-rails.

2. In a machine of the class described, a truck having wheels adapted to engage a track, a conveyor frame pivotally mounted on said truck on a transverse horizontal axis and having an end portion extending in proximity tothe track at one end of the truck, and laterally extending plates on said end portion of the conveyor adapted to rest upon the rails of the track to support the weight of said extending portion, said plates being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures and pins selectively insertable in saidv apertures to project beneath the plates for lateral abutment with the track rails to prevent displacement of the plates transversely of the rails.

3. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with one end in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end and means comprising wardly below the top thereof tocooperate withtrack to prevent lateral movement of said one end of said receiving conveyor.

4.1n a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with oneend in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and means attached to said one. end of said receiving conveyor adapted tocoop crate with said track :to support said one end of said conveyor and to. prevent lateral movement.

thereof, .said means comprising a pair-of subjccting pins, one for each track rail.-

5. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with one end in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said axis to gather material, and means attached to said one end of said receiving conveyor adapted to cooperate with said track to prevent lateral movement thereof, said means comprising a plate having a plurality of holes and a pin selectively receivable by any one of said holes.

6. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with one end in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said axis to gather material, and means attached to said one end of said receiving conveyor adapted to cooperate with said track to prevent lateral movement thereof, said means comprising a pair of plates each having a plurality of holes and pins selectively receivable by said holes.

7. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor having an elevated material discharge end and a lowered material receiving end, of a truck positioned intermediate the ends of said conveyor for supporting said conveyor for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said lowered end of said receiving conveyor adapted to feed said receiving conveyor and mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said vertical axis to gather material, and means for supporting said lowered end of said receiving conveyor and for preventing lateral movement thereof comprising a plate having an aperture therein and a pin adapted to be inserted in said aperture.

8. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor having an elevated material discharge end and a lowered material receiving end. of a truck positioned intermediate the ends of said conveyor for supporting said conveyor, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said lowered end of said receiving conveyor adapted to feed said receiving conveyor and mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said vertical axis to gather material, and means for supporting said lowered end of said receiving conveyor and for preventing lateral movement thereof comprising a plate having an aperture therein and a pin adapted to be inserted in said aperture.

9. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor having an elevated material discharge end and a lowered material receiving end, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said lowered end of said receiving conveyor adapted to feed said discharge conveyor and mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said vertical axis to gather material, and means for supporting said lowered end of said receiving conveyor and for preventing lateral movement thereof comprising a pair of plates having a plurality of apertures and pins adapted to be inserted in selected ones of said apertures to position the lowered end of the receiving conveyor at any one of a plurality of positions relative to said track.

10. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor having an elevated material discharge end and a lowered material receiving end, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said lowered end of said receiving conveyor adapted to feed said receiving conveyor and mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor, and means for supporting said lowered end of said receiving conveyor and for preventing lateral movement thereof comprising a pair of substantially horizontal plates each having an aperture and a downwardly extending pin adapted to be inserted in said aperture.

11. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with one end in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said vertical axis to gather material, and means attached to said one end of said receiving conveyor adapted to cooperate with said track to support one end of said receiving conveyor and to prevent lateral movement thereof, said means comprising a shoe having a pair of vertically spaced walls provided with aligned holes and a pin adapted to project downwardly through said aligned holes and to be positioned laterally of said track.

12. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with one end in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said vertical axis to gather material, and means attached to said one end of said receiving conveyor adapted to cooperate with said track to prevent lateral movement thereof, said means comprising a shoe having a pair of vertically spaced walls provided with a plurality of aligned holes and a pin adapted to project downwardly through selected ones of said aligned holes and be positioned laterally of said track.

13. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with one end in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said vertical axis to gather material, and means attached to said one end of said receiving conveyor adapted to cooperate with said track to support one end of said receiving conveyor and to prevent lateral movement thereof, said means comprising a pair of shoes, one for each track rail, each having a pair of vertically spaced walls provided with a plurality of aligned apertures and .a pin adapted to project downwardly through selected ones of said aligned apertures and be positioned laterally of said track.

14. In a loading apparatus, the combination with a receiving conveyor, of a track mounted truck for supporting said conveyor with one end in a position adjacent the track, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said receiving conveyor at said one end for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, means for moving said gathering conveyor about said vertical axis to gather ma terial, and means attached to said one end of said receiving conveyor adapted to cooperate with said track to prevent lateral movement thereof, said means comprising a pair of shoes, one for each track rail, each having a pair of vertically spaced walls provided with aligned holes and a pin adapted to project downwardly through said aligned holes and be positioned laterally of said track.

15. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck movable along a trackway, of a receiving conveyor mounted thereon and extending down- Wardly and forwardly into proximity to said trackway, abutment mechanism between said forwardly extending portion of said conveyor and said trackway, a gathering conveyor connected to said receiving conveyor to swing relatively thereto on an upright axis in advance of said trackway, and rope gearing connected to said abutment mechanism and operative to swing said gathering conveyor as aforesaid to gather material for delivery to said receiving conveyor.

NILS D. LEVIN.

EDWARD G. LEWIS.

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