US2133549A

US2133549A - Bulldozer and the like

Info

Publication number: US2133549A
Application number: US70850A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bleu Charles Le
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-03-25
Filing date: 1936-03-25
Publication date: 1938-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1955-10-18

Description

0d. 18, 1938. Q LE BLEU 2,133,549

' BULLDOZER AND THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IG.

INVENTOR.

BY wall 22M ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 18, 1938. c. LE BLEU BULLDOZER AND THE LIKE Filed March 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,133,549 BULLDQZER AND mm Charles Le Bleu, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March 25, 1936, Serial No. 70,850

18 Claims. (01. av-144) This invention relates, generally, to earth handling devices, the term earth being taken in the broad sense to include snow and the like,

adaptedto be mounted on a vehicle to be pushed thereby across a surface to be treated and includes apusher frame mounted on the vehicle and carrying a scraper forwardly thereof arid a control mechanism disposed and adapted to 'operate automatically to adjust the workin relation of the scraper to the surface to be reated when the pushing force of the vehicle vari s from a predetermined value.

It is an object of my inventioh to prov de in a bulldozer, trailbuilder, snow plow and he like adapted to be pushed across a surface to be treated, a control mechanism disposed an adapted to automatically operate when the fishing force varies from a given value.

It is another object of my invention to provide in a device of the character named adapted to be pushed across a surface to be treated, means adapted to operate automatically when the pushing force varies from a predetermined value to adjust the working relation of the device to the surface to be treated.

Still another object of my invention is the provision in a device of the character named adapted to be pushed across a surface to be treated, of means adapted to be automatically operated by the pushing force to adjust the working relation of the device to the surface .to be treated when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value, and means to control the operative and inoperative positions of the device.

Still another object of my invention is the provision in a device of the character named adapted to be mounted for vertical swinging movement on a vehicle'to be pushed thereby across a surface to be treated, of means adapted to be automatically operated by the pushing force to swing the device and adjust the working relation of the device to the surface to be treated when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value.

Another object of my invention is the provision in a device of the character named adapted to be pushed across a surface to be treated, 01' means adapted to be automatically operated by the pushing force, when said pushing force exceeds a predetermined value, to adjust the working relation of the device to the surface to be treated.

Another object of my invention is the provision in a device of the character named adapted to be mounted for vertical swinging movement on a vehicle to be pmhed thereby across a surface to be treated, 01' means adapted to be automatically operatedby the pushing force to swing the device to the surface to be treated'when the pushing force varies from a predetermined value.

Another object of myginvention is the provision in a device of the c aracter named adapted to be mounted for vertical swinging movement on a vehicle to be, pushed thereby across a surface to be treated, of means adapted to be automatically operated by the pushing force to swing the device and adjust the working relation of the device to thejsurface to be treated when the pushmeans operable at will to positively swing the device.

Still other and further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a detailed perusal of the speciflcations in connection with the attached drawings wherein I exemplify and describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that my invention is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications and that such changes and modifications may be made in the combination, correlation, and construction of parts, members, and features as do not constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims annexed hereto.

Irithe drawings: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention, partly in section, mounted on a tractor of'conventional design.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a crank shaft one of which is mounted in each of the longitudinally extending arms.

Referring now to the characters of referenceon the drawings, the device includes a pusher frame. designated generally as F comprising a pair of side frames I 0 spaced apart and carrying at their front ends a box like cross member H. Each of the side frames l0 comprises'a hollow boxed front section l2 open at its rear end-and ing units l4 disposed one at each of the opposite sides of the tractor and pivoted at l5 for independent vertical swinging movement. Secured to each of the track laying units is a pair of brackets l6 carrying a trunnion l1, and, as shown,

the rear ends of pusher arms l3 are swingably the device and adjust the working relation of mounted on trunnions 11. Thus it is seen that a pusher frame F is secured to the tractor for swinging movement in a vertical plane. As shown, the forward and lower edge of the cross member Ills provided with a scraper l9.

Mounted on each of the hollow boxed front sections are bearings l9 having journaled therein a crank shaft 29. The front ends of pusher arms l3 are each journaled on the crank pin portion 35 of the respective crank shaft 20. Disposed between the inner ends of crank shafts 20 is a shaft 2| joined at its opposite ends each to the inner end of a crank shaft 20 by means of keyways and keys 22, and sleeve couplings 23. Carried by each of the sleeve couplings 23 is an arm 24 extending rearwardly therefrom and provided each with a plurality of openings 25.

Secured to each of the track frames 14 are

tnmnions

28 and 21, mountd on trunnions 26, one at each of the opposite sides of the tractor, are cantilever brackets 23. Pivotally mounted on trunnions 21 are vertical links 29 pivotally connected at their upper ends at 30 to cantilever brackets 23. Thus, a cantilever bracket 23 is mounted one on each of the track laying units.

Pivotally mounted on the forward end of each of the cantilever brackets 23 at 33 is a hydraulic jack 3| pivotally connected at their lower ends each to an arm 24' at 36 as shown in Figure 2. These jacks 3| are of conventional design comprising in each a cylinder 32 and a piston and rod assembly 34.

It will be noted that pusher arms l3 each are provided with a pin 31 slidably mounted in slots 33 in the hollow boxed sections l2 the purpose of which is to limit relative movement as between the front and rear sections l2 and I3 respectively of side frames l0.

It will readily be seen that if fluid undervpressure is admitted into the lower end of cylinders 32 and the upper endsof cylinders 32 are connected to exhaust, then the piston and rod assembly 34 may be forced upwardly and thus the forward end of the device maybe raised by swinging the same in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis at IT.

It is also readily seen that if .fluid under. pressure is admitted into the upper ends of cylinders 32 and the lower ends of'cylinders 32 are connected to exhaust, then the piston and rod assembly 34 may be forced downwardly and thus the forward end of the device may be lowered by swinging the same in a vertical plane about the horizontal axis at H.

In order to operate the hydraulic jacks as described, I provide a pump P for subjecting fluid to pressure. A conduit 39 is connected to the exhaust side of the pump-P and to the intake port of a control valve 40; This valve is of conventional design andincludesia housing 4| provided with an intake port 42, a return port 43, and a pair of operating ports 44 and45. Rotatably mounted in the housing. 4| is a valve plug 43 provided with a through port 41 and a pair of side ports 48 and 49.

A return conduit 50 connects through port 41 with a fluid reserve tank 5|. The control valve being in the neutral position shown fluid may Thus it is seen that operating port 44 is connected in common by suitable conduit means, to the upper ends of the pair of cylinders 32. In a similar manner a conduit 55 is connected to operating port 45 and interconnected by means of branch conduits 59 and 51 to the lower ends of the pair of cylinders 32. Thus it is seen that operating port 45 is interconnected by suitable conduit means, to the upper end of the pair of cylinders 32.

It is likely best explained at this point that since the upper ends of cylinders 32 are interconnected, and likewise that since the lower ends of cylinders 32 are interconnected, a flexible control means is thus provided on each of the track laying units whereby said track laying units may freely swing vertically and independently of each other and thus cause the fluid in the pair of cylinders 32 to shift back and forth therebetween to permit the track laying units to swing freely and suspend the front end of the device parallel to the horizontal axis H.

To raise the device by the operation of the hydraulic jacks 3|, valve plug 49 is rotated counterclockwise to register through port 41 with operating port 45 to direct fluid under pressure into the lower ends of cylinders 32 for raising the device and at the same time register side port 48 to exhaust the fluid from the upper ends of cylinders 32.

To lower the device by the operation of the hydraulic jacks 3|, valve plug 46 is rotated clockwise to register through port 41 with operating port 44 to direct fluid under pressure into the upper ends of cylinders 32 for lowering the device and at the same time register side port 49 with operating port 45 and return port 43 to exhaust the fluid from the lower ends of cylinders 32.- 1

The principal object of this invention is the provision in a device of the character described adapted to be mounted on a vehicle to be pushed thereby across a surface to be'treated, of an auxiliary control means disposed and adapted to be automatically operated by the pushing force of the vehicle, when said pushing force varies from .a predetermined value, to adjust the working re- .lation of the deviceto the surface to be treated.

The structure by which this end is'attained has already been described and the operation thereof will now be explained.

Viewing Figure 2, assume the device to be in scraping contact with the surface to be treated, then the resistance thus offered to the advancing movement of the device tends to shift the hollow boxed sections l2 rearwardly relative to pusher arms I3 and since pusher arms I3 are connected at their front ends to the crank pin portion of crank shaft 29 journaled on hollow boxed section I 2, then rearward shifting of boxed section l2 relative to pusher arm l3 will cause counter- I clockwise rotation of crank shaft 20 to which is lower end of a hydraulic jack and thus is prevented from moving downwardly, then the front end of the device will be raised. Thus the working relation of the device to the surface to be treated is automatically adjusted by the pushing force of the vehicle. Obviously when the device has been thus raised to the point where the pushing force required to push the scraper forward is less than the given value, the device will cease to move upwardly and the device may then move downwardly thus automatically seeking a working relation to the surface to be treated that will offer a constant value of resistance to the advancing movement of-the device.

In a practical embodiment of my invention the relative effective lengths of the crank 58 and arm 24 is determined from a proper consideration of the weight of the device and the pushing force of the vehicle. Therefore, I have provided a multiplicity of openings 25 in arm 24 whereby the relative effective lengths of crank 58 and arm 24 may be adjusted to conform to the pushing force of a particular vehicle whereby the working relation of the device to the surface to be treated will be automatically adjusted when the pushing force of the vehicle varies from a predetermined value.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent,. is:

1. In a device of the character described, a

pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for movement relative thereto and to be pushed thereby across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value and extensible by the weight of the device when the pushing force is less than the predetermined value, and means adapted to be operated by the contraction and extension of the pusher frame to automatically determine the horizontal working relation of the scraper to the surface to be treated.

2. In a device of the character described, a

pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for movement relative thereto and to be pushed thereby across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value and extensible by the weight of the device when the pushing force is less than the predetermined value, means to predetermine the value, and means adapted to be operated by the contraction and extension of the pusher frame to automatically determine the working relation of the scraper to the surface to be treated.

3. In a device of the character described, a pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for movement relative thereto and to be pushed thereby across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value, and a crank shaft disposed with the pusher frame and adapted to be rocked by the contraction thereof.

4. An earth moving machine comprising a vehicle, a pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and mounted at its rear end on the vehicle for swinging movement in a vertical plane and to be pushed by the vehicle across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value, and a crank shaft disposed with the pusher frame and connected to the vehicle to be rocked by contraction of the pusher frame to impart swinging 3 movement to said pusher frame and adjust the scraper relative to the surface to be treated.

5. An earth moving machine comprising a vehicle, a pusher frameprovided with a scraper at its front end and mounted atits rear end on the vehicle for swinging movement in a vertical plane and to be pushed by the vehicle across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value, means to predetermine thevalue, and a crank shaft disposed with the pusher frame and connected to the vehicle to be rocked by the contraction of the pusher frame to impart swinging movement to said pusher frame and thus adjust the scraper relative to the surface to be treated.

6. An earth moving machine comprising a vehicle, a pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and mounted at its rear end on the vehicle for swinging movement in a vertical plane and to be pushed by the vehicle across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value; means to fix said value; a pair of hydraulic jacks mounted on the vehicle; a crank shaft mounted on the pusher frame; means connecting the hydraulic jacks and the crank shaft, said crank shaft being disposed with the pusher frame to be rocked by the contraction thereof to impart swinging movement thereto and thus automaticallyadjust the scraper relative to the surface to be treated; and means to operate the hydraulic jack for swinging the pusher frame.

7. An earth moving machine comprising a vehicle; apusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and mounted at its rear end on the vehicle for swinging movement in a vertical plane and to be pushed by the vehicle across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value, means for fixing the value; a pair of hydraulic jacks mounted on the vehicle; a crank shaft mounted on the pusher frame for limited rocking movement; a pair of crank arms carried by the crank shaft; means pivotally connecting the crank arms each to a hydraulic jack; said crank shaft being disposed with the pusher frame to be rocked by the contraction thereof to impart swinging movement thereto and thus automatically adjust the scraper relative to the surface to be treated; and means to operate the hydraulic jacks for positively swinging the pusher frame to raise and lower the scraper.

8. An earth moving machine comprising a vehicle, a pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and mounted at its rear end on the vehicle for swinging movement in a vertical plane and to be pushed by the vehicle across a surface to be treated, said pusher frame being adapted for limited contraction by the pushing force of the .vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value; means to fix said value; a crank shaft mounted on the pusher frame for limited rocking movement; a pair of crank arms carried by the crank shaft; a pair of hydraulic jacks mounted on the vehicle; means pivotally connecting'the crank arms each to a hydraulic jack, said hydraulic jacks being operable to over-reach the limited rocking movement of the crank shaft, said crank shaft being disposed with the pusher frame to be rocked by the contraction thereof to impart swinging movement thereto and thus automatically adjust the scraper relative to the surface to be treated; and means to operate the hydraulic jacks to overreach the limited rocking movement of the crank shaft and positively swing the pusher frame for raising and lowering the scraper.

9. An earth moving machine comprising a tractor including a body and a pair of track laying units disposed one at each of the opposite sides of the body and journaled behind their front ends to the body for independent vertical swinging movement; a pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and mounted at its rear end on the track laying units for swinging movement in a vertical ,plane and to be treated, said pusher frame being adapted for limited contraction by the pushing force of the tractor when the pushing force reaches a given value; means to fix the value; a crank shaft disposed with the pusher frame forwardly of the track laying units for limited rocking movement; a pair of crank arms carried by the crank shaft one in front of each of the track laying units; a pair of hydraulic jacks mounted one on each of the track laying units; means connecting said pair of crank arms each to a hydraulic Jack, said hydraulic Jacks being connected in common to a source of fluid under pressure and operable to over-reach the limited rocking movement of the crank shaft and positively swingthe pusher frame to raiseand lower the scraper, said crank shaft being disposed with the pusher frame to be rocked by the contraction thereof to impart swinging movement thereto and thus automatically adjust the scraper relative to the surface to be treated.

10. In a device of the class described, a scraping unit, a pair of substantially spaced apart box beams secured at their front ends to the scraping unit, a pair of crank shafts journaled one in each of the box beams, an arm carried by each of the crank shafts and adapted at their outer ends for connection to a vehicle, and a pair of pusher arms shiftably disposed one in each of the box beams journaled at their front ends each to the crank pin portion of a crank shaft and adapted at their rear ends to be mounted on the vehicle whereby the scraping unit may be pushed across a surface to be treated and the crank shafts may be automatically rocked to raise the scraping unit when the pushing force applied by the vehicle reaches a predetermined value.

11. An earth moving machine comprising a self propelled vehicle, a scraping unit disposed forwardly of the vehicle, a pair of substantially spaced apart hollow box beams secured at their front ends to the scraping unit, a pair of crank shafts Journaled one in each of the box beams, an arm carried by each of the crank shafts, means connecting the arms to the vehicle, a pair of pusher arms shiftably disposed one in each of the box beams, means pivotally mounting the front ends of the pusher arms each on the crank pin portion of a crank shaft, and means pivotally mounting the rear ends of the pusher arms on the vehicle.

12. An earth moving machine comprising a self propelled vehicle, a scraping unit disposed forwardly of the vehicle, a pair of substantially spaced apart box beams secured at their front ends to the scraping unit, a pair of crank shafts iournaled one in each of the box beams, an arm carried by each of the crank shafts, power operated control means adjustably connecting the arms to the vehicle, a pair of pusher arms shiftably disposed one in each of the box beams,

means pivotally'mounting the front ends of the pusher arms each on the crank pin portion of a crank shaft, and means pivotally mounting the rear ends of the pusher arms on the vehicle.

13, In a device of the character described, a

tractor, a pusher frame comprising collapsible side frame elements and a transverse scraper rigidly secured to the foremost of said collapsible members, means pivotally connecting the rearmost of said collapsible members to the tractor, means for positively raising and lowering the side frame elements and scraper and for setting the scraper in a determined position, and means interposed between said raising and lowering means and the foremost members of the side frames whereby a force of predetermined value acting to collapse the side frame members with relation to each other will tend to raise the scraper and frame with relation to the lifting and lowering means, thereby adjusting the working relation of the scraper to the surface to be treated.

14. In a device of the character described, a

tractor having opposite track laying units thereon, side frame elements, each comprising a pair of side frame members assembled for relative limited longitudinal movement, means pivotally connecting the rearmost of said members to the tracklaying units of the tractor, a scraper disposed transversely of the tractor and rigidly mounted upon the foremost of said frame members, a pair of cantilever brackets, one for each of the tracklaying units, means articulately mounting said brackets to their respective track-laying units, means acting between said levers and side frame structures for raising and lowering the side frames and the scraper, and means disposed between the forward members of the side frame elements and the said raising and lowering means whereby relative longitudinal movement between the,members of the side frames as produced by a resisting force against the scraper will act automatically to adjust the scraper with relation to the raising and lowering means and the surface to be treated.

i 15. An earth working tool comprising a tractor having track-laying units at the opposite sides thereof, a frame structure for each track-laying unit, said frame structure comprising a cantilever articulately connected to the track-laying unit, lifting and lowering means carried at the free end of each of said cantilevers, a track frame element comprising a pair of members having horizontal movement with relation to each other, one of said members being pivoted to the track-laying unit, a scraper extending transversely of the tractor and rigidly supported at the forward ends of the other of said members, means connecting the forward ends of said members with the lifting and lowering means, said means including structures whereby resistance to movement of the scraper blade will produce relative longitudinal move ment of the frame members and will simultaneously lift the scraper blade with relation to the surface being treated.

16. In a device of the character described, a pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end and adapted at its rear end to be mounted on a vehicle for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, and to be pushed thereby across the surface to be treated, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value and extensible by the weight of the device when the pushing force is less than the predetermined value, and means adapted to be operated by the contraction and expansion of the pusher frame to automatically swing the same about the said horizontal axis to determine the horizontal working relation of the scraper to the surface to be treated.

17. In a device of the character described, a vehicle, a pusher frame provided with a scraper at its front end, means mounting the pusher frame on the vehicle for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, said pusher frame being contractable by the pushing force of the vehicle when the pushing force reaches a predetermined value, raising and lowering means for positively swinging the pusher frame about said horizontal axis for raising and lowering the scraper, and means interposed between said raising and lowering means and the pusher frame whereby a force of predetermined value acting to contract said pusher frame will tend to swing the same about 50 said horizontal axis and thereby adjust the working relation of the scraper to the surface to be treated.

18. In a device of the character described, a tractor, a pusher frame comprising collapsible side elements and a transverse scraper mounted on the foremost of said collapsible members, means pivotally connecting the rearmost of said collapsible members to the tractor, means for positively raising and lowering the side frame elements and scraper for setting the scraper in a predetermined position, and means interposed between said raising and lowering means and the foremost members of the side frames whereby a force of predetermined value acting to collapse the side frame members with relation to each other will tend to raise the scraper and frame with relation to the lifting and lowering means thereby adjusting the working relation of the scraper to the surface to be treated.

CHARLES LE BLEU.