US2196513A - Fine grading machine - Google Patents

Description

Ap 9,'1940. H. J. ADLER FINE GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. -mfmll April 9, 1940-I H. J. ADLER 2,196,513

FINE GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ma 5W W Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATE-s;

. 2,196,513 FINEy GRADiNG yMACHINE Henry J. Adler, YakimaQWash., assigner of one.- third to Roy M. King, andorre-third to J. L. James, both of Yakima, Wash. v

Application March 9, 1938,Serial No. 194,979

" 2 claims. (c1. 37-80) The purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine for effecting fine or finish grading. 'While the machine is adapted for use in many different relations, as will be hereinafter set forth, it is particularly intended to rapidly and accurately shape and grade the inclined sides of irrigation ditches. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be setA forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the machine, showing the same in position to grade vthe opposed sides of an irrigation ditch;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in section of one of the toothed or spiked cylinders, and

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a portion of one of said cylinders.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.`

The particular form of frame employed is immaterial, since it is manifest that the frame may be constructed in many different ways. In the particular embodiment of the invention which I have chosen for purposes of illustration, the Aframe is composed of vstructural steel members, such as conventional channel and I-beams, and comprises horizontal top rails 5, suitable braces 6, and the inclined rails 1, which serve to sup-y port the spiked cylinders I6, hereinafter described. y

The top rails 5 extend outwardly beyond the inclined rails I and are suitably attached at their outer ends to side rails 8. Track wheels 9 support the side rails 8 and are adapted to travel upon track rails Il), disposed along the opposite sides vof the irrigation ditch, the bottom of which is indicated kat I I and the inclined sides of which are indicated at I2 and I3. Mounted in bearings I4, supported from the under sides of the inclined rails 1, are the shafts I5 of the spiked cylinders I6. These cylinders carry a multiplicity of sockets I'I, adapted to receive teeth I8, formed of square bar steel, beveled at their ends as indicated at I9. These teeth. may be held in adjustedposition by set screws 20. The sockets are preferably braced against the `thrust of the teeth under the working action of the machine by suitable braces 2|, which are welded to the cylinderandtotherespective braces. Many -ways may be resorted to of mounting these teeth in the cylinder, and it is to be understood that the invention is to be broadly construed in this respect.

The sockets I 'I are so located as to dispose the teeth IB spirally around the cylinders, Any suitable motor, such as anninternal vcombustion engine indicated at 22 may be utilized to drive l thespiked cylinders I6 through the medium of '5 any suitable interposed gearing, indicated in a general way at `23, and including -a clutch 23a.` The machine of the present invention is intended to befused after the heavy excavation of the irrigation ditch has been completed. When l0 the machineis'used, the motor 22 is caused to .turn the cylinders forwardly against the ditch bank, looseningA the soil as the machine proceeds By employingthis spiral placement'of the tools f and 'effecting rotation of the cylinders inde'- 15 pendently ofthe rate of forward'movement of the machine as awhole, the entire surface of the ground can be covered to just the extent and in just the way desired. n y

It is clear that by varying the rate of speed 20 of the cylinders with respect to the rate of travel of the machine as a whole, varying effects in the feeding'of they dirt endwise of the cylinders may ybe had to takecare of the varying conditions under which the machine may be, operated. It is this capability` of the rcylinders toV be driven at rates of. speed which are independent of the rate of speed of travel of the machine as arwhole which adapts this machine to perform the function of effecting a ne or Afinish grading, because with the machine traveling relatively slowly, for example, and the cylinders traveling much faster, it follows that the surface of the ground may be pulverized to a .much greater extent than would be the caseI if the cylinder travel was in such relation -to the forward movement of the machine as to give only one raking ofthe teeth through the earth during the passage of the cylinder over a given point. Where a given point is traversed a number of times by the teeth during the passage of the machine, the soil is made sufliciently ne that a fine, finish grade may be imparted to the inclined banks of irrigation ditches. y

In many cases, these ditches are built under contracts which require that they be left so uniformly and smoothly graded as to be ready for the laying of concrete aprons thereon,`and one of the functions of the present machine is to grade rditches having inclined banks in so fine, true and uniform a way as toA render it possible to lay a straight and true bed of concrete'thereon Without further grading.

I am aware of the fact that it ,has` been proposed to use machines having toothed cylinders operating in water for the purpose of clearing old ditches 'of accumulated debris, and wherein the matter released by the cylinders is carried off in fluid form through pumps.` I claim no such arrangement, but upon the contrary claim these inclined cylinders only when so correlated, arranged, and driven as to-fine grade the dry banks of newly formed ditches.

While I have chosen to show teeth formed of square stock, I wish to make it clearthat the invention contemplates the use of teeth of varying shapes according to the work to be done. Further, even when employing teethA square in cross section, these may be set to cut to varying depths or at any desired inclination, it being clear that this would be determined by the. setting of the sockets with respect to the cylinders.

The capability of the machine to drive the spiked cylinders independently of the forward movement of the machine has the added advantage that it permits the operator to hold the cylinders inoperationlonger upon a hard clay bank, for

example, than would be necessary uponr aV softV earth portion of the ditch.` By virtue of this capability, the machine is adapted to= accurately shape ditches to a lineI graded finish, ready for pendently of the rate of travel of thelmachine,

the machine may be actuated by the same source of4 power which drivesA the cylinders, and the whole may be caused toF operate in unison. In

that'case, the rate of speed of thewhole machine would be in determined relation to they rate, of rotationv of the cylinders. To indicate that this may bedoneJ have indicated gearing 24 between the motor and one pair of the track wheels, including a conventional clutch 214B.

While this machine-is of primary utility inthe iinal` grading of irrigation ditches, it will also be found to be of utility in many other relations. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown, but that it includes Within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my claim is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a `supporting frame, a trackway, wheels supporting said frame upon the trackway, an

invention,

, engine upon the frame, a pair of transverse shafts upon. the frame, means for driving either of said shafts from the engine independently of the other, gearing between one of said shafts and the supporting wheels of the frame, a pair of cylinders supported one at each side of the frame and at such an angle of inclination as to conform to and shape the side walls of a dry ditch. to be-cleare'd, means for driving said cylinders from;V the other of said shafts, and spiked teethv carried by said cylinders and arranged spirallythe independent drive ofthe cylinders with respect to the driving means of the supporting; wheels permitting said cylinders to be driven at such a rate of speed as to pulverize and fine grade the inclined walls of dry ditches.

2. In a machine of the character described, for simultaneously negrading theV opposed sides of dry, V-shaped irrigation ditches, a pair of elongated cylinders; studded with spirally arranged spike-like teeth, said cylinders inclining upwardlyandoutwardly toA conform to the inclination oi the walls of theditchbeing graded, a frame adapted to span the ditch, mea-ns for mountingthe cylinders to-turn in said fra-me,

said :trame holding the cylinders in uniformly spaced relation to each other, a trackway, track lwheels upon which the frame is mounted, an

engine upon the` frame,v means for driving the track wheelsfrom said engi-ne, means for driving the spiked cylinders from, the engine independently of the drive from-the engine tov the' track wheels, the independent 'l drive of the cylinders with respect to the driving means of the track wheels permitting.. saidv cylinders to be driven at such. a. rate of speed. as to pulverize andi'lne grade the` inclinedl walls. of Adry ditches.

HENRY '.I. ADLER.

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