US2230704A

US2230704A - Bulldozer construction

Info

Publication number: US2230704A
Application number: US333563A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sorensen Harold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-05-06
Filing date: 1940-05-06
Publication date: 1941-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1958-02-04

Description

Feb 1941- H. SORENSE N BULLDOZER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheat -Sheet 1 Filed lay 6, 1940 HAROLD .SoRE/VJEN \r ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 4, 1941 I H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,220,704 aonmozaa CONSTRUCTION Harold Sorensen, Knappa, Oreg.

Application May 6, 1940, Serial No. 333,583

4 Claims; (Cl. 37-144) My invention relates broadly to apparatus emit is desired to mount the bulldozer frame and ployed for handling earth and analogous mateblade onto the tractor oreimilar vehicle. rialsinroad and trail building and clearing. The In addition to the above disadvantages ininvention has particular relation to scraper or herent in scraper or bulldozer blades and supbulldozer blades and supporting frames therefor porting frames therefor, there is the disadvanemployed in conjunction with and supported by a tage resulting from the lack of versatility of the tractor or similar vehicle for bulldozing, scrapscraper or bulldozer blades in performing the ing, side casting, leveling, back fi1ling,'and a. vaseveral functions ordinarily required to be perriety of other operations and functions required formed in the building and clearing of roads and in the building. and clearing of roads and trails. trails. .1

A fingernail sketch of the features of the in- These foregoing disadvantages are magnified vention and an explanation of its functions with Particularly in logging D S. Whe e it s particular stress of its importance in logging opdesired to employ a tractor or similar vehicle erations is deemed advisable at this time. The and a scraper or bulldozer blade and support present structural characteristics of scraper or frame t e t Often 118685881? to build 16 bulldozer blades and supporting frames therefor or clear roads and trails in order to bring 8 employed to perform the foregoing operations and out of the logging area. It is therefore essenfunctions admittedly perform the work with some tial that a Scraper 0 bulldozer b a e d pmodicum of efficiency; but the tractor and the Porting frame therefor be carried at all fi y 20 bulldozer te d to b d fl t d d th causes the tractor or other vehicle which normally pulls 20 strain and excessive wear on both of them when a 8 camerecause 01' the narrowness of the a single unit blade is employed to perform these roads 88 8 818981118 me curves various functions. It has been found advanand other Obstructions, Slwh a? St ps ds tageous to provide a scraper or bulldozer blade lining the Side ffi 8811 8 r ad it is necessary made of t sections so t t it may d; to maintain the scraper or bulldozer blades and 26 iusted to a number of different positions in the p rtin fra e er o a o y s P s e horizontal plane to perform these vario ta k to the sides of the tractor. It is, therefore, withwithout causing deflection and undue stress and in the contemplation of y Invention to p ide a wear on the tractor or the bulldozer. However, Scrape! bulldozer blade having ch Structural so investigation has failed to disclose any bullcharacteristics a will permit a more versatile so dozers having scraper or bulldozer blades and angular fidlu ent thereof so that it will be supporting frames therefor which permit the possible not y to cast on it ide or to folding of the blades against the sides of the Carry the load forward and to perform a i y t t or similar vemcle into a compact and of similar functions, but also to provide a blade convenient position when not in use. which may bepositmned- When in use, against Existing scraper or bulldozer blades normally the sldes of the tractor and which Gnomes extend for some distance beyond the sides of the disadvantages inherent in the present type the tractor or similar vehicle with which they of Scraper or bulldozer blade congtmcuon' I The salient feature of my invention is to proare associated. The massiveness of the bulldozer vide a scraper or bulldozer blade which can be 0 40 and the extension of the blades beyond the sides readily adjusted to numerous angular ens of the tractor interfere with the use of the in order to erform a variety m for tractor or similar vehicle for other work. It is at the n m and clearing of roads and trans and p ese necessary o e o e t sc or bullwhich can be folded against the sides of the do r bla e n pp n fr me therefor, when vehicle to which the blade-cams frame is atit is desired to use the tractor or similar vehicle tached, when the blade is not in use and during for work not connected with trail or road buildtransit of the vehicle from place to place. ing or clearing. Because of the type of work It is an object of my invention to provide a which bulldozers are required to perform, they are scraper or bulldozer blade which is adapted for 0 bulky and exceedingly heavy; and to remove the Scraping, bulldozlns. o e- Single S de castscraper or bulldozer blades and supporting frame ing, leveling, back filling, and a variety of other therefor from the tractor or similar vehicle enoperations presently performed bya number of tails considerable loss of time and eflort and single job-performing devices. creates additional expense for labor; and a like An equally important object of my invention loss of time, eifort and expense is entailed, when is to provide a blade-carrying frame secured to 5B and adjustably positionable with respect to a tractor or similar vehicle which permits not only of its being raised, lowered or tilted relative to the tractor or similar vehicle, but also of the variable angular adjustment of its blade.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a scraper or bulldozer blade consisting of a plurality of sections which may readily be folded against the side of the tractor or vehicle with which it is associated, when further use of the blade is not desired or when the tractor is in.

Still another object of my invention is to pro I vide means for firmly holding the blade sections in their adjusted position to insure against variance in the depth and angle of cut during the operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a scraper or bulldozer blade and a supporting frame therefor which is adapted to perform an extensive range of functions, which is rugged in construction, easy to handle, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, which reduces need for single job-performing implements, and. which overcomes the disadvantages inherent in the present type of scraper or bulldozer blade construction.

The foregoing and other related objects are attainable by the bulldozer construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show but oneembodiment by which the invention maybe realized and which must' be examined with reference to the following detailed descriptions. In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference characters are employed throughout the several views to designate the same elements:

Figure 1 is a side view of the scraper or bulldozer blade and blade-supporting frame embodying the principles of my invention, showing their positions relative to a tractor and a log carrier, both fancifully represented and shown in dotted line;

Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the scraper or bulldozer blade and supporting frame therefor, showing the position of the blade, when the blade sections are in the same transverse plane ready 'for straight bulldozer work;

Figure 3 is a fragment of a side beam and a channel arm, showing the structural characteristics thereof and the means employed for dis- Figure 5 is a plan or top view of the scraperor bulldozer blade and supporting frame therefor, illustrating the position of the various blade sections to perform left side casting.

Figure 6 is a plan or top view of the scraper I or bulldozer blade and supporting frame therefor, illustrating the position of the various blade sections to form a pocket for accumulating and carrying material forward, commonly called drifting; and

Figure 7 is a plan or top view of the scraper or bulldozer blade and supporting frame therefor, illustrating the position of the various blade sections when being used for casting to both sides, or when the blade sections are folded against the sides when the bulldozer is not in use and the vehicle is in transit, or is used for other type of work.

In Figure 1 a tractor is fancifully represented and shown in dotted line and, since it is no part of the invention, except as the support for the blade-supporting frame, will be broadly designated by reference character A for the purposes of the following description. Also fancifully represented and shown in dotted line is a log carrier whose structural characteristics are no part of the invention and which, therefore, will be generally designated by reference character B for the purposes of the following description.

The broad structural characteristics of the invention may best be seen in Figure 2 which shows a blade-supporting frame, designated generally by reference character C. This frame consists of side beams i and 2 positioned on each side of the tractor A with their ends 3 and 4 respectively positioned on the stub shafts 5 and 6 extending outwardly from the sides of the tractor A, thus forming a movable joint between the beams and the tractor, so that the frame may be raised or lowered relative to the tractor as the occasion demands. The stub shafts are securely and rigidly held to the sides of the tractor and are adapted to resist the rearward thrust occasioned by the work performed by the bulldozer. The raising and lowering of the frame may be accomplished by any means, such as, for purposes of illustration, 3 cable I which is secured to an eye 8 connected to the frame C.

Secured to, or made an integral part of beam I is an inwardly and forwardly inclined beam extension 9. A similarly inclined beam extension I0 is secured to or made an integral part of beam 2. Both of these beam extensions connect tobr are integrally joined to a transversely positioned cross or front beam or "nose" portion ll. These variously described elements form approximately the U-shaped frame C which carries the blade, hereafter to be described. The U- shaped frame C is ruggedly constructed and adequately reinforced to withstand the rearward thrust caused by the action of the blade. Openings I2, l3 and I4 extend through beam l. Similar openings [5,; l6 and l'l are formed through beam 2. Theseopenings are respectively aligned with each other and are employed for the function shortly tobe set out.

The scraper or bulldozer blade, designated broadly by reference character D, is divided into a plurality of sections l8, l9 and 20. The work- .ing faces of each of the blade sections, all exthe transverse front beam H. The central blade section I9 is secured to and is reinforced by front beam II, while wing blade sections I8 and have reinforcing ribs 22 and23 respectively secured to the backs thereof. Wing blade sections I8 and 20 are each movably secured to member II, so that they may be moved forwardly or rearwardly. The typesof hinge employed is best illustrated in Figure 4 which shows a pair of ears 24 and 25 extended in spaced parallel relation to each other at one end of the reinforcing bar 23. An opening (not shown) is, formed adjacent and through the end 26 of front beam II.

Ears 24 and 25 fit over the end 26 of member II, so that the openings (not shown) in the ears are in direct alignment with the opening (not shown) in the cross beam II. A pin 21 passes through the openings (not shown) and is secured therein against unauthorized removal. An identical hinge connection is provided for wing blade section I8 which itself is hinged in the same manner to the end 28 of front beamI I.

Channel arms

29 and 30 are removably secured to wing blade sections I8and 20 respectively and fit over and are slidably positioned and secured to beams 2 and I respectively. This is accomplished by providing at one end of the arm 29 a pair of ears 3I and 32 and a similar pair of ears at one end of the arm 30. An opening (notshown) is formed through and adjacent the end 33 of wing blade section I8 and a similar opening (not shown) is formed through and adjacent the end 34 of wing blade section 29. The ears 3I and 32 fit over the

reinforcing bars

22 and 23, so that the openings (not shown) in the ears 3| and 32 are in alignment with the openings (not shown) in the

respective ends

33 and 34 of reinforcing

bars

22 and 23. Pins 35 the openings I2, I3 and I4 formed in beam I and openings ',I5, I6 and I1 formed in beam 2, depending upon the position which the wing blade sections I8 and 20 are to assume. If the openings in the pairs of ears 31 are aligned with openings I3 and I6, the wing sections IB and 20 will assume the position shown in Figure 2; if the openings in the pairs of ears 31 are aligned with openings I2 and I1, the wing blade sections 18 and 20 will assume the position shown in Figure 5; if the openings. in the pairs of ears 31 are aligned with openings I2 and I5, these wing blade sections will assume the position shown in Figure 6; and if the opening in the pairs of ears 31 are aligned with openings I4 and II, the wing blade sections will assume the position shown in Figure '1. Once the position of the wing blade "sections have been determined, the

f arms are secured to the beams and the wing sections are held in fixed position.

The positions which the wing sections I8 and 20 assume with respect to each other and to the I central blade section I9 are controllable only by the number of openings formed in the beams I and 2 which, in the drawings, are shown as three in number for each beam.

It should be pointed out that, when a bulldozer embodying the foregoing construction is attached to a tractor which is engaged in arch logging, it possesses more effective maneuverability in close quarters. Furthermore, a scraper or bulldozer blade and supporting frame therefor of the type illustrated and described is admirably adapted to clear paths for the tractor without creating too heavy a load on the tractor itself, since its primary function is to remove logs from the logging area. When the blades are positioned as shown in Figure 7, they are helpful in acting asa wedge for the-tractor in its travel through areas where logs are lying too close together and also assists in steering the tractor away from obstructions, since the folded wings would not become snagged in stumps and other obstructive matter normally found in logging areas.

From the foregoing description, it will undoubtedly appear that the invention as described satisfies the objects and points out the advantages claimed for this inv ntion. While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment, it should be understood that variants thereof are possible to those skilled in the art. The invention,'-therefore, in its broader aspect, is not limited to the specific construction herein shown and described, since changes and alterations may be made in the proportions and arrangements of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and upon which I desire to secure Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described including a tractor or similar vehicle, an approximately U-shaped frame pivotally connected to said tractor or similar vehicle, said frame comprising a pair of side beams disposed on each side of the vehicle and extending forwardly thereof, inwardly and forwardly inclined beam extensions joined to said beams and a transverse front'beam joining said beam extensions to each other, a scraper or bulldozer blade connected to said frame, said blade comprising a central section secured to the transverse front beam and a pair of wing sections hingedly secured to said transverse front beam and positioned on each end of said. central section, said wing sections being so hinged .to said transverse front beam that they may be swung forwardly or rearwardly independent of each other, and means secured to said wing sections and positionable upon the side beams of said frame adapted to control the position of each of said wing sections relative to the frame and to the central section of said blade.

2. In a device of the class described including a tractor or similar vehicle, an approximately" U-shaped frame pivotally connected to said tractor or similar vehicle, sald frame comprising a pair of side beams disposed on each side of the vehicle and extending forwardly thereof, inwardly and forwardly inclined beam extensions joined to said beams and a transverse front beam joining said beam extensions to each other, a scraper or bulldozen blade connected to said frame, said blade comprising a central section secured to the transverse front beam and a pair of wing sections hingedly secured to said transverse front beam and positioned on each end of said central section, said'wing sections being so hinged to said transverse front beam that they may be swung forwardly or rearwardly independent of each other, and channel arms secured to said wing sections, said arms having sliding, adjustable connection with the side beams of said frames whereby the wing sections of said blade may be tractor or similar vehicle, an approximately U- tion, said wing sections being so hinged to said,

shaped frame pivotally connected to said tractor comprising a central section secured tothe transverse front beam and a, pair of wing sections hingedly secured to said transverse frontbeam and positioned on each end of said central sectransverse front-beam that they may be swung forwardly or rearwardly independent of each other,'means securedto said wing sections and positionable upon the side beams of said frame adapted to control the position of each of said wing sections relative to the frame and to the .central section of said blade, and "means for locking said first-mentioned means to said frame adapted to'rigidly hold said wing sections at the predetermined positions. at

4. In a device of the class described including adjusted to a plurality of working positions.

3. In a device of the, class described including a a tractor or similar vehicle, an approximately U -shaped frame pivotally connected to said tractor or similar vehicle, said frame comprising a pair of side beams disposed on each side of the vehicle and extending forwardly thereof, inwardly and forwardly inclined beam extensions joined 'tosaid'beams and a transverse front beam joining said beam extensions to each other, a scraper or bulldozer blade connected to said frame, said blade comprising a central section secured to the transverse front beamand a pair of wing sections hingedly secured to said transverse front 'beam and positioned on each end of said central section, said wing sections being so hinged to said transverse front beam that they may be swung forwardly or rearwardly independent of each other, channel armssecnred to said wing sections, said arms having sliding, adjustable connection with the sidebeams of'said frames whereby the wing sections of said blade may be adjusted to aplural'ity of working positions, and means for adjustablysecuring said channel arms to the side beams of said frame adapted to rigidly hold saidwing sections in any one of the plurality of working predeterminedpositions.

HAROLD SORENSEN.