US2251338A

US2251338A - Carrier scraper

Info

Publication number: US2251338A
Application number: US296832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alvie D Mccollum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-09-27
Filing date: 1939-09-27
Publication date: 1941-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-05

Description

Aug. 5, W41. A. D. MCC OLLUM 2,251,338

CARRIER SCRAPER Original Filed Nov. 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ail-g. 5, 1941. A. D. MCCOLLUM CARRIER S CRAPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 28, 1936 M 0/ & w 6. M

I Z @kehum;

ATTORNEY A. D. MccoLLu v CARRIER SORAPER Original Filed Nov. 28,

1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR m w m C. M

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED ST CARRIER SCRAPER Alvie I). McCollum, San Fernando, Calif;

Continuation of application Serial No. 113,198; November 28, 1936. This application Septem ber 27, 1939, Serial No. 296,832

16 Claims.

My invention relates generally to an earth moving implement and has particular reference to an improved carrier scraper.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 113,198, filed November 28, 1936.

For moving earth it is the common practice to employ what is known as a carrier scraper coupled to a tractor or other suitable power device and in which the carrier scraper includes a body portion or bowl into which dirt is scraped as the implement is moved over the ground surface, the earth passing into the bowl until the bowl is substantially filled and then an apron or member mounted to cooperate with the front edge of the bowl closes the front edge to retain the earth within the bowl While the implement with its load of earth is transported to the location at which such earth is to be dumped.

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been encountered in ejecting or dumping the earth from such carrier scrapers due to the fact that at least a considerable portion of the bowl or load carrying member had a considerable horizontal ex tent, making it necessary to push or scrape the earth from the bowl after the apron or front cover is opened.

Tail plates or ejectors have been employed as plate members extending across the interior of the bowl and adapted to be swung forwardly through the bowl during the dumping period but such tail plates or ejectors occupy a considerable part of the effective load carrying portion of the carrier scrapers so as to reduce the effective capacity ofsuch implements. Moreover, it has been difficult to arrange such tail plates or ejectors to substantially clean out the bowls because of the varying contour of the bowls and the difliculty in causing such tail plates to move through a path which conforms with such varying contour.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a carrier scraper of the character described which includes a bowl member, at least the rearward portion of which sweeps upwardly along a curve and in which a tail piece is employed which occupies a normal position above the maximum load level of the bowl so as not to interfere with the carrying capacity of the bowl.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier scraper of the character set forth in which the tail plate is so constructed and so mounted upon the bowl that during the ejecting action thereof it will pass through a path of movement which conforms with the varying contour of the bowl and thus permits the use of a bowl having a considerable horizontal portion as well as a curved or upwardly sloping rear end.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier scraper of the type set forth in which the tail plate may be pivoted upon the bowl and yet move through a path of movement conforming with a curved or sloping contour not centered at the pivot point of the plate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carrier scraper of the type set forth in which the tail plate and apron are so coupled together that the opening of the apron is accompanied by a movement of the tail plate into and through the bowl to eject the contents thereof and in which the operation of ejection of the material does not begin until the apron has been moved suficiently to an open position to allow the contents toescape from the bowl.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan View of my improved carrier scraper;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the scraper with the parts in earth carrying position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating the mounting of the fixed tail plate section in connection with the adjacent end of one of the front apron supporting arms and the actuating gear; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the bowl and front apron structure and including the tail plate arrangement shown in different positions.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, my improved carrier scraper comprises transversely spaced side beams I and a rear cross beam 2. Spaced wheels 3, suitably journaled in connection with the rear ends of the side beams, support the rear end of the implement. The forward ends of beams l converge inwardly at an upward slope, as at 4, andare secured at their forward ends to a substantially vertical sleeve 5. The sleeve 5 is also supported from a front cross beam 6 by means of a center beam 1.

The sleeve 5 is substantially rectangular in cross section and a rack bar 8 extends through the sleeve and is swivelly mounted at its lower end on the front wheel truck 9 of the implement. A hitch Hi is pivoted at one end to the front truck and projects forward for connection to a tractor.

To raise and lower the main body of the implement, the rack bar is moved through the sleeve by means of a driven pinion l I journaled in a case l2 on sleeve 5. The pinion is driven from the power take-off shaft of the tractor by means of a self-aligning drive shaft and universal gearing mechanism, indicated in part at I3, and of the type shown in my United States Patent No. 2,050,- 497, dated August 11, 1936. Rollers R are mounted in connection with the sleeve to cooperate with the rack bar to reduce the frictional drag between the sleeve and bar.

The scraper bowl comprises side plates M which may be secured to the side beams I intermediate the front and rear cross beams while the bottom of the bowl may be formed as a bottom plate l5 having any desired contour. As illustrated herein, the contour of the bottom plate includes a relatively long horizontally extending or fiat portion lEa (see Fig. 4) and an upwardly sloping or curving rearward portion Hi, the bottom being formed either as a single plate having horizontally and upwardly curving portions or may be formed of a horizontally extending plate and a separate curved plate making a smooth juncture therewith.

This shape of bowl provides a relatively great carrying capacity for the scraper carrier since the load of earth may build up within the scraper bowl not only to a relatively great vertical extent but also to a substantial extent in the horizontal direction. The load carrying capacity of the scraper bowl is therefore defined by the vertical extent of the side walls or plates I l and the vertical extent of the upwardly sloping or curving portion of the bottom plate [5. Thus as the scraper carrier is moved forwardly over the ground surface, earth is scraped up at the forward edge of the bottom plate l5, which may be provided with a downwardly extending cutting or scraping plate l1, and the earth so dislodged will be passed into the bowl until the bowl has been filled to the capacity defined by its walls.

Supporting plates 88 are secured to the side plates I l and project above the upper edge thereof, each of the plates l3 having a longitudinal slot i9 cut therein and a horizontal rack bar 20 secured to the inner face of each plate above the slot.

The tail plate comprises an inner fixed section 2! and an outer section 22 slidable therein, the sections extending in width from side to side of the bowl of the scraper. These two sections are secured together and function in the manner hereinafter described.

Stub shafts 23 are fixed to the sides of the inner section 2! adjacent its rear end and project outwardly through the adjacent slot I9. A spur gear 2% is also fixed to each stub shaft inward of the adjacent plate 58 and meshes with the corresponding horizontal rack bar 20.

A laterally extending pin 25 is secured to each side of the slidable section 22 and projects through a slot 26 in the corresponding side of the fixed section 2| and thence engages in a slot 21 in the adjacent plate 18. Compression springs S may, if desired, be disposed in the inner sections and engage with the slidable outer section, whereby to stabilize the latter as it moves by reason of the slot and pin arrangement.

The slots 21 are of such configuration that, as the stub shafts 23 are rotated, in the manner hereinafter described, and move forward in slot if; under the influence of gears 24 and rack bars 26, the outer section 22 will be positioned at all times with its outer edge in close proximity to the inner face of the bowl and will follow the changing contour of the rear end and bottom of the bowl so as to insure complete ejection of all of the contents of the bowl. Moreover, if, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the tail plate is swung to a position entirely clear of the bowl, the slots 21 and pins 25 will guide the outer section 22 of the tail plate into alignment with the upper edge of the bowl as the tail plate re-enters the bowl.

A front apron 28 is provided for closing the open front end of the bowl to hold the contents therein during transportation from the point of digging or scraping to the point of dumping of the earth from the bowl, and is mounted ahead of the bowl for cooperation therewith, said apron being supported from the stub shafts 23 and the inner tail plate section by means of transversely spaced, downwardly sloping arms 29. These arms 29 are rigidly fixed to shafts 23 in such position that when the apron is closed and engaging the front edge of the bowl, the tail plate will be disposed in a position above the height of the maximum load allowed by the capacity of the bowl, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. In the form of the device illustrated herein, the tail plate and the apron supporting arms both rigidly mounted upon the same stub shaft 23 so as to move as a unit; that is, whenever the apron is raised or swung upwardly through any arc, the tail plate will swing downwardly through a corresponding arc and I therefore prefer to mount the tail plate and apron in such positions relative to each other that when the apron is completely closed the tail plate will be disposed above the top of the bowl. Thus when the tai1 plate is partially raised, as when the bowl is digging or scraping contents into itself, the tail plate will still be in a position above the maximum expected load in the bowl.

A further advantage is accomplished by this arrangement in that during the dumping operations the apron may be raised up sufiiciently to allow the contents to be ejected from the bowl before the tai1 plate starts to exert ejecting force upon the load. However, it will be understood by those skilled in this art that other means of coordinating the movements of the tail plate and the apron may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention provided that during the digging operations the tail plate is disposed in such position relative to the bowl as not to interfere with the complete loading of the bowl to its maximum capacity and that during the dumping operations the apron will have moved sumciently to provide an exit before ejecting force is exerted by the tail plate.

The stub shafts 23 are driven from the power take-off of the tractor by means of the following structure: Another self-aligning drive shaft and universal gear mechanism, a portion of which is indicated at 3B, and of the type shown in the above mentioned patent, transmits power from the tractor to a shaft 33 which in turn drives a transverse shaft 32 by means of bevel gears 33. The shaft 32 is disposed above and extends beyond the ends of cross beam 6, the outer ends of the shaft supporting swivel gear boxes 3 Telescopic shafts 35 extend rearwardly from gear boxes 3&- and are secured at their rear ends in driving relation with the outer and projecting ends of stub shafts 23 by means of other swivel gear boxes 36 on the outer ends of said stub shafts.

In use my improve-d scraper functions in the following manner: The tongue HI is connected to a tractor and the tractor power take-off arranged in selective driving relation with the power transmitting mechanisms, shown in part at E3 and 3B. When it is desired to fill the bowl, the sleeve 5 is lowered by means of rack bar 8, pinion l l and mechanism 13 until the scraper blade i'l engages the ground. Apron 28 is raised a short distance by slightly rotating stub shafts 2-3 in a direction to raise arms 29 and in the manner above described. As the implement is drawn forward, the bowl is filled with earth and when full, the apron is closed by rotating shafts 23 in the other direction and the body raised by raising sleeve 5 relative to the rack bar 8. The implement is then drawn to the point where the earth is to be discharged.

'Io discharge the earth from the bowl, the stub shafts 23 are again rotated in a direction to raise arms 29 and apron 39, which also swings the tail plate into the bowl. As the tail plate sweeps through the bowl, the outer edge of slidable section 22 is maintained close to the inner face of the bowl throughout the entire length of the bowl, thereby assuring a complete discharge of all earth therefrom. This is accomplished by means of pins 25 projecting from the slidable section 22 and which pins ride in slots 2'! in plates is.

Not only is the outer edge of slidable section 22 maintained close to the inner face of the bowl during the dischar e operation but the pivoted axis of the tail plate moves forward during such operation resulting in keeping the tail plate in a substantially vertical position after it reaches such position adjacent the junction of the curved back plate with the flat bottom plate. This is accomplished by the use of the spur gears 24 on shafts 23 and which gears mesh with the fixed rack bars 26. As the shafts 23 are slidable in and float in slots i9, the shafts are moved forward under the influence of the gears and rack bars when the apron is raised and the tail plate sweeps through the bowl. Thus, when the tail plate reaches the point of final discharge from the bowl, the pivotal axis (shafts 23) of the tail plate has moved forward materially, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The telescopic shafts 3% permit such forward movement of shafts 23 and the attached swivel gear boxes 36. In this manner the tail plate may be maintained in a more effective operating position as it closely approaches and reaches the front edge of a relatively long bowl.

It will therefore be observed that I have provided a scraper carrier which is extremely elhcient in its earth moving operations in that the bowl may be constructed with any bottom contour best adapted for maximum load carrying capacities and yet the tail plate will so follow the contour of the bowl as to insure complete ejection of the contents therefrom. In addition, it will be noted that I have provided for coordinating the movements of the tail plate and the apron such that during the digging operations the tail plate will not occupy any of the effective load carrying space of the bowl and the full carrying capacity of the bowl may thus be effectively and eificiently utilized.

Further, by coordinating the movements of the apron and tail plate, a sufficient opening of the tail plate to permit ejection of the contents can be provided before the tail plate is brought into forceful contact with the load, even though the load carried by the bowl is the maximum of which the bowl is capable.

While for purposes of disclosing the additional advantages of my tail plate and apron construction when associated with a bowl having a considerable horizontal extent I have illustrated the mounting apparatus for the tail plate and apron as providing for a horizontal movement of the mounting devices, it will be apparent that the principles of my invention are equally adaptable with bowls having little or no fiat or horizontal -portions thereon, the advantages of locating the tail plate above the maximum load space during the digging operations and the ability of the tail plate to follow irregular contour of the bowl being equally pertinent to such bowl constructions.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A scraper comprising a bowl, an apron to close the front of the bowl, a tail plate to move from the back of the bowl to the front thereof to push the load therefrom, means connecting the apron and tail plate as a unit so that when the apron is in closing position, the plate will be clear of effective load space of the bowl, and means to control the unit to advance the plate in the bowl and at the same time raise the apron.

2. A scraper comprising a load'carrying bowl having side plates and a bottom, at least a portion of which curves upwardly to a position adjacent the upper edges of the side plates to define amaxi'mum load carrying space, a tail plate extending across the bowl for ejecting loads from said bowl, means pivoting said tail plate for swinging movement through said bowl, means for moving said tail plate through said bowl from an initial position disposing the tail plate clear of said load space, an apron for closing the front of said bowl, means mounting said apron for pivotal movement relative to said bowl between an open and a closed position, and means coupling said tail plate and said apron for movement as a unit and with said tail plate so disposed relative to said apron that said apron will have moved to a partially open position prior to engagement of said tail plate with a maximum sized load in said space.

3. A scraper comprising a bowl having a bottom plate and a back plate curving upwardly therefrom, an apron to close the front of the bowl, a tail plate to swing down the back plate onto the bottom plate to push the load from the bowl, means connecting the tail plate and apron as a unit so that when said apron is in closing position the tail plate is in a position above the effective load space of the bowl at the back, and means including a rotary shaft pivoting said unit on the bowl at a point substantially at the center of curvature of the back plate.

4. A scraper comprising a load carrying bowl having side plates and a bottom, varying in contour between a horizontally disposed portion and an upwardly curving rearward portion extending to a position adjacent the upper edges of said side plates to define a maximum load carrying space, a tail plate extending across said bowl for ejecting loads therefrom and comprising an inner section and an outer section slidable therealong, means pivoting said tail plate for swing ing movement through said bowl, means for moving said tail plate through said bowl from an initial position disposing the tail plate clear of said load space, and means associated with said tail plate for urging the outer section of said tail plate into close proximity to the surface of said bottom throughout the movement of said tail plate through said bowl.

5. A scraper comprising a load carrying bowl having side plates and a bottom, varying in contour between a horizontally disposed portion and an upwardly curving rearward portion extending to a position adjacent the upper edges of said side plates to define a maximum load carrying space, a tail plate extending across said bowl for ejecting loads therefrom, means pivoting said tail plate for swinging movement through said bowl, means for moving said tail plate through said bowl from an initial position disposing the tail plate clear of said load space, said tail plate having an outer edge radially movable with respect to said pivot, and means for positively moving said outer edge in a radial direction along a path corresponding to the varying contour of said bottom as said tail plate moves through said bowl.

6. A scraper comprising a bowl having a bottom plate, the forward portion of which is flat, and a back plate curving upwardly from the bottom plate and making a smooth juncture therewith, a tail plate comprising an inner section and an outer section slidable therein, a rotatable shaft fixed on the inner section, means mounting the shaft on the bowl for rotation and movement lengthwise of the bowl, means to rotate the shaftiin a direction to swing the tail plate down and forwardly from a substantially horizontal position at the top of the back plate of the bowl, meanscausing the shaft to advance along the bowl as it is rotated, and means acting on the outer tail plate section with such rotation and movement of the shaft to causethe outer end of the outer tail plate section to closely follow the inner surface of the back and bottom plates of the bowl.

7. A structure as in claim 6, in which said shaft advancing means comprises a rack fixed on ,1"

the bowl and disposed parallel with the path of advancing movement of the shaft, and a gear fixed concentric with the shaft and engaging the rack.

8. A structure as in claim 6, in which said last named means comprises a spring between the inner and outer tail plate sections and acting to force the latter outwardly. I

9. A structure as in claim 6, in which said last named means comprises a spring between the inner and outer tail plate sections and acting to force the latter outwardly, and a pin projecting laterally from said outer section, the side of the bowl having a guide slot for the pin.

10. A structure as in claim 6, in which said last named means includes a pin projecting laterally from the outer section of the tail plate, the side of the bowl having a slot to guide said pin throughout the length of swinging movement of the tail plate.

11. A scraper comprising a bowl having a bottom plate and a concavely curved back plate, a tail plate to swing through said bowl and contact the back and bottom plates, means fnounting the tail plate on the bowl including a cross shaft at the inner end of the tail plate, means mounting the shaft on the bowl for rotation and movement lengthwise of the bowl, means to swing the tail plate down and forwardly about the shaft as an axis from a position adjacent the top of the bowl, and means acting on the shaft and functioning with the swinging of the tail plate to cause the shaft to advance along the bowl.

12. A structure as in claim 11, in which the shaft is rigid with the tail plate, the shaft advancing means comprises a downwardly facing rack fixed on the bowl above the shaft extending lengthwise of the bowl, and a gear fixed concentric with the shaft and engaging the rack.

13. A structure as in claim 11, in which the tail plate includes an outer radially movable section, and means acting on said section to cause the outer edge of the same to follow the contour of and remain adjacent the back and bottom plates with the swinging and advancing movement of the tail plate.

14. A scraper of the class described, comprising a bowl having a bottom plate and a back plate curving upwardly from said bottom plate, a tail plate mounted in said bowl, movable pivots carried by said tail plate, means associated therewith to cause said tail plate to swing downwardly through the bowl from an initial normal position above the effective load space of the bowl to unload said bowl, and means associated with said bowl and said plate to control the rotary movement thereof to conform to the inner contour of said bowl.

15. A scraper of the class described, comprising a supporting frame having a scraper bowl mounted therein and including a bottom plate and an upwardly curved back plate, a swingable tail plate mounted in said bowl, movable pivots carried by said tail plate, means associated with said tail plate at the pivot points thereof to rotate the same from an initial position above said bowl and to and through said bowl, said means tending to cause said plate to conform to the contour of the bowl throughout its movement and a movable apron mounted in the opposite end of the bowl and cooperating with the movement of said tail plate.

16. A scraper of the class described, comprising a supporting frame having a scraper bowl mounted therein and including a bottom plate and an upwardly curved back plate, a swingable tail plate mounted in said bowl, movable pivots carried by said tail plate, means associated with said tail plate at the pivot points thereof to rotate the same from an initial position above the effective load space of said bowl and through said bowl, and said means tending to cause said plate to conform to the contour of the bowl throughout its movement and a movable apron mounted in the opposite end of the bowl and cooperating with the movement of said tail plate to unload the scraper bowl, and means for adjusting the position of the scraper bowl relative to the surface of the ground.

ALVIE D. McCOLLUM.