US2280696A - french - Google Patents

Description

April 1942- H. c. FRENCH 2,280,696

ROAD SCRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 19:59 5 Shets-Sheet 1.

April 21, 1942. H. c. FRENCH ROAD SCRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mw v ww mu 5 mu .MX I I l I I I I l April 21, 1942. H. c. FRENCH ROAD S GRAPE R Filed Sept. 9, 1959 5 SheetsSheet 5 lNV ENTOR ATTORNE April 21, 1942. H. c. FRENCH ROAD S CRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 M52211 BY ATTORN EY April 21, 1942. H. c. FRENCH ROAD SCRAPER Filed Sept. 9, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR BY film/.1115,

$777M ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 21, 1942 I ROAD scum I Henry 0. French, Milwaukee. Win, allignor to The Hell Milwaukee, Wk, a corporation Wisconsin Application September 9, 1939, Serial No. 294,047

Claim;

The present invention relates in general to improvements in the art of dirt moving, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of scrapers for digging, hauling and spreading earth or the like.

Generally deflned, an object of the invention is to provide an improved scraper assemblage which is simple but durable in construction, and which is moreover highly eflicient in use.

Some of the more important specific objects of my present invention are as follows:

To provide a new and useful load carrying scraper of the tractor propelled and cable operated type, which is extremely flexible in operation and may be used interchangeably for digging, hauling and spreading purposes.

To provide an improved road scraper of the tlltable bowl and front apron type, which is conveniently manipulable to confine and discharge the loads in an expeditious manner.

To provide an exceedingly strong load carrying scraper assemblage of large capacity, and which is rapidly manipulable to elevate and to unload the dirt confining bowl, with relatively simple mechanism.

To provide an improved tiltable bowl scraper unit having simple and efficient mechanism for dumping the load from the bowl and for restoring the latter to load receiving position.

To provide an improved cable actuated scraper having improved instrumentalities'for clamping and for renewing the operating cables when broken or damaged.

To provide a sturdy and durable scraper assemblage which may be readily constructed of sheet metal and standard bar stock or the like, at relatively low cost.

To provide various other improvements in the construction and operation of dig and carry scrapers whereby the cost of construction and operation is reduced to a minimum, and which scrapers are operable with maximum efficiency and capacity under most adverse conditions.

These and other specific objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting my present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of assembling a dig and carry scraper built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this speciflcation wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a rear and side perspective view of the improved dig and carry scraper in load transporting condition with the bowl in loading carrying position but elevated from'theground, and with the front apron lowered;

Fig. 2 is a front and side perspective view of the same scraper with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section through the improved scraper of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the parts in normal cutting and loading, or scraping position;

Fig. 4 is a similar longitudinal sectional view, showing the parts in load carrying or transporting position;

Fig. 5 is another similar longitudinal sectional view, showing the parts in load discharging and spreading position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through one of the improved resilient cable connectors and clamps;

Fig. 7 is a further enlarged end view of the improved cable attachment of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the improved dig and carry scraper assemblage.

While I have shown the improvements as being specifically embodied in a two cable actuated dig and carry road scraper of large capacity and having a bodily tiltable load confining bowl cooperable with a pivotally suspended front apron, it is not the intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the improved dig and carry road scraper specifically illustrated therein comprises in general a rugged front frame [0 transportable by and swingably suspended from a front wheel supported carriage II, and having laterally separated rearwardly extending integral side arms I2; a rugged rear frame i3 transportable by and swingably suspended from a rear wheel supported carriage i4, and having laterally separated forwardly extending integral opposite side walls or plates i5 disposed between the rear ends of the front frame arms I! and rigidly interconnected by means of a front crossbeam iii, a lower cross-beam i1, and upper and lower rear cross-beams l8, l9 respectively; alined pivots 20 articulably interconnecting the rear ends of the front frame arms l2 with the medial lower outer portions of the rear frame side plates I 5 slightly above the cross-beam l1; an L-shaped load supporting bowl 2| pivotally suspended at the front portion of its bottom 22 from the rear frame l3 near the cross-beam H by means of a pivot shaft 23, and having its rear wall 24 cooperable with the rear beams I8, I9 to support the load; a front load confining apron 25 having integral side arms 25 located between and swingably suspended from the upper medial inner portions of the side plates I5 by means of pivot pins 21, and being cooperable with the lower cross-beam I! or with a cutting blade 28 mounted on this cross-beam, and with the side plates I5 to normally confine the loads within the tiltable bowl 2| a frame articulating lever 29 swingably suspended at its medial portion from the front frame III by means of a pivot shaft 30 and having its rear end connected to the medial portion of the front cross-beam I6 of the rear frame I3 by means ofa set of links 3| and pivot pins 32, 33; improved mechanism for effecting actuation of the bowl 2| and of the apron 25 to swing these elements about their suspension pivots; and other improved mechanism for bodily raising and lowering the bowl 2|, apron 25 and blade 23.

The frames I 0, I3, bowl 2| and apron 25 may be formed of rigid sheet metal plate welded or otherwise firmly united; and the front frame I3 and carriage II are transportable on rubber tired wheels 34 which normally travel in front of and centrally of the path of scraping and dumping, while the rear frame I3 and carriage I4 are transportable on similar wheels 35 which travel rearwardly of and near the extreme opposite sides of the path of cutting and dumping, thereby providing a stable transportable support for the scraper unit. The front carriage II is preferably provided wth a suitable draw bar 36 adapted for convenient attachment to a tractor, and the rear carriage I4 may be provided with a pusher extension and paid 31 for facilitating advancement of the scraper by means of a power unit applied to the rear of the assemblage, see Figs. 1 and 2. The front frame I is of box-beam construction and must be of sufllcient height to clear the carriage II and wheels 34 when these elements are swung about their vertical axis for steering and lateral guiding, and the lever supporting pivot shaft 30 is mounted upon a bracket 33 secured to the upper cross-beam of the frame III. The rear frame I3 is swingably suspended from the axle of the rear carriage I4 so as to swing only in a vertical plane and not laterally of the wheels 35, and the opposite side walls or plates l of the frame I3 may be abundantly re-' inforced by means of external ribs 39 in order to avoid distortion or deflection thereof. These parallel vertical plates I5 are moreover rigidly united by the cross-beams I6, II, I8, I9 which are welded or otherwise firmly attached thereto; and the space between the lower beams |I, I3 is open as shown in Fig. 5 in order to permit material which may escape from the bowl 2|, to drop freely to the ground, thus making the bowl the primary load holder.

The L-shaped bowl 2| or movable load carrying element which constitutes the sole means for directly supporting the weight of a load 40 as will be clearly apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, preferably has its bottom 22 and rear wall 24 formed of a continuous durable sheet of metal, and is also abundantly reinforced by ribs 4|, a top transverse beam 42, and a curved corner plate 43, the latter being provided with supporting cleats 44. The bowl 2| is swingable between the side plates I5 of the frame I3 about the pivot shaft 23, and when the bowl is in load receiving and supporting position as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the upper beam 42 coacts with the rear frame beam I 3 while the curved plate 43 coacts with the cross-beam I3 through the lugs orcleats 44 which are rigidly attached to the plate 43. The upper portion of the rear wall 24 is provided with integral ears 45, and the cross-beam I3 of the rear frame I3 is preferably provided with an upwardly and forwardly inclined stiff plate 43 extending entirely across the top of the bowl 2| and cooperating with the rear wall 24 thereof, to prevent material from spilling over the beam I8, and to also direct the material rising along this wall forwardly into the bowl. The lower cross-beam I] of the rear frame I3 must be of exceptionally rigid construction, and the cutting blade 28 which is reversible, is detachably secured to this beam I! by means of bolts 41 or the like.

The front apron 25 which spans the gap between the side walls I5 of the frame I3, may be built up of sheets of metal welded together as 201 illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and has a lower reinforced edge portion 48 which is cooperable with the blade 28 to effectively confine the load 40 within the bowl 2|, see Fig. 4. The front of the apron 25 is provided with rigid ears 49, and the side arms 26 which swingably support the apron 25 are abruptly curved in order to clear other movable parts and to avoid interference by the load 40 to lowering movement of the apron. One or both of the apron suspension arms 26 which swing between and in close proximity to the side walls I5, may be provided with a bowl kick-back projection 53 near its pivot pin 21; and these projections 50 are so formed and positioned that when the apron 25 is dropped from uppermost position as shown in Fig. 5, and the bowl 2| is uppermost, the projections will strike the bowl bottom 22 and will thereby start the bowl 2| on its descending movement toward lowered position.

The mechanism for effecting actuation of the bowl 2| and front apron 25 so as to swing these parts about their respective suspension pivots 23, 21, may comprise either a single cable for elevating both the bowl and apron in proper sequence. The rear frame I3 is preferably provided with a pair of upwardly and forwardly inclined tracks or rails 5| the rear lower ends of which are rigidly attached to and supported by the transverse plate 45, and the front upper ends of which are fixedly supported from the cross-beam I6 by means of outwardly inclined struts 52, see Fig. 8. A pair of cable sheaves 53 are mounted on a shaft 54 carried by the upper end of an L-shaped bowl actuating arm 55 the lower end of which is attached to the ears 45 by a pivot pin 56, and the shaft 54 is provided with end rollers 51 which are adapted to travel along the inclined parallel rails 5|. The sheaves 53 are therefore simultaneously rollable along the tracks 5|, and when these sheaves are advanced upwardly along the track rails, the bowl 2| is tilted about its pivot shaft 23, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, and dumps the material therein forwardly over the blade 28. The front apron 25 has a single cable sheave 58 journalled in its front flanges 49 by means of a shaft 59,

lever 28, by means of a journal shaft 84; and a single continuous flexible member or cable 58 coacts with all of the sheaves 53, 52, 58, 58, in such manner that a pull on the cable 85 will first elevate the apron 25 and will thereafter tilt the bowl 2|.

The cable 55 passes from the equalizing sheave 88 upwardly over one of the sheaves 52; from thence downwardly around the sheave 58; from the sheave 58 upwardly and around another sheave 52; from this second sheave 52 rearwardly and around one of the sheaves 53; from this sheave 53 forwardly and around the third sheave 52; from this sheave 52 rearwardly around the second sheave 58; from this last sheave 55 forwardly and around the fourth sheave 52; and from this last sheave 52 rearwardly and through one of the improved cable clamps 55 to .a cable supply reel 51 mounted upon the rear end of the frame l3, see Fig. 8. The front end of the blade elevating lever 28 has a shaft 58 mounted thereon, and this shaft 58 provides a rotary support for live alined sheaves 55. Mounted upon a shaft 14 journalled at the forward upper end of the front frame l5, is another group of five sheaves 15, and in front of these sheaves 15 a group of four parallel vertical guide rollers II is located. The elevating cable 55 for the apron 25 and bowl 2|, after coacting with the sheave 53, extends forwardly and upwardly over one of the sheaves 58 and downwardly therefrom beneath one of the complementary sheaves 15. From this lower sheave 15, the cable 55 extends forwardly over a guide roller 12 and between two of the rollers H to the hoisting drum or winch, which is not shown, but is ordinarily located near the drivers seat on the propelling tractor. The arrangement of cable 55 and of the sheaves with which this cable coacts, is obviously such that when a pull is exerted on the cable 55- the front apron 25 and bowl 2| will be elevated as shown in Fig. 5, whereas release of the pull on the cable 55 will cause these elements to drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 4. The front apron 25 may however be elevated and retained in any intermediate position, such as shown in Fig. 3, without affecting the position of the bowl 2|.

The front and rear frames l5, l3 which are articulably connected by the pivot shafts 25, may be swung relatively to each other about these shafts, by means of another flexible member or cable 13. This cable 13 extends from the hoist or winch on the tractor, rearwardly between the other set of vertical guide rollers over the horizontal guide roller 12, and after winding successively about the remaining complementary sets of front sheaves 59, 15, the cable 13 passes through another cable clamp 55 and connects with a second cable supply reel 51 carried by the front frame "I, see Fig. 8. The cooperation between the cable 13 and the sheaves 59, I5 is such that when a pull is exerted on the cable I3 the lever 29 will be swung about its pivots 35 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, thereby elevating the cutting blade." away from the ground. When the pull on the cable 13 is released, the weight of the rear frame l3 and bowl 2| will cause the blade 28 to move downwardly either to the position shown in Fig. 3, or to some intermediate position such as illustrated in Fig. 5 dependent upon the complete or only partial release of the pull. The two cables 55, 13 are manipulable independently of each other, and are also independently renewable.

The improved cable clamps 55 which cooperate with the cables 55, 18 are of similar construction as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and each'of these clamps 55 comprises a tubular casing 15 rigidly attached to the adjacent frame |5, I8 and having a flange 18 secured to one end thereof; an elongated tube 11 extending through and beyond the casing 15 and having nuts 18 secured to one end and coactlng with the casing flange 15, the opposite end of the tube 11 having a head 18 rigidly attached thereto; a helical compression spring embracing the tube Fl and coacting with the flange I5 and head 18; a pair of wedge lugs 8| formed integral with the head 18 and coacting with a cable 55, '13 extending through the tube 11; and a wedge element 82 also coacting with the cable and with the lugs 8| to firmly clamp the cable in any desired position. The nuts 18 may obviously be adjusted to vary the compression of the spring 85, and the wedge element 82 is provided with a hole 83 for facilitating removal thereof. The head 18 may also be provided with a transverse hole 84 for facilitating removal of the wedge element 82, and when a cable 55, 18 becomes disabled, it may be readily replaced from one of the cable reels 51 by merely removing the clamping wedge element 82 coacting therewith and by subsequently drawing the new cable stock through the tube 11 and replacing the wedge 82 in proper position against the new section. The casing I5 acts as a guard for the spring 85, and the bracket 55 guards the sheaves 52; and a similar guard plate 85 may be provided for the sheaves 58. The rails 5| may also be rigidly interconnected by a guard plate 85, and other guards may be provided wherever needed or desired.

During normal operation of the improved scraper, the front and rear frames l5, l3 may be relatively adjusted so as to either lower the blade 28 into the cut as shown in Fig. 3 for loading purposes, or the blade may be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 4 for load carrying purposes; or the frames may be relatively positioned as in Fig. 5 for discharging and spreading purposes. When the assemblage is in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the scraper is advanced along the ground, the load 45 will enter the bowl 2| and will pile up within this bowl. If the load 45 reaches a height above the rear wall 24 of the bowl 2|, then the inclined plate 45 will become effective to prevent spilling of dirt and to direct the excess dirt forwardly into the bowl 2|. Any dirt which escapes along the opposite sides of the bowl 2| or over the rear wall thereof, will obviously fall freely to the ground since the bowl 2| is in fact the only load sustaining element in the assemblage. During scraping, the front apron 25 may be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3, or to any greater height, and as the load 45 accumulates within the bowl 2|, it is preferable to gradually lower the apron 25 so as to most effectively confine the load 45.

When the bowl 2| has been properly filled with dirt, the front apron 25 may be lowered into engagement with the blade 28, and the entire load 45 may be elevated from the ground as shown in Fig. 4. In order-to do this. it is only necessary to release the cable 55 whereupon the apron 25 will drop by gravity. The scraper with its confined load 45 may then be transported over the ground until it becomes desirable to discharge the load from within the bowl 2| In order to discharge and simultaneously spread the load 45, it is preferable to somewhat lower the cutting blade 28 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and this may be done by releasing the tension on the cable 13. When the blade 28 has been properly positioned, the cable 13 may be held, and the cable 65 may then be actuated to first elevate the front apron 25 to its extreme uppermost position, and to thereafter tilt the bowl 2! to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. During such tilting of the bowl 2|, the rollers 51 will ride upwardly along the rails 5| and will cause the link 55 to positively tilt the bowl. The load 40 will then be gradually delivered over the blade 28 and onto the ground, and the dirt will be simultaneously spread as the scraper unit is advanced along the ground.

When the load has been fully discharged from the bowl 2|, the tension on the cable 85 may be released. The apron 25 will then tend to drop by gravity, and while the bowl 2| should return to its normal lowered position by gravity, it may tend to remain in tilted position. The lugs 50 on the front apron 25 will then become effective and will directly engage the bottom 22 of the bowl 2|, thus starting the bowl on its initial movement toward lowered position. Since the bowl 2| has no opposite side walls, the lug 50 will directly engage the bowl bottom 22 and will thus insure return movement of the bowl 2| without danger of damaging the same.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that the improved mechanism may be readily utilized to effectively load the dirt carrying bowl, to transport the load from one place to another, and to finally discharge and spread the dirt during discharge thereof. All of these operations may be quickly and effectively accomplished with the aid of relatively few cables, and the improved cable clamping mechanism obviously provides means for rapidly renewing the cables when they become disabled or broken. The use of the lever 29 mounted on the front frame It and coacting with the foremost portion of the rear frame I8, provides simple and effective means for changing the position of the blade 28, and this blade 28 may obviously be supported either on the cross-beam H, or directly on the tiltable bowl 2|. When the bowl 2| is in lowermost position, it is rigidly supported by the rear beams I8, i9, and the front beam I6 provides a support for the rails 5i and the supporting struts 52. The various cable sheaves are effectively protected against possible damage due to exposure tothe weather and dirt, and the entire assemblage is of extreme rigidity and strength and will thus eifectively withstand the abuse to which such machines are normally subjected. The improved machine has proven highly satisfactory in principle, and may be readily controlled and manipulated by a single operator located on the propelling vehicle.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a transportable frame, a load carrying bowl having a bottom formed with a rear wall and movable relative to said frame, a track carried centrally above said frame, sheaves movable along said track and being connected to said bowl, and a cable for advancing said sheaves along said track to move said bowl relative to said frame.

2. In combination, a transportable frame, a

load confining bowl having a bottom formed with a rear wall and tiltable upon said frame, a track supported by said frame centrally above said bowl, sheaves movable along said track and being connected to said bowl remote from its axis of swing, rollers supporting said movable sheaves upon said track, and a cable for advancing said sheaves along said track to tilt said bowl relative to said frame.

3. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side portions rigidly interconnected by an upwardly and forwardly inclined transverse plate member, a scraper blade interposed between said side portions forwardly. of said plate member, and a load carrying element forming a movable bottom swingably supported near said blade and having an upwardly projecting rear portion the upper edge of which is swingable :long and in close proximity to said plate mem- 4. In combination, a. transportable frame having opposite side portions rigidly interconnected by an upwardly and forwardly inclined transverse plate member, a scraper blade interposed between said side portions forwardly of said plate member, a load carrying element forming a movable bottom swingably supported near said blade and having an upwardly projecting rear portion the upper edge of which is swingable along and in close proximity to said plate member, and means operable from the front of said frame for swinging said element to dump material over said blade.

5. In combination, a wheel supported transportable frame having laterally spaced opposite side walls rigidly interconnected at the rear by a transverse forwardly and upwardly inclined plate member and at their medial lower portions by a transverse beam, a scraper blade carried by said beam, and a load carrying element forming a movable bottom pivotally suspended from said beam and having its rear end provided with an upwardly projecting scraping edge swingable along and in close proximity to said plate member.

6. In combination, a wheel supported transportable frame having laterally spaced opposite side walls rigidly interconnected at the rear by a transverse forwardly and upwardly inclined plate member and at their medial lower portions by a transverse beam, a scraper blade carried by said beam, a load carrying element forming a movable bottom pivotally suspended from said beam and having its rear end provided with an upwardly projecting scraping edge swingable along and in close proximity to said plate member, and cable means operable from the front of said frame for swinging said element to dump material over said blade.

7. In combination, a transportable frame having a cutting blade rigidly attached thereto, a load carrying bowl having a bottom and a rear wall pivotally attached to said frame near said blade, a track carried by said frame intermediate the width of said bowl, a sheave movable along said track, a link connecting said sheave with said bowl remote from the pivotal axis of the latter, and means for advancing said sheave along said track to tilt said bowl about said axis.

8. In combination, a transportable frame having a cutting blade rigidly attached thereto, a load carrying bowl having a bottom and a rear wall pivotally attached to said frame near said blade, a track carried by said frame directly over said bowl and intermediate the width of the latter, a sheave movable upon rollers along said track, a link connecting said sheave with the rear wall of said bowl remote from the pivotal axis of the bowl, a second sheave fixedly journaled to said track, and a cable coacting with said sheaves to advance said movable sheave along said track and thereby tilt said bowl about said axis.

9. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side walls interconnected by a transverse front beam member and by a transverse rear forwardly and upwardly inclined plate member, a scraper blade interposed between said side walls rearwardly of said beam and forwardly of said plate member, a load carrying element having a movable bottom and having a rear wall, said element being pivotally supported near said blade and having the upper edge of its rear wall swingable along and in close proximity to said plate member, a track carried by said frame beam and plate member above said element and intermediate the width of the latter, a sheave movable along said track and being connected to said rear wall portion of said element, and cable means for advancing said means along said track.

10. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side walls interconnected by a transverse front beam member and by a transverse rear forwardly. and upwardly inclined plate member, a scraper blade interposed between said side walls rearwardly of said beam and forwardly of said plate member, a load carrying element having a movable bottom and having a rear wall, said element being pivotally supported near said blade and having the upper edge of its rear wall swingable along and in close proximity to said plate member, a track carried by said frame beam and plate member above said element and intermediate the width of the latter, a sheave movable along said track, a link pivotally connected to said sheave and to said swinging rear wall of said element, and cable means for advancing said sheave along said track.

11. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side portions, a scraper blade interposed between said side portions, a load carrying element forming a movable bottom swingablysupported near said blade and having an upwardly projecting rear portion, a transverse plate member connecting opposite side portions of the frame and projecting upwardly and forwardly at an incline above the upwardly projecting rear portion of the load carrying element and normally cooperating therewith to form a rear wall, the upper edge of said upwardly projecting rear portion of the load carrying element being swingable along and in close proximity to said plate member to remove material from contact with the latter.

12. In combination, a transportable frame having opposite side portions, a scraper blade interposed between said side portions, a load carrying element forming a movable bottom swingably supported near said blade and having an upwardly projecting rear portion of less height than said side portions, a transverse plate member connecting opposite side portions of the frame and projecting upwardly and forwardly at an incline above the upwardly projecting rear portion of the load carrying element and normally cooperating therewith to form a rear wall, the upper edge of said upwardly projecting rear portion of the load carrying element being swingable along and in close proximity to said plate member to remove material from contact with the latter.

HENRY C. FRENCH.

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