US2415728A

US2415728A - Peat digging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2415728A
Application number: US551551A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eli F Colby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-08-28
Filing date: 1944-08-28
Publication date: 1947-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1964-02-11

Description

Feb. 11, 1947. E, F, BY 2,415,728

FEAT DIGGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet, l

Feb. 11, 1947. E BY 2,415,728

PEAT DIGGING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1944 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 11, 1947. E. F. COLBY 2,415,728-

PEAT DIGGING- APPARATUS Filed Aug. 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented F eh. 1 1, 194? .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PEAT DIGGIN G APPARATUS Eli F. Colby, Hams, Iowa Application August 28, 1944, Serial No. 551,551

12 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in peat digging apparatus wherein it is desired to provide a device for removing peat from the ground and for maintaining the peat in brick or block form. i I

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in digging peat from the ground. While this material may be easily dug through the use of a power shovel or the like, it is often necessary to form the peat thus dug into blocks or billets so that it may be properly dried and handled. The peat is normally found in compacted state in the ground, but the digging operation ordinarily breaks up the peat into finely divided particles in which state the peat is difficult to dry or handle.

It is the object of the present invention to dig peat from the ground in naturally compacted blocks or bricks and to maintain the peat in its naturally compacted form so that it may be readily handled. Such a result has sometimes been accomplished by hand, but in such an instance the blocks are usually not of uniform size and the digging of the blocks manually is a costly operation. Through the use of my peat digging apparatus the .blocks are harvested in uniform size and at a speed which results in an economical operation.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a digging apparatus capable of traveling along the surface of the peat, and employing shovels or blades which extend down into the earth in such a manner that the peat remains in block form and may be removed in this state. In order to accomplish this result it is necessary to force the shovel blade into the earth along a substantially straight path and'to then incline the digging blade in a manner to break the block of peat away from the adjoining peat body.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a digging apparatus designed to travel along the surface of the body of peat at a uniform rate of speed, and to provide on this movable apparatus blades which may be forced down into the earth along a substantially straight path. In order to accomplish this result the downwardly urged blade must maintain a fixed angle with respect to the peat as the blade penetrates the same during the time the remainder of the digging apparatus is moving forwardly. As a result an unusual blade opera-ting mechanism is required.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an apparatus incorporating one or more digging bladesarranged to enter the body of peat along substantially parallel planes and to provide cutter blades on the rear surface of the digging blade or blades. These cutter blades cut the body of peat beneath the digging blade. As a result as the digging blade again enters the peat this material is cut into substantially rectangular blocks or pillars. Thus each time the digging blade enters the peat it cuts the peat along three sides of the blocks to be dug in the next operation. The next subsequent insertion of the blade into the peat completes the cutting of the pillars or blocks previously out along three sides and partially completes additional blocks.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a peat digging shovel capable of cutting peat into .blocks or bricks, and which supports these blocks and bricks freely as lifted. The blocks of peat are merely friction upon the shovel as they are elevated.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a peat digging apparatus which includes shovels capable of digging blocks of peat and depositing the same upon a conveyor or the like. Each shovel is so supported that it may be inverted so as to deposit the peat gently upon the surface of the ground or upon a suitably arranged conveyor.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a shovel pivotally supported along a line off-set from the axis thereof. As a result peat dug from the ground maybe gently deposited at a point laterally spaced from the point 1' extraction.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan view diagrammatically illustrating my peat digging apparatus.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the peat digging shovels.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of my peat digging apparatus in operation.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic the digging apparatus in that shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure lshowing a later step in the digging operation. s

Figure 6 is a detail View of the lock employed to hold the shovel from rotation.

The peat digging apparatus A, illustrated in general in Figure 1 of the drawings, comprises a frame l0 supported by endless treads H,such as are in common use. The treads H are supported side view showing a different position from they are held by betweenthe sleeves. I

by wheels such as the wheel l2 in Figure 3 of the drawings, which is supported by the frame [9. The wheels l2 are provided with sprockets 13, or are sprocket shaped to accommodate the treads l i and to drive the same.

The wheels l2 are supported upon axles l4 upon which are mounted suitable chain sprockets to support the chains l5. The chains 15 are pref erably operated by clutch sprockets mounted upon the transverse shaft 18. The shaft I9 is; driven through the beveled gears l7, one of which is mounted upon the longitudinally extending shaft l9. The shaft l9 supports a sprocket 29 upon which is engaged the chain 2| which also engages the sprocket 22 on the longitudinal shaft 23. A sprocket 24 on the-shaft 23 is operated by a chain 2-5 driven by a sprocket 26 on the engine crank shaft 21. The engine 29 mounted upon the frame l thus may selectively drive the and-- less treads ll through the clutch sprockets l so that either or both of the endless treads l i may be operated.

It will be noted that the shaft l6 rotates at a low speed relative to that of the engine 29 as in the power transmission system just described. The drive sprockets are smaller than the driven sprockets. Thus the treads are operated at a relatively low speed with respect to the speed of rotation of the engine 29.

The engine crank shaft 21 also drives a sprocket 30 engaging a belt .31 also mounted upon a sprocket 32. The sprocket 32 is mounted upon the shaft 33 which extends into the differential housing 34. Power is transmitted through the differential within the housing 94 and power is supplied through the differential to clutches 35 and 36. A shaft 37 is driven through the clutch 35 and operates a pinion 39. The pinion 39 rotates a gear 40 which carries the digging mechanism as will be later described.

'A shaft M is operated by the clutch 35. The shaft 4| supports a sprocket 42 on which a chain 43 is mounted to drive a similar sprocket 44 on the transverse stub shaft 45. Movement is transmitted through the bevel gears 46 to the longitudinai shaft 4'! which supports one end of an endless belt conveyor 49. The other end ofthe conveyor 49 may pass over an idle pulley to be supported thereby. I b

With particular reference now to the peat digging mechanism it will be noted that the gear 49 is mounted for rotation with a stub shaft 59 which projects from the hub of the gear 49. A pair of oppositely disposed internally threaded sleeves 51 project radially from the projecting shaft 59 and threaded arms 52 are adjustably supported in these sleeves 5!. Lock nuts 53 hold the rods 52 in adjusted position. Yokes or cradles 54 are provided at the extreme ends of the threaded rods 52 for a purpose which will hereinafter be described in detail. 7 V

Stub shafts 55 having their axes parallel to the axes of the gear 49 extend outwardly fromthe outer face of this gear. The shafts 55 are diametrically opposed and are positioned near the periphery of the gear 48. The stub shafts 55 each support a bearing sleev 59 which is secured to a second bearing sleeve 51 having its axis on a plane at right angles to a plane through the axis of the adjacent sleeve 56. In other words, the bearing sleeves 5B and 51 are tangentially connected together with the axis of each sleeve extending at right angles to aplane through the axis'of the other sleeve and through the pointof connection A shaft 59 is rotatably supported in each of the bearing sleeves 51. A pulley is secured to each shaft 59. A short length of flexible chain or cable BI is terminally connected to each pulley 69. A bracket arm 62 is secured to each

sleeve unit

56 and 51, projecting in the general direction of the center of the gear 49. The spring 93 is interposed between the inner extremity of each bracket arm 52 and the free end of the chain or cable 6 I. This spring 63'tends to rotate the shaft 59 in one direction, the rotation of the shaft 59 in the opposite y direction winding the chain or cable 61 upon the pulley 50 and stretching the spring 63. A gear or sprocket 94 for rotating the shaft 59 is secured for rotation with this shaft. As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, a channel bracket 65 is secured to the end of the shaft 59 to project to one side thereof. The channel bracket 65 forms a support for the shovel or blade element illustrated in general by the numeral 66 and forms one end of the shovel or blade element. An arm 51 extends parallel to the bracket 65 in spaced relation thereto. The bracket 65 and arm 61 are connected by two spaced opposed angle members 59 and by an intermediate supporting strip 79,

Cutting blades ll project rearwardly from the arm Bl for a purpose which will be later described in detail.

A ratchet arm 12 is supported upon a ratchet shaft 13 which extends through lugs 14 on the sleeve 56. Each ratchet arm 12 engages a lug 15 on a surface of each gear 64. The arm 12 is held normally in engagement with the surfaceof the gear 54 by means of a spring 16.

The ratchet shaft 13 is provided with a second arm 1'! substantially parallel to the ratchet arm '13. This arm ll is engageable with the edge 19 of a curved rack positioned beyond the periphery of the gear 40 and ofi-set laterally from the outer surface thereof. The rack 80 is properly positioned to engage the gear or sprocket 54 on the shaft 59 and the arm TI is properly proportioned to engage the rack edge 19 just before the gear or sprocket 64 engages the rack 80 so as to release the gear 64 for rotation just before rotation of the gear or sprocket by the rack 89 is initiated.

As shown'in Figure 6, a lug i5 is provided on the gear 64 substantially diametrically opposed to the lug [5. In one extreme position of the shovel blade, the lug 15' engages the fixed stop I8 on the sleeve 57. In other extreme position, the lug 15 en ages the stop 19, or else the lug 15' may engage a second fixed lug on the sleeve 51. Thus rotation of the shovel in both directions is limited.

As best illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, an arm 81 projects rearwardly from the channel bracket 65 and an arm 82 projects rear wardly from the sleeve 51. A spring 83 is interposed between the arms 8! and 82, a flexible chain or cable 84 forming a part of this connection. The spring 83 is expanded as the shovel 56 rotates about its axis and this spring 83 assists the spring 63 in returning the shovel to its normal position. On an axis extending substantially parallel to the axis of the gear 49 in normal position of the shovel 96 I provide a roller 85 on the extreme end of each shaft 59. The rollers 85 engage a cam track 85 which is supported by the frame of the apparatus infixed position. The cam track 86 acts to guide the shovel blades 66 into the earth at a predeter-- minedangle. This angle of the blade is normally maintained during the insertion of 'the shovel 75 ;until the proper-depth of stroke is reached, whereveyor 49,

upon the shovel will lift the out blocks of peat and has entered the earth. It will be'noted at this point of the operation that the roller 85 is engaged in the cam track 86 holding the shaft 59 at a slight angle to the vertical. It will also be noted that the stub shaft 55 about which the shovel arm of the shovel B3 entering the earth pivots, is approximately the same height as the gear shaft Rotation of the gear 43 in a countor-clockwise direction causes the shovel blade 66 to be forced into the earth-at a substantially constant angle and the speed of rotation of the gear 4!! is so synchronized with the speed of travel of the treads ll that the rearward movement of the stub shaft 55 substantially equals the forward movement of the shaft 50.

Figure 4 of the drawings illustrates the shovel 65 at a. later stage of insertion. It will be noted that at this point of the operation the roller 85 has been disengaged from the cam track (it. The hub 59 of the gear -El is moving forwardly with the apparatus, but the stub shaft 55 is moving rearwardly due to rotation of the gear This movement eventually brings the yoke end 56 of the .threaded rod 52 into engagement with the shaft 55.

Engagement of the shaft 59 by the yoke tends to hold the shovel at a fixed angle relative to the gear to. Figure 5 shows the shaft to in engagement with the adjustable stop Thus as soon as relative pivotal movement about the stub shaft 55 is arrested the shovel will begin itsoperation of lifting the peat blocks onto the con- The lifting operation of the shovel continues until the arm ll disengages the ratchet arm l2 from its lug l5 and the gear or sprocket G l en gages the arcuated rack 8d. Once the shaft 59 is free torotate about its axis and the gear 6 1 engages the rack to the inter-engagement between the racl: and the gear rotates the shaft til substantially one hundred eighty degrees. This movement obviously inverts the shovel 56. As the shovel is off-set from the shaft 5% rotation of the shovel acts to move the shovel into position above the end of the Conveyor 4 9 as best illustrated'in Figure 1 of the drawings. Thebloclis of peat are'accordingly deposited upon the conveyor 49 for conveying upwardly to be either removed by hand or deposited into a suitable receptacle.

It is interesting to note that the blocks of peat are partially cut during the preceding operation. In other words, as the shovel 6E5 enters the body of peat the rearwardly projecting blades ll out along three parallel planes as indicated by the dotted line 8?. Thus as the shovel enters the ground it cuts into the peat along the fourth side of two parallel rectangular pillars or blocks of peat, completing the formation thereof. This feature is important as I have found that when theblades such as ll project forwardly from the shovel they not only do not properly cut the blocks, but furthermore they interfere with the dropping of the blocks onto the-conveyor. Thus after one action of the shovel 66, the next two '6 blocks to be removed are completely out about three; sides of the same.

After the blocks B of peat have been deposited upon the conveyor 49 the shovel to is returned to its initial position by means of the springs 53' and 83.- This return of the shovel to its normal position takes place immediately after the gear or sprocket 64 is disengaged from the end of the rack at. In reality the shovel E6 would normally be returned to starting position by the time the shovel reaches the position shown at the right hand side of Figure 3 of the drawings. How

ever, it is desired to show one shovel in its posi-v tion as it starts entering the earth and the in: verted position of the other shovel has been shown to avoid the necessity of an additional figure in the drawings.

The connection between the arms BI and 82 is somewhat slack so that considerable rotation of the shovel may take place before expansion of the spring 83 is initiated. Thus the spring 33 merely supplements action of the spring 63 during the start of the return rotation of the shovel. The spring 83 thereby aids the spring 63 in overcoming inertia and once the rotation of the shovel in a return direction has been started the spring 83 ceases to function.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my peat digging apparatus, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A peat digging apparatus comprising a movable traction member, a rotatable member mounted upon a transverse axis thereupon, shovel means rotatably mounted upon a transverse aXls on said rotatable member spaced from and parallel to said'first named transverse axis, said rotatable member urging said shovel means into the ground, and means on said rotatable member for holding said shovel means in fixed relation to said rotatable member during part of the rotation thereof so as to lift said shovel.

2. A peat digging apparatus comprising a longitudinally movable support, a rotatable member having a transverse axis on said support, a shovel carried by said rotatable member and pivotally supported thereby, fixed means on said movable support cooperating with said shovel on said rotatable member to guide said shovel into the ground as said rotatable member rotates, and means on said rotatable member engageable with said shovel-to limit pivotal movement thereof 7 with respect to said rotatable means.

3. A peat digging apparatus comprising a longitudinally movable supporting vehicle, a rotatable member supported upon a transverse axis on said vehicle, a shovel pivotally secured to said rotatable member along a transverse axis, a fixed means for guiding said shovel into the ground upon rotation of said rotatable member during movement of said vehicle, and means on said rotatable member engageable with said shovel to limit pivotal movement of said shovel relative to said rotatable member, said last named means engaging said shovel at substantially the point of deepest penetration of said shovel.

4. A peat digging apparatus comprising a, traction vehicle, a rotatable member secured on an axis extending transversely of said vehicle, a shovel pivotally secured to said rotatable member,

plane as said rotatable member forces said'shovel into the peat, and means on said rotatable member engageable with said shovel to limit pivotal movement thereof relative to said rotatable member, said last named means engaging said shovel at substantially the point of deepest penetration of said shovel.

5. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, a rotatable member mounted upon an axis extending transversely of said vehicle, a shovel pivoted to said rotatable member on an axis parallelto said transverse axis, said shovel also being pivotal about an axis extending longitudinally thereof, means for guiding said shovel into the earth along a substantially straight path, means engageable with said shovel for limiting pivotal movement of said shovel about said parallel axis, and means for, rotating said shovel about said longitudinal axis.

6. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axis extending transversely thereof, a; rotatable member supported upon said axis, a transverse axis on said rotatable member, a shovel supported on said axis on said rotatable member, means rotatably supporting said shovel about an axis extending longitudinally thereof, means normally holding said shovel from rotation about said longitudinal axis and means releasing said shovel for rotation about said longitudinal axis.

' '7. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, a shaft extending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported upon said transverse axis, a transverse pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel pivotally supported by said pivot, said shovel being pivotal about an axis extending longitudinally thereof, means normally holding said shovel from rotation about said longitudinal axis, means releasing said shovel for rotation about said longitudinal axis, and means for rotating said shovel about said longitudinal axis.

8. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, shovel supporting mechanism for urging a shovel into the earth, a shovel longitudinally pivoted along one side edge thereof by said shovel supporting mechanism, means holding said shovel from pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, means releasing said holding means, and means for rotating said shovel about its longitudinal axis.

9. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axis extending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported upon said axis, a transverse pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel supported by said pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported along an axis extending longitudinally thereof, means normally urging said shovel in one rotative direction, and means for 8 rotating said shovel in the other rotatlve direction about said longitudinal axis.

10. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axis extending transversely thereof, a, rotatable member supported by said axis, a pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel pivotally supported upon said pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported on an aXlS extending longitudinally thereof, means normally holding said shovel from rotation, a gear on said shovel coaxial with said longitudinal axis, and a fixed rack engageable with said gear in one rotative position of said shovel to rotate said shovel about said longitudinal axis.

11. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axis'extending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported by said axis, a pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel pivotally supported upon said pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported on an axis extending longitudinally thereof, said shovel being off-set to one side of said longitudinal axis, and means cooperating with said shovel in one rotative position thereof to rotate said shovel along said 1ongitudinal axis to invert said shovel and to move the contents thereof laterally.

12. A peat digging apparatus comprising a traction vehicle, an axis extending transversely thereof, a rotatable member supported by said axis, a pivot on said rotatable member, a shovel pivotally supported upon said pivot, said shovel being pivotally supported on an axis extending longitudinally thereof, said shovel being oiT-set from said longitudinal axis, means engageable with said shovel during rotation thereof with said rotatable means to rotate said shovel about its longtiudinal axis to invert said shovel and to move the contents of said shovel laterally, and a conveyor onto which the contents of said shovel may be placed upon rotation thereof about said longitudinal axis.

ELI F. COLBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Swiss Dec. 1, 1919