US2477811A - Scraper control - Google Patents

Description

1949- R/G. LE TOURNEAU ,4

SCRAPER CONTROL Filed July 1o, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

g R, G. leTourneau H mm HTTKS Aug. 2, 1949. R. G. LE TOURNEAU SCRAPER CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 10, 1945 INVENTOR. 111G .ZYZSurneau- MI W HTTYS A. 2, W49. .R. G. LE TOURNEAU S CRAPER CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 10, 1945 w e m n m T T T m A w. a G x m NM NM v. B \-EE=55:: W X M gg;is; m r w R, N mm. Qm NW Patented Aug. 2, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCRAPER CONTROL Robert G. Le Tourneau, Peoria, 111., assignor to R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc., Stockton, Calif., a corporation of California Application July 10, 1945, Serial No. 604,257

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in earth working scrapers of the load carrying type which include a bowl mounted for vertical movement between a lowered digging position and a raised carrying position; an apron mounted for vertical movement between a lowered position in closing relation to the initially open front end of the bowl, and a raised position opening said end of the bowl; and a rear endgate in the bowl movable longitudinally therein between a retracted position to an advanced position to discharge a load from said bowl when the apron is open.

One feature of the present invention is the provision of a separate power unit for actuating each of the above enumerated functional parts of the scraper; i. e. the bowl; the apron; and the endgate.

Another feature of the present invention is that said separate power units are independently and selectively controlled by the operator, whereby a nicety of adjustment for each of said functional parts of the scraper can be attained, regardless of the working positions of the other parts.

A further feature of the invention is the provancing and retracting power unit.

vision of separate power units, as above, which include, in each thereof, a reversible electric motor driving through a unitary reduction gear box, and an automatic releasing, but normally engaged, brake operative to prevent rotation of the electric motor except when the same is energized to rotate in one diredtion or the other.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision, in certain of said power units, of an actuating assembly which includes an elongated screw coupled in driven relation to the unit, said unit being fixed relative to the scraper part to be operated, and a thrust nut non-rotatably mounted on said scraper part and through which nut the actuating screw is threaded, whereby when the latter is rotated the nut travels in one direction or the other to produce a corresponding movement of the scraper part.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a scraper em- Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the apron raising and lowering power unit.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the invention is here shown as embodied in a scraper which includes a main bowl I initially open at its forward end and including, at its forward edge, a full width, forwardly and downwardly inclined cutting or digging blade 2. The bowl I is formed at its rear end with a rigidly projecting skeleton frame 3, on opposite sides of which ground engaging wheels 4 are journaled in supporting relation to the rear end of the bowl. The bowl is thus vertically swingable about the axis of wheels 4 between the raised carrying position of Fig. 1 and the lowered digging position of Fig. 2. At its forward end the bowl I is supported for such vertical movement by a heavy-duty yoke 5 of the transversely spaced leg type, and which yoke is pivotally connected at the lower ends of its legs, as at 6, with the bowl I at the front and on opposite sides thereof. The yoke 5 is formed centrally at ,the top with a forwardly projecting rigid attachment neck 1, which is here shown as coupled to a tractor, indicated in part at 8, by means of a combination tractor-trailer coupling and power steering unit -9.

Vertical movement of the bowl I between its raised carrying position and lowered digging position is accomplished through the medium of a bowl raising and lowering power unit, shown in detail in Fig. 3, which comprises the following:

The yoke 5 is formed, at the top, with a suitably braced upstanding frame Ill, and the bowl I is formed,- adjacent its forward end, with a complementary upstanding frame II; said frames terminating at their upper ends in substantially the same horizontal plane. At its upper end the frame I0 supports an electric power unit, indicated generally at I2, and which power unit comprises a reversible electric motor I3 driving rearwardly through a reduction gear box I4 which includes a rearwardly projecting output shaft I5 disposed within a rigid tubular hood It.

arman The electric power unit I! also includes a brake I! normally engaged but arranged to automatically release upon actuation of the reversible electric motor l3 in either direction; a brake of this character being shown in detail in applicant's copending application, Serial No. 612,329, filed August 24, 1945, on Electric power unit.

The output shaft I5 is coupled, within the tubular hood I6, and by means of a universal joint I8, to the. forward end of a heavy-duty elongated screw I9. The frame II on the bowl I is fitted, at its upper end, with a cage 20 in which a nut 2| is disposed for relative rocking movement about a transverse axis; the nut, however, being retained in the cage against rotation. This is accomplished by means of cross bolts 22 which extend in loose-play relation through opposed, outwardly projecting ears 23 on the nut.

When the electric power unit I2 is rotated in one direction, corresponding rotation of the screw H in the nut 2| causes relative separation of the frames I0 and II lengthwise of the scraper, with consequent raising of the bowl I to carrying position. Reverse rotation of the electric power unit l2 causes relative approaching movement of the frames l0 and II, which results in-the bowl I being lowered until the digging blade 2 is disposed in ground engagement.

With the above described bowl raising and lowering power unit, the vertical movement of the bowl is effectively controlled, and when the scraper is in digging position, the blade 2 can .be positively urged into ground engagement.

The screw I9 is protected from dust and dirt by an accordion-type sleeve 24 which extends between the adjacent ends of the hood I6 and the cage 20. Beyond the cage 29, in a rearward direction, the screw runs into an enclosed tubular guard 25 fixed in connection with and projecting rearwardly from the upper end portion of the frame II.

The bowl I is provided with a rear endgate 26 supported from the sides of the bowl by a roller carriage 21, for movement between a normally retracted position to an advanced position in the bowl to discharge a load therefrom.

The rear endgate 26 is advanced and retracted by a separate power unit, as shown in Fig. 4, and which comprises the following:

The rigid, rearwardly projecting skeleton frame 3 of the bowl I includes therein a horizontal cross beam 28 from which a pair of transversely spaced, rearwardly and longitudinally extending frame members 29 project. Some distance to the rear of the cross beam 28 the frame members 29 support an electric power unit therebetween, and which power unit is indicated generally at 30. The power unit 38 is constructed in the same manner as the electric power unit l2, and includes a reversible electric motor 3|; a reduction gear box 32; an output shaft 33 within a forwardly projecting tubular hood 34; and a normally engaged but automatically releasing brake 35.

The output shaft 33 of the electric power unit 30 is coupled within the hood 34, and by means of a universal joint 36, to the rear end of a horizontal, forwardly projecting heavy-duty screw 31. Ahead of the power unit 39 the screw 31 runs through a thrust nut 38 non-rotatably mounted in a cage 39, but supported therein for rocking movement about a transverse axis. The mounting of the nut 38 in the cage 39 is the same as the mounting for the not 2!, and includes cross bolts 48 extending in loose-play relation through 4 opposed, outwardly projecting ears H on said nut.

The rear endgate 26 includes a rigid, rearwardly projecting and converging frame assembly 42 which is fixed, at its rear end. in connection with the cage 39 through the medium of a rigid tubular guard 43 which surrounds saidscrew 31 between the cage 39 and the rear endgate 23; said tubular guard being fixed both to the cage and to the rear endgate.

With the above arrangement, actuation of the electric power unit 30 in one direction causes the nut 38 to advance along the screw 31, with consequent advance of the rear endgate 26, while operation of the power unit 39 in the other direction will result in retraction of said rear endgate. The movement of the rear endgate 26 is thus positive and forceful, both in its advancing and retracting movements.

The screw 31 is protected from dust and dirt ahead of the nut 38 by the tubular guard 43, and is protected between the nut 38 and the hood 34 byan accordion sleeve 44.

An apron 45 is disposed at the forward end of the bowl I, and includes transversely spaced, rearwardly projectin side arms 46 which extend along the outside of corresponding sides of the bowl to pivotal connection therewith, as at 41. In this manner the apron is mounted for vertical swinging movement between a lowered position in closing relation to the initially open front end of the bowl, as in Fig. 1, and a raised position opening said front end of the bowl, as in Fig. 2. Such vertical movement of the apron is controlled by an apron raising and lowering power unit, shown in detail in Fig. 5, which comprises the following:

An electric power unit, indicated generally at 48, is mounted on the upper end of the frame I to one side of the cage 20, with the axis of said electric power unit 48 disposed horizontal transversely of the implement. The electric power unit 48 is of the same type as the units I2 and 30, and includes a reversible electric motor 49; a reduction gear box 50; an output shaft 5!; and a normally engaged but automatically releasing brake 52.

A cable drum 53 is fixed on the output shaft 5| and a cable 54 extends from the drum downwardly to connection with the apron 45, as at 55, in lift control relation to said apron. The drum 53 is quite narrow between the sides thereof, whereby the cable 54 winds onto the latter in a single coil. This is advantageous for the reason that when the cable is being wound onto the drum the circumference of such cable coil increases, with the result that with each succeeding drum rotation there is an increased line speed. This means that the apron will raise faster adjacent the upper end of its path of movement, which is desirable. With rotation of the electric 'power unit 48 in one direction, the apron 45 will be lowered to the closed position of Fig. 1, while rotation of the power unit in the other direction will raise the apron to the position thereof shown in Fig; 2.

The electric power units I 2, 30 and 48 are selectively and independently controlled, as well as reversibly actuated, through the medium of an electric circuit (not here shown) which is arranged so that the operator, from his seat on the tractor, may readily cause energization, in reversing directions, of the electric motors incorporated in said power units; the brakes of said units automatically releasing whenever the corresponding motor is energized. The electricity for energizing the motors of the several power units is derived from a heavy-duty generator mounted on the tractor and driven from the engine of the latter.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice, deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the follow ing is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. In an earth working scraper which includes a bowl having bottom and side walls and an ejector element movable between the side walls to eject a load in the bowl, a means for reciprocating the ejector element between said side walls, such means including a frame projecting rearwardly of the ejector element and rigid relative thereto, a nut non-rotatably fixed in the outer end of said frame, a frame projecting rearwardly from the bowl and being rigid therewith, said second named frame projecting to a point spaced to the rear of said nut, a reversible electric motor fixed to the outer end of the second named frame in spaced relation to but substantially in alinement with said nut, a relatively long screw threaded through said nut, the outer end of said screw being connected in driving relation with the output shaft of said electric motor.

2. A structure as in claim 1, including a closed tubular guard fixed rigidly to the nut and to the ejecting element and disposed about the screw and being concentric therewith.

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 902,115 Sharp Oct. 2'7, 1908 1,056,248 Atkinson Mar. 18, 1913 1,530,779 Le Tourneau Mar. 14, 1925 1,567,690 Weaver Dec. 29, 1925 1,583,665 Cox May 4, 1926 1,627,872 Strayer May 10, 1927 2,015,880 Wold Oct. 1, 1935 2,180,658 Austin Nov. 21, 1939 2,189,222 Rapp Feb. 6, 1940 2,216,235 French Oct. 1, 1940 2,224,438 Le Bleu Dec. 10, 1940 2,273,010 Austin Feb. 17, 1942 2,302,335 Low Nov. 17, 1942 2,353,120 Austin July 11, 1944 2,363,402 Daniels Nov. 21,1944 2,383,978 Le Tourneau Sept. 4, 1945

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