US2508482A - Material handling truck scoop with check and latch assembly - Google Patents

Description

M y 23, 1950 R. L. ALLEN ETAL 2,508,482

MATERIAL HANDLING TRUCK SCOOP WITH CHECK AND LATCH ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1947 T oRriEY May 23, 1950 R ALLEN MATERIAL HANDLING 'r ETAL 2,508,482 RUCK SCOOP WITH CHECK AND LATCH ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1950 MATERIAL EANDLING TRUGK SCOGP WITH UHECK AND LATCH ASSEMBLY Robert L. Allen Greek, Mich,

and Charles L. Harbeck, Battle assignors to Allen Industrial Products, Incorporated, Battle Creek, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Application September 8, 1947, Serial No 7725766 v 11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates broadly to an apparatus having a member which is pivotally mounted and releasable for controlled movement about said pivot, and in its specific phases it re lates to an apparatus having a pivotally mounted hopper normally held in leading position by a releasable latch means, and when elevated and such latch is released the hopper is checked throughout its pivotal unloading movement Vehicles having hoppers which are pivotally mounted and adapted for lowering to load and elevating to unload, are in common use. Most of these assemblies either have a complex track arrangement for guiding and tipping the hopper in its upper position to unload it, or else they have a latch which, when tripped, releases thehopper for free pivotal movement to the end of its travel. The latter causes a noisy severe jolt when the hopper reaches the end of its travel, a thing which not only wears out the pivot bearings' of the hopper, but wracks the whole assembly with resultant shortened life of same. It was a recognition of this problem, and the shortcomings of the current procedures, which led to the discovery and development of the present invention.

Accomi-ingly .among the objects of the present iliiiven-tion is the provision of an apparatus for cushioning 'a pivotally mounted loadable member throughout its movement when released for unloading or the like.

, Another object to mount a fluid type cylinder, having coaxial trunnion bearings supported on the upper rear edge of a hopper or the like which is pivotally mounted at its lower rear edge on a suitable carrier frame, said hopper pivot being substantially parallel to the axis of said trunnions, such cylinder being of the movement retarding construction and having a piston and 'piston rod,- one end of the latter being pivotally connected to said carrier frame so that the cylinder assembly will retard and cushion the movement of the hopper when the latter is released and tilts on its pivots.

Another object is to provide a pivotally mounted hopper or the like which has a latch pivotally mounted on its upper rear edge with the hook end of said latch engaging a latch operating mechanism mounted on the carrier rrame of the hopper supporting assembly. H

Another object is toprovidemeans for limitin; the unlatching movement of the latch,- so

that after unlatchlng, the latch will remain in A further object is to provide a latch operating shaft mounted in o erable position on the carrier frame of the hopper supporting assembly, the hook end or the latch being adapted to engage the shaftand hook thereover" in manner holding the hopper in loading position, said shaft carrying a cam adjacent the latch and the latch carrying a roller adapted to be contacted by said cam so that when the shaft is rotated the cam will contact the roller and disengage the latch hook from the latch operating" shaft.

A further object is to provide the latch open ating shaft with a weighted depending arm so that the latch operating shaft and its cam will normally rest in a position permitting the latching of the hook end of the latch member over the latch operating shaft, said de ending arm having means, such as a lanyard,- connected thereto to facilitate rotation of the shaft, when pivotal unloading movement.

A further object is to provide :a pivotally mounted. hopper or the like with a latching means, and means for checkinp the pivotal move ment of said hopper when 'unlatched, said apparatusbeing simple, easy to construct, efilcient in operation, long lived, and smooth opera-ting Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishmentof the foregoing; and related ends,- the invention, then, consists of the means hereinaiter fully describedand particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

Figure l is a top assembly view showing apreferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation View taken substantially at Z 2" of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the-arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation view taken substantially at line 45 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, and with bracket 44 omitted, and-certain of the parts, including the 3 cam and trunnion, partially broken away for clarity of illustration.

Figure is a side view of a hydraulic cylinder assembly adapted for optional use in the general assembly of Figure 1.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings: It will be noted that hopper I, Figure 2, is provided adjacent its lower rear edges with pivot brackets 2 which are respectively carried on shoes 3 and 4 by means of a suitable pivot pin 5. Shoes 3 and 4 are rigidly fastened ,on a carrier frame 6 in conventional manner, such as by welding. This carrier frame inturn is mountable on a lift assembly 1, the details of which are not shown. This lift assembly, which may be part of a hoist type tractor or the like (not shown) is usable in conventional manner for bodily lifting and lowering the hopper and its associated parts as required under conditions of use. The forward edge of the hopper is preferably provided in conventional manner with a hardened steel shoe 8 which may be fastened to the hopper by means of rivets 9 or the like. To facilitate use of the hopper, the leading edge of shoe 8 may be slightly tapered as shown.

' For rigidity in the mounting of hopper operating members, the upper back edge of the hopper is provided with a pair of angle irons Ill and H, Figure 4, which may be welded in place, and at the ends of these angle irons are preferably mounted a pair of gusset plates l2 and I3, Figure 1', which may be welded-"to angle iron n as well as the sides of hopper I to stiffen and strengthen the assembly.

Mounted on the upper face of angle irons I0 and II are a pair of trunnion bearing brackets I4 and I5, Figure 3, which, respectively, have trunnion bearing caps I6 and I! which may be held in place by means of cap screws I8. These caps are preferably drilled and supplied with .grease fittings I9, Figure 2, which if desired may be of the Alemite type. Cylinder assembly 20, Figure 3, has trunnions 2| and 22 mounted thereon in axial alignment and adapted to tightly but 'Iotatably fit trunnion bearing brackets I4 and I5.

Cylinder assembly 20, Figure 4, includes a cylin- Clef 23 which is closed at one end with a cap 24 which may be anchored in place by means of screws 25, and preferably includes a relief vent hole 26. The other end of the cylinder is provided with a tight fitting plug 21, which in preferred construction threadedly engages the end of cylinder 23. This plug in turn is provided with a packing gland assembly 28 through which piston rod 29 is adapted to slidably move in substantially fiuidtight manner in accordance with standard practice. rod 29, Figure 3, is mounted a piston assembly 30. While this piston assembly:may-be of various On the inner end of piston constructions, a simple one which has been found to be very satisfactory, involves threading the end of piston rod 29 and mounting thereon a pair of nuts 31 and 32 which bear against a pair of washers 33 and 34 which are slightly smaller in diameter than the bore" of cylinder 23. Between these two washers are placed two double-ply leather "discs 35 which are of substantially the same material, other forms of standard piston construction may be utilized, and it is intended that theshowing in the drawing be considered as diagrammatically illustrating these various equivalent constructions.

Carrier frame 6, Figure 3, in preferred construction is provided with a pair of brackets 36 and 31 which are bored in alignment for the reception of a pivot pin 38- which extends perpendicular to piston rod 29, and substantially parallel to hopper pivot pin 5. Cotter pins 39 may be used if desired to hold pivot pin 38 from endwise displacement. Piston rod 29 is provided on its outer end with a suitable enlargement or head 46 which is crossbored to closely but rotatably fit pivot pin 38. A suitable grease fitting 4| may be provided in head 40 for lubricating the latter in conventional manner. A relief vent member 42 is preferably placed in cylinder 23 adjacent plug 21. The size of theyent opening through this relief vent member is preferably /64", but its actual size depends largely upon how rapidly it is desired to relieve the suction or pressure in the gland end of the cylinder under conditions of use. 7

Mounted on carrier frame 6, Figure 1, are three brackets 43, 44, and 45, all of which are bored in alignment for latch operating shaft 46. This shaft may be held against endwise displacement in any conventional manner, for instance, by means of cotter pins 41 and 48, Figure 3. Fastened on the end of shaft 46 adjacent bracket 45 is a depending operating arm 49, Figure 2, which preferably has a weight 50 mounted thereon for stabilizing the assembly. Connected to the lower end of operating arm 49 is a lanyard 5| which extends to a point convenient for pulling by the operator when the hopper I is to be re leased. Adjacent bracket 44, Figure 3, and between brackets 43 and 44 is a cam member'52 which is conventionally fastened on shaft 46 for rotation therewith, and for operation as will be hereinafter described. Y Mounted on the upper edge of angle irons I0 and I I, Figure 3, and spaced from trunnion bearing bracket I5 is a bracket 53. This bracket, which is lower than trunnion bearing bracket I5, is bored in alignment with a second opening in trunnion bearing bracket l5 for the reception of a pivot pin 54 which may be anchored inplace in conventional manner such as by means of cotter pins 55. Pivotally mounted on pivot pin 54 is a rounded end latch member 56 which has a. hook end 51, Figure 4, on'the lower face of its free end. Mounted on the side of latch member 56 is a headed stud 58 which rotatably carries a roller 59 preferably'directly above latch operat' ing shaft 46 and in contact with the upper face of cam member 52. V

In order to prevent latch 56 from pivotally moving on pivot pin 54 too far when released; a

loop member 60, Figure 3,'is passed over latch member 56 and fastened to'angle iron Ill in conventional manner such as by welding. -This loop is sufliciently high to permit hook end 51 of latch 56 to be moved above and clear latch operating shaft 46 when the hopper is being unlatched for pivotal movement. 7 In order to facilitate free rotary movement of latch'operating shaft 46, brackets 43 and 44 are preferably provided with grease fittings GI and-62, and latch member 56 with grease fitting 63; The operation of the mechanisrn'is as follows: Hopper I, in latched position,'is lowered for con- "ventional loading suoh as by filling from'a supply bin spout, by shoveling, or byrunning same shovel fashion under the material to be loaded.

'The hopper is then suitably elevated and moved to'the point or unloading, whereupon a pull-on lanyardil moves operating'arm49 inclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. This rotates latch operating shaft 46 which in turn rotates cam 52 in contact with roller 59 on latch member 56 to elevate the latch member anddis-em gage hook endlil thereof from the latch operatingshaft 46. With the latch released, the load in hopper I causes the latter to tilt in the direction shown in dotted lines in Figure'2 for unloading purposes. As this-tilting takes place, piston assembly 30 in cylinder 23 moves" to the le'ft'therein and compresses the air in the cylinder, thus cushioning and checking the tilting movement of hopper I in manner avoiding sharp edits which are undesirable and not only-tend to cause breakage but abnormal Wear on the assembly. It should-be noted in this'connection that the further the hopper tilts quickly after release, the greater is the restraining force exerted by the increasing air pressure in'thecylinder assembly, which gradually relieves itself, so that the unloading operation is handled very smoothly. During this movement part of the air pocketed in the cylinder passes through the small opening in relief vent member 42, and at. the same time, some air is passed into the free end of the cylinder through relief vent hole to reduce the vacuum formed therein due to movement of the piston to the left in the cylinder. With the hopper unloaded and in contact with the ground or the like, the carrier frame Bis lowered by means of the lift assembly 1 until the hopper is returned to the solid line position shown in Figure 2 whereupon the roundedend of latch member 56, Figure 4, passes over latch operating shaft 46 and hook end 51 of the latch member 56 drops down and re-engages the latch operating shaft 46 as shown.

In order to stabilize hopper I in its latched position, and guide same duringthe latching Figures 3 and 4 when the assembly is in latched position. With the hopper thus returned to initial position and latched in place, the assembly is ready once more for the repeating of its operating cycle.

In some cases it may be desirable to hydraulically control the snubbing or checking of hopper I and one convenient assembly for this purpose is illustrated in Figure 5. In this case, cylinder 23a is provided with trunnions as before while cap 24a is made fluidtight and provided with a packing gland assembly 28 for the projecting end of piston rod 29a the same as is the case with plug 21 at the other end of the cylinder. Piston rod 29a carries a suitable piston conventionally mounted in the cylinder which is filled with hydraulic fluid such as oil or glycerin. On the top of cylinder 23a, at opposite ends thereof, are mounted a pair of threaded nipples 65 and 61 each of which communicates with the interior of the cylinder and is suitably joined to a conduit 88 which is sealed in fluidtight manner to nipples 66 and 61 by means of coupling members 69 and I0. Mounted in conduit 68 is a fluid flow controlling valve lI which has an operating lever 12 with lanyard 13 fastened to the end of same for operating the valve. In preferred construction, this valve will be of the spring closing type so that the valve will normally be held in closed position except when "lanyard 1 I3 #is pulled I to open the valve in varying amounts, the I more open the valve is, the more'rapidly the unlatched hopper will tilt on its pivot pini5. To return-the hopper to initial latchedposition, valve ll will beheld open to facilitate return flow. of the hydraulic fluid to 'theopposite'end of the cylinder as the hopper is pivotally raised.

While the invention has been described in terms of returning" the hopper to initial position by dropping a carrier frame in suitable amount, the same result maybe attained in equivalent manner by hydraulic or mechanical *elevating means, the elements of which donot form. any specific part "-of the present invention.

-Other modes of applying =theprinciple of our invention may be employed insteadof those explained, change being made as regards'the-lapparatus Where-in disclosed, provided the means stated by any of'thefollowing claims or ithe equivalent of such stated means be employed. -We therefore particularly point outanddistinctly claim as our invention:

1. A pivotally mounted'hoppena carrier frame on which'said hopper ismounted, a latch-for holding said hopper in loading position, means a on said carrier frame for 'releasingsaid latch and permitting said hopper tounload, and a pivotally mounted continuousacting fluid: type check cylinder and piston assembly connected to said hopper and said carrier frame for checking and cushioning the movement of said hopper when said latch has been'released.

2. A pivotally mounted hoppena' carrier frame on which said hopper is mounted, a latch-for holding said hopper in loading positiomsaid latch having a' roller on theside thereof, a cam including means on said carrier frame'forrzcontacting said roller and releasing .said. latch to permit-said hopperto unload, and a pivotally mounted continuous acting fluid type check cylinder and piston assembly connected to said hopper and said carrier-frame for checking and cushioning the" movement of said hopper when said latch has been released. 3.- An apparatus of :the: character described, which comprises the combinations-of a loadable member, a carrier frame, means-foralpivotally mounting saidloadable member on." said carrier frame, a pivoted and hook ended latch mounted on said loadable means, means 0n said carrier frame for engaging the hook end of said latch and holding said loadable member in loading position, means for releasing said latch, 21. check cylinder and piston assembly, trunnion hearings on said loadable member, trunnions on said cylinder, said trunnions being in axial alignment on opposite sides of said cylinder and mounted for rotation on said trunnion bearings substantially parallel to the pivot mounting of said loadable member, said cylinder having a piston and piston rod, and means for pivotally joining said piston rod to said carrier frame.

4. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said latch has a projecting member mounted on the side thereof, and said means for engaging the hook end of said latch is a shaft having a cam fixedly mounted thereon, said cam being adapted to engage said projecting member in manner such that the hook and of said latch may be disengaged by rotating said shaft.

5. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said latch has a roller mounted for rotation on the side thereof at its hook end, said means for engaging the hook end of said latch is a shaft having a cam fixedly mounted thereon and adapted to contact the roller on said latch, and means forrotating said shaft, whereby said cam in contact with said roller will disengage said latch when said shaft is sufliciently rotated.

,6. An. apparatus of the character described, which comprises the combination of a loadable member, a carrier frame, means for pivotally mounting said loadable member at its rear edge adjacent the bottom thereof on said carrier frame, lift means for raising and lowering said carrier frame, a hook ended latch, pivot means for mounting said latch on the upper portion of said loadable means, means on said carrier frame for engaging the hook end of said latch, means for releasing said latch, a check cylinder and piston assembly, fluid relief vents at each end of said cylinder, trunnion bearings on said loadable member, trunnions on said cylinder, said trunnionsbeing in axial alignment on opposite sides of said cylinder and mounted for rotation on said trunnion bearings substantially parallel to the pivot mounting of said loadable member, said cylinder having a piston and piston rod, and means for pivotally joining said piston rod to .said carrier frame.

- ,7. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said latch has a projecting member mounted on the side thereof, and said means'for engaging the hook end of said latch is a shaft having a cam mounted thereon, said cam being adapted to engage said projecting member in manner such that the hook end of said latch may be disengaged by rotating said shaft.

8. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said latch has a roller mounted on the side thereof at its hook end, said means for engaging the hook end ofsaid latch is a shaft having a cam fixedly mounted thereon and adapted to contact the roller on said latch, and means for rotating said shaft, whereby said cam ,in contact with said roller will disengage said latch when said shaft is sufiiciently rotated.

9. An apparatus of the character described,

which comprises the combination of a loadable :member, a hook ended latch, means for pivotally 8 mounting said latch on the upper portion of said loadable member with the hook end of said latch extending therefrom, means on said carrier frame for releasably anchoring the hook end of said latch, means for releasing the hook end of said latch, a hydraulic check cylinder assembly, fluid relief openings at each end of said cylinder, a conduit joining said openings, a fluid flow con trolling valve in said conduit, means for controlling the operation of said valve, trunnion bearings on said loadable member, trunnions on said hydraulic cylinder, said trunnions being in axial alignment on opposite sides of said cylinder and mounted for rotation on said trunnion bearings substantially parallel to the pivot mounting of said loadable member, said cylinder having a piston with piston rod extending therethrough, and means for pivotally joining one end of said piston rod to said carrier frame.

10. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said latch has a projecting 'member mounted on the side thereof, and said means for engaging the hook end of said latch is a shaft having a cam mounted thereon, said cam being adapted to engage said projecting member in manner such that the hook end of said latch may be disengaged by rotating said shaft.

11. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said latch has a roller mounted on the side thereof at its hook end, said means for engaging the hook end of said latch is a shaft having a cam fixedly mounted thereon and adapted to contact the roller on said latch, and means for rotating said shaft, whereby said cam in contact with said roller will disengage said latch when said shaft is sufficiently rotated.

ROBERT L. ALLEN. CHARLES L. HARBECK.-

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,386,519 Wagener et al. Oct. 9, 1945 2,388,436 Onofrio Nov. 6, 1945 2,396,287 Robb Mar. 12, 1946 2,426,544 Wooldridge Aug. 26, 1947

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