US2642984A - Conveyer apparatus and supporting mechanism therefor - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1953 s. M. MERCIER 2,642,934

CONVEYER APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed Feb. 21, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOE 5TAN LEY M. MEEC'IEE,

I Hr?- x June 23, 1953 s. M. MERCIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 21, 1950 f/v vE/v TO/Q; STANLEY M. MEECIEE) uumm ATTY.

June 23, 1953 s. M. MERCIER 2,642,984 CONVEYER APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Original Filed Feb. 21, 1950 mm m Wm iv R g l Patented June 23, 1953 CONVEYER APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Stanley M. Mercier, Bexley, Ohio, assignor to The Jefirey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Original application February 21, 1950, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 14,1951, Serial No. 215,499

6 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a conveyer and supporting apparatus therefor, and one of its objects is to provide apparatus in which a conveyer,

or section thereof, is provided with front and rear frame supporting axles each preferably, but not necessarily, provided with individual crawler type traction means at opposite ends of each of said axles adapted to propel the conveyer rectilinearly and to guide it.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus as above mentioned in which one or more jacks, such as hydraulic jacks, are employed to adjust the conveyer, or conveyer section, as the case may be, relative to at least one of the axles so as to maintain the conveyer frame level transversely as the unit moves over uneven ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for interconnecting a frame with a supporting axle therefor, which mechanism provides for pivotal movement of the frame or axle on a horizontal axis and on an upright axis while providing for relative movement of the frame and axle along the upright axis.

In carrying out the foregoing object, it is another object of the invention to provide the adjustable means between the frame and axle that supports the frame from the latter-and preferably, but not necessarily, to provide mechanism responsive to relative movement of the frame and axle on the mentioned upright axis for adjusting the adjustable support means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide various control devices, such as control switches, between the frame and. atleast one of the axles of the conveyer, andin the most specific aspect of the invention there are three sets of these control'switches, or the like, one set controlling the maximum angular swing between said axle and frame on a longitudinal horizontal axis, another controlling the swing between said axle and frame on an upstanding axis, and another controlling the up and down movement of the frame relative to said axle along said upstanding axis.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side eleva tional view of an installation incorporating features of my invention, showing particularly the stacker boom and its association with the head section of a trailing conveyer Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with certain parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, with parts omitted and parts broken away and with other parts shown in section, showing particularly the connection between the trailing conveyer head section frame and the front axle or axle assembly;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the structure of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the head section of the trailing conveyer;

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing particularly one of the crawler traction devices in association with the front axle or front axle assembly of the trailing conveyer head section; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, certain parts being shown therein in elevation.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 145,501, filed February 21, 1950, for Conveyer Apparatus Including a Portable Stacker and Connected Portable Trailing Conveyer. It is to be understood that the construction and operation of the apparatus of this application follows that of my parent application, above identified, and that only the subject matter pertinent to the present invention is discussed herein in detail.

The conveyer stacker system herein disclosed, which incorporates important aspects of my invention, includes a stacker I9 attached to a trail? ing conveyer having a head section II. The stacker l 0 includes a stacker boomor main frame l2 having a head or discharge pulley l3 over which the material, such as waste dirt or the like, is discharged and a tail or rear end pulley l4, between which pulleys l3 and M an endless-power driven belt I 5 extends which may be driven in any desired manner from the driving motor, such as an electric motor, or the like.

Generally centrally of the frame or boom l2 there is a supporting tractor I 6 which supports said boom I 2 and which may be operated to swine, it through a large are as well as feed it rectilineraly forwardly or rearwardly as material is discharged over the head pulley l3. The general arrangement of the tractor l6 and boom l2 may take any desired or recognized form. For example, it may follow the construction disclosed in my application, Serial No. 74,348, filed February 3, 1949, now Patent No. 2,632,558, dated March 24, 1953.

The trailing conveyer head section I I constiand over a head pulley 2| at the front or headend of the head section II.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings the return run of the belt 26 is preferably reeved about a plurality of drive pulleys 22 which are power driven. The belt is supported on spaced troughing idlers 23, many of which are carried by the head section II and others by the trai1- ing portion of the trailing conveyor substantially throughout its entire length.

One form of construction, particularly of the rear portion of the trailing conveyer, which :may

be employed, together with mechanism :for loading ,it, is disclosed .in the application of Gust Weggum, Serial No. 80,695,.fi1edMarch 10, 11-949.,

-now Patent No. 2,554,077., .dated May 22, 1951.

As illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the trailing conveyer head section II preferably is positioned above the rails or track [9 and is supported entirely independently thereof, with the trailing portion of said trailing conveyer pulled along said rails l9 as the complete system advances forwardly, between which intermittent forward movements the stacker Iii swings through a desired arc to discharge its dirt.

The trailing conveyerhead section H generally resembles a crocodile and includes an elongated generally horizontal main frame '24 which slopes slightly upwardly and forwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Frame 24 is fabricated from longitudinally, vertically, diagonally and transversely extending angles, plates, channels and the like. Of particular significance is the fact that it includes a pair of bolster and axle or axle frame assemblies which are of similar construction, except for differences hereinafter mentioned, there being a'forward or front bolster and axle assembly, as seen .particularly in Figs. 2, 6, and 7 of the drawings, which includes a front axle or axle frame 25, the generally similar rear bolster and axle assembly including axle or axle frame 26 (see 'Fig. '5).

.As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, at the front .end of the trailing conveyer head section I I there is a .bolster 21 comprising a'transversely extending box-like member built up of plates and an les'welded together, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The bolster 21 may carry a leveling device 28 responsive to the transverse level of the head section H, which device may operate upon the sameprinciple as the leveling device shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,101,837, to L. E. Blanchett.

Adjacent the transverse center of the frame 24 the bolster 21 is provided with a heavy down wardly extending pivot 'or "king pin 29 rigidly attached to the bolster 27 and providing a pivotal and sliding connection with a trunion 30 (see Fig. "7) which provides a pivotal connection to the axle or axle frame 25 through forward and. rearward cooperating bearings 31 carried by removable forward and rearward plates 34, this pivotal trunnion connection being along the longitudinal axis of the trailing conveyer headset:- tion H and being substantially horizontal.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. '7, the bottom of the king pin 29 is journaled on an upright axis in the trunnion 30 so as to provide for relative swinging movement between the frame 24 and the axle 25 about said upright axis which is at center of said axle 25. Furthermore, this pivotal connection provides for limited relative up and down or vertical movement between the king pin 29 and the trunnion 30 by virtue of the fact that the vertical dimension of the trunnion at the point of connection is less than the distance between top and bottom limit plates 3; and .33 carried by this interconnecting portion of said kingpin 29 and said trunnion 3%.

As hereinafter described more completely, this vertical or up and down movement is provided between the king ,pin 29 and the trunnion 39 soth'at under normal conditions the load on the front portion of the head section it will be transmitted to the front axle or axle frame through tilted controlling jacks. The rear axle or axle frame 26 preferably receivesits load. from the conveyer .head section frame 24 directly through the .rear Tking pin which is similar to lking pin .29.

Extending upwardly from the central portion of the trunnion 30 is a cylindrical sleeve 35 to which a strap 36 is removably attached by a pair of U-shaped bands 31. The strap 36 carries control devices 38 at opposite ends thereof, said control devices illustrated being electrical switches with projectingoperating levers or arms adapted to 'be operated by operating mechanisms carried by the axle frame 25 which, as .illustrated, are adjustable angle brackets 39. The angle brackets '39 are adapted to operate the switches 38 selec tively in any case where the'relative tilt or angular movement of the .frame 24 with respect to the axle '25 on the longitudinal horizontal axis of trunnion .30 reaches a predetermined angle on either side of the right angle relation, su gestedby Fig. l of the drawings.

Above the strap '36 the sleeve '35 carries a disclike plate '40 which on one side is provided with an adjustable projecting finger 4| adapted selectively to actuate 'control devices in the form of forward and rearward switches 42 carried by the bolster 21 and projecting downwardly therefrom, said switches '42 'having operating levers or arms adapted to be selectively contacted and operated by the finger 4| whenever the front axle frame 25 rotates in either of opposite-directions through a predetermined angle from a position transversely of the longitudinal axis of the head section II.

The disc or plate '40 carries a rearwardly ex tending projecting plate 48 (see Figs. 3 and 7) adapted to abut the bottoms .'of a pair of spaced upright rods 44 which are mounted for vertical sliding movement in a pair of upper and lower brackets 45 and 46 attached to the rear of the bolster 21 and housed within a housing 47 which is open at the bottom and is 'r'emovably attached to the rear of said bolster 21. Spring means 48 cooperates with the rods 44 to maintain their bottoms in contact with the plate 43.

Adjacent the bottoms of the rods 44 there is a bracket 49 rigidly attached to said rods, upon which a Selsyn transmitter 50 is mounted. The rotor of the Selsyntr-ansmitter 50 is operated by a cable 5|, the opposite ends of which are attached to the plate 40 (see Fig. 3), which cable 5| drives alpulley 52 keyed to the rotor shaft of the Selsyn transmitter 50. Angular movement of the axle assembly 25 about the upright axis of the king pin 29 therefore produces rotary motion of the rotor of the Selsyn transmitter 50 which is part of a telemetric system, the receiver of which may be located adjacent an operators station, thereby indicating the angular position of the front axle 25 relative to a true transverse position.

One of the rods 44 is also provided witha pair of stops 53 which operate control devices in the form of lever operated switches 54 (Fig. '7) carried by a bracket 55 (see Fig. 3) attached to the bolster 2?. In case the king pin 29 moves to its lowermost position, as illustrated in Fig. 7, the upper control switch 54 will be actuated. Should said king pin 29 be elevated to its uppermost position relative to the trunnion 30 the lower switch 54 will be actuated.

The rear end of the stacker l is'suspended from the front of the head section H. Consequently some of the load on said stacker I0 is carried by the front axle 25. Preferably this load is transferred through the frame 24 of the head section H to the front axle frame 25 through a pair of double acting hydraulic jacks 56 (see Fig. 2), one on each side of said frame 24 and axle 25. The upper and lower control switches 54 control the operation of the jacks 55 and these hydraulic jacks 55 are preferably normally expanded to such an extent that no compression load is trans- Initted from the bolster 27 to the axle frame 25. Under these circumstances the rods 44 will have their stops 53 so positioned that neither of the control switches 54 is actuated but each said switch will be in its normal or neutral position. This eliminates the necessity of a heavy thrust bearing to take the load between the relatively adjustable front axle 25 and the bolster 2?.

It is, of course, obvious since axle 25 is swingable upon an upright axis relative to the head section frame 24 that opposite ends of the hydraulic jacks must be pivotally connected to the frame 24 and the axle 25, respectively. To this end universal ball and socket joints 5'! are provided to interconnect the upper and lower ends of both of the hydraulic jacks 55 to the head section frame 24 and axle frame 25, respectively.

It may be stated that the rear axle frame 26 is preferably connected to the head section frame 25 through a bolster and associated king pin and trunnion mechanism similar to that above described and disclosed in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and '7 of the drawings, except, however, the control switches 5 and their operating mechanism are eliminated and there are no jacks comparable with the jacks 56. As a consequence, at the rear end of the head section l i there is a direct bearing transfer between the bolster (similar to bolster 2'!) and the axle frame 25. This load is transferred through a king pin plate similar to the plate 32 and the cooperating bearing surface on the central portion of the trunnion similar to trunnion Bil which is provided with appropriate lubrication or grease grooves as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The load transferred at this point is not as heavy as that transferred to the front axle 25.

At their opposite ends the front and rear axle frames 25 and 25 carry substantially similar selfpropelled traction units 58 which, as illustrated, are of the crawler type, including endless crawlers 55 adapted to have direct contact withthe ground. It is to be understood as within the scope of my invention in some of its aspects to employ other types of ground engaging traction.

means, such as one or more power driven pneumatic tired wheels, or, in some instances the head section II may be mounted upon rails and rail engaging traction wheels provided for supporting said head section and feeding it along a generally rectilinear line.

The traction units 58 are, per se, of essentially standard design and each includes a longitudinally extending frame journaled at substantially the center thereof on a stub axle 60 (see Fig. 6) which projects laterally from the box-like portion of the axle frame 25 or 26. Thus each traction unit 58 is free to pivot on a transversely extending generally horizontal axis. The lower run of each endless crawler 59 travels over a plurality of load transferring wheels and each endless crawler 59 is driven from a rear driving sprocket 6| through appropriate reduction gearing including a speed reducer 62 driven from an electric motor 63.

It may be mentioned that in Fig. 2 of the drawings only one of the driving motors and drive gearing is shown, it being understood that the traction unit 58 on the right hand side is a complete unit which is substantially a duplicate of that on the left hand side. It is evident that if one of the traction units 58 at one end of either of the shafts 25 or 26 travels at a different rate from that at the other end the tendency will be to swing the shaft 25 or 26, as the case may be, about its upright axis and to guide the associated portion of the head section H in one direction or other away from the strictly rectilinear or straight ahead direction of travel. In other words, the steering of the very heavy clon gated trailing conveyer head section l l is effected by what is the equivalent of a four wheel steer, since all of the traction devices have a steering characteristic.

It is evident from the description so far given that the stacker l0 and the trailing head section I! are intended to travel over the ground which in some instances may be a soil or refuse pile which has been formed by a preceding run of the apparatus. The various pivotal movements and adjusting mechanism above described are de signed particularly to keep the trailing head sec-- tion H level transversely as the head section and/or the stacker move over uneven ground. The rear portion of the trailing conveyer is maintained substantially level since it travels on tracks I9 which may be laid and maintained in a substantially level position. As previously suggested, in some instances it may be desirable also to mount the trailing conveyer head section H on rails, in which case some of the control meche anism, including the steering and leveling mechanism, may be eliminated.

In the operation of a typical complete instal lation involving my invention, material to be removed, such as the overburden of a coal or iron 'ore open pit, or dirt to be transferred inthe construction of a dam, retaining wall, or the like, will be fed to the trailing conveyer somewhere rearwardly of the head section H thereof by any desired means, such, for example. as that disclosed in the Weggum Patent No. 2,55%,077, above identified. The material will be conveyed longitudinally rectilinearly forward through the head section H and discharged from the belt 283 over the head pulley 2!, from where it will be directed by a chute to the belt 15 of the stacker [6 adjacent the rear or tail pulley i i thereof. The material will be conveyed by the conveyer belt I5 and discharged over the head shaft 1 3 of the -stacker. 110.: illustrated in Fig. '1 of the drawings, the system is discharging material while making a return run. That .is, the system will gradually move to the right, having previously formed a soil pile by having moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. .1. As the material :is discharged over the head pulley l3 the boom ID will be swung through an are which may .be .of the order of 180, more .or less; this swinging movement being about an upright axis provided by a turntable -54, indicated :in Figs. 1 and '5 of the drawings.

Between successive swings of the boom Hi or simultaneously therewith there will be rectilinear feeding, either forward or rearward, of "the complete trailing conveyer including the head section 11, depending 'upon whether the system is moving forward to form a soil stack or is progressing rearwardly from "a previously formed stack. In either case, the rectilinear feeding of the system along the longitudinal axis of the trailing conveyer, including that of the :head section ll I, will be effected :by the traction units 58 which :also can steer-the trailing conveyer head section .H so as to turn it during its generally rectilinear longitudinal movement.

As illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings the trailing conveyer supporting rails 13 extend forwardly of the trailing head section II, but under some conditions the reverse of this will be true and :said trailing .conveyer head section II will extend in part or entirely beyond the'forwardmost ends .of said rails 19 which will provide for greater latitude of turning movement thereof. Control means is provided to maintain the trailing conveyer head section 11 in substantially transverse :horizontal position at all times regardless of the irregularities of the surface over which the traction devices '58 are traveling within certain reasonable limits.

The transverse stability imparted to the trailing head section H is, .of course, transmitted to the boom frame [.2 through the turntable 54. Control mechanism in the form of the several switches 38 and 42 is provided to indicate whenever undesirable angular relations exist between the :axles 25 and the frame 24. The specific system by which these controls are utilized is the subject matter of my 'copending application, Serial No. 185,425,, filed September .18, 1950.

As hereinbefore mentioned the hydraulic jacks 56 are preferably normally expanded to such an extent that no compression load .is transmitted from the bolster 2-! to the axle frame 25 and under these circumstances neither of the control switches 54 is actuated, and each is in its normal or neutral position. It will, of course, be seen that should the bolster 2:! move downwardly along the "upright axis of king pin .29 that the stops on one of the rods :44 will actuate the upper switch 54 which will cause the jacks 56 to expand and lift the frame 24 and boltser 21 upwardly and away from the axle '25. When the bolster has moved upwardly a pre-determined distance the upper switch '54 will be operated to its normal or neutral position 'and hydraulic fluid under pressure will .no longer be fed to said jacks 56 and upward movement of the frame 24 and bolster 21 will cease. Of course, if for any reason the bolster '21 moves upwardly along the axis of king pin 29 thereby causing actuation of the upper switch 54, then the jacks 55 will be operated to lower the bolster 21.

Obviously those skilled in the .art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of 8 parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and applicant therefore wishes not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of the invention, what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported on said frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, means interconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center .of the latter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on an upstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstanding axis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said main frame, a conveyer supported on said frame, a said axle, for selectively adjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivoting said mainframe relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, and control means for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relative up or down movement between said axle and said frame.

2. conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported on said frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, means interconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of the latter for relative pivotal movement on "a horizontal axis and on an upstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstanding axis, independently operable load carrying jack-s between said main frame and said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for selectively adjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivoting said main frame relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, and control means for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relative upward movement between said axle and said frame.

3. Couveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported on said frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, means interconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of the latter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on an upstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstanding axis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said main frame and said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for selectively adjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivoting said main frame relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, andcontrol'means for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relative downward movement between said axle and said frame.

4. Conveyor mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported on said frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, means interconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of the latter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on an upstanding :axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstanding axis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said mainframe and said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for selectively adjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivoting said main frame relative to said axle nn said horizontal axis, and control means for said jacks operable .upon a predetermined relative movement between said axle and said frame.

5. Conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported on said frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, means interconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of the latter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis and on an upstanding axis and for relative up and down movement on said upstanding axis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said main frame and said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for selectively adjusting said frame up and down relative to said axle and for pivoting said main frame relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, control means for said jacks operable upon a predetermined relative movement between said axle and said frame, and control means operable upon a predetermined pivotal movement between said main frame and said axle which results in an undesirable angular relation between them, said control means forming a part of a system for at least indicating said undesirable relation.

6. Conveyer mechanism including a main frame, a conveyer supported on said frame, a transversely extending axle below said frame, means interconnecting said frame and axle means adjacent the center of the latter for relative pivotal movement on a horizontal axis, independently operable load carrying jacks between said main frame and said axle, one adjacent each end of said axle, for pivoting said main frame relative to said axle on said horizontal axis, and control means operable upon a predetermined pivotal movement between said mainframe and said axle which results in an undesirable angular relation between them, said control means forming a part of a system for at least indicating said undesirable relation.

STANLEY M. MERCIER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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