US2738955A

US2738955A - Material handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2738955A
Application number: US183793A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul R Francis
Original assignee: ALLOY STEEL AND METALS CO
Current assignee: ALLOY STEEL AND METALS CO
Priority date: 1950-09-08
Filing date: 1950-09-08
Publication date: 1956-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1973-03-20

Description

March 20, 1956 P. R. FRANCIS 2,738,955

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Spt. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

if INVENTOR. Pa 61/ 7? W62 0A5 March 20, 1956 P. R. FRANCIS ,738,

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1950 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. pocz/ R gar/761:5

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March 20, 1956 P. R. FRANCIS 2,738,955

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. P M/ 7?. Francis I 2,738,955 Patented M 1.956

MATERrAL HANDLING APPARATUS Paul R. Francis, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Alloy Steel and Metals Company, Los Angeles, Catifi, a corporation of California Application September 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,793

6 claims. zen-190 This invention relates to material handling apparatus and it is more specifically concerned with apparatus involving a line to which a bucket is attached. and a pulley handling the line so the bucket carrying portion thereof canbe operated in either direction past the pulley.

There are various situations where devices such as buckets, or the like, are to be operated by lines, and Where with constructions heretofore available the runs or operations have been limited to straight, or substan* tially straight, paths. As a typical example, in mines or in like situations where materials are handled, it is common to employ cable or line operated buckets, and in the usual situation if the handling of the material necessitates moving .it in other than a straight path, multiple bucket arrangements are required, or occasional changes inset-up are necessary so that a single bucket is operated successively in different directions. v

It is a general object of this invention to provide mat'erial handling apparatus having a line guiding pulley around or past which a bucket carrying portion of a line can be operated in either direction, without requiring disconnected of the bucket from the line.

Another object of this invention is to provide material handling apparatus of the character referred to which is such that it can be operated to advantage in a tunnel, or the like, where sections of the tunnel which are angularly related to each other form a corner, the present invention providing structure that will operate at such a corner so that a bucket handling line is operable freely in either direction around such corner.

It is another object of the invention to provide various features of construction and formation. and arrangement of parts in apparatus of the general character referred to,

to the end that a material handling bucket canbe operated effectively and economically.

The apparatus, as provided by the present invention, can be operated to advantage where it is desired to opcrate a bucket, or the like, along paths that are angularly related, as, for instance, through angularly related tunnel sections, and in a typical tunnel the apparatus can be supported on a post commonly located at the corner where angularly related sections of the tunnel occur. In other cases, the apparatus may be anchored directly to a wall or rock formation adjacent a corner. The apparatus involves a drag line provided to handle a bucket.

Operating means for the linemay be located in one tunnel section remote from the corner where the tunnel sections connect. Guide means handles or. guides the line in the tunnel sections and includes a dead end pulley. and a mounting therefor in the other or second tunnel section, remote from the corner, say, for instance, at the extreme end thereof, an outer corner pulley and a mounting means therefor that may anchor it to the outermost corner post, and an inner corner pulley and a mounting means therefor. The line is engaged around the dead end pulley to have substantially parallel sections extending therefrom to the corner pulleys around which the line extends, and then continues in substantially parallel sections to the opcrating means where the end portions are engaged on oppositely rotating drums. The bucket or other element to be operated is attached to the line as by one or more hangers, and in a typical situation the body of the bucket has a forwardly projecting yoke to which one hanger is attached and has a rearwardly projecting lug to which a second hanger is attached. In such case, the hangers conmeet to spaced parts of the line. In a preferred construction the portion of the line to which the hangers connect is a chain section and the hangers are chains that depend from the chain section and connect to the bucket.

The inner corner pulley is characterized by a head carrying a sheave, and the head in its preferred form involves an elongate frame with a depending pivot member at one end and a depending block at the other end. The sheave is carried by the pivot member through suit: able bearings and has peripheral flanges that adjoin at a line carrying throat and diverges so that one is an upper flange and the other a lower flange. The lower flange is interrupted by a plurality of deep notches which divide it into an annular series of tooth-like parts, leaving openings that extend down from the line carrying channel formed by the flanges. As the line passes around the sheave, it is carried in the channel formed by the flanges of the sheave, and when the hangers attached to the line reach the pulley they depend through openings or notches occurring between the tooth-like portions of the lower flange. The block is preferably a boss-like member that may be supported for limited rocking movement. I

The mounting means for the pulley just referred to preferably involves a shoe applicable to a post, or the like,. an arm pivoted to the shoe and pivotally carrying 'indicated 'by' line 44 on Fig. 3. view of a portion of the structure, being an enlarged] view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 3. Fig. '6'

is a detailed sectional View taken as indicated by line 6-45 on Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan section taken as indicated byline 7"-7 on Fig. 3. Fig. 8is' asectional view the head of the pulley, as by attachment to the block of the. pulley frame. A suspension means normallyholds the arm in a suitable position so that the line is at a suitable elevation at the-point where it is handled by the pulley.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical forms'and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic plan sectional view of a typical installation involving the apparatus of the present invention, the structure being shown in a tunnel with angularly related sections and being such as to handle a bucket so that it operates in or through the sections and turns the corner that occurs where the tunnel sections connect, the'buc'ket being shown atthe corner in the process of turning the corner. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the bucket carrying section of the line showing thebucket and illustrating the manner inv which the'bucket is attached to the line. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional elevation of a portion of the structure taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3' on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional vi'ewtaken as Fig. 5 is a bottom taken on line 8'-'8'on Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing another'form' of mounting.

The apparatus as provided by this invention can, in practice, be used to advantage to handle various devices T or equipment, and since it is particularly adaptedfor' operation of material handling devices it will be referred It is also to be understood that toas handling a bucket. the apparatus'jof the present invention can be used to advantage in many and various situations. However, since it is shown as handling a bucket, it is shown in a as where tunnels are employed, posts 11 occur in the tun-.

nel sections A and B and are spaced apart lengthwise of the sections. In the particular case illustrated, posts occur at the corner portion so that there is what I will term an inner corner post 11 and an outer corner post 11 I The present invention provides a drag line C and means mounting the line C in the tunnel sections A and B so that it extends between a dead end pulley F and an operating means K. The guide means in the case illustrated involves not only the tail sheave or dead end pulley F but an inner corner pulley D, an outer corner pulley E, mounting means G for the dead end pulley F, mounting means H (see Fig. 3) for the outer corner pulley E and mounting means I for the inner corner pulley D. The outer pulley E is shown below the inner pulley D whereas in practice such a pulley is usually located above the inner pulley. The bucket L to be handled is connected to the line C by one or more hangers M, and the various general elements hereinabove referred to are so arranged and related that the line C has substantially parallel sections X and Y extending longitudinally in tunnel section A to the corner 10, and has substantially parallel sections X and Y extending longitudinally through tunnel section B from the corner 10 to the operating means K.

The line C may, in practice, be an elongate flexible ele ment such as a cable, or the like, and as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is so supported as to extend between the dead end pulley F and the operating means K in the course of which it may extend around one or more corners 10. The single corner 10 illustrated in the drawings will serve to illustrate the invention.

The dead end pulley F may be a, simple structure involving a sheave carried in a yoke 21, and the mount ing means G for pulley F may involve an anchor 22 secured to a fixed part such as the end of tunnel section A, and may have the yoke 21 linked to it as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. a

The outer corner pulley E, best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, may be of simple construction involving a sheave 25 carried in a yoke 26, and the mounting means H for the pulley B may be of any suitable construction serving to secure the pulley E to a fixed part, such, for example, as the outer corner post 11*. In practice, a single line engaged around the post will serve as the mounting.

In the particular case illustrated (see Fig. 4), the mounting means H is shown as involving a shoe-like bracket engaged with the post 11 at one corner thereof and having side lugs 31 and 32. The shoe-like bracket 30, when it is to be used on a post, may have angularly related sides each with one or more grippers or teeth 30 thereon. The shoe-like bracket 30 is applicable to posts of various sizes and shapes.

A flexible retainer, for instance, a chain 33, may be attached to the lugs 31 and 32 and engaged around the post to retain the shoe-like bracket 30 in the desired position on the post. In the particular case illustrated, where the retainer 33 is a chain, the lug 32 is forked so that one end of the chain 33 can be hooked thereto and a threaded stem 35 is connected to the other end of said chain and engages through an opening in lug 31. A nut 36 is threaded 0n the stem 35 and when it is tightened it draws the chain tight around the post and firmly clamps the shoe-like bracket 30 thereon. In practice, a guard plate 33 may be arranged on the post beneath the chain.

The yoke 26 of pulley E is suitably connected to the shoe-like bracket 30, as by a pivot pin 38.

The inner corner pulley D, best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, involves, generally, a sheave 40 and a head 41 that carries the sheave 40. The head 41 may be formed so that it has an elongate flat frame part 41* that carries a depending block 42 at one end and a depending pivot member 43 at the other end. The sheave 40 is a line carrying sheave supported by the pivot 43 and is positioned on the lower or downwardly facing side of frame 41. In the case illustrated, the sheave 40 has a hub 44 mounted on the pivot member 43 through suitable anti-friction bearings 45, and it has a line carrying periphery or rim made up of upper and lower flanges 46 and 47 that join at a throat 48 and diverge therefrom to form a line carrying channel 49. The upper flange 46 of sheave 40 may be an ordinary plain continuous flange such as is common to sheaves, and such as is shown throughout the drawings. In accordance with the present invention,

the lower flange 47 of sheave 40 is provided with deep spaced notches 50 which extend from the outermost periphery 51 of flange 47 to the throat. 48. The notches 50 divide the lower flange 47 into a plurality of circumferentially spaced tooth-like parts Z, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and at the bottoms of these notches there are axially disposed parts or bottoms 53 which continue down or depend from the throat 48, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In the preferred construction, the flat plate-like frame 41 completely overlies and covers the top of the sheave and it may have a depending peripheral flange 41 that shields the periphery of the upper flange 46 of thesheave.

The block 42 that depends from frame 41* may be formed as an integral part of the frame 41.

The mounting means I provided to support pulley D supports pulley D in a suitable position between posts 11 and 11 and at a suitable elevation. In a typical case such as is shown in Fig. l, the means I supports pulley D about midway between the posts 11 and 11', although it will be apparent that this relationship may be varied, depending upon conditions encountered in practice.

The mounting means I may involve a shoe 30 with lugs 31 and 32, a retainer 33, a stem 35 and a nut 36, etc., all as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and corresponding with such parts entering into the means H, as above described. In addition to these parts, the means I involves an arm joined to the shoe 30 by a horizontal pivot pm 66 and serving to carry the head 41. The pivot pin may be detachable and when in operating position may be retained by a pivoted key 66".

In a case where a mounting means such as the means I is to be applied to a wall as, for instance, to a rock formation 11 as shown in Fig. 9, anchors 30 may be applied to the wall to hold a bushing 30 that carries the yoke otherwise applied to a sheave as above described. A pin 30 secures the bushing 30 to the anchors 30". In the particular case illustrated, the arm 65 is a length of tubing and is provided at its inner end with a yoke 69 that is connected to the shoe-like bracket 30 by the pin 66. The opposite end of the arm 65 is connected to the head 41 by engaging in an opening 70 in the block 42 where it is retained, as by collars 71 and 71", or the like. In the preferred construction, the arm 65 is rotatable in the block 42 so that the sheave 40 can rock somewhat as the apparatus operates. The rocking movement need only be through a few degrees, and such movement may be stopped by a stop lug 70' operating in a notch 70 in collar 71 (see Fig. 8). In the particular installation illustrated, the pivot pin 66 is horizontally disposed and, as above mentioned, the arm 65 of the means I is of such length as to support the pulley D about midway between the posts 11 and 11 A suspension means is provided for holding the arms of means I so that the pulley D is at the desired elevation. Inthe case illustrated, the suspension means involves arenas-s a chain to with one end attached to an eye 81 orthe frame 4i of pulley D, while the other end is attached to a shoe-like bracket 30 corresponding to the shoe-like bracket of the means H and i, above described. The eye 81 may be. formed integrally with the frame 41 to act as a reinforcing element. The shoe-like bracket 30 of the sus ension means may be secured to a suitable support such as post 11 through a retainer 33, and in general the mounting of this shoe lilte bracket 30' may he the same as that illustrated in Fig. 4 or, the drawings. The outer or upper end of chain 80 is shown connected to the shoe-like bracket 30 through a ho k 82 connected tot'he shoelike bracket 30, by a pivot pin 83. Through this COfistr'LlCt'ibIi, the 'ei'lfifil'l' length (if the chain 80' Can be varied with consequent raising or lowering of the pulley D, as circumstances require. In practice, it is generally desirable to have the sheave carrying arm 65 pitched or inclined somewhat downwardly as it projects fi'oiii thepo'st to which it is attached. 7

The particular bucket L illustrated in the drawings, (see Fig. 2), is for handling loose material, such as encountered in a mine, and is shown as having a cup-like body 90 with a lip 91. A yoke 92 projects forward from the body of the bucket and a lug 93 is provided at the rear thereof. When this type of bucket is to be handled, it is desirable to provide two hangers M, each of which may involve a length of chain 94 with its upper end or uppermost link connected to a cable C while its lowermost link is connected to the bucket. In the construction illustrated, which is best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, one hanger M connects to the forward end of yoke 92, while the other hanger M connects to the lug 93, and these hangers M depend from the cable C in extending therefrom to the bucket. It is desirable, in practice, to provide the cable C with a chain section 95 at the point where the bucket'is connected to the cable, the chain section 95 being of such length as to extend a suitable distance in either direction from the bucket,

and being of link construction, it is suitable for attachment of the hangers, as shown in Fig. 2. In the preferred construction, the chain section 95 has end portions 95 joined to the line C by suitable joints 95 The end portions 95 are joined to the central bucket carrying portion 95 of the chain 95 by swivel joints 95 which prevent the portion 95 from being undesirably twisted as twist occurs in the line C.

As shown throughout the drawings, the cable C is engaged around pulley D, and when thechain section 95 of the cable is at the corner 10, it is in engagement with pulley D. The notches 50 are so spaced or formed in the lower flange of pulley D and are so related to the links of chain section 95 that a link is received in each notch, causing the chain section to fit the sheave in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. As the chain section 95 of the cable operates around pulley D, the hanger or hangers M, as the case may be, attached to the chain section 95, depend through the notches 50, with the result that the bucket L carried beneath the chain section 95 may be carried around or through the corner 10 from one tunnel section A to the other without interruption or disengagement of the cable from the pulley.

The operating means K may be suitably located in one of the tunnel sections, as for instance, in tunnel section B, at a point remote from corner 10, and may be any suitable mechanism serving to operate the line C to move chain section 95 through the tunnel sections A and B and around the corner 10 while maintaining the cable under reasonable tension. The means K may be any standard or conventional slush hoist. In the particular case illustrated, the means K is shown as involving a suitable base 100 anchored in tunnel section B and carrying a prime mover in the form of a reversible motor 101, which motor operates two

drums

102 and 103. The end portions of the line C continuing from line or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but

wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may" appear to-those skilled'in the an and fall within the scope ofthe following claims:

Having described my invention; claim:

' l. A pulley and line apparatns'ineluding, a sheave, a head at one side of the sheave rotatably supporting it, the sheave having peripheral flanges defining a line carrying channel in the plane'of thesneave, the flangeremote from the head having notches therein to accommodate a hanger projecting from a line carried by the sheave, there being a block on the head adjacent the periphery of the sheave and on an axis coincidental with the plane of the sheave and extending radially therefrom and support- 1 ing the head, and a mounting member rotatably supporting the block on said axis.

2. A pulley and line apparatus including, a sheave having peripheral flanges defining a channel in the plane of the sheave, one of the flanges having a plurality of notches therein, means rotatably supporting the sheave, a line having a chain section and a hanger carried by a link of the chain section and-depending therefrom, there being a block on the head adjacent the periphery of the sheave and on an axis coincidental with the plane of the sheave and extending radially therefrom and supporting the head, and a mounting member rotatably supporting the block on said axis, the line being carried in the channel and the hanger being received in one of the notches in said one flange as the line operates over the sheave. v

3. A pulley and line apparatus including, a sheave having peripheral flanges defining a channel in the plane of the sheave, one of the flanges having a plurality of notches therein, means rotatably supporting the sheave, a line having a chain section inserted therein with a hanger projecting therefrom, the line being carried in the channel and, having angularly related portions extending freely from the sheave and the'hanger being received in one of the notches in said one flange as the line operates over the sheave, there being a block on the head adjacent the periphery of the sheave and on an axis coincidental with the plane of the sheave and extending radially therefrom and supporting the head, and a mountingmember rotatably supporting the block on said axis.

4. A pulley and line apparatus including, a sheave having peripheral flanges defining a channel in the plane of the sheave, one of the flanges having a plurality of notches therein, means rotatably supporting the sheave, a line having a chain section inserted therein and with spaced hangers depending therefrom, the line being carried in the channel and having angularly related portions extending freely from the sheave and the hangers being received in notches in said one flange as the line operates over the sheave, there being a block on the head adjacent the periphery of the sheave and on an axis coincidental with the plane of the sheave and extending radially therefrom and supporting the head, and a mounting member rotatably supporting the block on said axis.

5. A pulley and line apparatus including, a sheave having peripheral flanges defining a channel in the plane of the sheave, one of the flanges having a plurality of notches therein, means rotatably supporting the sheave, a line having a chain section inserted therein and a hanger carried by a link of the chain section and depending therefrom, the line being carried in the channel and the hanger being received in one of the notches inv said notched flange as the line operates over the sheave, there being a block on the head adjacent the periphery of the sheave and on an axis coincidental with the plane of the sheave and extending radially therefrom and supporting the head, and a mounting member rotatably supporting the block on said axis, the chain section having a middle portion carrying the hanger and having end portions pivotally connected to the middle portion and receiving the line. 7

6. A pulley and line apparatus including, a sheave, a head at one side of the sheave rotatably supporting it, the sheave having peripheral flanges defining a line carrying channel in the plane of the sheave, the flange remote from the head having notches therein to accommodate a hanger projecting from a line carried by the sheave, a block on the head adjacent the periphery of the sheave and on an axis coincidental with the plane of the sheave and extending radially therefrom and supporting the head, an arm rotatably supporting the block on an axis parallel withthe longitudinal axis of the arm, and stop means limiting pivotal movement between the arm and block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS