US2785790A

US2785790A - Barn gutter cleaner

Info

Publication number: US2785790A
Application number: US418546A
Authority: US
Inventors: George B Bruecker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-03-25
Filing date: 1954-03-25
Publication date: 1957-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-19

Description

March 19,1957 6. B. BRUECKER BARN GUTTER CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1954 March 19, 1957 e. B. BRUECKER BARN GUTTER CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1954 INVENTOR. A, GEO/F6549. fixmac/rzx? United States This invention relates generally to barn gutter cleaners, and more particularly to a barn gutter cleaner having a flexible hauling-line for reciprocably actuating a swingable scraper blade attached thereto.

A purpose of this invention is to provide a simple, facile, sanitary, inexpensive and efiicient barn gutter cleaner, to be installed at low cost. Another purpose is to provide an extremely simple barn gutter cleaner adapted to operate in gutters passing through box stalls.

An object of this invention is to provide a barn gutter cleaner having a reciprocable, flexible hauling-line for actuating a swingable scraper blade attached thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide a barn gutter cleaner of the reciprocable, swingable blade type, adapted to operate on a communicating inclined trough.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a barn gutter cleaner of the reciprocable, flexible haulingline type, that embodies a swingable scraper blade to convey gutter litter outwardly, and returns the blade folded whereby the blade will by-pass the accumulated litter in the gutter, and is automatically re-openable by a change of its direction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gutter conveyor-plow having an articulated runner operative to be guideable around an obtuse corner.

. A still further object is to provide a swingable scraper blade, actuated byv a looped flexible cable run, wherein the upper and lower runs thereof are disposed in the gutter.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following ate detailed description, when considered in connection with along the centerline of a gutter thereof, showing the subject barn cleaning apparatus installed therein;

Fig.2 shows an isometric view of the conveyor-plow embodiedin the subject barn gutter cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the rear section of a runner embodied in the conveyor-plow;

Fig. 4 illustrates an isometric view. of the front section of the runner embodied in theconveyor-plow;

Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of a scraper blade e l.- bodied in the conveyor-plow;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a bolt embodied in the conveyor-plow;

Fig. 7 is a sectionalview through the barn gutter on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a modified illustration showing the upper run of the cable mounted in the gutter.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section along line 9-9, showing the return cable, upper run, disposed in the gutter.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference 2,785,790 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 'ice characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. 1 a dairy barn structure having end walls 10 and 11, ceiling 12, and a concretefloor 13 having the usual and conventional longitudinal litter gutter 14 therein.

The forward end of the gutter 14 terminates in a foundation opening 15, and communicates with an inclined trough 16 held in position by bracket member 17 and flange 1S. Said flange is received in a slot formed in the concrete at the gutter outlet 15. A grooved pulley 19 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 21 journalled in the side walls 22 of trough 16. Said pulley is disposed adjacent the left side wall of said trough.

A relatively larger pulley 23 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 24 journalled in the side wall of the gutter outlet 15. Said pulley is grooved to receive the rounded top edge of the conveyor-plow runner to be hereinafter described. Said pulley is disposed adjacent the left side wall of said outlet 15.

A grooved pulley 25, companion to pulley 19, is rotatably mounted on a shaft 26 journalled in the side wall of the gutter, in proximity of the rear terminous of the gutter. Said pulley is disposed adjacent the left side Wall of the gutter.

A grooved pulley 27, companion to pulley 19, is rotatably mounted on a shaft 28 journalled near the ceiling in end wall studs 29 on each side of outlet 15. Said pulley 27 is disposed vertically above pulley 23.

Driving means 30 including winding means 40, reduction gear box and motor 39, is mounted on the ceiling 12.

A winding drum 31 is mounted rotatively-rigid on a shaft 32 journalled in the supporting legs 33 of a framework secured to the barn ceiling 12. Said winding drum is disposed vertically above pulley 25. To drive said 'drum shaft 32, there is mounted rotatively-rigid thereon, a grooved pulley 34. These components comprise the Winding means 40.

A reduction gear box 35, having an output pulley 36 and an input pulley 37, is mounted on the barn ceiling 12, adjacent said winding drum. 7 A belt 38 is trained over the pulleys 34 and 36.

An electric motor 39, having a pulley 41, is mounted on the barn ceiling 12, adjacent said gear box 35. A belt 42 is trained over the motor pulley 41 and the gear box input pulley 37.

To energize and control the motor 39, there is provided a source of alternating current 43 electrically connected to said motor by means of

conductors

44 and 45 and reversing switch 46.

To propel gutter litter toward the forward end of the gutter, and up the inclined trough to the discharge end 47 thereof, there is provided a self-contained conveyorplow indicated generally at 48. Said conveyor-plow operates to propel and convey gutter litter on a forward motion, but plows through the gutter litter on aretrograde motion. V

The conveyor-plow comprises an elongated runner consisting of a rear section 49, and an axially aligned front section 51 pivoted thereto by means of a horizontallydisposed pin 52. A swingable scraper blade 53 is pivotally mounted, on a vertical axis, on the rear section 49, operative to automatically swing to a position at right angles to the runner when the conveyor-plow is caused to move toward the discharge end of the gutter, and to fold against the runner, and plow through the gutter litter, when the conveyor-plow is returned in the opposite direction.

The rear section 49 of the runner, consists of a. vertically disposed plate having a rounded upper edge 54, and having a deep slot 55 in the forward end portion thereof. Intermediate the ends of said rear section are provided a pair of vertically spaced projecting lugs 56 .blade.

when it is swung to its non-operative position.

stop lugs operate to limit the scraper blade to a non- V -ative to the runner.

. thereto by any conventional means.

asse t-' tosaid rearsection 49, is of a length adapted to stop and 'limit the swingable scraper blade 53 to a position at substantially right angles to said rear section.

' The scraper'blade 53 is vertically disposed and is provided with a vertically disposed sleeve bearing 62 welded to the front face of the inboard end portion of said scraper The lower edge of the scraper blade is provided withia forwardly projecting declined lip 63. Thesleeve bearing is axially aligned with apertures 58 and 59, in

lugs 56 and 57,; respectively, and pivotally connected thereto by means of bolt 64. Said bolt is threaded at its lower end and thereby threadedly engages with threaded scraper blade 53 and runner lug 57, respectively, to fix theYeXtent of the folding movement of the scraper blade These operative folded position, short of a parallel position rel- I This oblique disposition of the scraper blade assures the scraper 'blade being positively and automatically swung to its operative position, at right angles 'to the runner, when the conveyor-plow is later moved in a direction to convey litter. The oblique disposition of the scraper blade, relative to the runner, also functions to support the runner in a substantially upright position.

The front section 'SL'of the runner, is provided with a rounded flange, 67 along substantially all of the top edge, terminating near the rear end thereof. The rear end portion of said front section, having no rounded flange thereon, is received in the slot 55 and pivotally connected to the runner rear section 49 by means of pin 52. Apertures 6d and 69, in the runner front and rear section's, respectively, function as thepin 52 receiving apertures' This pin connection of the front and rear sections, results in anearticulated runner.

The assembled conveyor-plow is disposed in a barn gutter, with the runner adjacent'the left side wall of the gutter and'substantially in' line with pulleys 23 and 25.

VA loopedflexible hauling-line'71, such, as 'a flexible cable, wire, rope, chain orthe like, has one end thereof secured to the rear section of the runner, through the aperture '72'therein, and the remaining portion "of the nected' to the runner, it is obvious that'a closed 1100p hauling-line. could be used and the runner connected Said looped flexible hauling-line ischaracterized by an upper or return run .near the ceiling, and a lower or operating run in the gutter.- r

a 'An opening 74in the ba'rn end wall 11, is provided to accommodate the hauling-linetto pass therethrough. Operation z'The operator stands at the reversing switch 46 (the operatingstationland controls the: barn gutter Assume that the concleaning apparatus therefrom. veyor-plow 48 is located at the forward end of the gutter, at thev outlet opening 15, where it would be "normally positioned after a previous barn gutter cleaning. And

disposition, at right angles to the runner. V a

p The operator then throws the switch 4610 make an electrical contact that will energize the motor 39 to drive assume that the scraper blade is in its open conveying through, by-passing the manure.

4 the conveyor-plow backwardly through means of the hauling-line 71.

Assume further that the gutter is in need of cleaning because of the presence therein of barn litter or manure. In close proximity to the outlet 15, there is usually no manure present in the gutter. As the conveyor-plow begins its initial rearward travel the runner thereof moves therewith, and because of the frictional resistance between the bottom edge of the scraper blade 53 and the bottom surface of the gutter, the scraper blade lags in movement relative to the runner and swings forwardly of the gutter, toward the runner, until the stop lug on the scraper blade abuts the stop lug 66 on the runner. In this non-operative folded position, the scraper blade is disposed at a slight angle to the runner, for automatic opening to an operating position to be hereinafter described.

As the conveyor-plow continues toward the rear of the gutter it contacts the manure therein and plows there- The reaction of the manure against the angularly disposed scraper blade re- .sults in forces thrusting the runner against the left side wall of the gutter, and thereby maintains the conveyorplow in an efiicient by-passing path.

In the event the aforementioned frictional resistance, generated at the initial movement of the conveyor-plow, is insuificient to cause the scraper blade to befolded into its non-operative position, it is obvious that upon said scraper blades contact with the gutter manure, the much greater reaction of the obstructing manure against the swingable scraper blade will positively cause the scraper blade to be folded forwardly into its non-operativeefolded position against the runner stop.

When the conveyor-plow has plowed through approximately a 10 foot length of manure in the gutter, or any other length that may be considered a capacity load for the apparatus, the operator throws the reversing switch 46 from the previous contact points to second contact points that cause the motor to reverse its direction of rotation, resulting in the driving of the conveyor-plow, forwardly, through means of the same hauling-line 71.

When the conveyor-plow runner commences its forward travel, the pivotal angularly disposed and projecting scraper blade 53 lags in movement relative to the runner. As the oblique swingable scraper blade engages with the obstructing manure it is positively held thereby and swung relatively rearwardly into an open conveying position at right angles to the runner." This operating position of the scraper blade, is limited to said right angle positionrnent by stop plate 61 on the rear section of the runner.

Continued forward travel of the conveyor-plow pushes and otherwise conveys the manure in said ld'foot section of the gutter, ahead of said scraper plate, toward and through the gutter outlet 15, and up the inclined trough. When the conveyor-plow reaches the gutter outlet 15',

the rounded flange '67 on the forward section of therunner, engages with the correspondingly rounded g oove in pulley 23, and is guided thereby-as said pivoted front section 51 negotiates the obtuse angle path at the junction of the gutter and the. inclined trough. Therear section 49 of said articulated runner similarly engages with the grooved pulley and similarly negotiates said obtuse angle path.

the inclined trough conveys the transported manure to the discharge opening 47 in the trough, where it falls therethrough into a manure spreader wagon, not shown.

The reversing switch 46 is; located so that th'e operator 7 has a clear view of the discharge opening 47- in the Continued forward travelofthe conveyor-plow up' 36 to drive the conveyor-plow backwardly down the inclined trough and repeats the procedure for the remaining foot section loads of manure until the entire length of gutter is successively cleaned of manure.

Fig. 8 is a modified illustration of the cable arrangement of Fig. 1, showing the return cable trained in the gutter, in lieu of its being trained overhead near the ceiling as in the parent construction.

In this form of the invention, the driving means 30', comprising the winding means 49', the reduction gear box 35 and the motor 39' are mounted on the inclined trough 16'.

A grooved pulley 75, is rotatably mounted on a shaft 76 journalled in the side wall of the gutter and disposed adjacent the left side wall thereof.

A looped flexible hauling-line 71' has one end thereof secured to the rear end of the conveyor-plow 48', and the remaining portion of the hauling line trained over pulley 25, under pulley 75, around winding drum 31, under pulley 19', under pulley 23', and thence terminating secured to the front end of conveyor-plow 48. Said cable run is characterized by an upper or return run 77 and a lower or operating run 78, both in the gutter.

This modified construction is operated in the same way as the parent construction described hereinabove.

The characteristic features of this invention are the provision of an extremely simple reciprocable barn gutter cleaner; the provision of a barn gutter cleaner having a flexible hauling-line for reciprocably actuating a swingable scraper blade attached thereto; the provision of a variable-stroke, flexible hauling-line type of barn gutter cleaner; the provision of a novel self-contained conveyorplow of the swingable scraper blade type; the provision of an articulated, self-contained conveyor-plow adapted to negotiate vertical obtuse corners; and the provision of a swingable scraper blade in a gutter, actuated by a looped flexible cable run, wherein the upper and lower runs thereof are disposed in the gutter.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A barn gutter cleaner for installation in a barn gutter with an angular bend therein and having a smooth bottom and a side wall extending upwardly therefrom, comprising: a scraper blade adapted to rest on the bottom of the gutter and to scrape the same in one direction of movement therealong; a single reciprocable drive means for said blade adapted to extend along the upright wall of the gutter and to have one end of said blade pivoted thereto to provide for free movement of the blade from a folded non-scraping trailing position when moving along the gutter in one direction to a scraping position wherein the blade extends substantially across the bottom of the gutter when moving along the gutter in the opposite direction, a substantial portion of said reciprocable drive means being flexible to provide for an angular bend in the gutter; means adapted to be disposed adjacent the bend in the gutter for guiding said reciprocable drive means as it moves past the bend; means including a part of said drive means adapted to engage the upright side wall of the gutter for guidance thereby and to limit the pivotal movement of said blade to prevent loss of the load; and means connected to the opposite ends of said reciprocable drive means to pull the same alternately in opposite directions to actuate said blade in the gutter whereby the blade moves material in one direction toward an end of the gutter when the blade is moved in that direction and is extended across the gutter and said blade by-passes the material in the gutter when the blade is moved in the opposite direction and is folded to a non-scraping position, said barn cleaner being characterized by being capable of removing the material in the gutter in successive increments by successive reciprocating movements of the same.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 in which said blade has a forwardly projecting declining portion to serve in aid of holding the blade downwardly against the bottom of the gutter when loaded.

3. A conveyor-plow, comprising: a runner having an outer and an inner face; a scraper blade having one end vertically hinged at said inner face; stop means for limiting the rearward operating swing of the scraper blade to substantially right angle to the runner; said runner being divided into sections pivotally connected.

4. A conveyor-plow, comprising: a runner having an outer and an inner face; a scraper blade having one end vertically hinged on said inner face; stop means for limiting the rearward operating swing of the scraper blade to substantially right angle to the runner; said runner being divided into sections pivotally related to each other on a horizontal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,467,988 Petraske Apr. 19, 1949 2,516,798 Peterson July 25, 1950 2,533,676 Matthews et al. Dec. 12, 1950 2,547,270 Kunz Apr. 3, 1951 2,667,264 Holloway Jan. 26, 1954