US2834489A - Mechanical shovel - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1958 c. J. DAVIS 2,834,489

MECHANICAL SHOVEL Filed June 21, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORN CHARLES J. DAWS MECHANICAL SHOVEL Charles J. Davis, Wichita, Kans, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Massey-Harris-Ferguson lite, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Maryland Application June 21, 1956, Serial No. 592,805?

Claims. (Cl. 214-138) This invention relates generally to mechanical shovels of a portable character capable of being operated at the rear end of a vehicle, the invention pertaining more particularly to such apparatus in which the boom thereof may be selectively mounted at any one of several locations on its supporting frame so as to achieve greater angles of swing.

In carrying out earth moving operations involving the use of a mechanical shovel of the above-mentioned type, it has been a difficult problem to rotate the boom supporting the shovel through the most optimum arcs that might be required. Consequently, it is frequently necessary to maneuver the vehicle itself with which the mechanical shovel is associated so as to permit the shovel to reach in all possible angular directions. Not only is the maneuvering of the vehicle a time consuming proposition, usually necessitating a lifting and re-orientation of the shovels supporting frame too, but frequently it so happens that obstacles such as trees and the like interfere with or prevent entirely this type of maneuvering.

Also, certain digging operations lend themselves more readily to having the boom situated nearer one side of the vehicle than the other. In regard to this latter operation, the digging of a trench alongside the vehicle can be facilitated if the boom is pivotable through an are adjacent that particular side. Yet at times it will be desirable to shift or change this arc for some reason due to the encountering of an obstacle, such as a wall or fence, on the side of the trench on which the vehicle has been placed initially.

Accordingly, one important object of the present invention is to provide a portable mechanical shovel for use with a tractor or the like which will permit a high degree of versatility or latitude as far as obtaining optimum swings of the shovels boom. More specifically, it is an aim of the invention to employ a single boom but to permit it to be relocated at any one of several vantage points so that trenches may be dug along either side of the vehicle or through a rearward arc subtending both sides. Stated somewhat differently, it is planned that the shovel be capable of digging in an arc of 360 about the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to permit selective relocation of the booms lower end in a facile and rapid manner, thereby avoiding work stoppages of any significanoe during an arc change over.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame and swivel post combination that is relatively simple in its construction and inexpensive to fabricate.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical shovel having the foregoing desirable attributes that will also be rugged and reliable, being capable of shouldering the large impact loads to which the structure will at times be subjected.

The invention, together with other objects attending its production, will be more clearly understood when the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

2,834,489 Patented May 13, 1958 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mechanical shovel exemplifying the teachings of the instant invention, the view showing the shovel mechanism orientated with respect to the rear wheels of a vehicle depicted in dotted outline form;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hydraulic motor for actuating the boom of Figure 1 into various angular positions, portions thereof being cut away in order to reveal the internal construction of the motor, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the shovel mechanism in association with a vehicle in the form of a tractor, the dotted outline positions of the shovel at either side illustrating the more extreme angular swings selectively possible with my mechanical shovel.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the invention is illustrated in association with a tractor indicated generally by the numeral 10, the tractor having a pair of spaced rear wheels 12. The tractor 10 is equipped with a hydraulic pressure system from which boom actuating power can be obtained via appropriate control valves (not shown).

The apparatus constituting the mechanical shovel has been indicated in its entirety by the numeral 14. Suitable tie rods 16 extend from the tractor 10 to a generally rectangular frame 18 forming part of the shovel mechanism 14, the tie rods serving to maintain the frame vertical and normal to the longitudinal axis of the tractor. The frame 18 includes a trio of vertical studs 20, 22 and 24 connected by upper and lower transverse members 26, 28 to form the unitary frame structure. Although the reason therefor will become clearer as the description progresses, it is to be observed at this time that the frame is of suificient transverse length to extend beyond the sides of the tractor 10. Additional rigidity may be incorporated into the frame 18 by means of diagonal struts 3t 32. While not of particular importance to an understanding of the present invention, the studs 20, 24 are of rectangular cross-section, having leg elements 34, 36 telescopically received therein at their lower ends. By means of the adjustability imparted to these leg elements 34, 36 the frame 18 may be maintained level irrespective of the unevenness of the local terrain.

Projecting from the lower transverse member 28 in cantilever fashion is a centrally located relatively short beam 38 comprised of upper and lower horizontal flange plates 40, 42 and vertically disposed web plates 44, 46, the plate 40 having a slot 48 therein and the webs 44, 46 being spaced slightly apart for the reception of a downwardly directed ear (not visible) carried at the lower end of an upright swivel post assembly denoted by the reference numeral 50. By reason of a short transverse pin 52 extending through the webs 44, 46 and the ear therebetween the swivel post assembly 50 is anchored at its lower end, inasmuch as it is planned that the beam 38 be fixedly attached to the transverse member 28, as by welding. Thus it will be recognized that the beam 38 functions as a seat for the swivel post assembly 50.

An upper support for the swivel post assembly 50 is also provided, this support being in the form of a clevis element 54 welded or otherwise secured to the upper transverse member 26. As best seen from Figure 2 the swivel post assembly 50 is equipped with a cooperable tongue element 56 transversely apertured at 58 for the accommodation of a pin 60 therethrough, the pin 60 engaging the clevis element 54 to complete the connective support at the upper end of the assembly 50.

It may be explained that the assembly 50 includes'a post 62 journaled for rotation about a vertical axis, the axis being maintained vertical owing to the supporting action supplied by the members 38 and 54. The specific bearing arrangement for the swivel post 62 is of course not essential to a practicing of the invention. However, it is to be noted that the post 62 has a clevis element 64 near its lower end to which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 66 the lower end of a boom assembly 68. Another clevis element 70, aifixedto the swivel post nearer its upper end, has pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin 72 one end of a hydraulic cylinder 74, the other or piston rod end of the cylinder 74 being pivotally connected to the boom assembly 68 at a locus 76 considerably removed from the pin 66.

The free end of the boom 68 assembly pivotally supports a shovel arm'78 at 80, actuation of this arm being by way of a hydraulic cylinder 82. The lower end of the arm 78 pivotally carries a shovel or scoop 84, still another hydraulic cylinder 86 supplying the actuating force for pivoting the scoop 84 relative to its arm 78. As mentioned earlier herein, the tractor is equipped with a pumping systemcapable of furnishing fluid under pressure, this fluid being supplied to the hydraulic cylinders V 74, 82,86 by flexible tubes (not shown).

This same pumping system also furnishes the fluid for the swinging of the boom 68 assembly about its vertical axis. To accomplish this, a self-contained positioning means, designated generally by the reference numeral 87, is utilized. The positioning means 87 includes a conventional vane motor 88 (shown to better advantage in Figure 2) having an outer casing or cylinder 90 welded or otherwise secured to the tongue 56. Internally, the cylinder 90 carries a fixed vane 92, a pair of bolt elements 94 maintaining this fixed relationship. concentrically disposed within the cylinder 90 is a rotor 96 having a vane 98 fixedly attached thereto. By means of a plurality of inwardly directed bolts 100 the rotor 96 is drivingly connected to the upper end of the swivel post 62. The cylinder is provided with a head 102 and by means of a seal 104 retention of the fluid supplied via either of the tubes 106, 108 is assured. It Will of course be perceived that the tube 106 leads to one side of the fixed vane 92 and the tube 108 to the other. One tube will be used for pressure and the other as a return, and vice-versa depending upon which rotative direction is desired. Inasmuch as the boom 68 assembly is attached to the swivel post 62, asalready described, it will be appreciated that the boom and its supported shovel or scoop 84 will move in rotative unison with the post 62. It might also be explained that a seat structure 110 surmounts the swivel post 62 and is likewise moved in unison therewith, thereby automatically guiding the operators line of sight in the direction of the shovel 84 which he is controlling.

Directing attention to Figure 3, it will be observed that the swing of the boom assembly 68 is severely limited by reason of the frame 18,.an arc of approximately 180 being possible when the centrally located seat connection 38 is utilized. However, through the medium of additional seats 38a and 38b secured to the sides of the studs and 24, the swivel post, together with the boom 68 assembly and its supported shovel 84, can be relocated as a unit. To do this, all that need be done is to remove the pins 52, 60, then inserting them in either one of the beams 34a, 34b and the corresponding clevis elements 54a, 54b, these various seats and clevis elements being duplicates of the earlier mentioned seat formed by the beam 38 and the clevis element 54.

Reference to Figure 3 at this time will give an excellent idea as to the extent that the relocation of the swivel post 62 to either end of the frame 18 will increase the angular swing of the boom 68 assembly. As illustrated, when the swivel post assembly has been moved to the left side, i. e. received in the seat 3811, the boom 68 as-.

sembly may be swung to a position slightly beyond parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the tractor 10, whereas a corresponding position may be reached when the seat 38b is utilized. Owing to the fact that the width of the frame 18 is greater than the spacing between the wheels 12, it will be appreciated that either of the extreme boom swings may be reached without interference. In other words, by properly selecting the seat locations, arcs of 360 can be realized.

Having described the invention with sufficient clarity to enable those familiar with this art to construct and use it, I claim:

1. A mechanical shovel attachment for a wheeled vehicle comprising: an upright transversely elongated frame; means rigidly connecting said frame to a Wheeled vehicle supporting the frame in a fixed upright position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said frame extending beyond the opposite sides of the vehicle; a unitary shovel actuating boom assembly; an upright swivel post to which said boom assembly is connected and about which said boom assembly may pivot on a vertical axis; an ear depending from said post; a tonguesecured to the upper end of said post; a plurality of spaced ear receiving and post supporting seats carried by said frame including at least one seat near one end of said frame located beyond the adjacent side of said vehicle; a clevis secured to said frame at the upper end thereof overlying each of said seats; means securing said tongue in a selected clevis; and means for securing said ear'and hence the entire boom assembly in the one of said seats underlying said selected clevis.

2. A mechanical shovel attachment for a wheeled vehicle comprising: a generally rectangular frame including an upright stud at each end and upper and lower transverse members connecting with said studs; means rigidly connecting said frame to a wheeled vehicle for supporting said frame in a fixed upright position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said frame having the studs thereof disposed beyond the opposite sides of the vehicle; a unitary shovel actuating boom assembly; an upright swivel post to which said boom assembly is connected and about which said boom assembly may pivot on a vertical axis; an ear depending from said post; a tongue secured 'to the upper end of said post; a pinrality of seat means including a first relatively short beam projecting horizontally from said lower transverse member intermediate the ends thereof, a second relatively short beam projecting horizontally from one of said studs and a third relatively short beam projecting horizontally from the other of said studs; means for securing said ear depending from said swivel post and hence the entire boom assembly to a selected one of said seat means;

a clevis secured to the upper end of said frame overlying each of said seat means; and means detachably securing said tongue to the clevis overlying the selected one of said seat means.

3. In a mechanical shovel attachment mounted on a vehicle, the combination comprising a shovel actuating boom assembly including a swivel post on which a boom is mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said assembly including self-contained positioning means coupling said post and the swingable boom for adjustably positioning the boom about said vertical axis, said attachrnent including a first seat extending beyond one end of said vehicle and having means for releasably locking said post therein in non-rotative, upright position, and a pair of additional seats extending beyond opposite lateral sides of said vehicle so that the boom assembly and its selfcontained positioning means can be selectively located for working throughout an arc encompassing each of said sides and said end of the vehicle by locking said swivel post in a selected one of said seats.

4. In a mechanical shovel attachment, mounted on a vehicle, the combination comprising an upright, rigid frame mounted transversely on the vehicle and being of sufiicient length to extend laterally beyond the opposite vehicle sides, a shovel-actuating boom assembly including an upright swivel post on which a boom is mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a first seat extending from said frame intermediate its ends and having means for releasably locking said post therein in nonrotative, upright position, said assembly including selfcontained positioning means coupling said post and the swingable boom for adjustably positioning the boom about said vertical axis, and a pair of additional seats, similar to said first seat, being fixed one at each of said opposite laterally extending ends of said frame, so that the boom assembly and its self-contained positioning means can be selectively located for working throughout an arc encompassing each of said opposite sides and one end of the vehicle by locking said swivel post in alternate ones of said seats.

5. An attachment for mounting, to a vehicle, a boom actuating and supporting assembly including a boom structure supported by a swivel post for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis, said attachment including a first seat for supporting a swivel post so that a boom structure may extend beyond an end of a vehicle, said attachment being of suflicient size to extend beyond each side of a vehicle and terminate in end portions each having an additional seat for supporting a swivel post so that a boom structure may extend along each side of a vehicle, whereby a swivel post may be selectively located in any one of said seats so that a boom structure, supported thereby, may be operative throughout an arc encompassing each side and an end of the vehicle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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