US3022839A - Earth boring apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1962 H. J. TRocHE EARTH BORING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Shea?I 1 Filed July 7. 1959 I ll lll l/ INVENTOR. Henman J. ll'aoun Feb. 27, 1962 H, J, TRocHE EARTH BORING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 7, 1959 INVENTOR. HeRMnN J. Taocus Feb. 27, 1962 H. J. TROCHE EARTH BORING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July '7, 1959 xk@ i.

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INVENTOR.y

HERMRN J. Tszoc'us` .BY A y 782.42' Klamm] c5 Ohio Fiied ll'uly 7, 1959, Ser. No. 825,610 Claims. (Cl. 175-201) This invention relates generally to power operated earth boring apparatus, and more particularly to a multiple-speed, geared earth boring apparatus adapted for mounting on a vehicle for ready portability.

There has been a long felt need in the art of portable earth borers for a multiple-speed, geared unit which is rugged and compact in construction and which possesses multiple digging speeds, including a medium torque, no1'- mal digging speed for conventional type soil conditions, and a higher torque, slower digging speed for use under more diicult digging conditions, such as harder soils, etc., and which embodies some means for ready removal of borings from the auger or earth borer tool, after the auger has been retracted from the hole produced thereby. Many types of soils, such as the clays, are extremely difcult, especially when wet, to dislodge from the auger of known earth boring apparatus. Prior art arrangements of portable type earth borers are also comparatively difcult to actuate and control, thereby necessitating the use of an excessive number of personnel for operating the same.

The present invention, provides a compact, fluid powered, geared earth boring apparatus which possesses the aforementioned multiple digging speeds for effective use under varying soil conditions, and which incorporates means for providing a novel spinning speed for the auger, for effectively throwing-oil borings which have adhered thereto after withdrawal thereof from the hole, and which includes a novel arrangement of control or shifting mechanism for selectively changing to one or the other of the digging speeds, and for selectively initiating the spinning speed of the auger, irrespective of the digging speed at which the apparatus is set to operate. In one embodiment of the invention, an earth boring apparatus of the above type is provided wherein the transmission digging speed gear sections and their associated housing portions, which provide for the multiple digging speeds of the apparatus, are detachably connected together as individual, separable units, such apparatus being readily changed over to a single digging speed type earth borer, instead of the multiple digging speed type, by simply removing one complete speed change gear section and its associated housing from the transmission assembly, to thereby provide a lower cost, relatively smaller size unit and without the necessity of redesigning or cornpletely reconstructing the operating parts of the apparatus. l

Accordingly, an object of the invention is toprovide an improved, compact, multiple-speed earth boring apparatus for use primarily as a portable unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an earth boring apparatus of the latter type which incorporates means for providing a readily actuatable spinning speed for the auger of the apparatus, to effect a throw-oft" of borings which may tend to adhere to the auger after Withdrawal thereof from the hole produced thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide an earth boring apparatus of the latter type including readily actuatable and controllable gear shifting or control apparatus, for shifting into the desired digging or spinning speed position, and including means for yieldably retaining the gear shifting apparatus in the desired digging speed setting.

ZZQ Patented Feb. 2'?, i962 A still further object of the invention is to provide earth boring apparatus of the latter type in which the digging speed gear'sections for the multiple digging speeds of the apparatus are detachably connected together as individual, separable units, so that certain of such gear units can be readily removed from the apparatus without redesigning or materially reconstructing the apparatus, to thereby provide a lower cost single digging speed unit if so desired.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of an earth boring apparatus of the invention carried by a movable derrick structure mounted on a utility type vehicle; in full lines there is shown an operative position of the derrick and, associated earth boring apparatus and in dotted lines there is illustrated an inoperative, clamped position of the auger with respect to the derrick, and in dot-dash lines the inoperative carried position of the derrick or boom and earth boring apparatus on the vehicle is illustrated.

FIG. 2'is a fragmentary, top plan view of the boom and earth boring apparatus shown in FIGURE l, with the utility vehicle having been removed in the interests of simplicity.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partially sectioned, elevational view of one embodiment of the speed change power transmission unit for the auger of the earth boring apparatus, and is of the afore-mentioned type wherein the digging speed change gear sections are detachably connected together as individual, separable units, so that one of the gear sections and its associated housing portion may be readily removed from the transmission unit, for providing a lower cost, more compact, single digging speed unit.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5 5 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the shiftable coupling collar elements of the transmission gear train which lprovides for driving the transmission at its various speeds, and is particularly used for initiating the spinning speed for the auger.

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of another of the shiftable coupling collar elements of the transmission gear train, and is particularly used for initiating one or the other of the digging speeds for the auger.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the digging speed control lever used to actuate the coupling collar element of FIG. 8, and illustrates the position of such lever when the FIG. 8 collar element is in poistion to provide a high torque low digging speed for the auger; in dot-dash lines the lengthwise axis of the control lever is shown if such lever is moved to actuate the FIG. 8 coupling collar element into its other coupling position to provide a medium torque normal digging speed for the auger.

FIG. 10 is a section view taken substantially along the plane of line lil-10 ofv FIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows, and yieldably retaining Vthe control lever of FIG. 9 in its selected position.

FIG. ll is an enlarged, sectional, elevational view of a ,i modified arrangement of a speed change gearedtransmisparticularly illustrates the means for sion unit for driving the auger of the earth boring mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, enlarged partially sectioned elevational view of the digging speed control lever of the modification of FIG. 1l for shifting or changing the digging speed of the auger, together with the means for yieldably retaining such control lever in the desired setting.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of the operational eiect of the means illustrated in FIG. l2 for yieldably retaining the digging speed control lever in its desired or positioned setting.

Referring again to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated a utility type wheeled vehicle on which is mounted a boom or derrick 12 hinged as at 14 to the vehicle for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane. Fluid powered reciprocal motor units 15 may be provided on either side of the boom structure for actuating the latter in its vertical plane movement. An earth boring tool in the form of a power operated auger 16, is pivotally carried by the derriclt 12 for swinging movement in a generally vertical plane to provide for swinging movement of the earth boring tool .with respect to the derriclc structure. An arm 18 is pivotally connected to the boom as at 20 and at its lower end pivotally supports, as at 22, the speed change power transmission unit 24 of the earth boring apparatus, and with which this invention is particularly concerned.

A fluid-powered, double acting, reciprocal type motor unit 26 may be provided for adjusting the position of the earth boring tool with respect to the boom and in a vertical plane. Motor unit 26 is pivotally connected as at 2S to cross member 30 of the boom and at the other end thereof is pivotally connected as at 32 to the arm 18, supporting the earth boring apparatus. As shown in dotted lines in FIG. l, the earth boring apparatus may be folded up to an inoperative position where it extends generally parallel to the boom structure, and may be detachably clamped or fastened thereto as at 36 for convenient handling, after which the boom 12 may be pivoted about its pivotal connections 14 on the vehicle to an inoperative carried position overlying the vehicle 1t), and as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1 and 3, the aforementioned speed change power transmission unit 24 comprises a sectional housing or casing 38 having an upstanding carrier or handle portion 4t) which rotatably mounts a cross sleeve 40a at its upper end for swinging movement of the transmission unit in a plane generally transverse to the vehicle 10. Cross sleeve 40a is provided with an upstanding shank portion 405 which is pivotally connected as aforementioned at 22 to the lower endof supporting arm 18. In FIG. 3 of the drawings, carrier portion 4G and associated cross sleeve 40a and shank portion 4Gb have been rotated 90 out of their actual position with respect to the underlying transmission gear train, the actual positional relationship being correctly shown in FIG. 1, so as to better illustrate the high speed, uid powered, rotary and preferably reversible motor unit 41 mounted on the-top or cover plate 43 of the transmission housing 38, as well as the positions of the control levers for shifting the transmission into its various speed settings.

Motor unit 41 which is of conventional well known type is connected by suitable feed and return lines via ports 41a to a pump unit (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 10, and suitable valve means (not shown) of conventio'nal well known type may be provided for controlling'the ow and direction of pressurized uid to the motor, and in a manner well known in the art. The' aforementioned pump may be powered from a separate source of power such as an engine mounted on the vehicle, but is preferably operatively coupled to the main power plant orV propelling engine'of the vehicle for actuation ofthe pump and in a manner well known in the art. Such pump may also' be operatively connected to the other fluid powered motor units of the apparatus, such as units 15 and 26, for actuation thereof in the conventional manner well known in the art.

The output shaft 42 of rotary motor unit 41 has a sun gear 44 secured thereto as at 44a, such sun gear being in meshing relation with planet gears 46 (FIG. 4) rotatably mounted as at 46a on rotatable planetary carrier structure 4S. Planetary gears 46 are in meshing relation with an internal ring gear 50 secured to the transmission housing, as by means of dowel pins 50a. Sun gear 44, planetary gears 46 and associated carrier structure 48, and ring gear 50 thereby provide a rst speed reduction unit 51 for the transmission.

Planetary carrier structure 48 has a speed change gear 52 secured to its lower end for rotation therewith and with respect to transmission shaft member 54. A fixed, change gear 56 is disposed adjacent gear 52 and is secured as at 56a to shaft 54, and an axially movable or shiftable sliding change gear collar 53 (FIG. 7) having internal gear teeth 60 and 62 on opposite ends thereof is provided, such coupling collar 58 being movable from the coupling relation shown in FIG. 3 between gear 52 and gear 56 tixed to shaft 54, into coupling relation between gear 52 and sun gear 64 rotatably mounted with respect to shaft 54.

Shaft 54 is journaled for rotation with respect to housing 38, as by means of bearings 66, and has its output end 68 secured to shank 7i) of the auger 16, the latter securement in the arrangement illustrated being accomplished by means of sleeve 72 secured to the upper end of auger shank 70 and a bolt and nut assembly 74 extending through complementary openings in the output shaft 68 and sleeve 72. Thus it will be seen that when the coupling collar 58 is in coupling relation between gear 52 and gear 56, the latter being fixed to shaft 54,

such shaft is rotated at a relatively high speed depending on the speed reduction of the motor unit 41 due to the planetary speed reduction unit 51. This relatively high speed is the aforementioned spinning speed for the auger and is adapted for use to throw off borings that may have stuck or adhered to the auger after withdrawal thereof from the drilled hole.

The mechaniss for actuating change gear collar S8 will now be described:

The collar 58 has a circumferentially extending groove 76 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which receives therein a shifter fork element 78 (FIG. 5). Shifter fork element 78 is secured as at 78a to a shaft or rod 8i) extending horizontally and transversely of the casing 38 and which is rotatably mounted with respect thereto, as at 86a. A cap 82 is secured as at 82a to one end of shaft 86 exterior-ally of casing 38, and a torsion spring element 84 is secured at one end to the cap 82 and at the other end to casing 38 for yieldably resisting rotary movement of the shaft 80. The other end of the shaft has an operating handle 86 secured thereto for selectively actuating shaft 80 and associated shifter fork 78.

-The torsion spring 84 is so disposed with respect to the shaft 8i) and casing 38 that the sliding change gear collar 58 is normally maintained out of coupling relation with gear 56 fixed to shaft 54. In other words, the position of collar 58 and associated control lever 86 illustrated in FIG. 3 is that when the handle or lever 86 has been pivoted upwardly from its normal position to rotate the shaft 8d against the resistance of spring 34 to move gear collar S8 into coupling relation between gear 52 and fixed gear Sti.v It will be seen therefore that the transmission is normally not in condition for providing the spinning speed to the auger, but such spinning speed is only provided upon pivoting of control handle 8,6 upwardly.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in order to actuate handle 86 from ground level to provide the aforementioned spinning s speed to the auger, a cord 88 is provided, such cord being secured to one end of handle 86 and then movingly connected to the derrick structure 12 and then extended downwardly toward ground level. rIherefore by merely pulling down on cord 88 which can be accomplished from ground level, the transmission 24 can be readily shifted into spinning speed, and upon release of the cord, the torsion spring 84 actuates rod 80 and associated shifting fork 78 to automatically move coupling gear collar 58 downwardly into coupling relation between gear 52 and the aforementioned gear element 64 rotatably mounted on the transmission shaft 54. The lengthwise axis of the operating handle 86 in such normal non-actuated position is illustrated by the dot-dash line 86a in FlG. 3.

Gear 64 constitutes the sun gear of a second speed reduction unit 92, the latter comprising sun gear 64, planetary gears 94 rotatably mounted on rotatable planetary carrier structure 94a, and a ring gear 96, secured as by means of dowel pins 96a to housing 38. It will be seen therefore that change gear collar S normally couples gear 52 to speed reduction unit 92, unless shifted into spinning speed operation by actuation of cord 88 and associated handle 86.

Also attached to planetary carrier structure 94a are a plurality of curved lube vanes 93 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which revolve with the gear reduction unit 92 and splash liquid lubricant, such as oil, contained in casing 3S upwardly against the top wall 43 of housing 38 from whence it drains down to lubricate the parts of the transmission disposed in the upper portion of the housing. An oil collecting device 100, mounted on the top of the iirst planet-ary speed reduction unit 51 collects such splashed oil and aids in lubricating the upper portions of the transmission.

Secured to planetary carrier structure 04a is an underlying speed change gear 102 for rotation with such carrier structure. Disposed below gear 102 and rotatably mounted with respect to transmission shaft 54 is a sun gear 104. Sun gear 104 constitutes a part speed reduction unit 105, the latter unit being comprised of sun gear 104, planetary gear 106 (FIGS. 3 and 6) rotatably mounted as at 107 on rotatable planetary carrier structure S, and an internal ring gear 110, which in the embodiment shown is formed as a unit with housing portion 38b of the sectional transmission housing 38.

Planetary carrier structure 108 is drivingly coupled to transmission shaft 54 as at 112, and it will be seen therefore that upon power rotation of such planetary carrier structure 108, the output transmission shaft 54 will be driven thereby.

An axially movable slidable change gear collar 114 (FIGS. 3 and 8) is provided for selectively coupling gear 102 on speed reduction unit 92 to sun gear 104 of speed reduction unit 105, or coupling gear 102 to gear portion 116 on planetary carrier structure 108 of speed reduction unit 105.

When slidable gear collar 114 is in coupled relation between gear 102 and sun gear 104, and as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the transmission is positioned for high torque, low digging speed operation, with the power from gear 102 being fed to sun gear 104, planetary gears 106 to planetary carrier structure 108 and thence to transmission shaft 54 by way of connection 112. This relatively low speed high torque arrangement is for use during diiicult digging operations, such as in hard soil conditions or when a larger size auger is being used to drill a bigger hole.

`Referring now to FIG. 8, which illustrates in vertical section the sliding gear collar 114, it will be seen that the latter comprises spaced internal gear teeth 118 and 120 at opposite ends thereof and external gear teeth 122 on the lower end thereof. It also embodies a circumferentially extending groove 124 which receives shifter fork element 126 (FIG. 6) for actuating the gear collar. Shifting fork element 126 comprises a cylindrical, sleeve portion 126a of the third planetary which is rotatably mounted on transverse operating rod 128 which in turn is rotatably journaled as at 130 in casing portion 38h. One end of the rod 128 has a control handle element 132 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) secured thereto. An anchor member 133 is secured as at 133a to rod 128 and a helical torsion spring 133b is provided, one end of which is secured to anchor member 133 and the other end of which is secured to sleeve portion 126a, the purpose of such an arrangement being hereinafter described.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided for yieldably retaining handle element 132 in a selected digging speed position, or in other words retaining change gear coupling collar 114 in coupled relation between gear 102 and sun gear 104, gear 102 and gear portion 116 on planetary carrier structure 103. This means takes the form of a spring loaded detent 136 (FIGS. 9 and 10) mounted on the upper portion of a handle 132 and adapted for holding coaction in one or the other of recesses 140, 140e disposed in a plate 142 secured to the exterior of housing portion 138b. Thus it will be seen that means is provided for yieldably resisting lfree pivotal movement of operating handle 132, to thereby retain the change gear collar 114 in its selected coupling position.

If, handle 132 is pivoted so that the detent 136 is in retaining coaction with recess 140e and with the length- Wise axis of the handle 132 in the position illustrated by dot-dash line X in FIG. 9 and thus shifting coupling collar 114 into coupling relation between gear 102 and gear portion 116 on planetary carrier structure 108, then the power from the gear 102 is transmitted through carrier structure 10S direct to transmission shaft 54 via connection 112, to provide a medium torque normal digging speed for the auger. This speed is for use for digging or drilling holes in conventional types of soils, and represents the speed for which the earth boring apparatus is conventionally adapted for use. its such shifting movement of collar 114.

Referring now again to FIGS. 6, 9 and 10, the com pression spring 143 of spring loaded detent 136 is stronger than the torsion spring 133]), so that when handle 132 is moved from low digging speed position to higher or normal digging speed position or vice versa, the operating handle 132 will be retained in its new selected position even though shifting collar 114 might be tightly meshed with gears 102 and 104, or with gears 102 and 116, thereby preventing the desired shifting movement of collar 114. In such event, torsion spring 133b will be deflected as rod 128 rotates thereby applying a force on shifter fork 126 via sleeve portion 126a. Then when the load is subsequently removed from the gear train by either a forward or reverse motion of motor unit 41,` automaticalthe coupling collar 114 will be freed up to ly move into meshing relation with the speed gear (Le. gear 104 or 116) selected, due to the force being applied by dellected torsion spring 133b, to thereby provide a semi-automatic gear shifting arrangement. It will be seen .therefore that with such an arrangement it is not necessary to immediately accomplish digging speed shifting of the transmission upon actuation of the contro-l lever or handle 132, but such is automatically accomplished subsequently upon subsequent actuation of the motor power unit.

A feature of the invention in the FIG. 3 embodiment is that if so desired, the housing portion 38b and its associated speed reduction unit 105 and accompanying sliding coupling collar 114 may be readily removed by merely removing bolt and nut assemblies 144 which hold the latter. transmission section in assembled relation with the main housing portion 33. Thereupon, after replacing transmission shaft 54 with a shaft to suit so as to couple gear 102 to the shaft and then attach bottom cover plate 146 directly to the ange portion 148 of the main housing 38, a smaller more compact lower cost a horizontally extending,

or in coupling relation between A stop 141 lim-y spaanse power transmission unit will be provided, which will possess the aforementioned auger spinning speed and a single digging speed. It will be seen that such an arrangement will be readily accomplished with the structure shown and without any necessity for a reconstruction or the upper portion of the transmission gear train arrange-ment.

Referring now to FIGS. l1 to 13 inclusive of the drawings, there is shown a modiiication of the invention. This modifica-tion operates generally similarly to the rst described embodiment and possesses a spinning speed and two digging speeds (a high torque, relatively low speed and a medium torque normal or higher speed) the Same as in the -tirst described embodiment, but does not possess the feature whereby the transmission unit can be readily revised into a single digging speed uni-t, as discussed immediately above, and in addition utilizes a different arrangement of means for yieldably retaining the operating shift handle, which controls the digging speeds of the earth boring apparatus, in its selected positions.

Referring now to FIG. l1, the rotary, fluid powered motor unit 41 is mounted on the top cover plate 15@ of the power transmission unit 24 and output shaft 150e thereof extends into the transmission chamber defined by the housing member 152. A pinion gear 154 is secured to the output shaft 150e of the motor and is disposed in meshing relation with a spur gear 156 rotatably mounted on transmission shaft 54. Spur gear 156 has a gear portion 15651 secured thereto, and immediately below gear portion 1560. there is disposed a speed change gear 158 fixed to the transmission shaft. 1t will be seen therefore that pinion gear 154, spur gear 156 and gear 156:1 comprise a speed reduction unit 157 of the transmission. A coupling gear collar 160 of the same general arrangement as collar 58 of the iirst described ernbodiment is provided -for selectively coupling gear 15611 to either gear 158 ixed to transmission shaft 54 or to sun gear 162 of the second speed reduction unit 164. If the collar 160 is moved upwardly from the position shown into coupling arrangement between gear 156e and gear 158, the aforediscussed high spinning speed for the auger is provided. The position of the coupling collar 160 shown in FIG. 11 is the normal position therefor, and a shifter fork element 78, operating rod 80 associated torsion spring 84, and operating handle 86, the Same as in the first described embodiment, is provided for shifting coupling collar 160 from the position shown into its auger spinning speed position, and for automatically returning the collar 160 and associated control lever to normal coupling position, upon release of the operating handle.

It will be seen therefore that the coupling collar 160 is normally held out of spinning speed position, the same as in the iirst described embodiment of the invention, and Y the operating handle 86 therefor may be provided with acord for operating the handle from ground level, the same as in the first described embodiment of the invention.

When the coupling collar 160 is in the coupling position shown in FIG. 1l, or in other words coupling gear 156a to sun gear 162 of the planetary gear speed reduction unit 164, the power is transmitted from gear 156e .through gear reduction unit 16d` to the gear 168 formed integrally with the planetary carrier structure 170 of reduction unit 164, and being rotatably mounted with re spect to transmission shaft 54.

A coupling collar member 172 which is substantially identical to collar 114 of the first described embodiment of the invention is provided for selectively coupling gear 168 to sun gear 174 of the planetary speed reduction unit 176. or to the internal tooth gear portion 178 of the planetary carrier structure 188 of speed reduction unit 176, the latter unit construction to the planetary speed reduction 'unit 105 of the first described embodiment, except that the internal being substantially identical in ring gear portion 182 of reduction unit 176 is not formed as a unit with the transmission housing 152, as is the internal ring gear of the first described embodiment. In all other respects however, it is substantially identical.

When coupling collar 172 is in the position shown in FIG. 11, or in other words is coupling gear 168 to sun gear 174 of unit 176, a relatively high torque low auger digging speed is provided, for use as aforementioned in ditiicult digging conditions such as hard soils or when using a larger sized auger. When collar 172 is moved downwardly into coupling relation between gear 168 and gear portion 178 on planetary carrier structure 180, a medium torque, normal digging speed is provided as in therst described embodiment, for use under conventional digging conditions, with the planetary carrier structure 180 being secured to the transmission shaft 54 as at 112, the same as in the first described embodiment of the invention.

An operating handle 186 (FIGS. 11 and 12) is provided for actuating the control shaft 18S on which is rotatably mounted a shifter fork element 190 the same as in the first described embodiment, with fork element 190 coacting in the circumferential external slot 192 of sliding collar 172 for shifting the collar from one to the other of its digging speed positions. A torsion spring 194 is provided coacting between the rotatable sleeve portion 196 of shifter fork 190 and the shaft 188, the same as in the first described embodiment to make the shifting of collar 172 a semi-automatic operation the same as in the first described embodiment.

Means 19S is also provided for yieldably retaining the operating handle 186 in the selected digging speed position.

In this embodiment of the invention, such means takesV the form of an over-center spring mechanism comprising a pin 200 projecting from the exterior of housing 152 and a pin 202 mounted on the innerside of handle 186. An elongated guide member 204 is pivotally mounted on pin 200 and an elongated guide member 206 is pivotally mounted on pin 202 and in axially movable relation to guide 204, and a compression spring 208 encircling such guide members is disposed intermediate abutments 209 mounted on the respective guide members. Spring 208 is stronger than torsion spring 194 and thus maintains the operating lever 186 in either of the selected digging positions, with the spacing between abutments 209 decreasing against the resistance of spring 208 upon pivoting ofhandle 186 from one digging speed position to the other digging speed position, and as can be best seen from FIG. 13 of the drawings, while the distance between the axis of rotation of rod 188 and the axis of pin 202 remaining the same during such pivlotal movement of the operating handle 186'. As can be seen from FIG. 13 of the drawings, the axis of spring 208 is normally disposed obliquely with respect to a plane passing through the pivotal axis of lever 186 and the axis of pin 202, in either of the levers digging'speed settings.

Carrier structure 180 of speed reduction unit 176 also carries curved lube vanes 212A to splash lubricant up against the top cover plate 150, especially during the spinning speed of the transmission, for eliective lubrica-V tion of the upper portion of the gear train and bearings 214 rotatably mounting shaft 54. A deliecting groove 216 is provided in top coverplate150 for detlecting such splashed lubricant downwardly into upwardly facing concave face 218 While gear 156 is revolving, the latter is provided with a reverse draft 220 on the upper section of its outer rim to thereby in effect form a circular storage chamber which retains the liquid lubricant until the rotary motion stops, at which time the lubricant drains toward center down through the bearings.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be seen that the invention provides a novel, compact, multiple speed earth boring apparatus which incorporates a spinning or rapid speed for throwf ing off borings which may adhere to the auger after withdrawal from the drilled hole, as well as a plurality of digging speeds for effective use of the apparatus under varying digging conditions or with different sizes of augers. The invention also provides an earth boring apparatus of the above type which incorporates means for yieldably retaining the gear shifting apparatus in the desired Vsetting and providing a semi-automatic shifting operation upon actuation of the digging speed control lever as well as an apparatus which may be easily revised into a reduced speed unit of relatively smaller size and lower cost, without the necessity of materially reconstructing the apparatus. The invention also provides an earth boring apparatus of the above type which is adapted to be actuated by pressurized fiuid power for effective and smooth ground drilling operations.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Y I claim: v

1. In an earth boring apparatus ofthe type adapted for mounting on a derrick carried by a -vehicle for ready portability thereof, the combination including a speedchange geared transmission unit including an external housing, means on said housing 4foro peratively mounting said unit on the derrick, said unit vkincluding anroutput shaft, an earth boring auger operatively coupled` to said transmission shaft and adapted to be rotated at a' speed determined by said transmission unit, a fiuid powered rotary type motor mounted onsaid housing and including an output shaft extending into the interior of said housing, a first geared speed reduction unit rotatably mounted on said output shaft interiorally of said housing and being in coupled relation with vsaid motor, means for selectively coupling said first speed reduction unit toV said transmission shaft whereby the latter is rotatedat a high spinning speed for throwing off borings which may adhere to said auger, control means for actuating said last mentioned coupling means, said control means including means for yieldably urging said coupling means out of coupling relation between said shaft and said first speed reduction unit, a second planetary type geared speed reduction unit rotatably mounted on said transmission shaft, said coupling means being normally disposed in coupling relation between said first speed reduction unit and second speed reduction unit, a third planetary type geared speed reduction unit including a sun gear and rotary planetary gear carrier structure, said planetary gear carrier structure of said third speed reduci tion unit being secured to said transmission shaft for rotition therewith, second coupling means selectively coupleable between said second speed reduction unit and said sun gear and between said second speed reduction unit and said planetary gear carrier structure wherebysaid transmission shaft is provided with a medium torque normal digging speed and a high torque lower digging speed depending on the coupling position of second coupling means, control means for selectively actuating said second coupling means to either of its digging speed coupling positions, and means for yieldably retaining said second control means in its selected position.

2. In an earth boring apparatus in accordance with claim l including vane means fixed to one of said speed reduction units for rotation therewith and adapted to splash lubricant upwardly from the lower portion of said transmission housing to the upper portion thereof for lubricating the various parts of said transmission unit.

3. A multiple-speed compact geared transmission unit adapted for use with a portable earth boring auger for driving the latter at various speeds comprising in combination, a housing, a transmission output shaft adapted for connection to said earth boring auger, said transmission unit being adapted to be activated by a high speed rotary fiud powered motor, a tirst geared speed'reduction unit rotatably mounted on said transmission shaft and adapted to be coupled to said motor, a second geared speed reduction unit rotatably mounted on said transmission shaft, a shifting coupling element normally coupling said first speed vreduction unit to second speed reduction unit, said coupling element being shiftable into coupling relation between first speed reduction unit and said transmission shaft, control means movable from an inactive to an active position for so shifting said coupling element, said control means including resilient means for yieldably resisting shifting of said coupling element and for automatically returning said control means to inactive position and thus returning said coupling element into coupling relation between said first speed reduction unit and said second speed vreduction unit, a third speed reduction unit drivingly coupled to. said transmission shaft, said third speed reduction. unit including means for providing a medium torque normal digging speed for said transmission shaft and a higher torque lower digging speed for said transmission shaft, a second shifting coupling element coacting between said second speed reductionunit and said third speed. reduction unit for'driving said transmission shaft at either of its selected digging speeds, control means for actuating said second coupling element into either of its coupling positions, and means, for yieldably retaining said secondc'ontrol means in its selected position. t

4.- A transmission unit in accordancef with claim 3 where in said second control means includes arotatable operating shaft `extending transversely of `said sousing, av

shifter fork element pivotally mounted on said operating shaft, an eXteriorally accessible pivotal operating handle for rotating said operating ing between said shifter fork and said operating lshaft for actuation of said shifter fork upon rotation of said operatingV shaft, said shifter fork being operatively coupled to said second coupling element for actuation thereof into either of its digging speed coupling positions, said retaining means for said second control means cornprising a compression spring having a greater capacity than said torsion spring and coacting with said handle to maintain the latter in its selected digging speed setting, said torsion spring upon deflection thereof by pivoting of said handle operating to actuate said second coupling element to its desired digging .speed coupling position sequentially with pivoting of said handle and actuation of said speed reduction units whereby a semiautomatic shifting of said second coupling element is accomplished. Y

5. In an earth boring apparatus of the type adapted for suspension-mounting on a derrick carried by a vehicle, the combination comprising a change speed gear transmission unitIincluding an output shaft, a rotary fluid powered motor mounted on said unit and operatively coupled to said unit for actuating the same, said output shaft being adapted to be coupled to an earth boring auger for rotation of thelater, said unit comprising first gear means coupled to said motor, second gear means drivingly engageable with said shaft, coupling means selectively movable to connect the first gear means and the shaft for providing a relatively high spinning speed for the auger, or to couple said first gear means to said second geartmeans for providing at least one digging speed to the shaft, control means for shifting said coupling means, spring means connected to said control means normally urging said coupling means to a position for coupling said first gearmeans to said second gearl shaft, a torsion spring coact 1i,..\, ,.V.,.'r uan.' earth boring apparatusv of, the type ',adapted iorwsuspen'sion 'mounting on laderrick` carried by.v a vebif 'Cl ,L the, cbmlgirxatitzn; .'compris'insa change speedsear, transmission unit including :an output shaft, a rotary fluid. poweredfumotoif mofuntedjon saidu'unit and operatively coupled lto 'saidnnit for actuating the esame, said output sharftj being adapted .to be coupledtofa'n 'earth-boring auger vf o'rjrotation offthe`latter, said transmission unit comprising lirst gear means coupledrto-said motor, second 4geaifmeans- .adapted to provide al plurality of digging speeds` to saidshaft,4 lirst vcoupling means between the irstgearumeans and the .shaft and between said first and second gear means, adapted toselectively 4couple said first, gear` ilrieansv to ,said shaft for Aproviding a relatively high spinning speed fortheauger or tocouple said first gear means tovsaid second gearmeans, second coupling means selectively operable Vto, adjust said second gear means to provideav desireddigging speed at whichthe auger will operatdna control means for. shifting said second coul pling means, asecond control means for shifting said iirst coupling means, spring means connected to said sec-v ond control means normally urging said rst coupling means to va position for coupling said first gear means to said second gear means, and means for, shifting said secondcontrol means toa position to connect said rst gearmeans to said shaft against; lthe action of `said spring means. r

' 7l n earth .boring apparatus in accordance with claim 61;, wherein lthe first .mentioned control means includes meansfor yieldably retaining said iirst controimeans in its selected setting.

" 8. Ayn earth ,bormgapparatus in accordance with` claim' -7`whereii1'said irst control means, includes. an operating lhandle externallyacessible of saidtransmission unit and` said retaining meansy comprises a springloaded detent Y operative ,between said handle and the exterior of' said transmission v*unit 'and'engageable in complementary, re

cesses defining the ,operating positions ofrthejhandle fork j providing the various digging speeds for said auger.

j An earth bormg'apparatus in accordance with claimvl wherein s'aid iirst control means includes, an operating 'handle pivtally mounted with respect tothe exterior of Vsaid"tr'ai'i'sinission unit,' said retaining means comprisingw l a resilient member of the compression type coacting bef tweenffan abutment on the exterior of said transmis-sionA Y v; andan'abutinent on said handle, said abutmentsbeing in spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said handles, -said resilient `memberbeing normally disposed in generallyh dbliquefrelationwith respectto the lengthwise axis of said L rlhtiixiile` a. l l Y 1-O.I`n an earthrborin'g apparatus ot the type .adapted for suspension ymounting-on .a -der rick carried by a-vehisl cle', the combination comprising a change speed gear trans-,- mission unit includinganrexternal housinganda remove--` able output shaft` disposed in saidhousing,V said housing being of sectional construction comprising an upper'por; tion .and alower portion, said shaft being adaptedfon coupling to an earth boring auger for driving ythe latter, said transmissionunit being. adapted to be.v activated by a high speed rotary fluid powered motor, the latter being adapted to be supported by said unit, said transmission unit comprising a first gear assembly mounted on said shaftand being adapted for, coupled relation to the motor, shiftable means for selectively coupling said first as-z sembly to said shaft for providing a relatively high spin-4 ning speed for the auger for throwing olf borings which may adhere to the auger, control means for actuating said: last mentioned coupling means, a second gear assembly rotatably mounted on said shaft, said coupling means normally coupling said first assembly to said second assembly, said first and second assemblies being disposed k assembly disposed in said lower portion of said housing,

said third assembly including means coupling said third assembly to said shaft, second coupling Ameans selectivelyl operable between said second and said third assemblies to `provide a ,plurality of digging speeds for saidshaft,

1 whereby the latter isprovided with amedium torque normal digging speed and a higher torque lower digging speed dependingon the position of said second coupling means, control means Jfor selectively actuating said second coupling means, the lastmentioned controlmeans includ- 1 ing a handlev member mounted on the exterior of said lower portion of said housing, means detachably con-` necting said housing sections together whereby said lower housing section and associated third gear assembly and said last mentioned control means and associated second coupling meansrand said shaft maybe removed, and a second shaft -adapted to replace'said first mentioned shalt,

saidreplaceable shaft being of reduced length and' hav-l ing means thereon adapted vtoqbe coupled to said gear means of said secondgear; assembly and vto' said iirst gear nassembly.l Y Jv .e

-References Cited inethefile ofthis. pate-nt l UNITEDJSTALTESPATENTS

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