US3076572A

US3076572A - Overhead loader

Info

Publication number: US3076572A
Application number: US50143A
Authority: US
Inventors: Aubrey R Schlemmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-08-17
Filing date: 1960-08-17
Publication date: 1963-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1980-02-05

Description

Feb. 5, 1963 A. R. SCHLEMMER OVERHEAD LOADER Filed Aug. 17, 1960 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY (Um!) WKQWP AUBREY R. SCH LEMMER in i Feb. 5, 1963' A. R. SCHLEMMER 3,076,572

OVERHEAD LOADER Filed Aug. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AUBREY R. SCHLEMAZER ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice Patented Feb. 5, 1963 3,076,572 OVERHEAD LUADER Aubrey R. Schiemmer, Willow Drive, Whiteshoro, NLY'.

Filed Aug. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 59,143

4 Claims. (Cl. 214- -140) This invention.relatesgenerally to excavating andv material handling machines, and has particular reference to an overhead loading attachment for heavy duty vehicles such as tractors and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an overhead loading attachment of the character described which can be used with any tractor having a standard front or rear mounted power or cable control unit, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an overhead loader attachment of the character described which is capable of. considerably faster operation than other types of overhead loading machines in common use at the present time.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an overhead loader attachment of the character described which has a very simple and. economical construction, and can be easily installed on almost any standard make of tractor.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide an overhead loader attachment for tractors having acompletely mechanical construction whichrequires a minimum of maintenance and repair.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide an overhead loader attachment for tractors which is strong and durable and highly efficient in operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an overhead loader attachment fortractors having a novel reductiondrum unit for controlling the operation of the overhead material handling bucket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a representative embodiment of the invention for the purpose of disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a conventional tractor equipped with an overhead loading attachment embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of an alternative arrangement for attaching the bucket to the bucket supporting arms; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the bucket taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 2.

Having specific reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers designate the same part in each of the views, generally indicates a substantially conventional, commercially available tractor including the usual frame 12, engine 14, operators seat 16 and operating controls 18. The treads indicated at 20 may be driven in the usual manner and controlled by means commonly provided for tractors of this type. In the embodiment disclosed, a collecting and loading bucket or scoop 22 is positioned adjacent the front end" of the tractorfordigging or collecting material, and this bucket is adapted to be swung over the top of the tractor so that the material in the bucket can be dumped into a truck (notshown) adjacent the rear end of the tractor. In this manner, the tractor can perform its work with a minimum amount of maneuvering and no turning.

The bucket 22- is supportedby a pair of elongated arms- 24 which are pivotally connected as at 26 to opposite sides of the tractoradjacent the rear end thereof. At

their outer ends, t he arms are rigidly connected togethep by a cross bar 28 which normally abuts against a bar 30 extending across the lower rear portion of the bucket as best shown in FIGURE 1. The outer end of each arm 24 is also provided with an angularly offset extension arm 32 which is pivotally connected as at 34 to a rearwardly projecting bracket 36 on the bucket. The arms 24 are of suflicient length to guide the bucket through a vertical are over the top of the tractor in a manner to be presently described.

In accordance with the invention, the overhead attachment includes a relatively simple overhead frame 38 which is essentially comprised of a pair of inverted, generally U-shaped tubes 4d, one end of each tube being rigrdlv secured as at 42 at the front end of the tractor and. the other end being rigidly secured to a bracket 44 mounted on the rear end of the tractor. If necessary, the tubes comprising the frame can be additionally secured to the tractor to insure rigidity. Mounted on the top of the frame 38 in vertical alignment with the bucket arm pivot connections 26 is a platform 46 having upstanding end fianges 48 in which are journalled the ends of a reduction drum unit indicated generally at St in FIGURES l and 2. The platform 46 also serves as a protective canopy or cover for the tractor operator.

The reduction drum unit 5%) forms an important part of the bucket elevating control means and comprises a center drum 52 and a pair of side drums 54 which are coaxially mounted as by being fixed to a common axle 56. In accordance with the invention, the center drum 52 has a considerably larger diameter than the side drums 54 (which are of equal diameter) so as to provide a reduction in the winding rate between the center and side drums, the reduction in the embodiment shown being approximately 5 to 1. A cable 58 is anchored at one end to, and wound around, the center drum 52 and at its other end this cable is operably connected to the winch of a standard cable control unit 6% mounted in the usual manner at the front end of the tractor. An additional cable 62 is anchored at its ends to side drums 54, and an intermediate portion of this cable is secured to the bucket 22 in a manner to be presently described.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the

cables

58 and 62 are connected to the drums 52 and 54 in such a manner that they will be oppositely affected when the common axle 56 of the drum reduction unit is turned. Thus, the cable 58 is wound around the center drum 52 in the opposite direction that the cable 62 is wound around the side drums 54. Accordingly, when the cable control unit 61) is driven so that it unwinds cable 53 from the center drum, the side drums operate to wind in the cable 62 and elevate the bucket.

In passing from the center and side drums to the cable control unit and bucket respectively, the cables are guided over the tractor engine by a center idler sheave 64 and side idler rollers 66. The sheave and rollers may be rotatably mounted on a common axle 68 journalled in brackets 70 on a cross bar 72 that is rigidly secured by any suitable means to the overhead frame tubes 4i).

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, the cable 62 can be secured to the bucket 22 as by being passed in a continuous manner through the bucket, the cable passing around the underside of cross bar 28 and through a hole '73into the bucket, FIGURE 4, and thence along the insideo-f the bottom wall of the bucket and back out through a second hole spaced from hole 73. Within the bucket, a guard member 74 overlies the cable. Where the cable passes around the underside of cross bar 28, the latter is provided with transverse cable receiving notches 75 each of which has a cable engaging roller 76. This arrangement serves as a cable evener so that the pull exerted on the end portions of the cable by the side drums '54 is uniform. In the alternative, separate bucket cables can be employed, each of which is secured at one end to one of the drums 54 and at the other end to a suitable point on the bucket.

I11 operation, the bucket 22 is initially positioned as shown in FEGURE 1, and the tractor may be driven forward to load the bucket in the usual manner. Thereafter, with the tractor either moving or standing still, the cable control unit 60 is actuated to unwind the cable 58 from the center drum 52 which causes the entire reduction drum unit 56 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. Rotation of the drum unit in this direction causes the cable 62 to be wound upon the side drums 54 in the manner previously described, and this in turn causes the loaded bucket to be elevated. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the standard cable control unit includes gear reduction means and this coupled with the reduction between the center and side drums enables the loaded bucket to be elevated at the desired controlled rate of speed. Obviously, the gear reduction in cable control units varies as between manufacturers, but since the sizes of the drums 52, 54 can be easily changed to vary the reduction in the reduction drum unit, this is not a problem.

When the loaded bucket has been elevated so that the support arms 24 are in a substantially vertical position, as shown by phantom lines in FIGURE 1, the drive to the cable control unit is disengaged, and the bucket is carried slightly over center by its own momentum. The brake means of the cable control unit is then quickly engaged, and the cable 62 is allowed to unwind slowly from the drums 54 to control the downward movement of the bucket. When the bucket reaches a position clear of the end of the tractor, the bucket supporting arms 24 are engaged by an adjustable and detachable stop 78, FIGURES 1 and 2, which is rigidly mounted on the overhead frame tubes 40 as shown. The stop 78 prevents further downward movement of the arms 24, and thereafter further unwinding of the cable 62 permits the bucket to pivot around its pivotal connections 34 with the extension arms 24- to discharge the contents of the bucket into the truck positioned near the rear of the tractor. To return the bucket to its digging or scooping position at the front end of the tractor, the reverse procedure is followed and the steps just described can be then repeated. In conventional cable control units, the drive, clutch and brake means forming a part of the unit are normally controlled by a single control member which facilitates the above described operation.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternative arrangement whereby the invention can be utilized for front as well as rear loading. In this arrangement, the bucket 22' is pivotally secured to the ends of the supporting arms 24 as at 30, and a conventional hydraulic cylinder 82 is connected between an extension 84 on each supporting arm and a bracket 86 on the bucket above the pivot connections 80. This arrangement permits the hydraulic cylinder 82 to be operated by conventional controls to tip the bucket 22 in the direction of arrow 83 for front loading. As will be understood, this arrangement also permits rear Vehicle load ing in the manner previously described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention disclosed herein provides a simple yet very practical overhead loading attachment which can be utilized with any tractor having a standard cable or power control unit. Moreover, it will be understood that the invention can be utilized with either a front or rear mounted control unit and is adapted for either front or rear loadmg.

It should also be pointed out that the cable arrangement of the invention can be utilized in connection with a standard bulldozer blade. In such case, the arms 24 and bucket 22 are removed and the blade is attached in the usual manner. With the overhead frame 38 remaining in place, the cables 62 are then connected to the blade and serve to control the height thereof.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a self-propelled tractor having a standard cable control unit at one end thereof, said cable control unit including a winch, and drive, clutch and brake means therefor: a pair of elongated arm members pivotally connected to the sides of the tractor adjacent the rear end thereof, a collecting and loading bucket pivotally connected to the outer ends of said arm members, said arm members being of sufiicient length to guide said bucket through a vertical are from a scooping position at one end of the tractor to a dumping position adjacent the opposite end thereof, an overhead frame supported by the tractor, said frame comprising a pair of continuous tubular members having an inverted, generally U-shape mounted on the opposite sides of the tractor in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis thereof, a horizontally disposed reduction drum unit mounted transversely on the top of said frame in substantially vertical alignment with the pivotal connection between said arm members and tractor, said reduction drum unit comprising on a single axis a pair of side drums of equal diameter and a central drum having a substantially larger diameter than that of the side drums, a first cable connected at one end to said central drum and at the other end to the tractor cable control unit winch, a second cable connected between each side drum and said bucket, said cables being P- positely wound on said central and side drums guide means on said frame for said cables between the control unit and the reduction drum unit, said cable control unit drive means being operable to unwind said center drum whereby the second cable is wound on said side drums and said bucket is elevated from its scooping position at one end of the tractor to a vertical, overhead position, said cable control unit brake means being operable to control the downward movement of the bucket beyond the vertical, overhead position towards its dumping position adjacent the opposite end of the tractor, stop means operably connected to said overhead frame to limit the downward movement of said bucket supporting arm members and bucket engaging means on the outer ends of said arm members below the pivotal connection between arm members and bucket in scooping position, said second cable being secured at either end to said side drums and having a running connection with said bucket guided by said bucket engaging means, whereby said bucket may be raised from scooping position by winding said second cable and released for dumping by unwinding said second cable.

2. Structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said second cable extends continuously from one of the side drums to the bucket and thence back to the other side drum, said bucket engaging means having guide means for said cable, and said bucket having apertures through which the cable is passed for a running connection with said bucket.

3. In combination with a self-propelled tractor having a standard cable control unit at one end thereof: a loading bucket, a pair of elongated arm members pivotally connected at one end to said bucket and pivotally connected at the other end to the sides of the tractor, said arm members being of sufiicient length to guide said bucket through a vertical are from a scooping position at one end of the tractor to a dumping position adjacent the opposite end of the tractor, bucket engaging means on said arm members below the pivotal connection between said arm members and said bucket in scooping position, an overhead frame supported on the tractor, a horizontally disposed multiple drum unit transversely mounted .in said frame in substantially vertical alignment with the pivotal connection between said arm members and the tractor, said drum unit having a pair of driving drums at either side and a central driven drum operatively connected thereto, a first cable operatively connecting said driven drum and the tractor control unit, a second cable operatively connecting said driving drums and said bucket and having a running connection with said bucket engaging means, the ends of said second cable being secured to said driving drums, cable guide means on said frame between the control unit and said driven drum and between said driving drums and said bucket in scooping position, and stop means on said frame to limit the downward movement of said bucket in dumping position, whereby said bucket may be raised from scooping position by winding in said second cable and released for dumping by unwinding said second cable.

4. In combination with a self-propelled tractor having a standard cable control unit at one end thereof, said cable control unit including a winch and drive, clutch, and brake means therefor: a pair of elongated arm members pivotally connected to the sides of the tractor, a loading bucket pivotally connected to the outer ends of said members, said arm members being of sufiicient length to guide said bucket through a vertical are from a scooping position at one end of the tractor to a dumping position adjacent the opposite end thereof, an overhead frame supported by the tractor and including side members mounted in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the tractor and a horizontally disposed reduction drum unit transa central driven drum, first cable means operatively con-- necting said driven drum and the tractor control unit winch, second cable means operatively connecting said driving drums and said bucket, cable guide means on said frame between the control unit and the driven drum and between the driving drums and said bucket in scooping position, stop means operably connected to said frame to limit the downward movement of said bucket in dumping position, and bucket engaging means on the outer ends of said arm members below the pivotal connection between said arm members and said bucket in scooping position, said second cable means having its ends secured to said driving drums and having a running connection with said bucket engaging means, whereby said bucket may be raised from scooping position by winding in said second cable means and released for dumping by unwinding said second cable means.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,316,760 Anderson et al Apr. 20, 1943 2,610,752 Luebbers Sept. 16, 1952 2,631,745 Addison Mar. 17, 1953 2,691,453 Knoploh Oct. 12, 1954 2,692,061 Freouf Oct. 19, 1954

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SELF-PROPELLED TRACTOR HAVING A STANDARD CABLE CONTROL UNIT AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID CABLE CONTROL UNIT INCLUDING A WINCH, AND DRIVE, CLUTCH AND BRAKE MEANS THEREFOR; A PAIR OF ELONGATED ARM MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDES OF THE TRACTOR ADJACENT THE REAR END THEREOF, A COLLECTING AND LOADING BUCKET PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID ARM MEMBERS, SAID ARM MEMBERS BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO GUIDE SAID BUCKET THROUGH A VERTICAL ARC FROM A SCOOPING POSITION AT ONE END OF THE TRACTOR TO A DUMPING POSITION ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, AN OVERHEAD FRAME SUPPORTED BY THE TRACTOR, SAID FRAME COMPRISING A PAIR OF CONTINUOUS TUBULAR MEMBERS HAVING AN INVERTED, GENERALLY U-SHAPE MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TRACTOR IN PARALLEL RELATION TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED REDUCTION DRUM UNIT MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY ON THE TOP OF SAID FRAME IN SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID ARM MEMBERS AND TRACTOR, SAID REDUCTION DRUM UNIT COMPRISING ON A SINGLE AXIS A PAIR OF SIDE DRUMS OF EQUAL DIAMETER AND A CENTRAL DRUM HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER DIAMETER THAN THAT OF THE SIDE DRUMS, A FIRST CABLE CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID CENTRAL DRUM AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE TRACTOR CABLE CONTROL UNIT WINCH, A SECOND CABLE CONNECTED BETWEEN EACH SIDE DRUM AND SAID BUCKET, SAID CABLES BEING OPPOSITELY WOUND ON SAID CENTRAL AND SIDE DRUMS GUIDE MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR SAID CABLES BETWEEN THE CONTROL UNIT AND THE REDUCTION DRUM UNIT, SAID CABLE CONTROL UNIT DRIVE MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO UNWIND SAID CENTER DRUM WHEREBY THE SECOND CABLE IS WOUND ON SAID SIDE DRUMS AND SAID BUCKET IS ELEVATED FROM ITS SCOOPING POSITION AT ONE END OF THE TRACTOR TO A VERTICAL, OVERHEAD POSITION, SAID CABLE CONTROL UNIT BRAKE MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO CONTROL THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BUCKET BEYOND THE VERTICAL, OVERHEAD POSITION TOWARDS ITS DUMPING POSITION ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TRACTOR, STOP MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID OVERHEAD FRAME TO LIMIT THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID BUCKET SUPPORTING ARM MEMBERS AND BUCKET ENGAGING MEANS ON THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID ARM MEMBERS BELOW THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ARM MEMBERS AND BUCKET IN SCOOPING POSITION, SAID SECOND CABLE BEING SECURED AT EITHER END TO SAID SIDE DRUMS AND HAVING A RUNNING CONNECTION WITH SAID BUCKET GUIDED BY SAID BUCKET ENGAGING MEANS, WHEREBY SAID BUCKET MAY BE RAISED FROM SCOOPING POSITION BY WINDING SAID SECOND CABLE AND RELEASED FOR DUMPING BY UNWINDING SAID SECOND CABLE.