US3086303A

US3086303A - Scraper blade mountings for trucks

Info

Publication number: US3086303A
Application number: US197797A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren D Weeks
Original assignee: Root Spring Scraper Co
Current assignee: Root Spring Scraper Co
Priority date: 1962-05-25
Filing date: 1962-05-25
Publication date: 1963-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-23

Description

April 23, 1963 w. D. WEEKS 3,0 ,30 I SCRAPER BLADE MOUNTINGS FOR TRUCKS Filed May 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l IHH I /7 H" J) C) INV EN TOR.

Warre/7 Dan/e/ We (ks ATTORNEY- April 23, 1963 w. D. WEEKS 3,086,303

SCRAPER BLADE MOUNTINGS FOR TRUCKS Filed May 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR.

27117.5. 85 War/eh Dan/e/ Wee/(s ATTORA/EX April 23, 1963 w. D. WEEKS 3,086,303

SCRAPER BLADE MQUNTINGS FOR TRUCKS Filed May 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 aw Z% w i 42 "@AEQM ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,086,303 SCRAPER BLADE MOUNTINGS FOR TRUCKS Warren D. Weeks, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Root Spring Scraper Co., Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed May 25, 1962, Ser. No. 197,797 Claims. (Cl. 37-42) This invention relates to improvements in snow Scraper blade mountings for trucks. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a novel mounting for an underbody snow scraper blade for highway trucks which will adjustably and yieldably support the blade in operative scraping engagement with the roadway.

Second, to provide a hydraulically adjustable pivotal mounting for a scraper blade with a yieldable spring cushion between the adjusting means and the connection to a truck so that the blade can yield and pass over obstacles without damage to the blade or truck or the blade adjusting mechanism.

Third, to provide a hydraulically adjustable pivotal mounting for a scraper blade which can be connected at various angles including reverse angles transversely below the body of the truck.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there are three sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of the blade mounting and adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a highway truck with a snow scraper blade mounted in operative position thereon by means of the mounting connections of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the scraper blade illustrating a portion of the supporting connection between the blade and the frame of the truck which is at an oblique angle to the blade.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view through the blade illustrating the blade adjusting mechanism in side elevation.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 4-4 in FIGS. 3 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 5-5 in FIGS. 3 and 6.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the blade adjusting and cushioning mechanism of the invention taken along the plane of the line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of one r end of the blade showing the adjustable connection of the piston rod connecting bracket thereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates a highway maintenance truck having a frame 1, rear driving wheels 2 and front wheels 3 with the usual operators cab 4 and bed 5. An elongated snow scraper blade 6 having a wearing edge plate 7 is mounted obliquely across the underside of the frame 1 by means of a pair of

upright mounting posts

8 and 9 secured to the side frame members by identical brackets 10. The

posts

8 and 9 rigidly support a hinge shaft 11 from which the scraper blade is pivotally supported by means of knuckle plates 12 secured to the back side of the blade at the upper edge thereof. The construction of the brackets 11 and

posts

8 and 9 will be described in greater detail presently.

An adjusting cylinder support bracket 13 of channel shaped cross section is provided with a sleeve 14 on its forward end supported upon the hinge shaft 11 so that the bracket projects perpendicularly to the hinge shaft and obliquely to the frame of the truck. Spaced rearwardly from the sleeve :14 the web of the channel bracket defines a transverse slot 15 adjustably receiving a clamp 3,086,303 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 screw 16 (see FIG. 3) which clamps the lower end of a third cylindrical support post 17 to the bracket. The post 17 projects upwardly and is fixedly secured in a third mounting bracket :18 secured to the side frame member of the truck. The bracket 18 may be identical to the previously described brackets 10.

The

brackets

10 and 18 consist of fiat plates selectively bolted to the side frame members of the truck at the desired positions. Upright tubular guides 19 are Welded to the bracket plates to receive the

cylindrical posts

8, 9 or 17. Narrow reinforcing plates 20 welded to the outer sides of the guides define tapped apertures for receiving the set screws 21 for clamping the support posts in the proper vertical and angularly rotated positions. It should be noted that by reversing the positions of the brackets 10 and .18 to opposite side of the truck frame the position of the scraper blade can be reversed to incline rearwardly and to the left side of the truck. The posts 8 and *9 carry transverse collars 22 (see FIG. 2) on their lower ends which rotatably and rigidly support the previously described hinge shaft 11.

Toward the rear end of the mounting bracket 13 the side flanges 23 of the channel shaped bracket have upwardly and rearwardly inclined trunnion plates 24 secured thereto with inwardly projecting male trunnion bearings 25 near their upper ends. The bearings 25 coact with and pivotally support the female trunnion bearings 26 projecting transversely from the lower end of a cylindrical spring housing 27. The lower end of the housing 27 is open and is axially slotted on its upper side as at 28. The upper end of the housing defines a center hole 29 for a (fluid connection surrounded by an annular spring abutment 36. A short length of angle iron 31 is welded over the slot 28 to protect the slot and restore the strength of the cylinder.

Positioned centrally and reciprocably within the cylindrical housing 27 is an inner cylinder 32 substantially smaller than the housing and having an annular abutment 33 projecting outwardly from its lower end. An ear 34 on the annular abutment projects into the slot 28 to prevent rotation of the inner cylinder while permitting axial movement of the inner cylinder. Stop screws and nuts 35 (see FIG. 6) are engaged through the wall of the outer housing below the abutment 33 to prevent the inner cylinder from falling out of the housing. A heavy compression spring 36 is positioned within the housing 27 and bears between the abutments 3t and 33.

The upper end of the inner cylinder 32 has a cross closure plate 37 which may also form the end Wall of a hydraulic cylinder 38 positioned closely within the smaller cylinder 32. The hydraulic cylinder 38 projects downwardly and forwardly from the housing 27 and may extend into or partially through an opening 39 formed in the web of the support bracket 13. The lower end of the hydraulic cylinder carries clamping studs 49 by means of which a suitable packing gland and seal 41 is clamped to the lower end of the cylinder around a piston rod 42. The upper or inner end of the piston rod 42 carries a piston 43 reciprocable in the cylinder under the influence of hydraulic pressure admitted selectively to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder through

fluid connections

44 and 45. The upper connection 45 consists of a tube which projects through the opening 29 in the cylindrical housing and permits axial movement of the hydraulic cylinder within the cylindrical housing. Fluid supply lines 46 selectively connect the hydraulic cylinder to a suitable control valve and source of pressure 47 within the operators cab so that the cylinder can be controlled by the truck driver.

The lower end of the piston rod 42 projects downwardly through the hole 39 and is pinned as at 48 to spaced knuckle plates 49 on a bracket 53* adjustably secured to the back side of the blade 6. As appears more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 7 the blade 6 has two series of holes 51 formed therethrough on opposite sides of the center of the blade to which the bracket may be selectively attached as by bolts 52. This permits the bracket and the connection to the actuating piston rod to be located accurately with respect to truck frames of different widths and on either side of the truck.

It will be evident from the foregoing that when fluid pressure is admitted to the cylinder through the upper fluid connection 45, the piston 43 and piston rod 42 will be forced downwardly swinging the scraper blade 7 into engagement with the roadway with variable pressure depending upon the fluid pressure applied. As the pressure in the cylinder increases the intermediate cylinder 32 is forced upwardly carrying the annular abutment 33 against the compression of the spring 36. If with any given pressure in the hydraulic cylinder and compression of the spring 36 the truck moves the scraper blade 7 against an obstruction in the roadway the blade 6 will pivot rearwardly on the hinge shaft 11 forcing the piston rod and intermediate cylinder 32 further upwardly and rearwardly against the yieldable resistance of the spring 36. The scraper blade 6 and its wearing edge are thus adjustably compressible against the roadway and are further yieldable automatically against the compression of the spring 36 to swing and pass over obstructions thus reducing shock to the blade, the blade mounting mechanism and the truck itself.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A snow scraper blade and mounting for a truck having side frame members comprising a pair of brackets attachable to the opposite side frame members at longitudinally spaced points and having vertical tubular guides,

a pair of cylindrical supports vertically and rotatively adjustably received in said guides and having transverse support collars on their lower ends aligned at an angle to the frame members,

a hinge shaft rotatably supported in said collars to extend below said frame,

a scraper blade having hinge knuckle plates on its upper edge rotatably supported by said hinge shaft,

a cylinder support bracket of channel shaped cross section having a sleeve on its forward end supported on said shaft between said two of said plates and projecting rearwardly therefrom,

a cylindrical support leg secured to said cylinder bracket rearwardly of said sleeve and projecting upwardly thereabove,

a third mounting bracket adapted to be secured to one frame member of said truck and adjustably receiving said support leg to fix said cylinder bracket relative to said frame members,

trunnion plates secured to the side flanges of said cylinder support bracket rearwardly of said support leg and projecting rearwardly and upwardly from said support bracket,

the web of said channel shaped support bracket de fining an opening between said trunnion plates,

a cylindrical spring housing pivotally supported by trunnion pins between said trunnion plates and having an annular abutment at its upper end defining a central opening,

a slot formed axially in the lower end of said cylindrical spring housing and bridged on the outer side of the housing by an angle bar,

a cylinder substantially smaller than said housing positioned within said housing and having an annular abutment ring around its lower end with an ear projecting into said slot,

a coiled compression spring positioned around said last cylinder and bearing between said abutment ring and the abutment on said housing,

a hydraulic cylinder fitting closely within said smaller cylinder and bearing against the upper end thereof,

a fluid connection to the upper end of said hydraulic cylinder extending through the end of said inner cylinder and said opening in said housing,

a second fluid connection to the lower end of said hydraulic cylinder positioned below said abutment ring,

a piston reciprocable in said hydraulic cylinder and having a piston rod extending downwardly through said opening in said cylinder support bracket,

and a connecting bracket laterally adjustably secured to the back of said blade and having spaced plates supporting a pivot pin passed through the lower end of said piston rod whereby extension of said piston rod under hydraulic presure will move said blade downwardly against the reaction force of said spring.

2. A snow scraper blade and mounting for a truck having side frame members comprising a pair of brackets attachable to the opposite side frame members at longitudinally spaced points,

a pair of supports vertically adjustably received in said guides and having transverse support collars on their lower ends aligned at an angle to the frame members,

a hinge shaft supported in said collars to extend below said frame,

a scraper blade having hinge knuckle edge supported by said hinge shaft,

a cylinder support bracket of channel shaped cross section having a sleeve on its forward end supported on said shaft and projecting rearwardly therefrom,

trunnion plates secured to the side flanges of said cylinder support bracket and projecting rearwardly and upwardly form said support bracket,

the web of said channel shaped support bracket defining an opening between said trunnion plates,

a cylindrical spring housing pivotally supported by trunnion pins between said trunnion plates and having an annular abutment at its upper end and defining an opening,

means forming an axial guide slot in the lower end of said cylindrical spring housing,

a hydraulic cylinder fitting within said smaller cylinder and bearing against the upper end thereof,

a fluid connection to the upper end of said hydraulic cylinder extending through the end of said inner cylinder and said openingin said housing,

a second fluid connection to the lower end of said hydraulic cyinder positioned below said abutment ring,

and a connecting bracket secured to the back of said blade and having spaced plates supporting a pivot pin passed through the lower end of said piston rod whereby extension of said piston rod under hydraulic pressure will move said blade downwardly against the reaction force of said spring.

3. A snow scraper blade and mounting for a truck plates on its upper having side frame members comprising a pair of brackets attachable to the opposite side frame members at longitudinally spaced points,

a pair of supports projecting-downwardly from said brackets and having transverse support elements on their lower ends aligned at an angle to the frame members,

a hinge shaft supported by said elements to extend transversely below said frame,

a scraper blade having hinge knuckles on its upper edge rotatably supported by said hinge shaft,

a cylinder support bracket having a sleeve on its forward end supported on said shaft and projecting rearwardly therefrom,

a support leg secured to said support bracket and projecting upwardly thereabove,

a third mounting bracket attachable to one frame member of said truck and connected to said support leg to fix said support bracket relative to said frame members,

trunnion plates secured to said support bracket rearwardly of said sleeve and projecting re'arwardly and upwardly from said support bracket,

said support bracket defining an opening between said trunnion plates,

a tubular spring housing pivotally supported by trunnion pins between said trunnion plates and having an annular abutment at its upper end and defining an opening,

a cylinder substantially smaller than said housing positioned within said housing and having an annular abutment ring around its lower end,

means forming an axially slidable non-rotative connection between said housing and said cylinder,

and a connecting bracket laterally adjustably secured to the back of said blade and pivotally connected to the lower end of said piston rod whereby extension of said piston rod under hydraulic pressure will move said blade downwardly against the reaction force of said spring.

4. A snow scraper blade and mounting for a truck having side frame members comprising a pair of brackets attachable to the opposite side frame members at longitudinally spaced points,

a pair of supports projecting downwardly from said brackets and having transverse support elements on their lower ends aligned at an angle to the frame members,

a scraper lblade having hinge knuckles on its upper edge rotatably supported by said hinge shaft,

a support leg secured to said support bracket and projeoting upwardly thereabove,

trunnion plates secured to said support bracket rearwardly of said sleeve and projecting rearwardly and upwardly from said support bracket,

said support bracket defining an opening between said trunnion plates,

a cylinder substantially smaller than said housing positioned within said housing and having an annular abutment ring,

a hydraulic cylinder formed in said smaller cylinder and projecting below said abutmentring,

a fluid connection to the upper end of said hydraulic cylinder extending through said opening in said hous- 8,

and a connecting bracket secured to the back of said blade and pivotally connected to the lower end of said piston rod whereby extension of said piston rod under hydraulic pressure will move said blade downwardly against the reaction force of said spring.

5. A scraper blade mounting on a truck having frame members comprising a pivotal support arranged at an angle to said frame members and supported therebelow,

a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said pivotal supan operating cylinder support bracket fixedly supported from the frame of said truck by engagement with said pivotal support and projecting above the rear of said blade,

spaced trunnion bearings carried by said support bracket above and to the rear of said blade,

a cylindrical spring housing having trunnion bearings transverse to its axis pivotally supported by the trunnion hearings on said bracket and having an annular abutment at its upper end,

an inner cylinder positioned in spaced relation within said housing and having an annular abutment around its lower end axially slidably and non-rotatively engaged with said spring housing,

a cushion spring bearing between said abutment on said housing and said abutment on said inner cylinder,

a hydraulic cylinder positioned within said inner cylinder and bearing against the upper end thereof,

and a piston rod reciprocable in said hydraulic cylinder and pivotally connected at its lower end to said blade below said support bracket,

said hydraulic cylinder having a fluid connection at its lower end positioned below said inner cylinder and a fluid connection at is upper end projecting through the upper end of said housing.

6. A scraper blade mounting on a truck having frame members comprising a pivotal support arranged at an angle to said frame members and supported therebelow,

a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said pivotal support,

an operating cylinder support bracket fixedly supported from the frame of said truck and positioned above the rear of said blade,

spaced trunnion bearings carried by said support bracket parallel to said pivotal support, A

a spring housing having trunnion bearings transverse to its axis pivotally supported by the trunnion bearings on said bracket and having an annular abutment at its upper end,

said hydraulic cylinder having a fluid connection at its lower end positioned below said inner cylinder and a fluid connection at its upper end projecting through said housing.

7. A scraper blade mounting on a truck having frame members comprising a pivotal support arranged at an angle to said frame members and supported therebelow,

a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said pivotal support,

spaced trunnion bearings carried by said support bracket parallel to said pivotal support,

a spring housing having trunnion bearings transverse to its axis pivotally supported by the trunnion hearings on said bracket and having an annular abutment at its upper end,

an inner tubular element positioned in spaced relation within said housing and having an annular abutment around its lower end axially slidable and non-rotatively engaged with said spring housing,

a cushion spring bearing between said abutment on said housing and said abutment on said tubular element,

a hydraulic cylinder positioned within said tubular element in thrust transmitting relation thereto,

8. A scraper blade mounting on a truck having frame members comprising a pivotal support arranged at an angle to said frame members and supported therebelow,

a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said pivotal support,

an operating cylinder support bracket fixedly supported from the frame of said truck,

an inner tubular element positioned in spaced relation Within said housing and having an annular abutment around its lower end axially slidable and nonrotatively engaged with said spring housing, I

said hydraulic cylinder having a fluid connection at its upper end projecting through said housing.

9. A scraper blade mounting on a truck having frame members comprising a pivotal support arranged at an angle to said frame members and supported therebelow,

a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said pivotal support,

an operating cylinder support bracket fixedly supported from the frame of said truck by engagement with said pivotal support and projecting above and to the rear of said blade,

a hydraulic cylinder positioned in spaced relation within said housing and having an annular abutment spaced from its lower end axially slidable and nonrotatively engaged with said spring housing,

a cushion spring bearing between said abutment on said housing and said abutment on said cylinder,

a piston rod reciprocable in said hydraulic cylinder,

and means pivotally connecting said piston rod to said blade below said support bracket,

said hydraulic cylinder having a fluid connection at its opposite ends.

10. A scraper blade mounting on a truck having frame members comprising a pivotal support arranged at an angle to said frame members and supported therebelow,

a scraper blade pivotally mounted on said pivotal supan operating cylinder support bracket fixedly supported from the frame of said truck,

spaced trunnion bearings carried by said support brackets,

a spring housing having trunnion bearings transverse to its axis pivotally supported by the trunnion hearings on said bracket and having an annular abutment at one end,

a hydraulic cylinder positioned in spaced relation Within said housing and having an annular abutment spaced from its end axially slidable and non-rotatively engaged with said spring housing,

a piston rod reciprocable in said hydraulic cylinder,

and means pivotally connecting said piston rod to said blade, said hydraulic cylinder having a fluid connection at one end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,515 Abbe Sept. 28, 1937 2,242,826 Keeler May 20, 1941 2,321,833 Lull June 15, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 86,148 Norway July 9, 1955

Claims

5. A SCRAPER BLADE MOUNTING ON A TRUCK HAVING FRAME MEMBERS COMPRISING A PIVOTAL SUPPORT ARRANGED AT AN ANGLE TO SAID FRAME MEMBERS AND SUPPORTED THEREBELOW, A SCRAPER BLADE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT, AN OPERATING CYLINDER SUPPORT BRACKET FIXEDLY SUPPORTED FROM THE FRAME OF SAID TRUCK BY ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PIVOTAL SUPPORT AND PROJECTING ABOVE THE REAR OF SAID BLADE, SPACED TRUNNION BEARINGS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT BRACKET ABOVE AND TO THE REAR OF SAID BLADE, A CYLINDRICAL SPRING HOUSING HAVING TRUNNION BEARINGS TRANSVERSE TO ITS AXIS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE TRUNNION BEARINGS ON SAID BRACKET AND HAVING AN ANNULAR ABUTMENT AT ITS UPPER END, AN INNER CYLINDER POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING AN ANNULAR ABUTMENT AROUND ITS LOWER END AXIALLY SLIDABLY AND NON-ROTATIVELY ENGAGED WITH SAID SPRING HOUSING, A CUSHION SPRING BEARING BETWEEN SAID ABUTMENT ON SAID HOUSING AND SAID ABUTMENT ON SAID INNER CYLINDER, A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER POSITIONED WITHIN SAID INNER CYLINDER AND BEARING AGAINST THE UPPER END THEREOF, AND A PISTON ROD RECIPROCABLE IN SAID HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS LOWER END TO SAID BLADE BELOW SAID SUPPORT BRACKET, SAID HYDRAULIC CYLINDER HAVING A FLUID CONNECTION AT ITS LOWER END POSITIONED BELOW SAID INNER CYLINDER AND A FLUID CONNECTION AT IS UPPER END PROJECTING THROUGH THE UPPER END OF SAID HOUSING.