US3228311A

US3228311A - Spreader

Info

Publication number: US3228311A
Application number: US194818A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Mengel
Original assignee: F F MENGEL Co
Current assignee: F F MENGEL Co
Priority date: 1962-05-15
Filing date: 1962-05-15
Publication date: 1966-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-11

Description

Jan. 11, 1966 w, M N 3,228,311

SPREADER Filed May 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F\@. lo

JNVENTOR. W\LL\AM F Mensa.

ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,228,311 SPREADER William F. Mengel, F. F. Mengel (10., Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Filed May 15, 1962, Ser. No. 194,818 13 Claims. (Cl. 94-46) This invention relates to machines for distributing concrete or like material and, more particularly, to a conveyer type concrete spreader as used for roadway paving.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine for spreading concrete and like material which will afford great versatility with respect to loading concrete onto the machine while insuring effective discharge of concrete onto a defined roadway.

Another, more specific object of this invention is to provide a machine for spreading concrete and like material incorporating an elongated conveyer which can be made to assume a variety of positions relative to the roadway for most facile loading.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a concrete spreader wherein the point from which concrete is loaded onto the spreader can be varied as desired and still provide a full sweep of the conveyer within the defined roadway.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mobile concrete spreader which is readily adjusted to varying roadway widths.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mobile concrete spreader which operates effectively even on a rough and uneven roadway.

A more general object of this invention is to provide all of the above stated objects while maintaining a relatively simple structure.

For the achievement of these and other objects, I propose to provide a concrete spreader which includes means for supporting an elongated conveyer for movement relative to the paving forms so as to position one end of the conveyer for most facile concrete loading. With the conveyer in a desired position the supporting means is operative to hold the loading end of the conveyer relative to the forms and to swing the opposite end of the conveyer between the forms. Thus the loading end of the conveyer becomes a pivot point about which the discharge end swings in an are between the forms. Furthermore, the spreader includes carriage means which extends laterally of the spreader and is adjustable relative thereto to vary the amount of that extension so that the spreader can adjust to varying roadway widths; the carriage means is also vertically adjustable relative to the spreader and the frame and support members are so arranged and constructed as to be capable of riding over a rough and uneven roadway without unduly stressing the members of the spreader.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in, or be apparent from, the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the spreader;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the pivotal mounting of each of the booms on the support frame;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the support for the discharge end of the conveyer;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 77 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the various positions of the spreader conveyer;

Patented J an. 11, M366 FIG. 11 is a section view along lines 1111 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 12 is a section view along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11.

With particular reference to the drawings, the spreader includes a main frame 10 and a boom and conveyer assembly 12 suspended from the frame. The boom and conveyor assembly is shown as being supported below the main frame, however, it could be positioned above the frame if desired. A platform 14 is supported at the rear end of the spreader and carries a power source 18 which, in a manner well known in the art, provides the power whereby the spreader is self-propelled.

The main frame comprises upper longitudinal

structural members

20, 20 and lower longitudinal

structural members

22, 27. A set of transverse

structural members

24, 26, 3t) and 32 connect the upper longitudinal members with a similar set of transverse structural members connecting the lower longitudinal members. A trans-. verse member 28 also extends between

longitudinal members

20, 20 and, in addition to performing the same function as the other transverse members, it also functions to support the boom and conveyer assembly as will be discussed more completely hereinafter.

Carriage means 36 and 38 are positioned at the front and rear ends, respectively, of frame 10 and each comprise a pair of

structural members

40 and 42 telescoped within a second pair of

structural members

44 and 46. Each carriage means also includes a wheel assembly 48 supported from each pair of the structural members with the structural members extending laterally of the frame to position the wheel assemblies at a point outside of forms 49. Each wheel assembly 48 is made up of a pair of

vertical members

50 and 52 connected to the ends of the telescoping members and to a plate 54; A U-shaped bracket 56 is rotatably connected to plate 54 by pin 57 and carries a wheel 59. Each wheel assembly 48 can also be provided with suitable means for adjusting

vertical members

50 and 52 so that the main frame of the machine can be leveled in the event that the wheels on one side of the machine are riding at an elevation different from that of the wheels on the other side of the machine. For example and with reference to FIG. 3, the vertical members can be connected to plate 61 by bolts 63 with each vertical member being provided with a series of vertically aligned apertures for receiving the bolts. Hydraulic cylinders 60, selectively operable from control station 16, are provided to move brackets 56 and wheels 59 so that individual control can be had over each wheel.

Hydraulic cylinders

62, 62 are connected between

structural members

44 and 20 and

hydraulic cylinders

64, 64 are connected between

structural members

20 and 42. These hydraulic cylinders are also selectively controlled from control station 16 and are operative to produce relative telescoping movement between the pairs of structural members 45-42 and 44-46. In this manner the spreader can be readily adjusted to accommodate varying road widths.

Carriage means 38 is supported in a boggie assembly 25 positioned in a bay 23 defined by

transverse members

30 and 32. For obvious reasons of clarity the boggie assembly has not been illustrated in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. However it has been shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and with particular reference to those figures, boggie assembly comprises

structural members

27, 29, 31, 33 and 35 extending between

end plates

37 and 39. A pair of channel members 41 and 43 extend along the top, center of the boggie assembly and have a pair of relatively

spaced plate members

45 and 47 fixed therebetween. Shaft 49 extends through

plate members

45 and 47 and is supported from upper

transverse members

30 and 32. Four plate members 51 are located at the point of shaft support to provide an adequate bearing structure. Thus, the boggie assembly is pivotally supported from the frame. The boggie assembly is also provided with

plates

53 and 55 spaced from

end plates

37 and 39 and forming therewith a guide way for telescoping

members

40, 42, 44 and 46. In this manner, the telescoping members are firmly supported in the boggi-e assembly and are capable, in addition to telescoping movement, of pivotal movement about an axis defined by shaft 49 so that the main frame need not flex as one Wheel of the spreader raises or lowers asit comes in contact with a bump or hole.

Boom and conveyer assembly 12 includes

boom assemblies

66 and 68 supporting a conveyer assembly 76. The boom assemblies are arranged end to end and extend longitudinally of the spreader with each including a

boom

70 and 72. The free end of boom 70 is connected to one end of conveyer assembly 76 through means 74 (see FIG. 3) which includes a bracket 73 engaging the conveyer and connected by a pin 75 to hinge and plate assembly 77 which is in turn connected to boom 70 so that some relative rotational movement between the boom and the conveyer assembly is possible. The free end of boom 72 supports the opposite end of conveyer assembly 76 through means 78 which will be described more completely hereinafter.

Structurally boom assembly 66 includes a vertical member 80 attached to boom 70 and an angularly disposed brace 82 extending from the top of vertical member 80 to a point on boom 70. Similarly, boom assembly 68 includes a vertical member 84 fixed to boom 72 and an angular brace 86 extending from the top of vertical member 84 to a point on boom 72.

The boom assemblies 66 and 68 are arranged end-to end so that, with respect to each other, they have adjacent and remote ends. The adjacent ends are pivotally supported from transversely extending upper and lower

structural members

28, 28. More particularly, upper structural member 28 preferably takes the form of an I-beam and has four plates 88 welded to its upper and lower flanges and extending laterally on either side of its web portion. A bracket 90 is connected to the upper end of vertical member 80 and a bracket 92 is connected to the upper end of vertical member 84 and each bracket extends between a pair of plates 88.

Pins

94 and 96 are inserted through plates 88 and brackets 90 and 92 to complete the hinge connection about which the upper ends of

boom assemblies

66 and 68 can be pivoted. In like manner, four plates 98 are connected to the flanges of lower I-beam 28,

brackets

100 and 102 are connected to

booms

70 and 72 respectively and pins 104 and 106 connect the brackets to the plates to complete the hinge connection for the lower end of the boom assemblies. Thus the boom assemblies are mounted for independent pivotal movement relative to the main frame.

Hydraulic cylinders 108 and 110 are connected between the main frame and

boom assemblies

66 and 68, respectively, and can be independently and jointly operated from control station 16. The hydraulic cylinders 108 and 110 operative, when activated, to pivot their respective boom assembly and also operative, when not activated, to hold, or lock, their respective boom assembly in position so that

boom assemblies

66 and 68 can be pivoted about their inner ends jointly or independently of each other.

With particular reference to FIGS. 8-10, it can be seen that conveyer assembly 76 can be made to assume a variety of positions relative to forms 49. More particularly and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 8, with the conveyer assembly located centrally of the forms broom assembly 66 can be locked in position by hydraulic cylinder 108 and a concrete hauling vehicle 111, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is driven between the roadway forms the left, or loading, end of the conveyer becomes its ivot point and actuation of boom assembly 68 swings the right end of conveyer 76 .in an arc about the loading end and between the roadway forms.

As can be seen in FIG. 9,

booms

66 and 68 can be actuated to position the left end of the conveyer adjacent one of the roadway forms for loading of concrete. The left end remains the loading end and in this instance the conveyer can be loaded from a point inside of the forms, or, if desired, from a point outside of the forms without requiring long extension chutes. Again boom 66 is locked in position by hydraulic cylinder 108 and boom 68 actuated to swing the right end of the conveyer in an are between the forms to distribute concrete evenly onto the defined'roadway.

With reference to FIG. 10, the conveyer can be pivoted about its mid-point by actuating one of the booms or by actuating both of the booms simultaneously. As can be seen, the conveyer can be pivoted to position the left end outside of either side of the forms as desired. With the conveyer so positioned it can be loaded from a point outside of the forms with the right end capable of swinging in an are about the loading end between the forms to discharge concrete.

In each of these arrangements the left end of the conveyer becomes the loading end and also the pivot point with the right end becoming the discharge end. Accordingly, great versatility is afforded with regard to loading concrete onto the conveyer while still providing for a full sweep of the discharge end of the conveyer over the defined roadway for effective concrete distribution. The loading end of the conveyer can be positioned at any point within the roadway forms or with its loading end at a point outside of the roadway forms.

When the conveyer is pivoted about its left, or loading, end there will be a tendency for the conveyer assembly to move relative to boom assembly 68 and means 78 is provided to accommodate this relative movement. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, it Will be seen that means 78 includes a U-shaped bracket 112 connected to boom 72, with the connection being made by pin 113 to allow for some relative rotational movement between the boom and bracket 112. Two pairs of rollers 114 are supported from bracket 112 on opposite sides of conveyer 76. Rollers 114 engage the upper flange 116 of channel members 118 which form a portion of the structure of the conveyer 76 and allow the conveyer to move relative to boom 72 as the conveyer pivots about its left end.

Loading concrete onto the conveyer at the point about which the conveyer pivots minimizes the problem of concrete spillage and, further in this regard, the conveyer belt 120 is supported in a generally dished condition for substantially the entire length of the conveyer assembly so as to minimize spillage as the concrete is transported by the belt. More particularly, and with reference to FIG. 7, the conveyer structure includes a horizontal plate 124 extending between channel members 118. Angular plates 122 reinforce the connection of the channel members to the horizontal plate and also support

elongated members

123, 123 which engage the endless belt holding it in a generally dished condition.

The spreader also includes a suitable strike-off screed 126 and a pusher assembly 134 for engaging vehicle 111 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The strike-off screed,'which may take any suitable form, is carried by support means 128 which is pivotally connected to platform 14 at hinge 130. A cable 129 is connected to support means 128 and extends to means 131, such as a suitable ram and lever arrangement (not shown), for raising and lowering the screed into and out of engagement with the forms.

With regard to the pusher assembly, it includes two elongated members 138 and each pivotally connected at one end to frame 10 at

brackets

136 and 137. Each

member

138 and 140 is provided with a reinforcing structure 139 and are connected to horizontal member 148; which is positioned to engage frame 150 of vehicle 111,

A latching mechanism (not shown) such as is disclosed and claimed in my oo-pending application Ser. No. 825,318 filed July 6, 1959 for Machine for Spreading Concrete and Other Road Materials may be provided to positively latch the spreader to the vehicle. The pusher assembly 134 also includes a suitable ram and cable arrangement 151 for raising and lowering the pusher to adjust the position of members 148. It should be noted that the pivotal connection of the pusher assembly to the spreader frame allows for relative movement therebetween so that relative displacement between the two can occur Without unduly stressing the structural members of either.

The area between the forms is fine graded preparatory to pouring concrete and in order to smooth any areas which might be disturbed when vehicle 111 is driven between the forms a planer assembly is preferably included in the spreader. The planer assembly includes a scraper 152 extending between the forms and supported therefrom on wheels 153. Arms 154 extend from carriage means 36 and are pivotally connected to scraper 152 by pins 155 so that the scraper will be pushed along as the spreader moves relative to the forms. Arms 154 are also pivotally connected to the carriage means so that the scraper will not be raised off the ground by vertical movement of the spreader. Each arm 154 carries a ram 156 which is also connected to the scraper so that actuation of the rams, from station 16, will pivot the scraper about pins 155 onto the rear pair of wheels 153 so that the scraper can be selectively raised when the spreader is driven in reverse and lowered when the spreader moves forward to engage the ground as desired. It will be appreciated that the scraper could be carried at other points on the spreader; however, its connection to the pusher assembly is preferred as it is then placed at the forward most point on the spreader.

The spreader constructed in accordance with my invention incorporates a single continuous conveyer which can be positioned for most facile concrete loading andstill provide effective distribution of concrete onto the roadway by providing a full sweep of the discharge end of the conveyer between the forms. Furthermore, the spreader can be readily adjusted to various roadway widths through the provision of the adjustable carriage means, in this respect it will be appreciated that the strike-off screed can be removed and replaced by a suitable width screed where necessary and, similarly, the planer assembly can be changed, or removed entirely if desired, to accommodate the particular roadway width. The spreader is not affected by an uneven or rough roadway and will, or can be made to, hold the main frame and conveyer and boom assemblies generally horizontal either through the interaction of its structural members or adjustment of its wheel assemblies. It will be noted that although a highly versatile and effective concrete spreader has been provided the structure is still relatively simple.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for spreading concrete and like material adapted to move along a defined roadway and comprising, in combination, an elongated frame having a longitudinal axis, at least a pair of carriage means positioned at longitudinally spaced apart points along said frame and extending transversely of said frame axis and laterally on either side of said frame, means supporting said carriage means for movement transversely of said frame axis to adjust the amount of said lateral extension, an elongated conveyer extending generally longitudinally of said frame, first and second elongated booms arranged end to end and extending longitudinally of said conveyer,

means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of each of said booms to said frame, means connecting the remote ends of each of said booms to said conveyer adjacent the opposite ends thereof and providing a pivotal connection between said conveyer and said booms, and operating means connected to and operative selectively to move said booms jointly and independently about their pivotal connections relative to said frame and also operative selectively to lock said booms against movement relative to said frame so that said conveyer is selectively pivotable about each of said points of connection of said booms to said conveyer and abouta point intermediate said points of connection of said booms to said conveyer.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said carriage means comprise elongated members extending from both sides of said frame and supported for movement relative to each other to vary said lateral extension, and means adjustably connecting said wheel assemblies to said elongated members for adjusting said wheel assemblies vertically relative to said elongated members.

3. The combination of claim 1 including means providing a pivotal connection between said frame and at least one of said carriage means for pivotal movement of said one carriage means relative to said frame in a vertical plane and about an axis extending longitudinally of said frame.

4. The combination of claim 2 including means for supporting one set of said elongated members for said movement relative to each other and for pivotal movement with respect to said frame in a vertical plane and about an axis extending longitudinally of said frame.

5. The combination of claim 2 including strike-off means carried from and disposed rearwardly of said apparatus, planer means, and means supporting said planer means forwardly of and for adjustable vertical movement relative to said apparatus.

6. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material and comprising, in combination, a frame, elongated conveyor means, first and second support means connected to said conveyor means at longitudinally spaced points thereon and each including means providing a pivotal connection between said support means and said conveyor means so that said conveyor means is movable with and with respect to said support means, means connecting said support means to said frame for movement with respect thereto, and operating means 0peratively connected to each of saidsupport means and operative to move said support means and conveyor means relative to said frame and further operative selectively to lock at least one of said support means against movement relative to said frame-and move the other of said support means and said conveyor means relative to said frame so that said conveyor means can be pivoted relative to said frame about the connection between said conveyor and said one locked support means.

7. The combination of claim 6 including carriage means extending laterally of said frame and also including means connecting said carriage means to said frame for adjustable movement with respect to said frame to vary the amount of lateral extension of said carriage means.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said carriage means include elongated support members extending laterally of said frame, wheel assemblies connected to said support member, and means connecting said support members to said frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane and about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally in said frame.

9. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material and comprising, in combination, a frame, elongated conveyor, means supporting said conveyor on said frame for movement relative thereto, said support means including first and second elongated boom means extending generally longitudinally of said conveyor means, means pivotally connecting one end of each of said boom means to said frame, means connecting the opposite end of each of said boom means to said conveyor means and providing a pivotal connection between each of said boom means and said conveyor means with said first boom means being connected to said conveyor means adjacent an end of said conveyor means, and operating means connected to each of said boom means and operative selectively to move said first and second boom means jointly and independently relative to said frame about the pivotal connection of said boom means to said frame to effect movement of said conveyor means in said apparatus and also operative selectively to lock said first boom means against movement relative to said frame so that said conveyor means can be pivoted about an end thereof by locking said first boom means and moving said second boom means.

10. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material and comprising, in combination, a frame, an elongated conveyor, first and second elongated booms arranged end-to-end and extending longitudinally of said conveyor, means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of each of said booms to said frame, means connecting the other end of each of the booms to said conveyor adjacent the opposite end of said conveyor and providing a pivotal connection between said booms and said conveyor, and means connected between said frame and said boom means and operative selectively to pivot said booms jointly and independently relative to said frame and also operative to selectively lock said booms against movement relative to said frame so that said conveyor is movable in said apparatus and is selectively pivotal about each of its ends.

11. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material and comprising, in combination, a frame, elongated conveyor means, first and second boom means, means connecting said first and second boom means to and for movement with respect to said frame, means connecting each of said boom means to said conveyor means adjacent the opposite end of said conveyor means and providing a pivotal connection between said boom means adjacent the opposite ends of said conveyor means connected between said frame and said boom means and operative selectively to move said boom means with respect to said frame and lock said boom means against movement with respect to said frame so that said boom means can be moved jointly to move said conveyor means relative to said frame and independently to move said conveyor means about one of the ends thereof and about a point intermediate the ends thereof.

12. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material adapted to move along a defined roadway and comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, means carried by said frame for distributing said material onto said roadway, two carriage means disposed at longitudinally spaced apart points on said frame and each including oppositely directed support members extending laterally of both sides of said frame, support means connecting the support members of each of said carriage means for movement relative to each other and in a transverse direction relative to said frame to adjust the amount of lateral extension of said support members, said support means including means connecting the support members of each of said carriage means to said frame for pivotal movement with respect to said frame in a vertical plane and about an axis extending longitudinally of said frame, and wheel assemblies connected to the ends of the support members of each of said carriage means.

13. Apparatus for distributing concrete and like material adapted to move along a defined roadway and comprising, in combination, an elongated frame, means car ried by said frame for distributing said material onto said roadway, two carriage means disposed at longitudinally spaced apart points on said frame and each including oppositely directed support members extending laterally of both sides of said frame, support means connecting the support members of each of said carriage means for movement relative to each other and in a transverse direction relative to said frame to adjust the amount of lateral extension of said support members, said support means also including a boggie assembly engaging and defining guides for movement of the support members of one of said carriage means relative to each other and said frame and means defining a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said frame and connecting said boggie assembly and said support members of said one carriage means to said frame for pivotal movement about said axis, and wheel assemblies connected to the ends of the support members of each of said carriage means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,588 9/1912 Iverson 198-124 1,754,533 4/1930 Kirk 9439 1,965,000 7/1934 Porter ,l98124 1,977,850 10/1934 Heltzel 9439 2,078,863 4/1937 Lundbye 94-44 X 2,844,882 7/1958 Earley et al.

2,960,208 11/1960 Sibley et al. 94-46 X 2,962,949 12/ 1960 ODea 9445 3,107,592 10/1963 Mengel 94--46 CHARLES E, OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Examiner.

Claims

10. APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONCRETE AND LIKE MATERIAL AND COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME, AN ELONGATED CONVEYOR, FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED BOOMS ARRANGED END-TO-END AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CONVEYOR, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS OF EACH OF SAID BOOMS TO SAID FRAME, MEANS CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF EACH OF THE BOOMS TO SAID CONVEYOR ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CONVEYOR AND PROVIDING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BOOMS AND SAID CONVEYOR, AND MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND SAID BOOM MEANS AND OPERATIVE SELECTIVELY TO PIVOT SAI BOOMS JOINTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME AND ALSO OPERATIVE TO SELECTIVELY LOCK SAID B OOMS AGAINST MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME SO THAT SAID CONVEYOR IS MOVABLE IN SAID APPARATUS AND IS SELECTIVELY PIVOTAL ABOUT EACH OF ITS ENDS.