US3254779A - Unloading apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1966 E. G. TABOR 3,254,779

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA US June 7, 1966 E. G. TABOR UNLOADING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 11. 1963 ATTORNEYS June 7, 1966 E. G. TABOR 3,254,779

UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 11, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 17,734 6 7/5 a H /Wyw ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,254,779 UNLOADING APPARATUS Ear-l G. Tabor, Bluetield, W. Va., assignor to Tabor Machine Shop, Inc., Bluefield, W. Va., a corperation of West Virginia Filed Oct. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 315,514 6 Claims. (Cl. 214-64,2)

This invention relates generally to a novel unloading apparatus and, more particularly, to a vibratory apparatus for -the unloading of flowable solids such as coal, ore, grains or chemicals and the like from receptacles used to transfer and carry such flowable solids.

Frequently the transportation and storage of flowable solids such as coal and similar materials is best accomplished by the use of generally rectanguar receptacles which have a relatively great horizontal extent and a relatively limited vertical extent or height.

Such dimensional limitations are generally dictated by the limited space available in the operating environment. For example, in the mining of coal, particularly where the coal seam being worked has a relatively limited vertical extent, vertical working space or headroom is at a premium since it is kept to a minimum 'in order to limit unproductive excavation beyond the extent of the coal deposit. Typically in such coal mining operations, the coal removed from the seam is loaded into a mine car which is used to transport it to another location in the mine where it is unloaded onto a suitable conveyor means which, in turn, transpo rts .the coal for further processing. Because of the limited Working space, particularly vertical working space or headroom, available such mine cars are generally of an elongated rectangular shape having a relatively great longitudinal horizontal extent to provide a-dequate carrying capacity and a relatively limited vertical extent or height. In the past, the unloading of mine cars having such dimensional characteristics has presented considerable difliculties. It has been *the practice to utilize an unloading device which would tip the car upon one end in 'order to unload or efect the discharge of the contents at the desired location in the mine. In order to employ such unloading devices, it has been necessary to provide additional headroom not only for the unloading device itself but to provide adequate clearance for the required movement of the car as it is tipped to discharge the load of coal. Such mine cars commonly are about 10 to 12 feet or more in length while normally the headroom, that is the vertical distance between the floor and overhead surface available in the mine shaft, is generally only about 4 feet or less. Thus, the expenditure of considerable effort and capital has been necessary to provide an additional overhead clearance of over 8 to 10 feet -in order to permit the mine car to be tipped upon one end. Furthermore, the removal of the overlying earth generally requires the provision of additional expensive bracing or support means. In addition, the apparatus employed to eifect the t-ipping or dumping of such loaded mine cars was of a relatively complex and cumbersome construction and was not readily transportable from one location ot another wit-hin the mine. Because of the 'space limitations Within such mines, the relocation of such prior art discharge devices frequently entailed disassembly and subsequent reassembly of the device after movement to the desired new location.

Accordingly, a principal Object-of the present invention relates to a novel, readily p-ortable apparatus for unloading receptacles such as mine cars carrying flowable solid material while maintaining the receptacle in substantially horizontal position.

A further Object of this invention relates to a novel apparatus for unloading mine cars employed to carry coal to various locations in the mine while maintaining the Paterted June 7, 1966 ICC mine car in a horizontal position and thus eliminating the need for providing additional working space within the mine for the car unloading opera-tion.

An additional Object of the present invention relates to a novel apparatus for effecting the conveyance of a solid flowable material carried in a suitable receptacle from such receptacle.

A still further ob-ject of the present invention relates to a novel vibratory discharge apparatus for imparting vibratory motion to a mine car or other receptacle carrying solid flowable material so that such material is conveyed along the receptacle and discharged therefrom.

Another object of the present invention relates to a novel apparatus for etfecting the unloading of receptacles such as mine cars carrying solid fiowable materials which apparatus is of a simple, rugged construction and at the same time can be readily moved to different desired operating locations Within the mine.

Other objects and the entire scope of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and by reference :to the accompanying drawings. -It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by Way of illustration only, since various changes and modifi-cations will become apparent as the description herein progresses. Reference now being made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof,

FIGURE 1 is a erspective View with parts broken away of my novel unloading apparatus with a receptacle opera-tively positioned therein;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view with parts broken away of my novel unloading apparatus with a receptacle operatively positioned therein;-

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of my novel unloading apparatus with 'a receptacle operatively positioned therein; and

FIGURE 4 is another side elevational view of my novel unloading apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates my novel unloading or vibratory discharge apparatus. The vibratory discharge apparatus 10 generally comprises -a fixed frame assembly 12 and a live frame assembly 14, the latter being springsupported on the fixed frame assembly. The fixed frame 12 includes, in the specific embodiment shown, a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced generally parallel runner members or skids 16, which are connected near their ends by transverse bars 13 either by welds or other suitable means. The skid members 16 are adapted to slidingly engage the floor supporting surface and are preferably provided with vertically upturned end portions 20 which facilitate the sliding movement of the entire apparatus to desired locations in the mine. Mounted on each of the skids 16 are longitudinally spaced pairs of spring seats 22. Each spring seat 22 is provided with 'a pair of upwardly extending longitudinally spaced spring -retaining bosses 24 adapted to operatively receive and retain a pair of spiral supporting Springs 26. F

The live frame assembly 14 includes a horizontally disposed plate-like bottom member 28 and laterally spaced longitudinally extending generally parallel plate-like side members 30 which define a car receiving space. The underside of bottom member 28 is preferably provided with a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally spaced stiffener members 32 for added structural rigid-ity. The upper surface of the bottom member 28 is provided with transversely spaced longitudinally extending car receiving skids 34 which are adapted to operatively engage and rigidly support a mine car 36. Additional rigidity is provided the live frame assembly 14 by means of longitu- ..a dinally spaced transversely extending upper stifener members 38 which are connected to the side members 30 at the upper edge portions thereof. A pair of laterally extending sturdy pin members 40 are rigidly secured by suitable means at longitudinally spaced points to the outer side of each side member 30. Similar spring seating brackets 42 are operatively mounted on each pin member 40 in operative alignment with the aforementioned spring seats 22. The underside of each spring Seating bracket 42 is provided with a pair of spring retaining bosses 44, complementary to the similar bosses 24 on the top of the corresponding lower spring seat member 22.

'Preferably a pair of shock absorbing retarder blocks 46 are provided intermediate the fixed frame assembly 12 and the live frame assembly 14 at the discharge end of the apparatus 10. The retarder blocks 46, which are preferably made of rubber or other suitably'resilient material, serve to cus hion or absorb the impact which generally occurs when a loaded mine car is operatively positioned in the live frame assembly.

The live frame assembly 14 is further provided with a suitable car clamping means, which in the embodiment illustrated comprises a pair of lever action clamping assemblies generally indicated by the numeral 48. Each clamping assembly 48 is operatively mounted on the inner surface of each of the opposed side members 30 for cooperation with the car receiving skids 34 as will bemore fully described hereinafter. Since each of the clamping assemblies are of substantially identical construction, a detailed description of only one will be given. The clamping assembly 48 includes an elongated car engagingmember 50 which at one end is pivotally connected at 52 to the inner surface of the side member 30. The other end of the member 50 carries a vertical extension 53 which carries a laterally extending pin means 54 which is pivotally and slidably received by an elongated slot 56 provided in one end of the lever arm 58. The lever arm 58 is pivotally connected to the side member 30 by a suitable pin connection 60. During entry of the mine car 36 into operative position in the live frame assembly 14, the clamping devices will be in their inoperative positions with the car engaging members 50 in their uppermost position, as best seen in FIGURE 2. Movement of the free ends 62 of lever arms 58 upwardly will cause the car engaging members to pivot downwardly about pivotal connections 52 and clampingly engage suitable abutment surfaces 64 provided on the mine car 36 which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Adjacent the discharge end of the apparatus 10, the live frame assembly 14 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced inclned door lift members 66. Each door lift member 66 preferably comprises an elongated channel member which is inclned relative to the bottom member 28 and secured at one end to an upper stitfener member 38 and at the other end to the bottom member 28. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the door lift members 66 will thus present upwardly inclned abutment surfaces 68 which are adapted to cooperate with and slidingly engage suitable lugs 70 carried by the pivotal mine car door '72.

In order to facilitate movement of the mine car 36 to and from the live frame assembly 14, an inclned ramp means 74 is provided at the entry end of the live frame assembly 14.

The vibratory drive assembly preferably includes a pair of vibratory head assemblies 76 operatively mounted on the 'side members 30 of the live frame assembly 14. Each vibratory head assembly 76 includes a pair of spaced parallel shafts 78 which are journalled in suitable bearings (not shown) carried by the side members 30 and which are connected for synchronized rotation in opposite directions by means of a suitable drive sprocket chain 80 and idler sprocket assembly 82. The vibratory head assemblies 76 are operatively connected for synchronized rotation with one another -by means of a transversely extending transmission shaft '84 which is rotatably journalled in suitable bearings (not shown) carried by the side members 30.

Since rotation of the shafts 78 of one of the vibratory head assemblies will *be transmitted to the other vibratory head assembly by the transmission shaft 84, it is only necessary to drive one of the vibratory head assemblies by a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor (not shown).

' As best 'seen in FIGURE 4, each shaft 78 is provided with' rigidly secured eccentric weights 86, which, upon.

rotation of the shaft, will produce the vibration which is transmitted to the live frame assembly. In the embodiment illustrated, the weights 86 are arranged on their associated shafts such that the direction of eccentricity of the weights 86 from their associated shafts are in agreement only in two opposed positions which lie along a line positioned at -an angle 'of about 45 to the substantially horizontal plane of the bottom 28 and extending upwardly toward the discharge end of the live frame assembly 14. The forces developed by the rotating weights 86 therefore are additive and at a maximum value, only in the two opposite directions lying along the aforementioned 45 line. This maximum force condition will be developed in both directions along the -aforementioned 45 o line during each revolution of the shafts 78. In other words, each revolution of the shafts 78 will produce one complete vibration or oscillation of the live frame assembly 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the live frame will oscil'late or vibrate in a straight line path' which is inclned at an angle of approximately 45 o to the plane of the bottom 28, -as shown by the double arrow A-A in FIGURES 1 and 4. While a vibrating drive assembly which will impart a straight line vibration to the live frame has been illustrated, it will be apparent to those skil'led in the art that other suitable paths of vibratory movement may be imparted to the live frame assembly by well-known modifications of the vibrating head assemblies.

The mine car 36 which generally comprises an elongated, generally rectangularly shaped receptacle mounted on suitable wheels 88 having a generally flat plate-like bottom member 90, a pair of. transversely spaced vertically extending integral side walls 92 and at one end a vertically extending integral end wall 94. The other end of the mine car 36 is provided with a door 72 pivotally connected at 96 to each side wall 92. The weight of the door 72 is sufficient to maintain the door in the down or closed position and thereby normally provide a receptacle enclosed on all four sdes. As aforementioned, each side portion of the door 72 is provided with laterally outwardly extending lugs 70 adapted to 'operatively engage the inclned door lift members 66 carried by the live frame assembly 14. By virtue of this construction, and as best seen in FIGURE 2, the door 72 wi'll pivot upwardly t o open one end of the mine car 36 and thereby permit discharge of its contents simply as a consequence of operatively positioning the car 36 within the live frame assembly 14. v

Each side wall 92 of the mine car 36 is provided with a laterally extending clamp receiving means 98 having upwardly facing 'abutment sur'faces 64 adapted to be clampingly engaged by the car engaging members 50 of the clamping assemblies 48 when the car is operatively positioned within the live frame assembly 14.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 for a detailed -description of the operation of the device, the car 36, loaded with coal or other flowable solid material, is rolled up the ramp '74 and moved into the live frame assembly 14. As best seen in FIGURE 2, as the car 36 is moved into the live frame assembly 14, the bottom of the car will slidingly engage the skids 34 causing the entire car to be raised bodily a slight amount so as to remove the weight of the car from the wheels and be rigdly supported by the skids 34. As the car is moved further into the 'live frame assembly 14, by being slid along the skids 34 so as to be operatively positioned therein, the

lugs 70 on the car door 72 Will operatively engage the inclined abutment surfaces 68 of the door lift members 66 causing the door 72 to swing upwardly about pivotal 'Connections 94, thus opening the leading end of the car so as to permit discharge of the contents. When the car 36 is thus operatively positioned within the live frame assembly 14, as shown in 'FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the lever arm 58 of each car clamping assembly 48 is moved upwardly causing their car engaging members 50 to be moved downwardly and into operative clamping engagement with the abutment surfaces 64 of the clamp receiving means 98 carried by the car 36. By virtue of the cam-like linkage between the car engaging members 50 and their respective lever arms 58, the car engaging members `50 will remain' in rgid clamping engagement with the cooperating clamp receiving means 98. The car 36 will thus be seen to be rigidly and firmly held in engagement with the supporting skids 34 and will thus be effectively restrained against movement relative to the live frame assembly 14. After the car has been thus rigidly clamped in operative position, the drive motor is energized to rotate the shafts 78 of the vibratory head assemblies '76. 'Because of the eccentric arrangement of the Weights 86 on the rotary shafts 78, the desired vibratory motion will be imparted to the live frame 'assembly 14 which is fioatably supported by the Springs 26. The car 36 being supported by and held in a relatively fixed position on the live frame assembly 14 will move with the live frame assembly and the material within the car will be conveyed longitudina'lly of the car and discharged therefrom in response to the vibrations of the car and live frame assembly. When the contents of the car have been completely di-scharged, the drive motor is deenergized and when the vibratory head assemblies have come to rest, the lever arms 58 are moved downwardly to effect disengagement of the car clamping members 50 from the clamp receiving means 98. As the car is removed by -suitable means from the live frame assembly 14, the

door 72 will, by virtue of its own weight, pivot downwardly to return to its normally closed position.

Movement of the entire apparatus to various desired locations is .readily accomplished by simply attaching a suitable tractor means to the fixed frame assembly 12 to efect sliding of the apparatus '10 upon the skids 16.

While in the foregoing em-bodiment manually actuated clamping mean-s having a particular mechanical linkage has been described, it will be apparent that the clamping means could be power actuated such as by suitable electrical and/ or hydraulic means and that other mechanical clamping arrangements can be employed. Similarly, while a pair of vibratory head assemblies mounted on the sides of the live frame assembly has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that other vibratory drive arrangements can be employed.

It will thus be seen that .the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, h-owever, that the foregoing specific embodiments have been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the p rinciples of this invention and are subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for moving solid flowable material carried by a mobile material transporting receptacle having ground engaging wheels relative to said receptacle and toward a discharge Opening provided at one end of said receptacle so as to eifect the discharge of said material therefrom while maintaining said receptacle substantially in its operative material transportng disposition` relative to the apparatus supporting surface comprising in combination: a fixed frame a vibratory frame, said vibratory frame being adapted to receive a receptacle loaded with solid flowable material in an operative material carried thereby will be moved relative to said' receptacle toward the discharge Opening and discharged therefrom.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said vibratory frame includes resilient means operatively connecting said fixed frame to said vibratory frame and .said means for imparting said vibratory material conveying movement to said vibratory frame includes at least two parallel rotatable shafts, a mass system supported respectively by each of said shafts, each system having its center of gravity eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of its respective shaft and means rotating the two shafts at equal angular velocities and in opposite directions.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said fixed frame includes skid means adapted to slidingly engage said apparatus supporting surface.

4. Ar apparatus comprising in combination: a fixed frame; a vibratory frame; a generally rectangular horizontally elongated mobile receptacle having ground engaging wheels and a solid flowable material containing space defined by a substantially flat bottom member and a plurality of side members extending substantially perpendicularly of said bottom member, at least one of said side members at one end of said receptacle being adapted to move out of material confining 'relation with said other members so as to provide a discharge Opening, said vibratory frame having a floor being adapted to receive said receptacle in an operative discharge position; means associated with said vibratory frame for etfecting movement of said one side member out of said material confining relation with said other members so as to provide said discharge Opening When said receptacle is in said operative discharge position; means adapted to engage the bottom of said receptacle and transfer the weight of said receptacle and the material carried thereby from said ground engaging wheels to said vibratory frame; means for restraining relative movement between said receptacle and said vibratory frame when said receptacle is in said discharge position; means resiliently mounting said vibratory frame on said fixed frame for vibratory material conveying movement relative thereto; means for imparting vibratory material conveying movement to said vibratory frame whereby said vibratory material conveying movement will be imparted to said receptacle and the solid flowable material carried thereby will be moved relative to said respectacle and toward said discharge Opening so as to effect the discharge thereof.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said means for imparting said vibratory material conveying movement to said vibratory frame includes at least two parallel rotatable shafts, a mass system supported respectively by each of said shafts, each system having its center of gravity eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of its respective shaft and means rotating the two shafts at equal angular velocities and in opposite directions.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said fixed frame includes skid means adapted to slidingly engage the apparatus supporting surface.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examier UNITED STATES PATENTS Wallace 214-54 X Grass 214-58 Beler 214-46 McCallen 214-63 X Oglesby 214 64.2 Erickson et al. 214-53 Clejan 214-38.8

8 FOREIGN PATENTS 477,305 6/ 1929 Germany. 804,087 5/ 1 951 Germany. 294,955 12/1928 Great Britain. 461,848 2/1937 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Exam'ner.

Claims (1)

1. AN APPARATUS FOR MOVING SOLID FLOWABLE MATERIAL CARRIED BY A MOBILE MATERIAL TRANSPORTING RECEPTACLE HAVING GROUNG ENGAGING WHEELS RELATIVE TO SAID RECEPTACLE AND TOWARD A DISCHARGE OPENING PROVIDED AT ONE END OF SAID RECEPTACLE SO AS TO EFFECT THE DISCHARGE OF SAID MATERIAL THEREFROM WHILE MAINTAINING SAID RECEPTACLE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS OPERATIVE MATERIAL TRANSPORTING DISPOSITION RELATIVE TO THE APPARATUS SUPPORTING SURFACE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A FIXED FRAME A VIBRATORY FRAME, SAID VIBRATORY FRAME BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A RECEPTACLE LOADED WITH SOLID FLOWABLE MATERIAL IN AN OPERATIVE DISCHARGE POSITION; ENGAGING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID RECEPTACLE AND TRANSFERRING THE WEIGHT THEREOF FROM SAID GROUND ENGAGING WHEELS TO SAID VIBRATORY FRAME; MEANS FOR RESTRAINING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID RECEPTACLE AND SAID VIBRATORY FRAME WHEN SAID RECEPTACLE IS IN SAID DISCHARGE POSITION; MEANS MOUNTING SAID VIBRATORY FRAME ON SAID FIXED FRAME FOR VIBRATORY MATERIAL CONVEYING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO; MEANS FOR IMPARTING VIBRATORY MATERIAL CONVEYING MOVEMENT TO SAID VIBRATORY FRAME WHEREBY SAID VIBRATORY MATERIAL CONVEYING MOVEMENT WILL BE IMPARTED TO SAID RECEPTACLE AND SAID MATERIAL CARRIED THEREBY WILL BE MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID RECEPTACLE TOWARD THE DISCHARGE OPENING AND DISCHARGED THEREFROM.

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