US785957A - Loading-machine. - Google Patents

Description

110,785,957. PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905. F. R. KENT.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

P. R. KENT. LOADING- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

aumnfoz F. R. KENT.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILE-D APR. 4, 1904.

PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 785,957. v PATENTED, MAR. 28, 1905.

P.R.KENT. LOADING' MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1904.

-4 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

UNITED STATES Patented. March 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOADING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,957, dated March 28, 1905. Application filed April 4,1904. Serial No. 201,622.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK R. KENT, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Montvale, in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading-h/lachines, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of apparatus of novel construction designed chiefly for loading coal in the mine into the car, thereby lessening the cost of the commodity as delivered upon the cars for transportation. The machine may likewise be used to advantage for loading coke in the yard or for loading sand, gravel, or any commodity required to be loaded into a carrier for transportation.

The apparatus comprises a truck preferably construct-ed to run upon a track, a framework mounted upon the truck, so as to be turned about a vertical axis to any angular position, an elevator or conveyer mounted upon the framework and arranged to take up the commodity and deliver the same into the car or other carrier for transportation, gathering means for drawing the commodity upon the elevator or conveyer, and actuating means for operating the elevator and gathering means and adapted when required either to advance the machine to the work or move it therefrom.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

WVhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a loadingmachine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the machine on the line 3 3 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 L of Fig. 3L Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of gathering means.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The truck upon which the working parts are mounted may be of any substantial construction and comprises the platform 1 and supporting-wheels 2. Wings 3 project laterally from opposite sides of the truck and are preferably arranged in the plane of the platform, and each is provided with a curved slot 4, toothedupon one edge, as shown at 5, to provide a rack to assist in swinging the framework or superstructure from side to side, as may be required. The curved racks 5 may be of any accustomed construction; but the formation illustrated is preferred, since the slots 4 admit of the escape of any material falling upon the Wings and prevent choking of the racks, which would interfere materially with the operation of the means employed for the angular adjustment of the machine. A rack is also provided upon the back part of the truck, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The framework or superstructure consists of a bed 6, standards 7, and a forward and downward extension 8, provided at its extremity with standards 9, corresponding to the standards 7, said framework being mounted upon the platform 1, so as to turn freely about a vertical axis represented by the pivot connection 10. This framework or superstructure is of substantial formation and of such design as to avoid a cumbersome appearance. A vertical shaft 11 is arranged near one end of the bed and is provided at its lower end with a pinion 12, which is adapted to intermesh with the cog-teeth of any one of the racks 5, and at its upper end with a hand-wheel 13. Upon turning the shaft 11 in one direction or the other the framework may be swung about the vertical axis 10 to any angular position within the range of adjustment provided by the several racks to suit the relative positions of the pile and the carrier, whereby the commodity may be taken up from the pile and delivered into the carrier. When moving the framework from one rack to the other, the pinion 12 is disconnected from the shaft 11 and the latter is raised to clear the part I separating one rack from the next. It is to be understood that any method may be adapted to admit of the pinion and shaft moving from one rack to the other when required. The engine 14L for operating the working parts of the machine is mounted upon the bed 6 and may be of any type selected for the purpose. This engine is belted or otherwise connected to a counter-shaft 15, journaled upon the bed 6 at any convenient point.

The elevator or conveyer is of usual construction and comprises the frame 16 and endless carrier 17, the latter consisting of side chains and buckets. The frame 16 is of trough shape, and the upper portion of its side pieces slightly flare, as indicated in Fig. 1, and the lower portion is closed, so as to form a housing for the lower portion of the endless carrier. The elevator or conveyer comprises an approximately horizontal portion and a forwardly and downwardly inclined portion, the latter being adapted to receive the commodity from the gathering mechanism and the horizontal portion extending over the truck, so as to deliver the commodity either in the rear or to one side thereof. A chute 18 is arranged at the delivery end of the elevator or conveyer to direct the commodity or material into the car or carrier. A chute 19 is arranged at the front end of the elevator or conveyer, and its bottom may be solid, as indicated in Fig. 5, or provided with slots or openings. as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so as to screen the material simultaneously with the gathering operation. The chute 19 is connected to the frame 16 of the elevator to admit of its lower end being raised and lowered to meet existing conditions.

The gathering mechanism may comprise either forks 20 or hoe-blades 21, according to the nature of the material being worked or loaded. The stems or rods 22 of the parts 20 or 21 are passed through guides 23 and are connected to crank portions 24 of a compound crank-shaft 25, arranged transversely of the frame 16 and above the endless carrier. The guide-eyes 23 are formed with or connected to a rod 26, arranged transversely of the frame 16 and in advance of the crank-shaft 25. In the operation of the machine the gatherers 20 or 21 are carried forward over the bottom of the chute.19 and are lowered into the commodity and are then dragged upward and rearward over the chute carrying a quantity of the commodity, which is delivered in the rear of the chute 19 upon the conveyor or elevator and is carried thereby to the chute 18, by means of which it is directed into the car or other form of carrier arranged for reception of the commodity or material.

A counter shaft 15 is provided with a sprocket-wheel 27, which is connected by sprocket chain 28 with a correspondii'ig sprocket-wheel 29, secured to the outer end rear end of the endless carrier 17. Asprocketwheel 30, secured to the outer end of the lower or front shaft or journal of said endless carrier, is connected by sprocket-chain 31 with a companion sprocket-wheel 32, mounted upon the crank-shaft 25, and by this means power is transmitted from the endless carrier to the gathering means. The countershaft 15 is belted or otherwise connected to an axle of the truck so as either to advance or withdraw the machine, as may be required. As shown, a sprocket wheel 33 is mounted upon the counter-shaft 15 and is connected by sprocketchain 34110 acorresponding spocket-wheel 35, carried by an axle of the truck. A clutch 36 is movable upon the counter-shaft 15 and is adapted to cause either one of the sprocketwheels 27 or 33 to rotate therewith according as the operating mechanism is to be run or the machine to be propelled either toward the pile or away therefrom. The clutch mechanism 36 may be of any approved type and is adapted to be operated by means of the shipper-lever 37.

WV hen the machine is to be used for loading coke from the yard into a car, said machine is equipped with forks 20 and with an open bottom chute 19. WVhen the commodity to be loaded is coal, sand, gravel, or thelike, the machine is equipped with blades 21 and with a chute 19, having an imperforate or solid bottom, as indicated in Fig. 5. When the machine is in operation and is required to advance the chute 19 and gathering mechanism into the pile, the clutch 36 is moved out of engagement with the sprocket-wheel 27 and into engagement with the sprocket-wheel 33, thereby throw ing the gathering and elevating mechanisms out of gear and the propelling mechanism into gear. After the machine has been properly adjusted the propelling mechanism is unshipped and the operating mechanism thrown into action, whereby the commodity or material is dragged over the chute 19 and delivered upon the endless carrier and elevated thereby to the chute 18, down which it gravitates into the car or other carrier for transportation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a loadingmachine, the combination of a truck, wings extended laterally therefrom in opposite directions, each wing having a curved slot toothed upon one edge, a frame mounted upon the truck and pivotally connected thereto for angular adjustment about a vertical axis and provided with elevating mechanism, a shaft journaled to said frame, and a pinion attached to the shaft and adapted to mesh with the toothed edge of either of the aforesaid slots, substantially as set forth.

2. In a loading-machine, the combination of a truck, a frame mounted upon the truck and pivoted thereto for angular adjustment about of the journal or shaft supporting the upper a vertical axis, cooperating means between the said frame and truck to effect a turning connections into gear either to operate the IQ of the frame, an elevator carried by said elevator or to propel the machine, substanframe, a chute and gathering means at the tially as specified. receiving end of the elevator, a counter-shaft, In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in 5 a motor connected to said counter-shaft for presence of two Witnesses.

driving the same, connections between said FRANK R. KENT. [L. s.] counter-shaft and the elevator and between said counter-shaft and an axle of the truck, and a clutch device for throwing either set of Witnesses W. R. CARTER, J. W. COMPTON.

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