US818926A - Grain dump and elevator. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906* G. S. UPHAM.

GRAIN DUMP AND ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906 C. S. UPHAMA GRAIN DUMP AND ELEVATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG.29, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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C. S. UPHAM.

GRAIN DUMP AND ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

uoawtoz as Zf 07zaz10 Witnuwa No. 818,926. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. G. S. UPHAM.

GRAIN DUMP AND ELEVATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 29, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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GRAIN DUMP AND ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed August 29,1904. Serial No. 222,644.

To (1 1071/0711, it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. UPHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Odell, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Impr )vements in Grain Dumps and Eleva tors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention embodies improvements in portable devices for unloading grain from wagons and involves dumping means for the wagon and means for elevating the grain so as to deposit the same in a suitable granary, bin, hopper, or the like.

The invention resides particularly in the special operating means utilized for raising and lowering the wagon in the dumping operation and in a special construction of re ceiving-trough for the grain as the same is dumped from the wagon preparatory to being elevated, as above mentioned.

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 accompanying drawings.

While 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 1 is a perspective view of a dump and elevator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken about on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 i of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, partially broken away, taken about on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view showing the end of the platform adjacent the elevator and conveyer, bringing out more clearly the exact construction of the trough located at this part of the device.

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 device consists, essentially, of a platform 1 mounted upon wheels to facilitate movement of the device from one place to another, and this platform 1 is provided with inclined approaches 2 at opposite ends, so that the wagon from which the grain is to be dumped may be readily driven upon the platform preparatory to the dumping operation. The platform 1 is provided at one end with a trough 3, transversely disposed, and a transversely-operating conveyer 4 is located in the trough 3, said conveyer being of any approved construction and comprising, preferably, an endless apron adapted to carry the grain dumped into the trough toward one end of the latter, so as to be received upon the elevator 5, located at said end. The elevator 5 is also of any conventional type adapted for the purposes of the inyention, being designed to hoist grain to deposit the same in a suit able receptacle, as heretofore mentioned. The conveyer a inclines upwardly at one end, as shown at 6, the inclined end operating in a box 7 at one end of the trough 3, and this box 7 is provided with removable sides 8, which admit of ready detachment, so that the elevator 5 may extend either longitui'linally or laterally from the platform 1, according as is necessary and dependent upon the location of the receptacle into which the grain is to be deposited. The elevator 5 is preferably of the endless-belt type, having flights upon which the grain is received and carried upwardly.

The platform is provided longitudinally thereof with dump-sills 9, which are pivoted at points between their ends in slots 10, formed in the platform. The sills 9 are preferably mounted upon stub-shafts 11, supported in bearings 12, provided at the sides of the slots 10, in which the respective sills operate. The bearings 12 are open at their upper ends, so that should the platform settle, because of the softness of the ground, the ends of the sills which lower in the pivotal movement thereof will not be broken off by striking the ground, since the sills will raise their bearings in a manner which will be. readily comprehended. The means for operating the conveycr, elevator, and sills consists of a longitudinal shaft 13, mounted in suitable bearings in the platform and preferably adjacent one side thereof. The shaft 13 is actuated from any suitable source of power and motion may be communicated thereto by a sweep or other horse power located adjacent the platform. The transverse shaft 14 is also mounted upon the platform 1, and this shaft is provided with drums 15, adjacent the ends thereof, upon which wind hoisting ropes or cables 16. The cables 16 are connected at one end with the sills 9 the opposite end of each cable being adapted to wind upon the drum adjacent when the shaft 14 is actuated. The cables or ropes 16 pass over pulleys 17, mounted in uprights 18, which compose frames located upon opposite sides of the platform 1 and adjacent corresponding ends of the sills 9. The ropes 16 are directly connected with a transverse bar 19, secured to the ends of the sills 9 Which are to be elevated in the dumping operation. The sills 9 normally rest in a position in which the upper sides thereof remain about flush with the upper side of the platform 1, and these sills are tilted upon their pivots in dumping the wagon after the same has been driven upon the platform. Motion is transmitted from the longitudinal shaft 13 to the transverse shaft 14 bysuitable clutch mechanism arranged upon the shaft 13. Keyed to the shaft 13, adjacent one of the frames at one end of said platform 1, is a clutch-sleeve 20, slidable upon the shaft 13 and provided between opposite gears 21 and 22. The gears 21 and 22 are loosely mounted upon the shaft 13, and the gear 21 is provided with a worm-sleeve 23, which engages a gear-wheel 24, mounted upon the shaft 14. The clutch-sleeve 20 is adapted to clutch either of the gears 21 and 22 for rotation of the shaft 13 or to remain in a position out of cooperation with either of said gears; Arranged in mesh with both gears 21 and 22 and mounted upon a short shaft projected from the adjacent side of the platform 1 is a double gear 25, having inner and outer sets of teeth, the outermost set of teeth being in mesh with the gear 21 and the inner teeth in meshing relation with the gear 22. The clutch-sleeve 20 is operated by a shifter-bar 26, pivoted to one of the adjacent uprights 18, the lower end of the bar 26 engaging the sleeve 20, the upper end of said bar being connected with a main operating-lever 27 by means of a connecting-rod 28. The lever 27 is arranged at the opposite end of the platform and at a point at which the operator usually stands in controlling the operation of the device. The gear 25 is utilized so as to secure differential motion or speed of the transverse shaft 14 and is of great advantage,

since the wagon when driven upon the sills 9 can be dumped by gradual elevation of the sills 9, and as soon as the wagon has been dumped said sills may be lowered at a greater speed in order to save time. In other words, when the clutch-sleeve 20 is operated so as to engage the gear 21 motion is communicated from the shaft 13 directly to the shaft 14 through the parts 23 and 24, above described, and the cables 16 are wound upon the drums 15, thus raising the sills 9 at cor responding ends to effect dumping of the wagon. In lowering the sills 9 to their norrnal position the sleeve 20 is thrown into clutch with the gear 22, and this gear being in mesh with the double gear 25 transmits motion to the gear 21 through the said gear 25. The movement of the shaft 14 is thus reversed, and because of the arrangement of the teeth upon the gear 25 the speed of the shaft 14 is increased, so that the cables or ropes 16 are unwound from their respective drums in less time than preyiously necessary in winding said cables thereon. It is designed to automatically unclutch the sleeve 20 from the gears 21 and 22 when the sills 9 reach the limit of their upward or downward movement in the dumping oper ation, and for 'this purpose a movable bar 29 is mounted upon an upright 18, adjacent the bar 26, and this bar 29 is connected at its lower end with an arm 30, projected from the upper portion of said part 26. An engaging member 31 .is adjustably mounted upon the bar 29,

being adapted for vertical movement thereon, and this member 31 will be struck by an arm 32, projected from the bar 19, which connects the sills 9 when the said sills reach the limit of their upward movement. When the arm 32 strikes the members 31, as above described, the movable bar 29 will be actuated upwardly, and since this bar 29 is connected with the shifter-bar 26 the latter will be given a pivotal movement by which the clutch-sleeve 26 will be thrown out of clutch with the gear 21, the latter being actuated of course in elevating or raising the ends of the sills 9. As the sills lower to their normal positions when the sleeve 20 is in clutch with the gear 22, the downward movement of the arm 32 will cause the latter to strike the arm 30, projected from the shifter-bar, and the engagement of these parts will effect a pivotal movement of the shipper-bar in a direction opposite to that caused by engagement of the parts 31 and 32, thereby throwing the sleeve 20 out of clutch with the gear 22 and stopping the motion of the drums 15.

At one end of the platform 1 and adjacent the extremities of the sills 9 is located a chockbar 33, attached to the platform and preferably comprising one of the planks of the platform. The bar 33 normally rests flush with the upper side of the platform 1, being adapted by pivotal movement to be thrown backward against inclined blocks 34, so as to be supported by the latter in operative position to prevent movement of the Wagon when inclined in dumping position. The chock-bar 33 has a peculiar cooperation in the general operation of my invention, said bar being designed to lock the sills 9 from movement as the wagon is driven thereon, and at the same time this 'member 33 cooperates with the main operating mechanism by which the sills are actuated, so that this operating mechanism cannot be thrown into action to raise the sills upon their pivots until said chock-bar has itself been placed in operative position as regards the rear wheels of the wagon. Pivoted in the slots 10, in which IIO the sills 9 operate, and at the ends of these slots, in which corresponding ends of the sills lower in the dumping operation, are mounted lock members 35, the latter being pivoted to transverse bars 36, extending across the slots 10. The lock members 35 are connected with the chock-bar 33 by connecting-rods 37, so that a pivotal movement of the chock-bar will impart a corresponding pivotal movement of the lock members and throw the lat ter into and out of cooperation with the sills 9. Thus when the chock-bar is flush with the top of the platform as the wagon is driven thereon the lock members 35 engage the under side of the adjacent ends of the sills 9, and being connected with the chock-bar said lock members rigidly support the ends of the sills from any downward movement. The wagon having been driven upon the platform, the bar 33 is actuated, and this throws the lock members 35 rearwardly from beneath the ends of the sills 9, thereby admitting of free pivotal movement of the sills as soon as the operating mechanism is thrown into gear. One end of the chock-bar is cut away, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the cut-away portion receiving the lower extremity of the main operating-lever 27, so that the chockbar is thereby adapted to engage the lever 27 and prevent pivotal movement of this lever, necessary to effect operation of the dumping mechanism. In other words, when the chock-bar 33 is closed down upon the platform 1 it is impossible for the operator to start the dumping mechanism, and this obviates all likelihood of displacement of the wagon from the platform, which may happen due to the forgetfulness of the operator when previously lifting the chock-bar before raising the wagon. The sills also cannot be unlocked until the chock-bar 33 is lifted previous to starting the dumping mechanism.

The trough 3 is so disposed as to receive the grain as it is dumped from the wagon, and this trough is normally closed by wings 38 and 39. the latter being pivoted to opposite sides of the trough, being adapted to fold thereover, so as to form a closure therefor. The wings 3S and 39 are designed to deflect the grain into the trough as the same is delivered from the wagon, and said wings virtually form part of the surface of the platform, in that when closed down upon the trough they admit of travel of the wagon thereover, the wing 38 resting flush with the platform when in closed position. The said wing 33 is provided with a flange 40, which overlaps the side of the trough 3 opposite that to which said wing is pivoted. In order that the wings 38 and 39 may be simultaneously operated so as to throw the same upwardly preparatory to receiving the grain delivered to the conveyer 4, said wings are connected by means of a link 41 or similar device, the latter being secured to end plates 42 and 43, which are attached to the respective wings 39 and 38. The link 41 has a slidable or loose connection with the wing 39 in order that the wing 38 may be moved upwardly a certain distance before the wing 39 is actuated thereby. The connection between the wings 38 and 39 consists of a pin 44, received by slot 45 in the link 41. The plates 43 and form a closure for the end of the trough 3 opposite to that at which the elevator 5 is located, and the outer or main wing 38 is adapted to be operated by any suitable means, such as a lever or like device.

The conveyor 4 is operated by power derived from the main shaft 13, and, as shown in Fig. 6, the end of the shaft 13 adjacent the elevator 5 is provided with a gear 46, connected by a sprocket chain or belt connection 47 with a second gear 43, mounted upon a shaft 49, about which the conveyor passes and which serves to transmit motion to said conveyer. The elevator also is operably connected with the main shaft, and when said elevator extends laterally from the plat form 1 (see Fig. 2 of the drawings) power is preferably derived from a gear 46, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and full lines in Fig. 2,) disposed upon the shaft 49, which runs the conveyor, or this gear may be located upon the end of the shaft 13 adjacent the gear 46 mentioned above. The latter con struction is illustrated, and the gear 46 is connected by a sprocket chain to the lower shaft 56, about which the lower end of the elevator-belt passes, a suitable sprocketgoar 57 being also carried by the last-mentlODBil shaft. hen the elevator 5 is arranged longitudinally of or parallel with the platform 1, (the arrangement shown in Fig. 1,) motion is preferably transmitted thereto by means of a short shaft 50, projecting from one side of the platform 1,adjacent the box 7 at the end of the trough 3. The shaft 50 is driven by a gear 51 in mesh with oppositelydisposed gears 52, carried by the main shaft 13 aforesaid. The gears 52 are mounted loosely upon the shaft 13, and a clutchsleeve 53 is movable between the gears 52 by lever 53, so as to communicate motion to either one of the latter from the shaft 13. The shaft 50 is reversely rotatable by the gears 52, dependent upon the position of the clutch-sleeve 53, at the will of the operator. When the elevator 5 extends from one end of the platform 1 lengthwise thereof, same is run by motion transmitted to the shaft 50 by one of the gears 52, and when the elevator is located in the opposite direction lengthwise of the platform same will be operated by the other of the gears 52 in a manner readily apparent. A suitable belt connection 54 is utilized to transmit motion from the shaft 50 to the elevator. From the foregoing it will be noted that all the moving parts of the device are operable by the main shaft 13, and thus &

- 14 by the above, and the ropes 16, winding upon the drums 15, raise the sills 9 and dump or tilt the wagon. The grain is received from the wagon by the trough 3 and is carried off by the conveyer 4 and the elevator 5. The upward movement of the sills 9 automatically throws the clutchsleeve 20 out of clutch with the gear 21, the parts 32 and 31 cooperating in accomplishing this actionv The wagon having been dumped, the clutchsleeve 20 is thrown into gear with the gear 22 and increased motion is transmitted to the shaft 14 in reverse direction, so as to unwind the ropes 16 and quickly lower the sills 9. When the sills reach the limit of their lowering movement, the part 32 strikes the arm 30 and unclutches the sleeve 20 from the gear 22.

Asuitable hood is carried by the upper end of the elevator, being adjustable for obvious purposes, and a spout extends from the hood so as to readily direct the grain from the elevator into an adjacent elevator or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, dump-sills mounted thereon, means for operating the sills, a lock device cooperating with the sills to prevent movement thereof, and a chock-bar for preventing operation of the sill actuating mechanism until the sills have been unlocked.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, dump-sills mounted thereon, means for operating the sills a lock device engaging the sills, a chock-bar cooperating with the sill-actuating means, and connecting means between the chock-bar and lock device aforesaid, whereby said chock-bar must be engaged with the wagonwheels beforeioperation of the sills.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, dump-sills mounted thereon, means for operating the sills, a lock device engaging the sills, an operating device governing the actuation of the sills, and a chock-bar engaging the operating device and operably connected with the lock device.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, dump-sills mounted thereon, means for operating the sills,

lock members en aging the sills to prevent movement thereo a main operating-lever for actuating the sills, a chock-bar engaging said lever, and connections between the chockbar and the lock members.

5. In a device of'the class described, the combination of a platform, sills pivoted to said platform, a power-shaft, a Windlass for raising and lowering the sills operated by the I power-shaft, spaced gears loose upon the power-shaft and adapted to actuate the windlass, a clutch-sleeve for throwing said gears into and out of action, a gear-wheel having sets of teeth arranged at different gear diameter, said teeth being in meshing relation to the first-mentioned spaced gears, and means for operating the clutch-sleeve.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, sills pivoted to said platform, a power-shaft, a Windlass for raising and lowering the sills operated by the power-shaft, spaced gears loose upon the power-shaft and adapted to actuate the windlass, a clutch-sleeve for throwing said gear into and out of action, a shifter-bar operating the clutch-sleeve, a movable bar connected with the shifter-bar, an engaging member projected from said movable bar, and an arm operated by the sills and adapted to engage the engaging member aforesaid and the shifter-bar when said sills reach the limit of their upward and downward movement, respectively.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, dumping mechanism carried by the platform, a trough adj acent one end of the platform, and a closure for said trough composed of wings movably mounted at opposite sides thereof.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, dumping mechanism carried by the platform, a trough adjacent one end of the platform, a closure for said trough composed of wings movably mounted at opposite sides thereof, and means for actuating the wings simultaneously in opening the trough.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a platform, dumping mechanism carried by the platform, a trough adjacent one end of the platform, a closure for said trough composed of wings movably mounted at opposite sides thereof, end plates carried by the wings and closing one end thereof, and a pin-and-slot connection between said plates.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. UPHAM.

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