US1361849A - Loading-machine - Google Patents

Description

R. P. GREENLEAF.

LOADING MACHINE.

H. P. GREENLEAF.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 2. |917.

Patente /lI 62% :'48 l d Dec. 14, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,Ewa/(Tali @Mfg R. P. GREENLEAF.

LOADING MACHINE.

` APPLICATION FILED IAN-2,19l7- 1,361,849. Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R. P. GREENLEAF.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLlcATmN man 1AN.2,'17911.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

vNN

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT P. GBEENLEAF, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 FRANK BILLING-S.

LOADlNG-MACHINE.

To all whom t mlm] concern: v

Be it known that I, ROBERT P. GREEN- LEAF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and Stateof Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Loading- Machines', of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This.invention"relates to a loading macine adapted particularly for use in mines, of the general t pe disclosed in patent to Frank' illings o. 1,095,786, dated May 5, 1914. The present invention is in certain respects an improvement over the Billings machine, the object of the invention being to provide .a machine which is -light in weight, which requires comparatively little head room, is durable, and has in addition considerable capacity. A further object is to simplify the control of the machine and lparticularly of the ram which carries the material moving elementfit being one of the features of the present invention that the ram is reciprocated and moved vertically by a single motor controllable with a single valve. v

The above and` otherobjects are accomplished by vthis inventionwhich may be brieiiy summarized as consisting iny certain' novel detailsofconstruction and combinations and 'arrangements of partslwhich willl be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanyin sheets of drawings wherein I have shown 't e preferred embodiment of my invention, F lgure 1 isa side elevation-of the machine, the ram and hoe being retracted; Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe lower main frame and certain `partsofrthe operatingmechanism; Fig.v 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through the front part of the frame substantially alongthe vline 4-40f Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view looking down on the lower part of the4 rotary superstructure showing particularly the propelling mechanism lfor the machine and, certain parts which are utilized in turning the superstructure about a .vertical axis; and Fig. 6 isl a transverse sectional view-taken about midway between thefg, front and rear ends of the machine.

Referring now to .the drawings it will be seen that the machineincludes a main frame 10 which is rectangillar in form and is preferably formed of channels and other struc- Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 14, 1920. Application led January 2, 1917. Seriai No. 140,115.

tural material. This frame is provided with transverse axles 11 to which are secured wheels 12, designed to run upon a track 13 which may be the track laid in the mine.

The frame supports a superstructure including the principal operating lparts of the machine, such as the conveyer, t e ram, and the material moving element which is carried by theram and which brin s the material up onto the conveyer. 'Ighis superstructure includes a base or frame 14 which is supported from the main framel 10 through the medium of wheels and rollers Iin such a manner that the whole lsuper-st` uc- ,ture may be turnedabout a vertlcal axis Aso that the machine may be able to work on material located within a 'certain angular range at each side of the center line of the machine. In'this case Vthe frame 14 is provided with a-front roller 15 which travelsl on an arc-shaped track 16, and a plurality yof flanged-rear rollers 17 which engage an gaging a gear 22 which is splined to" a shaft 23 (see Fig. 6) providedl at' its inner end with a bevel gear 24 meshing with two bevel gears 25 and 26 surrounding a vertical shaft 27, either gear being designed to be clutched to the s aft by clutch elements 28 and 29. The direction in which this shaft 27 is rotated depends upon which bevel gear is clutched .to the shaft 27. At the lower end of the shaft 27 is a gear 30 which meshes with a gear 31 in turn meshing with agear 32 (see Figs. 3 and 6). The gears 30, 31 and 32 are all of the same size, and the gears 31 and 32 are carried by, or journaledv in a shiftable plate l33 mounted to turn about the axis of shaft 27, and provided with a'laterally extending handle 34 which en gages a notched locking plate 35 which is along one side of the base 14 as shown particularly in .Fi 1. When this lever 34 is shifted a suita le distance in one direction, thev gear 32 en a es a g7 ar 36 at the top of a short vert-ica s aft 3 fjust above the rear axle. At the lower end of this shaft is a bevel gear 38' engaging bevel ar 39 on the rear axle (see Fig. 1). Thev ront and rear axles' are preferably connected together by 'cross bars 46c (see Fig. 6).

sprocket gearing, the sprocket wheels of the latter being shown at 40 in Figs.` 4 and 6.

In this manner the vehicle can be pro elled along the track in either direction. f the lever 34 connected to the plate 33 carrying the gears 31 and 32 is shifted a suitable distance in the reverse direction the gear 31 meshes with a 'gear 41 on a vertical shaft 42 (see Fig. 3) which has attached to it a sprocket wheel 43 meshing with a stationary arc-shaped rack 44 which is supported by the maln frame 10.' In this manner the entire superstructure can be turned either to the right or to the left through a predetermined angular distance.

Near the top of the superstructure and connected by uprights with the base 14 thereof, is an inclined conveyer frame 45 (see Fig. 1) about which travels an endless conveyer 46. The details of this conveyer are immaterial to the present invention, but preferably the conveyer `includes a pair of endless side chains 46a and an endless lexible belt 46b which may be j rovided with e side chains of the belt travel about sprockets 47 at the lower end of the conveyer frame and about sprockets 48 at the upper endof the conveyer frame;

The conveyer is driven by the shaft 23 (which is geared tothe crank-shaft of the engine as previously described) through chain and sprocket gearing including a sprocket wheel 49 keyed to the shaft 23 (see Figs. 2 and 6). Thissprocket wheel is connected by a sprocket chain 50, (see Fig. 1) to a sprocket wheel 51 on a cross shaft 52 (see Figs. 1 and 2), and is designed to be 'clutched to this shaft by a movable clutch element, 53. The shaft is provided at one of its outer ends 'witha sprocket wheel 54, which through the medium of a sprocket chain 55, shown in Figs. 1 and 2,-drives a sprocket wheel 56 on one end of the shaft 57 carrying the two sprockets 48 about which the conveyer chains travel as previously eX- plained.

The material is designed to be brought rearwardly and deposited onto the conveyer whichfwill discharge either into vcars or an auxiliary conveyer as is well understood, and while the character of the tool which moves the material rearwardly and deposits it on the lower end 0f the conveyer may be varied,flf prefer to use for this purpose a hoe which scrapes material rearwardly along the minefloor and then upwardly into an inclinedapron 58, which as here shown, is

pivoted at 59 onto the vlower lfront end lof,

Atical stroke.

construction of the housing which supports the ram, and the arrangement and manner of operating these parts constitute the principal part of this invention which will next be described. Above the conveyer frame I provide two narrow long ram housings 61, which are spaced apart substantially the width of the conveyer and which are pivoted at their upper ends by means of studs 62 supported in suitable castings at the extreme upper corners of the conveyer frame. These housings are preferably 'U-shaped in cross section as will be observed from Fig. 6, each consisting of a lower channel 61 and a pair of upstanding side plates 61". Arranged to slide or -to reciprocate lengthwise through these trough or U-shaped housings are two rams or hoe supporting Shanks 63, which at their forward ends are con? vertically by separate motors, the elevating and lowering motor being geared or electrically connected to the housing, 'and the other, the ram reciprocating motor, to the ram. In this case, both movements are imparted by the same motive means and at the same time through mechanism which admits of varying the length of the reciprocating stroke without affecting the ver- This mechanism includes a pinion 66 at the outer end of shaft 23, and

designed to be clutched thereto by a clutch element ,67. The pinion drives a gear 68 which is mounted on a shaft 69, supported in bearings 70 on the lower side of the inclined conveyer frame as shown particu*A on a radiussubstantially equal to the length' of the rods 72, and the levers :75 -are so mounted that the axis of crank pins v71 is practically the center of curvature of the.l

arc shaped slots 74 when the rods 72 are in their rearmost position. These levers 75 are connected at their upper ends bymeans of connecting rods 77 to transverse pins 78 (see Figs. 1 and 6), which travel along slots 79 in the sides of the two ram housings 61, these slots being just above and parallel to the rams or hoe Shanks 63. Secured to these pins 78 between the upright sides of the ram housings are pinions 80 each of which engages two racks, one,'81, located in the upper part of the ram housing just above the slots 79, and the other, 82, on the upper side of the ram. The crank pins-71 are connected also by links or arms 83 to the two housings for the purpose of swinging the housings about their axis 62. These arms' 83 at their upper ends are pivoted at 84 to the housings and at their lower ends are'provided with slots 85 which receive the crank pins 71. It will be observed that as thecrankwpins 71 are rotated with the shaft 69 and gear wheel 68, the connecting rod 72 will be given an oscillatory movement, rocking the levers 75 about their lower ends, the length of the rocking stroke depending upon'the distance of the block 73 from the pivotalaxes 76 of thelevers. By the rocking of these levers through the links or connecting rods 77, thestuds supporting the pinions 78 are moved back and forth through the slots 79 of the housings, and as these pinions engage stationary racks 81, they will be rotated, and-as these same 'pinions engage the racks on' the movable or reciprocatory rams, the rams will be moved back and forth or reciprocated in the housings. Simultaneously with Ithis movement the rotating crank pins 71throughl the arms 83 raise andY lower, or swing vertically the I two housings.

The entire vertical component of the circular movement of the crank pin 71 is not imparted to the rams due to the presence of ythe 'slots' 85 in the arms 83 which connect the crank pins to the housin ,and also to the presence of guides which stop thc downward movement of the rams when the hoe has been lowered close to the mine floor at the end of the outward reciprocating stroke, land whichxcontrol the movements or inclination of the housingswhen thehoe is scraping material rearwardly so as Qtocause the .hoe 'to maintaln a certain definlte position with respect to the mine floor, andwith respect to the bottom of the inclinedy apron 58 when the hoe is traveling up this apron. l To this end I `provide for the two housings, guides located on opposite sides ofthe conveyer and each composed of two Imembersy87 and?. 88 which are pivoted together between their ends at 89. lThe two guide members 87 are connected together by a cross. shaft (shown in F ig, 2) from which dependlggams y91 provided with notches which 'may 'engage Vstationary supporting 'pins l92at-1the upperends of arms 93 which are secured to the conveyor frame. The guide members ,88 havelfat. their outer respect lto eachother 'orwith respect to the conveyer frame.

` The upper edges of these two guide memb ers aredesigned to be engaged by rollers 97 on the inner ends of the pins 78 which carry the pinions and to which the arms 77 are'connected to cause the pins to travel back and forth in the slots7 9 of the housings. That is to say, after the housings have been elevated and start to come down with the rams inv their most outward position, when the hoe reaches a point near the mine licor the`l rollers 97 justreferred to engage the guide members 87, and they travel' along these guide members as the hoe is being drawn inward toward` the machine keeping thev hoe at a definite position with respect to the mine floor and causing it to travel in a path parallel to or having a definite angle 4withrespect tothe mine floor, and

just before the hoe reaches the inclined apron 58- these rollers engage the guide that the hoe will move upwardly along and parallel to the inclined surface of the apron.

It was previously stated that the length of the reciprocating strokes given to the rams could be varied without affecting the elevating andlowering movements which are imparted to the housings, and, hence to the rams and hoe bythe Vsame motive means which reciprocates the rams and hoe. For the purposeoff' varying the length ofthe reciprocating strokes I pro2 vide at one side 'of the machine a shifting lever 100 which is secured to one end of a shaft 101 journaled 'in the conveyer frame and extending across from side to side of the machine. This shifting lever has a hand 1atch102 which is connected to a pivoted segment 103 having notches adapted to receive a pin 104 extending outward fromthe side of the conveyery frame. The shaft'lOl is'provided with forwardly extending arms. 105. which are connected by links 106 to the blocks 73 ,which are adapted to be adjusted' lengthwise of the arc-shaped slots 74 in the reciprocating levers 7 5wbich shift the pinions 88. The lower end ofthe segment 103 islconnected to one of thearms 105 by a spring 107 which holds the segment against the pin so that when any selectednotch of the segment engages the pin 104, the blocks 73 will be held substantially sta-- vtionary in the slots 74 and reciprocating ver 100 and thus rocking the shaft 101, the

blocks Win be shifted along the Slots 74! so as to shorten or lengthen'the reciprocating strokes of the ram. When the hand lever 100 is in the position shown in Fig. l'with the blocks at the bottom of the slots 74, the maximum length of stroke is given to the rams, and when the blocks are at the upper lends of the slots the minimum length of stroke is given to the rams. In connection with this mechanism and the adjusting of the stroke of the rams which is important to effectively load with maximum eiiiciency a pile of material into cars, attention is called to this important feature that regardless of the length of the reciprocating stroke the limit of the inward movement of the ram is always the same, that is to say, whether the ram is given the maximum outward stroke or the minimum outward stroke or any intermediate length of stroke, the in@ ward stroke of the ram ends at or about the upper end of the apron.

may be coal, ore, or other loose material to be loaded into cars, the truck frame or main frame 10 is braced against lateral movement by a pair of braces 108 which normally lie on a cross channel or angle 109 at the lower front 'part of the frame 10, the braces being Slidable inward and outward as will be uninto the ground and they are provided along their lower and upper edges with notches '110 forming teeth, those of one set pointing in one direction and those ofthe other in the reverse direction. The notches of the lower set are adapted to receive a shoulder 111 on the frame, and those of the upper set receive a shoulder formed on a stirrup 112 pivoted to the frame of the machine so that when the two braces are driven into the ground at suitable points located laterally of the machine and the shoulder 111 is in one notch of each brace and the shoulder of the stirrup 1 12 is in a suitable not-ch of the upper set of each brace, the machine is securely held against lateral movement in either direction.' 4(l0 Todescribe the operation of the principal parts of the machine above explained, it may b e mentioned that the machine will be propelled along the track'to the desired point by the-engines 19 which are geared to the' rear l,axle when the shiftable gear 32 is thrown the use of this machine when the latter is brought up to a pile of materialwhich l into mesh with the gear 36 through the medium of the shifting lever 34. When the machine is brought up to a pile of material it will be braced by the braces 108 in the manner described, and then the conveyer and the ram can be started in operation by shifting the conveyer controlling clutch 53 and the ram 'and hoe controlling clutch 67 When the ram is in its innermost position with the blocks 73 set to give the maximum outward stroke to the ram, the parts occupy substantially the relative positions shown in Fig. 1.' Assuming that the gear wheel 68 and cranks 71 as viewed in Eig. 1, are traveling in a counter-clockwisedirection, the crank pins 71 are now at theupper ends of the slots 85 of the arms 83 so that as the crank pins travel from the position 'shown in Fig. 1, they start to elevate the housings. As soon as the crank -pins pass beyond the dead center position shown in Fig. 1, the connecting rods 72, pivoted'levers 7 5 and rods or links 77 cause the pinions 88 to travel outwardly along the slots 79, and as the pinions are rotated by their engagement with the relatively stationary racks 81, the rams and hoe are moved outwardly, the outward movement continuing until the crank pins reach a position substantially 180 from that indicated in Fig. 1. During the latter portion of the outward reciprocating movement the crank pins 71 are traveling downward, and hence the rams and hoe are being lowered, and they continue to move downward until the downward movement is stopped by the hoe sinking into the pile of material, or if it does not encounter material, the hoe, rams and housings continue to swing downward until the rollers 97 engage the guide members 87, whereupon the crank pins 71 are free to. move downward in the slots 85 ofthe arms 83. As soon as the outward stroke of the hoe is completed, the .i

hoe is retracted by reason of the fact that the pinions 88 are pulled inwardly, the rollers 97 traveling inward along the guides 87 until the hoe reaches a point just infront of the apron 58, whereupon the rollers ride upon the inclined guides 88 so that the point ofthe hoe is caused to travel inwardly substantially parallel with the mine floor, and then in an inclined direction upwardly substantially parallel to the bottom of the apron. The material is thus scraped up onto the conveyer which carries the material rearwardly so that it can be discharged in cars or any other suitable receiving apparatus. When the hoe reaches substantiallyl the position shown in Fig. 1, that is, a position substantially at the upper end of the apron, the crank pins 71 have made a complete revolution, andv are again at the upper ends of the slots 85 in the j members 87 and 88, the lower limit of movement of the hoe can be adjusted, and in fact the hoe while moving rearwardly can be caused to travel through any desired path.

While it is desired to vary the length of the stroke, as will be done in order that material located at different distances from the front of the machine may be reached, the operator will shift the blocks 73 along the slots 74 by moving the shifting lever 100. As before stated, the limit of inward movement of the ram is substantially the same for all lengths of strokes, the adjustment being made solely on the length of outward stroke.

When it is desired to scrape up material located at either side of the machine, the operator will shift the lever 34 and cause the gear 31 to mesh with the gear 41 (Fig. 3) whereupon the gear 43' will be caused to travel along the rack segment 44 in one direction or the other, depending upon `which bevel gear 25 or 26is instrumental in driving the vertical shaft 27 (Fig. 6). This gear 43 being carried by the base 14 of the superstructure, the entire superstructure is turned in one direction or the other about a vertical axis. The material then in front of the superstructure will be cleaned up after which the operator will again turn the machine to present it to other material which is to be brought up onto the conveyer and loaded. It is to be noted in this connection that the superstructure is turned about an axis which is at the rear of the base of the machine as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 5. The aXis about which the superstructure turns is near the upper rear end or the discharge end of the conveyer, so that the discharge point is not changed when the superstructure is turned.

With this machine material can be loaded quite rapidly, with little effort on the part of the operator, who during the course of the loading operation is not required to give his attention to any part of the machine except the parts which control the turning of the superstructure and the varying of the length of the reciprocating strokes, the hoe automatically going through its reciprocating and vertically swinging cycles of movement without any necessity on the part of the operator of starting, stopping, or otherwise controlling the motive means until it is desired to stop the hoeing or scraping operation.

The machine described contains numerous features and combinations of elements which are believed to be quite new in machines for this purpose, the same giving the machine certain movements and ease of control which are of great advantage and a great factorin the sneed and ease with which material can be loaded into cars, and which, in short, give the machine very high eiiiciency. However,

I do not wish to be confined to a machinel constructed precisely along the lines of that shown in the drawings and described in the specification, for the numerous features of the invention can be employed to advantage in a machine of this general character but constructed along somewhat different lines, and especially I wish it to be understood that I am not to be confined to a material moving element in the form of a scraping hoe. I therefore aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a de parture from the spirit and scope of my invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a loading machine, a frame, a movable material moving member, means for causing said member to have an automatic substantially continuous movement through repeated cycles each including a swinging movement in a vertical plane and a forward and rearward movement, said means comprising a motive device, and separate connections between said motive device and said member, one for imparting the swinging movement and the other for imparting at the same time the forward and rearward movement and means whereby the forward limit of movement'may be varied.

2. In a loading machine, a frame, a hoe, means for moving said hoe automatically andy continuously through repeated cycles, each including a forward and rearward reciprocating movement and a vertical swinging movement, said means comprising a continuously operating motor having a connection with the hoe for reciprocating the same, f

and having a separate connection with the hoe for at the same time imparting the swinging movement and means whereby the forward limit of reciprocating movement may be varied.

3. In a loading machine, a framexa material moving member, means for giving said member a substantially continuous automatic movement through repeated cycles each including a reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly, and a vertical swinging movement, said means comprising a continuously operating motor and substan tially continuously operated actuating meinbers, each having a driving connection with the motor and one connected to said member for imparting the reciprocating movement and the other connected to said member for imparting the swinging movement and .means wlierebv the forward limit of reciprocating movement may'be varied.

4. In a loading machine, a frame, a material moving member, means for giying said member an automatic substantially continuous movement through repeated vcycles each including a forward and rearward movement and a vertical swinging movement, said means comprising a continuously operating motor and two actuating devices connected to the motor and one connected to said member for imparting the forward and rearward movement and the other connected to said member for imparting the swinging movement, and means whereby the forward limit of movement may be varied without varying'the extent of vertical swinging movement. l

5. In a loading machine, a frame, a material moving member, means for imparting to said member an automatic substantially continuous movement through repeated cycles each including a forward and rearward movement and a vertical swinging movement, said means comprising a continuously operating motor and two substantially continuously operated driving devices, one connected to said member for imparting the forward and rearwardl movement, and the other connected thereto for at the same time imparting the swinging movement, and

means for varying the length of the forward and rearward movement of said memf ber is moved forwardly may be varied without varying the height of the swinging movement and without varying the limit of the rearward movement. x

7. In a loading machine. a frame, a hoe,

a reciprocating ram connected to the hoe, a`

swinging housing supported by the frame and receiving the ram, and means for giving said hoe an automatic substantially continuous movement through repeated cycles including a forward and rearward movement and a vertical swinging movement, said means comprising a continuously operating motor and actuating devices which pass through repeated similar cycles, both of said devices being driven by the motor and one being operatively connected to the ram and the yother operatively connected to the housing.

In a loading machine, a frame, a hoe, a reciprocating ram connected to the hoe, a swinging housing supported by the frame and receiving the ram, and means for giving said hoe an automatic substantially continuous movement throu h repeated cycles including a forward and rearward moveand one being operatively connected to the ram and the other operatively connected to the housing, and means whereby the length of movement imparted to the ram may. be varied without varyingvthe movement 1mlparted to the housing.

9. In a loading machine, a frame, a material moving hoe, a reciprocating ram yfor the hoe, means for supporting the ram for reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly and for vertical swinging movement, and means for reciprocating the ram' relative to the support, said means comprising an oscillating member mounted on the frame to swing back and forth about an axis and having a driving connection with said ram and a motive device for swinging said member.

10. In a loading machine, a frame, a reciprocating hoe, a reciprocating ram or shank, a member mounted on the frame for swinging movement and having an operative connection with said ram for actuating the same, a motor connected to said member for swinging the same. and means whereby the stroke imparted by the motor to said member may be varied.

11. In a loading machine, a frame, a reciprocating hoe, a ram supporting the same, a tilting housing receiving the ram, racks carried by the housing and ram, a gear engaging both racks, a ram actuating member mounted for swinging movement on the frame and having a connection with said gear so as to move the same back and forth along the rack carried by the housing, a motor. and means connecting said motor to said swinging member.

A12. In a loading machine, a frame, a reciprocating hoe, a ram supporting the same, a tilting housing receiving the ram, racks carried by the housing and ram, av gear engaging both racks, a ram actuatingmember mounted for swinging movement on the frame and having a connection with said gear so as to move the same back and forth along the rack carried by the'housing, a motor for swinging said member. and means whereby the stroke imparted by said motor to said member may be varied.

13. In a loading machine,l a conve er frame, an elevating conveyer extending lengthwise thereof, a pair of spaced housings pivoted to the upper part ofthe conveyer frame and extending forwardly along the same, reciprocating rams mounted in said housings, and a hoe secured to the' forward ends of said rams.

14. In a loading machine, an'inclined conveyer frame, a conveyer extending lengthwise thereof, a pair of housings pivoted at their rear ends to the upper part of the frame on opposite sides of the conveyer, a pair of reciprocating rams mounted in the housings, and a hoe secured to the forward ends of the rams for moving material onto the conveyer.

15. In a. loading machine, a frame, a reciprocating hoe, a ram supporting the hoe, a tiltinghousing supported by the frame and receiving the ram, means for simultaneously elevating the housing and moving the hoe forwardly, said meansy comprising a motor having an operative connection with the housing, and a supporting guide for the forward part of the housing and ram for controlling independently of said motor the height of the hoe during the return stroke of the hoe.

16. In a loading machine, a frame, a reciprocating hoe, a hoe shank mounted for vertical swinging movement and for re-4 ciprocating movement, mechanism including a motor for elevating the hoe and hoe shank, and forward supporting means for the hoe and hoe shank by which the latter are supported and guided independently of the motor during the return movement of the hoe, said forward supporting means being fixed during the normal `operation of the machine and being independent of the elevating mechanism.

17. In a loading machine, a frame, a ram mounted for vertical swinging movement and for reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly, mechanism including a hoe carried by the ram, a motor for elevatingv the ram and for moving it forwardly to reach material, and a supporting guideway along which the ram travels, and which supports the forward end of the ram when the hoe is being retracted, said supporting guideway being fixed during the normal operation of the machine and being independent of said mechanism.

18. In a loading machine, a frame, a hoe, a ram carrying the hoe and mounted for reciprocating movement and for vertical swinging movement, actuating means for swinging the ram upwardly and for moving it outwardly to reach material and for retracting the ram to cause the hoe to scrape material toward the frame, and a supporting guideway carried b y the frame along which the ram travels during return movement of the ram and hoe, said guideway being forward of the axis about which the ram swings and controlling the height of the hoe with reference to the surface over which the material is moved by the latter, said guideway being fixed during the normal operation of the machine and being independent of said actuating means.

19. In a loading machine, a frame, a hoe, a ram supporting the hoe and mounted to reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly and to swing vertically about a rearwardly located axis, and a guide carried by the frame forward of said axis and supporting the forward portion of the ram while the ram and hoe are being retracted, said guideway being fixed during the normal operationy of the machine and being independent of said actuating means.

20. In a loading machine, a frame, a hoe, a ram supporting the hoe and mounted to reciprocate forwardly and rearwardly and to swing vertically about a rearwardly located axis, and a guide carried by the frame forward of said axis and supporting the forward portion of the ram while the ram and hoe are being retracted, said guide being adjustable to vary the height of the hoe during such retraction, said guideway being fixed during the normal operation of the machine and being independent of said actuating means.

21. In a loading machine, a frame, a hoe, a ram supporting the hoe, a pivoted support for the ram with reference to which the lram is adapted to be moved forwardly and rearwardly and with which it swings vertically, actuating devices for swinging the support and reciprocating the ram,.and a supporting guideway forward of the pivotal axis of said support and controlling the height of the hoe on the return stroke of the latter.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

ROBERT P. GREENLEAF.

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