US1679803A - Leaning-wheel grader - Google Patents

Description

Aug'. 7, 1928. 1,679,803

' F. E. ARNDT LEANING WHEEL GRADER Filed 0017.25, 1927 ZSheets-Sheet l gn/vento@ A /lrfzdz @stty/M Aug. 7, 1928.

F. E. ARNDT LEANING-WHEEL GRADER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMMWNI Filed Oct. 25, 1927 Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN E. ARNDT, 0F GALION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GALION IRON` WORKS & MFG. CO., OF GALION, OHIO, A` CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

LEANING-WHEEL GBADER.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in road graders and relates particularly to certain improvements in that type and construction of leaning wheel grader which forms the matter of my Patent No. 1,655,303, granted January 3, 1928.

In this type and construction of machine, the main framework is so constructed that it can be swung in the arc of a circle to the right or to the left as may be necessary according to the conditions under which the machine vis operating, the machine comprising' generally main longitudinally extending beams or frame bars which are pivotally mounted at their rear ends upon link bars which in turn are pivotally connected at their rear ends to the rear axle, this construction permitting the framework of the machine to beangled to the left or to the right, in contradistinction to that type of grader in which the framework is shifted transversely on thel rear axle.

In the machine in question, namely that which forms the subject-matter of A my y atent above identified, the link bars connectlng the rear ends of the `frame beams to the rear axle, are arranged in true parallel relation to each other, and in operating this machine, with this arrangement of parts, I have found that in digging, for example, a right-hand cut, the right-hand rear wheel is inclined to climb the bank and has to be watched rather carefully so that it does not tear the dirt down into the ditch.

Vith a knowledge of this condition, my 'present invention aims to overcome this tendency, in a simple, efficient, and automatic manner which, generally speaking, consists of setting in one or both of the link bars as, for example, the left-hand link bar, a predetermined distance on the rear axle whereby the two link bars, instead'of'being parallel one to the other, will be set in rearwardly converging relation to each other, and I have found that this convergent disposition of the link bars accomplishes" a `very important result, namely, the right-hand wheel will pivot to the left, that is, towards the road', in making a right-hand cut, andthe lefthand wheel also will pivot towards the road,

which. is exactly what they should do tol accomplish the best results, and Ifhave found that exactly the same loperation will subjecttake place in making a left-hand turn, namely, the rear axle will assume an oblique angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine or the line of draft, with the rear left-hand wheel in advance of the right rear wheel, both wheels being pivoted or turned in such position as to counteract the climbing effect above mentioned.

In order that the invent-ion may be better understood, reference is to be had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a leaning wheel grader embodying my improvements,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a front view of the grader,

Fig. 4 is a top plan viewlof the rear end portion of the machine, and Figs. 5, 6', and 7, are diagrammatic views illustrating the different positions of the rear axle when the grader is traveling along the road, for example, and making righthand and left-hand cuts respectively.

As in my patent hereinbefore referred to, the reference numeral 10 in the accompanylng drawings designates the longitudinally extending supporting beams or channel irons which constitute the main frame of the machine. These beams at their forward ends are mounted upon a bolster 11 operatively connected to the front axle 12. yThis front axle is formed of two angle irons and disposed between these angle irons are the knuckles 13, the stubs of which support the forward wheels 14. The upwardly extendlng rarms of the wheel supporting knuckles 13 are connected by means of two transversely extending angle irons 15. Both of these angle irons supportupon'them arcuate racks 16 vformed upon their under faces with rack teeth and engaged by a rear wheel 17 carried upon a shaft 18 extending` into a housing 19, this shaft carrying upon it within the housing a worm wheel 20 engaged by a worm 21 mounted in an extension of the housing, this'worm forming part of a shaft consisting of sections 22 and 23 extending upward through the transverse bars 25 carried on the frame beams 10. This shaft at its upper end carries a beveled gear wheel 26 meshing with a beveled gear wheel 27 ona shaft 28 which extends out through'the housing and to the operators platform 30 where it is connected to suitable operating means.

lnivoted to the forward ends of the arched frame beams l are the draw bars 3l which carry the usual circle and the blade supporting beams 32 to which is operatively connected the mold board or scraper 33.

rlhe rear axle is formed by two transversely extending angle irons 36, spaced from each other and carryingthe knuckles 37 having stubs supporting the rear wheels 38. vThe upwardly extending arms of the knuckles are connected by means of the transverse bars 39 so that as these bars are shifted in one direction or the other, the wheels will be tilted or may be adjusted into vertical position by means later to be described.

'lhe rear axle is connected to the frame bars 'lO by means of link bars 40 which are preferably formed of channel iron. Each of these link bars at its forward end is pivotally mounted against a spacing block 4l, through which a bolt 42 passes and which may engage the corresponding beam lO.

Attached to 'the under face of the rear end of each beam l0 is an angular lip 43, and each of the link bars 40 has mounted upon it a member 44 formed with an arcuate transversely extending channel 45 which engages the angular lip 43 and prevents any downward movement of the link bar 40 with reference to the rear end of the main beam 10, but allows the link bar 40 to swing into an angular relation to the corresponding frame beam l0 without becoming disengaged from the latter. Y

Operatively mounted upon one of the 4beams l0 is a transversely extending screwthreaded shaft 4G carrying a nut 47. This screw-threaded shaft also carries a beveled gear wheel 43, and mounted in a suitable bracket upon the end of the main frame formed by the beams is a vertical operating shaft49 which at its llower end carries a beveled gear wheel 5() engaging the beveled. gear wheel 43. This operating shaft extends up adjacent the rear end of the operators platform and at its upper end carries the operating handle 51.

The nut 47 is connected by a link 52 to one of the link bars 40, and as these bars are each pivotally connected to the rear axle it follows that as the nut 47 is shifted in one direction or the other, both of the link bars m/ill be swung in one direction or the other and the frame will be angled or moved to the left or to the right in the arc of ak circle.

For the purpose of canting or leaning the rear wheel l mount upon the connecting bars 39 the arcuate racks 52, and mount upon the rear axle the housing 53, wherein is disposed a worm wheel 54, the shaft of which carries pinions .55 which engage the racks. A vertical shaft 56 extends down through a lateral extension of the housing tilied, the link bars 40 are arranged in parallel relation to each other, but in order to accomplish the important result mentioned herein at the outset of the specification, it is to be particularly noticed that in the present construction and arrangement of the parts, one of the link bars40 is set inward at its pivotal connection with the rear axle, whereby the two link bars 40 assume a rearwardly convergent relation one to the other. Vfith this present construction and arrangement, when the framework is angled to the right to make a right-hand cut, the rear axle will be automaticall swunff vb and u )on thev angling of the frame, to assume anV oblique angular position relative to the line of draft or longitudinal axis of the machine, with its right-hand wheel in advance of its left-hand wheel; and conversely when the frame is angled to make a left-hand cut, the rear axle will assume an oblique angular position relative to the line of draft with its left-hand wheel in advance of its right-hand wheel, the rear wheels being thus pivoted7 in such a manner as to eliminate or preclude any liability of the machine climbing the bank and tearing the dirt down into the ditch.

In the present instance,it is the left-hand link bar 4() which is shown as set in slightly at its point of pivotal connection with the rear axle, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular construction, and that it is within the scope of the invention as delined by the appended claims for either one or both of the link bars 40 to be set inward at the rear ends relative to their outer ends so as to assume the-con'- vergent relation which will accomplish the result above specified.

What is claimed, is:

l. A road grading machine having a main frame formed of flexibly connected sections and including a rear axle, means for angling the` flexibly connected sections of the main frame, and means for automatically swinging the rear axle by and upon the angling of the frame to an obliqueY angular position relative tothe longitudinal axis of the machine. l v- 2. A leaning wheel grader including a main frame formed of longitudinally extending beams and link bars pivotally connected to the rear,- endsof said beams, and a rear axle to which the link bars are pivotally connected at their rear ends, said link bars being disposed in convergent relation whereby as they are swung to the right or to the left the rear axle will assume an oblique angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

3. A leaning wheel grader including longitudinal frame bars, a rear axle, link vbars pivotally connected at their forward ends to the frame beams, and at their rear ends to the rear axle, and means for swinging said link bars to the right or to the left, said link bars being disposed in rearwardly converging relation to each other, for the purpose specified. Y

4. A leaning wheelgrader including longitudinally extending frame beams, a rear axle, link bars pivotally connecting the rear ends of the frame beams to the rear axle, and means for swinging said link bars laterally, said link bars converging towards the pivots of the rear axle, for the purpose specified.

5. In a grader of the character described, longitudinallyv extending frame beams, a rear axle, rearwardly converging link bars p ivotally connected to the frame beams and to the rear axle, and means for swinging said link bars to the right or to the left, thereby automatically swinging the rear axle to an oblique angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

6. A leaning wheel grader including a framework consisting of flexibly connected sections whereby the frame may be angled, a rear axle, and means for automatically swinging the rear axle to an oblique angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine by and upon the angling of the frame. o

7. In a leaning wheel grader, a framework capable of being angled to the right or to the left, a rear axle, and means for automatically swinging the rear axle by and upon the angling of the frame to assume a position vwith its right-hand wheel in advance of its left-hand wheel in making a right-hand cut,

and with its left-hand wheel in advance of its right-hand wheel in making a left-hand cut.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

FRANKLIN E. ARNDT.

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