US1865654A - Loader - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1932.

F. F. WAECHTER ET AL LOADER Filed Dec. 22. 1927v 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 H/NN PN, n n m July 5, 1932. F. F. wAEcHTER ET AL 1,365,654

v LOADER Filed Dec. 22. 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 July 5, 1932. F. F. wAl-:cH'rER ET AL I 1,865,654

LOADER FledvDeo. 22. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zaza Z357@ .der J @wt T- Patented July 5, 1932 i UNITED S'IATESv PATENT oFFicE FERDINAND F. WAECI-ITER AND LOUIS F. SNYDER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO LINK-BELT COMIANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIORATION 0F ILLINOIS LOADER Application led December 22, 1927. Serial No. 241,756'.

This invention relates to crawler loaders, and has for one object to provide a new and improved form of crawler loader wherein the boom may be tilted into the inoperative position, but wherein, during the time that the boom is in the operative position, it is held positively against tilting` and constrained to a rectilinear movement only, toward and from the work, thus making available to force the digging end of the boom into the work, the entire weight of the boom applied along a line coincident with the axial line of the boom. Another object of the invention is to provide a boom wherein the center of gravity is above and to the rear of the pivot support at all times, so that when the lower or digging end of the boom is released automatically it swings itself into the inoperative position. Another object of this invention is to provide a light, rigid and durable thrust carrying means whereby the power applied on the supporting track or wheels which carry the truck may be directly applied to the digging end of the boom without the presence of loose or adl juStable articulate connections, thereby promoting rigidity and providing a structure which does not tend to climb up over the work, but which, on the contrary, can be used as a positive digging structure of suiiicient digging power to eXcavate solid materials and the like. Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims. The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawingswl wherein;

Figure l is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the Vlower boom track.

ported by means of a series of rollers A1, A1'

on an endless propelling track A2,*which track is driven by a sprocket A3 through a power transmission contained within the housing A4,' A5 and controlled by a clutch A6 from the motor A7. A8 is a take-up sprocket whereby the tension in the track chain may be adjusted, and A9 area plurality of idler rollers to support the return side of the track chains. Projecting upwardly from the platform A is a rigid supporting framework A10. The details of the truck track in supporting the framework are not essential, and of course might be varied as desired.

Located on the forward portion of the frame-A10 are a pair of parallel forwardly and downwardly inclined tracks B. B1, B1 are iianged rollers or wheels adapted to 'travel along these tracks B and to carry in pivotal relation the boom B2. B3, B8 are sheaves located one at the upper end of each of the tracks B. Cables B4 are dead ended adjacent to the' sheaves B3, extend down around sheaves B5 on the axle B6 on which the boom is pivotally mounted, thence back up the sheaves B3 and thence down to the drums B7, about which they are wound. These drums are both mounted on a housing shaft B8, which may be driven through a train of gears contained within the housing B9 from a hand wheel B10, though if desired, of course, a power means could be provided to drive Vthe shaft B8. A brake, the details of which are not here shown, contained within the housing B9, is controlled by means of a brake lever.' B11, to lock the shaft B8 in any desired position so that by manipulation of the shaft and two hoisting drums the rollers B1 may be moved along the tracks B and heldin position wherever desired.

The boom B2 comprises the usual type of built-up structural girder. It has, at its lower or digging end, a shaft C upon which are mounted a plurality of sprockets C1. This shaft C extends laterally at each end beyond the sides of the boom, and carries a plurality of spirally arranged paddles C2, these paddles being arranged to feed inwardly toward the center of the boom on both sides, and being, therefore, arranged about opposite spirals. At the upper end of the boom are sprockets C3, C3 mounted in adjustable bearings G4', there being take-up bolts C5 to adjust the position of these bearings and control the tension in the sprocket chains C, C6 which travel around the sprockets at both ends of the boom and carry at spaced intervals therealong the excavating and conveying buckets G7. The chain is intended to operate in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 1 and the buckets travel in the direction as indicated by the arrow. C8 are side plates on opposed sides of the buckets extending over a point above the loading end of the boom to the discharge end.

Extending along the underside of the boom from a point beneath the discharge ends of the buckets down to a point immediately behind the loading end of the boom is a rigid fixed spill apron and bucket guide plate D. This apron protects the mechanism from spillage from the buckets and serves as a guide plate along which the buckets may travel on the return movement to the loading end of the boom. At the upper end of this guide plate D is a fixed chute D1 which discharges into an adjustable chute D1. This adjustable chute is mounted on the shaft D3, there being an adjustable link D4 whereby the angle of inclination of the chute D2 may be Varied. D5 is a worm wheel on the shaft D3 in mesh with a worm D6 on the worm shaft D7. A wheel D8 on the shaft may be rotated by means of a chain Dg to adjust the chute D2 angularly to control the direction of discharge.

At the lower end the apron D terminates in a cutting edge or lip E having a removable reinforced angle E1 extending across the machine behind and substantially in line with the excavating buckets. This cutting lip is reinforced by the angles E2 and tied into the boom structure by the diagonal angles E3, E4 to give the necessary strength. E5, E5 are brackets extending downwardly from the underside of the boom and apron B. These brackets support a cross shaft EG on either end of which are mounted rollers E7. These rollers are adapted to travel along the inclined track ES on the quadrant E12. These tracks are parallel with the tracks B and that is the preferred arrangement, though it is obvious that much the same operation might be obtained if the tracks E8 were incline with respect to the track B. E, E9 are removable cover plates associated with the tracks E8 held in place by the screw E1o and in E11, the arrangement of the parts being such that when the pin E11 is removed, the cover plate E9 can be moved about the point E1o far enough to allow the rollers E7 to be rotated away from the track when the boom swings aboutits pivot point on the shaft BG. Under ordinary conditions this is notA permitted, and the cover plates, when tightly held in place, totally prevent any swinging or rotation of the boom, and constrain it to a longitudinal movement parallel with its axis. The presence of these rollers and their association with these track elements adds greatly to the strength and rigidity of the structure, because, since the rollers are farther apart than the width of the boom, and since they are very close to the loading or excavating end of the boom, local change in resistance and local variations in the load on the boom are resisted by these rollers, thus greatly minimizing the tortional loads carried back by the boom to the supporting rollers B1. X is one of the axles or shafts of the vehicle.

Since it is frequently desirable with an excavator loader such as the one in question to dig out from a point below the support for the machinery, it is well to have the digging end of the boom extend some distance forward from the truck which carries the boom, but since it is desirable to have the boom discharge into wagons or cars which are located back of the truck, it is desirable that the rear end of the boom or the loading or conveying means associated with the rear end of the boom overhang a considerable distance so that the load may preferably be discharged into the middle of a truck or wagon body without interference from the crawler loader. Experience shows that these two requirements are best met by placing the pivot point of the boom at about the geometric longitudinal center of the boom. is in operation it is always attended and always being watched, whereas when it is not in operation it is not being attended and watched, experience shows that it is well to have it remain in stable equilibrium in the inl operative position, and in instable equilibrium, if necessary, in the operative position. Therefore, if the boom and its associated parts are so proportioned that the center of gravity is to the rear and above the pivot point, if it is desired to collapse the boom this is done without any manipulation of the cables holding the rollers in position on thc inclined track. All that is necessary is to remove the pin, slide the track cover plates to one side, and permit the boom to swing under the influence of gravity into the horizontal position, where the underside of the boom rests upon a stop F on the rear side of the frame. In order to control this swinging movement and limit the speed at which the boom rotates, as well as to make it convenient to again tilt the boom into the working position when it is desired, a cable F1 is deadended on the boom at a point F2 between its pivot point and its forward end extends about a sheave F3 on the supporting frame A. and is wound about a drum F4 provided with a crank F5 whereby the operator may control And since, when the loader l:

the rate at which the cable is paid out, and 13 this shaft is a drive sprocket F6. Over this drive sprocket travels a chain, one side of which extends over an idler sprocket F7 on the shaft B6, thence around a driving sprocket F8 associated with the gear case A5, thence back around an idler sprocket F9 and thence back around the sprocket F6. This chain is indicated at F10. In order to take up the slack in this chain and keep it tight at all positions of the boom, the idler sprocket F9 is carried on one arm to a bell crank lever F11, the other arm of which carries a spring F12, the other end of the spring being associated with the link F13 dead-ended on the boom. The spring is strong enough to hold the chain tight under all normal driving conditions, and as the booml is rotating or as the boom is longitudinally displaced, this spring always takes up the slack while at the same time permitting free tiltling or longitudinal movement of the boom without in any way interfering with the driving function of the chain.

The use and operation of this invention are as follows- The device of this application is intended primarily for use as a loader,-that is, for use in picking up material which may be on the ground or any other space, raising this material and discharging it into a bin, a vehicle body or other place. In the form shown herewith, the loader is mounted on an automotive vehicle and it is adapted to be driven into a pile of material, to raise it and discharge it into a suitable receptacle. It may also serve as a digging machine and may dig directly into the ground, and in certain positions of adjustment it may dig at a level below the level upon which the vehicle itself stands.

The device is shown in the figures in the operating position. In that position the boom is free to slide down until it contacts the ground or other surface from which the loading takes place. The boom is supported upon the two pairs of tracks. As these tracks are shown, they are substantially parallel with each other, but this is not essential. The boom is supported in a position above the ground by the main hoisting cable. This Y cable may be paid out so as to permit the boom to slide downward along the tracks and when this has happened, the digging end of the boom rests upon the ground, as shown in Figure l. The device is then set in operation and the conveyor on the boom takes material from the ground, raises it along the boom and discharges it at the upper end through the chute and into any suitable receptacle. The gathering mechanism at the sides of the digging end of the boom serves to draw material to the feed end of the conveyor so that it may be picked up by the conveyor. The machine as a whole is driven usually forward at a suitable speed so that as material is taken away, the machine is driven into the zone where it may collect further material. Under certain circumstances, the boom may be permitted to rest upon the ground with its entire weight, that is, the

cable may be so paid out that it exerts no supporting effect. The Weight of the boom and its associated parts then tends to dig into the ground and the machine may thus act as a digger, and may dig below the surface upon which the tread of the vehicle stands. I

The boom as shown, is top heavy, and when free to rotate, it tips up out of the digging position. shaped and the upper flanges are removable. Thus when it is desired to move the boom out of the digging position, these upper flanges of the lower track are unbolted or otherwise removed and the boom will then 1 tilt so that the digging end is raised from the digging position and so that the boom then assumes a more or less horizontal posis tion. This is a position for us when the machine is being driven from place to place and at other times when digging is taking place the small hand driven cable may be controlled to brake the tilting movement of the boom from the digging position so that it does not tilt downward too rapidly or too violently. By means of this cable also the amount of such tilting movement of the boom may be controlled and for certain purposes the boom may be tilted into an intermediate position between the full digging position and the full horizontal position.

The position of the boom along the tracks is controlled by the main hoisting cable. The boom may be permitted to slide down along the tracks in thel position shown in Figure 1 or it may be raised above this position to the top of the track. It is free to slide up and down along the track in response to jolts or shocks which may come upon it during the loading operation and thus a cushioning effect is provided when the machine comes up against some obstacle and breakage or straining of parts is avoided. It is to be noted that this rearward movement of the boom in response to striking such obstacles is not a tilting movement, but is merely a sliding movement, the boom moving upward along the tracks. No tilting of the boom can occur until the upper ianges of the lower set of tracks have been removed and then the boom may be allowed to tilt.

l/Vhen it is desired to bring the boom into the digging position from the inoperative position, the small hand cable is operated to tilt the boom. The position of the boom along The lower tracks are channel the tracks is regulated by the main hoisting cable. IVhen the boom has been drawn down by the small hand cable until the lower rollers contact the lower tracks, the upper flanges of these tracks are put in operation and thereafter they resist tilting of the boom.

An important feature of the operation of the device is the rectilinear movement of the boom. As it has been expressed above when the device in working encounters an obstacle,

he boom is mounted to permit upward yieldinO so as to avoid breakage and undue st-rains. This upward yielding movement is not a rotary movement. Thus when such yielding occurs, the boom moves upward without any rotating or tilting and when free to do so, moves downward again. The operator can, of course, raise the boom by operating the hoisting mechanism and when the boom is so raised, its motion is of course rectilinear and is without tilting. The boom may be raised by the operator when an obstacle is encountered on the ground or it may be lowered into a depression or in any way adjusted to suit the needs of the use to which it is put. If the boom is permitted to tilt as it raises, for example, over an obstacle, it will, as it comes down, come down on top of the obstacle, and thus it has a tendency to climb up on the pile of material. There the movement is rectilinear, as in this device, there is no such climbing tendency. In the form of the invention here shown it is, therefore, an important feature that the movement of the boom, whether as a result of the control of the operator or as a result of contact with obstacles, is always rectilinear and there is no tilting or rotary motion of any sort.

IVe claim:

l. In a loader, a support, a loading boom supported from such support for movement therealong, such boom being top heavy and tending normally automatically to move out of the digging position.

2. In a loader, a support, a loading boom supported from such support for movement therealong, such boom being top heavy and tending normally automatically to move out of the digging position, and means adaptc d for retaining the boom in the digging position.

3. In a loader, an inclined support, a boom mounted on such inclined support for movement therealong, said boom being top heavy and tending normally to swing out of the digging position.

4. In a loader, an inclined support, a boom movably mounted on such inclined support, means for raising the boom along such support, said boom being top heavy and tending normally to swing out of the digging position.

5. In a loader, an inclined support, a boom movably mounted on such inclined support, means for raising the boom along such support, said boom being top heavy and tending normally to swing out of the digging position, in combination with selective means for holding it in the digging position.

6. In a loader, a plurality of tracks, a boom supported from such tracks, selective means for holding it generally in the digging position, the boom being free for limited movement in a plane parallel to the tracks when in the digging position.

7. In a loader, an automotive vehicle, a plurality of tracks, a boom supported from such tracks, said boom being top heavy and tending normally, when free to move, to move out of the digging position, and selective means for holding it generally in the digging position, the boom being free for limited movement in a plane parallel to the tracks when in the digging position.

8. In a loader, a plurality of series of tracks, a boom mounted for movement along such tracks in combination with hoisting means adapted to raise the boom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy and tending, when free to move, to move out of the digging position.

9. In a` loader, a plurality of series of tracks, a boom mounted for movement along such tracks in combination with hoisting means adapted to raise the boom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy and tending, when free to move, to move out of the digging position together with means for holding it in the digging position.

10. In a loader, a plurality of series of tracks, each being substantially parallel to the other, a boom mounted for movement along such tracks, in combination with hoisting means adapted to raise the boom bodily along the tracks.

11. In a loader, a. plurality of series of tracks, each being substantially parallel to the other, a boom mounted for movement along such tracks, in combination with hoisting means adapted to raise the boom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy and tending, when free to move, to move out of the digging position, together with means for holding it in the digging position.

12. In a loader, an automotive vehicle, a plurality of series of tracks, each being substantially parallel to the other, a boom mounted for movement along such tracks, and provided with rollers adapted to move along such tracks, in combination with hoisting means adapted to raise the boom bodily along the tracks, such boom being top heavy and tending, when free to move, to move out of the digging position, together with means for holding it in the digging position.

13. A loader, an inclined support, a boom assembly mounted for tilting and other movement with relation to such suport, a pivotal support for such boom assembly, and cable means for moving the boom along such support, said cable means including a sheave mounted outside of the boom and fixed above the pivot point of such boom assembly.

14. In a loader, an automotive vehicle, a loading boom movably supported from such vehicle for tilting and sliding movement, such boom being top heavy and tending` normally automatically to move out of the digging position, and selective means adapted' for retaining the boom in the digging position.

15. In combination in a loader, a plurality of tracks, a boom, rollers upon said boom adapted to support the boom upon said tracks, one of said tracks formed to engage one of said rollers to hold the same in .engagement with said track, whereby th-e boom is permitted to move along said tracks and held against tilting with relation thereto.

16. In combination in a loader, a plurality of series of tracks, a boom, rollers upon said boom adapted to support the boom upon said tracks, one of said tracks formed to engage one of said rollers to hold the same in engagement with said track, whereby the boom is permitted to move along said tracks and held' against tilting' with relation thereto.

17. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of series of tracks on said vehicle, a boom, rollers upon said boom adapted to support the boom upon saidv tracks, one of said tracks provided with a member adapted to engage one of said rollers to hold the same in engagement with said track, whereby the boom is permitted to move along said tracks and held against tilting with relation thereto.

18. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of series of tracks on said vehicle, a boom, rollers upon said boom adapted to support the boom upon said tracks, one of said tracks provided with a removable member adapted to engage one of said rollers to hold the same in engagement with said track whereby the boomis permitted to move along said tracks and held against tilting with relation thereto.

19. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of tracks carried upon such vehicle, a boom tiltably mounted for movement along vehicle, said last mentioned tracks formed to engage said last mentioned roller and to hold the same in register with said tracks,

whereby sliding movement of the boom is permitted and tilting movement prevented.

Signed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 29th day of November, 1927.

FERDINAND F. WAECHTER. LOUIS F. SNYDER.

said tracks and provided with rollers contacting said tracks, said boom being provided at one end with a digging part, and means for receiving the thrust of digging7 said means including additional rollers upon such boom and additional tracks upon such vehicle.

20. In combination in a loader, a vehicle, a plurality of tracks carried upon such vehicle, a boom tiltably mounted for movement along said tracks and provided with rollers contacting said tracks, said boom being provided at one end with a digging part, and means for receiving the thrust of digging, said means including additional rollers upon such boom and additional tracks upon such

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