US1916103A - Method of and apparatus for material moving - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1933 R. FERWERDA El" AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL MOVING Filed March 23, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l .drrae/vars June 27, 1933. R7 FERWERDA ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL MOVING Filed March 25', 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jame 27 1933. R. FERWERDA El AL 1,916,103

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL MOVING Filed March 23, 1933' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Arroe/vsrs Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MATERIAL MOVING Application filed larch 28, 1833. Serial Io. 882,292.

This invention, as indicated, relates to a method of and apparatus for material moving. More particularly, it comprises an apparatus particularly adapted for the handling of freshly excavated earth and rock and transporting the same either over a single unit of such apparatus, or successively over a series of such units to a suitable point of discharge. It also includes the method of excavating elevated sections of earth in case of road building and moving the same to portions of the right of way below grade as a substantially continuous operation, with substantially uniform length of travel for the material and a minimum of replacement of the equipment as the work progresses.

It has been the practice in excavating, more particularly in connection with the building of highways, to use a steam shovel and a series of trucks as the means of transporting the earth above grade to a point along the right of way where a fill was required. One or more of such shovels and their associated trucks were employed, and it was necessary to make the fill satisfactory for truck travel in order that the discharge of the excavated material could be kept up continuously. Ordinarily, such excavations were commenced at the nearest point to the section below grade and a small number of trucks were employed for the short haul, and as the work progressed, the number of trucks was in creased and the haul became longer. In many instances, in work of this character, the r shovel must make a complete or half circle swing to deposit its load into the trucks, and

greater time is involved when such conditions arise than when the shovel can make a shorter swing not exceeding a quarter swing. Unless the number of trucks is kept up to the capacity of the shovel, the effective output of the shovel is greatly reduced, and the cost increases as the distance from the out increases. In addition to this, there are not infrequently difiiculties with the trucks becoming mired in the soft fill, particularly during rainy weather, and requiring a lot of waste labor and eifort putting the transportation line in satisfactory shape to handle the so material excavated. The life of trucks under such conditions is frequently limited to two years, and this adds eatly to the cost of such work. Heretofore it has been pro osed to substitute for trucks an endless rub r com position belt supported on rollers adapted to receive the material excavated, but such equipment involves ver careful installation, and while satisfactory in coal mines and the like, wherein the load is fairly evenly distributed and of uniform character, such apparatus is very unsatisfactory for miscellaneous excavating work such as is encountered in road building. The cost of this belting is very expensive and in heavy rock excavating this method is quite unsuitable, due to want of uniformity in size of rock and the tearing of the belt with shar edges. Heretofore it has also been propose to substitute for trucks caterpillar tractors and wagons, but the initial cost of this equipment coupled with the heavy cost of operation and repairs and the necessary space required for turning, makes their use impractical in most instances.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling material, wherein the cost may be reduced and the work carried on with a minimum of delay.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified form of apparatus adapted to be used singly or in conjunction with companion units of apparatus operated individually or in pairs or series as may be found most advantageous for the particular work in hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of handling material, particularly in the course of constructing a roadway at a predetermined grade requiring alternate cuts and fills, whereby the amount of equipment necessary for the work ma be kept at a minimum and the speed with w 'ch the work is carried on may be increased over that heretofore possible with other types of equipment.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an apparatus which may be readily installed at points where material is to be moved, such as where material above grade is 100 to be transported to a int below grade,

having a high capacity or transfer of the material, irrespective of the particular grades involved, and without requiring the I use of specially prepared roadways as is frequentl the case with like operations carried on wi the use of trucks and loading equipment therefor.-

Another object of the invention is to pro- 10 vide a series of stationary units adapted to cooperate with each other in the transfer of material and with a capacity to withstand severe usage and to operate irrespective of surface conditions or weather conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an apparatus which may be combined with gravity chutes and carry on transfer of earth and like material'at a minimum of expense and as a substantially continuous o ration.

' A fu er object of the invention is to provide a novel type of material transfer asparatus, wherein a rigidly supported bla e operatin after the manner of a bulldozer ma be drawn against a mass of loose materiafdisposed upon a suitable slideway with smooth bottom and side walls, 'andtransported from one end of such apparatus to a point of discharge at the opposite end thereof and to provlde for the return of such blade to starting position without interference with any material deposited in the slideway during such interval of forward movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for simultaneously moving two blades in res tivelv adj aoent slideways, the blades pre erably being moved simultaneously in opposite directions in order that economy of power may be effected by having one blade move idly to return position while its companion blade moves forward in operative load carrying position.

45 Another object of the invention is to provide means for heating the walls of the slideway in order to facilitate the transfer of material therethrough when weather conditions prevent the free movement of such material.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means and mode hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and modes embodying the invention, such disclosed means and modes constituting, however, but several of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form of apparatus embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig ure 1, with the rearwardend of a companion section shown in dotted lines beneath the same;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showmg the carriage in tilted or returning position;

Fi ure 4 is a fragmentary central longitudina vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fi res 1 and 2;

Figure 6 1s an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view, taken along the line 6-6, shown in Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the structure shown in- Figure 6, taken along the line 77, shown in Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, showing the cable take-up drum mounted on the carriage;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fi ure 8;

Figure 10 is a ragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing the means for ad- ]usting the position of the axle at one end of the structure;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the end of a slideway adapted to be used as the companion unit to a unit carrying the driving motor;

Figure 12 is a transverse vertical sectional view, showing a modified form of slidewa with provision for heating the same;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating partly in sectional elevation one method of handling material through the use of the apparatus;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, illustrating another method of handling material through the use of said apparatus together with a gravity chute;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view partly in transverse sectional elevation, illustrating the progressive stages of transferring.

material from a point above grade; and

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic viewpartly in longitudinal sectional elevation showing four units positioned in series and adapted to be operated in pairs of companion units from a motor provided on one of each pair. As is more particularly shown in Figures 1,.2 and 5 of the drawings, the preferred form of apparatus comprises an elongated slideway or conveyor unit 1 in the form of a channel preferably formed of sheet metal having a flat bottom member 2 extending throughout substantially its entire length and preferably formed with an upwardly turned slightly convex portion 3 adjacent its receivin end. At each side of the unit, side wal s 4, 5 are provided, such side walls preferably being formed of sheet metal and extending slightly beyond the bottom member of the apparatus to provide supports for the operating mechanism at each of the ends thereof. Such forward and rearward extensions of the sides may be tapered by cutting away the lower corners thereof at an an le, thus also affording clearance at the en s of such apparatus from any objects which may be placed beneath such ends. The channelway thus formed by the bottom and side walls may be suitably braced to provide a rigid structure, and in the form illustrated, shows a number of transverse I-beams 6 beneath the bottom of the apparatus and vertical webs 7, 8, at the outer faces of each of the respective side walls of such apparatus in the plane of the respective I-beams, as will be more clearly seen from Figures 6 and 7. Said vertical webs and the upper edge of the side walls serve as supports for top rails 11, 12, adapted to support the blade carrying carriage presently to be described. The webs, as will appear more clearly from Figure 6, are of greater width adjacent their lower portions and provide upon shoulders formed approximately at their mid-height supports for rails 18, 14, on the respective sides of said apparatus adapted to be engaged by the carriage positioning mechanism presently to be described.

Various means of supporting the conveyor unit may be provided, but that illustrated comprises a pair of wheels 15 rotatably mounted on opposite ends of an axle 16, such axle being centrally of square cross section, as will more clearly appear from Figure 10, and being adjustably secured beneath the rearward end of the conveyor unit by means of a pair of bolts 17 engaged through any selected pair of apertures 18 provided in parallel spaced rails 21, 22, secured to the under side of the rearward portion of the structure by any suitable fastening means, as will more clearly appear from Figure 1. The rails are spaced from each other by means of blocks 23 which thus provide an elongated horizontal slot 24 at either side of the apparatus to receive such axle. Suitable bearing members for the wheels may be provided at the projecting outer ends of the axle 16, the wheels being secured to the ends of such axle by nuts 25 in the usual manner.

The forward end of the conveyor unit may likewise be supported upon any suitable structure, but that illustrated comprises a fifth wheel 26 having a pivot 27 approximately centrally of the forward mid-length of the unit. An axle 28 for the forward pair of wheels 29 is supported on said fifth wheel. The pivot pin for the fifth wheel is carried upon an underframe formed of a series of bracing arms 31 and a central support 32. A

draw-bar 33 may be connected with the forward axle assembly to provide means for moving the unit as desired.

As has been indicated, the material to be moved is deposited loosely in the conveyor unit adjacent its lower. end and is adapted to be engaged by a blade supported on a carriage which reciprocates from one end of the apparatus to the other. The details of the carriage structure are more clearly shown in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive,and comprise transverse frame members 34, 35, carrying pairs of track engaging wheels 36, 37 on stub axles at their respective ends. The material moving blade 38 is rigidly secured to the forward frame member 34 by welding or other suitable securing means and a plurality of bracing members 41, 42, are provided connecting the blade with the rearward portion of the structure. Suitable housings 43, 44, may be provided over the wheels at the respective sides of the carriage, and downwardly extending arms 45, 46, may be provided as extensions of said respective outer casing walls. Such downward extensions provide points of attachment at their lower ends for the operating cables 47, 48. The rearward point of attachment of the cable, as shown in Figure 7, may comprise a loop engaged through an aperture 49 and firmly secured against displacement and supporting such cable at a point slightly below the top rail of the structure so as to provide no obstruction to the free passage over the edge of the conveying unit of any loading apparatus such as the scoop of a steam shovel or the like. The opposite end of the cable is preferably adjustably attached to the arm 45, one type of such mechanism being that illustrated more particularly in Figure 8, wherein a stub shaft 51 is secured to the lower end of the arm 45 by means of a nut 46, such stub shaft supporting a cable drum 52 having a ratchet disk 53 at one side thereof and an adjusting disk 54 at the opposite side thereof, said adjusting disk having a series of circumferential apertures 55 to receive a bar for moving such drum in a cable tensioning direction. The ratchet is engaged by a pawl 56 preferably spring pressed and supported upon a pin 57 provided on said arm 45 adjacent said stub shaft and slightly above the same.

Through the mechanism just described any desired degree of tension can be maintained in the cables and any undesired slack may be taken up without delay. Such adjustment may be independently made at either side of the carriage so as to provide for uniform tension upon the carriage during the operation of the device. The cable end last referred to is secured to the drum 52 and is provided with one or more turns thereabout for adjustment purposes. The normal position of the forward stretch of cable 50 when the carriage has both pairs of wheels engaged with its track is at a point slightly above the lower rails of the structure, and when in its uppermost position during the return movement of the carriage is at a point very close to the top rail and slightly below the top ra l when the carriage reaches its lowermost limit of motion toward 'the end of the unit, 1n the dotted line position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The means for tilting the carriage and its associated structure comprises the arms 58 carrying the wheels 59 which engage the respective lower rails 13 and 14 at the opposlte sides of the conveying unit. The arms are pivoted on extensions of the forward frame member 34 outwardly of the wheels and have lugs 60 on their inner sides which abut bosses 61 on the de ending arms 45 slightly above the take-up rums 52. The operation of the carriage tilting mechanism will be described later in conjunction with the explanation of the operation of the device as a whole.

The cable used at each side of the apparatus is continuous from the respective forward arms of the carriage 45 to the rearward arms 46, the central portion of the cables running around the drums 62, carried at the respective .ends of a drive shaft 63 positioned beneath the conveyor unit at a oint adjacent its central area and slightly iiehind the forward supporting underframe heretofore described.

Any desired type of driving mechanism may be employed, but that shown comprlses an electric motor 64 preferably having a built-in speed reduction mechanism. The motor is positioned centrally beneath the conveyor unit and transmits power through the driving pinion 65 and beveled gear 66 to the drive shaft 63 carrying the drums.

The operating cables extend on either'side of the apparatus from their respective drums around a series of idler wheels suitably supported adjacent the ends of the frame, an idler wheel 71 being positioned at each lower corner of the forward end of the conveyor unit and an idler wheel 72 being positioned on each side of the unit of forward extension of the side members and an idler unit 73 being positioned on each side of the lower corners of the rearward end of the conveyor unit and an idler 74 being positioned on each side of the unit at the point of greatest rearward extension of the respective sides. The cable lengths are unsupported between the idler wheels at the extreme ends of the frame and their point of attachment to the arms of thecarriage, but a slight degree of slack in the cables does not interfere with the operation of the device, although intermediate supporting means may be provided if desired.

A limit switch 75 is provided adjacent the forward end of the structure adjacent the top rail to be operated by contact of the forward end of the carriage therewith and reverse the motor to drive the carriage ositively in a return direction, and a imit switch 76 is provided adjacent the top rail at the rearward end of the structure tobe shifted by the adjacent structure of the carriage to reverse the motor to drive the carriage in a forward direction. Control switches for the motor may be provided at convenient positions. The side members of the conveyor unit preferably extend beyond the bottom member and the top rails of the structure extend from the extreme lower end thereof to a point adjacent the bottom of the forward end of the structure. The side rails 13, 14 of the a paratus, or the lower rails WlllCl'l support t e carriage tilting wheels 59, are of slightly less length than the top rails, and as shown in Figure 1, have a downwardly inclined portion 81 at the forward ends, and at the rearward ends of said side rails have a downwardly extending rear portion 82 which extends downwardly to a lesser extent than the forward ends and have their extreme ends turned upwardly so as to provide stop members 83 to prevent the wheels moving further backward. When the carriage tilting rollers 59 rest a ainst the stop members 83, the carriage will be in a position slightly lowered from its angular position over the greater extent of the trackway, and upon the reversal of the motor and the commencement of the forward movement of the carriage, the forward wheels of the carriage will be brought into engagement with the top rails through the rocking of the forward portion of the carriage pivotally about the lower end of the supporting arm 58 for the tilting roller 59. At such time the lower edge of the blade will ride against the upwardly turned portion 3 of the bottom of the conveyor unit and will engage against any loose material which has been deposited in the conveyor unit adjacent such point. As the blade moves forward under the pull of the respective cables, 47, 48 upon the carriage, any. material in advance of the blade will be pushed forward over the inner surface of the conveyor unit and will be discharged at the front end of the structure over the forward edge of the bottom and between the forwardly projecting sides of the structure.

The material so discharged by the unit may be transferred to a companion unit or may be otherwise disposed of at such point in accordance with the requirements of the work in hand.

During the forward movement of the carriage, the tilting arm 58 and its roller 59 on each of the respective sides of the apparatus ride idly upon the respective tracks 13, 14,

and swing to a substantially vertical position free of such tracks at the forward downwardly inclined ends 81 of the said respective tracks. Upon the shifting of the reversing switch, the cables are moved to car the carriage in a return direction, and eac of the carriage tiltin rollers 59 then engage their respective trac s and the lugs 60 on the arms 58 are forced against the bosses 61,

. thus tilting the carriage and its associated blade upwardly in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. When so tilted, the carriage will hold the blade at an angular position in which its lower edge will pass over any material which may havebeen deposited in the lower portion of the conveyor unit by means of a steam shovel or the like. The forward stretch of cables adjacent the carriage will be held at a point close to the top rail during the rearward movement of the carriage and slightly below the top rail when the carriage reaches its lowermost limit of motion, as is shown in the dotted line positions to the right in Figures 1 and 2. This prevents any obstruction to the free loading of material into the conveyor unit while the carriage is in the course of movement in either direction.

When one or more conveyor units are to be used during cold weather, the tenacity of the loose material, such as freshly excavated earth and much, which may have to be handled by the device can be greatly reduced, and the operation of the carriage and its blade facilitated, by supplying heat to the bottom and side walls of the structure. Where the power means utilized on the device is an electric motor, there are no exhaust gases to be utilized for heating purposes, and in such event, the heating may be accomplished by putting resistance wire coilsin channels provided along the side or bottom walls. The modified form of slideway shown in Figure 12 provides for a curved sheet metal liner strip 85 providing a hollow fillet at each corner of the slideway which, as stated, may be heated by means of a resistance element in the form of a resistance strip or coil 87 encased within longitudinal pockets so formed at the lower corners of the channel- Way. In such event, the lower corners of the blade may be cut away along the same contour so as to provide slight clearance from the adjacent slideway surfaces.

When a plurality of units are to be utilized in successively forwarding material, it is found more economical to operate such units in pairs, inasmuch as with a single unit the motor has a full power period for the movement of the carriage in one direction and an idling period in the opposite direction; whereas, if two units are operated by a single motor, the carriage of one conveyor unit is moved in the reverse direction and the maximum power service of the motor may be obtained in this manner.

The manner of having two units cooperate is illustrated in Figure 2, wherein the ole vated upper end of the conveyor unit A shown in full lines overhangs the depressed lower end of the adjacent conveyor unit B shown in dotted lines, and when thus disposed is adapted to discharge loose material into the lower end of the conveyor B at a time when the carriage of the conveyor unit B is in its lowermost position. The method of coupling a pair of units to efiect this operation may take various forms, but one transmission means for driving the carriage of the second unit is disclosed in Figures 5 and 11, wherein a beveled inion 91 is mounted on the end of the sha t 63 outside of one of the drums 62 and engages a beveled gear 92 fixed to a shaft 93 supported in a pair of hangers 94 secured to the lower side portion of the conveyor unit. The shaft is preferably connected with the driving mechanism for the second conveyor unit by means of a drive shaft 95 having unlversal joints 96, 97 at its respective ends and having sleeved connections 98 adjacent its ends to permit longitudinal adjustment of the length of the shaft. The second conveyor unit, in place of having idler wheels at each of the ends of the extension sides, is provided with a pair of cable driving drums 101 secured to a shaft 102 and driven by means of beveled gears 103, 104, supported in a bracket member 105 secured to one of the extension sides of the second conveyor unit. With the cable driving drums located at the end of the second conveyor unit, there is no necessity for providing any cable drums at an intermediate point beneath the bottom of the structure, although if desired idler pulleys for supporting the cable may be provided at such point, particularly in View of the fact that the conveyor units may be made of considerable length and the weight of the cable involved may require support at one or more points along the under side.

With the transmission mechanism applied to two units as just described, when the motor is set in operation, the material moving carriages will be carried from end to end of the respective conveyor units alternately, so that any loose material placed in front of the blade 38 of the carriage on the conveyor A will be immediately moved in a forward direction along the conveyor B by a carriage unit of like character operated by the same motor through the transmission line just described.

The apparatus just described provides for conducting a wide variety of excavating and earth removal operations in a manner somewhat diiferent from those heretofore recognized as standard practice in this field. Thus, in place of commencing to dig away the side of the material above grade nearest the point below grade which is to receive the fill, and thereafter lengthening the earth transportation line in each direction by adding more trucks and hauling equipment under the usual practice with a maximum number of lIJ ' the formdiagrammatically of loading such units of 1mm. equipment being in operation as the wor 'is nearly. completed, and a Ion haul from the material above Elude fart est removed from the point of' ng operations, and the point of filling operations in'turn ha pro m to the point farthest removfi frorglie start of tzlfie origin al 0 rations e r are may e pe p illluslterated in Flgure' 13 .of establishing at t e ginning of the operation a material forwardi transportation line 111 composed of the necessa number of conveyor units, and commencmg the excavating operations at the most distant point 112 from the point of filling, and thereafter Frogressively moving umts from the end 0 the line at the point to the o posite end of the line 113 at the point of 51m g. Where the units are operated in pairs, as was described 1n connection with the showing in Figures 5 and 11, it will be found advantageous to so conduct the operations. that the units may be moved from one end of the line to the other in pairs. Where the character of the o rations requires a deep out such as is s own in Figure 13, the operation ma be carried on in a series of stages. As wil be noted in the upper ri ht hand ortion of Figure 13, the steam s ovel 114 s own diaammatically is making a relatively shalow cut at one side of the right of way, and is transferrin material to the conveyor units 111 position on the opposite side of the right of way. After the steam shovel has carried through its out the full length of the level at which it is working, it may be brought back to the position shown in the drawings, but set up on the higher level at the point where the last conveyor unit 115 is located, and the series of conveyor units may be moved to the lower level which has just been completed by the steam shovel. In this manner earth may be rapidl excavated and transported to a point of disc arge without giving any undue attention to the weather conditions which under ordinary circumstances must be carefull considered in view of the tendency of the eavy trucks to become mired in the freshly filled material which has not been placed in satisfacto condition for travel of heavy vehicles wit their loads.

The method'just described may be varied somewhat where the grade is to be carried through stee r hillsldes, as is shown diaammatical y in Figure 14. In such cases e conveyor units may be disposed in somewhat the same manner as the conveyor units 115 near the loading end of the line, as' shown in Figure 13, and an elongated gravity chute 117 may be used to transfer the material down a steep declivity into further conveyor units 118, which carry the material to the point of final discharge. The conveyor units thermore, many railroad rights of way are of narrow. width and the transportation line must travel single file over the greater portion of the distance which makes it practically impossible to turn the wagons or trucks so as todum the loads into a gravity chute without en angerin the operators and equipment because 0 the insubstantial footing at the margins of the excavated areas.

'As stated, the large overhang of the conveyor units provides for a substantial su port of the same at intermediate pointsrather than at their ends, and thus such units will operate under conditions which would be impractical with trucks or wagon load carrying units.

The cutting down of the elevations above grade in successive stages is diagrammatically shown in Figure 15, and comprises starting operations of the shovel 121 along the grade line 122 until it is carried through at that level from end to end of the elevation and then interchanging the position of the shovel 121 with that of the conveyor line 123 so that the shovel will be positioned on the working level 124 with the conve or line on the level 122 just completed. he shovel then continues in operation until it has established the level 125 throughout its length, and the earth as excavated being dumped upon the series of conveyor units positioned on the level 122. When the level 125 has been completed from endto endof the elevation, the shovel is restored to its original position on the level 122 and the conveyor units are established along the level 125. When the shovel has excavated the material to the level indicated by the line 126, it is moved back to the level 125 and the conveyor line is established on the level 126. The shovel then excavates to the line marked 127 and this process is continued until the established grade line is reached. Since the length of the conveyor line is substantially constant during this series of operations, the, work may be carried on very rapidly, it merely being necessary to shift the units sidewise to the respective lower levels as the work progresses.

As was-heretofore stated, in most instances it will be found that the most economical operation will follow the coupling of the convcyor units in pairs, the carriages of such pairs to be driven alternately in forward and reverse direction by a single motor. The drive shaft may be substantially identical with that described in connection with the transmission line shown in Figures 5 and 11. A sleeve 100 ma be used in the transmission line for rea y adjustment thereof, and if desired, a splined telescopic coupling may be provided at such point. In the line shown in Figure 16, the steam shovel will deposit the earth upon the rearmost conveyor unit 131 and the carriage and blade 132 will discharge such earth into the rearmost end of the conveyor unit 133, whence the carriage and blade 134 will move the material over the front end of said conveyor into the rear end of the conveyor unit 135 which in turn will carry the material into the conveyor unit 136 and the material will finally be discharged from the last named conveyor unit on to the fill 137.

As has been indicated,-the means for actuating the conve or units may comprise electric motors. I a convenient power line is not available as a source of power for these motors, a generator set, driven by a gas engine or by a steam engine, may be used to supply current for the electric motors. Under other conditions, the conveyor units may be operated directly from gas engine units, suitably connected to the cable drums.

T he method and apparatus, while particularly useful in grading rights of way, is by no means limited to such uses as have been especially mentioned, inasmuch as transferring material, particularly bulk material, in connection with the loading or unloading of vessels or freight cars may provide many instances wherein the apparatus described can be used more effectively or economically than any other available equipment.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following claims or their equivalent be em ployed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A method of moving material with a series of stationary units each having material engaging elements moving from end to end and overlapping the paths of travel of elements on adjacent units, which comprises providing a transportation line of substantially uniform length formed of a series of stationary material moving units in cooperative alinement which extends from the most distant point of loading to the nearest point of discharge with reference to the full extent of the line of work, such points progressively shifting in the same direction, and moving the unit at the loading point of such transportation line progressively to a position at the discharge point of said transportation line as the excavation and filling proceed at the respective ends of said transportation line.

2. An apparatus of the character described,

havin in combination a slideway, a substantially orizontallv movable carriage supported above said slidewav. a material moving element connected with said carriage and extending angularly downwardly therefrom, and tree of all other connection and supported above said slidewav. and means, connected with said carriage below the top edges of said slideway and adiacent the side edges of. the material moving element and exteriorly of said slideway, for moving said element and carriage the entire length of said slideway in one direction along a lower plane of movement and moving said element in the opposite direction of said slideway along an elevated plane of movement substantiall parallel to and of the same length as said rst plane of movement.

3. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a'slideway, a substantially horizontally movable carriage supported above said slideway, a pair of pivoted arms mounted on and coacting with said carriage, a material moving element connected with said carriage and extending angularly downwardly therefrom, and free of all other connection and supported above said slideway, means for moving said element and carriage the entire length of said slideway in one direction along a lower plane of movement with sai d pivoted arms in inactive position and for moving said element and carriage in the 0pposite direction of said slideway with said arms holding said element and carriage in tilted position along an elevated plane of movement substantially parallel to and of the same length as said first plane of movement, and means at each end of said slideway for contacting with said arms and moving said element and carriage from one plane of movement to the other plane of movement.

4. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a slideway, tracks provided on opposite sides of said slideway, a combined carriage and rigidly connected material moving element supported on said tracks, carriage tilting arms pivotally supported on said carriage, means for moving said carriage substantially the entire length of said slideway in one direction, and means coacting with said pivoted carriage tilting arms for tilting said carriage and material moving element bodily for movement in the opposite direction over said slideway.

5. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a slideway, tracks provided on opposite sides of said slideway, a combined carriage and material moving element supported on said tracks, swingable carriage tilting arms supported on said carriage, and means on said slideway and carriage coacting with said tilting arms for changing the position of said carriage, at each end of said slideway.

6. An apparatus of the character described,

having in combination a slidewa tracks provided on opposite sides of sai slideway, a combined carriage and material movlng element supported on said tracks, sw' ble carriage tilting arms supported on an acting with said carriage, additional tracks on said slidewav coacting with said carriage tilting arms for changing the incllnatlon of said carriage at each en of sa1d slideway, and a cable and cable actuating mechamsm for moving said carriage and mater al moving element the entire length of said slideway in each direction.

7. An apparatus of the character described, havin in combination a slideway in the form 0 an elon ted chamiel having bottom and side mem rs, trackways supported upon said side members, a wheeled carria e sup orted on sald trackways, a material moving element sup rted on said carriage and adapted to have s ight marginal clearance from the bottom and side walls 'of said slideway, movable arms associated with said carriage and material moving element and fixed members engaging said arms carried bv said slideway for tilting said ele ment with reference to said slidewayadjacent the respective ends of said slideway, and means for moving said carriage substantially from end to end of said slideway in each direction of movement.

8. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a slideway in the form of an elongated channel having bottom and side members, trackways supported upon said side members, a wheeled carriage supported on said trackways, a material moving element supported on said carriage and adapted to have s ight marginal clearance from the bottom and side walls of said slideway, movable arms associated with said carriage and material moving element M and fixed members engaging said arms carried by said slideway for tilting said element with reference to said slideway adjacent the respective ends of said slideway, and a cable and cable actuating mechanism for moving said carriage and material moving element the entire length of said slideway in each direction.

9. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a plurality of elongated channel-shaped conveying units positioned in substantially parallel inclined relation with the end of one unit overlapping the end of its companion unit, a reciprocating material moving element adapted to be moved substantially from end to end of each of said conveying units with a path of travel overlapping the path of travel of the reciprocating elements of each adjacent conveyor unit, and means connected with said reciprocating elements externally of and below the top edges of the respective channel- Ways for moving said reciprocating elements over said respective units in opposite directions on said respective units.

. 10.. An apparatus of the character described, havm in combination a pair of elongated channe -sha d conveying units (positioned in substantlall para lel incline relation with the end 0 one unit overlapping the end of its companion unit, a reciprocating material moving element adapted to be moved substantially from end to end-of each of said conveying units with a ath of travel overlapping the path of trave of the reciprocating elements of each adjacent conve or unit, means on each of said units for tilting said reciprocatingelement in one direction of motion on said respective conveying units, and means connected with said reciprocating elements externally of and below the top edges of the respective channelways for moving said reciprocating elements over said respective units simultaneously in opposite-directions on said respective units.

11. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a series of elongated channel-shaped conveying units, each of said units being positioned in substantially parallel inclined relation to the next adjacent units with the end of one unit overlappin the end of its companion unit progressive y to the end of said series, a reciprocating material movin element adapted to be moved substantia y from end to 7 end of each of said conveying units with a path of travel overlapping the path of travel of the reciprocating elements of each adjacent conveyor unit, and means connected with said reciprocatin elements externally of and below the top edges of the respective channelways for moving said reciprocating elements over said respective units simultaneously in opposite directions on alternate units of said series.

12. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination an elongated channel-shaped conveying member having substantially uniform side portions throughout its length with a bottom ortion curved slightly upwardly at one en to provide a material receiving area, a carriage supported for reciprocating movement upon said conveying element, a material moving member supported on said carriage and extending into said channel member with marginal clearance from said bottom and side walls, means for tilting said material moving member at each end of its movement over said conveying element, and means to bring said material moving member in contact with said upwardly disposed surface of said bottom member in one direction of motion.

13. An apparatus of the character described, having in combination a series of elongated conveying units positioned in end to end material transferring relation to each other in pairs, reciprocating means in each adjacent pair of units driven from a single source of power in alternately opposite directions h connections externally of said units and be ow the top edges thereof, and means for automatically changing the direction of such reciprocating means.

14. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element supported on said carriage, and means associated with said carriage and material moving element and swingable with reference to said carriage for tilting said element with reference to said channelway.

15. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element supported on said carriage, and means associated with said carriage and material moving element and swingable with reference to said carriage positioned externally of said channelway and below the top edges thereof for tilting said element with reference to said channelway.

16. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element mounted on said carriage and extending with its bottom and side edges in closely spaced relation to the inner surface of said channelway, and means supported on said carriage and extending downwardly externally of said channelway and below the top edges thereof providing a point of attachment for means for reciprocating said carriage,

17. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element rigidly mounted on said carriage, means for tilting said carriege and element bodily with reference to said channelway, said means comprising a trackway externally of said channelway having upwardly inclined portions at each end, and means on said carriage to engage on upward travel the inclined portion of said trackway at one end to raise the carriage and to engage on upward travel the inclined trackway at the opposite end to lower said carriage.

18. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element mounted on said carriage, means for tilting said element with reference to said channelway, said means comprising a trackway externally of said channelway having an upwardly inclined portion at at least one end, and means carried by said carriage to engage on u ward travel said upwardly inclined trac way to lower said element.

l9. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a series of slideways arranged in cooperative alinement, a carr1age reciprocatingly mounted on each slldeway, a material moving element mounted on each carriage, trackways externally of sa1d slideways having inclined end portions, means on said carriage engageable with the inclined portions of said trackways, said means being adapted to raise said element at one end of said slideway and to lower sa1d element at the opposite end thereof, the trackways of each succeeding carriage overlapping each other and providing an intermediate area for the exchange of material between the material moving elements of ad] acent carriages.

20. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element rigidly mounted on said carriage, means for tilting said carriage and element bodily with reference to said channelway, and a hollow passageway formed by a fillet plate covering each lower inner angle of the channelway enclosing heat exchanging means for heating said channelway.

21. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element mounted on said carriage, a pivoted arm supported on said carriage and coacting with said carriage and material moving element for tilting said element with reference to said channelway, and means mounted on said channelway for moving one end of said arm about its pivot at each end of said channelway.

22. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway,

a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element rigidly mounted on said carriage, a pivoted arm supported on and coacting with said carriage for tilting said carriage and element bodily with reference to said channelway, and means mounted on said channelway for moving one end of said arm about its pivot at each end of said channelway.

23. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element mounted on said carriage, a pivoted arm supported on said carriage and coacting with said carriage and material moving element for tilting said element with reference to said channelway, means mounted on said channelway for moving one end of said arm about its pivot at each end of said channelway, and means for holding said ivoted arm against movement while traversing the intermediate portion of said channel- 2%. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element mounted on said carria e and extending with its bottom and side e ges in closely spaced relation to the inner surface of said channelway, downwardly extending arms on said carriage positioned outwardly of the sides of said channelway, cables connected to said arms, and means for actuating said cables.

25. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a channelway, a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement upon said channelway, a material moving element mounted on said carriage and extending with its bottom and side edges in closely spaced relation to the inner surface of said channelway, downwardl extending arms on said carriage positione outwardly of the sides of said channelway, cables adjustably connected to said arms, and means for actuating said cables.

26. A material moving unit for a conveyer channelway, comprising a carriage having a frame with pairs of wheels on each side thereof, pivoted arms on said carriage outwardly of said wheels and carrying wheels at the free ends thereof and serving as carriage tiltin means, and abutments on said carria e and said arms brought into engagement y the movement of said arms in one direction.

27 A material moving unit for aconveyer channelway, comprising a carriage having a frame with pairs of wheels on each s1de thereof, pivoted arms on said carriage outwardly of said wheels and carrying wheels at the free ends thereof and serving as carriage tiltin means, a housing over each pair of whee s at each side of said carriage, downward extensions on the outer sides of said housings providing cable attaching terminals, and abutments on one pair of downward extensions and on said arms brought into engagement by the movement of said arms in one direction.

28. A wheeled carriage and material moving element for conveyer channelways ada ted to be positioned in a raised or lowered position on a trackway, having in combination a frame, a air of wheels supported on said frame at eac 1 side thereof, a housing over each pair of wheels, downward extensions on the outer side portions of said housing to provide cable attaching terminals, said extensions bein of a length to provide equal cable tension w en said carriage is in raised or lowered position.

Signed by us this 20th day of March, 1933.

RAY FERWERDA. KOOP FERWERDA.

Images